2011 CREW Network Convention Highlights

  

The 2011 CREW Network Convention & Marketplace, held in the power center of the U.S., is going to power you up and help you kick your business into high gear! It’s time to re-energize our industry and discover new opportunities that are emerging.

This event will deliver the critical information you need to give your business a competitive advantage,  will bring you face to face with the power players doing the deals, and will awaken your competitive drive through the sheer energy of this event.

Check out what we have planned!

Featured Speakers

• Norah O’Donnell, Chief White House Correspondent for CBS News, principal substitute anchor for Face the Nation, and contributor for the award-winning 60 Minutes – O’Donnell will take a hard look at the lack of diversity in U.S. elected positions by analyzing why America’s office holders lack diversity, global insight into diversity and how the Obama administrations diversity will likely affect public policy.
• Sheila Johnson, Entrepreneur, Co-founder, Black Entertainment Television, and President, WNBA’s Washington Mystics – Johnson will share her lessons learned as a groundbreaking leader including how to get in the door, and how to create a new door when necessary; why it’s crucial to take calculated risks while owning your mistakes and why there's no such thing as a straight line when it comes to business success.
• Diane Swonk, Chief Economist & Senior Managing Director for Mesirow Financial  - As one of the most sought-after economists in the world, Swonk will cut through the noise and help us all figure out just what’s really going on  with the U.S. economy and how it will impact the commercial real estate industry.
• Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Time’s Chief Mergers & Acquisitions Reporter & Columnist, author of the New York Times bestseller, Too Big to Fail – Sorkin will take you behind the scenes in Washington and the ongoing debate over financial reform, while making a persuasive case that the center of power on Wall Street has now moved to the Capitol.
• Linda Rabbitt, CEO, Founder, Chairman and CEO, rand *construction corporation – Rabbitt will take you into her world of starting and operating a successful woman-owned business in the construction sector; what it takes to succeed and what she believes all women must do to realize their goals.

CREW Jacksonville Members - Here's An Easy Way to Help PACE Center for Girls!

New Blue Cross social media campaign rewards nonprofit agencies that net most votes

Article by Dan Scanlan

Florida Times Union - 6/14/11

A Jacksonville-based insurance company’s new social media program is in “pursuit” of nonprofit agencies to award $3,000 a month to the one with the most public votes. Runners-up get $1,000 each.

Called The Pursuit, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida’s campaign rewards nonprofits that help Floridians in their pursuit of health.

Organizations that have created health, wellness, educational or social empowerment opportunities throughout the state are posted each month on the Blue Cross Facebook fan page. Florida residents can vote for the nonprofit they like best, said Sarah Hande,  Blue Cross sponsorship and events specialist.

“This gives them a way to connect with us, and it also gives them a chance to learn more about us as a company and know that we are more than just a health insurance company,” Hande said. “By hosting this on Facebook and social media channels, it lets us reach a broader audience.”

To be eligible for Pursuit, the nonprofit agency must have its headquarters in Florida and serve Floridians. It must be vetted for fiscal responsibility and have a functional website that can promote its mission and participation in the Pursuit program so each can get votes.

Here are the organizations featured in June and open for votes:
 — Best Buddies, a global volunteer movement that creates friendships, employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
 — Equality Florida, a civil rights organization working to get full equality for the state’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents.
 — PACE Center for Girls, a prevention, diversion and early intervention program serving girls ages 12 to 17 in 17 locations across Florida.

The first phase is set to run through the end of this year for 30 agencies.

“We hope to continue it in 2012, that hasn’t been decided yet,” Hande said.

To vote for a winner and learn more about the agencies and the Blue Cross Pursuit program, go to www.facebook.com/BCBSFL.

CREW Jacksonville supports PACE Center for Girls.

CREW Jacksonville June Luncheon "Regional and State Economic Development Update"

It was a room full of “people in the know” with respect to what the big picture holds for North Florida’s economic and growth future.  CREW Jacksonville hosted their monthly luncheon at Maggiano’s at the Town Center and featured four guest panelists – Kirk Wendland, President of the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce; Steve Rieck, Executive Director of the Nassau County Economic Development Board; Amy Evancho, President and CEO of the Florida Economic Development Council and Marty Wilson, Vice President of Competitive Programs and Policies, Enterprise Florida, Inc.  The moderator was Lindsey Kimball, CEcD, Senior Vice President of Economic Development for Infinity Global Solutions, LLC (IGS), the lunch sponsor. 

The discussions ranged from local initiatives for business growth and job development to state incentive policy developments, departmental restructuring and where the money will be in the future to support growth in the Northeast Florida business market.  Duval and Nassau counties are strongly relying on the growth and expansion of the Jacksonville and Fernandina ports, including logistical strength with our commercial airport systems and railways in place.  Jacksonville Aviation Authority representative Rosa Beckett discussed the strength Jacksonville has with its airport presence – Jacksonville International, Craig Airfield for private and executive flights, Herlong Field for recreational flight and Cecil Field, which is strengthening its foothold as the commercial and industrial flight center.  Nassau County initiatives included laying the groundwork to attract companies to house their business and industrial operations in its Northwest Sector near I-95.  St. Johns County initiatives referenced the low ratio of commercial and industrial to residential sectors citing the popular “work in Jacksonville but live in St. John’s County” adage.  The Duval County school system was noted as a primary reason for business executives to prefer to live in St. John’s County. 

Questions from the audience provoked response from panelists on how Duval County can change the perception that its schools are sub-standard and how to change legislative holds on alternative energy incentives for the sunshine state.  In summary, many audience members were left with big picture directives to ponder as well as an inside tract to what each community is focused on for its future development.

CREW Jacksonville holds monthly lunch events on topics affecting the commercial real estate market.  For more information on dates and topics, please visit our website at www.crewjax.org