• Dr. Sol Brotman, Baptist Health CEO Hugh Greene, Dr. Yazan Khatib and volunteer Karen Wolfson are scheduled to be honored tonight at the 42nd OneJax Humanitarian Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Downtown. OneJax announced that Mayor Alvin Brown will speak at the event, which honors “those who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to our community.” The reception begins at 6 p.m. followed by dinner and the program from 7-9 p.m. For information, visit www.onejax.org.
• Mayor Alvin Brown appointed Aleizha Batson as public communications manager in the Office of Public Affairs. Batson, 41, has more than 15 years of experience in public relations and community engagement. She is now public outreach manager of DC Water, the water and sewer authority for Washington, D.C. She previously worked with the Dalton Agency and national sports organizations, such as the PGA Tour and The First Tee. Batson will serve as the second-in-command in the Office of Public Affairs. She will earn $89,750 annually.
• Jayson Janda, assistant general manager of rooms for The Renaissance World Golf Village Resort and Beach Club, received the “EDGE Award” for 2012 from Marriott International. The award is given annually to the highest performing rooms operations leaders within Marriott International full-service properties. Janda is one of 20 recipients in the world, and one of just 8 recipients in the United States, to receive the honor this year. He has served as assistant general manager of rooms for the 301-room resort for the past four years.
• The 2012 national Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement mobilization kicked off Monday. The Florida Department of Transportation joined other state and local law enforcement officers and highway safety advocates across the country to strongly enforce safety belt laws around the clock. The mobilization runs through June 3, but motorists are advised that officers enforce safety belt law year-round.
• John James announced Tuesday that he will step down next month from his post of executive director and secretary of Gator Boosters Inc. He has held the position since 1986. James plans to remain in Gainesville near to the university. He took over an organization that was raising about $1 million a year 26 years ago and helped it grow to more than 14,000 members. It raised more than $40 million in the fiscal year ending in June 2010 to help support UF athletics and academics.
• Sandy Lopez, marketing representative for Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida, has been named “rookie of the year” by the Insurance Professionals of Northeast Florida, an affiliate of the International Association of Insurance Professionals.
• Burdette Ketchum’s health care advertising campaign created for the new Institute for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry won silver at the 29th Annual Healthcare Advertising Awards. The awards are sponsored by Healthcare Marketing Report, which covers health care marketing, advertising and strategic business development.
• St. Johns Town Center will add retailers Bose and Carter’s and the Sake House restaurant this fall. In addition, Ann Taylor will update its space to the new prototype store, downsizing to 4,000 square feet. It will reopen in July and in the meantime Ann Taylor is operating in the former GUESS space. Bose will offer consumer electronics products in a newly created storefront next to Ann Taylor. The store is slated to open in early September. Carter’s, which sells children’s clothing, gifts and accessories, will open in early October next to LifeWay Christian Store. Sake House is slated to open by early September in the former The Grape location.