JCCI makes democracy work - that's why after 15 years, I still love this organization.

Now that I'm approaching 15 years of working with JCCI, I'm often asked what brought me to the organization and what keeps me here. I'd like to share a few thoughts on why I feel that JCCI is such an important part of our community, and why we've been helping communities around the world set up their own JCCI's for close to three decades.

Scott London wrote a piece called Doing Democracy that captures, I think, the heart of our work. 

When Alexis de Tocqueville toured the United States in the 1830s and 1840s, he marveled at Americans’ propensity for civic participation. “Americans of all ages, all conditions and all dispositions constantly form associations,” he famously wrote. ... What was distinctive about these civic organizations, Tocqueville observed, was not just how numerous and variegated they were, but how they embodied what he saw as a unique and distinctly American understanding of democracy. Associations were the means by which Americans acted together in pursuit of their common goals and aspirations. They were carriers of what he called “habits of the heart”—the essential beliefs and practices that shape our character as democratic citizens.

But today, civic participation -- the underpinnings of successful democracy -- is at risk across the country. "Once a nation of joiners, we’ve become a nation out of joint, more disconnected from each other and from our communities than ever," London adds, quoting the work of Robert Putnam. 

So what do we do to make our democracy work? Suzanne Morse, in her book Smart Communities: How Citizens and Local Leaders Can Use Strategic Thinking to Build a Brighter Future, devotes a chapter to Practicing Democracy. In it, she writes, "Evidence shows that education, dialogue, and deliberation can make the public more aware of the seriousness of local problems and can provide a catalyst for addressing those problems. In turn, greater public involvement may encourage a culture of collaboration, which not only solicits citizen participation but also encourages and expects it. In turn, the public requests and accepts responsibility for helping solve community challenges. At its best, community problem solving can harness the energy and enthusiasm of citizens working together, putting their talents to work to address problems, and at the same time promote a sense of ownership over the processes and outcomes of democratic community life."

The example she uses to show how civic participation works in communities? Jacksonville Community Council Inc. Of us, Dr. Morse said, "In my judgment, this is the preeminent non-partisan civic organization in the country."

So why have I worked at JCCI for the past 15 years, and why am I still excited about coming to work each day? Because at JCCI, we make a difference. Because we truly believe in the bold idea that together we can build a better community. Because I see it happening every day.

Professor Daniel Schafer wrote: “There is a spirit alive in JCCI; it is the spirit of thousands of civic volunteers who have come to the aid of their beleaguered community from the 1880s until the present.” Thank you for being one of them. 

Name:  Michelle Simkulet

Role with JCCI:  Chief Financial Officer, Director of JCCI Forward, Volunteer Coordinator, Goddess

JCCI: What do you do from 9-5? 

From 9-5, I split my time between being the Chief Financial Officer and the JAX2025 Volunteer Coordinator. After 5, my focus is JCCI Forward, our leadership development program.  In the past 15 years I have held many positions for a variety of JCCI programs. And as with all positions with JCCI, I am focused on the volunteer experience, logistics and supporting the work of the committees.

JCCI:  What do you do outside of work?  

I have had to focus my “loves” in an effort to find more balance but I will always get out of bed at 6am in the cold for theatre, mental health and young people.  Currently, I serve in an officer position on the board of Mental Health of America of Jacksonville. I’ve just finished directing the International Theatre Fest at Theatre Jacksonville and a staged reading of A Lesson Before Dying as part of the WJCT Big Read.  I have planned annual special events like the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund December Holiday Party and Empowerment Resources’ Journey into Womenhood Scholarship Banquet for many years.

JCCI:  How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

I moved to Jacksonville on October 31, 1997 and my first day at JCCI was November 12. I briefly went to work for Leadership Jacksonville and a PGA/Ryder Cup contractor but never quite stopped working at JCCI. Ultimately, I was convinced that JCCI was where I belonged.   I was an inaugural member of JCCI Forward but I was not the staff person. That came in 2001. JAX2025 is the newest role for me and I learn something new every day, either about people or the community we live in.

JCCI:  What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

The tech booth at Theatre Jacksonville.  It’s a 4’x 9’  black booth that looms over the audience in the building in San Marco.  Theatre has long been my “comfort food” of activities. Going too long without it makes me unwell.  Sitting up there watching the amazing talent and strength of stories that are shared in this community rejuvenates my soul and spirit. Not everyone can see its beauty or healing properties but those who do are my kin. 

JCCI:  What community issue is on your radar that doesn’t get enough attention right now?

Without question, mental health.  For all.  Everyone. I feel strongly about preventive versus intervention healthcare but in this case I’d settle for more focused intervention.  It seems that although tragedies nationwide have brought more attention to mental health issues, locally it’s a very difficult subject to broach and work on. Funding is tougher because the stigma of being associated with mental health concerns seems to steer people clear.  Yet, I remember when the city was up in arms over the murder rate taking 100+lives per year.  People were willing to show up, speak out and put money in to solve the problem. The suicide rate that year, what I feel to be a highly preventable mortality, took 200+ lives. The rate has been that way for too long and it goes on without notice.

JCCI:  Why is JCCI important to you and Jacksonville?

Action, plain and simple. Everyone can have a say but ‘a say’ is just that. Opinions are like brains, everyone has one. But if you go beyond: Use that brain to learn, get involved and engage in action and see it through…well, that what it is all about.

JCCI's Six Questions usually focuses on volunteers, speakers and participants.  But this month, we're turning the tables....and featuring Staff!  Learn more about the folks in the office and let us know what you think!

Name:  Dr. Laura Lane

Role with JCCI:  Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

JCCI:  What do you do from 9-5?

LL: I am Vice President at JCCI and my main work is securing contract work for the organization. I'm about telling people what JCCI does, writing project proposals and then helping get the work done. Last week I sent proposals to a Community Foundation in the Chicago area and one to an agency here in Jacksonville.

JCCI:  What do you do outside of work?

LL: I teach yoga at the University Athletic Center on Wednesday mornings at 6am and also to a handful of employees at the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday evenings. I practice at Bliss Yoga Shala in San Marco. My partner is pretty good at noticing when I haven't been practicing, and she'll say, "do you need to go to yoga?" I'm not a naturally well-adjusted person, so I grab all the support I can get.

JCCI:  How and when did you get involved in JCCI or JCCI Forward?

LL:  I applied for a 6-month contract in fall 2000. I was hired to do some research for the upcoming review of the Quality of Life Indicators. My job was to find all the same data we had for Duval County but for Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Leon, and Orange counties. It totally opened my eyes to where I had been living for 6 years. I parked myself in this guy Ben Warner's  office, and he made me laugh a lot.  When he made really bad jokes I couldn't help but forgive him because he had no idea how bad his jokes really were (he has  a lot more self-awareness now).

JCCI:  What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

LL:  We have one of the coolest events in the nation when it comes to marathons and it is coming up next weekend. The 26.2 with  Donna Marathon draws people from all over the U.S. and the world. It's the National Marathon to Finish Breast Cancer. People come to Jacksonville for the weekend to  1) support breast cancer research and 2) run on Jacksonville Beach. And the entire Beach community turns out for it. It's very cool because of the cause, it is homegrown, and the marathon shows off our stuff. It's like getting our swagger back on the marathon course.

JCCI:  What issue is on your radar right now and does not get enough attention right now?

LL:  In September, the Jacksonville City Council voted to exclude me from protections ensuring everyone has an opportunity to make it here. I know a lot of people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender who move away from Jacksonville because they think their life will be better elsewhere. I did it, too. I moved back, fortunately. I love Jacksonville even though City Council says it's okay to fire me because I'm a lesbian. I love Jacksonville enough to get mad and stamp my feet but not run away. The part that is not getting enough attention right now is my transgender people. My transgender people deserve a lot more respect than they get.

JCCI:  Why is JCCI important to you and Jacksonville?

LL:  JCCI is important to me because it is where people see how and when they can contribute to the future of their neighborhood and city. I need to work for an ideal and JCCI's ideal is that everyone has a voice, a stake, in the policies and decisions that get made here everyday. JCCI is important to Jacksonville because one of the things we learned in the JAX2025 survey is that people like the small-town feel here. Lots of people want to live in a community with big city amenities. Jacksonville is only going to grow. That doesn't mean that we have to lose the community idea. We can grow and continue to build consensus, engage with each other, and keep the community idea alive.

Get to know Laura, and all the JCCI Staff and volunteers, even better - join us at an upcoming event like our quarterly JCCI 101.  Check out our Calendar of Events for details.

I can't think of a single day that at least one person doesn't say to me (or that I hear myself saying), "I'm just so busy!"  And as a JCCI staff member, it means that my already full schedule of family, work, community events, volunteering, and just keeping my life going is put under a little more pressure with the addition of a major project.  When I’m rushing around the office or racing through the Prime Osborn center on a Saturday morning, it’s easy to get distracted and overwhelmed and forget the goal of the work we're doing.

Enter Mary Lou Sutherlin.  Maybe you saw her at a JAX2025 event.  She has a beautiful smile and uses a wheelchair.  She serves on the board of the Friends of the Murray Hill Library.  She's a proud folk story teller. She's a JAX2025 Visioneer.

"I'm not a poet," she said to a JCCI staff member on Saturday, "but these events are so moving, so inspiring, I just, well, I got inspired and I wrote this."

The small yellow sheet of paper that she handed over is sitting on my desk as I write this.  And for as "busy" as my day is, I've read it four times.  It has stopped me and made as much of an impact as the Paul Harvey SuperBowl commercial did last night.  But it's not just a poem for me, or for the JCCI staff.  It's for everyone involved with JAX2025 - everyone who gets inspired from this project, so I'll share it.

JAX2025
What is our dream?
How can we make it true?
How do things seem?

JAX2025
What is to be?
Each one must make a pledge
"It's part of me."

Where will our city stand
Just twelve years from now?
We work and plan together
to show our leaders how.

Where will our city stand
When all is said and done?
We must believe and plan and work
to stand proud in the sun.

I'm ready to stand proud in the sun.  It's why JAX2025 doesn't always seem like work...it seems like a reward for the work I do every day.

Tell us how JAX2025 has inspired you.

Please make sure you thank Mary Lou for her beautiful work when you join us on March 19th for the 3rd JAX2025 Community Visioning Event.

Name:  David Meyer

Role with JCCI:  Board Member

JCCI:  What do you do from 9-5?

DM:  I am the Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer for St. Vincent’s HealthCare.

JCCI:  What do you do outside of work?  

DM:  When I am not at work, I try to devote as much time to my two girls – my wife Amy and my daughter!  I run 6-7 times a week and enjoy spending time in the yard and pool.

JCCI:  How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

DM:  I became a Board Member over a year ago.

JCCI:  What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?   

DM:  Favorite hidden gem - -this is a tough one because Jacksonville has so many terrific restaurants, parks and stores.  Although it’s certainly not hidden, but Jacksonville is home to terrific healthcare facilities and world class healthcare services for our families and friends.

JCCI:  What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community’s attention right now?

DM:  How to better utilize our natural environment, especially the St. Johns River, to improve the quality of life in Jacksonville – could be more parks and restaurants available along the river.

JCCI:  Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

DM:  Objective 3^rd party organization researching critical issues in our community.

Name: Derrick Smith

Role with JCCI:  Board Member

JCCI:  What do you do from 9-5? 

DS:  Vice President within Sales and Marketing at CSX Transportation

JCCI: What do you do outside of work? 

DS:  I am active with several community organizations including being on the boards of JCCI, Episcopal School of Jacksonville, the WJCT Foundation and the recently formed Jacksonville International Business Coalition.  In addition, I am a member of Sigma Pi Phi fraternity.  For recreation, I enjoy traveling and have rediscovered bicycling and being a life-long student trying to establish some type of golf game.

JCCI:  How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward? 

DS:  I was invited to the Board by the former Executive Director, Charles “Skip” Cramer.  He and I had worked together years ago on another community advisory board.

JCCI:  What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

DS:  Driving up Heckscher Drive to Amelia Island is often very relaxing as you look over the water.

JCCI:   What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community’s attention right now? 

DS:  The ability for this area to become a high tech or health sciences is going to require a decade or more of having an established, nationally recognized university.  The views I hear expressed seem very aspirational and arguably unrealistic in the short-term, otherwise.  I don’t believe claiming proximity to the University of Florida (70 miles away) is sufficient.  Jacksonville still needs to agree upon what its true and natural strengths are that will differentiate this community and help attract a diverse, professional workforce.

JCCI:  Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville? 

DS:  JCCI seeks out all voices to ensure there is a balanced and informed perspective on critical issues affecting this community.  It continues to be a priviledge to work with Executvie Director Ben Warner, the staff and serve on the Board and I encourage those not familiar with JCCI to learn more about this excellent organization.

Name: Jarik Conrad

Role with JCCI:  JCCI Board Member

JCCI:  What do you do from 9-5?

JC:  I lead the Employee Services Department for the City of Jacksonville.  I am also a professional speaker and management consultant focused on helping people connect better with others and make better decisions.

JCCI:  What do you do outside of work? 

JC:  Other than being a proud new father, I am probably best known for my desire to help young people improve their social and emotional skills.

JCCI:  How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

JC:  I really got to know JCCI in 2005 when we partnered on the measurement component of Blueprint for Prosperity, a city visioning process.  My wife, Adrienne, also chaired a study and implementation team, and served on the board prior to me serving.

JCCI:  What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

JC:  Adrienne, Alexandria and I are vegans, so we spend a lot of time at Native Sun Natural Foods Market.

JCCI:  What community issue is on your radar that doesn’t get enough attention right now?

JC:  There is a lot of activity around erasing the disturbing educational and economic disparities in our community, but I am often disappointed with the ways we choose to approach solving these issues.

JCCI:  Why is JCCI important to you and Jacksonville?

JC:  Most importantly, JCCI gives us an opportunity to have a common language, an objective understanding of what the issues are and how things came to be.  Without that, we cannot hope to ever solve these problems.

Name:  Matt Kane

Role with JCCI:  Board Member, Governance Committee Chair

JCCI:  What do you do from 9-5?

MK:  I own and operate Greenshades Software here in Jacksonville.  We create tax reporting, HR, and payroll related software for large businesses across the US.

JCCI:  What do you do outside of work? 

MK:  I participate in a number of philanthropic and political activities in town.  Most of them related to education.  I do it because I enjoy making a difference, but I have to admit, volunteering is hard work and takes up a lot of time.

JCCI:  How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

I was invited to be on the board of JCCI in 2010, I was a JCCI Steward before that.  My first real connection to JCCI came through Quint White who was the board chair at the time, a great friend, and a great leader in this community.

JCCI:  What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

MK:  I love running the north bank river walk and the Acosta and Main Street bridges early in the morning.  There is something about looking southeast down the St. Johns River while running over the Acosta Bridge that is really soothing (and helps me forget I’m running up a bridge at the same time).

JCCI:  What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community’s attention right now?

MK:  My two favorite issues are education and downtown.  I think they get a good amount of attention both with the JPEF One by One project and the new Downtown Investment Agency, but I truly believe their can’t be enough attention until everyone is looking at them and helping to solve the problems we face in those two areas.

JCCI:  Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

MK:  It is THE place where anyone from the Mayor, the CEOs, the PTA moms, the retirees, the students, or anybody else can ALL come together to engage and openly discuss the challenges we face as a community.  Then we can all act together to make a difference.  It is so rare and special that JCCI is a fair and even playing field for everyone to participate in improving our community.

Name:  Michelle Kalil

Role with JCCI:  Mystery Guest from Forward  Mystery Guest Lunch

JCCI:  What do you do from 9-5?

MK:  I have been a practicing attorney for almost 15 years, both in the public realm at the Public Defender’s Office, and in my own private law firm.  However, starting in January, I will be starting my term as the newest Duval County Judge.  As a County Judge I will preside over both civil and criminal matters.

JCCI:  What do you do outside of work?

MK:  These days what I enjoy most outside of work is spending time with my family, especially my 4 year old son.  I enjoy traveling (which is more limited these days), trying new restaurants, outdoor activities, reading and going to the movies.

JCCI:  How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

MK:  I’ve been familiar with JCCI for some time, however, I’ve become more aware of their events and activities during the course of my campaign.  I have a good friend that has helped to start the Shifting Gears series which I think is a great way to learn about the transition many leaders in our community have taken.

JCCI:  What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville? 

MK:  As a self-proclaimed “foodie”, I have eaten at some great restaurants in cities across the country.  However, it has been great to see the growth of fantastic restaurants within our city.

JCCI:  What community issue is on your radar that doesn’t get enough attention right now?

MK:  There is still a lot of divisiveness on how the City can move forward.  Hopefully efforts such as JAX2025 will help improve on some of these problems.

JCCI:  Why is JCCI important to you and Jacksonville? 

MK:  As a Jacksonville native, I have seen the tremendous transition this City has made over the years.  As a mother of a young son concerned about what direction the City is headed, I think it’s important for groups such as JCCI to continue engaging citizens on ways to improve our community.

Name: Candace Thompson

Role with JCCI: New (and excited) Board Member

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

CT - My title is Sales Consultant and Solutions support.  I create proposals and presentations for the Convergys sales force.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

CT - I am active member of The Jacksonville Chapter of the Links.  I am also an obsessive scrapbooker!

JCCI - How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

CT - After I graduated from Blueprint for Leadership program, I served as the intern on the JCCI board.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

CT - I love the Riverside Arts Market!

JCCI - What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community's attention right now?

CT - I would like to see more job opportunities and attractions located downtown for the citizens of Jacksonville.

JCCI - Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

CT - JCCI provides tools and information that reflects the “voice” of Jacksonville.   JCCI is the credible resource that is the “pulse” of the leadership in Jacksonville

At JCCI, it’s not unusual to see international groups come in to see what we’re about. In fact, over the past year, more than nine separate international groups have come into our doors and learn more about what we have done and continue to do for our community.

Wednesday, November 7, a group of international professionals with international resource center GlobalJax met with our own Ben Warner. Among many topics, the meeting covered everything from JCCI’s community work to the philosophical goal at work in JCCI’s nonpartisan approach.

When asked why JCCI doesn’t attempt to sway voters toward a particular politician, whether locally or nationally, Ben’s answer was simple.

“Most people, regardless of party, want the same things. And it’s our shared dreams that bring us together.”

In essence, we don’t just work for OUR people, we work for THE people. It’s this care for the issues deemed important by the people that allows us to function as an important resource for everyone.

And these guests in JCCI’s conference room, some of whom come from countries where democracy is a foreign concept, were impressed with the extremely democratic way in which JCCI brings the concerns of the people to elected officials like Mayor Alvin Brown.

“Our decision making process is to operate by consensus,” Warner said. “This shared learning process creates respect between community members, as they decide together what matters most.”

It amazed me that a single day after an extraordinarily polarizing presidential election, professionals from all over the world gathered and discussed the importance of shared learning and consensus, the importance of true community.

In every meeting, press conference and community conversation I’ve attended as part of JCCI, I’ve seen the remarkable care that binds everyone. Whatever we title ourselves, whatever moniker that adorns us, we are the people of Jacksonville.

It seems that consensus like the kind at JCCI is what this country needs right now.

When the results of the countrywide vote came through, some groups were truly disappointed and others elated. But now, regardless of party affiliation, we must work together now as we haven’t done for quite some time in the recent past to create a better future for everyone.

I, for one, am ready to roll up my sleeves.

Name: Rena Coughlin

Role with JCCI: Board Member

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

RC – I work as President and CEO at the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

RC - One of my favorite quotes is by E.B. White, and sums up my non-work time pretty well. “I arise in the morning torn between a desire to improve the world and a desire to enjoy the world. This makes it hard to plan the day."  My newest hobby is bee-keeping; I also like being in or on the ocean (no power craft, though), biking, and walking -- especially destination walking when traveling.  Reading remains an all-time favorite past time.

JCCI - How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

RC - When I moved to Jacksonville in 2001, one of the few persons I knew was deeply involved in the Race Relations study and so I started participating in the meetings.  I was hooked after that.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

RC - 1.) DeWees Street Access to the beach

2.) Breakfast at Lily's in Neptune Beach

3.) Walking across the Main Street Bridge.

JCCI - What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community's attention right now?

RC - Making Jacksonville seriously bike-friendly.  Pedestrian-friendly would be nice, too!

JCCI - Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

RC - JCCI was my first introduction to civic life in Jacksonville.  I can't think of a better option for newcomers -- or anyone for that matter -- wanting to learn more about a serious, local issue than joining JCCI.  Having a unique asset like JCCI in our community advertises the best of Jacksonville to anyone wondering what kind of place it might be.

Name: Peter O’Brien

Role with JCCI: Board Member, JCCI

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

PO - I am Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. But, 9-5? My working day rarely fits inside a 9-5 routine...

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

PO- Unsurprisingly my family is the most important part of my life. I take a special delight in seeing my children grow and flourish. I am a passionate Manchester United fan, and my love of soccer extends to coaching and refereeing. I am a voracious reader, and I do everything I can to keep fit.

JCCI - How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

PO - I took part in the 2007 Quality of Life Review, and I have been a participant in several subsequent JCCI studies, all of which have opened my mind and my eyes.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

PO - It is hardly hidden. The Main Library downtown. It is a couple of blocks from my office.

JCCI - What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community's attention right now?

PO - The region has extraordinary unfulfilled potential. I wonder if we are doing enough to stay within touching distance of other major cities, never mind the rest of the world, especially in terms of education and broader economic development. I am hopeful that our our 2025 initiative will provide some impetus.

JCCI - Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

PO - JCCI has shown a tremendous capacity to take on acute issues which no other local institution seem to have the skill, resources or will to tackle . There is an irresistible combination of intellectual curiosity, courage and inclusiveness in so much of the work that has been undertaken by JCCI. I am thrilled to be involved.

Name: John Hirabayashi

Role with JCCI: Board Member, Immediate Past Chair

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

JH - I am the President and CEO credit union of Community First Credit Union.  Community First is serves 107,000 residents of Northeast Florida and is $1.2 billion in assets.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

JH - I do a variety of things outside work.  I row most weekends on a men’s 4x with the Jacksonville Rowing Club.  Right now we’re preparing  for the Head of the Hooch Race in November in Chattanooga.  I’m also training for the Donna Marathon in February, my very first marathon.  Although I’ve run every Gate River Run since 2005 and several half marathons, this is a big move up for me.  Recently I started flying small planes again.  I’d gotten my license back in ’83 but hadn’t kept up with it since moving here from California.  Most of all I like to do things with my four kids. In August the five of us went to Lake Tahoe for a week and had a fabulous time!

JCCI - How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

JH - I’ve served on JCCI’s Board since 2007.  Michael Boylan from WJCT approached me and said he thought I’d be a good fit for JCCI.  After meeting with Skip Cramer and attending a board meeting, I was very impressed and energized by the work of JCCI and the role it plays in the community.  I’ve also spread the word to our employees at Community First about JCCI Forward’s leadership training.  We now have several employees participating in Forward’s leadership.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

JH - Although it’s not a hidden gem, one of my favorite parts of Jacksonville is the downtown riverfront.  It’s a real privilege to row with my friends on our quad from the JRC boathouse up the Arlington River, under the Hart Bridge and follow the St. Johns downtown to the Main Street Bridge.  The views are fantastic and there is no better place to be at sunrise on a Sunday morning.

JCCI - What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community's attention right now?

JH- Overall, I believe we’re making progress on a couple issues of greatest concern to me – improving public education and creating a more livable and vibrant downtown.  I’m excited about JAX2025 and  creating a progressive and unified vision for Jacksonville.  We still have a lot of work to do in recapturing the jobs we lost during the recession.  JCCI’s Recession Recovery … and Beyond study does an excellent job outlining what it will take to attract, retain and create the types of jobs we need for sustained economic growth.

JCCI - Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

JH - No other organization in Jacksonville does what JCCI does – convening the community, engaging in problem solving and acting to make positive change.  Over the years JCCI has involved literally thousands of our residents in studies that have improved the quality of life in Jacksonville.  Moreover, JCCI has trained many of the leaders within our community  and built our intellectual capital through disciplined inquiry into many of our toughest issues.

Name: Alexis Lambert

Role with JCCI: Mystery Guest Lunch Speaker

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

AL - I run the Office of Public Accountability for the City of Jacksonville.  I help citizens, the media, and government officials understand their rights and responsibilities under Florida’s 103 year old Public Records law.  Yes, it’s fun.  Yes, I am fully cognizant of the fact that this makes me a colossal nerd.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

AL - Things I am known for: My homemade ice cream, my pastitsio, my infinitely nerdy taste in pop culture. Things I love:  The Florida Gators, The Junior League, St. John the Divine Greek Orthodox Church, when someone else does the dishes.

JCCI - How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

AL - Revenge of the Prom was really fantastic.  People really went out of their way to dress up and the music was incredible.  I loved it. I was the one with seriously crimped hair.  I created this style using the crimping iron I received as a birthday gift in the third grade and a quantity of Rave hairspray that probably quadrupled my carbon footprint.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

AL - I like that there are so many dog friendly places to go around the city.  Justin, my Pembroke Welsh corgi, is particularly happy about it.

JCCI - What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community’s attention right now?

AL - I wish more businesses would move downtown.

JCCI - Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

AL - More cities should have a JCCI- a young, vibrant, diverse, smart, fun group of people looking to build better communities by engaging up-and-coming professionals.  This city is growing and changing in truly impressive ways.  The endgame is for people from all walks of life to know that Jacksonville is a great place to live, work, go to school, and raise a family.

Name: Rabbi Joshua Lief

Role with JCCI: Chair-Elect
 

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

JL - I am the Senior Rabbi at Congregation Ahavath Chesed, Jacksonville’s oldest and largest Jewish congregation.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

JL - I enjoy time with my wife and daughter, I volunteer for many community organizations, and I like to play golf, though I don’t play very well!

JCCI - How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

JL - My first JCCI involvement was the Quality of Life Study review committee in 2008.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

JL - Restaurant: Check Barbeque. Yum!

Place: Guana Tolomato Reserve Beach in Ponte Vedra. It’s also my favorite place to go to the ocean.

Person: Edwinna Green, my Executive Assistant.

JCCI - What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community’s attention right now?

JL - The role of the faith community in our city.

JCCI - Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

JL - I believe that becoming the city we’d like to be requires the participation of all of our citizens.

Today is October 1 and marks the start of JCCI's Fiscal Year.  While, that may not mean much to the average JCCI participant, things here are still business as usual, today does mark two significant milestones for the organization.

The first, our financial year starts anew.  Today is the day we look to a fresh budget.  Our board and committees will begin to fulfill the strategies that are in place to meet and hopefully exceed our fundraising goals.  Its also a great time to start considering your own annual gift to JCCI.

The second is more significant as it affects a larger group of volunteers and supporters.  Our Board of Directors officially begins a new year of service with some fresh faces beginning to guide the organization and new leaders officially take the helm.  You'll be getting to meet them throughout the year, with our Six Questions series and hearing from a few of them as guest bloggers.

Welcome to our new Board of Directors!

J.F. Bryan, IV, Chair
The Bryan Group

Joshua Lief, Chair-Elect
Congregation Ahavath Chesed

Lee Brown, III, Secretary/Treasurer
Lee Brown Arts & Music

John Hirabayashi, Immediate Past Chair
Community First Credit Union of Florida

Jennifer Chapman
Fidelity Investments

Jarik Conrad
Conrad Consulting Group, LLC

Rena Coughlin
Nonprofit Center of NE FL

Anne Egan
Carithers Pediatrics

Mary Goldsmith
McGladery

Broderick Green
JAXUSA Partnership

Coley Jones
SunTrust Bank

Matthew Kane
Green Shades Software, Inc.

Jennifer Mansfield
Holland & Knight

David Meyer
St. Vincent's Medical Center

Jeanne Miller
Florida State College Downtown Campus

Peter O’Brien
Morgan Stanley

Amanda Patch
Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce

Lee Poechmann
Haskell

Stephen Pollan
Assessment Technologies Group

Crystal Rountree
Teach For America

Derrick Smith
CSX Corporation

James Stevenson
FSCJ - Military Education Institute

Candace Thompson
Convergys Corporation

John Thompson
Forbes & Thompson Wealth Management

Name: Jennifer Mansfield

Role with JCCI: Board Member, Marketing Committee Chair, and Immediate Past Chair of JCCI Forward

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

JM - Commercial and general litigation attorney, including social media law.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

JM - I am known for being very active in the community, including Theatre Jacksonville, Mental Health America of Northeast Florida, and Riverside Avondale Preservation.  I’ve met really great friends through my community activities, making my volunteer work fun.  That makes me happy.

JCCI - How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

JM - I become involved with JCCI Forward a number of years ago.  I think since 2006.  That work has transitioned into being a board member for JCCI.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

JM - My neighborhood -- Riverside near Five Points.  I can be on I-95 or I-10 in two minutes. Yet I’m also within walking distance of stores, restaurants, and a movie theatre.  And I’m half a block from a large nice park.  Perfect.

JCCI - What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community's attention right now?

JM - Quality of life issues for residents of Jacksonville.  Businesses may want tax breaks, but people want quality of life.  We’ll never get educated people with higher salaries in Jacksonville if we cheap out on basics such as trash pick-up, street lights at night, and public safety.

JCCI - Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

JM - JCCI is important to me precisely because Jacksonville is important to me.  Jacksonville is my home and where I’ve planted roots, yet it has lots of opportunities to be better.  I want to be a part of making Jacksonville better.  That’s my vision.

Name: Julie Mason

Role with JCCI: Member, JCCI Board of Directors

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

JM - I am retired from Baptist Medical Center as VP for its Foundation.  I lead a busy life, full of activities that require attention I wish to give, such as maintaining our very large reconstituted family of six children, 15 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, working in several different capacities with the music program at our church, reading as much as I can, traveling with Bill and enjoying Life and home with him, and participating in carefully selected organizations, the most important of which, to me, is JCCI.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

JM - I am blessed with a lot of gifts, but the one I myself love the most is WORDS and writing.  I do a lot of it, in many different venues.

JCCI - How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

JM - I have been involved with JCCI since the very beginning (1975), and whenever I speak to the Forward group, I love to tell them that I have been a JCCI member longer than most of them have been alive.  I’ve done it all – been chairman of the Board, served in many board positions, chaired a major study, served on management teams, program committees, chaired Stewards, raised money – everything.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

JM - JCCI.

JCCI - What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community's attention right now?

JM - It’s certainly on the community’s radar in a big way, but we haven’t solved it yet – public education.

JCCI - Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

JM - Because it’s one of the only organizations that specifically plans for the future by addressing tough, uncomfortable issues.  Fundraising is my professional field, and I greatly appreciate philanthropic giving.  There is a distinction between philanthropy and charity, although both are needed:  philanthropy per se is making plans for the future and providing funds for those plans, whereas charity is more a spontaneous reaction to urgent need.  Philanthropy looks to the future (putting away acorns for the winter), while charity looks to immediate pressing need (sending supplies to hurricane victims).  Consider two basic needs that we all commonly experience  – the insistent ringing of the telephone may or may not be important, but few of us can resist answering it, whereas the making of a will is exceedingly important, though if we don’t feel in danger of dying, we often put off making one.

While JCCI certainly does have immediate pressing needs, it also looks down the road to Jacksonville’s future.  The stated mission is to engage people and to work on our problem spots.  When winter inevitably arrives, we know this community must have an adequate supply of acorns, and JCCI wants to see that those acorns are there.

Name: Lee Poechmann

Role with JCCI: 2012/13 Chair of JCCI Forward

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

LP - I am a licensed architect and just celebrated five years with Haskell, one of the largest integrated design and construction firms in the U.S. I specialize in healthcare design, and work to identify clients, shape strategy, and develop opportunities to increase sales for the Healthcare Division.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

LP - I embrace being a daddy (a 4-year-old daughter - Quinn) and try to keep things interesting for her. Activity-wise, I enjoy cooking, writing, refereeing soccer, and playing chess. I have my favorites no doubt, but I consider myself a pretty well-rounded sports fan as well. Otherwise, I generally find myself exploring (on foot, by car, and occasionally by plane) the built and unbuilt environment.

JCCI - How & when did you get involved with JCCI or JCCI Forward?

LP - I got involved with JCCI and Forward in 2005, within a few months of moving to Northeast Florida. I live in Fernandina Beach and had no network whatsoever when I arrived, so I sought out a group that was smart, diverse, engaged and shared similar learning interests. Forward fit that bill perfectly. I attended a training, "How to Run an Effective Meeting," and was hooked.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

LP - As a Nassau County guy, I’m not really an official townie, so I don’t have a favorite Jax hangout. I am amazed, though, at the size and neighborhood diversity of Jacksonville; there are fabulous ones that ring the water, like Riverside and Ortega, and all over. But honestly, I have a thing for industrial areas; I really like seeing parts of the city colored with the patina of authentic machine labor, so trains and the port area are fascinating to me. I am always finding roads I have never been on and recently approached Jacksonville via the Kings Road corridor---very cool!

JCCI - What issue or concern is on your radar that doesn’t get enough of the community's attention right now?

LP - Opportunities in, and the quality of, public education is an easy target; however, I am really excited about the upcoming JAX 2025 visioning because it will help address what I think Jacksonville needs most:  a plan and inspiration to become, and in the process let everyone else outside the city know, what an outstanding city we are. People need to get on board the Jacksonville train now because we are picking up steam!

JCCI - Why is JCCI important to you and to Jacksonville?

LP - JCCI is the most important community asset Jacksonville has never heard of.  Its power lies in its methods of total community involvement with essential issues---and then making something happen.   JCCI lets the community determine the content (subjects needing attention) and then has the ability to bring the important community leaders together so everyone learns and is empowered.   Its activities and research are part think tank, part university seminar, part city press conference, and part neighborhood round table---all in one.  Every city needs an organization like JCCI, and Jacksonville is lucky to have the only one.