The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

March 17, 2010

Jim Justice named Business Leader of the Year

By Tina Alvey Register-Herald Reporter

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS — The Greater Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce honored Jim Justice as the 2010 Business Leader of the Year during the organization’s annual meeting at The Greenbrier resort Tuesday evening.

Justice purchased the venerable resort last spring, rescuing the county’s largest employer from bankruptcy. In the months since taking over The Greenbrier, Justice has continued to invest in the property, most notably with the construction of a $25 million casino, slated to open sometime before the initial Greenbrier Classic PGA golf tournament gets under way this summer.

Justice also coaches the girls’ basketball team at Greenbrier East High School. One of his players, Mary Kellan Curry, introduced Justice to the crowd, saying, “Coach Justice says there are three things he knows how to do: shoot a shotgun, coach a basketball team and make a deal.”

Curry added, “He does not like to lose.”

Thanking Curry and the chamber, Justice said, “My players make me look a lot better than I am.”

On a more serious note, he said, “We’re doing some exciting things here (at The Greenbrier). If you have a real love and dream and passion for what you’re doing, you can do it.”

Justice’s sentiments were echoed by Jean Clary Bagley, the evening’s keynote speaker.

“Attitude is the key to our survival (in business),” Bagley said. “Today’s market is 10 percent product and 90 percent service.”

Urging her audience to extend courtesy and express appreciation to their customers, Bagley said, “If we don’t do it, our competition will.”

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Membership in the chamber now stands at more than 330 members, according to Katie Ickes, the organization’s executive director.

Elected to new three-year terms on the chamber’s board of directors were Sandi Hofmann, Randi Nikolas, Ruth Miller, Jason Ream, Jerry O’Sullivan, Christy Clemons-Rodgers and Cathey Sawyer.

Sharon Rowe was newly elected to a two-year board term.

— E-mail: talvey@register-herald.com

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