vicious cycles fiscal exams social norms - Foerster, Isaac & Yerkes, PA

$2.95 904THEMAGAZINE.COM 

FISCAL EXAMS 

Taking care of a 

company’s top brass 

JACKSONVILLE MAGAZINE’S 

NORTHEAST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS & EXECUTIVE LIFE AUTHORITY 

VICIOUS CYCLES 

Election seasons cause tremors 

in the stock market 

OCTOBER 2012 

JACKSONVILLE’S 

TOP 

LAWYERS 

LEXISNEXIS MARTINDALE-HUBBEL NAMES 

THE LOCAL ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE REACHED 

THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF ETHICAL STANDARDS 

AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE 

SOCIAL NORMS 

Does your online 

profile stand out?

T H E S E P H Y S I C I A N S A R E A M O N G 

THE TOP 

DOCTORS 

I N N O R T H E A S T F L O R I D A 

Physicians mentioned here have been included in a “Top Docs” issue of 

COSMETIC DENTISTRY 

Eccella, W. Scott Wagner, DMD, LVIF 

Jacksonville Beach 

eccellasmiles.com 

OPHTHALMOLOGY 

Florida Eye Specialists 

David Kostick, MD, FACS, Kathryn Freidl, MD 

& Rajesh Shetty, MD 

Jacksonville 

floridaeyespecialists.com 

PLASTIC SURGERY 

Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery 

C. Cayce Rumsey, MD, Robert Burk, MD, 

Paul Scioscia, MD & Brett Snyder, MD 

Ponte Vedra, Southside, Amelia Island, 

Riverside, Mandarin 

pvps.com 

Meier Plastic Surgery 

Jason D. Meier, MD & John Poser, MD 

Mandarin 

meierplasticsurgery.com 

Dr. Jennifer Guram Porter, 

Dr. Ana Hicks, 

Dr. Bettina Kihaut, 

Dr. Evaleen Caccam, 

Cate Bagley, DO, 

Dr. Felicia Fox & 

Lindsey Hale, CNM/ARNP 

FABEN OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY 

fabenobgyn.com 

NEUROSURGERY 

Lyerly Neurosurgery 

Howard Chandler, MD, 

Javier Garcia-Bengochea, MD, 

Michael Petr, MD, Phd, 

Bradley Wallace, MD, Phd, 

Paulo Monteiro, MD, 

Andrew Cannestra, MD, Phd 

& Luiz Massa, MD 

Southbank 

lyerlyneuro.com 

These and other “Top Docs” profiles are posted at JacksonvilleMag.com 

All doctors are 

Board Certified

CONTENTS � 

74 

REGULARS 

6 Service 

What’s new in print and online at 904 Magazine 

4 : 904theMagazine.com : October 2012 

FEATURE 

32 Jacksonville’s Top Attorneys 904 and LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell 

present a list of local lawyers who have reached the highest levels of 

ethical standards. 

SPECIAL SECTIONS 

8 Publisher’s Letter 

A few words of introduction from publisher and editor Joseph White 

10 Executive Life 

Agenda • Insider • Newsmaker • Expense Account 

16 R&R 

Spain’s Costa Brava region charms with quirky culture. 

Plus: Rooftop bars in Washington, D.C. 

18 Perspective 

High-tech simulation center helps physicians excel in their fields 

20 Health 

Taking care of business means taking care of top brass. 

22 Office 

Demystifying the guidelines of a modern-day business wardrobe 

24 Media 

Corporate recruiters are looking online for their next candidates. 

Does your profile stand out? 

26 Ethics 

Sometmes a tea pot is much more than meets the eye. 

28 Money 

Historically, election seasons have always caused fluctuations in the 

stock market. Here’s how to navigate this one. 

30 Marketing 

Today, a job’s expected responsibilities can be very fluid things. 

40 Northeast Florida Attorney Profiles 

Meet the men and women you want on your side in court 

49 LBA Advisor 

Business solutions courtesy of the largest full-service CPA firm based in Northeast Florida 

65 Access The official bi-monthly publication of the Jax Chamber 

16 

65 

JACKSONVILLE MAGAZINE’S 904 (005-020) Volume 5 Issue 5 October 2012 is published bi-monthly for $9.04 a year by White Publishing 

Company, 1261 King St. Jacksonville FL, 32204. Periodicals Postage paid at Jacksonville, FL Post Master: Send address 

changes to White Publishing Company, 1261 King St. Jacksonville, FL 32204 (904) 389-3622 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: AGNES LOPEZ; ANGIE ORTH

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Phenomenal sunsets over 

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Estate lot on 6.12 acres 

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$850,000

AT YOUR SERVICE � JACKSONVILLEMAG.COM 

904 ON YOUR iPHONE & iPAD 

The current editions of 

904 Magazine and her 

sister publications— 

Taste, Jacksonville, 

Home and Bride—can 

be viewed in their 

entirety 24/7 via most 

mobile devices including 

the iPhone and 

Droid. Plus, more than 20 back issues 

are available in the archives. Visit 

904themagazine.com. Tap [Archives]. 

LET’S EAT 

Jacksonville Magazine’s 

twice-annual restaurant 

and entertainment 

guide, Taste, features 

mini reviews and details 

about more than 250 

First Coast dining and 

drinking establishments. Plus, it’s 

loaded with menus and other foodie 

info. The Fall 2012 edition of the 100page 

guide was released in August. 

THE DISH 

Jax Happenings, 

Special Promotions 

& Juicy Gossip 

Compiled by the awardwinning 

staff of writers and editors of 

Jacksonville Magazine, The Dish is a 

twice-monthly newsletter highlighting 

upcoming local events, great shopping 

and dining deals and other need-toknow 

news emailed directly to your 

inbox. Sign up on our Facebook page. 

JACKSONVILLE WHISKEY AFFAIR 

Part festival, part glamorous social, 

part culinary adventure—the Whiskey 

Affair is a celebration of cocktails and 

culture, taking place November 15 at 

the Aloft Hotel at Tapestry Park. Our 

second annual fete this fall features 

fantastic food, sophisticated libations 

and other luxury indulgences. Fewer 

than 200 tickets will be offered and 

are on sale on our website. 


NOW ONLINE & 

ON NEWSSTANDS 

The latest editions of Jacksonville, 

904, Bride, and Home magazines. 

Check them out today! 

ORDER BACK ISSUES 

All previous editions of 904 are available for $2.95 

per copy plus postage. To order back issues, call 

(904) 389-3622, Monday-Friday, 9 AM-5 PM. All orders 

must be paid in advance by credit card. 

BEST OF JACKSONVILLE PARTY 

The 2013 Best of Jacksonville 

Party will take place the 

evening of January 31 at 

EverBank Field. To participate, 

or for sponsor info, call Carol 

Kimsey at (904) 389-3622. 

Generously supported by: 

estab ished 1932 

JACKSONVILLE MAGAZINE’S 2012 

ARTS & CULTURE TICKET BOOK 

All of Jacksonville Magazine publications’ 

paid subscribers may elect to receive a 

copy of an entertainment guide featuring 

over $1,000 in discounts offered by 

local arts organizations. Subscribe today 

and receive yours as a gift from us. 

2013 GREAT WEDDING GIVEAWAY 

Registration for Jacksonville 

Magazine’s 2013 Great 

Wedding Giveaway closes 

November 15. Since 2009, 

four couples have been 

treated to an amazing 

wedding package featuring 

an oceanside ceremony and 

2012 winners 

Sherry & Gil 

reception, a glamorous 

honeymoon and thousands 

of dollars in donated profes- 

sional services. Visit our website to register. 

JOIN THE CLUB 

Be among those who receive the VIP treatment 

from Jacksonville Magazine. Benefits of Club 

membership include: 

• VIP Admission to the Best of Jacksonville Party, 

Cover Model Search Fashion Show and Northeast 

Florida Beer Cup—a $150 value! 

• VIP level gift bags at the above events 

• Complimentary invites to other Jax Mag events 

(launch parties, mixers, etc.) when available 

• Advance notice of ticket availability for Great 

Chefs of Jacksonville and The Whiskey Affair 

• Exclusive Club member drawings for gift 

certificates and event tickets 

• One-year subscriptions to Jacksonville and 904 

magazines and more! 

Sign up at JacksonvilleMag.com 

CORRECTIONS 

John Fricks' was incorrectly identified as the president of 

Scott McCrae Group in the August 2012 article “Creative 

Types.” He is the president of Scott-McRae Advertising. 

CROSSWORD ANSWERS 

Don’t spoil the fun. Before looking at this completed 

puzzle, turn to page 67 for this issue’s 

crossword. Call (904) 389-3622 to learn how your 

business can sponsor the puzzle. 

C 

R 

O 

S 

S 

W 

O 

R 

D 

A 

N 

S 

W 

E 

R 

S

PUBLISHER’S LETTER � 

HEAT INDEX 

Anticipation about 

the months ahead 

CAMPAIGN 

2012 

For POTUS, 

Florida looks to 

be the winnertake-all 

state. 

Again. 

HOMES 

According to 

the National 

Association of 

Home Builders, 

the Jax housing 

market is 

“improving.” 

GAS PRICES 

What will a gallon 

cost when 

the economy 

starts moving 

again? 

JOSEPH WHITE 

Publisher/Editor 

HOT! 

COLD 

TOWN CENTER 

New restaurants 

and stores, 

the expansion 

continues. 

INCENTIVES 

Businesses 

requesting more 

than ever to 

move here. Or 

not to leave. 

BUDGET WOES 

The city 

continues to 

squeeze more 

from less. With 

less people. 


POLITICAL THEATER 

Everybody enjoys being popular, right? Well, among the political set, Northeast Florida has 

been especially popular of late. We're the star quarterback and the homecoming queen 

all rolled into one. I imagine our region will continue to be a destination of choice for the 

country's two major political parties right up until November 6. Florida is a must-win state in 

this year's presidential contest and while many counties are already locked into one candidate 

or the other, there is wiggle room in Jacksonville and her surrounding communities. President 

Obama scored well among local voters in 2008, a tally that certainly helped him capture the 

state's electoral college numbers. Pundits say to win again, his supporters must duplicate or 

surpass their turnout from four years ago. 

Just since late summer the President has come to town, as has his wife Michelle and a number 

high-profile Democrats. Mitt Romney and his wife Ann have jetted in and out, and GOP heavyweights 

such as senator John McCain have paid us visits. I predict we will see a continuing 

stream of notable politicos gracing us with their presence into the fall. Don't be surprised if 

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney return to Northeast Florida prior to election day. Maybe even 

twice. 

Of course, the issues being debated are enormous. Some would say this is an exceptionally 

historic contest, one that could determine the course of the country for generations. That 

might be a touch hyperbolic, but there's no debating that the faltering economy, healthcare 

reform, our national debt, gas prices, taxes, foreign affairs and conflicts overseas make this 

anything but an ordinary election. Regardless of who wins, the problems at hand are complex 

and offer few easy answers. 

So, will our popularity continue after the first Tuesday in November? Probably not. Once the 

votes have been counted, politicians tend to move on and settle back into their zones of comfort, 

including where they like to spend time and money. If graduating high school taught us 

anything it's that homecoming queens and star athletes are easily replaced and then forgotten. 

There's a new class coming up every year. However, come 2016, chances are Northeast Florida 

again will be back in the spotlight. Until then, let's enjoy the attention and soak in the best (and 

worst) of the fall election. 

As always, thanks for reading. And don't forget to vote. 

904 Magazine is pleased to announce that we've tapped GlobalJax as our non-profit partner for the 

year. If you aren't familiar with the organization, GlobalJax is dedicated to showcasing the city to an 

international audience. It does this through a variety of activities including hosting groups of foreign 

visitors so that they may exchange cultural experiences and promote lasting global connections. 

904 will do its best to help in that mission by providing the organization with space within its pages 

to highlight upcoming events and fundraisers, as well as feature examples of how GlobalJax pushes 

the River City in front of the world. 

EXTRAS 

• September was a very busy month at the Jax Mag 

group, with three publications in the works. In addition 

to the magazine in your hands, we churned out the 

October Jacksonville Magazine and its twice-annual 

companion, Home, a 100-page digest devoted to 

beautiful local residences and stylish living. 

• Thanks to all those who came out and enjoyed our 

second annual Northeast Florida Beer Cup, held September 

27 at the Florida Theatre. Craft beer, good 

joe@jacksonvillemag.com 

music, tasty food, lots of laughs and smiling faces— 

all to help raise money and awareness for Children's 

Miracle Network. 

• Our next event is the Jacksonville Whiskey Affair, 

set for November 15 at the Aloft Hotel at Tapestry 

Park. This fundraiser will feature top shelf spirits and 

delicious eats from area restaurants including III Forks 

and Blue Bamboo. Tickets are on sale at our website. 

Hope you can make it. 

Agnes Lopez

EDITORIAL 

PUBLISHER / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF 

Joseph White 

ASSOCIATE EDITOR/DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS 

Kathy Weedon 

MANAGING EDITOR Natalie Wearstler 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

Joash Brunet, Virginia Chamlee, Caitlyn Finnegan, 

Mat Galnor, Sandra Hendricks, Jan Korb, Diane 

Leone, Candace Moody, Angie Orth, Mary Kelli Palka 

EDITORIAL INTERN 

Jessica Oliver 

CREATIVE 

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Bronie M. Massey 

DESIGNER Jennifer L. Curry 

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Agnes Lopez 

ART INTERN Megan Martinez 

SALES 

DIRECTOR OF SALES & MARKETING 

Anna Marie Burke 

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES 

Rosalie Bolante, Jessica Lindsay, Amy Robertson 

SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER Carol Kimsey 

ACCOUNTING / OFFICE MANAGER Wendy Castro 

SALES INTERNS Danielle Johnson, Lacie Normandy 

CIRCULATION 

www.904themagazine.com 

NORTHEAST FLORIDA’S BUSINESS 

& EXECUTIVE LIFE AUTHORITY 

SUBSCRIPTION REQUESTS / INQUIRIES 

1-800-962-0214 / circulation@jacksonvillemag.com 

CIRCULATION MANAGER Mike Romero 

MAGAZINE MASCOTS Betty & Otis 

2012 NON-PROFIT PARTNER 

Mission: To empower our community to thrive in a 

global society by: Equipping our community to 

interact with the world; engaging our community in 

international relations; expanding Jacksonville’s 

global connections. 

GlobalJax.org 

1261 King St., Jacksonville, FL 32204 

(904) 389-3622 • Fax: (904) 389-3628 

Website: 904themagazine.com 

VOLUME 5 ISSUE 5 

WORKING 

FOR YOU 

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October 2012 : 904theMagazine.com : 9

Executive Life 

AGENDA: 

THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO GO 

OCTOBER 

October 5 

6 PM, West Club at EverBank Field • Ann and Shad 

Khan host the seventh annual Jacksonville Jaguars 

Taste of the NFL, $250, 730-8284, jaguarstaste.org 

October 12 

5:30 PM, TPC Sawgrass • Players Benefit for the 

Arts, “An Evening of Music and Moonlight,” $100- 

$150, 354-5547, jaxsymphony.com 

October 13 

6 PM, Crown Plaza Hotel • Full Steam Ahead Gala 

celebrating the anniversary of the United States 

Navy, $75, 647-5177, adams2jax.org 

October 17 

7:30 PM, UNF Arena • Historian and author Doris 

Kearns Goodwin discusses “Former U.S. Presidents 

and Their Mark on the World,” free, 620-2117, unf.edu 

October 18 

11 AM, Jacksonville Marriott at Southpoint • 2012 

Health Planning Council annual meeting featuring 

keynote speaker health futurist and medical economist 

Dr. Jeffrey Bauer, hpcnef.org 

October 18-21 

TPC Sawgrass, Dye’s Valley Course • Winn-Dixie 

Jacksonville Open golf tournament includes a junior 

clinic, pancake breakfast, and a putt to win a car 

contest, $25-$500, winn-dixiejacksonvilleopen.com 

October 27 

3:30 PM, Veterans Memorial Arena • Annual 

Georgia vs. Florida Football Classic kicks off once 

again, 633-6100, jaxevents.com 

Georgia vs. Florida 


Tap Dogs 

NOVEMBER 

November 4 & 8 

EverBank Field • Jacksonville Jaguars play the Detroit 

Lions Nov. 4, 1 PM; and the Indianapolis Colts 

Nov. 8, 8:20 PM, $45-$260 for single game tickets, 

633-2000, jaguars.com 

November 10 

7 PM, Veterans Memorial Arena • Jacksonville 

Bullies pro lacrosse team plays the New Jersey 

Rascals, $10-$45, jaxbullies.com 

November 10 

8 PM, T-U Center • International music and dance 

extravaganza Tap Dogs skips into town, $27-$82, 

633-6110, artistseriesjax.org 

November 13 

Noon, Prime Osborn Convention Center • Empty 

Bowls Luncheon, annual fundraiser for Second 

Harvest of Northeast Florida, $25-$500 for tables, 

wenourishhope.com 

November 15 

6:30 PM, Aloft Hotel • Second annual Jacksonville 

Whiskey Affair, a fundraiser hosted by Jacksonville 

Magazine, $50, JacksonvilleMag.com 

November 24 & 25 

7:30 PM, T-U Center • Pearl Jam frontman Eddie 

Vedder performs, $75, ticketmaster.com 

November 30 

7:30 PM, Veterans Memorial Arena • A Night of 

Hope with Joel Osteen, $15, 630-3960 � 

Call Me TED 

Event Looks to Share 

Ideas Worth Spreading 

The goal, according to organizers, 

is to be a springboard 

for a much broader 

movement of collaboration, 

innovation and opportunity 

creation within our community. 

Sure, that’s kind of a 

lofty, if not somewhat vague, 

target. But it’s hard to 

squeeze a gathering like 

TEDxRiversideAvondale into 

a single, simple category. In 

a nutshell, the Saturday, 

October 20 event, tabbed 

with the theme of “Collective 

Genius,” hopes to bring together 

creative thinkers to 

discuss what a future Jacksonville 

should be. 

“Jacksonville has been 

emerging as a center of innovation 

and creativity,” says 

event organizer Jeffrey Spear. 

“TEDxRiversideAvondale will 

provide inspiration for our 

city to think even more 

ambitiously about our future.” 

To help facilitate this goal, a 

roster of speakers has been 

enlisted to share their good 

words, including: Parvez 

Ahmed, director of the Center 

for Sustainable Business 

Practices at UNF; Roger 

Nierenberg, orchestra conductor 

and founder of The 

Music Paradigm; and historian, 

author and architecture 

preservationist Dr. Wayne 

Wood. 

The day-long happening, 

taking place at Friday Musicale 

auditorium in Riverside, 

will feature nine live presentations, 

four musical groups, 

and four recorded TED talks. 

FYI: TED is a nonprofit organization 

that started with a 

conference in California 25 

years ago. Jacksonville’s 

TED event is open to the 

public; however, tickets (expected 

to be approximately 

$100) must be purchased. 

More info at TEDxRiverside 

Avondale.com. �

Executive Life 

THE INSIDER: 

HOT TIPS, BREAKING 

NEWS & JUICY GOSSIP 

Hey, Bartender... 

Founded in Cuba 

in 1862, Bacardi is 

celebrating 150 

years in operation 

all this year. Today, 

all Bacardi rum 

consumed in the 

U.S. is shipped 

from Puerto Rico 

to Jax, where it is 

bottled at the 

Northside plant 

before being shipped around 

the country. Open since the 

early 1970s, the plant can churn 

out as many as 300,000 bottles 

in one day, or some 11 million 

cases per year. Cheers to that. 

Cash or Credit? 

To much fanfare, particularly 

among First Coast women, it 

was announced in September 

that Nordstrom plans to open a 

full-line store at St. Johns Town 

Center. The 124,000 square-foot 

store will consist of two levels 

and is expected to open in the 

fall of 2014. Nordstrom, based in 

Seattle and operator of 231 

stores in 31 states, will anchor 

a new wing of the 1.1 millionsquare-foot 

open-air shopping 

center. 

Hall of Famers 

The First Coast Business Hall of 

Fame inducts four new members 

this fall. The 14th annual 


COMPILED BY STAFF 

honor is hosted by the Florida 

Council on Economic Education 

and will take place November 8 

at Florida Blue’s Conference 

Center. This year’s class includes 

Robert Clements, 

Lawrence Dubow, Ava Parker 

and Charles Sawyer. They join 

the 51 current Hall members 

such as Michael Cascone, Ed 

Burr and Gary Chartrand. Bob 

Helms (pictured above) will be 

inducted posthumously. 

Downtown Investors 

The city’s new Downtown 

Investment Authority will be 

guided by a nine-member board 

of directors who will conduct 

open-to-the-business on an unpaid, 

volunteer basis. The nine 

members—five appointed by the 

mayor and four by the city council 

president—will be responsible 

for creating and managing 

business development, recruitment 

and marketing plans in the 

Downtown area. The nine members, 

named in August, are 

Melody Bishop, Robert 

Clements, Kamaria Harper, 

Donald Harris, Paul Perez, Tony 

Allegretti, Jim Baily, Oliver 

Barakat and Donald Shea. 

Cover Model 

Who was that mustachioed man 

on the cover of the September 

24 edition of Forbes? It was 

none other than Jaguars owner 

Shad Khan, who was profiled in 

a lengthy story detailing his 

humble roots and rise to global 

auto manufacturing titan. The 

story is less than glowing about 

the Jags and its fan base, but 

the general tone is that if anyone 

can turn the team around, 

it’s the city’s favorite Pakistaniborn 

tycoon. Read the story at 

Forbes.com. 

Title 

A recently released report by 

the research frim Tripp Umbach 

estimates up to 55,340 health 

care jobs could be lost in Florida 

by 2021 as a result of the 2 percent 

sequester by the Budget 

Control Act of 2011. “Florida 

ranks second highest among 

all 50 states in the number of 

potential jobs lost,” says Florida 

Hospital Association president 

Bruce Rueben. � 

Moving Day 

All 54 staffers of the Jax Chamber will have new 

digs come November. The Chamber is temporarily 

closing its Downtown office November 1st and will 

reopen on the 5th at the BBVA/Compass Building 

off Gate Parkway. Renovations to the organizations 

long-time home base necessitated the move. The 

phone number stays the same (904) 366-6600 and 

plans call for work to be complete in seven months.

Names & Notes 

Who says lawyers don’t have a heart? (Insert 

joke here…) Attorneys and staff at the Jacksonville 

office of Holland & Knight recently 

contributed nearly $66,000 in grants to 20 local 

community organizations assisting at-risk 

children, among them Children’s Home Society, 

Community Connections and Catholic Charities. 

• Recent changes in City Hall include: Karen 

Bowling was appointmented as Chief Administrative 

Officer (a $210,000 gig); Cleveland 

Ferguson became deputy Chief Administrative 

Officer ($135,000); Alexis Lambert will manage 

the newly created Office of Public Accountability 

($80,000); Michael Jacobson was tapped as 

the city’s Emergency Preparedness Director 

($116,350); and attorney Kevin Hyde is now 

Counselor to the Mayor ($1 per year). Kevin, you 

need a better agent… • Back in August, the Jim 

Moran Foundation awarded Big Brothers Big 

Sisters of Northeast Florida $94,000. Moran, 

founder of JM Family Enterprises, an auto 

conglomeration that owns Southeast Toyota 

Distributors located on the city’s Westside, 

passed away in 2007. He would have been 94 

on August 8. • Congrats to The Hoyt House on 

Amelia Island. This summer, the 10-room bed 

and breakfast was welcomed into the Select 

Registry fold, a distinction that only 330 upscale 

inns (out of about 20,000) in North America can 

claim. Elizabeth Pointe Lodge, The Fairbanks 

House, Amelia Island Williams House, and St. 

Francis Inn are four other area B&Bs that are 

also members of Select Registry. • Miller Electric 

president Ron Autrey has been named Jacksonville 

University’s Distinguished Alumnus for 

2012. Autrey is in his fourth and final year as 

chairman of JU’s board of trustees. Congrats, 

Ron. • Congrats also to the organizers of this 

summer’s Ferry Fest at Mayport. More than 

10,000 turned out for the one-day in August. 

The effort may not prevent the St. Johns River 

ferry service from being discontinued, but it certainly 

demonstrated that a lot of people would 

hate to see it go. • Look for work by Jax ad 

agency owner Robin Shepherd prior to your 

next flight out of JIA. His pieces are on display 

beginning October 4 in the Haskell Gallery, a 

space situated in the airport’s main atrium, not 

far from the security screening area. • Congrats 

to PGA Tour vet and Ponte Vedran Jim Furyk 

for being named to this year’s U.S. Ryder Cup 

team. The 12-man U.S. team played Europe 

September 28-30 at Medinah Country Club in 

Illinois. • Finally, a tip of the cap to January 

Squyres, director of group sales for the 

Jacksonville Suns. Squyres was recently 

named the 2012 Southern League Woman of 

Excellence. � 

NOVEMBER 15, 2012 

ALOFT at TAPESTRY PARK 

Part festival, part cocktail soirée, part foodie extravaganza—the Jacksonville 

Whiskey Affair is a celebration of the myriad points of intersection 

between cocktails and culture. Join us for a mix of fantastic food and 

sophisticated libations and other luxurious indulgences. 

MORE AT JACKSONVILLEMAG.COM � (904) 389-3622 


NEWSMAKER � 


WORDS BY NATALIE WEARSTLER • PHOTO BY AGNES LOPEZ 

“IF YOU THINK ABOUT 

LOWERING HEALTH CARE 

COSTS, ONE OF THE BEST 

WAYS TO DO THAT IS TO 

PREVENT PEOPLE FROM 

GETTING SICK.” 

—Kathleen Sebelius, Health and 

Human Services (HHS) Secretary 

Sebelius visited a CVS/pharmacy and 

MinuteClinic in Jacksonville on August 15 

to announce new partnerships between 

the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 

Services (CMS) and several national pharmacies 

to provide benefits and options 

for Medicare recipients. 

D 

iscussions about the Affordable 

Care Act, also known as 

Obama Care, are often 

wrought with questions about 

numbers, such as how much 

money the act will cost American 

businesses, how many millions of individuals 

it will affect and how many years 

will be necessary for the act to be fully implemented. 

When HHS Secretary Sebelius 

visited Jacksonville in August, though, she 

discussed a different set of numbers: 

• 50: the percent discount that seniors 

covered by Medicare Part D will save on 

their brand-name drugs when they reach 

the coverage gap (or “donut hole”) in 2012 

• 47,990: the number of Medicare recipients 

who received the discount on their 

covered brand-named prescriptions in 

the first five months of 2012 

• $31,928,736: the total savings of Florida 

residents on Medicare so far this year. 

While Sebelius was in Jacksonville, 

she announced that several national 

pharmacy companies had formed partnerships 

with the Centers for Medicare 

and Medicaid Services to inform senior 

citizens of the new benefits they were 

entitled to under the Affordable Care Act, 

including CVS Caremark, Walgreens, 

Thrifty White, Walmart and Sam’s Club. 

Sebelius lauded local CVS pharmacists 

for their efforts in helping seniors stay 

healthy. 

“I think that too often when we talk 

about health care providers, we forget 

that pharmacists are a critical part of the 

team,” she said. �

EXPENSE ACCOUNT � 

LThese 

life-size cutouts of the 

POTUS and his GOP challenger are 

the perfect party guests. They're 

quiet, you don't need to worry about 

them spilling drinks and they're 

always smiling for the camera. 

($59.95 each at Cowford Traders) 

Barack and Mitt have 

been hurling verbal jabs 

at each other for 

months; it's about time 

the two rolled up their 

sleeves and duked it 

out. These hand puppets 

from Orlando-based 

Punching Politicians are 

sure to be a hit at any 

election bash. (Barack 

Obama and Mitt Romney 

puppets, $19.99 at 

PunchingPoliticians.com) 

words by NatalIe wearstler • pHotos by agNes lopez 

POLITICAL 

PARTIES 

How will you celebrate election night? In a recent 904 Magazine 

sta≠ poll, these November 6 party must-haves were in the lead. 

One need not don a tacky t-shirt 

emblazoned with his political 

ideology to convey his values. A 

subtle throw pillow or hand towel 

does the trick with a touch of 

class. And, for the perfectly-mannered 

hostess, a clever apron can 

set a neutral tone without saying 

a word. (Republican throw pillow, 

$32; Democratic hand towel, $14; 

apron, $29, all from Cowford 

Traders) 


R&R � 

ARTISTIC 

INSPIRATION 

Spain’s Costa Brava region charms with quirky culture 

North of Barcelona and 

winding all the way to the 

French border, Catalonia, 

Spain’s Costa Brava region exudes 

character much like one of 

its most famous residents—the 

artist Salvador Dalí. Hugged by 

the Mediterranean on one side 

and the grand Pyrenees mountains 

on the other, and kissed by 

the mighty Tramuntana winds, 

Costa Brava’s passion and reason 

coexist in perfect harmony. 

The easiest way to get to 

Costa Brava is to fly to 

Barcelona (BCN); expect one to 

two layovers and about 12 hours 

of travel time. Rent a car or take 

a shuttle for the hour's drive up 

to Girona or Figueres; while 

there are buses between major 

towns, there's nothing so satis- 


fying as driving the long country 

roads yourself and stopping 

where you like. 

Ardent Dalí fans and those 

who don’t care much for art at 

all will find common ground in 

Costa Brava, where the artist 

lived with his muse, Gala. In Port 

Lligat at the Dalí House Museum, 

a strangely decorated stuffed 

polar bear greets visitors in the 

home he occupied since 1930. 

The artist initially purchased a 

small fishing shack on the rocky 

coast, acquired other similar 

structures nearby, and eventually 

combined them into one curious 

compound. Don’t miss the 

backyard, where visitors can 

pose for photographs with a 

variety of original Dalí creations, 

including a large pair of hot pink 

plastic lips near the pool. Reservations 

are required to visit this 

quirky abode. 

Nearby in Púbol is Dalí’s extravagant 

gift to Gala, a quaint 

11th century castle he purchased 

in 1969 and subsequently endowed 

with his brand of genius. 

The castle features glass floors, 

a throne for Gala (and her grave) 

and Dalí’s car. The gardens are 

dotted with ghostly 10-foot tall 

elephant sculptures and a 

bizarre fountain created from 

dozens of carvings of composer 

Richard Wagner’s head. 

Further down the road in 

Figueres, the Dalí Theatre and 

Museum features many of his 

most famous works and a fascinating 

and literally moving 

jewelry collection. 

WORDS BY ANGIE ORTH 

Dalí died in 1989, but there are 

others carrying out revised forms 

of his surrealist vision in Costa 

Brava today. Artist Quim Hereu, 

who is currently on a mission to 

create the largest oil paintings in 

the world, is developing Strombotism, 

an offshoot of surrealism 

that balances “seny i Rouxa,” or 

reasonable sanity and wild imagination. 

Visitors can experience 

Hereu’s genius in person via a 

spectacular art and culinary 

experience at his studio, where 

star chef Gonzalo Martinez dishes 

up courses inspired by one of the 

massive paintings-in-progress, 

such as a snail-shaped foie gras 

that represents eternal youth 

from the Birth of Venus painting 

on the wall. 

Dinner at Hereu’s studio is 

just one of a many gastronomic 

experiences to be found in 

Costa Brava. Seafood delicacies 

include anchovies from L’Escala, 

prawns from Palamós, monkfish 

from Roses, rock fish from 

Begur and skate from Tossa de 

Mar; even vegetarians can happily 

subsist on prized local produce 

like turnips, onions and 

apples that bring local flavor to 

new heights. 

After tasting every last local 

bite, it’s advisable to back away 

from the table slowly and check 

out the rest of Costa Brava’s 

natural splendor. Floating in a 

rainbow-hued balloon from 

Globus Emporda, tourists can 

take in the expansive region 

from the rugged coast to the 

Pyrenees looming in the distance, 

and appreciate at once 

all its centuries of history—from 

Roman ruins near the beach to 

Medieval villages, cobblestone 

roads and historic bell towers. 

Accommodations in Costa 

Brava are as varied as the terrain. 

Want to check “sleeping in a castle” 

off your bucket list? Try Castell 

d’Emporda, first mentioned in historic 

documents around 1301. In 

addition to modern rooms and 

sweeping views of the surrounding 

Spanish countryside, the 

castle’s restaurant features a 

glorious menu including 

entrecôte, foie gras and flavorful 

local ceviche. It’s such a charming

spot, even Dalí once tried to buy it for Gala 

before settling on the castle at Púbol. 

To experience the passion of the rugged 

coast, head toward the beach and stay at 

Hostal Empúrias, an understated, eco-friendly, 

very comfortable property right on the 

Mediterranean. It’s just steps from preserved 

Roman ruins and a quick boat ride to the 

Medes Islands. 

The combination of a lovely summer climate, 

wildly beautiful beaches and natural features, 

and delicious locally sourced cuisine lend 

weight to what Dalí was hinting at all along— 

that Costa Brava is one of the most inspired, 

and inspiring, places in all the world. � 

Born in Jacksonville, Angie Orth travels the 

world and blogs about it at AngieAway.com. 

UP ON THE ROOFTOP 

Election season drinks are best enjoyed 

al fresco in the nation’s capital. 

Walking the streets of Washington, D.C., all one 

sees are concrete buildings on long blocks with 

a lot of traffic—both cars and people. There is a 

hidden view of D.C. many tourists are not aware 

of, where visitors can get a bird’s eye perspective 

of the city's hustle and bustle. 

Take the elevators to the roof of the W Hotel 

on 15th Street to find the P.O.V. Rooftop Terrace 

and Lounge, a meeting spot that is simple 

and contemporary with tall candles for warm 

lighting at night with unique décor and lights 

hanging from the awning. The Terrace is cozy 

with velveteen banquettes and black wicker 

lounge chairs under a red and white awning 

that hosts glossy white ceiling fans. The menu 

offers a wide variety of wine and cocktails as 

well as light fare. As one of the area’s most 

popular destinations for locals, P.O.V. is a hotspot 

for D.C. politicians, power players, and socialites, 

as well as celebrities. Pointofviewdc.com 

Off the beaten path on Columbia Road in 

Adams Morgan, one can find Perry’s (pictured), 

an Asian restaurant with steep stairs leading to 

magnificent views of the city, with white twinkle 

lights and greenery providing a charming ambiance. 

As one would suspect, the menu carries 

mostly Asian fare. Perrysadamsmorgan.com 

Local 16 is listed as “centrally located” in the 

U Sreet district and it is a popular spot in a 

long-standing neighborhood. The menu is 

known for its farm-driven menu, offering 

choices that range from free-range chicken to 

wood-fire artisan pizzas. The second floor 

lounge offers a heated rooftop patio that locals 

enjoy year-round. Weekend brunch is a big hit, 

particularly the “drag” brunch on Sunday. 

Localsixteen.com � words by Diane Leone 

THE ART YOU 

MISSED WHILE 

YOU WERE 

JUST SAYING NO 

ReFocus: Art of the 1980s 

September 15, 2012 – January 6, 2013 

(904) 366�6911 | mocajacksonville.org 


BY NATALIE WEARSTLER • PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAYO CLINIC JACKSONVILLE 

18 : 904theMagazine.com : October 2012

� PERSPECTIVE 

PRACTICE MAKES 

PERFECT 

High-tech simulation center is designed to help medical professionals 

handle real-life situations without the risk to patients. 

It's one thing to know the material; it's an entirely different thing to apply that knowledge in a 

high-pressure situation. Such is the logic behind high school drivers' education courses, preseason 

football games and the Simulation Center at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. The center opened in 

April 2011 to serve as a training resource for Mayo employees, medical students from nearby universities, 

new residents and students from other countries. Mayo is currently completing construction on 

a new, $15 million, two-floor center that is set to open on January 1, 2013. The new center will have 

seven simulation rooms, and at least a few of them will resemble the current suites. 

� The Operating Room (OR) suite is almost exactly the same size as a typical Mayo OR. Physicians 

practice on equipment that they would use in real surgery situations. For example, students 

can practice airway management with a fully-functional anesthesia machine; simulate active fluid infusion 

management with vascular access devices, a four-channel Alaris Infusion Pump and a Patient 

Controlled Analgesia (PCA) pump; and access and update simulation patient medical records 

before, during and after a procedure. 

� This simulation Emergency Department/Intensive Care Unit (ED/ICU) patient room is approximately 

two-thirds of the size of an actual patient room at the hospital. Once the new center is complete, 

the room will be exactly the same size and equipment will be positioned just as it would be in 

an actual room. 

� The mannequin students and staff use during simulations is no ordinary piece of plastic. The 

Sim Man 3G mannequin contains a computer system that allows simulation supervisors to initiate 

body functions such as blinking, breathing, sweating, crying, and even seizing. And, although it's 

officially called the Sim Man, the mannequin can be turned into a sim woman in a matter of minutes. 

The mannequin is made to be as realistic as possible, and weighs approximately 120 pounds. 

Currently, the Simulation Center owns two mannequins (value: approximately $70,000 apiece) and 

is in the process of purchasing a third. 

� Each room is equipped with a video capture system that allows instructors to witness a scenario 

from three different perspectives on computer monitors in the control room. Instructors can interact 

with the learners in a variety of ways through special software, from speaking through the mannequin 

to a learner in the ED/ICU suite to flipping a black-out switch to simulate a power outage in the OR 

suite. 

� All of the functions and buttons on this headwall mimic the actual features of a patient room in 

the hospital's ICU. Since the mannequins can react to different gases, learners are able to practice 

administering oxygen, pumping carbon dioxide through a regulator, properly setting up a ventilator 

and face mask and using a call button for assistance in an arrest situation. The only difference in 

the simulation center call system is that it operates internally, so no on-duty doctors are at risk of 

responding to a sufering mannequin instead of an actual patient. 

� Actors often are employed to portray patient family members in the ED/ICU simulation room; 

this allows students and employees to practice their communication skills. Mayo sometimes uses 

actors from Theatre Jacksonville for these roles. 

� Perfecting the skills necessary to complete robotic procedures on the advanced da Vinci Surgical 

System takes time (not to mention a great degree of precision). Mayo owns a Mimic dV-Trainer 

machine that teaches the basic instruments and techniques through training modules and drills. At 

a cost of approximately $100,000, it might be the most expensive “video game” in the city. � 


HEALTH � 

FISCAL EXAMS 

Taking care of business means taking care of top brass 

After nearly 29 years at 

Chick-fil-A, Don Perry, the 

company’s vice president 

of public relations, was taking 

on the PR challenge of a lifetime. 

In July, as Chick-fil-A came 

under fire for its public stance 

against gay marriage, Perry was 

seeking to distance his company 

from the controversy, saying 

Chick-fil-A would "leave the 

policy debate over same-sex 

marriage to the government and 

political arena." Nearly a week 

after issuing that statement, 

60-year-old Perry was dead, the 

victim of a massive heart attack. 

Chik-fil-A was suddenly left without 

one of its most important 

corporate voices during one of 

the most trying times in company 

history. Could an extensive 

physical allowed Perry enough 

time to change his lifestyle to 

prevent the heart attack? That 

remains unknown; but his case 

illustrates how many Fortune 

500 companies, and even 


smaller entrepreneurial enterprises, 

are increasingly finding 

their fiscal health tied to their 

top executives’ physical wellbeing. 

In their role as the Ferraris of 

the corporate world, top executives 

race from shareholder 

meeting, to boardroom, to business 

trip, to corner office. But 

like any mean machine that runs 

hard, someone needs to check 

under the hood. According to 

2002 findings by the University 

of Michigan Management Research 

Center, executives who 

underwent physical exams had 

20 percent fewer health claims 

and lost 45 percent fewer workdays 

than those who did not. In 

addition, the National Institute 

for Health Care Management 

says that every dollar spent on 

preventive health services returns 

two to four dollars of value 

to a business. 

“Corporations need to protect 

their largest investment, 

their key leaders,” says Mark 

Moon, M.D., chair of the Mayo 

Executive Health Program in 

Jacksonville. Mayo is one of 

several local providers that offer 

executive health programs. Most 

of these programs are designed 

with two main considerations in 

mind: executives have unique 

health issues, and not much 

time to deal with them. 

“The main component of our 

program is a comprehensive, 

head-to-toe medical evaluation 

coordinated by board-certified 

Mayo Clinic internal medicine 

physicians,” he says. “Everything 

is done under one roof and is 

completed in one or two days. 

Afterwards, all of the test results 

are reviewed in a confidential 

face-to-face meeting.” 

The program also extends 

beyond the doctor’s office. 

“We also consult on life-work 

balance, travel, social, and 

family issues,” says Moon. 

Cenegenics is another local 

WORDS BY JOASH BRUNET 

provider of executive health 

services. Bradley Eye, director 

of clinical operations, says 

executive health programs must 

include one-on-one patient and 

physician interaction. “The 

executive evaluation process is 

about self-discovery, exposing 

your total health picture—not 

just a mere snapshot—and 

establishing your hormonal and 

metabolic baseline and your 

propensity for disease; notably 

stroke, heart disease, diabetes, 

cancer, Alzheimer's and dementia. 

We then create a hand-tailored 

program for the patient.” 

That program often includes 

diet, exercise and lifestyle 

changes. 

While the comprehensive 

testing and consultation afforded 

by executive health programs 

can bring peace of mind, 

the results can also serve as a 

startling wake-up call for many 

executives. “A study of our executives 

participating in our program 

for the first time has 

shown that over one-third of the 

executives walk out with a previously 

undiagnosed severe 

health condition,” says Moon. 

Sometimes these health conditions 

can be life threatening. 

Eye recounts one recent case 

at Cenegenics. “About a month 

ago, a gentleman was in for his 

appointment, and we scanned 

his carotid artery. The results 

alarmed him. We immediately 

sent the patient for an MRI 

which confirmed he had 90 percent 

blockage in one main artery, 

and 85 percent blockage in 

another. These type of blockages 

are called 'widow makers,' 

because the first symptom is 

death.” Eye says that patient 

was immediately referred for 

surgery and is now doing well. 

Corporate consulting firm 

Aon Hewitt estimates up to 50 

percent of publicly held companies 

offer senior managers an 

enhanced health care plan, and 

according to the Jacksonville 

Business Journal, about 1,000 

companies nationally enroll 

employees in executive health 

programs, including about 300 

in Florida. Packages of services

for executive health plans usually start around 

$2,000 and run up to $5,500, depending on 

the tests and assessments chosen. 

James Powell, owner of Medical Business 

Consulting, pays for his employees to visit the 

Cenegenics clinic in Jacksonville for executive 

health screenings. He considers it money well 

spent. 

“I really think that in terms of what you 

spend for each employee and what you get in 

return, it’s worth it. If you can cut back on the 

back end from what you spend on the front 

end, you get a return for your investment,” 

says Powell. “If you look at our executive 

workforce, they are stressed, many people are 

overweight—we are in sad shape. With the executive 

health program, I believe we have better 

morale, fewer HP issues and on overall 

healthier workforce.” � 

Joash Brunet is a writer/producer for Brunet-García 

Advertising with nearly 15 years of experience as 

a journalist and television producer. 

JOINING FORCES 

For the next several weeks, two Jacksonvillebased 

organizations will join forces to help 

wounded soldiers live productive, fulfilling lives. 

Acosta Sales & Marketing, a leading sales and 

marketing agency, and the Wounded Warrior 

Project, a non-profit that works to honor and 

empower wounded soldiers through a multitude 

of services and programs, recently kicked 

off the 2012 Believe in Heroes campaign. 

Now in its third year, the campaign brings 

together more than 50 of the nation’s leading 

brands and 70 of the nation’s largest grocery 

retailers to support Wounded Warriors through 

the simple task of grocery shopping. 

Retail partners (including Winn-Dixie, Rite 

Aid and Food Lion) will have special signage 

and point-of-purchase materials to raise funds 

through donations at registers, and participating 

brands will offer coupons in a newspaper 

insert that will be sent to 50 million homes 

nationwide on Sunday, November 4. The 

campaign is expected to raise $4 million for 

critical veteran programs provided by WWP. 

Consumers can also support the cause 

through donations by calling 855-997-4376, texting 

“WWP” to 90999 or purchasing licensed 

Believe in Heroes merchandise from the Believe 

in Heroes Gear Store. More at 

Acosta.com/bih. � words by Natalie Wearstler 

JACKSONVILLE’STOP 

(904) 389-3622 

904theMagazine.com 

LAWYERS 

Pick up the latest copy 

ON NEWSSTANDS NOW 


OFFICE � 

SKIRTING THE 

RULES 

Demystifying the guidelines of a modern-day business wardrobe 

Set against the backdrop of 

an ever-evolving business 

landscape, the notion of 

“dressing to impress” can seem 

a bit antiquated. While old 

school business protocol suggests 

that anything less than a 

three-piece suit in the board 

room is unacceptable, the rules 

of business attire have evolved 

as startup culture, freelance 

professionals and even seasoned 

business veterans are 

now embracing a more casual 

approach to the first impression. 


So just how important is your 

business wardrobe, and is it 

ever okay to bend fashion rules 

in the modern-day workplace? 

One needn’t look far to see 

that the term “business casual” 

has taken on a whole new 

meaning. Be it Mark Zuckerberg’s 

hoodie or the late Steve 

Jobs' infamous mock turtleneck 

and jeans combo, many modernday 

CEOs are choosing function 

over form. 

Famed Italian designer 

Miuccia Prada (Miu Miu, Prada) 

has said that fashion is “instant 

language,” in the sense that it 

allows someone to know you 

before you even utter a word. 

Your wardrobe is a method of 

communication. Those working 

in a corporate industry may 

focus on communicating that 

they are professionally-minded 

and, as such, might want to 

buck current fashion trends; 

but, those working in a creative 

industry have more room to 

express themselves through 

their wardrobe choices. 

WORDS BY VIRGINIA CHAMLEE • PHOTO BY AGNES LOPEZ 

Maxine McBride, CEO of 

Clockwork Marketing and a business 

etiquette expert, advocates 

“dressing for your calendar,” an 

idea that means your look might 

change depending upon whom 

you meet with on any given day. 

“If you’re meeting with someone 

in a corporate industry, it’s best 

to suit up,” she says. “But if 

you’re having an out-of-office 

lunch with someone in a more 

creative industry, it’s fine to wear 

something a bit more casual.” 

McBride has taught numerous 

classes on the importance of 

dressing professionally, but 

notes that she has seen definite 

changes in recent years. “With 

the influx in tech jobs, I’ve 

noticed an increase in casual 

workplaces,” she says. “While 

it’s important to be comfortable 

in your workplace, I have long 

advocated dressing for the job 

you want, not the job you have. 

And it’s always a good idea to 

err on the conservative side.” 

As a general rule, McBride 

recommends that every working 

professional own a suit, and 

learn how to create different 

looks around it. She also suggests 

investing in a good tailor 

and choosing quality over quantity. 

Though she notes that, in 

some industries, slacks and a 

golf shirt have become de 

rigeur, she offers up a word of 

advice: “Even a golf shirt needs 

to look new and it should always 

be ironed, so that the collar 

doesn’t fold down.” 

Locally, upscale clothing boutique 

Rosenblum’s has catered 

to First Coast business executives 

for over 100 years. Cindy 

Ralph, a wardrobe consultant at 

the popular clothier, says that 

she has noticed executives 

moving toward a more casual 

workplace look—but that 

doesn’t mean the black suit is 

becoming a relic of the past. 

“The workplace in Jacksonville 

is conservative, so shoppers still 

gravitate toward items that are 

polished and dressed up,” says 

Ralph. “But people seem to be 

growing tired of black. A popular 

trend among men is a pocket 

square and women are trying to

SHARP-DRESSED MAN 

DELIVERY SERVICE WANTS TO REINVENT THE WAY MEN SHOP 

Caught up in work responsibilities, sports stats and a revolving social life, there’s one 

part of men’s lives that often faces neglect: their wardrobes. Trunk Club, a Chicagobased 

styling service that launched in 2009, is helping men across the country trade 

in their threadbare t-shirts and torn jeans for a sartorial overhaul. 

With the convenience of seasonal wardrobe updates and a personal touch often 

lost in the identical racks of department stores, it’s a winning concept for guys who 

want to look sharp without having to visit the mall. 

When new clients sign up online, they are matched 

with a professional stylist who learns about each 

customer's wardrobe and style preferences. 

Then, a custom trunk of eight to 10 items from 

more than 50 brands of men’s casual wear is 

shipped straight to the client’s home. 

Clothing and accessories included 

in the trunk typically range in price 

from $70 to $800 and come from 

designers like Jack Spade, AG and 

Jeremy Argyle. The model is simple; 

keep what you like, send back what 

you don’t. There are no shipping 

costs and men are given 

a ten-day window to figure out 

which pieces garner a place in 

their closet before being 

charged. No membership fees 

or loss of man cred required. 

More at trunkclub.com. � 

words by Caitlyn Finnegan 

Congratulation to Marks Gray’s AV Peer Rated 

MMarianne 

ar arianne 

L. Aho 

Jeptha Jeptha FF. 

F. 

Barbour 

Giselle Giselle CCarson 

Carson 

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John John R. R. CCrawford 

Crawfor 

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Susan S. Er Erdelyi delyi 

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integrate a pop of color into their workplace looks.” 

Instead of reaching for a black blazer, Ralph says 

women might now select a simple cardigan. But the 

move toward a hooded sweatshirt à la Zuckerberg is 

likely a long way off. “When it comes to the workplace, 

the bottom line hasn’t changed: professionals want 

people to notice them, not their clothes,” she says. 

Lois Pearce, co-owner of professional recruitment 

firm Pearce & Associates, has seen only a subtle shift 

in workplace attire in recent years. Her company 

specializes in outside sales recruiting, and many candidates 

meet with clients all day long. “Business professionals 

still want to see candidates in a suit for an 

interview, conservative necklines for women. It sets 

the tone for a meeting. Some of our business casual 

clients (in the technology sector, for instance) wear 

golf shirts and slacks for inside sales, but many of 

those are company logo,” she says. “However, there 

are still many industries where an outside sales rep 

is expected to wear a suit even in the hot Florida 

weather. “ 

Despite a move toward a more casual wardrobe in 

some offices, most members of the modern-day 

workforce are still better off if they suit up—especially 

if they want to get ahead. “I know it makes a 

difference in my interest level in what [an employee] 

has to say if they are professionally attired,” says 

Pearce, adding that the old adage “dress for success” 

still rings true in 2012. “You don’t get a second 

chance at a first impression.” � 

Virginia Chamlee is a former political and legal journalist 

who currently works as a marketing proposal coordinator. 

attorneys 

RRobert 

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C. Gobelman 

AAllison 

llison Hunnicutt Hauser 

John B. 

Kent 

FFrederick 

r rederick 

H. Kent, 

III 

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Bland Love 

NNicholas 

icholas V. 

Pulignano, 

Jr. 

James James C. C. R 

Rinaman R 

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CORPORATE CORPORATE & & BUSINESS BUSINESS LLAW 

LAW 

W LITIGATION LITIG LITIGATION 

TION EMPLOYMENT & LABOR LAW L 

AWW 

REAL ESTATE 

TE TTAXATION 

AXATION 

T TION & SUCCESSION IMMIGRATION 

www.marksgray.com 

Jacksonville Jacksonville Jacksonville Jacksonville Beach Beach 904.398.0900 

9 

904. 

398. 

0900 

 


MEDIA � 

SOCIAL NORMS 

Corporate recruiters are looking online for their next candidates. 

Does your profile stand out? 

It’s hard to believe that 

LinkedIn is less than a decade 

old. When the professional social 

networking site launched in 

May of 2003, it had only 4,500 

members at the end of its first 

month. Today, the site claims 175 

million members in 200 countries. 

Baby boomers, a group 

which had been reluctant to 

embrace other social networks, 

have flocked to the site for networking, 

company research, and 

of course, their next job. The rise 

of LinkedIn may even cause the 

demise of the essential job 

search tool; experts predict that 

the resume will be extinct within 

a few years. 

And, few will miss it. 

Why would we cling to a lifeless 

piece of paper? Both sides 

of the employment equation are 

weary of the obligatory onepager 

that tries to hide gaps, 

highlight accomplishments, and 


at the same time edit out “maturity” 

like an ill-fitting pair of 

Spanx. An online profile at 

LinkedIn offers a comprehensive 

look at a candidate that can be 

updated in real time; you can include 

experience, education and 

certifications, but also awards, 

writing samples (if you have a 

blog or links to publications), 

and references from coworkers 

and customers in addition to 

obligatory former bosses. 

“Social networks have finally 

flattened the recruiting world,” 

says Tom Nolan, a senior executive 

recruiter at Bishop Executive 

Services. He specializes in 

medical device sales and executive 

positions, choosing a headhunter 

career after leaving PSS 

World Medical in 2010. Nolan 

says that his job is very different 

than it would have been just a 

few years ago. “Geography 

doesn’t matter anymore; I can 

find a candidate in any part of 

the country with just a few 

clicks.” 

Nolan is in good company. 

Jobvite’s 2012 social media survey 

reported that 93 percent of 

recruiters use LinkedIn to find 

candidates, up from 87 percent 

in 2011 and 78 percent in 2010. 

Nolan says that 30 percent of 

his hires have come from research 

on LinkedIn, while most 

of the others come through traditional 

personal referrals. Nolan 

estimates that he spends 75 to 

80 percent of his day on social 

media sites. 

Angie Tekin, who does business 

development for Oasis 

Staffing, confirms that Oasis recruiters 

spend a good deal of 

time and energy on sites like 

LinkedIn, looking for both active 

and passive candidates. 

The Jobvite survey also found 

that 49 percent of companies 

WORDS BY CANDACE MOODY 

reported an increase in the 

quantity of candidates for open 

positions; 43 percent said that 

the quality of candidates had 

improved. Time to hire can be 

reduced by 20 percent, a key 

factor for businesses recruiting 

from a small pool of workers 

with specialized skill sets. 

Tekin and Nolan both use 

LinkedIn to develop business 

leads, as well. Each week, 

LinkedIn users get an email 

update with a list of who has 

changed companies, accepted a 

new position or been promoted. 

“It’s easy to see former clients 

or associates who might be in a 

position to do business with you, 

and it takes just a click to reach 

out to them,” Tekin says. 

Rachel Stromberg is a training 

professional who specializes 

in leadership development for 

large corporations. She has 

received several calls from recruiters 

over the past few years, 

and took an offer last year that 

originated through a LinkedIn 

contact from a recruiter. After 

the company’s business model 

changed, she found herself in 

the market again, and her first 

priority was to update her 

LinkedIn profile. She uses her 

resume in order to connect people 

to her LinkedIn URL. “It’s a 

more complete picture of what I 

have to offer,” says Stromberg. 

She also carefully monitors the 

feature that allows users to see 

how many times their profile has 

been viewed over the past few 

days. “If any of my viewers are 

recruiters, I’ll reach out to them 

and connect,” she says. 

Greg Cone, recruiting manager 

for Incepture, originally a 

subsidiary of Florida Blue, oversees 

staffing for a national client 

base. “Social media is front and 

center as a tool for our recruiters,” 

says Cone. “Sites like 

LinkedIn have taken most of the 

tedious footwork—and some of 

the guesswork—out of finding 

candidates. We can see not only 

the skills a candidate has, but 

the associates and connections 

he has as well. We also check 

into sites like Facebook, which 

give us a glimpse into personality

and interests. It helps us make a better match 

between the candidate and the corporate culture 

we’re servicing.” 

Whether the traditional resume's days are 

numbered remains to be seen; Richard Bolles 

(of What Color is Your Parachute? fame) predicted 

its demise in 1970. Traditional hiring 

managers may still be asking for a piece of 

paper; paper is tangible and comforting. Social 

networks give you a view of the whole 

person; they tell a story. And soon, the first 

generation that has always had Facebook as 

part of its zeitgeist will be joining the labor 

market. As digital natives grow up to become 

HR managers, they may eventually view resumes 

as relics, like illustrated manuscripts 

and books with actual pages. � 

Candace Moody is VP Communications at First 

Coast Workforce Development, which serves six 

counties in Northeast Florida. 

FANTASY ISLANDS 

As if Facebook wasn't enough of a distraction 

for employees at work, the NFL season is now 

underway. To millions across the country 

(mostly guys, and you know who you are) that 

means fantasy football leagues are running 

full speed ahead. Estimates are that more than 

22 million participate in fantasy leagues across 

the country. According to quick math compiled 

by outplacement firm Challenger, Grey & 

Christmas, if all those American workers spend 

one hour a week managing their fantasy football 

team during the typical 15-week fantasy 

season, the cost to the nation's employers in 

terms of wages paid to unproductive workers 

would be more than $6 billion. In the big picture 

that is the U.S. economy, that's not a staggering 

number. However, it is something about 

which businesses need to be aware. 

Football is far and away the popular fantasy 

sport, played by roughly 80 percent of all fantasy 

league participants. According to research, 

players spend up to nine hours a week planning 

and plotting their strategies for weekly 

match ups in 70 million free and paid leagues. 

The latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data 

show that weekly earnings for all Americans in 

the second quarter of the year averaged $773, 

or $19.33 per hour. Assuming on the conservative 

side that fantasy football participants 

spend one hour each week researching stats 

and tweaking their rosters, Challenger multiplied 

the $19.33 figure by the 22.3 million 

employed participants (an estimate based on 

figures from the Fantasy Sports Trade Association). 

That results in a dollar amount of about 

$430.9 million each week ($6.46 billion for a 

season) in unproductive wages paid by 

employers to fantasy footballers. 

"Employers will not see any impact on their 

bottom line and, for the most part, business 

will proceed as usual," says CEO John Challenger. 

“However, even if the economic impact 

is faint, it is important to acknowledge fantasy 

football's overall impact as a societal and 

workplace phenomenon.” � words by John O’Mara 

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ETHICS � 

MEISSEN MYSTERY 

Sometmes a tea pot is much more than meets the eye 

In late September 2010, Holly 

Keris, curator of The Cummer 

Museum of Art & Gardens, 

was attending the annual Florida 

Association of Museums conference 

in West Palm Beach when 

she received an urgent call from 

a Cummer staff member. 

“We’ve just had a phone call, 

and we think you should address 

it now,” said the voice on 

the other end of the line. “Don’t 

wait until you come back to the 

office.” 

The phone call that required 

Keris’s immediate attention was 

from Victor von Klemperer, a 

New York businessman who informed 

Keris that two pieces in 

The Cummer’s collection of early 

Meissen porcelain—a coffeepot 

and a teapot—had been confiscated 

from the von Klemperer 

family by the Nazis during World 

War II. “I trust you will do the 

right thing and restore them to 

my family,” he told her. 


“I remember thinking the 

irony was great, given the fact 

that I was doing this presentation 

[on the porcelain collection] 

in three hours time,” says Keris, 

who had been in the midst of 

preparing for a panel discussion 

entitled “Nazi Era Provenance 

Research in Florida Museums.” 

“I also remember thinking, 

‘This is going to change how I 

spend my time for the next 

year,’” she says. 

In fact, researching the chain 

of ownership (or, in art lingo, 

“provenance”) of the two pieces 

and resolving the von Klemperer 

claim would consume the better 

part of the next two years. It was 

a process that Keris likens to 

solving a puzzle; she had the 

starting point and the ending 

point, but had to reconstruct the 

middle of the story. 

The coffeepot and teapot in 

question were part of The Cummer’s 

Constance I. and Ralph H. 

Wark Collection of Early Meissen 

Porcelain. The German-born 

Wark began collecting Meissen 

porcelain in 1922 while living and 

traveling throughout Europe. 

When he fled to America following 

the outbreak of World War II, 

Wark left his nascent collection 

with a neighbor in Hamburg, 

Germany, where it miraculously 

survived the Allied bombings. 

After the war, the neighbor 

shipped the pieces to Wark in 

the United States, who continued 

to add to his collection before 

donating more than 700 

items to the four-year-old 

Cummer Gallery in 1965. 

One fact was clear as Keris 

began her research: Wark himself 

indicated in his records that 

the coffeepot and teapot had 

been identified as part of the 

von Klemperer collection when 

he bought them. Had the items 

been sold by the von Klemperers 

or stolen from them? 

WORDS BY SANDRA HENDRICKS 

Gustav von Klemperer’s Meissen 

porcelain collection was 

well known in fine art circles in 

the early 20th century. The 

German banker had amassed 

and catalogued 834 pieces, 

including a chandelier, figurines, 

vases, plates, coffee and tea 

services. To date, it is still considered 

to be one of the most 

extensive and exemplary private 

collections of Meissen ever assembled. 

When von Klemperer 

died in 1926, the collection was 

passed on to his heirs. 

Just a few years later, the 

Nazi Party came to power in 

Germany and systematically 

began looting Europe of anything 

of value—gold, silver, jewels, 

cultural treasures and artwork. 

The von Klemperers’ Meissen 

collection was an obvious target. 

Victor von Klemperer told The 

Jewish Chronicle in 2010 that the 

Nazis offered his grandfather 

money for the collection, but 

were refused. Eventually, 

though, they got what they 

wanted. When the von Klemperer 

family fled Germany in 

1938, the Nazis immediately 

seized their Meissen collection 

and shipped it to Dresden’s 

porcelain museum. Later the 

collection was packed up and 

hidden in the outskirts of the 

city. What happened to it from 

that point is still in question. 

In 1951, part of the collection 

was discovered in the rubble of 

the courtyard of a royal palace 

in Dresden that had been destroyed 

during the Allied bombings. 

The surviving items were 

restored and displayed in the 

Dresden Porcelain Collection. 

After German reunification in 

1991, 83 pieces were returned to 

the von Klemperer heirs, who 

promptly donated 63 of them 

back to the museum. In 2008, 

the porcelain museum found 

another two boxes of the von 

Klemperers’ Meissen in its 

storerooms, which were returned 

to the heirs, as well. 

Nevertheless, hundreds of 

pieces from the collection 

remain unaccounted for. 

Despite Keris’ diligent 

research, the exact process of 

TEAPOT, 1723, PORCELAIN, 4 IN., AG.1965.36.70. COURTESY OF THE CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS. PHOTOGRAPH BY BRIAN SHRUM.

how two of the pieces 

ended up in Ralph Wark’s 

collection still is not entirely 

clear. Wark’s records indicate 

that one of the pieces 

was purchased through the 

Dresden museum, the other 

from a dealer. Keris was 

able to reconstruct portions 

of the provenance, but the 

entire chain of ownership 

from the von Klemperers to 

Wark remains incomplete. 

People pass away. Memories 

fail. Records are lost or 

destroyed. 

The von Klemperer claim 

is not the first that The 

Cummer has entertained. In 

1999, the Grassi Museum in 

Leipzig, Germany, requested 

the return of a Meissen 

vase that it said was looted 

from its collection during 

World War II. In that case, 

the Grassi Museum was 

able to provide a photograph 

of the vase, easily identified 

by a telltale crack on its 

neck. The claim was resolved 

quickly and the vase 

returned. Two more claims 

currently are in the research 

phase: one for a piece of 

17th-century decorative art, 

and another for a 17th-century 

oil painting. 

Keris says each claim is 

researched thoroughly, balancing 

the evidence of the 

claimants against the responsibility 

of the museum. 

“These things have entered 

our collection and have 

been put in public trust for 

us to preserve for perpetuity,” 

she says. “We take that 

very seriously. We would not 

just automatically turn over 

something that anyone 

came knocking for.” 

In the case of the von 

Klemperer claim, the museum 

ultimately decided to 

return the items based not 

on an “A-ha!” discovery 

during research, but on 

what the documented circumstances 

reasonably 

suggested. “We had no 

evidence to contradict what 

the von Klemperers said 

happened to their collection, 

combined with the fact 

that Mr. Wark was told when 

he bought the items that 

they came from the von 

Klemperers,” says Keris. 

“We found no evidence of 

the von Klemperers selling 

pieces from their collection. 

The historical record 

seemed to present the fact 

that the collection really did 

remain intact until the moment 

that it was seized.” 

Although title to the 

pieces has been transferred 

to the von Klemperer heirs, 

the family has agreed to 

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allow the refugee Meissen 

pieces to remain on display 

at The Cummer for a year. 

“We at the museum feel 

strongly that this was the 

right thing to do,” says 

Keris. “We are proud of 

doing the right thing. We 

didn’t want this to be a 

quiet transfer. This is a 

moment for us to be able 

to educate our public—to 

be able to call attention to 

the unfortunate history of 

these two pieces.” 

The coffeepot and teapot 

are now in a special display 

case in The Cummer’s 

porcelain gallery, along with 

the rest of the Wark collection. 

Accompanying panels 

tell the story of the von 

Klemperers, the manner in 

which their collection was 

seized, and the way these 

two particular pieces are 

finding their way back to the 

family. Public programming 

and lectures throughout the 

year will highlight the von 

Klemperer story and the 

issue of Nazi-looted art in 

general, providing a satisfying 

epilogue to a tale of 

suffering and injustice. � 

Sandra Hendricks is a 

freelance writer who enjoys 

exploring and writing about 

North Florida. 

Jerry Holland, Duval County Supervisor of Elections, expects a heavy voter turnout on November 

6. In addition, the ballot itself this year is a lengthy document with all the expected 

public offices up for vote as well as 11 proposed Florida constitutional amendments. Just 

reading through the ballot is going to take some time, let alone deciding on a particular candidate 

or side; so, in an effort to reduce the lines and waiting times at polling places, his office 

has been very proactive in spreading the word about early voting. In September, the 

Supervisor of Elections office sent out thousands of vote-by-mail request forms to registered 

voters in Jacksonville. If you didn't receive one or want to vote early at a polling 

station, there's still time to avoid the expected crush of enthusiasm on election day. 

Here's what you need to know. First, in order to vote at all one must be registered no 

later than 29 days before any election. 

There are 17 early voting sites spread around the city, most being located in public library 

buildings. These sites will be open October 27 through November 3, from 7 AM to 7 PM. Anyone 

registered to vote in Florida and living in Duval County may vote at any early voting site 

during this period. On election day, you must visit the precinct site stipulated on your voter 

registration card. 

Any new vote-by-mail request must be received by the Supervisor of Elections office by 

close of business on Wednesday, October 31. The actual absentee ballot must be returned 

by 7 PM on November 6. It can be mailed in or even dropped off at a polling location on 

election day—which is nice, but kind of defeats the purpose of a vote-by-mail form, don’t 

you think? 

For more info, visit the Supervisor's office at 105 E. Monroe Street, go online or call (904) 

630-1414. � words by John O’Mara 

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MONEY � 

VICIOUS CYCLES 

Historically, election seasons have always caused fluctuations 

in the stock market. Here’s how to navigate this one. 

The presidential election is 

in full swing and, when you 

cut through all the noise 

and rhetoric, there’s one issue 

that will likely end up dominating 

the race: the economy. 

President Obama says the 

economy is moving forward and, 

while the gains have not been 

as fast as he and others hoped, 

he is laying the foundation to 

get it back on track. Mitt Romney, 

the Republican Party nominee, 

says he has the private-sector 

experience to grow jobs and 

instill consumer confidence in 

the economy again. 

The jabs and figures flying 

back and forth can be difficult 

for an individual investor to 

decipher alone. Local financial 

experts have varying opinions 

on the effect that November’s 

biggest race could have on the 


financial markets, but the overriding 

theme is that it’s just one 

piece of a very complicated 

economic puzzle. 

Uncertainty in terms of policy 

is a key factor in businesses and 

investors standing still, says 

Tom Forbes, senior vice president, 

investment officer and 

fundamental choice portfolio 

manager at The Forbes & 

Thompson Wealth Management 

Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, 

LLC in Jacksonville. 

“What the market needs most 

is clarity,” says Forbes. “Businesses 

are slow to hire and 

make long-term plans because 

they don’t know what’s going to 

happen when we run into another 

sunset.” 

After a last-minute, two-year 

extension in 2012, the Bush tax 

cuts are again set to expire on 

December 31, unless the government 

intervenes once more. This 

also includes the 15 percent tax 

on capital gains that Forbes 

says many people expect to 

increase. That may encourage 

people to sell before the end of 

the year in an attempt to take a 

potential profit now at a lower 

tax rate, says Forbes. 

Technically, when an investor 

buys stock, he or she is buying a 

small share of that company, 

says Jon Lyon, a professor of 

business and finance at Florida 

State College at Jacksonville and 

a member of the board of directors 

for First Florida Credit Union. 

But, in reality, Lyon says investors 

are buying that company’s ability 

to make money—which, he says, 

will be dramatically affected by 

the results of the election in 

November. 

WORDS BY MATT GALNOR 

Lyon says investors will be 

more likely to put money into 

the markets if Romney is 

elected because he believes 

Romney is more likely to let 

businesses grow without further 

regulations and that investors 

will respond. 

One popular theory from 

market historian Yale Hirsch is 

the “Presidential Election Cycle 

Theory,” which indicates that the 

first year of a president’s term 

typically sees a down market, 

while there is often improvement 

the next three years. That 

theory has not held much as of 

late, including Obama’s first 

term, and experts caution investors 

about speculating on 

short-term results. 

“Trying to guess at what will 

happen over a short period in 

the markets is just that, a 

guess,” says John Murphy, an 

investment manager and stockholder 

with Butensky & Cohen 

Financial Security Inc. in Ponte 

Vedra Beach. 

Murphy says politics are just 

one factor in how the markets 

perform and points to the terrorist 

attacks on September 11, 

2001, as a prime example. 

“Had you asked anyone before 

those attacks how the markets 

were going to perform over the 

next six to twelve months, do 

you think any of them would 

have guessed the magnitude of 

the market drop based on a terror 

attack that we had?” Murphy 

asks. 

While many voters perceive 

Romney as a better candidate 

for businesses than Obama, 

Forbes says he’s more of an unknown. 

Obama has been in office 

for four years; people have 

a good idea of what he’ll do if he 

wins a second term. Even if 

there’s an initial flurry to buy if 

Romney wins, policy overhauls 

would be needed to sustain potential 

long-term gains. More 

money has been moved into 

bond markets over the last two 

years, which is an indication 

that there is reluctance among 

investors. 

“They’ve been whipsawed 

around these last few years and

are hesitant to make any big bets,” says 

Forbes. 

Lyon expects the markets to swing even 

before the election, simply based on where 

the two candidates are in the polls. If it looks 

like Obama will be re-elected, Lyon expects 

the markets to trend down, and he predicts 

that the markets would likely rise if Romney 

can carve out a lead. 

“You’ll see the market start handicapping 

different races and reacting accordingly,” 

says Lyon. 

But that doesn’t mean he thinks individual 

investors should jump back and forth every 

time a new poll is released. Instead, Lyon 

recommends holding tight for now until and 

making a decision once the election is over— 

or once there’s a very clear indication of who 

will win. � 

Matt Galnor is a Jacksonville writer who primarily 

covered government and politics over a 15-year 

career in newspapers. 

SMART MONEY 

Personal finance is listed as one of the biggest 

sources of stress for military families, according 

to a survey conducted by the Department 

of Defense. Here in Jacksonville, that stress 

hits close to home for many families. No need 

to worry, though; there’s an app for everything, 

even a soldier’s finances. The challenges of 

juggling deployments, frequent moves and the 

basics of every day life can now be managed 

on one program. 

McGraw-Hill and the Better Business Bureau 

created the free “Military and Money” app and 

website to help users make educated decisions 

about money. The app provides training 

videos on budgeting, calculators to track cash 

flow and build savings and debt reduction 

plans, and a prompt that sends monthly savings 

reminders to your phone. It also features 

a toolbox that includes tips for budgeting, 

credit cards, savings, deployment, retirement 

and home buying. 

The application is part of the government’s 

“Joining Forces” initiative, which motivates all 

areas of society to give U.S. service members 

and their families the opportunities and support 

they deserve. The free app is compatible 

with iPhones and iPads, but is not currently 

available on the Android network. 

More at militaryandmoney.com � 

words by Jessica Oliver 

KNOWLEDGE 

Staying y g 

current 

t 

is never enough here 

Look no fur further ther than a Bolles classroom for the greatest tools and 

technology 

y to create the biggest ideas. Middle school technology technolog 

y 

and multi-media teacher Gloria 

loria Wood 

keeps k eeps her students thinking 

constantly by 

y using such tools to make mak 

e learning 

fun. 

You ou see, 

the faculty at Bolles is is like lik 

e no other—Gloria, a certi�ed certi�ed 

robotics instructor, 

is always 

ys seeking out out conferences and 

programs for personal 

sonal growth. And all she learns lear lear ns is brought directly 

back to her students at Bolles. Add to this a classroom full of 

diverse 

se cultures and backgrounds, 

backgrounds, and it’s it’ s easy to see how her 

students stay 

y ahead ahead of the curve. cur 

ve. 

FFrom 

From 

rom great great teacher teachers 

s lik like like 

e Gloria Gloria and and other other thought-stimulating 

thought-stimulating 

faculty faculty, , Bolles Bolles students students receive receive an an extra extra advantage advantage as as wwell 

well 

as a 

real wor world ld education. 

WWe 

e call call it 

it THE BOLLES KNOWLEDGE. 

If If you you think think your your child child would would bene�t bene�t bene�t from from faculty faculty who who ha have 

experienced lear learning ning all oover 

ver the the globe, 

globe, contact us today. 

You ou both will gain from it tomorrow. tomor 

row. 

Request your FREE 

Kit for 

Success 

bby 

y visiting 

www.BollesSuccessKit.org www.Bolles .BollesSuccessKit.org 

uccessKit.org or call (904) (904) (904) 256-5030. 

THE FIRST & 

LAST WORD 

IN FIRST COAST 

DINING 

Jacksonville Magazine subscribers received their 

copy of this 100-page guide with their August edition. 

If you don’t have one, call (904) 389-3622 to order. 

Or view it online at JacksonvilleMag.com. 


MARKETING � 

MAPPING A 

MARKETER 

Today, a job description and expected 

responsibilities can be very fluid things 

It’s not news to report that 

technological advancements 

have changed the way we live 

and work. In business, technology 

has forced us to progress 

from merely knowing how to operate 

a fax machine to knowing 

how to use online accounting 

software and navigate a multitude 

of purchasing, procurement, 

customer service and 

marketing systems. And for 

some industries, entire career 

skill-sets are changing. Take 

marketing, for example. 

The graphic presented here 

represents an actual “mind 

map” job description for a junior 

in-house marketing coordinator 

position created by Steve 

Lovett, principal at ELM, a 

Jacksonville architectural firm. 

The firm has outsourced most 

marketing and public relations 

services in the past and is ready 

to create an in-house position. 

When asked what the firm was 

looking for in an ideal junior 

marketer, Lovett did what most 

architects would do—he started 

drawing and came up with this 

detailed illustration of the many 

challenges inherent in the 

question. 

“The dimensions of marketing 

are more complex and the tools 

are advancing quickly,” Lovett 

explains. “We're looking for a collaborator—someone 

who understands 

what’s possible and can 

communicate our firm’s unique 

expertise using tomorrow's full 

toolkit and technologies.” 

Since the advent of desktop 

publishing in the 1980s, it has 

not been unusual for small businesses 

to ask for cross-capability 

skills from a single marketing 

staffer that include newsletter 

writing, design, printing and dis- 


tribution. In many large businesses, 

each one of those can 

be a separate job. And with the 

advent of technology including 

websites, social media and 

blogs, today’s businesses are 

seeking marketers with an even 

wider set of skills, which may 

encompass myriad capabilities 

such as: 

A. Digital Asset Management 

• Ability to perform website 

updates utilizing a content 

management system. 

• Ability to produce monthly 

analytics reports highlighting 

site usage and traffic trends 

• Ability to maintain, create and 

distribute e-newsletters and 

e-blasts 

B. Print Management 

• Ability to create print and digital 

marketing materials including 

brochures, presentations 

and other marketing materials 

using Adobe InDesign 

C. Social Media Management 

• Ability to tie social media assets 

(Facebook, Twitter, blog) 

to overarching company marketing 

and awareness goals 

D. Content Development 

• Ability to write compelling copy 

for all marketing materials including 

print, website, e-blasts, 

blogs and press releases 

E. Public Relations 

• Ability to generate awareness 

via local and trade press releases 

and personal relationships 

with the media 

It goes without saying that it 

will take a talented and efficient 

person to fill such a post. If 

you’d like to weigh in on what 

skills you think a junior marketer 

should have, visit BBased.com, 

click the NEWS tab in the upper 

right and scroll down to the 

skills survey. � 

Jan Korb is President/CEO of 

Broadbased Communications in 

Jacksonville. 

WORDS BY JAN KORB


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There is scuttlebutt in the local 

legal community that a very highprofile 

court case will be tried in 

Jacksonville, perhaps starting 

early next year. According to the 

State Attorney’s office, no motion 

has yet been filed by either side 

to move the second-degree murder 

trial of George Zimmerman 

from the central Florida circuit. 

But rumors are that it’s only a 

matter of time. The case is on its 

third judge so far. The next pretrial 

hearing is set for October 17. 

The reasons why a Jacksonville 

venue makes sense start 

with the fact that State Attorney 

and prosecutor Angela Corey 

lives and works here. It would 

seem unlikely that the case will 

go to trial in Sanford or anywhere 

near Orlando for fear that the jury 

pool is already tainted and that 

racial tensions in the area will 

rise from a simmer to a boil. 

Jacksonville is far enough away 

to diffuse at least some of the 

tension, but close enough to 

make a trial here logistically 

possible for the involved parties. 

Plus, we have a big and shiny 

new courthouse capable of 

accommodating the hoards of 

media that will gather out front 

during each day of the trial. 

So, will the trial location be 

moved a couple hours’ drive north 

on I-95? Perhaps, but expect the 

media focus on the court battle to 

be extreme, regardless of where 

in Florida the jury convenes. 

High-profile cases like trying 

the killer of Trayvon Martin are 

red meat for news organizations. 

However, courtroom drama like 

this represents only a tiny fraction 

of the daily happenings involved 

in the legal profession. In 

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legal profession. With a history spanning 140 years, the 

Martindale-Hubbell Legal Network is powered by a database of 

over one million lawyers and law firms in over 160 countries. Thousands 

of people use the network every day to find local attorneys, 

THE LIST: 

ADMINISTRATIVE & 

REGULATORY 

Sidney F. Ansbacher 

GrayRobinson, P.A. 

ADMINISTRATIVE & 

LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY 

Terrence Russell 

Fowler White Boggs P.A. 

ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS 

& APPEALS 

Elizabeth M. Oakes 

ADMINISTRATIVE LAW 

Robert M. Rhodes 

Christine C. Whitney 

ADMINISTRATIVE LITIGATION 

David G. Tucker 

ADVERTISING LAW 

John Wells King 

AFFORDABLE & WORKFORCE 

HOUSING 

Peter L. Dame 

Akerman Senterfitt 

AGE DISCRIMINATION 

Mike E. Jorgensen 

AGENTS & BROKERS ERRORS 

& OMISSIONS 

Geoffrey D. Sessions 

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP 

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 

& TOBACCO LAW 

Miriam S. Wilkinson 

Mathis & Murphy, P.A. 

APPELLATE 

Robert C. Gobelman 

Marks Gray, P.A. 

Lee Stathis Haramis 


Peter O. Larsen 


David E. Otero 


APPELLATE PRACTICE 

Neal L. Betancourt 

Rotchford & Betancourt, P.A. 

Rebecca Bowen Creed 

Creed & Gowdy, P.A. 

Roy B. Dalton, Jr. 

Bryan S. Gowdy 

Creed & Gowdy, P.A. 

Robert B. Guild 

Matthews & Guild P.A. 

Jane A. Lester 

J. Stephen O’Hara, Jr. 

O’Hara Law Firm Professional Association 

Susan S. Oosting 


Raymond L. Roebuck 

APPELLATE PRACTICE 

& ADVOCACY 

Michael J. Korn 

Korn & Zehmer Professional Association 

James T. Miller 

APPELLATE/APPEALS 

D. Gray Thomas 

AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENTS 

Jay C. Howell 

S. Perry PenLand, Jr. 

AUTOMOBILE & 

TRUCK ACCIDENTS 

Jeffery B. Morris 

AUTOMOTIVE 

Gardner F. Davis 

Foley & Lardner LLP 

Kevin E. Hyde 


Timothy J. McDermott 


AV-RATED COMMERCIAL 

LITIGATION 

Alexandra Hedrick 

BAD FAITH & EXTRA- 

CONTRACTUAL LIABILITY 

Joseph Kissane 

Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. 

BANKING 

James I. Vance Berry, Jr. 

Stoneburner Berry Glocker Purcell & Greenhut 

confirm their credentials and select firms that provide services for 

their personal and professional legal needs. 

To create this list of Martindale-Hubbell Top Lawyers in Northeast 

Florida, the firm tapped its comprehensive database of Martindale-Hubbell 

Peer Review Ratings to identify lawyers who have 

been rated by their peers to be AV Preeminent, the highest Peer 

Review Rating available. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings 

are driven by the confidential opinions of lawyers and members of 

the judiciary, who receive invitations from LexisNexis Martindale- 

Hubbell, via an online survey or by mail, to provide reviews of 

lawyers of whom they have professional knowledge. 

Featured here are approximately 750 Jacksonville attorneys 

practicing in more than 130 specialties who have earned the 

coveted Martindale-Hubbell rating. Due to space limitations, some 

specialties (such as Adminstrative, Admiralty and Bicycle Accidents) 

were deleted from the original list provided to 904 Magazine by 

Martindale-Hubbell. 

Michael A. Walters 

BANKING & FINANCE 

Jason Burnett 


Kenneth B. Jacobs 


Frederick H. Kent, III 


Terry A. Moore 


Nicholas V. Pulignano, Jr. 


BANKING LAW 

Joelle J. Dillard 

Driver, McAfee, Peek & Hawthorne, P.L. 

Laurence W. Howard, III 

Kimberly Killian Law 

Holland & Knight LLP 

BANKING LITIGATION 

Steven Craig Morrison 

BANKING, LENDING & 

STRUCTURED FINANCE 

Jacob A. Brown 


H. Timothy Gillis 


BANKRUPTCY 

Lance P. Cohen 

Eileen Dolaghan 

King & Dolaghan, P.A. 

Robert T. Hyde, Jr. 

Rogers Towers, P.A. 

Edward P. Jackson 

Cynthia C. Jackson 

Smith Hulsey & Busey 

Charles W. McBurney, Jr. 

Lansing J. Roy 

BANKRUPTCY & BUSINESS 

REORGANIZATIONS 

E. Robert Meek 


BANKRUPTCY & FINANCIAL 

RESTRUCTURING 

Thomas C. Dearing 


BANKRUPTCY LAW 

David B. Ferebee 

BANKRUPTCY TRUSTEES 

John B. Macdonald 


BANKS & BANKING 

James L. Purcell, Jr. 


Harry M. Wilson, III 


BROWNFIELDS 

REDEVELOPMENT 

Robert A. Leapley, Jr. 


BUSINESS 

Richard W. Buck 

Julia Brooke Davis 

Kevin Patrick Flood 

Suzanne W. Green 

Gwen Hutcheson Griggs 

Douglas B. Lang 

N. Mark New, II 

McGlinchey Stafford, PLLC 

J. Keith M. Sands 

Michael A. Wodrich 


BUSINESS & REAL ESTATE 

FINANCING 

Mary W. Jarrett 

BUSINESS & TAXATION 

James L. Ade 

BUSINESS FORMATION 

Robert H. Ellis 

BUSINESS LAW 

William R. Blackard, Jr. 

Howard L. Dale 

Dale, Bald, Showalter, Mercier & Green, P.A. 

Timothy W. Dunham 

Heidi J. Eddins 

Fred Elefant 

Miriam Krestul Greenhut 

Marlene Hammock 

Jonathan Lee Hay 

Purcell, Flanagan, Hay & Greene, P.A. 

Jeanne E. Helton 


Arthur Hernandez 


PEER REVIEW RATINGS: 

THE MARTINDALE-HUBBELL PEER REVIEW RATINGS are an objective indicator of a lawyer’s high ethical standards 

and professional ability. Attorneys receive a Peer Review Ratings based on evaluations by other 

members of the bar and the judiciary in the United States and Canada. The first review to establish a 

lawyer’s rating usually occurs three years after his or her first admission to the bar. 

LexisNexis facilitates secure online Martindale-Hubbell peer review ratings surveys of lawyers 

across multiple jurisdictions and geographic locations, in similar areas of practice as the lawyer being 

rated. Reviewers are asked to assess their colleagues’ general ethical standards and legal ability in a 

specific area of practice. 

Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings reflect a combination of achieving a Very High General Ethical 

Standards rating and a Legal Ability numerical rating. A threshold number of responses is required 

to achieve a rating. The General Ethical Standards rating means the attorney adheres to professional 

standards of conduct and ethics, reliability, diligence and other criteria relevant to practicing law. 

Those lawyers who are judged to have "Very High" General Ethical Standards can proceed to the next 

step in the ratings process—Legal Ability. 

Legal Ability ratings are based on performance in five key areas, rated on a scale of one to five (with 

one being the lowest and five being the highest). These areas are: 

• LEGAL KNOWLEDGE - Lawyer’s familiarity with the laws in his or her specific area of practice(s) 

• ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES - Lawyer’s creativity in analyzing legal issues and applying technical knowledge 

• JUDGMENT - Lawyer’s demonstration of the salient factors that drive the outcome of a given case or issue 

• COMMUNICATION ABILITY - Lawyer’s capability to communicate persuasively and credibly 

• LEGAL EXPERIENCE - Lawyer’s degree of experience in his or her specific area of practice(s) 

After lawyers have been evaluated on their legal ability, they will receive one of three ratings: 

• AV PREEMINENT (4.5-5.0) - AV Preeminent is a significant rating accomplishment- a testament to the 

fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence. 

• BV DISTINGUISHED (3.0-4.4) - BV Distinguished is an excellent rating for a lawyer with some experience. 

A widely respected mark of achievement, it differentiates a lawyer from his or her competition. 

• RATED (1.0-2.9) - The Peer Review Rated designation demonstrates the lawyer has met the Very High 

criteria of General Ethical Standing. 

Debra S. Hill 

Gregory D. Holland 

Todd C. Johnson 

Lee G. Kellison 

M. Richard Lewis, Jr. 


Francis J. Marino 

James R. McVety 

Douglas W. Neway 

Robert C. Nichols 

Thomas D. Pointer 


Drew W. Prusiecki 

Acosta Sales & Marketing Co. 

Rick Monte Reznicsek 

Reznicsek, Fraser, White & Shaffer, P.A. 

Brian M. RowLand 

Sidney S. Simmons, II 

John R. Smith, Jr. 


Bruce E. Stutsman 

Stutsman Thames & Markey, P.A. 

John F. Tolson, Jr. 

Grady H. Williams, Jr. 

Fred M. Winkler 

John H. Zehmer 

Korn & Zehmer Professional Association 

BUSINESS LITIGATION 

M. Mark Bajalia 

Brennan, Manna & Diamond, P.L. 

J. Michael Lindell 

Lindell & Farson, P.A. 


Kelly Bernard Mathis 


James R. McCachren, III 

Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP 

John H. McCorvey 

McCorvey & Myers 

James W. Middleton 


BUSINESS LITIGATION & 

DISPUTE RESOLUTION 

Adam G. Adams, III 


Scott D. Richburg 


John A. Tucker 


BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS 

James T. Murphy 


BUSINESS TRANSACTIONS 

& CORPORATE LAW 

Thomas E. Gibbs 


Michael E. Goodbread, Jr. 


Daniel B. Nunn, Jr. 


CIVIL & CRIMINAL LITIGATION 

Samuel S. Jacobson 

Bledsoe, Jacobson, Schmidt, Wright & Wilkinson 

CIVIL LAW 

Ronald E. Clark 

Clark & Roberts, PLC 

CIVIL LITIGATION 

Earl M. Barker, Jr. 

Slott, Barker & Nussbaum 

James A. Bledsoe, Jr. 


James C. Bray 

Robert A. Cole 

James L. D’Andrea 

Milton, Leach, Whitman, D’Andrea & Eslinger, P.A. 

Robert M. Dees 

Milam Howard Nicandri Dees & Gillam, P.A. 

John F. Fannin 

Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball 

Bruce J. Fletcher 

Stephen B. Gallagher 


William C. Gentry 

James L. Harrison, Jr. 

Alva A. Hollon, Jr. 

Sams & Hollon, P.A. 

Kimberly Held Israel 

Held & Israel 

Eric L. Leach 


Kevin G. Mercer 

Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. 

Joseph P. Milton 


Michael P. Milton 


Ronald M. Owen 

Michael C. Pendley 

Childs Reed, P.A. 

Richard E. Ramsey 

Wicker Smith O’Hara McCoy & Ford P.A. 

Ronald E. Reed 

Child Reeds, P.A. 

Robert E. Schrader, III 

Boyd & Jenerette, P.A. 

William J. Scott 

William T. Stone 

Milo Scott Thomas 


Charles M. Trippe, Jr. 

Moseley Prichard Parrish Knight & Jones 

Frank D. Upchurch, III 

Upchurch, Bailey & Upchurch, P.A. 

Michael B. Wedner 

Gerald W. Weedon 


Christopher A. White 


Joshua A. Whitman 


CIVIL PRACTICE 

Paul M. Eakin 

Eakin, Sneed & Catalan 

Jeffrey D. Dunn 

Reginald Luster 

CIVIL RIGHTS 

Daniel A. Smith 

CIVIL RIGHTS DEFENSE 

Stephen J. Powell 

CIVIL TRIAL 

Brian E. Currie 

Katie L. Dearing 

R. Kyle Gavin 

Liles, Gavin, Costantino, George & Dearing, P.A. 

Raymond G. Hasley 

Rutledge R. Liles 

Liles, Gavin, Costantino, George & Dearing, P.A. 

J. Richard Moore, Jr. 

Rahaim, Watson, Dearing, & Moore, P.A. 

John S. Mordecai, Sr. 

Niels P. Murphy 

Murphy & Anderson P.A. 

Michael S. O’Neal 

Howell & O’Neal 

Steven E. Rohan 

Mark L. Rosenberg 

CIVIL TRIAL LAW 

Kevin E. Jakab 

CIVIL TRIAL LAWYER 

Wesley L. Wallace 

CIVIL TRIAL LITIGATION 

Penny W. Schmidt 

Schutt, Schmidt & Noey 

CIVIL TRIAL PRACTICE 

G. Michael Burnett 

Curtis S. Fallgatter 

Fallgatter Farm& & Catlin, P.A. 

Charles M. Johnston, Jr. 

Johnston & Hammond, PA 

Joe C. Miller, II 

Miller, Shine & Bryan, P.L. 

R. Daniel Noey 


John C. Taylor, Jr. 

Taylor, Day, Grimm, Boyd & Johnson, P.A. 

CIVIL TRIAL PRACTICE IN ALL 

STATE & FEDERAL COURTS 

Edward A. White

CIVIL, TRIAL, APPELLATE LAW 

J. Richard Moore 

COLLECTIONS 

Michael J. Marees 

Joseph & Marees, P.A. 

COMMERCIAL 

Eugene G. Peek, III 

Peek Cobb 

COMMERCIAL BUSINESS 

TRANSACTIONS 

Gregory M. Dawson 

Edwards, Cohen, Sanders, Dawson & Mangu 

COMMERCIAL COLLECTIONS 

Raymond B. Joseph 


Michael A. Kolcun 

COMMERCIAL FINANCE 

Bryan L. Putnal 


COMMERCIAL LAW 

Barry C. Averitt 

Averitt & Co., P.A. 

Jeffrey R. Becker 

Hiday & Ricke, P.A. 

Phillip A. Buhler 


Richard K. Jones 


Joseph O. Stroud, Jr. 


COMMERCIAL LENDING 

Edward L. Kelly 


COMMERCIAL LITIGATION 

A. Graham Allen 


Michael M. Bajalia 

Volpe, Bajalia, Wickes, Rogerson & Wachs 

Thomas M. Beverly 

R. Eric Bilik 

McGuireWoods LLP 

George K. Brew 

George K. Brew & Associates 

Scott S. Cairns 


Michael Cavendish 

Gunster 

Aaron R. Cohen 

Kevin B. Cook 

Bedell, Dittmar, DeVault, Pillans & Coxe 

Betsy C. Cox 


Cynthia Craig-Johnson 

John A. DeVault, III 


R. Joseph Dill 

Ansbacher & Associates, P.A. 

Michael S. Drews 

Michael Linn Duncan 


Gilbert L. Feltel, Jr. 

Tanner Bishop 

Fred D. Franklin, Jr. 


Thomas J. Fraser, Jr. 


Michael R. Freed 


Wiley Braxton Gillam, IV 


William S. Graessle 

Courtney K. Grimm 


Christopher C. Hazelip 


Charles B. Jimerson 

Jimerson & Cobb, P.A. 

Eric S. Kolar 

Harold S. Lippes 

Lippes & Bryan, P.A. 

Bradley R. Markey 


Douglas H. Morford 

Peter E. Nicandri 


John D. Osgathorpe 


Charles P. Pillans, III 


Paul M. Renner 


James M. Riley 


Adrian Rust 


Arnold H. Slott 


John R. Stiefel, Jr. 

Holbrook, Akel, Cold, Stiefel & Ray, P.A. 

J. Ellsworth Summers, Jr. 


William David Talbert, II 

Michael G. Tanner 

Tanner Bishop 

Donald E. Tesiero, II 

Richard R. Thames 


Christopher J. Thanner 


Alan S. Wachs 


Jeffrey P. Watson 


Leslie A. Wickes 


Robert J. Winicki 

Kenneth B. Wright 


Jeffrey S. York 


COMMERCIAL LITIGATION— 

CIVIL TRIALS 

Frederick R. Brock 

Gartner, Brock & Simon 

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE 

Anthony A. Anderson 


Timothy A. Burleigh 

Charles L. Cranford 

Winfield A. Gartner 


Steven B. Greenhut 


John Rodger Ibach 


Edward W. Lane, III 

Hughes & Lane Professional Association 

Lauren P. Langham 


John Howard Moore 

Moore Ingram Johnson & Steele, LLP 

Rosel Rodriguez Pine 

Edwards, Cohen, Sanders, Dawson & Mangu, P.A. 

Cecile Evans Rider 

Bert C. Simon 



LAW 

Martha McMahon Wirtz 


TRANSACTIONS 

David J. Edwards 


Douglas G. Stanford 


COMMERCIAL REAL 

PROPERTY LAW 

George T. Morrison 

COMMERCIAL TRANSACTIONS 

& BUSINESS COUNSELING 

Paul C. Vance 


COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION LAW 

Richard E. Larsen 

Larsen & Associates, P.A. 

COMPENSATION DEFENSE 

Heather Byrer Carbone 


COMPLEX & MULTI-DISTRICT 

LITIGATION 

Louis H. Lindeman, Jr. 

COMPLEX CIVIL 

Charles B. Lembcke 

COMPLEX CIVIL LITIGATION 

W. Douglas Childs 

Childs Reed, P.A. 

COMPLEX COMMERCIAL 

LITIGATION 

Allan F. Brooke, II 


Patrick P. Coll 


William G. Cooper 

Cooper, Ridge & Safi, P.A. 

Stephen H. Durant 

Durant, Schoeppel, Decunto & Ratchford, P.A. 

Robert H. Farnell, II 


Dennis E. Hayes 

George E. Ridge 

Cooper, Ridge & Safi, P.A. 

John T. Rogerson, III 


COMPLEX LITIGATION 

Robert F. Spohrer 

Spohrer & Dodd, P.L. 

CONSTRUCTION 

Peter Reed Corbin 

Ford & Harrison LLP 

Neil L. Henrichsen 

Henrichsen Siegel, P.L.L.C. 

S. Grier Wells 


CONSTRUCTION LAW 

James O. Birr, III 

Gunster 

Albert T. Franson 

Franson & Iseley, PA 

Reed W. Grimm 


Christopher J. Iseley 

Franson & Iseley, PA 

Christopher J. Mueller 


Bryan R. Rendzio 

TrittRendzio 

C. Warren Tripp, Jr. 


Edward M. Whelan 

Gunster 

Brent T. Zimmerman 

Bachara Construction Law Group 

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION 

F. Eugene Atwood, Jr. 


Henry G. Bachara, Jr. 


William D. Brinton 


Christopher M. Cobb 

Jimerson & Cobb, P.A. 

Brian Crevasse 


Kurt Hughes Dunkle 

Gregory F. Lunny 


Jeffrey C. Regan 

Regan Zebouni, P.A. 

Troy K. Smith 


Tracy Lyn Wenzel 

Heekin, Malin & Wenzel, P.A. 

Anthony B. Zebouni 

Regan Zebouni, P.A. 

CONSUMER COLLECTIONS 

Michael Thiel Debski 

Rubin & Debski, P.A. 

CONSUMER LITIGATION 

H. Keith Thomerson 

Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP 

CONTRACT REVIEW & 

NEGOTIATION 

Ann M. Bittinger 

Bittinger Law Firm 

CONTRACTS 

Karen Anne Koster Burr 

CORPORATE 

John R. Byers 

E. Lanier Drew 

Baptist Health System, Inc. 

Jan D. McCormick 

Brant, Abraham, Reiter, McCormick & Johnson 

Robert G. Shaffer, II 


Gresham R. Stoneburner 


CORPORATE & BUSINESS 

TRANSACTIONS 

Charles Durham Robbins 

CORPORATE & MUNICIPAL 

FINANCE 

David Cohen 


CORPORATE FINANCE 

Andrew J. Fawbush 


CORPORATE LAW 

G. Scott Baity 

William P. Brant 


Cecilia Bryant 

Adam J. Buss 


Michael A. Candeto 


J. Kirby Chritton 


John R. Crawford 


G. Ray Driver, Jr. 


T. Malcolm Graham 

E. Allen Hieb, Jr. 


G. Alan Howard 


Amy H. Johnson 


John B. Kent 



David A. King 

Raymond A. Mantle 

Arthur W. Milam 


John D. Milton, Jr. 

Stephen D. Moore, Jr. 


Robert H. Pritchard 


Richard S. Vermut 


Irvin M. Weinstein 


E. Ellis Zahra, Jr. 

CORPORATE LAW & 

BUSINESS LAW 

Helen S. Atter 

Wood, Atter & Wolf, P.A. 

CORPORATE LITIGATION 

Scott S. Gallagher 


CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING 

Stephen G. Prom 


CORPORATE/INCORPORATION 

Steward Sparks, III 

CORPORATION 

Scott L. Glazier 

Glazier & Glazier, P.A. 

Steven C. Koegler 

Ludwig & Associates, P.A. 

CRIMINAL 

Lacy Mahonm, Jr. 

CRIMINAL DEFENSE 

Malcolm Anthony 

William Mallory Kent 

Harry L. Shortein 

Shorstein & Lasnetski 

Mark A. Sieron 

A. Russell Smith 

Smith & Haine, P.A. 

Mitchell A. Stone 

Stone Lockett, PL 


(INCLUDING WHITE COLLAR) LAW 

John G. McGill 

CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAW 

Janet E. Johnson 

Frank J. Tassone, Jr. 

Tassone & Dreicer, LLC 

CRIMINAL LAW 

Thomas M. Bell 

Albert J. Datz 

Datz & Datz, P.A. 

L. Lee Lockett 

Stone Lockett, PL 

Donald B. Mairs 

Amy Elizabeth Osteryoung 

Johnson & Osteryoung, P.A. 

David M. Robbins 

Epstein & Robbins 

Alan E. Rosner 

Harris, Guidi, Rosner, Dunlap & Rudolph, P.A. 

William J. Sheppard 

Sheppard, White, Thomas & Kachergus, P.A. 

Elizabeth L. White 

Sheppard, White, Thomas & Kachergus, P.A. 

CRIMINAL TRIAL 

PRACTICE 

Robert Stuart Willis 

Willis, Ferebee & Hutton 


DEFENSE OF CASES & 

APPEALS INVOLVING 

TRUCKING LIABILITY 

Kristen M. Van der Linde 


DEFENSE OF WORKERS’ 

COMPENSATION 

Mark H, Gelman 

Eraclides, Johns, Hall, Gelman, Johannessen & 

Goodman, LLP 

DIRECTORS & OFFICERS 

Robert O’Quinn, Jr. 

Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. 

DIVORCE 

Lyman T. Fletcher 

Fletcher & Phillips, PLLC 

DIVORCE & FAMILY LAW 

Steven Alan Leitman 

DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED 

Charles L. Truncale 

DRUM SHOP LIABILITY 

Richard R. Alexander 

DUI 

Jason Kristian Scott Porter 

DUI/DWI 

Robert L. Corse 

E-COMMERCE 

Shannon Hartsfield Salimone 


ELDER 

Ailish O’Connor 

ELDER LAW 

John G. Barry, III. 

Rebecca L. Bery 

Berg & Associates, P.A. 

Robert M. Morgan 

Robert M. Morgan & Associates, P.A. 

Michael N. Schneider 

Patricia Vail 

ELECTRONIC HEALTH 

RECORDS 

Chanley T. Howell 

Foley & Lardner, LLP 

EMINENT DOMAIN 

Mark M. Arnold 


W.O. Birchfield 

Birchfield & Humphrey, P.A. 

Andrew Brigham 

David W. Foerster 

Foerster, Isaac & Yerkes, P.A. 

Bruce B. Humphrey 

Birchfield & Humphrey, P.A. 

Fred C. Isaac 


Robert S. Yerkes 


EMINENT DOMAIN LAW 

William L. Coalson 

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS 

Arnold B. Corsmeier 

Craig P. Hoffman 

EMPLOYMENT & LABOR 

William H. Andrews 


Guy O. Farmer, II 


EMPLOYMENT 

DISCRIMINATION 

Suzanne U. Horne 

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. 

Scott Thomas Fortune 

EMPLOYMENT LAW 

John E. Duvall 

Ford & Harrison LLP 

Eric J. Holshouser 


Robert G. Riegel, Jr. 


Timothy B. Strong 


Timothy L. Williams 

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. 

EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION 

J. Ray Poole 

Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP 

ENVIRONMENTAL & LAND 

USE LAW 

John S. Duss, IV 

Duss, Kenney, Safer, Hampton & Joos P.A. 

Mark A. Reinsch 

Paul M. Harden 

James M. Craig, II 

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. 

George M. McClure 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE 

Richard L. Maguire 


ENVIRONMENTAL LAW 

John Kopelousos 

Kopelousos & Bradley, P.A. 

Wayne E. Flowers 

Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. 

Daniel D. Richardson 


E. Owen McCuller, Jr. 


Tracey I. Arpen, Jr. 

ENVIRONMENTAL PERMITTING 

Marcia Parker Tjoflat 

Gunster 

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION 

Ellen Avery-Smith 


ESTATE & TRUST 

ADMINISTRATION 

John G. Grimsley 

Grimsley Marker & Iseley, P.A. 

ESTATE PLANNING 

Edward C. Akel 


Haywood M. Ball 

A.B. Blackburn, Jr. 

Blackburn & Blackburn 

Richard W. Cobb 

Jean C. Coker 

Kathleen Holbrook Cold 


C. Randolph Coleman 

Jeffrey A. Cramer 

Robert A. Dawkins 


Teresa H. Ellis 

Eakin, Sneed & Catalan 

Randal C. Fairbanks 

Fairbanks & McGillin, P.L. 

Richard H. Fairweather 


Michael W. Fisher 


Timothy L. Flanagan 


Beverly H. Furtick 


Clarence H, Houston, Jr. 

Stewart & Houston, P.A. 

Robert F. Iseley, Jr. 


Michael J. Ivan, Jr. 


John E. Lawlor, III 


Samuel L. LePrell 

Randall L. Marker 


Lee F. Mercier 


David H. Peek 


Julie Saieg 


Frederick R. Short, Jr. 

Clay B. Tousey, Jr. 


Donald C. Wright 


ESTATE PLANNING & 

MEDICAID PLANNING 

Allen L. Poucher, Jr. 

ESTATE PLANNING LAW 

A. Hamilton Cooke 

Cooke & Meux, P.A. 

ESTATES & TRUSTS 

Robert S. Bernstein 


EXTRA CONTRACTUAL 

INSURANCE DEFENSE 

Stephen E. Day 


FEDERAL & STATE TAX CON- 

TROVERSY (CIVIL & CRIMINAL) 

Harris L. Bonnette, Jr. 


FEDERAL CIVIL PRACTICE 

Howard C. Coker 

Coker, Schickel, Sorenson & Posgay, P.A. 

FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW 

Paul I. Perez 

FEDERAL INCOME TAX 

Thomas M. Donahoo 

Donahoo & McMenamy, P.A. 

Thomas J. Donahoo, Jr. 

Donahoo & McMenamy, P.A. 

Donald W. Wallis 


FEDERAL TAXATION 

Kenneth G. Anderson 

Anderson & Stevens, P.A. 

David J. Hull 


John W. Mooers 

James P. Stevens 

Anderson & Stevens, P.A. 

FINANCE 

Nathan D. Goldman 

CSX Corp. 

FINANCE & FINANCIAL 

INSTITUTIONS 

Chauncey W. Lever, Jr. 


FORECLOSURE DEFENSE 

David M. Goldman 

Apple Law Firm PLLC

FOREMOST TRIAL LAWYERS 

Patrick T. Canan 

FRANCHISE LAW 

Barbara Suddath StrickLand 

The Suddath Companies 

GENERAL CIVIL & 

TRIAL PRACTICE 

Clark Hamilton, Jr. 

Tyler & Hamilton, P.A. 

Ty Tyler 

Tyler & Hamilton, P.A. 

GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION 

Harold H. Catlin 

Fallgatter Farmand & Catlin, P.A. 

GENERAL CIVIL LITIGATION & 


Michael E. Fisher 

GENERAL CIVIL PRACTICE 

Richard C. Stoddard 

GENERAL CIVIL TRIAL LAW 

Gary B. Tullis 

GENERAL COMMERCIAL 

LITIGATION 

Thomas R. Ray 


GENERAL COUNCIL 

Karl B. Hanson, III 

Flagler Development Co. 

GENERAL PRACTICE 

Granville C. Burgess 

Dennis E. Guidi 


John Michael Phillips 

Frank D. Upchurch, Jr. 


GENERAL PRACTICE 

SOLO & SMALL FIRM 

Joseph Lamar Vaughn, Jr. 

Anthony J. DiFilippo, Jr. 

GENERAL TRIAL 

PRACTICE 

Tyrie A. Boyer 

Law Offices of Boyer, Tanzler & Sussman, P.A. 

GOVERNMENT 

Mark H. Scruby 

GOVERNMENT FINANCE 

Jean M. Mangu 


GOVERNMENT 

RELATIONS LAW 

Charles R. Ranson 

HEALTH CARE LAW 

Joanne L. Martin 

HEALTH LAW 

Harvey Granger, IV 

Baptist Health System, Inc. 

William R. Huseman 

Mark S. McGowan 

Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida, Inc. 

Stephen P. Nelson 

Karen B. Perrin 

HOSPITALITY, RESORT 

& GOLF 

David C. Cook 


IMMIGRATION & 

NATURALIZATION 

Giselle Carson 


IMMIGRATION LAW 

David R. Fletcher 

INJURED RAILROAD WORKERS 

James R. Holland, II 

Holland Law, LLC 

INJURED WORKERS IN BOTH 

STATE & FEDERAL COMPEN- 

SATION CLAIMS, AS WELL AS 

CIVIL CLAIMS FOR PERSONAL 

Paul M. Doolittle 

Paul M. Doolittle, P.A. 

INSURANCE 

Stanley M. Weston 


INSURANCE COVERAGE 

John E. Herndon, Jr. 

Conroy, Simberg, Ganon, Krevans, Abel, Lurvey, 

Morrow & Schefer, P.A. 

INSURANCE DEFENSE 

Marianne Lloyd Aho 


Steven E. Brust 


David C. Carter 

Michael I. Coulson 

Dennis P. Dore 

Dore & Associates, Chartered 

Bruce R. Fox 

Deborah Ann Halvorsen 


Peter John Kellogg 

Bohdan Neswiacheny 

Donald W. St. Denis 

St. Denis & Davey, P.A. 

INSURANCE LITIGATION 

Ronald R. Austin 

Austin & Austin 

Joseph B. Stokes, III 

Saalfield, Shad, Jay, Stokes, Inclan & Stoudemire 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY 

Herbert L. Allen 

Allen, Dyer, Doppelt, Milbrath & Gilchrist, P.A. 

Frederick D. Page 


LABOR 

Gregg Gerlach 

Harper Gerlach, PL 

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW 

& STATE & FEDERAL 

ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICE 

Thomas A. "Tad" Delegal, III 

Delegal Law Offices, P.A. 

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT 

Thomas R. Brice 


John F. Dickinson 


Susan Smith Erdelyi 


David E. Faliszek 

Rene M. Fix 


G. Thomas Harper 

Harper Gerlach, PL 

Patricia J. Hill 


F. Damon Kitchen 


John F. MacLennan 


Leonard S. Magid 

Magid & Williams 

Richard N. Margulies 

Jackson Lewis LLP 

Archibald J. Thomas, III 

Archibald J. Thomas, III & Associates 

Gary R. Wheeler 


P. Daniel Williams 

Magid & Williams 

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT LAW 

Catherine Czufin Cosby 

Robert T. Devine 

Michael Grogan 

Allen Norton & Blue, P.A. 

Marc M. Mayo 


Heather A. Owen 


John A. Sapora 

LABOR & EMPLOYMENT 

MANAGEMENT 

Mark G. Alexander 

Alexander DeGance Barnett 

LABOR, EMPLOYMENT & 

BENEFITS 

Daniel R. Coffman, Jr. 


LAND USE 

Wyman R. Duggan 


Karl J. Sanders 


HOW ARE RATINGS DETERMINED? 

LAND USE LAW 

Brenna Malouf Durden 


Theodore R. Hainline, Jr. 


LAWSUITS & DISPUTES 

Jay Frank Castle 

LIABILITY DEFENSE & CIVIL 

LITIGATION WORK 

Christopher D. Ritchie 


LITIGATION 

Fred Catfish Abbott 

Abbott & Wiessenfeld P.A. 

Daniel K. Bean 


Dana G. Bradford, II 


Stephen D. Busey 


Douglas D. Chunn 

Michael E. Demont 


Carle A. Felton, Jr. 

Earl E. Googe, Jr. 


Robert Olin Johnston 

William E. Kuntz 


Don H. Lester 

Fred J. Lotterhos, III 


Dominic C. MacKenzie 


Francis J. Milon. 

G. Kenneth Norrie 


Scott B. Parks 

Parks & Associates 

James H. Post 


Michael G. Prendergast 


E. Lanny Russell 


Buddy Schulz 


Joel Settembrini, Jr. 


William Rupert Swain 

James J. Taylor, Jr. 

Taylor & Taylor, P.A. 

Timothy W. Volpe 


Waddell A. Wallace, III 

Alan Mitchel Weiss 


EACH LAWYER ACTIVELY PRACTICING LAW who is currently listed on Martindale.com and 

Lawyers.com SM (including subscribers and non-subscribers to LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell®), 

who has been admitted to a bar in the U.S. or Canada for at least three years and who is in 

good standing is eligible to receive a peer rating. 

Here is some information about the reviewers and the process: 

• The reviewers are members of the bar and judiciary (lawyers and judges). They are from 

similar areas of practice and/or industries as the lawyer being rated, who attest that they 

know or have worked with the lawyer under review, and are able to rate the lawyer on his or 

her professional ethical standards and legal ability.

MANAGEMENT, LABOR & 

EMPLOYMENT LAW 

Bradley R. Johnson 


MARITAL & FAMILY 

James G. Roberts 

Roberts & Reiter, P.A. 

MARITAL & FAMILY LAW 

Hal Castillo 

Russell L. Healey 

James Demere Mason 

Elliot Zisser 

Zisser, Robison, Brown, Nowlis, Maciejewski & 

Cabrey, P.A. 

MARITAL LAW 

Holly E. Fulton 

Head, Moss & Fulton, P.A. 

Carolyn S. Zisser 

MATRIMONIAL LAW 

Deborah L. Greene 

Combs Greene, PA 

Sandra J. Mathis 


Barry L. Zisser 

Zisser, Robison, Brown, Nowlis, Maciejewski & 

Cabrey, P.A. 

MEDIATION 

Brett Q. Lucas 

Myron J. Mensh 

Audrey McKibbin Moran 

Terrance E. Schmidt 


Michael D. Whalen 

Gregg L. Wirtz 

MEDICAL & PROFESSIONAL 

NEGLIGENCE 

Thomas E. Maddox, Jr. 

MEDICAL LAW 

Thomas R. Brown 

MEDICAL MALPRACTICE 

William S. Burns, Jr. 

Pajcic & Pajcic, P.A. 

Timothy D. Ellis 

Terrell Hogan Ellis Yegelwel, P.A. 

C.J. Gideon, Jr. 

Gideon, Cooper & Essary, PLC 

Harvey L. Jay, III 

Albert H. Lechner 

Edwards & Ragatz, P.A. 

Robert L. McLeod, II 

C. Rufus Pennington, III 

Margol & Pennington, P.A. 

Chad S. Roberts 


Matthew W. Sowell 

James T. Terrell 


MEDICAL MALPRACTICE 

DEFENSE 

Mary BLand Love 


MEDICAL NEGLIGENCE 

Sean B. Cronin 

Cronin & Maxwell, PL 

Roy Lewis 

Tonia Yazgi 

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS 

L. Kinder Cannon, III 


Ivan A. Colao 



Michael B. Kirwan 


Lewis S. Lee 

James L. Main 


Morris H. Miller 


MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS 

& DIVESTITURES 

Barbara Christie Johnston 

MESOTHELIOMA 

Alan M. Pickert 


Anita Pryor 


MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE 

DEFENSE 

Steven P. Combs 

Combs Greene, PA 

MORTGAGES 

G. Preston Keyes 


NURSING HOME 

LITIGATION 

Thomas S. Edwards, Jr. 


PARTNERSHIP LAW 

Frank J. Yong 

PATENTS 

Lawrence J. Gibney, Jr. 

Thomas C. Saitta 


PERSONAL INJURY 

C. Wayne Alford 

Alford Law Group, P.A. 

Warren K. Anderson, Jr. 

Anderson, Howell & Ravis 

Bruce R. Anderson, Jr. 


Frank A. Ashton 

Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton, P.A. 

Michael A. Atter 


William A. Bald 


Abraham I. Bateh 

Law Offices of Bateh & Clark 

Dudley D. Birder, Jr. 

Birder & Donsky Law Offices, P.A. 

Edward M. Booth, Jr. 

Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. 

Steven R. Browning 


Howard G. Butler 

Butler Law Group 

Ray Coleman 

R. Scott Costantino 

Hugh Cotney 

James H. Daniel 

David M. Dunlap 


Musa K. Farmand 

Fallgatter Farmand & Catlin, P.A. 

Ellis T. Fernandez, III 

Fernandez Trial Lawyers, P.A. 

Vincent P. Gallagher 

Beach Life Law 

Leslie A. Goller 


Lee T. Griffin 


W. Marc Hardesty 

Hardesty, Tyde, Green & Ashton, P.A. 

William H. Harrell 

Harrell & Harrell, P.A. 

Robert M. Harris 


Corrinne C. Hodak 

Stephen A. Hould 

Kenneth C. Howell 


Rudolph J. Inman, Jr. 

John S. Kalil 

Robert F. Kulik 

Gregory A. Lawrence 

Robert J. Link 


Rodney S. Margol 

Margol & Pennington, P.A. 

Blane McCarthy 

Michael D. McGrath 

McGrath Gibson, LLC Attorneys at Law 

Carla D. Miller 

Miller, Skinner & Jolly, P.A. 

Ronald R. Oberdier 

Oberdier & Oberdier, P.A. 

Stephen J. Pajcic, III 


Mary Kleyla Phillips 

Joseph W. Prichard, Jr. 


Raymond M. Ravis 


Raymond P. Reid, Jr. 


P. Scott Russellm, IV 

Carl Scott Schuler 

Schuler & Lee, P.A. 

Dennis R. Schutt 


Michael S. Sharrit 


Howard W. Skinner 


Fred T. Stapp, Jr. 


G. J. Rod Sullivan, Jr. 

Sullivan & Company 

Herbert T. Sussman 

Law Offices of Boyer, Tanzler & Sussman, P.A. 

Fred Tromberg 

Mark G. Usdin 

Ben J,. Weaver 

Weaver & Weaver, P.A. 

Clarence M. Wood 


PERSONAL INJURY LAW 

Ronald F. Bennett 

Bruce Alan Maxwell 

Dianne Jay Weaver 

Weaver & Weaver, P.A. 

PERSONAL INJURY LITIGATION 

Charles Thomas Shad 


Roland E. Williams, Jr. 

PERSONAL INJURY MATTERS 

John Jolly 


PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH 

Suzanne Bass 

PLAINTIFFS PERSONAL INJURY 

Michael E. Seelie 

PRIVATE WEALTH SERVICES 

Richard L. Stockton 


PROBATE 

Dennis L. Blackburn 

Blackburn & Company, L.C. 

Linda Logan Bryan 

Miller, Shine & Bryan, P.L. 

Michael A. Siragusa 


Tracy Wilson Upchurch 


PROBATE & GUARDIANSHIP 

Eliot J. Safer 

Duss, Kenney, Safer, Hampton & Joos P.A. 

PROBATION VIOLATION 

Thomas E. Cushman 

PRODUCTS LIABILITY 

Gregory A. Anderson 

AndersonGlenn, LLC 

Jeptha F. Barbour 


David S. Brecher 


Timothy J. Conner 


William M. Corley 


William W. Deem 

Whalen & Deem, LLC 

Caroline C. Emery 

James P. Hanratty 

Marshall, Dennehey, Warner, Coleman & Goggin 

Wayne Hogan 


Edward McCarthy, III 


T. Edward McClamma 


Thomas F. McMorrow 

Eric C. Ragatz 


James C. Rinaman, Jr. 


R. Troy Smith 


Evan J. Yegelwel 


REAL ESTATE 

Barry B. Ansbacher 

Ansbacher & Associates, P.A. 

Michael J. Barker 

Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A. 

Karen M. Chastain 

C. William Curtis, III 

Law Offices of Curtis & Associates, P.A. 

Michael F. Dawes 

William J. Deas 

C. Davis Ely 


Christal L. Fish 


Daniel J. Gallagher 

Doris Sussman 

James S. Groh 


Jack G. Hand, Jr. 

Robert J. Head, Jr. 

Head, Moss & Fulton, P.A. 

Paige Hobbs Johnston 


Sharon Strayer Learch 

Kevin P. Leasure 

Sidney E. Lewis 

Frank A. Lonegro 

CSX Transportation, Inc. 

Emerson M. Lotzia 


Leonardo J. Maiman 

Jeffrey B. Marks 

Ryan & Marks Attorneys LLP 

Matthew S. McAfee 


Lori T. Nemeyer 

H. Joseph O’Shields 

Rogers Towers, P.A.

Patrick Patangan 


Mary A. Robison 


William E. Scheu 


Tito S. Smith 


Carl M. Stewart 

Melissa S. Turra 


Douglas A. Ward 


Scott G. Williams 

Paul Young 


REAL ESTATE/LAND 

DEVELOPMENT 

Karl B. Hanson, Jr. 


REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT 

Sharon Roberts Henderson 


Kenneth M. Keefe, Jr. 


REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS 

J. Michael Hughes 

Hughes & Lane Professional Association 

REAL PROPERTY 

David T. Abraham 


Frederick L. Ahern, Jr. 

Buschman, Ahern, Persons & Bankston 

Michael A. Altes 

John D. Bailey, Jr. 


Robert V. Duss 

William W. Gallogly 

Thomas M. Jenks 

Gunster 

Bruce D. Johnson 

Katherine Gaertner Jones 


William B. McMenamy 

Donahoo, Ball & McMenamy, P.A. 

John G. Metcalf 

Gunster 

Frank Estes Miller 

Gunster 

Lee S. Osborne 

M. Lynn Pappas 

Gunster 

Wesley R. Poole 

Poole & Poole, P.A. 

William Benedict Ryan, Jr. 

Ryan & Marks Attorneys LLP 

Peter F. Welch 

Kathryn F. Whittington 

Gunster 

David L. Wolfe, Jr. 

REAL PROPERTY PROBATE 

& TRUST LAW 

Dorry A. Bragg 

Ralph R. Crabtree 

Crabtree Law Group, P.A. 

Robert A. Heekin 

Douglas J. Milne 

Milne & Buckingham, P.L. 

Ann R. Shorstein 

Susan Slagle 

P. Christopher Wrenn 

REAL PROPERTY 

TRANSACTIONS 

Daniel D. Akel 


REAL PROPERTY 

TRANSACTIONS & LITIGATION 

William Nussbaum 


SECURITIES 

William Lewis Thompson, Jr. 

SECURITIES & CORPORATE 

FINANCE 

Halcyon E. Skinner 


SECURITIES LAW 

& DIVESTITURE LAW 

John F. Corrigan 

SECURITIES LITIGATION 

& ARBITRATION 

Steven J. Gard 


SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY 

Raymond I. Booth, III 

Thomas M. Farrell, IV 

Virginia White Forsyth 

Allison Forthsyth 

Tracy Tyson Miller 

SPORTS 

Charles V. Hedrick 


STATE & FEDERAL CRIMINAL 

LAW 

O. David Barksdale 


Henry M. Coxe, III 


SURETY LAW 

Peter C. Jones 

TAX LAW 

W. Robinson Frazier 

Frazier & Frazier Attorneys At Law, P.A. 

Frederick H. Kent, Jr. 

Alan K. Ragan 

TAX PLANNING 

Keith H. Johnson 

Johnson & Johnson, Attorneys at Law, P.A. 

TAXATION 

John S. Ball 


John L. Boling 

Charles R. Curley, Jr. 


T. William Glocker 

Stoneburner Berry Glocker Purcell & Greenhut, 

P.A. 

Kevin A. Kane 

Gunster 

Michael R. Leas 


J. Jacob R. Peek 


TECHNOLOGY LAW 

Richard Scott Draughon 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS 

BROADCAST 

George D. Gabel, Jr. 


TESTIMONIALS 

Henry E. Gare 

TOXIC MOLD 

William Edward Folsom 

TOXIC TORT DEFENSE LAW 

Gregory H. Maxwell 

Cronin & Maxwell, PL 

TRIAL LAW 

William deForest Thompson 

TRANSPORTATION 

Lawrence J. Hamilton, II 


T. Martin Fiorentino, Jr. 

TRIAL & APPELLATE PRACTICE 

John F. Callender 

TRIAL LAWYERS 

Bruce S. Bullock 

Althea M. Lachicotte 

Andrew H. Nachman 


Marjorie Conner Allen 

Geddes D. Anderson, Jr. 

Murphy & Anderson P.A. 

Thomas E. Bishop 

Tanner Bishop 

Harris B. Brown 

Nathan P. Carter 


Michael J, Dewberry 


Diana Santa Maria 

G. Jeffrey Vernis 

Vernis & Bowling of Birmingham, LLC 

TRIALS 

Jeffrey A. Hurley 

TRUCKING LAW 

Thomas F. Slater 


TRUST & ESTATES 

Anne Buzby-Walt 


TRUST & ESTATES LITIGATION 

John P. Cole 

Gunster 

TRUST LAW 

Russell H. Showalter, Jr. 


TRUSTS & ESTATES 

Robert N. Miller 


Rose Marie K. Preddy 

VICTIMS RIGHTS 

James A. Kowalski, Jr. 

WARRANTY LAW 

Brooks C. Rathet 

Bromagen & Rathet, P.A. 

WILLS 

Thomas M. Reiter 


WILLS, TRUSTS & PROBATE 

Robert E. Cosby 

WORKERS COMPENSATION 

Stephen M. Armstrong 

N. Mark Becker 

Bonnie J. Currie 


Douglas E. Daze 

David P. Dearing 


Alison Hunnicutt Hauser 


Ralph Joyner Humphries 

Theodore Michael Johns 

Eraclides, Johns, Hall, Gelman, Johannessen & 

Goodman, LLP 

Joy A. Lordahl 

Mary Nelson Morgan 


M. Wayne Myers 

Michael J. O’Rourke 

Robert D. Pope 

McConnaughhay, Duffy, Coonrod, Pope & Weaver 

John J. Rahaim, II 


Michael D. Rudolph 


Benford L. Samuels, Jr. 


Richard M. Stoudemire 



& EMPLOYMENT 

Mark Kamm Eckels 



& CLAIMANT 

George D. Rotchford 

Rotchford & Betancourt, P.A. 


DEFENSE 

Linda Wagner Farrell 


Jack A. Langdon 

Martin L. Leibowitz 


LAW 

David A. McCranie 

WRONGFUL DEATH LAW 

Roger J. Dodd 


EDITOR’S NOTE: 

Because of space 

limitations, firm 

names were cut 

from listings of 

single-attorney 

firms. 

To learn 

more 

about 

Martindale-Hubbell Peer 

Review Ratings, please go to 

Martindale.com/ratings. These 

lawyers can be found online 

at Lawyers.com and Martindale.com, 

in the Martindale- 

Hubbell Law Directory in print 

and CD-ROM formats, and 

online through the LexisNexis 

services and at Lexis.com. • 

904 Magazine’s 2012 Martindale-Hubbell 

Top Rated 

Lawyers list is based on the 

most up-to-date information 

available to LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell 

at time of printing. 

Updates and corrections 

should be emailed to: 

laura.coppola@lexisnexis.com. 


PHOTO BY KRIS KOO 

J a c k s O n v i L L e ’ s T O P a T T O r n e y s 

John Phillips has been everywhere in the last year. He hosts a radio 

show with Jacksonville Jaguar Rashad Jennings (during the off 

season) named Courts & Sports, which recently moved from 

Sunday mornings on WOKV to Thursdays at 6 pm on Sports Radio 

930. He regularly appears on national television and radio shows 

such as the Today Show, Lex & Terry, Mancow and was recently 

asked to do a piece for Lifetime Television. Since starting his own 

firm, he has played dodgeball and walked the fashion catwalk for 

charity, given out free legal advice at an event for the Police Athletic 

League, delivered turkeys to the Clara Barton Mission and has 

given thousands to local charities. It’s all in a year’s work to John. 

And then there is the practice of law. John recently obtained a 

$1.1 million dollar verdict against Coca-Cola on a case that was 

hotly defended by six different defense attorneys. “It was my 

own little David versus Goliath,” John said. “My client had three 

Law Offices of John M. Phillips 

John M. Phillips 

surgeries and over a quarter of a million dollars in medical bills and 

the top offer until trial was $35,000. That’s not justice. When someone 

breaks your fishing pole and then blames you because they say it 

was too old, that’s not right. Accepting blame is saying, ‘I broke it.’ 

Accepting responsibility is replacing it. In this case, Coca-Cola did 

not do either." 

John is rated AV-Preeminent by Martindale, is a two-time Florida 

SuperLawyer, was named as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in the 

state of Florida, was given the title of “JAX Boldest” Business by 

the Chamber of Commerce and was selected by readers of Folio 

Weekly as the “Best (Lawyer) of Jax.” He practices primarily personal 

injury and medical malpractice law in Florida. His firm handles a wide 

variety of cases including representing radio show hosts Lex & Terry 

in their suit against 1010XL and representing injured Olympic boxing 

hopeful, Ishika Lay. 

5405 Ortega Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32210 • Tel. 904.517.8903 • knowthelawyer.com 

40 : 904theMagazine.com : October 2012 A 904 MAGAZINE ADVERTISING SECTION

J A C K S O N V I L L E ’ S T O P A T T O R N E Y S 

Terrell Hogan 

Alan Pickert & Anita Pryor 

They are considered the “Dynamic Duo of Asbestos 

Litigation” not only in Florida, but in the entire 

United States. Earlier this year, Newsweek named 

Anita Pryor and Alan Pickert two of the top 20 

asbestos leaders in the nation. They have successfully 

represented more than 4,000 clients who 

developed mesothelioma or asbestos cancer by 

being exposed to asbestos in various industries and 

venues, including construction, automotive, ship 

building, navy, merchant marines, paper mills, and 

powerplants. They have achieved numerous multimillion 

dollar jury verdicts and settlements on behalf 

of their mesothelioma and lung cancer clients. 

Before becoming an attorney, Anita practiced 

nursing for several years, participating in 

research and education for critical care nurses. 

This experience resulted in two publications 

of her own research in a very prestigious medical 

journal. She was also an assistant professor of 

nursing and voted teacher of the year. She 

maintains her nursing license and has been a 

featured speaker at many programs. She is 

also an accomplished trial attorney, representing 

victims of defective products including asbestos 

products, faulty prosthetic devices, recalled 

hernia mesh, and welding rods. She has held 

the highest rating by Martindale-Hubbell for the 

last ten years. Anita has also published articles in 

legal journals and argued before the First District 

Court of Appeal. She is the past president of the 

Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association. 

Alan Pickert has not only successfully handled 

mesothelioma cases for the past twenty years but 

also focuses on several aspects of personal injury 

law such as automobile and trucking accidents, 

dog attacks and vaccines. He has been published 

twice for his articles on asbestos and medical 

malpractice and obtained one of the largest awards 

in the history of the vaccine court in Washington, 

D.C. for a child that was injured by a vaccine. 

He is the former President of the Jacksonville Bar 

Association. He is the past recipient of the Florida 

Bar Presidents Pro Bono service award for his work 

with the homeless and underprivileged in Duval 

County and currently is the president of HEAL! 

(“Healing Every Autistic Life”) a local non-profit 

organization that helps children on the autism 

spectrum and their families in North Florida. Alan 

has repeatedly received the highest rating from 

Martindale-Hubbell in its rating of attorneys in the 

U.S. and has been consistently named as one of 

Florida’s Top Attorneys by Florida Trend (“Legal 

Elite”) and by Law and Politics (“Super Lawyers”). 

233 East Bay St., 8th Floor, Jacksonville, FL 32202 

Tel. 904.632.2424 • FloridaAsbestos.com 

A 904 MAGAZINE ADVERTISING SECTION 



St. Denis & Davey, P.A. 

Donald W. St. Denis 

Donald St. Denis is Board Certified in Civil Trial Practice by The 

Florida Bar. He is AV peer review rated. 

In a time when most attorneys are not being relied upon by their 

clients to take their cases to trial, Mr. St. Denis picked five civil 

juries from May 2011 to July 2012. 

Mr. St. Denis graduated with honors in 1984 from The University 

of Arkansas, where he was an Academic All-American and Athletic 

All-American. He then attended the University of Florida College 

of Law on an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship and graduated 

from a joint program in law and linguistics in 1989. He went on 

to teach law and cross-cultural negotiation in China from 1989 

to 1990. He then was an Adjunct Instructor in Business Law at 

The University of Florida Business School from 1990 to 1991. 

His practice focuses on legal and accounting malpractice, as well 

as commercial insurance defense and personal injury litigation. 

He has tried numerous cases defending corporations to defense 

verdicts in Florida, as well as in Georgia, Virginia and Ohio. Further, 

Mr. St. Denis has vast experience in representing automobile, 

motorcycle and boat dealerships in all types of litigation, including 

administrative hearings, throughout the State of Florida. 

In 2010 Mr. St. Denis was recognized by The Elite Lawyers of 

America as a civil trial lawyer who obtained multiple verdicts or 

settlements of at least two million dollars. 

Mr. St. Denis was selected as a Super Lawyer in 2008, 2009, 

2010, 2011 and 2012. He is a life member of the Million Dollar 

and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums. Mr. St. Denis was 

awarded by a jury one of the largest verdicts to be upheld on 

appeal by the First District Court of Appeals in Florida under the 

Substantial Certainty Doctrine. He has the further distinction of 

obtaining jurisdiction over a United Nations contractor in the 

United States for a helicopter crash in Guatemala. When he is 

not practicing law, he enjoys traveling and spending time with 

his wife and five children. 

To learn more about the firm, visit www.sdtriallaw.com 

1300 Riverplace Blvd., Suite 401, Jacksonville, FL 32207 

Tel. 904.396.1996 • www.sdtriallaw.com 


(L to R) 

Raymond Joseph, 

Michael Marees & 

John Marees, II 


Joseph & Marees, P.A. is a Martindale-Hubbell AV rated law firm 

based in Jacksonville, Florida, concentrating in the areas commercial 

collections, commercial litigation and enforcement of judgments. The 

firm was founded by Raymond B. Joseph in 1988 and was joined 

by Michael J. Marees in 1993. Having successfully represented 

thousands of creditors worldwide, Joseph & Marees, P.A. is uniquely 

qualified to handle a wide variety of commercial collection matters 

including nonpayment for goods and services, breach of contract 

claims, nonpayment of leases, construction claims, and enforcement 

of final judgments. The shareholders, Raymond B. Joseph and 

Michael J. Marees, are both Jacksonville natives and graduates 



of the University of Florida College of Law. They have both been 

recognized by their peers with an AV “Preeminent” rating, the 

highest rating possible for both legal ability and ethical standards. 

By combining their backgrounds in finance and accounting with over 

60 years of collective experience, they offer their business clients 

a distinctive understanding of their business needs, while being 

sensitive to the cost and expense of litigation by offering contingency 

fee arrangements on the majority of collection cases which they 

handle. With the addition of John M. Marees, II, a former Assistant 

State Attorney, the firm has expanded its practice to include defense 

of DUI’s, traffic offenses and other minor criminal matters. 

4035 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207 • Tel. 904.636.8600 • josephandmarees.com 



Glazier & Glazier, P.A. 

The husband and wife team of Scott and Cynthia Glazier, now with 

more than 50 years’ combined experience, started Glazier & Glazier, P.A. 

in 1999 to provide small business clients the depth and experience of 

a large legal firm—in a small practice emphasizing prompt, personal 

responsiveness. 

Scott, who is rated Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent, the highest 

ranking possible from his peers, serves as the Transactional Law Section 

Chairman of the Jacksonville Bar Association. The firm includes William 

O’Leary, who holds an L.L.M. graduate tax degree, enabling him to 

assist clients with complex estate and tax planning needs. 

Glazier & Glazier, P.A. maintains a comprehensive view of its clients’ 

circumstances while providing the attention to detail and accessibility 

clients depend on. Practice areas include corporate and business law, 

mergers and acquisitions, federal and state taxation, estate planning and 

administration, and healthcare law. Clients range from locally-owned 

start-up and growth companies to internationally-owned businesses 

operating throughout North America. 

8825 Perimeter Park Blvd., Suite 504, Jacksonville, FL 32216 

Tel. 904.997.1033 • www.glazierlawfirm.com 



14 East Bay St., Jacksonville, FL 32202 

Tel. 904.357.3660 • www.milamhoward.com 


seeks to redefine the traditional role of law 

firms by providing innovative legal solutions. 

We have a client-centered, results-oriented 

approach to our practice. We leverage 

technology to ensure that we can offer our 

clients the depth and capabilities of a large 

multi-office firm, while preserving the personal 

attention of a small firm. We represent 

individuals and entities ranging from start-ups 

to corporations listed on national stock 

exchanges, all with diverse legal needs. We 

invite you to learn more about our firm, our 

partners (all of whom are rated AV Preeminent 

by LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell) and our 

areas of expertise by visiting our website 

www.milamhoward.com 


1540 The Greens Way, Ponte Vedra • 904.858.9818 

1830 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville • 904.396.3335 

stonelockett.com 



McCorvey & Myers, A Partnership 

of Professional Entities 

McCorvey & Myers is a partnership of professional entities. Our group consists of John 

H. McCorvey, Jr., P. L. and Ashley McCorvey Myers, P. A.– two firms combined to achieve 

a common goal: excellence in legal representation. Kate Mesic is “of counsel” to our firm. 

We bring creative solutions to a wide range of legal matters, ranging from routine to 

complex. Every client is important and we recognize each client’s unique needs. We are 

committed to building long-term relationships with our clients based on honesty, integrity 

and trust. The outcome is satisfied clients whom we have the pleasure of representing 

time and time again. 

Our firm’s practice areas are: 

John H. McCorvey, Jr., P. L.– John H. McCorvey, Jr., assisted by Kate Mesic, practices 

in the areas of commercial litigation, contractual disputes, real estate litigation, foreclosure, 

commercial collections, landlord-tenant, business disputes, asset recovery, and creditors’ 

rights in and outside of bankruptcy. In addition, Mr. McCorvey is a Florida Supreme Court 

Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and offers mediation services. 

Ashley McCorvey Myers, P. A.– Ashley Myers practices exclusively in the area of family 

law. She is Florida Bar Board Certified in marital and family law. 

(l to r) Kate Mesic, John H. McCorvey, Jr. & Ashley McCorvey Myers 

1912 Hamilton St., Ste. 204, Jacksonville, FL 32210 • Tel. 904.388.4030 

jacksonvillefloridalawyers.com 


STONE LOCKETT, PL. 

Stone Lockett, PL. is a law firm committed to defending people accused of crimes in both state 

and federal court. The attorneys and staff at Stone Lockett have the experience, reputation and 

legal skills necessary to ensure clients receive excellent representation. Our team approach to 

each case provides every client with the confidence of knowing that everything within the law will 

be done to achieve favorable results. 

Stone Lockett is widely considered one of the best DUI defense firms in the state and they handle 

all types of criminal defense matters including white collar crimes, violent crimes, sexual offenses, 

firearms, prescription drug offenses, trafficking and sales of narcotics, domestic violence, theft and 

property crimes, juvenile offenses, post conviction relief, grand jury proceedings and appeals. 

Mitchell Stone, a former state prosecutor and Florida Bar Board Certified Criminal Trial Lawyer, 

has tried over 150 jury trials from DUI to Complex Federal White Collar Crimes to Murder. He is 

a graduate of the University of Florida College of Law, is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale- 

Hubble and is named in Super Lawyers and Florida Trend’s Legal Elite. He is the chair of the 

FACDL Blood Breath & Tears DUI Seminar, is on the faculty of the Florida Bar's Masters of DUI 

seminar and other criminal defense seminars around the state. He authored Strategies for 

Defending DUI Cases in Florida, the DUI Notes column for The Florida Defender Magazine and 

numerous articles concerning criminal defense strategies. He is a past president of the FACDL 

Northeast chapter, past FACDL board member and past chairman of the Criminal Law section 

of the Jacksonville Bar Association. He is also a regular legal analyst in national and local media. 

Lee Lockett, a former state prosecutor division chief and current President of the Northeast 

Chapter of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is a Jacksonville Native and 

graduate of St. Thomas University School of Law. He has conducted over 45 criminal jury trials 

and is a member of the National College of DUI Defense and serves on the Traffic Rules Committee 

of the Florida Bar. He has received the highest rating of Superb by AVVO and is rated 

AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubble. He is on the Faculty of the FACDL Blood Breath & Tears 

DUI seminar as well as other DUI and criminal law seminars. He has authored criminal defense 

articles and has been called as an expert in DUI law in Florida and Tennessee. He has also 

appeared in national and local media concerning criminal law matters. 



Akerman Senterfitt Akerman is a leading transactions and trial law firm known for its core strengths in middle 

market M&A, within the financial services and real estate industries, and for a diverse 

Latin America practice. With more than 500 lawyers and government affairs professionals 

and a network of 19 offices, it is ranked among the top 100 law firms in the United 

States by The National Law Journal NLJ 250 (2012). Akerman also is ranked among 

the top 100 law firms for diversity by MultiCultural Law magazine (2012) and recognized 

as the Law Firm of the Year for Diversity – South by Benchmark Litigation (2012). 

Standing: Tim McDermott, H. Timothy Gillis & Jacob Brown 

Seated: John Macdonald, David Otero & Peter Dame 

Peter Larsen Robert Leapley, Jr. Stephen Prom 

50 N. Laura St., Suite 3100, Jacksonville, FL 32202 

Tel. 904.798.3700 • akerman.com 


Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball, P.A. 

(L to R) Michael W. Fisher, Harris L. Bonnette, Jr., Mary A. Robison, A. Hamilton Cooke, 

Clay B. Tousey, Jr., W. Hamilton Traylor, Robert A. Dawkins, Michael R. Leas, Beverly H. Furtick, 

Clay B. Tousey III, John E. Lawlor, III, Anne Buzby-Walt, Robert N. Miller, John S. Ball 

501 Riverside Ave., Suite 600, Jacksonville, FL 32202 

818 N. A1A, Suite 104, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 

5211 S. Fletcher Ave., Suite 260, Amelia Island, FL 32034 

Tel. 904.356.2600 • www.fishertousey.com 

Jacob A. Brown: practices primarily in bankruptcy, commercial litigation, and business 

reorganizations 

Peter L. Dame: primary area of focus is public finance, representing local governments, 

financial institutions, and other financing participants 

Timothy Gillis: practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and equity 

and debt offerings 

Peter O. Larsen: areas of focus include state and local tax planning, and federal tax 

litigation and controversy 

Robert A. Leapley, Jr.: focuses his practice on commercial real estate and business 

transactions 

John B. Macdonald: practice focuses primarily on commercial litigation, bankruptcy, 

and reorganizations 

Timothy J. McDermott: areas of focus include commercial litigation, products liability, 

insurance, and risk management 

David E. Otero: practice focuses on commercial litigation, bankruptcy, workouts, and 

restructuring 

Stephen G. Prom: areas of focus include corporate, business, and tax-exempt law, 

with a high concentration in the healthcare industry 

Established in 1978, Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball, P.A. 

is the largest business, tax and estate planning specialty 

law firm in north Florida, with offices in Jacksonville, Ponte 

Vedra Beach and Amelia Island. Thirteen of the firm’s shareholders 

are AV rated with Martindale-Hubbell and twelve are 

board certified by the Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts & Estates, 

Taxation or Real Estate Law. 

We are pleased to announce that A. Hamilton Cooke recently 

joined the firm as a shareholder and will practice in the 

areas of Estate Planning, Probate and Trust Administration, 

and Real Estate Law. Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball was also 

ranked in the 2011-12 U.S. News – Best Lawyers ® “Best 

Law Firms” in both Tax Law and Trust and Estate Law. 

Our board certified specialists counsel clients in estate 

planning, including wills, trusts, and charitable foundations, 

and in trust administration, guardianships, and elder law. 

Our clients look to the firm to educate them throughout the 

estate planning process. The firm’s business and tax practice 

helps LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and charitable 

organizations navigate complex tax issues, mergers and 

acquisitions, sales, retirement plans and employee benefit 

matters. The firm’s real estate practice counsels our business 

and high net worth clients on the purchase, sale, financing, 

leasing, and/or exchange of commercial real estate while 

also offering real estate tax planning services. 




Janet E. Johnson, P.A. 


Janet Johnson has represented those in need of a criminal defense 

attorney since 1994. She is a member of the Florida Bar and the Colorado 

Bar, as well as the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 

and has been chosen to teach at their annual D.U.I. seminar, “Blood, 

Breath & Tears.” Ms. Johnson has appeared as a commentator on First 

Coast News, CNN, HLN, Fox News, TruTV and The Wall Street Journal 

Radio Network. She has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell 

and practices exclusively in the area of criminal defense. 

Howard G. Butler, Esq. 

Butler Law Group 

PERSONAL INJURY & WRONGFUL DEATH 

1506 Prudential Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32207 

Tel. 904.398.2308 • butler-law-group.com 

211 N. Liberty St., Suite 3 


Tel. 904.634.8991 

Janetejohnsonlaw.com 

Howard G. Butler, Esq. is a nationally Board Certified Civil Trial 

Lawyer, is AV rated by Martindale-Hubble and has been repeatedly 

selected for inclusion in “The Best Lawyers In America” and Super 

Lawyers which is limited to the top 5 percent of lawyers in a state. 

During the course of his 25 year career Mr. Butler has represented 

thousands of injured people. 

Carolyn S. Zisser 

FAMILY LAW 

302 Third Street, Suite 6 

Neptune Beach, FL 32266 

Tel. 904.249.8787 

ZisserFamilyLaw.com 

With 40 years of experience, Carolyn S. Zisser understands that 

family law cases present many challenges, concerns and options. Her 

goal is to seek as peaceful a solution as possible with zealous advocacy 

when court action is necessary. She is an AV Preeminent Rated lawyer 

by Martindale-Hubbell. Carolyn’s law firm takes a team approach to 

solving complex family law issues involving significant custody, equitable 

distribution, support, prenuptial agreements and other divorce issues. 

Associate attorney, Laura Giovannetti, received her Juris Doctorate 

from the University of Miami School of Law and has been practicing law 

for over six years. In addition to her experience in traditional divorce, 

paternity and post-judgement litigation, Laura is trained in Collaborative 

Family Law, a model that allows parties to resolve disputes in a nonadversarial 

fashion. Laura is an Associate Member of the Florida Family 

Law Inn of Court and Secretary of First Coast Collaborative Family Law. 

Bruce S. Bullock 

MEDIATION, CIVIL TRIAL & PERSONAL INJURY LAW 

5515-2 Philips Highway, Jacksonville, FL 32207 Tel. 904.731.0535 

Bruce S. Bullock practices civil trial personal injury law 

and mediation. He is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit 

Mediator and an AV Preeminent rated attorney (1980), as well 

as a member of the Florida Bar, the Jacksonville Bar Association, 

the American Board of Trial Advocates (Diplomate) and the 

Rotary Club of South Jacksonville. 



Kevin E. Jakab, Esq. • Jakab Law, PLLC 

1936 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207 Tel. 904.683.2290 

Jakab Law, PLLC offers civil litigation and trial support to individuals 

and businesses, throughout the State of Florida. Our firm also co-counsels 

with law firms to both defend and prosecute civil cases destined for trial 

in either federal or state court. 

Jakab Law, PLLC is directed by founding and managing partner, 

Kevin Jakab, Esq. Mr. Jakab is a “Triple Gator” having earned Bachelor, 

Master, and Juris Doctor degrees from the University of Florida. Mr. Jakab 

was also a distinguished Graduate Fellow at Georgetown University. 

Mr. Jakab has considerable experience handling a wide-variety of civil and 

commercial cases involving: professional liability; insurance coverage 

and bad faith; wrongful death; significant personal injury; fraud; and 

commercial transportation. 

Law Offices of Arthur Hernández, P.A. 

2223 Oak St., Ste. 711, Jacksonville, FL 32204 Tel. 904.389.6989 

email arthur@arthurhernandez.com • arthurhernandez.com 

Arthur Hernández is a member of the Florida Bar, Jacksonville Bar, 

Federal Courts, Jacksonville Justice Association, Jacksonville Chamber 

of Commerce and is also board eligible in Civil Trial. 

Mr. Hernández specializes in personal injury, wrongful death, medical 

malpractice, trucking litigation, insurance bad faith, and commercial 

litigation, for individual and multi-national clients. He earned his undergraduate 

degree from the University of Miami in 1986 and law degree 

from St. Thomas University School of Law, in 1990. He has proudly 

served the legal needs of the “904 community” since July 1993. 

Katie L. Dearing 

300 West Adams St. 

Suite 500 


Tel. 904.355.8001 

dearingfirm.com 

The Dearing Law Firm is an AV-rated trial and appellate firm representing 

businesses and individuals in a wide variety of litigation matters, 

including cases involving complex business and commercial disputes, 

contractual disputes, products liability, business torts, premises liability, 

creditor’s rights, real estate litigation, trade secrets, professional liability, 

personal injury, unfair competition, warranty law, and wrongful death. 

Recognizing that great results do not require great expense, we are 

committed to providing high-quality legal services and efficient, proactive 

solutions that solve our clients’ problems without breaking their budgets. 

We understand the real cost a legal dispute has on a business and strive 

to provide our clients with winning solutions in line with the client’s business 

goals and resources. 

Ms. Dearing has received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, and has 

been selected by her peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America 

and in Super Lawyers magazine as one of the top attorneys in Florida. 

Michael D. McGrath 

McGrath Gibson 

Injury & Family Law 

PERSONAL INJURY, WRONGFUL DEATH, MEDICAL MALPRACTICE 

6117 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32211 Tel. 904.358.3300 

LearnYourRights.com 

Michael founded McGrath Gibson with fellow Florida Coastal graduate 

Brad Gibson. He serves as the firm’s Managing Partner, overseeing operations 

in the Jacksonville and West Palm Beach offices. Michael is AV-Rated 

by Martindale-Hubbell and licensed to practice in Florida, Georgia, and 

North Carolina. The firm is comprised of seven attorneys focusing on serious 

injury and family law litigation. 


ILLUSTRATION BY KEN DUBROWSKI 

Advisor 

TheLBAGroup.com 

S P E C I A L A D V E R T I S I N G S E C T I O N 

• Year End Tax Planning 

• Valuing Your Business 

• Safe Harbor for 401(k) Plans 

• Tax Identity Theft 

• The Avoidable Failure to Act 


Richard D. Brock, CPA 

Chairman of the Board 

Neal J. Von Stein, CPA 

Managing Partner 

The LBA Group 

501 Riverside Avenue 

Suite 800 


Phone: 904.396.4015 

Fax: 904.399.4012 



Dear Clients & Friends: 

ow. The past couple of months have been very exciting ones for all of us at LBA. 

We are extremely proud to announce that the LBA family of companies: LBA 

Certified Public Accountants, LBA Healthcare Consulting Services, LBA Retirement 

Plan Services and LBA Wealth Management, will now present as one firm—The LBA 

Group. 

The shift to one identity is one we have discussed over the last year and we are extremely excited to 

have launched our new cohesive logo last month. In addition, our company website has undergone 

an entire redesign and redevelopment, we launched The LBA Group’s YouTube Channel and . . . . 

wait for it. . . . we started Tweeting! Our goal is to consistently provide our clients with an experience. 

The professionals at The LBA Group maintain the highest level of integrity and we make it a 

priority to ensure we are on the leading edge of technical knowledge and understanding. But maybe 

even more than that, is the personality with which we provide our services. We are different and we 

want everyone to get that message loud and clear. 

In this issue of the LBA Advisor, we take a look at some of the key issues facing both individuals 

and businesses. Personal identity theft is a growing problem throughout the country, and it is affecting 

the filing of tax returns in a major way. Unfortunately, Florida is reporting the highest number of 

tax identity thefts in the country. The LBA Group’s Managing Partner, Neal Von Stein, provides some 

preventative ways to avoid identity theft and that make it difficult for you to become an easy target. 

See these tips on page 52. 

Also affecting individual taxpayers are rising rates and expiring tax breaks, making tax planning more 

complicated as we enter into the 4th quarter of 2012. Planning for deductions is going to be key for 

individuals this year so please review some of the highlights we have outlined on page 53. 

Bob McKendry, The LBA Group’s Partner in our Retirement Plan Services division, outlines on pages 

54 and 55 how choosing one of two safe harbor contribution alternatives can benefit small business 

owners when added to a 401(k) plan. Also for business owners, Rob Hinckley, a Tax and Estate 

Planning Partner tackles the sensitive issue of planning for what will ultimately happen to their 

businesses. Proactive planning is key to planning a business owner’s exit strategy and Rob provides 

10 questions to consider about life after your business on page 60. As a natural next step to considering 

an exit strategy, Scott Steadman, a Director in The LBA Group’s Forensic, Litigation & Valuation 

Services Group, then tackles the top five reasons owners should consider putting “Estimate the 

Value of My Business” on the top of their to-do lists. 

Rounding out this issue’s articles, Carol Crews, The LBA Group’s Director of Healthcare Consulting 

Services outlines a new operating rule that is estimated to save hospitals, physicians and health 

plans up to $4.5 billion over the next 10 years. We are also pleased to announce the 3rd Annual 

Physician Client Update which will be held on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at The River Club. 

You can read Carol’s article on page 56 and view the event details on page 57. 

Finally, we are, as always, extremely proud of our team’s professional accomplishments and of their 

selfless sense of community. In this issue of Inside LBA we are honored to celebrate promotions, 

leadership roles, volunteerism and new additions to our team. 

Thank you again for trusting the professionals at The LBA Group to provide you with service that is 

unequalled with integrity that is uncompromising by those who have unsquared personalities! 

Sincerely, 

The LBA Group

Personal Planning 

52 Tax Identity Theft—A Growing Problem 

Tax Planning 

53 In these uncertain times, year end tax planning is more important than ever. 

Retirement Plan Services 

54 Plan Design: The Safe Harbor Solution for 401(k) Plans 

Healthcare 

CONTENTS 

56 New Rule Is Estimated to Save Hospitals, Physicians and Health Plans Up to $4.5 Billion 

Over Next 10 Years. 

Inside LBA 

58 New Team Members • Promotions • Leadership • Out and About 

59 LBA Steps Up! 

Business Planning 

60 The Avoidable Failure to Act 

Forensic, Litigation & Valuation Services 

62 Five Reasons You Need to Know What Your Business is Worth 

The LBA Group guarantees neither the accuracy nor completeness of information contained in this publication and is not responsible for any errors or omissions or for results obtained by others as a result of reliance upon 

such information. This publication does not, and is not intended to, provide legal, tax or accounting advice. For more information on any of the issues addressed in this publication, please contact The LBA Group directly at 

904.396.4015. 


Personal Planning 

Tax Identity Theft—A Growing Problem 

A high number of identity theft cases have been reported to the IRS. Over half of these cases are in Florida. 

Neal J. Von Stein, CPA 

Managing Partner 

Direct: 904.224.9780 

nvonstein@TheLBAGroup.com 


Identity theft is a growing problem throughout the 

country, and it is affecting the filing of tax returns in 

a major way. The Federal Trade Commission reports 

that it continues to be the number-one consumer complaint 

reported to the agency year after year. And the 

state of Florida has the highest number of reported 

cases in the country. 

Identity theft can be a risk every time you swipe your 

credit card at a store or provide your 

Social Security number online. On the tax front, clever 

con artists masquerading as IRS representatives or 

agents may try to steal your vital information and use it 

for illegal means. Or an identity thief could file a fake 

tax return for you in order to obtain a refund. 

Incidences of tax identity theft have increased significantly 

in the past couple of years. The IRS's Incident 

Tracking Statistics Report shows that 641,052 taxpayers 

were affected by identity theft in 2011 compared 

with 270,518 in 2010. 

We recently contacted the IRS directly to inquire what, if 

anything, we could do to help our clients who have been 

dealing with tax refund identity theft and the extremely 

long process of rectifying the situation. 

Unfortunately, the response was not what we were hoping 

for. According to the local IRS office, 2/3 to 3/4 of 

all refund identity theft cases in the United States have 

occurred in Florida. While the IRS is working hard with 

local authorities to address the issue, the sheer volume 

of identity theft cases is overloading the system and its 

capacity to work through each case. 

In this age of digital information, it can be a daunting 

task to keep your private information secure. However, 

there are preventative ways to avoid identity theft and 

make it difficult for you to become an easy target. 

Consider the following tips. 

Tips to Avoid Identity Theft: 

• Use credit cards, not debit cards. A debit card is 

linked directly to your checking account. If someone 

steals your credit card information and uses it to 

make a fraudulent purchase, it is the credit card company’s 

money involved so they are the victim, not you. 

If your debit card information is stolen and used, that 

is your money that you’ve lost and you then have to 

go through the process with your bank of getting your 

funds back. That can be a lengthy process. 

• However, when using a debit card, if you are asked 

“credit or debit?” always use debit. Using the debit 

function on your bank card is more secure as you 

have to use your PIN. Using the credit function sends 

your unencrypted information in the air to the computer, 

especially at gas stations. That leaves opportunity 

for the information to be picked up by a nefarious 

scanner along the way. 

• Don’t let credit cards out of your sight. We normally 

think nothing of it to hand over our credit card to a 

server in a restaurant to take care of our bill. Be careful 

who you give your credit card to and limit their access 

to it when you’re not around to see what they’re doing. 

• RFID = Radio-frequency identification. 

RFID is the use of a wireless system 

that uses radio-frequency to transfer 

data for the purposes of automatic 

identification and tracking. Passports 

and credit cards are now almost all 

equipped with RFID. If you see the symbol above on 

your card, your information is being broadcast through 

a radio frequency that can be picked up by anyone 

with knowledge of technology and a little money at 

Radio Shack. You can wrap your credit cards or passport 

in aluminum foil or store them in an aluminum 

wallet, made to block the radio signal. 

• Track your credit. Knowing immediately when someone 

starts using your identity can save you from 

further losses. Visit www.annualcreditreport.com to 

receive your free credit report from each credit bureau. 

You can also place a fraud alert with each of 

the credit bureaus. 

Being alert and aware is the best way to avoid identity 

theft. u

Year End Tax Planning 

In these uncertain times, planning is more important than ever. 

William G. Shelton, Jr., 

CPA 

Partner 

Direct: 904.224.9774 

wshelton@TheLBAGroup.com 

Minimizing taxes is never easy. But in times of legislative 

and economic uncertainty, it can be a real 

challenge. As of this writing, the lower tax rates 

currently in effect are scheduled to expire at the end of 

2012. Whether they’ll be extended, raised or changed in 

some other way is anyone’s guess. 

This means you’ll need to base your tax plan on the way 

things are now but be ready to revise it in a flash if Congress 

makes significant tax law changes before year end. 

The more you know about the areas subject to change, and 

the more familiar you are with the various tax planning 

strategies, the easier it will be to determine your best 

course of action. 

Rising rates and expiring breaks complicate 

tax planning 

Deductions are more powerful when tax rates are higher 

because they save tax at that higher rate—a $1,000 

deduction saves you $280 when your tax rate is 28% but 

$310 when your tax rate is 31%. With tax rates, as of this 

writing, scheduled to rise in 2013, you may want to defer, 

where possible, incurring deductible expenses to next year, 

when they might save more tax. But the tax advantage 

could be reduced or eliminated by the expiration of certain 

tax breaks. An income-based phase out limiting the benefit 

of many deductions, for example, is scheduled to return for 

2013. Yet it’s possible that lower rates and various tax 

breaks could be extended. So planning for deductions is 

especially complicated this year. 

The AMT 

When planning for deductions, the first step is to consider 

the alternative minimum tax (AMT)—a separate tax system 

that limits some deductions and doesn’t permit others, 

such as: 

• State and local income tax deductions, 

• Property tax deductions, and 

• Miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to the 2% of 

adjusted gross income (AGI) floor, including investment 

expenses and unreimbursed employee business 

expenses. 

You must pay the AMT if your AMT liability exceeds your 

regular tax liability. You may be able to time income and deductions 

to avoid the AMT, reduce its impact or even take 

advantage of its lower maximum rate. But, such planning 

will be a challenge until Congress passes long-term relief. 

Unlike the regular tax system, the AMT system isn’t 

regularly adjusted for inflation. Instead, Congress must 

legislate any adjustments. Typically, it has done so via an 

increase in the AMT exemption. Such a “patch” was in 

Tax Planning 

effect for 2011, but, as of this writing, Congress hasn’t 

passed a patch for 2012. (Check with your LBA advisor for 

the latest information.) 

Charitable Donations 

Donations to qualified charities are generally fully deductible 

for both regular tax and AMT purposes, and they 

may be the easiest deductible expense to time to your tax 

advantage. After all, you control exactly when and how 

much you give. For large donations, discuss with your tax 

advisor which assets to give and the best ways to give 

them. For example: 

Appreciated assets. Publicly traded stock and other securities 

you’ve held more than one year are long-term capital 

gains property, which can make one of the best charitable 

gifts. Why? Because you can deduct the current fair market 

value and avoid the capital gains tax you’d pay if you sold 

the property. Warning: Donations of such property are subject 

to tighter deduction limits. Excess contributions can be 

carried forward for up to five years. 

CRTs. For a given term, a charitable remainder trust pays 

an amount to you annually (some of which may be taxable.) 

(continued on page 64) 


Retirement Plan Services 

PLAN DESIGN: 

The Safe Harbor Solution for 401(k) Plans 

Bob McKendry, CPC®, 

QPA, QKA, CFP 

Partner, Retirement Plan 

Services 

Direct: 904.224.9769 

bmckendry@TheLBAGroup.com 


401(k) retirement plans have been around for 

some time and have grown in popularity over the 

years. In many cases, small employers must offer 

a 401(k) plan to attract and retain employees. The 

401(k) plan offers employees a way to save for retirement 

on a tax-deferred basis with the added bonus of 

employer contributions to supplement the employee’s 

retirement savings. 

Unfortunately, for many small employers, the 401(k) plan 

design doesn’t offer much benefit to the owner of the 

business. Federal regulations require annual nondiscrimination 

testing that often limits the amount the owners 

and other highly compensated employees can contribute 

to the plan. Low plan participation by rank-and-file employees 

results in nondiscrimination test failures which 

require taxable refunds of 401(k) deferrals to the owners 

and highly compensated employees. 

Fortunately, employers can “buy” their way out of annual 

nondiscrimination testing by adding a safe harbor contribution 

feature to their 401(k) plan. 

There are two safe harbor contribution alternatives: (1) an 

employer matching contribution of up to four percent of 

compensation to those participants that make 401(k) deferral 

contributions to the plan or (2) a three percent of 

compensation employer contribution to all eligible participants 

(regardless of whether they make 401(k) deferral 

contributions). Both options must provide 100 percent 

vesting of the safe harbor contribution. 

Let’s look at a real world example of a safe harbor plan 

in action. 

Background: A prospective client complained that his 

401(k) plan was failing the annual nondiscrimination 

testing on employee 401(k) deferrals. Consequently, he 

was required to take large taxable refunds each year to 

fix the test failure. 

Additionally, he complained, the plan is considered “topheavy” 

which required him to make an employer contribution 

to the plan for each rank-and-file employee equal to 

three percent of their annual compensation. 

The prospective client was frustrated with his plan, felt 

he was just not getting much benefit from the plan for 

what it was costing him and thought it might be a good 

idea to terminate his retirement plan and contribute to 

an individual retirement account instead. 

Look at his current 401(k) plan (A): 

The owner has a 401(k) deferral rate of 8.5 percent 

($17,000 in employee 401(k) deferrals divided by his 

compensation of $200,000). The employees have an 

average deferral rate of only 1.5 percent. This disparity 

in deferral rates results in a nondiscrimination testing 

failure that requires the owner to take a taxable refund 

of $11,000 from the plan. 

To make matters worse, the plan is top-heavy (more 

than 60 percent of plan assets are held by the owner),

A 

B 

C 

so that the employer is required to make a three percent of compensation 

top heavy minimum contribution for his employees. 

Bottom-line, after the test failure refund, the employer must contribute 

$2,400 in employer contributions to end up with net 401(k) 

contributions of $6,000 in his account. The result is an unhappy 

business owner! We suggested he consider amending the plan to 

add a safe harbor contribution feature. 

Now look at a safe harbor 401(k) plan solution for this same 

employer using a safe harbor matching contribution (B): 

Using a safe harbor matching contribution, the plan is deemed to 

pass the nondiscrimination test on 401(k) deferrals. Additionally, 

under the safe harbor rules, the plan is deemed exempt from the topheavy 

minimum contribution requirements. Consequently, the owner 

can defer $17,000 into the plan as employee deferrals without fear of 

test failure refunds plus receive a safe harbor matching contribution 

of $8,000 for a total of $25,000 contributed to his account. 

The cost for employees in this case is actually less than the top-heavy 

minimum contribution in the first example. Since the plan is considered 

exempt from the top-heavy requirements, a top-heavy minimum contribution 

is not required. Employee 1 receives a 100 percent vested safe 

harbor matching contribution on his 401(k) deferral equal to $1,500. 

Employee 2 did not defer and receives no matching contribution. 

The benefits of switching to this safe harbor matching approach are 

significant. The cost for employees is decreased by $900 and the 

contributions allocated to the owner are increased by $19,000. 

Tax Note: Assuming the owner is in the 28 percent bracket for federal 

income taxation, the owner’s tax savings from his personal plan contributions 

is $7,000. We assume the $25,000 the owner receives in 

total contributions would be taken as additional taxable income if not 

contributed to the plan. Instead of paying an additional $7,000 in federal 

income taxes, the owner contributes the $7,000 in tax savings to 

the plan. The $1,500 contribution cost for his employees is more than 

covered by his tax savings, so it is a “win/win” for the owner. He saves 

$7,000 in taxes and the “IRS covers the cost” for his employees with 

the surplus of $5,500 going to his own account. 

Our prospective client was intrigued by the benefits of the safe harbor 

matching contribution, but wanted to know if we could do better. 

We explained that using the three percent safe harbor contribution 

approach would allow him to take advantage of a special nondiscrimination 

testing rule referred to as new comparability that could result 

in an additional employer contribution to him. 

Here’s a safe harbor 401(k) plan solution for this same employer 

using a three percent safe harbor contribution with a 

new comparability profit sharing contribution to the owner (C): 

Due to the three percent safe harbor contribution, once again the plan 

is deemed to pass the nondiscrimination test on 401(k) deferrals and 

the top-heavy minimum contribution requirement is satisfied. The 

owner can defer $17,000 (or $22,500, if he is age 50 or older, under 

the catch-up contribution rules) without fear of a test failure refund. 

Additionally, employer contributions equal to nine percent of compensation, 

or $18,000, can be allocated to the owner under the new 

comparability rules for total contributions of $35,000 to the owner. 

The two employees each receive a safe harbor contribution equal to 

three percent of compensation, regardless of whether they defer into 

the plan, resulting in a total cost for employees of $2,400. 

Note: It appears the employer contributions under this approach are 

discriminatory with the owner receiving nine percent of compensation 

and the employees only receiving three percent of compensation. 

But, under the new comparability testing rules, the contribution 

amounts are actuarially converted to benefit amounts at retirement 

age and are shown to be nondiscriminatory in terms of the benefits 

they will provide to the plan participants at retirement. 

When we compare this safe harbor plan approach to the original 

401(k) plan, the same 

Participant Compensation 401 (k) Deferral % Required Refund Top Heavy 

Contribution 

Owner $200,000 $17,000 8.5% $11,000.00 $ -0- 

Employee 1 $50,000 $1,500 3.0% $1,500 

Employee 2 $30,000 $-0- 0.0% $900 

Total Employer Contribution ................................................................................................................$2,400 

Participant Compensation 401 (k) Deferral % Required Refund Safe Harbor 

Matching Acct. 

Owner $200,000 $17,000 8.5% $0.00 $8,000 

Employee 1 $50,000 $1,500 3.0% $1,500 

Employee 2 $30,000 $-0- 0.0% $ -0- 

Total Employer Contribution ............................................................................................................$9,500 

Participant Compensation 401 (k) Deferral % Required Refund Employer 

Contribution 

Owner $200,000 $17,000 8.5% $0.00 $18,000 

Employee 1 $50,000 $1,500 3.0% $1,500 

Employee 2 $30,000 $-0- 0.0% $900 

Total Employer Contribution ............................................................................................................$20,400 

cost for employees of 

$2,400 allows the owner 

to increase his allocations 

under the plan 

from $6,000 to 

$35,000… a $29,000 

increase! 

The bottom-line for frustrated 

401(k) plan sponsors, 

there is hope for 

your plan. 

The regulations and 

rules governing qualified 

retirement plans offer a 

lot of flexibility in designing 

a plan to meet the 

employer’s needs. Often, 

relatively simple plan 

design changes, such 

as adding a safe harbor 

or new comparability 

feature, can make a big 

difference in the performance 

of the plan. 

The moral of this story… 

Talk to a retirement plan 

professional before giving 

up on your 401(k) 

plan. u 


Healthcare 

New Rule is Estimated to Save Hospitals, 

Physicians and Health Plans up to $4.5 Billion 

Over Next 10 years. 

Carol Crews, CMPE 

Director, Healthcare 

Consulting Services 

Direct: 904.224.9787 

ccrews@TheLBAGroup.com 


As part of the Administrative 

Simplification provisions of 

the Affordable Care Act of 

2010 (ACA), the Department of 

Health and Human Services (HHS) 

has adopted a new Operating Rule 

Set for Electronic Funds Transfers 

(EFTs) and Electronic Remittance Advice 

transactions (ERAs). The regulation 

became effective August 10, 

2012, and all Health Insurance 

Portability and Accountability Act 

(HIPAA) covered entities must be in 

compliance with the EFT and ERA Operating 

Rule Set by January 1, 2014. 

Prior to the new operating rule, 

health plans would often send EFTs 

and ERAs separately to hospitals 

and physician practices which made 

it difficult for the provider and/or 

staff to match up the payment with 

the remittance advice. The new rule 

outlines standards for the format 

and data content of the transmission 

the health plan sends to the bank 

through the EFT and to the provider 

for the ERA. The new standards will 

significantly reduce the manual reconciliation 

process that is currently 

being done by healthcare staff. 

Requirements of the new Operating Rule Set 

include: 

• Requires health plans to offer a standardized, online 

enrollment for EFTs and ERAs 

• Requires health plans to send the EFT to the financial 

institution within a certain number of days of the ERA 

• Requires uniformity in the use of claim adjustment 

reason codes and remittance advice remark codes 

• Requires the health plan to provide a trace number 

that will automatically match the EFT with the ERA 

• Sets requirements for the initial set-up for the electronic 

communication between the health plans and 

providers 

The rule applies to health plans and establishes requirements 

for how they transmit their claim payments and remittance 

advice documents to providers. Health plans 

using a clearinghouse or financial institution to format 

non-standard data into an Automated Clearing House 

(ACH) format plan is responsible for ensuring that the 

clearinghouse or financial institution uses the healthcare 

EFT standards. 

There are no requirements in the new rule that directly 

apply to providers or hospitals. The new EFT and ERA 

Operating Rule Set will allow physician practices and 

hospitals to more easily enroll in EFTs/ERAs with multiple 

health plans. Further, supply cost, time to manually 

process and deposit paper checks, and staff time to 

manually post payments to the billing system will be 

greatly reduced. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 

estimates the cost to implement the new rule to be 

between $1.2 and $2.7 billion over the next ten years, 

with the majority of the cost incurred by the health plans. 

The savings and cost benefit to using the EFT and ERA 

Operating Rules, however, is estimated to be between 

$3 and $4.5 billion for health plans, hospitals, and physician 

practices. The costs and benefits will be realized 

through enhanced provider enrollment in EFTs and ERAs, 

standardized EFT and ERA technical infrastructure, alignment 

of the payment information with the remittance advice, 

and improved posting of payment adjustments and 

claim denials. u

3rd 

Annual LBA Physician 

Client Update Update 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012 

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. 

The River Club of Jacksonville 

Admission - $49 per person; Complimentary for LBA Clients. 

Updates on key issues issues being faced faced by by healthcare professionals 

and practices today, to include: 

How How Does Does the the Affordable Affordable Care Care Act Act (a/k/a (a/k/a Obamacare) 

Obamacare) 

Affect Your Practice? 

Is Your Business Prepared? 

Billings & Collections 

Are Your Processes Efficient? 

Financial Planning and W ealth Management 

Structuring Your Portfolio Based on the Election Results. 

Post-Election Tax ax Environment 

Environment 

Now What? 

To register, please call 

The LBA Group 

at 904.396.4015 

or visit 

501 Riverside Ave. 

Suite 800 


904.396.4015 


THE LBA GROUP IS 

PLEASED TO WELCOME: 

Carol Crews, CMPE 

Director of Healthcare 

Consulting Services 

The LBA Group is honored to have 

Carol Crews, CMPE join the firm as the Director 

of our Healthcare Consulting Services team. 

Carol brings more than 30 years of experience 

in the healthcare profession and is a 

Certified Medical Practice Executive. 

We are lucky to have her as part of our team! 

Direct: 904.224.9787 • Email: ccrews@TheLBAGroup.com 

SPEAKERS 

SPEAKERS 

SPEAKERS 

SPEAKERS 

John Reynolds Jim White 

Carol Carol Carol Crews 

Crews 

Richard 

Brock 

Dave Albaneze 


Inside LBA 

New Team Members 

LBA continues to grow and it is with great appreciation that we thank our 

clients and friends for their continued trust in our team. Please join us as we 

welcome these team members who have joined LBA over the last few months. 

Kristen Breidenstein 

Administrative Support 

Michael Scully 

Staff Accountant 

Out & About 


Sulley Sullivan 

Senior Accounting Associate 

Kim Gonzalez 

Accounting Associate 

Lanigan Finke Steadman Reynolds Thomas 

Scott Lanigan, CPA, CFE, Cr.FA, CFC, DABFA, and Barbara Finke, CPA, 

spoke to the Clerks of Courts for the State of Florida in June. This presentation 

demonstrated the importance of the internal audit function to add value and improve 

an organization’s operation by evaluating and improving the effectiveness 

of risk management, control and the governance process, and help to prevent 

fraud. The presentation laid a foundation for creating a successful internal audit 

function through an overview of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of 

the Treadway Commission's "Internal Control - Integrated Framework." 

Scott Steadman, ASA, CFC, and John Reynolds spoke on “Valuation and 

Forensic Accounting in Tort Defense Practice” at the Jacksonville Association 

of Defense Council’s last quarterly meeting. 

In June, Scott Steadman, ASA, CFC, also gave opening remarks at the Jacksonville 

Bar Association Inaugural Criser Transactional Law Seminar at the 

Sawgrass Marriott, discussing The LBA Group and the Forensic, Litigation, and 

Valuation Services Team. 

Jamie Thomas, Director of Marketing and Communications, served as 

Chair of the Association for Accounting Marketing’s (AAM) Summit in Las Vegas, 

NV, in June. This was the first year AAM co-located its Annual Summit with the 

AICPA’s Practitioners and Tech+ Conference. The combined conference attracted 

1,600 attendees, speakers, vendors and media representatives. u 

Leadership 

Several of our team members have risen to leadership positions 

within a variety of organizations. LBA encourages its staff to 

strive for these external leadership positions and we are proud 

of their accomplishments. Please join us as we congratulate 

them. 

Promotions 

Barbara Finke, CPA, has been appointed to 

serve on the FICPA’s Women in Leadership 

Committee. Barbara is a Manager with the 

Audit & Assurance Services Team at The LBA 

Group. 

Scott Lanigan, CPA, CFE, Cr.FA, CFC, 

DABFA, and LBA Partner, was unanimously 

voted to join the Jacksonville Area Legal Aid 

as a member of the Board of Directors. Scott 

was also voted in as Chairman of the Board 

of Directors of The American Cancer Society 

of Duval County. 

Scott Steadman, ASA, CFC, has been appointed 

to the Steering Committee for the 

FICPA’s Valuation, Forensic and Litigation 

Services section. u 

We are extremely proud of the hard work and dedication our team 

members consistently give to the firm. It is their commitment that 

allows us to provide our clients with the premier level of service 

they have become accustomed to receiving. 

Congratulations to Rachel Hall, CPA, on her 

promotion to Senior Manager. Rachel has 

over 10 years of experience with business 

and individual income tax planning and 

preparation, with an industry focus on real 

estate, construction and timber. Rachel 

earned her Bachelor’s in Accounting from the 

University of West Florida and her Master’s 

in Accounting with a specialization in tax 

from the University of North Florida. She is a member of the Florida 

Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA). u 

We also congratulate Jennifer (Moore) 

Koopman, CPA, who has been promoted to 

Manager. Jennifer has been an integral 

member of LBA’s tax team since joining the 

firm as a staff accountant in 2007. Her industry 

focus is on healthcare, investment 

services, construction and real estate. She 

earned her Bachelor’s in Accounting and 

Master’s in Taxation at the University of Central 

Florida. She is a member of the FICPA, the American Institute 

of CPAs (AICPA) and a member of the UCF Alumni Association. u

LBA Steps Up! 

l Hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida 

4th Annual Fall Walk for Bleeding Disorders 

September 22, 2012 

Once again, LBA Steps Up! supported the Fall Walk by 

walking for Team Charlie. Cindy Meide, CPA, Senior Manager 

with LBA’s Audit & Assurance Services Group, led the 

team for her five-year-old son, Charlie. Charlie was born 

with Severe Hemophilia A, a genetic bleeding disorder 

that prevents his blood from clotting. Children living with 

bleeding disorders face many challenges on a day-to-day 

basis. Over the past few years, Cindy has become very 

involved with the Hemophilia Foundation of Greater 

Florida. The mission of the foundation is to improve the 

quality of life for people with bleeding disorders and their 

families through education, advocacy and research. 

l Wounded Warrior Project 8k Run 

September 8, 2012 

Diane Hill and Michael Scully led the fundraising effort for 

the LBA Steps Up! team. The Wounded Warrior Project’s 

(WWP’s) mission is to foster the most successful, well-adjusted 

generation of wounded service members in our nation’s 

history by raising awareness and enlisting the 

public’s aid. WWP provides unique programs to meet the 

needs of these injured service members. 

l The Salvation Army’s Stuff the Bus Drive 

July 16, 2012 

LBA Steps Up! again supported and participated in The 

Salvation Army’s Stuff the Bus 2012 School Supply Drive. 

LBA employees filled an entire bin with backpacks, notebooks, 

hand sanitizer, markers, calculators, highlighters, 

crayons, pens, folders, paper, pencils, binders and more. 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

l American Cancer Society – Making Strides 

Against Breast Cancer – October 13, 2012 

l Susan G. Komen Foundation – Race for the 

Cure 5k – October 20, 2012 u 

Wounded Warrior Project 8k Run 

Inside LBA 

Scott Lanigan at the American Cancer Society’s Volunteer Dinner 


Business Planning 

The Avoidable Failure to Act 

“I never worry about action, but only about inaction.” —Winston Churchill 

Robert W. Hinckley, 

CPA, AEP 

Tax and Estate Planning 

Partner 

Direct: 904.224.9786 

rhinckley@TheLBAGroup.com 


“ Ihaven’t decided what I ultimately want to do with my 

business, or when I want to retire, or how much 

money I’ll need, or whom to sell to, so how can I plan 

my exit? Besides, I don’t want to exit right now.” 

If you’ve said this, or thought it, you are not alone. Many 

business owners are either overwhelmed with the 

thought of exiting or are so busy fighting daily business 

fires that they assume they cannot plan their exits. 

If you aren’t sure about what you want, or when you want 

to leave, why is it so important to decide to act today? 

First, recognize that when you take a passive attitude 

and don't plan for the irrefutable fact that you will—one 

way or another—leave your business, you are most likely 

settling for less than the most profitable or efficient exit. 

Second, understand that preparing and transferring a 

company for top dollar takes time, frequently several 

years. Most of that will be spent preparing your business 

for the transfer, including focusing on the "Value 

Drivers for your business". These may include securing 

key employees and establishing a capable management 

team. If you decide to sell to employees or children (two 

groups who rarely have substantial cash), planning will 

include developing tax efficient strategies and establishing 

the means for a transfer that can produce the cash 

flow and level of control that you need or desire. The 

more time you have to plan, design and implement 

these strategies, the more likely you are to reach your 

goals. 

Third, if you decide to sell to a third party or you want 

that to at least be an option, remember that the market 

does not operate on your schedule and may not be paying 

peak prices when you are ready to sell. You can't 

rely on the belief that one day a buyer will contact you, 

negotiate a fair price, and that will be that on your 

timetable. There is a pent up supply of businesses 

owned by Baby Boomers who, as the M&A market recovers, 

will be clamoring to sell their companies. The 

simple law of Supply and Demand tells us the effect the 

type of market will have for sellers. In a buyer’s market, 

only the best-prepared businesses will sell for top dollar 

and the owners of those well-prepared businesses will 

be those who made the decision to prepare their company 

years ahead of the actual sale. 

Action items to plan accordingly: 

• Determine your desired timing for giving up ownership 

and giving up control (two different things that could 

have two different answers). Don't let this one stump 

you. Recognize that this is not cut in stone and will 

change, but focus on desired timing. 

• Determine your financial status and needs. 

• Decide whom you want to succeed you. 

• Based on your objectives and the realities of your 

business, consider using a skilled Planning Professional 

to forge a plan with accountability/decision 

deadlines. The more structure that is lent to the 

process the greater the probability for success. 

Your failure to act, however, can potentially be fatal to your 

successful exit. You and your family depend on the success 

of your business exit. Can you afford to fail to act? u 

Top 10 questions about life after 

your business: 

• What have you been doing to plan for the single, 

most critically important financial event of 

your life – the transition out of your business? 

• When do you think you’ll want to leave your 

business? 

• Who is your likely successor? 

• What is important to you when you think about 

leaving your business? 

• In the best possible world, what do you think 

you could do with your business? 

• How much money will you need from your business 

to keep up your lifestyle after your exit? 

• What is your business currently worth? 

• What are the Value Drivers that could increase 

the value of your business? 

• What have you done to protect your family’s 

wealth? 

• What are you going to do after you leave your 

business?

W E A L T H M A N A G E R S O F N O R T H E A S T F L O R I D A 

What makes your practice different? 

We provide wealth management services to high 

net worth individuals and families. We are a “fee only” 

advisor choosing not to sell our clients any financial 

products. This allows us to provide our clients with 

objective and independent advice without any 

conflicts of interest. 

Who is your ideal client? 

Our ideal client is an individual or family steward that 

requires sophisticated wealth management services. 

Describe your customer service model. 

Our wealth management service is provided by 

a team of professionals. This team of CERTIFIED 

FINANCIAL PLANNERS, ® Certified Public 

Accountants and a Chartered Financial Analyst 

collaborates to provide our clients with a 

comprehensive financial plan. 

What is your investment philosophy? 

We believe in maintaining a strategic asset allocation 

adjusting risk for each client’s portfolio. We are strong 

believers in utilizing Disciplined Rebalancing to return 

asset mixes to their strategic targets after large market 

moves. When we perceive a market opportunity we will 

tactically adjust our exposure to sub asset classes. 

Can you describe the process you take 

new clients through? 

We provide financial planning as a part of our wealth 

management service. Our process begins with a lengthy 

“discovery” meeting to uncover goals, risk tolerance, 

income needs, special needs, etc. We then start with 

creating a retirement plan and an analysis of existing 

investments to determine if their investments are 

matched with their retirement expectations. 

Describe your risk management philosophy. 

We start with having the right asset mix for each 

client’s situation. If the equity part of their portfolio 

increases and exceeds their strategic asset mix 

exposure we will trim it back (selling after up moves). 

Conversely, if the equity exposure is less than their 

target we will increase it (buying after market declines). 

This disciplined rebalancing approach is a very 

effective way to manage risk. 

Define the added value of your services in 

relationship to your fees. 

We are a “fee only” advisor. Our fee is paid separately 

but is very transparent. Clients know exactly what 

they are being charged. The difference when utilizing 

a “fee based” advisor is the potential for a separate 

fee. However, that advisor can also sell products 

where a commission or fee is paid to the advisor. Our 

value is the peace of mind our clients enjoy knowing 

their interests are the same as their advisor. 

501 Riverside Ave., Suite 800, Jacksonville, FL 32202 

Tel. 904.396.4015 • TheLBAGroup.com 

Carrie Jones & David Albaneze 

The LBA Group 

A 904 MAGAZINE ADVERTISING FEATURE

Forensic, Litigation & Valuation Services 

Five Reasons You Need to Know What Your 

Business is Worth 

Scott A. Steadman, 

ASA, CFC 

Director, Forensic, Litigation 

& Valuation Services 

Direct: 904.224.9917 

ssteadman@TheLBAGroup.com 


Few business owners 

relish spending 

money on something 

they think they don’t need. 

And for most owners, hiring 

an expert to estimate the 

value of their company falls 

into that category. So it is 

no surprise that owners 

typically respond to an exit 

planning advisor’s recommendation 

to get an estimate 

of value for the 

company with some variation 

of: “Now? But I’m not 

planning to leave for 

years!” or “I built this company 

so I—better than any 

so-called expert—know 

what it is worth!” 

Before you scratch “Business 

Valuation” from your 

list, consider just five reasons 

you should put “Estimate 

of Value” at the top of 

your list. An estimate of 

value: 

• Establishes your starting line. 

• Sets your finish line. 

• Provides important tax information. 

• Gives you a critical litmus test. 

• Provides owners (and employees) an objective basis 

for incentive plans. 

Reason One: Establish your starting line 

The three primary objectives owners set when looking to 

exit are: 1) the date they wish to exit; 2) the amount of 

cash they need from the transfer/sale of their companies 

to ensure a comfortable post-exit life; and 3) their choice 

of successor (the party they wish to sell or transfer). In 

the course of achieving these objectives, most owners 

want to receive full, fair value for their companies or 

ownership interest. 

Few owners are comfortable relying on averages, rules of 

thumb, informal or casual estimates. These yardsticks 

rarely take into account variations in revenue, cash flow, 

location, reputation, proprietary technology, contingent liabilities 

and other factors that can have a significant effect 

on the value of a particular business. 

So, how else do you determine your starting point—today’s 

value—without the estimate of an experienced, trained 

business valuation specialist? Do you think a sophisticated 

buyer will acquire your business without first deter- 

mining its worth? Of course not—nor should you sell or 

transfer your business to anyone without first determining 

its worth. 

Reason Two: Set your finish line 

One of the first questions you’ll answer as you set your 

finish line is, “How much will I need from the sale of my 

company to maintain the lifestyle I want for myself (and 

my family) in retirement?” The companion question should 

be, “Is the business worth enough (on an after-tax basis) 

to support those needs?” You must know this answer 

before you can successfully proceed down any exit path. 

Let’s assume that you decide that your finish line is to receive 

$7,000,000 (after taxes) from the transfer of your 

business interest. You also want to complete your race in 

three years. An estimate of value will tell you if the distance 

between today’s value and the finish line is too 

great to reach in three years. If a growth rate is unrealistic 

for your business, you must either extend your time 

line or lower your financial expectations. 

Reason Three: Basis for Tax Planning 

As you consider various exit paths (sale to third party or 

transfer to insiders), understand that each path has different 

tax implications. Without appropriate tax planning, 

taxes can take a huge bite out of your sale proceeds. 

Given that tax mitigation strategies may take years to implement, 

it is critical that you start planning well before

you exit and that you use an accurate estimate of value. 

For example, in a transfer to key employees, a common transfer technique 

(designed to reduce both owner’s and buyer’s tax liabilities) is to 

initially transfer a minority interest at a discounted value. Using a “rule 

of thumb” valuation to support a minority discount simply will not fly 

when the IRS asks you to justify the discount. You must depend on the 

valuation of an independent valuation specialist who is able and willing 

to defend the valuation before the IRS. 

Reason Four: Litmus Test 

Suppose an owner is ready to leave the business, if that exit yields financial 

security. That owner must calculate the amount of cash needed 

to assure financial security and subtract from that the value of the business 

today. The resulting “gap amount” tells the owner how much value 

she needs to create to meet her objectives as well as where she needs 

to concentrate her time and effort. Instead of growing value for the 

heck of it, dedication to a goal enables many owners to exit sooner 

with the same amount of after-tax cash as owners who do little or no 

planning. Exit plan success all begins with a starting value. 

It surprises many owners to learn that business value is relative, not 

fixed. It can vary based on the owner’s choice of successor as well 

as on the conditions under which a transfer is made. For example, an 

appropriate business value for a third-party sale may be significantly 

higher than that established for a transfer of the same business to key 

employees over time, or a gift of the business to children. Business 

valuation experts understand this; “rules of thumb” don’t. 

SUDOKU: 

Answer key on page 63 

Reason Five: Provides owners (and employees) an 

objective basis for incentive plans 

An important part of any exit plan is to grow business value. Whether 

you contemplate a transfer to insiders or a sale to outsiders, you must 

motivate and keep your management/key employees. To do that, owners 

may use incentive programs that motivate employees to continue 

with the company. 

These plans are typically based on formulas and the most successful 

of these incentive programs whether cash- or stock-based, use formulas 

that link the size of a bonus to growth in business value. Participating 

employees are justifiably interested in knowing how the business 

value was established, how it is measured and whether the value is 

fair. Relying on an outside appraiser is often the best way to dispel 

management/key employee concerns. 

If the cost of a valuation still seems unnecessary, compare it to the 

cost of: 

• Leaving money on the closing table because you underestimated 

the company’s value, or 

• Appearing before the IRS to defend a rule of thumb value that is 

unprotected by a proper valuation. 

An estimate of value prepared by a credentialed valuation expert at 

the outset of planning helps you to target your value-building efforts 

and to move efficiently toward a goal. u 

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(continued from page 53) 

Tax Planning 

At the term’s end, the CRT’s remaining assets 

pass to one or more charities, When you fund 

the CRT, you receive an income tax deduction. 

If you contribute appreciated assets, you also 

may be able to minimize and defer capital 

gains tax. You can name someone other than 

yourself as income beneficiary or fund the CRT 

at your death, but the tax consequences will be 

different. 

Home-related breaks 

These valuable tax breaks go beyond just 

deductions: 

Property tax deduction. Before paying your bill 

early to accelerate the itemized deduction into 

2012, review your AMT situation. If you’re subject 

to the AMT, you’ll lose the benefit of the 

deduction for the prepayment. 

Mortgage interest deduction. You generally can 

deduct interest on up to a combined total of $1 

million of mortgage debt incurred to purchase, 

build or improve your principal residence and a 

second residence. Points paid related to your 

principal residence also may be deductible. 

SCHEDULED ORDINARY INCOME 

TAX RATE INCREASES 

2012 rate 2013 rate* 

10% 15% 

15% 15% 

25% 28% 

28% 31% 

33% 36% 

35% 39.6% 

*Assuming legislation isn’t signed into law extending 

lower rates or making other rate changes. Contact your 

LBA tax advisor for the latest information. 

Home equity debt interest deduction. Interest 

on home equity debt used to improve your principal 

residence—and interest on home equity 

SUDOKU ANSWERS 

Puzzle on page 53 


debt used for any purpose (debt limit of 

$100,000)—may be deductible. Warning: Beware 

of the AMT—if the home equity debt isn’t 

used for home improvements, the interest isn’t 

deductible for AMT purposes. 

Home office deduction. If your use of a home 

office is for your employer’s benefit and it’s the 

only use of the space, you generally can deduct 

a portion of your mortgage interest, real estate 

taxes, insurance, utilities and certain other expenses, 

as well as the depreciation allocable 

to the office space. You can also deduct direct 

expenses, such as business-only phone lines. 

You must claim these expenses as a miscellaneous 

itemized deduction, which means you’ll 

enjoy a tax benefit only if your home office expenses 

plus your other miscellaneous itemized 

expenses exceed 2% of your AGI. If, however, 

you’re self-employed, you can use the deduction 

to offset your self-employment income and 

the 2% of AGI “floor” won’t apply. 

Home sale gain exclusion. When you sell your 

principal residence, you can exclude up to 

$250,000 ($500,000 for joint filers) of gain if 

you meet certain tests. Warning: Gain that’s 

allocable to a period of “nonqualified” use 

generally isn’t excludable. 

Home sale loss deduction. Losses on the sale 

of a principal residence aren’t deductible. But if 

part of your home is rented or used exclusively 

for your business, the loss attributable to that 

portion will be deductible, subject to various 

limitations. 

Debt forgiveness exclusion. Homeowners who 

receive debt forgiveness in a foreclosure, short 

sale or mortgage workout for a principal residence 

generally don’t have to pay federal income 

taxes on that forgiveness. Warning: As of 

this writing, this break is scheduled to expire 

after 2012. 

Rental income exclusion. If you rent out all or a 

portion of your principal residence or second 

home for less than 15 days, you don’t have to 

report the income. But expenses associated 

with the rental won’t be deductible. 

Sales tax deduction 

This break allowing you to take an itemized deduction 

for state and local sales taxes in lieu of 

state and local income taxes was available for 

2011, but, as of this writing, hasn’t been extended 

for 2012. (Check with your LBA tax advisor 

for the latest information.) When available, 

the deduction can be valuable to taxpayers who 

reside in states with no or low income tax who 

purchase major items, such as a car or boat. 

Saving for health care 

Here are two tax-advantaged vehicles you 

should consider if available to you: 

• HSA. If you’re covered by qualified high-deductible 

health insurance, a Health Savings 

Account allows contributions of pretax income 

(or deductible after-tax contributions) up to 

$3,100 for self-only coverage and $6,250 for 

family coverage (for 2012). Account holders 

age 55 and older can contribute an additional 

$1,000. HSAs bear interest or are invested 

and can grow tax-deferred similar to an IRA. 

Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses 

are tax-free, and you can carry over a balance 

from year to year, 

• FSA. You can redirect pretax income to an 

employer-determined limit (not to exceed 

$2,500 for plan years beginning in 2013.) 

The plan pays or reimburses you for qualified 

medical expenses. What you don’t use 

by the end of the plan year, you generally 

lose. If you have an HSA, your FSA is limited 

to funding certain “permitted” expenses. 

WHAT’S NEW? 

MEDICAL EXPENSE DEDUCTION 

FLOOR SCHEDULED TO RISE IN 2013 

Who’s affected: Taxpayers who incur 

medical expenses. 

Key changes: Currently, if your eligible 

medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted 

gross income (AGI), you can deduct 

the excess amount. But in 2013, the 

2010 health care act increases this 

“floor” to 10% for taxpayers under age 65. 

Eligible expenses can include health insurance 

premiums, medical and dental 

services and prescription drugs. Expenses 

that are reimbursed (or reimbursable) by 

insurance or paid through a tax-advantaged 

health care account aren’t eligible. 

Planning tips: Consider “bunching” 

non-urgent medical procedures and other 

controllable expenses into one year to 

exceed the AGI floor. Bunching expenses 

into 2012 may be especially beneficial 

because of the scheduled floor increase. 

But keep in mind that, for alternative 

minimum tax purposes, the 10% floor already 

applies. Also, if tax rates 

go up in 2012 as scheduled, your deductions 

might be more powerful then. 

Finally, be aware that the floor increase 

could be repealed by Congress. u 

“Deductions & AMT”, by PDI Global, published in the 2012- 

2013 Tax Planning Guide. © 2012 by Thomson 

Reuters/PDI Global. Reprinted with permission. All rights 

reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not 

be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or 

stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without 

the express written consent of Thomson Reuters/PPC.

+ 

CROSSHAIRS 

Democrat and Republican 

politicians hone in on Northeast 

Florida as November approaches 

Plus: 

RAYONIER’S 

Charley 

Hood 

THOUGHT LEADER 

A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

DO YOU BUY CHAMBER? 

Longtime Chamber members 

know that it pays to 

have a strategy when attending 

a networking event. 

This worked out even better 

than expected recently for 

Jason Mudd of Axia Public Relations. 

“We attended a Buy Chamber matchmaker 

event designed to introduce second-stage businesses 

to Jacksonville’s large companies,” says 

Mudd. “A few of the attendees were already 

clients, so I was targeting those who hadn’t yet 

hired us.” 

“So far, two new clients—both publicly traded 

companies headquartered in Jacksonville—hired 

LEADERSHIP INVESTORS 

PLATINUM 

Bank of America Merrill Lynch 

Baptist Health 

Fidelity National Financial Inc. 

Florida Blue 

Lender Processing Services Inc. 

The Main Street America Group 

Wells Fargo 

GOLD 

Aetna Inc. 

Barcelo & Company 

BI-LO and Winn Dixie Stores Inc. 

Citi 

CSX Corporation 

Enterprise Integration 

The Florida Times-Union 

JEA 

JTA 

Mayo Clinic 

Memorial Health 

PRI Productions 

PSS World Medical Inc. 

Republic Services/Southland 

Waste Systems 

Sandler Training-McManamon 

St. Vincent’s HealthCare 

SunTrust Bank North Florida 

SILVER 

904 & Jacksonville Magazines 

Acosta 

BB&T 

Comcast 

VISION 

Northeast Florida is the best place to work, live and play. 

MISSION 

To drive quality economic growth in Northeast Florida 

Connect. Grow. Prosper. 


3 Independent Drive 


(904) 366-6600 

myjaxchamber.com 

Content Design Group 

Crowley Maritime Corporation 

Deutsche Bank 

Diversified Port Holdings LLC 

Driver, McAfee, Peek & 

Hawthorne P.L. 

EverBank 

Florida State College at Jacksonville 

Haskell 

Jacksonville Business Journal 

Jacksonville Jaguars Ltd. 

Landstar System Inc. 

Medtronic Inc. 

Miller Electric Company 

Shands Jacksonville Medical 

Center 

St. John & Partners 

Swisher International Group Inc. 

VISTAKON Johnson & Johnson 

Vision Care, Inc. 

Volkswagen Group of America 

VyStar Credit Union 

BRONZE 

121 Financial 

Anheuser-Busch InBev 

Arizona Chemical 

AT&T 

Auld & White Constructors LLC 

The Back Office LLC 

BAE Systems Southeast 

Barron’s Holdings 

BBVA Compass Bank 

Beaver Street Fisheries Inc. 

Axia to handle their national media relations campaigns 

and position them as thought leaders in 

their industries...and we’ve been in extended talks 

with another large company that also attended 

the event.” 

Landing projects from three new clients from 

one event is certainly an accomplishment, but 

the benefits are ongoing. “We are exposed to 

additional divisions and elements of their businesses,” 

explains Mudd. “They are also further 

exposed to our services. To that end, additional 

needs and opportunities almost always arise 

that allow our firm to expand our role as an 

important strategic partner with our clients.” 

#buychamber � 

Brasfield & Gorrie LLC 

Brooks Rehabilitation 

The Brumos Companies 

CareSpot Express Healthcare 

Clockwork Marketing Services 

Community First Credit Union of 

Florida 

Compass Consulting Group 

Diversified Clinical Services Inc. 

Dixon Hughes Goodman 

Enhanced Recovery Company LLC 

Enterprise Rent-A-Car 

Fidelity Investments 

Fifth Third Bank 

Gate Petroleum Company 

Harry Pepper & Associates Inc. 

The Hartley Press Inc. 

Homeward Residential 

HOMKOR FLORIDA 

Keiser University 

Mac Papers Inc. 

Maxwell House and Post Division 

MCCI Group 

Publix Super Markets Inc. 

Randstad USA 

Regions 

Reynolds, Smith and Hills Inc. 

Scott-McRae Group 

Stein Mart 

Summit Contractors Group Inc. 

TD Bank 

Unison Industries 

University of North Florida 

WJCT 

photo courtesy of Downtown Vision 

SPONSOR RECOGNITION 

JULY/AUGUST 2012 EVENT SPONSORS 

JAGUARS KICKOFF LUNCHEON 

Action News 

Baptist Health 

Comcast 

Cox Media 

Enterprise Integration 

Fidelity National Financial 

Florida Blue 

Jacksonville Business Journal 

PRI Productions 

Sandler Training-McManamon 

The Brumos Companies 

AFTER HOURS 

TEKsystems 

ATHENA POWERLINK GRADUATION 

Analytics Partners 

Baker Distributing Company 

Deremer Studios 

Destination Planning Corporation 

Foley & Lardner 

Health Designs 

The Hester Group 

LBA 

Myers Seth Pump 

Oliver Twist 

BEACHES MIXER 

ADT Security Services 

Fleet Landing 

Jacks or Better Casino 

BEACHES LUNCHEON 

Clockwork Marketing Services 

BUSINESS GROWTH SERIES 

WorkSource 

CHAMBER 101: MAXIMIZE YOUR MEMBERSHIP 

ERA Davis & Linn 

COFFEE ON THE COAST 

Ponte Vedra Wellness Center 

Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home 

FINANCIAL MATTERS 

Ennis Pellum 

Hunter and Associates 

Jacksonville Bank 

JAXUSA PARTNERSHIP REGIONAL PARTNER FORUM 

AT&T and Stellar 

MARKETING MATTERS GRADUATION 

Temerity Creative 

Character Counts 

Shopping Ideas 

Wilder Business Success 

McManamon/Sandler Training 

ANNUAL SPONSORS 

ImpactJAX PROGRAM SPONSOR 

CSX Corporation 

BEACHES DIVISION SPONSOR 

Baptist Medical Center—Beaches 

ENTREPRENEURIAL GROWTH DIVISION MEDIA SPONSORS 

Cox Media 

Jacksonville Business Journal

OFFICERS 

2012 BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Chair, Thomas M. Van Berkel, The Main Street America Group 

Chair-elect, Gregory B. Smith, Bank of America Merrill Lynch 

Immediate Past Chair, A. Hugh Greene, Baptist Health 

Treasurer, Richard Cox, Fidelity National Financial Inc. 

General Counsel, Giselle Carson, Marks Gray, P.A. 

President, Walter M. Lee III, JAX Chamber 

CHAIRS 

Beaches—Joseph M. Mitrick, Baptist Medical Center—Beaches 

Business Development—Dr. William C. Rupp, Mayo Clinic 

Buy Chamber—Keith A. Tickell, Flagler 

Buy Chamber Vice Chair—Kenneth Sweder, Interline Brands 

Chamber Councils—Leigh M. Forrester, Career Frontiers of 

Northeast Florida 

Chamber Councils Vice Chair—Michele McManamon, Sandler 

Training-McManamon 

Downtown Development—Donald A. Shea, Jacksonville Civic 

Council 

Downtown Development Vice Chair—Ed Burr, 

GreenPointe Holdings LLC 

Entrepreneurial Growth—Vincent McCormack, Perdue 

Facilities—Paul Tyler, Haskell 

#ilovejax Campaign Co-Chair-Matt Rapp, THE PLAYERS 

Championship 

#ilovejax Campaign Co-Chair-Macky Weaver, Jacksonville 

Jaguars 

International Business—Fredrik Eliasson, CSX Corporation 

JAXBIZ— Hon. John A. Delaney, University of North Florida 

JAXUSA Partnership—Robert E. Hill Jr., Acosta Inc. 

Member Relations/Operational Excellence—Gary A. Corless, 

PSS World Medical 

Member Relations/Operational Excellence Vice Chair– Scott 

P. Keith, Branch Banking & Trust Company (BB&T) 

Military Issues—RADM Jim Stevenson (Ret.), Florida State 

College at Jacksonville 

Public Policy—Charles H. Hood, Rayonier 

Public Policy Vice Chair & Building Fundraising—Michael 

Hightower, Florida Blue 

Strategic Communications—Maxine McBride, Clockwork Marketing 

Services 

Trustee Program—G. Ray Driver, Driver, McAfee, Peek & 

Hawthorne P.L. 

Vice Treasurer—Nathaniel Herring, Fifth Third Bank 

Workforce Development/Education—Cleve Warren, Essential 

Capital 

Workforce Development/Education Vice Chair—Janet D. 

Owen, University of North Florida 

AT-LARGE MEMBERS 

Kristi Bageant-Epperson, Citi 

Anna Brosche, Ennis, Pellum & Associates P.A. 

Moody L. Chisholm, St. Vincent’s HealthCare 

Robert M. Clements, EverBank 

Jim Dickenson, JEA 

Daniel M. Edelman, Dixon Hughes Goodman Wealth Advisors 

Nathaniel Glover, Edward Waters College 

Jen Jones, Jen Jones Art Consulting 

Kelly Madden, Wells Fargo 

David Mann, SunTrust Bank North Florida 

Frank Martire, FIS 

Janet Owens, Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) 

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS 

ImpactJAX—Ranaldo Allen, Assemblymen 

Jacksonville City Council—Hon. Bill Bishop 

Duval County Public School Board—Hon. Betty Burney 

Small Business Leader of the Year—Chad Perce, 

iMethods � 

INFORMATION OVERLOAD 

BY JAMES BARRICK 

© 2012 United Feature Syndicate, Inc. Turn to page 6 for this month’s answers 

ACROSS 

1. “Wherefore — thou 

Romeo?” 

4. Excitement 

9. Fastens a certain way 

14. Follower of: Suffix 

17. Cattle call 

18. Washington’s Mount — 

19. Citation word 

21. Tiny egg 

22. “Great Performances” 

channel 

23. Start of a quip by Mitch 

Hedberg: 3 wds. 

25. Midmorning hour 

26. Spelunc 

28. Be behind 

29. Whatnot display case 

31. Toward the side 

DOWN 

1. Sound sys. item 

2. Overcharge 

3. Great Italian maestro 

4. Waste pipe 

5. Proportionately: 2 wds. 

6. Swamp 

7. Mountain pass 

8. — — days 

9. Spots in a schedule: 2 wds. 

10. Arab cloak 

11. Kind of iron 

12. Adams or Sedgwick 

13. Forwarded 

14. Plan 

15. Canonical hour: Var. 

16. Of a Sicilian peak 

18. On the qui — 

20. — culpa 

32. Bone hollow 

35. Quechua 

36. Shortage 

37. Chit 

39. — primo cit 

40. Danger anagram 

42. “Exodus” role 

43. Part 2 of quip: 4 wds. 

48. Slight 

50. Acclaim 

51. Arrow poison 

52. Periods: Abbr. 

55. Time off 

57. “Yours, Mine and —” 

58. Couscous ingredient 

60. Viewed 

61. Free 

62. Range of vision 

63. Olga’s male equivalent 

24. Japan’s — Jima 

27. Bar mem. 

30. Prepare for conflict 

31. Comprehensive 

33. — marque 

34. Complainant 

36. Ululate 

38. Napoleon’s cocked hat 

40. A Pacific island 

41. Plus 

43. More faithful 

44. Start of a toast 

45. Changeable 

46. Sale venue 

47. The bounding main: 

2 wds. 

49. Iranian language 

52. Feral 

53. Genu 

64. Part 3 of quip 


71. Arguable 

72. Old preposition 

73. Unfair 

74. Turnoff 

75. Old Greek wrestling 

gym 

78. Pursue 

79. Authenticates 

83. H. Rider Haggard title 

84. Elegy 

85. Distant 

87. “— — land of the free...” 


91. History: Abbr. 

92. Trig function 

95. Sign 

96. Thimbleful 

54. Account 

56. Took the stage 

59. One in a mob 

62. Bows and scrapes 

64. Rels. of a linesman 

65. Beery Jr. or Sr. 

66. Pineapple brand 

67. Old Semitic language 

68. Estate 

69. Praise 

70. Mentioned 

73. Straight line 

76. Straddle 

77. Small shark 

78. Not at all fresh 

80. Nerve-racking 

81. Pilferage 

82. Denomination 

86. Canape spread: 2 wds. 

97. Weight 

98. Like a late riser 

99. Start for gram 

102. Swellhead 

105. Make believe 

109. Era cousin 

110. Makes ready 

111. God of myth 

112. End of the quip: 3 wds. 

116. A state: Abbr. 

119. And more: Abbr. 

120. Case in grammar 

121. “The Queen of —” 

122. Labor gp. 

123. Diddle- — 

124. Lip-synched 

125. Allayed 

126. Lixivium 

88. Straighten 

89. Pt. on a compass 

90. Software edition 

92. Limited 

93. Flat at the poles 

94. Meeting of a kind 

97. A pronoun 

100. Overly 

101. Engaged: 2 wds. 

103. Flowed 

104. Small dogs 

106. Append 

107. Prepare in haste 

108. Monkey 

113. Pep 

114. Time of celebration 

115. Books pro 

117. Nonprofessional 

118. Wonderment 

C 

R 

O 

S 

S 

W 

O 

R 

D 


JAX INFO ON THE GO 

SNAPSHOTS FROM RECENT CHAMBER HAPPENINGS BY BETH SLATER 

The D-Line 

JAGUARS LUNCHEON 

Pep rallies are popular at high schools but 

harder to find at the professional level. 

Jacksonville, fortunately, has a wonderful 

annual kickoff to the NFL season at the 

Prime Osborn Convention Center. More than 

1,600 fans attended the Jaguars Kickoff 

Luncheon, held the day before the final 

preseason game. Players and coaches drew 

cheers, but the star of the event was owner 

Shad Khan, who remained in the hall well 

after the conclusion to greet attendees and 

sign autographs. During his remarks, Khan 

said, “We are going to win together. We’re 

going to make Jacksonville proud, and 

we’re going to make history together.” 

#ilovejax � PHOTOS BY KEN McCRAY PHOTOGRAPHY 

Bobby Sidell, Ranaldo Allen, CFO Jeff Atwater, Bradley Bodiford, Demere Mason Jr. 

FLORIDA CFO MEETS 

CHAMBER MEMBERS 

Florida’s CFO, Jeff Atwater, listened 

to the concerns of JAX 

Chamber business owners and 

young professionals this summer. 

While talking about Florida’s 

budget and working to improve 

Florida’s economy, the CFO 

asked questions to gauge recovery. 

Business owners shared their 

feelings that there has been small 

progress after hitting bottom. He 

also promoted Transparency Florida, a feature of the CFO website, myfloridacfo.com/Transparency. 

The site is a database of the state budget, spending, financial reports and information on 23,000 state 

contracts. #ilovejax � 


Shad Khan 

BUY CHAMBER MARKETPLACE 

Participating in the Chamber helps build relationships 

that result in more business. This is 

how one Chamber member found success just 

by getting involved. 

One of the many great benefits JAX Chamber 

members receive is access to the Buy Chamber 

Marketplace. A component of the overall initiative 

encouraging the community to buy from Chamber 

businesses, the marketplace is an online tool that 

allows you to promote your business, encourage 

sales, obtain savings and communicate company 

information to members and non-members. 

Located at the top of the JAX Chamber 

website, myjaxchamber.com, the marketplace 

consists of four easy-to-complete activities: 

posting a discount on a product or service, 

redeeming a discount, making a request or 

posting an update. #buychamber � 

Wally Lee, Councilman Don Redman, 

John Hirabayashi, Mayor Alvin Brown 

COMMUNITY FIRST SATURDAYS A new event, 

COMMUNITY 

FIRST 

SATURDAYS 

Community First 

Saturdays, will 

offer residents 

opportunities for 

health and wellness 

along the 

Riverwalk and 

across the 

Downtown Business District. Announced in August 

and sponsored by Community First Credit Union, 

the event will be held on the first Saturday of every 

month, October through June, and will include a 

variety of activities for families, such as fitness 

along the river and a number of different tours 

to explore the urban center. The event will also 

connect with Riverside Arts Market, Downtown 

museums, the library and the river. Learn more 

online, at Facebook.com/CommunityFirstSaturdays, 

the blog at CommunityFirstSaturdays.com or 

on Twitter, @Community1stSaturday. #ilovejax �

THE FUTURE OF SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT 

The city’s executive 

director of sports and 

entertainment, Alan 

Verlander, engaged 

Chamber young professionals 

in a discussion 

about the economics of 

sports and plans for the 

future. From hosting a 

Alan Verlander 

future BCS championship 

bowl game to NBA exhibition games, the city is 

open to any proposal and will do what it can to 

make an event successful. “People in this community 

support big events. We need to sustain that,” 

he said. #ilovejax � 

#ILOVEJAX DAY AT MAYO CLINIC 

You might know 

Brain Bank 

that the Mayo Clinic 

specializes in research; 

it is also 

home to a brain 

bank to study 

Alzheimer’s and 

other neurological 

diseases, as well as 

cancer, transplant, 

liver and digestive 

disorders. You may 

even know that 

Mayo Clinic is a 

teaching hospital, 

hosting nearly 170 residents in fellow this year. 

Attendees of the second #ilovejax day learned 

how the facility is moving to the future of health. 

Mayo Clinic is working on regenerative medicine: 

beyond transplants, scientists are growing new 

organs. And in individualized medicine, scientists 

are using the genome to predict illness and plan 

treatment with certain medications. #ilovejax � 

Simulation lab 

HEALTH COUNCIL LUNCHEON 

Captain Joseph McQuade, Director of Public Health at Naval Hospital Jacksonville, discussed obesity 

and employee fitness and his office’s role in improving military fitness at a Health Council luncheon. 

“We now die of chronic disease,” he said, and listed four common causes of chronic disease: lack of 

physical activity, poor nutrition, tobacco and excessive alcohol. He also cited recommendations from the 

American Academy of Pediatrics as a daily fitness guide for children and adults, called “5-2-1-0”: Have 

five fruits or vegetables, less than two hours of screen time (tv, computer or other), one hour of exercise 

and zero sweetened beverages. #ilovejax � 

DOWNTOWN INVESTMENT AUTHORITY BECOMES OFFICIAL 

With a quick signature, Mayor Alvin Brown made the legislation for a new Downtown Investment 

Authority official in late August. Ed Burr, former chair of the Chamber’s Downtown Revitalization 

committee, said the legislation for a dedicated Downtown organization was inspired by a 

Chamber Leadership trip to San Diego. Burr also called the legislation “not the end to a journey 

but the beginning.” Mayor Brown said the legislation “is about seeking a greater return on investment, 

growing property values, spawning private investment & restoring economic security.” 

#ilovejax � 

Downtown advocates Ed Burr, Rob Clements, 

Terry Lorince, Bob Rhodes, Matt Carlucci, 

Karen Bowling with Mayor Alvin Brown 

ATHENA FALL GRADUATION 

If every business were seeing the 

success of business owners who recently 

graduated from ATHENA PowerLink, 

the economic forecast would 

be for blue, sunny skies. Graduates 

shared their achievements at the program 

graduation: Idea Staffing increased 

its revenue and gross profit, 

respectively, by 42 percent and 69 

percent over the last year. G.M. Hill 

Engineering owner Gina Hill was 

named Women in Business Entrepreneur 

of the Year 2012 by the Women 

Business Owners organization and 

one of 20 Jacksonville Business 

Journal Women of Influence honorees. 

Nina Sickler of Landmark Engineering 

said she put together a team that 

helps alleviate the pressure she was 

feeling. Liz Grenamyer, speaking by 

proxy, said, “Thank you. It has without 

question made all the difference.” 

#ilovejax � 

All graduates 

Top volunteers and mentors 

Travis Webb, Capt. Joseph 

McQuade, Ellen Sullivan 


CROSSHAIRS 

Democrat and Republican 

politicians hone in on Northeast 

Florida as November approaches 


+ 

BY MARY KELLI PALKA

Duval County has more 

registered Democrat voters 

than Republicans. However, 

when it comes to voting, 

Duval has leaned conservative since 

Ronald Reagan won the White House 

in 1980. That was close to changing 

four years ago. In 2008, the number 

of registered Democrats and Republicans 

in Duval County increased by 

about four percent from 2004. But 

the number of registered Democratic 

voters in Duval County who voted in 

2008, compared to 2004, was up 

almost 12 percent. The number of 

registered Republicans who voted 

rose only about six percent. 

Obama came close to winning 

Duval County four years ago, losing 

by fewer than two percentage points. 

That was a shockingly narrow margin 

for a county where voters chose 

George W. Bush in 2004 with a 16 

percentage point lead. Those extra 

votes for Obama four years ago in 

Duval County helped push Florida to 

give its 27 electoral college votes to 

the Democrat. 

This year, Florida has two more 

electoral votes, putting it in a tie with 

New York as the state with the thirdlargest 

number of electoral votes. 

Both the Republicans and Democrats 

want those votes, so they’ll need to 

get people to the polls. 

MILLIONS OF VOTERS IN 50 STATES WILL SOON CAST THEIR BALLOTS FOR THE 

NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: BARACK OBAMA OR MITT ROMNEY. 

ONCE THE POLLS CLOSE ON NOVEMBER 6, EVERYONE WILL BE WAITING TO 

SEE WHAT VOTERS DECIDED IN A FEW LARGE STATES THAT HAVE ENOUGH 

ELECTORAL VOTES TO HELP ONE CANDIDATE WIN AN ELECTION. FLORIDA IS 

AMONG THOSE STATES. BUT FLORIDA MAY NOT BE JUST A BATTLEGROUND 

STATE IN THIS ELECTION. SOME SAY FLORIDA IS THE BATTLEGROUND STATE. 

For both candidates, winning in the Sunshine State is critical, says Matthew Corrigan, 

chair of the Political Science and Public Administration Department at the University of 

North Florida. “Most think Romney can’t win enough of the electoral votes without 

Florida,” he says. “If Obama could beat him here, Obama would probably win.” 

And Duval County will play a big part in this election—just as it has in previous elections. 

“You can’t win the White House without Florida,” says Bruce Barcelo, a Jacksonville 

political consultant. “And you can’t win Florida without Northeast Florida.” 

BIG ISSUES ON VOTERS’ MINDS 

Unlike many local and state elections, presidential races usually get about 80 

percent voter turnout in Duval County. Voters have motivation to come back out 

again this year. Many voters are worrying about the stability of their jobs, if they still 

have jobs. Many are carrying wallets lighter with cash and credit reports heavier 

with debt. And then there are social issues, from health care costs to quality education 

for their children, weighing on voters’ minds. Now voters must decide who they 

believe has the answers to improve the economy, grow jobs, tackle health care 

issues and lead the country on other key social issues for the next four years. 

Each party can likely depend on its base for support at the polls, says Duval 

County Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland. Independent voters are an unknown 

variable, though. “It’s those independents who are influenced by who’s going to 

make a difference in those four years,” he says. 

Corrigan says that there aren’t as many undecided voters this year, in large part 

because they know the candidates. “It puts a premium on the campaigns turning 

out their prospective bases,” he says. He claims that Republicans are geared up; 

now Obama must make sure his supporters are, too. 

Obama won four years ago with strong African-American support, non-Cuban-born 

Hispanics, young people and some moderate Republicans. Corrigan says Obama 

isn’t likely to get as many moderate Republicans this year, and it isn’t clear how 

many young voters will show up. “They’re distracted about jobs and the economy,” 

he says. 

Barcelo says that in 2008, a lot of new voters turned out for the presidential 

election. He claims that around that time, there was an enthusiasm deficit among 

Republicans. However, he has seen enthusiasm rise among Republicans as they 

try to get one of their own back into the White House. Still, it will be tough for the 

parties to get voters to continue to return to the polls every four years. 

“The single hardest thing to change in politics is an established pattern of 

turnout,” he says. 

Both sides are trying to get their own people out to vote and keep the other 

group’s people home. They’re also trying to “persuade the persuadables.” 

As election day approaches, voters are going to see a lot of sign waving from 

both parties. 

“They’re looking to put a smiling face on a political campaign,” says Barcelo. 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 


SMILING 

FACES 

For both parties, many of those support local and state candidates. McKin- important that Republicans not take Duval 

smiling faces are people under non has seen a huge turnout this year of County for granted. It’s not enough to win 

the age of 40. 

volunteers wanting to help Obama and big,” he says. “We have to win really big.” 

Peret Pass, president of the other Democrats. That helped the group The message is centered on comparing 

Jacksonville Young Republicans begin its voter registration push earlier in and contrasting where the country wants 

and chair of the Florida Federation of 

the year than it had anticipated. Now 

to go with where President Obama has 

Young Republicans, agrees with Barcelo they’re working on a ballot guide to help taken the country, says Curry. The focus 

that Republicans weren’t very enthusiastic educate young voters about candidates this year has been on getting more Repub- 

in 2008. Fast-forward four years, and young and issues important to them. 

licans to register to vote. “If you can get 

Republicans have a renewed enthusiasm McKinnon doesn’t think that Obama has voters to register, we have a pretty good 

and they’re excited to help Romney. Many lost the support of young Democrats in idea they’re going to vote,” he says. 

young voters who thought Obama was the Northeast Florida, though he’s heard similar Volunteers are working phone banks and 

answer aren’t happy with the direction he’s talk. “We’re finding President Obama in- walking in neighborhoods, where they’re 

taken the country, so they’re working on spired a lot of young people to get politi- knocking on doors and asking people to 

electing a new President, says Pass. She's cally engaged in 2008, and they really stuck vote early or show up on Election Day. That 

noticed that many young voters are moti- around in Jacksonville,” he says. “If what face-to-face connection with voters is the 

vated and emotionally attached to Romney. I’ve seen locally is any indication, I feel focus of the Duval County Democratic Party, 

“It’s been a lot easier to get people to great about our chances in November.” according to chair Travis Bridges. A per- 

come out and do the nitty gritty,” she says. Both parties know they will need enersonal phone call is the second choice. “It’s 

That includes a lot of work on the 

gized supporters like McKinnon and Pass the personal connection that really affects 

phones. It also means meet-ups for young to get the word out. 

the voter more than anything else,” he says. 

professionals, where the conversations 

“Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan don’t have Bridges says that if Obama loses Florida, 

aren’t always dominated by politics. In- a pass to the presidency without Florida,” it’s still possible that he could pick up 

stead, elected officials and political con- says Lenny Curry, chairman of the Republi- enough other states to give him a win. But 

sultants are often featured speakers. 

can Party of Florida. His party will give Bridges says Romney needs Florida, and 

The Jacksonville Young Democrats are plenty of attention to Duval County to help the Democrats are working hard to make 

having similar meetings, says president make that happen. That’s because every sure he can’t get it. 

Joey McKinnon. Just like the Young Repub- vote for Romney in Duval County will help “The ground game is being played really 

licans, the Democrats meet regularly to offset votes for Obama in other parts of heavy here in Duval County and Northeast 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

discuss important community issues and the state, especially southern Florida. “It’s Florida,” he says. 

72 : 904theMagazine.com : October 2012

Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan 

don’t have a pass to the 

presidency without Florida. 

—Lenny Curry, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida. 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

LOOKING FOR A 

GAME CHANGER 

W 

hile the Republicans are attacking Obama’s record, the 

Democrats are blaming the Republican Congress for not 

working to help the President. Television advertisements, 

front-page stories, phone calls and knocks on doors will 

play key roles in helping the candidates win votes this 

year—no different than any other year. But there are new tools, or at least 

some that have gained in popularity since the last presidential election. 

Twitter had already been around for a couple of years by the 2008 election, 

and the candidates used it along with other social media platforms. 

But today, Twitter has become a news source for many voters—and it has 

surpassed 500 million users. And what those users, campaigns and political 

supporters tweet can make a difference on the campaign trail. 

Bridges thinks social media helped Obama in 2008. And he thinks it will 

help again. “I think it’s the personal connection,” he says. 

Corrigan isn't sure that information shared on Twitter is persuading a lot 

of people. It is, however, causing voters to expect responses quicker, he 

says. And it’s getting campaign messages to the media. 

Curry has seen firsthand how a tweet can change a news cycle. This summer, 

Curry commented on Twitter about what he called the “two faces” of 

former Governor Charlie Crist. The Tampa Bay Times’ political blog picked 

up the comment, the Republican Party followed up with emails and then 

other media did their own stories. The series of events only confirmed the 

power of social media to him. 

“In a state like Florida, TV is still where it’s at,” says Curry. “In a close election, 

if a tweet drives an earned media story… it could be a game-changer.” 

Up until November 6, both sides will be looking for every way possible to 

change the game—with hopes that their own candidate wins. � 



Charley Hood is no fast talker. One has to imagine that the 62-year-old’s 

deliberate, approachable demeanor was perfected over a short career 

in Florida government, first as a legislative assistant in the Florida 

Senate and then as the clerk of courts for Putnam County. He crossed into 

the private sector to handle government relations for Georgia-Pacific before 

acquiring his current role as Rayonier's vice president of public affairs. 

How did your career in government affairs start? I had an opportunity 

to plug into a campaign of a guy who was running for the state 

Senate. The district ran from Jacksonville Beach all the way south to 

Sumter County. He was paying a visit to my father-in-law, who was the 

mayor of Palatka, and I happened to be there. He was looking for 

somebody to help with his campaign in North Florida, and my father-inlaw 

pointed at me and said, “Well, this guy needs a job right here.” 

What was the biggest lesson learned from your time spent in 

public office? It's hard work. I've always told people that local government, 

and more specifically small-town government, is the toughest job 

in government because you see your constituents every place you go. 

Describe how those positions shaped your view of how national 

parties campaign in Northeast Florida: There's an old Tip O'Neill 

adage, that “all politics are local.” What that really 

suggests is that campaigns are all about building 

momentum from the grassroots up, and the 

parties don't really control—or shouldn't 

control—the agenda. 

What does “government affairs” mean 

to you? Government affairs is the education 

of policymakers; it’s not influencing, it’s 

educating them on the nuances of your 

particular business. Credibility is earned 

when we know what we’re talking about, 

we’re honest, transparent and our companies 

are good corporate citizens as evidenced 

through corporate philanthropy, volunteering 

in the community and, in general, 

broad community engagement. 

Who was your biggest mentor 

early in your career? Lee Thomas at 

Georgia-Pacific; he was my first boss 

when he came on in 1992. He taught 

me what a good government affairs 

program looked like. It's not just being 

another pretty face, you've gotta do 

something to make it valuable for 

the shareholders. 

Best leadership advice you ever 

received? To be a strong leader 

means that there are no little people. 

Also, you don't second-guess the way 

you feel about something and the way 

you react, nor do you second-guess 

the way others feel or react. �

THE WHEELS 

OF PROGRESS 

ARE TURNING AGAIN. 

GET YOUR BUSINESS MOVING WITH THE RIGHT LOAN FROM REGIONS. Thanks to the hard work and commitment of business people like you, 

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can get your business moving in the right direction while making your banking easier. So partner with Regions, and let’s keep moving forward together. 

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