The West Virginia University College of Business and Economics hosted the 17th West Virginia Business Hall of Fame on August 28 at The Greenbrier. This year’s inductees included Linda Arnold, founder and former chairman and CEO of The Arnold Agency, Charleston, West Virginia; Andrew J. Paterno, CEO of Centurion Insurance Services, LLC, Charleston, West Virginia; and Brad Smith, chairman and CEO of Inuit, San Francisco Bay, California.

The Hall of Fame annually serves as the kickoff event for the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce’s West Virginia Business Summit and Annual Meeting. Held in the historic Crystal Room at The Greenbrier, this year’s event saw record attendance that included stakeholders in West Virginia’s business community ranging from business leaders to state and national policymakers.

Since the inception of the event in 2001, 68 individuals with strong ties to West Virginia have been inducted for their significant and lasting contributions in national and/or international businesses, state-based enterprises, and entrepreneurial and family businesses. A public announcement will be made in mid-October that nominations are open for induction into the 2019 West Virginia Business Hall of Fame.