White House “Champion of Change” Alum and SBA Founding Board Member Michael Bowman Meets with President Obama

WASHINGTON, DC – On Thursday, April 26th, Michael Bowman was one of twelve White House Champions of Change Alumni who met with President Obama in celebration of the program’s one year anniversary. The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different sector has been highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, have been recognized for the work they are doing to serve and strengthen their communities.

Since the program began, the White House has hosted over forty Champions of Change events honoring over 500 individuals from all 50 states for their work in their community. This event highlights the great accomplishments the alumni have achieved since initially being honored as White House Champions of Change.

“We created the Champions of Change program to honor ordinary Americans who are doing extraordinary things,” said President Obama. “By making their communities better places to live, our Champions are helping to ensure that our country’s best days lie ahead.”

Learn more about the White House Champions of Change program HERE.

Michael Bowman, a Make It in America Champion, is a fifth-generation native of Colorado from the northeastern community of Wray, Colorado. Throughout his adult life he has been active in the rural development initiatives both nationally and internationally. He serves on the National Steering Committee for “25×25” was a founding member of the alliance. He is also a founding board member of the Sustainable Biodiesel Alliance and Shadowcliff, a Colorado-based environmental non-profit education facility in Grand County. Over the past seven years he has spoken nationally and internationally on issues related to rural development, sustainability and energy. Michael served as Chair of Colorado’s New Energy Future in 2006 and was co-chair of Governor-elect Bill Ritter’s transition team for energy policy. He currently serves as an Advisor to the Savory Institute and to the Dyne Group with fellow advisory board members Governor Tommy Ridge and General Wesley Clark. Michael is a graduate of the Colorado Agriculture and Rural Leadership program was a Next Generation Fellow in Columbia University’s American Assembly and a 2008 recipient of Gamma Sigma Delta’s Significant Achievement in Agricultural Award by Colorado State University. Most recently he was selected to participate in the White House ‘Champions of Change” program where he was recognized for his work in the areas of biofuels, renewable energy and rural development. Michael currently directs Strategic Initiatives for Sturman Industries of Woodland Park, CO, a global leader in next-generation, transformative energy technology.