Chief Executive Officer/Owner

Susan Lavenski

As Chief Executive Officer of Charles Ryan Associates, Susan brings a feisty attitude and sense of fun to her role as well as her work with clients. Susan spearheads our overall strategy with her organizational skills, leadership and sales ability. She joined CRA in 1998, working in the Transportation Practice Group and soon expanded to become a key player in our Energy Practice Group—although her long tenure with the company has allowed her to impact every industry we work with. She has managed multi-million dollar statewide transportation campaigns, utility expansion projects, controversial elections and health care certificates of need.

While at CRA, Susan has racked up too many awards to list. She was named one of West Virginia Executive’s “Young Guns,” West Virginia State Journal’s “40 under 40,” and was featured in WV Focus Magazine’s “Wonder Women” issue, focusing on WV’s most powerful women who are breaking the status quo and proving leadership has no gender. She has been awarded WV PRSA Public Relations Professional of the Year and recognized as a "Who's Who in West Virginia Business." Most recently, Susan was named a top 10 CEO from Industry Era and served as the 2019 commencement speaker at her alma mater, Marshall University.