Southeast Green - Speaking Of Green

Join us as we speak to Ken LaRoe of First Green Bank. In 2009, Mr. LaRoe opened First Green Bank, the first bank with an environmental mission in the eastern United States. Mr. LaRoe is the Founder, Board Chairman and CEO of the holding company, First GREEN Bancorp. In 1999, Mr. LaRoe founded Florida Choice Bank and was its largest shareholder, Chairman, CEO, and President. He grew the bank to over $400 million in assets by 2006 when the bank was sold to Alabama National Bancorp. A committed environmentalist, he served as chairman of Preserve Lake, a political action committee instrumental in passing a bond referendum for $36 million to purchase public land. He also served as chairman of the PLAAC (Public Lands Acquisition advisory Committee). In June 2013 and 2014, Mr. LaRoe was named as the Central Florida finalist for the prestigious Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year Award” and in 2015 he won. In 2014, Mr. LaRoe was also appointed to the board of directors of the Brain Injury Association of Flo

Dr. Stephen Smith is back to discuss the second amendment that Floridians will vote on this year, but unlike Amendment 4 Amendment 1 is bad news for consumers. Find out why as we discuss #NoOn1 Dr. Stephen A. Smith has 30 years of experience effecting change for the environment. Since 1993, Dr. Smith has led the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) as its executive director. He currently serves on the board of the Floridians for Solar Choice. As a board member, Dr. Smith helped lead Floridians 4 Lower Energy Costs to successfully pass a statewide solar initiative, Amendment 4, in August 2016. Dr. Smith currently serves on the U. S. Climate Action Network board of directors and previously served as board chair. Dr. Smith holds a doctorate in veterinary medicine from the University of Tennessee and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Kentucky Wesleyan College. Dr. Smith is a father and a grandfather. In 2009, he and his family commissioned a 7.1 kilowatt rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) system on their

John A. Lanier joined the Ray C. Anderson Foundation as Executive Director in May 2013. Serving in this role has been an immense honor for him, and he feels privileged to work with his family to advance the legacy of Ray, his grandfather. Prior to joining the Foundation, Lanier was an associate attorney with Sutherland, Asbill and Brennan, LLP, specializing in U.S. Federal taxation. He represented the interests of various Atlanta-based nonprofits, gaining experience in nonprofit formations, compliance and applications for recognition of tax-exempt status. Lanier currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for Southface, the southeast's nonprofit leader in the promotion of sustainable homes, workplaces and communities. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Project Drawdown and Chattahoochee NOW. Lanier earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law, and he holds Bachelor of Arts Degrees in History and Economics from the University of Virginia. John resides in Atla

Too often, solar power gets caught up in detailed policy debates and it can be easy to lose sight of the real people who could benefit from more solar in our region: families, farmers, businesses, schools, faith congregations, non-profit organizations, and communities. SELC released a new video campaign to bring those voices to the forefront of the debate: Stories of Solar features Southerners who have gone solar and aren’t looking back. With stories ranging from a former coal miner turned solar installer in Alabama to a family farmer in North Carolina, from a pastor in Georgia to students in Virginia, the stories show that everyone has their own reasons for going solar. Stories of Solar provides a chance to hear directly from Southerners who are benefiting from solar power, often in the face of significant policy barriers. Stories of Solar tells the personal stories of how solar stimulates job growth, decreases energy costs, and increases energy independence, all while benefiting our environment, communiti

Debbie Mielewski Research Scientist and Farm to Car Maven Shaping the Future of Ford with Persistence and a Love of Trash Someone else’s trash is Debbie Mielewski’s treasure. It’s a viewpoint the Ford research scientist has built a career on, helping to meet the company’s aggressive sustainability research goals. In the late 1990s when SUVs ruled the road, Mielewski – then technical leader of plastics research at Ford – predicted a time when oil prices would soar, customers would feel the pinch, and Ford would need a solution. In her lab, Mielewski led the charge to reduce the amount of petroleum the company used to produce plastic parts – a financial move with an eye toward environmental consciousness. She turned to soybean oil, a favorite of company founder Henry Ford, and discovered the answer.

Today we will talk to reknowned Southern energy expert Stephen A. Smith, DVM who is the Executive Director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE). Dr. Stephen A. Smith has 30 years of experience effecting change for the environment and has been leading SACE since 1993. SACE is a not-for-profit working to promote responsible energy choices that create global warming solutions and ensure clean, safe and healthy communities throughout the Southeast. SACE has grown to be a premier voice for energy efficiency and renewable energy issues in the region. Dr. Smith currently serves on the U. S. Climate Action Network board of directors and previously served as board chair. He also serves on the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Regional Energy Resource Council, which advises the TVA Board of Directors on energy resource activities in the Tennessee Valley region. In the last several years he has served on the North Carolina Legislative Commission on Global Climate Change and the North Carolina Climate Action Planning

Sam Wolf, Founder and Chief Wellness Spreader Sam Wolf is the Founder and Chief Wellness Spreader at LuckyVitamin, a family operated branded global e-commerce destination for affordable natural health and wellness products. Sam takes pride in spreading wellness by leading the LuckyVitamin team as they work to provide customers with the best natural products, health information, outstanding service and shopping experience supporting their wellness journeys. Sam graduated from American University Kogod School of Business with a B.S. in Business Administration, Management Information Systems, and e-Commerce. Sam comes from three generations of family dedicated to helping people lead healthy lives. It started in a pharmacy, transformed into a dynamic health foods store, and then exploded into an online movement. Sam is an avid runner and technology enthusiast who enjoys traveling, cooking healthy food, and exploring the outdoors.  

Kim Eierman is the founder of EcoBeneficial!  She is an Environmental Horticulturist specializing in ecological landscapes and native plants. Kim teaches at the New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The Native Plant Center in NY, Rutgers Home Gardeners School and several other institutions.  She is an active speaker on many ecological gardening topics, presenting at industry conferences, garden clubs, nature centers, Audubon Society chapters, beekeeping groups, and other organizations interested in environmental improvements.  Kim also provides horticultural consulting to homeowners and commercial clients. In addition to being a Certified Horticulturist through the American Society for Horticultural Science, Kim is a Master Gardener, a Master Naturalist, an Accredited Organic Landcare Professional, a Steering Committee member of The Native Plant Center and a member of the Garden Writers Association. Kim was awarded the Silver Award of Achievement by the Garden Writers Association for their 201

Mr. Bart Bibler is an environmental engineer, a Professional Engineer in Florida. He has worked in renewable energy policy, sales of solar power, and water management policy. He has worked in the private sector, within public agencies, and for non-profit organizations. He is currently employed by Simpler Solar Systems of Tallahassee.  He previously worked for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, but got in trouble for talking about Climate Change on an interagency conference call. He recently established Tallahassee350.org, affiliated with 350.org, the world’s largest Climate Change Movement. And, he has initiated the Climate Change Litmus Test.

Mattias Wallander has been the CEO of USAgain since 2000. From the company’s inception in 1999, USAgain has expanded into a nationwide network of over 12,000 clothing recycling sites in 16 states. Mr. Wallander recognizes the environmental significance of reducing textile waste not least for the global warming impact of textiles. His goal is to elevate textile recycling to the level of glass, paper and plastic, and to eventually achieve zero textile waste. With his team at USAgain, Mr. Wallander is currently developing solutions for increasing textile diversion from 15% to 75% through increased consumer convenience and accessibility.   

Vikram Aggarwal is the founder and CEO of EnergySage, the online solar marketplace. EnergySage simplifies the process of researching and shopping for solar, making the experience as easy as booking a flight online By introducing price transparency across suppliers and enabling apples-to-apples comparisons of solar systems, pre-screened installers and financing options, EnergySage is demystifying prices and shortening the buyer’s information-gathering phase. As a result, consumers are empowered to make quicker, more informed purchasing decisions about solar panels that specifically meet their individual needs, while also saving as much as 20% on the cost of their systems. Vikram founded EnergySage after more than fifteen years with a major global financial services leader, specializing in private equity investing and strategy consulting – because he recognized that solar panels were not only great for the environment, but also a low volatility, low risk financial product that could enable businesses and homeow

To Mike Watson, innovation only matters if it’s meaningful, and it requires equal parts ingenuity and action. His unique ability to balance technology development with consumer needs has been instrumental in driving Cree’s climbing position as the world’s fastest growing lighting company, and Most Innovative Company in Energy (Fast Company, 2015). Technology disruption is embedded in his DNA. Built on a foundation of engineering, strategic innovation and commercializing new technologies – as VP of product strategy at Cree, Mike blends relentless problem-solving with market-driven insight to advance customer experiences and drive Cree’s mission of 100 percent LED adoption. Mike pioneered Cree’s disruptive entry into the consumer light bulb market, which has been pivotal in transforming LED technology from a novelty into a household name. Now he’s using brand marketing strategies to enable widespread demand for LED technology. In addition to his contributions to Cree, Mike is also a startup founder and patent

Mark has managed “SRI/ESG/ Impact Investing style” discretionary strategy within the Morgan Stanley Portfolio Management platform since 2000.  Over the past decade, He has seen the growth of Impact Investing in other areas of the world and now, finally, in mainstream America.  Mark was recognized by Smith Barney, prior to the merger, as a “Green” financial advisory professional.  The more involved he became in SRI/ESG the more interested he became in the actions of the corporations headquartered in his own backyard.  So in 2009, he co-founded the Southeast Corporate Sustainability Ranking.  It ranks publicly traded companies according to standardized environmental, social and governance scores. Recently, Mark was asked to serve on the Morgan Stanley Advisory Board to champion the Investing with Impact platform at Morgan Stanley. Mark holds the position of Senior Vice President of Wealth Management at Morgan Stanley. In addition, he is a Senior Investment Management Consultant, Senior Portfolio Manager and Fi

Southeast Green will be discussing the most exciting transporation development in the country. Join us as we speak with Jill Johnson,Government Affairs Director. Jill Johnson joined ABI as its director of government affairs, a newly created position, in December 2013. In this capacity, Ms. Johnson actively supports ABI at the federal, state and local government levels to ensure and expand funding, regulatory, and political support for the program.  Ms. Johnson has worked for more than a decade with conservation groups in Georgia and across the Southeast.   As the President of Live Oak Strategies, LLC, she advocated on behalf of her clients before the state legislature and acted as liaison to legislators, state agencies, and the Governor’s Office on their behalf. She provided help with government and public affairs, public and media relations, strategic planning, and fundraising. Previously, Ms. Johnson served as the Political Director for Georgia Conservation Voters where she held elected officials account

Join Southeast Green as we talk to Bob Hawkinson of Weed Recede. Weed Recede solves a common problem of mulching bag waste and allows you to reduce your consumption of materials in your garden. Does this sound too good to be true? Something that eliminates waste, reduces consumption of products, protects streams, rivers and oceans, and helps the environment? Listen in to hear how this one simple idea makes everyone's gardening life easier.

Mat Franken, CEO and Founder of Aunt Fannie, Inc. Mat is founder and CEO of Aunt Fannie’s, maker of FlyPunch!, a product that positively impacts the global food supply chain by eradicating the devastating and E.Coli-transmitting fruit fly.  He is a leader in natural and non-toxic products that increase food safety, decrease spoil in food, minimize produce contamination, bolster profits for food manufacturers, and improve both commercial and home kitchen experiences. Prior to Aunt Fannie’s, Mat’s career was in private finance with a Swiss-based global financial institution.  There he served 60 families, advising c-level corporate executives and entrepreneurs in overarching estate, tax, financial, and investment planning. In addition to his professional roles, Mat has been the Founder and Chair of multiple grass-roots level non-profits and currently serves on the board of NEXT, a non-profit organization focused on fostering the entrepreneurial ecosystem for high-impact companies in the Carolinas. Mat also serv

Marilyn Brown joined the Georgia Institute of Technology as a Professor in the School of Public Policy. During her prior career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, she held various leadership positions managing annual research budgets of $100+ million, focused on energy efficiency, renewable energy, the electric grid. At ORNL, Dr. Brown co-authored the report, Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future, which remains a cornerstone of engineering-economic analysis of low-carbon energy options. Her research focuses on the design and impact of policies aimed at accelerating the development and deployment of sustainable energy technologies, with an emphasis on the electric utility industry, the integration of energy efficiency, demand response, and solar resources, and ways of improving resiliency to disruptions. Her books include Climate Change and Global Energy Security (MIT Press, 2011) and Fact and Fiction in Global Energy Policy (Johns Hopkins University Press, forthcoming). She has authored more than 250 publicatio

Join Southeast Green as we interview Steven M. Druker. Steven is an American public interest attorney who, as executive director of the Alliance for Bio-Integrity, initiated a lawsuit that exposed how US governmental fraud had enabled the commercialization of GM foods. The book:Altered Genes, Twisted Truth: How the Venture to Genetically Engineer Our Food Has Subverted Science, Corrupted Government, and Systematically Deceived the Public, was released in March 2015. A foreword by Jane Goodall hailed it as "without doubt one of the most important books of the past 50  years." To purchase the book on Amazon click here. Get more information on the Alliance for Bio-Integrity including the FDA's own memos stating the lack of safety of GMOs.

Today's guest is Paolo Mentonelli. Earning his Computer Science degree from Georgia Tech and his MBA from Duke, Paolo is a former engineer and investment banker turned venture builder who spent the last 8 years working abroad and has now returned home to Atlanta.  Paolo has launched and scaled successful businesses across a variety of industries in Italy, Malaysia, the Philippines, and the United States.  Paolo currently serves as the Managing Director of BioRepublic SkinCare. Paolo’s love for easy skin care products developed during his time living and working in Southeast Asia, where his busy lifestyle combined with rampant air pollution forced him to seek out the best remedies available.

With passion and unwavering ambition, Sally Larsen finds the perfect balance of health and beauty with Sally B’s Skin Yummies, her handmade line of natural and organic skincare products and makeup.  A firm believer that health and beauty are dependent upon one another, the self-confessed “product girl” began making her own good-for-your products in 2003 when she noticed a void in the organic skincare market.  What began as a personal journey to replace her chemical-rich beauty products quickly turned into an in-demand hobby among her friends, motivating Sally to found Sally B’s Skin Yummies in 2005. Launching Sally B’s Skin Yummies with just two products, her now famous Shea Butter Bar and Healing Hand Butter, Sally established Skin Yummies to share the positive benefits of a healthy beauty regime with the world and also stake her own personal claim in the organics industry, the “unofficial Larsen family business.” While she wasn’t exactly raising bees and harvesting her own honey like her father, she spent