by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Theresa O’Donnell-Price will soon mark a milestone in her career with the City of Jacksonville.
For close to 25 years, she has directed the effort to bring entertainment and spectacle to the citizens of and visitors to Duval County. From the Jacksonville Jazz Festival to the annual Gator Bowl New Years Eve celebration and every City-sponsored event in between, the Office of Special Events is the source of the fun and games.
“Things have certainly changed in 25 years. People expect more, so we’re doing more,” said O’Donnell-Price. “Special events started out as a quality of life issue and they still are, but now there’s an economic impact element.”
She cited an example of when the jazz festival relocated to the heart of Downtown during Memorial Day weekend two years ago.
“Before we moved the festival, the Downtown hotels would put people on part-time because there weren’t many guests over the holiday weekend,” she said. “Now, the hotels are full that weekend and everybody works. Even people who don’t stay in the hotels patronize the restaurants and clubs.”
O’Donnell-Price started with the City after working in the public relations department at University Medical Center, now Shands Jacksonville. At first, she was assigned to promote the City’s sports and entertainment facilities. Years later, the job evolved into directing the department that manages events provided to the public and tourists at little to no charge.
“That’s especially important now with the economy the way it is. We’re able to offer family entertainment that’s affordable if it’s not free,” said O’Donnell-Price.
A few years ago, the Office of Special Events took on the responsibility of issuing permits for events in City facilities that weren’t sponsored by the City. O’Donnell-Price and her staff also coordinate with other City departments like Public Works and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to provide a “one stop shop” and a streamlined process.
“From parking and crowd control to cleaning up afterwards, we’re a tremendous resource for groups and organizations,” she said. “Anything that’s quirky or out of the ordinary ends up in our office.”
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