Membership Benefit: What Is Sustainability Coaching?

By Ashley Stephenson, Green Chamber Communications Intern

Growing a business is hard.

Between typical business procedures and navigating a pandemic, implementing green practices into your business may be the last thing on your mind. The North Florida Green Chamber of Commerce (NFGCC) understands this, and that is why we offer sustainability coaching.

“We offer a coaching program for members to help them to develop a strategic approach to sustainability. The program is aimed at start-ups and established businesses and brands that are working towards making sustainability values a core of their business model,” said NFGCC Executive Director Christina Kelcourse, Esq, CFP, CRPC.

This free program is a membership benefit that helps member companies and brands go green and become more sustainable.

When you choose a sustainability coach they will help you implement effective strategies to take out any guesswork. Sustainability coaches can go beyond small changes to take your business’s green practices to the next level.

Each of our sustainability coaches are experienced in their industries and prepared to provide custom coaching. Regardless of what type of business you run, there is someone prepared to help.

For example, Ashley Powell of Building It Green Consulting is a sustainability coach who specializes in green building.

“While small changes to a business sustainability plan can make a big impact, we focus on the whole building impacts. We focus on green building certifications for new construction and renovations of buildings which encompass site, water, energy, IAQ and materials categories,” noted Powell. “To get the most of establishing and achieving a business’s sustainability goals, we coordinate with all team members including the architect, engineers, contractors and owners from early design to post construction.”

North Florida Green Chairman Mary Tappouni of My Sustainability Officer and Breaking Ground Contracting is also a sustainability coach.

“As both a sustainability consultant and a building contractor, I am uniquely positioned to assist clients in their efforts to incorporate green practices into their business operations,” said Tappouni. “This can range from those who are just getting started in their sustainability endeavor to those who are looking to enhance existing programs.  Our approach applies to a one-person home office as well as a multi-million-dollar business with multiple locations.  It can be as simple as making slight modifications that save the client money and help improve environmental quality, to employee engagement efforts that provide a healthy and supportive workplace.  Regardless of how many initiatives a business wants to tackle, it all starts with a written plan and affirming the goals by setting achievable targets.”

So why wait? Join the Green Chamber to find the right sustainability coach for you and start working on developing your green business.

Growing a business is hard. Practicing sustainability does not have to be.

Email us at [email protected] for more information.