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

And so we did! Vroom, vroom...! Those who followed along with Matt @jccitweets saw all the #jccifun and great pictures! 

The Garage in Riverside played host to the Kick-off for the upcoming JCCI Forward Issue Forum...as Lee Poechmann, JCCI Forward Chair, said, it's a long one...title-wise...Shifting Gears: Building a Road Map for 21st Century Leadership.

Over 65 attended and joined the JCCI Forward Executive Committee to learn more about the speakers we would meet at the next seven Wednesday meetings, including former Mayor and UNF President John Delaney, Preston Haskell, former Councilman Kevin Hyde and Jaguars President Mark Lamping.  They will share with us their challenges and lessons learned when transitioning into and out of leadership in our community. We've asked them to help us understand what is needed so we can prepare. 

We are so grateful for everyone's involvement and support and remind you that we are taking this show on the road...we will be at Community First Credit Union corporate offices for the duration! We will have great giveaways at the meetings, including BP gas cards, CFCU car shades, and free oil changes provided by Jiffy Lube!

Set your GPS and I'll see you on Wednesday!

Michelle

Name: Ale'ta Turner

Role with JCCI: JCCI Forward's Executive Outreach Committee Member 2012-2013

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

AT - I work with the Department of Children and Families as an Economic Self Sufficiency Specialist in the call center. I'll be interacting with individuals and families, who are seeking public assistance through the ACCESS Florida program.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work? 

AT - I balance family life, volunteering  and nonprofit management classes. I enjoy mentoring through Communities In Schools, Achievers For Life program at Northwestern Middle School.

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

I first learned about the organization from my mentor, Mr. Jon Cummins through ImpactJax’s mentoring program in 2011. My mentor suggested I meet with Mr. Skip Cramer, JCCI's Executive Director to learn more about the organization and JCCI Forward. My first JCCI Forward event was a networking social at Layla's in San Marco. Since then, I've participated in a number of different events.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?  

AT - My favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville is the local thrift stores. Thrift stores are  full of books, purses, jewelry, bridal gowns and furniture!

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

AT - I believe that the community should bring more attention to volunteering with Jacksonville's at-risk youth through mentoring and tutoring programs. There's a need for mentors to help students discover their potential and reach academic success.

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

AT - JCCI is important to me and the city of Jacksonville because the organization gives community members an opportunity to engage and learn from one another. The organization brings diverse groups of professionals and leaders together to create and implement change in our community.

Name: Brooks Terry

Role with JCCI: Vice Chair of Outreach, JCCI Forward Executive Committee

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

BT - Does anyone work 9-5 anymore? For a living I am the Director of Marketing and Communications at Florida Coastal School of Law. Basically, that means I wear a lot of hats, put out fires from time to time, and get to be creative for a living.

JCCI - What do you do outside of work?

BT - I was born in Jacksonville and I can tell you it has come a very long way. I love music and, especially, seeing acts play live. I have to say I have been very impressed with the shows northeast Florida has attracted recently. Deathcab for Cutie, Elvis Costello, TV on the Radio, and Mac Miller played the Florida Theatre this year. That’s just one venue. Pretty awesome. Otherwise, I’m probably eating at one the many new restaurants and food trucks Jacksonville continues to attract. Royal Palm in Atlantic Beach is excellent and On the Fly is my favorite new kitchen on wheels.

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

BT - In 2010 I went to a JCCI summer social. I knew there was something different with this group. There was good leadership, and those involved were engaged in the work they were doing. You don’t see that very often. I got involved with JCCI Forward because I felt like, if I became a volunteer, I could be effective.

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?

BT - I’m a nerd. I read comic books. I admit it. Universe of Superheroes – they have one location in Riverside and one in Jacksonville Beach – is one of my favorite spots to kill time. In all honesty, it’s actually pretty cool that small business owners here are thriving because, in this case, they’ve been able to meet the demand of a small, but highly engaged customer base.

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

BT - Lack of community awareness and engagement. I say that because to effectively overcome any particular challenge there must first be an awareness of the issue before work can begin. Having been active in JCCI Forward this year, I must say have been very surprised with how little many people know about Jacksonville's history and culture. What's worse, that lack of awareness can give rise to apathy and lack of participation to make necessary improvements in our quality of life. We have some incredible community stewards out there, but it’s going to take more than that small group to move the needle in the right direction in Jacksonville long term.

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

BT - I think you can learn the most by sharing with other people who have "been there" and "done that." As JCCI exists to bring together individuals who are emerging leaders themselves, it has allowed me learn about what it is that Jacksonville really needs and how and why it can improve. Because I love Jacksonville - my home - and I want to be a part of the leadership that will take it from where it is today, to where it will be tomorrow. Because I've always been someone who wants to dig in and get things done. JCCI has given me that chance.

In an effort to get to know some of our volunteers, donors and friends, JCCI is asking six questions....and sharing the answers with you.  Up first, JCCI Forward volunteer, Kory Von Leue.

Name: Kory Von Leue

Role with JCCI: JCCI Forward Executive Committee and Forums Planning Committee member

JCCI - What do you do from 9-5?

KVL - It's more like 7:00-5:30. I am currently a founding kindergarten teacher at KIPP:VOICE. 
 

JCCI - What do you do outside of work? 

KVL - I am one of those lucky people where my job is what I love. I am passionate about and dedicated to improving educational outcomes for students in Jacksonville.  Volunteering makes me happy. I volunteer often to engage the community about educational issues. 
 

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

KVL - I have always been interested with improving Jacksonville as a community. In doing research about Jacksonville over the years, I would often come across a study or data point from JCCI. JCCI was an organization that I knew I wanted to be a part of. This past year I was on a panel with Michelle (Simkulet) and she hooked me into getting involved. 

JCCI - What is your favorite hidden gem in Jacksonville?  

KVL - I wish I could think of just one - I can't narrow it down!
 

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

KVL - I think our community has a knowledge gap, due to various reasons,  when it comes to knowing what a charter school is, how we define a "great" charter school, and how we can leverage them to continually improve public education for all students. 

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

KVL - JCCI is important to me and this community because it plays that vital role of the outside observer, measuring our community to inform where we are so we know what action is needed to realize our potential. You can't get to your goal if you don't know where to start. 
 

Interested in getting your shot at the six questions?  Email us today!