Employed by: Acosta, Inc.
Practice: General Counsel
Age: 49
Family: Wife Kellie, daughter Katie, 15, and son Adam, 10.
Pets: Miniature Schnauzer puppies Luke and Lilly, 10 months
Education: Undergrad at Indiana University 1981, Indiana University School of Law- Indianapolis, 1985
Admitted to the Bar: 11-6-1985
Professional organizations:
American Bar Association
Florida Bar Association
Jacksonville Bar Association
Graduate Leadership Jacksonville 2005
Graduate Leadership Florida XXIV, 2006
Community involvement:
Vice chairman of the Florida Theater Board of Directors
Fourth year chair of board of directors of Northeast Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross
South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church
What have you accomplished through community involvement?
We had two big accomplishments while I have been on the board of the Northeast Florida Chapter of the Red Cross. The first was the ability to recruit and hire Jack Morgan as our CEO.
He was the face of the local Red Cross from a volunteer respect for about 20 years. For him to leave private sector and be such a great leader was an accomplishment for us.
We have also been able to increase fund raising over the last couple of years. Our Chapter has been recognized as part of the top ten percent of highest performing chapters in fund raising for the past two years.
I participated in and successfully ran a telethon to raise funds when the hurricanes hit in 2004 and 2005. At the chapter, I was one of the many people answering phones for the telethon and sending out letters asking for donations.
What made you get involved with red cross?
I was contacted by then CEO Skip Cramer, and former bank colleague Mike Shiff at a point in my career that I not only had the ability but the desire to dedicate the time to helping the Red Cross and it has been a great experience.
It has been an eye-opening experience. The Red Cross responds to more than one single family fire a day, but we are thought about during major disasters. We are involved with responding to disasters 365 days a year.
It’s not uncommon to respond to three or four single family fires in a day. The regional chapter covers eight counties in Northeast Florida and two in Southeast Georgia.
We are also Congressionally mandated to provide the service of handling communications from military to their family members and their families and vice versa. Letters and phone calls, we process all types of messages. It could be good news or it could be bad, death of a soldier or birth of a baby.
On average, the chapter handles 10 emergency messages a day for the military community.
You are also involved with the Florida Theater?
I am vice chair of its board of directors.
It’s a different organization. Erik Hart has been the president for 20 years and is well known in the community. He and his staff do a good job of managing the day-to-day activities.
That lets the board focus on its roles of governance, oversight, strategic planning and fundraising
Why get involved?
It’s another opportunity to serve the community in a different capacity, to serve the arts. My wife and I are regular attendees and supporters of the Florida Theater. I believe it’s a great landmark and wanted to do my part to see that the organization and building thrive.