The 2020-‘21 class of the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame honors a group of pioneers and visionaries who have transformed the business landscape of our state and inspire us to move West Virginia Forward.
This class of inductees includes:
- Gregory A. Burton, Executive Chairman of Encova Mutual Insurance Group;
- Harry “Hap” Esbenshade III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Mountain Company and Laurel Management Group;
- Arthur Gabriel, co-founder, secretary, treasurer and president of Gabriel Brothers;
- Diana Lewis Jackson, president and founder of Action Facilities Management.
“We are delighted to be welcoming these West Virginia success stories into the Business Hall of Fame,” said W. Marston “Marty” Becker, chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee. “These individuals have made substantial impacts in their respective industries and truly exemplify our West Virginian values.”
Sponsored annually by the West Virginia University John Chambers College of Business and Economics, the Business Hall of Fame is part of the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Business Summit at The Greenbrier to honor and recognize those with strong West Virginia ties who have made a significant impact on the business landscape.
Over the last 20 years, the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame has honored 72 individuals from a variety of business sectors and from various parts of the country and world. This class of inductees includes:
Burton became chief executive officer of BrickStreet Mutual Insurance when the company launched in 2006, and he has served as the executive chair of the Encova Mutual Insurance Group, formerly Motorists Insurance Group since April 2017. He was also the company’s president from 2006 through May 2015.
Esbenshade is chairman and CEO of The Mountain Company, Laurel Management Group and Tri-State/Service specialty contracting companies covering the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeastern United States. The group will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2023. He leads real estate and investment businesses, as well.
Gabriel is the secretary, treasurer and president of Gabriel Brothers, which he founded along with his brother James Gabriel. Gabriel Brothers opened its first store in 2016 in Morgantown, where the company remains headquartered as of 2015.
Lewis Jackson is the president and founder of Action Facilities Management, a premier government and commercial contract firm specializing in building integrated facilities maintenance, janitorial/sanitation, administrative and security services. By prioritizing her clients’ missions, her employees’ well-being, and investing in both corporate and community support, she has grown AFM to include just under 400 employees in 10 states and Washington, D.C. AFM has championed diversity through its employment practices and retention programs, and is proud to be among the minority and women-owned small businesses that represent West Virginia.
Lewis Jackson is also focused on building her community. For the past several decades, she has poured her time, leadership and generosity into myriad organizations that prioritize education, health, support for the disadvantaged, and local entrepreneurship. She was previously appointed by Governor Manchin to the WVU Board of Governors and the WVU Hospital Board of Directors. She currently serves on the Discover the Real West Virginia Foundation, West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, West Virginia Regional Technology Park Board of Directors, WVU Medicine Cancer Institute Council, the United Bank Advisory Board, and numerous other committees and boards.
Lewis Jackson is a graduate of Fairmont State with Accounting and Banking degrees. She is a native of Clarksburg, and currently lives with her husband, Kenneth Jackson, in Morgantown.