Second Annual Focus Forward Conference Highlights
Opportunities in Big Data for West Virginia
At the second annual Focus Forward conference held in
Charleston, the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative,
West Virginia Forward and the Claude Worthington Benedum
Foundation convened thinkers and doers from around the
region to assess West Virginia’s big data readiness and identify
challenges and opportunities for the future.
Building on the success of the inaugural 2018 Focus Forward
event, which examined how machine learning and artificial
intelligence will impact future jobs and required skills, Focus
Forward 2019 addressed how big data will continue to trans-
form West Virginia’s education system, economy and workforce.
Attendees heard presentations from and engaged in dialogue
with experts in technology and data analytics, innovation and
entrepreneurship and community and economic development.
“This year’s Focus Forward was an effort to examine the
ways West Virginia is doing things right when it comes to
building our future with respect to big data and high technology,”
says Gayle Manchin, chair of the West Virginia Public Education
Collaborative. “Our state already has so many great assets—
the Summit Bechtel Reserve, where big data was used to suc-
cessfully host the World Scout Jamboree; the High Technology
Foundation in Fairmont, which hosts a supercomputer and
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
numerous cybersecurity initiatives, including those of the
West Virginia National Guard. We need to make sure we con-
nect everyone already doing this work and publicize all of the
game-changing initiatives right here in West Virginia.”
While the conference only lasted one day, the work and collab-
orations will continue. The conversation will also continue
at the Legislators’ Forum on Education and the Economy
planned for November 19-20 in Charleston. This forum will
identify areas of policy that will enhance the use of big data
to impact the state’s education system and economy.
WVU Parkersburg Receives
Local Support for Student Veterans
Jan Dils Attorneys at Law is partnering with West Virginia
University (WVU) Parkersburg to provide support for local
student veterans.
Earlier this year, the firm’s Freedom Fun Run 5K raised
$12,500 in funds for WVU Parkersburg’s student veterans
and the Veterans Resource Center.
Dils presents a check for the proceeds from
the Freedom Fun Run 5k to WVU Parkersburg.
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