Jim Crews retired in 2025 after serving as Vice President of Northeast Business Development for MPLX, a role he held since 2011. Prior to joining MPLX, he spent more than 15 years with NiSource Gas Transmission and Storage (NGT&S) and its predecessor, Columbia Gas Transmission, holding multiple leadership and technical positions from 1995 to 2011.

Jim began his career in 1982 with Cabot Oil and Gas in Charleston, West Virginia, working in the company’s drilling and production division. In 1985, he served as a field service engineer for Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Power in Lynchburg, Virginia. From 1987 to 1995, he worked in engineering, storage, and planning for Washington Gas Light Company in Washington, D.C. 

A past president of the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association (WVONGA), Jim holds a bachelor’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from West Virginia University and is a registered professional mechanical engineer in both Virginia and Ohio.

Jeff Nehr is Senior Vice President of Gas Supply and Development for Hope Utilities, where he oversees gas supply strategy, producer partnerships, and the company’s microgrid initiatives. 

Jeff brings more than 30 years of combined experience with Peoples Natural Gas and Equitable. Before joining Hope Utilities, he served as Vice President of Business Development at Peoples Natural Gas Company, where he implemented corporate market strategies to drive revenue growth. In that role, he developed the Peoples Expansion Program, which extended natural gas service opportunities to more than 300,000 customers. He also partnered with commercial customers to install on-site electric generation systems designed to reduce costs and improve reliability.

Jeff led the Peoples Joint Development Program with WATT Fuel Cells, advancing efficient, low-emission residential power systems. He also directed major initiatives involving carbon offsets, renewable natural gas, and hydrogen. Prior to his business development leadership, he served as Vice President of Commercial Operations and earlier held engineering and operational roles at EQT Midstream and Equitable Gas. 

A Pennsylvania native, Jeff lives in the Pittsburgh area. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University. He is an active member of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, Renewable Natural Gas Coalition, and American Gas Association.

Jeff also volunteers as a coach with Miracle League Baseball, an organization serving children and adults with special needs, and is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh XXXIV.

Carol Howerton serves as the Director of Workforce Development at the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC). She joined the center in 2020 and oversees all workforce education and training initiatives, including academic programs and partnerships, public training offerings, customized industry training, and apprenticeship programs. She works closely with industry partners to design and deliver training that upskills employees and strengthens West Virginia’s manufacturing workforce. 

Carol serves on several key boards, including the Region 2 and Region 3 Workforce Development Boards and the Composites Institute (IACMI), and is a member of the Department of Defense–sponsored ACENet Advisory Council.

Prior to joining MAMC (formerly RCBI), Carol spent more than 32 years at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College, where she served as Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs and Chair of Technology and Engineering Programs. During her tenure at Southern, she collaborated with MAMC/RCBI to develop and launch the organization’s first apprenticeship program—an initiative that later became the national apprenticeship model for MAMC’s Apprenticeship Works program funded by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Derek joined the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMC) in 2017 and became Director in 2022. For 35 years, MAMC has focused on applied workforce and economic development in manufacturing, serving more than 300 companies and training over 1,000 individuals each year. 

Before joining MAMC, Derek served in several state government agencies, including the Governor’s Office, State Treasurer’s Office, and Development Office, and also led statewide nonprofit organizations. During his time in the Governor’s Office, he served as Director of Intergovernmental Affairs and was the Governor’s appointee to the Interagency Workforce Development Taskforce.

Derek lives in Huntington with his wife, Sara Payne, and their daughter, Willa. He serves on the boards of the Regional Contracting Assistance Center, Marshall University’s Council for Research and Commercialization, TechConnect, and the United Way.