People on the Move: Port Authority hires Collins; Black Knight appoints Hallett

Promotions, hirings and happenings for business people in Northeast Florida. Send items to [email protected].

• The Jacksonville Port Authority hired retired U.S. Coast Guard Capt. Dwight Collins as director of public safety and security. He directs all law enforcement, physical security, safety, and emergency management and preparedness services to support more than 200,000 port employees, tenants and customers. He also is responsible for ensuring enforcement of seaport security initiatives in compliance with all federal, state and local laws. He is a 27-year USCG veteran. He most recently served as deputy chief of operations for Shore Forces, USCG Pacific Area.

• Black Knight Inc. appointed Ryan Hallett the company’s chief risk officer. She will assume the position from Peter Hill, who retired after six years in the position. Hallett will lead Black Knight’s Enterprise Risk Management group, responsible for the company’s strategic security and risk management plans; physical security of the campuses; identification and mitigation of potential security risks; and business continuity efforts. Black Knight provides integrated software, data and analytics to the mortgage and real estate industries. She previously was deputy chief risk officer.

• Junior Achievement of North Florida chose Shannon Italia as its next president to manage the organization’s work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy programs that reach more than 60,000 K-12 students in the Jacksonville area. She most recently served as the chief business development officer at Harbor View Advisors in Ponte Vedra. She started Dec. 1 and will work with retiring President Steve St. Amand, who leaves Dec. 31.

• Forbes magazine named Axia Public Relations as one of America’s Best PR Agencies for 2021. Statista surveyed more than 12,700 employees of PR agencies and freelancers and 20,500 customers between June and July. Statista identified those firms with the highest number of recommendations. Of 5,000 PR agencies considered, Forbes’ list included 200 firms. Axia is the only Jacksonville PR agency on the list. “As we reflect on why Forbes selected us, it’s likely (because of) our innovative approach to PR that our clients and industry peers recognized, our talented PR agency team, proven processes, and value-driven approach,” said Jason Mudd, Axia’s CEO and managing partner.

• The Florida Council of Independent Schools elected Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges to its board of directors. Hodges joins a board of five officers and 12 directors elected by their peers. Council membership includes 145 schools serving more than 72,000 students around Florida. He will serve on accreditation visitation teams and participate on board committees.

• JAX Chamber named retired U.S. Navy Capt. Daniel Bean, co-founder of Abel Bean Law, the 7th Annual RDML Kevin F. Delaney Hall of Fame Award recipient. 

• The RS&H architecture, engineering and consulting firm elected nine new vice presidents and announced that David Gaboury takes over as board chair. A board member since 2014, Gaboury is board chair and former CEO of Terracon. The new vice presidents include Philip Robbie in Jacksonville. He joined RS&H in 2017 and has more than 30 years of international experience in all areas of architectural practice. The other new vice presidents are in Orlando, Tampa, Denver and Charlotte, North Carolina.

• The Jacksonville Arboretum & Botanical Gardens board of directors elected two new board members for 2020-21. Adina Pollan founded Pollan Legal in 2016 and focuses on bankruptcy, commercial litigation and corporate representation. Jennifer Marko is a communications specialist at Florida Blue. 

• The Jacksonville Housing Authority board of commissioners elected officers to a one-year term starting Dec. 1 through Sept. 30.

Chairman: Jon McGowan, president of Jacksonville Beach-based Soft Sand Consulting. He also is founder and president of Better Jacksonville Beach, a nonprofit focused on improving the beach community’s downtown area. 

Vice Chair: Harriet Brock, a housing authority resident member of the board. She also serves as vice president and treasurer of the Resident Management Corporation of the Blodgett Villas and vice president of Helping Hands Ministry. 

Secretary: Soo Gilvarry, a real estate and investment company executive. She serves on the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville board of trustees.

• Gov. Ron DeSantis announced appointments that include Northeast Florida professionals:

William “Matt” Connell to the Jacksonville Aviation Authority board of directors. Connell, of Jacksonville, is the CEO of Total Military Management. 

Bradley Cherry to the state board of dentistry. Cherry, of Ponte Vedra Beach, owns an oral and maxillofacial surgery practice in St. Augustine. He serves as a surgeon on the cleft lip and palate team at Wolfson Children’s Hospital.

Christine Bojaxhi to the state board of dentistry. Bojaxhi, of Neptune Beach, is a dentist at Mayo Clinic in Florida and Comfortable Care Dental Health.