The members of St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership St. Johns (LSJ) Class of 2023 have started the one-year program and completed a planning retreat at Guy Harvey Resort in St. Augustine Beach.
Participants are from a myriad of sectors in industry, professional services and nonprofits throughout Northeast Florida. The leadership development program was started in 2000 to educate, connect and encourage experienced and emerging businesspeople as they make a positive impact on the local economy and community.
According to Bob Porter, the Chamber’s vice president of public policy and LSJ program director, the class of 2023 joins more than 450 alumni who are committed to meeting on specific days and benefit from an in-depth overview of local challenges and opportunities.
“This year’s class includes 24 men and women who will visit and learn about St. Johns County businesses, nonprofits and government agencies, among others,” he said. “They will have classroom and field time to identify and work on a worthy project for individuals and families in need.”
Class members who successfully graduate from the program are accepted into the ranks of leadership alumni in St. Johns County and across Florida. Many graduates have been accepted into the statewide Leadership Florida program.
For additional information and to register for the 2024 program, contact Bob Porter at 904-687-2049 or email bob.porter@sjcchamber.com. The website is sjcchamber.com/leadership-st.-johns.
The members of the Leadership St. Johns Class of 2023 include Alexandra Barr, St. Johns County Public Library System, assistant branch manager and youth services librarian; Lauren Blocker, St. Johns County judge; Kevin Briscoe, JEA, communications specialist; Mike Castaing, St. Augustine Police Department, commander; Frank Cervasio, St. Johns County School District, director for facilities and construction; Sidney Clark, Code Ninjas Ponte Vedra, center director; Orville Dothage, Northrop Grumman Corp.; Reuben Franklin, City of St. Augustine, public works director; Danielle Fraser, Danielle Fraser, P.A., owner; Greg Johnson, City of St. Augustine, deputy director of finance; Sean McAfee, Ascension St. Vincent’s; Cathy Newman, Investing in Kids (INK!), St. Johns County Education Foundation Inc., community and district relations achievement director; Misty North, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, captain and corrections captain; Nancy Palmer, Firehouse Subs, manager development and outreach; Abby Pedigo, City of St. Augustine, fire marshal; Robert Peek, Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT), director of marketing and general manager of business development; Lauren Peterson, St. Augustine Youth Services, director donor relations; Chris Pokrivnak, VyStar Credit Union — Jacksonville, regional vice president; Jeremy Russell, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, captain; Aimee Stafford, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce, VP of operations; Bruce Vorsanger, Vicar’s Landing, chief development officer; Donna Wagner, Flagler Health+, chief nursing officer; Cathy Weber, St. Johns County School District, director for budget and chief negotiator; and Geoff West, Florida Power & Light Co., director of development.
“LSJ provides distinguished support for participants who are seeking involvement in for-profit business, nonprofit and volunteer government advisory boards, elected office and advancing their careers,” said Isabelle Renault, the Chamber’s president, CEO and a graduate of Leadership St. Johns and Leadership Florida. “We want our class members to utilize their LSJ skills to engage in the community while helping to improve the many aspects of St. Johns County.”
The St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit business membership organization and among the top professional networking organizations in Northeast Florida.
For more information about the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce and Leadership St. Johns, call 904-829-5681 or go to sjcchamber.com.
