Welcome Joe Whitaker, Business Recruitment and Retention Coordinator

Tuesday April 24, 2012

WE MEET AT RIVER CITY BREWING COMPANY

Lunch begins at noon -Meeting begins at 12:30 p.m.

Meet Joe Whitaker

Business Recruitment and Retention Coordinator

Jacksonville Economic and Development Commission

            As Business Recruitment and Retention Coordinator for the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, Joe Whitaker coordinates the efforts of the Jacksonville Empowerment Zone, the Jacksonville Enterprise Zone Development Agency and the Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment Agency. 

            Joe also directs JEDC small business development efforts and works with businesses to structure financing and/or incentive packages to facilitate their expansion or relocation to Jacksonville.  Since 2001, he has assisted on more than 106 projects creating 17,300 new jobs resulting in private capital investment totaling $1,425,000,000.

            Prior to the formation of the JEDC, Joe also served as deputy director of the Jacksonville Downtown Development Authority and as program director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Company.

            Joe relocated to Jacksonville in 1978 to become vice president and general manager of Gaynon Iron Works, a truck equipment manufacturing company.  Before moving to Jacksonville he was a commercial loan officer for the First National Bank of Cincinnati (now Star Bank).  He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s degree in business finance from Xavier University.

Rotary Literacy Project

The well-known and well-attended “Box-A-Go-Go” is making its return Spring appearance in April.  “Books-A-Go-Go” Executive Director, Betty Metz, was our guest at the April 3 meeting to remind us about the importance of placing a child’s first book in the hands of children who would not receive one otherwise.  Contributing books (new or gently used, age appropriate for a first time reader) and donations will make our Spring Literacy Project even more successful than last fall!  (Donations can be made directly to Patti or they can be charged to your account.)  Thanks! 

Rotary Night 

at the 

Jacksonville Symphony Cirque de la Symphony

Thursday April 26, 2012 7:30pm

Jacoby Symphony Hall

Rotary Special discount tickets: $40

$10 of each ticket will support  
Rotary’s Polio Eradication Program

credited to your club

Ticket includes Pops Concert and Symphony hosted beverage reception at 6:45pm for Rotarians and guests in the Davis Gallery

To make reservations and purchase tickets call Bill Cosnotti at 356-0426 or bcosnotti@jaxsymphony.org

Fidelity National Financial Pops Series    Concert Sponsor: SunTrust

TPC Players Championship 

Discounted Tickets for D6970 Rotary Club Members

THE PLAYERS Championship is offering District 6970 Rotary Clubs a private, specially priced ticket program allowing members the opportunity to purchase 2012 PLAYERS Championship tickets at a substantially discounted rate. In addition, for each ticket purchased, THE PLAYERS will make a $2.00 donation to the Rotary Foundation for Polio Plus. Members can purchase good any one day grounds tickets for $35.00, regularly $55.00! Because these tickets are good any one day, there are no worries if you are not sure which day you would like to attend as these tickets are good any one day, Thursday – Sunday (May 10-13). This program is not limited to Rotary members and there is no limit to the number of tickets one member can purchase. Youth, 18 and younger, are admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. To purchase, go to the link listed below and enter the promo code, ROTARY1. Tickets will be emailed to you after the purchase is complete. Your Ticketmaster link: https://oss.ticketmaster.com/html/go.htmI?l=EN&t=pgaplayers&o=20025&g=156

Thank you for your support of THE PLAYERS Championship as we endeavor to showcase Northeast Florida and improve the lives of those in our community.

Mark Your Calenders

• Our "Books-A-Go-Go" drive is on now during the month of April.
• Rotary Night at the Jacksonville Symphony - April 26th.
• TPC - Rotary Discount - May 10th - 13th
• Rotary Alhambra Event - May 22nd.  

 

Holly Kartsonis DC Trip

Holly with her family last week on the steps

of the Lincoln Memorial!