The Jacksonville 2020 Host Committee announced July 2 that Florida telecommunications industry executive Marva Johnson has joined the group organizing logistics for the Republican National Convention.
The group is preparing the city for the Aug. 24-27 event at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena Downtown that will end with the nomination acceptance speech by President Donald Trump.
Johnson, who lives in Winter Garden, is Charter Communications state government affairs group vice president for the Southern region.
She was involved in organizing the 2012 RNC in Tampa, according to a committee news release.
Johnson coordinated with the Tampa Bay Host Committee to support its contract with the convention's official communications service provider Bright House Networks where she was corporate vice president of government and industry affairs.
“The Jacksonville 2020 Host Committee is working around the clock to prepare for the convention and I am thrilled to join the team,” Johnson said in the release.
“The unprecedented effort taking place in Jacksonville is a shining example of what the people and businesses of Northeast Florida have to offer visitors for events of this magnitude,” she said.
Johnson has worked in the communications industry for 20 years, including as general counsel for Supra Telecommunications and vice president and senior counsel for KMC Telecommunications.
She is a former Florida State Board of Education chair and serves on the Enterprise Florida board. According to the release, she is the immediate past chair of the Global Board of Women in Cable & Telecommunications.
Johnson’s addition comes a week after UF Health Jacksonville CEO Dr. Leon Haley Jr. sent a letter June 23 resigning from the committee to Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a co-chair.
The Potter’s House International Ministries founder Vaughn McLaughlin’s name also was removed from the committee roster June 23.
McLaughlin said in a video posted to his Facebook page June 19 that he was “shocked” to see his name among the list of committee members and never agreed to be part of the nonprofit group.
Haley and McLaughlin were replaced by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Jacksonville City Council member LeAnna Cumber.
Here is the updated Jacksonville 2020 Host Committee membership list:
• Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, co-chair
• Brian Ballard, Ballard Partners president, co-char
• U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, R-Jacksonville
• U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Boynton Beach
• Florida Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton
• Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, R-Plant City
• Florida House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami-Dade
• Florida Senate President-designate Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby
• Florida House Speaker-designate Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor
• Florida Senate Appropriations Chair Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park
• Florida House Appropriations Chair Travis Cummings, R-Fleming Island
• Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, R-Panama City
• District 5 Jacksonville City Council member LeAnna Cumber
• Marva Johnson, Charter Communications Southern Region group vice president for state government affairs
• Fernando Acosta Rua, Pet Paradise president and CEO
• Andy Allen, Corner Lot Properties CEO
• Max Alvarez, Sunshine Gasoline Distributors founder and president
• John Baker, FRP Holdings Inc. chairman and CEO and JEA board of directors chair
• Pam Bondi, Ballard Partners corporate regulatory compliance chair and former Florida Attorney General
• Ed Burr, GreenPointe Holdings LLC president and CEO
• Robert Coker, U.S. Sugar senior vice president, public affairs
• Michael Corrigan, Visit Jacksonville president and CEO
• J. David and Jodi Coxwell, J.B. Coxwell Contracting president
• Daniel Davis, JAX Chamber president and CEO
• Carol Dover, Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association president and CEO
• Nat Ford, Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO
• Josh Garrison, Miranda Contracting president
• Rick Morales, Morales Construction Co. president
• Tom Petway, Jacksonville business and civic leader
• Ty Petway, US Assure CEO
• John Rood, The Vestcor Companies founder
• Kent Stermon, Total Military Management, COO
• Aundra Wallace, JAXUSA Partnership president