 | |
| Predecessor | Jacksonville Non-Group |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2009 |
| Type | 501c6 Non-profit |
| Legal status | active |
| Purpose | To make Jacksonville a destination of choice for businesses, families and individuals, and graduates |
| Headquarters | 40 East Adams Street, Suite 150 Jacksonville, Florida 32202, U.S. |
| Membership | 95 |
| Board Chair | Gary Chartrand |
| CEO and President | Dennis Whittle |
| Website | jaxciviccouncil |
The Jacksonville Civic Council (JCC) is a non-partisan group of over ninety prominent Jacksonville, Florida business leaders whose vision is to make Jacksonville a destination of choice for businesses, families and individuals, and graduates. They have four strategic pillars: Inspire, Prepare, Advance, and Connect.
The JCC is a 501(c)(6) entity, which is a non-profit, tax exempt group. The JCC is funded by dues based on the size of the member's business.
Current Chair and Staff
Gary Chartrand, Board Chair; Dennis Whittle, CEO & President; Dawn Emerick; Chief Strategy Officer; Alex Osborne, Director of Operations & Membership; Shelby Howick, Project Director; Ashli Nixon, Lead Designer, Rachael Delgado, Executive Assistant
History
The Jacksonville Non-Group was an informal organization of business leaders established in 1993, initially to support the Duval County Public School's Alliance for World Class Education, which evolved into the Jacksonville Public Education Fund. The entity was considered akin to a brain trust or think tank, but with influence and resources available. The JCC was incorporated on May 17, 2000 with Hugh Greene, John Delaney, Lynn Pappas, Pete Rummell and Steven Halverson listed as officers, but was inactive until December 2009. Beginning in 2008, the group's members began discussing whether to take a more active leadership role in the community and initiate programs.
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce took a trip to Kansas City, Missouri in October 2009 to look at the peer city's programs for ideas and innovations that could be utilized in Jacksonville. They saw that Kansas City had used a strong public/private partnership, the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, to implement serious changes that revitalized their city. Lynn Pappas, then the Non-Group's chairwoman, realized that the members of that organization could perform that same function in Jacksonville. After returning, she shared what she had seen, and at their December meeting, the Non-Group voted to disband and form the Jacksonville Civic Council as a more formal and public group.
To determine what Jacksonville residents viewed as the most critical issues, the opinion research firm American Viewpoint was hired to design a poll and conduct a six-week study in March 2010. Five issues were identified: Balanced budget/fiscal responsibility; More jobs: Better public schools: Public safety/crime, Jaguars staying in Jacksonville.
Peter Rummell was voted chairman, and the JCC approved hiring an Executive Director; Susie Wiles served as interim E.D. during the search. Wiles, then a partner at IF Marketing & Advertising, also provided administrative support for the JCC's formation. Don Shea was then hired as Executive Director for the JCC in July and assumed the position in September 2010, working from offices in the Haskell Building. A former director of the Economic Development Authority in Shreveport, Louisiana, he brought over three decades of relevant experience to the council. Steve Halverson replaced Peter Rummell as JCC chairman before Shea resigned in early 2013 and returned to Louisiana. Once again, Susie Wiles served as interim director while a national search was conducted.
On July 30, 2013, Jacksonville lawyer Jeanne Miller was named as the new Executive Director. Previously Chief Legislative Counsel in the City of Jacksonville's Office of General Counsel, Miller also held several leadership positions with the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission as well as serving as General Counsel and Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Florida State College at Jacksonville immediately prior to joining JCC. Upon her appointment, Miller reaffirmed that downtown redevelopment was the council's first goal.
In 2021, the Civic Council board of directors decided to undertake a strategic planning process. As a result of this process, the Council decided to become more proactive, and adopted an ambitious ten-year plan to help Jacksonville become a world-class city. As part of a leadership transition, the board decided to hire a CEO and President with a track record of spearheading ambitious initiatives and organizations. After a national search, they chose Dennis Whittle, co-founder of several organizations including GlobalGiving and Feedback Labs and former Senior Partner of strategy and innovation at the World Bank.
References
- "jaxciviccouncil.com". Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- "Our Vision – jaxciviccouncil.com". Retrieved 2025-01-13.
- Brune-Mathis, Karen: "Civic Council’s Shea no stranger to city planning or city leaders" Jax Daily Record, August 5, 2010
- ^ Coursey, Leslie: "Jacksonville Civic Council Forms" Archived 2011-02-12 at the Wayback Machine WAWS-TV, February 18, 2010
- Davis, Ennis: "Jax Chamber Headed to Kansas City - A few Pointers" Metro Jacksonville, September 28, 2009
- ^ Harding, Abel: "Group disbands, launches Jacksonville Civic Council" Florida Times-Union, March 5, 2010
- "Civic Leaders Creating Vision For City" Archived 2010-02-21 at the Wayback Machine WJXT Channel 4, February 18, 2010
- Littlepage, Ron: "Formation of Jacksonville 'Civic Council' an encouraging development" Florida Times-Union, February 19, 2010
- Szakonyi, Mark: "Jacksonville Civic Council names chief" Jacksonville Business Journal, July 29, 2010
- Bauerlein, David (July 30, 2013). "Jeanne Miller named to head Jacksonville Civic Council". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
External links
Official website www.jaxciviccouncil.com
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