The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL BOWLDS” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1895-E1896 on Dec. 11, 2012.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL BOWLDS
______
HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN
of maryland
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize and celebrate the life of Michael Bowlds, my constituent and a man of unique vision. Michael passed away last month after a courageous battle with cancer. Even until his final days, Michael worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of others.
Michael was an award-winning sales, business development, and marketing professional. A highly regarded government contracting expert, he established Mountaintop Marketing Group, one of the top government marketing firms in the country.
Michael's accomplishments as a business leader were widely recognized. He was named the 2009 ``Advocate of the Year'' by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency and commended for his leadership, guidance and support in assisting small and minority-owned firms with securing over $200 million in government contracts in that year alone. Nationally recognized as a leading Minority Business Champion, Michael and Mountaintop Marketing Group hosted the Annual Minority Business Awards Gala in conjunction with Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. He was a recipient of the prestigious ``Yeti Zanders Outstanding Advocate of the Year'' Award presented by the National Capital Area Minority Business Opportunities Center, selected as one of the ``2010 Top 25 CEOs'' by the Gazette of Business and Politics, and named one of the ``50 Powerful Men In Business'' by the Minority Enterprise Executive Council.
Michael served as Board Chairman for the National Capital Area Minority Business Opportunities Center Advisory Board and on the Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and was a founding member and financial underwriter of the Montgomery County Chamber's Government Contracting Network. He also served on the Board of Directors for the National Women's Business Center.
An active member of his community, Michael was deeply involved in mentoring small businesses through the Montgomery County Small Business Mentorship Program. He also was a founding member and instructor of the Montgomery Chamber of Commerce's Veteran Institute for Procurement.
I send my condolences to his wife Courtney, his three children and his many friends and colleagues throughout our community. He will be deeply missed.
____________________
