Cassidy Riley, a native of Good Hope, West Virginia, serves as the Senior Director of Conservation at Coalfield Development, where she leads impactful initiatives focused on environmental sustainability and economic renewal in coal-impacted regions. In this role, she manages workforce development programs that aim to remediate abandoned mine sites in Southern West Virginia, while fostering sustainable job creation. Her leadership has been instrumental in implementing projects funded by the U.S. Economic Development Administration (USEDA), which are designed to rejuvenate both land and local communities.
Before joining Coalfield Development, she worked in infrastructure and economic development for local governments and rural communities in West Virginia, where she played a critical role in shaping strategies for sustainable growth and community empowerment. Her work in these areas has equipped her with a robust understanding of the complexities of rural economies and the importance of aligning environmental conservation with economic opportunities.
She holds a Master of Public Administration from Marshall University, where her course work focused on nonprofit management and rural capacity building. Throughout her career, Cassidy has maintained a strong focus on issues like economic diversification and workforce development, particularly within communities facing energy transitions. Her vision is centered on creating long-term solutions that not only address environmental challenges but also provide tangible benefits to the people living in these regions, helping to ensure a just and sustainable transition for Appalachian communities.
