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Photo courtesy: Jocelyn King
Local manufacturing leaders participated in an economic panel discussion hosted by the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce at the Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack on Thursday. Pictured from left is Moderator Josh Jefferson, President and CEO of the Regional Economic Development Partnership. Veri Fox, his CEO of Marble King. Nathan Lord, President, Cher Crescent USA. Rebecca McPhail, president of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association. Joe Eddy, former president and CEO of Eagle Manufacturing;
Wheeling – Representatives from the manufacturing and energy sectors took center stage on Thursday to offer their thoughts on the future of the national and local economies.
The two panel discussions were part of the 2022 Economic Outlook Conference sponsored by the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce.
Josh Jefferson, president and CEO of the Regional Economic Development Partnership, moderated a discussion of manufacturers and said there now “seems to be momentum” with manufacturers wanting to move to West Virginia. .
He asked the panel what made the company decide to come to the mountain state.
Marble King CEO Beri Fox says geography plays a big role. She explained that during the pandemic, manufacturers have come to understand how much they rely on other manufacturers to get their products, and that deliveries of needed items are typically more Use the shorter route to centrally located West Her Virginia.
“In addition to the proactive approach by the state’s Department of Economic Development, a business-friendly legislative body that will work with economic development officials to make West Virginia more and more competitive for economic development and job growth. There is,” she said. “Manufacturing has benefited from that.”
In manufacturing, it’s all about ‘location, location, location,’” continues Joe Eddy, former president and CEO of Eagle Manufacturing.
He added that the “four R’s” of rivers, railroads, roads and resources are equally important.
“(West Virginia) is the only place in the world where you can build manufacturing facilities on top of natural resources, energy and raw materials, in the middle of the world’s largest market,” added Eddy.
Nathan Lord, president of Shale Crescent USA, said manufacturers simply worked through the numbers and decided they could “make more money in West Virginia.”
“We manufacture better than anywhere in the world,” he said. “The equation for manufacturers is, can they locate their raw materials? Can they locate their customers?
“If we can put both in the same place, we have a huge advantage over our competitors.”
He also noted that European and Asian manufacturers pay 10 to 15 times more fuel than U.S. manufacturers.
“And in the US, it’s even cheaper in West Virginia and Pennsylvania,” he said.
Rebecca McPhail, president of the West Virginia Manufacturers Association, pointed out during the discussion of energy producers that energy producers are often viewed as the “bad guys” in general. I asked if I could convince the public that it was a good place to produce energy and end products.
“We are an energy-producing state and need not apologize for it,” said Charlie Byrd, executive director of the West Virginia Gas and Oil Association. “The United States counts on us every day to produce natural gas liquids that are transported in many directions.
“If you love your phone, thank you shale producers at the Mark West facility in Dodridge County.”
Greg Kozera, director of marketing for Shale Crescent USA, says it’s easy for people with energy to talk to each other.
“We have to consider people who may not be very familiar with this idea,” he said. “These are the people who need a message. We’re not alone. We have to weigh things up and speak the truth.”
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