[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 11312-11313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 IN RECOGNITION OF MR. HOWARD R. MAIER

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2012

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize Mr. Howard R. Maier, 
who is retiring after 23 years as Executive Director of the Northeast 
Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency, better known as NOACA. He is being 
honored on July 12, 2012, on his retirement at the City Club of 
Cleveland.
  As the region's Metropolitan Planning Organization, or MPO, NOACA 
serves Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, and Medina Counties in Northeast 
Ohio, including all of Ohio's 10th Congressional District. NOACA 
prepares the region's Long Range Transportation Plan and the 
Transportation Improvement Program. NOACA also conducts water quality 
and air quality planning.
  Mr. Maier has overseen an annual budget of $6.5 million, a staff of 
42, and a governing board of 44 elected and appointed officials. Under 
Howard's leadership, NOACA has received awards from the National 
Association of Regional Councils, the Association of Metropolitan 
Planning Organizations, the Ohio Department of Transportation, and Eco-
City Cleveland, among others.
  Howard Maier is a Fellow of the American Institute of Certified 
Planners. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Economics and his 
Masters in City Planning from Ohio State University, Howard earned his 
Master of Science in Public Management from Case Western Reserve 
University in 1974.

[[Page 11313]]

  He was Director of Planning and Development for the City of Cleveland 
Heights and the Principal Planner for the Cuyahoga County Planning 
Commission before joining NOACA. He was asked by the NOACA board to 
step up as Acting Executive Director in 1989 when there was a 
leadership crisis at the agency. He was then appointed as Executive 
Director in 1991, where he served until his recent retirement in June 
2012.
  Howard Maier has distinguished himself with many awards and honors 
during his years with NOACA, including Honorary Membership in the 
American Institute of Architects, Mayfield High School Hall of Fame, 
Ally of the Year for the Northeast Ohio Alliance for Hope, 
Distinguished Alumnus of Ohio State University's College of 
Engineering, and NOACA's ``Wally,'' the Walter F. Ehrnfelt Award for 
Outstanding Regional Contribution.
  Mr. Speaker, and distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring 
Howard Maier as he enjoys his well-earned retirement.

                          ____________________