By MORGAN TARPLEY

mlt017@latech.edu

 

Tech’s College of Administration and Business has begun a $1.5 million “Investing in the Future” campaign this year.

The campaign has raised over $300,000 and focuses on the experience, opportunity, communication and pride of the CAB.

“The ‘Investing in the Future’ campaign will enhance the educational experience for students,” Dr. Shirley Reagan, dean for the CAB, said. “It will also focus on refurbishing the building, assisting in [conference] travel for students and having a communication laboratory.”

George Breazeal, CAB advisory board member and retired chief financial officer for Murphy Oil in El Dorado, Ark., said he is excited about the campaign and about the board being able to help the college.

“[The campaign] is something for the board to do to make a contribution so we don’t just meet, eat and go home,” Breazeal said. “We [also get to] provide support for the dean and the faculty and help establish relationships between students and the business world.”

Reagan said she, the CAB staff and the advisory board members were not too sure about how the campaign would work out initially, but now it seems to be going well.

“I think we were all apprehensive at first, because we have never done major fundraising before,” Reagan said. “As we’ve seen the painting in the building occur, we began thinking [the campaign] is closer to reality.”

Deborah Inman, coordinator of entrepreneurial studies for the CAB, said the campaign would not be able to happen without external funding.

“The state doesn’t have all the money in the world,” Inman said. “So if we want to stretch out and have added programs, the money will have to come from outside funding.”

Reagan said the campaign’s first gift was $100,000 from Mike McCallister, a 1974 Tech alumnus and a CAB advisory board member. McCallister is also the president of Humana, Inc., a large health benefits company.

“McCallister’s gift is generous to have as the first gift,” Reagan said. “I feel it shows his commitment to the CAB and his commitment to this campaign.”

McCallister said he wants to see the CAB expand, so it is natural for him to give the lead donation.

“One reason [for the donation] is to help the school and to begin to seek out foundations for future programs,” McCallister said. “But it’s [also] a result of having fond memories of Tech.”

Reagan said McCallister and CenturyTel have given the largest of the donation gifts.

“CenturyTel has given $75,000,” Reagan said. “The gift will be the naming gift for the [CAB] auditorium.”

Reagan also said several smaller donations have been received as well.

“We have had a large number of alumni donate [to the campaign],” Reagan said. “[The whole campaign experience] has just been really positive.”