Benchmarks of Success: A look at major career developments in the area

A look at major career developments in the area.

Flagler Health+ announces executive leadership promotions

Flagler Health+ has announced the promotions of Angie Metcalf and Donna Wagner.

Metcalf, who had previously served as executive VP, chief HR officer, has been promoted to executive VP, chief administrative officer. She will retain her previous responsibilities over the human resources and marketing communications function in addition to responsibilities for the partnership integration.

Wagner, who recently celebrated 10 years with Flagler Health+, has been named VP, chief nursing officer, a role she previously held on an interim basis. Wagner has an extensive nursing background including time spent as a nursing assistant; a bedside nurse in Med/Surg, ICCU, ICU and open-heart recovery; a nursing educator and adjunct professor; as well as having experience in quality patient experience.

Leik named Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville CEO

Joey Leik has been appointed CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville. She will lead the strategic vision for the organization’s long-term growth, impact and delivery of mission.

Leik brings more than 15 years’ experience of operational management, fundraising and marketing into her new role. Her nonprofit experience includes serving as the director of development and public relations for Hospice of Dubuque, director of public and community relations for Dubuque Racing Association and president and CEO of United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States.

Nichols joins Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Florida Network Realty

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty has added John Nichols to the Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office.

Nichols came from another local brokerage and said he is excited to take advantage of the training, technology tools and national reputation of Berkshire Hathaway. His more than 25 years of experience in commercial and residential real estate allows him to provide service and knowledge to his clients.

“We are extremely excited to have John as a new addition to our Florida Network Family,” said Holly Hayes, broker/manager of the Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office. “He brings a natural sales ability and professionalism to our team.”

For more information, Nichols can be reached at 970-331-6611, John.Nichols@FloridaNetworkRealty.com and JNichols.FloridaNetworkRealty.com.

The Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office is located at 333 Village Main St., Suite 670, Ponte Vedra Beach.

Husband and wife join local real estate company

Scott “Hammer” Felde and Thanh Le have joined the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty Ponte Vedra/Nocatee Office.

The husband-and-wife team has years of real estate experience combined with dedicated service to the country through their experience at the Department of Defense for most of their careers.  

A graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, Felde served in the U.S. Army and later worked at the Department of Defense in National Security.

Thanh had been with a brokerage in Virginia where she practiced real estate for more than five years. A graduate from the National War College and George Mason University, she later worked as a civil servant at the Department of Defense for more than 25 years as a senior program analyst.

For more information, Felde can be reached at 703-300-2494, Scott.Felde@FloridaNetworkRealty.com and LeHammerTeam.FloridaNetworkRealty.com. Thanh can be reached at 703-300-2493, Thanh.Le@FloridaNetworkRealty.com and LeHammerTeam.FloridaNetworkRealty.com.

The Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office, located at 333 Village Main St., Suite 670, Ponte Vedra Beach, is managed by Holly Hayes.

Hayes joins Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty

Robby Hayes has joined the Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.

He has a strong background in marketing, finance and social media. Having attended The Bolles School and graduating from Florida State University, he has built strong connections within the Jacksonville community. He has worked on promotions for the Jaguars, coordinating marketing for local events. When he is not working, Hayes loves spending time with his family and enjoying the weather of Northeast Florida.

For more information, he can be reached at 678-481-7264, Robby.Hayes@FloridaNetworkRealty.com and RHayes.FloridaNetworkRealty.com.

The Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office, located at 333 Village Main St., Suite 670, Ponte Vedra Beach, is managed by Holly Hayes, who can be reached at 904.802.0432, Holly.Hayes@FloridaNetworkRealty.com, and floridanetworkrealtycareers.com.

Sabol named to Community Foundation post

Nikki Sabol has joined the staff of The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida as director of the Women’s Giving Alliance, a group of dynamic, diverse women who pool their philanthropic giving to make a lasting impact on the lives of women and girls in Northeast Florida.

As the staff lead for the Women’s Giving Alliance, Sabol will partner with the member-elected volunteer leadership and manage all operational aspects of the more-than-400-member organization, including membership, communications and grantmaking. She will work with the Vice President of Civic Leadership Wanda Willis.

Previously, Sabol served at UF Health Jacksonville as the director of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. In that role, she helped manage a portfolio of corporate partners and managed several annual fundraising events. She holds a Bachelor of science in communication from the University of North Florida, and she serves as the communication co-chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, First Coast Chapter, as well as the Junior League of Jacksonville.

Hosch joins Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty

Megan Hosch has joined the Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty.

Living in Northeast Florida for more than 25 years, Hosch is knowledgeable on the various communities and what makes each one unique. She has more than 20 years as an award-winning sales executive with extensive success in new business development in both national and global markets.

When she is not working, Hosch loves travelling with her husband and three adult children, working as a youth group leader at her church and enjoying the outdoors.

For more information, she can be reached at 904-465-0587, Megan.Hosch@FloridaNetworkRealty.com and MHosch.FloridaNetworkRealty.com.

The Ponte Vedra/Nocatee office, located at 333 Village Main St., Suite 670, Ponte Vedra Beach, is managed by Holly Hayes, who can be reached at 904-802-0432, Holly.Hayes@FloridaNetworkRealty.com, and floridanetworkrealtycareers.com.

Vavilala named to Government Employees Health Association post

The Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) has announced the appointment of former St. Augustine resident Raj Vavilala as chief sales, marketing and product officer. In his new role, Vavilala will seek to fuel subscriber growth at GEHA while maintaining focus on member retention through oversight of the development, implementation and administration of GEHA’s product portfolio and all sales, marketing and communications efforts, as well as the company’s customer experience initiatives.

Vavilala will focus his efforts on enabling members and their families to achieve better health through meaningful products, actionable communication and simplified experiences.

He brings more than two decades of experience in senior health insurance roles to GEHA.

Elizabeth Di, MD, Joins Flagler Health+ Primary Care

Dr. Elizabeth Di, a board-certified family medicine physician, has joined the Flagler Health+ network of primary care providers. Di is now scheduling appointments for new patients at the Flagler Health+ Primary Care office at Greenbriar, located at 304 Ashourian Ave., off of County Road 210 in northern St. Johns County. Di, who will see patients from newborn and older, joins Dr. Mark Michaels at the location.

Di previously practiced family medicine at University Hospitals/Lake Health Mentor Family Practice in the greater Cleveland, Ohio, area. She is fluent in Spanish and has special interests in women’s health, long-acting reversible contraception and the care of underserved patients.

Di earned her bachelor’s degrees in psychology and Latin American studies from the University of San Francisco and completed her master’s in community and social psychology from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. After receiving her medical degree from the Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio, she completed her residency in family medicine at Case Western MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio, where she was education co-chief, centering pregnancy leader and adjunct course instructor.

To learn more, go to flaglerhealth.org/greenbriar or call 904-819-1006.

Rapp to chair North Florida Land Trust board, Moore joins board

North Florida Land Trust has a new board chair, Matt Rapp, who previously served as vice chair of the nonprofit land conservation organization in 2022.

Rapp joined the board of directors in 2019. He will serve as chair for a term of two years. He assumes the role of outgoing chair John Delaney.

Rapp is the PGA TOUR’s senior vice president of Championship Management, a division that oversees all owned and operated events at the TOUR level, including THE PLAYERS Championship, TOUR Championship and President’s Cup. Under his leadership, THE PLAYERS has continued to grow as the PGA TOUR’s premier championship, while significantly increasing the event’s charitable and economic impact on Northeast Florida.

From 2011-2016, Rapp served as the executive director of The PLAYERS Championship where he enhanced the fan experience, increased the event’s charitable impact and strengthened its connection with the local community. He has also served in the TOUR’s corporate marketing department where he focused on title sponsorship sales and was responsible for more than $500 million in sponsorship agreements.

In addition to installing Rapp as the new North Florida Land Trust board chair, the nonprofit has also welcomed Charley Moore to the board. Moore is the founder and president of The Moore Group, a corporate consultancy and investment firm that focuses on sports and entertainment, new media, private equity, real estate and outdoor lifestyle companies. He is also an investor, CEO and co-founder of PureGolf Radio.

Community Hospice & Palliative Care’s Sanchez awarded fellowship

Ana Amelia Sanchez, MD, chief medical officer of Community Hospice & Palliative Care, has been awarded one of the nation’s highest medical honors. Sanchez and only 66 other physicians in the United States are now fellows of the Academy of Hospice & Palliative Care Medicine. The academy’s fellowship process began more than a year ago and required a substantial time commitment from applicants to cover the highly comprehensive milestone-based educational curriculum. 

Sanchez’s career at Community Hospice & Palliative Care spans almost 12 years. She began as a chief medical director and was promoted to chief medical officer in 2021. A patient advocate, Sanchez has always poured herself into her profession to support patients in need of palliative care for advanced illnesses and compassionate hospice care for individuals with a limited life expectancy.

The fellowship program of the Academy of Hospice and Palliative Care Medicine was created to address the demand for palliative care resources to support the aging population of the United States. Fellows are given the tools they need to mentor and teach the next generation of physicians in the core precepts of palliative medicine to yield better outcomes for patients and their families.

Sanchez has educated countless physicians and advanced practice registered nurses on the palliative care discipline throughout her career.

— Compiled by Shaun Ryan