James D. Rogers
Encyclopedia
James D. "Jim" Rogers is the President and CEO of Kampgrounds of America
(KOA). He currently lives in Billings, MT and Reno, NV. He has a wife, Sandy, and three sons: Ben, Judd, and Tyler–all three are Eagle Scouts.
in 1965 and a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
from the Nevada Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America
in Reno, Nevada
in 2002. Scouting
's values play an important role in this entire family. He is the brother of T. Gary Rogers
, who is also an Eagle Scout and Distinguished Eagle Scout. Their brother Don is also an Eagle Scout; as are seven of their sons, for a total of 10 Eagle Scouts across two generations of this family.
in 1972, he contacted KOA for an interview and got a quick, positive response. As an executive of the Billings, Montana, company later told him, "We wanted to meet an Eagle Scout that went to UC Berkeley."
Rogers had worked each summer during college at the Lair of the Golden Bear, the California Alumni Association's camp, and he dreamed of building a company that would develop alumni camps across the country.
Rogers got the job at KOA and stayed for two years before heading to UCLA to complete a master's degree in business administration. After a couple of years as general manager of a South Lake Tahoe resort, he went to work for Harrah's Entertainment Inc. in 1978, eventually becoming senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's Reno in 1994. Then, in January 2000, he returned to KOA as president and chief executive officer.
The aptness of having an Eagle Scout in charge of North America's largest camping company is not lost on Rogers. He's thrilled to see Scout troops using KOA campgrounds for family campouts and views the campgrounds as the perfect place to introduce new Scouts to camping skills before they head off for more rugged adventures.
Rogers has also found ways to use KOA facilities to support Scouting. He helped the Montana Council create a program called Jamboree Day. Held at the Billings KOA, the event included a camping for area Boy Scouts, a fund-raising luncheon to benefit the council, and the "Eagle's Nest," a reunion get-together that reached out to adult Eagle Scouts in the community. John Nunn
, an Eagle Scout who is a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, spoke at the luncheon and visited with the Scouts in camp. The event had a terrific impact, helping identify potential volunteers and financial supporters as well as reconnect with alumni of the program. Rogers serves on an ad hoc committee of Montana CEOs who work to support the council.
Kampgrounds of America
Kampgrounds of America is a franchise chain of nearly 470 campgrounds throughout North America based in Billings, Montana, USA. The current CEO of Kampgrounds of America Inc. is James D. Rogers. The President is Pat Hittmeier. - History :...
(KOA). He currently lives in Billings, MT and Reno, NV. He has a wife, Sandy, and three sons: Ben, Judd, and Tyler–all three are Eagle Scouts.
Large Scout family
Rogers became an Eagle Scout in Greenbrae, CaliforniaGreenbrae, California
Greenbrae is a small community in Marin County, California. It is located south-southeast of downtown San Rafael, at an elevation of 33 feet , located adjacent to U.S. Route 101 at the opening of the Ross Valley. Part of Greenbrae is an unincorporated community of the county while the remaining...
in 1965 and a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
Distinguished Eagle Scout Award
The Distinguished Eagle Scout Award is a distinguished service award of the Boy Scouts of America . It is awarded to an Eagle Scout for distinguished service in his profession and to his community for a period of at least 25 years after attaining the level of Eagle Scout...
from the Nevada Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America
Boy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
in Reno, Nevada
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
in 2002. Scouting
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
's values play an important role in this entire family. He is the brother of T. Gary Rogers
T. Gary Rogers
T. Gary Rogers is an entrepreneur and executive who acquired and built Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream into a major company. Rogers was formerly a director of Levi Strauss & Co. and he served as the first non-family Chairman of their board in 155 years. Rogers attended Harvard Business School with Bob...
, who is also an Eagle Scout and Distinguished Eagle Scout. Their brother Don is also an Eagle Scout; as are seven of their sons, for a total of 10 Eagle Scouts across two generations of this family.
Career
After graduating from the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
in 1972, he contacted KOA for an interview and got a quick, positive response. As an executive of the Billings, Montana, company later told him, "We wanted to meet an Eagle Scout that went to UC Berkeley."
Rogers had worked each summer during college at the Lair of the Golden Bear, the California Alumni Association's camp, and he dreamed of building a company that would develop alumni camps across the country.
Rogers got the job at KOA and stayed for two years before heading to UCLA to complete a master's degree in business administration. After a couple of years as general manager of a South Lake Tahoe resort, he went to work for Harrah's Entertainment Inc. in 1978, eventually becoming senior vice president and general manager of Harrah's Reno in 1994. Then, in January 2000, he returned to KOA as president and chief executive officer.
Scouting helps throughout life
Throughout his career, both the skills and the values he learned as a Scout have served Rogers well. The advancement program, he said, "helps you understand what it takes for achievement." And the values? "I can't tell you the number of times I think of trustworthy, loyal, helpful, and all the rest as being requirements for the people who work for us at KOA," he said. "The Scout Law is just a wonderful value list."The aptness of having an Eagle Scout in charge of North America's largest camping company is not lost on Rogers. He's thrilled to see Scout troops using KOA campgrounds for family campouts and views the campgrounds as the perfect place to introduce new Scouts to camping skills before they head off for more rugged adventures.
Rogers has also found ways to use KOA facilities to support Scouting. He helped the Montana Council create a program called Jamboree Day. Held at the Billings KOA, the event included a camping for area Boy Scouts, a fund-raising luncheon to benefit the council, and the "Eagle's Nest," a reunion get-together that reached out to adult Eagle Scouts in the community. John Nunn
John Nunn
John Denis Martin Nunn is one of England's strongest chess players and once belonged to the world's top ten. He is also a three times world champion in chess problem solving, a chess writer and publisher, and a mathematician....
, an Eagle Scout who is a member of the U.S. Olympic Team, spoke at the luncheon and visited with the Scouts in camp. The event had a terrific impact, helping identify potential volunteers and financial supporters as well as reconnect with alumni of the program. Rogers serves on an ad hoc committee of Montana CEOs who work to support the council.