[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 72 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E838]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR. DON AMMERMAN

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                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 13, 2010

  Mr. GRAYSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of National 
Military Appreciation Month. This month, I would like to recognize a 
phenomenal service member from central Florida who is making a 
distinguished contribution to my district, the great State of Florida, 
and to our Nation as a whole. Today, I honor former Orlando City 
Council Commissioner Don Ammerman.
  Mr. Ammerman graduated from Indiana University with a BS in Real 
Estate & Marketing and an MBA in Real Estate Marketing/Finance. He is a 
recipient of two Ford Foundation Grants for overseas study while in 
graduate school. He also completed the John F. Kennedy School of 
Government for senior Executives in State and Local Government at 
Harvard University.
  Mr. Don Ammerman began his military career in 1968 at Fort Jackson in 
South Carolina and from there served with the 83rd ARCOM in Columbus, 
Ohio. He completed his service in the reserves in Orlando in 1974. He 
was hand selected by the U.S. Navy Academy to serve as a Blue and Gold 
Admissions officer at Annapolis. His dedication to our country and our 
military is shown through his volunteering spirit. Mr. Ammerman 
continues to mentor hopeful academy members by offering young adults 
with aspirations of attending an academy his guidance and support. 
Currently, Mr. Ammerman serves as a board member for the 8th District 
Veterans Advisory Board and Military Academy Nominations Board.
  Mr. Ammerman has contributed greatly to the central Florida 
community. He has served on the municipal Planning Board (1983-1989, 2 
terms as Chairman), Chairman of the Orlando Growth Management/
Concurrency Implementation Committee and Chairman of the 1991 Orlando 
Redistricting Committee. Mr. Ammerman successfully ran for the office 
of District 1 City Commissioner. Mr. Ammerman also served as a Board 
Member of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority and he is a past 
member and Chairman of the Sunshine State Governmental Finance 
Commission for 20 years. Nationally, he served on the Leadership 
Training Council for the National League of Cities. Mr. Ammerman 
finished his City Council service in June of 2002.
  Mr. Ammerman's commitment to community service is unyielding. He 
served as Philanthropy Chair and active member of the Board of 
Directors for the Orlando Regional HealthCare Foundation. He is a 
trained volunteer with the Neo Natal Unit for 22 years at Arnold Palmer 
Hospital for Women and Children. He serves as a teacher at the First 
Presbyterian Church. Additionally, Mr. Ammerman is a member of the 
Florida Citrus Sports Association, the Greater Orlando Leadership 
Foundation, a graduate of Leadership Orlando and Leadership Florida, as 
well as the Dr. Phillips Foundation Grant Review committee. His other 
involvements include past National Admissions Chairman/Society of 
Industrial & Office Parks Realtors and past President of the Central 
Florida Chapter of the National Association of Industrial/Office Parks 
(NAIOP).
  Madam Speaker, during Military Appreciation Month, it is my honor to 
recognize this remarkable public servant whose dedication to our 
country and community can be shown through his great achievements in 
the State of Florida. Commissioner Ammerman has been working for the 
people of Florida since 1972 and I applaud his civic and military 
accomplishments in our central Florida community, our great State and 
our Nation.

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