Company Info for valenciacollege.edu | IcebreakerValencia College
Valencia College
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Chris is an experienced climate and clean energy finance executive, sustainability pro, and eco-entrepreneur with a unique expertise in the policy, planning, and financing of decarbonization solutions for the power, buildings, and transportation sectors.
From 2022-2025, Chris joined the Biden-Harris administration as a presidential appointee to serve as the inaugural Chief of Staff for a newly formed Office at the U.S. Department of Energy serving State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP). In September 2024, Chris was promoted as the Senior Advisor in the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE). In both roles, Chris worked to advance President Biden’s ambitious climate and clean energy goals and transition to a net-zero emissions economy by 2050.
For 8+ years prior, Chris became a renowned public official in his role as the Senior Advisor to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Director of Sustainability & Resilience at the City of Orlando, Florida. #GreenWorksOrlando
In addition, Chris is known for his eco -entrepreneurial efforts over the last 17+ years, including co-founder and President of IDEAS For Us, a global UN-accredited 501c3 nonprofit working to incubate and fund innovative projects that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2012, Chris also started a clean-energy firm called Citizen Energy, in 2013 co-created Fleet Farming, the renowned urban farming social enterprise program, and in 2020, Chris joined partners to launch Climate First Bank, the first B-Corp community climate bank in Florida.
Chris has served on over a dozen nonprofit and academic boards, including the Florida Solar Energy Center, US Green Building Council of FL, Project Greenschools, FL SUN, and Goodwill Industries of Central Florida.
Over the years, Chris has become nationally recognized for his efforts; including being named the 2018 Public Official of the Year by Governing, a ‘Champions of Change' by President Barack Obama, the 'Guru of Green' by the Orlando Business Journal, the Grist 50 Fixer, and formal recognition from President Bill Clinton, President Jimmy Carter, and VP Al Gore.
In December 2018, Chris starred in the National Geographic documentary on climate change called "Paris to Pittsburgh" to share the Orlando journey on climate action to millions of people around the World.
As a thought leader, Chris has been a Brookings Institute fellow and spoken at more than 200+ conferences and events, including the United Nations summits, Vatican Youth Symposium, NASA Innovation Expo, TEDx Orlando, and more. 
With three decades of experience as a CMO and EVP in Marketing and Brand Strategy, I’ve dedicated my career to driving growth, innovation, and brand excellence across various industries. My expertise lies in crafting and executing integrated marketing strategies that enhance brand visibility, optimize customer acquisition costs, and boost user engagement. I've led large-scale digital transformations, managed global teams, and developed robust lead generation systems that significantly increased pipeline and revenue.
Throughout my career, I've consistently demonstrated my ability to align marketing initiatives with business objectives, achieving notable results. For instance, at Revature, I reduced customer acquisition costs by 20%, and at EVERFI, I increased web traffic by 30% through SEO enhancements. I thrive in dynamic environments where innovation, collaboration, and strategic thinking are paramount.
As a leader, I’m passionate about fostering a culture of creativity and efficiency. This allows me to successfully rebrand organizations, drive departmental growth, and implement scalable marketing solutions. Whether launching a new product, managing a multimillion-dollar budget, or mentoring the next generation of marketers, I bring a hands-on approach and a strategic vision to every challenge.
I’m excited to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in marketing, leveraging my extensive experience to help organizations achieve their goals and make a lasting impact in the market. 
I am currently a Fractional Controller and Accountant at Christy Nicholas, CPA
Specialties: Corporate Finance, Tax accounting, External Reporting (SEC), International Business.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING PROFESSIONAL WITH OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE
Accomplished, detail-oriented accounting professional with a history of accounting success and experience that benefits organizational missions. Highly skilled at financial statement preparation, overall general ledger management, and financial reporting experience for regional, national and international companies. Superior communication skills, excellent customer service aptitude, positive attitude, and ability to work well in a fast-paced environment. Key skills include:
Tax Preparation for individuals and small businesses, specializing in creatives such as authors and artists.
Budgeting, Forecasting, & Cost Management - Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance - Tax Reporting & Compliance
Managerial Accounting - SEC Reporting - Process Analysis/Improvement- Percentage of Completion
Financial Statement Preparation - IFRS & FASB Research - Spreadsheet Creation - FAS 109/FAS123R
Financial Modeling – Long- and Short-Term Planning - Key Planning Indicators - XBRL Implementation Accounting Memos - Training - Relationship Building - Financial Management
Technical Portfolio: Microsoft Suite, BlackLine, ADP, Wdesk, PeopleSoft, SharePoint, SAP, Deltek, D365, and SQL. 
