---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001654954-23-011573"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "AREC"
cik: "0001590715"
company_name: "American Resources Corp"
filed_at: "2023-09-06T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-10T23:26:12.280325+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.35
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# American Resources appoints Josh Hawes as independent director; Michael Layman steps down to advisory role

## Summary
- Josh Hawes appointed as independent director and Audit Committee member, effective Sept 6, 2023.
- Hawes was Chief Strategy Officer at USA Rare Earth (2021-2023), overseeing ten-fold value increase.
- Michael Layman steps down as independent director; will serve as advisor on Advisory Board.
- Layman's departure not due to any disagreement with the Company's operations, policies, or practices.
- Hawes will participate in the Company's standard independent director compensation program.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001654954-23-011573
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: AREC
- cik: 0001590715
- company_name: American Resources Corp
- filed_at: 2023-09-06T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.35
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.35
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1590715/000165495423011573/0001654954-23-011573-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1590715/000165495423011573/arec_8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001654954-23-011573
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001654954-23-011573.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001654954-23-011573.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Michael Layman departed as Independent Director at American Resources Corp.
  - Action: stepped down
  - Role: Independent Director
  source text: Additionally, on September 6, 2023 Michael Layman stepped down as an independent director of the board effective immediately and will assume an advisory role with the Company on its Advisory Board.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1590715/000165495423011573/0001654954-23-011573-index.htm
- Executive change
  Josh Hawes was appointed as Independent Director at American Resources Corp.
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Independent Director
  source text: Effective September 6, 2023, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of American Resources Corporation (or the “Company”) appointed Josh Hawes to the Board of Directors.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1590715/000165495423011573/0001654954-23-011573-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.