Faces of Cody: Jake Hogan – From Marine to Entrepreneur, a Journey of Leadership

Jake Hogan, the president and CEO of Forward Cody, has had a few months to get his bearings in his new job driving economic development in Cody. We had an opportunity to sit down with him and ask him to share more about himself and the general direction he hopes to take Forward Cody.

Supportive Roots and Bold Dreams

Born in Billings, his dad’s oilfield work had him working around the West. Eventually, they ended up near Golden, Colorado, near family in the Lakewood area. Jake’s connection to Wyoming began when his dad took a position with Mountain Fuel and eventually Questar in Rock Springs and Pinedale. When Jake was around 16, his family followed his dad’s career to Salt Lake City Utah, where he Jake graduated from high school.

At a young age, Jake recalled watching The Sands of Iwo Jima with John Wayne. The movie made such an impression that he decided at a young age to become a Marine. Holding onto that dream, he graduated from high school and saw it through when he joined the Marines. He was deployed twice as an infantryman and retains a deep passion for the military and military history.

Jake’s parents never discouraged him or his older sister from trying new things, exploring, and thinking outside the box. They even supported his ambition to build an eight-foot quarter pipe in the yard to skateboard and jump his bike on. He raised the funds for the materials, and he and his dad worked together and made it a reality. He credits his family’s love and continual encouragement for his entrepreneurial spirit.

He was surrounded by those who could seemingly create anything – his Grandfather a welder, could fabricate any sort of solution needed. His Mother created beautiful flower arraignments, stained glass, and wove, among many other talents. His whole family, include Jake, acted and sang at church, and many of them in school and local choirs. This helped to shape the trust that he wasn’t bound by limitations. His childhood nurtured a strong belief that every problem can be solved, and there is always a way around or through a problem.

Learning Through Experience and Adaptation

After his military service, he spent much time in agriculture and cowboyed in on many ranches out West. Later, using the skills he learned, he started his first company, raising and training Foundation Quarter Horses. He also trained horses for others, braided rawhide and leather gear for sale and trade.

After his fourth child, Lily, was born in 2008, he looked at all the extra unworn kids and maternity clothes. Rather than take them to the thrift store, he wondered if a business might be hidden in the piles. From this seed idea, he decided to try an online auction business. This taught him how to build databases, work with social media, blogging, and websites. While the online auction didn’t work, it taught him valuable skills that would lead to his next job.

In 2009, Jake started as the Digital Marketing Specialist for the Casper Star Tribune. Taking those self-taught skills to another level, he helped launched a new website and digital advertising platforms. He eventually left the CST and went to work for the newly formed Townsquare Media, where he was promoted through the years to Director of Sales. After nearly a decade at Townsquare Media, he was recruited to become the general manager for Big Horn Basin Media in Cody.

In reflecting on his career, Jake realizes that he’s not much different from the 12-year-old who built that quarter-pipe in his backyard. However, the older he gets, the bigger the ideas he wants to tackle. He is solution-oriented and dives deep into the “whys and hows” behind an issue, looking at what is working well and what can be improved. He first seeks to understand the core problems or issues, then uses the details he uncovered to develop sustainable solutions.

Bringing his problem-solving abilities to Forward Cody, he continually refers back to his guiding question: How do we grow the economy and still protect Cody’s historic and cultural values? “Preserving our values is paramount,” he says. People live here and visit here because they find a value-based community that supports their personal beliefs. We need to protect this.”

Vision for Cody: Growth Rooted in Community Values

Jake mentions that Forward Cody should maintain focus on all three legs of economic development: entrepreneurship, business retention and expansion, and business recruitment. He looks at what services both locals and visitors expect. By looking at when and where people seek services and resources beyond Cody, he sees tremendous opportunities for growth. Finding the support for growth is difficult. We have an older population, and it takes longer to become successful here than in larger cities. There are many challenges to address, but his focus will center on local businesses, workforce development, and providing resources.

Jake takes a practical view of Cody’s growth. He sees opportunity in strengthening what is already here, focusing on local businesses, workforce talent, and the tools people need to move forward. While rural communities often face challenges like an aging population and a slower path to success, Jake believes progress comes from making it easier for people to act on good ideas. At Forward Cody, his focus is on supporting local businesses, growing talent, and improving access to resources that help people take the next step.

“When I meet people in Cody, it’s apparent that the community is made up of an abundance of intelligent hard working people. This is our greatest strength, and I think we can grow the smartest if we grow from within.” Iron sharpens iron. Strong people can elevate each other through collaboration and networking. Finding core resources to develop ideas and strategize with like-minded entrepreneurs and local business owners is key. Networking is integral in starting a new business, and providing this resource is one of his primary goals with Forward Cody.

The global, national, and local economy is fluid and rapidly changing, presenting both challenges and opportunities for communities like Cody. Jake’s vision for Forward Cody is to remain agile and adaptable in the face of that change, serving as both a catalyst and a steward by supporting local entrepreneurs and strengthening relationships with key partners to position Cody for long-term success. By focusing on solutions that are both strategic and community-minded, Forward Cody will continue its commitment to helping the our community navigate what’s next.

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