05/15/2026
Yesterday, our CEO, Dr. Valerie Bernard, attended the Pathways to Progress Conference hosted by Generation West Virginia in Charleston, WV. One of the strongest themes throughout the day centered around a critical question:
“How do we keep our kids in West Virginia?”
The conference brought together leaders from workforce development, education, broadband expansion, healthcare, industry, and economic development to discuss the future of our state.
One session that stood out most to me was the keynote by Morgan O’Brien from Hope Gas. I was especially excited to learn about the vision for HOPE Academy and the goal of bringing curriculum opportunities directly to high school students across West Virginia. Mr. O’Brien also shared plans for an elementary-level program, reinforcing the importance of introducing career awareness and workforce pathways at an early age.
I also found the organizational culture discussion fascinating. Hope Gas surveyed all 800 employees and provided a list of 50 organizational values. According to Mr. O’Brien:
• 97% selected Faith and Family as the top two values
• 85% selected Integrity as a third core value
Those results say a great deal about West Virginia culture, identity, and what matters to people in our communities.
Another important takeaway was Hope Gas’ commitment to hiring West Virginians now and in the future.
The broadband discussions throughout the conference also reinforced how infrastructure, education, workforce development, and economic opportunity are all interconnected. Broadband access is no longer simply a technology issue. It impacts healthcare, remote work, education, entrepreneurship, and whether young people believe they can build a future here.
One interactive session asked participants to share one word describing what they were taking away from the conference. Words like collaboration, communication, connection, community, trust, and hope filled the screen.
That may have been one of the most important takeaways of all.
Proud to be part of a room filled with West Virginians committed to building stronger communities, expanding opportunities, investing in workforce development, improving broadband access, and creating pathways for future generations to succeed right here in West Virginia.
The conversations yesterday were not simply about jobs or infrastructure. They were about people, connection, collaboration, and the future of our state.
West Virginia’s greatest resource has always been its people.
Valerie Bernard, Ph.D.
May 15, 2026
