Jonathan Elder joined the WVHTC Foundation during November 2001 as Chief Financial Officer. His responsibilities include strategic financial planning and financial oversight for the organization. Additionally, he was chosen in 2003 to oversee the WVHTC Foundation's INNOVA Commercialization Group.

Prior to joining the WVHTC Foundation, he served as a member of Toothman Rice, PLLC, one of the largest CPA firms in the state of West Virginia. He started his career with Toothman Rice immediately upon graduation from West Virginia University (WVU) in 1976 where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in accounting.

During his 25 years with Toothman Rice, Elder worked primarily in the areas of information technology and consulting services and worked extensively with government contracting, technology, nonprofit, construction, manufacturing, health care, and emerging growth companies. He worked closely with clients to assist them with identifying and achieving their financial performance objectives, implementing and reviewing business and accounting systems, cash flow analysis, budgeting, and strategic planning.

Elder holds a Master’s Certificate from WVU in federal government contracting. He has been an adjunct faculty member of WVU and Marshall University for the Federal Market Group Federal Government Contracting courses and has taught accounting as a part-time instructor at Fairmont State University. He was selected as the State of West Virginia Small Business Administration Accountant Advocate of the Year Award winner for each of the years 1999 and 1994. He is a graduate of the Leadership West Virginia Class of 2003, and has served on the national steering committee for the American Institute of CPA’s Annual "National Controller/CFO Conference." During 2004, he received an Economic Development Finance Professional certification from the National Development Council and was also chosen as the “Outstanding CPA in Business and Industry” by the West Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants (WVSCPAs). He received his award during the Annual WVSCPAs Meeting at the Greenbrier Hotel. Also during 2004, the WVHTC Foundation was chosen as an Intuit National Case Study for Elder’s implementation of Intuit’s Enterprise Solutions accounting software for WVHTC Foundation federal award financial management.

He is a past president of the Central Chapter of the WVSCPAs, past member of the board of directors of the WVSCPAs, past member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Parish Council, past treasurer of the Harrison County Catholic School System, the Marion County United Way, and is a graduate of Leadership Marion and the 2003 Leadership West Virginia Class. He is currently a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), a member of the Information Technology and Consulting Divisions of the AICPA, the WVSCPAs, a member of the National Contract Management Association, and is treasurer of the board of directors of the United Hospital Center of Clarksburg, West Virginia.

Elder and his wife, Mary Rose, reside in Country Club Addition in Clarksburg. Jenna, their youngest daughter is attending WVU. Their oldest daughter, Christa, is a pharmacist and their son, John Paul, is a civil engineer.