Jerry Comellas

Professional Qualifications

• University of South Florida, Tampa, FL - Master of Arts, Global Sustainability (5/2017)

• Focus: Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Tourism, The Food-Energy-Water Nexus

• Certified Practitioner, Project Management for Sustainable Development, PM4SD

• One Planet Living, Futuremaker - Integrating Action Plans for a More Sustainable Future

• Other Coursework in Humanitarian Assistance 

• Re:Boot Coding, Tampa, FL - Front End Web Development (6/2015) HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript, jQuery, Git/GitHub, Bootstrap, SASS, Angular

• Southeastern University, Lakeland, FL - Bachelor of Arts, Missions (Global)  (12/1999) - Minor: Leadership & Administration

• United States Army Chaplain Center and School, Chaplain Assistant (6/1993)

• Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ - A.S. Social Science Program (6/1993)

• Army Certificate of Educational Excellence

Appointments

• Environmental Project Director, Green Armada Foundation, St. Petersburg, FL (7/17 to present)

• Pilot Program for required UNWTO Indicators for Sustainable Tourism Observatories, United Nations World Tourism Organization, International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories and metrics from the Global Sustainable Tourism Council

• Blue Criteria for Coastal Habitat and Marine Environment Protection for Tourism

• Ecotone Community Environmental Action Group

• Program Council Member, Blue Community Consortium 

• Eco-Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of Sustainable Eco-Systems, Ruskin, FL

• Sustainably Grown Mushrooms and Microgreens in Eco-Urban Farms

• Sustainability Consulting, Fat Beet Farm, Tampa, FL

• Biodigesters, Hydroponics, Sustainability Standards and Practice

• Business Development & Sustainability Education, Rosebud Continuum, Land o’ Lakes, FL (1/18)

• Aquaponics, Biodigesters, Agroforestry, Biosand Filter, Solar Energy, Horticulture

• Sustainability / Sustainable Tourism Assessor (5/17 - 12/17)

• Waves of Change Blue Community Consortium 

• The Resort at Longboat Key Club Sustainability Assessment

• The Pine Avenue Restoration Project Sustainability Assessment

• Commonwealth of Dominica Sustainability Assessments

• Rosalie Bay Resort, Secret Bay Resort, Papillote Wilderness Retreat, Jungle Trekking & Adventure Safaris, Banana Lama Eco Villa, Geothermal Energy Project, Dominica Agriculture, DOWASCO Water Mgmt, Sustainable Tourism

• Florida Society of Ethical Ecotourism (Florida-SEE)

• Around the Bend Nature Tours and Biotica Ecotours Manatee/Sarasota County

• Florida Green Lodging Program, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

• Resort Sustainability Audit for Hyatt Regency Sarasota

• Non Profit Director, Acorn to Oak International (8/2007 - 5/2017)

• Teacher Training in India; Orphan Care in Mexico; Church Planting in Paraguay; Healthcare Product Distribution in Nicaragua; Feeding programs in the Philippines; Refugee Outreach in Tampa; Special Ed in Tampa; Community center in Ecuador; Pastoral Ministry in Dominica; University Ministry; Conference speaker D.C. & Orlando

• Clinical Educator, Florida League of Christian Schools (7/2005 - 8/2007)

• School Accreditations and Professional Orientation Programs

• School Director, Beacon Academy (Special Needs School), Tampa, FL (7/2011 - 8/2012)

• Aligned curriculum with FL standards; organized programs, RTI, certification.

• School Principal, Victorious Life Academy, Wesley Chapel, FL (7/2004 - 8/2007)

• Led school to accreditation, formed auxiliary programs, spelling & geography bee

• Middle School Science & Social Science Teacher Trinity & Gateway (8/2011 - 7/2004)

• Earth Science, Life Science, World/American History, Literature, Model U.N.

• VP Administration, CryoFlex Inc. West Palm Beach, FL (12/1999 - 7/2001)

• Advanced company developed cryomedical imaging systems

• Veteran, U.S. Army, USAG-HI & HHB 1-8 FA, 25th Infantry Div, Schofield Barracks, HI (2/93-12/96)

• Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, Army Air Assault Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Army Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Physical Fitness Excellence, Honorable Discharge, Army Service Ribbon

Products

• Report Blog, Green Initiatives for Green Jobs in the Commonwealth of Dominica, USF, Patel College of Global Sustainability, https://usf-pcgs.com/category/jerry-comellas/

• Community Engagement Project, Sustainable Seafood Cookbook for Foodies and Fisherfolk, Marketing Concept for Sarasota Bay Estuary Program

• Online Sustainable Tourism Survey: Blue Criteria for Coastal Habitat and Marine Environment Protection at Lodges, Hotels and Resorts

• Humanitarian Assistance Base Camps and the Food-Energy-Water Nexus as presented at the 2017 Florida A&M University Energy-Water-Food Nexus Conference

• Global Sustainability Research Project: Survey of Dominica’s Green & Blue Economies, interviews at government & community level, analysis of food-energy-water nexus systems, sustainable tourism, ecotourism and livelihood development

Synergistic Activities

• Marine Habitat Protection projects with the Florida Sea Turtle Conservancy, Disney’s Tour de Turtles and the Dominica Sea Turtle Conservation & Nature Enhancement Team

• Tampa Innovation Alliance 2015 Urban Planning Study of Innovation Districts

• Session Moderator for the 2016 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference

• Hurricane Irma Recovery & Resilience Project at Grimal Grove in Big Pine Key, Florida with the building of a Solar Cities Community Scale Biodigester.

• Biodigester Training and Design at Sustain Hope in Springfield, Missouri & ECHO Fort Myers, FL