by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Foley & Lardner attorney John Welch will serve as the Jacksonville district council chair for the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 2007-08 fiscal year. Welch, who succeeds Mike Shalley of MKS Partners, will lead an 18-member executive committee.
“I have been a member off and on for a while, but really very active the past five years,” said Welch, who joined Foley & Lardner in 1991 when his former firm merged with Foley & Lardner.
Welch is a graduate of Stetson University and went to law school at the University of Florida. Today, his practice focuses on commercial real estate, finance and business law.
The ULI is a national 38,000-member organization created in 1936 and is a non-profit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land in an effort to create and sustain thriving communities. The group is comprised nationally and locally of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics and students.
Although the organization is 71 years old, the Jacksonville council is in its infancy. Welch said for years the Jacksonville area was represented by the Orlando council. Five years ago, the Jacksonville area members of the Orlando council got serious about creating a Jacksonville council.
“You have to prove you have a leadership program and membership,” said Welch. “You don’t just get a charter. Two years ago, we were recognized as a council and this year we were officially certified.”
Today, there are 300 members of the Jacksonville council compared to just 120 two years ago. Welch said during his tenure as council chair his job is to oversee the council and expand the programs the Jacksonville ULI offers. One of those programs focuses on high school and college students interested in land use and planning as a career.
The program year runs from September until June and includes both open and private meetings.
“I’m excited about it,” said Welch. “It’s a lot of fun to be in on the ground floor of an organization. We have an active executive committee and that makes the job easier.”
The Jacksonville executive committee includes:
• Brenna Durden — Lewis, Longman & Walker, vice chair of finance
• Mark Bonner — Edwards & Kelcey, vice chair of membership
• Scott Hobby — Case Pomeroy Properties, vice chair of young leaders
• Maxine McBride — Clockwork Marketing Services, vice chair of communications/public relations
• Tim Byal — WCI Communications, vice chair of community outreach
• Doug Stanford — Smith, Gambrell & Russell, vice chair of sponsorship
• Rob Palmer — HDR, vice chair of programs
• Tom Atkins — HDR
• Michael Bonts — Renaissance Creative
• Jim Robinson — King Engineering
• Paige Hilton Gray — King Engineering
• Paul Crawford — Jacksonville Economic Development Commission
• Joe Ehardt — HDR
• Lisa Palmer — Regency Centers
• Trip Stanley — commercial property manager
• Rose Zurawski — Gresham Smith & Partners