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Founded in 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia, the Green Chamber of the South supports the growth and success of sustainable business and encourages innovation and adoption of clean technology. It is a non-profit organization working to make the Southeast the center of sustainable business in the United States. The Green Chamber of the South is dedicated to one core purpose: to bring together businesses and organizations across the Southeast to promote the growth, innovation and success of sustainability. The Green Chamber connects sustainable businesses, clean technology companies, corporations with sustainability programs, nonprofits and government organizations throughout the Southeast so that they may create enduring business connections, share best green practices, learn from one another and grow both their own bottom lines as well as create new green jobs.
Bernie Burgener is a member of the Green Chamber of the South and leads the Chamber’s Greenhouse Accelerator program, whose objective it is to help create green jobs through the support of early-stage green startups and sustainability initiatives within existing companies.
Early in his career Bernie helped fund and grow small businesses in various countries and industries in South America in a financial as well as a consulting function, working for an Investment Company out of Lima, Peru. Then he worked for over twenty years with a water treatment company in Atlanta, being responsible for its international business development.
Today, Bernie’s activities are focused on encouraging and supporting companies to adopt sustainable business practices.
Robert C. Newcomer, Esq. has practiced law in Atlanta, Georgia since 1996. Hiss legal practice is a mix of commercial litigation and real estate, environmental and business law.
Mr. Newcomer is a LEED AP and serves on the Sustainable Building Taskforce for Sustainable Atlanta and the Sustainability Taskforce for Atlanta BeltLine. He is a member of U.S. Green Building Council Georgia Chapter and the Urban Land Institute – Atlanta District Council, where he serves on the Management Committee, Advisory Board and as Chair of the Technical Assistance Program Committee. Mr. Newcomer helped establish and serves on a number of non-profit boards, including the Green Chamber of the South, girltank Foundation and WACSI Environmental Education, Inc. Mr. Newcomer was a founding board member of eduKALB, whose mission is to improve school board performance in DeKalb County through civic engagement, candidate endorsements and professional (board) training. Mr. Newcomer also serves on the board of a 2nd generation family business.
Mr. Newcomer received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where he graduated cum laude and served as an editor of the Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum. He received a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment. Mr. Newcomer is admitted to practice in the State of Georgia, and is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and the Atlanta Bar Association (Environmental Section (past chair), Real Estate Section & Litigation Section).
Mr. Newcomer is an avid long distance cyclist and trail runner.