Betty Alpaugh. Following her BS in English Education from Radford University in 1968, Betty Alpaugh began her long teaching career in the Fairfax County, Virginia public school system where she had grown up. In the late 1970’s, she joined Pennsylvania Power & Light Company as a Residential Energy Consultant, doing home energy surveys and teaching builders, developers, and homeowners how to conserve resources. She eventually became Education Administrator for the 8,000-employee company. Just months after her arrival in Sarasota in 1995, she became the Program Coordinator for the Florida House Learning Center, where, for the past ten years, she has managed its far-reaching educational programs in the areas of green building and sustainable living. Contact Information: balpaugh@scgov.net

Robert A. Andrys, Architects specializes in sustainable building designs that respond to the semi-tropic environment of Southwest Florida, creating designs that enliven the spirit through the integration of owner's dreams and site opportunities, while incorporating cost-saving efficiencies and state-of-the-art technology. Mr. Andrys' involvement in the FGCU's Green Learning Center and the Caloosahatchee Riverwatch organization has served to balance his approach to architecture, striving to design buildings that minimize their impact to the surrounding area, while using earth friendly materials. Florida's humid climate demands a comprehensive use of building materials and systems that are durable, low maintenance and optimize indoor air quality. Rob's work includes designs of traditional neighborhoods, "green" offices, residences and renovations. We are committed to designs that equitably sustain the earth and its inhabitants. Contact Information: rob@andrys.org

Allan Bedwell was appointed Deputy Secretary for Regulatory Programs for the Department of Environmental Protection on May 17, 2001. Bedwell oversees the agency’s statewide regulatory programs that protect Florida’s air and water and ensure safe disposal of waste. On July 1, 2003, Governor Bush gave Bedwell the additional responsibility of managing the state’s Office of Energy Policy. Under Bedwell’s direction, regulatory programs are reducing regulatory burdens while delivering superior environmental results. Since taking over the state’s energy policy, Bedwell has built new public-private partnerships to make Florida a leader in the development and commercialization of hydrogen technologies. Prior to his appointment, Bedwell directed sales marketing, corporate strategy and business development as Executive Vice President of Goal Line Environmental Technologies LLC, a manufacturer of high-tech air pollution control devices. During his time at Goal Line he tripled sales revenue and was instrumental in doubling net profits. Between 1995 and 1998, he served as Deputy Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, where he developed and implemented a nationally recognized program to streamline regulatory red-tape in the industrial permitting process. Previously, he was senior manager at the Canyon Group, Inc., a Los Angeles-based management consulting firm specializing in the electric and gas utility industry. From 1990 to 1993, Bedwell served on the staff of the President’s Council on Environmental Quality in President George H. W. Bush’s Administration. In 1989, he was selected as a Presidential Management Intern and served as a policy analyst with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Pollution Prevention in Washington, D.C. Bedwell began his professional career as a park ranger at Yosemite National Park in California in 1985. Two years later, he became regional land use planner for the U.S. National Park Service in San Francisco. In 1985, Bedwell earned a Bachelor of Science degree in natural resource planning from California State University at Humboldt and a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Southern California in 1989. Bedwell is an avid mountain climber and outdoorsman. Contact Information: Allan.Bedwell@dep.state.fl.us

Brian Bishop is a native Floridian with over 30 years of residential and commercial construction experience.  Brian is past president of the Sarasota Home Builders Assoc., and co-founder of the Sarasota Remodelers Council. He has also been involved with the Sarasota County Building Advisory Board, the Chamber of Commerce Better Business Council, the Community Housing Corporation, and the Historic Preservation Corporation. He is currently President of Home Front, Inc., located in Englewood, FL. Brian and Jeanne Bishop founded Home Front in 2000. Home Front manufactures prefabricated building shell kits that are sold to contractors, non-profit home building organizations, and U.S. governmental agencies.   These buildings include single-family homes, commercial storage buildings, garages, and other similar structures.  Home Front provides detailed plans and engineering with the kits to facilitate building completion. Home Front's unique approach to panelized structures has resulted in buildings that are competitively priced, rapidly erected, energy conserving, very low maintenance, and shippable anywhere in the world.  All Home Front structures are designed to meet or exceed the ASTM standards put in place after Hurricane Andrew.  This extensive testing includes wind tunnel testing at speeds up to 200 miles per hour, missile impact tests, and testing to destruction of individual elements.  These rigorous design standards allowed 3 new homes in Port Charlotte to withstand a direct hit by Hurricane Charley on August 13, 2004. All 3 houses survived the eye of the storm with minimal damage. Contact Information: Brian@homefronthomes.com

Nelson Black is the Senior Loan Officer for the Florida Community Loan Fund, Florida’s only statewide community development financial institution. He was founding board member of the Loan Fund, which was created to provide flexible, low-cost sources of funding and project-based technical assistance for community-based organizations engaged in affordable housing and economic development activities. Mr. Black began work for the Loan Fund in 2001. For 11 years prior to that, Mr. Black specialized in CRA and in the community development field for First Union National Bank. During that time, he assisted in the creation of a number of local communities' SHIP Housing Assistance Plans and he spearheaded the development of numerous loan programs, and credit counseling and home ownership programs. Black was the co-founder of 4 new community development nonprofits in Florida and has served on the Boards of 6 different community development organizations. His experience includes managing a commercial loan portfolio of up to $150 million. Mr. Black began his career in banking in 1977 and held a variety of other positions in consumer, commercial and corporate lending prior to specializing in the community development field. Mr. Black received his B.A. degree in English from the University of Florida in 1975. Contact Information – nblack@fclf.org

Roy Bonnell is a Project/Program manager and educator who specializes in environmental and technological projects. Since the mid 1980's he has run his own technology training company, taught in a private school, served as Collier County 's Recycling Education Coordinator, and directed the School Education Program for The Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Roy was a founding member and served as Project Manager for Florida Gulf Coast University 's (FGCU) Green Building Project from February 1999 until April 2002. This project involves designing and constructing a $1,000,000 Green Building Learning Center on the FGCU campus to teach about green building technology, techniques and materials. Roy is also one of the Founders and a current Board Member of the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc. (FGBC), which is a statewide umbrella organization composed of builders, developers, universities, local governments, and environmental groups, working together to develop “Green Standards” and training programs for certifying Florida green homes, commercial buildings, developments and local governments. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Recycle Florida Today, Inc., Florida 's primary organization for recycling and solid waste professionals. Roy currently serves as the Executive Director of the Florida Green Building Coalition, Inc., as well as doing outside green business related consulting. Contact Information: Roybon@aol.com

Dana Bourland is Senior Program Director of The Enterprise Foundation’s Green Communities™ Initiative is a five-year initiative to provide financing to developers for more than 8,500 rental and for-sale homes that promote health, conserve energy and natural resources, and enhance access to jobs, schools and services. The goal is a transformation in the way communities think about, design and build affordable housing. Dana managed the development of the Green Communities Criteria, which represent a collaborative effort between The Enterprise Foundation and the Natural Resource Defense Council in addition to other national experts in the field of green building. The Criteria cover a wide range of building practices including smart siting, materials and resource conservation, water management, indoor environmental quality and energy efficiency. Ms. Bourland previously worked in the Maryland Department of Planning, where she implemented and collaborated with other State Agencies and national organizations on Smart Growth policies. Ms. Bourland has also worked on poverty- reduction strategies in communities across an eight state region with the Northwest Area Foundation. Ms. Bourland holds a Master of Planning Degree from the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota. She is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and is a United States Green Building Council, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional. Contact Information – dbourland@enterprisefoundation.org

Elmer Burger is Vice President/Principal of Commercial Architecture at Astorino and is responsible for leading the firm's award-winning green or sustainable design and LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) projects. Under his supervision, the firm's portfolio includes more than three million square feet of sustainable design projects – one million of which are Gold or Silver Certified. Considered one of the nation's foremost experts in sustainable design, Mr. Burger was instrumental in helping to expand the national certification criteria for LEED. A pioneer in the sustainable design arena, his 25 years of experience in architecture, project management, planning, design, construction documents and supervision, has made him a sought-after authority and speaker on green issues in government, peer and commercial venues. Mr. Burger's background is extensive and includes urban design, mixed-use developments, office buildings, hotels, sports facilities, schools and public housing. He began his academic studies at Carnegie Mellon University and went on to earn two Bachelor's Degrees, one in Fine Arts and the other in Architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. His professional affiliations include: Board of Directors, AIA, Pennsylvania Chapter; Board of Directors, AIA, Pittsburgh Chapter; Member, Urban Land Institute; Member, NAIOP; Member, BOMA; Guest Critic, Rhode Island School of Design, Carnegie Mellon University; and Design Studio Instructor, Boston Architectural Center. Contact Information – eburger@astorino.com

Karen Childress is the Environmental Stewardship Manager for WCI. In this position she is responsible for facilitating implementation of WCI's sustainable practices throughout the company. She does this by setting up and participating in green building training seminars, writing and disseminating information on about correct environmental practices and leading the company's Environmental Stewardship Committee. She is constantly seeking ways for the company and its employees to demonstrate good environmental stewardship. She is an active Board member for the Council for Sustainable Florida and for the Florida Green Building Coalition and serves on that organization's committee for Sustainable Developments. She also serves on the advisory committee for the FGCU Green Building Project to be named the WCI Green Building Learning and Demonstration Center . She is a member of the NAHB committee to develop national standards for green building. Contact Information: Karenchildress@wcicommunities.com

Suzanne Cook has been involved in the residential construction industry through the Florida Home Builders Association (FHBA) since 1982. As Director of Education & Training, she is responsible for developing and implementing professional education courses for the FHBA, its 28 local chapters, and the Southeast Building Conference, a regional tradeshow and education conference that draws over 15,000 attendees from a 12-state region. She was the associate publisher of Florida HomeBuilder and Southeast HomeBuilder & Remodeler magazines for a number of years, and previously served as vice president for the National Center for Continuing Education. Contact Information: cooksb@nettally.com

Ronald G. Dodson is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Audubon Society of New York State, Inc. (ASNY). First established in 1897, New York Audubon Society was one of the original independent state Audubon Societies.  This early group ceased meeting in the mid-1930s, but realizing its environmental and historical roots, in 1987, Dodson re-established the Audubon Society of New York State, Inc. Through Audubon International, he created the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System, including programs for schools, neighborhoods, hotels, businesses and corporate properties, and golf courses. In addition, he created the Audubon International Sustainable Communities Program for Municipalities. He has received numerous awards and recognition for his conservation efforts. On behalf of the Audubon Society of New York State, in 1993 he accepted the Golf Course Superintendents Association’s President's Award for Environmental Leadership. In 1998 he was recognized by Landscape Management as Person of the Year. He has also received the New Jersey Turfgrass Environmental Award, and a Special Achievement Award from Oakland City University and the 2004 Environmental Communicator of the Year from the Turf and Ornamental Communicators Association of America. Dodson has also written numerous articles for publications and is the author of Managing Wildlife Habitat on Golf Courses, published by John T. Wiley & Sons. In addition, he has recently completed the manuscript for a second book currently titled The Principles and Practices for Sustainable Golf, which will be published in late 2004 by John T. Wiley & Sons. Contact Information: Rdodson@audubonintl.org

Pattie Glenn , President/CEO of Green $mart ®, Inc. is a national speaker, trainer and pioneering expert in award-winning green building, marketing, sales, eco-land development and enviro-lending. Glenn holds a registered Federal Trademark for the development of green educational materials and motivational speaking and training at conferences, seminars and workshops. Glenn also holds a registered Service Mark as a author and trainer of effective closing techniques for Mastering the Green Sale , including green personality selling techniques using psychographics for green target audiences. Having served as a National Judge for NAHB's Research Center 's EVHA & Green Building Awards, Glenn brings a national scope through a multi-faceted and riveting approach to realizing the profitability of GREEN. Contact Information: pattie.glenn@greensmart.net

Bill Gregory, As Director of Sustainable Strategies for the Floor Covering Division of Milliken & Company, Bill Gregory serves as a member of the senior management team. He develops business opportunities and oversees direction of technologies and sustainable products used by facility managers, architects, designers and specifiers throughout the building industry. Milliken & Company, one of the world’s largest privately held textile and chemical companies, boasts more than a century of environmental stewardship. Gregory represents Milliken in a leadership role with environmental and business organizations, including the national board of directors for the Institute for Marketing Towards Sustainability (MTS) and the International Design Center for the Environment. He serves as the corporate liaison with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) sustainable programs, the Alliance for Sustainable Built Environments (ASBE) and Reuse Development Organization (ReDO). With more than 30 years at Milliken, Gregory maintains a broad knowledge of sustainable manufacturing and products. He has been involved in all areas of the company, including management of one of the largest dyeing and finishing plants for flat fabrics; leading development and technology groups; managing sales for government, education, and healthcare markets; training a national sales organization on environmental standards—IAQ and LEED; establishing strategic channels for end-of-life carpet management; working with governmental organizations on environmental legislation; developing sustainable standards within the company for products, policy and technology; establishing sustainable standards for the carpet industry through CRI; and completing product Life Cycle Assessment certification. Professional memberships include IFMA, AATCC, and IIDA. He has a degree in Textile Engineering and Chemistry from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Contact Information: Bill.Gregory@milliken.com

Mike Hess, a LEED TM Accredited Professional, is a managing member and co-founder of GreenTime LLC, a green building consulting firm. GreenTime’s mission is to assist Owners, Architects, Engineers, and Contractors in designing, building, and operating energy-, water-, and resource-efficient facilities, and the company has been selected as a Champion of Sustainability for 2005 by the Healthy Community Initiative of Greater Orlando. Mike is a mechanical engineer who solely focuses on green and sustainable strategies. This includes energy and water efficiency modeling for many LEED TM and Florida Green Building Coalition projects. As a result of his work, Mike typically reduces energy usage in buildings by 20% to 30% and water usage by 30% to 40% without creating big impacts on first costs. His typical project will save $4500 per year in energy costs for every 10,000 sq ft of floor space while still being affordable. He is also involved with overall administration and commissioning to ensure the environmentally friendly systems for these projects will work in real life. Mike is highly involved in the green building movement and serves on the board of the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) Central Florida Chapter. Additionally, he spent two years as the Technical, Energy, & Government Activities Chair for the Central Florida chapter of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), is a corresponding member of ASHRAE’s Technical Committee on Building Environmental Impacts and Sustainability, and has taught courses on Integrated Green Design through the American Institute of Architects. Contact Information: Mike@GreenTimeLLC.com

Mike Houston is a registered architect, certified building contractor, and green building consultant specializing in indigenous and eco-sensitive design and construction projects. A recognized expert in both energy effective green building design and construction, he conducts numerous seminars and lectures on “energy and buildings” for other architects, engineers, building inspectors, and contractors. He has developed instructional presentations, manuals and testing materials for the Florida Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and the Florida Solar Energy Center . Mike is an Accredited Professional in the US Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) program and has more than 23 years of experience working in the Central Florida building industry. His work has been featured in national publications such as Progressive Architecture and Popular Science magazines. Contact Information: mmh@cfl.rr.com

Jodi John started her Sarasota County Government career in the field of Solid Waste Management and Waste Reduction in 1976. She initiated the County’s waste reduction and recycling initiatives in 1988. The County has been recognized nationally as a leader in waste reduction throughout the 1990s and it boasts a total recycling rate of over 50%. In May 2002, Jodi was selected to manage the newly formed County sustainability office called Sustainable Sarasota. She, along with several other staff, spearheaded the creation of this office. Its purpose is to serve as an umbrella and/or unifying organization to facilitate the identification and implementation of government and community sustainability principles programs and practices that will minimize our impact on the environment and protect human health and welfare in cost effective ways. The County’s sustainability efforts have been evolving at a fast pace as the Board of County Commissioners recently recognized that for a sustained quality of life for today and tomorrow – they must begin to integrate sustainability principles and practices into all decisions made by the County. Jodi is working on a number of economic development opportunities and is interested in partnering to promote sustainability principles and practices. A key focus of the office is exploring and initiating alternative energy resources, water conservation, advocating the used of recycled content and least toxic products. Jodi is currently on the Board of the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter of the US Green Building Coalition and the Florida Green Building Coalition. She is a former Board member of a number of different community, State, and trade associations. In addition, she has served on numerous national, state and local committees related to her career and the community. Jodi has a degree in Business Administration from Eckerd College. As a past time, she enjoys restoring historic homes, gardening and reading. Contact Information: jjohn@scgov.net

Hal S. Knowles, III, is the Coordinator for the Program for Resource Efficient Communities, University of Florida. Mr. Knowles is a certified USGBC LEED 2.0 Accredited Professional and he holds a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Ecology from the School of Natural Resources and Environment and a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from the M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Building Construction, both at the University of Florida. He has experience as a commercial and residential construction project engineer, business development manager, and researcher for multiple academic groups. While pursuing his Master of Science at the University of Florida, Mr. Knowles, in association with Dr. Mark Hostetler, co-created the extension course, Preserving Wildlife Habitat in Residential Developments, approved for four Continuing Education Units for licensed builders, landscape architects, and engineers. He has worked with diverse stakeholders and clientele including local community groups, the National Endowment for the Arts New Public Works Program, the City of Gainesville, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Imagineering, and various residential developers and commercial retailers. At the University of Florida Program for Resource Efficient Communities, Mr. Knowles currently promotes the adoption of best green design, construction, and management practices in new residential community development, creates extension education materials, and fosters public/private partnerships that pursue sustainability in Florida's built environment. Contact Information: hknowles@ufl.edu

Wendy Landry, a LEED TM Accredited Professional, is a managing member and co-founder of GreenTime LLC, a green building consulting firm. GreenTime’s mission is to assist Owners, Architects, Engineers, and Contractors in designing, building, and operating energy-, water-, and resource-efficient facilities, and the company has been selected as a Champion of Sustainability for 2005 by the Healthy Community Initiative of Greater Orlando. An architect with more than 16 years of experience in private practice, she has or managed or consulted on over a dozen LEED and Florida Green Building Coalition projects, including Florida’s first LEED certified building. Her role typically includes managing the integrated design process of the design/construction team by facilitation communication and the flow of information between team members. She also provides hands-on calculations and materials applications to design teams, helping to bring theory into reality. Wendy holds a Bachelor of Science in Math from Principia College and a Master of Architecture from the University of Florida. She has taught courses on Integrated Green Design through the American Institute of Architects and has been published in School Planning & Management and Eco-Structure magazines on the topic of green school design. Wendy believes that every decision made in the design and construction process should be viewed an opportunity to benefit the planet, people, and the bottom line. Contact Information: Wendy@GreenTimeLLC.com.

Jennifer L. Languell, Ph. D. is the founder and President of Trifecta Construction Solutions, a professional services company offering consulting and ancillary services that focus on helping the real estate, design, and construction industries realize the benefits of green building and sustainability development. Trifecta Construction Solutions provides full service green building consulting services. Dr. Languell is also the co-founder and Vice President of ConstructGreen and the Director of Planning for the Florida Gulf Coast University 's WCI Green Building Demonstration and Learning Center . She holds a Bachelors of Science in Materials Science and Engineering, a Masters in Engineering in Civil Engineering specializing in Construction Management, and a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, specializing in Sustainable Construction. She specializes in the implementation of sustainable construction techniques, programs, and materials in the construction industry. She is an award winning author and has developed a guide for green residential construction in Florida, co-authored the life cycle cost guidelines for materials and building systems for Florida's public education facilities, and published numerous articles on green building and life cycle costing. She has been faculty and invited to speak at several domestic and international green building conferences. She has lead teams in the creation of implementation plans for sustainable programs such as advanced construction waste management, the Florida Green Building Coalition Green Homes Designation Standards, the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards, and the Florida Green Building Coalitions Green Development Standard. Dr. Languell is currently co-authoring a book for the ASCE based on an executive level education course taught through the University of Florida 's Rinker Executive Program on Sustainable Construction. She retains appointments with the University of Florida 's Department of Civil Engineering, the University of Florida , M.E. Rinker Sr. School of Building Construction Center for Construction and Environment, and the International College BSM program. Contact Information: Jennifer@trifectaconstruction.com

Eric Martin is a Research Engineer in the Buildings Research Division at the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC), where he has worked since 1995. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Environmental Engineering, both from the Florida Institute of Technology. He currently is a member of the Building America Industrialized Housing Partnership, sponsored by the US Department of Energy, where he conducts research and provides technical assistance to the home building industry to improve the environmental performance of homes. Before joining the Buildings group, Mr. Martin conducted research at FSEC in the areas of photocatalytic pollutant detoxification and hydrogen energy. Mr. Martin serves as secretary of the Board of Directors for the Florida Green Building Coalition, and acts as the Coalition's Home Standard Committee Chair. He has been active in the creation of green building guides and standards for residential buildings, commercial buildings, and municipalities. Contact Information: martin@fsec.ucf.edu

Paul Mercier was elected to the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners in 2000. He serves as chair of the commission. He was appointed to serve on the Airport Advisory Board, the Community Action Agency, the Coalition for the Homeless, the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, the Enterprise Zone, the Juvenile Justice Coordinating Council, and the Public Safety Coordinating Council. This is Mr. Mercier's first venture into the politics. A native of Lowell, Massachusetts, he entered the U.S. Army ROTC program while in college at Northwestern University. Upon graduation with a BS in Education, he was commissioned a second lieutenant and began training as a Ranger. During his military tenure, he moved steadily up the chain of command until reaching the rank of captain. After a stint in Vietnam where he experienced combat, he was honorably discharged in 1975. Upon returning to his hometown of Lowell, he pursued a career in insurance. In 1977, Mr. Mercier, his wife, Elaine, and his three sons, packed their belongings and moved to Sarasota. A year later, he opened his own insurance firm, which he operated for 23 years until recently selling it. During the last two decades while making Sarasota his home, he became an integral part of the community, serving on boards which represent diversified issues. The Sarasota Herald-Tribune writes that he has "demonstrated both business sense and an interest in the county's 'have-nots,' and he appears to have the temperament for building consensus." Contact Information: pmercier@scgov.net

Melissa Roe has a varied professional background that includes banking, finance, professional theater, talent management, event coordination, sales and marketing. All of these skills became useful in creating, coordinating and implementing the highly successful Water Conservation Hotel and Motel Program (a.k.a. Water C.H.A.M.P.) for the Southwest Florida Water Management District. She has been the program’s coordinator since it’s beginning in June 2002. Melissa believes that much of the success of Water C.H.A.M.P. is due to the partnerships formed with each of the agencies and organizations that are supporting the program. She also applauds the owners and operators of the participating hotels/motels who have the keen foresight to recognize the value of and necessity for conserving Florida’s most precious resource—water. Contact Information: Melissa.Roe@SWFWMD.STATE.FL.US

Matt Ross is the President of the Eco-$mart, Inc., a supplier of energy and resource efficient construction materials. These materials are approved by the nonprofit Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development ( w ww.I4SD.org) . Ross was raised in Sarasota, FL, an environmentalist with a technical background. Ross graduated from Sarasota’s Pine View School for Gifted Education in 1980, then studied engineering and computer science at Duke University, graduating in 1984. Ross attended Duke University on a ROTC scholarship, after which he spent four years as a Naval Officer, working in the Navy’s largest data processing command in Washington, D.C. for the last two years. Part of that time in D.C. was spent in the procurement department where he learned about how the government does its purchasing. After completing his Naval service commitment and resigning his Naval commission as a Lieutenant JG in 1988, Ross worked in computer systems design consulting for several years, before starting Energy Conservation Products, Inc., an energy efficient lighting distribution company in 1993. After only one year in business, Ross met John Lambie, founder of the Florida House Institute, and decided to transform the company into a partnership with the nonprofit, renaming it Eco-$mart, Inc., and thus broadening the company’s offerings - a transition that fit with Ross’ philosophy of endeavoring to create the greatest possible environmental benefit in his business endeavors. The Florida House Institute for Sustainable Development and the Sarasota County cooperative Extension Service created the Florida House Learning Center in 1994. The Learning Center is an energy efficient and green materials demonstration house. The nonprofit Florida House Institute screens and selects Eco-$mart’s "green" materials, ensuring that they are the most cost effective, simplest to use, lowest maintenance and provide the greatest improvement in building energy use, occupant health and disaster resistance. In addition to green construction supply, Eco-$mart, Inc. offers a number of free services including design consultation, energy efficient financing sourcing, builder staff training, educational seminars and press coverage services. A portion of all Eco-$mart proceeds is donated to the nonprofit Florida House Institute in support of their sustainable development education mission.Eco-$mart is involved in the design and construction of a number of environmental demonstration projects around the state of Florida, and has inspired many conventional builders and architects to include sustainable construction features in their projects, winning some of them state wide energy efficiency awards. Eco-$mart, Inc. is also an EPA ENERGY STAR Homes and Buildings Partner, and is an active member in the Florida Green Building Coalition, a group developing sustainable home, building, development and community standards for Florida (www.floridagreenbuilding.org). Contact Information:mross@ecosmartinc.com

Ron Shelton is a program manager in the Buildings Technology Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). ORNL is the nation's largest and most diverse energy research and development (R&D) institution in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory complex, providing capabilities in many areas including materials science, neutron science, computational science, energy technology, and environmental science. The Buildings Technology Center is the premier U.S. research facility devoted to the development of technologies that improve the energy efficiency and environmental compatibility of residential and commercial buildings. Ron provides technical support to Rebuild America, a U.S. DOE program that facilitates the adoption of energy efficient technologies in buildings in the public and private sectors. Since 1995, Rebuild America has provided technical assistance to several hundred projects involving K-12 school districts, local governments, colleges and universities, residential housing, and private business. Collectively, these efforts have significantly reduced energy consumption and costs, spurred private investment, and reduced air emissions. Ron also supports relationships with more than 20 national associations such as the National Schools Boards Association (NSBA). NSBA endorses the EnergySmart Schools campaign promoted by Rebuild America. Ron has over 20 years of experience in facilities design and has an educational background in mechanical engineering and business. He is a registered Professional Engineer and an ASHRAE Fellow. Contact Information: Sheltonrl@ornl.gov

Holly Johnson Shiralipour is the new Statewide Builder and Developer Coordinator for the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program. She is coordinating a statewide expansion of the Extension program to provide assistance to builders, developers, and landscape architects in developing new subdivisions with Florida-friendly landscaping— both on the master plan level and for individual homesites. Ms. Shiralipour earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture/Scientific Land Management from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and a Master of Landscape Architecture degree from Utah State University. Prior to moving to Florida five years ago, Ms. Shiralipour worked in Wisconsin 7 years as a regional planner and 8 years as a statewide cooperative extension specialist. She also worked as a landscape architect for a design firm in Utah. In her spare time, she is working on the completion of a Ph.D. degree from UF’s School of Forest Resources & Conservation specializing in Environmental Education. Contact Information – hjhj@ufl.edu

Shelley Siegel, F.A.S.I.D holds a degree in Interior Design, is licensed by the State of Florida, and is NCIDQ qualified. Shelley completed a graduate degree in Life Span Care/Applied Gerontology Studies at Nova Southeastern University. Believing that encouraging independence in an aesthically pleasing environment can add to the quality of life, Ms. Siegel is dedicated to bringing universal design concepts into the home, workplace, hospitality, and healthcare environment. Knowing that a properly planned environment is not only safer, but promotes healing, Shelley is careful to include design elements which accommodate most of life's changes including the normal processes of aging. She lectures nationally to design professionals on the ADA, building codes impacting design professionals, hospitality design, senior living facilities, designing for changing needs within a residential setting, green design in the healthcare environment, and the design professional as an expert witness. Ms. Siegel was appointed by Governor Lawton Chiles to the Florida Coordinating Council on the Americans with Disabilities (FCCADA) and served on the Florida Department of Cultural Affairs ADA Advisory Board. She was a member of the advisory panel for the National Universal Design Program developed by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) in an effort to involve more Designer Professionals in the process of Universal Design. Shelley is a member of the Universal Design Alliance, a national organization whose mission is to create an awareness and expand the public’s knowledge of universal design, which is design for all ages, sizes, and abilities. Shelley Siegel is a winner of the prestigious ASID Medalist Award for her outstanding contribution to the Interior Design Industry in South Florida and was inducted into the ASID National 2004 College of Fellows, the highest honor the Society bestows on its members. Contact Information: ElderDesign@aol.com

Bob Sisum has been with LWR Communities, LLC for 5 years as the Director of Builder Programs. LWR Communities is the developer of Lakewood Ranch, which is part of Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR). SMR consists of approximately 30,000 acres of residential and commercial development, shell mining, turf and tree farming, and green space. More than 5000 homes have been constructed since 1995, and Lakewood Ranch is now home to more than 10,000 people, plus more than 1,000,000 sf of commercial space; schools, a hospital, two golf courses and a Polo Club. Bob’s primary responsibility is the coordination of construction activities for the 14 residential building companies participating in the program at the Ranch. These activities include compliance with the Builder Construction Guidelines and Plan Review Committee decisions. He is leading the development of a program of Green Building for the Ranch and was instrumental in getting 9,000 acres of property certified by The Florida Green Building Coalition. Bob is leading the Green Building Task Force for the Florida Home Builders Association. He has served as the President of the Home Builders Association of Sarasota and for the past 4 years has been a member of the Sarasota County Board of Zoning Appeals, and holds a Florida Real Estate Brokers license. He is a member of the LEED Home Core Committee working on developing LEED residential guide lines. He has more than 30 years experience in land development and homebuilding. Prior to his relocation to Sarasota County, he was with Arvida Corporation in Dade County, EKS Development in Brevard County, Ramar Group Companies in Sarasota County, and the Heritage Development Group in Southbury Connecticut.

Michael Sloss is Vice President for Product Innovation, Enterprise Housing Financial Services (EHFS). EHFS is The Enterprise Foundation’s interim lender for affordable housing and community development projects. EHFS is a certified Community Development Financial Institution by the U.S. Department of Treasury and is one of the largest nonprofit loan funds operating nationally with over $100 million in assets. Mr. Sloss has developed the predevelopment, acquisition, construction and other loan products available through Enterprise’s Green Communities™ Initiative. Mr. Sloss is also Enterprise’s key lender for the State of Florida. Mr. Sloss has worked as a lender and developer of affordable housing at the local, state and national levels over the past 20 years. Prior to joining Enterprise in 1999, Mr. Sloss worked for Georgetown University Law Center in its National Housing and Community Development Program, The State of Maryland’s Housing Finance Agency and for two nonprofit developers of affordable housing in Washington, DC. Contact Information – msloss@enterprisefoundation.org

Drew M. Smith, President of Two Trails, Inc., a company focused on Green Building & Healthy Home consulting, Preventative Yearly Maintenance of homes & buildings, Drew has been involved in Green Building for the past 6 years. He has also been instrumental in the inception of FGBC as well as the first elected President, is currently on the Board of Directors and a certifying agent. Drew has been in the building industry as a state certified General Contractor since 1983. He has a B.A. in Architectural Design as well as an M.B.A. He is also Certified HVAC & Indoor Environmental Air Quality Professional. In addition, Drew is a member of Sustainable Sarasota. Contact Information: drews@twotrails.net

Shannon Staub was elected to the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners in 1996 and was re-elected in 2000 and 2004 without opposition. Ms. Staub is the Chair of the Tourism and Economic Development Board. She represents the commission on the Peace River/Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority. She is also a member of the Veterans National Cemetary Site Selection Committee. She was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Englewood Interagency Council as an Emeritus member and is an honorary member of the Board of Trustees for the Hermitage Artists' Retreat. A 2003 graduate of Leadership Florida, Ms. Staub served for four years as Gov. Jeb Bush's appointee on the Legislative Committee on Intergovernmental Relations, the only legislative committee with county commission representation. In 2003, Ms. Staub received the Legislative Advocate Award from the Sarasota Farm Bureau. In 2002, she received the Bob Graham Award, an award given to a government official by the Florida Lake Management Society for her advocacy of water issues. In 1999, she was presented the Grassroots Leadership Award by the Nature Conservancy. Ms. Staub participates on the leadership council of the STAR (Students Taking an Active Role in Government) and the board of directors of the Suncoast Community Bloodbank. She has long been active in local government prior to holding elected office. She has been a municipal economic development director, a YWCA executive director, and a community activist.She believes that government should be accountable and communicate regularly with county residents. That belief has led the commission to actively seek comments from constituents on a variety of issues prior to making final decisions. Contact Information: ShannonStaub@scgov.net

John Toppe, a LEED Accredited Professional, is the founding president of Florida’s first chapter of the US Green Building Council, the Florida Gulf Coast Chapter. He was one of the original members of the organizing group that initiated discussions in May 2003 leading to a series of meetings in Orlando and Tampa that culminated in the formation of three USGBC chapters, including Central and South Florida. He is a registered architect in Florida and North Carolina and is a LEED ® Accredited Professional. Mr. Toppe’s 35 years of experience includes master planning, programming and design of institutional and public projects. His work includes major buildings for universities, state and local governments and public libraries, museums and theaters throughout Florida. He is President of Toppe Consultants, Inc., a St. Petersburg firm that specializes in the programming and design of libraries, museums and theatres. He is also President of The Cultural Alliance, a planning and management consultancy of Toppe Consultants, Inc. and Slattery and Associates Architects with offices in St. Petersburg and Boca Raton. He is the two-term past President of Partners N Progress for the Arts, the supporting foundation of the Largo Cultural Center, and he serves on the Board of The Manatee Players in Bradenton. He is a member of the University of Florida School of Architecture’s Advisory Committee. As an active member of both the American and Florida Library Associations h e has organized, written and co-presented five professional development programs for the Florida Library Association’s annual meetings, covering topics including Library Interior Planning: Retailing Applied to Libraries and Library Building Projects: Real-world Lessons Learned.Additionally, he has spoken at the Associated General Contractors National Convention and the Consulting Engineers Council CE Expo National Convention. He also co-authored and presented a series of Construction Conflict Resolution seminars for the Tampa Bay AIA and AGC chapters.

Bernadette V. Upton, a Florida licensed interior designer, lecturer and consultant  specializing  in environmental interior design. She is a professional member of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and Past President for the Florida South Chapter, as well as a founding member of the national ASID Sustainable Design Council. She is a LEED (Leadership In Energy and Environmental Design) Accredited Professional with the US Green Building Council (USGBC), a program that sets standards for the sustainable building and design industry.  She is also a member of The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) and the National Environmental Health Association.  Ms. Upton was selected by Lennox Industries, Inc. to design the interiors of their first annual “Lennox Home Comfort Makeover.” She  has been a featured speaker for numerous conferences and seminars, as well as the host of ‘Airtime,’ a radio talk show addressing indoor air quality issues.

 Her company ECODECOR provides eco-friendly design services and furnishings for the home and her committed advocacy to “green” design is to create interiors that are beautiful, breathable and earth-friendly. Serving on the American Lung Association Southeast Florida Board for nearly a decade, she has designed numerous “Heath Houses” and co-authored “A Baby’s Breath” program for ALA, which educates expectant parents to the importance of creating a healthy nursery and home. Contact Information: ecodecor@bellsouth.net

Michael N. Vanatta is very active in the turf industry and spends most of his time speaking about the environmental, aesthetic, and performance advantages of seashore paspalum grasses. Mr. Vanatta also has been active in the Florida water arena for the last 20 years. He is currently the Executive Director for the Florida Water Management Institute, a water-awareness, private, non-profit, statewide organization and serves on the board for the Florida Water Wise Council, whose main thrust is water conservation. Mr. Vanatta is also an instructor for “WaterSmart Communities”; an outreach program directed to locally elected and appointed officials, which is sponsored by St. John’s River Water Management District. Contact Information: mike@environmentalturf.com

Robin Vieira has over 20 years of experience in hot, humid climate research. He has been the principal investigator for over 2 million dollars of contracts and grants from industry, foundations and state and federal agencies. He has led research efforts in residential auditing and field evaluation work, survey and statistical work, and computer simulation and analysis work. Rob has presented over 40 workshops and seminars on sustainable development and energy-efficient construction to developers, builders, designers and others in the energy & environmental & development fields. Mr. Vieira organized and ran three two-day seminars entitled "Visions of Quality Developments" loaded with the best national experts and case studies. He toured the state presenting his sustainable checklist presentation in the early 1990s. He has written papers for diverse audiences, e.g., Transportation Quarterly, Florida Planning, and ASHRAE Transactions, and was the primary author of one book, Energy-Efficient Florida Home Buildings. Rob helps support builders through assistance with utility programs, Energy Star Homes, Building America, Zero Energy Homes and Florida Green Home Designation. He has directed the work on the cost-benefit optimization, improvement analysis and system sizing features of the State of Florida 's residential code and rating software (EnergyGauge). He was the chairman of the organizing committee of the Florida Green Building Coalition, and serves on the FGBC board. He served on the FGBC committee that produced the Florida Green Development Standard. He also served on the City of Titusville Environmental Commission for six years. Mr. Vieira has a B.A. in Physics, an M.S. in Applied Solar Energy and an MBA. Contact Information: robin@fsec.ucf.edu

Nicola Weston, As the Director of Marketing for Gulfstream Homes, Nicola Weston is the driving force behind the marketing and advertising efforts for this residential builder. She is also the Director for the Gulfstream Foundation, a division of Gulfstream Homes created two years ago, which has awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships and grants to local students, and assists the homeless in Collier County. But perhaps her company’s most passionate goal is the continuing implementation and education of Green Building. Together with Dr. Jennifer Languell, Gulfstream Homes created a customized list of standard home features that promote healthier homes while respecting the environment and its resources. Such dedication was recognized last year at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, presented annually by the U.S. Green Building Council. More than 5,000 attendees from 22 countries participated in the three-day event, which included Gulfstream Homes as a featured case study of a smaller builder successfully marketing, building and selling homes with Green Building standards. A native of Oakville, Ontario, Ms. Weston move to Florida in 1991. She graduated from the University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla., with a bachelor’s degree in advertising. In her spare time, she enjoys running, reading fascinating novels and volunteering in the community. She also takes advantage of the many perks of living in Southwest Florida, from fishing to spending time on the beach.