Spradley picked as Executive Officer to NEFBA

JACKSONVILLE – The Northeast Florida Builders Association selected Jessie Spradley as its new Executive Officer.
Spradley began his career at NEFBA in 2013 as the Director of Government Affairs. As a loyal advocate for affordable housing and property rights, Jessie works at the state and local level to ensure access to housing for all. During his time at NEFBA, he has overseen the Government Affairs Committee, Political Action Committee, Codes and Compliance Committee, Industry Issue Fund, Clay Builders Council, Nassau Builders Council and NEFBA Young Professionals.
In addition, Jessie has worked with Past President, Chet Skinner, and a committee of NEFBA volunteers to create the Emerging Leaders Program. Prior to joining the organization, Jessie also spent six years with the Florida House of Representatives as an Aide to State Representative Charles McBurney.
Outside of work, Jessie serves his community as a board member of the Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business Advisory Committee and is active in the St. Johns Riverkeepers, Jaycees, and Urban Land Institute. Furthermore, he is a Junior Chamber International Senator, graduate of the Urban Land Institute Center for Leadership, and Jax Chamber Hightower Fellow. Jessie resides in Jacksonville Beach with his wife Nicole and two children, JD and Sadie.
The NEFBA is the state’s largest builders’ association, backed by a 75-year-history of networking, community outreach and industry development. The organization serves the construction and associated industries in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

Hagan Ace Hardware announces expansion/additional leadership
ORANGE PARK – As they head into their 6th decade of serving the North Florida community in the hardware business, the Hagan family is adding to the ranks and expanding again.
At Hagan Ace Hardware the company philosophy has always been to move people up the ranks, promote from within when the opportunity exists and always be open to talented folks outside the company that has experiences and qualities that would be an asset to the company. Two new, talented team members have joined the Hagan family.
Chad Wilson joined the team in July as an additional Director of Store Operations. He will be teaming up with the current Director of Store Operations, Jacob Hagan, to work closely with store managers.
Wilson worked for Ace Hardware Corporation for 12 years, eight of which as a District Manager. Prior to working for Ace Hardware, Chad worked for Best Buy as a District Manager. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida and obtained his master’s degree from Florida Tech University.
Scott Christensen joined the Hagan Ace team in October as the new Director of Merchandising. His focus will be on executing overall short- and long-term strategy for the merchandising department by working closely with the buying team, management team and vendors. He will champion the department in creating and maintaining vendor relationships, marketing products and developing product line strategies. Scott relocated to Saint Augustine from Columbia, South Carolina. He has 20 years of experience in hardware industry sales, marketing, and product development.
Company President and Owner Bill Hagan believes these two new team members will help take Hagan Ace Hardware into the future as they continue expanding the company horizon.
The Hagan family opened their ninth store in Yulee on Nov. 20th, 2021. The store is also home to the third location of Hagan Coastal Outfitters – specializing in sunglasses, shoes, kayaks, paddleboards, fishing and marine, outdoor apparel and more.
In 2022, the 60th anniversary year of Hagan Ace Hardware, there are plans to open two more locations as well as expand the Hagan Coastal Outfitters brand into more Hagan Ace Hardware stores.

Conner, Hubbard & Co. merges with Bodine Perry

ORANGE PARK – Conner, Hubbard & Company, based in Orange Park, announced a merger with Bodine Perry, a growing Certified Public Accounting firm with several offices in Ohio and Florida.
Bodine Perry currently operates an office in Orange Park at 1665 Kingsley Ave. With the acquisition of Conner Hubbard, the offices will combine and move to a new office space on Old Orange Park Road. Bodine Perry’s other Florida offices are in Fort Myers, Naples and Zephyrhills.
Dan Perry, President and CEO for Bodine Perry, is “glad to expand our talented network of professionals serving the greater Jacksonville area. We are fortunate to merge with a firm with longevity of clients and professionals and are looking forward to combining our resources to offer expanded services and the expertise to support our valued clients.”
Conner, Hubbard has been established in the Orange Park area since 1989. Both Steve Conner and Kim Hubbard, partners of the firm, will continue on with Bodine Perry.
“This new partnership allows us to provide expanded services and gain a new support network of more than one hundred top-notch team members in the accounting industry with direct access to the administrative support necessary,” Conner said.
All employees will continue in their current capacity under the firm’s new structure.
The Partner in Charge of the combined Orange Park teams will be Beth A. Linder, CPA. Linder has been voted Best of Clay for the past two years.
Perry Bodine Perry was founded in 2002, by Matthew Bodine and Daniel Perry in Youngstown, Ohio. Today the firm has grown to employ more than 110 professionals in six different markets throughout Ohio and Florida. Bodine Perry was ranked one of the Fast-Growing Firms in 2021 by Inside Public Accounting and is currently planning for two additional acquisitions in the coming weeks.
For more information about the firm, please visit BodinePerry.com.

Javon Jenkins joins Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices

FLEMING ISLAND – Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty is pleased to welcome Javon Jenkins to the Fleming Island/Orange Park office.
“Javon has worked as a Supervisor at TD Bank for several years and is excited to begin her new career as a realtor. She knows that her finance and business background will help make each transaction stress-free for her clients. I’m thrilled she’s joined our company to grow her career as a realtor, and I feel confident in her success here at Florida Network Realty,” said Linda Benson, Broker/Manager of the Fleming Island/Orange Park office.

EXIT Realty Estate Gallery owners Downey, Rivera earn international honors

CLAY COUNTY – Sonny Downey and Ray Rivera, Owners of EXIT Real Estate Gallery with offices in Orange Park, St. John’s, Jacksonville, Fleming Island and Jacksonville Beach, were named EXIT Realty Corp. International’s East USA Broker of the Year during the company’s annual awards event recently broadcast across the US and Canada.
The brokerage was also named the No. 1 Highest Grossing Office (Multiple) in North America for the 10th consecutive year. Awards were tabulated for the period July 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.
“This dynamic duo of leaders continues to grow with precision and high performance,” said Craig Witt, CEO of EXIT Realty Corp. International’s US Division. “Sonny and Ray are two very polished and driven professionals who dream big and lead their people to the highest level of success. We are so proud of all they do to represent our brand and maintain our standard of excellence in their market.”