Former G.O.P. Senator for the State of Florida, Lee Constantine, recently accepted a vital post as President of the Southeast Region for the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce.
USGCC’s southeast regional office opened its doors in Lake Mary on July 14, 2011 to a LEED Gold certified building. In 2009, only two years before this hallmark event, the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce opened its national headquarters in San Diego.
As President, Lee commands a dynamic role in building educational, networking, and advocacy programs. He’ll spread the gospel of sustainable practices that boost business performance through an efficient approach to conserving resources. Lee’s business acumen, political wisdom, and devotion to service will guide his success as our leader in the Southeast. Lee will collaborate with the public, government officials, key stakeholders, and business partners to promote green initiatives, and expand memberships, while nurturing our cause for responsible growth in a greener world.
“I’m honored to be able to play an integral role in the growth and success of an organization that so strongly encourages a practical balance between the health of our economy and the health of our natural resources,” says Constantine. “The U.S. Green Chamber understands that being ‘green’ is profitable. I’m especially attuned to this reality since the link between our environment and our economy is so strong here in Florida.”
Constantine served for 32 consecutive years as an elected public official in the State Florida. Lee began his political career as the youngest person to serve on the City Commission of Altamonte Springs. Lee later took office as Mayor of Altamonte Springs. Floridians then elected Lee Constantine as their State Representative, and finally voted him into office as the G.O.P.’s favorite candidate for Florida State Senator.
On leaving political office, Lee enjoyed distinction as an elected official who holds the record for the longest continuous stretch of public service for the State of Florida. As a Republican Senator, Constantine gained respect for bipartisan initiatives, sponsoring landmark legislative bills to protect the Everglades, the Wekiva River Basin, and Florida’s natural springs.
He also championed a State of Florida land buying program, unified state-wide building codes, worked with the EPA to coordinate Brownfield Restoration Programs, and spearheaded legislation to encourage recycling. Lee’s transition to the private sector includes a successful business consulting firm, and features professional highlights as an environmental activist and colleague of former Governor Bob Graham, Founder and Chairman of the Florida Conservation Coalition.
“We’re very pleased that Senator Constantine has become part of our team here in the Southeast Region,” says Michelle Thatcher, National Director of the U.S. Green Chamber. “His demonstrated commitment to energy, education, the environment and economic development deeply reflects what we care about here at the Green Chamber. And, the Senator’s knowledge of both government policy and practical real-world solutions will help us educate and guide our member-businessmen who want to be both prosperous and responsible.”
“The Senator has already been working with us to help implement programs and workshops,” says Thatcher. Lee’s been mighty busy these days, organizing and promoting the Southeast Region’s pending conference on May 31st. “Sustainability Sells: Making Sustainability Work for Your Business” will include some very influential attendees, including IKEA, and First Green Bank, along with Bike, Beans and Bordeaux. These businesses embrace practical sustainability, and have prospered through social responsibility manifest as a core value that sharpens any company’s competitive edge.
Lee Constantine’s legacy of success through public office, the private sector, and environmental activism reveal an almost evangelical devotion to healthy life, commerce and land. Lee sums it up for us in this simple declaration: “I deeply care about helping empower business owners to become more prosperous by integrating sustainable business practices in their day to day operations.” Sure, we could have closed with a sexier quote, but Lee’s career accomplishments do the talking for him.
