History
About Me
The Early Years
Emil was born and raised in Elkins, West Virginia, to David and Joy Suder. David worked multiple jobs including Electrolux vacuum salesman and handyman. His mother, Joy, worked as a Registration Clerk for Davis Memorial Hospital (now Davis Health Center), as a chef for Fresh Bay Seafood Restaurant and Shop (now closed), and Assistant Librarian and Catalog Clerk for Elkins-Randolph County Public Library. His father passed away on June 24, 2012, after a long health battle.
Emil was the first in his immediate family to graduate from Elkins High School. During his time, he worked with the yearbook program, assisted with school play productions, and other activities that would lead him to love education. While being inducted into the National Vocational-Technical Honor Society in the spring of 2002, he would meet his future college advisor and lifelong friend, Dr. Gloria Marquette Payne.
Also, during high school, Emil was a participate of Davis & Elkins College’s Upward Bound Program from 1999 to 2002. Part of TRiO, a federally funded program to help first generation students participate in post-secondary educational opportunities. To learn more about TRiO, please click here.
Randy Lambert, a D&E graduate and coordinator of the Youth Opportunities (YO!) program at Davis & Elkins College, employed Emil through the summer of 2002 and re-introduced Emil during the fall semester of 2002 to Dr. Payne.
The Dr. Payne Years
Dr. Payne influenced Emil to enroll in business-related courses, and he completed an Associate in Science degree in Business in July 2005. Through the Department of Business Administration and Economics, Emil was inducted into Phi Beta Lambda, National Business Fraternity; Beta Alpha Beta, Honorary Business Fraternity; and Sigma Beta Delta, International Honorary Society for Business, Management, and Administration. He also graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History the next year.
Emil and Dr. Payne continued their friendship after college. Dr. Payne retired from Davis & Elkins College in 2017 after serving 75 years as a faculty member.
Sadly, Dr. Payne passed away in October 2020 after a long, well-lived life. Emil credits his successes to her guidance, mentorship, and friendship.
His Teaching Career
Emil has a passion for education. He started teaching at Pierpont Community & Technical College (formerly Fairmont State Community & Technical College) in Fairmont, West Virginia, at the age of 23. There, he taught over 30 different business, computer science, and college readiness courses to traditional, non-traditional, and state or federally incarcerated students. Emil was also nominated by his students multiple times for the Adjunct Faculty Member Award.
Emil will be returning to the classroom starting in August 2025 as the new Assistant Professor of Business at Upper Iowa University. There, he will be teaching business and management courses.
Emil has had the pleasure of teaching at these locations:
- Fairmont State University
- Pierpont Community & Technical College
- Salem University
- Eastern West Virginia Community & Technical College
- Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College
- Glenville State University
The Hotel/Motel Adventures
When facility in Belington downsized, Emil started working in the hotel/motel industry. From independent hotels to branded ones, Emil as a General Manager in Charleston, West Virginia; Valdosta, Georgia; Ruther Glen, Virginia; Jacksonville, Florida; Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Chattanooga, Tennessee. Within that time frame, Emil worked extensively with Motel 6 (G6 Hospitality) brand and was regarded as one of the most aggressive and business-oriented managers.
Emil would meet three very influential people that he remains close friends with today – Joseph Stanton, Peggy Hart, and Amber Taylor.
Emil first met Joe in Ruther Glen and later became his employee in Valdosta, Georgia, in charge of security and maintenance.
Peggy was a night-time clerk (or overnight auditor) in Valdosta. She was just like a mother that everyone wanted to meet on their travels. Peggy still checks in with Emil from time-to-time and still talks about the adventures at that motel.
Amber and Emil were great co-workers. At the two hotels in Charleston, West Virginia, Emil was the Operations Manager and Amber was the Human Resources Coordinator and Controller. Emil and Amber worked closely together on budgets, expenditures, and making the transition from a Quality Inn to Motel 6. They worked extensively with the West Virginia Air National Guard that was based in Charleston at its Yeager Airport.
His Time in Iowa
After selling the motel 6 property for the franchisee in Valdosta, in August 2017, Emil moved to Iowa.
There, he changed career paths and entered into private security. To date, Emil is involved in private security having obtained state and national security clearances.
Emil also enrolled in classes and graduated from the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in April 2020, and became a certified Iowa Law Enforcement Reserve Peace Officer.