Leadership

Helen Pajcic Nicholson - Board Chair

Helen Pajcic Nicholson recently retuned to her hometown of Jacksonville to raise a family with her husband, Marvin, after nearly a decade working for the federal government in Washington, DC. While in the nation’s capitol, Helen proudly served the U.S. Congress, the Executive Office of President, and the U.S. Department of Education. Helen first worked on the House Committee on Education and Labor, advising on issues pertaining to civil rights in education, including afterschool policy – the topic of her senior thesis at Princeton University, from where she graduated in 2009. Following time on the Domestic Policy Council at the White House, Helen was appointed to the Department of Education where she worked her way up to Chief of Staff at the Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, and was lucky to participate in the bicameral reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

After the 2016 election, Helen and Marvin moved permanently to their house in Neptune Beach. Helen serves as the unpaid CEO of the Pajcic Family Foundation, which focuses on community led support and mentoring of high-risk urban youth. Helen looks forward to serving the community she loves, while remaining focused on her favorite and most important role: mother to her three children North, Shepard, and Reed.

Cortney Cronin is Corporate Counsel at Accenture PLC, focusing her practice on corporate governance, internal investigations, and employment law matters. Previously, she was a commercial litigator, representing clients in state and federal court in both Texas and Florida.

Cortney is originally from Dallas, Texas, where she earned her Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University, Dedman School of Law. Prior to law school, she received her BA from The University of Texas at Austin. She remains a devoted Dallas Cowboys and Texas Longhorn fan. She is currently a member of both the State Bar of Texas and the State Bar of Florida.

Jacksonville Beach is now home for Cortney, her husband, and their two young children, who both attend The Discovery School. In their free time, they enjoy supporting local businesses and frequenting the beach. Cortney is also an active member of the Jacksonville Bar Association, the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association, and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

Hampton Graham serves as Chairman of the Scott-McRae Automotive Group based in Jacksonville, FL. In his role, he oversees 7 for-profit companies operating in 15 states and employing over 750 people. Hampton has worked for the Scott-McRae Group since 2008.

Hampton and his wife Cheree graduated from the University of Florida and have 3 daughters. He serves as the Chairman of the ALS Association Florida Chapter. Hampton enjoys spending time with his family, flying, sporting events, and boating.

Laura Alrutz

Laura Alrutz is Associate Counsel of Labor and Employment for Fanatics and a Jacksonville native. After earning her bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, Laura returned home to teach 6th grade World History at Ribault Middle School. Her time in the classroom sparked a passion for education law and policy, leading her to Vanderbilt University Law School. Upon graduation, Laura stayed in Nashville to practice education law, representing school districts across Tennessee.

After the birth of their first daughter, Laura and her husband Zach moved back to Jacksonville to be near family and the ocean. Laura continued her work in education policy as the Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Jacksonville Public Education Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to improving educational outcomes for students in under-resourced public schools. After several years, she transitioned back into private practice to focus on labor and employment law before going in-house.

Laura, Zach, and their two daughters live in Jacksonville Beach. They love spending time at the beach, Sunshine Park, and with friends and family.

Joshua Ashby 

Josh’s leadership and commitment as CEO to the mission of Fleet Landing have solidified the organization as a top Life Care community in the country and premier choice for health services for seniors in Northeast Florida. Josh is a highly analytic thinker, and his vision has expanded Fleet Landing’s impact through the creation of new service lines and new housing options on their Atlantic Beach campus.

After earning his bachelor’s degree in health sciences and Master of Business Administration from the University of North Florida, Josh joined the Fleet Landing team in 2005 as director of health care services. He was named CEO in 2010. Josh is past chair of LeadingAge Florida, a statewide association whose mission is to advance the possibilities for aging through service, education and advocacy. He also serves as Treasurer of Here Tomorrow, a mental health collaborative.

Josh’s passion for serving older adults began at a young age as a volunteer at Jacksonville’s River Garden Hebrew Home. When not at work, he enjoys traveling with his wife, Stefani, and their three children who attend The Discovery School.

David Doward - Development Member

Dr. David Doward is the former managing partner of the Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute, and was integral in improving the culture of the organization. He is a board certified spine and sports medicine specialist. Dr. Doward served as the team doctor for the Jacksonville Jaguars and recently he has served as the neutral doctor for the US Davis Cup and US Fed Cup. He is a former competitive tennis player and was regionally ranked in the past. Dr. Doward spent a year traveling around the world with Tony Robbins as one of his platinum partners, honing his skills in life, wealth, and business mastery. He is a firm believer in creating the life that you love.

Dr. Doward is a graduate of Lafayette College and completed his postgraduate education at Columbia University. He attended medical school at Cornell University Medical College and completed his residency at Stanford University Hospital and Clinics. Dr. Doward received his fellowship training at the world renowned Hospital for Special Surgery.

Dr. Doward has volunteered his time with organizations such as the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation which encourages inner-city adolescents to focus on their education. He has also participated in a number of medical mission trips in Caribbean which serve the indigent population.

Dr. Doward hails from Saint Croix, US Virgin Islands and he enjoys spending time in nature, traveling, learning new cultures, and playing sports. He lives in Atlantic Beach with his two daughters, Ava and Amina. He currently is also on the Board of Trustees for the private school Good Hope Country Day.

Freddie Williams

Freddie Williams is a marketing and innovation leader at Johnson & Johnson, overseeing strategy, development, and global execution of new products and services under the ACUVUE® brand. Prior to his current role, Freddie brings a wealth of technical and commercial expertise in driving new business incubation for several iconic consumer brands.

Freddie is a graduate of the University of Florida and completed his postgraduate education at the University of South Florida. Currently, he is actively involved with the Black Executive CMO Alliance (BECA) and has served as Co-chair of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for Johnson & Johnson Vision, Global Franchise Development.

Freddie and his wife, Bree-Anna, returned to Jacksonville, FL in 2018. They enjoy spending their free time hiking and traveling with their two children, who attend The Discovery School.

Jessica Wynne - Governance Committee Member

Jessica Wynne currently serves as Managing Partner at MESH Partners, a privately held investment firm with a focus on real estate and healthcare. Jessica’s background in organizational agreements and compliance allows her to guide MESH and its partners in how best to structure entities and ensure regulatory compliance and correct reporting.

Jessica previously held the positions of Managing Director at both MountainStar Capital and Georgia School of Orthodontics. At MountainStar Capital, Jessica reviewed and advised the company on issues of compliance, legal structuring, and governance. In her role as Managing Director at Georgia School of Orthodontics, Jessica oversaw the Accreditation Department of the School, interfacing with several different regulatory entities to obtain and maintain the School’s approval statuses, including the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (SEVIS), and the Georgia Nonpublic Postsecondary Education Commission.

Jessica is a bar admitted practicing attorney in the State of Florida, with her Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law and a B.B.A. in finance from Southern Methodist University. She holds real estate licenses in both Florida and Colorado.

Jessica also currently serves on the University of North Florida’s Student Affairs Community Council. She has previously served on the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation, the Young Ambassador’s Council of the Florida House, and has served on event committees for St. Vincent’s, Wolfson Children’s Hospital, the Jacksonville Public Library, and the American Cancer Society.

Jessica, her husband Chris, and their four daughters live in Atlantic Beach. They enjoy spending time at the beach, traveling, and with friends and family.