Two graduates in business administration, W. Marston and Katharine B. Becker, have pledged $250,000 to the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics to start a program aimed at enhancing West Virginia’s economic development through research, conferences and collaborations.

WVU has significant potential to accelerate economic development in West Virginia, and the University generates significant research and knowledge that can benefit the state with wider distribution. These ideas and related discussions can be an important catalyst to unite people and stimulate the state’s economy, said Marty Becker.

“Kathy and I feel strongly about our state’s future potential, and we believe WVU ’s active participation in the public dialogue on ways of improving the economy will have a positive, productive impact on the state and its people,”he said.

Marty Becker, a graduate of B&E in 1974 and the WVU College of Law in 1977, is chairman of Hales&Co., an investment and merchant banking firm specializing in insurance and financial services. He is also active in private equities and is a general partner of Distribution Partners Investment Capital, a private equity fund focused on insurance distribution. He is also a founder and chairman of West Virginia Media Holdings, a statewide media company.

Most recently, Becker was chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Orion Capital Corp., based in Farmington, Conn. Orion Capital was sold to Royal&SunAlliance in November 1999. He served as vice chairman and a director of Royal&SunAlliance, USA , until December 2000.

He serves on the boards of the WVU Foundation, WVU College of Business&Economics Advisory Committee and Blanchette Rockefeller Neurosciences Institute. He also is a member of the Foundation’s Building Greatness National Campaign Committee.

Kathy Becker, who graduated from WVU in 1979, is an active community volunteer and previously worked on Capitol Hill, the U.S. Department of Commerce and was a senior aide to former Gov. Arch A. Moore Jr. The Beckers have two sons, James and Todd, and live in West Hartford, Conn.

B&E Dean Jay H. Coats said the Beckersgift will help the college, and particularly its Bureau of Business and Economic Research, play a leadership role in initiating and conducting significant public debates on issues relevant to the state.

“Our economy is undergoing major transformations and our perceptions and policies must be in tune with these changes,”Dr. Coats said.”I think the Beckersgenerosity is well directed because by fostering the exchange of ideas and research, facilitated by our bureau in partnership with other organizations, we can contribute to forging a new prosperity in West Virginia.”

The program will focus on issues of public policy, entrepreneurship, regionalism and energy, among others. Tom Witt directs BBER , the colleges outreach unit that will oversee the program. BBER sponsors an annual Economic Outlook Conference in Charleston and regional economic forecasts throughout the state, as well as economic research and analysis on topics ranging from the effects of heritage tourism to the Kyoto Protocol.

“This gift will enable us to expand our conversations with West Virginians on issues pertinent to the state’s economic future,”Dr. Witt said.”Marty and Kathys foresight in providing this support is commendable and enables us to expand our impact.”

The gift was made to the WVU Foundation in conjunction with the Building Greatness Campaign, a $250 million fund-raising effort the WVU Foundation is conducting on behalf of the University. B&E has raised $7.2 million toward its goal of $20 million. The WVU Foundation, a private non-profit corporation, is the designated agency to generate, receive and administer gifts from private individuals and organizations for the benefit of West Virginia University and its affiliated organizations.