• Firehouse Subs is celebrating its 10th anniversary this week. The company opened its first restaurant in Mandarin on Oct. 10, 1994, with borrowed money and a credit card. Since then, the chain has grown into 164 restaurants from Texas to Virginia. The founders, area representatives, franchisees, corporate staff and friends and family of the company celebrated the milestone at an anniversary bash at the Adam’s Mark Hotel last weekend. A congratulatory message from Gov. Jeb Bush and Mayor John Peyton aired at the celebration.
• Hope McMath, director of education for the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, received the national VSA arts Award of Excellence in Leadership and Community Collaboration. VSA interim executive director Marian Waters and board president Mary Palmer nominated McMath for the award for her exemplary contribution to the mission of VSA arts and her success at the museum for serving people with disabilities. McMath is responsible for establishing several model programs to serve both children and adults with special needs. The programs include Women of Vision, a partnering program with the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, the VSA Arts Festival and Art Connections in Healthcare.
• Bryan Cooksey, president and chief executive officer at McCall Service, Inc. has announced several organizational changes. David Cooksey has been named of chief administrative officer and John Cooksey is now chief operating officer. Other company changes: Raymond Kidwell was promoted to corporate systems director; Steve Crader, Jacksonville service center manager, will now be responsible for the Neptune Beach service center operations; Debbie Bergeron was promoted to corporate accounting supervisor; and Cheryl Howell was promoted from payroll coordinator to human resource and payroll supervisor.
• Community Connections is organizing over 60 area agencies and businesses for its Week Without Violence, which is scheduled for Oct. 22-29. For a complete list of activities, call 350-9949. Also, Community Connections has received a$180,000 grant from The Prudential Foundation to help residents of the Pine Forest area with job placement programs.