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The Hall

The Hall

The West Virginia Business Hall of Fame posthumously honored coal industry billionaire and philanthropist Chris Cline and three other state business leaders who have led widespread growth.

The 2019 class includes Bill Bayless (pictured right), CEO of American Campus Communities Inc.; Judy K. Sheppard (left), CEO of Professional Services of America, Inc.; and Leo A. Vecellio, Jr. (center), chairman, president and CEO of Vecellio Group, Inc.

“Bill, Judy, Leo and Chris have made substantial impacts in their own respective business sectors, each getting their first involvement in business right here in West Virginia,” said W. Marston “Marty” Becker, chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee.

They were honored in August at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. go.wvu.edu/2019bizhall

A Mountaineer in Town Hall

Some people take their business public. Chambers College alumnus Eric Mason took his business to the public. 

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Fans Arrive Like Butterflies

Large, one-off events such as music concerts can create economic impacts not seen from professional sports, suggests rockin’ research by Joshua Hall, chair and professor of economics. Hall and Justin Parker, a 2020 Ph.D. economics graduate, found that Pearl Jam’s Seattle “Home Shows” in August 2018 generated $58 million in additional hotel revenue and $9 million in hotel tax revenue. That dwarfs Seattle Mariners baseball games ($140,000 in additional hotel revenue on game days). Their research was published in the Annals of Tourism Research Empirical Insights.

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No Dessert - or Dinner

One of seven West Virginians don't know where or when they’ll get their next meal. Food deserts are defined by the USDA as areas that lack fresh and healthful foods, and these are found throughout the state in impoverished areas lacking grocery stores, farmers’ markets and healthy food providers. John Saldanha, Sears chair in global supply chain management, is addressing this West Virginia problem head-on with his supply chain technology students. Read more in an upcoming edition of our magazine.

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A Divine Business Plan

Religiosity can help turn believers into entrepreneurs, according to Nancy McIntyre, associate professor of management at the Chambers College. A study by McIntrye found that when religiosity is more than attending a place of worship — “when it’s a commitment to religious principles and activities” — it strengthens the desire to create a business with a conscience. 

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Goal!

Management Information Systems alumnus Jack Elliott helped the Philadelphia Union win the Supporters Shield, given for finishing first in the Major League Soccer regular season. Elliott, who played for the WVU soccer team from 2013 to 2016, plays as a defender. 

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