Staff
Rebecca McPhail
President – Rebecca McPhail serves as President of the Gas and Oil Association of West Virginia (GO-WV), the statewide trade association representing West Virginia’s natural gas and oil industry. McPhail brings extensive experience in association management, public policy, advocacy and economic development.
Before joining GO-WV, McPhail served as Vice President of State Affairs and Political Mobilization for the Washington, D.C.-based American Chemistry Council (ACC), representing the U.S. chemical industry on public policy issues across the country. As part of ACC’s executive team, she helped develop and execute state-level policy strategies, coordinated engagement on significant legislative and regulatory issues affecting chemicals, plastics and manufacturing, and provided strategic guidance for the organization’s political engagement. She also worked with independent state chemical industry councils across the country to strengthen industry coordination and advance shared policy priorities.
Prior to joining ACC, McPhail spent more than a decade as President of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association (WVMA), serving as the organization’s chief executive and leading its advocacy, public policy, member engagement and economic development efforts. She represented West Virginia manufacturers before state and federal policymakers and regulators and worked with business, government and community leaders to advance policies and partnerships supporting investment, job creation and manufacturing growth.
Earlier in her career, McPhail served as President of Vision Shared, a statewide public-private economic and community development organization, and as Assistant Vice President of Development at Marshall University.
A West Virginia native, McPhail earned bachelor’s degree in history and political science from the West Virginia University Institute of Technology. Her civic and public service includes membership on the boards of the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra and YMCA of the Kanawha Valley. She is also a gubernatorial appointee to the West Virginia Workforce Investment Board and the Rural Health Advisory Panel.
Charlie Burd
President Emeritus – Charlie Burd was named President Emeritus in early August 2026 following his 24-plus year career as Executive Director and President of the Gas and Oil Association of WV, Inc. (GO-WV), following the merger of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association (WVONGA) into the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia (IOGA) on January 1, 2021.
Prior to his IOGAWV/GO-WV affiliation, Charlie enjoyed a 29-year career at Hope Gas, Inc., where he held a variety of marketing, economic development, and management positions. He holds an associate degree in higher accounting from Mountain State College, a Regents BA degree from Glenville State University and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma’s “Economic Development Institute.” He is also a 2001 graduate of Leadership West Virginia.
Charlie remains actively engaged in the WVU Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering (WVPNGE) advisory committee; is Governor Patrick Morrisey’s official appointed state representative to the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC); has served as an appointed member of the West Virginia Public Energy Authority since August 2022 and sits on the WV Oil and Gas Festival Board of Directors.
Charlie also holds the distinction of being named the “2017 West Virginia Oil and Gas Man of the Year” and was inducted into the WVU Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering Academy in April 2024. In February 2026, Charlie was named the recipient of “Heart of Our Community Award” by the YMCA of Parkersburg and was named the 2026 recipient of the GO-WV “Rusty Hutson, Sr. Heritage Award,” which denotes his lifetime commitment to good citizenship and service to the industry and community.
Charlie and wife Leone reside in Vienna, WV. They have two sons: Nathan, a software engineer for a Texas based computer gaming company, and Charlie, a management consultant who resides in New Delhi, India.
Lori Miller Smith
Director of Administrative Services – Lori Miller Smith brings a wealth of experience to her work at the Gas and Oil Association of WV, Inc., also known as GO-WV. She is Director of Administrative Services, including administering the IOGAWV insurance program, which, with her guidance and leadership, has grown into Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of West Virginia’s largest fully funded insurance program in the state. Lori plans and directs the association’s yearly meetings and is responsible for all of GO-WV’s office and business functions. Prior to the 2020 merger of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of West Virginia, Inc. and the WV Oil and Natural Gas Association, she came to IOGAWV in 1995 after nearly twenty years of service to Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation. At Cabot, she was the Regional Administrator and managed all office functions.
Lori was honored as the “2022 West Virginia Oil and Gas Person of the Year,” the first woman to be so honored by the West Virginia Oil & Gas Festival Board of Directors.
Lori is a graduate and member of the “Leadership West Virginia” program for select business professionals in West Virginia. She graduated cum laude and first in her class from West Virginia State University with an undergraduate degree in marketing, which she completed while being employed full-time and raising a family.
Outside her duties at GO-WV, she serves on the Board of Directors of the West Virginia Society of Association Executives and the Women’s Energy Network and is active in other civic organizations. She was a charter member of the West Virginia Desk and Derrick Club and was also a charter member and past president of the Mountain State Desk and Derrick Club. She is a past Board Member of the Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council. She received the Girl Scout “Thanks Badge” in 2017, a national recognition for Girl Scouts which honors an individual whose ongoing commitment, leadership, and service have had an exceptional, measurable impact on meeting the mission-delivery goals and priorities of the entire Council or the entire Girl Scout Movement.
Outside of her professional interests, she loves to travel and loves camping, movies, music and reading, and enjoys living in South Charleston with her family. She is married to Rick Smith and has two sons, Jason and Steven, two stepchildren, Courtney and Brandon, and six grandchildren.
Katie McCracken
Member Services Coordinator – Katie McCracken is a Membership Services Coordinator for GO-WV. Katie originally came to then-IOGAWV in December 2018, first as a temporary employee, then ultimately being promoted to a permanent staff member in February 2019. Katie works primarily with the membership database and its 500-plus company members. She oversees the GO-WV scholarship committee, assists with the 100-plus member company insurance program, as well as all other GO-WV activities, meeting planning and attendance at events.
Outside of GO-WV, Katie has a passion for baking, traveling, music, watching her son’s sports games, and spending quality time making memories with her family. She resides in her hometown of Cross Lanes with her son, Alex.
Jordan Bonnett
Member Services Coordinator – Jordan Bonnett is a Member Services Coordinator for GO-WV. Jordan came to GO-WV in December 2021, following his graduation from West Virginia State University. Jordan works primarily with the insurance program and its 100-plus company members. He assists in all other GO-WV activities for its 500-plus company members, including the membership database, meeting planning and attendance at events.
Jordan has visited all state parks in West Virginia and loves flea markets, fitness and travel.
