Downtown Council of Jacksonville

🍂🦃 This Thanksgiving week, we’re reflecting on the moments we’re most thankful for—and one of them is our recent St. Johns River boat tour! Partnering with our fellow council-mates from the Arlington Council Jax Chamber, we had the pleasure of joining Jimmy Orth, Executive Director of the St. Johns Riverkeeper, for an unforgettable morning on the water. As we took in the breathtaking scenery of our beautiful river, we learned so much about its history, significance, and how we can protect this vital resource. Of course, no adventure is complete without fuel! We enjoyed delicious Chick-Fil-A breakfast sandwiches and Martin Coffee as we cruised along the St. Johns deepening our appreciation for Jacksonville’s natural beauty. Here’s to partnerships, education, and our incredible Downtown Council community! We are so thankful to be part of a city that treasures its environment and works together to celebrate and protect it. 💙 #StJohnsRiverkeeper #DowntownCouncil #CommunityConnections #DTCJax

It's #FeaturedFace Friday! Today, we’re excited to shine the spotlight on David (Dave) Ledbetter, a true Jacksonville native and long-time supporter of our city’s growth! Raised and educated here, Dave’s career in lighting has illuminated countless Jacksonville landmarks, from the airport to city street poles. After 24 years of running a successful lighting business, Dave thought retirement was on the horizon—until an opportunity with JEA came knocking! Now, with Resource Innovations , Dave leads innovative programs in fleet electrification and solar awareness for JEA, helping our community transition to sustainable energy solutions. He’s passionate about guiding locals toward renewable options and protecting consumers from misinformation in the solar industry. Dave plans to retire (again!) this December, but he’s hinted he’ll still be around to enjoy our Downtown Council meetings. 🌆 Join us in celebrating Dave’s incredible impact and his soon-to-begin retirement!

📣 Join Us This Friday for an Inspiring Downtown Council Breakfast Meeting as we continue to celebrate our veterans! Rise and shine, Downtown Council! Start your day with motivation and community connection at this Friday’s breakfast meeting, featuring Michele McManamon, CEO & Co-Founder of Operation New Uniform. Michele will share ONU’s powerful mission to empower veterans and military spouses as they transition into meaningful, stable careers in the business world. Hear how this transformative nonprofit has helped over 530 graduates find their “new uniform” in civilian life! 🗓 Date & Time: 📅 Friday, November 15, 2024 🕖 7:00 AM 📍 Location: Room 208 at the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund Downtown Jacksonville Why Attend? Gain insight into ONU’s unique, person-centered approach, built from Michele’s 20+ years of dedication to the veteran community and business success through Sandler Training. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect, learn, and be inspired by Michele’s journey and the incredible impact of Operation New Uniform. ➡️ Register now: https://lnkd.in/d9ftiv3h Let’s come together to support our community and the important work of ONU. See you there! #DowntownCouncil #OperationNewUniform #VeteranSupport #VeteransDay

Have you registered for our Downtown Council of Jacksonville breakfast meeting this Friday, October 18th from 7-9 am at The Jessie? What are you waiting for? There's always a delicious breakfast served by Plenti and coffee provided by Martin Coffee Company. Register for the coolest council breakfast here: https://lnkd.in/ecCphkFX

FEATURED FACE We are excited to kick off a new feature where you can get to know our members! Meet our October Featured Face Saundria "Sandy" Smith. If you’re out and about, you might find Saundria "Sandy" Smith exploring the gardens and nature trails of Jacksonville. She is a Job Coach for the Mayor's Youth At Work Partnership at Goodwill Industries of North Florida. “Our mission is to remove barriers to employment and the focus in our industry is working directly with students to prepare them for paid internship opportunities and teaching workforce development topics. I enjoy seeing the students have that 'aha' moment and apply the lessons being taught during training to real world work situations. I start my day at 5:30 am with a quick journaling session, a cup of tea, and listening to a quiet storm radio station,” she shared. Originally from Brunswick, GA, a coastal city next to St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island, Sandy's family includes her mother, father, older sister, and four wonderful nieces. She enjoys beach days, trying out different restaurants in the Jacksonville area and checking out local bookstores. Sandy calls Jacksonville home as she happily said, “Jacksonville is a great place to be that's right near the ocean with vibrant metropolitan vibes. I always dream of living and vacationing anywhere that's sunny with a beautiful beach and warm ocean.” Regarding the Downtown Council, “I love how I can connect with other organizations and businesses on the Downtown Council to learn from and share resources that will help our community.”

Tomorrow, Wednesday, October 2, 2024 Join the Downtown Council of Jacksonville from 5-9pm at James Weldon Johnson Park for a private #904Day VIP event during ArtWalk in honor of 904 Day. A separate bar will be set up within the private area specifically for DTC Members. Registration includes 2 drink tickets, ArtWalk entertainment, and networking with the "Coolest Council"! Food trucks will be available through ArtWalk. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eSV6cGBJ

We love hearing our members enjoy our Friday morning breakfast meetings! Be sure to see our full events calendar here: https://lnkd.in/ecCphkFX

FEATURED FACE We are excited to kick off a new feature where you can get to know our members! Meet our September Featured Face, Doug Smith. As the Chief Operating Officer for Cross Regions Group, Downtown Council of Jacksonville member Doug manages commercial real estate development, brokerage and property management and different aspects of real estate since 2003. "We develop a lot of health care but also do restaurants and retail. in fact, we're kicking off our first hotel and independent living projects." Doug loves being able to make something out of nothing. "I love investigating a property prior to its acquisition to ensure you can use it for the intended purpose which includes zoning, environmental, site plans, parking, surveys, geo tech, topography, wildlife, wetlands, traffic studies and about 100 other things that can stop a project." Originally from Chattanooga, TN, Doug was raised in Decatur, AL, after which he moved to Columbia, TN, where he went to Junior High School and graduated there. "I worked my way through college by working a full-time 2nd shift in a grocery store warehouse and started career as a High School history teacher and coach. I have been to 47 states, just not North Dakota, South Dakota, and Vermont yet." He has been married to Shari for 39 years and has 4 kids - 3 daughters and a son, along with 7 grandchildren from ages 11 to 1. "Not everyone knows this - my wife and kids were picked up off the road in a F5 tornado in Birmingham that killed 33 people. It dropped them in a field with all four tires folded back from where they landed. It was a miracle!" "Besides enjoying my family and college football (Roll Tide!), I am actively involved in church, and I am a road cyclist. I have ridden around the world a couple of times and as many as 7,000 miles a year! The longest one-day ride was the 170-mile ride from Cocoa Beach to just north of Tampa." Doug has made Jacksonville his home since he was transferred here in January 2000. "This is home and I don't plan on going anywhere. I want to see downtown grow and thrive and hope to help with that. The Downtown Council is full of people that want to see the same thing."

It's Jaguars Game Day! Kicking off the football season at our Friday morning meeting was former mascot for the Jacksonville Jaguars, Curtis Dvorak. The coolest cat joined the "Coolest Council" for an informative (and filled with laughs) talk about his journey as a mascot and his newfound passion as a Wildlife Wanderer for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. Our Spotlight Speaker and JAX Chamber Three Rivers Council 2024 Small Business Leaders of the Year, Priscilla Redd Sparrow, introduced the audience to her company PR Insurance Agency's range of services. Don't miss our next Friday morning meeting on September 20! There's always a delicious breakfast served by Plenti and coffee provided by Martin Coffee Company. Register now: https://lnkd.in/eusaPZ4R