UM business school receives $1.5 million boost from generous UM alums Priscilla and Harold Gilkey

The University of Montana is poised to expand its footprint in the world of big business.

Thanks to a $1.5 million gift from generous UM alums Priscilla and Harold Gilkey, the School of Business Administration will build an Executive Education Center, which will be home to a new executive education program and the school’s expanding experiential learning curriculum.

By BETSY COHEN of the Missoulian

http://missoulian.com/articles/2004/10/07/news/local/news08.txt

"We are very excited," said Larry Gianchetta, dean of the business school. The new program he said, "will allow us to narrow the gap between theory and practice by supplementing classroom education with firsthand experiences from top business executives."

The Spokane couple committed the funding to UM because they wanted to assist their alma mater with its mission to develop forward-thinking leaders and entrepreneurs. Both graduated from UM in the 1960s – Harold with a degree in business and Priscilla with a degree in English.

"There’s no such thing as ‘business as usual’ anymore," said Harold Gilkey, who is co-founder of Sterling Savings Bank. "UM business students need to be prepared for the changing business environments they will encounter, and the school must take a lead role in the economic development of this region."

Priscilla Gilkey said the gift is to help position UM to "advance a mission of economic development and nurture small business in ways that have not been possible before."

The prime objectives for the new center, Gianchetta said, are to expose UM business students to business people with outstanding credentials and experiences, and to serve the needs of companies in the Northwest by providing advanced training and networking opportunities.

Although a plan for the building has yet to be designed, the new structure will be adjacent to the existing Gallagher Building. Recently, the Montana Board of Regents authorized UM to bolster the gift and raise $3 million to build and equip a $4.5 million center.

The center will house the Montana Academy of Distinguished Entrepreneurs, a network committed to promoting entrepreneurship in Montana; the Entertainment Management Program, which teaches students the business side of entertainment production; and the UM Business Plan Competitions, which have assisted regional businesses since 1989 in developing creative operating plans.

"Over the years, Harold has been very generous in sharing his time with UM students and faculty," Gianchetta said. "He usually spends two or three days on campus, speaking about his experiences running his company to as many as five classes. Now he and Priscilla are being very generous with financial resources to expand the program and help us with securing a center to house it."

The Gilkeys will also fund a Gilkey Executive Education Lecture Series, which aims to bring to UM nationally recognized executives from a wide range of industries to participate in group discussions, workshops and formal presentations.

Reporter Betsy Cohen can be reached at 523-5253 or at [email protected]