by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Jacksonville’s many existing and budding civic leaders aren’t blind to the community’s problems – sometimes all it takes is a little clarity to identify community needs for those leaders to make a difference.
Since 1967, Leadership Jacksonville has offered that clarity by hosting a multitude of year-long programs that explore different community concerns and urban society dynamics. By identifying the target needs, it helps educate and develop local civic-minded leaders with a greater understanding of needed attention.
“Our mission is to develop youth and adult leaders who will assume greater responsibility as trustees within the community,” said Isabelle Spence, executive director of Leadership Jacksonville. “By doing that, it helps to improve the quality of life for not only them and their families, but for the entire community.”
Annual classes for the Leadership Jacksonville program result in 56 graduates from various groups including non-profits, governments, media, volunteer and others that make up a microcosm of the larger community.
Each has applied or been nominated because of the interest in helping the community, but not everyone who applies is accepted – there isn’t enough room to accept them all, said Spence, who noted that the program is competitive. It receives on average, about 130 applications a year.
Once the community’s problems are understood and compiled, it’s up to the individuals to determine where and if they choose to spend their efforts.
“We don’t put any pressure on them (graduates) at all,” said Spence. “All we ask is that they look at themselves closely and use their talents, gifts and interests to make their best community contribution if they choose to do so.”
Last year’s class, she said, saw a need for community community mentors and, in response, 20 graduates responded by choosing to become youth mentors. To date, there are over 1,300 Leadership Jacksonville graduates who still live in the area, with many coming back on an annual basis to contribute where they can.
“It’s truly a life changing event for me,” said Barbara Drake, a 1992 graduate and one of the ones who continues to support the organization.
Drake, a longtime recycling director, first assisted the organization in 1989 by teaching seminars on recycling. She enjoyed the experience, later joined, served on the board of directors and continues to lend a hand today.
“Many people out there want to make a difference,” she said, “but they just don’t know how to get connected with the right people or know the needs of the community. Leadership Jacksonville helps with both.”
Along with Leadership Jacksonville’s long running adult program, it has also instituted additional programs to expand its reach:
• The New Leadership Summit program, is aimed at CEOs and senior level executives who are new to the area. It offers new members interaction with community leaders to learn more about the area’s assets.
• The Youth Leadership program is aimed at high school juniors who exhibit leadership qualities and prepares them to become active leaders in community involvement.
• The Collegiate Leadership Experience targets college students who live or go to school in Northeast Florida and like the adult program, helps students become aware of community needs and develops skills to become community leaders.
• The School Leadership Connection is a youth program that brings leadership workshops into area schools and helps encourage community building and leadership skills.
The 2008-09 Leadership Jacksonville Board of Directors:
President — Ben Bishop, Landsouth Capital, LLC
President-Elect — Stephen Canty, Canty Insurance Services, Inc.
Secretary/Treasurer — Michael Blount, Ernst & Young
Immediate Past President — Sandy Ramsey, Acosta, Inc.
Board Members
The Leadership Jacksonville Class of 2009
Christine Arab, FCCJ; David Balz, Haskell; Lester Bass, Duval County Courts; Sandra Brooks, Brooks LaCayo; Anna Brosche, Ennis, Pellum & Associates, CPAs; Clanzenetta Brown, Special Project Partners; Leslie Bryant, Wachovia; Debbie Buckland, SunTrust Bank; Jeff Chartrand, The Chartrand Foundation and Fred Coble, CapitalSouth Bank.
Kevin Cook, The Bedell Firm; Keli Coughlin, Tom Coughlin & Jay Fund Foundation; Amy Crane, Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville; Craig Davisson, Rink Design Partnership, Inc.; Thomas Deppe, All Saints Episcopal Church; Michael Diaz, Acosta Sales & Marketing; Susan DuBow, Community Volunteer; Wyman Duggan, Rogers Towers, P.A.; Lelia Duncan, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce and Dan Edwards, Jacksonville Jaguars.
Catherine Forment, Florida Bank of Jacksonville; Donna Ghanayem, Shands Jacksonville; Christine Granfield, Mori, Bean, Brooks, P.A.; Ebenezer Gujjarlapudi, City of Jacksonville; Barbara Hetrick, UNF; Eric Holshouser, Coffman Coleman Andrews & Grogran; Bunky Johnson, AComputer Teacher; Michael Lanier, Baptist Health; Mark LeMaire, United Way of NE Florida and Amy Lingren, Duval County Public Schools.
Alyssa Locus, BlueCross Blue Shield of Florida; Alida Lipari, Merrill Lynch; Susan Mack, The Main Street America Group; Thomas Majdanics, Medical Services Company; Charles Margiotta, Rayonier, Inc.; Dan McCarthy, City of Jacksonville; David Meyer, St. Vincent’s HealthCare; Bobbie O’Connor, OneJax; Windell Palmer, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville and Terrance Patterson, Ritz Chamber Music Society.
Gregory Perrine, JEA; Twyla Prindle, PrindleHouse Publishing; Andrea Rizzi, Junior League of Jacksonville; Teresa Rogers, YMCA of Florida’s First Coast; Chung Rutter, Reynolds, Smith & Hills, Inc.; Dayan Sandler, Baptist Medical Center; Linda Scaz, Haven Hospice; Susan West Schantz, Women’s Giving Alliance; Ryan Schwartz, Zurich Insurance Services, Inc. and Andrea Smith, Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Shannon Smith, SAVVY Events & SAVVY Shots; Alan Thomas, Publix Super Markets Inc.; Mitch Turknett, BB&T Doug Wilder, Wilder Business Success, Inc.; Michael Wilson, Environmental Services, Inc. and Allan Wulbern, Smith Hulsey & Busey.