Judy Sheppard – Businesswoman and Entrepreneur

  Judy Sheppard is currently West Virginia’s most honored businesswoman and entrepreneur.  In 2011 she was named the state’s Small Business Person of the Year as well as Distinguished West Virginian of the Year.  Sheppard is founder, president and CEO of Professional Services of America, Inc, a multi-million dollar business based in Parkersburg.   With more than 200 employees, PSA, as it’s known, provides services for some of America’s largest corporations – DuPont, GE, Pepsico, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Mylan Pharmaceuticals and others – as well as 32 government agencies.

This Roane and Ritchie County native has come a long way for her success.  Native American on her mother’s side, Judy grew up with what she calls “nothing” – no electricity, no running water, no telephone, no television, no toys.  Every day she walked three miles each way to catch the school bus.   Sheppard is grateful for what she has overcome – we travel with her back to the home place where she lived, way up a hollow.   “I tell people I don’t want to forget – I want to help other people overcome those obstacles.”