2026 Climate Champions Award Ceremony
March 11, 2026 @ 11:00AM — 1:00PM Eastern Time (US & Canada) Add to Calendar
Michael's on East Ballroom: 1212 S East Ave Sarasota, FL 34239 Get Directions
Climate Champions Award Ceremony
The 2026 Climate Champions Awards will bestow the coveted Beacon Award upon individuals who have made sustained contributions to climate adaptation in our region, recognizing their pivotal role in addressing the urgent environmental challenges specific to adapting to our warming climate. (The photo accompanying this article features these 2024 award recipients from the Climate Adaptation Center (CAC). Their leadership is a powerful force for our entire community, continuing a legacy of excellence that is fully detailed across our archive of all annual group winners.)
We proudly honor our past year's Climate Champions, the Guardians of Resilience who stand at the forefront of building a sustainable future.
- 2025 David Kotok (Climate Finance & Policy): A founding member of CAC, he brings climate finance discussions to the Federal Reserve Board and advances national adaptation policy.
- 2025 Dr. Karen Holbrook (Academic Integration): She integrates the CAC into the academic community, hosts all CAC conferences at USF Sarasota-Manatee, and fosters faculty collaboration.
- 2025 A.G. Lafley (Coastal Resilience & Design): As CEO of The Bay Park Conservancy, he transforms the space into a national model for resilience by filtering millions of gallons of water and mitigating storm surges.
- 2025 Tracie Troxler (Sustainable Community Action): She sparks a composting movement as founder of Sunshine Community Compost, strengthening community resilience through sustainable waste solutions.
- 2024 Marshall Gobuty (Net-Zero Construction): He pioneers net-zero home development as the founder of Pearl Homes, setting a standard for energy-efficient housing.
- 2024 Jennifer Rominiecki (Institutional Sustainability): She leads Marie Selby Botanical Gardens to become the world’s first net-positive botanical garden complex, producing more energy than it uses.
- 2024 David Tomasko (Water Quality & Science): He directs the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program, leading efforts for the recovery of Sarasota Bay and informing adaptation strategies.
- 2024 Steve Newborn (Climate Journalism): He reports critical local environmental and climate news to the community as an NPR radio reporter for WUSF.
- 2024 Jessica Meszaros (Climate Journalism): She reports on climate change and the environment for WUSF, participating in NPR's High-Impact Climate Change Team.
- 2023 Ed Chiles (Water Restoration): He restores clams and seagrass to local waterways through the All Clams on Deck Program, improving water quality.
- 2023 Jon Thaxton (Conservation Advocacy): He serves as a prominent voice on resilience strategies, committed to conserving and protecting Florida's natural spaces.
- 2023 Charles C. Reith (Nature-Based Coastal Solutions): Founder of Surf Micro Forests, he advances coastal resilience by planting high-performance microforests that intercept stormwater, reduce nutrient runoff, and improve water quality across the Suncoast.
- 2023 Dr. David Shafer & Dr. Jennifer Shafer (Science-Based Climate Leadership): As co-executive directors of the Science and Environment Council, they provide science-based leadership on climate challenges, guiding regional collaboration through the Climate Council of Sarasota-Manatee.
- 2023 Bill Waddill (Resilient Landscape Planning & Design): With more than three decades of experience as a certified planner and landscape architect, he leads transformative public-space design and implementation as Chief Operating Officer of the Bay Park Conservancy.
Thank you to our sponsors!
- Charles and Margery Barancik Foundation is a Platinum sponsor
- WUSF is a Platinum sponsor
- Sarasota Magazine is a Platinum sponsor
- Tommy Express Car Wash is our Platinum sponsor
- The Gulf Coast Community Foundation is a Platinum sponsor
Become a Member
Category 5 members receive VIP tickets for all conference events and receptions.
To see benefits, click here.
The Climate Adaptation Center, Inc. is a Florida-based 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, donations to which are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE, 1-800-HELP-FLA. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. (CH66971)