Huntington Times

On October 11, 2024, the Lewis College of Business (LCOB) at Marshall University hosted a panel discussion focused on West Virginia's economic opportunities. The event was attended by MBA students from Harvard Business School (HBS) and participants from the Brad D. Smith Graduate School of Business.

The visit by Harvard students was part of their West Virginia Career Trek, a self-organized tour aimed at meeting organizations and building contacts in various regions. Previous treks have included locations such as London, Columbia, and Silicon Valley.

The panel discussion titled “HBS x LCOB – Finding the Right Path Forward” aimed to shift attention from past challenges to future prospects in West Virginia. It highlighted contributions by key leaders and explored opportunities for upcoming business professionals.

Participants in the panel included Marshall University President Brad D. Smith, Toney Stroud, chief legal officer and vice president for strategic initiatives at Marshall, and Mike Graney, deputy secretary of the West Virginia Department of Commerce.

Career Treks to West Virginia have become an unofficial tradition at HBS. This year's trek was led by Nick George and Brett Atkinson. George hails from Charleston with a background in private equity and banking; Atkinson is from Morgantown and works with technology that extracts resources from unconventional sources like oil and gas wastewater.

“We were thrilled to host Nick, Brett, and the Harvard Business School students as they explored the exciting economic opportunities in West Virginia,” said Ben Eng, interim dean of the Lewis College of Business. “This collaboration exemplifies our commitment to connecting global talent with the local talent and resources we have here at the University and the state while showcasing the potential of our region to drive meaningful change in the business world.”