Public Affairs Specialist Tom Hoffman Caps 36 Year Career PITTSBURGH, Nov. 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Thomas F. Hoffman, Senior Vice President - External Affairs, has announced his retirement, effective November 30, 2009, following nearly 36 years of service with CONSOL Energy (NYSE:CNX). During his career, Hoffman served in various capacities in government, investor and public relations for the company. Since 1987, Hoffman has served as the company's chief spokesman on public issues with responsibility for public and community relations for CONSOL Energy. He was the company's chief communications officer to all external audiences and assisted other department heads with internal communications. Hoffman also shared responsibility for developing and communicating CONSOL's strategic objectives in government and business policy. "I cannot image a more satisfying career with a finer company than that which I have had with CONSOL," Hoffman said. "I had the opportunity to be involved in a number of significant projects over the years -- projects which made a difference to the company and to the public we serve." "Tom has been an incredible asset to CONSOL for decades, both personally and professionally," said J. Brett Harvey, CONSOL Energy President and Chief Executive Officer. "He has made numerous contributions which had direct, positive impacts on the company, including his role as our chief investor relations manager during CONSOL's IPO in 1999, and his leadership of our very successful corporate branding campaign of the last three years." Though he will officially end his employment with CONSOL on November 30, Harvey said Hoffman will continue to work for the company as a consultant for the next year. "It gives me a great deal of confidence to know that we can call upon a person of such stature in the industry for help when we may need it." In 2009, Hoffman was named Business Marketer of the Year by the Pittsburgh Business Marketing Association, and was named Pittsburgh Renaissance Communicator of the Year in 2008 by the Public Relations Society of America. During his career, he also has served on the boards of numerous industry, civic, and academic organizations. He currently serves as a Trustee of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, is a member of the Executive Committee of the Washington County Community Foundation, the President's Leadership Council at Fairmont State University, the Board of the South Pointe CEO Association, the Board of Visitors at the University of Wisconsin's Department of Earth Sciences, and holds a gubernatorial appointment as member of the Mine Families First Response and Communications Advisory Council of Pennsylvania. He also is a member of the Public Relations Committee for the Pennsylvania Coal Association and a member of the West Virginia Coal Association Public Relations Committee as well as the National Mining Association Communications Committee, and the Communications Committee of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Energy. Hoffman is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the National Investor Relations Institute, and the Public Relations Society of America. Hoffman is a past chairman of the North Dakota Lignite Council, a past board member of the Lignite Council and the Montana Coal Council, and a past chairman of the Government Relations Committee of the National Coal Association. He is past president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute. In addition, he served for nine years as a trustee of Waynesburg College. He served on the board of directors of the Upper St. Clair Chamber of Commerce. He also served as a member of the Recycling Task Force for Upper St. Clair Township. He is a past member of the Board of Greene County School-to-Work and a former member of the Greene County Industrial Development, Inc. He also served on the Board of the Regional Environmental Education Center in southwestern Pennsylvania. Prior to joining CONSOL Energy in 1974, Hoffman was assistant professor of earth science at Minot State College (now Minot State University in Minot, North Dakota). Hoffman holds a Bachelor of Science degree in geology from Dickinson College (Carlisle, Pa.) and a Master of Science degree in geology from the University of Wisconsin, where he was awarded the Stanley Tyler Award for outstanding teaching. He attended the Darden School of Business Executive Program at the University of Virginia in 1984. A native of Steelton, Pennsylvania, Hoffman and his wife, Karen, will continue to make their home in the Pittsburgh area. "I spent my career as an advocate for coal and CONSOL and the vital role both play in the security of our nation, and the well being of our people," said Hoffman. "I'd like to think my efforts helped. But if I am to be judged on my career, I hope that in my promotion of CONSOL and energy issues I will be remembered as someone who earned the respect of both friends and foes alike. That would be a nice way to end." DATASOURCE: CONSOL Energy Inc. CONTACT: Joseph A. Cerenzia of CONSOL Energy, +1-724-485-4062 Web Site: http://www.consolenergy.com/

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