Please be sure to check back for details as they are announced.
Our key sessions for 2026 will be:
Session 1: Resiliency in Appalachia
Session 2: Powering Appalachia
Session 3: Responsible Utilization of Appalachian Resources
Session 4: Industrial Competitiveness in Appalachia
| Time | Agenda Item | Location |
|---|---|---|
| DAY 1 | TUESDAY: MARCH 3rd, 2026 | |
| 8:00am | Introductions and Opening Remarks: Michael T. Benson: President, WVU | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 8:30am | Keynote: Dr. David Pointer Interim Nuclear Energy Program Director, Fusion and Fission Sciences Directorate Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| Session 1: Resiliency in Appalachia Panelists will discuss resiliency in the face of disaster in Appalachia. Using recent events as a backdrop, this panel will explore how best to recover from, and mitigate against, natural disasters caused by flooding, landslides, and fire. | WVU Erikson Alumni Center | |
| 9:00am | Panel Moderator: Eric Dixon Senior Researcher; Ohio River Valley Institute (ORVI) Panelists: Jane Margaret Bell Regional Planner for Water Resources Land of Sky Dr. Aaron Maxwell Associate Professor of Geography Faculty Director, WV GIC Technical Center West Virginia University (WVU) Brendan Muckian-Bates Policy and Advocacy Associate Central Appalachian Network Appalachian Flood Resiliency Coalition Dr. Peter Thornton Corporate Fellow; Director of Climate Change Science Institute Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 10:30am | Networking Break | |
| 11:00am | Session 2: Powering Appalachia Utilities and companies in this region face unique challenges to meet the needs and increasing demands of their residential and commercial customers, especially with the increase in data centers and A.I. Panelists will discuss their approaches to addressing this demand and explore a variety of solutions from SMR deployment to onsite generation behind the meter. | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 11:00am | Panel Moderator: Dr. Kirk Gerdes Deputy Director, Research and Innovation Center National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) Panelists: Mara Boggs President & CEO Charleston Area Alliance Evan Cummings Senior Director of Business Development Kairos Power Will Latta Vice President, BrightLoop (TM) Babcock & Wilcox (B&W) Jeff Nehr Senior Vice President of Gas Supply & Development Hope Gas | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 12:30pm | Working Lunch: Fireside chat A conversation about the history of volunteer service in Appalachia with a focus on disaster recovery efforts and increasing resiliency against future severe weather events. Dr. Edgar Lara-Curzio Distinguished Scientist, Director of Energy Resources Programs Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Dave Lumsden Chairman Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), WV | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 2:00pm | Networking Break | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| Session 3: Responsible Utilization of Appalachian Resources From timber to minerals, extraction and utilization of natural resources is a critical element of the regional economy, impacting everything from power generation to industrial manufacturing. Panelists will discuss efforts to reduce waste in these sectors, while developing ways to positively impact the environment in the communities they serve and operate in. | WVU Erikson Alumni Center | |
| 2:30pm | Moderator: Brendan Muckian-Bates Policy and Advocacy Associate Central Appalachian Network Appalachian Flood Resiliency Coalition Panelists: Rob Eckenrode Green Assets Jessica Moore Director West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey Cassidy Riley Chief Program Officer Coalfield Development Joe Stopper Senior Vice President for Planning and Analysis Ramaco Carbon | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 4:00pm | Networking Break | |
| 5:00pm | Reception | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 5:30pm | Special Presentation Matt Wilson Professor of Animal Sciences and Director WVU Alliance for Regenerative Livestock | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 6:00pm | Day 1 Adjourn Dinner on your own Local Restaurant Guide | |
| DAY 2: | WEDNESDAY: MARCH 4th, 2026 | |
| 8:45am | Day 2: Opening Remarks and Introductions: Ming Lei: Vice President for Research, WVU | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| Session 4: Industrial Competitiveness in Appalachia With the increasing demand for energy and data centers, the need for developing our workforce and regional economy require a strategic approach to ensure positive impacts on the communities of Appalachia. | WVU Erikson Alumni Center | |
| 9:00am | Panel Moderator: David Satterfield Interim Associate Vice President for Research West Virginia University (WVU) Panelists: Dr. Brian Anderson Executive Vice President, Energy and Utilities System One Dr. Christian Staudt Partner and Renewable Energy Co-Leader McKinsey & Company Amanda Woodrum Co-Executive Director ReImagine Appalachia Dr. Melanie Zaber Senior Economist; Codirector, Middle-Class Pathways Center Professor of Policy Analysis, RAND School of Public Policy | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 10:30am | Review of Discussions | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |
| 12:00pm | Adjourn Box Lunches Provided | WVU Erikson Alumni Center |