Conversation: Jake Gordon
CEO of Downtown Vision, Inc. Photo: Laird How long have you lived in Jacksonville, and what brought you to the city? I moved to Jacksonville in 2015. Before that I bounced around a little bit: Born in New Jersey, undergrad in San Diego, law school in Philly. My wife is from Gainesville, and she couldn’t wait to move back to Florida. When I was offered the opportunity to lead Downtown Vision, we accepted immediately. Duval is home for...
Isaiah M. Oliver
President, The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida Photo: Laird You stepped into your role as a newcomer to the area. What have been your impressions as you’ve gotten to know it over the last year and a half? I’ve been struck by the warmth and generosity of this community. It’s clear that people here don’t just live in this place—they care deeply for it, invest in its future, and continuously work to make it better....
Jimmy Orth
Executive Director, St. Johns Riverkeeper What drew you to a career in protecting Northeast Florida’s greatest natural asset, the St. Johns River? I was born and raised in Jacksonville and spent a lot of time in and around the river when I was growing up. Despite how much I enjoyed the river, I wasn’t always interested in environmental stewardship. It wasn’t until my senior year at FSU that my passion for protecting...
Jeff Ettling
President and CEO of Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens Photo: laird Before coming to Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens (JZG) in 2022, you were the curator of reptiles and amphibians at the Saint Louis Zoo for 21 years. What inspired your passion for wildlife and why did you decide to channel that passion into a career working at zoos? I was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri metro area and developed an interest in wildlife,...
Conversation with Linda Purl
Actress, jazz performer, and cofounder of Duffy’s Dough Photo: Kevin Alvey In August, the Florida Theatre and Theatre Jacksonville, two of the oldest premier historic art establishments in the region, are coordinating their first show together—a staged reading of Mame, starring Linda Purl in the role of Mame Dennis. Brought here through a friendship with Theatre Jacksonville’s Executive Director Sarah Boone, Purl will join several...
Conversation with Sharon Y. Cobb
Writer, Hollywood Survivor, Optimist Photo: Anthony Paderewski You’ve got quite the dossier as a former publisher, editor, journalist, rock musician, race car driver, and notably, a screenplay writer. You began writing fiction after meeting Tennessee Williams when you lived in Key West. What was your first fiction piece about and was it published? Was it inspired by Tennessee Williams? I was an artist in Key West when I...
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