Pierpont Employee Resigns To Open Own Small Business

TIMES WEST VIRGINIAN
Friday, March 02, 2011

FAIRMONT — Lyla Grandstaff, director of Off-Campus Programs North for Pierpont Community & Technical College, has announced she is resigning to focus on developing and promoting her own business.

Her last official day will be Friday, May 14.

“Pierpont Community & Technical College has been an integral part of my life for the past three and a half years and I truly believe in the community college mission,” Grandstaff said.

“I have started an etiquette business and never anticipated how busy I would be or realized the satisfaction I would receive by touching other people’s lives. I truly believe that I have found my calling in life and need to pursue this new journey with vigor and passion.”

Grandstaff expressed gratitude to Pierpont for opportunities to learn and grow professionally and personally.

“If not for Pierpont, I would not have found my passion for teaching others,” Grandstaff said.

Returns to college

Grandstaff returned to college in 2000 as a non-traditional student, earning her B.S. in business administration with a minor in education from Fairmont State University in 2003. She worked as a student worker for the admissions office during that time and began work full time in 2003 as a non-traditional recruiter and events coordinator.

In 2006 she was promoted to director of Off-Campus Programs North for Pierpont C&TC, overseeing the academic offerings in Barbour, Doddridge, Monongalia, Preston and Taylor counties.

“Lyla has done an outstanding job for us,” said Pierpont President Blair Montgomery.

“Our enrollments in Morgantown and elsewhere in her service region have taken off and grown exponentially.

She is a hard worker. We will miss her, but wish her all the best with her new business.

We are proud of her entrepreneurial spirit and talent.”

Grandstaff has continued her education and is on track to earn her master’s degree in corporate and organizational communications from West Virginia University this August.

Earned certification

Grandstaff earned her certification in business, social and children’s etiquette from the Etiquette Institute of St. Louis. She is a lifetime member of the Etiquette Institute and Toastmasters International.

“I started my business, Elements of Etiquette, because businesses are finding out that many people don’t know how to act in a professional environment,” Grandstaff said.

“Some seem to be lacking in etiquette and basic social skills and don’t understand protocol, and others could use a refresher course.”

On Salvation Army board

Grandstaff is active in the community, serving as an advisory member for the Salvation Army of Marion, Monongalia and Preston counties; a member of the Design Committee for Main Street Fairmont; and as a member of the Marketing and Communications Committee of the Community Foundation of North Central West Virginia.

She lives in Rivesville with her husband Mark, an employee of Mylan Pharmaceuticals, and their two sons, Dustin, a rising senior at Fairmont Senior High School, and Daniel, a rising sixth-grader at Rivesville Elementary.

“I’ve enjoyed my time spent with Pierpont,” Grandstaff said. “I will be the community college’s biggest advocate outside the institution.”