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“All of the speakers had outstanding background experience, plus good presentation skills. They weren't just speaking theory; they were speaking real-world. They were successful trailblazers, continuing to actively lead the way to future innovations in products and practices. Kudos…for putting together such a great roster of speakers!”

“It was nice to hear from a mainstream businessperson who had taken his business green and could talk about the challenges and the solid ROI. It was totally on point.”

“All (speakers) were better than expected-interesting, powerful, and truthful, and all with a green slant.” 

"The small business panel made this event.  All of the panel members exceeded my expectations!"

 

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Rick Howard is President / CEO of Sklar Furnishings, a Boca Raton furniture retail and design store that specializes in mid to high end fine contemporary furnishings. This unique design store offers its clients full interior design services and products to help them achieve their vision.

Rick has been an entrepreneur for over 40 years---his businesses have included a contract furniture manufacturing company Kinetics headquartered in Canada but with manufacturing and sales facilities on several continents; a fiber-optic marketing and promotional sign company called Xotec with offices in both Canada and the United States; a packaging company Polypro headquartered in Charlotte North Carolina selling to the Fortune 50 companies; and finally Sklar Furnishings, here in Boca Raton founded in 2002. 

Rick has been active in all the governing boards of many industries he has been involved with.  He and Kinetics Furniture are the recipients of the Governor General’s Design Canada Award.  He currently sits on the National Home Furnishings Board, The Contemporary Design Group Board and the Palm Beach Habitat for Humanity Board.  Since moving to Boca Raton Rick and Sklar Furnishings have embraced the community and many of the worthy causes found here—Boca Helping Hands, Junior League, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Florence Fuller Children’s Home, Caldwell Theater, Autism Speaks, Kids in Distress, Make a Wish Foundation and Susan Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. 

Sklar Furnishings began our green commitment by joining the Sustainable Furnishings Council right at its inception.   This organization places expectations and responsibilities on retailers to monitor their vendors and to act responsibly themselves. It is our industry watchdog and has become a well respected partner in a very short space of time. 
Our personal team of 22 has embraced the changes necessary to grow into greenness.  Our list of changes runs the gamut from the huge—cutting our KWH enough to save 80% a month from FPL to cutting our paper buying in half to the small---one employee rides his bike to work several days a month and we all turn our computers and fans off at night. It is amazing what can be accomplished small and large by harnessing the creativity around  us!