Vickie Shaffer moved with her family to Huntington in 1964. Vickie graduated Summa Cum Laude from Marshall University in 1976 and completed her master’s degree in political science in 1979. The Tri-State Transit Authority (TTA) named Vickie its chief executive in 1980. Under her leadership, TTA prospered as a mass transit provider.
Throughout her career, Shaffer embraced the economic development efforts of the city of Huntington as a member and leader of key civic groups as well as municipal boards. She took great pride in the 1994 restoration of the historic Greyhound station that is TTA's downtown customer service center and transfer site. Her interests in promoting downtown Huntington culminated in the design and development of Pullman Square. A generous grant to TTA, received in 1997, was dedicated for the redevelopment of the long vacant downtown site dubbed the "Superblock."
Taking the lead, Shaffer became the driving force that moved the transformation of Pullman Square forward even as many remained skeptical. She is credited with brokering and leading the coalition of private sector investors and the entities of city, state and federal government that financed the $60 million development. The opening of Pullman Square in 2004 returned pride and excitement to downtown Huntington.
