Daily Record Financial News &
Monday, February 1, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 056 • Two Sections
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
From ‘mortified’ to natural fit
General Counsel Jason Gabriel remembers two distinct, yet very different, feelings he had in May 2014. It was a time the city was in search of its next head attorney to lead the team of more than 30 lawyers. He was being considered for the job. “I was pleased,” he recently said with a smile, “and mortified.” Pleased because it’s a noble position he always has respected.
Mortified because he knew the pressures and responsibilities the job carries. He’d seen it with longtime friend and colleague Cindy Laquidara, who announced she was returning to the private sector that April. The office represents 32 elected officials and every aspect of Jacksonville’s consolidated government. It’s a lofty job. The idea made him pause and think. Gabriel’s always been an analytical and philosophical thinker, dating back to his youth. It’s why he entered law through a philosophy background and long con-
sidered teaching the subject in college for a living. Ultimately, he thought it’d be “a great thing to take on.” A tough adjustment, maybe, but a challenge if he were lucky enough to be named. As he’s found out, it came surprisingly natural.
Many places to call home
Gabriel was born in Santa Clara, Calif., the son of Jack and Rania, Iraqi immigrants who moved to the U.S. in the 1970s. Gabriel didn’t grow up there, Gabriel
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General Counsel Jason Gabriel has been with the office since 2010 after being hired by former head attorney Rick Mullaney.
EverBank up on stronger earnings
Photo by Bobby King
By David Chapman Staff Writer
Photo by David Chapman
Gabriel settled in as general counsel
New judge, new daddy, new life Duval County Judge Eric Roberson celebrates his investiture Thursday with his wife, Helen, and their son, Raymond Oliver. Roberson was appointed to the bench in May by Gov. Rick Scott. See more photos on Page A-8.
By Max Marbut Staff Writer Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is joining forces with ninja warriors. The inaugural Florida’s Ultimate Ninja Warrior Championship is April 19 at Velocity Air Sports. It’s a benefit to raise funds for local legal aid and the first major event planned by Carter DeWitt, who in August became JALA’s chief development officer. The event will allow participants to compete on a professional ninja warrior obstacle course. It is the final qualifying event for the Ultimate Ninja Warrior Athletic Association’s season, she said. Spectator tickets will be available to the public. The goal is to raise $80,000 for JALA
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through registration fees and sponsorships collected by competitors. It’s part of a campaign that will continue throughout 2016 to raise awareness of JALA and expand understanding of what the organization does for the community. Many people’s perception of JALA is that it offers free legal representation for all types of cases, including criminal defense and personal injury law, but that’s not accurate, DeWitt said. The agency’s 35 attorneys provide civil legal assistance to people and groups with special needs who might not otherwise be able to afford it. “We keep roofs over heads and children in school. We help people keep their jobs. We protect veterans and the elderly,” she DeWitt. DeWitt continued on Page A-10
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Carter DeWitt, chief development officer at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
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Photo by Max Marbut
Using ninja warriors to build JALA’s capital
EverBank Financial Corp.’s sagging stock got a lift last week as the Jacksonville-based banking company reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings. EverBank’s adjusted earnings of 34 cents a share were 4 cents higher than the fourth quarter of 2014 and 3 cents higher than the average forecast of analysts, according to Thomson Financial. The stock, which fell to a 52-week low of $12.80 last Monday, rose as much as $1.68 to $14.71 Wednesday after the report. In the company’s quarterly conference call with analysts, CEO Robert Clements said the higher earnings were “driven by continued loan and deposit growth, higher rev- Clements enues, stable expenses and an improvement in asset quality.” The bank had been positioning itself for “a low and flat interest rate environment with modest economic growth,” Clements said. “We currently expect a similar environment in 2016, albeit perhaps even a bit lower and flatter than we originally expected. As a result, we continue to utilize a balanced approach to our asset/liability management and expect to capitalize on additional operational efficiency initiatives throughout 2016,” he said. EverBank has few branches but serves Basch continued on Page A-7
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