The Jacksonville Port Authority had a record-setting year for its container business, while continuing to increase total operating revenue.
According to a news release, the port moved 968,279 TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30. The previous record of 936,972 was in 2014.
The Asian container trade continues to be the fastest-growing area, marking a 19 percent growth.
Other highlights for the port include:
• Recording its 16th straight year of operating revenue growth, bringing in $59.7 million, up 6 percent from the previous year
• Moving 467,898 imported vehicles and more than 636,999 total vehicles
• Increasing its breakbulk cargos (non-containerized items such as fertilizer, metals and perishables) by 22 percent over the previous year, with nearly 888,000 tons shipped
• Growing its Puerto Rican container business by nearly 7 percent
Deadline extended for Moran small business program
The Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship is extending the application period through Dec. 2 for its inaugural Small Business Executive Program.
The extension is due to Hurricane Matthew, according to a news release. The institute is within Florida State University’s College of Business. The executive program will be in Jacksonville.
Businesses that have been operating for more than three years and have at least three employees are eligible to participate. Twenty-five will be accepted into the program.
The class schedule has been revised, as well. It begins Jan. 10 and runs once a month through April 11. Each session is four hours long.
The institute will launch its Nonprofit Executive Program in collaboration with the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida in 2017.
For more information, contact Mike Campbell at [email protected] or visit jmi.fsu.edu.
The institute was established in 1995 with a contribution from Jim and Jan Moran and JM Family Enterprises.
Nemours Foundation adds four to board of directors
Four members were elected to the board of directors of The Nemours Foundation, which is based in Jacksonville. They are:
• James Hunt, retired executive vice president and chief financial officer of The Walt Disney Co, who helped lead the company through a strong period of expansion, including the development of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Hong Kong and Shanghai Disneyland theme parks, the Disney Cruise Line and ESPN Wide World of Sports, according to a news release.
• Dr. Linda Norman, dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, who is responsible for 900 students, 200 faculty members, five nurse-managed clinics and 12 academic programs, the release said. She has been active in developing strategies to lessen the nursing shortage since 2000.
• Marc Probst, vice president and chief financial officer of Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, which developed a transformation lab in 2013 to focus on lower costs and improving the quality of health care.
• Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, president and dean of the Morehouse School of Medicine, who is an infertility specialist and researcher. While a senior vice president at Meharry Medical College, she directed the Center for Women’s Health Research, which studies diseases that disproportionately impact women of color.
Urban League honoring equal opportunity advocates
The Jacksonville Urban League is handing out several awards today at its 43rd annual Equal Opportunity Luncheon.
CSX is receiving the Equal Opportunity Award for is commitment to diversity and empowering college interns to engage in opportunities that promote professional development and community service, according to a news release.
Sarah Van Cleve will receive the Clanzel T. Brown Award for her efforts to encourage incarcerated men and women to improve their educations.
Ju’Coby Pittman, president and CEO of the Clara White Mission, is being given the Whitney M. Young National Leadership Award for “creating a one-stop community development center designed to support job training, job creation and housing for veterans, ex-offenders and low-income residents.”
The noon event is at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
Award-winning entrepreneur to share story at Jacksonville University
Last year, Naomi Whittel sold her nutritional supplement company for $37 million. The entrepreneur also has launched more than 140 science-based products.
Whittel will speak Nov. 10 at Jacksonville University on “The Business of Health Wellness” as part of the Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences Distinguished Lecture Series. The event is free to the public.
She is CEO of Twinlab Consolidated Holdings, which bought her business in October 2015. Whittel will talk about what it takes to be a health entrepreneur and adjusting to being a female CEO in the natural supplements industry.
The event is 5:30-7:30 p.m. in Terry Concert Hall on the university’s campus.
For more information, contact Heather Hausenblas at (904) 256-7975 or [email protected].
Brunet-Garcia increases staff by four
Brunet-Garcia marketing agency added four staff members to its Jacksonville office.
They are: Bruce Cooke, user experience designer/developer; Katy Garrison, visual designer; Christy Schell, compliance manager; and Natalie Spindle, public relations and media communications.
The agency, founded in 2003, also has offices in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.
College Goal Sunday at FSCJ Downtown and Nassau sites Nov. 6
Area colleges, public school systems and nonprofits are teaming up to host College Goal Sunday.
The event helps college-bound students and their parents complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form. Students also will have the opportunity to earn more than $20,000 in scholarship money from participating colleges and universities.
College Goal Sunday is 1-4 p.m. Nov. 6 at Florida State College at Jacksonville’s Advanced Technology Centers on the Downtown Campus and at the Betty P. Cook Nassau Center.
There will be representatives from FSCJ, the University of North Florida, Edward Waters College, Duval County Public Schools, the Nassau County School District, Year Up Jacksonville and Real Sense (a United Way-led group).
Financial aid staff and counselors will be at both locations.
Parents and students should bring: Social Security number, driver’s license or alien registration card; latest tax return and W-2 forms; and a federal student Aid ID, which can be created at fsaid.ed.gov.
For information, visit collegegoalsundayfl.org
Porter is president of theater group
First A.C.T., the young professionals organization of the Florida Theatre, selected Ivan Porter as its president for 2016-17.
Porter previously served as vice president. He succeeds Roger Mitchell, whose term ended Sept. 30.
First A.C.T. (which stands for active, creative and talented) provides professional networking opportunities and financial and social support for the theater, according to a news release.
This is the group’s second year. During 2015-16, the group hosted several mixers Downtown for young professionals in conjunction with performances at the theater.
Members also hosted two events. In December, they raised money to fund 1,000 meals at a benefit screening of “A Christmas Story.” In May, they had a young professionals evening on the opening night of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival.
Other members of the executive council are: Diana Johnson, vice president; Fernando Dutra, secretary; Roger Mitchell, events chair; Jason Caldow, volunteer chair; Mary Beth Waddill, membership chair; and Neal Brown, member at large.
For more information, call (904) 355-5661 or visit floridatheatre.com.
Revenue and income up for Jacksonville Aviation Authority
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority’s revenues and operating income increased during the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.
The unaudited results show revenue was $79.6 million compared to $75 million last year, while operating income jumped to $30 million from $27 million, according to a news release.
Total passenger boardings were 5.6 million, up 3 percent.
The authority also announced Ross Jones is director of finance, replacing Diane Pinkerman, who is retiring. Jones most recently was manager of tax reporting and planning at Rayonier Advanced Materials.