Management

Mr. Socha is our President and Chief Executive Officer. He joined the Company in March 2003. In May 2004, he was named Chairman of our Board of Directors. From 1999 through June 2001, he served as a Senior Vice President of National Vision, Inc. ("NVI"), a retailer of optical products. NVI filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on April 5, 2000 and emerged from bankruptcy on May 31, 2001. Mr. Socha has served as a director of NVI since 1999 and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of NVI since May 2002. From June 2001 until March 2003, he was an independent consultant to distressed businesses. Mr. Socha has a B.S. in Mineral Engineering and a M.A. in Corporate Finance, both from the University of Alabama.

Mr. Lane is our Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. He joined the Company in January 2005. Before joining the Company, Mr. Lane served as Senior Vice President of Operations for International Coal Group, Inc., following that company's acquisition in September 2004 of the core assets of Horizon Natural Resources Company. Mr. Lane had served in various positions for Horizon and its predecessor companies since 1993. Mr. Lane holds a B.S. degree in Mining Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute.

Mr. Weber is our Senior Vice President and Chief Commerical Officer of James River and President of James River Coal Sales. He joined the Company in August, 2006. From 1990 - 2005 Mr. Weber held various management positions with Progress Fuels Corporations. He also held management positions with Enoxy/AGIP Coal Sales, Inc., Industrial Fuels Corporation and New River Fuel Company. Mr. Weber holdsa a B.S. in Business Administration from Ohio State University.

Mr. Hopkins is our Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer. He joined the Company in September 2003. Mr. Hopkins served as Vice President, Treasurer and Controller from 1997 to 2001 and as Vice President and Controller from 2001 to June 2002 for Progress Fuels Corporation, a coal-mining, natural gas producer, rail reconditioning/manufacturing subsidiary of Progress Energy. He served as an independent financial consultant from July 2002 through September 2003. Mr. Hopkins holds a B.A. degree in Accounting from the University of Alabama and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Mr. Douthat is Vice President - Risk Management of James River Coal Company. He joined the Company in May 2004. From 1974 to May 2004, he worked for Alliance Coal, LLC and its predecessor companies. From 1997 to 2004, Mr. Douthat served as Alliance's General Manager - Disability Benefits. Mr. Douthat holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee.

Mr. Ketron is Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of James River Coal Company. He joined the Company in February, 2005. Before joining the Company, Mr. Ketron served as Vice President and General Counsel for International Coal Group, Inc., following that company's acquisition in September 2004 of the core assets of Horizon Natural Resources Company, where he had served as counsel since 2002. From 1998 to 2001, Mr. Ketron was in private legal practice as a solo practitioner. Prior to that, he served as Vice President and General Counsel of Ashland Coal, Inc. from 1993-1997. Mr. Ketron received his B.B.A. and J.D degrees from the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Evans joined the Company in October 1998 as President of Leeco, Inc. In March 2003, he was also named President of Blue Diamond Coal Company. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Evans was employed by subsidiary companies of Massey Energy, a coal mining company with operations in Central Appalachia. Mr. Evans holds a B.S. and a M.S. in Mining Engineering from the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Frasure joined Blue Diamond Coal Company in 1984. Since joining the Company Mr. Frasure has held several positions, such as Chief Engineer for Blue Diamond Coal Company and Bledsoe Coal Corporation. In July, 2005 he became President of Bledsoe Coal Corporation. Mr. Frasure holds a B.S. in Mining Engineering from the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Patton joined the Company in February 2005. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Patton was President of Operations for International Coal Group, Inc.'s Hazard operations, following that company's acquisition in September 2004 of the core assets of Horizon Natural Resources Company, where he had served as chief engineer and general manager since July 2001. From 2000 until July 2001, he was general manager of operations for Southern Site Prep, LLC. Mr. Patton holds a B.S. degree in Mining Engineering from the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Reynolds joined the Company in 1977 as Chief Engineer of McCoy Elkhorn Corporation. In 1994, he became Vice President and Chief Engineer of Bell County Coal Corporation. Mr. Reynolds left the Company in 1997 and returned to Bell County Coal Corporation in 2002 as Chief Engineer. In 2005 Mr Reynolds became the President of Bell County Coal Corporation. Mr. Reynolds holds a B.S. in Civil/Mining Engineering from the University of Kentucky.

Mr. Taylor, President of McCoy Elkhorn Coal Corporation, joined the Company in 1988 as Chief Engineer of Johns Creek Coal Company. In 1992, he became Chief Engineer of McCoy Elkhorn, and in 1997, he became its Vice President. He became President of McCoy Elkhorn in May 2001. Mr. Taylor holds a B.S. in Mining Engineering from the University of Kentucky.