[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 159 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1895-E1896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       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.

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