by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Since 1999, the Florida Council on Economic Education (FCEE) has inducted members into its First Coast Business Hall of Fame each year. The previous 31 business and community leaders recognized were joined by four more Thursday during the 9th annual luncheon to honor those who contribute not only leadership in business, but in community service as well.
“The committee had a very difficult time choosing this year’s inductees because there are so many strong candidates from our business community,” said Preston Haskell, who chaired this year’s Selection Committee.
Inductee Ceree Harden is chairman, president and CEO of Harden and Associates. He joined the company 30 years ago and expanded it from a personal insurance service into an insurance, risk management and employee benefits firm that today bills more than $450 million in premiums each year. He is a past chair of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission and serves on several boards of directors including Baptist Health System, FPIC Insurance Group and Episcopal High School.
President and CEO of The Haskell Company Steve Halverson was also honored this year. He serves as a director or trustee for the United Way of Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and St. Johns University. He chaired the Mayor’s Commission on Small and Disadvantaged Business and the transition task force for the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.
“I have been nowhere in the country where the business community grasps the connection between business and community service better than here in Jacksonville. It’s why I’m so optimistic about the future here,” he said.
This year’s third inductee, David Stein, was chairman and CEO of Southern Industrial Corp., the original franchiser of 32 Jacksonville-area Burger King restaurants and is now chairman of T.L. Cannon Corp., a franchisee of Applebee’s restaurants in New York and Connecticut.
Stein was instrumental in the founding of the Jewish Community Alliance and has served as an officer or board member of the United Way, University Medical Center, WJCT Public Television and numerous other organizations. He has also endowed 60 scholarships at Florida Community College at Jacksonville and the University of North Florida.
“I worked hard for 40 years,” said Stein. “Now I’m retired and having the time of my life giving back.”
Hugh Greene, president and CEO of Baptist Health, said he regarded his induction “as a reflection of the incredible organization I’m proud to be a part of. The real Hall of Famers are people who aren’t in this room – the nurses and caregivers. I accept this award for them.”
He has served as United Way chair of the Board of Trustees and was the 2006 Campaign Chair. As chair of the I. M. Sulzbacher Board, he received the Excellence in Healthcare Award for his efforts on behalf of the Homeless and the recipient of the Leadership Jacksonville 2006 Community Trustee Award.
The Florida Council on Economic Education provides educational programs for students in grades K-12 in economics, the free enterprise system and personal financial literacy. The organization’s programs and materials serve three million students in 4,000 schools statewide.
Attendance at this year’s event was a sell-out, more than doubled last year’s and raised more than $100,000 for the Tampa-based organization’s programs.
“The participation today is a record for us in terms of sponsors and attendees. Their support helps us do what we do,” said Jim De Santis, FCEE executive director.