• Former City Council President Jack Webb admitted that he recently gave up Diet Coke in an effort to “get healthy.” When Webb was elected to the City Council in 2007 he was known to work through the day on Diet Coke and tic tacs.
• The St. Johns Riverkeeper is launching a group for young professionals and community-minded advocates ages 21-44. The group will offer social activities and volunteer projects for its members. There’s a naming party from 6-8 p.m. Aug. 5 at Bold City Brewery. Send ideas to [email protected] by Aug. 3. The winner receives a free membership.
• Jacksonville political consultant Susie Wiles resigned from the presidential campaign of Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, according to published reports. Wiles joined the campaign of Huntsman, a Republican, after the election of Florida Gov. Rick Scott, whose campaign she managed. The Miami Herald quotes Wiles as saying “it was just time.” She told the Herald that Huntsman’s poll ranking had nothing to do with the decision. Reports show that the campaign has been ranking in the single digits in early national polls as well as in surveys in early nominating states. “It was in my plans to resign at some point. I have a great life and a great situation. We launched this thing and it’s up and running. Our team is so good that we hired from within. I continue to have a role here. I intend to be friend and confidante of Huntsman,” she told the Herald. She was replaced by Matt David, who had served as the campaign’s communications director.
• Jacksonville-based Rayonier said it will host investors and analysts at an “investor day” Sept. 22 at its Performance Fibers mill in Jesup, Ga. The agenda will include an update, a tour of the mill and a timber harvesting tour. Rayonier owns, leases or manages 2.4 million acres of timber and land in the United States and New Zealand. The company’s holdings include about 200,000 acres with residential and commercial development potential along Interstate 95 between Savannah and Daytona Beach. Its Performance Fibers business provides specialty cellulose fibers used in products such as filters, pharmaceuticals and LCD screens.
• Jacksonville-based Fortegra Financial Corp. said that A.M. Best’s annual ranking of credit life/health writers found its Life of the South brand has risen from the fourth-largest issuer to the second-largest issuer in the United States, ranked by the 2010 credit life business issued. Life of the South had $5.9 billion in covered credit.
• Grubb & Ellis Phoenix Realty Group Inc. announces the lease of 213,000 square feet at 12759 Gran Bay Parkway to Saddle Creek Corp. Cabot Properties owns the building, previously occupied by GM Parts. John Richardson and Bryan Bartlett of Grubb & Ellis Phoenix Realty Group represented Cabot Properties, while Grubb & Ellis Phoenix Realty Vice President Ladson Montgomery represented Saddle Creek.