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To some, it may seem like pure chance and networking landed David Becker the No. 2 post at new economy darling FreeMarkets Inc. He met company co-founder Glen Meakem at Harvard Business School. The pair kept in touch. Four years later, Mr. Becker became FreeMarkets president.
But by all accounts, Mr. Becker ha worked hard for all he's attained.
After graduating from a rural Kansa high school with the same 18 people h started kindergarten with, Mr. Becker wen to college at the Colorado School of Mines.
His roommate there was Dave Culbertson, who is now vice president of Shell Capital, a subsidiary of Shell Oil Co., in Houston.
"He worked hard and got good grades and earned them every step of the way," Mr. Culbertson said.
Mr. Becker received a bachelor's degree with high distinction in chemical and petroleum refining engineering. While in college, Mr. Becker taught Mr. Culbertson how to fly fish and hunt deer.
"He shot with a bow and arrow," Mr. Culbertson said. "A rifle wasn't sport enough. He wasn't taking the easy way out."
Mr. Culbertson said Mr. Becker pushed to excel at all parts of life including earning his master's degree in chemical engineering at night while working full time at Union Carbide, and then getting into and graduating from Harvard with an MBA.
"He's...