• Axia Public Relations has moved its Downtown branch to 222 E. Forsyth St. from 200 E. Forsyth St., where it operated for more than eight years. The public relations firm has expanded and now occupies space in the McMurray Livery, Sale & Transfer Company building with a 10-year lease.
• Lender Processing Services Inc. announced that Dan Carmichael has been appointed to its board of directors. Carmichael is chairman of the board of Platinum Underwriters Holdings and serves on the board of EagleEye Analytics and Dovetail Insurance Corporation. Lender Processing Services is headquartered in Jacksonville and is a provider of integrated technology and services to the mortgage and real estate industries.
• Edward Waters College is hosting a grand opening for its Center for the Prevention of Health Disparities at 10 a.m. Thursday at 1401 Grunthal St. In conjunction with the ceremony, the school also is hosting a "Strategies for Reducing Health Disparities in Jacksonville" health symposium at 9 a.m. Friday at Milne Auditorium, 1658 Kings Road. School administration, public officials, health care leaders and New Town Success Zone representatives will attend the Thursday ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Friday symposium will feature a panel discussion featuring City Council member Reggie Brown; Dr. Rogers Cain, Northeast Florida Medical Society president; Dr. Yank Coble, Center for Global Health and Medical Diplomacy at the University of North Florida director; and the Rev. Alton Coles, former chair of the Community Research Advisory Board. The public is invited to attend both events.
• The Friends of the Jacksonville Public Library is hosting its first Book Warehouse Sale beginning this weekend to benefit the library through book sales and signatures. A petition for establishing a referendum for a special tax district for libraries will be available to sign during the sale at the University Park Library, 3435 University Blvd. N. The times and dates are: 5-8 p.m. Friday, which is Friends member night; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; noon-5 p.m. Sunday; 4-7 p.m. Tuesday; 4-7 p.m. Feb 28; and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. March 1. The last four days also feature a special of $10 for a bag of books. For more information, visit fjpl.org.
• St. Johns & Partners has hired Allison Russo as a store-opening specialist to assist with the agency's Zaxby's account. She will work with the chain's licensees to facilitate grand openings of new locations across the country. She also will connect new stores, franchisees and team members with their local communities, leaders and organizations to form relationships.
• Richard Sisisky, president and CEO of The Shircliff & Sisisky Co., has been selected as the first chair of the Jacksonville University Public Policy Institute by its board of advisers. The institute also announced it has named Daniel Rice, Mayport Venture Partners LLC president, as vice chair and Nina Waters, The Community Foundation in Jacksonville, president, as secretary-treasurer. The institute was founded in 2012 and offers the first master's in public policy in the state. It is now accepting applications for the fall 2013 semester.
• NAIOP of Northeast Florida will host its annual awards March 7 at the Florida Theatre. The event honors the Northeast Florida commercial real estate industry and will feature a cocktail reception, awards ceremony and dinner. It also will feature the presentation of the Jesse B. Smith Community Service Award, which will be given to Downtown Vision Inc. Executive Director Terry Lorince. The award honors a non-real estate person who has "shown outstanding commitment and service to the office and industrial real estate industry" in the area. Among the other awards will be Office Broker of the Year and Industrial Broker of the Year. Tickets are $75. For more information or to register, visit naiopnefl.com or call Carmel Buchanan at (904) 730-8075.