CHARLESTON – Vice President Mike Pence will speak later this month at the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce's 81st Annual Meeting and Business Summit.
Pence will address attendees of the event Aug. 30 at The Greenbrier. More than 1,000 business and community leaders are expected to attend the three-day meeting. It will mark the first time a sitting Vice President has spoke at the event.
"We are very excited to host Vice President Pence at the West Virginia Chamber's Annual Meeting and Business Summit. Issues important to West Virginia are receiving a high level of interest from the President and Vice President Pence," Chamber President Steve Roberts said. "We are honored and humbled he is coming to our state to talk with us and to bring additional attention to the vibrant opportunities for West Virginia's future.
"Together, we are working to build prosperity for West Virginia and its people."
Roberts said this year's meeting is expected to have the largest crowd to ever attend the event. Also scheduled to speak is Kirsten Hillman, Canada's Deputy Head of Mission to the United States.
She "has an has an impressive resume', which includes being Canada's chief negotiator for the Trans-Pacific Partnership," Roberts said. "She will provide some excellent insight into the importance of international trade to West Virginia's economy."
Other speakers and potential speakers include U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito, Gov. Jim Justice (invited), members of the U.S. House of Representatives, State Senate President Mitch Carmichael, House Speaker Tim Armstead, West Virginia University President E. Gordon Gee, Marshall University President Jerry Gilbert, West Virginia Department of Commerce Secretary Woody Thrasher, West Virginia Department for the Arts and Education Secretary Gayle Manchin, West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Austin Caperton, and numerous other speakers during the many symposia that take place during the three-day event.
"This meeting is the largest gathering of business, education and policy leaders across the state and truly is the premier business event of the year in West Virginia," Roberts said.
Members of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce are found in all 55 counties and employ more than half of the state's workforce. Chamber members wishing to attend the 2017 Annual Meeting and Business Summit are encouraged to register at www.wvchamber.com or call (304) 342-1115.