STAFF
Luiz Rodrigues, Director of Programs
Luiz Rodrigues, a native of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, holds a Bachelors degree in Biological Oceanography from the University of California, Santa Cruz and Masters degree in Aquatic Biology from the University of California Santa Barbara. Luiz’ passion for aquatic sciences has taken him to various parts of the world including the Caribbean, Bermuda, Tahiti, Southern Africa, the Florida Keys, and Brazil, where in 1992 he served as a representative to the United Nations Earth Summit and Global Forum in Rio de Janeiro.
Since his relocation to Miami Beach in 2000, Luiz has been actively involved with local environmental issues, chaired the Beach Preservation Committee for the City of Miami Beach for five years and, on September 2001, was hired as the new Executive Director for the Environmental Coalition of Miami & the Beaches (ECOMB).
Besides managing ECOMB, he also runs a for-profit green consulting company, Eco-Logical Solutions, serves on the Board for the “Sustainability Committee” for the City of Miami Beach (co-founder), for the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce “Sustainable Business Council”, for the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association “Green Hospitality Council” (co-founder) and, more recently, for the “Green Commission” for the City of Miami.
Any questions? Email Luiz for the answers
Brian Scheinblum, Board Vice-President
Bio coming soon.
Gabriole Van Bryce, LEED AP; Board Member: Treasurer and Secretary
Bio coming soon.
ADVISORY BOARD
James Harper, Communications Advisory Board
Born and raised in South Florida, Jim W. Harper is a citizen of the world. He studied in Sweden, New York City, and Gainesville, and he has taught English in the South Bronx, Europe, Kuwait, and now in Miami. He has traveled on six continents, including a five-month independent trek across East Asia, and he has worked with leaders from across the globe, primarily with Eisenhower Fellowships (Philadelphia) and Pew Fellowships in Marine Conservation (Miami).
Currently a professor and freelance writer (HarperFish.com), he is pursuing environmental studies with a focus on saving the ocean. He’s a regular contributor to Swimmer magazine and a double columnist for Miami’s Biscayne Times, including “Park Patrol,” a rating system for local parks. He may be the world’s only professional local park critic.
In 2011 he studied the Deepwater Horizon (BP) Oil Spill in Louisiana at the Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting, and he also completed Cooper Fellow Training for climate communicators at the University of Miami. In 2006 he was selected for the Scripps-Howard Seminar for Environmental Journalism, and in 2002 he traveled across Paraguay as part of a Traveling Fulbright Program for educators. A member of the Society of Environmental Journalists, he holds a masters degree in communications from the University of Florida and a literature degree from Columbia University.