Mary Anne G. Bowie
Ms. Bowie, Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (FAICP), is a retired sustainability advocate and urban planner. She graduated from Florida State University with a BA, where she was a journalist, and certified to teach. She earned a Master of City Planning degree from Georgia Tech. From 1988 to 2009, as founder, president and sole owner of Mary Anne G. Bowie Associates, Inc., aka Bowie Urban Planners, she had the honor of mentoring multiple young employees, whose careers blossomed. She focused on creating communities and urban planning solutions that meet social, economic, and environmental needs. Ms. Bowie’s field of expertise includes multiple areas of civilian and military community planning, such as transportation impact, community redevelopment and environmental analysis.
As a volunteer sustainability advocate, beginning in 1991, she lectured nation-wide on sustainable principles, and in Sarasota, Florida, she devoted seven years to growing the green economy. She is a mission-driven visionary whose on-going efforts have made a significant difference for people and the environment. As an educator, author, and volunteer leader, she has energized and advocated for green businesses, green products, universal design, sustainable governments and neighborhoods, oyster shell recycling, low-impact design, native plants, ecotourism, and affordable housing. She is currently active in a wide variety of social justice efforts including the Unitarian Universalists of Sarasota Forum and Environmental Justice (Green Team) committees.
In 2007, she received honorary citizenship from the City of Mandeville, Louisiana as a member of the select American Planning Association post-Katrina team that created the “Redevelopment Plan for Old Mandeville.” She was the curriculum consultant to St Petersburg College for the inception of the Sustainability Business Management degrees. In 2012, she received Federal Planning Division of American Planning Association Rik Wiant distinguished service and leadership award. In 2020, she was honored for her years of "devoted leadership, dedication and shared wisdom" as President of the Arlington Park Neighborhood Association.