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JAXUSA 2018 International Awards Announced

(l to r: Aundra Wallace, JAXUSA Partnership President; Nelson Bradshaw, BBVA Compass North Florida Market CEO and International Awards sponsor; Eric Green, JAXPORT CEO and recipient of the International Individual of the Year Award; Anthony Glenn, Head of Macquarie Group Jacksonville and recipient of the International Company of the Year Award; and Ray Driver, JAXUSA Partnership Chair)

The annual fourth quarter luncheon for JAXUSA Partnership, which highlights global involvement and international business in the Jacksonville region, recognized the International Company and Individual of the Year on Dec. 13.

International Company of the Year:  Macquarie Group

After visiting five countries and 17 cities in the search for their next office location, Australia-based Macquarie Group chose Jacksonville due to the support from the local civic and business leaders, in particular the City of Jacksonville and the JAXUSA leadership that recruited them, as well as the plentiful available talent pool and excellent quality of life. The office opened in February 2016, and within one year of opening their Jacksonville location, the financial services company had grown from 45 jobs to 109, much more than the 86 jobs they anticipated.

Today, their 200+ employees in Jacksonville work to build a better local community, taking an active role in non-profit organizations such as Operation New Uniform, Junior Achievement of North Florida, the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville and others by logging 2,700 volunteer hours through volunteering, fundraising, pro bono and board service.

International Individual of the Year: Eric Green

In the highly competitive port business, Eric Green has worked to remain engaged with JAXPORT’s worldwide customer base, particularly in the cargo service sector, to make advances in customer service standards and continue the efforts put forth with innovation and creativity for global impact. The initiatives and practices he has put in place, have led to being named Florida’s busiest port authority, having achieved double-digit increases in container volumes, specifically due to the addition of capacity and service from Asia through both the Panama and Suez Canals. JAXPORT is also one of the fastest growing U.S. import ports and the second busiest vehicle handling port due to its location and reputation.

The port authority is also receiving worldwide attention in its innovation in clean energy surrounding liquefied natural gas, or LNG. JAXPORT and partners Crowley Maritime Corp. and TOTE Maritime are leaders in this industry housing the world’s first LNG-powered ships and LNG fueling stations, both landside and waterside to be used for barge to ship bunkering.