Trachtenberg, Evans Attend Economic Club Conversation With Bill Gates

On Tuesday, March 8, Bill Gates spoke about his life experiences to Economic Club of Washington D.C. The Economic Club is an exclusive organization of Washington’s top business and professional leaders. Members of the Economic Club affiliated with the GW community include former president Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, President Steven Knapp, and Richard Kane, President and CEO of International Limousine Service (the company that operates The Vern Express).

The one-hour program included a conversation between Gates, the chairman of Microsoft and the co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and David Rubenstein, President of the Economic Club, as well as several questions from the audience. Gates reminisced on his three years at Harvard University and the beginnings of Microsoft. “When [Microsoft] went public, the value kept going up,” Gates said when asked about being the youngest billionaire in America at the age of 32.

Gates says the people he looks up to in the world of business and politics are Warren Buffett and Nelson Mandela, respectively. Gates has no plans to run for political office. “I don’t think it would draw my best talent out, meeting with constituents [and] raising money.”

Jack Evans, Ward 2 pro-tempore councilmember on the DC Council, is also a member of the Economic Club. After the event, Evans said the event was “entertaining and funny.” Although he “heard a lot before,” he took particular interest in what Gates had to say about health and education. When asked about Kwame Brown, Chairman of the DC Council, and his purchase of a “fully-loaded” SUV, Evans believes “it is being handled by the [DC] Attorney General.” Evans believes the city is doing everything it can to get the money for the vehicles back, with whatever difference being paid by Brown.

Record Number of Snow Days for GWU

The worst snowstorm in DC since 1922 is causing disarray at The George Washington University; affecting 23,000 students and all aspects of campus life.

Classes have been cancelled for three consecutive days. Student Health Services is closed. 4-RIDE, the campus escort van service modified its services to walking safety escorts. Dining options for students are limited, with many restaurants and stores closed. And the much-anticipated Meghan McCain speech and Rupert Murdoch's appearance on Kalb Report were cancelled due to the inclement weather.

The status of public transportation in DC and the surrounding areas is a key factor for university administrators who make the decision to cancel classes due to inclement weather. This is a record for the university for most consecutive 'snow days' and it currently seems as if it might extend to four executive days. GW is urging students to avoid walking on streets and to be cautious of tree limbs breaking off due to the heavy weight of accumulated snow.

DC snow crews have been working around the clock in 12-hour shifts since last Friday to remove the snow and fallen trees. "Considering the incredible feat they have been able to accomplish in a city that averages 15 inches a year and with little rest, I'd say our snow team is one of the strongest and most dedicated in the region," said Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, who distributed hot drinks and donuts to snow plow crews.

On Tuesday evening Steven Knapp, the university president, sent out a thank you to those assisting in the impact of the storm. "You have cleared sidewalks, served meals, staffed the libraries, kept The Vern Express running, organized student activities, and made sure that our campuses remained safe and sound," wrote Knapp.

Keep checking WRGW News for updates on the storm and cancellations.

In Profile: Cliff Wilson of The Vern Express

Cliff Wilson

Hometown: Upper Marlboro, MD

Previous occupations: 1st Lieutenant in DC National Guard, Firefighter/Medic for Prince George’s County (Ret. ‘07), Amtrak – Track Inspector


Cliff Wilson grew up in Upper Marlboro, Maryland with visions of playing college football and eventually the big leagues – the NFL. Upon getting to the University of Maryland - Baltimore County, he discovered that the other guys were simply much bigger than him; after a couple of concussions, he decided that a career in football probably wouldn’t turn out well for him. But his dream has lived on in his three sons, who were all football players in their youth.

Wilson joined the National Guard for a short time, and then decided to become a firefighter for Prince George’s County. At 37 years of age, he was the oldest initated firefighter in his class. A knee injury sidelined Wilson from his work as a firefighter/medic, so he moved on to Amtrak to work as a track inspector. However, it wasn’t a job meant to last forever.

“You kinda get in a rut sometimes, and there’s nothing to challenge you,” Wilson explains.

He retired from Amtrak, and decided to apply for a job with International Limo. He says that with his knee, the job suits him well.

When Wilson isn’t shuttling GW kids to and from the Vern, he stays busy with his 5 grandchildren and his love for the Washington Redskins. This December, he and his wife will celebrate 38 years of marriage.

What, then, is the most rewarding part of Wilson’s job? He says, simply getting to learn some names and having great conversations with some of his regular passengers.

“You get some interesting perspectives,” Wilson muses, recounting the story of a girl from California who hadn’t ever experienced all four seasons. His smile makes clear that for a part-time retirement job, driving the Vern Express is anything but a raw deal.