SBC History

At the 2007 United Nations International Climate Change Conference in Bali, Jan Roberts, Founder of Earth Charter US, attended the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Session led by business leaders committed to sustainability.  She returned to Tampa committed to creating the Earth Charter Sustainable Business Awards, which would serve as the first step towards establishing an Earth Charter Sustainable Business Coalition.

In 2008, Earth Charter US, in partnership with the University of Tampa’s Center for Ethics and under the chairmanship of Guy King, launched the first Earth Charter Sustainable Business Awards.  The event was a great success and created momentum for the establishment of the Earth Charter Sustainable Business Coalition. The Awards and the Coalition are institutionalized within the University of Tampa’s Center for Ethics.

Founding Members

Fred Bennett, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Lykes Bros., Inc.
Duncan Broyd, Managing Principal, Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum (HOK)
Mark House, Managing Director, Beck Group
Guy King, CEO, ME Wilson
Andrew McIntosh, Esq. Shareholder, Fowler White Boggs P.A
Gregg Nicklaus, Owner, Sirata Beach Resort
Jan Roberts, Founder Earth Charter U.S
Judy Ryan, Community Builder
George Sherman, Professor of Ethics at St. Petersburg College
Ted Silence, Director of Business Development, LEED AP, Beck Group; U.S. Green Building Council
Charlotte Starfire, Director of Global Solutions, Sun Trust Bank
Lorna Taylor,, CEO, Premier Eye Care, Inc.
Dan Verreault, Ph.D., University of Tampa Professor in Sykes College of Business; Co-Director of Center for Ethics