ABOUT

I grew up in Morgantown, West Virginia and I lived there for over 22 years before graduating from West Virginia University in 2012 and relocating for my first job.  This job required me to travel a lot which was something I wasn’t used too. Up until that point, I had lived in Morgantown for my entire life and now I was trading the protection of the mountains for the empty walls of a hotel room.

Needless to say, during this time I became tremendously homesick for my State (and especially it’s food – pepperoni rolls – 'nuff said) and I wished I had something to fill the void I was feeling. 

That's when I started to notice some things. Whenever I would go anywhere, it didn’t matter what city or state I was in, I would always notice my fellow West Virginian’s representing home. I’d see it embroidered on their clothes or I’d spot it on the bumper of their car, or I’d overhear someone patiently explaining the difference between western Virginia and the Mountain State. This really only proved to me what I already knew, that West Virginian’s are, justifiably, the most proud people on earth. They are never ashamed to let you know where they are from and I knew that there had to be others out there in the same situation as me.

From these experiences, I got the idea for the Wild and Wonderful Box.  I realized that this was a great way for me to stay connected to the State and to help West Virginia by promoting its creators, its businesses, and the state while delivering a neat product that is unique.

I still work a full-time job and, unfortunately, I still can’t live in WV.  I run the Wild and Wonderful Box with the help of my fiance Angie and my pup Kenzi out of our house. It helps us stay connected with our home and I hope it does the same for others.