Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Pet Paradise President and CEO Fernando Acosta-Rua to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority board.
Acosta-Rua is eligible to participate in the board’s scheduled Nov. 22 meeting. DeSantis announced the appointment Oct. 29
Jacksonville-based Pet Paradise says on its website that Acosta-Rua joined its board in 2005 after leading a group investing in the company.
In 2007, he became the company’s chief operating officer before being promoted to CEO.
Pet Paradise offers boarding, day camp, grooming and veterinary services with locations operating or under development in nine states.
“Since joining the company in 2005, Fernando has played a key role in accelerating the growth of Pet Paradise from three pet resorts with 45 employees in northeast Florida to more than 1,000 employees across nine states and almost 50 resorts in operation or under development,” the Pet Paradise website states.
Acosta-Rua’s LinkedIn profile says he was a partner with venture capital firm L&L Capital Partners from January 2005 through October 2007.
Acosta-Rua is the 2021-22 chair of The Bolles School board of trustees. According to the release, Acosta-Rua also was Community Hospice of Northeast Florida’s board chair.
He was a member of Jacksonville’s 2020 Republican National Convention Host Committee before the event was canceled July 23, 2020, because of public safety and coronavirus concerns.
The governor appoints four positions on JAA’s seven-member board and three are appointed by the mayor of Jacksonville and confirmed by City Council.
Florida statute allows JAA board members to serve two consecutive four-year terms. This would be Acosta-Rua’s first term on the board.