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The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce's scheduled speaker at next week's Lunch With Leaders program -- Marshall University President Brad Smith -- should be a big hit locally, particularly as Wheeling works through the process of identifying a path toward a new future. Smith is expected to speak on the happenings at Marshall -- and how the university is helping West Virginia to form its own vision for the future.
Smith, a Kenova native, brings a non-traditional career path to the top post at Marshall. He was a longtime executive at Intuit, serving as the tech company's CEO from 2008-19 and its executive chairman from 2019 until being named president at Marshall University in 2022.
He and his wife, Alys, also founded the Wing 2 Wing Foundation, which is focused on expanding access to education, providing entrepreneurship mentoring and investment, and strengthening communities throughout West Virginia.
Smith's efforts to reshape Marshall also are being experienced directly in the Northern Panhandle where the school has partnered with West Liberty University for a bachelor of science in aviation -- commercial pilot: fixed wing program, which is located at the Wheeling-Ohio County Airport.
His appearance next Thursday will be a discussion with the audience, not a speech at a podium. That's an approach that should go over well with the crowd. There will be much to learn -- and having a real discussion about the future and the role all of us must play will be most beneficial.
Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce President Kurt Zende and others deserve much credit for getting Smith to Wheeling to discuss a very important topic. All those interested in our region's and state's future should plan to attend.