Leadership

Helen Pajcic Nicholson - Board Chair

Helen Pajcic Nicholson recently returned 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 back to Florida permanently. 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 four children, North, Shepard, Reed, and Margot.

Cortney Cronin is Senior 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 a board-certified spine and sports medicine specialist at Southeast Orthopedics, where he brings over two decades of experience in musculoskeletal care. He formerly served as managing partner of the Jacksonville Orthopedic Institute and was instrumental in strengthening the culture and cohesion of the organization.
Dr. Doward served as a team physician for the Jacksonville Jaguars and has recently acted as the neutral doctor for both the U.S. Davis Cup and U.S. Fed Cup teams. A former competitive tennis player, he remains active in the sport and is passionate about wellness, education, and leadership.
He earned his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College, completed postgraduate studies at Columbia University, attended medical school at Cornell University Medical College, and trained in residency at Stanford University Hospital and Clinics. He completed his fellowship in spine and sports medicine at the world-renowned Hospital for Special Surgery.
Dr. Doward resides in Atlantic Beach with his two daughters, Ava and Amina. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees for The Discovery School in Jacksonville Beach and is the chair of the High School Committee. He is committed to supporting the school’s mission and fostering its continued growth and vibrant culture.

Katie Hammill is a Jacksonville-based Certified Nutritional Practitioner (CNP) and the founder of Katie Hammill Nutrition. She is known for helping individuals and families simplify real-life nutrition while fostering long-term, sustainable wellness. With a personalized and approachable style, Katie empowers her clients to embrace healthier living without the pressure of diet trends or rigid rules.

Originally from Canada, Katie graduated with a Bachelors in Commercial Studies from the University of Western Ontario and a Post-grad in Communications before beginning her career in sports marketing in Toronto.  In that role, Katie worked alongside major organizations such as the NHL and NFL and participated in high-profile events, including the Olympic Games. In 2012, she made a significant career shift to follow her passion for health and nutrition. After earning her certification as a nutritional practitioner, she launched her private practice.

In 2015, Katie and her family relocated to Atlantic Beach, Florida. Since then, she has continued to grow her wellness practice, serving clients both locally and virtually. Katie describes herself as a mom of two, a wife, a kitchen renegade, a fitness fanatic, and an avid car-pooler—bringing humor and relatability into her coaching.

Her philosophy centers on the idea that nutrition is not one-size-fits-all. She focuses on creating flexible, real-world plans tailored to the diverse needs of her clients—whether they are beginner athletes, busy professionals, or overwhelmed parents.

Katie and her husband Pete are proud parents of two daughters who have both flourished at The Discovery School. Her youngest currently attends, while her eldest just graduated—a milestone that came with deep gratitude and reflection. For Katie and her family, The Discovery School has been more than just an academic environment; it has been a space where curiosity is nurtured, individuality is honored, and a love of learning is deeply rooted.

Her daughters have grown in confidence, creativity, and compassion through the school’s Montessori and International Baccalaureate-inspired approach. Katie frequently shares how much she values the way the school cultivates not just knowledge, but also independence, global awareness, and kindness. Seeing her children thrive—academically, socially, and emotionally—has only deepened her appreciation for Discovery’s vibrant learning community and her advocacy for the whole health of the child.

Balancing life as a mom, wellness entrepreneur, and active community member, Katie brings empathy and authenticity to everything she does. Through her practice, she continues to support others in finding their healthiest selves—one step, one meal, and one mindset shift at a time.

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.