NEWSMAKERS 2006
ARNOLD TRITT
Executive Advisor
Northeast Florida Builders Association
After 34 years as executive director of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, the legendary Arnold Tritt stepped aside in 2006. During his tenure, Tritt helped make NEFBA one of the largest builder associations in the nation.
But more important, he infused the organization with a spirit of charity and a passion for community service. For example, under Tritt's leadership, NEFBA formed Builders Care, a nonprofit subsidiary that has rehabbed more than 500 substandard homes for Jacksonvillians in need.
Over the years, Tritt has mentored countless industry leaders and has won just about every association management award offered by the National Association of Home Builders and the Florida Home Builders Association. In 2006, Tritt was presented FHBA's Dick Baker Award, which annually goes to the individual who most personifies the spirit of the industry. The award is named for the late 1993 NEFBA president, who waged a courageous battle against cancer.
Said Tritt: "It's no exaggeration to say that this has been more than a job for me; it's been my life, and I couldn't be more proud of all the things we've accomplished together, through good times and tough times."
DANIEL DAVIS
Executive Director
Northeast Florida Builders Association
Vice President
Jacksonville City Council
Daniel Davis has some big shoes to fill. In 2006 he replaced the highly regarded Arnold Tritt as executive director of NEFBA. But if anyone can lead the association to even greater heights, it's Davis, who was also installed last year as vice president of the Jacksonville City Council.
Clearly, Davis hit the ground running. Already, he has spearheaded a NEFBA-financed media campaign to educate on-the-fence buyers on the reasons why now's the best time to buy a new home.
Previously, Davis proved his political savvy when he helped defeat a proposal for the U.S. Navy to return to Cecil Field-and he bucked some pretty powerful proponents in doing so, including Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
The former air base closed in 1999, and is now an aerospace industrial park. Area residents had opposed reverting the site to military use, and were glad to have Davis, himself a Westside native, on their side.
First elected to the City Council in 2003, Davis has impressed his constituents with his straightforward manner. City Hall insiders see a bright political future for this clean-cut graduate of Maranatha Baptist College, who's also a vice president of the Westside Civic Association.
CATHERINE B. WHATLEY
President
Buck & Buck Realtors
Catherine Whatley has worked in local real estate for 36 years as part of Buck & Buck, the company her grandfather founded in 1907. But she also rose to lead the nation's largest trade association, the National Association of Realtors, in 2003.
She had previously served as president of the Florida Association of Realtors-her father, James O. Buck, had held the same post-and as president of what is now the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors.
Her high-profile stint as president of NAR, which approached the 1 million membership milestone during her watch, found Whatley front and center promoting the association's Housing Opportunity Program, which sought to increase the availability of affordable housing, and urging state and local associations to address the affordability issue through downpayment assistance programs, Habitat for Humanity builds, local housing summits and homebuyer counseling seminars.
Now, her national leadership stint finished, Whatley is turning her substantial talents and energies to Jacksonville. She's active on numerous community boards and in 2006 emerged as one of the region's most respected and influential movers and shakers.
Says Sharon Millett, 1999 NAR president: "When I think of Cathy, I think of the embodiment of a true leader. Cathy can walk into a room full of people she's never met and connect with them."
GREG MATOVINA
President
Matovina & Company
Greg Matovina has developed land, built homes, chaired NEFBA, directed Habitat for Humanity projects and helped set regional growth management policies. Yet, of all his accomplishments, the founder and president of Matovina & Company considers helping to build a shelter for women and children who have no home the most meaningful.
Since 2004, Matovina has been the driving force behind construction of the Trinity Rescue Mission's Women's and Children's Center on the corner of West Beaver and Jefferson streets in downtown Jacksonville. The 14,000-square-foot emergency shelter opened this fall, and now provides around-the-clock services to an estimated 1,200 homeless women and children each year.
Matovina was inspired to become involved by a presentation made last year to NEFBA's committee by Daniel Davis, now the organization's executive director and vice president of the Jacksonville City Council. "I was so touched that I immediately threw my wallet on the table and said, 'You can have that-now tell me what else you need,'" says Matovina, who was then NEFBA's president. "We took ownership of that project from then on."
The rapid-and passionate-response from Matovina did not surprise Davis. "Greg is just a go-to guy," Davis says. "He can always find out what needs to be done, and then do it. I truly believe that without his involvement, we'd still be taking baby steps. Instead, look at the leaps we've made."
Matovina also serves as chair of NEFBA's Charitable Foundation, which contributes funds to various good causes. Next on Matovina's agenda is Greater Jacksonville Communities, a nonprofit organization he formed last year to provide consulting and hands-on assistance in redeveloping blighted areas near downtown.
DON WILFORD
President
ICI Homes
"Don is just a special man, cut from the same cloth as a John Wayne figure," says Bill Wilson, executive director of Builders Care, the charitable arm of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. "You can always count on him to do the right thing and get the job done. In fact, Don was one of the first in the area to recognize that the efforts of Builders Care would be a great way to give back to the community."
Although industry issues consume much of Wilford's time, he's also involved in other good works. In 2003 he became intrigued with the Inside/Outside program, which provides mentoring for juvenile males serving time in county jail for adult crimes.
The program, founded in 1999, is operated under the auspices of the Jacksonville" target="_blank">Duval County state attorney's office. In 2005, Wilford was named Mentor of the Year by the state attorney's office.
Wilford's commitment to doing good has permeated the culture of the company he operates. Once a year, in fact, he closes ICI's offices for a day so employees can work on a Builders Care renovation project. And all ICI employees are involved in volunteerism, ranging from Partners in Education to Second Harvest Food Bank.
Most recently, Wilford led the charge when Builders Care added 1,200 square feet to the home of Melisa Paige-Bailey, Florida Adoptive Parent of the Year in 2000, who had been caring for adoptive children, foster children and one biological child in a 1,500-square-foot, century-old home.