• Jacksonville University will offer a free series of GMAT/GRE classes for graduate business applicants. The series will be taught by JU faculty who scored in the 90th percentile on the GMAT or GRE and earned doctorates. Courses will consist of two meetings where applicants will learn skills to succeed on the tests. The only requirement for participating students is that they apply for admission to a Davis College of Business graduate program. For those who do not apply, each session will cost $35. The sessions begin Thursday. For more information, contact AnnaMaria Murphy at (904) 256-7426 or [email protected].
• The Downtown Investment Authority will meet at 5 p.m. today at City Hall in the Lynwood Roberts Room. The action items on the agenda include a request for proposals on Hemming Plaza, the USS Adams Naval Ship Museum project and the authority's budget.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars announced this week the release of a limited number of build-your-own four-game "half-packs" available starting at $40 per seat, per game. Fans will select one of the two preseason games and three of the remaining home games, excluding the Oct. 27 "home" game in London. For more information, visit jaguars.com.
• The City Senior Services Division will host the annual Senior Prom for senior citizens from 6-10 p.m. Aug. 2 at the Osborn Center. The event will feature a formal dinner, dancing, live entertainment, door prizes and the crowning of a king and queen, who will act as ambassadors for senior center programs throughout the year. Tickets are $10 for ages 60 and older, $25 for those under age 60. Tickets can be picked up at the Mary J. Singleton Senior and City Hall. For more information, call (904) 630-7392.
• Family members of James Edwin Craig and City officials took part Friday in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to dedicate the James Edwin Craig Memorial Pavilion at Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport. From left, City Council President Bill Gulliford; Jacksonville Aviation Authority board Chairman A.L. Kelly; authority Executive Director and CEO Steve Grossman; Craig's daughter, Anne Beere; Council member Bill Bishop; Greater Jacksonville Area USO Executive Director Mike O'Brien; Council Vice President Clay Yarborough; and Jacksonville Executive at Craig Manager Tiffany Gillem. Craig, a Jacksonville native, was killed in action aboard the USS Pennsylvania during the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor.
• Reynolds, Smith & Hills has named Lisa Robert as Transportation/Infrastructure program director. She will begin her new duties Jan. 1 upon Dave Sweeney's transition into the chief operating officer role. Robert has been with the company since 2010 and served as the Jacksonville office leader for the program. She was promoted in August to director of operations and marketing. The company is a facilities and infrastructure consulting firm.
• The Main Street America Group has been selected for the Ward's 50 of top-performing property and casualty insurances companies in the U.S. for a third consecutive year. The selection ranks the Jacksonville-based super-regional carrier in the top 2 percent of best-performing U.S. property and casualty companies. The recognition on the 2013 list is for achieving financial performance benchmarks over a five-year period from 2008-12 while maintaining safety and consistency.
Scott makes several Jacksonville appointments
Gov. Rick Scott made several Jacksonville-area appointments and reappointments to state boards and commissions in the past week. They are:
• John Burke was reappointed to the state Board of Professional Engineers. Burke is an electrical engineer with Hazen and Sawyer and will serve a term that began Monday and ends Oct. 31, 2016. The board comprises 11 members, two of whom are non-engineers, and is charged with regulating the practice of engineering in the state.
• Cherron Newby was reappointed to the Council on Homelessness. Newby is the owner of CCs Consulting & Training and will serve a term that began Monday and ends June 30, 2015. The council comprises 17 members and was created in 2001 to develop policies and recommendations to reduce Florida homelessness.
• Angela Sissine was appointed to the state Board of Dentistry. Sissine is a dental hygienist with the dental office of Dr. John Harrington and will fill a term that began Monday and ends Oct. 31. The board comprises 11 members and "plays a leading role in the State's ever-changing health care environment," through communications with the public, Legislature, dental colleges, the dental community and others, according to its website.
• Robert Campbell, Steve Capehart, Rodney Wickman and Linda Sparks were appointed to the Workforce Florida Inc. board of directors. Campbell is a Honeywell Technologies Solutions Inc. program director appointed for a term that began Monday and ends July 6, 2015. Capehart is the business agent for the Jacksonville Supervisors Association and was appointed for a term that began Monday and ends March 21, 2016. Wickman is the president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 2358 and was appointed for a term that began Monday and ends March 21, 2015. Sparks is the Academies of Electrical Technology regional executive director. She was appointed for a term that began Monday and ends July 6, 2016. Workforce Florida is the state's public-private partnership that oversees and monitors the administration of the state's workforce policy, programs and services.
• Kathy Fleming was appointed to the State Historical Records Advisory Board. Fleming is the executive director of the St. Augustine Lighthouse & Museum in St. Augustine and will serve a term that began Tuesday and ends Dec. 18, 2013
'Export University' scheduled Aug. 7 at University of North Florida
The Florida District Export Council in cooperation with the Florida Trade Alliance Partners developed the Export University training program, called "Export 101," to help companies interested in starting to export.
Delivered by the U.S. Commercial Service, Export 101 is designed for firms new to exporting. The course offers training and information about marketing and sales management and staff, export operations personnel, purchasing, logistics and other export functions.
Goals include evaluating export readiness; developing an export marketing plan; understanding the basics about U.S. export regulations; international logistics; and how to ensure payment. It does not treat the topic of foreign or outsourced manufacturing.
Attendees will receive a certificate following completion of the course.
The course is scheduled 7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Aug. 7 at the University of North Florida Herbert University Center. The $65 cost covers the program materials, a continental breakfast, coffee breaks and cookies. Registration is due by 6 p.m. Aug. 5. For information, call Jorge Arce at (904) 232-1270 or email [email protected] .