PRE-LIMINARY SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM

DAY 1, TUESDAY, MARCH 31^ST

MORNING SESSION

Michael Day, CEO, Eagle Summit Resources

Rich Nolan, President, National Mining Association

James Justice, United States Senator

Kris Warner, WV Secretary of State

Mountaineer Guardian Award Luncheon

Frank Foster, Director, Office of Miners’ Health, Safety & Training

AFTERNOON SESSION

WV Legislative Update

Randy Smith, WV Senate President

Involvement with Rolling Thunder Mine Rescue Operation

Tucker Palmatier, Cave Diving Group of the National Speleological Society

Perspective on domestic and global coal markets for both thermal and met coal

Fran Taglia, President, Wier International

John Deskins, Director, WVU Bureau of Business & Economic Research

5:30 PM – 8:30 PM Hall of Fame Reception and Dinner

2026 Coal Hall of Fame Inductees:

• Charles Bearse

President/CEO, Blackhawk Mining

• Michael Day

CEO, Eagle Summit Resources

• Robert Moore

President/CEO, American Consolidated Natural Resources

• Gary Hartsog

President, Alpha Engineering Services

• Keith Hainer

President, Matrix Design Group

• Bill Reid

Founder/Editor, CoalZoom

DAY 2, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1ST

MORNING SESSION

Haley Bunn, WV Supreme Court, Chief Justice

JB McCuskey, WV Attorney General

Lanny E. Erdos, Director, Office of Surface Mining

WV DEP Update Panel          

Jonathan Rorrer, Director, WV Division of Mining & Reclamation

Environmental Excellence Awards Luncheon

Harold Ward, Cabinet Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection

AFTERNOON SESSION

Energy Regulatory Panel

Nick Preservati, Deputy Secretary, WV Department of Commerce

Charlotte Lane, Chair, WV Public Service Commission

Advanced Coal Based Carbon Product Panel

Matt McKean, CEO, Frontieras North America

Damian Beauchamp, CEO, 8 Rivers

Mike Gelinas, Founding Principal, COFR Technologies

Ato Andoh, CEO, GCS Fibers