FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 5, 2026

FAIRMONT, W.Va. – Members of the Pierpont Community & Technical College Board of Governors and College Leadership gathered for a two-day retreat focused on the future of the college. The retreat was held July 29-30 at the Bridgeport Conference Center and brought together board members, Cabinet leadership and key members of President’s Council to examine workforce trends, student success data and opportunities for strategic growth.

The retreat, themed Innovating for the Future: Evaluating Programs to Meet Emerging Workforce Needs, provided participants with an opportunity to review enrollment and financial trends, explore academic and workforce programs, hear from state workforce and economic development leaders, and begin identifying priorities that will inform Pierpont’s next strategic planning process.

Opening the retreat, President Dr. Michael Waide challenged participants to focus on the college’s long-term impact and responsibility to future students.

“Transformation begins when education changes the trajectory of a person’s life,” Dr. Waide said. “We’ve celebrated important accomplishments during the past year, but momentum is not a destination. Momentum creates responsibility. It challenges us to ask what comes next and how we can continue creating opportunity for the students and communities we serve.”

Dr. Waide noted that while college administrators lead daily operations, the Board of Governors plays a critical role in helping shape the institution’s long-term direction. He encouraged board members to view the retreat as an opportunity to consider not only today’s needs, but the educational and workforce opportunities students and employers will need in the years ahead.

David Beighley, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, encouraged participants to use the information presented throughout the retreat as a starting point for meaningful discussion about the college’s strategic focus.

“Some of the data confirms what we expect, and some of it challenges our assumptions,” Beighley said. “The opportunity is to look beyond the numbers and ask what they’re telling us about our students, our programs and the needs of the region. Those questions help us identify opportunities for innovation, improvement and growth.”

One of the retreat’s highlights was a workforce leadership panel featuring Tiffany Ellis-Williams, Director of Workforce and Economic Development for the West Virginia Community and Technical College System; Chris Rich, Assistant Director of Workforce West Virginia’s Research, Information and Analysis Unit; Meghan Smith, Manager of Business Development for the West Virginia Division of Economic Development; and Marc Huchette, Region 6 Business Development Representative for the West Virginia Department of Commerce. Together, the panelists shared perspectives on workforce trends, economic development and the skills employers will need in the years ahead.

Panelists stressed the importance of strong partnerships among education, industry and government while emphasizing the need for both technical expertise and skills such as communication, critical thinking and adaptability. Several speakers pointed to healthcare and skilled trades as areas expected to experience continued workforce demand in the coming decade.

The retreat also highlighted the growth of Pierpont’s Career and Corporate Training division and its expanding partnerships with business and industry. Participants reviewed examples of short-term workforce training, industry-recognized credentials and collaborative efforts designed to connect students and employees with high-demand career opportunities.

In addition to workforce discussions, board members completed governance training covering fiduciary responsibilities, ethics and best practices for institutional leadership. The session completed the board’s annual training cycle.

The second day of the retreat focused on brainstorming and reflection activities designed to help identify future opportunities for the college. Discussions explored emerging areas of workforce demand, potential partnerships, innovative program delivery models and strategies to support student success while advancing Pierpont’s mission.

Dr. Waide said the conversations reinforced the college’s commitment to planning strategically while remaining responsive to the needs of the region.

“Over the past two days, we moved from understanding where we are today to thinking about where Pierpont can go next,” Dr. Waide said. “The ideas shared during this retreat will help inform the work ahead as we continue building opportunities for students, supporting workforce needs and strengthening the communities we serve.”

Insights gathered throughout the retreat will help inform the college’s upcoming strategic plan and future discussions of institutional priorities.

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Pierpont Community & Technical College provides accessible, responsive, and high‑quality education to students and businesses across North Central West Virginia. With a strong focus on career readiness and workforce development, Pierpont offers academic programs and industry‑aligned training that create clear pathways to employment. Through this work, the college helps students discover their path while supporting the region’s economic and workforce needs.

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