About Mike Oliverio

Born in Fairmont and raised in Morgantown, Mike Oliverio learned the values of community service and hard work early from his father, Michael Oliverio, an educator and rehabilitation counselor, who inherited these values from his father, Giuseppe Oliverio, an Italian immigrant who worked as a coal miner in Marion County, WV.

Mike grew up in the Suncrest neighborhood of Morgantown, serving his neighbors as a paper boy from a young age. He graduated from Morgantown High School and enrolled in West Virginia University, where his interest in business and public service flourished. While earning his MBA and serving as an Army ROTC cadet, he was elected Student Body President at WVU. Mike also took time for fun, marching with the "Pride of West Virginia" WVU marching band.

Mike Oliverio has woven together three careers in service since leaving WVU: as a soldier, a legislator, and a small business owner. From 1985 to 1993, he served as a Lieutenant and Captain in the United States Army Reserve.

In 1992, Mike was first elected as a member of the WV House of Delegates, and then in 1994, he was elected to the West Virginia State Senate for the 13th District, representing parts of Monongalia and Marion counties. He served from 1995 to 2010, totaling 18 consecutive years in political service.

After a hard-fought narrow defeat in 2010 for US Congress and a 12-year break from political office to run his business and raise his family, Mike chose to serve again by running for the State Senate in his district, winning re-election in 2022.

In 2023, Mike returned to the legislature, where he currently serves during regular sessions as Chair of the Senate Pensions Committee and as a member of the Banking & Insurance; Finance; Economic Development; Education; and Transportation & Infrastructure Committees.

During Legislative Interim Sessions, Mike serves as Senate Chair of the Interstate Cooperation, and as a member of the Finance; Transportation Accountability; Economic Development; Education; Education Accountability; Insurance & PEIA; and Technology & Infrastructure Committees.

Mike Oliverio has received Legislator of the Year awards from numerous organizations. This term, he represented West Virginia in the Hunt Institute Fellow Program, focusing on Child Care and Education issues from birth to Higher Education.

For 38 years, Mike has run his own business as an Insurance & Financial Advisor, where he focuses on helping families, small businesses, and financial institutions achieve financial security.

Mike is married to attorney Melissa Oliverio, and they are the proud parents of Michael and Maggie Oliverio, both graduates of WVU. He is a member of St. Francis Roman Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, and the Sons and Daughters of Italy. Additionally, Mike is active with the Chambers of Commerce in Marion and Monongalia Counties.