by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Mayor John Peyton has nominated Herschel Vinyard Jr. to replace Charles Appleby as a member of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.
An attorney, Vinyard is vice president of governmental affairs for Atlantic Marine Holding Company. He joined the company in 1999 as a vice president and today advises the company on governmental, industry and community matters.
Appleby resigned earlier this year. His last meeting as member of the JEDC was Sept. 13.
Atlantic Marine is a full-service commercial marina that offers several services to commercial and Naval vessels. The company owns and operates a marina in Mobile, Ala. and Jacksonville and leases a third facility at Naval Station Mayport.
Among the services Atlantic Marine offers are: dry docking, maintenance, repair, assembly, overhaul, conversion, marine and industrial fabrication. The company recently expanded its services to include the repair and conversion of mega-yachts.
In August of last year, New York-based private equity investor J.F. Lehman & Co. completed a controlled investment of Atlantic Marine. As a result of the transaction, Ron McAlear was named CEO of Atlantic Marine and Ed Fleming was named executive vice president.
Vinyard’s appoint will be introduced to City Council tonight and assigned to the Council’s Rules Committee. Since tonight’s full Council meeting is the last scheduled meeting of City Council or its committees for the year, Vinyard won’t appear before Rules until after the new year.