A look at major career developments in the area.
NAI Hallmark strengthens executive leadership
Commercial real estate continues to evolve, requiring deeper expertise across investment strategy, property and construction management, marketing and capital markets. Today’s clients expect more than transaction support; they are looking for trusted advisers who can help maximize the long-term value of their real estate investments and navigate periods of uncertainty.
Thus, owners are placing greater value on firms that can balance robust capabilities with personalized, relationship-driven service. This has created a growing distinction among the firms serving them.
NAI Hallmark believes there is a compelling operating model that combines institutional-quality capabilities with local market leadership, an entrepreneurial culture and a relationship-driven approach to service.
For Christian Harden and Keith Goldfaden, who have led NAI Hallmark together for more than a decade, positioning the company to capture that opportunity required a thoughtful realignment of the firm’s leadership structure, one designed to sharpen strategic focus, strengthen operational excellence and support the company’s next phase of growth.
As CEO, Harden will focus on the leadership, culture and operating discipline required to scale the organization. A central part of his role will be continuing to develop and institutionalize NAI Hallmark’s proven operating processes, ensuring the company continues to deliver a consistent, high-quality client experience as it grows.
Goldfaden has transitioned from Co-CEO into the role of chief strategy officer, where he will serve as the principal architect of the company’s long-term growth strategy. His focus will include identifying new markets and strategic partnerships, evaluating growth opportunities, expanding key client relationships and helping shape the broader direction of the NAI Hallmark platform.
The new leadership structure is designed to create greater clarity around how NAI Hallmark operates and grows while giving the company greater capacity to pursue its broader strategic priorities, including continued organic growth in Northeast Florida and expansion of its property management and related service platforms.
To support that strategy, NAI Hallmark has continued to invest in executive expertise across key areas of the business.
In 2024, Daniel Burkhardt was named partner of NAI Hallmark.
In 2025, the firm appointed Pauline Gerry as chief marketing officer.
In 2026, Marc Scaffe joined as chief operating officer of property management.
Most recently, Allison Davies joined the executive team as chief financial officer.
Jolly appointed foundation chief of staff
The Monique Burr Foundation for Children (MBF) has announced the appointment of Mary Anne Tuohy Jolly as chief of staff.
In this position, Jolly provides enterprise-level leadership, strategic direction, operational oversight and coordination of MBF’s external relationships. She serves as a liaison with MBF’s leadership and staff, encouraging engagement and working collaboratively on initiatives that support MBF’s short and long-term growth.
A strategic leader with a track record of partnering with executive leadership to drive initiatives, elevate organizational performance and achieve mission-driven impact, Jolly brings 15 years of management experience to MBF. Prior to joining MBF, Jolly worked for eight years at Jacksonville University. Most recently, she served as chief of staff to JU’s senior vice president of external affairs, overseeing university advancement, marketing and communications and external engagement. Jolly is a graduate of Florida State University and The Bolles School.
Freehold Capital Management names Lynch regional president
Freehold Capital Management, a land management and real estate development company, recently announced that Johnny Lynch has joined the company as regional president for Florida and Georgia. Lynch brings nearly 30 years of real estate experience, including senior leadership roles at several of the nation’s largest homebuilders.
In his new role, Lynch will focus on identifying and evaluating new land and development opportunities, developing relationships with builders and shaping regional strategy by identifying markets and opportunities where Freehold can have the greatest impact.
Throughout his career, Lynch has held senior leadership positions with Firethorn, D.R. Horton, GreenPointe Communities, CalAtlantic Homes, Minto Communities and Lennar. He’s a Florida native and earned his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from the University of Florida. He holds an MBA from Florida Atlantic University.
Clerk and Comptroller’s Office names new chief financial officer
The St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller’s Office has named Brittany Percell its new chief financial officer, bringing more than a decade of local government and public finance experience to the office’s executive leadership team.
Percell brings more than 11 years of municipal finance experience to the Clerk and Comptroller’s Office, with a background in accounting, budgeting and local government operations. She most recently served as director of finance for the City of Atlantic Beach.
As chief financial officer, Percell will oversee all financial operations for the Clerk and Comptroller’s Office and lead a team of 17 finance clerks.
Percell holds a Master of Accountancy from Rutgers University, a Master of Business Administration from Florida International University and a Bachelor of Science in communications from the University of North Florida.
Elevate Jacksonville names Moore executive director
Elevate Jacksonville, an Elevate USA affiliate, has announced Jacoby Moore as its new executive director. Moore will lead the organization’s day-to-day operations and strategic growth as Elevate Jacksonville continues expanding its impact among the youth and students across Jacksonville.
Moore succeeds Carla Austin, who served as executive director for four years. Under Austin’s leadership, Elevate Jacksonville strengthened its operations and programming. She will continue serving the organization by leading its school-based program area.
Prior to joining Elevate Jacksonville, Moore served as director of operations for The Boselli Foundation, where he helped oversee mentoring initiatives for youth involved in the juvenile justice system. Through trauma-informed programming and consistent mentorship, he encouraged personal growth and supported positive life outcomes for young men.
A U.S. Navy veteran, former senior pastor, entrepreneur and nonprofit leader, Moore brings a diverse professional background spanning multiple industries. Throughout his career, he has focused on empowering youth through mentorship, character development and education.
Baptist Health names new chief human resources officer
Baptist Health has named Denver Mitchell executive vice president and chief human resources officer (CHRO).
As CHRO, Mitchell will serve as a strategic adviser to the executive leadership team, leading initiatives that strengthen Baptist Health’s workforce through talent planning, organizational design, succession planning and leadership development. She will also partner with clinical and operational leaders to anticipate workforce needs, address talent shortages and strengthen talent pipelines through recruitment strategies, workforce planning and strategic external relationships.
Mitchell has more than 22 years of experience in human resources, 16 of those within the health care sector. She joins Baptist Health from Cape Fear Valley Health in Fayetteville, North Carolina, where she served as senior vice president and CHRO, leading HR strategy for a health network with eight hospitals and 10,000 team members. She led key HR initiatives that contributed to several organizational honors.
Mitchell earned a Bachelor of Science in finance from the University of Alabama and is expected to receive a Master of Business Administration from Fayetteville State University in 2027.
Florida Theatre names new Board of Directors member
The Florida Theatre Performing Arts Center Inc. board of directors has elected Paula Drum as a new voting member to serve a three-year term.
Drum is a results-oriented chief marketing officer with 25-plus years driving double-digit revenue growth at $50-million to $1.4-billion B2C and B2B enterprises and currently provides fractional and interim marketing consulting services.
An expert in digital transformation, AI/ML-powered marketing, omnichannel demand generation and brand strategy, she most recently built and scaled a 400-plus person global marketing organization with a $140-million annual media budget. With a passion for private-equity-backed companies and three successful PE exits, Drum brings deep expertise in ecommerce, demand generation, SEO/SEM, MarTech optimization, attribution modeling and customer lifecycle management to drive results.
She has served on the board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital and as a member of the finance committee for the Baptist Health System. She earned her Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida.
The Florida Theatre is governed by a board of directors drawn from the community's civic leadership, who volunteer to oversee the institution's policies, governance and finances. There are currently 31 board members serving in this capacity.
Baptist Health names new executive vice president/COO
Baptist Health has named Thomas J. Gough executive vice president and chief operating officer (COO), effective Sept. 14.
As COO, Gough will serve as a key member of Baptist Health’s executive leadership team, overseeing operations across the health system. Working closely with the president and CEO Matthew A. Zuino and other members of the executive leadership team, Gough will guide efforts to advance operational excellence, strengthen quality and patient safety, enhance patient experience and support sustainable growth. He will also help align clinical and operational priorities, expand access to integrated care and ensure Baptist Health continues to meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves.
Gough brings nearly four decades of executive leadership experience and spent the last decade at a nationally recognized health system in North Carolina.
As EVP and COO at WakeMed Health and Hospital System in Raleigh, he led the health system through a period of significant growth and transformation. During his tenure, the organization expanded access to cancer care, opened new care locations, improved patient safety and quality outcomes, and advanced innovative approaches that enhanced both patient experience and operational performance. His leadership also contributed to national recognition for clinical excellence, workplace culture, diversity and maternity care, while supporting the system’s commitment to expanding access and serving vulnerable communities.
Gough earned his Master of Science in health care administration from the University of Minnesota and his Bachelor of Science in health planning and administration from the Pennsylvania State University.
— Compiled by Shaun Ryan
