Southern States Cooperative in Philippi and WELLSMART Rehab and Fitness are the Barbour County Chamber of Commerce Members of the Month in May.
Mike Holliday, left, is a Licensed Physical Therapist and Certified Athletic Trainer at WELLSMART. Eric Titchnell is the Manager at Southern States.
Southern States Cooperative is an agricultural and propane supplier for area local residents and businesses offering animal feeds, grass and forage seeds, fertilizer, propane, and farm and home needs. The firm, which has been serving Barbour and surrounding counties for over 80 years, employs knowledgeable staff who provide solutions for home and family problems.
Titchnell has been employed by Southern States for the past 25 years and has worked in every aspect of the business. The outlet is located at 42 Depot Street in Philippi, (304) 457-2441. Their web address is Southernstates.com and Facebook: Southern States-Philippi Service. Tichnell was born in Harrison and raised in Barbour County, received the company’s Presidential Award for Operating Excellence in 2014 and 2015, and is a member of the West Virginia Cattleman’s Association.
“Southern States,” Tichnell said “was formed in 1923. The Philippi Service organized for retail business in 1941. Formerly located in the Thomas Wolfe Building at the end of North High Street, it moved to its current site in the Haney Building in 1948. “In addition to its other benefits, Southern States’ propane provides clean energy for home heat and business applications,” he said.
WELLSMART Rehab and Fitness is located at 1600 Stalnaker Road between U. S. routes 38 and 92 in Philippi where the telephone number is (304) 476-9355. Their web address is www.wellsmart.net or email
Holliday holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy and a B. S. in Athletic Training from West Virginia University. He is a native of Washington, D. C. and Adelphi, Maryland who spent six years in the U.S. Army as a Sergeant NCO in charge of physical fitness and five years in the U. S. Navy as a Lieutenant O-3 and command fitness leader. He received the Army Commendation and Achievement Medals. He is also a certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, certified Recovery Coach and certified Life Coach.
Holliday, who spent his summers in Barbour County with grandparents Bern and Linda Shaffer, has been involved in the community for over 27 years where, he says, he has enjoyed seeing patients achieve their desired goals, whether it’s returning to elementary, high school, college, or even professional sports. He has helped patients confined to wheel chairs and taught infants to walk for the first time. He does not take credit for adding years to the lives of his patients, he says, but attributes that to God. He has, for the past 13 years, taken Celebrate Recovery inside jails and prisons.