WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — West Virginia University and Marshall University officials were among panelists on the opening day of the 2026 West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Business Summit at The Greenbrier Resort.
WVU President Michael Benson, WVU Athletics Director Wren Baker, and WVU Medicine President and CEO Albert Wright joined Mountaineer radio play-by-play broadcaster Tony Caridi to highlight the latest developments in Morgantown: academically, athletically, and within the WVU Medicine system. Meanwhile, Marshall President Brad Smith joined Huntington Mayor Patrick Farrell, Marshall Health Network President and CEO Scott Raynes, and Huntington Regional Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Megan Archer to underscore how importance of many institutions and organizations interacting in Huntington.
Collaboration and communication were two key points that both panels emphasized.
Benson noted there have been several headlining developments at WVU over the past couple of months. He said that WVU commissioned Pittsburgh-based Tripp Umbach to investigate the economic impact of WVU Medicine on the state.
“What resulted was a number that really, I think, surprised all of us,” Benson said. “$14.3 billion of economic impact annually on the state of West Virginia. Nearly $900 million in payroll taxes that we pay. Then, the fact that WVU Medicine is now the largest employer in the state. That was some compelling and exciting news.”
Additionally, Benson highlighted the university’s new $7 million research partnership with the prestigious Johns Hopkins University and an astounding $160 million grant from the National Science Foundation in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.
While there has been good news, Benson said there are several goals still unattained.
“Right now, our academic reputation is not where it needs to be,” Benson said. “Part of that, I think, is perception. Part of it is, there’s this view of West Virginia and its flagship university, and it’s not correct. So, when a group comes from (Johns) Hopkins and says, ‘boy, this is really something,’ it behooves us to make a case for why we need to be considered more highly. Not because reputation is everything, it’s a lot, but performance is what counts.”
Benson said the university has a “moonshot goal” to join the Association of American Universities (AAU), a prestigious organization of U.S. and Canadian institutions. He admitted it would take a while and significant support but said it would be great to get there. Along with that designation, Benson said he hopes WVU can earn a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation, so as to become an “epicenter” for research and treatment of cancer. He said there are 72 NCI universities and 69 AAU institutions in America.
From a Mountaineer athletics perspective, Baker shared that WVU sports aren’t the most important thing that the institution has, but they are the most visible. He pointed to the WVU baseball team’s run to the College World Series in 2026 as something that opened the nation’s eyes to the state of West Virginia, not just the team or university.
“The way that singing ‘Country Roads’ against Kentucky in the regional really went viral, and it continues to go viral with people singing ‘Country Roads,’” Baker said. “When the U.S. Soccer team took that tradition up, I’m not even sure how many people around the world connect it with WVU, but they connect it with West Virginia, and they probably go and Google West Virginia.”
WVU Medicine is determined to bettering health outcomes in the state, Wright said. He cited that West Virginia’s outcomes in diabetes, heart disease, addiction, and obesity have ranked between 45th and 50th nationally.
“If we’re going to change that — there’s no magic bullet to change that, we have to give access, we have to work towards preventative care — but if we’re going to change that long term, in this generational change, we believe as a leadership team and our Board of Directors at the health system that really starts with our youth and our children,” Wright said.
Wright said it’s imperative to educate those children about how to live healthy lifestyles, as well as providing them the best care in WVU Medicine facilities throughout the state.
Synergy is the name of the game in Huntington. Panelists mentioned there have been several investments of late, namely in Marshall University’s IDEA District with Synthesis Health joining. Thrasher Group also came to Huntington and opened an office in May.
As the leader of the Marshall Health Network, Raynes said that the city makes these investments possible through working together.
“We’re an economic ecosystem, collectively,” Raynes said. “There’s a saying that ‘farmers don’t grow crops, they nurture the ground from where crops grow.’ Well, I’m not saying that we’re farmers, but we nurture that environment. We are, again, very intentional about what we’re doing and what we’re saying, measuring the progress, and measuring the success.”
Smith pointed to a handful of factors that lead to successful cities: education, healthcare, infrastructure and roads, a “vibrant” downtown, and something that makes the place “distinctive.” He said that Marshall University’s approach makes it all come together and ensures that all those boxes are checked.
“You’ve got healthcare, you’ve got education, you’ve got infrastructure, you have the downtown,” Smith listed. “What makes this distinctive is the “Power of We,” and the fact that we work together to create an environment where everyone feels like they are at home and they can participate. That has been the secret sauce of what’s going on in Huntington right now.”
Farrell agreed that city leadership has a specific part to play when it comes to bringing business to the area.
“By creating the environment that’s going to attract people to come,” Farrell said. “Because it’s not one deal. We have lots of companies that come, and we all collectively meet with them, we talk to them, we tell them about the opportunity. But the city’s role, I think, is to cultivate that environment where we’re not looking at one company, we’re looking at the opportunity for the next ten.”
The Business Summit continues through Friday at The Greenbrier.