Welcome to Fostering Solutions, where we spotlight dynamic leaders who strengthen communities through vision, resilience, and innovation. I’m your host, Dr. Michelle Foster, and in this episode of our special series Holding the Mission Together: Leadership in the Face of Uncertainty, I’m joined by an inspiring leader whose journey from military service to civic leadership exemplifies courage and purpose — Mara Boggs. Mara is the new President and CEO of the Charleston Area Alliance and Chamber of Commerce, where she’s leading efforts to spark growth, attract people and investment, and build a thriving Kanawha County. Her career spans nearly 30 years of public service, including 13 years as an active-duty Army Engineer officer — serving in Iraq and Afghanistan — where she became the first woman commander of her unit in the 82nd Airborne Division, named the best engineer unit in the Army during her tenure. After leaving the military to pursue greater work-life balance, Mara served for more than a decade as senior congressional staff to Senator Joe Manchin, championing jobs, opportunity, and hope for West Virginians. In this conversation, Mara opens up about leading through uncertainty — the values that grounded her, the pivotal decisions that strengthened her team, and the lessons she’s carried forward about innovation, communication, and care in leadership. We’ll explore how her experiences — from the battlefield to Capitol Hill — continue to shape her vision for community and economic development in West Virginia. Stay tuned as we discuss how she held her mission together during challenging times, what gives her hope today, and how her story offers powerful guidance for every leader navigating change.