The board of directors of Miami Waterkeeper announced the appointment of David A. Schwedel as chair of the board of trustees, effective immediately.
Miami Waterkeeper serves as an advocate and outreach organization for the waters of South Florida. It engages in community outreach, education, and legal advocacy to protect citizens’ right to clean water and protection of the marine environment. Miami Waterkeeper is a member of the international Waterkeeper Alliance, which consists of more than 240 local Waterkeepers patrolling rivers, lakes, and coastal waterways.
“David’s extensive experience in both business and nonprofit organization will add great value to our board of trustees,” said Rachel Silverstein, executive director of Miami Waterkeeper. “We appreciate his willingness to serve our organization and the community as the chairman of the board of trustees, and look forward to benefiting from his leadership and counsel.”
Schwedel is a Miami native, and an energy technology investor who currently serves as the founder and CEO of Gables Energy Partners LLC, a leading North American energy and chemical technology company.
“It is a privilege to serve as chairman of the board of trustees for the Miami Waterkeeper, which has worked diligently to serve and protect the South Florida waters from Biscayne Bay to the Ocean and all the connecting waterways in between,” Schwedel said. “Having been born and raised in Miami, I have spent my entire life active in water sports above and below the water. This experience allowed me to witness the stresses that our local bay, coral reefs, and overall waterways have experienced over the past 45 years.
“We have an opportunity to help make a difference for the betterment of our South Florida water-based economy and community where we all live, work, and play, for both present and future generations.”
Schwedel also serves as the managing member of Corallum, a family office; executive director of Coalview, North America’s leading fully integrated coal technology company; an active supporter of several other local organizations that benefit children and their families through science and technology initiatives, including the Children’s Home Society; For A Day Foundation, and serves as a trustee and member of the Capital Campaign Committee for the Frost Science Museum.
Founded in 2011, MWK responded to the urgent need for a citizen-driven organization in South Florida to speak out for Miami and support a growing community of citizen stewards. MWK’s work focuses on three critical environmental issues that face Biscayne Bay and its surrounding watershed: sea-level rise, clean water, and ecosystem protection.
A Miami-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, MWK is the first Waterkeeper in South Florida and the only advocacy organization solely dedicated to protecting Biscayne Bay and its surrounding watershed. To learn more, visit http://miamiwaterkeeper.org.
