Hott explained that she and her husband, Jim Salman, had been wanting to move their family back to Morgan County for several years. "I was thrilled when I heard about the arts council position," said Hott. "It offered a chance for me to have a job where my kids could be in local schools, I could be back with my family and would be able to work with the community in a positive way," she said.

Ranking completion of the Ice House as one of her top priotities, Hott outlined plans for her new position. "With the building done, more and more people will be able to use it for their own community projects as well as arts activities," she said. "The arts are a great way to pull together many aspects of community life here in Morgan County." Hott is also committed to continuing MAC's work bringing arts to local schools. "From my own experience, I know how important the arts are to children. I want to develop and expand what MAC has been doing in county schools for years."

Mary Hott is proud of her long local roots pointing out that many people will remember her grandfathers. Rodney Miller, her maternal grandfather, managed the orchards in Paw Paw for many years. Atlee Hott, her paternal grandfather, was a carpenter and did much of his business in Berkeley Springs. Her mother, Jeanie Hott Lyons Martin, was the longtime secretary in the Paw Paw schools. Her father was the former Charlie Hott, carpenter and outdoorsman and her brother Charles "Phil" Hott still lives in Paw Paw. "Even my brother Rick who now lives in northern Virginia owns land in Morgan County and continues to be a die-hard Mountaineer fan," she said. Most familiar to Morgan Countians is Hott's aunt, Margaret Zembower, vice president of the school board.

The Executive Director position is funded in part by a grant from the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.