FGCU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Ron Toll will serve as master of ceremonies at the second SWFL Sustainability Summit on Thursday, April 28 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Estero.
More than 300 community leaders representing health care, business, government and city planning will talk about redefining the trajectory of Southwest Florida’s future. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., with programs starting at 8 a.m. and concluding at 2:30 p.m.
“I am looking forward to this year’s SWFL Sustainability Summit with great enthusiasm,” Toll says. “Last year’s event was superlative, and I fully expect that the 2016 summit will be nothing short of extraordinary.”
The theme for the gathering is “Healthy People, Healthy Place & Healthy Profit.” Joining the city of Bonita Springs as major sponsors are keystone sponsors LeeSar and Babcock Ranch, healthy food sponsors Lee Memorial and Healthy Lee, and the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point as the venue sponsor.
Mary Lou Benecke, former vice president of public affairs and corporate communications for Dow Corning Corp., is the keynote speaker. She will discuss the company’s role in the revitalization of downtown Bay City, Mich.
The summit also will feature breakout panels and discussions featuring Babcock Ranch, Publix and Healthy Lee, a sustainable art show and an electric/hybrid car show. Vehicles will include all-electric battery vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S, and the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles like the Ford CMAX and Chevy Volt.
Summit presenters include: Robbie Roepstorff, President, Director and Co-Founder of Edison National Bank, who also serves on FGCU’s Board of Trustees; Bill Hammond, former assistant professor of ecological and marine sciences at FGCU; and Ed Chiles, Anna Maria Island businessman and the son of the late Gov. Lawton Chiles.
Jon Iglehart, District Director for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will present the DEP Recycling Recognition Award, developed to encourage private businesses, institutions, schools, public organizations and citizens to increase recycling in order to reach Florida’s recycling goal of 75% by 2020.
Admission to the summit is $65 and includes breakfast and lunch. Purchase tickets online. A $10 student discount is available by entering the code “DunkCity.”
The summit is organized by Visaggio & Co. — of which FGCU alumnus Matthew Visaggio is principal owner and founder of SWFL Sustainability, LLC — with partners the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida Inc.
“Inclusive dialogue from varied perspectives about issues that really matter to our community brings about worthwhile change and a mindset of sustainability,” Visaggio says. “This summit sets the stage for positive community and regional growth through that very dialogue.”
- More information on panelists and other details