Chamber at Noon with Jax Chamber: State of the Beaches Discussion

Description

Join us for a joint Chamber at Noon in partnership with the Jax Chamber for an update on the State of the Beaches. Local experts will participate in a panel discussion about beach restoration and construction projects and the importance of the dunes and beaches in the St. Johns County ecosystem.

Speakers will include:

Damon Douglas, St. Johns County Coastal Management
Damon Douglas is an experienced professional who leads the Coastal Management team for St. Johns County, overseeing vital beach restoration projects. With a tenure of 20 years with the county, Damon brings a wealth of experience to his role, backed by a master's degree in public administration from the University of North Florida. In addition to his local responsibilities, Damon serves on the board of directors of the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association, contributing to the preservation and enhancement of coastal areas statewide.

Reuben Franklin, Assistant City Manager, City of St. Augustine
Reuben Franklin Jr. is the Assistant City Manager for the City of St. Augustine and holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He is a Professional Engineer with a total of 18 years’ experience including 4 years of consultant engineering work and 14 years with the city. His area of practice includes storm water, water resources, transportation & mobility fields including public works improvements and programs that benefit local governments in the State of Florida. He has overseen the design and construction of shared curbless streets in St. Augustine’s historic district. He managed the City’s grant funded Florida Community Resiliency Initiative Pilot Project resulting in the first Vulnerability Study and Adaptation Plan for the City. Recently, he worked with St. Augustine’s Planning and Building Department to create and adopt a long-range mobility plan for the City that incorporates smart city, sustainability, and resiliency policies. Reuben is a member of the North Florida TPO’s Technical Advisory Committee and engaged in the Smart North Florida initiatives. He is currently part of teams working on Florida Resilient Grant Projects such as Maria Sanchez Lake Flood Mitigation, the Army Corp of Engineers Back Bay Study and coordinating with FDOT on the Bayfront Seawall Replacement project.