Thank you, EcoFest volunteers! From left, Kevin Young, Johanna Diez Palacio and Chris Stoney (not pictured: Mike Rhoads).
On a big planet with lots of future to plan for, little gestures add up. Based on the smiles, interest and dialogue, TECO team members’ environmental and community efforts to mark Earth Day 2023 were welcome gestures indeed – for multiple reasons.
Because EcoFest Is a Big Deal: For TECO, it’s important to not only be a friendly and visible part of the community – we have to connect with our customers to offer solutions only a company like ours can offer. That means letting them know about the many ways we can help them save energy, partner in a sustainable future and lower their bills.
“It was a pleasure working at EcoFest,” said Energy Management II Analyst Mike Rhoads, among several team members who donated a Saturday to meet people at Tampa Electric’s tent outside the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa on April 22. “I enjoyed interacting with our customers. Some wanted tips on how to reduce their bills. Several customers were just happy to see us out in the community.”
Tampa Electric brought some serious electric vehicle (EV) muscle to EcoFest.
Because Everything We Do Around Earth Day (and Every Day) for the Environment Is Worthwhile. EcoFest wasn’t our only Earth Day-related activity. Team members jumped into action April 20 to represent their company in the Raymond James Sustainability Fair at that company’s St. Petersburg campus. A day later, about 40 volunteers from a combination of Tampa Electric and Peoples Gas environmental, safety and real estate teams once again joined forces with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful for the 3rd Annual Great Port Cleanup. There are countless opportunities like this for your team get its gloved hands dirty for a good cause, and Tampa Electric’s Sr. Manager of Land and Stewardship Programs Stan Kroh can help.
Volunteers cleaning up the natural Florida landscape near the Manatee Viewing Center.
“We worked at the Manatee Viewing Center, the Florida Conservation and Technology Center and the Apollo Beach Nature Preserve,” Stan said. “We picked up debris and removed invasive species as well as prepared the MVC for storm season. Monday I was with (Manager of Customer Experience Products and Services Solutions) Kenna Gonzalez’s team at the Suncoast Youth Conservation Center. We performed some much-needed weeding and then kayaked on Newman Branch Creek.”
Randy Melton, left, and Christopher Cooper clear invasive species with the Florida Conservation and Technology Center in the background.
Electric Vehicles Program Manager Alexander Keyhani, meanwhile, drove home the value of electric vehicles for the environment and consumers alike at the Tampa Bay Electric Vehicle Association’s Drive Electric Tampa Bay Earth Day Event in Brandon:
“For Earth Day, I had the privilege of representing Tampa Electric, discussing EV advancements/technologies and passing out water (from the frunk cooler of the Ford Motor Company F-150 Lightning) to attendees at the Tampa Bay Electric Vehicle Association’s EV show,” Alexander said. “Owners were able to show their EV vehicles to the public, offer rides and share their experiences driving EVs.”
Because the Future Needs More Efforts from Us and Many Others to Create a Better World. No, not everyone can power more than 160,000 homes with solar power – but we can. If we keep it up, it makes us a good bet for creating a better future.
At WEDU in Tampa, Tampa Electric’s Heather Santana (in the pink shirt) brings energy-saving education to the public for Earth Day with help from local author Kristy Bright (at left).
Go get ’em, TECO Earth Week volunteers!
