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Focus Forward: Preparing Today for the West Virginia of Tomorrow

Focus Forward: Preparing Today for the West Virginia of Tomorrow

Focus Forward: Preparing Today for the West Virginia of Tomorrow is an annual event uniquely designed to link education and economic development. Hundreds of decision makers along with state and national experts come together to address emerging workforce needs.

Read key takeaways from 2023 Focus Forward with Big Energy

The event series is hosted by the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation.

A diverse group of state and national thought leaders gather at Focus Forward 2019.

BY THE NUMBERS

400+

virtual participants from across West Virginia attended Focus Forward: Beyond the Cloud in spring 2021 in partnership with the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and West Virginia University

135

state and national leaders attended the second annual Focus Forward symposium in 2019 in partnership with the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation and WV Forward.

104

state and national leaders attended the inaugural Focus Forward symposium in 2018 in partnership with WV Forward and the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond.

Past Events

2018 Focus Forward

Big Data and the WV Economy
September 16
Charleston, WV

2019 Focus Forward

Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
October 9
Charleston, WV

2021 Focus Forward

Beyond the Cloud
March 17 & April 22
Virtual

2022 Focus Forward

West Virginia’s New Narrative
April 27, 2022
Morgantown, WV