On October 25, the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and the Florida Environmental Defense Fund co-hosted the first Sustainability Leadership Forum and Awards Ceremony.
As one of the most vulnerable cities in America to climate change, St. Petersburg’s business leaders were looking for a way to recognize those organizations in the city leading on sustainability.
At the event, the organizations recognized three companies and heard from Betsy Gardner Eckbert, president/CEO of the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.
“The companies we recognized today are leading our community’s efforts in sustainability and ensuring the future of our city is as great as our present,” says Jason Mathis, CEO, St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership. “Having Betsy set the stage, with her community’s connection between sustainability and prosperity was a great lesson for us all to hear.”
The Winter Park Chamber, located outside of Orlando, was recently featured in a “Chambers in Action” story because of its focus on sustainability in its Prosperity Scorecard.
During her keynote address, Gardner Eckbert discussed tri-sector leadership and how Winter Park engaged businesses, local government, and nonprofits in her community to tackle the issue of sustainability and climate change.
“Tri-sector leadership is required for change because change is tough,” Gardner Eckbert says. “You have to engage all of the stakeholders and embed change for it to last. This kind of change must be normalized and embedded and picked up by all the sectors.”
After Gardner Eckbert’s talk, the group recognized three local businesses for Sustainability Leadership, showcasing the positive work being done by community and business leaders throughout Pinellas County.
Businesses of all sizes were eligible and the selection process focused on innovation related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, structural preservation, water conservation, water quality, electric vehicles and more.
“From the level of companies we recognized to the fabulous advice given by Betsy, we are extremely pleased with the results of this inaugural event,” says Dawn Shirreffs, Florida director, Environmental Defense Fund. “These leaders understand that sustainability growth makes economic sense and we hope others will be inspired by their stories to embrace these forward thinking and lucrative practices.”
