My View – March 2024

THIS VERY SPECIAL ISSUE of the Review is dedicated to two wonderful groups of women who are making Jacksonville a better place to live—they are women making history today and hail from the volunteer, non-profit and business community. It’s my hope that tomorrow’s leaders will look back with gratitude at the women featured in this issue and continue in their footsteps.

When crafting this issue, I reached out to seven women I know personally and asked them to describe what they do and “why” they do it. Mayor Donna Bowen has served on the City Council, HARC, is a member of the Garden Club—and is now in her third year as Mayor…a role she seems to have been born to play. Linda Davis, who was unavailable for the cover photo shoot, is no stranger to our readers and has taken the lead role in the Jacksonville Firewise program that’s garnered national recognition for excellence. Abby McKee, the rock who leads the Britt Music & Arts Festival, is a force of nature with tremendous talent and superb leadership skills. Sue Miler, who’s taken the reins of the Jacksonville Community Center, brings incredible organizational and people skills to one of town’s newest non-profits. Andrea Thompson is a thoughtful and spirited member of the City Council and has made her mark advocating for level-headed governance as well as fire reduction programs that are making a difference. Cindy Rasmussen, the leader who spearheaded Citizens for a Safer Jacksonville, saw a problem with speeding vehicles and became a part of the solution by politely and professionally working with city leaders to implement strategies to solve this public safety concern. Carolyn Kingsnorth, who for nearly two decades has worked tirelessly to preserve our pioneer history by leading Historic Jacksonville, Inc., with programing at the Beekman House and Bank, is now taking the lead on the formation of the new city museum at Old City Hall.

Like our civic and non-profit leaders, Jacksonville’s women business owners, some of whom are featured on page 4, are also shaping tomorrow’s history by using their entrepreneurial energy to enhance the downtown business district. It is these risk takers who show up to work every day with the hope that the community will “shop local” so they can continue being a vibrant part of Jacksonville’s commercial fabric.

Join me in saying thank you to the impressive women in our Small Town with Big Atmosphere!