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Board of Directors

Chair

Jay Southerland
The Southerland Group/Triage Management Services

James Southerland is the president/chief executive officer of The Southerland Group, Inc., which develops real estate focused on commercial and multi-family projects.  He also serves as chief executive officer  for Triage Management Services, Inc., which is a managed repair service developed to provide the property insurance industry with a qualified national network of contractors to assist in offering repair services to homeowners with a property claim.  Upon graduating, Southerland joined Andersen Consulting in Atlanta and proceeded to work in various public and private sectors, including The Federal Reserve Bank and Memorial Hospital.  For the past 11 years, he has focused on entrepreneurial endeavors.  Returning to Florida in 1990, he has made Jacksonville his home.  Southerland enjoys his involvement with and support of civic and professional organizations, such as Children’s Home Society, various real estate organizations, and involvement in youth athletics. He is a Florida native, raised in the Big Bend area and obtained his BS and MBA degrees with an emphasis in finance from Florida State University in 1981. Southerland has four children who live in San Marco and attend San Jose Catholic Church.  He currently coaches his son’s basketball and flag football teams, and hobbies include biking, exercising and playing golf.

Vice-Chair

Mike Jennings
Prudential Financial

Mike Jennings is vice president of government affairs for the nine-state Southeast Region of Prudential’s State Government Affairs. He joined Prudential in 1974 as assistant counsel in Prudential’s Regional Law Department in Jacksonville. Prior to joining Prudential, Jennings was an assistant commonwealth attorney in the Commonwealth Attorney’s Office in Portsmouth, Virginia. Prior to that, he served as an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps of the U. S. Navy. Jennings is a member of the boards of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, and Florida TaxWatch, of which he is chairman-elect. He is also chairman of the Florida Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association, treasurer of the Maryland Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Corporation, a board member of the Tennessee Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association, and a member of the executive committee of the Florida Insurance Council.  Florida Governor Jeb Bush appointed him to serve as a member of the Task Force on Privacy and Technology created by the 2000 Florida Legislature. Jennings has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Florida State University and a juris doctorate degree from Stetson University College of Law.

Secretary

Christopher Flagg
FLAGG Design Studios

Christopher Flagg is president of FLAGG Design Studio, LLC.  His firm specializes in urban design, community planning, campus master planning and commissioned illustrations.   His community advocacy has been substantial, serving as the immediate past president of JaxPride, for which he has been a member since 1997 and as president of this organization since 2001.  Flagg is currently the Chair of the JEDC’s Downtown Design Review Committee.  He is also a member of the Urban Land Institute, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Society of Landscape Architects and currently a member of the Jacksonville Watercolor Society. Flagg initiated the Campus Master Planning Program while at Reynolds, Smith and Hills in order to focus his urban design skills on campus planning within the state of Florida and abroad. He is a graduate of Leadership Jacksonville, Class of 2003 and is licensed to practice his profession of Landscape Architecture in Florida and South Carolina.

Treasurer

Mike Harrell
CB Richard Ellis, Inc.

Mike Harrell is a native of Jacksonville and a 1974 graduate of Mercer University. Harrell is a senior vice president at CB Richard Ellis, Inc., where he specializes in investment property sales and tenant representation. He has served as chairman of Central Jacksonville Improvement, co-chairman of Downtown Master Plan Task Force, member of the Mayor’s Downtown Parking Task Force and is a past chairman of Downtown Vision, Inc. In addition, he serves on the board of trustees at St. Johns Country Day School, the Rotary Club of West Jacksonville and the FCCJ Foundation.

Immediate – Past Chair

Stephen Crosby
CSX

Steve Crosby currently serves as president of CSX Real Estate Property, Inc. During his 21 year tenure with CSX, Crosby has served as vice president of development, real estate operations, and corridor development, as well as numerous other managerial positions before assuming the title of President in 2000. He received his BS and MBA from the University of Virginia, and University of Florida, respectively. Crosby is Past National Chairman of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) and is a past member of the advisory board of the University of Virginia School of Architecture.

Directors

Jim Bailey is president of Bailey Publishing and Communications, Inc. and the Daily Record Corporation, which publishes the Daily Record, Tampa Bay Review, Golf News, Focus on Jacksonville Business, Realty Builder Connection, and TPC-The Printing Company. Bailey is a board member for the American Court & Commercial Newspapers, and a member of the Florida Press Association and the National Newspaper Association. He is a commissioner of the Jacksonville Waterway Commission, and a board member for the Rotary Club of Jacksonville and the Epping Forest Yacht Club. Bailey is married to Donna and has 6 daughters, Christina, Melissa, Jennifer, Jessica, Casey, and Emily.

Debbie Buckland is a senior vice president with SunTrust Bank.  Buckland and her family moved to Jacksonville in the late nineties, when she joined the SunTrust Commercial Banking Group in North Florida. Following a period with Wachovia as Business Banking Director in North Florida, she rejoined SunTrust as Commercial Banking Manager and is currently responsible for wholesale banking operations at SunTrust in North Florida for clients in the $5 million to $100 million sales range. She currently serves on numerous Boards, including the Jacksonville Women’s Business Center, Board of Governors of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. American Cancer Society Florida Division and Duval Unit, the World Affairs Council of Jacksonville, Essential Capital, Wolfson Children’s Hospital Women’s Board, the Jacksonville Women’s Network and the Jacksonville Women’s Giving Alliance. She was named a 2006 Woman of Influence by the Jacksonville Business Journal and is a member of Leadership Jacksonville class of 2009. She is a 1979 graduate of Emory & Henry College in Emory, Virginia with a B.A. in Business & Economics and Philosophy. 

James M Craig, II practices law for Rogers Towers in the area of commercial real estate with an emphasis on the acquisition and disposition of real property and landlord/tenant negotiations. He received his BA from Florida State and his JD from Stetson University in 1996. Craig is also a member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, NAIOP, and the Gator Bowl Association.

W. Edwin Frazier, III is senior vice president, chief administrative officer and corporate secretary for Rayonier Inc. Frazier was elected to his current position in December 2007. He joined Rayonier in 1999 as assistant general counsel, was promoted to associate general counsel in 2000 and elected corporate secretary in 2001. Frazier was named vice president governance and corporate secretary in 2003 and was elected senior vice president, administration and corporate secretary in 2004. From 1991 to 1999, Frazier was with the legal department of Georgia-Pacific, last serving as chief counsel - corporate. Prior to that, he specialized in intellectual property and technology law with Troutman Sanders. Frazier received his BS in Business Administration from the University of Tennessee and his JD from Emory University. He completed the Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration Advanced Management Program in 2001.

Jennifer R. Hoover, Vice President, Vestcor Companies & JDR Companies, is responsible for the development and operations of JDR Realty, Inc., JDR Real Estate Management, Inc. and Vestcor Realty Management, Inc. JVestcor Realty Management manages Vestcor’s two historic skyline properties in Downtown Jacksonville, The Carling and 11 East Forsyth.  Prior to her appointment as vice president, Hoover worked for Vestcor Communities in both sales and development. Hoover is a graduate of Vanderbilt University in Nashville and received her Florida Real Estate Broker’s license in 2006.  Her community involvement currently includes serving as a committee member for the Shands Trauma One Fundraiser, a member of IMPACTjax and NAIOP of Northeast Florida.

Dan King, General Manager of the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront, has worked in eleven Hyatt Hotels in his 28 year Hyatt career. Along with his current responsibilities, he currently serves as President of the North Florida Hotel and Lodging Association, Vice Chair of Visit Jacksonville Executive Board of Directors, Executive Board member of Jacksonville Hospitality Institute, a Gator Bowl Committee member, and a Chamber of Commerce Trustee.

Janice Lowe is the general manager of The Jacksonville Landing. Lowe has more than 20 years of experience in the retail business and has worked in downtown Jacksonville for more than a decade. Her tenure at The Landing spans over a twelve-year period where she has held various positions such as Special Events Coordinator, Marketing Director and currently, General Manager. She has worked with a large number of charities and community organizations throughout the years. Lowe currently serves as Secretary of Assumption Catholic School’s Board of Directors. She is a graduate of Florida State University and resides in Jacksonville’s Southside with her husband, Charlie, and their son, Zachary.

Audrey McKibbin Moran is president and chief executive officer of The Sulzbacher Center. She received her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Syracuse University, and is a graduate of Duke University’s School of Law where she served as student body president, and received the Outstanding Oral Advocate award. Moran has served as Chief of Staff for Mayor John Delaney and as Director of Legislative Affairs for Mayor Ed Austin. She has also served as Managing Director and Special Counsel for the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.  From 2004 to 2007 she was President of Moran Mediation Group. She began her legal career with the law firm of Mahoney, Hadlow and Adams and later joined the State Attorney’s Office where she started the Special Assault Unit, handling rape, domestic violence and child abuse cases. Moran was the first female attorney appointed to the position of director in the Fourth Judicial Circuit, and she served with distinction as the Director of the County Court and Training Division; Director of the Special Prosecution Division and as a member of the Homicide Team. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Visitors for the Florida Coastal School of Law and is a member of Downtown Rotary and the Jacksonville Women’s Network. Moran is married to the Honorable John A. Moran, II and they have four children. 

Michael Munz is executive vice president and director of public relations for the Dalton Agency. He has more than twenty years of experience representing a diverse group of local, regional and national clients in media relations, government affairs and corporate communications. Munz’s corporate experience includes a variety of business sectors including real estate development and marketing, manufacturing and distribution, travel and tourism, healthcare, insurance and banking, legal, HR/IT, retail and sports marketing as well as government relations and political consulting. His political experience includes managing and consulting with candidates on the local, state and federal level. From creating strategic campaign plans to serving as finance committee leadership and a general consultant he has been actively involved helping elect some of Florida and the nations best and brightest. Munz has also been active in a number of civic and political organizations including The Sulzbacher Center, The Jacksonville Children’s Commission, The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, The Public Relations Society of America Florida Community College Foundation Board of Governors, and The Cultural Council of Jacksonville, Inc.

John Pharr is senior vice president of the Regency Centers Corporation, a fully-integrated Real Estate Investment Trust involved in the development, acquisition, and operation of quality grocery-anchored and community shopping centers throughout the United States. He also works closely with the Southeast Development Leasing Team on acquisitions and new developments. Pharr has more than 20 years in the industry including previous experience with Hill Partners, Inc focusing on redevelopment of specialty and boutique centers across the United States and internationally. He first joined Regency in 1997 and held the position of senior vice president of operations responsible for Regency's Eastern region. He is a member of many local affiliations and a previous Chairman of the Board of Beaches Episcopal School in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. Pharr earned a bachelor of science degree from The Citadel in Charleston, S.C. He is a commissioned U.S. Air Force officer and an Edgar A. Terrell Fellow recipient.

Gil Pomar is the president and chief executive officer of Jacksonville Bancorp, and of its wholly-owned subsidiary The Jacksonville Bank. Pomar is a 3rd generation Jacksonville native.  He received a degree in finance from the University of Florida. His career began with Barnett Bank in Pompano Beach Florida as credit analyst and then as loan officer. Then he moved to The First National Bank of Chicago in Miami as a Relationship Manager doing large real estate project lending throughout the southeast. He then moved to Southeast Bank and then back home to Jacksonville in 1990 when he became the Manager of Commercial Banking for First Union for most of the 1990’s. He is the Chairman of The American Cancer Society Duval County Unit. He also holds Board positions with The Florida Bankers Association, and is the incoming chair of The Coggin College of Business at UNF Advisory Board. Pomar is also on the Board of the Junior Achievement of North Florida and is immediate Past President of Timuquana Country Club Gil lives in Ortega with his wife Jane and 3 children, Gil, David, and Anne Arden.

Barry Vaughn is president and chief executive officer of The Suddath Companies. He has served in various managerial positions over his 32-year tenure with the company including operations manager and general manager for the International Division, president of Sentry Household Shipping, Inc. and president of Americall LDC, Inc. Prior to joining Suddath, Vaughn worked within operations at Atlas Van Lines in Evansville, Indiana. He is on the board of Operation New Hope, a local charitable organization. In 2004, he was elected to the board of directors of United Van Lines, the nation’s largest household goods moving company, Vanliner Insurance Company and to the board of their parent company, UniGroup, Inc. Additionally, in 2006 he was elected chairman of the board of UniGroup’s newly formed corporation, United Container Services. Vaughn is also a member of the Board of Directors of The Suddath Companies, the American Moving & Storage Association (AMSA), Downtown Vision, Inc., and the University Club of Jacksonville.

Tri Vu is the owner and president of TTV Architects, Inc. Originally, from Vietnam, Vu graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1980 with a Bachelor of Architecture.  He later attended the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.  Vu and his family moved to Jacksonville in 1981. His active involvement in his profession as well as in the community is apparent by the numerous boards on which he has served. Vu's past board participation includes American Institute of Architects, Mayor’s Asian American Advisory Council, Meninak Club of Jacksonville, FCCJ Advisory Board, College of Engineering Technology, University of North Florida Humanities Council Advisory Board,  Boy Scouts of America, North Florida Council, American Cancer Society, and Lutheran Social Services. His current board participation includes the Building Codes Adjustment Board (City of Jacksonville), Downtown Vision Inc., Cultural Council of Jacksonville, University Club Board of Governors, and University of Florida School of Architecture Advisory Board.

Robert Arleigh White has twenty years experience managing local arts organizations in Jacksonville where he has also been active in promoting a host of arts related initiatives. Currently, he serves as the executive director for the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. Previously, White served as the executive and artistic director for Theatre Jacksonville where he was directly responsible for the artistic direction of fifty plays and worked to produce dozens more. During his tenure, he helped to ensure the company’s artistic relevance by creating new community-based program initiatives and moved the institution out of financial insecurity by developing long lasting partnerships with corporations, businesses, artists and schools. White has also worked as a Duval County teacher, first at Wolfson High School and later at Fletcher. He taught English, speech, drama, creative writing, and enjoyed learning from his students. A recognized artist in his own right, White has been honored with numerous awards for his performances (1987 and 1997) and directorial undertakings (1987, 1989 and 2000) as well as for his arts advocacy on behalf of cultural institutions in Jacksonville (1999).

Ex-officio

Ron Barton joined the City of Jacksonville in 2005 as the Executive Director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC). His primary initiatives include: business recruitment, administration of local and state incentives, administering programs for the Enterprise and Empowerment Zones, serving as the Community Redevelopment Agency and implementing four redevelopment areas including the Downtown Urban Core, serving as Master Developer of both the Cecil Commerce Center and the Downtown DRI and the general structuring of public/private development projects to achieve public policy objectives. Previously, Barton was a partner with KPMG, LLP and spent more than 20 years as a Real Estate and Development Consultant working for organizations including the New York State Urban Development Corporation, the City of San Antonio and the Office of Policy and Management for the State of Georgia.

Art Shad was elected to the Jacksonville City Council in July of 2003, and in 2004-2005 received the Charles D. Webb Award, the City Council's most prestigious internal honor. Shad is a native of Jacksonville, graduating from Robert E. Lee High School in 1985. After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps. During his enlistment in the USMC, Art served in an elite reconnaissance unit and was decorated for his service in Operation Desert Storm, receiving a Combat Promotion to Sergeant in Kuwait in 1991. Upon returning to Jacksonville, Art attended the University of North Florida on the GI Bill, graduating with honors and a Bachelor's Degree in Business/Finance in 1994. Today, Shad is a Certified Financial Planner and First Vice President-Investments for a leading financial Securities firm, working with more than 400 families in Jacksonville, helping them to meet their financial goals. Shad is involved in various community and civic activities, and is  currently the Rules Committee Chair, is serving on the Recreation & Community Development (RCD) Committee and the Personnel Committee. He has also chaired the Finance, Land Use & Zoning (LUZ), and Public Heath & Safety Committees.