News Article

Gonzaga University has hired Thomas B. Tilford as the new program director for the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, beginning July 24. The university conducted a national serach to identify a candidate that brought both real-life entrepreneurial knowledge and skills and the ability to work with students and forward the goals of Gonzaga's unique entrepreneurial leawdership program.

"Gonzaga is very fortunate to have a business leader, entrepreneur and mentor of Tom's caliber to help us grow the Hogan Program and increase national visibility," said Rev. Robert J. Spitzer, Gonzaga president. "Tom brings a successful entrepreneurial track record and a passion for mentoring students to the program. We are thrilled to have him on the team." 

Tilford was president and CEO of Job Line Construction, Inc., which grew to be one of the largest high-voltage power line construction companies in the western United States under his leadership. He has also served as an owner and officer of several other companies including Ultrashred LLC, which manufactures mobile document shredding equipment. He currently serves on the Gonzaga University Board of Trustees and was chair in 2002-2003. He will step down as Trustee when he completes his current term Dec. 31.

"He also serves on the boards of Washington Trust Bank, Northwest Venture Associates, and WIN Partners. Tom has a bachelor’s degree in history from Gonzaga University and a law degree from the University of Washington. He also has practiced as a certified public accountant and as a lawyer. He previously taught courses in law and business at Gonzaga University, most recently at the Gonzaga-in-Florence (Italy) campus last fall.

The search committee, chaired by Michelle Hege of Desautel Hege Communications, was extremely impressed with Tom’s application. “He brings a wealth of experience and a strong passion for the mission of the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program,” said Hege. “We look forward to his leadership in guiding the Hogan Program in its quest to become a nationally recognized program.”

Paul Buller, founding program director, will remain with the program as academic director and will concentrate his efforts on student advising, curriculum, faculty development and research.

About The Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program
The Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program is a four-year undergraduate concentration founded on the Jesuit educational philosophy of educating the whole person. Its purpose is to prepare students to create new ventures that make a positive difference in society. This student-centered program is designed for promising individuals who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership, creativity, and a commitment to serve others. The Hogan Program embraces students from all academic majors, tailoring the entrepreneurial curriculum and co-curriculum to complement the students’ major fields of study, and providing them with the concepts, tools, and experiences to responsibly create successful new commercial and social enterprises.

About Gonzaga University
Gonzaga University is a 119-year-old institution that offers 92 undergraduate fields of study, 25 master’s programs, a doctoral program in leadership studies and the juris doctorate program through the Law School. It is one of 28 Jesuit, Catholic colleges and universities in the United States. Gonzaga has been consistently ranked among the top colleges in the West by U.S. News & World Report for the past 22 years.

For more information, please contact Paul Buller, (509) 323-3438.