With apologies to old blue eyes, I’m spreading the news. Big news. Readers of this blog know that for the past six years of The Urban Core I’ve covered a lot of territory. Both in the blog sense and personally. I’ve had lots of projects, assignments, and causes. One thing that I hope stands out is that I stood up and worked on things that matter, especially our perception challenged urban core neighborhoods. And when I got lucky, I actually changed a couple things for the better.

One of the greatest things about Jacksonville is that you can be a big fish in a small pond, even though there are a million of us Duvalians. Here, you can help a miracle happen and shake up the entire system. You can create and manage things that move markets and make significant economic and social change for the good. But Jacksonville isn’t the beginning nor the end of the world, is it?

I have always wanted to use my ability to tell stories and advocate for big projects and causes. That is why I am so happy to announce to my blog readers that I am joining the team at Keymer Group, a public relations agency based right here in Jacksonville. Keymer is a bit different than most Jacksonville agencies. For one they have few Jacksonville clients, though I aim to change that.

Keymer has a national reputation because the team has been busy building national reputations. Our client list is impressive. Thusly much of the work I’ve been doing involves major corporations, huge issues, and major events. I’ve already brainstormed America’s reaction to a constitutional monarch in an Arab Spring country, written to several major newspapers, and chatted it up with a half dozen Wall Street Journal reporters. I’ve seen two of our current issues make national news and one is about to really take off. I am getting a lot of these assignments professionally. Keymer does public relations properly. Its effects based. The goal is a business goal not getting coverage. It did not take me long to see why the methodology of effects based public relations works. And why, because of our wins, our clients are our biggest advocates.

As you can probably tell I am enjoying this. A lot. I look forward to working with my colleagues to move Jacksonville's interests and our dynamic community forward. To make big national headlines that reflect the amazing things that are happening here. And to stay on top of things that matter to our world. I will still be blogging, of course, and still busting my hump for worthy causes.

Like they say on the Onion News Network, you will be exposed to high levels of news.

Cheers, and thanks for your support.

Tony

PS- Thought I'd take us out with a jam. I mean hey, its still the urban core right?