[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO KEN AND CAROLE MARKSTEIN

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 17, 2005

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize an outstanding 
couple in the 50th Congressional District for their commitment to 
public higher education in general, and for business education in 
particular.
  Ken and Carole Markstein have pledged $5 million to the College of 
Business Administration at Cal State San Marcos. Their gift will be 
used to complete the new business college building by providing 
upgrades, furnishings, and technology; to assist in faculty recruitment 
and retention efforts; to provide scholarships for students; and to 
fund future program development. Their gift will greatly enhance the 
University's ability to serve the students and the local business 
community by enabling the College to provide the highest quality 
education possible and develop future programs responsive to the needs 
of the region. The College of Business Administration houses the 
largest number of students at Cal State San Marcos.
  In 1974, Ken Markstein graduated from Cal State University at San 
Jose with a B.S. degree in Finance. After completing his degree, he 
joined Markstein Beverage Company as the Accounting/Computer Manager. 
In 1975, Ken became Vice President of Markstein Beverage Company Union 
City, and in 1976, he was promoted to Vice President/General Manager. 
In 1978 he moved to Markstein Beverage Company in Oakland as President 
and General Manager. In 1987, Ken and his brother purchased Mission 
Distributing in San Marcos, California, where he became President and 
CEO. Markstein Beverage Company is a wholesale beverage distributor, 
employing more than 120 employees, with 120 fleet vehicles and sales of 
approximately $50 million per year.
  The Marksteins have been engaged with Cal State San Marcos for a 
large part of its short history. In 1991, they established one of the 
first scholarships for business students. In 1996, Ken agreed to serve 
on the Business College advisory board, and in 2002, agreed to become 
part of the university's Trust Board.
  With the beginning of construction of the new business building and 
with the arrival of a permanent dean of the college, Ken and Carole 
began to see the importance of a strong program for business students 
being developed in their own backyard. In particular, they saw the need 
to recruit and retain outstanding business faculty, and began to talk 
to the university about ways in which they could make a significant 
difference to the business community in the region. When Ken's father, 
who had started the family business, died in 2004, Ken decided to use 
part of the inheritance in this way--to honor his father by helping the 
future of business professionals in North San Diego County.

  Ken is not only a product of the Cal State System, but a believer--
calling it ``the backbone of California's higher education.'' He 
believes in the goals of the university and in doing what he can to 
make those goals a reality.
  Ken married his childhood sweetheart, Carole, in 1975, and they have 
two college-aged children. Like her husband, Carole is also part of the 
community and gives her time and talent to the establishment of the San 
Pasqual Academy--a residential campus for high school foster care 
adolescents.
  On May 11, 2005, the California State University Board of Trustees 
unanimously voted approval of the recommendation,

       Resolved, By the Board of Trustees of the California State 
     University, that the business building (Building 13) at Cal 
     State University San Marcos, be named Markstein Hall.

  It is an honor for the business college to carry the family name of 
this outstanding, civic-minded couple, as it is for the 50th district 
to honor them today with these remarks to the Congressional Record.

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