by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
Four members of Jacksonville’s business community were honored Wednesday by the University of North Florida’s Coggin College of Business for their success and contributions to the community.
Michael Ward, chairman and CEO of CSX Corporation, and Steven Halverson, president and CEO of The Haskell Company, each received the Distinguished Business Leader award. Catherine Reynolds of the Catherine Reynolds Foundation received the Distinguished Alumna award and Jay Coleman, Ph.D., a professor in UNF’s College of Business, received the Distinguished Professor award.
This year marked the 10th annual Prime F. Osborn III Distinguished Business Leader Awards Luncheon. Many past award recipients were in attendance including: Ed Burr, president and CEO of LandMar; Michael Cascone, former chairman and CEO of BlueCross BlueShield; and Wayne Weaver, chairman and CEO of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“This has turned into a wonderful event where we recognize business people in our community and what they have done for Jacksonville,” said UNF President and former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney.
Dr. John McAllister, dean of the Coggin College of Business, added that the event is a celebration of excellence in the light of UNF, the College of Business and the community of Jacksonville.
“They are really people who are champions for what they have done,” said McAllister. “They are truly a significant group of individuals.
“This award acknowledges and celebrates the careers of these significant professionals and their wonderful contributions to the community.”
Members of the business community, UNF faculty and alumni, the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, City Council and the mayor’s office all nominated who they thought should be honored with this award. Previous recipients then chose this year’s four recipients.
Reynolds was unable to attend the event because of a prior engagement in Washington, D.C. Reynolds is a 1980 graduate of UNF and the founder of the Catherine Reynolds Foundation which assists families in financing their child’s college education.
Coleman has been a faculty member at UNF for almost 20 years. He was recognized for his teaching as well has his commitment to scholarly research and his service to UNF.
“It is indeed a high honor to receive this award,” he said.
Halverson has directed many highly-acclaimed projects throughout the United States while he has been at The Haskell Company. He is also a founding Board of Trustee member of UNF and past chairman of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.
“I look at the past award winners and I realize I have nothing useful to add except — thank you. I would like to honor this room, because everyone here reflects the business leadership in Jacksonville,” said Halverson.
Ward celebrated 30 years with the CSX Corporation last Thursday, so this honor was very fitting, he said.
“It is a great honor to have the same position as Prime (Osborn),” he said. “This really is a great award and thank you for it.”