The West Virginia Public Education Collaborative, based at WVU, and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, will host the Focus Forward conference on Wednesday, April 5. (WVU Graphic)
WHAT: The West Virginia Public Education Collaborative, based at West Virginia University, and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, will host the fifth annual Focus Forward conference, featuring discussions about economic and workforce opportunities in the energy sector.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 5, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WHERE: Platinum Ballroom, Salons A-E, Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Two Waterfront Place, Morgantown
WHO: More than 300 business, government, education and community leaders from across West Virginia are expected to attend.
Speakers include
the following:
• U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin
• WVU
President Gordon Gee
• Marshall University
President Brad Smith
• Gayle Manchin, co-chair,
Appalachian Regional Commission
• Sarah Tucker,
chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and Community and
Technical College System of West Virginia
• Nathan Flesher, McKinsey and Company partner
• Valerie Karplus, Carnegie Mellon University engineering and public policy
expert
• Sara Lewis-Stankus, deputy state Superintendent of Schools
• Sen. Amy Grady,
chair, state Senate Education Committee
• Industry experts from Nucor Steel West Virginia, PPC Metals-TIMET, Form
Energy and ARCH2
See the full schedule of speakers and event agenda.
NOTES: Members of the media who are
interested in attending the conference should contact Katie Farmer at
315-256-8509 or katie.farmer@mail.wvu.edu ahead of the event.
Each year, Focus Forward addresses how emerging issues will affect West Virginia’s economy and workforce. Past topics have included artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, supercomputing assets and innovative technologies.
The conference welcomes experts from the national, state and local levels to discuss how West Virginia can best prepare to take on these issues, ready its workforce, attract new businesses and grow the economy.
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kf/03/30/23
MEDIA CONTACT: Katie Farmer
Communications Director and Marketing Strategist, Centers and Institutes
WVU Office of the Provost
315-256-8509; katie.farmer@mail.wvu.edu
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