Appalachia Matters

This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Danny Twilley , assistant vice president of economic, community, and asset development for the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative. The collaborative's Ascend West Virginia program is the main topic as Twilley and the General discuss the importance of inviting remote workers and business owners to move to...

This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Logan Pierce , a recent graduate of West Virginia University and former student government leader. They discuss early leadership lessons, Logan’s commitment to advancing food security on college campuses, and the importance of advocating policies that support students and families. Logan also shares his optimism for the next genera...

This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Dan Dushanko, Executive Director of Monongalia Emergency Medical Services (Mon EMS). They highlight technology Mon EMS has adopted to overcome logistical challenges as a primary first responder in north central West Virginia and beyond. The pair also discuss job initiatives Dushanko, and his teams are supporting to continue to impr...

This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Joe Statler, Delegate for West Virginia's 77th legislative district. Delegate Statler and The General discuss the challenges first responders face today and some of the recent legislation the Delegate has sponsored.  In the Rooted in the Mountain State provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture we learn about White Pic...

This week on At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Cade Kincaid and Elliana Cepeda , students and Kendrick Fellows at the Kendrick Center for Ethical Economics at WVU . They discuss leadership through the study of economics, ethics, and public service. They share the importance of supporting young people who want to build careers and create lasting impact here in Appalachia.  In th...

Although Father's Day is a couple weeks away, we are going to run a previously played AT the Leadership table with General Hoyer about how leadership begins at the home and we will hear from some dads about how fatherhood has taught them leadership lessons that have allowed them to better serve their community and their family.  In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment provided by the West Virg...

On At the Leadership Table with Retired Major General Jim Hoyer this week is Alex Petry , Executive Director of Main Street Fairmont. They discuss the power of partnerships, listening to community needs, and honoring history to build the future of Main Street communities. Alex also shares several local events in downtown Fairmont throughout the rest of the year, such as the Summer Hometown Market...

This week on At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with West Virginia University students Joey Allinger and Andrea Cipriano to talk about their work this semester with Get Moving Inc., a nonprofit focused on promoting healthy lifestyles for West Virginia’s youth. They discuss the mission of Get Moving, community events and partnerships such as the Quarterback Challenge with WVU Medicine...

At the Leadership Table General Jim Hoyer will finish his discussion with Robby Blair, head of the Min Street program in Martinsburg. If you missed part, one goto our Appalachia Matters Podcast on Spreaker.  During the dust bowl in the 1930s, the federal government established conservation districts. In the coming primary election in West Virginia, you will get to vote for a conservation superviso...

This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Robby Blair, Executive Director of Main Street Martinsburg .  In part one of this two-part interview, the General and Robby discuss the Main Street philosophy, the Martinsburg community, and how Main Street Martinsburg is contributing to economic vitality in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. Be sure to tune in next week for part t...

Radio’s Future Talks with The General and Appalachian Authors This week on At The Leadership Table , General Hoyer sits down with Nico Caretto and Emma Domingo, two students from U92 the Moose , West Virginia University’s award-winning campus radio station. The students share how their roots in Ohio and Virginia led them to WVU, reflect on how their roles as a U92 sports caster and disc jockey hav...

This week on At The Leadership Table, General James Hoyer sits down with Eric Nuttal l, Broadcast Advisor for WVU Student Media and Program Coordinator for U92 The Moose, WVU’s award-winning campus radio station. They discuss shaping the next generation of broadcasters, and why radio continues to be important for West Virginians across ages and places. The next two segments will deal with agritour...

In our rooted in the Mountain State segment, we will highlight West Virginia Grown Member of the Month April Urnst with Old World Libations a winery in Monroe County West Virginia.   There are over 80,000 secondary school student athletes in West Virginia, these sports that they compete in is regulated by The West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission otherwise known as the WVSSAC.  Man...

This week on At the Leadership Table, is Part 2 of the two-part series honoring International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month. General Hoyer revisits and reflects on the insights and perspectives from women leaders across the Mountain State who were featured in past segments. Today you’ll hear Part 2 of this series, and if you haven’t already, give Part One a listen, too! You can find it onl...

This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer revisits insights and perspectives from women leaders featured in past segments. This lookback is in honor of International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month in March. In this two-part series, the General explores the great contributions of women leaders who have made an impact in our local communities, state, and nation.   In the Rooted in t...

On At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Dr. Cate Johnson from the Chambers College of Business and Economics at West Virginia University. Dr. Johnson shares insights into her work with the Kendrick Educators and Fellows Programs, initiatives designed to expand opportunities for people of all ages to study economics and ethics and then stay and support our communities right here, a...

This week on At the Leadership Table,  General Hoyer  sits down with  Deb Harris  from Jobs & Hope West Virginia. Deb shares her powerful personal journey to where she is today and explains how Jobs & Hope connects West Virginians in recovery with family-sustaining careers right here at home.   In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment from the Department of Agriculture we will meet Lesl...

At the Leadership Table, General Hoye r sits down with Scott Schenerlein, Executive Director of Wheeling Heritage . Scott and the General discuss revitalizing Wheeling, a town known for its history as an economic engine for the nation, a cultural hub, and its legacy as a community that thrives in small business, the arts, and lifting each other up. In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment from...

This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Justin Williams , Director of the West Virginia Affiliated Construction Trades. They discuss local jobs for local workers and the high-quality career paths available in the state's construction industry. Williams shares that leadership is defined by action rather than titles and emphasizes the importance of providing family-sustain...

This week on At the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Jason Pizatella , CEO of the Contractors Association of West Virginia. Pizatella emphasizes that construction is essential to life and discusses various ways the association is working to "Build It Up" by fortifying the state's workforce and improving critical infrastructure.   In the R ooted in the Mountain State Segment provided...

At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer welcomes back Wally Hatfield , Vice President of Training and Experimentation at CMI2 and Vice President of the Mountaineer Food Bank Board of Directors. Together, they dive into perspectives and initiatives addressing veteran food security and highlight the Freedom from Hunger Campaign , a partnership between Mountaineer Food Bank and GoMart stores throughou...

This week  At The Leadership Table , General Hoyer sits down with Dr. Larry Rhode s, a pediatric cardiologist, Associate Professor in the WVU School of Medicine, and Executive Director for Rural Programs at the WVU Institute for Community and Rural Health. Larry started life in Nitro, West Virginia, then took his studies and practice all the way to Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, but c...

This week At the Leadership Table, General Hoye r sits down with Brian Dayton , Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce. Brian and the General Brian talk about leadership lessons, share perspectives on economic and workforce development opportunities, and Brian gives listeners a glimpse into how the Chamber of Commerce advocates for working West Virginians. T...

This week on At the Leadership Table , we’re turning the mic over to the next generation of leaders in a special student-led takeover. Mary Roush , “Retired" WVU Mountaineer Mascot , takes the host seat to interview Retired Major General Jim Hoyer with questions that she and the WVU PIC Lab student team wanted to ask to truly get to know the General beyond the title.   In the Rooted in the Mountai...

On At the Leadership Table, General Jim Hoyer looks back at some stand out moments for the segment from 2025 and looks forward to 2026.   In the Rooted in the Mountain State from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, we meet Amy Minor Richards the Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture.   The West Virginia Legislature convenes in January most years. The main way citizens find out what is happen...