CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WV News) â Bill Raney, who has spent more than 40 years working in and on behalf of West Virginiaâs coal industry, will retire from his role as president and CEO of the West Virginia Coal Association on Jan. 1.
He will be succeeded by Chris Hamilton, the Coal Associationâs current senior vice president. Jason Bostic, current vice president, will take over Hamiltonâs current role.
Having led the organization since 1992, Raney said he believes itâs time for a new generation of leadership.
âThereâs great familiarity, and theyâve done an awful lot of the heavy lifting. They know the Legislature, and they know the industry,â he said. âI look for it to be unrecognizable in the sense of any changes. There will probably we an increased level of activity because theyâll have new ideas, thoughts and ways to approach things.â