[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 186 (Tuesday, November 27, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1555]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING KEVIN HOUGEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE COFFMAN

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 27, 2018

  Mr. COFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the President and 
Chief Executive Officer of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce, Kevin 
Hougen. Recently the Denver Business Journal recognized Kevin with its 
2018 Most Admired Chief Executive Officer honor. This prestigious award 
is given only to those with a proven record of innovation, who act as a 
standard-bearer for their organization, as a community role model, and 
exert exceptional leadership within their organization and the 
community. I am proud to see Kevin Hougen receive this award for his 
more than two decades of dedicated service to my hometown of Aurora, 
Colorado.
  Kevin Hougen's leadership with the Aurora Chamber of Commerce began 
22 years ago when he was first hired as its Vice President of Sales. 
Since 1999, Kevin Hougen has served as its President and Chief 
Executive Officer. Kevin's leadership and business acumen has played a 
key role in the tremendous growth and economic success the city of 
Aurora has experienced since then as it has grown to become the third 
largest city in the State of Colorado.
  Kevin Hougen has led the Aurora Chamber of Commerce through difficult 
challenges such as the ``Great Recession'' and to new and exciting 
triumphs such as the agreement with Denver and Adams County on the 
development of the ``Aerotropolis.'' Critically, his leadership has 
proved crucial to enhancing community support efforts for Buckley Air 
Force Base. I do not believe any base located in a major metropolitan 
area receives more consistent or stronger community support than does 
Buckley Air Force Base.
  Kevin Hougen has also led the Chamber's efforts to make Aurora a 
better place to live and to do business. He has done so by facilitating 
support for the expansion and creation of new roadways and the light 
rail line that now serve the City of Aurora. He has also rallied the 
business community to become more involved with the local schools, 
which are so important to the long-term economic strength of the City 
of Aurora.
  Mr. Speaker, my hometown city of Aurora would not be the driving 
force of innovation, development, and economic opportunity it is today 
without Kevin Hougen. I look forward to seeing his successes and those 
of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce continue well into the future.

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