Photo Albums

June 13-14, 2002
West Virginia Roundtable conducts quarterly membership meeting in Shepherdstown

The West Virginia Roundtable conducted a quarterly membership meeting in Shepherdstown June 13-14 to discuss economic development issues and initiatives. Guest speakers ranged from Governor Bob Wise to American Tort Reform President Sherman "Tiger" Joyce, and issues ranged from the business and labor coalition to the Vision Shared Implementation Task Force to medical cost shifting from public sector to private sector payers.

Attending members called the meeting "tremendously successful" in covering issues important to West Virginia and including speakers who could best address those critical issues.

Below are photographs from the Thursday afternoon session, Thursday evening dinner reception and Friday morning session.

Governor Bob Wise illustrates anticipated fiscal elements that will impact West Virginia's operating budget. The Governor also spoke to economic development issues such as tax increment financing, venture capital, research and development, tax incentives and the Economic Development Grant Committee. Wise commended the efforts of the West Virginia Roundtable and said he is excited about people in the state who want "positive change."

The Business and Labor Coalition reported significant progress since its inception earlier this year. Jim Bowen, President of the West Virginia AFL-CIO (left), and Paul Arbogast, of Ernst & Young and Immediate Past Roundtable Chairman, head the coalition and are pictured speaking to the Roundtable membership on June 14. Bowen and Arbogast said that the first steps taken thus far were in the forms of cooperation and teamwork.

Roundtable member and former Governor Gaston Caperton (left) is pictured speaking with Mark Dempsey, President of American Electric Power-WV, at the Roundtable dinner reception.

A discussion led by the Vision Shared Implementation Task Force June 14 emphasized the importance of leadership in the four distinct areas of Vision Shared and the series of 11 statewide meetings on the Implementation Plan. Pictured at right is Task Force Chairman Mike Basile, a lawyer at Spilman, Thomas & Battle, and co-chairman Kenny Perdue, Secretary-Treasurer of the West Virginia AFL-CIO.

Roundtable member Lorenelle White, Publisher of The State Journal, speaks about educational initiatives with Dr. J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. Mullen spoke to Roundtable members about the Compact for the Future of West Virginia called "It All Adds Up." White said raising educational standards is one of the most important economic initiatives in West Virginia.

American Tort Reform Association President "Tiger" Joyce (left) addressed the Roundtable as the keynote speaker at the dinner reception on June 13. Joyce spoke about bringing greater fairness, predictability and efficiency to the civil justice system, and said that two avenues to achieve that goal were public education and legislative reform. Joyce is pictured speaking with Richard Shearer, President and COO of Berkeley Springs-based U.S. Silica Company.

Roundtable Chairman Tom Jones closed the meeting on June 14 saying that he believed the content and participants of the conference illustrate the Roundtable's ability to convene key policymakers to discuss and address the state's important economic development public policy issues. Jones urged members to help expand the membership and help continue progress in improving the state's economic competitiveness.

West Virginia Hospital Association President Steven Summer addressed the issue of medical cost shifting from public sector to private sector payers. Summer said that private payers are carrying the burden in West Virginia due to Medicaid and PEIA underpayments and uninsured non-payments. He added that the issue of cost shifting would be a "generational issue in the future."

(Photos by Patrick Gregg)