Mr. Blackburn is a fourth generation coal miner. He has worked in the US and International Coal Industry in five decades. He holds the BS ENGINEER OF MINES Degree from the West Virginia School of Mines, the MASTERS OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION Degree from the COGS School of Business at the University of West Virginia and the DOCTOR OF JURISPRUDENCE Degree from Harvard University.

Mr. Blackburn spent the first half of his career in management positions at the AT Massey Coal Company including developing the Elk Run Coal Company and other properties in West Virginia. He held the Senior Vice President Operations position at Mapco Coal and publicly traded Zeigler Coal Holding Company until its sale in the fourth quarter of 1998.

Mr. Blackburn consults with utilities, mining companies and investment banks on strategic issues in the coal industry. His practice also includes arbitration and litigation support for commercial and health and safety issues in the coal industry. Mr. Blackburn has been selected as the Independent Expert in $30 billion of recent coal industry reorganizations.

His firm, BLACKACRELLC, was founded in 1992. The office is in Richmond, VA and the email address: blackacrellc@yahoo.com