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: 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: 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: 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 Brown

Role with JCCI:  Board Member and Development Committee Chair

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

LB - I work full time as a community volunteer and as a writer and blogger. I blog about social issues and I also maintain a food blog. I am also in the process of writing my first novel.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

LB - I am most known for my volunteer work throughout the community. I work with various agencies and serve on several boards. I love playing golf, riding motorcycles, and traveling to new and exciting places. I am planning on checking a golf outing to Scotland off my list, as well as a few more countries. I want to hit 50 countries before I stop traveling - I think I am at 35 or 36 now. I also want to ride my motorcycle through all of the contiguous 48 states. Of the many things that make me happy, spending time with family would top the list.

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

LB - I got involved with JCCI back in 2002 when I attended a JCCI Forward social. I met Michelle Simkulet and Jennifer Parsons, who at the time were heavily involved with Forward. I attended the “Pathways to Power” and the “Developing Downtown as an Entertainment and Cultural Center” Issue Forums and I was hooked! Since then, I have served in various roles with JCCI and am a past chair of JCCI Forward.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

LB - Jacksonville has many hidden gems - like that fact that we have more mom and pop restaurants than any city in the southeast. Jacksonville also has tons of live music venues to venture into to catch an obscure band. My favorite gem - not sure if it’s hidden or not - is people watching at Jacksonville Beach. One of my most relaxing activities is to ride down to the beach and grab a sandwich at one of the eateries and just watch and mentally record the stories.

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

LB - How the lack of decent public transportation is disenfranchising parts of our community. The good paying jobs are moving from the urban core to the suburbs. Those who are without cars cannot compete for those jobs. When they can’t get to these jobs, that starts a socio-economic cycle that can take years to heal.

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

LB - Very few communities boast an organization like JCCI. Not enough people in our community know about JCCI and the great work that it does. JCCI is known worldwide for the great work that is does. It is important to Jacksonville for that same body of work, even if the majority of its citizens don’t know what we do. It is important to me because I made a conscious choice to live in a community identifies and addresses its issues, not one that pretends they don’t exist.