Brian Abraham serves as President and Chief Operating Officer of Appalachian Power, leading service to more than one million customers across West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee. A retired Brigadier General in the West Virginia National Guard, he previously served as chief of staff to U.S. Senator Jim Justice and as West Virginia's general counsel. Brian received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Fairmont State University, a master's degree in strategic studies from the United States Army War College, and a Juris Doctor from West Virginia University.

Michele Blatt is West Virginia's 34th State Superintendent of Schools. With more than 30 years in education as a teacher, principal, and educational leader, she oversees statewide initiatives focused on student achievement, school improvement, and workforce readiness. She also serves on national education leadership organizations. Superintendent Blatt’s devotion to supporting every child’s well-being and success has been a guiding motivation throughout her career and is a priority in her professional, charitable, and personal pursuits.

Gat Caperton is President of Gat Creek Furniture, a West Virginia-based manufacturer recognized nationally for sustainable, American-made solid wood furniture. An entrepreneur and business leader, he has championed job creation, domestic manufacturing, and environmental stewardship while growing Gat Creek into one of the state's premier manufacturing success stories. A Davidson College graduate with a degree in economics, Caperton started his career in Chicago, working for a real estate executive while earning his MBA at night. Even then, his ambitions pointed toward home; his graduate school application essay was titled, “I Want to Own My Own Business and Create Jobs in West Virginia.”

That vision became reality in 1996 when he purchased Tom Seely Furniture, an ailing manufacturer in Berkeley Springs, W.Va. Today, the 140,000-square-foot facility in the Appalachian region employs more than 200 people and generates roughly $30 million in annual sales.

Trish Weisberg Erwin is Chief Operating Officer of Service Wire Company, a family-owned wire and cable manufacturer headquartered in West Virginia. Having served in leadership roles across operations, supply chain, quality systems, human resources, and business development, she brings extensive experience in workforce development and manufacturing excellence. Trish obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration in Real Estate Finance from Southern Methodist University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Rice University.