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		News Briefs Find timely news stories and updates about the West Virginia Roundtable and its members, as well as news that affects our state.








	June 16, 2004 West Virginia Roundtable announces new officers The West Virginia Roundtable has announced its new officers for 2004-2005. Richard M. Adams, Chairman and CEO of United Bankshares, Inc., Parkersburg, will serve as Chairman of the Board. Other Roundtable officers include: Robert R. Simpson, Jr. – Chairman-Elect Chris E. Jarrett – Vice Chairman Parry G. Petroplus – Secretary Edson R. Arneault – Treasurer J. Thomas Jones – Immediate Past Chairman June 2, 2004 Paul Arbogast Succeeds Dana Waldo at West Virginia Roundtable The West Virginia Roundtable has announced that Dana Waldo has resigned as President and CEO after nearly five years to rejoin his former employer, American Electric Power, as President and COO of Appalachian Power Company. “The Roundtable has taken great steps forward under Dana’s leadership and we wish him well in his new position” said Chairman Tom Jones. “This is truly an outstanding opportunity for him to return to an industry where he has served with distinction for many years. We’re pleased that Dana will be able to continue to live in West Virginia and be part of our business community.” Paul Arbogast, the retired Managing Partner of Ernst & Young LLP in West Virginia, will assume the Roundtable’s role of President effective June 7. Paul was Chairman of the Roundtable in 2001 and continues to sit on its Executive Committee. “Paul is a skilled and recognized business leader in West Virginia. His talents will be of immediate benefit to the Roundtable and its members,” said Jones. February 15, 2004 Roundtable Member Bill Bright featured in Winter 2004 issue of West Virginia Executive magazine The many entrepreneurial endeavors of Roundtable member Bill Bright, chairman and CEO of Bright Enterprises in Summersville, are featured in the Winter 2004 issue of West Virginia Executive (WVE) magazine. The West Virginia Roundtable salutes this dynamic leader for his overwhelming success and his ongoing efforts to improve the state and quality of life for its residents. The magazine is available on newsstands, by subscription or by calling WVE at (304) 776-5200 or (877) 346-8863. January 12, 2004 Council for Community and Economic Development holds annual meeting of “West Virginia: A Vision Shared!” The West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development held the annual meeting of “West Virginia: A Vision Shared!” on Monday, January 12, 2004, at the Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences in Charleston. The keynote speaker for the afternoon event was Dr. Richard K. Lester, Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Founding Director, Industrial Performance Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. January 8, 2003 West Virginia Roundtable elects officers for 2003 The West Virginia Roundtable membership elected officers for the 2003 year at its annual membership meeting on January 8, 2003. J. Thomas Jones, President and CEO, WV United Health System, Fairmont, was reelected Chairman of the Board. Other officers for 2003 include Chairman-Elect, Gale Y. Given, President, Verizon, Charleston; Vice Chairman, Richard M. Adams, Chairman and CEO, United Bankshares, Inc., Parkersburg; Immediate Past Chairman, Paul E. Arbogast, Senior Advisor, Ernst & Young LLP, Charleston; Secretary, Richard J. Shearer, President and COO, U.S. Silica Company, Berkeley Springs; and Treasurer, Kenneth H. Berberich, Area President, The Huntington National Bank, Charleston. October 16, 2002 Marshall University's 2002 Hall of Fame inductees include three Roundtable members The Marshall University Lewis College of Business inducted five state business leaders into it's 2002 Hall of Fame on October 15, three of whom are members of the West Virginia Roundtable. Among those inducted were Former Governor Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board; Gale Y. Given, president of Verizon - West Virginia and Kentucky; and Edward G. Maier, president of the Sarah and Pauline Maier Foundation. "Each of these inductees has made significant contributions to West Virginia and it's future," said Dana Waldo, Roundtable President and CEO. "The Roundtable is extremely proud of these individuals, and we salute their accomplishments." This year's event was the ninth consecutive ceremony but was the first time the event was held in Charleston. October 4, 2002 Three Roundtable members inducted into 2002 West Virginia Business Hall of Fame "The West Virginia Roundtable applauds the induction of three of its members into the 2002 West Virginia Business Hall of Fame, joining four Roundtable members inducted as part of the Hall's initial 2001 class," said Dana Waldo, Roundtable President and CEO. "Richard Adams, Bray Cary and Charles Ryan are outstanding examples of business leaders who achieved success with impeccable integrity and the highest degree of ethical behavior. In our post-Enron world, they stand as models of business leadership others would do well to emulate." The Hall of Fame was established in 2001 as part of West Virginia University's College of Business and Economics' 50th anniversary celebration to publicly recognize extraordinary business leaders and to establish a record of their achievement. June 21, 2002 Three Roundtable members capture 2002 West Virginia Entrepreneur of the Year awards A member of the West Virginia Roundtable was the recipient of the 2002 West Virginia Area Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the second consecutive year June 20, as Milan Puskar of Mylan Laboratories, Inc., in Morgantown received the top award at the annual event. The 2002 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards saw three Roundtable members recognized for their business and leadership efforts. Roundtable members Linda B. Arnold, Chairman and CEO of The Arnold Agency, Charleston, and A. Michael Perry, Retired Chairman of Bank One West Virginia, N.A.,were among the eight persons honored. Puskar, Founder, President and CEO of Mylan Laboratories, founded Mylan Pharmaceuticals in 1961. In the past 40 years, Mylan has grown to be recognized as a worldwide leader in the industry. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Mylan Laboratories specializes in the development, manufacture and marketing of general and branded pharmaceutical products. Puskar's philanthropic activities have touched the lives of people in Morgantown and across the state and country. He has been a lead sponsor of a number of local projects, one area of focus being that of higher education. West Virginia University, Fairmont State College and Duquesne University have benefited greatly from his involvement. He is also actively involved in economic development projects in Morgantown, including development of the Morgantown Wharf District through his partnership with Morgantown-based Platinum Properties LLC. Puskar's recognition through the top award comes one year after Roundtable member Ted Arneault, President and CEO of Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in Chester, won the Master Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Arnold was recognized with the Entrepreneur of the Year Business Services Award. She opened her own public relations and advertising agency in 1988. Arnold now has an estimated 40 local, regional and national clients in the banking, energy, health care, tourism, telecommunications, manufacturing, food service and service industry fields. Perry, who was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award, has a longstanding reputation for his contributions to economic development, health care and education in West Virginia. After 20 years with a Huntington law firm, Perry left to begin his association with the banking industry in 1981. He remained in banking for the next 20 years through First Huntington National Bank's transition into Bank One-West Virginia, N.A. He was chairman of Bank One-WV from 1993-2001. May 21, 2002 Four Roundtable members among 25 finalists for 2002 West Virginia Area Entrepreneur of the Year awards An independent panel of judges has chosen 25 finalists for the 2002 West Virginia Area Entrepreneur of the Year awards, and four members of the West Virginia Roundtable are among those finalists. Linda B. Arnold, Gat Caperton, Michael Perry and Milan Puskar are among the finalists in the annual Entrepreneur of the Year awards program. Arnold is chairman and CEO of the Arnold Agency, Charleston; Caperton is President and CEO of Tom Seely Furniture, Berkeley Springs; Perry is retired chairman, Bank One West Virginia, N.A.; and Puskar is founder, President and CEO of Mylan Laboratories, Morgantown. The program honors outstanding business leaders of the state's fastest-growing companies. The program was founded by Ernst & Young, LLP, which sponsors the awards program nationally. May 17, 2002 First two meetings of Vision Shared Implementation Task Force to be held in Northern Panhandle May 22-23 The first two meetings of the Vision Shared Implementation Task Force will be held May 22 and May 23 in Weirton and at Oglebay Park, respectively. These are the first in a series of 11 meetings the Task Force announced would be held across the state over the course of the next three months to provide updates about the Task Force's plans, as well as seek information and ideas about Vision Shared issues. The 11 meetings will be hosted by the state's Regional Planning and Development Councils. The first meeting will be held on May 22 in Weirton at Gio's Family Restaurant from noon to 2:00 p.m. The next meeting will be held on May 23 in Wheeling at Oglebay Park from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The Vision Shared Implementation Task Force is headed by Mike Basile, a lawyer with the Charleston firm Spilman, Thomas & Battle, and Kenny Perdue, Secretary-Treasurer of the West Virginia AFL-CIO. The West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development, which developed the Vision Shared economic strategy plan and oversees the implementation effort, recently named four people to head sub-task forces. These sub-task forces parallel the four distinct areas of the plan. The four individuals include Senate Education Chairman Lloyd Jackson; Gale Given, President of Verizon-West Virginia; Tom Heywood, former legal counsel and chief of staff for Gov. Gaston Caperton, now with the Charleston law firm of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love; and Joe Barker, Director of the West Virginia Rural Development Council. May 16, 2002 Council for Community and Economic Development sets economic benchmarks for West Virginia The West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development gave the Vision Shared economic development plan more momentum recently through the establishment of 41 economic benchmarks for the state. The benchmarks will be used annually to show West Virginia's economic progress and how it compares to other states. "Establishment of these 41 benchmarks achieves a major goal of the Vision Shared economic development strategy," said Ralph J. Bean, Council Chairman and West Virginia Roundtable member. "We unanimously approved these benchmarks and forwarded them Gov. (Bob) Wise for his input. And I am very happy to say that Gov. Wise has found that these performance goals are acceptable." The benchmarks are categorized in the four distinct areas outlined in the Vision Shared plan -- "Intellectual Infrastructure in the 21st Century," "New Economy: New Challenges and New Solutions," "Results-based Government: Planning for the Future," and "Building Bridges and Empowering Citizens." Now that the benchmarks have been approved by Gov. Wise, the next step for the Council subcommittee would be to determine how the standards can be published each year in a format that is easy to understand. The subcommittee that developed the benchmarks was chaired by L. Newton Thomas. Other Council subcommittee members include Gale Y. Given, State President, Verizon West Virginia, Inc.; Ken Lowe, President, Ken Lowe Companies; Kenny Perdue, Secretary Treasurer, West Virginia AFL-CIO; and R.W. "Buzzy" Wilkinson, President and CEO, First Century Bank. Thomas, Given and Wilkinson are also members of the West Virginia Roundtable. "As this process moves forward," Bean said, "we will develop more benchmarks in the future. This will be a great system to establish goals to make West Virginia more economically competitive." The West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development is a public-private partnership body made up of 19 private sector leaders from throughout the state. The Council sets state economic development policy and oversees operations of the West Virginia Development Office. May 9, 2002 Roundtable member Mark Prince sees cooperation between public and private sectors on Economic Development Grant Committee West Virginia Roundtable member Mark S. Prince will continue to help assess economic development projects over the next few months on the West Virginia Economic Development Grant Committee. The committee was created under HB 4005, which passed during the regular session of the West Virginia Legislature this year. State officials have estimated that approximately $200 million would be available to help fund various economic development projects throughout West Virginia. The role of the committee is to help evaluate those potential projects and prioritize the projects for funding. Prince said the Vision Shared economic development plan developed to help make West Virginia more economically competitive will have a definite impact on the committee. "Setting aside funds specifically to seed various projects around West Virginia is highly consistent with the intent of Vision Shared, Prince said. "Vision Shared emphasizes the importance of new industries, particularly technology-oriented industry, as vital to West Virginia's future. While I cannot predict the nature of the projects the committee will certify in the future, I would expect that the priorities outlined in Vision Shared would influence the thinking of the committee." The committee is comprised of nine members, and will hold meetings and public comment periods throughout late June and July. The project application deadline to be considered for funding is July 1, with projects to be certified in August. Prince is Chairman of Bank One, West Virginia, N.A. To view the complete story, click on New Economy page and scroll down to the article. May 6, 2002 Parkersburg-based United Bankshares again named to Forbes 500 list United Bankshares, Inc., has been named to the Forbes 500 list for the third consecutive year, according to the recently released 2001 annual rankings by Forbes magazine. United was ranked at number 455 in the assets category with $5.6 billion in assets, and again was the only West Virginia-based company to make the list. Forbes listed United at number 483 last year in the assets rankings for 2000, and at number 467 in 2000 for the 1999 evaluation year. Richard M. Adams, United Chief Executive Officer and a member of the West Virginia Roundtable, said the ranking again brings a great deal of pride to the bank and to West Virginia. "I think everyone in the company is excited about this recognition," said Adams, "and I believe our customers appreciate doing business with a company that is nationally recognized. I know it's something in which the employees can take pride." United has offices in West Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, Virginia and Washington, D.C., and employs approximately 1,300 people. April 23, 2002 The task force charged with implementation of West Virginia's Vision Shared economic development strategy will hold 11 meetings across the state over the course of the next three months. The body is headed by Mike Basile and Kenny Perdue, who were named in February to head the strategy's implementation effort by the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development. The Council developed the Vision Shared economic development plan that was unveiled in December 2000. The task force will receive logistical support from the Roundtable, the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies and Development, Inc. (affiliated with West Virginia University), and the West Virginia Development Office. Basile, a lawyer with the Charleston firm Spilman, Thomas & Battle, said he will ask each of the 11 regional planning and development directors around the state to host a task force meeting over the next three months. According to Basile and Perdue, Secretary-Treasurer of the West Virginia AFL-CIO, the purpose of the meetings will be to provide a review of accomplishments and to gather input for future goals. The Council has named four people to head sub-task forces, which parallel the four distinct areas of the Vision Shared plan. Those four include: Senate Education Chairman Lloyd Jackson, "Intellectual Infrastructure in the 21st Century" Gale Given, President of Verizon-West Virginia, "New Economy: New Challenges and New Solutions" Tom Heywood, former legal counsel and chief of staff for Gov. Gaston Caperton, now with the Charleston law firm of Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love, "Results-Based Government: Planning for the Future" Joe Barker, Director of the West Virginia Rural Development Council, "Building Bridges and Empowering Citizens" The implementation work is financed by a $355,000 grant to the Council from the Benedum Foundation. April 15, 2002 Three Roundtable members chosen to judge 2002 Entrepreneur of the Year awards Three Roundtable members have been chosen as judges for the West Virginia Area 2002 Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. The awards are presented and sponsored annually by Ernst & Young LLP. West Virginia Roundtable members selected to the seven-judge panel include Edson "Ted" Arneault, President and CEO of MTR Gaming Group; James L. Estep, President and CEO of the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation; and Gale Y. Given, President of Verizon-West Virginia, Inc. Paul E. Arbogast, Senior Advisor at Ernst & Young LLP, Charleston, said that selecting the panel is one of the most important aspects of the annual business awards program. "This independent panel plays a critical role in setting and maintaining the high standards of this program," said Arbogast, Immediate Past Chairman of the Roundtable. "The judges will build the framework for each year's program and then apply these high standards to recognize the area's newest and most promising business leaders." Panel members will meet with Entrepreneur of the Year nominees individually and determine the status of each nominee based upon specific criteria. Those criteria include the company financial growth and stability of each nominee, community contributions and the story behind the success of that nominee's company. Arneault was the 2001 Master Entrepreneur of the Year based upon his leadership and financial successes at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester. For further information, click on: http://www.ey.com/us/eoy/ April 10, 2002 Asbestos Alliance seeks Roundtable help in solving litigation crisis The West Virginia Roundtable has been asked to be part of a nationwide coalition to address the ever-increasing problem of asbestos litigation, according to Roundtable President and CEO Dana E. Waldo. The Asbestos Alliance is led by the National Association of Manufacturers and is seeking federal legislation to solve the litigation crisis. The Alliance has sent a legislative alert to the Roundtable to be distributed among its members. “Asbestos-related bankruptcies are getting worse, destroying jobs and pensions across the United States, even though the original manufacturers of asbestos are already bankrupt and the majority of asbestos claims are filed by people who are not sick,” reads the legislative alert entitled Asbestos Litigation Is Destroying American Jobs and Companies. Waldo joined a number of interested parties recently in a meeting with U.S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) to discuss the crisis. “One of the aspects of this crisis is that asbestos victims are denied timely resolution of their claims and face reduced legitimate compensation because the system is flooded with plaintiffs who have no physical impairment,” Waldo said. “A key provision of the proposed legislation is the establishment of a threshold of injury using American Medical Association guidelines to provide that those who are truly impaired are not lost in the tens of thousands of new claims being filed every year, mostly by the unimpaired.” This important alert may be read in its entirety by going to the Results-Based Government section of this web site. For further information on the Asbestos Alliance and this issue, go to: http://www.asbestossolution.org/ February 25, 2002 Justice McGraw's elected position does not make him immune to ethical standards A commentary released by the West Virginia Roundtable states that Justice Warren R. McGraw, a member of the State Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, placed himself above the bounds of the Court's own Code of Judicial Conduct when he declined to disqualify himself from participating in a proceeding involving his brother, Attorney General Darrell V. McGraw. The commentary, written by Roundtable President and CEO Dana E. Waldo, said that the Code of Judicial Conduct, which prescribes standards of ethical behavior for judges, "...is designed to avoid even the appearance of impropriety in our court system, thus protecting the rights of citizens to fair and impartial proceedings." The commentary points to the Code and precedents set in West Virginia decades ago for similar situations. However, Justice McGraw stated that he could decline to step aside because he was publicly elected. "Why establish a Code of Judicial Conduct if judges are exempt from its provisions?" the piece asks. The commentary may be read in its entirety in the Columns and Articles section of this web site. February 20, 2002 Roundtable issues statewide letter urging legislators to avoid another insurance crisis in West Virginia Members of the West Virginia Roundtable put their names to a letter issued to newspapers across the state today regarding draft legislation that would proactively avoid another insurance crisis in West Virginia. The letter urged legislators to pass legislation that may, at first, only apply to automobile insurance in West Virginia, but could eventually affect all types of insurance in the state. The crisis is looming because of decisions by the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals allowing individuals to "...sue insurance companies retroactively for losses the insurance companies never intended to insure and for which they never collected premiums," according to the letter. The letter further notes that the Court's ruling could result in even drastically higher auto insurance rates. Recent reports indicate West Virginia has the fourth highest auto insurance rates in the country. Rates for homeowners and other types of insurance could also increase significantly. The letter, signed by a number of Roundtable members from across West Virginia, urges legislators to resolve the potential crisis by passing legislation that ensures West Virginians will have access to all types of affordable insurance coverage. The letter concluded, "A failure to [pass such legislation] could dramatically increase citizens' insurance costs and harm our state's ability to improve its economy." February 13, 2002 Roundtable Member Phyllis Arnold to be Honored by The West Virginia Society of Washington, D.C. West Virginia Roundtable member Phyllis H. Arnold will be honored March 6 by The West Virginia Society of Washington, D.C. Arnold will be honored at the Society's Annual Son and Daughter Banquet and Awards Ceremony at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington. A native of Parkersburg, Arnold is the West Virginia Central Regional President of BB&T, with her headquarters located in Charleston. BB&T is headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C., with bank activities in seven states and the District of Columbia. Arnold earned her bachelor's degree at West Virginia University, her MBA at Marshall and completed Stonier Graduate School of Banking in 1982. As the 2001 Daughter of the Year, Arnold will be honored by members of the West Virginia Congressional Delegation and the West Virginia Society of Washington, D.C., at the March 6 event at 6:30 p.m. February 1, 2002 McGraw should not preside over brother McGraw's case In a commentary written by Roundtable President and CEO Dana E. Waldo, facts and legal precedents indicate that West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals Justice Warren R. McGraw should not hear a case involving his brother, West Virginia Attorney General Darrell V. McGraw. The commentary, published in today's Charleston Daily Mail, says that Justice McGraw should disqualify himself from a case where Attorney General McGraw has asked the court to order the transfer of some 200 lawyers and $10 million in annual appropriations from state executive agencies to his own office. The commentary supports the recommended disqualification by noting the critical elements of maintaining and enhancing the public's confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judicial system, avoiding even the appearance of impropriety in that system, and the existence of legal precedents regarding such situations. The entire commentary can be found in the columns and articles section under Roundtable News on the West Virginia Roundtable web site. www.wvbrt.org January 9, 2002 Jones elected Chairman of the Board at Roundtable 2002 Annual Meeting The West Virginia Roundtable 2002 Annual Meeting on January 9 saw the election of new officers, an important change in the bylaws and discussion for action in the coming year. J. Thomas Jones, of Huntington, W.Va., was elected Chairman of the Board. “The West Virginia Roundtable has taken a leadership role in our state, and I am honored to serve as Chairman,” Jones said. “The coming year will see us continue an active agenda of helping to make West Virginia more economically competitive on a number of fronts.” “This includes our work with policy-makers, economic development stakeholders and citizens across West Virginia,” he continued. “Earlier today, we joined with 15 other business and economic development associations to call for action -- action for the swift implementation of A Vision Shared, the state’s economic development plan. The elements of that plan will most definitely comprise our agenda this year, and we will continue to work toward public policy that will create a better economic future for West Virginia.” Roundtable officers for 2002 include: J. Thomas Jones, Chairman Gale Y. Given, Chairman-Elect Richard J. Shearer, Secretary Kenneth H. Berberich, Treasurer Paul E. Arbogast, Immediate Past Chairman A significant Roundtable bylaws change was approved that would make every Corporate and Associate member a board member. “The Roundtable is an association of West Virginia’s leading CEOs,” said Dana E. Waldo, Roundtable President and CEO. “Our membership as a whole has direct input on the direction of this association and should, therefore, be designated as board members.” January 9, 2002 Roundtable one of 16 business and economic development associations to unite at rally to urge swift implementation of A Vision Shared economic development plan The West Virginia Roundtable was one of 16 business and economic development associations and organizations to unite Wednesday to urge aggressive and accelerated implementation of the state's A Vision Shared economic development plan. "This is an incredible demonstration of support for A Vision Shared and the point of uniting today is to emphasize that, as a state, we need to implement this plan," said Paul E. Arbogast, Immediate Past Chairman of the Roundtable. "We need to get on with the business of making West Virginia more economically competitive, and collaborative support of A Vision Shared is a major step in doing just that." Leaders of the statewide associations said the event is a call to action to encourage West Virginia policy-makers, economic development stakeholders and citizens to support the plan designed to help dramatically improve the state's economy. To read the full news release and a list of the participating associations and organizations, go the News Releases* section of this web site.* January 4, 2002 Roundtable among several groups to support Governor's interest in potential funding for PDS educational initiative The West Virginia Roundtable joined several groups in support of Governor Bob Wise’s interest in a program that could help fund a highly successful educational initiative. Wise wrote the Carnegie Corporation of New York in mid-December confirming West Virginia’s interest in “Teachers for a New Era.” The Governor sent the correspondence to confirm “a state may be considered as an institution and be invited to apply and participate in the initiative. West Virginia would apply with enthusiasm, if invited to do so.” The educational initiative is the Professional Development School (PDS) partnerships program established between West Virginia University and 21 public elementary and secondary schools with the financial support of the Benedum Foundation. PDS partnerships have been initiated at Concord College, West Liberty State College and West Virginia University at Parkersburg. Marshall University and Glenville State College have committed to establish similar partnerships. The Governor noted the success of the PDS concept in West Virginia and reiterated that West Virginia would be eager to apply for funds that could support the expansion of PDS partnerships. Wise stated, however, that there is a possibility the PDS initiative would not be funded at the state level, given recent mandated budget cuts and competing needs for limited resources. Signing letters of support for Wise’s correspondence were Roundtable President and CEO Dana E. Waldo; Dan Angel, President of Marshall University; Ralph J. Bean, Jr., Chairman of the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development; Jerry L. Beasley, President of Concord College; Erik Bitterbaum, President of West Virginia University at Parkersburg; Dr. Daniel J. Bradley, President of Fairmont State College; Kay Goodwin, Cabinet Secretary, West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts; David C. Hardesty, Jr., President of West Virginia University; John P. McCullough, Interim President of West Liberty State College; Robert E. Moore, President, Bluefield State College; J. Michael Mullen, Chancellor, Higher Education Policy Commission; Hazel K. Palmer, President and CEO of The Education Alliance; Thomas H. Powell, President of Glenville State College; Mark Stern, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Shepherd College; and Dr. David Stewart, State Superintendent of Schools. October 15, 2001 Roundtable Member MTR Gaming Group Ranked 7th on Forbes 200 Best Small Companies List CHESTER, W.Va. -- MTR Gaming Group, the parent company that owns and operates the Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort, is ranked seventh in Forbes magazine's 200 Best Small Companies. The Hancock County-based company is one of only two West Virginia companies on the Forbes list, according to the Oct. 29 issue of the magazine. According to statistics in a feature article on MTR, sales at Mountaineer have increased an average of 43 percent of the last five years, while revenues have increased an average of 54 percent during the same period. "In less than a decade," wrote Forbes' Leigh Gallagher of MTR Gaming Group CEO and West Virginia Roundtable member Ted Arneault, "he has turned a struggling racetrack into a vibrant casino operation that earned $16.9 million on revenues of $195 million over the last 12 months -- and clinched the number 7 spot on the Forbes 200 Best list." Roundtable President and CEO Dana E. Waldo had high praise for MTR and Arneault for the company's achievements. "The situation Ted inherited at Mountaineer was anything but ideal," Waldo said. "It is absolutely incredible how Ted and MTR have turned things around and made Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort into an attractive tourism destination. What we are seeing now are the results of vision and hard work." The other West Virginia-based company to make the list was Petroleum Development, an oil and gas exploration and production company located in Bridgeport ranked at number 76. The 200 Best Small Companies list and the article on MTR Gaming Group may be accessed on the World Wide Web at www.forbes.com. October 9, 2001 Four Roundtable members inducted in first class of West Virginia Business Hall of Fame Morgantown, W.Va. -- The WVU College of Business and Economics inducted eight business leaders as the first class of the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame on Oct. 5, four of whom are members of the West Virginia Roundtable. Among those inducted in the inaugural class were Gaston Caperton, James H. "Buck" Harless, A. Michael Perry and Milan Puskar. "The West Virginia Roundtable is extremely proud of the accomplishments of these gentlemen, and the state and national business communities should be proud as well," said Dana E. Waldo, Roundtable President and CEO. "These are people who have made significant and lasting contributions to our business world, and they most certainly represent the standards for which we all should strive for West Virginia's future." The Hall of Fame induction will be held annually and was introduced as part of the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics 50th anniversary celebration. October 2, 2001 Roundtable Adopts Resolution Requesting State to Address Current Medical Malpractice Insurance Environment CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Roundtable has adopted a resolution requesting the State of West Virginia to address the current medical malpractice insurance environment. The resolution, sent to West Virginia Governor Bob Wise on September 28, requests that the State work cooperatively with key stakeholders and policymakers to address the medical malpractice insurance crisis. "The majority of the state is currently designated by the federal government as a health professional shortage area and medically underserved," said Dana E. Waldo, Roundtable President and CEO. "Failure to resolve this crisis situation will cause harm to West Virginia's citizens and its economy." The letter to Gov. Wise and the Roundtable resolution may be viewed on the West Virginia Roundtable web site at www.wvbrt.org under the Results-Based Government section. August 30, 2001 West Virginia Roundtable endorses formation of Sunny Day Fund for statewide economic development WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- The West Virginia Roundtable has voted to endorse the formation of a "Sunny Day Fund" in an effort to bolster economic development in the state. The unanimous vote came at a meeting of the Roundtable Board of Directors at The Greenbrier during the first day of the 2001 West Virginia Business Summit. The endorsement signifies support for establishment of a Sunny Day Fund by the West Virginia Legislature, as proposed Wednesday by Governor Bob Wise during his address to the Business Summit. Wise proposed establishment of the fund in his legislative package in January, but the bill was not passed during the 2001 legislative session. Establishment of the fund is also recommended in the strategic plan developed by the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development, which was prepared by Market Street Services, Inc. "The West Virginia Roundtable's endorsement of the proposed Sunny Day Fund speaks loudly of this organization's commitment to make West Virginia competitive for the future," said Roundtable Chairman Paul E. Arbogast. "The Roundtable fully support efforts by Gov. Wise and the legislature to establish this fund to help attract business to our state." July 18, 2001 West Virginia Roundtable featured in Summer 2001 issue of West Virginia Executive magazine The West Virginia Roundtable is featured in a five-page spread in the Summer 2001 issue of West Virginia Executive (WVE) magazine. The feature contains two articles, beginning on page 61. The first WVE article, entitled "Part of the Solution: West Virginia Roundtable Takes an Assertive Approach," is the result of an in-depth interview with Roundtable President and CEO Dana E. Waldo. Additional comments and information are provided by Roundtable Chairman Paul E. Arbogast. This article focuses on the Roundtable's mission, long- and short-term goals, and support of the strategic plan outlined by the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development. Much of the article explains the strategy and the Roundtable's leadership role in supporting the plan. The second WVE article, entitled "Regionalism in West Virginia:Strength in Numbers," is written by Roundtable Public Relations Director Patrick Gregg. The article explains the difficulties encountered by individual towns, communities, cities, counties and regions in providing basic services, including economic development initiatives. The article suggests that regionalism may be an effective avenue toward economic progress in West Virginia. The magazine is available on newsstands, by subscription or by calling WVE at (304) 776-5200 or (877) 346-8863. July 9, 2001 West Virginia Roundtable officer appointed to Council for Community and Economic Development Gale Y. Given, a member and officer of the West Virginia Roundtable, has been appointed to the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development by Governor Bob Wise. Given, who is President of Verizon West Virginia Inc., was one of three new members appointed to fill vacancies on the Council. "Each of these new council members is experienced in the private sector, knows the issues that businesses face in West Virginia and is dedicated to bringing the types of jobs and opportunities our state needs," Wise said. While serving on the Council, Given will represent community and regional interests from the 2nd Congressional District. Created in 1992, the 15-member council is a public/private partnership working to improve quality of life by strengthening West Virginia communities and expanding the state's economy. Under a new law passed by the West Virginia Legislature this year, the Council will expand to 17 members in mid-July. Council members serve without compensation and are appointed by the governor to oversee economic development efforts and establish policy for the West Virginia Development Office. Given will serve on the Council for Community and Economic Development until June 30, 2005. June 19, 2001 Mountain Race Track and Gaming Resort President Named WV Master Entrepreneur of the Year CHESTER - Ted Arneault, President of the Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort, has been named the 2001 West Virginia Area Master Entrepreneur of the Year. Arneault, a member of the West Virginia Roundtable, was one of 11 individuals from nine companies recently honored at the 11th annual awards presentation in Charleston. The awards program, founded and produced by Ernst & Young, recognizes entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success to their businesses and communities. Located in West Virginia's Northern Panhandle, Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort in located in Chester, Hancock County. When Arneault first arrived to manage the facility, it was operating at a $5 million loss. Over the course of the past decade, Mountaineer has become one of West Virginia's most popular destinations. During Arneault's tenure, Mountaineer has grown from 569 to 1,060 direct employees, and from 2,233 to 3,533 licensed backside workers. In April 2000, Arneault announced a four-phase expansion plan. The first phase, completed in February 2001, included the construction of a 74,000-square-foot theater and event center, a 32,000-square-foot casino and an 11,000-square-foot spa and fitness center. The second phase, now in progress, includes a 220-room addition to the hotel and a convention and conference center. Completion of this second phase is set for late 2001. Two other Roundtable members were winners of this year's West Virginia Area Entrepreneur of the Year awards. They included: Parry Petroplus, member of Platinum Properties in Morgantown, Real Estate Development Entrepreneur of the Year; and Don Gallion, president and CEO of FCX Systems in Morgantown, Technology Entrepreneur of the Year. The national Entrepreneur of the Year program will be held in Palm Springs, Calif., on Nov. 17. April 4, 2001 United Bankshares Listed in Forbes 500s Rankings for Second Consecutive Year United Bankshares is listed in the Forbes 500s Rankings in the Assets Category, according to the April 16 issue of Forbes magazine. The rankings show that United is ranked at number 483 in the Assets Category, with over $4.9 billion in assets. Parkersburg-based United Bankshares is the lone West Virginia-based company to appear in the 2001 Forbes 500 Rankings, and was the only West Virginia-based company to appear on the list last year (number 467). "It is a great honor for United to be listed in the Forbes 500 Rankings, especially for the second consecutive year, and I want to congratulate United on behalf of the West Virginia Roundtable," said Dana E. Waldo, Roundtable President and CEO. "This ranking also speaks very highly of United CEO Richard Adams, as well as all of United's employees statewide. We should all be very proud of this West Virginia-based corporation." Adams currently serves as Roundtable Treasurer and is a member of the Roundtable Board of Directors. According to Forbes' on-line report, United has approximately 1,000 employees. March 19, 2001 West Virginia Roundtable forms Key Issues Cabinet The West Virginia Roundtable has combined two of the organization’s leadership groups to form the Key Issues Cabinet, according to Dana E. Waldo, President and CEO, and Paul E. Arbogast, Chairman. The Key Issues Cabinet combines the membership of the Roundtable Executive Committee with the co-chairpersons of the four Key Issues Committees. The Roundtable established the four key issues committees based upon the plan recently unveiled by the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development. The plan, entitled West Virginia: A Vision Shared!, identified four distinct issue areas — Intellectual Infrastructure, New Economy, Results-Based Government, and Building Bridges and Empowering Citizens — that the state must address. Waldo said the Key Issues Cabinet will play a significant role in identifying attainable goals by each of the four committees and taking initial steps to get the committees started. “We thought it was important to establish the Cabinet to align the four components of the Council’s plan and our four committees,” Waldo said, “and because the plan was developed so that no one issue is independent of the others.” Executive Committee members include Paul Arbogast, Tom Jones, Gale Given, Richard Adams, Gary White and Waldo. Committee co-chairs include Dan Angel, Ralph Bean, Pat Graney, David Hardesty, Charlie Ryan, Rick Shearer, Gary White and Lorenelle White. “The formation of this Cabinet is vital to moving our message forward,” Arbogast said. “The success of this group, our committees and the Roundtable as a whole is dependent on our concerted effort. We must make sure we deliver our messages in a consistent and recognizable manner.” February 28, 2001 West Virginia Roundtable elects officers for 2001 The West Virginia Roundtable membership elected new officers for the 2001 year at its annual membership meeting on February 26, 2001. Paul E. Arbogast, managing partner of Ernst & Young LLP, Charleston, was elected chairman. “I am honored that Roundtable members have confidence in me to serve as their chairman this year,” Arbogast said. “This is a critical year for the Roundtable and the state of West Virginia. This year, we will energetically and aggressively support the economic development plan outlined by the West Virginia Council for Community and Economic Development, among several important initiatives. We look forward to working with business leaders and our fellow business associations to move West Virginia ahead.” Other officers for 2001 include Chairman-Elect, J. Thomas Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Genesis Affiliated Health Services, Inc., Huntington; Secretary, Gale Y. Given, President, Verizon, Charleston; Treasurer, Richard M. Adams, Chairman and CEO, United Bankshares, Inc., Parkersburg; and Immediate Past Chairman, Gary G. White, President and CEO, International Industries, Inc., Gilbert. February 28, 2001 Roundtable elects Board of Directors at 2001 Annual Meeting Members of the West Virginia Roundtable elected their 2001 Board of Directors at the organization’s annual membership meeting on February 26, 2001. The membership elected 23 directors at the annual meeting. Those serving on the board of directors include: Catherine Good Abbott, Chief Executive Officer, Columbia Gas Transmission Richard M. Adams, Chairman and CEO, United Bankshares, Inc. Dr. Dan Angel, President, Marshall University Paul E. Arbogast, Managing Partner, Ernst & Young LLP Edson R. Arneault, President and CEO, Mountaineer Race Track & Gaming Resort Ralph J. Bean, Jr., Steptoe & Johnson Gale Y. Given, President, Verizon F.T. Graff, Jr., Managing Partner, Bowles Rice McDavid Graff & Love, PLLC Patrick C. Graney III, President, Petroleum Products, Inc. Dr. David C. Hardesty, Jr., President, West Virginia University Chris E. Jarrett, President, West Virginia-American Water Company J. Thomas Jones, Chief Executive Officer, Genesis Affiliated Health Services, Inc. Ted J. Kleisner, President & Managing Director, The Greenbrier Jon W. McKinney, Plant Manager, Flexsys J. Holmes Morrison, Chairman and CEO, BB&T – West Virginia Mark S. Prince, President and CEO, Bank One, WV David P. Pray, President, Pray Construction Company Charles E. Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Charles Ryan Associates, Inc. Richard J. Shearer, President and COO, U.S. Silica Company H. Herchiel Sims, Jr., President, Acordia Employers Service Bruce Van Wyk, President, Van Wyk Enterprises, Inc. Gary G. White, President and CEO, International Industries, Inc. Lorenelle L. White, Publisher, The State Journal Board of Directors members are elected at each annual membership meeting. The 2001 Board of Directors will serve until January 9, 2002.

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