Smart Planning for a Green Future
Event Hosts
1000 Friends of Florida & the Future Is Now Foundation are Co-Hosts for the Webinar Series.
The heads of these two organizations will lead the events and include:
Charles Pattison
President
1000 Friends of Florida
Charles has served since 1998 as the Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Florida and now holds the title as its President. Previously, he was the Director for the Division of Resource Planning and Management at the Department of Community Affairs from 1992 to 1998.
From 1989 to 1992, he worked as a Field Representative for The Nature Conservancy’s Virginia Coast Reserve. Between 1983 and 1989, he opened the DCA Florida Keys Field Office in Key West, served as the Monroe County Planning, Building and Zoning Director, and was the first executive director of the Monroe County Land Authority. Charles also has served as a planning director in coastal North Carolina and spent five years with the North Carolina Office of Coastal Management in beach access and coastal permitting work. A North Carolina native and an Eagle Scout, he received an undergraduate degree from N.C. State in Raleigh and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina.
He spent six years working on coastal development issues in North Carolina before moving back to Florida. A Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (April, 2008), he serves on the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium Advisory Council, Betton Hills Neighborhood Association, External Advisory Council to the University of Florida’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, and Apalachee Land Conservancy. He is a graduate of Leadership Florida, Class 18. In 2005, Charles was appointed by Senate President Tom Lee to a four year term on the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida. He was appointed (2007) to the Florida Energy Commission’s Climate Change Subcommittee and the Governor’s Climate Action Team which developed the state climate action plan.
Marcia Elder
Executive Director
Future Is Now Foundation
Marcia has served as Foundation Director since 2002. She has 30 years experience in the energy field, with emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as long-time expertise in smart planning and has been a leader in the area of innovative Internet technologies.
Marcia also has been a professional consultant for close to 27 years, providing communications, technology and other professional services. She has 25 years experience in nonprofit association management and, as part thereof, served as Executive Director for the American Planning Association, Florida Chapter (16 years) and the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (4 years). As part of FAPA, she managed the Project for an Energy Efficient Florida (a statewide awareness program) for 12 years. She has served on numerous state advisory committees, including on the subjects of energy, community planning and growth management, and she was appointed to the Judicial Management Council, advisory body to the Florida Supreme Court. She was a Trainer for Anthony Robbins seminars for 10 years and has extensive experience in professional development training and capacity building.
Her prior professional roles with state government in Florida included: Department of Transportation, Director of State Legislative Policy & Energy Policy; Governor's Office, Senior Manager & head of Energy Planning & Policy Analysis; State Energy Policy Council, Staff Coordinator/Manager; Department of Environmental Regulation, Legislative Analyst & Energy Program Coordinator (Office of the Secretary); prior DER program staff in water resources, air quality. She holds a graduate degree in Environmental Engineering.
The Future Is Now Foundation is also registered as the Florida Public Interest Foundation.
The heads of these two organizations will lead the events and include:
Charles Pattison
President
1000 Friends of Florida
Charles has served since 1998 as the Executive Director of 1000 Friends of Florida and now holds the title as its President. Previously, he was the Director for the Division of Resource Planning and Management at the Department of Community Affairs from 1992 to 1998.
From 1989 to 1992, he worked as a Field Representative for The Nature Conservancy’s Virginia Coast Reserve. Between 1983 and 1989, he opened the DCA Florida Keys Field Office in Key West, served as the Monroe County Planning, Building and Zoning Director, and was the first executive director of the Monroe County Land Authority. Charles also has served as a planning director in coastal North Carolina and spent five years with the North Carolina Office of Coastal Management in beach access and coastal permitting work. A North Carolina native and an Eagle Scout, he received an undergraduate degree from N.C. State in Raleigh and a Masters in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of North Carolina.
He spent six years working on coastal development issues in North Carolina before moving back to Florida. A Fellow of the American Institute of Certified Planners (April, 2008), he serves on the Florida Conflict Resolution Consortium Advisory Council, Betton Hills Neighborhood Association, External Advisory Council to the University of Florida’s School of Natural Resources and the Environment, and Apalachee Land Conservancy. He is a graduate of Leadership Florida, Class 18. In 2005, Charles was appointed by Senate President Tom Lee to a four year term on the Century Commission for a Sustainable Florida. He was appointed (2007) to the Florida Energy Commission’s Climate Change Subcommittee and the Governor’s Climate Action Team which developed the state climate action plan.
Marcia Elder
Executive Director
Future Is Now Foundation
Marcia has served as Foundation Director since 2002. She has 30 years experience in the energy field, with emphasis on energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as long-time expertise in smart planning and has been a leader in the area of innovative Internet technologies.
Marcia also has been a professional consultant for close to 27 years, providing communications, technology and other professional services. She has 25 years experience in nonprofit association management and, as part thereof, served as Executive Director for the American Planning Association, Florida Chapter (16 years) and the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (4 years). As part of FAPA, she managed the Project for an Energy Efficient Florida (a statewide awareness program) for 12 years. She has served on numerous state advisory committees, including on the subjects of energy, community planning and growth management, and she was appointed to the Judicial Management Council, advisory body to the Florida Supreme Court. She was a Trainer for Anthony Robbins seminars for 10 years and has extensive experience in professional development training and capacity building.
Her prior professional roles with state government in Florida included: Department of Transportation, Director of State Legislative Policy & Energy Policy; Governor's Office, Senior Manager & head of Energy Planning & Policy Analysis; State Energy Policy Council, Staff Coordinator/Manager; Department of Environmental Regulation, Legislative Analyst & Energy Program Coordinator (Office of the Secretary); prior DER program staff in water resources, air quality. She holds a graduate degree in Environmental Engineering.
The Future Is Now Foundation is also registered as the Florida Public Interest Foundation.
