Jax Beach Festivals and Community First Credit Union today announced a new partnership and new music project for Jacksonville Beach – a music festival that will feature “all things local.” The inaugural Community First Seawalk Music Festival will take place June 14-15 at the Seawalk Pavilion in Jacksonville Beach. In support of the growth and development of the festival, Community First has signed a three-year commitment as title sponsor.

“The Community First Seawalk Music Festival will showcase our rich local resources – local artists, food, crew and volunteers,” said Amy Galbreath, producer with Jax Beach Festivals. “As we prepared this spring for the Great Atlantic Music Festival and George’s Music Springing the Blues Festival, many musicians and vendors in the community told us they wanted an opportunity to take part in a local festival. The Community First Seawalk Music Festival gives them the spotlight.”

The two-day festival begins Friday, June 14, at 5 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m. On Saturday, June 15, the music begins at noon and plays until 10 p.m.

“Community First is committed to partnering with local organizations to offer Northeast Florida residents family friendly activities that promote a healthy community,” said John Hirabayashi, CEO of Community First Credit Union. “The festival’s emphasis on all things local is a great way to celebrate area talent and support the local economy, while providing an affordable entertainment option for families to enjoy together.”

Although many event details are still underway, Galbreath and team (including Sam Veal, Executive Producer for Jax Beach Festivals) have designated the festival’s first night as a “Fireworks for All” Fundraiser.

“Last year, Jacksonville Beach cancelled its July 4th fireworks and next year’s fireworks are in jeopardy if the city doesn’t find the revenue for them,” said Galbreath. “We want to ensure families in the Jacksonville area can enjoy this favorite summer tradition, so Friday is our ‘Fireworks for All’ Fundraiser. We’re donating a portion of beverage sales from Friday, June 14 to the City of Jacksonville Beach fireworks fund.” According to the city, the annual fireworks display is its most expensive special event, with a price tag of about $25,000 (about $1000 a minute).

In addition, there are other great ways to support the Fireworks Fund.  Galbreath also has enlisted members of the Beaches Hospitality Network to go door-to-door in beaches neighborhoods promoting the event and asking for pledges to the fund. The city of Jacksonville Beach is also accepting donations online at www.jacksonvillebeach.org/residents/news/donations-being-accepted-fireworks-display.

The festival will launch a website and Facebook page in the coming days. Visit www.jaxbeachfestivals.com for updates.

Jax Beach Festivals produces festivals and special events at the oceanfront Seawalk Pavilion, including the Great Atlantic Music Festival and George’s Music Springing the Blues Festival. For more information about Jax Beach Festivals, please visit http://www.jaxbeachfestivals.com.

Community First Credit Union of Florida is a state-chartered credit union based in Jacksonville serving anyone who lives or works on the First Coast. Community First is one of the 10 largest credit unions in the state, serving more than 105,000 members and with assets exceeding $1 billion. Community First has 16 locations and about 300 employees. A not-for-profit, Community First is a full-service financial institution offering banking, loans, mortgages and investments for consumers and businesses throughout the First Coast. For more information about Community First, visit www.CommunityFirstFL.org, call (904) 354-8537 or (800)342-8416.

Leadership Jacksonville, an organization that develops youth and adult leaders in Northeast Florida, welcomed 14 participants to its 2013 New Leadership Summit event. The two-day program was held at the Omni Amelia Island. Attendees included CEOs and other executives who are new or relatively new to Northeast Florida.

“The summit offered a wonderful opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue among community leaders new to the area,” said Justin Terry, executive vice president at Harden and president of the Leadership Jacksonville Board of Directors. “Attendees heard from Northeast Florida decision–makers and business executives about key issues affecting our area and the importance of economic development to our region.”

The program aimed to inform participants of Jacksonville’s assets and potential, highlighting key issues of community importance and facilitating relationships between the participants. During the two-day summit, participants had the opportunity to meet and develop relationships with a variety of community leaders as well as with their fellow Leadership Jacksonville New Leadership Summit class members. Participants included:

• Russell Armistead, Chief Executive Officer, Shands Jacksonville
• Paul Astleford, President and Chief Executive Officer, Visit Jacksonville
• Ted Carter, Executive Director, Office of Economic Development
• Kurt Caywood, Vice President of Audience, Times-Union Media
• Tim Cost, President, Jacksonville University
• Franklin Danley, Senior Vice President/Jacksonville City President, Regions Bank
• Tiffany Galvin Green, Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director, River Region Human Services
• Patrick Geraghty, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Florida Blue
• Mary Anne Jacobs, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts of Gateway Council
• Gregory Montana, Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer, FIS
• Ellyn Raftery, Chief Marketing Officer, FIS
• Andrew Russell, Executive Vice President, Business Banking Group FL/GA, CertusBank
• Monica Whiting, Chief Customer Officer, JEA
• Janette Wilcox, Resident Managing Director, Aon Risk Services, Inc.

The event included presentations by Matt Rapp, executive director of THE PLAYERS Championship, and Hope McMath, director of The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, who spoke to participants about the unique aspects of sports and leisure as well as culture and arts in the community. Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown shared his vision for the community and former Jacksonville Mayor and current University of North Florida President John Delaney offered his perspective on the political context of the community. Featured program speakers also included former Jacksonville Mayor and Gate Petroleum President John Peyton, Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti, Deborah Gianoulis Heald, president of the Schultz Center for Teaching and Leadership, Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford and JAX Chamber Interim President Jerry Mallot.

“The annual summit serves as an excellent networking opportunity for participants,” said Isabelle Owen Spence, executive director for Leadership Jacksonville. “It provides a look at the area’s history, future and demographic trends from the view of policymakers and business-leaders alike.”

Leadership Jacksonville annually offers The New Leadership Summit as a unique opportunity in Northeast Florida targeted to CEOs and senior level executives who are new or relatively new to the community. Participants learn about the region’s assets, issues, institutions and leadership from some of the key corporate, civic, social and educational leaders. Group size is limited to 20 to allow for meaningful interaction. Participation is by invitation only. To learn more about Leadership Jacksonville and its programs, visit www.leadershipjax.org or call (904) 396-6263.

Dr. Anthony Petrone has joined St. Johns Family Dentistry and Beaches Center for Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry as a key member of the team of dentists, hygienists and support staff. Dr. Petrone is responsible for the general dentistry care of children and adult patients along with oral cancer screening, sedation dentistry, and the latest technologies in laser and digital x-rays among other specializations at the full service and orthodontics practice. Dr. Petrone also assists Anthony Corral, DMD who practices at each location with cosmetic and implant dental surgery, sleep apnea procedures and treatments, and aesthetics, to name a few. Dr. Petrone has been practicing dentistry since 2012 with an earlier internship at Beaches Center for Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry.

Dr. Petrone received his undergraduate degree from Florida State University and his dental degree (DMD) from Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine in Ohio. He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association as well as the Northeast District Dental Association of Florida. He is a long-time Jacksonville and Neptune Beach, Fla. resident and graduated from Bishop Kenny High School. He volunteers his professional time and service to patients at the Wildflower Clinic in St. Augustine for St. Johns County residents in need. Dr. Petrone has also provided care for children and adults as a medical volunteer in Guatemala and Dominican Republic. His interests include sports, golfing and fishing. Dr. Petrone resides in Neptune Beach.

Dr. Petrone practices at locations including St. Johns Family Dentistry, 2225 A1A South, Suite A3 in St. Augustine and Beaches Center for Implant and Cosmetic Dentistry, 802 3rd Street in Neptune Beach. Dr. Corral is the founder of the Neptune Beach office and is a partner at the St. Augustine office. For more information, call 904.461.6060 or email anthony.corral@gmail.com.Visit the websites at www.staugustinedentist.com and www.jacksonvillebeachdentist.com.

DO INCUBATORS WORK?  THAT’S A BIG YES!!

SIX BSEC GRADS MAKE JAX BIZ JOURNAL’S 2013 TOP 40 MINORITY BUSINESS LIST!

Jackie Perry (left) and Annie Wilson (right)

Ranking businesses in Jacksonville by annual revenue for their Book of Lists, the Jacksonville Business Journal recognized Jacksonville’s 2013 Top 40 Minority-Owned Businesses at a Diversity Awards Luncheon on May 2.   Among the Top 40 Minority-Owned Businesses for 2013 were six dynamic companies formerly headquartered at Beaver Street Enterprise Center (BSEC), Jacksonville’s only core-city business incubator.  Recognized for their stellar success were the following Beaver Street Enterprise Center graduates:  A. Harold & Associates (Andy Harold), B3 Solutions (William Almas, CEO) Employment Resources & Solutions (Rose Conry and Kelley Moore), Stafftime (Rose Conry and Kelley Moore), Annie Wilson Homecare Services (Annie Wilson) and Xeye Construction (Joe Hutchinson).

While congratulating Annie Wilson following the Diversity Luncheon, BSEC’s Executive Director Jackie Perry pointed out that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the business incubator, which was originally conceived and founded by FreshMinistries, one of the 2013 Diversity Award Winners.  “Since FreshMinistries built our business incubator in 2003, we’ve created more than 2,050 jobs and had a $250 Million-plus impact on the economy of Jacksonville,” Perry said.  “I would estimate that, together, these six companies who are on the Top 40 List this year have created over 500 jobs.  Thanks to their hard work and our incubator support, these businesses are now free-standing, sustainable companies and consistent list-makers!”

These days when jobs are at a premium, research has revealed that business incubators are one of the least expensive and most effective job creation mechanisms.  In recent studies conducted by the National Business Incubation Association (NBIA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, publicly supported incubators created jobs at a cost of about $1,100 each, while other publicly supported job creation mechanisms cost more than $10,000 per job created.

Annie Wilson Homecare, Inc. began headquartering at BSEC in 2004 and was recognized in 2011 by the Jacksonville Business Journal as one of Jacksonville’s Top Ten Homecare Services.  At that time, the company had revenues of $481,000 and a staff of twenty.  “Both our revenues and our staff have grown since then,” said Wilson, “and I’m grateful that Beaver Street Enterprise Center has nurtured this company all along the way.”

With two companies listed in the Top 40, business partners Rose Conry and Kelley Moore credit Beaver Street Enterprise Center for providing guidance and support during their phenomenal growth. “We love Beaver Street,” said Conry.  “Their mentorship helped keep us going, especially through the tough times in 2009.”

“As we approach our tenth anniversary, we’re proud of the impact our small businesses are making on the economic health of Jacksonville,” said Perry.  “Just as this business incubator continues to thrive and grow in size, resources and community outreach, so will the businesses we fuel.”

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THE   BEAVER   STREET   ENTERPRISE CENTER is a 25,000 square foot professional office facility offering modern workplace amenities for startup and existing small businesses as well as business technical assistance, counseling, mentoring and assistance in marketing and obtaining business financing.  The center is geographically positioned to stimulate economic growth in Jacksonville’s northwest neighborhood and is run by nonprofit Core City Business Incubators, Inc. as an initiative of FreshMinistries.

Pictured left to right: Mike and Marguerite Mumford, Paul Davis office owners, and Bobby Lienau, project manager.

Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida, a leading provider of fire, water and mold damage restoration services for residential and commercial properties was recently honored with an award from the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission in celebration of National Preservation Month in May. On May 2 at the Jacksonville Main Library Auditorium, Marguerite and Mike Mumford, Paul Davis office owners, along with their employee, Bobby Lienau the project manager on the restoration project, accepted the recognition at the annual ceremony.

The Mumford’s were honored for a commercial rehabilitation project which promotes historic preservation in the Jacksonville area. Additional recipients received awards in categories including Heritage Education, Residential Rehabilitation, Architecturally Compatible New Construction, Preservation Projects and Services, and the Great Save.
Specifically, Paul Davis won the award for the commercial rehabilitation of 2111 N. Liberty Street in the historic Springfield neighborhood in downtown Jacksonville. The rehabilitation featured the franchise company’s new office headquarters, operations center, classroom, showroom, kitchen, and contents cleaning and storage facility in a former Chevrolet Parts Depot. The 40,000-square-foot, two-story building was purchased by the Mumfords in late 2012.

The Mumford’s, staff and subcontractors renovated the circa 1929 building which was designed by Detroit-based architect Alfred Kahn as a concrete, brick, and steel facility. To accommodate the modernization, the structure was extensively cleaned, stabilized, and renovated with interior and exterior improvements including a new roof, chimney and windows, with most of the materials saved and reused in the interior and exterior renovations, among others.

Some historic features of the space were kept with original garage doors, radiators, terrazzo flooring and original interior brick features, plus the original fire suppression system was able to be saved with minor modifications and was painted red.  Some areas of the building were also renovated to retrofit space from the original fresh water wells, coal chutes, and segregated bathrooms.

“We are proud to accept the preservation award and recognition for the company’s success in rehabilitating this special building which houses 35 staff members. Our highly-trained technicians provide consistent, exceptional customer service throughout northeast Florida,” said Mumford.

The Mumfords opened the local Paul Davis franchise office in 1999 at 5795 Mining Terrace in the Southside area of Jacksonville where the company remained until the move to Springfield. Paul Davis serves customers in Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Dixie, Duval, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy, Nassau, and Union counties. The company’s Gainesville office is located at 3499 NW 97th Blvd., Ste. #10. For more information, contact Marguerite Mumford at 904.739.6047 or email marguerite@pdrjax.com. Visit the local office website at www.pdrestorationnf.com.

Craig Smith, Managing Partner of the Alhambra Theatre & Dining, announced this morning the addition of a new comedy, Weekend Comedy, and a new guest star, Cindy Williams, to its 2013 line up.  Cindy Williams is best known for starring from 1976 to 1982 in the television situation-comedy series Laverne & Shirley, in the role of Shirley Feeney, and for her role as Laurie Henderson in the classic film “American Graffiti.”  Cindy brings her considerable talents to the Alhambra for four special weeks, September 18 – October 20, 2013.  Williams began her professional career by landing national commercials, which included Foster Grant sunglasses and TWA. Her first roles in television, among others, were on Room 222, Nanny and the Professor and Love, American Style.

In Weekend Comedy, two couples, one older and one younger have accidentally rented the same cottage for a three-day weekend. They decide to share it. The show unfolds with a comedic clash between generations.  Ms. Williams and Weekend Comedy replace on the original schedule a show that would have featured George Wendt.  Mr. Wendt had to reschedule his appearance to a later date.  Ms. Williams had a similar conflict last year and is now scheduled to thrill the Alhambra audiences.

“We could not be more excited to welcome Cindy to our Alhambra family,” said Smith.  “The few times I have mentioned it to audiences before a show, they have gasped.  She is a wonderful person and a wonderful actor, and I know Jacksonville will welcome her as we all have.  The show is fantastic and got rave reviews where it’s played.  It will be a great fall frolic here, too.”

Weekend Comedy will run at the Alhambra September 18 through October 20, 2013. Show time is 8:00 PM for evening shows Tuesday through Sunday.  Doors open at 5:45 PM and dinner will be served until 7:30 PM. Matinees on Saturday are at 1:15 PM.  Doors open at 11:00 AM and brunch starts at 11:15 AM.  Sunday matinee is at 2:00.  Doors open at noon and the meal start at 12:15 PM.  Group sales are available.   Preview night pricing for the first two nights is available for $38.  Regular pricing for tickets starts at $46 for adults and $35 for children. Ticket price includes dinner, show and parking.  Call the box office at 904.641.1212 or www.alhambrajax.com.

The Indo-US Chamber of Commerce gears up to commemorate 10 years of supporting economic growth in Northeast Florida. Over the last decade, the Chamber has sponsored a number of events and programs that will have a positive impact on the economy and people of northeast Florida. Most notable are the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Summit hosted in partnership with White House and Visit of former President of India, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam and Annual CIO Summit’s that engages the business and technology community.

A group that started with just a handful of volunteers has now grown to over 150 members, and impacts 1500+ people who subscribe to the Indo-US events and newsletters. “Indo-US Chamber has made significant contributions in supporting the business growth and developing entrepreneurship in the region. We are actively engaged with other Entrepreneurial Support Organizations in serving the Small Businesses and helping the Entrepreneurial community. We are committed to develop and deliver programs that will result in enrichment of the Regional Economic Ecosystem in Northeast Florida” said MJ Charmani, President of Indo-US Chamber of Commerce Northeast Florida.

The Chamber has collaborated on several significant events in the past decade. In 2012, the Chamber joined forces with the Jax Film Festival to bring Indian filmmakers to Festival.  The Chamber has also launched a partnership with the city of Bangalore, India, to develop mutual economic ties and become sister cities with Jacksonville. In an effort to help aspiring college students get financial aid the City of Jacksonville and the Indo-U.S. Chamber of Commerce of Northeast Florida partnered to assist aspiring college students in completing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually.

Indo-US Chamber has Garnered the support of major corporations such as Jacksonville Port Authority(JaxPorts), Mass Mutual Financial Group, Florida Blue, Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA), VyStar Credit Union and Vistakon besides strong affiliations with number of small businesses in Northeast Florida.

Founding members of the Indo-US Chamber led by Dev Goswami include Dr.Amit Vijapura, Kish Kanji, Sonny Bhika, Pradip Shah, Jyothi Chawla, Shaleen Shah, Manish Kothari and Sukhbir Singh. Past Presidents include Anil Patel (2003), Dev Goswami (2004), Sukhbir Singh (2005), Srinivas Bikumanla (2006), Manish Kothari (2007), Usha Mohan (2008), Sankar Mahalingam (2009), Senthil Kumar (2010), Pramod Jain (2011) and Chairmen of the board include – Dr. Amit Vijapura, Dev Goswami, Raghu Mishra and Ren Mohan

“Indo-Us chamber has been steadily gaining visibility over the years and is proud to be a part of growing Jacksonville business community. It is great to see the contributions of the members and leaders recognized at the city level. We hope to achieve many more milestones and work towards the economic growth of the region.” said Sarath Kuravi, Chairman of Indo-US Chamber.

The Chamber will celebrate 10^th year Anniversary on Saturday, June 1^st at the Annual Banquet – GALA 2013. Awards will be presented to “Most Influential South Asians in Northeast Florida” and “Student of the year” in this event hosted by Dan Nainan, a renowned clean comedian includes dazzling performances and Fashion Show. For more information on this event, please go to: www.indousnefl.com. You can register for the event at www.Indous-Gala.eventbrite.com

About Indo US Chamber:  Founded in 2003, The Indo-US Chamber of Commerce of Northeast Florida is a coalition of businesses representing various sectors of the economy in the Greater Jacksonville. MISSION: To support you and enable your success by improving the overall economic growth and quality of life for everyone in Northeast Florida.

Jacksonville Unity Plaza Inc., the 501(c)(3) non-profit better known as Unity Plaza, announced today that Jen Jones has been hired as Executive Director. Unity Plaza, adjacent to the 220 Riverside mixed-use project currently under construction on Riverside Avenue, is a public-private partnership that will effectively deliver downtown Jacksonville’s premiere ‘central park’ with full-time staff, a dedicated funding source and 260-plus days of programming throughout the year. Unity Plaza is currently in design with a fall construction start and a scheduled opening summer 2014.

“Jen Jones is a long-time advocate for Jacksonville’s creative class and brings a passion for community and place-making that will assure Unity Plaza is developed and delivered with world class results,” said Alex Coley, visionary of the Unity Plaza project and Co-Founder and Principal at Hallmark Partners, developer of 220 Riverside. “We like to say this is actually a community service project disguised as a real estate deal. Jen will direct a great deal of planning over the next year until our 2014 grand opening when we welcome a new era for Jacksonville.”

Jones appointment is announced today in conjunction with a press conference to be held at the 220 Riverside construction site where she and Mayor Alvin Brown will receive a ceremonial deed on behalf of Jacksonville Unity Plaza Inc., the 501(c)(3) non-profit which will serve as the managing entity of the public-private partnership. The media event is being held at 1:30 pm today at 220 Riverside.

Jones community involvement is extensive. She is the Visual Arts Chair for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Boards of the Cathedral Arts Project and Patrons of the Hearts – a Wolfson Children’s Hospital initiative, and is a supporting Board member of the Florida Hospital Engineer Association. She is an honorary board member for the University of North Florida – Thomas G. Carpenter Library.

Unity Plaza is the cornerstone in the current redevelopment of Jacksonville’s Brooklyn neighborhood. It is located at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Forest Street, adjacent to the 220 Riverside project featuring 294 market rate apartments and 18,000 sf of retail. The Unity Plaza project development team is led by Hallmark Partners, Inc. Jacksonville-based Studio 9 Architecture is leading the park’s design.

In 2012, Hallmark Partners announced its affiliation with Princeton, NJ-based NAI Global (www.naiglobal.com) creating NAI Hallmark Partners. As a result, Hallmark now benefits from the largest network of independent commercial real estate firms worldwide, comprised of over 5,000 professionals in 55 countries with more than 350 offices. Working cooperatively, NAI offices complete over $45 billion in combined transactions annually and manage 300+ million square feet of commercial space.

Hallmark Partners was formed in 1993 as a full-service commercial real estate development company offering sales/leasing brokerage, property management, real estate intelligence and turnkey development services. Over the past 20 years the company has developed more than $250 million in commercial projects. Hallmark Partners is currently involved in the leasing and/or management of a portfolio in excess of 3 million square feet in the Jacksonville market.

For more information, please visit www.naihallmarkpartners.com or contact Dave Auchter at da@naihallmarkpartners.com and by phone at 904-955-7412. Jen Jones can be contacted at 904-206-0902.

Join Duggar & Traylor, LLC  in our UNDIE campaign in coordination with Dignity U Wear.  Dignity U Wear is the source of brand new clothing for over 75,000 people in need nationwide every year.  Underwear is the most requested item.  To provide more people with basic human dignity and to meet the incredible need, Dignity created The Undie Campaign.  Duggar & Traylor are collecting cash donations so that Dignity U Wear can purchase underwear is sizes that are needed.  We are also accepting new packages of underwear in all sizes, adults and children.  

Donations can be brought by our offices or  mailed to the office of Duggar & Traylor.  Make check payable to “Dignity U Wear”. Collection ends May 16th.

Address: 9191 RG Skinner Parkway Suite 601, Jacksonville, FL 32256

If you have questions please call 904-725-5100

Startup Quest, an entrepreneurship training program for out of work, degree-holding professionals, launched in Northeast Florida.  The program, one of the first of its kind in the U.S., is a partnership between Florida Works, the University of Florida, the JAX Chamber and WorkSource.

“Startup Quest will drive economic transformation by providing opportunities for entrepreneurs, innovators and investors to assess and develop the commercial potential of new ideas,” said Bruce Ferguson, CEO at WorkSource (First Coast Workforce Development Inc.).  “Startup Quest is a great example of how workforce programs can impact the 21^st century economy.  We are confident this program will eventually lead to job growth and employment in our region.”

FloridaWorks received a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to fund the program throughout the state of Florida.  Unlike traditional workforce programs, Startup Quest is not a skill-based training course or traditional classroom-style course.  Instead, the program’s personal and experiential process allows participants to gain a deeper understanding of the possibilities of starting a new company or joining a startup venture as part of a dedicated team.

The program is designed to increase employability of participants by introducing them to new industries, leading to new ways of viewing their potential contributions as potential employees and team members, and connecting them to a network of experienced and successful CEO/mentors and entrepreneurs.  In addition to teaching entrepreneurship skills, the program will work with businesses to create training for their job needs.  Training will also be available for veterans.

“The Startup Quest program provides vital support and innovative training to our professional workforce while supporting our local economy with business growth and job creation,” said JAX Chamber Chair and Northeast Florida Market President of Bank of America Greg Smith.  “We believe this program will help accelerate the expansion of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) industries and high-wage jobs that will fuel economic growth in our region.”

Those interested in participating can register for an informational session, held May 14, from 2 to 6 p.m., at www.startupquestjax.eventbrite.com.

FloridaWorks developed and launched the pilot Startup Quest program in partnership with the University of Florida and the Gainesville Area Chamber of Commerce.  The 2011 program, which was funded with a grant from Workforce Florida, provided entrepreneurship training to 83 unemployed or underemployed educated professionals.  The participants received entrepreneurship training from successful business leaders by going through exercises to create companies around University of Florida research inventions.  As a result of the program, 64 participants gained employment, 19 participants became self-employed, 26 jobs were created and three University of Florida technologies were licensed.

The Chamber’s Entrepreneurial Growth Division provides mentoring, entrepreneurial education, consulting and networking opportunities to advance the success of entrepreneurs at every stage of business development. The Division’s Small Business Center, JWBC and GrowJAX departments serve the region and each offer unique services to drive business growth.  For more information on the programs and services of the Entrepreneurial Growth Division, visit myjaxchamber.com and select the “Start or Grow a Business” tab.

About Startup Quest

Startup Quest is part of an evaluation study funded by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration Workforce Innovation Fund. Participants will be selected from among eligible applicants. Data collected will remain confidential and will be used for statistical purposes only. Startup Quest is an equal opportunity program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities.

NAI Hallmark Partners announced today that Carmen Mantay has been hired as a broker focused on sales and leasing of medical properties, professional office buildings, land and international investments. Carmen will also serve as International Director for the firm.

Carmen was born and raised in Chile but has been a resident of Jacksonville for the past 22 years. She has a degree in Building Construction Management from the University of North Florida and has been a Florida licensed commercial real estate broker for the past seven years with Coldwell Banker Commercial. Carmen is a Board Member of the City of Jacksonville Mayor’s Hispanic American Advisory Board. She is fluent in English and Spanish.

“We truly believe Carmen’s unique background and experience has all been in preparation for the role she will serve here at NAI Hallmark Partners,” said Alex Coley, Co-founder and Principal at NAI Hallmark Partners. “Carmen’s high integrity, service minded approach is a perfect cultural match for our firm and her sincere enthusiasm for Jacksonville’s international opportunities is a unique asset for our firm.”

In her first month with NAI Hallmark Partners, Carmen will be forging strong inroads to Latin America business opportunities. These visits include a peer-sharing trip to the NAI Miami office, attending the NAI Global Latin America regional conference in Nassau, Bahamas and joining the Florida Governor’s delegation on a trade mission to Carmen’s birthplace Chile. Carmen will also continue to develop her established expertise in real estate training of Hispanic speaking real estate professionals.

In 2012, Jacksonville-based Hallmark Partners announced its affiliation with Princeton, NJ-based NAI Global (www.naiglobal.com) creating NAI Hallmark Partners. As a result, Hallmark now benefits from the largest network of independent commercial real estate firms worldwide, comprised of over 5,000 professionals in 55 countries with more than 350 offices. Working cooperatively, NAI offices complete over $45 billion in combined transactions annually and manage 300+ million square feet of commercial space.

Hallmark Partners was formed in 1993 as a full-service commercial real estate development company offering sales/leasing brokerage, property management, real estate intelligence and turnkey development services. Over the past 20 years the company has developed more than $250 million in commercial projects in northeast Florida. Hallmark Partners is involved in the leasing and/or management of a portfolio in excess of 3 million square feet in the Jacksonville market and is currently developing the signature mixed-use 220 Riverside/Unity Plaza project in downtown Jacksonville.

For more information, please visit www.naihallmarkpartners.com or contact Dave Auchter at da@naihallmarkpartners.com and by phone at 904-955-7412.

by Candace Moody

Photo courtesy Rethreaded

Kristin Keen is a client of the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center and a woman with a big idea. Rethreaded is a faith-based nonprofit whose purpose is to help “sew a new story” for people affected by the local and international sex trade. Kristin Keen lived and worked for five years in Kolkata, India. After encountering the life-stealing effects of the area’s sex trade, Kristin help to co-found a business with Sarah Lance that could offer these women a safe haven. Today, Sari Bari is a thriving business that employs more than 75 people in Kolkata.  When Kristin returned from India three years ago to Jacksonville, she still felt called to fight the sex trade, and Rethreaded was born.

Marguerite and Mike Mumford, Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida office owners, along with their staff recently received top awards at Paul Davis Restoration Inc.’s national convention held in Orlando, Fla. The company received honors as Franchise of the Year in the Florida district with total sales volume attained in the franchise network.

“We work hard for our customers and always do our best,” said Marguerite Mumford. “We are proud of our team members who understand the business and have the industry knowledge and relationships that are important to our customers,” she said.

Marguerite and Mike Mumford formally opened their franchise office in 1999. The company serves customers in Duval, Clay, Baker and Nassau counties, and in Alachua, Bradford, Dixie, Gilchrist, Lafayette, Levy and Union counties. Paul Davis Restoration of North Florida maintains its headquarters at 2111 N. Liberty Street in Jacksonville. The company also serves customers at Paul Davis Restoration of North Central Florida, 3499 NW 97th Blvd, Ste. #10 in Gainesville, FL.

The Mumfords and their staff of technicians have received a wide variety of certifications from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) along with licensing as HAAG Certified Roof Inspectors. For more information, contact Paul Davis Restoration at 904.739.6047. Visit the website at www.pdrestorationnf.com.

About Paul Davis:

Paul Davis Restoration, Inc., a subsidiary of FirstService Corporation (NASDAQ: FSRV; TSX: FSV), is a national franchisor and leading provider of restoration services for residential and commercial properties since 1966.  Paul Davis Restoration also provides mold cleanup services and has franchise locations throughout North America with owners and technicians who are certified by The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). For more information, call 904.737.2779. Visit the website at www.pdrestoration.com.

When you join a fitness club, you don’t expect to see a constant stream of upgraded equipment. When you join a golf club, you don’t expect the course to be improved every year. Those are not realistic expectations.

But members of the Freedom Boat Club know through experience that “new and improved” is not a marketing slogan or wishful thinking; it is a simple reality.

So, what is new at the Freedom Boat Club in Jacksonville and St. Augustine for 2013?

Eleven boats.

That’s right. It’s not a typo. We didn’t purchase 3 or 4 boats for 2013. We bought 11.

Come see for yourself.

Here are the new boats you will find at our two area locations:

     At Julington Creek: Two 20-foot Hurricane deck boats; a 20-foot Sundeck 2000; a 20-foot 203 Key west center console; a 211 dual-console Key West; and

a 202 Sundeck sport Hurricane.

      At St. Augustine: Two 20-foot Sundeck 200s; a 23-foot, twin-engine, dual-console Key West; and a center-console Sundeck Sport 211.

Come and see why the Freedom Boat Club has experienced a steady growth in membership and franchise locations based on its model of offering affordable, hassle-free boating. Members not only have a choice of multiple boats at each location but avoid the typical frustrations associated with boat ownership: maintenance, repair, storage, cleaning, towing trailers, etc.

When you belong to the Freedom Boat Club, you not only leave the worries behind, you also don’t have to fret over aging facilities or deteriorating equipment.

Like us on Facebook, Freedom Boat Club Jacksonville & St.Augustine, and you can see for yourself.

For more information about our Jacksonville and St. Augustine locations call  Cliff Coates at 904-239-0590

The boat is waiting.

The First Coast Manufacturers Association (FCMA) conducted its 23rd annual golf tournament to fund engineering scholarships to the University of North Florida (UNF).

Approximately 144 golfers participated in the event held at the Omni Amelia Island Oak Marsh Golf Course. Over 65 area companies were represented.

“Proceeds from the fundraiser will go towards paying for engineering scholarships each year, in addition to building our college endowment program,” said Lake Ray, FCMA president.

“With our local economy growing in the areas of manufacturing, logistics and the import/export trade with Jaxport, we need to encourage and support education that emphasizes science, math, chemistry and engineering,” Ray explained. “By offering scholarships and tying them to the outstanding engineering program at UNF, FCMA  hopes to be able to help supply qualified employees to area businesses in need of high tech skills.”

FCMA is a non-profit trade association serving Northeast Florida. There are over 1,500 manufacturing companies on the First Coast, supplying over 30,000 jobs and generating nearly 15% of the total gross regional product. Additional media information on FCMA is available at www.fcmaweb.com.

Larry Rouse, Manager of Information Systems for 121 Financial Credit Union, has been promoted to Director of Information Systems, announced 121 Financial CEO William Braddock.

In his position, Rouse will be responsible for all aspects of the credit union’s information technology and cyber security.

Rouse has been with 121 Financial for 10 years. Prior to joining the credit union, he taught software applications for a major computer reseller.  He then taught computer maintenance and repair as part of a government job training program, before moving on to computer consulting for major banks and healthcare providers in Jacksonville while also running a home PC repair business.  Before working in the technology field in Jacksonville, he served 20 years in the Navy.

“Larry is a great resource for our credit union,” Braddock said. “With his extensive background in on-line security and fraud prevention, we believe we are in very good hands with Larry.”

121 Financial Credit Union offers full banking and loan services to any individual and small business located throughout Northeast Florida. Established in 1935, 121 Financial Credit Union has over 40,000 members.

U.S. Small Business Administration Region IV Administrator Cassius Butts is pleased to announce the winners of SBA’s 2013 State of Florida Small Business Week Awards.

“The talent of the professionals who competed for Small Business Week in SBA’s North and South Florida districts was extremely impressive,” said RA Butts.  “Small business success is alive and well in Florida and these winners are great examples of that success.”

The 2013 SBA State of Florida Small Business Person of the Year is Steve Miller, President of EPreward (Boynton Beach). The Company specializes in precious metals recovery services for cardiology departments. Mr. Miller will be invited to attend the National Small Business Week celebration to be held in Washington, DC, on June 21, with the other state small business persons of the year.  The national small business person of the year will be announced there.

The 2013 State of Florida Small Business Exporter of the Year is Harry Arnon, President of Hernon Manufacturing (Orlando).  Mr. Arnon has also been selected as the Regional Exporter of the Year, and is currently under consideration for the national award, to be announced at the June 21^st event in Washington, DC.

Brian Barquilla, Owner of Advantage Business Magazine (Jacksonville), has been named the State of Florida Small Business Media Advocate of the Year.

Eloy Bazaldua, President of RM Myers Company, Inc. (Jacksonville) has been named the State of Florida Minority Owned Small Business Person of the Year.

Elizabeth Burch, President of Dignitas Technologies, Inc. (Orlando) has been named the State of Florida Woman Owned Small Business Person of the Year.

Daniel Scott has been named the State of Florida Small Business Advocate of the Year. He is the Associate Director, Sustainable Entrepreneurship & Innovation Alliance at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg College of Business.

Christopher Hurn, CEO/Cofounder of Mercantile Capital Corporation (Orlando), has been named State of Florida Small Business Financial Services Champion of the year.

Lauren Little, Franchise Owner, Edible Arrangements (Jacksonville), has been named the State of Florida Veteran Owned Small Business Person of the Year.

The 2013 Small Business Week Award Winners from the Jacksonville area will be recognized at the 21^st Annual Small Business Week & Lender Awards Celebration on April 30, 2013 in Jacksonville at the University of North Florida’s University Center from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. This event is hosted by the Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida.  For more information on this award ceremony, please visit http://www.sbdc.unf.edu/smallbusinessweek/.

The Orlando area Small Business Week winners will be honored by an event hosted by the Small Business Development Center at the University of Central Florida, on May 21, 2013, at the Citrus Club.  For more information, please contact the SBDC at (407) 420-4850.

For more information about local winners or programs available through the Small Business Administration, please visit the agency Website at www.sba.gov/fl/north or call (904) 443-1900. For information on South Florida winners, please contact Jim Brooks at (305) 536-5521 x104

The Factory released today that it’s startup companies are ready for customers and demonstrating their software products at the One Spark Festival next week. They’ll be located at 140 West Monroe Street, Jacksonville, 32202.

The Factory, a tech startup incubator in St. Augustine founded by software engineering company feature[23], offers a hands-on commitment to tech entrepreneurs in a collaborative workspace, a mentor-driven curriculum, partner networks, software tools, and community activities.

“There’s a lot of work that went into building this the last 18 months. Now, we have a validated, actionable plan. It’s a qualified conversation for both startups and investors,” said Jeremy Vaughan, Principal at feature[23] & Co-founder of The Factory.

The Factory’s model has a well researched approach. They assist these startup companies in not only connecting with resources, but also helping them refine their products — leading to much less waste, faster time to market, and higher quality products.

They’ve ran three (3) startups thus far through a “pilot class”:

Rod Dornsife, co-founder of Restroom Alert, comments: “Starting a new venture is hardly a slam-dunk, but it was clear from the start that The Factory intended to support Jacksonville’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Working with a group of highly motivated entrepreneurs, like those at The Factory, certainly stokes the passion in our team and keeps us on our toes.”

Eric Ordway, co-founder of ProfileGorilla, is excited about the support his team received during the whole process: “ProfileGorilla needed passionate partners. The Factory got the technology, but they also understood that it takes much more to make things happen. You need a brand, you need marketing, you need advice and help. That’s where The Factory really hits it out of the park. They understand that a collaborative community is what makes things happen.”

Another The Factory success story is Redeploy.me, an “employee marketplace” web application that recently launched.

Learn more about Tech start up companies. View the video below.

Jacksonville Startup Weekend is proud to announce that Cooleaf, a 2012 participant company focused on making living healthy more fun, has closed $375,000 in seed funding, and led by Atlanta angel investor Raj Choudhury.

Speaking on the early days of Cooleaf, co- founder John Duisberg said “We are glad to have participated in Jacksonville Startup Weekend that helped us ramp up our efforts. We are thankful to our association with iStart Jax Business accelerator for the opportunities they have provided us”. Cooleaf was also one of the top finalists for the Intel Innovation Award 2012.

Cooleaf has steadily grown to comprise an impressive roster of Atlanta employers that have sought to create a happier, more engaged and active workforce. Cooleaf’s employer customers include Georgia State University, DeKalb Medical Center and Morris Manning & Martin. Since January 2012, the company has experienced a tenfold increase in their user base, with monthly revenue growth of nearly 400% since July 2012.

“This funding solidifies our vision and gives merit to the quality of our product,” said Cooleaf co- founder John Duisberg. “Being healthy and active is a personal thing — that is what Cooleaf embodies. We use a diverse group of activities, a high degree of personalization and a collaborative approach to produce activities employees actually want to do and can get behind.”

For employers, partnering with Cooleaf makes it easy to quickly execute fun activities that are driven by employee input, such as onsite Zumba(R), rock climbing excursions, healthy cooking demonstrations and more. Because Cooleaf partners with and supports over 135 Atlanta-area health and wellness providers, employers and individuals can easily choose the activities that work for their teams and their schedules. Cooleaf users also earn reward points for participation in activities.

“Healthy and engaged employees are happy and productive employees,” said Shealynn Buck, MD, Executive Director of Employee Health Solutions at DeKalb Medical. “Cooleaf helped us put together a program that reflects the interests of our people. We’ve done everything from cooking demonstrations to Zumba. It’s a diverse and interesting program that lets our employees decompress, and that is a valuable thing in a patient care environment.”

With this current round of funding, Cooleaf will be accelerating product development and marketing efforts while expanding its team to support a growing client base. Cooleaf’s next round of funding is targeted for mid-2014 with goals of growing the product offering and expanding into other key markets.

McKenzieHR is expanding its scope to offer more Organizational Development and Training expertise. Darlene Thomas Rivers joined the firm in October 2012 and brings with her more than 30 years of HR and Organizational Development experience. Darlene has worked with such Fortune 500 companies as Procter & Gamble, American Express, Masco Contractor Services and the US Air Force. After running her own training and consultant company for 12 years, Darlene realized that her passion is helping small companies achieve their full potential.  Her aspiration is to help companies create, transform and revive their organizational culture. This includes Organization Assessments, Development of Competencies, Training, Job Descriptions and Performance Management.  Darlene has won a number of training awards and is looking forward to reconnecting with various boards and organizations throughout the City.