First Coast Connect

Ahead of Tuesday night’s vice presidential candidate debate, we were joined by Gerald Laurain, chief investment officer of First Tennessee Bank Advisors Inc. He is in Jacksonville to discuss what impact the November election might have on the economy. Dr. Elizabeth Johnson from the Mayo Clinic and Tom VanOsdol from St. Vincent’s HealthCare spoke about their joint venture, the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center. Junior Achievement’s Sabrina Kinslow and local student Deyona Burton talked about the

A conference next week in Jacksonville brings together members of the life science industry. First Coast Connect host Melissa Ross spoke with RS&H vice president Jonathan Cantor, who is also the chair of the BioFlorida conference. To commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month we heard from Betty Griffin Center development director Malinda Everson. WJCT’s annual TEACH conference is Saturday at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Jacksonville. We spoke with honorary TEACH chair Dr. Susan

Our Media Roundtable of Dan Scanlan from the Florida Times-Union; Fred Mathews of the Examiner; Tim Gibbons of Jacksonville Business Journal; and A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics joined guest host Ryan Benk to talk about State Rep. Reggie Fullwood, who pled guilty to mail fraud. Benk also spoke with Michael Fisher and Pastor Steve Goyer from Riverside Presbyterian Church about Sunday’s screening of the documentary “Father Joseph” at SunRay Theatre. Linda Boucard, a close associate of Father

It’s Banned Books Week across the country. On Thursday’s First Coast Connect, host Melissa Ross spoke with our Book Club blogger Stacey Goldring, Jacksonville University professor Courtney Barclay and Jacksonville librarian Lisa Taylor about some the events being held to commemorate the week. We also heard from bestselling author and columnist Dave Barry about his latest book about life in Florida: “Best. State. Ever.” HandsOn Jacksonville CEO LeAnn Daddario joined the show to talk about The

Jacksonville University sociology professor Nathan Rousseau spoke with host Melissa Ross about race relations in Jacksonville. We also heard from Adam Jorgensen, president of Pragmatic Works Client Solutions, and Brian Bush from Tom Bush auto dealers about the “Real Men Wear Pink” campaign to raise awareness and support for breast cancer research. Ross spoke with Jacksonville Symphony conductor Courtney Lewis about the upcoming season and Mary Harvey and Kristi Leonard told us about therapy

On the heels of Monday night’s presidential debate, host Melissa Ross spoke with millennial voters democrat Meredith O’Malley Johnson and republican Keith Walters. We also heard from Kelly Mannel and Jan Lipsky about the Society of Emotional Intelligence’s upcoming international conference in Jacksonville, and presenter Marsha Phelts told us about this Friday’s Storytelling Slam in Fernandina Beach.

In the wake of the Wells Fargo scandal, we heard from University of North Florida professor Paul Fadil. He and his colleague Bruce Fortado authored a study several years ago that predicted problems banks might face in the drive to find new customers and revenue . In our latest edition of First Coast Success, Karen Brune Mathis spoke with Daily’s founder Aubrey Edge. Host Melissa Ross talked to Rock Steady Boxing — Amelia Island co-founders Mary Anne Sharer and Guy Petty about their work with

WJCT’s Lindsey Kilbride; Tessa Duval from the Florida Times-Union; Claire Goforth of Folio Weekly; and Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski joined Melissa Ross on our Friday Media Roundtable to discuss the news of the week. Museum of Contemporary Art spokesperson Denise Reagan discussed its latest art exhibit “Retro-spective.” We heard from Olympic skating legend Michelle Kwan regarding her work for the Hillary Clinton campaign and Palestinian musicians the Dal’Ouna Ensemble joined the show

Former Senator and Governor Bob Graham and Chris Hand, former Mayor Alvin Brown’s chief of staff, joined host Melissa Ross to talk about their new book “America, the Owner’s Manual — You CAN Fight City Hall And Win.” We also heard from Teach for America-Jacksonville Executive Director Darryl Willie about 60 new teachers from the program in Duval County. Ross also spoke with Sanctuary on 8th Street’s Executive Director Vicky Watkins and Karin Tucker of Biscotti’s in Avondale about an upcoming

Former Republican Governor of Massachusetts and current Libertarian vice presidential candidate William Weld joined host Melissa Ross to discuss the campaign. The Friends of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas, or GTM Reserve, are hosting its annual “Oceanwise” awareness event Saturday, we heard from Executive Director Ellen Leroy Reed. Monique Burr Foundation executive director Lynn Layton discussed its upcoming Real World Safety Conference. Father Kick Louh and choir director Maria Chrissovergis of St