Coward has more than three decades of professional experience in Florida as a planner, clean energy policy expert, small business owner, elected official (i.e., 12 years as a St. Lucie County Commissioner), and 10 years as the Executive Director of SELF. He attended Florida State University earning a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning, with an emphasis on economics and the environment. Doug has also worked as a Senior Environmental Planner with St. Lucie County, an Environmental Specialist, and Clean Energy Executive in the private sector, and Community Planner with 1000 Friends of Florida. Coward has received numerous awards, including “Most Outstanding Green Elected Official” from the South Florida Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and “Outstanding Local Public Official of the Year” from the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (FAPA). He has been described by the Florida media as, “an unusual combination of environmentalist, smart growth proponent, and business advocate.”