Hockey Team Owner Andy Kaufmann Expands Business During COVID

 We were at an Epping Forest lunch where our host Diane Pauly with Morgan Stanley and I had the opportunity to chat with Andy Kaufmann, Owner and CEO of the Jacksonville Icemen Hockey Team. I was concerned about how he was doing since he purchased the hockey team just before the pandemic. But COVID hasn’t stopped him. Since then he brought in Tim Tebow, Myles Jack, Reggie Hayward and other local individuals as investors. He purchased the Savannah expansion hockey team and he has set up a facility now known as Community First Igloo. The outstanding part about this is Andy, a local guy, is doing so much to use his business assets to help various charity groups in the area. Plus, he has developed a unique venue at the Igloo for business functions. The facility, renovation expected next August, will offer meeting rooms with catering, a 210 seat sports bar and team building opportunities. The hockey season starts with opening night on November 6. The season will feature the nationally televised Warrior/ECHL All Star Classic and Fan Fest in Jacksonville on January 17. There are plenty of opportunities for your business to participate in hockey promotions. Go to JacksonvilleIcemen.com for more info. Andy is seated between Diane and me in this “Lunch with Les” photo.

Visit Jacksonville Promotes City Through COVID

 Thanks to strategic planning during COVID, Visit Jacksonville continues to play a key role in the promotion of the city, including assistance with the coordination and marketing of the Green Bay/New Orleans NFL game at TIAA Bank Field this past weekend. In a conversation with the agency’s President & CEO Michael Corrigan, I found that the strategy for promoting Jacksonville during the pandemic is to focus on the drive market (within 7 - 9 hours drive time from the city) and especially to Florida cities to generate tourism. Also, the agency is working with local hotels, motels, restaurants and conference venues to offer financial incentives to bring in visitors. Armed with funds saved from 2020 expenditures and working with groups to reschedule cancelled Jacksonville events, the agency is going full steam ahead in generating visitors through the fly market as well as the drive market. The agency is offering assistance at NO COST to Duval County companies interested in having their corporate or trade associations gather in the city over the next few years. For specific information and assistance with planning a conference in Jacksonville, just go to VisitJacksonville.com. Michael is on the left in this “Lunch with Les” photo.

Jim Lanahan Of Advanced Direct Marketing Retires

 Many things have changed in the direct mail industry, not only around the country but also in Jacksonville. One of the major changes about to take place is the retirement of Jim Lanahan, owner of Advanced Direct Marketing Services (ADM). Almost a year ago, Jim sold his company to Ray Boston and Becky Iddings, who also own Southside Blueprint and Cherokee Printing. Jim has stayed on for the year to help make a smooth transition for the new owners and to help existing customers with their ongoing mail projects. Other than new owners, the company will offer the same services, have the same name and location and the same website and contact information. Jim started the company in 1984 and has seen his client base go from backroom operations for printers to work for larger printers and government agencies. Part of this is due to automation that hit the industry big time, reducing the number of employees needed for their operations. While Jim is looking to spend more time with his family, he hasn’t ruled out looking for “new adventures.” For the next month, he can still be contacted at ADM offices at (904) 396-3028 or 3733 Adirolf Road. Jim is on the right in this “Lunch with Les” photo.

Diane Pauly Guides Clients To Long Term Wealth Management

 I had the opportunity to have lunch with Diane Pauly, who I believe is one of the sharpest investment minds in Jacksonville. As Senior Vice President, Wealth Management for The Jaffe Group at Morgan Stanley, she is a financial advisor to clients all over the U.S. With the market hitting new highs and coming off heightened volatility brought on by the pandemic, she counsels her clients without letting their emotions and headlines distract them from their long term goals. She stressed to me that using a combination of asset allocation, diversified investments, portfolio management and a customized strategy is the key to wealth accumulation while managing risks. She also emphasizes “staying the course” instead of trying to time the market. In her work, she develops personalized, intricately designed plans that navigate short term market uncertainty while keeping financial goals on track, giving her clients a sense of peace of mind with their investment strategy. While Diane travels extensively to meet with clients (during nonCOVID times), she can be contacted at diane.pauly@morganstanley.com or at (904) 632-0285. She is pictured here having “Lunch with Les.”

Army Successfully Recruits In Jacksonville With Job Opportunities

 You might think it would be difficult to recruit for the Army in a Navy town like Jacksonville. But numbers show that over the years the Army Recruiting Battalion in Jacksonville has consistently led the nation. U.S. Army Recruiting Jacksonville Company Commander, Captain Anthony Goodman says the opportunity of free education, specialized skills training and entry level jobs are very appealing to young men and women in Northeast Florida. During National Hiring Days, May 14 - June 14, the Army is offering special bonuses to new recruits looking for entry level jobs, such as operating room specialists, pharmacy techs, petroleum specialists, cyber strategists, air traffic and port positions … over 200 career opportunities without needing a college degree. However, the Army pays for free college scholarships and provides student loan forgiveness. Plus, there is free healthcare and a blended 401K retirement plan. The Army offers a life-time career, an opportunity for partial benefits in the Army Reserve or education and training for a specialized career in civilian life. For more information, go to www.USAREC.ARMY.MIL or contact Captain Goodman at anthony.p.goodman.mil@mail.mil. In this “Lunch with Les” photo, Les talks with First Sergeant Michael Harter and Captain Goodman.

For A Jump On Business Recovery, Doug Wilder Is The Answer

If COVID has side tracked your business goals and dreams or if you have found that you and your employees are working in a rut, now is a great time to get a jump on your business recovery with a terrific local resource - Doug Wilder. I got to know Doug when he won the Downtown Council’s Jax Chamber Small Business Leader of the Year in 2002. His track record as a business coach for companies ranging from start-ups to major corporations is unsurpassed. Doug’s primary process is to get businesses to focus on their goals and mission and to motivate everyone in that company, from the leadership down. With Doug’s coaching process, his scope of work includes developing strategies, sales training, dealing with employee conflicts, and almost all aspects of enhancing people skills. Much of Doug’s work involves hands-on, person-to-person work. But with COVID, he has created an online subscription series called Wilder Wisdom and continues to offer his Lifeline For Leaders program remotely. If your business needs a jump start on the pandemic recovery, I suggest you contact Doug (the sooner the better). His website is WilderSuccess.com and can be contacted at (904) 705-4567 or doug@wildersuccess.com. Doug is on the left in this “Lunch with Les” photo.  

Verdejo Provides Landscape Planning And Budgeting For Northeast Florida Businesses

Businesses are currently in the process of developing their budgets for commercial landscaping services for 2021, and Verdego, one of Northeast Florida’s top landscaping companies, is working with many of them to develop customized landscaping and maintenance programs. Billy Genovese, Director of Business Development, explains Verdego provides full commercial services including landscaping, irrigation, fertilization & pest, landscape enhancement, maintenance and tree service. But the real benefit for a business using his firm is, because his company is locally owned, he can deliver complete landscaping plans in a fast and efficient manner, plus he can negotiate pricing that fits corporate budgets. Headquartered in Bunnell, Florida, Verdego has over 150 employees in their 3 divisions - Construction Installation, Landscape Maintenance and Residential Installation - that serve Clay, Duval, Flagler, St. Johns and Volusia counties. Genovese is responsible for work with office parks, corporate headquarters, shopping centers, hospitals, retail/financial locations and municipalities. For help with your 2021 landscape plan and budget, contact Billy Genovese at (386) 225-0203 or bgenovese@verdego.com. Genovese is on the right in this “Lunch with Les” photo.