ETSU's College of Business and Technology inducts Hall of Fame members

Fred "Pal" Barger, is creator of Pal's Sudden Service restaurants, which have received both the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige Award and Tennessee Quality Award. Since 1956, the distinctive-looking outlets have dispensed hamburgers and hot dogs throughout the region, but the 19 drive-through restaurants have earned their good reputation with an emphasis on efficiency and employee training.

Barger, the ETSU 2001 Outstanding Alumnus, has served the ETSU Foundation many years, works with the ETSU Roan Scholars Leadership Program Committee, and has been an ETSU Alumni Association board member.

Gene Burleson has "one of the most impressive credentials in health care management." He is at the helm of Mariner Health Care Inc., a large long-term health care service with 300 facilities in 22 states.

Beginning in 1981, he held increasingly responsible positions within American Medical International (AMI), including CEO for the European region. Revenues increased from $5 million to $185 million under his leadership. He became chairman of the board of directors of GranCare Inc., one of the largest publicly traded long-term health care providers in the nation, which through a series of mergers has become Mariner Health Care.

The 1997 ETSU Outstanding Alumnus has served as a member of the Distinguished President¹s Trust, as a participant in the Buc Connection career development network, and as an Alumni Ambassador.

Linda Good was employed by IBM for 16 years, progressing from sales representative to sales management. Her varied experiences since then include working for an Atlanta-based electronic funds transfer and credit card transaction processing company; Shared Medical Systems (since acquired by Siemens Health Solutions); and a Knoxville start-up, Web-based information source in the employment and staffing industry. She created her own business, Good Coaching, which among other projects helped downsized Eastman Chemical Co. employees find new employment through a contract with Right Management Consultants.

Today, she has returned to her first interest, teaching business technology at the high school level. In addition, she satisfies her love of the outdoors and entrepreneurship through Flyfishingclasses.net, offering clinics and fly fishing experience for groups.

A 1985 ETSU Award of Honor recipient, she served as president of the ETSU Alumni Association from 1991-92 and as a board member from 1988-92.

Lt. Gen. Ronald Hite (Ret.) is currently the president and CEO of Cypress International. Based in Alexandria, Va., the company assists clients in "planning, business development and marketing of defense and aerospace products and services worldwide."

Hite retired from the military in 1997 after 33 years of service. His accomplishments included his involvement in the development of the HUMMER military vehicle and several major weapons systems. In addition, he was the principal senior Army military acquisition official providing testimony before both the House and Senate defense committees.

A recipient of the ETSU Distinguished Alumni in the Armed Forces award in 1989, he returned to campus in 1999 as a participant in the Alumni Speakers Series, and currently serves on the ETSU Alumni Association board.

The following individuals received the Excellence in Business Award for non-graduates of CBAT who have brought distinction to the college through significant accomplishments in business, exemplary service to the community and demonstrated commitment to the college and ETSU.

Wayne G. Basler, former director and president of AFG Industries Inc., began as a research engineer for Alcoa, was later hired by Ford Motor Co. as a research engineer, glass development manager, and production manager and in 1972, he was hired by Guardian Industries as the director of technical development. Five years later, he became president of Fourco Glass Co. in West Virginia, and in 1978 he returned to Kingsport when his company merged with ASG Industries to form AFG Industries Inc.

He created the Wayne G. Basler Chair of Excellence for the Integration of the Arts, Rhetoric, and Science which allows the College of Arts and Sciences to bring to campus talented visitors from a variety of fields who aid students in perceiving the connection of various areas of study.

He is also responsible for the AFG Industries Chair of Excellence which permits a designated CBAT faculty member to encourage entrepreneurship and business development, assisting both students and the region¹s business community.

In addition, Basler created an incentive scholarship program for technology students and funded the outdoor Basler Challenge Course, featuring 50-foot Alpine climbing and ropes towers which provide physical and mental trials for participants, while developing leadership and team-building skills.

The recipient of ETSU's prestigious George L. Carter Award in 1998, he was named an Honorary Alumnus in 2002, and has served as president of the ETSU Foundation as well as a Board of Visitors member for the College of Applied Science and Technology, now partnered with the College of Business.

Louis Gump began his career as treasurer of two family-owned finance companies from 1963 to 1971, when the family acquired Smith-Higgins, a wholesale pharmaceutical distribution firm, and Gump became president, devoting full time to its management. In 1983, the company was sold to Alco Standard Corp., and Gump held dual titles of president and chairman for five years. In 1988, he resigned to start Impact Management, a company working primarily with owners and managers of closely-held companies and professional corporations to enhance profits through improved business planning, better organizational design, and increased operational efficiency.

In 1983, Gump was named an ETSU Honorary Alumnus, and he received the ETSU Margin of Excellence Award in 2002. He is a member of the Distinguished President¹s Trust and the ETSU Foundation Board, as well as chair of the ETSU Roan Scholar Steering Committee, guiding the Roan Scholars Leadership Program he established. He has spent over 20 years as the Foundation representative on the university scholarship committee.

The following honorees received the Business Horizon Award, given to CBAT graduates under the age of 40 who have displayed significant accomplishments and commitment to the college and ETSU.

Tammy Arnett is employed in the New York City headquarters of PricewaterhouseCoopers as the U.S. Chairman¹s Program Manager, running the client relationship management program for the firm's top U.S. clients, with other duties ranging from organizing quarterly CEO/CFO roundtables to designing a Web site and assisting internal constituents.

Renee Lockhart is chief financial officer of Heritage Family Funeral Services Inc. and Heritage Family Management. She oversees all aspects of the accounting department for the Elizabethton-based enterprises, including financial statement preparation, budgeting, accounts payable, payroll, sales tax, and internal auditing. In addition, she is responsible for troubleshooting computer hardware/software problems and overseeing the company's web page.

Don Poole lives in Los Angeles where he is employed by Naughty Dog Inc., a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment. A member of the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, he worked as a production artist on Jak and Daxter and Jak2 for Playstation 2. Poole is currently helping to create the third installment of the Jak and Daxter trilogy, as well as continuing his work as a studio artist in the areas of photography and painting. Poole graduated from ETSU¹s world-renowned digital media/computer graphics design program in advanced visualization.