Chris Castro

As Chief Sustainability Officer, I embrace, advocate for, and work to advance the vision of an inclusive, equitable and regenerative economic system. Reporting to the Executive Chairman, I support executive leadership in various ways to improve operations, offer sustainability consulting, accelerate strategic market expansion, enable new partnerships, engage in public relations and external affairs, and drive business development at the Holding Company level, including Climate First Bank, and clean energy fintech subsidiary, OneEthos. https://ClimateFirstBank.com https://OneEthos.com

Climate First Bank is a values-based, FDIC-insured, digital community bank that specializes in clean energy finance and sustainable banking solutions. Climate First Bank is Florida's first B-Corp certified bank that focuses on providing capital for communities, companies, organizations, and families in pursuit of a better world. The status quo of sustainability is no longer an option. The future demands we work together now to reverse the damage done by our carbon addiction. Climate First Bank is a full-service community bank offering personal and commercial banking services with a triple bottom line of people, planet, and prosperity. We will support customers, communities, and our planet by operating as a vehicle for positive change. http://ClimateFirstBank.com

OneEthos is a Certified B Corp and registered as public benefit corporation. It is a sister digital technology company of Climate First Bank. We operate in the intersection of financial technology (fintech) and traditional banking with the objective to accelerate the delivery of sustainable and inclusive financial services to all segments of the population. We are one of the only fintechs in the United States regulated by the Federal Reserve Bank. Our mission is to enable Community Banks, Credit Unions, CDFIs, and Green Banks to grow their loan portfolios profitably and responsibly. We believe everyone should have access to banking products and services that have a positive impact on people, their communities and the environment. Over the last 4 years, OneEthos has built and developed over a dozen digital technology solutions for Climate First Bank, including one of the leading climate financing platforms helping to facilitate residential and commercial solar and clean energy loans nationwide. https://oneethos.com

The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air brings together a distinguished group of international leaders and experts in public health, science, academia, policy and industry to develop a bold, solutions-driven strategy for improving indoor air quality in all 
buildings around the world. Launched at the United Nations on September 23, 2025, the Commission will work collaboratively to develop a Global Framework for Action, articulating a global vision and objectives, core principles and guiding values, and key strategic pillars. The Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air is comprised of more than 170 renowned international leaders and experts from nearly 30 countries spanning public health, science, academia, policy and industry who are banding together to advance a Global Framework for Action for making healthy indoor environments the norm—not the exception—in all buildings everywhere. https://www.wellcertified.com/global-commission

IDEAS For Us, Inc is a 501c3 non-profit organization that is advancing sustainability solutions and environmental awareness through campus and community action around the World. We provide guidance and mentorship to a network of sustainability leaders around the World, offering professional training programs, resource and program development, and peer-to-peer mentorship to nurture the talents of leaders. We ultimately drive local solutions to global problems and implement sustainability initiatives that advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals. IDEAS For Us acts as the guiding body for the IDEAS (Intellectual Decisions on Environmental Awareness Solutions) Movement and chapter network. We help to incubate new ideas and initiatives; build partnerships and connections, and develop new chapters to expand the movement and our positive environmental impacts across communities around the World. * IDEAS For Us is an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. * I was the acting Executive Director from 2008-2013, and President of the Board of Directors from 2010-2022 for IDEAS For Us. * Following my tenure as a Presidential appointee for the Biden-Harris Administration (2022-2025), I’m rejoining the Board of Directors of the global nonprofit, IDEAS For Us, and subsidiaries Fleet Farming and Edible Landscapes. Email: Contact@IDEASforUs.org Website: http://IDEASforUs.org Facebook: http://facebook.com/IDEASforUs Twitter: @IDEAStweetsUs Instagram: @IDEASforUs.ngo

Fleet Farming started to redefine how we produce and distribute food by creating hyper-local, community-based, low-carbon urban farming programs in cities around the World. The Fleet Farming model is built on the mantra 'Grow Food, Not Lawns', converting underutilized land and homeowner lawns into 100% edible, organic landscapes. Fleet Farming is a social enterprise created and managed by the eco-action non-profit organization, IDEAS For Us. The Fleet Farming model incorporates edible landscaping, fruit gleaning, educational workshops, and raised bed garden installations for schools, churches, retirement communities, business, and homeowners. Website: http://fleetfarming.org Email: Fleet@ideasforus.org

Project Green Schools work to develop the next generation of environmental leaders through education, project-based learning and community service. http://projectgreenschools.org

I serve as a strategic advisor to executive leaders of nonprofit organizations and mission-align businesses, providing pro bono consulting in strategic planning, financial management, and partnership development. My focus has been helping mission-driven organizations strengthen their impact and build sustainable growth strategies. - ASHRAE - https://www.ashrae.org/ - Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) -https://energycenter.org/ - Project Greenschools - https://projectgreenschools.org/ - Global Network for Zero (GNFZ) - https://www.globalnetworkforzero.com/ - GreenLink Analytics - https://www.greenlinkanalytics.org/ - Project17 / Battery Tour - https://www.aymusik.com/project17 - Gradible / GoSeeTheCity - https://gradible.co/

In September 2024, following 2+ years of serving as Chief of Staff for the SCEP office, I accepted a new appointment at DOE to join the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) as a Senior Advisor for State and Community Engagement to further enhance both internal departmental and external stakeholder relations with EERE and our 11 Clean Energy Technology Offices and cross-cut initiatives regarding place-based clean energy transitions. http://energy.gov/EERE

Serving as a Biden-Harris Administration appointee joining the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to work with U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm to pursue President Biden’s ambitious clean energy goals and transition to a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) works under the Undersecretary of Infrastructure and coordinates with states, tribal nations, city and county governments, utilities, and communities in the planning, design, and deployment of clean energy and decarbonization solutions. https://www.energy.gov/scep

Serving as an Advisory Board member for United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Institute for Capacity Building (ICB) to explore the development of Centers of Excellence in Environmental Leadership at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) — which will support a new generation of Black leaders in the fights against climate change and environmental racism. https://uncficb.org/

Mayor Buddy Dyer launched Green Works Orlando in 2007 to transform Orlando into one of the most environmentally-friendly, socially inclusive and economically vibrant communities in the nation. Green Works Orlando represents our commitment to utilize the City’s regional leadership position to build partnerships and share resources that foster positive environmental changes. In my role, I assist Mayor Buddy Dyer and our senior staff with the coordination, development, integration, and administration of the City’s sustainability, energy, and climate policies and programs. http://GreenWorksOrlando.com

-- Service Learning Certificate -- Global Information Systems (GIS) Analyst Certificate. -- Florida Academic Scholar. 100% Bright Futures Scholarship (2006-2010) -- Directed Independent Study: IDS 4914 - Unifying Theme Research Team. -- Directed Independent Study: IDS 4914 - Environmental Leadership. -- Directed Independent Study: BSC 4906 - UCF Landscape & Natural Resources