BEAVER, W.Va. — West Virginia Explorer President and CEO David Sibray has announced the appointment of Davie Chinn as Director of Technology and Lori Noble as Director of Advertising for the West Virginia Explorer publications.
The appointments come as the leading tourism news and travel guide expands its efforts to support outdoor recreation, heritage travel, and destination marketing across West Virginia. According to Sibray, the state’s tourism industry is experiencing unprecedented momentum, creating new opportunities to connect travelers and investors.
“We’ve witnessed enormous growth over the last decade,” Sibray said. “The state is transforming into a destination for outdoor recreation and heritage travel, and we’re committed to helping visitors discover the places, stories, and experiences that make West Virginia wild and wonderful.”
Founded in 1999, West Virginia Explorer is one of the state’s longest-running online publications devoted to travel and outdoor recreation. It serves as a news source and guide to the state’s natural and cultural attractions, providing readers with destination guides, feature stories, historical articles, and tourism and community development news
Noble to expand advertising partnerships
As Director of Advertising, Noble will focus on building relationships with regional and national advertisers seeking to connect with West Virginia’s growing tourism and outdoor recreation markets. She said the publication’s mission remains centered on inspiring travel and exploration throughout the Mountain State.
“We want to continue reaching explorers, inspiring new journeys, and helping West Virginia grow,” Noble said.
A former advertising executive with Thomson Newspapers, Noble helped launch West Virginia Explorer in the late 1990s while she and Sibray managed West Virginia Group, a business consortium that included Noble’s advertising agency and Sibray’s public relations firm.
Noble has remained involved with the publication as a consultant since its founding and brings decades of experience in audience development, marketing, and advertising strategy.
“She understands how successful businesses build and engage audiences, and she has been part of the Explorer’s mission from the very beginning,” Sibray said. “Few people are better qualified to lead our advertising partnerships as we continue to grow.”
For information on advertising at West Virginia Explorer, Noble can be reached at 304-573-2357 or advertising@wvexplorer.com.
Chinn to focus on long-term technology growth
As Director of Technology, Chinn will oversee the technical development of West Virginia Explorer’s digital publications. Since joining the team in April, Chinn has significantly improved the performance and speed of the organization’s online platforms, Sibray said.
“Within days of joining the team, he’d helped transform the Explorer into one of the fastest-loading websites in the state,” he said. “That kind of performance is essential as we continue to reach the national audience we’ve built over the last quarter century.”
Chinn is the founder of Beckley-based DC3 Web Designs, a firm specializing in branding, website development, and search engine optimization. The company is perhaps best known for developing the West Virginia State Multi-Listing Service platform, which serves the state’s real estate industry.
In his new role, Chinn will lead the development of systems and infrastructure designed to support the publication’s continued growth over the next decade while strengthening its reliability and security for readers, advertisers, and partners.
“We’ve achieved 26 years of growth with remarkably few interruptions,” Sibray said. “Now we need to build a foundation that will support another quarter century of expansion.”
Chinn said he has been impressed by both the scope of the publication and the depth of its content.
“With more than 12,000 pages, the site is larger than most people realize,” he said. “I find myself getting drawn into the stories and information while I’m supposed to be working on the technical side.”
“My goal is to help create a platform that supports West Virginia Explorer’s long-term growth and ensures it remains a valuable resource for readers for years to come,” Chinn said.
The publication is entering the peak summer tourism season following a record year of audience engagement. During the summer of 2025, West Virginia Explorer generated more than two million user interactions across its digital platforms.
About West Virginia Explorer
For more than a quarter century, West Virginia Explorer has championed heritage tourism, outdoor adventure, and community development while documenting the state’s evolving story. The publication’s growing digital platform includes more than 12,000 pages of content covering state parks, trails, waterways, historic sites, festivals, scenic drives, and local traditions. Together, these resources make West Virginia Explorer one of the state’s most comprehensive online guides to exploring the Mountain State.