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| Blakeley Ainsworth | Jessica Grant |
by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Over a period of timer, people who live or work Downtown or those who visit on a regular basis begin to develop a network of familiar faces. It might be coworkers or the person who makes your sandwich or someone at the counter where you buy a cup of coffee in the morning.
On the other hand, there are people you probably wouldn’t recognize if you passed them on the sidewalk but some of them are the people who work behind the scenes to make Downtown a great location to love, work and play.
Here are two examples:
Keeping it rolling at the Landing
Public Relations and Marketing Coordinator Blakeley Ainsworth has been one of the people behind the scenes at the Landing for more than a year but only recently joined the staff as a full-time employee.
She first walked on the property as a public relations intern in January 2009 after searching the Web for an unpaid future career-related opportunity in Jacksonville where her parents live. Then Ainsworth accepted a part-time summer job while attending Georgia Southern University where she was pursuing a degree in public relations.
Several months later when Rachel Kaltenbach, the Landing’s longtime director of public relations, decided to change careers, Ainsworth was offered a full-time position in the marketing and PR department. The timing was perfect, but it necessitated a slight change in education plans.
“I was going back to Georgia Southern to finish my degree, but then I got this job so I transferred to the University of North Florida. I’ll finish my degree in December,” said Ainsworth. “I’m very thankful to have a job before I graduate. That’s exactly what I want to do.”
She said having interned and worked part-time at the Landing for so long made it an easy transition to a permanent position. With more than a year of experience, Ainsworth had already been through all the riverfront mall’s benchmark events like the celebrations surrounding the Gator Bowl, the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, 4th of July, the Florida-Georgia game, the Light Parade and lighting the Christmas tree in the courtyard. It also gave her background in the less high-profile events that happen every week.
“Something is happening at the Landing just about every day,” said Ainsworth. “Every weekend we have live music and there are always new faces in the crowd along with our regulars.”
Due to its location, the Landing attracts an ever-changing guest list of business travelers and conventioneers from Downtown’s hotels along with locals who visit the dining and entertainment center.
“There are more than 1,500 premier hotel rooms within walking distance of the Landing and it’s on the river, which is gorgeous. No other shopping center in Jacksonville has what we have,” said Ainsworth.
One of the things she’s working on is expanding the Landing’s presence on social media sites, where fans and friends can get updates on entertainment and coupons for discounts from lounges and restaurants. Ainsworth has also started a blog on MetroJacksonville.com.
With warmer weather on the way, one of the promotions Ainsworth developed when she was an intern, “Yappy Hour,” is returning March 21. It’s an opportunity for dogs and their owners to enjoy an afternoon on the river at the Landing.
“Since it’s late March, we’re calling it a ‘St. Patty’s Day Pawty’ and this year we’ll have T-shirts for the event,” she said.
Helping people surf Downtown
Jessica Grant is a new face at Downtown Vision, Inc. She was recently named “Web and electronic communications coordinator” and is responsible for updating DVI’s Web site and social media presence.
A former freelance copy writer who also worked at a law firm, Grant said relocating to DVI wasn’t difficult.
“I worked at a law office on Prudential Drive, so I just moved from the Southbank to the Northbank,” she said.
Grant said in addition to making sure DVI’s Web site content is up to date and administering an E-blast every two weeks, she’s also exploring ways to make the most of Facebook and Twitter. The graduate of UNF said she has watched technology change how people communicate.
“When I started college social media didn’t exist,” said Grant. “When it started it was strictly used by students at universities. Now it’s everywhere. My 87-year-old grandmother is on Facebook.”
Working at DVI means being part of the team and Grant said she enjoys getting involved with marketing projects like First Wednesday Art Walk. Being part of the effort has given her a different outlook on Downtown.
“It’s nice to see it starting to flourish,” she said.
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