JBA on the move
The Jacksonville Bar Association has set its official move date for Aug. 29, and staff will be putting the labor into Labor Day Weekend. “We don’t know what it’s going to look like, but we’ll be open the Tuesday after Labor Day,” joked Susan Sowards, executive director of the JBA. The office will move south on the Southbank from the Riverplace Tower to the Aetna Building. Five employees and the JBA President will be moved from the current location. The JBA will institute its own recycling program during the move by purchasing slightly used furniture from other offices in the Aetna building and it will donate its older furniture to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
Chairman Dearing
Attorney Tom Dearing is the 2008-09 chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Florida board of directors. The rest of the officers include: Robert Hill, vice chairman; Richard Brock, treasurer, and Shaelyn Haag, secretary. The other members of the board include: Roger Strickland, retired BellSouth executive; Vickie Cavey, director for JEA; Alison Johnson, marketing, Gate Petroleum; Andy Levinson, marketing manager, PGA Tour; Juan Diaz, attorney, Armor Holdings, Inc.
“It is a great pleasure to announce our new board members and officers. These individuals will make a positive impact on BBBSNEFL as the organization continues to mature,” said Dearing.
The new board members assumed their duties on July 1, 2008.
Webb joins Harper Gerlach
City Council member Jack Webb has returned to private practice to handle employment related defense matters for the firm of Harper Gerlach. Webb represents Dist. 6 and was previously employed for about nine years by CEVA Logistics, Inc., as its director of labor and employment relations. Webb was admitted to the bar in 1995.
Milton busy
In addition to becoming the first recipient of the Fran Peacock Coker FLABOTA Community Service Award for his leadership as the ABOTA Foundation president in 2006-07 at the FLABOTA convention last month, attorney Joe Milton is active on the state level. He was recently appointed by Justice Fred Lewis of the Florida Supreme Court to the Florida Board of Bar Examiners Testing Commission and he was elected the second vice president of the Florida Supreme Court Historical Society.
Books for kids
The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association will celebrate the beginning of its 2008-09 year at River City Brewing Company Sept. 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. In addition to food, drink and entertainment, the organization is collecting books for kids age 6-13. The books will be donated to Community Connections. The cost is $15 per person, but free to those who join JWLA as a regular member on or before Sept. 18. RSVP by Sept. 12 to Nicole Habl at [email protected]
Prusiecki continues with Red Cross
Drew Prusiecki, general counsel for Acosta Sales and Marketing Company, has been elected for a fourth term as chair of the board of directors of the Northeast Florida chapter of the American Red Cross. He was also a member of the chapter’s Public Support Committee which supports local fundraising and public relations activities. Prior to Acosta, Prusiecki was a partner in the Jacksonville office of Holland & Knight and was previously senior counsel with Barnett Banks, Inc.
Courthouse architect
Jacksonville’s TTV Architects, Inc., designed the new sign designating the Federal Courthouse as the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse. TTV Architects President Tri Vu and Senior Vice President Christopher Noel attended the naming ceremony on Monday to see their work unveiled.
Past presidents gathering
The Jacksonville Bar Association will hold a meeting of past presidents at noon on Aug. 28 at Holland & Knight. The first JBA President was Duncan Fletcher and he held office from 1897-1898. There has been 106 presidents of the JBA.
Help for Hubbard House
Attorneys Poppy Decunto and Thuy-Anh Nguyen have organized a fundraiser for the Hubbard House, an emergency shelter dedicated to helping victims of domestic abuse. A registry has been set up at Target with a list of items needed for babies and children during their stay at Hubbard House. The shelter is also participating in a fundraising drive that will end Aug. 31 and it will receive matching funds for whatever it raises up to $1 million. People interested in donating can contact Hubbard House at 354-0076.