President and Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board, and Founder. As an internationally recognized leader in the field of ethical banking and outspoken advocate for values-based businesses, Ken has always had a unique approach to banking and believes that in addition to making a profit, finance can be a force for good. Three years after the sale of his first bank, Florida Choice Bank, Ken was able to put this approach into action with the founding of First GREEN Bank – the very first bank in the eastern United States with an environmental and social mission. Under Ken’s leadership, First GREEN Bank expanded across Florida and his values-based business model demonstrated that financial excellence can occur without ethical compromise. Now, with a continued dedication to reverse the climate crisis, Ken is expanding on First GREEN Bank’s legacy with his newest bank, Climate First Bank the nation’s first climate-focused community bank.
Michele Glorie has spent her entire career in the Florida banking industry. Her first experience was with a start-up bank in St. Lucie County, Port St. Lucie National Bank. She was responsible for the accounting operations and helped grow the bank to $150 million in assets until it was sold in 1997. Later she joined Enterprise Bank of Florida in North Palm Beach where she was the CFO, responsible for all accounting and backroom operations. Most recently, Michele was with Harbor Community Bank where she was the Director of Operations. She was a key management member that helped grow the bank from $50 million in assets in 2011 to $2.2 billion in assets with over 50 branches throughout the State of Florida. She was responsible for nine data conversions as a result of the eight bank acquisitions Harbor transacted during seven years. Harbor was sold to CenterState Bank in early 2018. Michele has lived in St. Lucie and Martin Counties since moving to Florida in 1977 with her family. She .......
Dominik Mjartan is President/CEO of Optus Bank located in Columbia SC, a U.S. Treasury certified CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution) and an MDI (FDIC designated Minority Depository Institution). He spent more than a decade as a senior executive officer at a community development bank, Southern Bancorp, most recently as the Executive Vice President of Southern Bancorp, Inc. (SBI), a holding company for Southern Bancorp Bank and CEO of an affiliated lending company Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP). He is past Chair of the CDFI Coalition and a current director of the Community Development Bankers Association, D.C.-based advocacy organizations.
Jared Meyers is the Owner and/or Chairman of several companies headquartered in Florida. The most notable ones are those that operate under the Legacy Vacation Resorts and Salt Palm brands. Legacy Vacation Resorts (“LVR”) is a hospitality company that operates in Florida, Colorado, Nevada, and New Jersey and serves over 100,000 families per year at its 8 resorts. It began in 2011 after the purchase of Celebrity Resorts, a company formally owned and operated by Jared as CEO from 2003-2010. During that time, Celebrity Resorts was one of the fastest-growing timeshare companies in the US, acquiring 21 resorts in 7 years. Today, LVR is focused on providing a unique guest experience while utilizing its resources to make a positive societal impact.
Nancy Wolf is a former human resources manager and corporate trainer for Mellon Bank and Sprint/Florida. Before her work in HR, Ms. Wolf worked in international public health in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, facilitating the delivery of health care to underserved areas. Her passion for philanthropy has led her to serve on a variety of charity, education, and civic boards, including the Orlando Museum of Art, Planned Parenthood of Greater Orlando, University of Central Florida Town & Gown Council, and Ruth’s List Florida. Along with her husband, the founder, and president of Wendover Housing Partners, Ms. Wolf has supported the efforts of this company to become one of the premier affordable housing development companies in the Southeast committed to creating the highest quality housing opportunities in economically disadvantaged and socially diverse neighborhoods. Ms. Wolf is a graduate of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and earned a Master of Public Health degree from Columbia University.
Brock joined the board of Climate First Bank in February 2022. His prior banking experience includes service as Vice Chairman of the board of First Green Bancorp, Inc., another values-based community bank that was later acquired by Seacoast Bank. He has also served as counsel to the board of directors of Florida Capital Bank and has represented investors in fiduciary litigation against a national bank and led the unwinding of a Florida mortgage company during the financial crisis of 2008. Brock is a 34-year veteran attorney with a law practice that has included commercial litigation and serving as trustee involved in structuring and managing assets of high-net-worth families heavily invested in private equity, public securities, real estate, and debt. Fluent in German, Brock was appointed Honorary Consul of Germany in Orlando in 2010 and continues in that role serving German citizens and hosting events including an annual German street party. Brock is a private pilot of a Cirrus SR 22 which he flies for both business and pleasure. He resides in Orlando with his wife Sarah and two dogs.
Edith “Edye” Haddock grew up in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and attended the University of Tennessee where she majored in Business Administration. In 1994, Edye moved to Winter Park and established Murphy Properties where she has remained active with transactions in Florida and North Carolina. Edye’s career in real estate and community has many noteworthy highlights. Edye was a driving force and founding president of the 18 county Charlotte Region Commercial Board of Realtors. She was honored by being named “Realtor of the Year” for establishing the Charlotte Region Commercial Board of Realtors. Edye was the second woman in the State of North Carolina to earn the prestigious CCIM designation. She was recognized as one of the top ten commercial brokers in Charlotte. In addition to her Central Florida real estate interests, Edye is an active volunteer community leader in organizations with missions and values that align with those of Climate First Bank.
Fayson joins Climate First Bank’s board with a passion for change and a can-do attitude. A graduate of University of Illinois, Fayson played football at UF where he helped the Gators win the national championship in 2006 before transferring to help the Illini win the Texas Bowl in 2010. Fayson now is the CEO of Sadler Fayson Fulfillment and resides in the St.Pete/Tampa area. Fayson has always had a passion for philanthropy, he's currently a board member of The Nature Conservancy and chair of the Fisheries Council for the Florida chapter. Fayson aims to raise awareness and education for the preservation and protection of marine life and estuaries. Fayson will use his knowledge and experience to help Climate First Bank expand its perspective and ability to create positive change in not just the areas that impact humans, but the animals that inhabit the area, too.
*Pending regulatory approval.
A veteran finance and banking professional, Jose Camacho is currently Chairman and CEO of New World Bank, a boutique financial institution specializing in affordable housing, opportunity zones and providing financing and investment for global needs. He has vast experience implementing, monitoring and enforcing government affordable housing regulations and procedures, and will use this knowledge to further Climate First Bank’s affordable housing lending initiatives. Camacho first connected with LaRoe when he served as a Director of LaRoe’s first bank, Florida Choice Bank. Camacho has a Juris Doctorate as well as degrees in community development management and business administration.
In his new role, Ford helms bank operations and, most importantly, builds Climate First Bank’s book of business. Ford has an excellent understanding of the Orlando market, having spent his entire banking career in Central Florida, and is looking to expand the bank’s presence in the market while also growing and expanding connections statewide. Before Climate First Bank, Ford was Senior Vice President and Commercial Banker III at Seacoast Bank and Senior Vice President and Wingman to the Chairman at First GREEN Bank. For his leadership within the local community, Ford was recognized by the Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Awards in 2017.
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