ECOSUMMIT

December 5-6, 2023
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota, FL

GREEN LIVING EXPO

December 2-3, 2023
Municipal Auditorium
Sarasota, FL

Eco
Summit
+Expo

To preserve quality of life, we must find a new balance with nature.

ECOSUMMIT

December 5-6, 2023
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota, FL

GREEN LIVING EXPO

December 2-3, 2023
Municipal Auditorium
Sarasota, FL

Thank you to all our partners and sponsors for a successful event!

Read Our Final Impact Report

DOWNLOAD SUMMARY

NEXT EVENT November 7, 2024

EcoSUMMIT

Dec. 5-6, 2023
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall
Sarasota, Florida

Lead Sponsor

Two days of Big Ideas and Solutions. Experts will share insights and innovations for recharging our environment and reducing our impacts — crucial to sustaining our coastal community’s quality of life. We’ll explore our environmental heritage as a touchstone for a resilient future. It’s a lively and entertaining solutions-oriented experience with lectures, panel discussions, storytelling, and music.

SPEAKERS | PROGRAM

Green Living Expo

Dec. 2-3, 2023
City of Sarasota Muni Auditorium
Sarasota, Florida

Lead Sponsor

Explore solutions to go green at the Green Living Expo. Demo and buy sustainable products and services from green businesses and non-profit organizations. Get involved and get hands on with opportunities to volunteer and help solve local environmental issues. It’s a two-day trade-show loaded with ideas and demos about how to reduce our impacts on the environment. Register for free tickets.

EXHIBITORS

Ever-GREEN Days

Nov. 30 – Dec. 6, 2023
The Bay Park
Sarasota, Florida

Partner

Come to The Bay, Sarasota’s newest signature park and blue-and-green oasis along Sarasota Bay. Enjoy a wide range of interactive green and eco-friendly experiences including family-friendly activities, guided eco-tours, hands-on eco-education, and more! Check back as we add new activities. As always, all events at The Bay are free and open to everyone, so bring your family and friends and find your adventure!

SCHEDULE

Explore all there is to do!

The Summit explores the simple idea that to preserve quality of life, we must find a new balance with nature. We must counter the increasing impacts from development, population growth, and climate change with solutions that recharge our environment and reduce our footprint. Join us for two days of Big Ideas and Solutions. Find community and feel inspired through film, music, and storytelling.

Join our email list for discounts and insider news.

WRITTEN SESSION SUMMARY

FULL PROGRAM

Download Program (pdf)

EcoSummit Program

December 4, 5-8 pm at The Bay Park Nest, Sarasota, Florida

Let’s kick it off with a drink and movie under the stars! Join us for a very special family-friendly screening of 2040 with the film’s creator, award-winning Australian documentary filmmaker and EcoSummit Keynoter Damon Gameau. It’s a journey to explore what the future could look like by the year 2040 if we simply embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet and shifted them rapidly into the mainstream. Film is free and open to the public.

December 5-6, 9am-5pm at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota, Florida

Get inspired by two days of Big Ideas and Solutions as experts share insights and innovations for recharging our environment and reducing our impacts — crucial to sustaining our coastal community’s quality of life. Community storytellers will explore our environmental heritage as a touchstone for a resilient future. It’s a lively and entertaining two-day solutions-oriented experience with lectures, panel discussions, storytelling, and music. Award-winning Americana songwriter Karen Jonas and her band will weave dazzling threads of their dreamy Alt-Country music through the tapestry of stories over two days. Networking coffee breaks, lunches, lunchtime wellness and guided walks, and professional continuing education credits all included.

Day 1

Growth and Balance

Over the past century, population growth and development patterns have increased pollution and decreased the environment’s capacity to process it. In the face of continued rapid population growth, loss of environmental function and connectivity, and climate stressors, how can we grow the environment as we grow communities? Can we find balance through more sensitive land development practices that contain and minimize impacts?

Land, Legacy and Special Places

The fate of our last remaining natural lands and wildlife will be decided in the next decade. Saving land protects wild places for wildlife, waterways, and people. What lands have we saved and what’s left to protect? What is the value of natural open spaces to community health and prosperity? We can restore and recharge natural systems on conservation and agricultural lands to support habitat connectivity, biodiversity, water flow, soil health, and local food systems. It’s an insurance policy on our changing future.

Making a Place for Nature at Home

Where have all the birds gone? Has a generation lost touch with nature herself? Our urban and suburban environments are built for people not nature, but we can invite nature back. How could making space for nature in our urban and suburban places makes us healthier and more resilient to heat and floods? We can safely regenerate and recharge natural systems right in our own backyards, neighborhood parks, and regional recreation areas to bring back water quality and wildlife.

Day 2

Billion Dollar Bays

Estuaries are engines for wildlife, fisheries, tourism, culture, real estate, and recreation. From Charlotte Harbor to Tampa Bay, our region has three of America’s 28 prestigious Estuaries of National Significance. Can conservation and restoration gains keep up with impacts from population growth and climate change? What’s our plan to reduce macroalgal blooms and red tide? What is the status of our dolphin, manatee, fish, and seabird populations?

It's All About Water

There is no new water on earth, only the same raindrops cycled over and over again. The water we drink and use to wash, flush, and irrigate is borrowed from the environment. In turn, whatever we put on land, or down the drain, eventually winds up back in our waters. How can we follow nature’s example for building efficient and resilient wastewater and stormwater systems that protect our water supply and prevent pollution? There are smart ways to keep us and our waterways healthy, in an endless cycle.

When Pollution Is Personal

Our homes consume more than half of all Florida’s electricity, so homeowners play a big role in reducing carbon pollution. Improving home energy efficiency to reduce energy use and installing home rooftop solar for clean renewable energy is easier than you think. Home is also where we produce most of our trash – about three pounds per adult per day. How can we create less waste in the first place by refusing, reducing, reusing, repurposing and recycling — so we don’t let waste go to waste?

December 5, 7-9 pm at The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Sarasota, Florida

Enjoy an unforgettable evening of Florida Stories with Carl Hiaasen and Craig Pittman, Florida’s most savagely funny, riotous, and cathartic storytellers (who also happen to be serious award-winning investigative journalists), joined by local storyteller and dolphin expert Dr. Randy Wells and Karen Jonas and her band. Standalone tickets for this Session are available. Join the pre-show reception and secure preferred seating with the VIP upgrade.

FULL PROGRAM

Download Program (pdf)

Photo courtesy of The Bay.

EcoSummit Speakers

Keynote Speakers

Damon Gameau

Director, Writer, Producer

Damon’s first feature length film as a director (That Sugar Film) won Best Documentary at the Australian AACTA awards in 2016 and became the highest grossing Australian documentary of all time at the cinema. Damon’s second film, 2040, is an innovative feature documentary that explores what the future would look like by the year 2040 if we embraced the best solutions already available to us to improve our planet. It was released in April 2019 and now sits in the top 4 highest grossing documentaries of all time in Australia cinema. Gameau was nominated for New South Wales Australian of the Year in 2020 for his work in creating 'the Regeneration' movement which is associated with his film 2040. His short film Regenerate Australia 2030 was released in 2022 and is a vision for Australia in 2030 based on interviews with a variety of Australians from differing backgrounds.

Carl Hiaasen

Author and Journalist

A Florida native, Carl Hiaasen has been writing about the Sunshine State since his father gave him a typewriter at age six. From 1985 until 2021, Hiaasen wrote a column for The Miami Herald, covering everything from local issues like polluted rivers, the criminal justice system, and animal welfare, to national stories like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the Trayvon Martin case, Bernie Madoff’s trial, and Florida’s presidential election woes. His sharp observations and eye-opening reporting have earned him three Pulitzer Prize nominations. Hiaasen turned to writing novels in the 1980s. To date, Carl Hiaasen has published 13 novels for adults, among them nine national bestsellers – Strip Tease, Stormy Weather, Lucky You, Sick Puppy, Basket Case, Skinny Dip, Nature Girl, Star Island, and Bad Monkey. Carl Hiaasen has also taken his humor and irreverence to the pages of kids’ books, publishing several popular novels for young readers, most recently Skink – No Surrender.

Craig Pittman

Author and Journalist

Craig Pittman is an award-winning investigative journalist with 30 years at Tampa Bay Times and now Florida Phoenix. A native Floridian, he's the author of six books documenting the wild and weird of Florida, most recently The State You're In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and Other Wildlife.

Aliki Moncrief

Environmental Attorney

A Florida native and Harvard Law graduate, Aliki's passion is empowering communities to protect Florida’s environment. For 25 years, she has lead environmental protection and advocacy programs both in the nonprofit world and in state government.

Erica Gies

Author and Journalist

Erica Gies is a National Geographic Explorer and an award-winning independent journalist. Her new book, Water Always Wins explores what she calls “Slow Water” innovations that are helping us adapt to the increasing floods and droughts brought by climate change.

Mark Hostetler

Professor Wildlife & Conservation

Mark's work focuses on design and management of "green" communities, especially how biodiversity is affected by urban landscape design and management strategies. The Green Leap is his practical guide for conserving biodiversity in subdivision development.

Paul Owens

Growth Management Expert

Paul is President of 1000 Friends of Florida, a leading smart growth advocacy non-profit for building better communities and saving special places. A 20-year veteran editor for the Orlando Sentinal, he covered growth management and quality of life issues.

Susan Glickman

Energy Consultant

A Florida native, Susan has been a leader on climate and energy issues for 20 years with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) and The Florida Business Network for a Clean Energy Economy, a coalition of business leaders working together to advance the clean energy economy.

Sarah Dearman

Chief Innovation Officer

As the CIO for The Recycling Partnership, Sarah builds public-private collaborations to accelerate the circular economy, such as the Circular Economy Accelerator, U.S. Plastics Pact, and Pathway to Circularity. Previously she led sustainable packaging initiatives at Coca-Cola Corp.

Jon Thaxton

Humanitarian, Conservationist, Politician

Jon is a leading advocate for protecting the natural environment. A fifth-generation Sarasotan, he served 12 years on the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners and is currently Vice-President of Community Investment at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Craig Pittman

Author and Journalist

Craig Pittman is an award-winning investigative journalist with 30 years at Tampa Bay Times and now Florida Phoenix. A native Floridian, he's the author of six books documenting the wild and weird of Florida, most recently The State You're In: Florida Men, Florida Women, and Other Wildlife.

Aliki Moncrief

Environmental Attorney

A Florida native and Harvard Law graduate, Aliki's passion is empowering communities to protect Florida’s environment. For 25 years, she has lead environmental protection and advocacy programs both in the nonprofit world and in state government.

Erica Gies

Author and Journalist

Erica Gies is a National Geographic Explorer and an award-winning independent journalist. Her new book, Water Always Wins explores what she calls “Slow Water” innovations that are helping us adapt to the increasing floods and droughts brought by climate change.

Mark Hostetler

Professor Wildlife & Conservation

Mark's work focuses on design and management of "green" communities, especially how biodiversity is affected by urban landscape design and management strategies. The Green Leap is his practical guide for conserving biodiversity in subdivision development.

Paul Owens

Growth Management Expert

Paul is President of 1000 Friends of Florida, a leading smart growth advocacy non-profit for building better communities and saving special places. A 20-year veteran editor for the Orlando Sentinal, he covered growth management and quality of life issues.

Susan Glickman

Energy Consultant

A Florida native, Susan has been a leader on climate and energy issues for 20 years with the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy (SACE) and The Florida Business Network for a Clean Energy Economy, a coalition of business leaders working together to advance the clean energy economy.

Sarah Dearman

Chief Innovation Officer

As the CIO for The Recycling Partnership, Sarah builds public-private collaborations to accelerate the circular economy, such as the Circular Economy Accelerator, U.S. Plastics Pact, and Pathway to Circularity. Previously she led sustainable packaging initiatives at Coca-Cola Corp.

Jon Thaxton

Humanitarian, Conservationist, Politician

Jon is a leading advocate for protecting the natural environment. A fifth-generation Sarasotan, he served 12 years on the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners and is currently Vice-President of Community Investment at Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Invited Speakers and Storytellers

Randy Wells

Juliette Desfeux

Ed Sherwood

Bill Wadill

Nate Brennan

Sandy Gilbert

Bob Bunting

Tim Sallin

Jennifer Rominiecki

Jaclyn Lopez

Aedan Stockdale

Lee Hayes Byron

John McCarthy

Katie McHugh

Zack Rasmussen

Ronda Ryan

Ed Rosenthal

Howard Hochhalter

Jim Strickland

Damon Moore

Van Linkous

Emily Hall

Bill Johnson

Tony Clements

Mike Kelcourse

Kylie Wilson

Christine Johnson

Jeanne Dubi

Amanda Boone

Jennifer Hecker

Maya Burke

Duanne Andrade

Hillary VanDyke

Jono Miller

Charlie Hunsicker

Joe Bonasia

John Keifer

Amber Whittle

Dave Tomasko

Uzi Baram

Donn Githens

Steve Cover

Emily Grant

Abbey Tyrna

Full Program

Download Program (pdf)

Explore environmental solutions to go green at the Green Living Expo. Demo and buy sustainable products and services from select vendors and non-profit organizations. Get involved and get hands on with opportunities to volunteer and help solve local environmental issues. It’s a two-day trade-show loaded with ideas and demonstrations about how to reduce our impacts on the environment. Don’t miss the give-aways, raffle prizes, and our curated Solutions Cinema!

View Expo Floor Plan

Meet Our Exhibitors

December 2 – 3, Municipal Auditorium, Sarasota, Florida

View Expo Floor Plan

Energy

Save energy, go solar

Waste

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Water

Save water, stop pollution

Food

Eat local, reduce waste

Nature

Explore, protect

Check back for more Exhibitor announcements!

Be Our Hero, Be A Sponsor!

Showcase Your Commitment

Sponsorship provides an exceptional opportunity to showcase your organization’s leadership and commitment to the environmental health and prosperity of our community. Over the course of five days at multiple indoor and outdoor events, we expect more than 2,500 attendees from across the State representing nonprofits; agencies; academia; businesses; and the general public.

Choose Your Level

Don’t miss the opportunity to receive the recognition and perks of being a named sponsor for this event! Choose your sponsor level and get the VIP experience, greet the crowd with opening remarks from the stage, or feature your brand with a lobby exhibit.

SPONSOR PACKAGE

Share your organization’s brand and messaging with an engaged audience of influencers and decision-makers

Network with hundreds of regional leaders in the public, private, academic, and nonprofit sectors

Make real connections with leaders, clients, and customers who are shaping the future of our region

Sponsorship Opportunities

Champion: $10,000

First six Champions receive recognition as a Session Sponsor plus session opening welcome.

Four invitations to Reception
Lobby exhibit
On-screen logo recognition in program slideshow
Lobby signage logo recognition
Program book logo recognition
Summit webpage ad

Hero: $5,000

Two invitations to Reception
Lobby exhibit
On-screen logo recognition in program slideshow
Lobby signage logo recognition
Program book logo recognition
Summit webpage logo

*

Supporter: $1000

On-screen logo recognition in program slideshow
Lobby signage logo recognition
Program book logo recognition
Summit webpage logo

Contributor: $500

Lobby signage name listing
Program book name listing
Summit webpage logo

Friend (individual gifts)

Program book name listing
Summit webpage name listing

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation

Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation makes a meaningful difference in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, environment, and medical research in Sarasota and beyond.

EcoSummit

Elizabeth Moore

Sarasota's most important philanthropic conservationist. Hands-on owner and steward of Triangle Ranch.

Florida Stories with
Carl Hiaasen

Gulf Coast Community Foundation

Together with its donors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation has transformed the region through bold and proactive philanthropy for over 27 years.

Green Living Expo

Florida Power & Light

As America's largest electric utility, Florida Power & Light Company serves more customers and sells more power than any other utility, providing clean, affordable, reliable electricity to approximately 12 million people.

Venue Host

City of Sarasota

Our mission is to provide high-quality services to our residents, businesses, and visitors, while safeguarding our natural resources and building a prosperous community.

Champions

SESSION 1: Growth and Balance

Live Wildly Foundation

Live Wildly helps raise awareness of the benefits of wildlife corridors. Our goal is to ensure nature is at the table for planning, development and investment decisions.

SESSION 2: Land, Legacy, and Special Places

Sponsor Opportunity!

SESSION 3: Making a Place for Nature at Home

Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension

Sarasota County UF/IFAS Extension and Sustainability brings researched-based information to residents and businesses with classes, technical assistance, and programs spanning agriculture to wildlife and composting to solar.

SESSION 4: Billion Dollar Bays

Sponsor Opportunity!

SESSION 5: It’s All About Water

Sarasota County Stormwater

The Sarasota County Stormwater Environmental Utility works to reduce the threat of flooding, improve surface water quality, and encourage sound development practices in the region.

SESSION 6: Personal Pollution

Tervis

Since 1969, Tervis insulated tumblers have been Floridians' choice for on-the-go drinkware and a perfect alternative to single use cups. Tervis recycles its products and uses recycled consumer packaging.

Heros

Recycling Sponsor

Pauline Wamsler

Supporters

SWFWMD color-logotype-transparent-606x200

Contributors

Jean Blackburn

Robert A Richardson

Friends

Oyster River Ecology

Estuary Escapes LLC

Seagrape Wines

Venice Area Audubon Society

Innovative Dining

John & Susan Darovec

Media Sponsors

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About Us

Contact Us

P.O. Box 2879
Sarasota, FL 34230

EMAIL

Media Kit

Everything you need to help promote the event!

MEDIA KIT

Science and Environment Council of Southwest Florida, Inc is a 501(c)3 not for-profit Florida corporation, registration number CH15639. A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the division of consumer services by calling toll-free (800-435-7352) within the state or visiting ww.fdacs.gov. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state.