[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1028]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  TRIBUTE TO ROBERT ROBIE, OUTGOING CHAIRMAN, INLAND EMPIRE ECONOMIC 
                              PARTNERSHIP

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 30, 2001

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to an 
individual whose dedication to the community and to the overall well-
being of California's Inland Empire is unparalleled. The Inland Empire 
has been fortunate to have dynamic and dedicated business community 
leaders who willingly and unselfishly give time and talent to making 
their communities a better place to live and work. Mr. Robert Robie is 
one of these individuals.
  On January 20, 2001, Robert Robie was honored as the outgoing 2000 
Chairman of the Inland Empire Economic Partnership (IEEP). Through Mr. 
Robie's efforts over the past year at the IEEP the Inland Empire has 
seen: The creation of 1,360 jobs and retention of 390 jobs, which 
resulted in a $133,039,011 financial investment into the local 
communities; the implementation of ``CallPoint,'' a one-stop workforce 
recruiting program that helps employers find and train qualified 
workers; the implementation of a new Bio-Tech/High-Tech program, which 
supports the high technology industry; the development of a Tourism 
Brochure and a Regional Visitor's Guide; the issuance of 306 film 
permits that resulted in 993 film related projects in the Inland 
Empire; the addition of twenty-six IEEP members; and the development of 
an Inland Empire supplement to the May 2001 Forbes Magazine U.S. and 
Global Issues edition.
  As IEEP's 2000 Chairman, Robert brought his 38 years in the banking 
industry to the table for the Inland Empire. He is currently the 
Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer for the Bank of Hemet 
in Riverside, Chairman of the Directors' Loan Committee, Director of 
the Banklink Corporation, Director of the Hemet Service Corporation and 
Director of Florida Avenue Investment, Inc. Robert Robie's 
contributions to the nation's positive perception of the Inland Empire 
as a viable business location has been sizeable.
  Robert's activities in the community also include being on the board 
of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, the Children's Fund of 
San Bernardino County Children's Network, and the Riverside Community 
Hospital Foundation. Additionally, he was the 2000 Chairman of the 
Executive 2000 Council of the Riverside County Community Hospital 
Foundation.
  His outstanding work to promote the businesses, schools and community 
organizations of the Inland Empire make me proud to call him a 
community member and fellow American. I know that all of the Inland 
Empire, including myself, are grateful for his contribution to the 
betterment of our community and salute Robert as IEEP's outgoing 2000 
Chairman. I look forward to continuing to work with him for the good of 
our community in the future.

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