‘Active’ is the best word to describe the Babb family. This Spider family consists of four University of Richmond alumni, Dr. Harold Babb, B’72, Michael Babb, B’99, April Patterson Babb, B’99, and Rachel Babb, J’03. Dr. Babb’s wife, June, who married into the Spider web, is current president of the University of Richmond Chapel Guild.

Physically, the Babb family has not slowed down. Dr. Babb participated in various team sports and is an avid collegiate sports fan. Rachel was a track standout - reaching national-level NCAA meets - and co-captain of the Spiders’ track team for two years. Michael played hardyball and other intramural sports at Richmond. An avid collegiate sports fan, Dr. Babb also served as the University’s NCAA representative for 20 years.

Dr. Babb is an alumni and faculty member, celebrating 30 years as a business school professor. He chaired the marketing department for 16 of those years and currently serves as a full-time professor of marketing. A Tidewater native, Dr. Babb was drawn to the University of Richmond because of the strength of the business school and the close-knit college community.

Outside the university, Dr. Babb has been involved with three business endeavors. In 1981, he co-founded Urgent Care EmergiCenter with former Robins School economics professor Dr. David Whitaker. Several years later, he co-founded Matrix Capital Markets Group.

Dr. Babb did not have any background in the businesses he started such as healthcare or investment finance. “We applied the principles of business to make an organization successful. The kind of things we teach here at the school of business,” he adds.

“It’s similar to having a lab in chemistry. It’s a way to effectively practice what I preach in the classroom. It gives me the opportunity to bring back a lot of examples based on personal experience while still being a full professor,” Babb denotes.

Also bit by the entrepreneurial bug, Michael Babb started Babb Consulting Group in 2002. Hired by a student loan company to develop marketing strategies, Michael learned a lot about student loan consolidation and realized that it might make an ideal business.

“I always wanted to start a business with my father,” he says. So he approached his father and said, “Dad, I think we can do this.” Since 2004, their business, Academic Financial Solutions in Tampa, Fla., has consolidated more than $1 billion in student loans. The company was profitable within the first six months and has doubled its profits each year. They outgrew their office and are moving in spring 2007 and currently have 100 employees.

Similar to his dad, Michael graduated from the Robins School and was very involved in school activities. He was a member of Alpha Kappa Psi, served as a prosecutor for judicial counsel and vice president, administration, for student government.

“Growing up my father has always been a mentor,” says Michael. He also greatly admired Dr. Myers and Dr. Lascu. “I truly enjoyed my experience at the University of Richmond. It not only challenged me intellectually, but gave me confidence to take on the world after school,” Michael observes.

Michael met his wife April at the Robins School and they have a son, Logan Michael Babb. With his roots, this little Spider is bound for success, too.