Leaders Fighting Poverty
LIFT JAX is a cross-sector group of leaders that represent the Eastside, the business community, nonprofits, and philanthropic partners. We are committed to working hand-in-hand with neighborhood leaders. Read more about our commitments to community.
Staff
Executive Board
Michelle Braun
Chair
Immediate Past President
United Way of NE Florida
Dr. Rudy Jamison
Secretary
Assistant Director
University of North Florida
Suzanne Pickett
Vice Chair
President
Historic Eastside CDC
Pete Gunnlaugsson
Treasurer
Financial Technology Executive
Ellen Wiss
Vice Chair
Co-Founder
READ USA
Rev. Dr. Christopher McKee
Member
Lead Pastor
First Baptist Church of Oakland
Courtney Harris
Member
Chief of Staff to the CEO
Florida Blue
Steering Committee
Aundra Wallace
President
JAXUSA Partnership
Shamika Wright
Executive Director
JAX Chamber Foundation
Katie Ensign
VP, Community Investment and Impact
Baptist Health
Darryl Willie
School Board Member
Duval Cty Public Schools
Chuck Shealy
Real Estate & Lending Officer
LISC
Charles Griggs
Founder & CEO
Eighth & Whitner Group
Patti McElroy
VP, Community Leadership
VyStar Credit Union
Valerie Jenkins
Vice President
Wells Fargo
Ann-Marie Knight
VP, Community Engagement
UF Health
Jodie Leach
Past President
JFCS
David Miller
Executive Chairman
Brightway Insurance
Mike Holzendorf
Owner
Fortress Capital Group
Nicole Hamm
Executive Director
Blue Zones Project Jacksonville
Melanie Patz
President and CEO
United Way of NE FL
Shannon Nazworth
President & CEO
Ability Housing
T-Neisha Tate
VP, Social Responsibility
Jacksonville Jaguars
Michael Ward
Former CEO
CSX Corporation
Mari Kuraishi
President
Jessie Ball duPont Fund
Dr. Alesia Scott-Ford
Field Office Director
HUD
James Coggin
Sr. Dir, Grantmaking
Community Fdn for NE FL