Council Cast | July 22, 2022

Music: "What If" by Low Light

Transcript

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia: 
Welcome to CouncilCast, a podcast from Coalfield Development, where we highlight moments from our monthly gathering, Coalfield Council Day. It's a time for reflection, team building, and celebrating the personal and professional developments of our Crew Members.

This is episode 3, highlighting our Council Day on Friday, July 22, 2022. 

This Council Day we returned back to Coalfield Development’s headquarters at West Edge Factory in Huntington’s Westmoreland community. 

Following a group-wide icebreaker exercise, CEO Brandon Dennison and Kelli Crabtree, senior director of employee development, kicked off the day’s events by handing out hats to new crew members: Scott Shanteau, Jeremy Casey, Courtney Wilt, Clinton Cox, Jennifer Putter, and Amanda Green. 

Then, Kelli and Brandon turned their attention to recognize two long-term members of Coalfield’s crew: Jeremiah DeVote, of Revitalize Appalachia, and Jaron Ekers, of Mountain Mindful, as Coalfield Champions.

Kelli Crabtree:
To be Coalfield Champions is to have completed one to three years of on the job training, at least four certifications and plus an additional two, and then earn a higher education degree and so both of these gentlemen have worked diligently and have passed their electrical licensure and have completed all of the other requirements, the requisites to be a Coalfield Champion and so now they are Coalfield Champions.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Both crew members started by thanking Kelli and Coalfield for supporting them, starting with Jeremiah. 

Jeremiah DeVote:
So the last three years well, almost three years that I've been here has been really good. I came a long way from you know, I was on an ankle bracelet when I got here didn't have no driver's license, just, you know, things weren't that great. I can say now things are really great. So I just want to say thank you, and I appreciate it.

Jaron Ekers:
I just want to thank, you know, Coalfield, Brandon and Kelly, Travis, Jim, Brad, the whole coastal family. I appreciate it, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for all the people supporting me and pushing me to do better. Thank you.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Kelli opened the floor for fellow crew members to offer their support for Jaron and Jeremiah and their journey through the program. Amanda Whitlock, a green hat member of the Mountain Mindful crew and longtime colleague of Jaron’s, was the first to offer her congratulations. 

Amanda Whitlock:
I just want to go first because I don't really want to follow anybody up because I'm probably gonna have more to say than me. But I just want to say how proud I am of Jaron, I know that he's been here a lot longer than I've been in the woodshop. But we came into the woodshop together, I'm sorry, I don't wanna cry. We came in the woodshop together and we learned a lot and we help each other a lot. And I'm really proud of you and excited to see what you do.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Gina Milum, operations and outreach coordinator, reflected on time spent with both crew members.

Gina Milum:
Whenever Jaron first started, he was like, mine and Luke's crew, and we were kind of in between things. So we worked together from the very first day of his year ,through personal development, we worked with Luke, you know, every day, for what, six months? A year, maybe? But I've watched him, I mean, number one,  if you don't know Jaron, he's brilliant. He's one of the smartest guys you're ever going to meet. I knew he was going to excel at this. From the first minute I met him and I just want to let you know how proud I am.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Then, Jim Caldwell, Mountain Mindful operations manager, and Brad Stapleton, Mountain Mindful crew chief, both described Jaron’s significant development in the woodshop and apparel shop over the last few years, including through the merging of Saw’s Edge and SustainU to form Mountain Mindful last year.

Jim Caldwell:
Jaron was a well established crew member when inherited the woodshop, and I've really never met anybody like him. He's got a sterling work ethic. He is always at it. He's impressed me and his leadership ability, with his ability to adapt and overcome situational things. There's just a lot to be said about Jaron in here, his stick to it, and his grit. It is a joyous occasion we celebrate him and this milestone in your life. On the other hand, I'm going to miss you. It's more than additional work. we've faced some battles together, but all that is, is building it it builds a relationship, and I've got a strong relationship with Jaron and I'm super proud of him, could not be more proud of him, and congratulations, my friend. 

Brad Stapleton:
Jaron, we knew this was coming for a while now, I'm still not prepared for it emotionally or anything like that. Like Jim said, we began working with you when Mountain Mindful became a complete family. When the Saw’s Edge woodshop joined forces with Sustain U, that's when I had the honor and privilege of beginning my work with Jaron Ekers. He has excelled in every facet and every arena of his employment here. It's been wonderful going on this journey with him. And I just know that wherever you go, you're gonna make that impact. And that's what that's what this program is all about is becoming a community leader. And you stand here as the physical embodiment of that. And congratulations, I'm very proud of you, and I speak for everyone when I say that.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Next, Josiah Hannah, personal development coordinator, and Larry Endicott, crew chief of Revitalize Appalachia, described Jeremiah’s growth and impact during his time at Coalfield. 

Josiah Hannah:
I'm very, very proud and very honored to have seen both of you guys accomplish this. Not just the exam. Jeremiah, I didn't see a lot of the moments that made me come to respect you, I heard about them after the fact. A lot of the defining things that have caused me to be able to really know the character of who you are. Because you're a big guy, and so maybe the expectation is that you can carry a lot, but you have carried a lot and you've carried it with grace, and grit. And you're an example, you really are. I just love both and respect you. And I will miss you as well. Very, very much. 

Larry Endicott:
I just want to say it's been a hard, long road. Just congratulations, to both of you. I got me a friend out of this three years and it has been awesome. Congratulations.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Kelli, who initially recruited Jaron and Jeremiah to the Coalfield crew, closed out the team’s remarks with a note on Jaron and Jeremiah’s resilience, humility, and their positive influences among their colleagues. 

Kelli Crabtree:
So I got to recruit both of you and onboard both of you and the resilience that both of you have, have had is, we can all learn from and be able to look up to, and I appreciate that you all have family members that have been able to watch that and learn from it and grow from it. And you're both just magnificent providers and have just shown a lot of gumption and grit when it comes to just life and overcoming to things in life and having the grace to be able to and the humbleness to be able to ask for help along the way and it's been awesome just to watch your community here wrap themselves around you to be able to provide that support. And so I think that's just a testament to all of us that we don't have to go at it alone and that we can do this together and and that we can all just you know really seek and and pursue our full purpose power, essential power and purpose and and for the betterment of our families and our communities. I appreciate you all.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
With sparkling juice, the entire team toasted to the two Coalfield Champions. 

(sparkling drink pours)

Brandon Dennison:
I propose a toast to our Coalfield Champions, Jaron and Jeremiah, congrats on all that you have done and all that you will done, will do to rebuild the Appalachian economy from the ground up. Great job.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
After the celebration, CEO Brandon Dennison took a moment to reflect on Jaron and Jeremiah’s achievements and its significance. Both crew members, Brandon said, embody the values Coalfield holds dear. 

Brandon Dennison:
Celebrating Coalfield Champions gives me chills every time. It, it gives the rest of the community so much hope and inspiration, you heard a crew member stand up towards the end and say, I'm just starting, I've got a brown hat. And I want to be where you are in three years. There is no more powerful motivator than  positive peer pressure. So usually peer pressure is like a negative thing, where it's dragging us down, and at Coalfield, we're trying to create positive peer pressure, where I see the person on my right, the person on my left is growing and learning and challenging themselves and achieving things they never thought they can achieve. And you get a taste of that and you just want more of it, and it's infectious. And that's what today during celebrating the champions, I just felt this infectious hope and optimism that recovery is possible. Higher education is possible. Full lives and exciting career pathways are possible. And we all just got a taste of that today and it helps keep us going. 

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
After morning announcements, Gina Milum introduced the crew to Sassa Wilkes, renowned local artist and Coalfield’s Artist in Residence. Sassa, who joined the Coalfield team this spring, will be working at West Edge on various projects and community initiatives over the next year. 

Sassa Wilkes:
So I'm Sassa. And I want to first just tell you all that I'm so so so grateful and more than I even know how to put into words that I'm here. Just being able to work in this building, having a space, having people that support what I'm doing and believe in what I'm doing is really, really, really incredible for me.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
For Council Day, Sassa said they wanted to challenge our definitions of art and observe the healing qualities that can come from creating. 

Sassa Wilkes:
Healing is just something that everybody needs now, like, everybody, this area needs it, the addiction issues that we're all facing the COVID stuff, we all need it. It's just super cool to make stuff with other people. And to get creative like to really think in a creative way, you can't be anxious, or nervous about the outcome. That's how little kids make art. They don't, they just do, and then they decide what it is later, if they ever decide what it is, and they don't care, and they don't hesitate.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Then, they encouraged everyone to get playful with paint as a massive canvas and tables full of art supplies were set up for our next activity. The entire team huddled around the canvas, painting with brushes and other tools before moving on to the next section. 

(paint strokes, laughing)

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Courtney Wilt, Financial Accountant, is one of the newest Coalfield crew members. This Council Day is her 10th day on staff. 

Courtney Wilt:
I live in Buckhannon West Virginia, so I came here just for this. And I really wanted to come because I don't really know everyone, I don't really know all of the different ins and outs of the organization, and I feel like I need to know that to do my job efficiently. I knew that it would be together time with the whole organization, so I wanted to come here and get familiar with people, and when you can build those connections and like have that, it helps out a lot.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
So far, she said she enjoys being a part of a team that supports its staff both on and off the clock. Prior to joining Coalfield, she said she’d listened to several episodes of Coalfield’s two podcasts: “Council Cast” and “Change in the Coalfields.” 

Courtney Wilt:
So the one episode where it was one of the guys he was talking about, just like his sobriety and like everything that that has meant to him and what Coalfield has done for him. I was like, that's something that I want to be a part of. If I could be like, a positive role model in someone's life that can get them to, like, be that emotional, and share that kind of experience, I want to do that. And as an accountant, you don't really get that in life.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Revitalize Crew Chief Zach Durban, who’s been with Coalfield since April, said Council Day has been a highlight of his time here so far. He said he’s learned so much about the organization and crew from the monthly get-togethers. 

Zach Durban:
It's definitely different from anything I've done before. I think it is fantastic that Coalfield meets once a month as a company and kind of reflects on the company as a whole and not just the company, but every person individually. You know, it takes everybody into account and involves everybody. For the third Council Day, which is today, we did a big art project, which was awesome. You saw a lot of different creativity, personalities. A lot of people that I didn't think had a creative personality do, and it was great to see those sides come out of people. 

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Following lunch, professional and academic development coordinator Dreama Buck hosted a multi-hour training on anti-harassment workplace policies with an interactive slideshow. The slideshow presented a series of fictional circumstances and the team worked together to determine appropriate responses for each scenario.

Dreama Buck:
It's critical to have these conversations in any company, I think. But I would say particularly for Coalfield Development, it's something that's so intrinsic to our values and our mission to help each other grow, and that is so tied up with respect. And that's the underlying thing, really. Caring about other people, and, you know, being considerate of how they feel on and what's going on in their lives, you know? 

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Dreama said it was critical to host these conversations in and out of the workplace for a number of reasons. 

Dreama Buck:
I saw faces during the training and, and I do feel like I saw some more understanding as we went through. So like, the questions at the beginning were like, just, you know, it's gonna be covered, we'll get there. Hang on, hold on to that, put a pin in that question. And I do think that the way the training was, you know, was built to, to like progress. I felt like those people who asked those questions did get answers and a deeper understanding of what we mean by harassing and why it's important not to do it.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Revitalize Crew Chief Zach Durban shared a few key takeaways from the discussion.

Zach Durban:
A lot of times when you're put into a situation where harassment may be happening, it's very important to report it always. And even though something's uncomfortable, be that person that stands up and takes initiative for the people around you who may not be comfortable to say something. 

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Next, the Coalfield crew then participated in a Narcan administration training led by Jessie Maynard and Gray Pritt. Jessie, who hosts Naloxone or Narcan trainings through her role as outreach coordinator at St. Peter’s Episcopal Community Outreach, said educating others about Narcan is critically important for the health and wellness of our communities.

Jessie Maynard:
There's still so much stigma around opioids and opioid use, and it seems to be getting worse in West Virginia, which is a big reason that one of the things we try and do is Save a Life Day every year is to try and decrease that stigma by getting more Narcan into the hands of people who normally might not have it because they don't think it touches their lives. But honestly, if you live in West Virginia, especially Huntington, it has touched your life in some way. 

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Jessie said this service is a cause that’s near to her heart.

Jessie Maynard:
I do have some personal experience with loss from opioids. A dear friend of mine died a few years ago. So he's a big part of why I keep doing this and why I'm very involved with people who use drugs and people who inject drugs and harm reduction, everything. 

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
As Council Day wrapped for the day, Brandon took a moment to reflect on the afternoon’s discussions and why these conversations are important both in and out of the workplace. 

Brandon:
We work really hard to have a culture at Coalfield Development that deeply respects the dignity and the agency of everybody on the team that doesn't just follow the laws about diversity, or equity or harassment, but really goes above and beyond to set a culture of deep respect and really a community where everybody feels safe to be themselves. Because it's hard to expect a person to reach their full potential if they don't feel safe to be themselves. So today was important. I mean, there's, there's legal requirements, and of course, those are important. But really, it's about having a culture that goes above and beyond to make sure everybody feels safe.

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Brandon said he felt privileged to be part of this space and humbled to see Coalfield’s vision come to fruition.

Brandon:
I feel extremely proud of this organization that we are modeling that like, there's a newer, better way to do business in 2022 and here in Appalachia and just in a human way. When we talk about community, we like to talk about cultivating community, so it's not just giving people a chance, but it's giving people a chance and then supporting and encouraging and sometimes it's challenging and pushing and really cultivating the opportunity so that it's fertile soil in which like real growth can happen. And that's what Council Day is about. It's what our celebrations are about, and that's what our training is about, and that's what our weird, artsy experiences are about too.

(music)

Narrator Lindsay, JJN Multimedia:
Thanks for listening to CouncilCast, a monthly podcast from Coalfield  Development. This series is hosted and produced by JJN Multimedia. 

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To support or learn more about our work creating resilient Appalachian communities and helping people unlock their full potential, power, and purpose, find us on social media or visit www dot coalfield hyphen development dot O R G. 

Thanks for joining us today. We’ll see you next month.