A Tribute to Susan Bowers, 29th Congressional District Woman of the Year 2004

A TRIBUTE TO SUSAN BOWERS, 29TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE YEAR--2004 -- HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF (Extensions of Remarks - March 16, 2004)

HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, March 16, 2004

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Women's History Month. During the month of March, we pay special tribute to the accomplishments made by our nation's most distinguished women. It is my great privilege to recognize outstanding women who are making a difference in my district.

I stand today, to recognize an extraordinary woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Mrs. Susan Bowers. Mrs. Bowers's passion for community service, especially on behalf of children and education, has made the City of Burbank a better place in which to live.

A native Californian, Susan attended California State University Fullerton where she graduated as a member of the Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society. In 1997, she married Gordon Bowers, a Captain with the Burbank Police Department. After a successful corporate career in manufacturing, she joined the Burbank Chamber of Commerce in 2000 as Executive Director/CEO, where she remained until her retirement in 2003. Currently, Susan divides her time between volunteering, organizational management consulting, and spending time with her children, Melanie, Bryan, Jeff, stepsons Matt and Michael, three grandchildren, and Lamont Duverne, for whom she and Gordon are the primary caregivers.

The consummate volunteer, Susan has three areas of community service that she passionately supports: leadership, literacy and education. She has served on numerous city and school committees, including the Civic Pride Committee, the Workforce Investment Board, the Burbank Unified School District Strategic Planning Committee, the Burbank Unified School District Partnership Program, and the Verdugo School-To-Career Committee. In addition, Mrs. Bowers was a founder and director of the Burbank Community Foundation, a Board Director of the Burbank Boys and Girls Club, and with her husband Gordon, was a mentor at Elmwood Achievement Center.

Mrs. Bowers currently serves on the Board of Leadership Burbank, the Woodbury University President's Advisory Board, Burbank's Library Board of Trustees, the Measure L Committee for Burbank libraries and the La Providencia Guild. In addition, Susan is a Sunday school teacher at First Presbyterian Church of Burbank.

Susan has received many awards, including the 2001 Community Support Award by Work Training Programs, Inc. and an honorary membership in the Woodbury University School of Business Honor Society. In 2003 she received a key to the City from Mayor Stacey Murphy for her contributions to the Burbank Chamber of Commerce.

I ask all Members of Congress to join me today in honoring a remarkable woman of California's 29th Congressional District, Susan Bowers. The entire community joins me in thanking Susan Bowers for her continued efforts to make the 29th Congressional District a better place in which to live.

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