Associated Press Published

Environmental Group Names New Director

Natalie Thompson

A West Virginia-based environmental group is naming a new leader to replace its executive director, who is retiring.

The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition announced the departure of Janet Keating and the new role for Natalie Thompson on Monday.

Keating worked with the group for 24 years, including nine as executive director.

Thompson will assume the executive director role starting Oct. 1. The Beckley native has lived in Huntington for 13 years. For two years, she has been a project coordinator for the coalition’s promotion of public financing of elections and energy efficiency policy.

The coalition has fought a variety of projects due to environmental impacts, including filing lawsuits over the impact of mountaintop removal coal mining sites on adjacent waterways.