Harden & Associates has appointed two to new positions. Amy Davenport is an account director in the Employee Benefits Division and Stephanie Schwert is an account director in the Commercial Insurance Division. Davenport joined the company in 2005 while Schwert joined Harden & Associates last year.
• Mayor John Peyton, through an executive order, has given Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Kerri Stewart the authority to sign official documents on his behalf. The order is dated Nov. 1 and in it Peyton says “you have my complete confidence as evidenced by my appointment of you to that position...” Stewart is a former campaign worker who ascended the civil service ladder.
• Speaking of Peyton, he has certainly put his money where his mouth is regarding the Jacksonville Early Literacy Endowment. Jan. 1, the endowment had a balance of $0 but as of Sept. 30 the balance was a little over $200,000. Most of the donations from individuals and citizens are for $325. However, an entry dated July 20 from Peyton is for $136,267.69.
• Want fries with that? As part of the grand opening celebration at the new restaurant on County Road 220 in Fleming Island, Steak ‘n Shake, Inc. has donated $15,000 to “26.2 with Donna: The National Marathon to Fight Breast Cancer.” The contribution represents 50 percent of all first-week sales at the new location.
• Janice Dailey, director of sales and marketing for the Crowne Plaza Hotel, has received Intercontinental Hotel Group’s highest honor, the IHG 2007 Best of the Best – Crowne Plaza Director of Sales of the Year Award. Under her leadership, the Crowne Plaza Jacksonville sales staff has already exceeded sales goals for the year and was honored earlier this year by IHG for outstanding new hotel opening performance. The Downtown riverfront hotel converted from the Hilton brand to Crowne Plaza in March 2006.
• Coach will break ground on its new distribution center Nov. 14. The high-end bag, purse and wallet company has an office and warehouse in Tradeport near the airport.
“You define a good flight by negatives: you didn’t get hijacked, you didn’t crash, you didn’t throw up, you weren’t late, you weren’t nauseated by the food. So you are grateful.”
– Paul Theroux, author.