In my new role, I will work on national expansion and partnerships, with a focus on SELF’s new plug and play model to scale our Green Home Loans. SELF is scaling and diversifying, with multiple new lending programs, and we are looking to expand strategically across the United States.

St. Lucie County, SELF, the U.S. Department of Energy, and many other community and financial partners created the first local green bank in America (2010) to develop energy and sustainability financing programs for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate resilience in both the residential and non-residential sectors, with a focus on #energyequity. These financing programs include: (1) Green Home loans for energy efficiency; renewable energy; wind-hazard mitigation; and, water conservation projects. SELF focuses on LMI, working class families, women, veterans, BIPOC, and credit- and physically-impaired persons. SELF also provides building science expertise, access to favorable financing, and project coordination. https://solarenergyloanfund.org/home-improvement-loans/Typical projects include an $8-10,000 micro loan for assorted home improvements, including: weatherization/insulation; high efficiency HVAC; LED lights; solar water heaters; new roofs and repairs; and, impact windows and doors. (2) Developer Loans (SAGE)https://solarenergyloanfund.org/loan/sage-homes-financing/(3) Landlord Loans (SEER)https://solarenergyloanfund.org/loan/seer-loan/(4) St. Lucie County's new Property-Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, with the highest consumer protections in Florida. SELF administers the program for St. Lucie County, and financing is provided by Inland Green Capital, LLC. The PACE program focuses on sustainable building practices, including: energy efficiency; renewable energy; wind-hazard mitigation; and, water conservation projects (w/energy saving component). New construction is also eligible.https://solarenergyloanfund.org/loan/pace/(5) Global crowdfunding in partnership with KIVA.org, with special programs for veterans and women. https://solarenergyloanfund.org/loan/kiva/(6) Septic to Sewer Conversion Loans in Martin County https://solarenergyloanfund.org/loan/martin-county-septic-to-sewer-loan/www.solarenergyloanfund.org

Clean Energy Strategies, LLC, has extensive experience with clean energy financing programs and strategies, public and private partnerships, government affairs and public relations, land planning and zoning, economic development, grant writing, and environmental planning.

Worked with Bud Chiles on clean energy projects throughout Florida and beyond. Consulted with GE and several other major energy companies.

As County Commissioner, my Board colleagues and I were tasked with overall policy decisions regarding everything from public safety, roads, parks, water quality and drainage, to ports, airports, economic development, social programs and emergency management. The St. Lucie Board of County Commssioners was (at that time) responsible for an organization of 500+ employees with an annual budget in excess of 1/2 billion dollars.I also had the pleasure of serving as the County's representative on the Fire Board and Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council for a decade each, as well as multiple stints on the Transportation Board, Sustainability Commitee, Tourism Committee, Property & Homeowners Association (countywide representatives), Florida Trust - Board of Directors (overseeing $1 Billion of local government investments), and many, many others.It was an honor to serve the residents of St. Lucie County for 12 years (1998-2010). I chose not to run for a fourth term, and now devote my career full-time to clean energy projects.

Project manager for the Oxbow Eco Center Master Plan - which included one of the first green structures in St. Lucie County (1996) and a planning charrette with local students, neighbors and interested parties.Assisted Martin County with voter-approved River Restoration funding that has since been leveraged into hundreds of millions of dollars of land preservation, restoration, and assorted water quality enhancement projects. Founding member of the Rivers Coalition.Worked on pilot programs in Orlando and Treasure Coast region to foster policy changes to better integrate transportation and land use planning principles and more meaningful public participation.

Spearheaded passage of a $20 million local Environmentally Significant Lands (ESL) bond program approved by St. Lucie County voters in 1994 (67%). With state and federal matching dollars, the ESL program has since set aside $75 million of pristine old Florida habitat. About 5,000 acres have been preserved forever.http://www.co.st-lucie.fl.us/erd/environmental_lands.htm