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Don’t miss Appalachia’s Premier Event
Join us for the 2023 SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission, at the Corbin Arena on October 3-4.
Registration is $75 and includes:
- Two full days of programming.
- Breakfast, lunch and snacks on both days.
- The SOAR Summit Reception, presented by Whitaker Bank.
- More than 100 booths in the SOAR Summit Exhibit Hall.
Are you a high school or college student? Scroll down to find out how you can attend for FREE 👇 👇
Meet Our Featured Speakers
Meet Our Keynote Speakers
Meet Our TenTalk Speakers
Allison Adams
Chief Operating Officer, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky
Whitney Allen
Director of Clinical Quality, UnitedHealthcare
Jochai Ben-Avie
Co-Founder and CEO, Connect Humanity
Josh Blanton
Plant Manager, Vesuvius USA
Matt Brown
President, ARC Healthcare
Marcie Campbell
VP Marketing & Intake, One Senior Care
Amanda Clark
External Affairs Manager, Kentucky Power
Amber Decker
Youth Programs Coordinator/Community Liaison, The Center for Rural Development
Terry Gray
Director of Regional Programming and Regional Stewardship, EKU
Chuck Hogg
Senior Vice President, All Points Broadband
Erik Hubbard
Executive Director, Backroads of Appalachia
Dr. Beth Kelly
Research Director, Kentucky Center for Statistics
Brad Kilbey
CEO, Accelecom
Dr. George Koob
Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Leigh Latherow
Attorney, VanAntwerp Attorneys, LLP
Ben Ledo
Vice President of Enterprise Sales, MakeMyMove
Steve Lee
Chief Executive Officer, SkillUp Coalition
Hilda Legg
Consultant, Legg Strategies
Nathan Nevels
Director of Economic Dev. and Deputy Judge, McCreary County, KY
Kyle Robinson
Founder and Owner, Print My Threads
Mark W. Ryles
Consultant, Kentucky Educational Development Corporation and Ohio Valley Educational Cooperative
Meghan Sandfoss
Executive Director, Kentucky Office of Broadband Development
Dr. Jonathan Shores
Chief Enrollment Officer and Executive Vice President, University of the Cumberlands
Sandy Slayton
Vice President, Rye Development
Ben Smock
Director of Development, Canopy
Scott Stuckey
Founder/CEO, Fair Chance Works
Scott Surber
Broadband Technology Liaison, The Center for Rural Development
James O. Wilson
Assistant Regional Director, Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional Office
David York
Tech Employer Specialist, Eastern & Central Kentucky
Speed Pitch Competition for High School & College Students at the 2023 SOAR Summit
At the Speed Pitch Competition, it is simple: a podium, a microphone, your idea, and two minutes to make your pitch. The competition will be held inside the Corbin Arena on the main stage.
We’ll be awarding $500 to the first-place pitch in two categories: high school and college/university.
Thanks to the Forcht Group, high school and college students can attend the SOAR Summit for free.
Speed Pitch Competition open to the General Public! It’s not just for the Kids!
The latest development for the 2023 SOAR Summit … it’s not just for the kids!
There is now a category available for the general public to join in and be a part of the speed pitch competition!
That’s right! There is now a THIRD category for the Speed Pitch Competition happening during the 2023 SOAR Summit, on October 3.
We’ll be awarding $500 to the first-place pitch winner.
New Addition: Pre-Summit Activities!
New to this year’s event is a Pre-Summit Workshop and Opening Reception on Monday, October 2 in Williamsburg, presented by the Kentucky League Of Cities:
- Workshop
Community and Regional Disaster Preparedness: The workshop will focus on community and regional disaster preparedness.
- SOAR Summit Opening Reception at the Cumberland Mint
Both the Pre-Summit Workshop and Opening Reception are additional ticketed events.
Each event is $25 and seating is limited.
TenTalk: Igniting Minds, Inspiring Change
The 2023 SOAR Summit is proud to introduce TenTalk, presented by the University of the Cumberlands.
Get ready to be inspired by an exceptional lineup of regional speakers — all from the main stage inside the Corbin Arena at the SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission!
SOAR SUMMIT 23 Sponsors
SOAR Summit attracts more than 1,400 in Pikeville
The SOAR Summit, presented by Appalachian Wireless and the Appalachian Regional Commission, returned to Pikeville on October 19-20 at the Appalachian Wireless Arena.
Appalachia’s Premier Event delivered once again with more than 100 exhibitors and attendees from 60 Kentucky counties and 15 states.
2022 Summit By The Numbers
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Focus Summit sells out in Hazard
Our Focus Summit on Entrepreneurship and Innovation is in the books. And it was a sellout!
The Focus Summit, by Kentucky Power and KY Innovation, attracted more than 320 people to Hazard, the Queen City of Eastern Kentucky.
Here is a replay of our plenary sessions from Hazard Community and Technical College’s First Federal Center.
SOAR Mini Summit attracts more than 650 attendees
Our first-ever Mini Summit is in the books!
The Mini Summit, presented by Kentucky Power, attracted more than 650 people from six states, 48 Kentucky counties, and 32 of Kentucky’s 54 Appalachian counties.
Here is a replay of our plenary session from the Paramount Arts Center.
The 2021 SOAR Summit was record breaking
Hosted for the first time ever by the city of Corbin, KY — and returning to an in-person format — 2021’s event was one for the history books.
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Re-watch the 2021 event
The 2021 SOAR Summit brought together local residents and businesses, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, and other change agents across Appalachia. It focused on issues and activities important to our region including broadband, grants, workforce opportunities, and entrepreneurship.
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