Idaho Technology Council Inducts French, Scoggin

Charley French and Andrew J. Scoggin were honored in the council's Hall of Fame during its annual gala at Boise Centre.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Awards

Idaho Technology Council Inducts French, Scoggin

The Idaho Technology Council inducted Charley French and Andrew J. Scoggin into its Hall of Fame on October 29 at Boise Centre. The honors were presented during the council's annual gala, themed "Inspired Intelligence."

Why it matters

The induction recognizes leaders whose careers span ski-gear innovation, retail and investment, and the council's broader effort to honor Idaho's technology community. It highlights the state's ongoing focus on innovation and its people.

Charley French, now 100, enlisted in the U.S. Navy at age 17 and has competed in nearly 300 triathlons. Sawtooth STEM educator awards were $2,000 each.

The players

Charley French

A ski-gear innovator and endurance athlete who helped bring several equipment firsts to market, and who was inducted into the Sun Valley Winter Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Andrew J. Scoggin

A Boise-based executive and investor who co-formed Albertsons, LLC and serves as a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco.

Idaho Technology Council

The state organization that honors Idaho technology leaders through its Hall of Fame and annual awards.

The details

French helped bring to market the first dual-lens, vented thermal ski goggle, the first lightweight single-buckle ski boot, and the first aerodynamic cycling handlebars. Scoggin moved to Boise in 1993 to join Albertsons Corp. and later founded Scoggin Capital Investment in 2020.

1993: Andrew J. Scoggin moves to Boise to join Albertsons Corp.
2006: Scoggin and former Albertsons executives form Albertsons, LLC.
2011: Charley French is inducted into the Sun Valley Winter Sports Hall of Fame.
2020: Scoggin founds Scoggin Capital Investment.
October 29, 2026: French and Scoggin are inducted into the Idaho Technology Council Hall of Fame.

Culture Shift

The council's Hall of Fame, established in 2010, continues a state-level pattern of recognizing innovators whose work spans manufacturing, retail, and finance rather than software alone. The honorees reflect Idaho's broader identity as a place where outdoor-equipment and business leadership intersect with technology.

For Idaho residents, the induction spotlights local leaders whose work has shaped regional industries and recreation. Readers interested in the state's innovation ecosystem can follow the council's future honorees and awards.

The takeaway

Recognition programs like the Idaho Technology Council Hall of Fame highlight how careers in product innovation, finance, and civic leadership can grow from a single state's business community.