LEXINGTON, Kentucky – Former West Virginia Supreme Court Justice Evan Jenkins is the new General Counsel for Ramaco Resources.
The company announced the hiring of Jenkins, who also is a former U.S. Congressman and West Virginia State Senator, on February 1.
"As our company has continued to grow, we have attempted to attract and retain the highest caliber talent for all aspects of our now national operations in both Appalachia and the West," Randall Atkins, chairman and CEO of Ramaco Resources, said in a press release. "Since the dominant share of our mining assets and operations are now centered in and around West Virginia, it gives me a distinct honor to welcome one of West Virginia's most accomplished citizens as our new General Counsel.
"I have known Evan and followed his deeply impressive career for decades. He will bring skills, temperament, and background to Ramaco far beyond his position as our new General Counsel, and we look forward to his new role with us."
Ramaco is one of North America’s top producers of high-quality metallurgical coal, which often is used in steel-based materials. The company is based in Lexington, Ky., but it has mining operations in southern West Virginia and a regional office in Charleston.
Most recently, Jenkins has served as Senior Vice President Government Affairs at the United States Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business organization. For the past two years he has also served as president of The Ramaco Foundation and a member of its board of directors, helping direct Ramaco's philanthropic efforts. (The West Virginia Record is owned by the U.S. Chamber's Institute for Legal Reform.)
Before joining the Chamber, Jenkins spent four years serving on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and was Chief Justice in 2021.
Jenkins has also had an extensive legislative career for over 22 years at both the federal and state level. He represented West Virginia's 3rd Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives for two terms after having served three terms in the West Virginia Senate and three terms in the West Virginia House of Delegates.
Before that, Jenkins served seven years as General Counsel of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce and 15 years as Executive Director of the West Virginia State Medical Association. Jenkins began his legal career more than 30 years ago practicing labor and employment law in Huntington.
Jenkins received his bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Florida and his law degree from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He and his wife Elizabeth have three adult children.
Jenkins has served with various charitable organizations, including president and board member of Leadership West Virginia, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Tri-State, Ramaco Foundation and Operation B.E.S.T. (Business and Education Succeeding Together). He also served on the board of the Western West Virginia Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Boy Scouts of America (Area Council).
Jenkins replaces Barkley J. Sturgill Jr., who resigned as Ramaco's general counsel. The company also said current Vice President and Assistant General Counsel Tyler Adkins has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Law.
