A look at major career developments in the area.
Duggan praised for service to clients, constituents
Rogers Towers has recognized shareholder and board member Wyman Duggan, an attorney and public servant who exemplifies the firm’s tradition of leadership in both legal and civic arenas. Recently elevated to the position of speaker pro tempore of the Florida House of Representatives (2024–26), Duggan continues to serve the people of Florida with the same dedication and analytical skill to his legislative role that he brings to every client he serves at Rogers Towers.
Duggan has represented Florida House District 12 (formerly District 15) since 2018 and currently chairs the Ways & Means Committee. His additional assignments on the Commerce Committee, State Affairs Committee and Security & Threat Assessment Committee place him at the center of Florida’s legislative process, especially in matters related to business development, taxation, infrastructure and public safety.
His insight into regulatory structures, fiscal policy and land use law makes him a key contributor to Florida’s ongoing growth and innovation — particularly as Northeast Florida continues to expand and evolve.
Duggan has served in key leadership roles across Northeast Florida, including:
He is also a graduate of Leadership Florida, Leadership Jacksonville and the inaugural class of the Jacksonville Regional Political Leadership Institute.
Odom named development director, North Florida Division
GreenPointe Holdings has announced the promotion of Brad Odom to development director, North Florida Region. In his new role, Odom will help lead the planning and execution of residential and commercial development projects.
Odom joined GreenPointe Holdings in 2022, bringing nearly two decades of professional experience in business, engineering and real estate. In his expanded role, he will continue to lead GreenPointe’s land acquisition efforts in North Florida including negotiating purchases, conducting due diligence, and managing underwriting and feasibility analysis for future development opportunities.
Odom earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Central Florida and a master’s in business administration from Florida State University.
Niece named 2025 Arts Innovator
Lumen Repertory Theatre has announced that its artistic director and co-founder, Brian Niece, has been named the 2025 Arts Innovator by the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. The prestigious award recognizes individuals whose bold, imaginative contributions are reshaping the cultural landscape of the region. In just over two seasons, Niece has done precisely that.
As the driving force behind Lumen Rep (Jacksonville’s only fully professional, nonprofit, Actors’ Equity-affiliated theatre company), Niece has not only redefined what professional theatre can look like on the First Coast, but has also modeled how it can meaningfully serve the broader community.
Under his leadership, Lumen Rep has produced four original works, including two world premieres plus the upcoming production with Emmy-winning playwright and director Michael Jacobs, while launching the NEXTGEN initiative to offer free tickets to high school and college students.
Ward named to Catholic Charities Jacksonville post
Catholic Charities Bureau, Inc. recently named Brian Ward director of development of its Jacksonville regional office. He will support major fundraising initiatives for programs including food assistance, emergency financial assistance, immigration legal services and more.
Ward brings more than 25 years of leadership experience spanning nonprofit and corporate sectors. He earned a bachelor’s degree in politics from Wake Forest University and a master’s degree in transportation management from the University of Denver.
Before joining Catholic Charities Jacksonville, Ward spent 14 years working in various leadership roles for CSX Corp., executing multiple multimillion dollar projects. He later served as chief executive officer of HandsOn Jacksonville and Arrow Holdings LLC before becoming senior vice president of OmniTRAX, Inc. in 2021.
Ward has volunteered with Catholic Charities Jacksonville in the immigration legal services department since 2019, providing career coaching to clients as they pursue their path to citizenship.
Huo to lead Baptist MD Anderson Division of Surgery
Elbert Y. Kuo M.D. joined Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center as head of the Division of Surgery and surgeon-in-chief, effective July 14. His leadership and clinical expertise, combined with a deep passion for patient care, supports Baptist Health’s dedication to providing innovative and top-quality cancer care to Northeast Florida, Southeast Georgia and beyond.
Dr. Kuo’s appointment follows a national search and extensive review process.
For more than 20 years, Kuo has been a respected leader, educator and mentor in the surgical field, where he has consistently earned widespread recognition from his peers. His pioneering work in minimally invasive and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery has helped advance surgical techniques and improve patient outcomes.
Kuo comes from Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Arizona, where he served as section chief of thoracic surgery and co-director of the Lung Cancer Multi-Disciplinary Program. During his eight-year tenure, Kuo built a thoracic surgery program that performed more than 1,200 major operations a year and was recognized for being in the top 10% for quality in the U.S. He also led a lung program that saw more than 300 patients annually in a multi-disciplinary setting and established a lung cancer screening program that screens more than 6,000 patients each year.
