The Conversation
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 our family now, our kids have only really known Jacksonville. We love it here. What is Downtown...
read moreIsaiah 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. What’s been especially meaningful is how intentional they’ve been about making space for me as a leader. That...
read moreJimmy 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 our river and our environment started to take root thanks to an eco-conscious girlfriend and a 20th...
read moreJeff 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, particularly snakes, at an early age. My parents encouraged my interests and allowed me to keep a large collection of...
read moreConversation 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 other nationally renowned guest artists, a talented cast of regional volunteer actors and singers, and a full...
read moreConversation 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 asked Tom (Tennessee Williams) about becoming a writer. He said, “Write. Just write.” (I’ve left out the...
read moreConversation … Leigh Fogle
Art Consultant, Entrepreneur, Innovator Congratulations on your 30th year anniversary—Fogle Fine Art and Arbus Magazine are celebrating the same milestone year! We’ve worked together since you opened your art gallery on Beach Boulevard back when your initial focus was on the development of corporate and interior design accounts. You’ve now grown into one of the largest galleries and art consulting firms in the Southeast. Can you tell us about your strategy for how you accomplished that? I actually started the company in a guest room of our...
read moreIsabella Rossellini Actress, model, conservationist
Recently, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens hosted their annual Toast to Conservation, an evening to celebrate the commitment to protecting threatened animals, plants, and ecosystems around the globe with special guest, Isabella Rossellini. Established in 2017, the zoo’s wildlife conservation programs include organizations locally and globally which they have dedicated over $1.25 million to within the past five years. The event was hosted at the Glass Factory, a charming venue that set the stage for a once-in-a-lifetime performance from...
read moreScotie Cousin
Artist—Cousin’S Critters Photo: Laird How do you envision your critters? What is the inspiration? Let’s start with God first. Because He’s just kind of telling me what to do. He has really supercharged the creative gray matter between my ears. Sometimes it just flows out so effortlessly. I don’t do any specific species, mainly. I get a lot of people asking me to do a dolphin or a shark and I still love doing that, but what I really love is not knowing what I’m going to do next. And then what happens is I go, “Wow,...
read moreKristi Aiello Senior Director Business Development, Florida Blue
Photo: Laird You’ve held several positions at Florida Blue; what has led to your longevity there? Throughout my career, I’ve looked for roles that have challenged me, provided me with an opportunity to continue learning and expanding my skills, and offered an opportunity for me to contribute to the overall success of the corporation. I also seek out a leader who is supportive, who will provide opportunities for my growth and who will be a mentor to me. My current role not only fits those criteria but also provides the extra added value...
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