by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
State employees who work in North Florida and were also recognized by the 2009 Prudential-Davis Productivity Awards were the guests of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville at its Monday meeting.
Each year hundreds of individuals and teams from the gamut of the state’s agencies are recognized for their particular contributions to the welfare of state government through their efforts to improve service, streamline processes and save or create funds.
The 2009 awards competition attracted 568 nominations for government innovations and productivity representing $342 million in direct cost savings, cost avoidances and increased revenue for the taxpayers of Florida. Over the past 20 years since the inaugural awards were presented, winners have posted a total of $6.3 billion in added value for citizens and businesses.
Florida Tax Watch, the only statewide organization solely dedicated to improving taxpayer value, government accountability and citizen understanding of Florida’s state and local governments, seeks nominations for the awards each year and charges a 12-member panel to evaluate each candidate.
Twenty-five teams and individuals from North Florida were recognized this year. The largest cash award ($1,500) went to The Foster Care Redesign Team in the Department of Children and Families.
“Their efforts saved Florida taxpayers $7.1 million and got 1,300 kids out of foster care,” said Prudential-Davis Awards Executive Director Clarissa Dunlap.
In addition to Presenting Sponsor Prudential, other sponsors include The Florida Lottery, AvMed Health Plans, Florida Power & Light Company, Brandt Information Services, Capital Health Plan, CSX Corporation, Florida Trend magazine, Image API, ACS Government Solutions, MAXIMUS, Publix Super Markets Charities, Florida Transportation Builder’s Association and Progress Energy Florida.
More than 800 adaptable achievements from the 2003 through 2008 awards competitions may be viewed on the Florida Tax Watch Web site, www.floridataxwatch.org.
Next week at Rotary
The keynote speaker at Monday’s meeting is former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney, who became the University of North Florida’s fifth president in 2003.
As “President in Residence” he oversees a campus of more than 16,500 students, 600 faculty and more than 1,000 staff. The 1,300-acre campus is considered a driver in the region, with an annual economic impact of nearly $1 billion.
Each year, 4,000 students graduate from UNF’s five colleges: the Brooks College of Health, the Coggin College of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Computing, Engineering and Construction and the College of Education and Human Services.
Under Delaney’s direction, UNF reaffirmed its commitment to students by offering individualized attention and offering transformational learning opportunities. UNF is also known for its flagship programs, areas where the school leads the nation including Community Nursing, International Business, Transportation and Logistics and Coastal Biology.
UNF is currently undergoing the biggest construction spree in its history. The university is building an $86 million residence hall, a $50 million student union, a $27 million College of Education and Human Services building and an $11 million addition to the Brooks College of Health.
Delaney is considered the chief fundraiser, nearly doubling UNF’s privately-funded endowment since he took office.
His presidency continues a distinguished career as a public servant. He served two terms as mayor of Jacksonville spearheading major initiatives including The Better Jacksonville Plan. Delaney also created the Preservation Project, a land conservation program which gave Jacksonville the distinction of having the largest urban park system in the United States. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Assistant State Attorney for the Fourth Judicial Circuit and as the General Counsel for the City of Jacksonville.
Delaney will address issues involving higher education in terms of the current political landscape, increases in tuition for Florida’s students and how higher education can serve as an economic driver.
He’ll also explain how UNF has successfully managed its way out of state budget cuts without laying off faculty or reducing programs. Delaney will also offer a glimpse into UNF’s future plans and offerings including completing the transition to NCAA Division-1 athletics and the acquisition of the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville.
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