Betty Ireland served as West Virginia's 28th Secretary of State from 2005 to 2009, the first woman ever to be elected to the state's executive branch of government.

A Charleston native, Ireland is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, where she serves on the Alumni Association's Board of Governors.  Ireland taught for several years in the West Virginia public school system, and then entered the private sector as a small business owner and executive in the pension business.

Ireland has served on the City of Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals, and was an At-Large representative on the Charleston City Council.  She became the state's first Certified Pension Consultant, and served as Executive Director for the West Virginia Consolidated Public Retirement Board.

Prior to her election as Secretary of State in 2004, Ireland was President & CEO of Jackson Kelly Solutions, LLC.  The recipient of two presidential appointments, she served 4 years on the Executive Board of the National Association of Secretaries of State.

Ireland was named one of America's 'Top 25 Doers, Dreamers & Drivers' by Government Technology Magazine in recognition of outstanding initiatives through the use of technology that make government more accessible to the people.  She was also selected as a member of the Council of Pacesetters, by the Stennis Center for Public Service, and was honored at its annual Southern Women in Public Service conference.

Ireland is a founding member of the Vandalia Rotary Club of Charleston, a member of the Inaugural Class of graduates of the West Virginia Diversity Leadership Academy, and named 2008 Hero of the Year by the Charleston Public Safety Council for initiating the Address Confidentiality Program for victims of domestic violence.  She also serves as a Director to the West Virginia Colleges and Independent Universities Board, and was named a 2009 Honoree of the West Virginia Education Alliance, as a role model for those who were educated in the West Virginia public school system.  After leaving public office in January 2009, she joined Parkersburg-based Professional Services of America, Inc., as Senior Vice-President.  In May 2010 she joined the Mid-Atlantic Technical, Research & Innovation Center (MATRIC) as Vice-President, Business Relationships.

At its 2009 annual meeting, Ireland was elected to the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, where she serves as an advocate for businesses across the State of West Virginia.

Ireland is married to Sam Haddad, a Whitesville native, and they are the parents of four children, and have four grandchildren.