Are there enough trained people to meet growing demands for qualified workers in the coal industry today? That’s one of the central questions to be addressed at the Energy Roadmap Workshop on Coal Workforce Development Thursday, April 29, at the Mountaineer Conference Center in Beckley. The event is sponsored by the West Virginia University National Research Center for Coal and Energy, the West Virginia Development Office and The Coal Forum.

The workshop is the first in a new, four-event program continuing the successful Energy Roadmap Workshop Series. The series is an outgrowth of the Governor’s Energy Roadmap developed by the Governor’s Energy Task Force under the leadership of Energy Village. The new series will focus specifically on West Virginia coal, its workforce needs, economic impacts, homeland security links, advanced utilization technologies, and position in national energy policy.

Keynote speakers for the April 29th workshop include Speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates Bob Kiss and Arch Coal Executive Vice President of Mining Operations Kenneth G. Woodring, with introductions by West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney.

A featured panel session will focus on a variety of workforce issues. David Lieving of the West Virginia Development Office will discuss the state’s WORKFORCE West Virginia system. Jerry Massie of the UMWA Career Center will talk about peer counseling for members of the coal industry. Kenneth Dickens of the West Virginia Board of Coal Mine Health and Safety will give a personal account of his experiences with the state’s workforce system. WVU Tech’s D. Anne Cavalier will discuss results of a study on predicting future labor needs for the industry. WVU Mining Extension Service’s Jim Dean will describe industry workforce programs offered by WVU .

Participants will engage in an ideas forum immediately following the luncheon speaker. The event is scheduled to end by 3 p.m.

Those who register for the event by April 23 will receive the discounted fee of $35. Online registration is available at www.WVEnergyRoadmapWorkshops.org or by phoning Peggy Andreas of the WVU NRCCE at 304-293-2867, ext. 5420. After April 23, the registration fee is $45. Walk-in registrations will be accepted as limited seating space permits. Onsite registration will open at 8:30 a.m.