Glenville State College Alum Mike Forbes has made a $25,000 gift to his Alma Mater’s ‘Transforming Lives Now’ capital campaign. “I am pledging my financial support so that future GSC students might have the same life transforming relationships and opportunities at Glenville State College that I benefitted from,” he said.

Forbes is the Vice president and Treasurer of Energy Corporation of America (ECA) and works in the company’s East Region Headquarters Located in Charleston, West Virginia. ECA is one of the top oil and gas companies in the nation. ECA was formed by John Mork, who was recently named the West Virginia Oil and Gas Man of the Year and is the CEO and President of the company. Forbes also previously served as President of two ECA subsidiaries, Energy Centre Inc. and Eastern Capital Corporation. He serves as Past Chairman of the Board of the YMCA of the Kanawha Valley, Vice Chairman of the Board of Saint Francis Hospital, board member of Thomas Health Systems, and board member of ECA Foundation and Eastern American Energy Corporation.

Forbes graduated with honors from Glenville State College in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration with majors in Finance and Accounting and a minor in Economics. He earned his Master’s Degree in Business Administration with honors from Marshall University in 1990. Additionally, he completed the Financial Management Program for Senior Financial Executives from Stanford University in 1991.

Forbes came to Glenville State College from Oxon Hill, Maryland. His high school basketball coach, GSC Hall of Famer Steve Datcher, encouraged him to choose Glenville over the other schools that were recruiting him to play basketball. He was a member of the Pioneer Basketball team for four years under the late Jesse R. Lilly, just one of the many people he met at GSC that had a profound influence on his life. Another was the relationship that developed between Forbes and former GSC Professor John James. “Professor James and his family really became a second family to me while I was at Glenville. We are still very close today,” he said.

It was also at Glenville State College where Forbes initially became involved with ECA and John Mork. Fellow GSC alum Rich Heffelfinger and Forbes did an internship with ECA, which led to both starting their careers with the company. Heffelfinger later left ECA to pursue other opportunities in the oil & gas industry. Forbes has spent his entire career with ECA, which is one of the top 100 oil and gas companies in the country. “There were so many members of the GSC community that have made a positive difference in my life. I would not be where I am today without them or Glenville State College,” said Forbes.

Forbes made the announcement of his donation on Tuesday, May 12th at a reception at Berry Hills Country Club to recognize and honor Charleston area alumni and friends of Glenville State College. Key government, business and community leaders who support Glenville State College were in attendance. “GSC has many outstanding and successful grads in the Charleston area. Glenville State College has been rejuvenated under the leadership of President Dr. Peter Barr. There is a new enthusiasm that has been created by the direction in which he is moving the college. Those of us who can must lend our support, both financially and otherwise. There are so many exciting things happening at GSC, and we need to get that message out,” said Forbes.