The 2025 Focus Forward conference, hosted by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative at WVU and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, is slated for April 22 at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place. Planned discussion topics include health, wellness and economic mobility in the Mountain State. (WVU Photo)
WHAT: The West Virginia Public Education Collaborative, based at West Virginia University, and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation will host the seventh annual Focus Forward conference.
Focus Forward: Long Live West Virginia will explore the intersection of health, wellness and economic mobility.
Immediately following the conference, a special reception hosted by the Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation will celebrate the 45-year legacy of retiring WVU President Gordon Gee.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 22, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: Morgantown Event Center, Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place, Two Waterfront Place, Morgantown
WHO: More than 500 business, government, education and community leaders from across West Virginia have registered to attend.
See the full schedule of speakers and event agenda.
NOTES: Members of the media who are interested in attending the conference or the reception should contact Katie Farmer at 315-256-8509 or Katie.Farmer@mail.wvu.edu.
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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MEDIA CONTACT: Katie Farmer
Executive Director of Strategic Priorities
WVU Strategic Communications and Marketing
315-256-8509; Katie.Farmer@mail.wvu.edu
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