CHARLESTON, W.Va. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) today announced that Mary Elisabeth Eckerson, current State Director for Senator Capito, will be retiring at the end of the year. With Eckerson’s departure, Bill Bissett, who currently serves as Senator Capito’s Senior Advisor for Economic Development and State Initiatives, will assume the new role of State Director beginning January 1, 2022. Eckerson will continue serving in her current role as State Director until December 31, 2021.
Mary Elisabeth Eckerson, a native of Dunbar, West Virginia, has served as both State Director and District Director—totaling more than 14 years—for the senator during her time in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Prior to her time with Senator Capito, Eckerson spent 16 years as Communications Manager at the West Virginia Housing Development Fund. She has a bachelor’s from Hollins University and a master’s in Communication Studies from West Virginia University.
“I am so fortunate to have a team of loyal and trusted individuals serving West Virginia. Mary Elisabeth’s expertise and dedication has helped my staff and me better-serve constituents throughout the state for more than 14 years. Thanks to her leadership, she has helped countless West Virginians, especially in difficult times. I am confident that Bill will help build on these efforts and success as our next state director. I thank Mary Elisabeth for her incredible leadership, friendship, and service to the people of West Virginia, and I congratulate Bill on his new role beginning in the new year,” Senator Capito said.
Bill Bissett, a native of Huntington, West Virginia, currently serves as Senator Capito’s Senior Advisor for Economic Development and State Initiatives and brings a wide range of experience to the senator’s office. Prior to this role, Bissett served as the President and CEO of the Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce, the president of the Kentucky Coal Association, and was formerly the Chief of Staff/Senior Vice President for Communications at his alma mater, Marshall University. Bissett earned his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from Marshall University, in addition to receiving his commission in the United States Army.
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