This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition

In this podcast episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, Lori Boyer, CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA), discusses the significant construction progress in downtown Jacksonville as 2025 unfolds. She highlights the ongoing development of over 1,000 residential units, including the Pearl Street District, and emphasizes the importance of affordable housing initiatives in ad...

In this episode of "This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition," host Kent Justice sits down with Jeff Bacon, the commissioner of the Atlantic Sun Conference, to discuss the bold move of relocating the conference headquarters from Atlanta to Jacksonville. With nearly two years under his belt in Northeast Florida, Bacon shares his insights on the vibrant sports culture of the city and the strategi...

This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition host Kent Justice caught up with Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp owner Ken Babby. With a jaw-dropping $31.5 million renovation of the Vystar Ballpark under their belts, Babby couldn’t contain his enthusiasm for opening day. He highlighted the standout feature of the revamped park: the shrimp boats, which he boldly claimed are “the best seats in the house.” Bab...

In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, host Kent Justice welcomes Ron Autrey, former CEO and chairman of Miller Electric. Autry shares insights from his remarkable 49-year career with the company. Autry is a Jacksonville native, who reflects on the technological transformations he witnessed in the electrical contracting industry since joining Miller in 1975. He emphasizes...

Host Kent Justice dove into the federal government’s buyout offers and looming layoffs with guests Marshall Reddy and Kevin Monahan. The spotlight was on federal employees considering a pivot to business ownership as their “Plan B.” Monahan, an expert in small businesses and nonprofits, didn’t mince words about the ripple effects of government layoffs. “Government is a big part of our lives,” he s...

In this special episode of “This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition,” host Kent Justice takes listeners on a riveting journey through the bustling world of JAXPORT, the Port of Jacksonville. With Robert Peek, the chief commercial officer of JAXPORT, as his guide, we explore the port’s explosive growth and its role as an economic powerhouse in Northeast Florida. Peek reveals that JAXPORT is rid...

Get ready for an inside look at the 51st Players Championship. In this episode of “This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition,” Kent Justice sits down with Lee Smith from the Players to preview the tournament’s biggest highlights. Discover the incredible economic impact of the tournament — a staggering $234 million for our local community — and learn about exciting new features for 2025, includin...

In a recent episode of This Week in Jacksonville Business Edition, host Kent Justice sat down with Dave and Lesley Butts of the D&L Butts team to dive into the vibrant real estate scene in Jacksonville. Dave, a Navy veteran, and Lesley have turned their passion for supporting military families into a thriving real estate business. They shared their firsthand insights into the unique challenges mil...

 Join Kent Justice as he sits down with Dana Karzan, Chief Marketing Officer of VyStar Credit Union, to explore their latest initiatives and their impact on economic growth and development. On this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, discover how VyStar’s “Through Your Life” campaign, which aired during the Super Bowl, aims to support members through various life stages while b...

This week’s episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition unpacks the complex world of tariffs and trade wars. Host Kent Justice engages with Peter Quinter, a leading U.S. Customs and international trade attorney, to explore how tariffs are reshaping the business landscape for both companies and consumers. Quinter brings a wealth of experience from his tenure with U.S. Customs and Border...

In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, we spotlight Stephanie Cost, the dynamic First Lady of Jacksonville University, whose influence is shaping the future of student success and community engagement. Recognized as one of this year’s Women with Heart honorees, Stephanie’s philanthropic efforts have left a significant mark on Jacksonville. Her leadership in establishing th...

Buckle up, folks, because "This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition" is taking you on a wild ride through the city's booming tourism scene. You won't believe the numbers: more than 8 million visitors are pumping a staggering $7.4 billion into the local economy. Jacksonville is the new it-spot, and Visit Jacksonville CEO Michael Corrigan is spilling all the juicy details. From the convenience of...

In this episode of the Jacksonville Business Edition podcast, Kent Justice interviews Ric Anderson from the Jacksonville Daily Record about the “missing middle” housing issue in Jacksonville. Anderson explains that this term refers to housing options like duplexes and triplexes, which fall between single-family homes and large apartment complexes. These options cater to those who cannot afford sin...

Discover how the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival is driving tourism and economic growth on this idyllic Florida island. Beyond attracting tourists drawn to Amelia Island’s natural beauty, the festival’s concerts, master classes, and other cultural events are crucial for keeping visitors engaged and spending money locally. In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, host Ke...

In this episode, host Kent Justice sits down with Dr. David Jaffe, a sociology professor at the University of North Florida, to discuss the pressing issue of affordable housing in Jacksonville. Jaffe shares insights from the Jax Rental Housing Project, a community-based public sociology initiative aimed at understanding the dynamics of the local rental market. The conversation delves into the alar...

Join host Kent Justice as he explores the impact of one of the nation's largest philanthropic investment programs, Neighborhood Builders, celebrating its 20th anniversary in Jacksonville. Spearheaded by Bank of America, this initiative awards $200,000 grants to local nonprofits, including leadership training for executive directors. In this episode, Kent is joined by Sheila Cribb, Market Executive...

In this episode of “This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition,” host Kent Justice engages with Katessa Archer and John Rodriguez from Dominium to explore the company’s impactful initiatives in affordable housing and education. Dominium, a leader in providing workforce housing, is committed to making a difference in the lives of residents by offering long-term affordable housing solutions and the...

In this episode of “This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition,” host Kent Justice sits down with Tyler Mathews, the newly appointed CEO of England-Thims & Miller, Inc. (ETM), a leading infrastructure and development consulting firm in Florida. Mathews shares insights into the firm’s nearly 50-year history, its role in shaping the region’s infrastructure, and the seamless leadership transition th...

In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, host Kent Justice interviews Tim Cost, president of Jacksonville University (JU), about recent financial concerns and the university’s strategic direction. Cost, entering his 13th year as president, addresses the missed bond covenant compliance, explaining that while JU has never missed a bond payment, it did not meet a specific debt...

In this episode on This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition host Kent Justice sits down with Jake Gordon, CEO of Downtown Vision, Inc., to discuss the 2024 State of Downtown report. This comprehensive 18-month review showcases over $2.24 billion in active construction projects and nearly $9 billion in the development pipeline for downtown Jacksonville. Gordon highlights major initiatives, inclu...

Congressman Aaron Bean joins host Kent Justice to discuss bold plans for tackling government inefficiency, reducing the national debt, and championing small businesses. From launching the DOGE caucus to sharing personal insights as a business owner, Rep. Bean dives into strategies for reshaping Washington and empowering entrepreneurs. Plus, hear the heartwarming reason he's especially thankful thi...

Karen Brune Mathis and Ric Anderson from the Jacksonville Daily Record — our news partner with News4JAX — join the conversation to explore two transformative downtown developments: Gateway Jax and the Phoenix Arts and Innovation District. This week’s show also examined the broader implications of these developments. Jacksonville’s City Council is taking a more measured approach to development ince...

In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, we’re looking at the trends for entrepreneurs and speak with Chris Rivera. He’s the owner of E-commerce Accounting, and discusses the firm’s specialization in assisting E-commerce entrepreneurs with tax compliance, bookkeeping, and strategic planning. He highlighted the need for such services due to the complexity of E-commerce accoun...

In this episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, we’re talking with Paul Anderson about Garage Living Jacksonville, and what you can do with a smaller investment in remodeling. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Secret projects? They happen more often than most of us are aware. On this week’s episode of This Week in Jacksonville, we’re looking into two high-profile mysteries that our news partner the Jacksonville Daily Record has solved. Editor Karen Mathis is on this episode to discuss something code-named “Project Paper Company” and another called “Project Blue Sky.” And what about a surf park in eTown?...