Virginia Foxx: “I rise today to honor Mr. Tom Ogburn, Jr., Executive Professor of Management and Director of the Family Business Center…”

“I rise today to honor Mr. Tom Ogburn, Jr., Executive Professor of Management and Director of the Family Business Center at the Wake Forest University Babcock Graduate School of Management. Mr. Ogburn has dedicated his life to serving his community of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the students of Wake Forest MBA; and that is why I honor him today. Tom began his long and distinguished career in the Marketing Research Department of R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and eventually became the Director of Global Research and the Marketing Director of the international company. He then spent 8 years as RJR's Vice President of Public Issues. He is also a successful entrepreneur and a gifted professional sculptor. In 1998, Tom joined the faculty of Wake Forest University and shortly thereafter became the Faculty Advisor of the Wake Forest MBA Case Competition, now known as the Wake Forest MBA Marketing Summit. Always quick to come up with exceptional creative ideas and never willing to settle for less than excellence, Tom challenged students to transform the event from a regional competition with a limited budget into the premiere nationally recognized event it is today. He has helped students form partnerships with an impressive list of corporate sponsors including Yahoo, Wachovia Wealth Management, EchoStar, Coca- Cola, GlaxoSmithKline, Lowe's and Heineken. He has also built and sustained relationships with some of the Nation's most outstanding marketing leaders.…”