July 8, 2024 - “Register now to hear the amazing group of industry personalities cover a wide range of subjects. In addition to the four coal operator CEOs, who are attending, the speakers include Chris Hamilton, President & CEO, West Virginia Coal Association; Ben Beakes, President, Metallurgical Coal Producers Association; Bob Sherack, Vice President of Mining Products, Komatsu; and Jacquie Fidler, VP Environmental & Sustainability, CONSOL Energy,” said Bill Reid, Symposium Chair and Managing Editor of CoalZoom.com.  

Chris Hamilton

Ben Beakes

Bob Sherack

Jacquie Fidler

Bill Reid 

“We also have speaking: Ken Humphreys, former DOE Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Senior Vice President, Net-Negative CO2 Baseload Power, Inc; Rick Q. Honaker, Professor, Department of Mining Engineering, University of Kentucky; Ernie Thrasher, Owner, XCoal Energy Resources; and Nate Waters, Mine Manager, Leer South Mine, Arch Resources. With help from these experts, we will “dig” into the challenges and opportunities of American coal so we understand the future of our great industry,” said Reid. 

Ken Humphreys

Rick Q Honaker

Ernie Thrasher

Nate Waters

A block booking of rooms has been made at a few hotels In Princeton, WV. These special rates are only available till July 19. Reservations should be made without delay.  The list of hotels can be seen at www.CoalZoom.com .                                    

The Bluefield Coal Symposium has the theme Using U.S. Coal for a Better America. This national event is jointly presented by the Chamber of Commerce of the Two Virginias and CoalZoom. The symposium is being held August 12-14 at the Chuck Mathena Center, 1298 Stafford Drive, Princeton, WV. which is a beautiful 930-seat theater with state-of-the-art audio and visual capabilities as well as stunning architecture.

Chuck Mathena Center 

Over a day and a half, there are three technical sessions, two dinners, and one luncheon.  Registration is open and there are a number of packages available. Package A includes everything and costs $495.00 per person. Package A (Student or Retired) Everything is $225.00.  Package E includes Everything plus Table Top Exhibit with MINExpo enhancement package. This costs $995.000 per person.

The Symposium includes golf on Monday, August 12, as well as top-class entertainment with special live performances by Twitty and Lynn: A Salute to Conway & Loretta, as well as an appearance by Exile, who will perform many of their hit songs.  The greater Bluefield area is quite beautiful in August, so please join us for some high-quality presentations, great food and super entertainment, combined with plenty of friendly socializing, all happening in a picturesque setting in the heart of coal country. 

Twitty and Lynn

Exile

To register, please click here or phone the Chamber of Commerce at (304) 327-7184. Bill Reid can be reached at billreidcoal@gmail.com.