[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17118-17119]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO JAMES E. HOGGE

 Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate James 
E. Hogge on his upcoming retirement from serving as State director of 
the Idaho Small Business Development Center, SBDC, and recognize his 
remarkable career.
  As State director of the Idaho SBDC for nearly 18 years, Jim has led 
the center with distinction and helped shape it into a highly regarded 
resource for small business consulting and training. He has provided 
strategic planning and financial and programmatic oversight and guided 
the center through challenges, including limited budgets. During his 
time leading the center, the Idaho SBDC was one of the first SBDCs in 
the country to be accredited and has received the highest accreditation 
possible in the past two reviews. The Idaho SBDC has also been in the 
top 10 percent of SBDCs in the country based on productivity and 
impact, which includes the growth of sales and jobs, capital raised, 
and return on investment.
  Jim recognizes the immense value of partnerships in assisting 
businesses and has worked to utilize the expertise of individuals and 
organizations for the benefit of the entrepreneurs and businesses 
seeking assistance and all those involved in the partnerships. Some of 
his collaborative achievements during his time as State director 
include the development of a partnership with Boise State University, 
the University of Idaho, and Idaho State University to help Idaho's 
manufacturers increase their sales and reduce costs. Jim also planned 
and developed funding for the Technology and Entrepreneurial Center at 
Boise State University. Additionally, he developed collaborative 
projects with the University of Idaho Law School, the Idaho National 
Laboratory, the city of Boise, the Idaho Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, 
Zions Bank, and the U.S. Forest Service.

[[Page 17119]]

  Prior to his work at the Idaho SBDC, Jim spent 20 years serving our 
Nation in the U.S. Air Force as a weapons systems operator in F-111 and 
EF-111 aircraft. He has also provided significant service to the 
community and Nation through volunteering and serving on various local 
and national boards. This includes his service on the board of the 
Association of Small Business Development Centers, ASBDC, and his 
service as ASBDC Accreditation chair. He also served on the board of 
directors for Drug Free Idaho and the Idaho GemStars and was a founding 
board member for the Idaho Non-Profit Center. In addition, he was 
appointed to the Governor's Rural Task Force to help develop long-term 
strategies to help Idaho's rural communities, and he served on the 
Criminal Justice Council and as president of the Boise Sunrise Rotary 
Club.
  Outstanding service has been the hallmark of Jim's career. I 
congratulate Jim on his many successes and thank him for his service to 
the community, State and Nation. I wish him a very happy 
retirement.

                          ____________________