Pictured (Left-to-Right) are attendees at the recent semiannual meeting of the West Virginia Academy of Business Program Professors of Business: Susan Robinett (Concord- Department Chair of Business and Recreation and Tourism Management), Phillip Imel (Bluefield State College-Dean of the W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business), Avinandan Mukherjee (Marshall- Dean of the Brad D. Smith Schools of Business), Jeff Archambault (Marshall- Associate Dean, Academic Programs), Javier Reyes (WVU- Milan Puskar Dean of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics), Jim Spencer (City of Bluefield, WV Economic Development Director), Timothy Oxley (Fairmont- Interim Dean School of Business, Interim MBA Director, Professor of Business, Graduate Faculty).
Bluefield State College hosted the recent semiannual meeting of the West Virginia Academic Business Program Professors of Business. The meeting at the W. Paul Cole, Jr. School of Business on BSC’s campus focused upon entrepreneurism and West Virginia Workforce development. Jim Spencer, Economic Development Director/City of Bluefield, made a special presentation, detailing the collaborative efforts of the City and several partners to cultivate a successful entrepreneurial environment in the region. These efforts include an Innovation Lab, Commercialization Station, Maker’s Space.
“Jim Spencer’s talk was very well received,” Dean Imel noted. “Javier Reyes (WVU-Milan Puskar Dean of the John Chambers College of Business and Economics) added, “I was impressed by Jim’s presentation of the entrepreneurial package that is offered in Bluefield. It could be used as a model throughout West Virginia.”