Six mayors, more than 105 economic development projects creating 16,850 jobs, at least $1.4 billion in corporate private capital and more than $100 million in state and local incentives.
Joe Whitaker counts those relationships and accomplishments among his 34 years with city government, which come to a conclusion Friday when he retires two days before he turns 68.
He leaves as business development project manager with Mayor Alvin Brown’s Office of Economic Development.
Along the way, the Cincinnati native and banker by training maintained an even demeanor in working with elected and appointed city officials “galore,” in addition to scores of private executives.
The key: “Stay focused, create jobs and expand the tax base,” Whitaker said Monday from his small City Hall office, which he was preparing to clean out.
Whitaker said working the past few years with Brown and economic development office CEO Ted Carter has been fun.
“Both have a lot of vision and passion and drive for what they do,” he said.
It’s been a long career, considering Whitaker started it through the help-wanted section.
A career in jobs
Whitaker has been working since he was 16, when he began ushering in a movie theater for 60 cents an hour.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA in business finance from Xavier University.
After four years with First National Bank of Cincinnati, the commercial loan officer was offered a job in Jacksonville by a brother-in-law.
It had been cold that winter in Cincinnati — 17 inches of ice and snow, an Ohio River so frozen that people took chances to drive on it — so relocation to Florida was a welcomed offer.
He arrived in June 1978 as vice president and general manager of Gaynon Iron Works, a truck-equipment manufacturing company.
It turned out to be less than fun, although “I learned all about cash flow,” Whitaker said. Two years later he left and took a job selling chemicals.
He then answered a newspaper classified that sought someone with banking and small business experience. “It was a mysterious ad,” he said.
Whitaker’s wife worked at the Rogers Towers law firm and had heard about the possibility of the city starting a small business finance program and was looking for a director.
Whitaker interviewed, ending up as the last candidate to be seen by Mayor Jake Godbold’s economic development committee.
Then came luck. The man chosen for the position rejected the job because it called for just a one-year contract.
That term was fine with Whitaker, who started Oct. 28, 1980, to direct the city’s Neighborhood Business Revitalization Program.
A career from the start
Right away, he worked with some of the city’s best-known companies — Suddath Van Lines, Copytronics and Jacksonville McDonald’s pioneer Willard Payne.
Over the next 34 years, Whitaker moved up and within the economic development ranks in the mayor’s office, the Downtown Development Authority, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and the Office of Economic Development.
He worked with mayors Godbold, Tommy Hazouri, Ed Austin, John Delaney, John Peyton and Brown.
Whitaker recalls Godbold made that first job clear: “My job was to create jobs and expand the tax base,” he said, adding that Godbold reminded him who gets the credit.
That was fine with Whitaker because that was his job for Godbold.
“He was genuine. He was the city’s biggest cheerleader,” Whitaker said.
He said each mayor had his own focus. “All had different perspectives,” said Whitaker, who would pay attention to each mayor’s speeches, comments in meetings, and even his body language.
If there was a question, “mayors usually don’t have any problems telling you what they want.”
The goal, always, was “to help them achieve their mission.”
Those missions included some of Whitaker’s favorite and most memorable projects: The Jacksonville Landing Downtown. Vistakon in Deerwood Park. Computer Power Inc. and later the Fidelity National relocation along Riverside Avenue. River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Farmers Market in West Jacksonville.
“No matter what part of town I drive around in, I see a project I helped,” Whitaker said.
As for the Landing, Whitaker worked with DDA Executive Director Jim Gilmore and Deputy Director Jim Catlett on the 237-page lease agreement with the Rouse Co.
“We worked our fannies off,” he said.
The 1996-97 creation of the JEDC by Delaney was a big step for Jacksonville. “The JEDC provided us with great opportunities to develop Duval County, and we actively went at it,” he said.
There was one project that didn’t turn out as well. It was small — a barbecue restaurant in Northwest Jacksonville — and it didn’t work out.
“I still hear about it,” Whitaker said.
Brown issued a statement Tuesday commending Whitaker for being a loyal employee for 34 years.
“His efforts with the Office of Economic Development have made a positive difference for Jacksonville. In fact, Joe was the first economic development professional the city ever hired,” Brown said.
Brown noted Whitaker’s major efforts, including the Bi-Lo Holdings/Winn-Dixie headquarters project, saying the work “improved our economy and opened up career opportunities for residents.”
Jerry Mallot, president of the JAXUSA Partnership, said Whitaker has been a wealth of knowledge for businesses, especially small business growth needs.
“Joe worked under many administrations and personalities and kept the same demeanor,” said Mallot. The partnership is the economic development arm of the JAX Chamber.
“Many businesses have praised his work as he walked them through the system. Joe has personally accounted for a large number of jobs over his tenure through his efforts,” Mallot said.
“He will be missed.”
Gilmore cites Whitaker’s professional attitude and said “he was a big help to all of us as in important resource” at the DDA.
“I wish him well.”
Appearances matter
Whitaker is known for more than his steady and patient presence at the public meetings and one-on-ones where he pitched and explained economic-development deals to public officials — one of the favorite parts of his job.
He’s also known for his consistently dapper appearance — sharp suit, crisp shirt, cufflinks, tie and pocket square.
Whitaker’s decision to always dress smartly was cut from his days growing up in public housing. He is the oldest of three children of a mother who worked three jobs that put food on the table and Whitaker and his two sisters through Catholic school. Their alcoholic father was out of the picture.
One of his mother’s jobs was as a waitress in the Downtown Sheraton-Gibson hotel. As a child, Whitaker would visit her there and study the stockbrokers, lawyers and bankers.
A friend also paid his way into the movies, where he watched debonair actors, including Humphrey Bogart.
“I learned if you dress well, people don’t discount you and they pay attention. It served me well,” Whitaker said.
He’s been wearing pocket squares since he was 16. His 1964 high school graduation photo features him with not only a pocket square but also a collar bar.
Whitaker also learned how static cling can affect one’s look. A presentation to former Gov. Bob Graham and his Cabinet resulted in a bit of snickering from the panel, causing him to realize a pant leg was creeping up thanks to static cling.
“I looked down and did the Joe dance,” he recalled, shaking his leg.
What happened to the deal, which involved the original Jacksonville Landing development? “We got it unanimously approved.”
The next steps
Appearing before public officials is part of his job, and it also played a role in a part of his decision to retire.
Whitaker was appearing May 19 before City Council committees that were considering the deal for Railex to open a warehouse distribution center in Jacksonville.
He had chest pains the night before, but that didn’t stop him from attending the Rules and the Recreation and Community Development committees.
“When I was in RCD, they were droning on about something,” he recalled. “I just wanted them to call up my project.”
When that was over, he called the office to check which hospitals were on his medical plan and he drove to St. Vincent’s Medical Center.
That was Monday afternoon. A stent was put in Tuesday. He was discharged Wednesday. He returned to work the following Monday.
“That sealed it,” he said of his decision to retire.
“I don’t want them taking me out on a gurney.”
Whitaker and his wife, Kathy, who married in 2000, live in the Arlington area with their two rescue dogs.
Whitaker plays tennis, a sport he took up 10 years ago, and expects to volunteer with some nonprofits and remain active with the Beaver Street Enterprise Center board.
He has two adult sons –– Myles and Ryan –– who live in town with their spouses and children. Myles has a son and Ryan has a son and two daughters.
Whitaker’s going-away reception is Thursday afternoon followed by a farewell at Burrito Gallery. The mayor’s office said it was “evaluating options” when asked how his position will be filled.
Whitaker said he wasn’t supposed to know it, but his sisters will be in town to celebrate with him.
“I’ve had a really good career. It’s been fun,” he said.
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