Longtime Jacksonville Jaguars radio announcer Brian Sexton is moving into a new role with the team as senior correspondent. He joins the digital media group as a reporter, writer, developer and editor of content for jaguars.com and the Jaguars’ social media platforms.
Sexton has served as the team’s radio play-by-play voice since its inaugural season, and has also hosted most of the team’s radio and TV shows during that time.
“This is a career change for me and I welcome the challenge of helping to grow the Jaguars’ fan base through digital and social efforts,” Sexton said.
Sexton has called all 392 games in franchise history including preseason, regular season and postseason.
Frank Frangie will provide play by play alongside analysts Jeff Lageman and Tony Boselli in the booth this season. Frangie will continue to be an on-air talk show host at 1010 XL Radio, the Jaguars’ new flagship radio station.
“I’m beyond humbled,” Frangie said. “I think so many people … are truly excited about this franchise and where it is headed. To be part of the team, and to be entrusted to help tell its story on a week-to-week basis, is an honor beyond belief. I can’t wait to begin.”
Rick Ballou will serve as field reporter for the Jaguars’ game broadcasts. Ballou has been paired with Frangie for their afternoon talk show for the past five and-a-half years on 1010 XL. Ballou is a Florida State graduate and has been in sports radio for 20 years, including seven at Sporting News Radio in Chicago. He also previously worked for PGA Tour Communications.
JTA’s TransPortal wins innovation award
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority received a 2014 Innovator of the Year award for TransPortal, its regional scheduling project in partnership with 12 regional counties.
Representatives from the authority accepted the award at this year’s Trapeze User Conference in Tucson, Ariz.
“The JTA is honored to be recognized with this prestigious award,” said Brad Thoburn, the authority’s vice president of long-range planning and system development.
“The development of this regional system is the result of the coordinated and dedicated efforts of our many regional partners with the vision to look outside of their individual agencies and focus on the needs of our customers,” he said.
Since 2006, JTA has been working with regional partners to coordinate transportation technology as a cornerstone for the development of the TransPortal program. TransPortal is a transportation resource to help residents in Northeast Florida find the best transportation options for their needs. Visit transportal.net for more information.
Transportation partners in the region have long recognized the value in multi-loading passengers from different counties going to similar destinations. However, it was difficult to coordinate the trips manually.
By sharing Trapeze software and databases, the coordination of trips through TransPortal is now automated and achievable. The software will enable JTA to optimize the trips while maintaining the secure separation of our client and trip information.
Program expanding to teach more children how to swim
Waterproof Jacksonville, a countywide campaign to prevent accidental drownings by teaching children to swim, will expand to offer free lessons to students attending summer school at Woodland Acres Elementary, as well as to 150 dependents of active military personnel.
The lessons are part of an expansion of Waterproof Jacksonville made possible by a $25,000 donation from Jacksonville attorney Wayne Hogan. His donation will help pay for the JaxParks Summer Night Lights program as well as help JaxParks to double the number of free swim lessons provided this summer.
Waterproof Jacksonville is a partnership with Safe Kids Northeast Florida, the City of Jacksonville and several swimming organizations that joined forces last year to provide free swim lessons to those who may not otherwise be able to afford them.
To date, the partners have committed to providing beginner swim lessons to about 1,500 children.
Hale to lead new mortgage division for Atlantic Coast Bank
Teresa Hale will serve as senior vice president of Atlantic Coast Bank’s new mortgage division. Hale is based out of the bank’s Neptune Beach Financial Service Center, at 1425 Atlantic Blvd.
Before joining Atlantic Coast Bank, Hale served as a mortgage senior vice president for a national bank headquartered in Jacksonville. She launched a retail mortgage lending platform and led a team of experienced mortgage professionals to success when the mortgage industry’s future was uncertain.
A 25-year veteran of the mortgage industry, Hale holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mercer University and a master’s in business administration from Auburn University.
DVI hosting tweet chat about riverfront
Downtown Vision Inc. is hosting its first tweet chat, a Q&A-style discussion, seeking ideas on activating Jacksonville’s iconic riverfront.
The chat is 2 p.m. Friday on Twitter. DVI’s Twitter handle is @DTJax on Twitter.
“Community input is so important to ensure that the riverfront offers something for everyone,” said DVI Marketing Director Katherine Hardwick, who will lead the chat. “Twitter is a great, creative platform for engaging local residents and Downtown supporters, and we plan to use this format more in the future to solicit feedback from the community.”
DVI has more than 11,400 Twitter followers.
Those interested in participating can submit questions in advance by noon on Friday by tweeting or direct messaging @DTJax, or they can use the hashtag #chatdtjax to participate in the discussion.
Several Jaguars signing autographs at The Players
Fans at The Players Championship who are looking for autographs from their favorite golfers can also get signatures from their favorite Jacksonville Jaguars players throughout tournament week.
Here is the schedule:
Today, noon: Defensive tackle Sen’Derrick Marks and kicker Josh Scobee
Thursday, 3 p.m.: Running back Toby Gerhart and Marks
Friday, 3 p.m.: Wide receiver Cecil Shorts
Saturday, 2:30 p.m.: Linebacker Paul Posluszny
Sunday, 2 p.m.: Offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, offensive guard Zane Beadles and offensive tackle Sam Young
Follow The Players social media outlets for advance notice as players are headed to the tournament’s autograph areas located at the perch behind the 18th green or at the entrance to the driving range.