By Jamie Swann, Contributing Writer
“Jacksonville born and raised.”
A statement worn like a badge of honor by many of those who can proclaim it.
With a family history in Jacksonville that dates back to World War II, Palmer Kuder’s badge should come with a footnote — one that reads “helping to build Jacksonville since 1939.”
That’s when her great-grandfather opened Ray Ware Hardware.
“He started small by selling hardware to a local building company,” said Kuder, director of the Sales and Marketing Council for the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
In business more than 75 years, the hardware store remains in the family, with Kuder’s father and brother as third- and fourth-generation owners.
For Kuder, though, working in the family business wasn’t the career she had in mind.
“We spent a lot of time there growing up. During the holidays we would go in and help with inventory,” she said. “But it was never really interesting to me. It’s just not where I saw myself.”
Making the decision to leave her family legacy behind, the graduate of The Bolles School left her hometown to attend the University of Alabama.
“I looked at it as a chance to go someplace different,” Kuder said. “I fell in love with the campus and I thought, ‘why not?’”
She spent four years at the university, where she was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority.
Majoring in communication studies with a minor in English, Kuder graduated in 2007 still unsure of where her path would lead.
Missing her family, she made her way back to Jacksonville, where she landed a job as a legal assistant at the Rogers Towers law firm.
“It wasn’t exactly what I wanted to do, but it was a job,” Kuder said.
While working at the firm, she decided she wanted to teach.
Determined to achieve her goal, Kuder spent nights attending classes at Jacksonville University to gain her teaching degree.
For the next four years, she worked tirelessly as a Pre-K teacher.
Flexing her creative muscles was an exciting change for the former legal assistant, but she soon found herself worn down from the high-energy job.
Although she wasn’t actively looking to make a career change, when she heard through a friend about the opening at NEFBA, Kuder was interested.
After learning more about the position, she knew she had to apply.
“I thought that it might be a match for me and a good change from the teaching world,” said Kuder. “It allows me to be creative, which I enjoy, but I really love working with our members.”
As SMC director, Kuder helps plan events like monthly council breakfasts, quarterly SAM Tram tours and her personal favorite, the annual Laurel Awards.
“There is so much time and planning that goes into the Laurel Awards,” explained Kuder. “Seeing the end result of all our hard work is an unmatched feeling.”
While she enjoys the event-planning aspect of her job, it’s her role as liaison to the Nassau Builders Council that keeps her in touch with members the most.
“Palmer has earned a great deal of respect from both council members and staff,” said NEFBA Executive Officer Corey Deal. “She is an integral part of our team.”
Her career path to NEFBA may have been a winding one, but Kuder feels at home in her office off Atlantic Boulevard.
And while she may not be a part of the family business, her roots in Jacksonville are still growing deep.
“This is home,” confessed Kuder when asked if she would ever move from Jacksonville again. “There is no reason for me leave.”