At this year’s Pathways to Progress Conference, Generation West Virginia hosted a compelling panel titled “Creative Solutions to Workforce Pipeline Challenges,” bringing together leaders from healthcare, energy, higher education, and innovation. What unfolded was an inspiring conversation around bold, practical strategies that are reshaping how we attract, train, and retain talent in the Mountain State.
Rethinking Access to Education: WVU Medicine’s Groundbreaking Approach
Dr. Tanya Rogers of WVU Medicine introduced a first-of-its-kind hospital-based diploma nursing program, created not just to educate, but to remove barriers that have traditionally stood in the way of aspiring nurses. From tuition-free education to holistic student support—including free laundry facilities, 24/7 study access, wellness resources, and even temporary housing—this program is designed for individuals who haven’t fit the traditional mold but are eager to serve their communities through healthcare.
As Rogers put it, “We believe that there’s a population of people who want to be nurses, but haven’t had access to the college or university system.” By creating an inclusive, innovative pipeline, WVU Medicine is not only tackling workforce shortages head-on but also building a model that could be replicated across the state.
Redefining Talent Attraction Through Quality of Life
Emily Huguenin of WVU’s Ascend West Virginia program reminded us that talent doesn’t just follow jobs—it follows joy. Since its inception, Ascend has brought over 500 remote workers and their families to West Virginia, drawn by the state’s natural beauty, affordability, and small-town charm. With a 96% retention rate, the program is proof that when people experience the lifestyle West Virginia offers, they want to stay.
“We have the quality-of-life factors that people are looking for,” said Huguenin. “We just need to believe in ourselves.”
The key takeaway: quality-of-life isn’t just a perk—it’s a powerful workforce strategy.
Building a Self-Sustaining Innovation Ecosystem
David Ramsburg of LG Nova shared his journey from leaving West Virginia to pursue a tech career to returning with a mission: to build an ecosystem that makes it possible for others to stay.
LG Nova’s focus is on cultivating a cycle of ideation and incubation for new businesses. But Ramsburg emphasized that true impact lies beyond a single startup: “We want to create an ongoing cycle of new opportunities for our young people that is always renewing itself.”
His message was clear: lasting workforce solutions require infrastructure that evolves with talent, offering room for growth, reinvention, and advancement.
Investing in People and Place: Hope Gas’s Holistic Vision
Morgan O’Brien, CEO of Hope Gas, may be new to West Virginia, but he’s already making a lasting impact. Under his leadership, the company has brought 500 new jobs to the state and committed $2.2 billion in infrastructure investment, much of it going directly to family-sustaining union labor.
But what sets Hope Gas apart is its people-first philosophy. Whether renovating a public high school gym, creating internship opportunities for high schoolers, or building a world-class training center in Clarksburg, O’Brien stressed the importance of investing not just in pipelines, but in purpose.
“You only sit in your chair for so long,” he said. “Why wouldn’t I be investing in the next generation of our employees?”
Collaboration Is the Key
The panel closed with a powerful reminder: solving workforce challenges doesn’t require radical reinvention. It requires asking “why,” breaking silos, and committing to community-driven solutions.
From diploma programs to remote worker relocation, from local talent ecosystems to high school internships, this panel demonstrated that West Virginia has the tools and the heart to build a brighter future for its workforce.
“We don’t want to replicate or duplicate,” said O’Brien. “But until we find the person who’s working on it, we’re going to take ownership of it.”
Looking Ahead: How West Virginia Can Strengthen Its Talent Pipeline
As this panel showed, workforce challenges don’t require radically new ideas, they require commitment, collaboration, and creativity. Here are seven forward-looking strategies West Virginia leaders can pursue:
- Invest in barrier-free education pathways with flexible, supportive programs that meet learners where they are.
- Leverage West Virginia’s quality of life as a strategic asset to attract remote workers and returning residents.
- Build innovative workforce ecosystems where collaboration thrives, voices are heard, and bold ideas are encouraged to grow.
- Connect industry directly to K–12 and career education, creating clear, inspiring paths from classroom to career.
- Foster local ownership and invest in communities, because workers are more likely to stay where they feel supported.
- Embrace flexibility and the future of work through hybrid and remote job options.
- Break down silos through cross-sector collaboration, aligning goals across education, business, and community.
Everyone Has a Role to Play
You don’t need to be a policymaker or CEO to make a difference. The average West Virginian can play a powerful role in addressing workforce pipeline challenges. Here’s how:
- Mentor a student or young professional, or share your career journey.
- Support local schools, training centers, and community colleges with your time, advocacy, or donations.
- Welcome new residents and promote West Virginia’s lifestyle, helping others see what makes it special.
- Encourage inclusive, flexible hiring practices in your workplace.
- Get involved with workforce development organizations, from volunteering to attending local events.
- Talk with the next generation about diverse career paths and the many ways to succeed in West Virginia.
- Most importantly, stay curious and keep asking, “Why not here?”
West Virginia has the people, the place, and the potential. With leaders, neighbors, educators, and employers working together, we can create a future where opportunity is homegrown and where every West Virginian has the chance to thrive.
Let this serve as an invitation: to take ownership, to collaborate, and to believe in what West Virginia can build, together.