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Schedule

Schedule

2022 Schedule

Speakers for our 2022 conference are being added daily!

Day One

Tuesday, November 15:
Our Health
8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Registration Opens

Location: Upper Deck of Rotunda, Riggleman Hall
8:00 a.m.

Breakfast and Networking

Location: Rotunda, Riggleman Hall
9:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Welcome Remarks/The Day Ahead

Location: Geary Auditorium- Second Floor, Riggleman Hall

Sara Payne Scarbro, Operations Council Chair, Alliance for the Economic Development of Southern West Virginia

University of Charleston
9:15 a.m. - 9:35 a.m.

Remarks

Dr. James W. Nemitz, President, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Introduced by: Drema Hill, VP for Community Engagement, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

9:35 a.m. - 10:20 a.m.

Keynote Speaker

Location: Geary Auditorium- Second Floor, Riggleman Hall
Jean Bennett, PhD, MSM, MSN, BSN, Regional Administrator, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration, Region 3

Introduced by: Dr. James W. Nemitz, President, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Dr. Lindsay Acree, Pharm. D.,AE-C, University of Charleston School of Pharmacy

10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Morning Strategy Session 1: Creating Healthy Workplaces in West Virginia

Location: Erma Byrd Gallery, Third Floor of Riggleman Hall
Jan Radar, Director, Mayor's Council of Public Health and Drug Control Policy

Austin Sanders, Program Manager, Compass Huntington

10:30 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.

Morning Strategy Session 2: WV First Foundation Update

Location: Appalachian Room - Second floor, Geary Student Union
Dr. Drema Hill, V.P. for Community Engagement and Development, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m.

Lunch and Program

Location: The Ballroom - Third floor, Geary Student Union
Lunch Program Starts at 11:45 p.m - Panel: Pathways to Education
Deb Harris, Lead Transition Agent, Jobs and Hope

Elizabeth Manuel, Senior Director, Student Services, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and West Virginia Community and Technical College System

Aaron Blankenship, Peer Recovery Specialist, West Virginia Collegiate Recovery Network

Kathy Herrington, M.S., M.A., LSW, Program Director, Substance Abuse, Human Services & Early Childhood Chair, West Virginia Northern Community College
1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Strategy Session 1: COVID-19 Silver Linings: Advancements for West Virginia Youth

Location: Appalachian Room - Second floor, Geary Student Union
Moderator: Amy Saunders, Managing Director, Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery

Nikki Tennis, J.D., Director, WVDHHR BBH Office of Children, Youth and Families

Jack Jarvis, Communications Director, Fairness WV

Amy Knicely, MA,CTRT, State Education Agency Coordinator, Project AWARE WV, Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery
1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

Strategy Session 2: Community Healthcare Ecosystem

Location: Erma Byrd Gallery, Third Floor of Riggleman Hall

Moderated by: Dan Fitzpatrick, Vice President of Operations and COO / CHRO, Concord University

Sharon Landsdale, President/CEO, Center for Rural Health Development

Joe Deegan, President, WV Behavioral Healthcare Providers’ Association

David Blaine, MD, West Virginia Regional Chief Medical Officer, Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc.

Jill Nolan, PhD, Chair Department of Health Sciences; Associate Professor of Health Education; Director, Master of Arts in Health Promotion

Rich Sutphin, MPH, Executive Director, WV Rural Health Association
2:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Break

Snack and Beverage Station will be available
2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Supporting Minorities in Healthcare: A Fireside Chat with Dr. Shanequa Smith

Location: Location: Geary Auditorium- Second Floor, Riggleman Hall
Dr. Shanequa Smith, Founder of Restorative Actions with Dr. Kelli Johnson, Associate Dean, University Libraries, Marshall University
3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Afternoon Strategy Session 1: Navigating Barriers to Reentry

Location: Erma Byrd Gallery, Third Floor of Riggleman Hall
Bev Sharp, BS, Executive Director, The REACH Initiative
Sign up required for this session. See signup sheet at registration.
3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Afternoon Strategy Session 2: Collegiate Recovery: Supporting Recovery in Higher Education Across West Virginia

Location: Appalachian Room - Second floor, Geary Student Union

Moderator: Susie Mullens, Project Coordinator, WV Collegiate Recovery Network

Brandon Whitehouse, Peer Recovery Support Specialist Concord University

Burton Pizzino, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, Bluefield State College

Jennifer Crane, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, WV School of Osteopathic Medicine

Melinda Price, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, New River Community & Technical College

Aaron Blankenship, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, Southern West Virginia Community & Technical College

Brandon Proudfoot, Peer Recovery Support Specialist, West Virginia State University
4:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Dinner and Program

Location: The Ballroom - Third floor, Geary Student Union Dinner program begins at 5:15 p.m. Panel: Hiring those in Recovery

Tina Ramirez, Director, Great Rivers Regional System for Addiction Care, Marshall Health

Lata Menon, CEO, First Choice Services, INC.

Brent Tomblin, Executive Director, Brighter Futures, Boone Memorial Hospital

Susan Bissett, President/CEO, WV Drug Intervention Institute
Jason Wilburn, Co-Owner, Paul Wissmach Glass Company
6:30 p.m.

Depart
Day Two

Wednesday, November 16:
Our Community
7:45 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Registration Opens

7:45 a.m.

Breakfast and Networking

Location: The Ballroom - Third floor, Geary Student Union
8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.

Opening Session and Welcome Remarks

Location: The Ballroom - Third floor, Geary Student Union

Stephanie Tyree, Executive Director, West Virginia Community Development Hub
8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Networking Activity

Location: The Ballroom - Third floor, Geary Student Union

9:15 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Grant Capacity Discussion

Location: The Ballroom - Third floor, Geary Student Union
Presenter: Catherine Wilt, University of Tennessee and Appalachian Regional Commission’s ALI Faculty Member
10:15 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.

Community Collaborative Network

Location: The Ballroom - Third floor, Geary Student Union

Moderator: Alecia Allen, Community Development Programs Coordinator, WV Community Development Hub

Mayor Sandy Hunt, City of New Martinsville

Shane Farthing, Director, Economic and Community Development, City of Martinsburg

Traci Phillips, Owner, Fun Fitness Kids Club LLC.

Peter Butler, Director of the School of Design and Community Development, Professor and Extension Specialist in Landscape Architecture, West Virginia University
11:00 a.m. - Noon

Interactive Working Session 1: Policy Solutions for the Community Development System

Location: Appalachian Room - Second floor, Geary Student Union

Moderator: Stephanie Tyree, Executive Director, WV Community Development Hub

Bryan Phillip, Policy Engagement Coordinator, WV Community Development Hub

Taylor Bennett, Abandoned Properties Coalition

Emily Wilson-Hauger, Director of Programs & Partnerships at Woodlands Development & Lending
11:00 a.m. - Noon

Interactive Working Session 2: Building Community and Connection

Location: Erma Byrd Gallery, Third Floor of Riggleman Hall

Moderator: Carrie Staton, Director of the Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center at West Virginia University

Monica Miller, Owner, M. Miller Development Services LLC.

Jay Ford, Attorney, Spilman Thomas & Battle, PLLC.

Peter Butler, Director of the School of Design and Community Development, Professor and Extension Specialist in Landscape Architecture, West Virginia University

Traci Phillips, Owner, Fun Fitness Kids Club LLC.
Noon

Lunch

Location: The Ballroom - Third floor, Geary Student Union
Noon - 1:45 p.m.

Lunch and Program

Remarks by Stephanie Tyree, Executive Director, West Virginia Community Development Hub

Zoom: Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin
Innovation within Federal Agencies: New Approaches to Increase Federal Funding in Coalfield Communities
Moderated by: Bryan Phillips, Policy Engagement Coordinator, West Virginia Community Development Hub

Ryan Thorn, WV State Director, USDA Doug Lynott, Director of Economic Development Integration, US EDA

Jen Giovanniti, President, Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation

Jennifer Garrison, Senior Policy Advisor the Federal Co-Chair, ARC

Brian Anderson, Director, Interagency Working Group on Coal and Power Plant Communities
1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Strategy Session 1: Cultivating your DEI landscape: Developing DEI Policy and Procedures

Location: Appalachian Room - Second floor, Geary Student Union
Moderator: Dr. Michelle Taylor, Department Chair & Associate Professor of Business, Bluefield State University

Meshea Poore, Esq., VP and CDO, West Virginia University

Hank Dial, City Manager, City of Huntington

Dr. Shanequa Smith, Restorative Actions

Tia Welch, Executive Director, State of WV Human Rights Commission
1:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Strategy Session 2: Panel TBD

Location: Erma Byrd Gallery, Third Floor of Riggleman Hall

2:45 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Break

3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Courageous Conversations

Location: Geary Auditorium- Second Floor, Riggleman Hall
Alys Smith, Co-Founder, Wing 2 Wing Foundation, First Lady of Marshall University, and Attorney with Charlotte Weber, VP of Government Affairs, Marshall University
3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Keynote Speaker: How I Fell in Love with Rural

Location: Erma Byrd Gallery, Third Floor of Riggleman Hall

Garry Clark, President & CEO, Economic Alliance Snohomish County, TEDx speaker and author of Unlikely Viking-From the D.C. Projects to Rural Nebraska.

Introduced by: Eric Jackson, Vice President and Chief of Staff West Virginia State University
4:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

POWER of Performance Awards Reception

Location: Erma Byrd Gallery, Third Floor of Riggleman Hall

5:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

The Importance of Giving Back

Location: Erma Byrd Gallery, Third Floor of Riggleman Hall
Andrew Dawson, Market President, United Bank

5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.

West Virginia Success Stories: Honoring those who are Leading the Way!

Location: Erma Byrd Gallery, Third Floor of Riggleman Hall
Power of Performance and Small Communities, BIG Solutions Advocate 2023 Awards

Presented by: Brittany Bruce, Projects Manager - External Engagement, Marshall University Research Corporation

6:15 p.m.

Depart
Day Three

Thursday, November 17:
Our Economy
8:00 a.m. - Noon

Registration Opens

Location: Riggleman Rotunda

8:00 a.m.

Breakfast and Networking

Location: Riggleman Rotunda

8:30 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.

Welcome Remarks/The Day Ahead

Location: Geary Auditorium- Second Floor, Riggleman Hall Brandon Dennison, Founder & CEO, Coalfield Development
8:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.

Congressional Update

Zoom: U.S. Senator Joe Manchin

Congressional Representatives

Video Message: U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito
9:05 a.m. - 9:35 a.m.

Capturing Federal Funding to Build a Stronger West Virginia

Moderated by: Brittany Bruce, Project Manager, MURC

Sara Payne Scarbro, Associate Vice President of Government Relations, Marshall University

Elizabeth Vitullo, PhD, Assistant Dean for Strategic Initiatives, Program Coordinator, Healthcare MBA, John Chambers College of Business and Economics, Assistant Vice President, Economic Innovation, West Virginia University
9:35 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.

State Broadband Update

Kelly Workman, Director, Office of Broadband, West Virginia Department of Economic Development

9:50 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Sponsor Spotlight

Rank One Computing

10:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Legislative Lookahead

Richie Heath, Bowles Rice LLP

Speaker Roger Hanshaw, WV House of Delegates

Minority Leader Doug Skaff, WV House of Delegates
11:00 a.m. - Noon

Serving the Community is Just Good Business

Moderator: Dr. John Maher, Vice President of Research, Marshall University Research Corporation (Invited)

Heather Vanater, Economic & Business Development Manager Appalachian Power

Brooks Crislip, Director of Business Development, West Virginia American Water

Scott Adkins, Director, Workforce WV

Dr. James Becker, Vice Dean for Governmental Affairs and Health Care Policy, Marshall Health
Noon - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch and Program

Lunch Program Starts at 12:30 p.m. Higher Education Means Jobs: A Discussion Between Presidents Moderated by: Bill Bissett, State Director, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito
12:25 p.m. - 1:25 p.m.

Lunch Panel: Higher Education Means Jobs: A Discussion Between Presidents

Moderated by: Bill Bissett, State Director, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito

Brad D. Smith, President, Marshall University

Dr. James W. Nemitz, President, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine

Dr. Kendra Boggess, President, Concord University

Dr. Casey Sacks, President, BridgeValley Community and Technical College

Ericke Cage, J.D., LL.M., President, West Virginia State University

Dr. Josh Baker, President, Mountwest Community and Technical College

Dr. Martin Roth, President, University of Charleston
1:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.

Zoom: U.S. Department of Energy

Lane Dilg, Senior Advisor, Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure, U.S. Department of Energy
1:50 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

ACT Now: Building A New Economy for Southern West Virginia

Moderator: Brandon Dennison, Founder & CEO, Coalfield Development

Stephanie Tyree, Executive Director, West Virginia Community Development Hub

Alex Weld, Executive Director, Generation West Virginia

Cathy Burns, Executive Director, Huntington Municipal Development Authority

Sam Taylor, Assistant Director, Strategic Partnerships and Technologies, WVU Energy Institute

Nick Guertin, Associate Director, Revitalize Appalachia, Coalfield Development Corporation

Nicole Christian, President & CEO, Charleston Area Alliance
3:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Takeaways/Depart