by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Making the most of every minute is not a skill possessed by many, but some, such as Florida Bar Board of Governors member Jake Schickel, are on the right track.
A former scholarship track athlete at the University of Florida, attorney Schickel keeps up the pace of meeting the many commitments on his daily schedule.
The balancing act of family, career and community service was readjusted after Schickel received a call in 1994 from Mayor Ed Austin.
“He called me and invited me to lunch at Bono’s on the Northside,” said Schickel. “Ed told me that I had been practicing long enough and established myself, and I needed to start giving back to the community.”
That didn’t take long.
“Two weeks later he appointed me to the board of directors of the JEA,” said Schickel.
After his first year on the board, Schickel was voted board chair from 1995-1997 and continued serving on the board until 2002.
Schickel said it was an interesting time. “I was chair during the merger of the water and power services,” he said.
Other civic involvement has included serving on the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce board of governors from 1997-2004, the board of trustees for Edward Waters College from 2006-2009 and the board of directors for WorkSource from 2000 to the present, serving as chair from 2002-2003.
The involvement wouldn’t be possible without efficient time management and the assistance of his partners and the staff at Coker Schickel Sorenson & Posgay, of which he is a founding partner.
“A great staff and great partners help me juggle the balls,” said Schickel.
The firm is in Baywater Square at Bay and Newnan streets Downtown, and his office is set up slightly different than most.
He does research and writing at his desk, but the chairs in front of the desk face away from it. They are pointed toward a couch that is against the front wall.
“When people come in to meet with me, I don’t want them to get the feeling that I am talking at them,” said Schickel.
“If I’m behind the desk, that’s what I feel like I’m doing. When I meet with someone, I don’t want anything between us. This way we can have a conversation where I can talk with someone, not at them,” he said.
When asked what was most important in the office, Schickel went beyond the material.
“Friendships,” said Schickel.
Schickel has also been trying to talk to as many Bar members as he can lately as he campaigns to become the 10th Florida Bar president from Jacksonville. Voting will conclude in March.
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