• Rich Davis, president of Spark, Inc., and Jeff Davis (no relation that we know of), president of Legal Art Works, have been named to the President’s Forum of the Jacksonville area Leadership Centers USA. The nationwide organization is comprised of over 14,000 CEOs and was created as a way to improve the jobs CEOs do through continuing executive education.
• The Salvation Army of Northeast Florida’s toy shop open house is Dec. 12 from 3:30-5 p.m. at Gateway Mall.
• Renaissance Creative will be featured in the November/December issue of Graphic Design USA. The Jacksonville marketing and advertising agency won three American Graphic Design Awards this year, one each in letterhead and stationery; announcements, invitations and cards; and self promotion.
• The St. Vincent’s Health Care Foundation’s annual Red Rose Ball is set for Feb. 15 at the Southpoint Marriott. Attorney Mike Ossi and his wife Julie will serve as honorary chairs for the event which raises funds for the hospital’s infant and special care nurseries. According to a press release sent out by St. Vincent’s, John Travolta and his wife Kelly Preston will attend the event.
• Jacksonville-based land surveyors LD Bradley has opened a branch office in Gainesville. Daryl Thie is the vice president of the office, Martin Dardis is the project manager and Walter Volkmann is the manager of geodetic and technical operations. Bradley’s Jacksonville office is on Normandy Boulevard.
• Key Buick-Hyundai Chief Operating Officer Maureen Burnett has been named to the board of directors at Community Connections of Jacksonville.
• Miami Herald columnist and Florida novelist Carl Hiaassen is the keynote speaker at the 2008 Much Ado About Books. Hiaassen’s novels include “Tourist Season,” “Skin Tight” and “Striptease” which was made into a movie starring Demi Moore.
• Jacksonville Port Authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin is the guest speaker at the Dec. 13 meeting of the Urban Land Institute. The meeting is from 7:30-9 a.m. at the St. Joe Building on Riverside Avenue. It’s $35 for members and $45 for non-members.
• Speaking of the Port Authority, it’s recent agreements with major Asian shipping lines seem to have helped its financial health, as evidenced by Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Services awarding the Port Authority A and A2 designations, which are among the financial industry’s highest seaport ratings. Moody’s and Fitch examined extensive financial records, including the Port Authority’s revenues, expenses, debt service coverage and other business data. The agencies based the designations on JaxPort’s position as a container port, especially with the addition of the new TraPac terminal at the end of next year and the recent contract talks with Korea’s Hanjin Shipping. Moody’s and Fitch are leading global providers of credit ratings, research and analysis for debt instruments and other securities.
“The awakening of the people of China to the possibilities under free government is the most significant, if not the most momentous, event of our generation.”
– Woodrow Wilson, U.S. president. Statement from the White House (March 18, 1913).