Jonathan M. Bowman’s speeches and presentations are the result of heart-felt experience, critical thought and an unbridled passion to succeed and to help others achieve their full potential.

 

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mr. Bowman is the last of four children, whose lives were enveloped in poverty and homelessness. By the time he was 17 years old, he and his family had lived in two homeless shelters, a church, a small fourth floor attic, roach-infested public housing projects and a hotel, among many other places.

 

As a result, Mr. Bowman and his siblings endured an unstable childhood education that was replete with attending multiple schools during a single school year; sometimes being called upon to leave a school district on a day’s notice as a result of an impending eviction-driven move. When he was about to begin his senior year in high school, Mr. Bowman learned that another relocation was in the works. So, in order to avoid another institution change in the middle of a school year, he refrained from starting class until after the move. The move took much longer than expected. One month turned into many, and consequently, Mr. Bowman never saw a day of his senior year in high school.

 

However, with his determination to ascend from poverty unaffected, he obtained his G.E.D. and earned an associates degree in English and Communications at Allegheny Community College. He went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications from Point Park University where he graduated Cum Laude. He then attended and graduated from Ohio State University College of Law in 1994.

 

In 1995, Mr. Bowman became an Assistant Attorney General in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in the Crime Victims Services Section and later transferred to the Health and Humans Services Section. In this capacity, he forged a reputation as a creative litigator who engineered and sustained positive, effective relationships with his clients.

 

In 1999, he was promoted to Assistant Chief of the Civil Rights Section where he displayed what’s been called a “natural” ability to lead. Among his notable achievements, he spearheaded a restructuring of the working relationship between the Ohio Attorney General’s Office and the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. This effort resulted in drastic improvements to the quality and efficiency of civil rights investigations. Former Ohio Attorney General Betty D. Montgomery said, “This was an historic restructuring and has made a tremendous difference to the citizens of Ohio.”

 

Mr. Bowman earned the label as a “go to” manager when he was called upon to serve on a management team charged with overhauling the Charitable Law Section. The team’s efforts were a success. After serving in this capacity for only 9 months, Mr. Bowman was promoted to Chief of the Crime Victims Services Section in 2004, where he oversaw five departments comprised of 80 professionals. Former Ohio Attorney General Jim Petro said, “That very large section, as a result of Jonathan’s motivating leadership, became a national model of innovative new programs and standards.”

 

Despite his challenging upbringing, Mr. Bowman displayed a knack for public speaking at an early age. As a child, he memorized speeches of his idol and inspiration, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When he was a teenager, he began speaking to church groups as large as 900 people. While in college, one of his many class speeches was used as videotaped instruction for other students in a course on public speaking.

 

In summary, Mr. Bowman’s life experience, education, and professional skills have allowed him to emerge as a powerful and highly effective orator.

 

 

Topics:
Leadership, Inspirational, Peak Performance, Management

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