James L. Laurita, Jr.

James L. Laurita, Jr. worked in the family's mining business based out of Morgantown, West Virginia, while attending West Virginia University. Upon graduation, Laurita continued his active involvement with the Laurita family's coal mining operations (MEPCO) and became the company's resident mining engineer. In 1986, Laurita began managing the surface operations and an underground operation, as well as the redesign of the coal preparation and loading facilities for MEPCO. In 1990, he took on the responsibility of managing all operations, sales, and development for the company. Laurita became the next generation visionary for the family's business and began a journey in 1995 to grow the company in order to remain competitive. Seeing that the 1990 clean air act was potentially going to change the demand profile of certain coals, as well as new opportunities that would potentially emerge, MEPCO began development of a limestone quarry operation, and an ash disposal operation with both being directed towards the anticipated new needs of regional coal fired generators. In 2001, Laurita began to substantially grow the company's engineering and environmental staff and started the development of the Longview mine mouth power plant. A ten-year journey from letters of intent to completion took place and Longview began commercial operation in 2011. Under Laurita's leadership, the family's quarry operations grew to become one of the larger regional operations, strategically targeting the energy sector. In 2005 Laurita, and a partner, Gerald Peacock, formed a new coal mining company, LP Mineral, which strategically targeted the waste fuel markets and is the predominant supplier for the Grant Town and Morgantown waste coal power plants in Northern West Virginia. In 2013, Laurita started an oil and gas service business, Mid-Atlantic Energy Service, which provides well completion services for the horizontal wells being fracked in the Marcellus and Utica shales in the Appalachian region. Laurita served as the chairman of the West Virginia Coal Association, Governor Manchin's Task Force on Carbon Sequestration, and chairman of the Family Policy Council of West Virginia, as well as serving on many community boards and committees. He is also a member of the Old Timers Club and the King Coal Club.