Nonprofits, at the helm: Riverfront Conservancy, Mandarin Museum, Baptist Health name leaders

The newly created Riverfront Parks Conservancy has named Barbara Goodman, a parks consultant and former superintendent of Jacksonville's Timucuan Ecological & Historic Preserve, as its first chairwoman and interim director.

The nonprofit is dedicated to the riverfront parks and public spaces in downtown Jacksonville. Goodman was introduced at its "Riverfront 2025: A Look Ahead" public meeting Feb. 8.

She said the creation of the conservancy stemmed from a 2021-22 study done by the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and Riverfront Parks Now called "Activating Jacksonville's Riverfront."

"One of the key learnings from the benchmarking study," she said, was "that a key success factor of making riverfronts accessible and activated is a nonprofit partner conservancy organization. From the Central Park Conservancy in New York City to the Memphis River Parks Partnership to our own Memorial Park Association, all were started as grassroots efforts with the recognition that additional park support is critical.

Mark Woods:Will hotel be Four Seasons? Bigger question is what rest of riverfront will be

Guest column:Jax riverfront could be 'a downtown that is everybody's neighborhood'

Nonprofits, at the helm: New execs at North Florida Land Trust, Elevate Jacksonville

"The Riverfront Parks Conservancy is dedicated to the stewardship, activation, enjoyment and ongoing care of the riverfront parks and riverwalk in downtown Jacksonville," she said.

Goodman retired in 2014 after 30 years with the National Park Service, including 17 as superintendent of the Timucuan Preserve. She also had stints at Sequoia & Kings Canyon in California, De Soto National Monument in Bradenton and in Washington, D.C.

Shortly before her retirement, Goodman told the Times-Union that one of her biggest achievements at Timucuan was a partnership with the city and state parks that neighbor the national park. The idea was to work together to preserve land and to allow visitors to move with ease over the various properties.

That's a primary reason she is right for the conservancy's leadership role now, board member Nancy Powell said.

She "brings a wealth of parks management experience along with a collaborative approach which she demonstrated with complex partnerships while she was superintendent at the Timucuan Preserve and the National Park Service," Powell said. "She is a respected leader who will help launch this organization and build the partnerships that will make the conservancy successful."

On Goodman's first day as a ranger at Grand Teton, at age 24, "I knew when I put that uniform on, that this was the right choice," she told the Times-Union.

After retiring from the Park Service, Goodman spent a year as deputy secretary for land and recreation at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. She has also been an international park consultant, according to her LinkedIn profile.

Mandarin Museum & Historical Society

The Mandarin Museum & Historical Society has appointed experienced nonprofit leader S. Brittany Cohill its new executive director.

Cohill, who lives in Mandarin, is also an adjunct professor in Jacksonville University's Department of History. She previously served as associate director at the Beaches Museum in Jacksonville Beach and curator of the BLACK History|Art|Culture Pop-up Museum at Jacksonville University's Carl S. Swisher Library, in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences.

An expansion and renovation has been under way to provide one more exhibit room and a larger archive and collections workroom. With that project almost completed, "the time was right to bring in a professional director to take the museum to the next level," according to a news release.

"Ms. Cohill certainly qualifies for this position as a history professor for Jacksonville University and with extensive experience operating and assisting in directing a similar historical museum as ours," board member Jim Waler said. "Her skill set, along with her passion for Mandarin … perfectly fulfills the job description.

"Although the board has achieved significant improvements in the past years, we anticipate that this will allow a new trajectory of progress and growth," he said, "and our Mandarin Museum will have a larger presence in Jacksonville and beyond."

Cohill received a bachelor of arts degree in history and psychology in 2014 and a master of arts in U.S. history in 2018, both from the University of North Florida.

Baptist Health

In another important field in the Jacksonville area's nonprofit sector, Katie Ensign has been named Baptist Health's vice president of community investment and impact to focus on the system's social responsibility efforts.

She succeeds Melanie Patz, who departed after eight years to become CEO of the United Way of Northeast Florida.

In her new role, Ensign will lead Baptist Health’s work "to improve the health of the community, contribute to the well-being of all community members and eliminate health disparities through partnerships, civic involvement, responsible action and charitable service," according to the system.

"We know a majority of the factors that impact someone’s health and well-being happen outside of the walls of a hospital and doctor’s office. That’s why we’re committed to investing in the community’s health needs in a transformational way," said Michael Mayo, president and CEO of Baptist Health. "Katie’s leadership will help us continue this important work that is at the heart of our mission as a not-for-profit health system."

Baptist Health invests about $250 million annually in social responsibility initiatives, charity care and cost of uncompensated care.

"It is an exciting time for Jacksonville and Baptist Health is at the pinnacle of community innovation and opportunity," said Ensign, who begins her new role March 1. "I am delighted to join the social responsibility team and continue the great work underway."

Ensign most recently served as the vice president of placemaking and administration at the Jessie Ball duPont Fund in Jacksonville. Prior, she was president and CEO of Florida Philanthropic Network and vice president of programs for the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida.

Baptist Health also has named Dr. Edward "Ed" Gorak to the newly created role of vice president, medical director of operations for Baptist Physician Enterprise, its network of employed providers.

Gorak joined Baptist Health in 2016 as the founding head of the division of cancer medicine/physician-in-chief at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center and clinical director for the center’s research program.

"Elevating physician experts to key operational roles is so critical for advancing effectiveness, efficiency and consistency of care across our network," said Matt Zuino, Baptist Health's executive vice president and chief operating officer. "Dr. Gorak’s leadership is vital as we continue to focus on integration that meets our community’s health needs."

The network includes Baptist Primary Care, which is Northeast Florida’s largest primary care network, and a wide range of specialty physician practices.

Prior to joining Baptist Health, Gorak held leadership roles at Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pa. He began his career in the military with duty stations at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, The National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tripler Army Medical Center.

Send nonprofit news to bcravey@jacksonville.com

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: New Jacksonville riverfront group, museum, Baptist Health name leaders