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The Mathis Report: More renovations for Chick-fil-A
November 23-28, 2018
PAGE 4
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JACKSONVILLE
Record & Observer
THE HIRING Record & Observer CHALLENGE
VyStar may bring 900 workers Downtown
JACKSONVILLE
The Jacksonville-based credit union is seeking permits to remodel space in the 23-story high-rise.
JACKSONVILLE
Record & Observer
With Northeast Florida unemployment less than 3 percent, how is business coping?
BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS
BY MAX MARBUT
EDITOR
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
If you live in Northeast Flor- 12% ida and want a job, the chances that you’ll get what you want are better now than at any time in the past 12 years. According to data pub10% lished last week by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the jobless rate in the five-county Jacksonville metropolitan area is the lowest since early 2006. 8% In terms of numbers, the unemployment rate in the area is less than 3 percent. That’s made more significant when the data indicated that jobs 6% were gained in the market from October 2017 through October 2018. Employers are finding it challenging to recruit and retain the quality workforce 4% they need. They’re finding that it takes more than competitive wages and benefits to ensure their success. The jobs landscape in Northeast Florida has changed 2% and that likely will continue, so people looking to hire and people looking to be hired are changing along with it.
JACKSONVILLE
By year-end 2019, Downtown could see more than 900 additional employees as VyStar Credit Union moves in. VyStar is preparing space for its move into its Downtown tower that could include more than the 700 first discussed. VyStar President and CEO Brian Wolfburg said Tuesday most of the staff will start to move to the Wolfburg tower in March and continue through year-end 2019. He said VyStar expects to relocate more than 715 employees by the end of 2019, “but we continue to work on how to accommodate an additional 150-200 staff that we would ideally like to locate Downtown.” The building name will change in midsummer. The Jacksonville-based financial services institution seeks permits to renovate and repair space on 13 floors of the 23-story tower at 76 S. Laura St. Dana B. Kenyon Co. is the contractor for the $2.2 million project, which is for core upgrades that include restroom and elevator lobby work. Plans indicate work on the second through ninth floors, 12th floor, 19th and 20th floors and the
Record & Observer
INSIDE
Read how business, government and other agencies are managing in a tight job market. Pages 6 & 7
Northeast Florida unemployment
10.6%
The Northeast Florida unemployment rate from 2007 through October 2018. In 2010, there were 74,915 unemployed people in the region. Today there are 22,259.
2.9%
’07
’08
’09
’10
’11
’12
’13
’14
’15
’16
’17
’18
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Labor Market Statistics
SEE VYSTAR, PAGE 4
The Basch Report: ParkerVision backs off marketing Milo PAGE 8 The Marbut Report: Jim Overton sworn in as tax collector PAGE 10 OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP
THE CAWTON REPORT
Lori Boyer working on Downtown zoning Moves could speed development. PAGE 9 VOLUME 1, NO. 25 • ONE SECTION
Page 2 • Friday, November 23, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
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Special to the Daily Record
The Fountains of St. Johns is planned along County Road 210 east of Interstate 95.
DEVELOPMENT
WHAT’S TRENDING
The Fountains of St. Johns plans retail, medical and more Developer David Ergisi hopes to break ground in the first quarter of 2019 on the Fountains at St. Johns, a 186,000-square-foot retail, restaurant and medical-office development north along County Road 210 east of Interstate 95. “The vision is for this to be the best synergistic multiuse development in Northeast Florida,” said Ergisi, president and CEO of Cross Regions Real Estate. Ergisi said he hopes to complete the first phase of 30,000 to 60,000 square feet by year-end 2019 and then start on the remaining space for completion by the end of 2020. “It’s a great site to create mixed-use development,” Ergisi said, noting its proximity to Nocatee, St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra. He said 5,000 homes are planned or under development nearby. The back part of the center is designed as a medical development to include an outpatient surgery center, he said. “We want to create a medical hub for St. Johns County,” he said, including practice specialties.“
Jacksonville Daily Record, Jacksonville Record & Observer and Realty-Builder are a division of Observer Media Group Inc. Established in 1912, the Financial News & Daily Record, now the Jacksonville Daily JACKSONVILLE Record, is published Monday-Friday and is the Official Court Newspaper of the Circuit Court and publisher of public notices in Duval County. Jacksonville Record & Observer is a free weekly business newspaper available in Downtown Jacksonville and key business nodes throughout Jacksonville. To find a location near you, visit jaxdailyrecord.com/rack-locations. Editorial content focuses on news and trends, with a concentration on development, law, companies, economic and industry trends and how local and state government affects business. Realty-Builder is a monthly publication connecting Northeast Florida’s real estate professionals and homebuilders. Content focuses on timely news, information and trends affecting residential real estate sales and construction, as well as events and legal issues impacting the industry. Visit Realty-Builder.com to request your free copy.
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Former Jaguars punter, wife plan CoolRoom
Editor / Karen Brune Mathis kmathis@jaxdailyrecord.com
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Former Jacksonville Jaguars punter Adam Podlesh, now a private wealth manager, and his wife, Miranda, a former emergency room nurse, are launching CoolRoom. The CoolSculpting process focuses on a technological procedure that freezes a patient’s fat cells so that the body can shed them naturally and permanently. Miranda Podlesh is the operator of CoolRoom while Adam Podlesh functions as the business financial officer. Adam Podlesh, a private wealth adviser with Merrill Lynch since May 2017, said the couple considered several endeavors. “Nothing really made sense to me as far as being a realistic way of delving into the business world until now. Looking at the business model, it just made sense,” he said. This, he said, could really work, “especially after analyzing the legitimacy of the science technology, the business plan, and considering the ability to successfully execute it while maintaining our values and goals.” The CoolRoom is being built-out in about 1,500 square feet of space in Tapestry Park at 9823 Tapestry Park Circle, units 6-7. Miranda Podlesh said it might open in December depending on construction, “but we are planning to kick off at the beginning of the new year.”
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Rogers
Bossow
Rice
Scott Rogers joined CBRE as first vice president of retail investment sales. Rogers is responsible for retail property sellers along the East Coast from Charleston, South Carolina, to Jacksonville, including South Georgia and the Florida Panhandle. Rogers recently was a regional investment sales expert with Colliers International. Greg Bossow joined Community First Credit Union as vice president of commercial lending. Bossow has 35 years of banking and financial experience and specializes in commercial and Small Business Administration loans.
Matthews
Ford
David Rice was promoted to Baptist Health senior vice president. Dr. Rice joined Baptist Health in 2001. He also is chief quality officer. Mark Matthews joined Ameris Bank as a commercial banker responsible for developing the commercial loan business and expanding new and existing client relationships. Matthews previously worked with Synovus Bank. Nathaniel P. Ford Sr., Jacksonville Transportation Authority chief executive officer, was inducted into the First Coast Business Hall of Fame.
Jacksonville Daily Record (USPS 190-620) is published daily except Saturday, Sunday & legal holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) by Daily Record & Observer LLC, 10 N. Newnan St., Jacksonville, FL 32202. Periodicals postage paid at Jacksonville, Florida and at additional mailing offices. Under no circumstances will any news or records of Duval County be suppressed for anyone. Information in this newspaper is for our subscribers only and must not be used by anyone for publication purposes.
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Friday, November 23, 2018 • Page 3
Jacksonville unemployment remains low BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jacksonville’s unemployment rate ticked up in October but remained at low levels not seen in a dozen years. The jobless rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area (Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties) rose from 2.8 percent in September to 2.9 percent in October, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said last Friday. The last time the rate remained below 3 percent for two consecutive months was March and April 2006. The state agency does not adjust the local market data for seasonal factors, but according to the University of North Florida’s Local Economic Indicators Project, when the data is seasonally adjusted it also shows a slight increase from 2.87 percent in September to 2.99 percent last month. “I think the labor market is still pretty stable,” UNF economist Albert Loh said. “This time of year we are not expecting a whole lot of change in the unemployment rate.” Loh said national consumer spending trends are pointing to a strong holiday season, which should be a positive for the labor market for the final weeks of 2018. Duval County’s unemployment rate was unchanged last month
at 3 percent without seasonal adjustment, the Department of Economic Opportunity reported. Loh said on a seasonally adjusted basis, Duval County’s jobless rate declined slightly from 3.17 percent in September to 3.04 percent in October. Florida’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point last month to 3.4 percent, the Department of Economic Opportunity said. Jacksonville still is gaining jobs, with nonagricultural employers reporting a net gain of 14,800 on their payrolls from October 2017 through October 2018, a 2.1 percent growth rate. However, that was less than half the growth in the 12-month period from September 2017 through September 2018 when Northeast Florida businesses reported a net gain of 30,200 jobs, a 4.4 percent growth rate. The slower growth in October was at least in part due to seasonal factors. The leisure and hospitality sector was the hottest growth industry in September, with an 11.3 percent jump in jobs over the previous 12 months. But leisure and hospitality employment declined from September to October as the summer tourism season ended. The industry still had a net gain of 3,100 jobs from October 2017 through October 2018, but that represented only a 3.7 percent
growth rate. Most major industry sectors in the Jacksonville area continued to add Loh jobs in the 12-month period. The exceptions were wholesale trade, down 800 jobs (3.2 percent), and transportation, warehousing and utilities, down 700 (1.9 percent). Jacksonville’s growth rate in the past year fell behind Florida’s statewide growth rate of 2.7 percent in October but remained ahead of the national growth rate of 1.7 percent. The Department of Economic Opportunity said every metropolitan area in Florida reported year-over-year job gains except Panama City, which had a net loss of 100 jobs after the area was devastated by Hurricane Michael last month. Panama City’s unemployment rate was tied with the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford area for the second-lowest jobless rate in the state last month at 2.7 percent, without seasonal adjustment. The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin area to the west of Panama City was lowest at 2.4 percent. The full impact of the hurricane on the job market in the Panhandle region will likely not show up until the November data is released. MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
Intellectual Property
Counties ranked by unemployment rate The state ranked the 67 Florida counties by their unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) from highest to lowest – with almost every county tied with one or several more counties – in October. The highest rate was Hendry County at 5.4 percent and the lowest was Monroe County at 2.4 percent. Here’s where JAXUSA Partnership counties ranked. Rank County
Rate
Rank County Rate
6 Putnam 4.1%
36 Duval2 3.0%
U.S. 3.5%
42 Baker3 2.9%
13 Flagler1 3.5%
49 Clay4 2.8%
Florida 3.0%
53 Nassau5 2.7% 63
1 Tied with Gadsden and Hamilton counties 2 Tied with Gilchrist, Osceola, Martin, Brevard and Escambia counties 3 Tied with Lee, Lake, Manatee, Leon, Hillsborough and Franklin counties
St. Johns6 2.5%
4 Tied with Sarasota, Broward and Union counties 5 Tied with Alachua, Santa Rosa, Bay, Pinellas, Gulf, Lafayette and Bradford counties 6 Tied with Wakulla and Walton counties
Where the Jacksonville area jobs are These are the job categories that grew the most over the year in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.
Oct. 2017-18 Percent increase increase
Industry Mining, logging and construction
2,100
4.6%
Education and health services
3,900
3.7%
Leisure and hospitality
3,100
3.7%
Financial activities
2,100
3.1%
Manufacturing
600 2.0%
Professional and business services 1,800
1.7%
Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity
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ECONOMIC TRENDS
Northeast Florida’s rate rose to 2.9 percent in October, but UNF economist Albert Loh considers the job market “pretty stable.”
Page 4 • Friday, November 23, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE MATHIS REPORT
Chick-fil-A continutes to renovate area restaurants
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Atlanta-based company wants to remodel 2-3 locations a year. With the Tinseltown Chickfil-A under renovation at 4461 Southside Blvd., three more locations are in review for remodeling. The Atlanta-based restaurant chain wants to expand its restaurant at 9980 Southside Blvd. near The Avenues mall. The city issued mobility fee and concurrency reservation certificates for the 371-squarefoot addition and renovations to the restaurant on 1.21 acres. The city calculated a mobility fee of $16,328 to mitigate the traffic impact. Plans previously were filed for renovations to the Chickfil-A at 9398 Atlantic Blvd. in the Regency area and at 14020 Lunar Drive in River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville. It’s part of a brand reimage. In addition to drive-thru improvements, the buildings will undergo interior renovations. A Chick-fil-A spokeswoman said in May the chain plans to remodel two to three Jacksonville-area locations each year for the next five years as part
Special to Daily Record
The new brand image for Chick-fil-A is being rolled out in Jacksonville.
of its long-term reinvestment strategy. It operates about 15 locations in Northeast Florida. It does not open on Sundays.
Restaurant notes n McDonald’s Corp. applied for permits to rebuild its Mandarin restaurant at 11682 San Jose Blvd. at a cost of $805,000, which includes a dumpster enclosure. n McDonald’s Corp. filed site improvement plans for its Town & Country store at 1001 University Blvd. Among other updates, the project will build a side-by-side drive-thru. CPH Inc. is the consulting engineer. n La Nopalera Bartram Park Inc. took out a business license for its restaurant at 12640 Bartram Park Blvd.
n A 2,500-square-foot drive-through coffee shop is proposed at 11240 Beach Blvd. at southeast Beach Boulevard and St. Johns Square Drive. No tenant is identified in a JEA letter to Bowman Consulting Group about power availability to develop the site. The size is near that of Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks. n The city issued concurrency reservation and expedited mobility fee calculation certificates to allow The Krystal Co. to build a restaurant to replace the location it will demolish at 5707 University Blvd. W. JEA also issued an availability letter about the power connections. It will be the first area Krystal to be rebuilt with a new prototype. n Panera Bread continues updating its Jacksonville pres-
VyStar
KMATHIS@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466
DEVELOPMENT TODAY These are the largest commercial building permits by job cost issued Tuesday by the city of Jacksonville.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
22nd and 23rd floors. The work covers part or all of each of those levels, totaling more than 68,000 square feet of the 358,278-square-foot building. Wolfburg said the total remodel will cover 195,000 to 200,000 square feet of space over 16 floors. VyStar also will open a branch office. He said VyStar is working through a stacking diagram “that has us making use of all of the space on 16 of the 23 floors.” “The 22nd and 23rd floors are being developed as an employee lounge to enable all employees to be able to experience the best of what our tower and Downtown have to offer,” Wolfburg said. VyStar said in June it would maintain the leases in the building and evaluate each as it comes due. It will occupy more space as tenant leases expire. VyStar paid $59 million for the highrise in July and said it would move 700 employees Downtown. At the time, it said it would occupy 11 levels with the executive floor on the 20th story and the employee lounge, cowork space and other employee benefits and amenities on the 22nd and 23rd floors. SunTrust, whose name now is on the building, confirmed this month that it will relocate to the nearby Bank of America Tower at 50 N. Laura St., where it will lease 18,100 square feet of space. Wolfburg said SunTrust is relinquishing two floors by year-end that it was not using and will move from its remaining space at the end of its lease in July 2019. VyStar said previously it wanted to relocate some of its employees to the tower by year-end. Wolfburg said some members of the facilities staff are work-
ence. The city issued a permit for The Angelo Group Inc. to make improvements to the 13201 Atlantic Blvd. restaurant, a former Applebee’s that Panera is converting. The permit shows a $50,000 job cost for new walls, finishes, fixtures and equipment. n Panera Bread also continues toward construction of a restaurant in the Shoppes at Bartram Park. The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing a permit application for a restaurant on 1.21 acres along Old St. Augustine Road. Panera Bread is shown on a Regency Centers site plan as leasing an inline space now. n Panera Bread proposes to remodel its Roosevelt Square location at a cost of $160,000. n And in another Panera Bread project, St. Johns County
is reviewing an application for Panera at Nocatee Town Center. Panera wants to build a 3,800-square-foot cafe with a drive-thru at the vacant southwest corner of Crosswater Parkway and Village Lake Drive. n Marco’s Pizza is preparing to build-out at Windsor Commons. The city is reviewing a permit application for Ticon Commercial Inc. to build-out space at 4765 Hodges Blvd. for the restaurant at a cost of $205,000. n McDonald’s wants to renovate inside the Walmart Supercenter at 8808 Beach Blvd. at a cost of $50,000. n Tossgreen received Downtown Investment Authority approval for a $33,080 forgivable loan to open a salad restaurant at 501 Riverside Ave. Tossgreen will lease 1,654 square feet on the ground floor. The loan, forgivable over five years if the owner maintains employment and square footage requirements, will help pay for $294,834 in tenant improvements. The restaurant owner is Bhalani & Sons – 4 Inc. Tossgreen must maintain at least seven full-time equivalent employees a year. Tossgreen operates at St. Johns Town Center and Downtown at 76 S. Laura St. The DIA provided a retail enhancement forgivable loan for that project. A third location at Tinseltown is closed for renovations, according to the DIA term sheet.
APARTMENTS The Solera at Kendall West, 1462 Solera Terrace, contractor is Richbuilt Construction LLC, 157,713 square feet, six permits for new buildings, $13.4 million. CHURCH, OTHER RELIGIOUS The Rector Wardens and Vestry of St. Johns Parish, at Jacksonville Florida, 221 E. Church St., contractor is Powers Services and Repairs Inc., install access ramp, $16,500.
File image
VyStar bought the SunTrust Tower for $59 million in July.
ing onsite on management, maintenance and build-out. “Due to the need to work through internal information gathering, test fits and floor plans, design details, permitting and construction, only limited staff have transitioned to the Tower at this time,” he said in an email. VyStar also bought the adjacent 612-space parking garage. The credit union will renovate its Blanding Boulevard headquarters for continued use. Wolfburg said a total renovation estimate was not available because the credit union still is receiving proposals for work. KMATHIS@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466
INDUSTRIAL EastGroup Properties LP, 7658 Philips Highway, No. 300, contractor is Lighthouse Construction of North Florida LLC, install forklift ramp, $15,400. OFFICE, BANK, PROFESSIONAL Baptist Health, 4844 Deer Lake Drive W., No. 103, contractor is Crabtree Construction Co., 6,672 square feet, new building, $900,000. CSX Transportation, 6680 Southpoint Parkway, contractor is Duckworth Construction Co., 525 square feet, renovation, $221,767.
ROOFING Coquina Bay Apartments, 3709 San Pablo Road S., contractor is AAPCO Southeast Inc., six permits for roof replacement, $84,000. Unity Missionary Baptist Church of Jacksonville Florida Inc., 281 E. 44th St., contractor is KLT Construction Inc., roof replacement, $15,000. SERVICE STATION, REPAIR GARAGE CarMax Auto Superstores Inc., 1135 Atlantic Blvd., contractor is Thomas Grace Construction Inc., 1,747 square feet, new building, $500,000. SIGNS Cosmic Clouds, 9766 Old St. Augustine Road, No. 4, contractor is Advanced Electrical Contractors Inc., wall sign, $2,000. UTILITIES New Cingular Wireless PCS, 2930 Sherry Drive, contractor is Ericsson Inc., cell tower upgrade, $30,000. Compiled by Scott Sailer
BUSINESS IN BRIEF Suddath awarded: Suddath was named the 2018 Top Booking Agent for UniGroup, a global network of about 500 moving companies. The award is based on revenue. Suddath also won also the President’s Club Award and Top Military Booking Agent. Suddath was
the only UniGroup member to meet the revenue threshold to be considered for the President’s Club Award of nearly $80 million. Compiled by Scott Sailer
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Friday, November 23, 2018 • Page 5
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 Nov. 12-16.
File image
The Reserve Bartram Springs Apartments sold for $40.7 million, 21.5 percent more than in 2016.
$40,736,000
$3,275,000
$2,075,000
$2,000,000
$1,950,000
14951 Walden Springs Way, Jacksonville, Duval County
61 S. Roscoe Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County
5343 Bowden Road, Jacksonville, Duval County
172 San Juan Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County
1310 Willow Branch Ave., Jacksonville, Duval County
Type: Reserve Bartram Springs Apartments Size: 23.72 acres Buyer: Reserve at Bartram Springs LLC Seller: GRE GW Bartram Springs LLC Previous sale: $33,500,000 in 2016
Type: Single-family Size: 1.84 acres Buyer: John F. and Barbara G. Harper Seller: Carl E. and Judith M. Harkleroad Previous sale: $1,350,000 in 2012
Type: Light manufacturing Size: 2.77 acres Buyer: 5343 Bowden Rd. LLC Seller: Intego Systems Inc. Previous sale: $1,400.000 in 2005
Type: Single-family Size: 0.51 acres Buyer: Benjamin J. and Cristina M. Ludwig Seller: Eric N. Griggs
Type: Partial interest in Amelia Apartments Size: 0.43 acres Buyer: Capstone Capital Investments One LLC Seller: Amelia Apartments of Jacksonville LLC and Sharon Cunningham Previous sale: $143,600 in 2002
$1,650,000
$1,425,000
$1,350,000
$1,185,000
$1,025,000
570 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County
169 Plantation Circle S., Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County
Dixie Landing Road, Jacksonville, Duval County
Pritchard Road, Jacksonville, Duval County
8424 A1A S., St. Augustine, St. Johns County
Type: Single-family Size: 0.27 acres Buyer: Nick and Alixe Stamatogiannakis Seller: Peter J. and Carol A. Hopmayer Previous sale: $305,500 in 1994
Type: Single-family Size: 0.51 acres Buyer: Mark and Katherine Lichter Seller: Walter M. and Pamela S. Korchun Previous sale: $1,494,000 in 2007
Type: Vacant office Size: 1.51 acres Buyer: Sayla Development Partners LLC Seller: Alan E. Dickinson as manager of Marina San Pablo Place LLC
Type: Timberland Size: 14.95 acres Buyer: Swift Transportation Seller: Westlake 11 LLC Previous sale: $1,339,100 in 2008
Type: Vacant residential Size: 1.6 acres Buyer: The Patricia Krider Gordon Revocable Trust Seller: Francis D. Drake
JO IN U S FO R AN O P E N H O USE
Ponte Vedra Beach Campus Fri., Jan. 11, 9-11 a.m.
Whitehurst Campus Tue., Nov. 27, 6-8 p.m. Tue., Jan. 15, 9-11 a.m.
Bartram Campus Thu., Jan. 17, 9-11 a.m.
Explore a World of Opportunities Bolles Life includes a superior curriculum and the greatest variety of high-quality educational offerings in Northeast Florida for grades Pre-K to 12. Extraordinary opportunities and grand discoveries await you in our vibrant, global community. Join us for an Open House to experience a day in the life of our students. We encourage you to see
for yourself how our high-caliber teachers engage students in exciting, active and challenging learning. Try Bolles Life for a day and you might not want to leave! Discover the possibilities at Bolles. To find an upcoming Open House, please visit www.Bolles.org or call (904) 256-5030.
San Jose Campus Fri., Dec. 7, 8 a.m. Fri., Jan. 18, 8 a.m. Four Unique Campuses Ponte Vedra Beach Pre-K–5 Whitehurst Pre-K–5 Bartram 6–8 San Jose 9–12 Day school Pre-K through 12 and Boarding for Grades 9–12 with 5- and 7-day options.
Page 6 • Friday, November 23, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE HIRING CHALLENGE
THE COURTS
Little turnover in the 4th Judicial Circuit Fourth Judicial Circuit Trial Court Administrator Joe Stelma and his staff of about 1,200 people provide support to the judicial system in Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. Their work includes budget and finance, purchasing, technology, facilities maintenance, capital improvement and human resources. “We don’t have a problem filling our positions, Stelma said. “We have a dedicated staff and very little turnover in court administration. We advertise and visit the colleges to recruit.”
STORIES BY MARK BASCH • DAVID CAWTON MAX MARBUT • KAREN BRUNE MATHIS • JAY SCHLICHTER AND SCOTT SAILER
With unemployment in Northeast Florida at its lowest level in more than a decade, here is a snapshot of how business, government and other agencies are managing in a tight job market. JAXUSA PARTNERSHIP
‘Its a good news, bad news scenario’ City Council President Aaron Bowman also is senior vice president of business development at the JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development division of JAX Chamber. In that role, Bowman helps with job recruitment. While he believes the local area is at full employment, he said there’s still room for people who are underemployed to upgrade to a new job, and for those who either left the workforce or weren’t searching to find new work. “It’s a good news, bad news scenario,” he said. “People who are looking for a job are being very successful but employers are having a tough time finding the correct talent.” Bowman says employee availability is usually the primary driver when companies decide to expand in Jacksonville or another city. He said Jacksonville is competitive because the annual growth rate of 2 percent has been steady for the last decade and is higher than the national and state averages. Lower taxes and lower capital costs to get started also are factors.
“We have 3,000 service members leaving active duty in the Jacksonville area every year and they’re sought by virtually every industry,” he said. Bowman Still, Jacksonville has challenges. Bowman says he sees a shortage of medical care and IT professionals. He said demand for skilled craftsmen to work with machinery or high-tech manufacturing is increasing. He said it’s important for Duval County Public Schools to remain focused and engaged with the business community to prepare high school graduates for good careers. “Industry needs to continue to grow internships and co-op programs so they can train people for skills along the way on their education path,” he said. “We need to always be cognizant of our quality of life in Jacksonville so people have a desire to move here and not want to leave.”
EDUCATION
Helping local companies fill positions Florida State College at Jacksonville spokeswoman Jill Johnson said FSCJ works with employers throughout Duval and Nassau counties to fill vacancies in their organizations. “Most of the programs we offer are currently in high demand as we work closely with our employers to create high-need programs aligned with the current job market,” she said. Johnson, director of marketing and communications, said FSCJ staff routinely visit area businesses to discuss how the college can meet their needs. “We take employer feedback very seriously and make adjustments to the programs to ensure we are meeting employer demands,” she said. Johnson said FSCJ sees employee shortages in health care (nursing, dental, medical assisting, surgical tech, physical and occupational therapy assistant, surgical technology, medical assisting, paramedic); sales; IT; education; customer service; logistics; and police and fire, among others. “We also speak to many employers requesting additional employees and training in areas such as advanced manufacturing, health care entry level workers, automotive, welding, electri-
cal, HVAC, commercial truck drivers and medium and large diesel/bus technicians,” she said. The college finds that students are Johnson attending FSCJ for career changes or augmentation “to make them more attractive to the ever-changing workforce.” Johnson said students seek associate and baccalaureate degrees, vocational training and certifications, such as those to take state exams. As it builds degree programs, FSCJ assesses “the education and training needs of the local community to provide our students the skills needed to enter the job market.” She said vocational training programs provide students with an industry credential that is in demand regionally, statewide and nationally. “We regularly have employers send us job postings that we submit directly to our students. Employers are aware that we have students in these fields who are job-ready, some before they have completed their programs,” she said.
RETAIL
Trying creative ways to find workers Jacksonville-based Stein Mart Inc. CEO Hunt Hawkins agrees the labor market is tight and that employers need to be creative to attract new hires. For example, the company held a hiring event for its stores in October that included emailing to the company’s Preferred Customer list “to let them know we were hiring.” The company also changed its instore announcements to entice shop-
pers to work at Stein Mart and set up tables in stores in some understaffed markets to promote hiring. Hunt said the October event was Hawkins successful and the company hired hundreds of new store employees.
NORTHEAST FLORIDA COUNTIES
Looking beyond ‘bedroom community’ The counties that surround Duval County have a lot of competition from their large neighbor — Jacksonville — when it comes to attracting and retaining employees in today’s tight job market. But officials from those adjacent counties — Baker, Clay, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns — say they use their strengths to convince people to live and work there. For example, the executive director of Baker’s chamber of commerce said Baker always will be a suburb of Jacksonville, but that many people live there because it’s a slower-paced environment. “But we can be so much more than we are today,” said Darryl Register. “I expect that we will continue to grow and get careers that will provide wages that will allow people to stay. We have tried to prepare and plan for the growth coming. We hope we can somehow maintain the nature of the county.” St. Johns, Clay and Nassau officials say they also deal with the issue of seeing a large number of their residents commute into Duval for work. Laura DiBella, executive director of Nassau’s Economic Development Board,
said the county attempts to stay competitive with things like apprenticeship programs and working with area universities to identify needs in the county’s workforce. JJ Harris, the president of Clay’s Economic Development Council, said similar efforts happen in his county, where junior and high school students are offered career and technical programs and that St. Johns River State College has developed training specific to the needs of local industries. “Any community surrounding a major metropolitan area is going to be considered a ‘bedroom community’ and have a commuting workforce,” he said. “However, our savvy business owners see the cost savings and reduced turnover of placing their location where the employees already reside.” Melissa Glasgow, economic development director for St. Johns, said the commuters are likely making higher salaries in Duval, but that some companies and commuting professionals are opening small offices in St. Johns “so they can spend more time with their families.”
Northeast Florida’s tightening workforce The number of unemployed people in October in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. Year
Rate
Unemployed
Year
Rate
Unemployed
2007 4.3% 28,853
2013
6.6% 46,984
2008 6.9% 48,074
2014
5.9% 42,796
2009
10.6% 71,574
2015
5.0% 36,280
2010
10.6% 74,915
2016
4.8% 35,449
2011
9.3% 65,231
2017
3.4% 25,651
2012 7.8% 54,969
2018
2.9% 22,259
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics Program with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Bureau of Labor Market Statistics
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Friday, November 23, 2018 • Page 7
HEALTH CARE
Technology roles challenging to fill Florida Blue’s Vice President of Talent Management Phillip Zoller said Jacksonville’s job market is tight, and that it often sees many people seeking the same positions within the company. “The challenge for the folks applying for the same positions is that we screen and hire based on cultural and role fit, as well as potential,” Zoller said. He said that significantly narrows the candidate field. “The good news is that there’s plenty of employable and talented people out there,” he said. Zoller said having an established and skilled workforce and a talent feeder system from local schools is critical
when the company decides to relocate or expand in a new location. He said analytical roles and those in technology can be Zoller challenging to fill. Zoller said the company addresses that by having strong partnerships with local colleges and with Florida Blue’s internal development programs. He said Jacksonville, or anywhere else in Florida, continues to be “a wonderful destination to work and live, raise a family or launch a career.”
BUILDERS
Wages not enough to retain workers Photo by Monty Zickuhr
As you enter the Wendy’s restaurant near River City Marketplace, you are greeted by a help-wanted sign.
CAREERSOURCE NORTHEAST FLORIDA
‘Any door you knock on needs employees’ Candace Moody, vice president of communications with CareerSource Northeast Florida, said the economy is “red hot.” “Any door you knock on needs employees,” she said. She sees an employee shortage in information technology and a need among manufacturers for employees who can manage automated technologies. To prove the economy’s strength, sometimes tough-to-place liberal arts majors are finding jobs because of their critical thinking and writing skills. Employers remain in touch with colleges and vocational schools while CareerSource promotes training schol-
arships for high-skill and high-demand jobs. Seasonal jobs are picking up, too, as UPS and Amazon. com start holiday hirMoody ing. Employers are paying more to attract, retain and compete to avoid losing trained employees to a competitor paying 25 cents an hour more. Some companies are inventive, she said. Florida Blue has a program that hires workers for nine months and pays for 12.
SMALL BUSINESS
Paying $3,000 to find a manager Southern Grounds coffee shop partner Mark Janasik said his group spends a lot of time attracting and retaining talent because retention drives sales. One of the biggest industry challenges is the declining teen and college-age workforce and he sees recruiting agency fees for manager-level talent increasing. His group is paying $3,000 a position to a recruiting firm for experienced managers. His group invests time mentoring, coaching and recruiting from
within. The changes made the company stronger. “We have become more innovative in recruiting new employees,” JanaJanasik sik said. “We find employees are looking for career packages that outline career mobility, work-life balance and companies that value social responsibilities.”
Doug Moran, COO of Dream Finders Homes, said finding qualified employees is a challenge in the construction industry. “We’ve seen employee expectations change dramatically. Competitive wages paired with benefits are not enough to attract and retain quality
employees anymore,” Moran said. “We feel at Dream Finders we offer a unique environment designed to inspire team members to achieve their professional goals. Collaboration between departments creates an environment for learning and ultimately improves our results and retention.”
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE BASCH REPORT
ParkerVision curtails efforts to market Milo
MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jacksonville-based company reported sales of $13,000 in the third quarter of the home Wi-Fi product. A year after introducing its in-home Wi-Fi product called Milo, ParkerVision Inc. said last week it is cutting back marketing activity on the product, which is producing minimal sales. Jacksonville-based ParkerVision, which has been developing wireless technology for nearly three decades but with few products to show for it, reported sales of just $13,000 in the third quarter and $128,000 for the first nine months of this year. ParkerVision continues to pursue patent infringement lawsuits against several major wireless product manufacturers and while several legal actions are pending, the outcome of those are uncertain. The struggling company said in August it was closing its second facility in Lake Mary, cutting 60 percent of its workforce, and reducing executive salaries. Those moves are expected to save $8 million a year but ParkerVision needed to cut even more expenses. “As part of our cost reduction measures, we significantly curtailed the cost deployed towards marketing of our Milo product line,” Chief Financial Officer Cynthia Poehlman said in the company’s quarterly conference call. “That decision was made as a result of our assessment that it’s in our best interest to focus resources on support of Parker our patent enforcement program and the resulting litigations that are well underway,” CEO Jeff Parker said. While the company is cutting back marketing activities, it is not abandoning Milo. “As we head into the holiday season, we’re continuing to explore opportunities to promote and sell our Milo product,” Poehlman said. Parker did not address Milo’s future in the conference call but in a news release announcing third-quarter results he said “we are exploring all opportunities to continue the Milo program as we believe Milo is a quality product that would be successful if resources were available for more aggressive promotion.” ParkerVision has said Milo offers consumers superior in-home Wi-Fi performance compaired to other routers on the market. ParkerVision reported a net loss of $4.8 million, or 19 cents
“As part of our cost reduction measures, we significantly curtailed the cost deployed towards marketing of our Milo product line.” CYNTHIA POEHLMAN, PARKERVISION CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
a share, for the quarter. ParkerVision, which was founded in 1989, has lost money every year since its initial public offering in 1993.
Black Knight joins D&B partnership Black Knight Inc. said Monday it will join Cannae Holdings Inc. and several other investment firms in a partnership that is buying business data firm Dun & Bradstreet. Cannae announced in August it was leading a group that agreed to buy Dun & Bradstreet for $6.9 billion, including the assumption of debt. Mortgage technology firm Black Knight and investment company Cannae both were spun off from Jacksonvillebased title insurance company Fidelity National Financial Inc. Bill Foley, who already serves as chairman of Fidelity, Black Knight and Cannae, intends to become executive chairman of Dun & Bradstreet when the sale is complete, which is expected in the first quarter of 2019. Jacksonville-based Black Knight said Monday that its CEO, Anthony Jabbour, will become CEO of Dun & Bradstreet while continuing his role at Black Knight. Black Knight said it will invest $375 million in Dun & Bradstreet, which will give it less than 20 percent of the company.
Cannae expects to own 25 percent once the deal is complete. Other partners in the deal include investment firms CC Capital and Thomas H. Lee Partners. “We are pleased that Black Knight will invest alongside us in Dun & Bradstreet and that both Anthony and Bill will take on these new roles upon closing. We are confident that they are the right leaders to help unlock the significant potential within this venerable company,” CC Capital founder Chinh Chu said in a news release. Dun & Bradstreet traces its roots to companies founded in New York in 1841 and Cincinnati in 1849 to provide credit information. New York-based R.G Dun & Co. merged with the John M. Bradstreet Co. of Cincinnati in 1933 to become Dun & Bradstreet.
Shoe Carnival again beats forecast Shoe Carnival Inc.’s stock jumped higher last Friday after reporting better-than-expected third quarter earnings. The footwear chain controlled by former Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver reported earnings of 76 cents a share for the third quarter ended Nov. 3, 10 cents higher than last year and 15 cents
File image
Bill Foley, who serves as chairman of Fidelity, Black Knight and Cannae, intends to become executive chairman of Dun & Bradstreet.
higher than the average forecast of analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research. Zacks said Shoe Carnival has beaten forecasts four quarters in a row. Shoe Carnival’s stock rose $4.52 at the opening last Friday to $41.61 after the report. Comparable-store sales, or sales at stores open during the same 13-week period last year, rose 4.5 percent in the third quarter. However, because of a shift in the calendar that added a week to the fiscal year in 2017, total sales in the quarter fell 6.4 percent to $269.2 million. In a news release, CEO Cliff Sifford said the comparablestore sales growth came “in all geographic regions and virtually all of our product categories.” Evansville, Indiana-based Shoe Carnival operates 402 stores in 35 states and Puerto Rico. Weaver is chairman of Shoe Carnival and his family is the company’s largest shareholder, controlling about 31 percent of the stock.
Duos Technologies grows revenue Duos Technologies Group Inc. reported third-quarter earnings of $632,625, or 3 cents a share, reversing a loss in the third quarter of 2017. The Jacksonville-based provider of intelligent security analytical technology reported revenue of $5.1 million, up from $1 million in last year’s third quarter. Duos said project revenue increased this year as a result of the company’s ongoing transition to new product offerings.
TIAA Bank acquires GE Capital portfolio TIAA Bank said last week it acquired a $1.5 billion portfolio of health care equipment leases and loans from GE Capital. Jacksonville-based TIAA Bank, which merged with EverBank last year, said the deal expands its commercial banking business and gives it access to more health care clients. Terms of the deal were not announced.
Acquisitions help Dick’s Wings owner Public company Q2Earth buys On Monday, ARC Group Inc. George B. Wittmer reported a net profit for the third quarter and a big increase in sales after completing an acquisition during the quarter. Jacksonville-based ARC Group already operates the Dick’s Wings & Grill chain, which has 21 locations. In August, it completed the acquisition of Fat Patty’s, which has four locations in West Virginia and Kentucky. The addition of Fat Patty’s helped ARC Group more than double third-quarter revenue to $2.45 million. The company generated a net profit of $97,467, or 1 cent a share, reversing a small loss in the third quarter of 2017. ARC Group also has agreed to acquire the Tilted Kilt Pub and Eatery chain and expects to close that deal by the end of this year. Once that sale is complete, the company expects annual revenue of more than $25 million.
Q2Earth Inc. completed the acquisition last week of Callahan-based George B. Wittmer Associates Inc., which provides waste management and compost manufacturing services for paper mills. Palm Beach-based Q2Earth reported no revenue in the first nine months this year after selling off a business last year. It has been seeking acquisitions in the compost and soil industry. Q2Earth, which acquired George B. Wittmer through an affiliate, agreed in July to pay $4.5 million for the company. It said George B. Wittmer’s management and employees will remain with the company and operations will remain the same. Q2Earth trades in the OTC market under the ticker symbol “QPWR.”
MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Friday, November 23, 2018 • Page 9
DAVID CAWTON STAFF WRITER
Her proposal would likely rezone Downtown under the Central Business District category that “gets rid of some of the red tape.” City Council member Lori Boyer is quietly working to streamline building design standards and redefine zoning in Downtown Jacksonville. Boyer has been meeting regularly since May with a working group to reshape the standards that regulate development in the urban core. “What we have now is outdated,” she said Tuesday. “It’s another one of these sections of the code that we haven’t touched in quite a while.” Boyer is working on Chapter 656, specifically Subpart H of Jacksonville’s ordinance code — the section that defines the Downtown Zoning Overlay, building and design standards and authorizes the Downtown Investment Authority and Downtown Development Review Board to interpret and enforce those regulations when reviewing new development. She said in some cases the existing guidelines discourage developers from investing Downtown. Her proposal would likely rezone Downtown under the Central Business District category that allows for mixed-
use development. “It allows for most uses and gets rid of some of the red tape,” Boyer said. Property records show a mix of zoning Downtown. Another issue she’s addressing is the number of deviations development firms seek from the design standards when pushing a project through the DDRB’s approval process. Most ask to reduce required parking or to exceed the maximum building height. Others ask for more specific deviations to landscaping or building transparency requirements. “Deviations were intended to be used sparingly, but that’s not the case anymore,” she said. “That tells me the standards need attention.” Boyer formed a working group comprising DDRB member Brenna Durden, DIA member Carol Worsham, architect Alan Wilson and Assistant General Counsel Susan Grandin to work on the project. DIA staff and other city employees also are contributing. Through an evolving draft, they’ve removed or edited sections of the code to cut down on the need for deviations and to add clarity for the development community. Boyer said that work includes defining acceptable types of development in the urban core, “and what do we want to prioritize.” Certain types of construction either are heavily regulated or restricted. “We don’t want to restrict something if the only reason to do so is because that’s how it’s always been done.” Downtown Jacksonville is divided into districts, each with its own guidelines. They include the Brooklyn and Riverside Avenue District, Cathedral District, Central Civic Core District, Church District, Institutional District, LaVilla District, River Park District, two
THE CAWTON REPORT
Boyer working to streamline Downtown zoning rules Special to the Daily Record
The new possible Downtown zoning overlay map has the urban core divided into eight sections.
File image
Lori Boyer, who represents District 5, has served nearly eight years on City Council and is term-limited.
Riverfront District areas, the Stadium District and the Southbank District. The city uses these boundaries to restrict or allow development uses based on the area’s history and defining characteristics. “We’re pretty much going to allow all uses everywhere except for a few, depending on the area,” she said. “We decided we needed to be thoughtful and intentional with what’s regulated and what’s not.” Boyer said there will be “bonus uses” for some districts based on its unique characteristics. For example, the code states that “the Cathedral District should encourage residential development with in-fill housing with limited neighborhood-serving commercial uses on Liberty Street and the east side of Ocean Street.” “Education, civic and religious uses are the focal point” of the Church District where development “should support
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the local student population and religious uses.” Boyer intends to redefine some of those areas. “The districts that were created don’t really comport with what we’re doing today or what makes sense today,” Boyer said. Her plan expands the Central Civic Core District and eliminates the Institutional District. It creates a new Working Waterfront District to comprise the Talleyrand port area and replaces the Stadium, Riverfront and River Park districts with a new area called the Sports and Entertainment District. That includes most of the Downtown Northbank from Metropolitan Park to about Liberty Street. Boyer said the exact boundaries aren’t yet defined. The changes also address some building design standards like maximum height or how new developments interact and activate the street level.
“We’re mostly going to unlimited heights, with some exceptions,” Boyer said. “Another area is making sure developers are making the pedestrian realm inviting.” Some districts, she said, will continue to prioritize or somewhat restrict building standards. The latest draft of the guidelines limit construction in parts of Brooklyn and LaVilla to 75 feet and new buildings in the Cathedral District could be capped at 60 feet. Those numbers are not finalized. The group also has new standards for construction along the river that enforces staggered heights, with shorter buildings closest to the bulkheads. Similar restrictions already exist, but Boyer wants to better define it. Boyer said they’re nearly ready to introduce a draft to the public in December. “We’ll engage NAIOP and the development community, as well as the DIA and DDRB so they have a chance to give us their input,” she said. The project is one of Boyer’s last as a council member. She’s represented the San Marco area in District 5 for nearly eight years and is term-limited. She said she’s ready to cross it off her page-long list of things to complete before she leaves City Hall on July 1. “Fingers crossed, we’ll introduce legislation in January,” Boyer said. DCAWTON@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @DAVIDCAWTON (904) 356-2466
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Page 10 • Friday, November 23, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE MARBUT REPORT
Jim Overton sworn in as tax collector MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
With his term expiring June 30, he’ll be up for re-election in March. Real estate broker Jim Overton became Duval County Tax Collector Jim Overton at a ceremony Monday morning in the customer waiting room at the tax collector’s main branch office Downtown. Witnessed by friends, former colleagues from the Jacksonville City Council and elected officials, Overton was sworn in by Circuit Judge Waddell Wallace. Overton, a Republican, defeated Democrat Mia Jones in the Nov. 6 special runoff election to fill the remainder of former Tax Collector Michael Corrigan’s term in office through June 30. Overton will be on the ballot for re-election March 19. The first few weeks in office will be devoted to informal staff meetings at the tax collector branch offices. Overton called it the “punch-and-cookies tour.” “My job is to create a culture where we trust each other and learn from each other,” he said. “This is a complex organization doing complicated things. We need to create new ideas and new ways of doing things.” Overton said he’ll be consulting with other county tax collectors to study best practices for customer service and operations and “see what we can afford to implement.” Corrigan was there to witness Overton’s installation. Corrigan resigned the constitutional office to become the CEO of Visit Jacksonville, the convention and visitors bureau for Jacksonville and the Beaches. “Michael did a great job as our tax collector. I intend not to mess this up,” Overton said.
Photo by Max Marbut
With his wife, Connie, holding the Bible, Jim Overton was sworn in as Duval County Tax Collector on Monday by Circuit Judge Waddell Wallace.
Credit cards now accepted at State Attorney’s Office
Judicial Nominating Commission applicants sought
will review all applications and may request telephone or personal interviews.
In September, the State Attorney’s Office for the 4th Judicial Circuit became the first office in Florida to accept credit cards for public records. The office expanded the program last week by incorporating credit cards as a payment alternative for discovery and diversion programs. Discovery is the procedure of legal parties obtaining evidence in cases. Diversion programs are offered to certain defendants by the State Attorney’s Office and courts as an alternative to the traditional court system. To use the discovery credit card portal, visit sao4th.com/ resources/for-attorneys/. To use the diversion credit card portal, visit sao4th.com/ resources/for-thepublic/alternatives-to-court/diversionprograms-as-an-alternativeto-court/. The office will continue to accept checks, money orders or exact cash for payment for both.
There is one upcoming vacancy on the 4th Judicial Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission and The Florida Bar has the opportunity to nominate three lawyers to the governor for appointment. The appointee will serve a four-year term that begins July 1. Applicants must be a member of The Florida Bar engaged in the practice of law and a resident of Clay, Duval or Nassau counties. Commissioners are not eligible for state judicial office for vacancies filled by the JNC on which they sit for two years following completion of their term. Attorneys interested in applying may download the Judicial Nominating Commission Application for Appointment form from the Bar’s website (floridabar.org) or call Bar headquarters at (850) 561-5667 to obtain the form. Applications must be received no later than 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14. The board of governors
Rogan elected chair of ethics commission
Smith Hulsey & Busey attorney Joseph Rogan was elected chair of the Jacksonville Ethics Commission for 2019. Rogan was appointed to the commission by 4th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Mark Mahon and began serving his first threeyear term in January 2017. He focuses his practice on the resolution of business Rogan disputes and creditors’ rights in banking, finance and fiduciary relationships, and in the property management, development, logistics and construction industries. The Jacksonville Ethics Commission was created in 1992 to serve city officers and employees by providing a
forum for consideration of ethics problems and questions. Among its duties, the commission adjudicates complaints filed against city officers and employees and recommends legislation to City Council.
Burnett promoted at GrayRobinson Jason Burnett, a bankruptcy and creditors’ rights law attorney in GrayRobinson’s Burnett Jacksonville office, was promoted to office managing director.
Event canceled The Dec. 6 anniversary ceremony for U.S. Bankruptcy Judges Jerry Funk and Paul Glenn was canceled. The event will be rescheduled to spring or summer 2019. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Friday, November 23, 2018 • Page 11
Board-certification brings advantages LEGAL SPECIALTIES The Florida Bar board certification specialties: n Adoption n Admiralty and maritime n Antitrust n Appellate practice n Aviation n Business litigation n City, county and local
government
n Civil trial n Condominium and planned
development n Construction n Criminal appellate n Criminal trial n Education n Elder n Health n Immigration and nationality n Intellectual property n International n International litigation and arbitration n Juvenile n Labor and employment n Marital and family n Real estate n State and federal government and administrative practice n Tax n Wills, trusts and estates n Workers’ compensation Source: The Florida Bar
Attorney Jamie Moses is a member of The Florida Bar Appellate Board Certification Committee.
Attorneys who specialize in one of 27 areas of practice take an exam and “will make more money” if they pass.
Photo by Max Marbut
BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
There are lawyers, and then there are board-certified lawyers. The difference and why the latter may have an advantage over the former in certain circumstances was the topic at the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association’s November CLE meeting. Holland & Knight Orlando litigation attorney Jamie Moses, who is board-certified in appellate law by The Florida Bar and a member of its Appellate Board Certification Committee, was the presenter. Established in 1982 by the state Supreme Court, board-certification recognizes special knowledge, skills and proficiency in various areas of law and professionalism and ethics in practice. In Florida, there are 27 areas of specialized practice in which an attorney may qualify for board certification. While each specialty has specific requirements, the general minimum requirements for certification are: n Having practiced law for at least five years.
n Demonstration of substantial involvement in the specialty, such as courtroom experience. n Satisfactory peer review of competence in the specialty, character, ethics and professionalism. n Meeting the continuing legal education requirement for the specialty. n Receiving a passing grade on the written examination for the specialty or meeting strict criteria to be exempt from the exam. “Don’t go into it lightly. You have to earn it. It’s hard to do, but it’s worth it,” said Moses. The written examination for many applicants is the most challenging part of the process. Moses said that for her, the certification test was more difficult than the two-day examination for licensure she took after graduating from law school. “In law school, I had been studying for three years and you
learn very broadly. Specialization is targeted,” she said. When she asked the attorneys at the meeting to raise their hand if they are board-certified, only five of the nearly 100 attendees responded. That wasn’t a surprise, because about 5 percent of the 118,000 members of The Florida Bar have earned certification, Moses said. The level of study involved to pass the examination helps a lawyer’s clients and board-certification can improve a lawyer’s career. “It will make you a better lawyer,” said Moses. “And it will help you get clients. When you’re considered a specialist, you can justify a higher rate and make more money for your firm.” The association is planning its participation in events into 2019, said President Jamie Karpman. She said volunteers are needed
for the chili cook-off committee. The association will enter the Jacksonville Bar Association Young Lawyers Section culinary competition for charity scheduled in February at Riverside Arts Market. The second annual JWLA Golf Academy is conducting classes at Blue Sky Golf Club in preparation to field a team in the Jacksonville Bar Association members tournament. The inaugural group in the JWLA Shooting Clinic, taught by Jacksonville University shooting coach David Dobson, is learning the fine points of clay target sports in preparation for the JBA tournament in February. “The class is full, but if there’s enough interest, we will form another class,” Karpman said. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
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IN THE LAW
Page 12 • Friday, November 23, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
JAMES HANRATTY
JAMES P. HANRATTY
BY MAX MARBUT • ASSOCIATE EDITOR
James Hanratty recently was inducted into the membership of the American Board of Trial Advocates. It’s a national association of trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation of the right to a civil jury trial. Membership is by invitation only, reserved for lawyers who have significant experience in leading civil jury trials to verdict. Who or what inspired you to become a lawyer? I never even met a lawyer until I was 17 years old. I had no idea what lawyers did other than defend criminals, and I only knew that from TV. But that was enough for me. Practicing law and trying cases is all I have ever wanted to do.
How did you decide your practice area? And why have you chosen that? I always had an interest in medicine. Defending personal injury lawsuits exposes me to medical issues associated with claims and allows me to interact with medical professionals. I enjoy the challenge of learning a small amount of the medicine applicable to a claim and crossexamining witnesses based on what I have learned. What has been the biggest change in your practice area since you passed the Bar? The number of civil jury trials has decreased significantly. Along with this, the ability for newer attorneys to have an active role in jury
Age: 54 Education: Walsh University, English and history; University of Akron School of Law Hometown: Cleveland Family: The love of my life is Pamela Shallo Hanratty, to whom I have been married for 29 years.
Someone other than my spouse who inspires me: I am inspired by those who overcome adversity and those who volunteer to lead. I believe that if you have the opportunity and ability to lead, you also have the duty. I am inspired by those who take up this task and help others succeed. How do you relate your undergraduate degree to your practice of law? My undergraduate degrees are in English and history. These degrees are all about the telling of stories to communicate ideas and influence others to obtain results. That is what a trial lawyer does.
Shareholder and managing attorney at Marshall Dennehey Coleman & Goggin
Favorite book: “The Water is Wide� by Pat Conroy.
Special to the Daily Record
trials has decreased even more. In the next 10 to 20 years it will be rare to find an attorney with extensive civil jury trial experience. What do you think will be the next biggest change in your area of law? The continued rise in the use of paraprofessionals for an ever-expanding role. Just as in the medical profession, I predict that in the coming years, more and more work that has been traditionally performed by lawyers will be done by paralegals. If I could change anything in the legal system ‌ I would increase the number of judges or magistrates to help reduce the backlog of cases in our courts. Our society values the right to be litigious. But every right comes with a duty. As a society, we should commit to either reduce our dependence
on the court system or increase its ability to serve us by adding judges or “para-judges� to perform some of the traditional roles of the judge. What community service have you pursued and why that? I have been active in my alma mater’s alumni association, have served as a Big Brother, worked with my church and more recently, have been involved with Team RWB, a veterans service organization dedicated to enriching the lives of America’s veterans by connecting them to their community through physical and social activity. What’s your advice for new lawyers? Be patient. My first boss told me that “you don’t know what you don’t know.� I thought he was crazy. I understand better now. Learn your craft. Ask questions, and listen to the answers.
Book I’m reading now: I just finished “Indianapolis� by Lynn Vincent and Sara Vladic Websites or apps I can’t live without: I use Strava to track my workouts. Favorite nonwork activities: I have run several sprint triathlons (slowly) and charity 5K races. My wife and I love to travel and are planning a trip to southern Africa for our 30th anniversary.
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