Gate Hospitality appoints 3 leaders
The Gate Hospitality Group made three leadership appointments in the operation of its four resort/private club properties — The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, The Lodge & Club at Ponte Vedra, Epping Forest Yacht Club and The River Club.
• Steven Jones will serve as vice president of food and beverage operations and will be responsible for the direction, planning and development of food and beverage operations of the four clubs.
• Joan Sykora is the vice president of membership sales and will be responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies to increase and retain membership in the clubs.
• Martin Diehr was appointed director of food and beverage outlet operations for the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. He will oversee the training of service staff at the club's eight restaurants and lounges.
Liz McCarthy promoted at Clockwork Marketing
Liz McCarthy was promoted to account executive at the Clockwork Marketing Services marketing and public relations firm. She will handle day-to-day and strategic management of her clients' public relations and marketing needs. She previously spent 17 years as executive director for Arnold Palmer Design Co.
Film/TV honors awarded
Jacksonville producer Ray Hays was honored with the 2013 Jacksonville Film Industry Award, while wardrobe stylist Megan Walker and director Gustavo Cooper were presented the 2013 Rising Star Award last week at the 13th Annual Jacksonville Film Industry Reception.
The Mayor's Advisory Board on Motion Pictures, Television and Commercial Production, Jacksonville City Council, the Jacksonville Film & Television Office and industry leaders celebrated highlights in local film and digital media production.
Hays began his TV career in 1969 and has been recognized with four Emmys for broadcast work as a producer, director and videographer. In 1988 he incorporated the Producers Resource Center, renamed PRC Digital Media in 1998, where he helped pioneer interactive multimedia training with the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.
Walker and Cooper were presented the 2013 Rising Star Award, which is awarded to individuals under age 35 in the film and television industry in Jacksonville.
LJ to induct Bailey, Chiu as honorary lifetime members
Leadership Jacksonville plans to induct Financial News & Daily Record Publisher Jim Bailey and Dr. Thomas Chiu as honorary lifetime members at the annual reunion luncheon Sept. 25 at the Hyatt Downtown.
City Council member Lori Boyer will lead a discussion about "Consolidated Government Revisited."
Costs are $32 for paid members and $40 for members whose annual dues are not paid.
For information, visit leadershipjax.org.
Hispanic Leadership nominations open
The city of Jacksonville's Mayor's Hispanic American Advisory Board will accept nominations through Sept. 18 for its 2013 Hispanic Leadership Awards.
The awards will recognize leaders in government, business, education, health, faith-based, nonprofit, music, art and culture, visionary leader (age 21-40) and lifetime achievement.
The awards will be made Sept. 30 as part of Hispanic Heritage Month.
For information, call (904) 630-1212, ext. 3199.
Steinem to celebrate birthday of Dorothy Pitman Hughes
Equal rights leader Gloria Steinem will visit Jacksonville to celebrate the 75th birthday of Dorothy Pitman Hughes on Oct. 2. Mayor Alvin Brown's office will deliver a Mayoral Proclamation in City Hall at 11:30 a.m. naming Oct. 2 Dorothy Pitman Hughes Day in Jacksonville. Originally from Lumpkin, Ga., Pitman Hughes has worked on behalf of human rights for 57 years; she is a well-known feminist, civil rights, and child-care advocate. In 1971, she and Steinem co-founded the Women's Action Alliance, whose mission was "to assist women working on practical, local action projects; projects that attack the special problems of social dependence, discrimination, and limited life alternatives they face because they are women." Beginning in 1970, Gloria Steinem and Dorothy Pitman Hughes traveled across the U.S. on a high-profile speaking tour about race, class, and gender equality.
Hightower to chair Associated Industries of Florida
Mike Hightower, Florida Blue vice president of governmental and legislative affairs, was elected to chair the board of Associated Industries of Florida.
At Florida Blue, Hightower is responsible for working with political leaders in federal, state and local government and he maintains working relationships with state, local and Washington, D.C., business, political and academic community leaders.
Phoenix Realty hires Henley as VP
Newmark Grubb Phoenix Realty Group hired Scott Henley as vice president in office brokerage services. He will focus on tenant and landlord representation, as well as acquisition and disposition strategies for office clients. He previously was with CNL Commercial Real Estate.
World Affairs Council to screen 'Not My Life' documentary
The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville will host a screening of "Not My Life," a documentary on human trafficking written, directed and produced by Academy Award nominee Robert Bilheimer.
The screening is scheduled at 6 p.m. Oct. 1 at WJCT Studios, 100 Festival Park Ave. For information or free tickets, contact Leah Huber at (904) 280-8162 or [email protected].
New Hall of Fame class
Georgia legends Matt Stinchcomb and Peter Anderson will be joined by Florida stars Jevon Kearse and Lindy Infante as the Class of 2013 for the Florida-Georgia Hall of Fame.
With the new class also comes a new logo for the game, tying the two school logos to the iconic Main Street Bridge in Jacksonville.
The class will be inducted at the annual luncheon Nov. 1 in the West Club at EverBank Field. For information, call the City of Jacksonville Sports & Entertainment Office at (904) 630-3600.
Springfield on tour
The Urban Land Institute North Florida chapter and the Springfield Area Merchants and Business Association will host a bus tour of Springfield on Sept. 26. "Developing Springfield … Focus on the Commercial Corridors" is scheduled 4:30-6 p.m., starting with check-in at Uptown Market. The tour ends at 6 p.m., followed by a social at Three Layers Café. Registration is $35 for members and $50 for non-members. For information, email [email protected] or call (904) 486-8256.
Tax collector to relocate Mandarin branch
Duval County Tax Collector Michael Corrigan said the Mandarin branch at 10131-24 San Jose Blvd. will close Friday and reopen in early October at 10035 San Jose Blvd., near Crown Point Road. Corrigan said the new location offers more parking and a safer place for driving tests.
Rethreaded featured at WBO
Kristen Keen, founder and executive director of the Rethreaded nonprofit and the top vote-getter at the One Spark crowd-funding event, is scheduled as the keynote speaker Sept. 23 to the Women Business Owners of north Florida dinner at The University Club. The event begins with networking at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the program at 6:30 p.m. Costs are $30 for members, $35 for guests of members and $40 for non-members. For information and reservations, visit wbonfl.org or email [email protected].