WVML 2025 Conference Agenda

Monday, August 4, 2025

Time	Event
8:30 a.m.	Golf – Registration
9:00 a.m.	Shotgun Start – WVML John DeStefano Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament Committee Meetings at the Morgantown Marriott
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	By-laws (Wharf A) Resolutions (Wharf B)
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Legislative Policy (Mon River A&B) Credentials (Puskar Boardroom)
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Nominating (Farmer Boardroom)
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.	Host City Event

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Time	Event
7:00 a.m.	WVML Wellness Walk – Meet at Conference Registration
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	Enjoy Breakfast (MEC A)
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	President’s Breakfast for First Time Attendees (Bourbon Prime Private Dining Room)
8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Registration is Open
8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Relax and Recharge (MEC Lobby)
9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.	Opening General Session (MEC A) Presiding: The Honorable Mayor Scott James, WVML President Performance by: Lee Dean Invocation: WVML Chaplain Clerk Amber Miller Belcher Remarks by: Clayton White, PE, PMP Chief Executive Officer, The Thrasher Group Mayor of our Host City, Mayor Danielle Trumble, City of Morgantown Susan Economou, WVML Executive Director Panel Discussion: Election Date Sync or Swim - Implementing Senate Bill 50 David Cook, General Counsel WV Secretary of State’s Office Johnnie E. Brown, City Attorney & Managing Member Pullin, Fowler, Flanagan, Brown & Poe Michelle Holly, President WV County Clerk’s Association Mayor Patricia Lewis, City of Granville Panel Discussion: From Risk to Resilience Mike Lloyd - Director of Wheeling, WV Information Technology Department Bob Kaminski, Cybersecurity Advisor, CISA Josh Spence, CIO Alpha Innovations Bill Gardner, Associate Professor Marshall University James Lanham, MU ICS Director of Operations
11:00 a.m.	Clerk/Recorder Silent Auction Opens (Salon F)
11:00 a.m.	Exhibit Hall Opens (MEC B) Meet the vendors who work with cities, towns, and villages to help meet their goals and learn about the many solutions they provide.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Concurrent Workshops: Who’s Robert, and Why’s He Got So many Rules? A Saner Way to Run Your Class III and Class IV Town Meetings (Salon D) The WHY Matters: Applying Strategic Communications/PR to Drive Successful Municipal Projects (Salon E) New Requirements for Collateralizing Public Deposits (Wharf AB)
11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	For Guests Only: Elevate your culinary skills! Join Chefs from the Marriott for hands-on instruction in tricks of the trade for assembling a charcuterie board that will wow your family, friends, or party guests.
12:00 Noon	Networking Lunch with Exhibitors (Exhibit Hall)
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Concurrent Workshops Election Date Sync or Swim - Implementing Senate Bill 50 (Salon D) From Risk to Resilience (Salon E) Dealing with Stress (Wharf A&B)
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	WV Municipal Clerk/Recorder’s Association Meeting (Farmer Boardroom)
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	WV City Management Association Meeting (Mon River A&B)
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.	Afternoon General Session (MEC A) Remarks by David Goldberg, President & CEO, Mon Health Systems Remarks by West Virginia State Treasurer, Larry Pack Keynote Address by veteran broadcaster Hoppy Kercheval
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	WV Municipal Attorney’s Association Meeting (Puskar Boardroom)
3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.	Break with Exhibitors (Exhibit Hall) Grab a snack and visit with the exhibitors.
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.	Awards Dinner (MEC A) This is our yearly recognition of excellence in municipal government. Let’s celebrate our success! Remarks by Ryan Hayes, President Hope Water Utilities
8:30 p.m.	Hospitality Room (Green Room) Must be 21 or older

Wednesday, August 6, 2025

Time	Event
7:00 a.m.	WVML Wellness Walk – Meet at Conference Registration
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.	Enjoy Breakfast (MEC A)
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Registration is Open
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Exhibit Hall Open Visit with businesses that support the Municipal League and cities, towns, and villages.
8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Relax and Recharge (MEC Lobby)
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Clerks and Recorders Silent Auction Open (Salon F)
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Special General Session: Personal Safety in the Public Eye With personal attacks of public officials on the rise, this session will focus on tips to maintaining personal safety without compromising your public profile.
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.	Concurrent Workshops Contracts 101: Avoiding Pitfalls and Protecting Your Municipality (Salon D) From Lability to Viability (Salon E) Substance Abuse in the Workplace: Spotting the Signs and Providing Support to Employees (Wharf A&B)
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Lunch with Exhibitors (Exhibit Hall)
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m	Concurrent Workshops Introducing the West Virginia Flood Resiliency Framework (Salon D) Liability Neutral Language (Salon E) What’s So Special About Spatial? (Wharf A&B)
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Concurrent Workshops Modern Community Policing & CIT: The Evidence Based, Inexpensive and Effective Approach to Building Safer Communities (Salon D) The Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook (Salon E) Making Spatial Citizens: City of Morgantown’s Use of Location for Informing the Public (Wharf A&B)
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.	Mobile Workshop: Hazel’s House of Hope (Space is limited & pre-registration is required)
3:00 p.m.	Clerk/Recorder’s Silent Auction Closes (Salon F) Make sure your bids are in!
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Annual Business Meeting (Salon C) Official Business Meeting of the WVML! Reports from Credentials, By-laws, Resolution, and Nominating Committees. Delegates will vote for the WVML Board and Officers. Additional votes may be required for by-laws changes or proposed resolutions. Board Photo will follow immediately after!
6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.	56th Annual Conference Closing Event (MEC B) Put Me in Coach! Lace up for fun and games as we celebrate our outgoing President, Coach Scott James.
9:00 p.m.	Hospitality Room (Green Room) Must be 21 or older

Thursday, August 7, 2025

Time	Event
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Newly Appointed Municipal Judge Mandatory Training (Wharf A&B) Instructor: Attorney Floyd “Kin” Sayre, III, Bowles Rice, LLP (This training satisfies the mandatory training for Municipal Judges required by W. Va. State Code §8-10-2(c)). Conference Workshop Descriptions: Who’s Robert, and Why’s He Got So Many Rules? A Saner Way to Run Your Class III and Class IV Town Meetings. Presenter: Mark Matkovich, WVML General Counsel Surprise! West Virginia cities don’t have to follow Robert’s Rules—and honestly, most smaller towns aren’t (even if they think they are). Between custom, common sense, and “how we’ve always done it,” many councils have quietly adopted a hybrid approach without ever writing it down. This session introduces a set of Model Rules of Procedure, designed for West Virginia’s smaller villages and towns. It’s simple, practical, and (gasp) actually matches how your meetings probably already run. Think of it as putting structure behind the sensible practices you’re already using—without diving into Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, Jefferson’s Manual, or Robert’s 600-page epic. Come get the rules that speak your language and fit your town. The WHY Matters: Applying Strategic Communications/PR to Drive Successful Municipal Projects Presenters: Mary Lemine, Client Marketing Manager, Thrasher Engineering; Kevin Hamric, Brand Marketing Manager, Thrasher Engineering; Heidi Handley, Director of Marketing, Thrasher Engineering Your message matters! Knowing WHY you are undertaking a project is crucial, and it's vital that others understand the mission too. Often, the WHY gets buried under the many moving parts of managing a project. A well-crafted communications strategy can sharpen your message, defend your position, and accurately guide your project to hit the target. Effective public relations, communications, and marketing strategies are essential to the success of municipal projects. This session will explore how communications planning can foster community support, attract investment, and promote sustainable development. Attendees will learn best practices for engaging stakeholders, leveraging media relations, and utilizing digital marketing to highlight the benefits of redevelopment projects. Through case studies and expert insights, participants will gain practical tools to enhance their communication efforts and drive project success. This session is ideal for community leaders, environmental professionals, project managers, and certified planners. New Requirements for Collateralizing Public Deposits Presenter: Julie Hefner-Ferrell, WV State Treasurer’s Office Description: The West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office is responsible for ensuring public funds deposited in financial institutions are properly collateralized and protected. The West Virginia Security for Public Deposits Act authorizes public deposits made by the state or any political subdivision of the state be held at an approved designated state depository and collateralized per West Virginia Code §12-1B-5 and §12-1B-7. The Act allows financial institutions two methods of collateralizing public funds: the Dedicated Single Bank Method and the Multibank Pooled Method. All public funds will be collateralized, and collateral will be held in benefit to the West Virginia State Treasurer. There are no exemptions or exceptions to this Act. West Virginia State Code supersedes all local laws & ordinances. Election Date Sync or Swim - Implementing Senate Bill 50 The panel from the morning general session will offer more in-depth information and answer questions on transitioning election cycles to coincide with county election dates in compliance with Senate Bill 50. From Risk to Resilience Presenters: Mike Lloyd, Director of Wheeling, WV Information Technology Department; Bob Kaminski, Cybersecurity Advisor CISA; Josh Spence, CIO Alpha Innovations; Bill Gardner, Associate Professor Marshall University; James Lanham, MU ICS Director of Operations The panel from the morning general session will take a deeper dive into cyber threats to critical infrastructure, AI in the real world, grant funding access, workforce gaps and why it matters to municipal leaders. Dealing with Stress Presenter: John Sorrenti There are many ways to manage unhealthy stress in your life. The key to stress reduction is identifying strategies that work for you. As you begin to understand more about how stress affects you, you will develop your own ideas to help relieve tension. Because each person is unique, some of these stress management strategies will be more helpful for you than others, and some will be new skills that require practice to be effective. Think about learning to ride a bicycle. There was a time when this was a new skill and felt very unnatural and awkward. You probably needed help at first. With some coaching and practice, stress management, like cycling or any other skill, becomes easier and more effective. Contracts 101: Avoiding Pitfalls and Protecting Your Municipality Presenter: Mark Matkovich, WVML General Counsel For Class III and IV West Virginia municipalities, contract review can be a daunting task— especially without in-house legal counsel. As political subdivisions, municipalities must navigate specific legal limitations set by the West Virginia Code, state constitution, and local policies. This session will provide clear guidelines and practical tools to help municipal officials confidently assess contracts, identify common red flags, and ensure compliance. By streamlining the process, we can reduce risk, improve consistency, and protect public funds. Join us to learn how to make contract review easier and more effective for your municipality. What’s So Special about Spatial? Presenters: Taryn Moser, WV State GIS Coordinator; Frank Lafone, WV Association of Geospatial Professionals Geospatial data is crucial in emergency response, especially with the increasing frequency and intensity of flooding events. Whether you're building tools, analyzing risk, or planning response logistics, geospatial methods allow you to make data-driven decisions that save time, resources, and lives. From Liability to Viability: A Legal Toolkit to Address Neglected Properties in West Virginia Presenter: Katherine Garvey, Director, WVU Land Use and Sustainability Law Clinic Effective enforcement of the building code can help prevent properties from becoming dilapidated in the first place and provide remedies for repair and demolition if a property is not properly maintained. Other ordinances and tools are available to prevent dilapidation. This session will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of multiple ordinances and tools being used throughout West Virginia. Liability Neutral language Presenter: Ron Eck, Ph.D., PE, WVU Professor Emeritus and WV LTAP Director Words have power. Written and spoken words by employees of public agencies, consultants and contractors can be used in litigation as evidence regarding the standard of care or duties for entities who are sued for alleged negligence in the design, construction, maintenance and operations of public facilities and related programs, services and activities. Ron will discuss the concepts of liability neutral language and its use in emails, reports, manuals, presentations, interviews and other forms of communication used by public officials. After completing the seminar, attendees will be able to use language that does not increase the risk of litigation for their organization. Substance Abuse in the Workplace: Spotting the Signs and Providing Support to Employees in Need Presenter: Jill Barker, M.Ed. Substance use disorders are more common in the workplace than many realize—and often go unrecognized until performance, safety, or morale are affected. This professional development session equips supervisors, HR professionals, managers, and frontline staff with tools to recognize the warning signs of substance abuse and respond with confidence, compassion, and clarity. Making Spatial Citizens: City of Morgantown’s Use of Location for Informing the Public Presenter: Marvin Davis, GIS Analyst, City of Morgantown The City of Morgantown’s Geospatial Services Division has been hard at work providing geo-enabled applications and products to staff, officials, and citizens to better inform them and their decision making. This presentation will cover how the Division has provided geospatial technology for elections, permitting, and informing citizens of fees to support fire services. The NLC/APA Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook Presenter: Lauren Lowery, NLC Director of Housing & Community Development The National League of Cities and the American Planning Association have teamed up to develop resources and highlight policies and practices, from construction and development to housing finance to land use and regulations, that can assist communities with tackling their housing challenges. The Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook is a resource designed to support communities by looking at scalable and multi-layered solutions and practices that offer a pathway to address local housing supply needs. Modern Community Policing & CIT: The Evidence Based, Inexpensive and Effective Approach to Building Safer Communities Presenters: Chief Shawn Schwertfeger, Wheeling Police Department; Lata Menon, CEO, First Choice Services, Inc. The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model of community crisis response is proven to increase positive outcomes for community members in crisis, reduce law enforcement use of force, and increase safety for all involved. Better still, CIT does not require a large financial outlay, new dedicated positions or new service providers. The model instead leverages existing resources and community collaboration to create safer and more effective protocols for crisis response. Though CIT programs vary in detail from town to town, they share common positive results for the organizations and community members they serve. Learn about the WV municipalities and counties that are moving forward with this model and how your community can get started building a stronger and safer crisis response system. Introducing the West Virginia Flood Resiliency Framework (WVFRF) Presenter: Krut Donaldson, GISP, CFM, WV GIS Technical Center The WVFRF is a virtual hub of risk assessment, visualization, planning, and training resources for building community flood resiliency. Created by civic actors and academic researchers with input from statewide stakeholders, the framework helps flood-prone local communities assess risk, prioritize mitigation strategies, and strengthen networks for pre- and post-disaster coordination. Mobile Workshop: Hazel’s House of Hope (Pre-registration is required) Hazel’s House of Hope is a new concept in the delivery of social services. It operates as a central facility housing several non-profit organizations that offer various social services. Located in a repurposed hotel, Hazel’s House of Hope emphasizes collaboration among partner organizations to provide emergency shelter, a food pantry, services for individuals with substance use disorders and other services for Morgantown residents in need – all centrally located and under one roof. ABOUT OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER HOPPY KERCHEVAL The radio “dean” of West Virginia broadcasters, Hoppy Kercheval joined West Virginia Radio Corporation in 1976. Through the years Hoppy’s assignments have spanned the gamut to include news, sports, and talk. A native of Summit Point in Jefferson County, Hoppy began as a news anchor/reporter at WAJR in Morgantown while still attending West Virginia University. After graduating with honors from WVU, Kercheval took over as news director at WAJR and began carving an identity as one of the leading broadcasters in West Virginia. A founding father of Metronews, Kercheval served as News Director until assuming the role of Vice President of Operations in 1991. In 1993, he created Metronews Talkline, which has become a signature program of the network. Hoppy’s gift of interviewing has made Talkline a must-listen for lawmakers and anyone interested in state politics and the day’s top news events. Kercheval has a Master of Science in Journalism degree from WVU. He also has an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from West Virginia Wesleyan. Kercheval has received a number of honors over the years, including the Mel Burka Award, which is given annually by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association to the state’s top broadcaster.

Time

Event

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Newly Appointed Municipal Judge Mandatory Training (Wharf A&B)

Instructor: Attorney Floyd “Kin” Sayre, III, Bowles Rice, LLP

(This training satisfies the mandatory training for Municipal Judges required by W. Va. State Code §8-10-2(c)).

Conference Workshop Descriptions:

Who’s Robert, and Why’s He Got So Many Rules? A Saner Way to Run Your Class III and Class IV Town Meetings.

Presenter: Mark Matkovich, WVML General Counsel

Surprise! West Virginia cities don’t have to follow Robert’s Rules—and honestly, most smaller towns aren’t (even if they think they are). Between custom, common sense, and “how we’ve always done it,” many councils have quietly adopted a hybrid approach without ever writing it down. This session introduces a set of Model Rules of Procedure, designed for West Virginia’s smaller villages and towns. It’s simple, practical, and (gasp) actually matches how your meetings probably already run. Think of it as putting structure behind the sensible practices you’re already using—without diving into Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure, Jefferson’s Manual, or Robert’s 600-page epic. Come get the rules that speak your language and fit your town.

The WHY Matters: Applying Strategic Communications/PR to Drive Successful Municipal Projects

Presenters: Mary Lemine, Client Marketing Manager, Thrasher Engineering; Kevin Hamric, Brand Marketing Manager, Thrasher Engineering; Heidi Handley, Director of Marketing, Thrasher Engineering

Your message matters! Knowing WHY you are undertaking a project is crucial, and it's vital that others understand the mission too. Often, the WHY gets buried under the many moving parts of managing a project. A well-crafted communications strategy can sharpen your message, defend your position, and accurately guide your project to hit the target. Effective public relations, communications, and marketing strategies are essential to the success of municipal projects. This session will explore how communications planning can foster community support, attract investment, and promote sustainable development. Attendees will learn best practices for engaging stakeholders, leveraging media relations, and utilizing digital marketing to highlight the benefits of redevelopment projects. Through case studies and expert insights, participants will gain practical tools to enhance their communication efforts and drive project success. This session is ideal for community leaders, environmental professionals, project managers, and certified planners.

New Requirements for Collateralizing Public Deposits

Presenter: Julie Hefner-Ferrell, WV State Treasurer’s Office

Description: The West Virginia State Treasurer’s Office is responsible for ensuring public funds deposited in financial institutions are properly collateralized and protected. The West Virginia Security for Public Deposits Act authorizes public deposits made by the state or any political subdivision of the state be held at an approved designated state depository and collateralized per West Virginia Code §12-1B-5 and §12-1B-7. The Act allows financial institutions two methods of collateralizing public funds: the Dedicated Single Bank Method and the Multibank Pooled Method. All public funds will be collateralized, and collateral will be held in benefit to the West Virginia State Treasurer. There are no exemptions or exceptions to this Act. West Virginia State Code supersedes all local laws & ordinances.

Election Date Sync or Swim - Implementing Senate Bill 50

The panel from the morning general session will offer more in-depth information and answer questions on transitioning election cycles to coincide with county election dates in compliance with Senate Bill 50.

From Risk to Resilience

Presenters: Mike Lloyd, Director of Wheeling, WV Information Technology Department; Bob Kaminski, Cybersecurity Advisor CISA; Josh Spence, CIO Alpha Innovations; Bill Gardner, Associate Professor Marshall University; James Lanham, MU ICS Director of Operations

The panel from the morning general session will take a deeper dive into cyber threats to critical infrastructure, AI in the real world, grant funding access, workforce gaps and why it matters to municipal leaders.

Dealing with Stress

Presenter: John Sorrenti

There are many ways to manage unhealthy stress in your life. The key to stress reduction is identifying strategies that work for you. As you begin to understand more about how stress affects you, you will develop your own ideas to help relieve tension. Because each person is unique, some of these stress management strategies will be more helpful for you than others, and some will be new skills that require practice to be effective. Think about learning to ride a bicycle. There was a time when this was a new skill and felt very unnatural and awkward. You probably needed help at first. With some coaching and practice, stress management, like cycling or any other skill, becomes easier and more effective.

Contracts 101: Avoiding Pitfalls and Protecting Your Municipality

Presenter: Mark Matkovich, WVML General Counsel

For Class III and IV West Virginia municipalities, contract review can be a daunting task— especially without in-house legal counsel. As political subdivisions, municipalities must navigate specific legal limitations set by the West Virginia Code, state constitution, and local policies. This session will provide clear guidelines and practical tools to help municipal officials confidently assess contracts, identify common red flags, and ensure compliance. By streamlining the process, we can reduce risk, improve consistency, and protect public funds. Join us to learn how to make contract review easier and more effective for your municipality.

What’s So Special about Spatial?

Presenters: Taryn Moser, WV State GIS Coordinator; Frank Lafone, WV Association of Geospatial Professionals

Geospatial data is crucial in emergency response, especially with the increasing frequency and intensity of flooding events. Whether you're building tools, analyzing risk, or planning response logistics, geospatial methods allow you to make data-driven decisions that save time, resources, and lives.

From Liability to Viability: A Legal Toolkit to Address Neglected Properties in West Virginia

Presenter: Katherine Garvey, Director, WVU Land Use and Sustainability Law Clinic

Effective enforcement of the building code can help prevent properties from becoming dilapidated in the first place and provide remedies for repair and demolition if a property is not properly maintained. Other ordinances and tools are available to prevent dilapidation. This session will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of multiple ordinances and tools being used throughout West Virginia.

Liability Neutral language

Presenter: Ron Eck, Ph.D., PE, WVU Professor Emeritus and WV LTAP Director

Words have power. Written and spoken words by employees of public agencies, consultants and contractors can be used in litigation as evidence regarding the standard of care or duties for entities who are sued for alleged negligence in the design, construction, maintenance and operations of public facilities and related programs, services and activities. Ron will discuss the concepts of liability neutral language and its use in emails, reports, manuals, presentations, interviews and other forms of communication used by public officials. After completing the seminar, attendees will be able to use language that does not increase the risk of litigation for their organization.

Substance Abuse in the Workplace: Spotting the Signs and Providing Support to Employees in Need

Presenter: Jill Barker, M.Ed.

Substance use disorders are more common in the workplace than many realize—and often go unrecognized until performance, safety, or morale are affected. This professional development session equips supervisors, HR professionals, managers, and frontline staff with tools to recognize the warning signs of substance abuse and respond with confidence, compassion, and clarity.

Making Spatial Citizens: City of Morgantown’s Use of Location for Informing the Public

Presenter: Marvin Davis, GIS Analyst, City of Morgantown

The City of Morgantown’s Geospatial Services Division has been hard at work providing geo-enabled applications and products to staff, officials, and citizens to better inform them and their decision making. This presentation will cover how the Division has provided geospatial technology for elections, permitting, and informing citizens of fees to support fire services.

The NLC/APA Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook

Presenter: Lauren Lowery, NLC Director of Housing & Community Development

The National League of Cities and the American Planning Association have teamed up to develop resources and highlight policies and practices, from construction and development to housing finance to land use and regulations, that can assist communities with tackling their housing challenges. The Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook is a resource designed to support communities by looking at scalable and multi-layered solutions and practices that offer a pathway to address local housing supply needs.

Modern Community Policing & CIT: The Evidence Based, Inexpensive and Effective Approach to Building Safer Communities

Presenters: Chief Shawn Schwertfeger, Wheeling Police Department; Lata Menon, CEO, First Choice Services, Inc.

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) model of community crisis response is proven to increase positive outcomes for community members in crisis, reduce law enforcement use of force, and increase safety for all involved. Better still, CIT does not require a large financial outlay, new dedicated positions or new service providers. The model instead leverages existing resources and community collaboration to create safer and more effective protocols for crisis response. Though CIT programs vary in detail from town to town, they share common positive results for the organizations and community members they serve. Learn about the WV municipalities and counties that are moving forward with this model and how your community can get started building a stronger and safer crisis response system.

Introducing the West Virginia Flood Resiliency Framework (WVFRF)

Presenter: Krut Donaldson, GISP, CFM, WV GIS Technical Center

The WVFRF is a virtual hub of risk assessment, visualization, planning, and training resources for building community flood resiliency. Created by civic actors and academic researchers with input from statewide stakeholders, the framework helps flood-prone local communities assess risk, prioritize mitigation strategies, and strengthen networks for pre- and post-disaster coordination.

Mobile Workshop: Hazel’s House of Hope (Pre-registration is required)

Hazel’s House of Hope is a new concept in the delivery of social services. It operates as a central facility housing several non-profit organizations that offer various social services. Located in a repurposed hotel, Hazel’s House of Hope emphasizes collaboration among partner organizations to provide emergency shelter, a food pantry, services for individuals with substance use disorders and other services for Morgantown residents in need – all centrally located and under one roof.

ABOUT OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER HOPPY KERCHEVAL

The radio “dean” of West Virginia broadcasters, Hoppy Kercheval joined West Virginia Radio Corporation in 1976. Through the years Hoppy’s assignments have spanned the gamut to include news, sports, and talk.

A native of Summit Point in Jefferson County, Hoppy began as a news anchor/reporter at WAJR in Morgantown while still attending West Virginia University. After graduating with honors from WVU, Kercheval took over as news director at WAJR and began carving an identity as one of the leading broadcasters in West Virginia.

A founding father of Metronews, Kercheval served as News Director until assuming the role of Vice President of Operations in 1991. In 1993, he created Metronews Talkline, which has become a signature program of the network. Hoppy’s gift of interviewing has made Talkline a must-listen for lawmakers and anyone interested in state politics and the day’s top news events.

Kercheval has a Master of Science in Journalism degree from WVU. He also has an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from West Virginia Wesleyan. Kercheval has received a number of honors over the years, including the Mel Burka Award, which is given annually by the West Virginia Broadcasters Association to the state’s top broadcaster.