West Virginians are Focused Forward
Written By: Katie Farmer West Virginia University Marketing Strategist
The world we know is changing at a pace faster than we’ve ever experienced in human history. Advanced technologies, a global market, instant access to information in real time and a newfound work culture are shaping today’s society in ways unimaginable to us even a decade ago.
These changes are also shifting economic opportunities and workforce demands. West Virginia must keep up and adapt to this modern world.
Five years ago, the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation recognized the need to bring together government, business and education leaders to address these emerging issues. Cue the inception of Focus Forward: Preparing Today for the West Virginia of Tomorrow.
Since 2018, Focus Forward has examined how artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, supercomputing assets, innovative technologies and industry transformations will impact West Virginia’s future.
The conference annually welcomes national, state and local experts to help us explore what these inevitable changes mean to how we live, work and play in West Virginia. We also examine how we can keep up with the times to stay competitive, relevant and resilient. And we question what actions we should take now to strengthen West Virginia’s workforce and economy for decades to come.
The conversations also serve as a critical catalyst to forge public-private partnerships, generate forward-thinking ideas, spur investment, innovate changing industries, and most importantly, look ahead to determine how we want to write West Virginia’s next chapter in history.
This year, Focus Forward with Big Energy highlights innovation and technology trends that are transforming the energy sector. Innovative energy companies tell us why they chose to locate in West Virginia and why. Education and business leaders discuss how our education system can ready our workforce to fill these future jobs. Government officials and thought leaders consider policies that attract new businesses and make it easy for startups and entrepreneurs to thrive and grow. Funding experts reveal available funding options to bring in new capital, startups and investments. And researchers share groundbreaking research, technology advancements and future opportunities in batteries, solar, wind, hydrogen, coal and more. Combined, these ideas can help make West Virginia a global competitor in the energy economy.
While many of these trends are just on the horizon, how we capitalize on these transformative opportunities will be critical to the broad, economic success of West Virginia. That is why we remain focused forward.
Whether you’re a researcher, entrepreneur, business leader, non-profit director, community organizer, policymaker or K-12 educator, there’s room at the table to join these conversations in the future, partner with forward-thinking leaders and mobilize toward West Virginia’s most promising future.