Appalachia Matters

This week At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer revisits poignant clips from some of his past interviews with military veterans, urging gratitude on Veterans Day and all year round for those who serve as well as the families who support that service.  In the Rooted in the Mountain State provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture we are going to learn about Harvest Trail a veteran own...

This week on At The Leadership Table, G eneral Hoyer’s student production team from the WVU Public Interest Communication Research Lab, the PIC Lab, starts a series of “take-over” episodes, where students and their mentors reflect on some of their favorites of the General’s past interviews.   Heading into Election Day, PIC Lab Program Coordinator Jenna Stewart talks about some of her favorite quot...

City Created by World War 1, Recovering Rare Earth & All Things Lavender  At The Leadership Table this week, we sit down with Steve Dunmead, CEO of Mission Critical Materials , to explore leadership, innovation, and the future of critical materials in West Virginia. Steve discusses the challenges of the United States’ reliance on foreign sources for rare earth elements and how Mission Critical...

This week At The Leadership Table is Gabriella "Bella" Sergent, a Martinsburg native and graduate student at West Virginia University. Bella currently serves as the Lead Graduate Assistant for WVU's Public Interest Communication Research Laboratory (PIC Lab), where among other efforts, she helps lead a student team in producing General Hoyer’s weekly segment!  As an active student leader, young en...

This week At The Leadership Table is Kendall Drobish, a senior at West Virginia University and Founder of the cake-pop business Kendall's Kreations. Throughout her years at WVU, Kendall has filled her time as an intern at both Hope Gas and the Public Interest Communication Research Lab (PIC LAB), President of the Public Relations Student Society of America, and Student Ambassador for the WVU Canad...

At The Leadership Table this week, we sit down with Erienne Olesh, CEO of the NSF Resilient Energy Technology and Infrastructure Engine (RETI) , to explore innovation, commercialization, and the future of energy in Appalachia. Erienne shares her journey from a neuroscience researcher to leading major technology transfer initiatives, explaining how she helps turn lab discoveries into real-world eco...

This week At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Evan Chapman, co-founder of Loving WV, a West Virginia brand created to showcase the state’s pride, culture, and communities. Evan and the General discuss the story behind Loving WV, how the brand has grown from an idea born out of homesickness into a statewide business, and Loving WV’s efforts to support communities impacted by this...

Working the Bees, Tools to Succeed, Elections on the Horizon and Zanesville Salsa. This week At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with West Virginia’s 31st Secretary of State and Chief Elections Official, Kris Warner . They discuss the many responsibilities of the Secretary of State’s Office, from elections and voter registration to business administration and government transparency....

This week, At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Ryan Watson, Executive Director of the West Virginia University Office of Innovation and Commercialization. Ryan and the General discuss his unique journey from engineering and law to university leadership, and how those experiences have shaped his approach to problem-solving and innovation. They also explore WVU’s role in turning re...

This week At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Pastor Kevin Cain, or "Rev Kev",   founder of The SOURCE Foundation, a Morgantown-based organization dedicated to helping children and families meet their basic needs and build a stronger future. Pastor Kevin and the General talk about leadership, the experiences that shaped his commitment to serving others, and the story behind The S...

Your Social Security Payment Faces 20% Cut, Great Donuts, & AGreat Coffee Place This week on At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Mateo Martinez, founder and owner of Jazzy’s Sweet Spot and Seb’s Donuts in Star City, West Virginia . Mateo and the General discuss his journey from creating homemade donuts as a high school student to building a successful local businesses, the ro...

Welcome to Appalachia Matters presented by New River Health. Today’s episode is a special . The full show is a discussion Tom Susman had with Morgan O’Brien CEO of Hope Gas . Hope is investing significant resources in West Virginia as they update 7,000 miles of natural gas distribution in the state. The company has significantly increased the number West Virginia employees and is adopting a buy We...

This week on At The Leadership Table , General Hoyer sits down with Joelle Moray, a bestselling author, licensed professional counselor, and nationally recognized advocate for transforming workplace culture. Joelle shares more about her journey and what motivates her perspective on leadership. She and the General also define and discuss the term "hustle culture" and how this culture can present ch...

This week on At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Dallas Wolfe , founder of High Ground Brewing in Terra Alta, West Virginia. Dallas is an Army veteran, member of the West Virginia National Guard, and entrepreneur. The General and Dallas share how High Ground Brewing contributes to strengthening community, tourism, and economic development in Preston County. They also explore oppo...

Many of our listeners were impacted by the July 2026 flood especially in central west Virginia and along the Ohio River North of Parkersburg. This episode is dedicated to providing information for those impacted and those who might want to help. Flood recovery is a long term effort.  This week on At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer comments on the recent flooding in north-central West Virginia...

This week on At The Leadership Table , General Hoye r sits down with Dr. Nick Studer , an emergency physician, service member, and founding director and archivist of the National Museum of Civil Defense at Randolph Air Force Base in Randolph, Texas. Dr. Studer and the General discuss the role of civil defense in modern America, including defining civil defense and how its tenets can help shape fut...

Sleeping with the Bees, Health Leadership, Inn for Sale, and Avoiding the Parasite  General Hoyer sits down with Dr. Lisa Costello on At The Leadership Table. Dr. Costello is a pediatrician from West Virginia who cares for children in hospitals across the state. She is a medical leader who advocates in the state and at the national level for healthy Appalachian kids and families. Dr. Costello retu...

At the Leadership Table we are going to replay an interview General Hoyer had with  Megan Moses she is a partner in the Moses Auto Group and President of the West Virginia Women's Alliance.     In the Rooted in the Mountain State Segment provided by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture, we will learn about the J Q Dickenson Salt Works in Malden, West Virginia.  In our final segment, we will...

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...