Beverly Bailey

Building the Future for UCR's School of Business

ilseu — Tue, 01 Jun 2021 23:34:30 +0000

Building the Future for UCR's School of Business ilseu Tue, 06/01/2021 - 16:34 More News Sarah Nightingale June 01, 2021

Beverly Bailey knows a thing or two about building things.

As a student at Riverside City College, she helped her boyfriend, Scott, hang patio covers on the weekends. When she turned 20, she bought and ran a small café in Chino, putting her entrepreneurial spirit to the test as she worked some of the longest days of her life. Then, she earned her real estate license, making a living helping people build their dream homes.

She married Scott, and for the past 30 years they’ve been building Stronghold Engineering, a company they started from their kitchen table that is now one of the top general contracting firms in Southern California.

Their recent $1 million pledge to UC Riverside helps build a bright future for the university’s School of Business. The endowed gift will provide building maintenance funds for a new business school complex as part of a planned campus hub for professional development and community engagement.

“The school is full of gratitude and we’re honored to be a friend and partner of Beverly Bailey,” says Yunzeng Wang, dean of the UCR School of Business. “Her recent expression of generosity through a $1 million commitment in support of the future business complex is very exciting and will help build momentum in support of the new state-of-the-art facility.”

Beverly, whose father was in the Air Force, was born at Clark Air Base in the Philippines and moved every few years until her father retired at March Air Force Base, and the Inland Empire became home.

While raising three children, the Baileys grew Stronghold Engineering from a home-based electrical contracting company to a full-service design and construction firm that has completed more than $2.5 billion in construction projects and employs 185 people. The firm is ranked among the top 10 minority- and women-owned construction companies in the nation and was recognized by the Women’s Presidents’ Organization as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies.

Beverly’s success as president and CEO of Stronghold has garnered her top awards, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Inland Empire honor in 2000, the 2016 Enterprising Woman of the Year Award, the 2020 American Heart Association Legendary Women of the Heart designation, 2020 Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year Award, and most recently, the 2021 Construction Leader of the Year Award at the Women in Energy Leadership Summit. As Stronghold grew, so did Beverly’s involvement with the community, including at UCR. She currently serves as both a UCR Foundation trustee and chair for the School of Business Dean’s Advisory Council. She also served as a UC Riverside School of Business Executive Fellow, and along with Scott, established the Executive Fellows Endowed Scholarship Fund.

“The UCR Foundation is proud to have trustees like Beverly Bailey on our board,” says Brian Hawley, chair of the UCR Board of Trustees. “Her generosity of time and treasure to the School of Business is well known, and she is recognized as a philanthropic leader in our region. I’m pleased to see that this thoughtful gift will impact future generations of Highlanders.”

The family’s $1 million estate gift will help UCR realize its vision of creating a new space for academic growth, research, and economic development to flourish in the Inland Empire.

“We envision a state-of-the art facility that will feed the minds of potential hungry entrepreneurs and be a catalyst for relevant, local, and international business education,” Beverly says. “The designation of this gift is to support the maintenance operations of the new school. Being in construction, I have seen facilities fall into disrepair because maintenance costs were never thought about or factored in.”

She hopes the gift will inspire others to support the business school and its students during this transformative time.

“We are very pleased to support UCR on its journey as a world-class business school,” she says. “By investing locally we can see this come to fruition.”

The Bailey family includes, from left, Brandon, Alyssa, Beverly, Scott, and Kyler.

Two New Funds Champion Student Success

kmcnally — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 19:51:06 +0000

Two New Funds Champion Student Success kmcnally Tue, 01/15/2019 - 11:51 More Blog Posts January 15, 2019 Riverside, Ca

Two New Funds Established to Support Student Success

As of 2018, twenty-seven scholarship funds have been established by donors to champion student success, and over $132,000 was distributed in awards this year. These scholarships have become a crucial part of supporting the academic journeys of students at the School of Business. As a result of the enormous growth in support received from donors, alumni, and the greater community, the total amount of scholarship funds distributed has more than tripled from last year. This steady increase demonstrates the growing commitment of individuals and families who believe in the transformative power of education.

Two new scholarship funds were recently established by Executive Fellow, Beverly Bailey, and alumna, Jamie Fang. These endowments represent not only financial generosity but also personal dedication to ensuring that current and future students have the resources they need to thrive.

EXECUTIVE FELLOWS ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Established by Beverly and Scott Bailey

Beverly and Scott Bailey created an endowed fund to provide scholarships to students enrolled in the UCR School of Business A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management programs. Beverly Bailey served as an Executive Fellow for the 2017–2018 academic year, bringing her professional experience and insights to students and faculty.

The Executive Fellows Endowed Scholarship Fund will be utilized to identify, recruit, and retain the best and brightest students to AGSM. Importantly, the fund ensures that financial need does not hinder the academic and professional development of talented individuals. It will also serve to recognize and reward excellence, including strong academic merit, leadership ability, and community engagement. By lowering financial barriers, the Baileys’ contribution creates opportunities for students who might otherwise struggle to pursue graduate education.

In reflecting on her experience as an Executive Fellow, Beverly Bailey emphasized the impact of engaging directly with students:
“I am forever grateful for the experience and opportunity to engage with the next generation of global leaders. Students of the School of Business are driven to become educated in not only what the experts say in the course texts but they’re also interested in real-life application. This is part of the joy of serving as an Executive Fellow. I believe that this multi-tiered approach to education involving this exchange and analysis of theory and practice is extremely important.”

Through this scholarship, the Baileys are ensuring that the spirit of mentorship and educational exchange continues to flourish long after her formal term as Executive Fellow has ended.

JAMIE CHEN-KUEI FANG ENDOWED AWARD
Established by Jamie Fang `90

Left to right: Sylvia Hu, Judy Su, Jamie Fang, Charlie Fang.

Jamie Fang `90 created the Jamie Chen-Kuei Fang Endowed Award fund to provide financial support to undergraduate business majors at the School of Business, particularly for incoming transfer students and those who have begun their educational journey at a Southern California community college. This focus reflects Fang’s belief in the importance of accessibility and inclusion in higher education.

In 2005, Jamie Fang also established the Charley Chen-Hui and Hsi Mei Fang Award Endowed Fund, further illustrating her long-term dedication to student success at UCR. Over the years, Fang has become a consistent and valued supporter of the university. Her commitment is rooted in the understanding that financial assistance can make the difference between a student struggling to meet basic costs and a student flourishing academically.

Jamie Fang has been a longtime friend and supporter of UCR and the School of Business. She is passionate about helping students achieve academic success by reducing their financial burden. These endowed awards ensure that deserving students can focus more fully on their studies, internships, and leadership opportunities without the constant worry of financial hardship.

Together, the generosity of Beverly and Scott Bailey and Jamie Fang expands the growing network of scholarship support that empowers students to succeed. Their contributions are a reflection of the values of the UCR School of Business — inclusivity, opportunity, and a commitment to preparing students to become the next generation of leaders in business and beyond.