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 Seven, highlighting our Council Day on Thursday, December 8, 2022. For Coalfield Development’s final Council Day of the year, crews hit the road for our annual holiday gathering in Charleston. Before the day’s events began, the team socialized over breakfast and coffee at the Saint John XXIII (23) Pastoral Center. 

Prior to kicking off a day full of strategic discussions, reflections, and festive group activities, we celebrated Coalfield Development’s most successful year yet. 

CEO Brandon Dennison recapped some of the year’s highlights, including our organization’s significant growth and milestones, including winning a U.S. EDA. Build Back Better Regional Challenge grant for $62.8 million for the ACT Now Coalition supporting clean energy development in southern West Virginia, staff expansions, our Council Day travels, and exceeding our goals across all enterprises. 

Then, Brandon introduced our 2023 workplace theme: LISTENING, an acronym for Leaning Into Sustainable Transformations Energizing New Innovation and New Growth. This year’s theme was HISTORY, which stands for Healing Into Sustainable Transformational Opportunities and Reclaiming Yourself.

BRANDON DENNISON

I think in our work, learning how to not just think about what we want to say next. But really learning how to listen curiously and honestly and genuinely to what the other person is saying and really trying to understand them first before we try and assert, you know, what we want to get across. And listening to ourselves, you know, to our true selves. 

I think sometimes there's a lot of different voices going on in your sort of self-talk. Every instant we're talking to ourselves, and there's positive things we can tell ourselves, and there's very negative and hurtful things we can tell ourselves. So we want to listen to our best selves and really let those positive and affirming and encouraging voices win out and be what pushes and carries us and inspires us. 

LINDSAY CRANCE

Communications Coordinator Ashley Stinnett then played a slideshow with the crew's most memorable moments and invited each group to share the stories behind them. Some of the highlights included project milestones, travels, and Coalfield events. 

BRANDON DENNISON

We're trying to rebuild an Appalachian economy from the ground up. And really, what does that mean? It is these pictures that you all have illustrated what it looks like to rebuild the economy, from the ground up. And so it's remarkable to get to be a part of that together.

LINDSAY CRANCE

Following the slideshow presentation, Brandon announced several promotions among our leadership team. Casey McCann, Director of Revitalize Appalachia, will become the Chief Real Estate Officer; Jacob Hannah, Director of Conservation, will be promoted to Chief Conservation Officer; Nick Guertin, Associate Director of Revitalize, will become Senior Director of Real Estate; and Adam Hudson, Director of Refresh Appalachia, will be promoted to Senior Director of Agriculture. Brandon also announced organization-wide raises and starting wage increases for crew and staff. 

BRANDON DENNISON

So Coalfield Development has had a good year. And we want to make sure that everybody gets recognized financially for that, because everybody contributed to the great into the truly historic year that we have had. The bottom line is it's a boost across the board, and it's well earned.

LINDSAY CRANCE

Following group discussions between enterprises and departments, leadership from each shared their goals. In 2023, Casey McCann, Chief Real Estate Officer, said the Revitalize team aims to increase the scale of their projects and continue finding ways to repurpose materials intended for the landfill. 

CASEY MCCANN

Some of the goals that we have for Revitalize in 2023 is looking to continue to improve the square footage. So, part of that is looking at the square feet that were able to be accomplished in different buildings, whether it be through acquisitions, or even just improvements to existing buildings. Another one is looking at the community impact. This is also going to encompass the number of events and the attendees that participate in that event. 

We're also looking at the local economic impact of how the community will be engaged and also looking at the attendees that are training opportunities that we will provide. Another one we're looking at is the revenue-generating streams of income as looking at the number of design programs we can continue to expand on with Revitalize, and then also looking at the sustainability impact. And that's going to be focusing more on the pounds diverted from landfill and accompanying the carbon footprint and emissions saved and prevented from entering into the atmosphere. 

And so those are sort of the main headlines that we're looking at. Another part of this is that, although it's not until 2024, we're also gonna have solar ready for a lot of our properties that we already own as well both all across the real estate industry.

LINDSAY CRANCE

Ryan Stoner, Chief Operations Officer, said the Mountain Mindful team’s 2023 goals include honing embroidery skills for custom sales, branching into more custom woodwork, and expanding the Mountain Mindful crew. 

RYAN STONER 

In 2023, for Mountain Mindful, we hope to increase our sales through larger projects. We're looking at new markets where we can offer custom sales of apparel items, as well as custom woodworking items. One area we want to grow custom sales for apparel is by offering our embroidery service. So, we've learned how to embroider different apparel items in the last year, but it's taken us some time to do that quickly to meet customer demand. We want to be able to increase our speed in that and be more clear with our customer expectations around embroidery. 

The second area that we want to focus on for Mountain Mindful is growing custom sales in the woodshop. So, for the last number of years, we've done a lot of direct to consumer woodworking products, but we do have a local market that is interested in more custom wood shop type projects, whether it's a built in and your home, or some other kind of corporate type project, making larger pieces of furniture, that sort of thing. We want to be able to outline our custom sales process for the woodshop. 

And then finally, we've been blessed with the opportunity to add more positions, so we need to onboard some new roles this year, kind of realign our team structure, and meet the needs that our customers have and to meet the goals of the social enterprise overall. We want to add some new positions this year to focus on how we can do that.

LINDSAY CRANCE

Gina Milum, West Edge Outreach and Operations Coordinator, said the West Edge team hoped to host a festival and more art-based events at the space.

GINA MILUM

It is my goal to have three anchor events — big anchor events. I just had the kickoff Christmas market. It was my FriYay and SaturYay, which went amazing. I'm only going to build on that for next year. I'm planning a literary festival. I mean, these will be like, guests from all over the state, possibly the eastern seaboard, you know, to come and speak, hold workshops, and just make it an annual huge literary festival right there at West Edge. 

We're also working on an anchor music event. There's so much musical talent in our area. I mean, Appalachians and music, they go hand in hand, and we really want to showcase some of that talent there. The talent that we have right here… I want to showcase that I want to have an employee exhibit and talent show, and I want to really do it up. I want to do it at a council meeting and then I want to roll it out like a gallery opening. I mean, give these people a real sense of, you know, you're talented, you're special. This is what it means to be recognized for that talent and let them invite their families. 

Of course, we've got workshops that I'm planning on. I've worked pretty closely with the Tamarack Foundation. So I'm going to have those Tamarack fellows come in and do exhibits. It's going to be a full year of the arts at West Edge. Buckle up, buttercups. We are going to have some art in 2023!

LINDSAY CRANCE

Ashley Stinnett, Communications Coordinator, said the Communications team planned to focus their efforts on educating our communities about Coalfield’s work and kicking off the ACT Now Coalition, which Coalfield is a lead sponsor of. 

The ACT Now Coalition was one of 21 projects selected by the U.S. EDA to receive a Regional Build Back Better grant and received $62.8 million to invest in sustainable energy development in West Virginia’s southern coalfields. The coalition is a collaborative effort between organizations across the region.

ASHLEY STINNETT

Our big goal is really unveiling and launching the ACT Now Coalition, so we want to hit the ground with some major focus on grassroots operations. You know, what we've done so far has been like a big picture, an aerial view, getting elected officials on board, business leaders, universities, academicians. Now, what we want to do as we want to get the folks like out in the fields, like we want to get them on board with what the ACT Now Coalition is about. So, heavy focus in regards to communications next year on ACT Now Coalition. 

As far as the Coalfield side, it's just really expanding our footprint as it comes to, you know, there's still a lot of people out there that really don't even know what we do. They've kind of heard of it, you know, all that's that organization in the news. You guys won a bunch of money, but they don't really still know what we do, and odds are, they probably know someone personally or know of someone in the different counties that were involved in, who have been positively impacted by what we do. They just don't know that it's us. 

So it's really continuing to, you know, market ourselves and educational outreach on what we're doing. So it's kind of a one two punch, and we are the lead sponsor with ACT Now, so the two are kind of married. And that's going to be the really big focus of 2023 and we're super pumped. 

LINDSAY CRANCE

Sam Sarcone, Chief Financial Officer, said Coalfield’s Finance team will be adding new members to their crew next year in anticipation of the ACT Now Coalition’s debut and new collaborations. 

SAM SARCONE

So for 2023, what we're looking to do for the finance team is implement a $20.5 million dollar budget that will be a moving target to a continuous stream of partnerships and ongoing funding opportunities that seem to piggyback and springboard off of one another endlessly. So, we're really in a more exciting time than ever financially at Coalfield. With the Build Back Better coalition, with the partnerships, the financial strategy is more crucial than ever. 

So this is a big year where we'll be adding more staff, we'll be upgrading our technology systems. We're getting more auditors involved even to demonstrate, you know, our accountability and really have everything from start to finish that will be needed to assure you know, this is going to be a top end, you know, distribution of federal funding. It's going to be a historic public-private partnership. It's going to do a lot. 

LINDSAY CRANCE

Adam Hudson, Senior Director of Agriculture, said the Refresh crew plans to work on certification and engaging with local schools to educate students about agriculture. 

ADAM HUDSON

For Refresh, our 2023 goals are going to be a lot of it's around community engagement and training. So, with a goal of 150 agricultural-based certificate training for 150 different people would earn certificates and be trained. That's across all of our sites: through our Highwall site and the work at West Edge, and then our food hub work, and just our partnership work. So, it touches each of the activities Refresh is doing. 

And then [get] 10,000 students engaged with us across mostly Wayne and Cabell County Schools, but that could be through tastings, in-class activities, learning activities, maybe field trips for them to one of our sites — those types of engagement, just to get them excited about agriculture. And then one of our others is 15 innovative, sustainable agricultural practices implemented, tried on one of our sites or with our programs. And then the last one is what we want to see, we want to have a part in getting at least $5 million in agricultural investment within the region, just whether we're working with other partners to pull that funding in or we pull in that funding directly.

LINDSAY CRANCE

Kelli Crabtree, Chief Officer of Human Development, said the Human Development team aims to continue growing, making employment opportunities more accessible for more individuals across the region, and finding additional ways to support Coalfield crew members in their higher education studies.

KELLI CRABTREE

So in 2023, our goal is to maintain a 2.5 Grade Point Average throughout the year for all of our crew members that are enrolled in higher education. Our team is doubling in size, our human development team. 

We're going to be hiring seven more people in 2023, and so that is to include our first hire that we're gonna be looking for as an Equitable Recruitment Coordinator. So those folks that that person will be able to really focus on making sure that we are kind of spreading the word of who we are as Coalfield and what we do when it comes to the workforce development and make sure that we're able to really get the word out, but also making sure that we are recruiting those folks that really need our opportunity — and that's just for our workforce development program. 

Our 2023 budget includes a pretty considerable increase in all personnel to really support the added programming, conservation and construction programming that's coming from the RBBB. So I'm excited for the equity group recruitment specialists to really make sure that we're hiring from around our 21-service area, and, and just making sure that you know, we're looking for diversity and things like that. 

Additionally, we're gonna be focusing on our completion of our programming of our workforce development program. And so really trying to focus figure out for those folks that don't complete either a WRAPS Trainee program, which is usually where our turnover might be, or our crew member program, are there additional supports that we could be providing or things that we could look at to to support folks and being able to just to be a completer? 

LINDSAY CRANCE

Marilyn Wrenn, Chief Development Officer, said the Program and Sector Development team has its sights set on partnering with more employers in the area who can recruit crew after they graduate and expanding training opportunities to the public. 

MARILYN WRENN

What we're concentrating on within the Program and Sector Development team is really working to build the capacity of our colleague nonprofit organizations that are trying to step into the workforce development arena. So, we're building out our program to help them do that more effectively and more efficiently, because we know sometimes it's really hard to get into that arena with the supports that are needed. We're trying to jumpstart that at the same time, we're concentrating on developing our employer network so that more employers around the region understand the quality of training and the quality of employee that's coming out of both field development, and we want to also help them meet their training needs more effectively, so we're concentrating on that. And then also, in 2023, we have a big focus on providing more external trainings for people in the community. Even if you're not going to become a WRAPS trainee or crew member within Coalfield or one of our colleague organizations, you can still find opportunities to increase your credentials and get training that will help in better employment opportunities. 

LINDSAY CRANCE

As the Town Hall concluded, we were joined by local comedian and magician, Joey Stepp. Joey spent an hour of the afternoon entertaining the crew, presenting card tricks and other illusions. 

JOEY STEPP

Everybody says, “Hi, Cindy!” 

CREW

Hi, Cindy!

JOEY STEPP

Cindy, so I have a book. I'm going to show you that I've memorized two and a two pages of Adventures of Sherlock Holmes. We're going to kind of stand back to back and you're going to open the book to any patient one. And I'm gonna tell you what the words are. What page are you on, Cindy?

CINDY MANNING

104

JOEY STEPP

The first word on the page says, “...finds himself a matter of his own establishment,” yes or no? 

CINDY MANNING

Yes. 

JOEY STEPP

Next word. Next page. First word says, “and.”

CINDY MANNING

Yes.

JOEY STEPP

What page are you on, Cindy?

CINDY MANNING

168.

JOEY STEPP

First words on page 168: “She will not sell stolen.” 

CINDY MANNING

That's it!

JOEY STEPP

Turn around, Cindy. 

CINDY MANNING

Ohhh

JOEY STEPP

There's no words in my book. Give Cindy a round of applause! 

(applause)

LINDSAY CRANCE

To close out our final Council Day of 2022, Brandon and Kelli Crabtree, Chief Human Development Officer, invited us to celebrate our new Coalfield Champion, Heather Tincher, of Mountain Mindful, and two WRAPS graduates from Mountain Mindful, Jennifer Pudder and Amanda Greene. Heather Tincher, who has been with Coalfield since 2019, is among the few crew to receive the green hat honor, which is awarded to those who demonstrate exceptional leadership abilities. 

KELLI CRABTREE

It's been an awesome journey at Coalfield with Heather. Just from the get-go, she has had a dream to be able to support others and so she wants to do that professionally, but it's just really awesome, and most of us have experienced how she has been a support here to us, seeing that in watching her do that with others here and in the community. And it's just been Yeah, I mean Heather is just like the epitome of a Coalfield Champion with everything really upholding and living out every one of our of our values and even like all of our principles and I'm just honored to be able to have worked with you Heather and to call you a friend. 

HEATHER TINCHER

Thank you, Kelli. 

(cheers)

LINDSAY CRANCE

Along with being a kind person and hard worker, Brandon said Heather embodies all of Coalfield’s core values. 

BRANDON DENNISON

I'll just add that sometimes the work just speaks for itself, and those are my favorite celebrations.You know, that you just showed a quiet, but very strong courage, day in and day out. When we say Coalfield champion, you are the embodiment of it. 

Today you become a Coalfield Champion. You've shown leadership and excellence by living out our values, advancing our mission, and realizing our vision. These are the values that build a better future for your community, and that is your charge now: to use the skills, knowledge and opportunities you've developed here at Coldfield to become a true leader, and through your leadership, to not just affect positive change in your community, but to champion it. Coalfield's vision of a brighter future is in Appalachia where people are unlocking their full potential, power, and purpose. You are the embodiment of that. 

I'd like to invite everyone here to join me now. We'll take our hands. And we'll put them to our head first, which is where our potential lives, so it's unique to us. This tool between your ears is the most powerful tool at your disposal, more powerful than any hand tool you could pick up. We underestimate what we can do simply with our imagination with our creativity, and now we'll take our hands and put them into our heart, which is where our power lives. So never let anyone take your heart from you, you know that it's unique to us what motivates us, what gives us inspiration, what keeps us going on the hard days, it lives in here, and it's ours. And we need to tap into it every day. 

And then simply look at your hands and remember that here Coalfield, we get to put our hands to work. So that potential in our head, the power in our heart literally rebuilds the new economy. It builds an innovative business like mountain mindful, using reclaimed materials. It's a sustainable business. We build houses, we deconstruct houses, we plant and grow food. Think of what all the hands on this room, what it's done, what it's added up to and 2022 what it's going to add up to in 2023. 

And again, think of what those two hands for the past nearly three years: everything they've done, the amount of products you've touched, the amount of lives you've touched, the handshakes, the hugs, the personal development journals they've completed, the exams they've completed. Think about that, what what those two hands have done, what all these hands in this room have done together. Truly remarkable. That's what I mean by potential power and purpose. 

So, congratulations on this achievement. You're now a college graduate. You're now a well trained part of the West Virginia workforce. But most importantly, you're now a leader in your community. As our personal development curriculum emphasizes, it is crucial to first care for ourselves. But ultimately, it's not all about us. And so from our well being, we have to begin to care for others, because we all do better when we all do better. Steward your knowledge and skills well, there are many challenges your community needs you. There are also many opportunities. As an engaged citizen and community leader you can seize these opportunities and help our community realize its full potential power and purpose. So again, congratulations and congratulations on becoming a Coalfield champion. This is a significant achievement you've earned it and today we celebrate you.

LINDSAY CRANCE

Mountain Mindful Crew Chiefs Amanda Jones and Brad Stapleton also shared heartfelt words about their time working with Heather.

BRAD STAPLETON 

Heather came to Coalfield in October of 2019, and it was a very different looking organization back in those days. So she was one of the very first crew members that came through that process, and I've had the privilege to watch you learn, grow and develop as a person, as a professional, as an academic, and it really has, it's been magical. Everything that you've ever come up against, you have battled and found a way to overcome. Like others have said you are the epitomization of what it means to be a Coalfield Champion, and you embody these values. Thank you for everything that you've done. Thank you for being my friend. And I wish you the best of luck in whatever you do because I know you're going to be successful. 

LINDSAY CRANCE

Heather said it was an honor to receive this recognition and to have worked alongside some of her closest friends. 

HEATHER TINCHER

The crew I'm on. They're like family. Amanda [Jones], like she said, since day one, she's done, like, helped me outside of work to like in my personal life, and I'll be forever grateful to you for that. And Brad, same. You've been there, you and Jim both, you know, like, father figures to me and just like family members. And Megan has been such an honor to see you come on the team and grow beside you. I know you'll do great. You'll be up here one day, too, doing this, so just keep on doing what you're doing. And Kelli, since day one, helped me through some rough spots, so thank you for that. And we couldn't have been here without you. So I appreciate it.

LINDSAY CRANCE

After graduating from Mount West Community and Technical College, Heather said she plans to attend Marshall University to pursue a degree in social work. 

HEATHER TINCHER

To me, this means love. Actually, that's the word that comes to my mind. I’m loving someone to life, you know, investing the time, and the resources into someone that Coalfield believes in, you know, to make a difference in their life and the community. Started this journey, like, a year and a month ago, two months ago, and it just went by so quick. But during the process, I was like, one day at a time, just get through one day at a time — we'll get there. So that's how I did it, and I couldn't have done it without the help of the crew chiefs, and also the other crew members, and even the directors, Brandon. I remember him sitting down with me in the study hall and actually helping me study for tests and exams, as well as Jim and Amanda and Brad, they did the same thing, like helped me with school whenever I needed it. And anything I needed, like one of them was always there. So, it's just a big family, a big support system, and people that want to see each other succeed. 

LINDSAY CRANCE

Heather said she hopes to make a difference in the lives of others facing some of the hardships she also experienced. 

HEATHER TINCHER

I've been through a few things in life, like many of us, and I want to be able to come out the other side and help people the right way through it, like have the education plus the experience and also like, certifications, licenses, whatever it takes to be able to do it the right way. Because I had that whenever I was going through things as well. So and also talking to the program director at Mount west of the behavioral science just him talking to me and saying that that would probably be the best fit. That was his suggestion too. So that's what got me there. I'm excited.

LINDSAY CRANCE

Before presenting Jennifer and Amanda with their graduation gifts, Brandon congratulated them on their personal development and professional achievements. 

BRANDON DENNISON

We'll make it official by saying today, Amanda and Jennifer, you become a WRAPS graduate. congratulations on this significant achievement. You've learned how to be a reliable, productive, committed part of the Appalachian workforce. You have proven you're ready for professional success. This is your accomplishment. You made this happen for yourself. All Coalfield Development has done is create space and provide support. So as you move forward to your next chapter, we hope you will do so with confidence in your ability to set, meet, and exceed goals. 

During your time as a WRAPS trainee, you've worked hard on projects to improve your community in our economy. You have thought deeply about how to care for yourself, but you also know that our deepest joy comes from serving others. When we do care for ourselves we can then better care for others. The projects you have advanced during your six months are examples of serving others and building our economy in doing so from the ground up. So congratulations again on becoming a WRAPS graduate. In addition to the success of this graduation, we look forward to celebrating your many successes to come. You will forever be a part of the Coalfield community, and we look forward to what comes next.

LINDSAY CRANCE

Jennifer took a moment to thank her Coalfield colleagues for their trust and encouragement. 

JENNIFER PUDDER

I'm just gonna say thank you. And I'll start with Megan because she's the one that told me about Coalfield Development. And Jim is not here but Carrie is Carrie and Jim are the ones that interviewed me and actually gave me a chance. Brad and Amanda and Heather and Arizona and Erica for inspiring me to be better and to do better. James, for inspiring me to do better, just inspire me to be the best me I can be. Thank you guys.

LINDSAY CRANCE

In closing out the final Council Day of the year, Brandon left the crew with a message of gratitude.

BRANDON DENNISON

I feel really good about 2023. I think we're rolling in with a full head of steam. Sometimes we use a lot of big fancy words in Coalfield Development. I use a lot of big fancy words. But you should feel so inspired by what you are doing when we say rebuilding the Appalachian economy, this is what it looks like. It's Heather. It's Jennifer. It's Amanda. It's all of us. It's buildings that go up, buildings that come down. Food that gets grown. Problems that get solved. Competitions that get won. Systems that get shaped. You know, it really is happening, and I hope you feel that in this room and I hope you know that you're a part of it you're not just a part of it you're a big part of it you're leading it. You're the ones doing it, and that's what we mean when we say rebuilding the Appalachian economy from the ground up so thank you for a great year. 

LINDSAY, JJN MULTIMEDIA: 

Thanks for listening to CouncilCast, a monthly podcast from Coalfield  Development. This series is hosted and produced by JJN Multimedia. Subscribe to CouncilCast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you like what you’re hearing, be sure to leave us a review. 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.