[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4728]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MARY ANN VANDEMARK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DALE E. KILDEE

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 23, 2010

  Mr. KILDEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Mary Ann 
Vandemark as she is honored by the Michigan Community Action Agency 
Association. Mary Ann recently retired from her position as Executive 
Director of the Human Development Commission. She will be honored for 
her work at a dinner on March 25th in Lansing, Michigan.
  Mary Ann Vandemark served as the Executive Director of the Human 
Development Commission for 31 years prior to her retirement on February 
1, 2010. The Commission is a Community Action Agency serving Huron, 
Lapeer, Sanilac and Tuscola Counties. Their emphasis is on community 
economic development, housing and energy-related activities. Through 
their economic development program, they have developed a storm window 
manufacturing unit into a corporation named Cass River Enterprises, 
Incorporated with Mary Ann as the Chief Executive Officer.
  In addition to her duties with the Human Development Commission, Mary 
Ann has held several leadership positions with both local and national 
organizations. Mary Ann served two terms as President of the National 
Association of Community Action Agencies and three terms as Secretary, 
was President of both the State and Regional Community Action Agency 
Associations, a member of the National Symposium on Poverty and 
Economic Security Steering Committee, Treasurer of the Mid America 
Community Action Association, Board Member and President of the Great 
Lakes Rural Network, President of the Michigan Economic Development 
Coalition, member of the National Community Action Foundation Board of 
Directors, Board member of the Economic Development Association of 
Michigan, Board member of Rural Partners of Michigan, and Chairperson 
of the Michigan Community Action Agency Association Legislative 
Committee. Locally, she is Chairperson of the Christian Services 
Committee of the Church of the Sacred Heart and serves as a Lay 
Minister. Mary Ann is the recipient of the Caro Business & Professional 
Women's Woman of Achievement Award, honored as Caro's Citizen of the 
Year, and was the recipient of the Caro Knights of Columbus Council's 
Family of the Year Award.
  Madam Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to join me in 
applauding the work of Mary Ann Vandemark. She is a dear friend and I 
value her advice, her wisdom and her enthusiasm. I congratulate her on 
a well deserved retirement and wish her the best in this new phase of 
her life.

                          ____________________