Submitted to WAJR

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation invite the public to attend the seventh annual statewide Focus Forward conference on Tuesday, April 22 at the Morgantown Marriott at Waterfront Place.

Join more than 400 state and regional business, government and education leaders at Focus Forward: Long Live West Virginia to explore health, wellness, the future of work, economic prosperity and longevity through a personal, state and global lens. A networking breakfast will be held at 8 a.m. and the program will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by a special reception from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. to celebrate the retirement of West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee.

Registration is free but required to attend both the conference and/or the reception.

How can we live longer, healthier, more prosperous lives? What will increasing life expectancies mean for our workplaces, schools and communities? And how can innovation shape a healthier future for us all? Join national, state and local experts as they examine how we can begin tackling answers to these pressing questions.

Whether you work in government, business, education or simply someone passionate about shaping West Virginia’s future, don’t miss the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions, gain valuable insights and collaborate across industries to help advance West Virginia and the region forward.

Featured speakers include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

  • Vishal Agrawal, MD, Chief Strategy and Corporate Development Officer, Humana
  • John Deskins, Director, Bureau of Business and Economic Research; Associate Professor, Economics, John Chambers College of Business and Economics, West Virginia University
  • Ken Gabriel, CEO, BioForge
  • Andrea Garrett, Business Development, Policy and Strategic Growth Lead, West Virginia Chamber of Commerce
  • E. Gordon Gee, President, West Virginia University
  • David Gozal, MD, Dean and Vice President for Health Affairs, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University
  • Nancy LeaMond, Chief Advocacy and Engagement Officer, AARP
  • David Luckey, Senior International, Defense Researcher, RAND Corporation; Professor of Policy Analysis, Pardee RAND Graduate School
  • Joseph Maroon, MD, Clinical Professor of Neurological Surgery, UPMC; Pittsburgh Steelers Physician
  • Clay Marsh, MD, Chancellor and Executive Dean, Health Sciences, West Virginia University, Health Sciences, West Virginia University
  • Roderick Moore, Sport Science Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Randy Nelson, MD, Professor and Chair, Hazel Ruby McQuain Chair for Neurological Research, West Virginia University
  • David Ramsey, President and CEO, Vandalia Health
  • Scott Raynes, President and CEO, Marshall Health Network
  • Brad D. Smith, President, Marshall University
  • Albert Wright, President and CEO, WVU Health System

Find the full program, speaker lineup and registration details at wvpec.wvu.edu.