President & CEO, Marble King, Inc.
Website – www.marblekingusa.com
LinkedIn – Beri Fox
Twitter – @beri_fox
By Samantha Cart
While it’s not often a West Virginia-made product graces the silver screen, marbles created by Mountain State manufacturer Marble King, Inc. can be found in fan-favorite films like “The Goonies,” “Home Alone” and “Hook.”
Beri Fox, the ruler of the Marble King empire, has business in her blood, and Hollywood fame is just the icing on the cake for this successful monarch. President and CEO of Marble King, Fox took over the business after her father and mother, the previous owners, passed away. Today the company, located in Paden City, WV, manufactures almost 1 million glass marbles every day, which are used in games, decorations, industry and science. Under Fox’s leadership, Marble King broke into the global marketplace—now exporting to 17 countries—and became the first toy manufacturer to be Made in the USA-certified.
Fox is a savvy businesswoman who travels the country promoting the importance of manufacturing in America, and she is proud of her West Virginia roots. Growing up in Sistersville, WV, as the oldest of five children, her fondest memories include swimming in the community pool and sleigh riding on the hospital hill.
“Growing up near beautiful mountains and the Ohio River, I can’t imagine living anywhere where the scenery or the activities could be any better,” says Fox. “From a business prospective, West Virginia is a state that truly provides opportunity for growth and expansion. The support you receive from the state is unique and a significant benefit, especially for small businesses. I feel very fortunate to have worked with the West Virginia Department of Tourism, Department of Commerce, Department of Culture and History, Development Office and West Virginia University’s Industrial Assessment Team. Without their assistance, we would not have been able to take advantage of some of the opportunities presented to us.”
When she is not appearing on shows like “The Colbert Report” and “The Martha Stewart Show” to discuss American jobs and manufacturing, Fox can be found immersed in giving back to her community. She serves on the board of the West Virginia Northern Community College Foundation and Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley and the board of directors for the West Virginia Manufacturers Association. She is president of the New Martinsville Rotary Club, the Society for Glass and Science Practices and the National Marbles Tournament Inc.’s board of directors, and she’s a member of the Women’s Giving Circle, Lions Club of Paden City and Sistersville Elks Lodge #333. Fox is also co-founder and acting president of the Sistersville General Hospital Foundation and a frequent supporter of the West Virginia University Children’s Hospital.
In addition, she also sponsors annual college scholarships for the winners of the National Marbles Tournament, and she recently agreed to sponsor the West Virginia Marble Festival in Paden City when it discontinued its run in Cairo, WV. In 2014, Fox participated in Dancing with the Ohio Valley Stars, a fundraiser for the Augusta Levy Learning Center, which provides educational opportunities to children with autism. She is a strong supporter of area schools, sponsoring outside speakers and frequently donating to various fundraisers.
“I feel it is important to give back,” she says. “It enhances the lives of others and also enhances our community as a whole. Each of the organizations I am a member of has a special place in my life. The contributions I make are because the cause is near and dear to my heart.”
Throughout her career, Fox has mentored many other women in business, which she has found to be both rewarding and educational. “Manufacturing sometimes presents us with situations that we cannot change, but through mentoring, I’ve come to realize that while we may face situations that can’t be changed, we can change the way we look at them. Sometimes a change in your perspective provides options you didn’t see the first time.”
For Fox, helping others and making West Virginia communities the best they can be is a top priority. “Sometimes, all it takes is providing an opportunity,” she says. “Like Ralph Waldo Emerson said, if one life breathes easier because you have lived, that is to have succeeded.”
1991 – Named COO of Marble King
1992 – Appointed to the National Marbles Tournament board and appeared on “CBS This Morning with Paula Zahn & Harry Smith”
1996 – Elected president of the Society for Glass & Science Practices
2002 – Received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Sistersville High School
2003 – Named CEO of Marble King and purchased the company’s majority shares. Co-founded the Sistersville General Hospital Foundation
2007 – Appeared on “Made in America” on the Travel Channel
2008 – Appeared on “Some Assembly Required” on the Discovery Channel
2010 – Named to the WV Northern Community College Foundation board and appeared on “The Colbert Report” and “The Martha Stewart Show”
2011 – Spoke at the first annual Women in Manufacturing Summit in Cleveland and Netroots Nation in Minneapolis
2012 – Recognized as an American-Made Hero. Spoke at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
2013 – Named to the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley’s board of trustees
2014 – Spoke at Embracing Energy—A Conference for Women
2015 – Appeared on HGTV & DIY Network
