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Mathis Report: St. Marys Seafood & More coming to Baymeadows PAGE 4
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JACKSONVILLE
Record & Observer THE CAWTON REPORT JACKSONVILLE
FSCJ trims presidential candidate search to 3
Record & Observer CURRY’S NEXT 4 YEARS After cruising to re-election, mayor says he’s going to make Downtown a destination.
The out-of-state candidates will visit the college in early April.
JACKSONVILLE
Record & Observer BY SCOTT SAILER
EDITORIAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR
Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel along the Downtown Northbank – a site surrounded by construction and demolition work. The city is taking down the old Duval County Courthouse next to the hotel and cleaning up the site of the demolished City Hall Annex behind the hotel. On the riverfront, the city is working to rebuild part of the Northbank Riverwalk.
After interviewing eight semifinal applicants Monday and Tuesday to succeed retired President Cynthia Bioteau, the Florida State College at Jacksonville’s presidential search committee narrowed the list of candidates to three finalists. The nominees comprise two community college presidents and a chancellor. They will visit FSCJ campuses in early April to meet with students, faculty, administration, the board of trustees and the public. The three finalists are from out of state, with two from Illinois and one from Louisiana. They are: n John Avendano, Ph.D., president and CEO, Kankakee Community College, Kankakee, Illinois. Avendano has more than 30 years of administrative leadership and experience in higher education and has been president and CEO of KCC since 2009. Ave n d a n o said in his Avendano i n t e r v i e w, when asked about academic rigor, “no one rises to low expectations.” Asked about his strengths, Avendano said he “builds relationships based on trust and honesty; a commitment to student success and live it; relationships
SEE ELECTION, PAGE 8
SEE FSCJ, PAGE 8
JACKSONVILLE
Record & Observer Photo by David Cawton
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is surrounded by supporters at his election celebration Tuesday at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel. Curry was re-elected with 58 percent of the vote.
F
DAVID CAWTON ASSOCIATE EDITOR
ollowing his successful re-election bid, Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry told supporters Tuesday night they would see a different Jacksonville’s skyline when he completes his second term. “We are going to make Downtown a destination for residential, retail, sports, art and entertainment,” Curry told supporters. “You will not recognize Downtown in four years.” The skyline already is changing. Curry celebrated the win at the Hyatt
Basch Report: Stein Mart returning to the children’s market PAGE 6 How Jacksonville stacks up as a basketball town PAGE 5 OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP
BUILDING BRANDS
904 Pop Up an outlet for the nontraditional Mark Braddock’s new business. PAGE 3 VOLUME 1, NO. 42 • ONE SECTION
Page 2 • Thursday, March 21, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
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WHAT’S TRENDING
Fuqua Development intends to develop a village center development at southeast Butler and Interstate 295 with a food and mercantile hall concept similar to that shown here at the Gwinnett Exchange mixed-use community northeast of Atlanta.
DEVELOPMENT Developer offers vision for Skinner property Imagine historic San Marco Square – but larger – dropped into a signature Southside property. That’s what Atlanta-based developer Jeff Fuqua envisions at the 67-acre “village center” area at southeast Butler Boulevard and Interstate 295 that he intends to buy from the Skinner family. Fuqua, principal of Fuqua Development, intends to bring Jacksonville a fresh version of how people shop, play, live and work in an anticipated $300 million project that will comprise retail, commercial Fugua and residential uses. “We superimposed the San Marco retail district to get that feel and we tweaked it to fit our project,” Fuqua said. With some elements of San Marco, much of the project will follow the “industrial mercantile” look, he said. A marquee feature will be a 40,000-square-foot Bold City Food Hall, comprising 20,000 square feet for a 20-kitchen food hall and 20,000 square feet for a 20-bay mercantile hall comprising 600-square-foot bays. The mixed-use development also will include a high-end dinner cinema; a bowling center; a specialty grocery store; and apartments, hotels and office space. “It’s a high-experience project,” Fuqua said. “It should be the place where people in Jacksonville want to come.” Site work for Fuqua’s project would start as soon as his group buys the land, expected early next year. The retail construction could take 18 months and the apartments could be completed in 20 months.
HOTELS Margaritaville secures financing, breaks ground With financing in hand, Margaritaville Holdings broke ground March 8 for the 202room Margaritaville Hotel at 715 N. First St. Fifth Third Bank issued a $52.5 million mortgage to developer MSB Hotels IV LLC to build the Margaritaville Hotel on the Jacksonville Beach oceanfront. The mortgage, made Feb. 27, also finances a St. Augustine hotel property owned by MSB Hotels I LLC. The hotel group is part of Elite Hospitality Inc. of OrSpecial to the Daily Record mond Beach. MSB Hotels paid An artist’s rendering of the the 202-room Mar$11 million for the Margaritagaritaville Hotel at 715 N. First St. ville property in October 2017. It said upon groundbreaking that it expects construction to take up to two years. A rendering shows an eightstory Margaritaville Beach Hotel. The project features a two-story Landshark Bar & Grill, a “LandShark Lookout” observation deck for sunset views, a beachside pool, coffee shop, fitness center and meeting and event space. The U-shape design will maximize the number of guest rooms with ocean views, according to a news release. Margaritaville, a brand inspired by songwriter Jimmy Buffett, says it has 17 locations and 24 more projects in development, three gaming properties and more than 60 food and beverage venues.
CORPORATE MERGERS FIS agrees to buy Worldpay Inc. for $34 billion Fidelity National Information Services Inc., or FIS, announced a $34 billion merger agreement that will make the company Jacksonville’s largest. FIS, which provides technology services for financial institutions, agreed to buy Worldpay Inc., a Cincinnati-based payments technology company. The merged company will retain the FIS name and continue to be headquartered in Jacksonville, where it employs nearly 1,400 people. The two companies combined had $12.3 billion in revenue last year.
MUSEUMS MOSH plans $80 million renovation, expansion The Museum of Science & History intends to renovate and expand its Downtown Southbank campus. It launched an $80 million campaign, “MOSH 2.0: Expanding the Capacity to Inspire Innovation,” in January to raise private and public funding for the project at 1025 Museum Circle, near Friendship Park. Of that total, MOSH intends to seek at least $20 million from individuals, businesses, corporations, foundations and other community supporters. The organization expects the renovation and expansion to take up to five years and will seek city approvals and land-lease amendments this spring. It will remain open during construction.
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Thursday, March 21, 2019 • Page 3
Special to the Daily Record
Shoppers, artists and designers gather at 1500 Beach Blvd. for the 904 Pop Up sale. Hundreds gather for the weekend events.
A BREAK FROM THE TRADITIONAL At 904 Pop Up, customers can find art, clothing from local and regional brands they might not be able to find elsewhere. BY DAVID CAWTON ASSOCIATE EDITOR
After 15 years of designing and selling apparel under the name 8103 Clothing Inc., owner Mark Braddock is using his experience to help other independent artists, makers and clothing designers build their brands. Inside a space at 1500 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach, Braddock recently began launching curated events called 904 Pop Up where customers can purchase products from local and regional brands that might not have access to traditional retail spaces. The weekend events draw hundreds of people, providing exposure for the brands. “There’s a lot of new streetwear brands, new lifestyle brands and urban brands in the area that really don’t have an engine to be able to push their products,” Braddock said. There are a limited number of
events in Jacksonville, he said. “They’re not curated or focused on independent and urban apparel designers,” he said. Braddock, 34, is on his second run in Jacksonville. For more than a decade, he operated 8103 Clothing through online sales and at two flagship retail locations in Jacksonville Beach. He moved his life and 8103 Clothing to Northern California in 2016 where he took part in local street fairs and pop-up events. “I was doing a street fair called Truckee Thursdays every week,” he said, referencing the town of Truckee, California. Braddock said the events showcased hundreds of vendors, including clothing brands, food trucks, breweries and creators in a closed-off area comparable to where large festivals are held in Jacksonville Beach. “It was really a communitydriven event that the whole town basically participated in,” he said. Braddock moved back to Jacksonville in 2018 with plans to open a short-term retail shop. “Initially, this was just going to be a pop-up shop for 8103 Clothing,” he said. “We’re working on something more long-term right now.” Braddock said when he moved back he noticed the independent clothing, maker and craft scene
Special to the Daily Record
Mark Braddock, who started 8103 Clothing, launched 904 Pop Up in Jacksonville.
was rapidly growing and in some cases, didn’t have a physical outlet to showcase products. “These are people that often go home from their nine-to-fives and these are their passion projects,” said Braddock. “And they really just need more of the culture as a whole to embrace them.” By January, Braddock lined up brands for the first 904 Pop Up. It featured artwork and businesses from Jacksonville to St. Augustine. “Jacksonville is urban, and to create an event that embraces the
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culture from Jacksonville Beach to St. Augustine and Downtown Jacksonville is what the 904 Pop Up is all about,” he said. Mover & Shaker Co., which offers custom-made pins, patches and apparel aimed at the highend cocktail and bartending industry, was featured in January. “We’re a brand for bartenders by bartenders,” said co-founder Nick Hogan. “We really take pride in the nerdy craft cocktail culture and try to play into the icons and staples behind the history of cocktails,” he said. Hogan said events like 904 Pop Up give his company a chance to showcase its products outside of online and social media. “It’s really the best place to meet your customers face-toface to see what they think about your product and get immediate feedback,” Hogan said. “The 904 Pop Up has been really awesome because all these collectives get together and learn from each other or at least get that introduction,” he said. THIRD POP UP AND FIRST FLEA MARKET
Mover & Shaker is taking part in the third 904 Pop Up from 6-11 p.m. Saturday alongside 8103 Clothing, Upland Clothing
Co., Genetic Soles and Abrasion Clothing Co. The theme is centered on the works of five local and regional photographers with exhibits by Shutter Styles, Martin Torres, Connor Cornell, Malc Jax and Martin Morales. “We have a fashion photographer, a photographer that shoots primarily out of helicopters and a photographer that does a lot of traveling overseas to Nicaragua for surf trips,” Braddock said. “It’s a well-rounded, curated selection of photographers with different styles, so each has their own lane here.” On Sunday, Braddock is launching the first 904 Flea Market, “the little brother to the 904 Pop Up that could eventually become the big brother,” he said. The event runs 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and will feature artwork completed by Buffalo Healy Art and Mobarick Abdullah Art. Brands include Duval Product Apparel, Generation Jaguar, Abrasion Clothing Co., Upland Clothing Co., Thrift Shart, Ratch Vintage, Duval Digs, Premium Boys Club and 8103 Clothing. “I created the 904 Flea Market to create another engine to be able to accommodate for more local creators,” Braddock said. LOCAL FOCUS
Braddock said he learned hard lessons growing 8103 Clothing and wants to use that knowledge, along with his social media marketing skills, to help others avoid those mistakes. “In this independent space, we’re not millionaires or hundred-thousandaires,” said Braddock. “Using my experience and knowledge across the board from event planning, celebrity collaboration, printing, design and manufacturing, I felt a need to be able to help others that are trying to do this too,” he said. His 8103 Clothing line continues to grow. Last fall he completed a deal to sell licensed merchandise for the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp – a rare feat for a local brand. He’ll be throwing out the first pitch at a game in April. Braddock said he intends to continue growing the 904 Pop Up and 904 Flea Market. “8103 is now a cultural driver for Jacksonville, and hopefully the Southeast as a whole,” he said. “If we all scratch each other’s backs, we can all win, and that is the recipe to being able to strengthen the culture.”
DCAWTON@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @DAVIDCAWTON (904) 356-2466
Page 4 • Thursday, March 21, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
RESTAURANT NOTES
THE MATHIS REPORT
St. Marys Seafood & More coming to Baymeadows
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Family-owned chain opening fourth location in former Sticky Fingers, Woody’s space. St. Marys Seafood & More will take over the former Sticky Fingers Ribhouse, which also briefly was a Woody’s Bar-B-Q, at Baymeadows Road and Interstate 295. It will be the company’s fourth restaurant. Nammour Nammour, managing partner, said the family ownership group hopes to open the location in April. He said the first St. Marys Seafood opened seven years ago in St. Marys, Georgia, followed five years ago by a second location at 11290 Old St. Augustine Road in Mandarin and a third restaurant two years ago at World Golf Village in St. Johns County. “There are a lot of people in this area,” Nammour said of the 8129 Point Meadows Way location, where he said Sticky Fingers operated for 13 years. St. Marys Seafood will seat about 170 patrons, he said, and it will start with beer and wine as it seeks approvals for full alcohol service. Nammour said the ownership group comprises five relatives – brothers and in-laws – who started seven years ago with the first restaurant. “There’s always someone in the family in one of the restaurants,” he said. He said the family formerly was in the gas station business in St. Marys and then a restaurant there closed. “We ended up taking that over,” he said. He said the four restaurants will employ about 150 people
full- and part-time. The St. Marys and World Golf Village restaurants employ about 30 people each while the two in Jacksonville each will employ about 45 to 50 employees. Work at the Baymeadows restaurant will include ordering new equipment, tables, chairs and booths. The online menu shows appetizers, salads, soups, combo platters at lunch and dinner, “land favorites,” pasta, sandwiches, shellfish entrees, “Fisherman’s Favorite,” a children’s menu, sides and desserts. It features fresh oysters, clams, shrimp, crabs and fish. St. Marys was represented by Fred Pollitt of Available Real Estate Co. and Laila Hassan of Magnolia Properties of Jacksonville. They also represented St. Marys during its third expansion at World Golf Village.
The Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro signals move A banner sign at the former Outback Steakhouse in the Regency Park Shopping Center shows that The Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro is coming soon. Potter’s House also is listed on the landlord’s website as the tenant in 7,959 square feet at the shopping center, at 9400 Atlantic Blvd. The business appears to be relocating from a site 4 miles east. In December, Angel McLaughlin, chief strategy officer of The Potter’s House International Ministries, said the lease was up at 11876 Atlantic Blvd., at southwest Atlantic and Kernan boulevards. The Potter’s House Christian Fellowship at 5119 Normandy Blvd. in West Jacksonville opened the first Soul Food Bistro in 1998 with the original name of The Potter’s House Cafe. Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro II opened at Kernan and Atlantic on Jan. 1, 2013, in the 7,150-square-foot former O’Charley’s that was vacated a few years prior.
Special to the Daily Record
St. Marys Seafood & More intends to open in April in at Baymeadows Road and Interstate 295. The familyowned chain also has locations in St. Marys, Georgia, Mandarin and World Golf Village.
MORE RESTAURANT NOTES n Miller’s Ale House applied for a certificate of use for its new 7,149-square-foot, fullservice restaurant at 10334 Southside Blvd., at The Avenues mall. Miller’s Ale House was built at the site where Buca de Beppo was demolished. n Chick-fil-A Inc. applied to the city to remodel at 14020 Lunar Drive in River City Marketplace. The project comprises a brandimage remodel, kitchen renovation, addition of a multilane order point, and a canopy system. No contractor is listed. n A permit application is in review for Tropical
Smoothie Cafe to build-out at Gateway Village at Town Center. No contractor is listed for the project, shown as a $75,000 buildout of 1,370 square feet, with a drive-thru, at 10618 Deerwood Park Blvd. n The city approved a permit for Honest Construction Inc. to build-out space in Bowden Corners for Rino’s Pizza Grill &
Italian Cuisine at 5711 Bowden Road, Suite 12. The almost 1,600-square-foot space will be renovated at a cost of $66,650. n Panera Bread was approved to remodel its 4,643-square-foot St. Augustine restaurant at 600 Tingle Court at a cost of $160,000. n Dunkin’ Donuts applied to St. Johns County to build a 2,350-square-foot store with two drive-thru lanes in Bartram Market, north of Race Track Road and Bartram Park Boulevard. n Moe’s Southwest Grill was approved to build a 2,600-square-foot restaurant and drive-thru in St. Johns County at a cost of $854,323 at 1685 U.S. 1 S. in St. Augustine. n The city issued a concurrency reservation certificate for Starbucks to open a 2,515-square-foot, 60-seat coffee shop and drive-thru to be built on 0.78 acres at 11240 Beach Blvd. at St. Johns Square. Bowman Consulting is the agent.
Dahlia’s Pour House closing
Photo by Karen Brune Mathis
A banner for The Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro hangs outside its upcoming location at 9400 Atlantic Blvd. in the former Outback Steakhouse
Outback closed at Regency Park in late 2016. The city is reviewing a permit application for Covenant Contracting Co. Inc. to renovate the space at a cost of $55,000. The Potter’s House Soul Food menu includes fried and baked chicken, pork chops, fish and other comfort foods, such
as butter beans, candied yams, collard greens and macaroni and cheese. Homemade desserts include sweet potato pie, red velvet cake and peach cobbler. McLaughlin is the daughter of Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin, the pastor of Potter’s House Christian Fellowship.
Dahlia’s Pour House in Riverside scheduled its closing party Saturday from noon to 2 a.m., or, according to its website, “until the beer runs out.” Owner Andrea Koralewski said she thanks everyone for her time in business at 2695 Post St. She owns the building, which has been for sale. Prime Realty represents the property, a 2,875-square-foot structure built in 1927. A previous prospective deal to buy the building didn’t happen. Koralewski opened the beerand-wine neighborhood bar more than six years ago. She said previously she might move to the West Coast and estimated Tuesday that she might remain in town for another month. KMATHIS@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT
Pattillo starting work on Westlake TradeCenter Pattillo Industrial Real Estate is starting work on Westlake TradeCenter, a new industrial park, with construction of a 486,146-square-foot speculative warehouse. Westlake Land LLC, a Pattillo affiliate and the landowner, applied to the city for a foundation permit on 23.77 acres at 9950 Pritchard Road. The Conlan Co. is the contractor for the $350,000 project. At an industrial rate
of $45 a square foot, the completed center represents an investment of almost $21.9 million. Westlake Land LLC bought 96.3 acres at Pritchard and Directors roads from Denver-based Prologis Inc. in 2016 for about $7.2 million and registered Westlake TradeCenter as a fictitious name with the state Dec. 27. Peter Anderson, vice president of Pattillo Industrial
Real Estate, said in January that Pattillo can develop up to 1.4 million square feet of space on the property. He said it would start with a 487,000-square-foot crossdock facility this year. Anderson said Tuesday the building, to be completed in August, is designed for up to two tenants. Pattillo also owns Westside Industrial Park and NorthPoint Industrial Park.
Special to Daily Record
The city is reviewing a permit to build the foundation of Westlake III at Westlake TradeCenter.
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, March 21, 2019 • Page 5
Jacksonville a middling seed as basketball town BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jacksonville becomes a center of the college basketball world Thursday afternoon as the NCAA tournament tips off at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. But most of the time, Jacksonville occupies a middling spot in the sport, according to one survey. Personal finance website WalletHub last week issued a report on the best cities for college basketball fans, posting ratings for 289 cities. Jacksonville ranked almost in the middle, at 141. WalletHub came up with a score for every U.S. city that has at least one team competing in Division I, the highest level of college basketball. It used nine metrics, including measures of teams’ performance and fan interest. Jacksonville has two Division I teams, the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University, and WalletHub ranked the city 171st for the performance level of those teams, based on a combined winning percentage of 49.7 percent over the past three years. The two schools have combined for four regular-season
TOURNAMENT IN TOWN Here are the first-round games in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament that will be played at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. THURSDAY n Wofford (7) vs. Seton Hall (10)
n LSU (3) vs. Yale (14), 12:40 p.m. n Maryland (6) vs. Belmont (11)
(follows third game)
(follows first game) n Kentucky (2) vs. Abilene Christian (15), 7:10 p.m.
conference championships in their histories, which also ranked Jacksonville at 171st. While JU made it to the NCAA championship game in 1970, the city has no tournament championships to brag about. But there aren’t many cities that have celebrated championships, so Jacksonville was tied with many cities at 34th in the championship metric with its total of zero.
SATURDAY n Second-round winners play, times TBD.
Jacksonville ranked low in social media engagement by fans of the teams, at 257th, which was determined by Twitter followers and Facebook “likes” for the two teams. The worst metric for Jacksonville was arena seating capacity, determined by looking at the number of available seats divided by the city’s population. WalletHub said Jacksonville’s score was 0.8 percent, ranking
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it 278th. On the positive side, coaching stability at Jacksonville’s two Division I universities gave it a high ranking of 49th. That metric looked at coaches over the past 10 years and since 2009, UNF has had one coach, Matthew Driscoll. JU has had two, Cliff Warren and since 2014, Tony Jasick. Not surprisingly, two nearby cities with big-time college bas-
ketball programs ranked higher than Jacksonville. Gainesville, home of the University of Florida, ranked 83rd and Tallahassee, home of Florida State University, ranked 123rd. Tallahassee has a second Division I school, Florida A&M University. Two nearby cities with smaller Division I programs ranked below Jacksonville. DeLand, home of Stetson University, ranked 247th and Daytona Beach, home of Bethune-Cookman University, came in 287, the third worst city on the list. Hopefully, fans arriving in Jacksonville for the games this weekend will be impressed with the city, but seven of the eight home cities of teams coming to the arena rate ahead of Jacksonville in WalletHub’s survey. Only Abilene, Texas, home of Abilene Christian University, is ranked lower than Jacksonville at 156th. Lexington, Kentucky, is ranked eighth, but University of Kentucky fans will probably find Jacksonville a more affordable basketball destination. Lexington ranked last in the country in minimum season ticket prices, meaning it has the highest prices. Kentucky fans should know that HomeToGo rated Jacksonville Beach as the nation’s most affordable beach destination. Win or lose, hopefully fans will enjoy their visit. MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
ECONOMIC TRENDS
As March Madness tips off Thursday, report offers insight into the best cities for college basketball fans.
Page 6 • Thursday, March 21, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE BASCH REPORT
Stein Mart plans return to kids’ business MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
“Although early first-quarter sales have been a bit challenging, these initiatives give us the opportunity to improve our annual results over last year.”
Amid declining sales, Jacksonville-based retailer says it will be back in the children’s market in stores and online this year. After building its brand with a target market of women aged 35 and older, fashion retailer Stein Mart Inc. is putting more emphasis in recent years on attracting new customers. While the Jacksonvillebased company tries to reach additional adult customers, it also plans to target an even younger market this year. “In assessing our product categories, it was apparent we were missing one major business: children’s,” Stein Mart President MaryAnne Morin said during the company’s quarterly conference call last week. “At one point kids had been a major sales contributor for Stein Mart,” she said. “I’m happy to say we will be back in the kids business in the majority of our stores and e-comm in fall 2019.” Stein Mart, like many national retailers, has been struggling to build sales. The company reported total sales in the fourth quarter ended Feb. 2 dropped 11.4 percent to $340.8 million and comparable-store sales (sales at stores open for more than one year) fell 3.5 percent. Stein Mart had 287 stores across the country at the end of the fiscal year, down from 293 at the end of fiscal 2017. The company is planning to close four stores in the first half of this year and not open any new locations. Stein Mart was able to record an adjusted net profit of $3.4 million, or 7 cents a share, for the fourth quarter but for the full fiscal year, it had an adjusted net loss of $4.5 million, or 10 cents a share. Company officials have launched a number of initiatives to improve sales, including a new advertising campaign and more emphasis on e-commerce sales. “Although early first-quarter sales have been a bit challenging, these initiatives give us the opportunity to improve our annual results over last year,” CEO Hunt Hawkins said in the conference call. Stein Mart is forecasting comparable-store sales this year to be flat or rise by a low single-digit percentage. Comparable-store sales are considered a key indicator of a retailer’s performance. “Our goal is to continue to build on our sales and deliver consistent comp sales performance,” Hawkins said. “We’re confident as our sales base grows, so will our earnings, as operating expenses
HUNT HAWKINS, STEIN MART CEO
File image
Stein Mart CEO Hunt Hawkins and President MaryAnn Morin. The retailer reported an 11.4 percent drop in sales in the fourth quarter ended Feb. 2.
leverage on those higher sales,” he said.
Worldpay fallout: FIS theme park? Robert W. Baird analyst David Koning, who has followed Fidelity National Information Services Inc. for years, had an interesting idea after it announced a $34 billion merger agreement Monday with Worldpay Inc. The Jacksonville-based company operates under the name FIS and plans to continue with it after the merger but in a research note, Koning offered an alternative: “We couldn’t help thinking the merged name could be FIS World, and fully needing of a big Florida-based payments theme park.” FIS, which provides technology for financial services firms, is acquiring Cincinnati-based Worldpay to remain competitive at a time of consolidation in the industry. Worldpay provides payment processing services. “We did not expect this, but view (Worldpay) as one of the very top assets FIS could acquire,” Koning said. Moody’s Investors Service said in a report the merger will create “a stronger business profile” for FIS. “The combination will substantially increase FIS’ scale and expand the company’s global distribution reach to offer digital payment and online banking solutions that cover the entire payment ecosystem, including banks and merchants,” it said.
Cannae outlines D&B plans After leading an investment group that bought Dun & Bradstreet Corp. in February, Cannae Holdings Inc. already is working to overhaul operations of the historic business data firm.
Cannae, an investment firm spun off from title insurance company Fidelity National Financial Inc., bought Dun & Bradstreet for $7.2 billion with a group that included another company spun off from Fidelity, Jacksonville-based Black Knight Inc. Black Knight CEO Anthony Jabbour has taken on the additional role of CEO of Dun & Bradstreet and Bill Foley, chairman of Cannae, Fidelity and Black Knight, also is the executive chairman of Dun & Bradstreet. During Cannae’s conference call last week, President Brent Bickett said the company Bickett has started initiatives to strengthen management, cut costs and “reinvigorate” Dun & Bradstreet’s sales force. Cannae has experience with large acquisitions and “we’re kind of taking the same script that we’ve done several times in the past,” Bickett said. “The most important thing, candidly, is the organizational design they had was very inefficient and ineffective, and we’re trying to change that to be accountable and transparent,” he said. “Also, their culture there, as we observed it, was accepting the mediocrity and we’re trying to change it and to become a winning team.” Cannae is headquartered in Las Vegas but it is run by executives of Jacksonville-based Fidelity, including Bickett and Foley. The company reported 2018 earnings of $27.6 million, or 39 cents a share.
Fidelity extends merger deadline Fidelity last week said in a Securities and Exchange Com-
mission filing it has extended the deadline to complete its acquisition of Stewart Information Services Corp. The $1.2 billion merger agreement was reached in March 2018 but as the company goes through a long regulatory process, Fidelity said it exercised an option to extend the date upon which either company could terminate the deal by three months to June 18. The merger would grow Fidelity’s dominant share of the U.S. title insurance market from about 32 percent to 42 percent, so federal and state regulators are taking a close look at the deal.
Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank in merger talks
After months of market rumors, financially struggling Deutsche Bank confirmed it is discussing a merger with another major Germany-based bank, Commerzbank. “In light of arising opportunities, the management board of Deutsche Bank has decided to review strategic options,” Deutsche Bank said in a statement Sunday. “In this context we confirm that we are engaging in discussions with Commerzbank,” it said. Germany-based Deutsche Bank employs more than 2,000 people in Jacksonville but has announced plans to reduce U.S. operations to cut costs. Bloomberg News reported in January that the bank moved 60 accounting jobs from Jacksonville to Mumbai, India, but the company did not confirm that.
APR Energy’s finances improve since buyout
APR Energy has increased its business and reduced debt since it was acquired by a
group of investment firms three years ago, according to the lead investor. Jacksonville-based APR provides fast-track power systems around the world. Toronto-based Fairfax Financial Holdings Inc. was the largest shareholder of APR when it was publicly traded before the buyout and now owns 67.8 percent, according to Fairfax’s annual report filed last week. Since completing the deal in the first quarter of 2016, APR’s fleet utilization has increased from 44 percent to 74 percent and its net debt had dropped from $600 million to $360 million, Fairfax said. “The sustainability of earnings has also improved,” it said, citing two large five-year contracts to provide power in Argentina and Bangladesh. “Going forward APR will continue to position itself as a specialty turbine fast-track power company,” Fairfax said.
Jax Federal Credit Union names new president and CEO
Jax Federal Credit Union last week said Joseph Nowland will take over as president and CEO on April 1. Nowland succeeds Gerri Sexsion, who announced in September she would retire after 21 years in the position. Nowland has 24 years of experience Nowland in financial services, most recently as chief business services officer for VyStar Credit Union. Jax Federal serves more than 36,500 members in the fivecounty Jacksonville metropolitan area. MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, March 21, 2019 • Page 7
REAL ESTATE
Top 10 sales of the week BY SCOTT SAILER • EDITORIAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR
Here are the top 10 real estate sales in Northeast Florida, comprising Baker, Clay, Duval Nassau, and St. Johns counties. The sales were recorded March 11-15.
The industrial site at 2300 Pickettville Road that is home to the Dr Pepper Snapple Distribution Center sold for $50 million.
$50,400,000
$46,900,000
$32,000,000
$12,600,000
$10,155,000
2300 Pickettville Road, Jacksonville, Duval County
12200 Presidents Court, Jacksonville, Duval County
600 Whittaker Road, Jacksonville, Duval County
2760 Mayport Road, Jacksonville, Duval County
2130 Mayport Road, Atlantic Beach, Duval County
Type: Dr Pepper Snapple Distribution Center and undeveloped industrial Size: 69.08 acres Buyer: Pickettville Industrial LLC Seller: RT West Point JAX LLC
Type: FedEx Supply Chain warehouse Size: 68.14 acres Buyer: 12200 Presidents Industrial LLC Seller: DH Jacksonville Jacksonville LLC
Type: Distribution warehouse Size: 24.42 acres Buyer: 600 Whittaker Industrial LLC Seller: GPT Industrial Group Owner I LP Previous sale: $22,500,000 in 2016
Type: Atlantica Apartments Size: 6.5 acres Buyer: EM Atlantica Blue LLC Seller: BMG Atlantica LLC Previous sale: $7,800,000 in 2016
Type: Mariner’s Village apartments Size: 11.2 acres Buyer: MV Acquisition LLC Seller: Mirajh LP Previous sale: $7,637,500 in 2016
$4,400,000
$3,589,091
$2,999,000
$2,875,000
$2,847,273
7900 103rd St., Jacksonville, Duval County
145 Lewis Point Road, St. Augustine, St. Johns County
1700 Wildwood Drive, 1500, 1501 and 1555 Brinkhoff Road, St. Augustine, St. Johns County
Old Moultrie Road, St. Augustine, St. Johns County
5970 U.S. 1 N., St. Augustine, St. Johns County
Type: Hillman Square Shopping Center Size: 8.72 acres Buyer: LHM Property LLC Seller: Sana of Jacksonville Inc. Previous sale: $2,200,000 in 1991
Type: School Size: 3.41 acres Buyer: SCF RC Funding IV LLC Seller: Village Academy Properties LLC
Type: Undeveloped residential Size: 43.87 acres Buyer: KB Home Jacksonville LLC Seller: Treaty Ground Investments LLC Previous sale: $1,600,000 in 2019
Type: Undeveloped commercial Size: 11.53 acres Buyer: Old Moultrie Condominiums LLC Seller: Vortex Aviation Services LLC
Type: School Size: 1.44 acres Buyer: SCF RC Funding IV LLC Seller: Village Investments Northeast Florida LLC
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Page 8 • Thursday, March 21, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Election results While several City Council races wrapped up Tuesday, five contests continue through the May 14 runoff. Candidates needed 50 percent plus one vote to avoid a runoff: MAYOR, CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICE WINNERS Mayor
Lenny Curry (R)
57.62%
Sheriff
Mike Williams (R)
61.57%
Property Appraiser Jerry Holland (R) 65.97% Tax Collector
Jim Overton (R)
58.06%
CITY COUNCIL WINNERS
Photo by Monty Zickuhr
Workers continue to demolish the front of the old Duval County Courthouse along East Bay Street on Wednesday.
Election: Sheriff says jail not part of Downtown development CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The work is to prepare for redevelopment that is expected to be introduced later this year. Those projects, along with a proposal to transform the old Berkman II condominium property into a hotel and resort, and a plan that will see the Jacksonville Landing demolished, are in some stage of the city’s approval process. There also are the yet-tobe-determined plans for the Shipyards property, the parking lots west of TIAA Bank Field and Metropolitan Park, all part of Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s long-term development plans. Across the St. Johns River on the Southbank, The District, a mixed-use healthy lifestyleinspired project, is expected to break ground this year. There also are plans for the redevelopment of the Museum of Science & History and continued residential infill development on the Southbank and, on the Northbank, in Brooklyn and LaVilla. Curry wasn’t the only reelected city leader to talk about big Northbank changes. Before Curry hit the stage at the Hyatt, Jacksonville Sheriff
FSCJ CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
to raise money.” He said in his application, “I believe our institutions are the economic engines of our respective communities. I believe we are the primary providers of the skilled and educated workforce that strengthens the businesses we serve, and advances the quality of life for our students.” n Natalie Harder, Ph.D., chancellor, South Louisiana Community College, Lafayette, Louisiana. Harder has more than 24 years of higher education leadership
At-Large Group 2
Ron Salem (R)
56.83%
At-Large Group 4
Matt Carlucci (R)
71.49%
At-Large Group 5
Sam Newby (R)
53.53%
District 1
Joyce Morgan (D)
51.39%
District 2
Al Ferraro (R)
70.89%
District 4
Scott Wilson (R)
66.56%
District 6
Michael Boylan (R)
53.31%
District 7
Reggie Gaffney (D)
60.06%
District 9
Garrett Dennis (D)
60.02%
District 12
Randy White (R)
67.51%
CITY COUNCIL RUNOFFS At-Large Group 1
Terrance Freeman (R)
22.51%
Lisa King (D)
43.29%
At-Large Group 3
Tommy Hazouri (D, incumbent) 44.57%
Greg Rachel (R)
38.17%
District 8
Tameka Gaines Holly (D)
26.71%
Ju’Coby Pittman (D, incumbent) 38.98%
District 10
Brenda Priestly Jackson (D)
41.99%
Celestine Mills (D)
21.49%
District 14
Randy DeFoor (R)
39.43%
Sunny Gettinger (D)
27.79%
Mike Williams spoke to a crowd and TV audiences at his re-election event at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center in LaVilla. Following the speech, he told First Coast News that he would move toward relocating the John E. Goode Pretrial Detention Facility in Downtown. “As DownWilliams town development grows, the jail can’t be part of that equation,” he told reporter Shelby Danielsen. Williams said any new facility also would need to consider growing mental health needs. “Do you want to build a $500 million jail, or do you want to build a $300 million jail and a $100 million mental health facility,” he said. At the Hyatt, Curry said his focus will remain on public safety, investments in children’s programs, infrastructure improvements and building up Downtown Jacksonville. Investment in Downtown, he said, was not a zero-sum game, saying that funding projects in the urban core would not come at the expense of other neighborhoods.
After the speech, Curry met with media to discuss the election and his political future. “We’ve got big issues we’ve got to continue to solve that we’ve started to put a dent in,” Curry said. “Focus on public safety, neighborhood infrastructure, and a fundamental transformation of Downtown Jacksonville.” Curry said he would work to embrace those who oppose him, echoing a point in his speech about “one city, one Jacksonville.” The mayor secured 57.62 percent of votes during the March 19 unitary election. His three challengers didn’t score enough votes to force a runoff. Anna Lopez Brosche, also a Republican and a member of City Council, came in second with 24.13 percent of the vote followed by independent candidate Omega Allen, with 10.53 percent, and Republican Jimmy Hill, who gained 7.54 percent. Brosche hosted her election party at Uptown Kitchen in Springfield. She issued a statement saying she was disappointed in the election results, but had no regrets for running. “While the voters have spoken and I honor their decision, it is
my sincere hope that all of our citizens take an active role in their government,” she said. Her statement continued: “For our city to meet its potential, we must work together to meet our challenges head-on and invest in our neighborhoods and our children,” she said. “It is vital for the future of our city that our citizens insist their voices be heard and fight for inclusiveness, transparency, and a government that serves all of the citizens of Jacksonville, not just the donor class. “I pray that our community holds this mayor accountable and fights diligently to protect our assets.” Brosche gives up her At-Large Group 1 council seat after July 1. Curry’s next move after the
and economic development experience and has been chancellor since 2012. H a r d e r Harder champions herself as chief fund/friend raiser and government, community and public relations advocate. Harder said he believes that creative, effective teams are based upon culture. “Culture is the endgame that is the only thing that matters because when you build the right culture all things fall into place.” She said in her application cover
letter that personal engagement with the community is one way she continues to spread the message that workforce development must be a top priority for the region. Harder says her track record shows her ability to deal with economic challenges and operational disruption and that she has been able to transform her current nine-campus institution to record levels of financial and student performance. n David A.F. Sam, Ph.D., president and professor, Elgin Community College, Elgin, Illinois. Sam has more than 32 years of higher education and leadership experience and served as president of two colleges since 2000.
He became president of ECC in 2007. Sam said student success is the bedrock of his presidency Sam and his greatest professional satisfaction is from student graduation, emphasizing completion. “The day you don’t bring your ‘A’ game (is) the day you turn off a student,” he said. Sam believes he has the training, skills, experience and qualities needed at the presidential level to lead FSCJ. Trustees Michael Bell and Thomas McGehee Jr., who are
Four candidates won unopposed races. Council District 3, (R) Aaron Bowman; District 5, (R) LeAnna Cumber; District 11, (R) Danny Becton; District 13, (R) Rory Diamond.
coming term isn’t decided. When asked about his political future, Curry said he would give that decision some time. “They always say never say never, but I can tell you I have no plans on being on the ballot.” For the next four years, Curry expects to continue focusing on economic development and other efforts. “Jacksonville remains open for business and is going to be more aggressive than before,” he said. “Soak it in,” Curry told supporters. “This isn’t the end, friends, we’re just getting started.” DCAWTON@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @DAVIDCAWTON (904) 356-2466
members of the search committee, said the desired characteristics of the new president would be someone to lead the effort to work together and break down barriers; provide a level of stability; listen to faculty; clarify processes; communicate effectively; and create a standard of how FSCJ does business. The 16-member FSCJ Presidential Search Committee, along with contracted Washington, D.C.-based AGB Search firm, narrowed the 74 applications to three final candidates. SSAILER@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, March 21, 2019 • Page 9
DEVELOPMENT TODAY These are the largest commercial building permits by job cost issued Tuesday by the city of Jacksonville. McDonald’s, 13217 Atlantic Blvd., contractor is Peak Professional HOSPITAL, INSTITUTIONAL Contractors LLC, four permits for menu Summer Brook Health Care Center, boards, $15,000. 5377 Moncrief Road, contractor is Birken McDonald’s, 11230 Old St. Augustine Construction Inc., install generator, Road, contractor is Peak Professional $115,800. Contractors LLC, four permits for menu boards, $15,000. OFFICE, BANK, PROFESSIONAL McDonald’s, 3552 Blanding Blvd., Sunshine Health, 5210 Belfort Road, contractor is Peak Professional No. 210, contractor is Interstruct Orlando Contractors LLC, three permits for menu LLC, 3,707 square feet, tenant build-out, boards, $11,250. $269,343. Travel Camp RV Sales, Rentals, Service, Parts & More, 9012 Beach Blvd., ROOFING contractor is Shark Signs of NE FL Inc., The Reserve at James Island wall sign, $9,000. Condominium Association Inc., 10961 McDonald’s, 14030 Hubble Drive, Burnt Mill Road, contractor is House DR contractor is Peak Professional Development LLC, roof replacement, Contractors LLC, two permits for menu $725,000. boards, $7,500. McDonald’s, 11682 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville River Walk, 1655 Prudential contractor is Wilson Roofing Inc., new Drive, contractor is Taylor Sign & Design building roof, $58,647. Inc., three permits for ground signs, Washington Heights Apartments, $3,000. 4229 Moncrief Road W., contractor is Oakleaf Chiropractic & Injury Center, Jenkins Roofing Inc., two permits for roof 9785 Crosshill Blvd., No. 108, contractor replacement, $31,600. is Shark Signs of NE FL Inc., wall sign, $3,000. SIGNS McDonald’s, 1768 N. Davis St., contractor Your CBD Store, 9965 San Jose Blvd., is Peak Professional Contractors LLC, four No. 54, contractor is Shark Signs of NE FL Inc., wall sign, $3,000. permits for menu boards, $60,000. Comfort Suites, 8277 Western Way McDonald’s, 2707 Monument Road, Circle, contractor is Taylor Sign & Design contractor is Peak Professional Inc., two permits for wall signs, $2,800. Contractors LLC, four permits for menu Fastsigns, 8535 Baymeadows Road, No. boards, $60,000. 7, contractor is Shark Signs of NE FL Inc., McDonald’s, 8029 Normandy Blvd., wall sign, $2,200. contractor is Peak Professional HILTI, 8081 Philips Highway, No. 14, Contractors LLC, four permits for menu contractor is Taylor Sign & Design Inc., boards, $60,000. two permits for wall signs, $2,200. Marconi, 11305 Cypress Bluff Drive, HGS, 6680 Southpoint Parkway, contractor is Construction Specialties contractor is Shark Signs of NE FL Inc., of North Florida LLC, monument sign, wall sign, $1,840. $23,300. Trihydro, 3740 St. Johns Bluff Road S., IMECA Lumber & Hardware, 5429 contractor is Taylor Sign & Design Inc., Normandy Blvd., contractor is Heritage wall sign, $1,350. Signs Inc., ground sign, $15,694. McDonald’s, 253 E. State St., contractor is Peak Professional Contractors LLC, four STORES, MERCANTILE Ritzy Nails, 13121 City Center Blvd., permits for menu boards, $15,000. contractor is BAO Construction LLC, McDonald’s, 9841 Atlantic Blvd., 4,044 square feet, tenant build-out, contractor is Peak Professional $150,000. Contractors LLC, four permits for menu boards, $15,000. Compiled by Scott Sailer
SATURDAY
APRIL 13
Bradenton Area Convention Center
1 Haben Blvd. Palmetto, FL
9AM–3PM Doors open at 8am www.neurochallenge.org
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Promotions, hirings and happenings for business people in Northeast Florida. Send items to ssailer@jaxdailyrecord.com
Sobolewski
Yelton
Worley
Douglas
Daniels
Cochran
Marcroft
Paul Davis of North Florida expanded its staff and made promotions: n Brian Sobolewski and Allen Worley joined as squad leaders in the reconstruction department. They also are responsible for sales, team management, project accounting, hiring and community participation. Sobolewski was founder, president and CEO, MicroTech Worldwide Enterprises. Worley has experience in project coordination, commercial and residential restoration and remodeling. n Marcus Daniels was promoted from project manager to squad leader. n Elizabeth Cochran, Sarah Day and Lori Yelton were promoted to squad coordinators. Ira Douglas was promoted to vice president, labor relations at Crowley Maritime Corp. He will lead company relationships, agreements and partnerships with unions representing seafarers, terminal stevedores and truck drivers.
Aberdeen
Day
DiCamillo
APR Energy expanded its executive leadership team: n Paul Marcroft was promoted from vice president of global sales to chief commercial officer, responsible for managing the global commercial team, including sales, marketing, market intelligence, government relations and strategic financing. n Jason Aberdeen joined as chief engineer, leading all aspects of engineering for the company, including plant design, ongoing operations, and research and development of future energy solutions and equipment. Aberdeen was vice president, director of project and risk management with Kleinschmidt Associates. n Joseph DiCamillo joined as general counsel. DiCamillo served as vice president and general counsel at Studsvik AB. Compiled by Scott Sailer
FREE EVENT Registration required. Online registration is strongly encouraged at www.neurochallenge.org Call 941-926-6413 for more information.
The Parkinson’s Expo will feature presentations from medical experts on treatment options, the latest in research, managing the non-motor aspects of the disease, and more.
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Page 10 • Thursday, March 21, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
COURTS AND THE LAW
Panel looks at role of women in the law Topics included role models, finding time for a family and overcoming sexism and harassment. BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association recognized Women’s History Month at its meeting last week at The River Club with a panel discussion of the past, present and future of women lawyers in the local legal community. The panel comprised Rebecca Berg of Berg Bryant Elder Law Group, Assistant Public Defender Melina Buncome, Kim Clayton of Kim Clayton PA, Lewis Longman Walker shareholder Brenna Durden, Akerman partner Cindy Laquidara and Marks Gray attorney of counsel Mary Love. Also on the panel were Terrell Hogan Yegelwel partner Leslie Scott Jean-Bart, Paola Parra Harris of Parra Harris Law, Ashley Myers of Ashley Myers PA and Elizabeth White, partner at Sheppard, White, Kachergus & DeMaggio. The discussion was moderated by Julia Jenae, an attorney and former television reporter in Jacksonville who now is a producer and reporter with Court TV. She said the first woman lawyer in Florida, Louise Pinnell, was admitted to practice in 1898. She at first practiced with her father in Bronson, Florida, then moved to Jacksonville in 1901 to practice with Major St. ClairAbrams, a Civil War veteran and corporate defense lawyer who did a lot of work for railroads. White said that when she began practicing in Jacksonville in 1989, there weren’t many women lawyers, but two became her role models. One was the late Circuit Judge Virginia Beverly, who began her career as an assistant U.S. attorney before she was appointed to the bench in 1976. “She was intelligent, gracious and calm but in control” and “she thought more than she
Photos by Max Marbut
Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association President Jamie Karpman, left, and Julia Jenae, an attorney who is a former reporter at First Coast News in Jacksonville and now is a producer and reporter for Court TV.
spoke,” White said. The other was Senior Judge of the U.S. District Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit Susan Black, a former Duval County and 4th Circuit judge who was appointed to the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida ,in 1979. Black was the first female federal judge in the district and was appointed to the 11th circuit appellate court in 1992. “Now, we take it for granted that we have women judges, but it wasn’t always that way,” said White. On the topic of what inspires women to enter the law, Terrell
Hogan Yegelwel partner Leslie Scott Jean-Bart said for her, it was her grandmother, Mary Singleton, the first woman and first African-American who was elected to City Council. “She died when I was 8, but she taught me that I could do anything and be anything I wanted to be,” Jean-Bart said. Taking into account that about 50 percent of women lawyers retire from practice before they reach the age of 50, two panelists commented on possible reasons for early professional departure. Cindy Laquidara, a partner at Akerman and a former city
Elizabeth White, partner at Sheppard, White, Kachergus & DeMaggio, has practiced law in Jacksonville for 39 years. She said that in 1980, there was “a very small number of women scattered through the legal community.”
of Jacksonville general counsel, cited sexism and harassment. She said based on personal experience, “punch him in the stomach” is an effective response to unwarranted physical contact. “Don’t put up with it. You don’t need that client if it costs your self-respect,” Laquidara said. Assistant Public Defender Melina Buncome said she thinks many women leave the profession because it can be a challenge to balance a law career and raising a family. She’s been a public defender for 21 years and said that she started law school when her daughter was 6 weeks old and finished when her son was 6 months old. “It’s tough for a woman to be committed to the profession and committed to her family,” Buncome said. On the subject of diversity, Buncome pointed out that she was the first black woman hired in the 4th Circuit Public Defender’s Office – possibly because she made up her mind she was getting the job. “I said I wanted to do it, I asked to do it and I did it,” she said, “You have to step outside your comfort zone,” Berg said. Ashley Myers is a sole practitioner who began her career at a law firm that had only one other woman lawyer who, based on her age, wasn’t going to have more children. “One day, when I was 24 or 25, I asked about the firm’s maternity leave policy,” Myers said. The response from one of the partners was “if you get maternal, you leave,” she said, then added, “I knew he was joking, but they hadn’t given it much
thought, so I started planning my exit.” Myers said having her own firm allows her to choose her clients and set her schedule to maximize her time at work and at home. Kim Clayton is a sole practitioner and certified family law mediator. Ten years ago, she was a government attorney who specialized in advocacy for children. “That was demanding work and long hours,” she said. Establishing her private practice allowed her to “take the cases I wanted to take and work the hours I wanted to work,” she said. Attorney Mary Love, of counsel at Marks Gray, said when she came to Jacksonville in 1978, she joined a law firm that had a mentorship program that helped establish her practice. That’s a common trend now, but not 40 years ago. Love said she worked for a month with each of the six male partners. “After six months, I had a caseload and knew six different ways of practicing law,” she said. “Firms need to make an explicit effort to educate and encourage new attorneys to find a passion for their work and a passion for Bar service and community service,” Love said. The next CLE meeting and lunch on JWLA’s schedule is April 1 when attorney, author and business consultant Wendi Weiner will discuss how lawyers can use social media to build a personal brand. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, March 21, 2019 • Page 11
BY MAX MARBUT • ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Age: 44
Christopher Cobb recently founded a law firm with partner James Gonzalez. Cobb was certified by The Florida Bar board of governors in 2009 in the area of construction law and is a past chair of the state Construction Industry Licensing Board.
Education: University of North Florida, 1997: Florida Coastal School of Law, 2001
Who or what inspired you to become a lawyer? I grew up watching my father practice law, so I was exposed to the law from a very early age. It was not until I reached high school and competed in a mock trial competition that I realized being a lawyer was a realistic opportunity for me. My father is now of counsel with the law firm so it’s pretty neat to work with him.
Hometown: Pompano Beach
I was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to the Construction Industry Licensing Board. I was honored in 2017 when my peers voted me the youngest CILB chairman in the history of the board. What has been the biggest change in your practice area since you passed the Bar? I passed the Bar in 2001 when email was just beginning to be used as a method of communication with clients. Now, email has become the preferred method. This changed the dynamic of litigation. A matter which had 100 letters in 2001 will now have 5,000 emails. Gathering, organizing and using those communications has changed dramatically.
Someone other than my spouse who inspires me: My parents, because after 50 years of marriage they still enjoy each other’s company How do you relate your undergraduate degree to your practice of law? My undergraduate degree in literature is from the University of North Florida, so I wrote a lot in college. Ninety-five percent of the communication that I do as a professional is in writing.The ability to write effectively and clearly is, in my opinion, the most important skill a lawyer can develop. How did you decide your practice area? And why have you chosen that? When I was a younger lawyer, a construction payment bond case landed on my desk. As I worked through the issue and the statute, I
Special to the Daily Record
enjoyed the technical nature of construction law. Every time a construction case came in, whether it was liens, bonds or defects, I asked to be assigned to the matter. After a few years, construction law was about 60 percent of my practice. My construction practice naturally rolled into representing community associations. Construction law and community association law are governed by technical and time-sensitive statutes and, at least for me, they overlap. In 2012, my practice took a bit of a turn when
What do you think will be the next biggest change in your area of law? Technology in construction is developing rapidly. The use of sustainable energy systems is growing, Specifically, how solar power is being introduced in construction will continue to advance. Also, the current state administration is on a deregulating platform and we could see some dramatic changes in Florida’s professional boards over the next few years. If I could change anything in the legal system, I would: Start addressing our industry’s necessity for a collaborative firm/team environment while balancing the professionals’ growing desire for workplace independence. What’s your advice for new lawyers? Take responsibility for your own professional development.
Managing partner, Cobb & Gonzalez
IN THE LAW
CHRISTOPHER COBB
CHRISTOPHER COBB
Family: Wife, Joy; daughters, Charlotte, 11, Madison, 8 Favorite book: “In Search of Captain Zero: A Surfer’s Road Trip Beyond the End of the Road” by Allan Weisbecker What I’m reading now: Magazines about rifles, archery and deer hunting Websites or apps I can’t live without: Realtor. com, Pandora, The Weather Channel and Google Maps Favorite nonwork activities: I love being in the mountains, playing golf, hunting, fishing and jumping in the pool on a hot summer day, cannonball-style.
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Page 12 • Thursday, March 21, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
NAIOP QUARTERLY LUNCHEON MEETING
What’s Next: Economic & CRE Outlook NAIOP is excited to bring to our membership and guests Kevin Thorpe, Chief Economist and Global Head of Research for Cushman & Wakefield. He will share his insights on global and U.S. economic trends and the impact to commercial real estate markets, as well as addressing questions about the possibility of an economic slowdown and what a future recession could look like. Kevin will also discuss the continued expansion in the industrial sector, trending preferences in the office sector, challenges lying ahead in certain segments within CRE and the U.S. economy as a whole, and how volatility abroad can be beneficial to the U.S. We hope you’ll be able to join us for our first quarterly luncheon of 2019!
Thursday, March 28th 11:30 am - Registration & Networking 12:00 pm - Lunch served 12:20 pm - Program begins
The River Club
1 Independent Drive 35th Floor Jacksoville, FL 32202
KEVIN J. THORPE
Chief Economist, Global Head of Research Cushman & Wakefield
Registration/pay online www.naiopnefl.com Registration Deadline: Monday, March 25th at Noon For more information contact Carmel Buchanan, 904/730-8075 or naiopnefl@comcast.net NAIOP & ULI Members: $35 | Non-Member/Guest: $50 VIP Table of 8: $350 for NAIOP/ULI Members | $500 for Non-Members (includes table signage and preferred seating)