Southface Institute Welcomes Three Florida Sustainability Leaders & Launches Southface Sarasota
Tuesday, April 27th, 2021
Southface Institute is pleased to announce today the addition of three Sarasota sustainability leaders to its team as it expands work in Florida and officially launches Southface Sarasota, the Atlanta-based national nonprofit’s first satellite location.
To lead the new office, Southface selected Amber Whittle, Ph.D., as Managing Director of Southface Sarasota, where she will be responsible for helping local businesses, municipal entities, and community organizations support a more sustainable built and natural environment that promotes business development, health and wellbeing, and equity for all.
Elizabeth Moore, conservationist and philanthropist, and Charles Reith, Ph.D., an environmental expert, who have partnered with Southface on a variety of projects, have joined Southface Institute’s Board of Directors.
“Southface is delighted to welcome Elizabeth, Charles and Amber to the organization, and we look forward to partnering with them as we strengthen our commitment in the Sarasota community and beyond,” said Andrea Pinabell, President of Southface. “Having worked in the Sarasota community for nearly two years, Southface knows that each of these talented people brings a wealth of complementary leadership experience. We’re proud of the programs already underway to support Sarasota and are excited for Amber, Elizabeth and Charles to continue to work closely with our community, economic and government partners.”
Southface began working in Sarasota in 2019, and ramped up our engagement in 2020 on a variety of projects including: a partnership with Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation to improve affordability and conditions for health through energy efficiency improvements in public housing offered by the Sarasota Housing Authority; supporting Sarasota’s renewable energy and resilience goals by advising the Green Building Policy effort; training and certification programs to enhance economic mobility and develop the next generation of green building and low-impact development tradespeople; providing GoodUse matching grants to All Faiths Food Bank and the Boys and Girls Club of Sarasota for energy and water efficiency upgrades; and building science, municipal planning and certification programs.
