Appalachia Rising

On this episode of Appalachia Rising, host Dr. Burton Webb sits down with Kathy Walker, founder and director of the eKentucky Advanced Manufacturing Institute (eKAMI), a workforce development training center and CEO of Elm Street Resources, Inc., an energy marketing company, both based in Paintsville, Kentucky. Webb and Walker discuss ideas to diversify the economy in Appalachia, ways to solve the skills gap, and the training and education for today’s workforce. Webb is also joined by two special guests Scott McElmurray and Josh Conley.

On this episode of Appalachia Rising, join our host Dr. Burton Webb as he sits down with Commonwealth of Kentucky State Representative, Angie Hatton. Dr. Webb and Hatton discuss industrial challenges, the redesign of economic development and ideas to bring new innovative businesses to central Appalachia.

On this episode of Appalachia Rising, join our host Dr. Burton Webb as he sits down with primary care physician, Dr. Van Breeding, M.D., on location at the Mountain Comprehensive Healthcare Clinic (MCHC) in Whitesburg, Ky. Dr. Webb and Dr. Breeding discuss the growth of MCHC, the piloting of new programs such as The Farmacy Program and accommodating patient needs with new innovations in healthcare.

On this episode of Appalachia Rising, join our host Dr. Burton Webb as he sits down with Janice Way, President of Leadership Kentucky Foundation Programs. Dr. Webb and Janice discuss Kentucky’s rich cultural heritage and the unique diversity that is woven throughout the curriculum of the Leadership Kentucky program along with highlighting the vision to connect and inspire leaders to unleash Kentucky’s potential.

Welcome to season two of Appalachia Rising with our host Dr. Burton Webb, President of the University of Pikeville. In this week's episode, Dr. Webb sits down with Jonathan Webb, founder and CEO of AppHarvest, on location in Morehead, KY. Join us today for a conversation on how Jonathan and AppHarvest are working to combine conventional agricultural techniques with today's technology and provide a new source of sustainable agriculture in Appalachia.

On the season finale of Appalachia Rising, join our host Dr. Burton Webb as he sits down with Donovan Blackburn, CEO of Pikeville Medical Center. Dr. Webb and Blackburn discuss the many changes to the healthcare industry in Eastern Kentucky, plans for growth at Pikeville Medical Center and how to bring healthcare into rural communities in Appalachia.

On this episode of Appalachia Rising, join our host Dr. Burton Webb as he sits down with Chuck Sexton, President and CEO of One East Kentucky. Dr. Webb and Chuck discuss economic development in the mountains of Appalachia and what innovative ideas lie ahead. For more information visit https://www.upike.edu/AppalachiaRising

On this episode of Appalachia Rising, Dr. Burton Webb sits down with Paul Patton, former two-term Governor of Kentucky and University of Pikeville Chancellor. Listen this week as Dr. Webb and Governor Patton talk about education reform during his terms as Governor, his early career in the coal business and the growth he has seen in Appalachia.

On this episode of Appalachia Rising, Dr. Burton Webb sits down with Shawne Wells. In addition to being an experienced educator, Wells’ most recent role as assistant principal at Pikeville High School has given her the opportunity to continue modeling leadership and tenacity for the next generation of change agents in eastern Kentucky.

On the second episode of Appalachia Rising, Dr. Burton Webb sits down with Rusty Justice, a business owner/operator from Pike County, Kentucky, helping to create a new career path in the tech industry for out-of-work coal miners. For more information and show notes visit: https://www.upike.edu/appalachiarising

On the first episode of Appalachia Rising, our host, UPIKE President Dr. Burton Webb, chats with Jared Arnett about his work with Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR). Topics range from innovation programs to health care initiatives in rural Appalachia. SOAR was created as a platform for the people of Appalachia Kentucky to be engaged, embrace new ideas, leverage resources and build capacity to create a 21st Century Appalachia. Jared has served as SOAR’s executive director since its inception in 2013. For more information and show notes visit: https://www.upike.edu/appalachiarising

Appalachia Rising is a podcast about all the good things happening in Appalachia that you won't hear in the media. For more information and show notes visit: https://www.upike.edu/appalachiarising