Summersville, W.Va. (WVDN) – Bonny Ball Copenhaver, Ed.D., President of New River Community and Technical College, will be the keynote speaker at the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority’s (NRGRDA) Showcase and Soiree on December 6, 2024, at the Summersville Arena and Conference Center.
Jina Belcher, Executive Director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority (NRGRDA), said, “A diverse and educated workforce throughout southern West Virginia will increase economic development opportunities and leverage our entrepreneurial efforts. Dr. Copenhaver has shown us with the aviation maintenance program, health professions training and advanced manufacturing that New River CTC is a strong partner in our region’s progress.”
Copenhaver is the fourth president of New River Community and Technical College, which has campuses in Beaver, Ghent, Lewisburg, Princeton and Summersville. She has taken strides to help the community and technical college achieve its mission of providing accessible, affordable, quality education and workforce programs to residents in its nine-county service region.
“We continually strive to be a college ready for students because education changes lives,” said Copenhaver. “We partner with regional industries to build advisory boards to ensure that our programs are preparing students for local jobs and with four-year institutions to create pathways to assist our graduates in continuing their education.”
Belcher said the annual Showcase and Soiree will offer networking engagement opportunities with top stakeholders in community and economic development in the New River Gorge region. She said another high point of the event will be the announcement of NRGRDA’s Partner of the Year Award recipient.
For tickets and more details about the NRGRDA Showcase and Soiree: https://nrgrda.org/soiree/.
