by Michele Newbern Gillis
Staff Writer
Jeannie Fewell, director of the City’s Department of Planning and Development, and Walter Dickinson, president of Colliers Dickinson, were honored Thursday night at the Jacksonville Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties Awards Banquet at the Adam’s Mark Hotel.
Fewell received the Jesse B. Smith award, which recognizes an individual outside the real estate industry who has had a positive impact on the office and industrial real estate industry in Northeast Florida while serving the community.
“I’m very pleased and honored to receive it,” said Fewell. “I think there is a double significance because Jesse Smith was the deputy director in this department and we hold Jesse and all the work that he did in very high esteem.”
Many of NAIOP’s members go before the planning board in their pursuit of future development.
“I think what they try to do is honor professionals in different fields that they work with. NAIOP is a group that is a very professional group that tries to build their developments to a high standard and then contribute a lot to the community in terms of jobs and economic development in the city,” said Fewell.
Fewell was grateful for the recognition.
“I think it’s incredibly nice to be recognized especially in a department like planning,” she said. “We want to be recognized for doing our job in a professional manner and for trying to do our job in a way that improves the overall quality of the development and the city.”
Dickinson received the William Drennon Lifetime Achievement award, which is given to an individual who has distinguished themselves over the course of their career for outstanding achievement and professionalism in the office or industrial real estate industry in Northeast Florida.
“It’s a very big big honor,” said Dickinson. “It’s the first time I’ve ever won anything like this. It is a tribute to me from all the people I’ve worked with over the years. It makes me feel good that they have recognized me and my company for the way we’ve conducted our business and worked together in the business community.”
Winning the award hits close to home for Dickinson.
Drennon who died two and a half years ago was one of Dickinson’s good friends.
“I knew him very well and I played tennis with him and his wife Kitty at their house in Deerwood at least once a week for about the last 15 years,” said Dickinson. “I knew him very well and he was an outstanding person. He was known as “Mr. Jacksonville” because of all his contributions to Jacksonville. He made trips with the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce to other cities and brought so much business to Jacksonville.
“The award means a lot to me because of my great appreciation for Bill Drennon, as a person and for his great accomplishments. It’s a tribute to me and I’d like to thank all the people who have helped me, including Jeannie Fewell,” said Dickinson. “I was totally surprised that they picked me, but I was happy about it.”