Contact: Sara McMillan, VP of Development, The Arc Jacksonville
Cell: 904.504.7471
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.arcjacksonville.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 4, 2021

The Arc Jacksonville Announces New Board Leadership

Jacksonville, FL, January 4, 2021: The Arc Jacksonville announces new board leadership for 2021, led by new Chairman, John Cooksey. Cooksey is the Chief Operations Officer and Entomologist of McCall Service. He has served on The Arc Jacksonville’s Board since 2015. He is the board advisor of The Jacksonville School for Autism, past president of the Rotary Club of Orange Park, past chairman of the board of Grace Episcopal Day School, past president of the Mandarin Museum and Historical Society and past chairman of the Black Creek District of the Boy Scouts of America. John has served many different roles in the Florida Pest Management Association including President in 2013 and is the current treasurer of the Florida Pest Management Foundation. John and his wife Leyda live in Jacksonville and have three children ages 19, 21 and 23.

“I am very excited to take over as chairman of The Arc Jacksonville. The fantastic staff and leadership of this organization do such great work for those in the community with intellectual and developmental differences. I am humbled and honored to be a part of it,” said John Cooksey, 2021 Chairman of The Arc Jacksonville’s board.

The Arc Jacksonville has a diverse board of directors, many of whom have a long history of service. The 2021 board is comprised of officers John Cooksey, Chairman, McCall Service; Barbara Williams, Vice Chairman, Orange Environmental Service; Dr. Anne Lufrano, Treasurer; Dr. Rob Zeglin, Secretary, University of North Florida; Mike Tanner, immediate Past Chair, independent consultant; Shawn Ashley, Past Chairman, business owner; Amanda Crawford, member, VyStar Credit Union; Steve Gutos, Past Chairman; Diane Halverson, member, Children’s Christmas Party of Jacksonville; Jason Hamilton, member, TIAA Bank; Jonathan Hart, member, North Florida Financial Corporation; Sally Hazelip, member, North Florida School of Special Education; Kelly Kristoff, member, PGA Tour, Inc.; Ward Lariscy, member, R. Ward Lariscy, Inc.; Debbie Martin Johnson, Past Chairman, CPA; Bernadette Moran, Past Chairman; Elise Nowikowski, member, Evidens Group; Kit Thomas, member, North Florida School of Special Education; Lou Vaccaro, Past Chairman, Ameris Bank; and Helen Werking, Past Chairman, Riverside Hospital Foundation, Inc.

About The Arc Jacksonville
The Arc Jacksonville serves and advocates for individuals with intellectual and developmental differences to achieve their full potential and to participate in community life. Through incredible partnerships within the Northeast Florida community, The Arc Jacksonville, a local nonprofit, provides a full complement of residential, educational, training, work readiness, employment, mental health, and community inclusion initiatives.

Editor’s Note: The Arc Jacksonville is not an acronym and Arc should never be in all capital letters. When referring to the organization, please use The Arc Jacksonville, not The ARC, The ARC Jacksonville and never ARC. The Arc Jacksonville should be considered as a title or phrase. Refer to the individuals as having “differences” and not “disabilities.”

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