Cash May Be Waiting for You, Spotted Lantern Fly Primer, Get Your Mammogram & Leadership  

At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Jason Ashworth, Chief Safety Officer, and Nurse Practitioner for Valley Health Network. They discuss Jason’s meaningful career path, marked by a deep commitment to protecting and serving others, including his involvement and impact with the Hershel "Woody" Williams Fisher House in Huntington.

In the Rooted in the Mountain State, we learn about Spotted Lantern Flies and how to prevent them. 

The State Treasury in West Virginia operates the state’s unclaimed property program. You may have money waiting for you. We talk with WV State Treasurer Larry Pack about the program and how folks can get their money back.  

The final segment Tom Susman talks with Ginger Denny of Rivers Health Hospital about October being breast cancer awareness month.

Child Care Shortage, EHD Update, Hutson Talks Leadership and School to Farm

This week’s Appalachia Matter:   At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Rusty Hutson, Co-Founder and CEO of Diversified Energy Company and current Chair of the West Virginia University Board of Governors. They discuss leadership experiences and goals to help shape and inspire the next generation of West Virginians. 

The WV Department of Agriculture’s Rooted in the Mountain State focuses on farm to school programs and a conference in Morgantown. 

Tom Susman talks with deer hunting expert Kevin Harris who gives us a on the ground discussion about the deer EHD outbreak along the Ohio River that will impact the deer hunting season.  

In the final segment we will hear about childcare care needs in today’s economy. Tom Susman talks with Brian Dayton of the West Virginia State Chamber of Commerce. Tom also attended a groundbreaking for a new Childcare Center at Holzer Hospital. He talks with Holzer CEO Rodney Stout and Holzer Board Chair Gary Roach

At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Gracie Johnson and Megan Osborne, two Clay County, WV natives who are interns with the Civil-Military Innovation Institute (CMI2) IGNITE Interns Program at Fort Andrew in Lizemore, WV. They discuss their journeys as IGNITE interns and their hopes for shaping a brighter future for generations of West Virginians.

In the rooted in the Mountain State segment from the department of agriculture we will learn about individual who are involved in agritourism. This is becoming a big business in West Virginia it provides an additional revenue stream for family farmers.

The flu and cold seasons are upon us and there are steps you can take to protect yourself. I talk with Amy Haskins who is administrator of the Jackson County Health Department and secretary of the association of local health departments in West Virginia.  

The Battle of Point Pleasant was in some folks minds the first battle of the American Revolution and  to commemorate the battle,  at Tu-Endie-Wei State Park in Point Pleasant there is a Battle Days reembrance. There are educational programs reenactors and special memorial service to pay homage to those who died on the site over 250 years ago.  We  talk with Ed Cromley of Mason County, he provides background on the battle and the memorial service.

This week on At the Leadership Table, Retired Major General Jim Hoyer sits down with Brogan Dozier, a young leader and graduate student at West Virginia University and a graduate intern with West Virginia VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). They discuss how her previous roles in student government and interning with a U.S. Senator led her to find a passion for service - and how she is using that passion for good in the Mountain State.

In the Rooted in the Mountain State segment provided by the WV Department of Agriculture we learn about Jarhead Farms in Alderson operated by a Marine and her family.  

EHD is killing deer in West Virginia and Ohio. We talk with the WVDNR about the disease and their response. Last week we talked with Ohio and it appears the Mountain State approach is more laid back then the Buckeye State.

If you purchase health insurance from the federal market place your premiums may skyrocket if congress does not renew a tax credit. Jeremy Smith an ACA Navigator explains what may be ahead. 

Jim Krantz worked in health care. He has retired and now is spending lot of time on his Sternwheeler. Tom Susman caught up with him at the Pomeroy Regatta. He and wife are living their best life on the river.

Gold Star Month, Cooper’s Farm, Disease Impacting Deer and Great Gift Boxes    

This week on At the Leadership Table with Retired Major General Jim Hoyer, in honor of Gold Star Families Month, the General reflects on a look-back interview with Stan and Shirley White. Gold Star Families have lost a loved one who made the ultimate sacrifice because of their military service. The General provides some powerful commentary on the deep loss that Gold Star Families feel and he encourages us all to reach out to a Gold Star Family, thank them for their service, and speak their child’s name to honor their sacrifice. Stan and Shirley lost two sons as a result of their service - learn more about their story and Gold Star Families in this week's segment and watch the full interview on the General’s YouTube channel by searching RMGHoyer on YouTube. 

The Cooper Family has built an amazing farm, and we will learn about their endeavor in the Rooted in The Mountain State segment from the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.

 EHD, or Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease is impacting deer herds in Meigs, Washington and Athens Counties in Ohio. Tom Susman speaks with Chris Smith a biologist with the ODNR. The state may reduce the deer bag limit this year.    

Advantage Valley is working with several producers and growers to market their products in various gift boxes. We will learn more about this effort in our final segment.

This week on Appalachia Matters    

At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Margaret O'Neal, President of United Way of Central West Virginia.  

In the Rooted in The Mountain State, we replay a segment from October 2024 about honey and bees.  

Angie Settle CEO of West Virginia Healthright talks with Tom Susman. We learn about the region’s largest free and charitable clinic, what drives Settle and about a special one day clinic.  

In our fourth segment we meet a person who taught himself to make signs and now has a business. The interview is from this past July.  

As we finish up we will hear from two high golf coaches who believe members of their teams not only compete but learn life lessons from the sport

At The Leadership Table with Retired Major General Jim Hoyer, we hear from Fanta-Marie Toure, a West Virginia educated social media influencer in cybersecurity. 

In the Rooted in the Mountain State Segment provided by the Department of Agriculture we will learn about an organic egg producer in the state of West Virginia called Hamilton’s Lonesome Ridge Farm. 

In our final segment Tom Susman sits down with Scott Raynes he is the CEO of Marshal Health Network which includes,  the former Saint Marys and Cabell Huntington Hospitals along with Rivers Health in Point Pleasant and several providers and locations throughout southern and western West Virginia.

This week at the Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Andy Henthorn, CEO of Buddy N Beast, a dog treat company in St. Albans, West Virginia. In this segment, Andy discusses his journey that took him to starting a business, what makes West Virginia the ideal place for entrepreneurs, and the role West Virginia local communities play in local leadership.   

In an extended interview Tom Susman talks with Albert Wright CEO of WVU Medicine which is the one of largest private employer in the state. The company has 25 hospitals, many clinics across the state and has invested billions to build and upgrade the systems infrastructure.  They have even formed their own insurance company Peak Health. We will get to know Albert, the WVU System and Discuss what health care must do to thrive in the post big, beautiful bill era.

At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down for a return visit with Dr. Chris Ramezan, Executive Director of the Cyber-Resilience Resource Center at West Virginia University. In this segment, Dr. Ramezan shares how his first teaching experience reshaped his view of leadership and discusses the mission of the new Cyber-Resilience Resource Center. He also shares insights from an article he authored in the publication The Conversation and offers practical tips for protecting digital privacy in an AI-driven world.   

In the Rooted in the Mountain State, provided by the department of agriculture we here about the importance of young farmers having exposure to technology and STEM. Agriculture is not immune from the drive for automation and technology use. Young farmers will be the future of the industry.     When states offer incentives to attract companies to a state, the goal is to attract local workers to staff the plants.

Timet is building a titanium facility near Ravenswood. The company has been successful in attracting local talent. We will hear from four employees who are West Virginians who now work at the site. The company hopes to start partial production in final quarter of this year.  

Football season is starting, and the question of concussions is a major one especially on the middle and high school level. There is a device called a guardian cap that fits over a football helmet. Aadvocates say the device will help reduce the impact of head injuries and provide additional protection. The West Virginia Secondary Schools Athletic Commission is not sold on it. We bring you an extended conversation with Wayne Ryan who is head of the WVSSAC.  

In our final segment we will hear from Jocelynn Wilson she was a receiver for Point Pleasant football and she looks back as Friday Night Lights start in our region.

This week At The Leadership Table, General Hoyer sits down with Mandy Curry, co-founder of Healthy Kids Inc. In this segment, Mandy shares the family and community mission behind their company and explains why it's about more than food security — it's about ensuring nutrition security too.   

The Casto Family Farm in Jackson County received the Heritage Farm Award presented by the West Virginia Farm Bureau and the State Fair of WV. We hear from Joe Casto about the farm.  

Harness Racing in the Buckeye State is a big deal. Tom Susman files a report where he talks with a several individuals involved in the sport. Including a gentleman Roger Houston that has called more harness races than anyone. Many of these races are held during county fairs, the interviews were recorded at the Historic Rock Springs Track at the Meigs County Fair.