PRE-LIMINARY SYMPOSIUM PROGRAM
DAY 1, TUESDAY, MARCH 31ST
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:
President/CEO, Blackhawk Mining
CEO, Eagle Summit Resources
President/CEO, American Consolidated Natural Resources
President, Alpha Engineering Services
President, Matrix Design Group
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