Dr. Soloman Brotman and Robert Hill Jr. have joined the board of trustees for The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.
“Both of them bring a strong record of community service and leadership, and we welcome their addition to our current board as we work to strengthen philanthropy and build a better community for all of Northeast Florida,” said board Chair Bill Brinton.
Brotman is a dentist with a private practice in San Marco. He previously served on the faculties at the University of Florida and University of Maryland and received several local honors for community involvement.
Hill is the president and CEO of Acosta Sales & Marketing. He is board chairman of Baptist Health and a board member of Jacksonville University, among other service.
The foundation helps donors invest philanthropic gifts and helps nonprofits serve the region.
JTA creates development academy for small businesses
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority created its first Business Development Academy to provide contractors, consultants and vendors an opportunity to better compete for transit projects.
The program started Tuesday with sessions covering bonding, wrap-up insurance, workers’ compensation, safety and financial management. There are two upcoming events: the first on Jan. 20 covering bidding, estimating, scheduling and certified payroll and the second on Jan. 27 to talk about negotiating contracts, compliance, building relationships, teaming and marketing.
Each is 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Florida Department of Transportation Training Center, 2189 Edison Ave.
The program is open to anyone, especially small businesses and disadvantaged business enterprises.
The authority will be performing $100 million in roadway and mobility projects over the next five years. Attendance doesn’t guarantee contracts.
“Most small businesses lack the resources that are present in larger companies,” said Nathaniel Ford, the authority’s CEO. “They struggle with marketing, networking, business planning and compliance. Our goal is to provide them with a toolbox of information that will help them prosper.”
Space is limited. For additional information or to register, contact Cesar Matos at [email protected] or call (904) 633-8533.
Marovich promoted to 121 Financial vice president
121 Financial Credit Union has promoted David Marovich to vice president of business services.
He served as director of the same unit and will now be responsible for directing and providing strategic oversight of services for the credit union.
He’s a 19-year veteran of the industry and joined 121 Financial in 2007.
Gordon Bass joins Florida State College at Jacksonville as security head
Florida State College at Jacksonville hired Gordon Bass as its director of campus security.
He brings 35 years of experience in law enforcement and public safety to the position. Bass will be responsible for the direction, development and implementation of security policies, protocols, processes and procedures for the school.
He served as the director of public safety at Jacksonville University for the past three years. Before that, he spent 30-plus years at the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
YMCA hopes to break Guinness treadmill record
YMCA branches across Northeast Florida will attempt to set a Guinness world record for the greatest distance on a treadmill by a mixed team in 12 hours.
Dubbed #TreadmillTuesday, it’s the first of five world-record attempts as part of the YMCA’s #My30 campaign to inspire people to become more physically active by exercising 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
The free treadmill event will be 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday. Participants will have the opportunity to help set the record and win prizes for participating at their local facility for free. Staff will record the distance participants walk, jog or run.
For more information, visit firstcoastYMCA.org.
Wolf joins WJAX TV-47 as programming director
Chris Wolf has joined WJAX TV-47 as director of programming and community affairs.
He comes from Charlotte, N.C., where he served as station operation specialist for Hearst Television Inc.
“His addition increases our front-line strength and adds depth to our operations,” Bruce Baker, Bayshore Television managing partner, said in a news release.
Wolf began Monday.
Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission to honor Orth
The Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Commission will honor Jimmy Orth, St. Johns Riverkeeper executive director, at its annual educational fundraising event.
Orth will receive the Jake Godbold Award for his conservation and beautification advocacy. The event also will include a silent auction, live music and refreshments. It will be 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall in the atrium. Admission is free.
The commission was created in 1983 and is an affiliate of Keep America Beautiful, with a goal to enhance community pride and improve local quality of life.
Jeb Bush endorses Lenny Curry
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is backing fellow Republican Lenny Curry in Jacksonville’s mayoral race.
In a statement Tuesday, Bush called Curry “exactly the principled conservative leader needed to lead Jacksonville to a better, brighter future.”
Bush joins Texas Gov. Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., as recently endorsing Curry.
Florida Blue restructures, cuts 150 jobs statewide
Florida Blue recently underwent a department restructuring that eliminated 150 jobs across the state.
According to a Florida Blue spokesman, the company looked at business operations to help lower overall costs while maintaining service for members.
“That means non-labor and labor cost,” said Paul Luding, senior director of public relations.
The layoffs will impact less than 2 percent of the company’s 11,000 member workforce.