by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
Rachel Kaltenbach joined the Landing nearly a year before the Super Bowl came to Jacksonville. As director of public relations, the event was the highlight of her budding public relations/marketing career. Today, she’s moving on to greener pastures, literally.
Kaltenbach has been hired as the director of marketing for Nocatee, a 16,000-acre project that will be constructed over the next 25 years in Northeast Florida. Nocatee will be a self-contained community that will encompass both Duval and St. Johns county.
“I’m going to be a part of a new town,” said Kaltenbach. “How many times can you really say you’ve done that?”
Kaltenbach says she feels the same excitement joining the Nocatee team that she did when she first started at the Landing two years ago.
“I want to have a little part in a new challenge,” she said.
Beyond the excitement, she is a little scared but more eager to continue learning.
“I’m already starting to learn as much as I can as well as leaving this place (the Landing) in a good position,” she said.
To wish Kaltenbach well, members of the Landing, friends and extended family gathered at Koja Sushi for a surprise farewell.
Kaltenbach’s last day was Tuesday, but Landing owner Toney Sleiman says she’ll be back — he has a goodbye saying for some employees.
“Keep your keys, I know you’ll be back,” said Sleiman to Kaltenbach at the party, adding, “I’d bring her back in a minute.”
Kaltenbach’s position will be taken over by two people, but no one has been hired yet.
“Resumes are still coming in,” said Kaltenbach. “The response has been tremendous from a very wide background — it’s interesting. It shows the extent to which the Landing is known. People just want to be a part of it.”