Grand Opening–Florida Green Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Sustainability at Launch event in Winter Park
The Florida Green Chamber of Commerce (FGCC) celebrated their Grand Opening on April 30th 2015 at First Green Bank and 
welcomed over 100 attendees to its grand launch event.
“We are so honored to have Florida open the first Chapter in the nation” stated Michelle Thatcher, CEO of USGCC. “The Florida Green Chamber has the power support businesses, green business practices and sustainability initiatives that will make this state one of the strongest in the country and we are excited to watch them grow”.
Sponsors of the event included First Green Bank, Orlando Brewing, Quantum Leap Winery, and Attorney Wes Dunaway. Speakers included Michelle Thatcher, CEO of USGCC, Bill Weinaug of Wekiva Island, Justin Allender and Jeff Cowherd of First Green Bank, Abby Gulden of Sustainability/Winter Park, and Chair of FGCC, Chris Castro. Additionally, Clayton Ferrara was the Master of Ceremonies.
“It is great to see the amount of community support we had at our launch event,” says Chris Castro, Founding Chair of the Florida Chapter, “The Florida Chapter plans to become Florida’s premier green business organization representing the interests of businesses and lead the charge on driving the green economy.”
The organization was founded by Chris Castro, Co-Founder of Citizen Energy and Co-Founder and Vice President of IDEAS for Us, Lauren Maxwell, Marketing Director of First Green Bank, Kristin Urban of U.S. Green Chamber, and Raymond Randall, Managing Principal with Waste Management’s Sustainability Services consulting group, Ann Francis, Program Coordinator of Sustainability and Environmental Studies at Rollins College, and Joseph Montisano, former CEO of Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
The Florida Green Chamber is a state-wide organization that empowers businesses and communities to create environmentally friendly, sustainable business practices.
