Tag Archives: Get to Know
Get to Know … Colman and Rachel Brodsky
By Angela Higginbotham
angela@floridanewsline.com
Colman and Rachel Brodsky grew up on opposite sides of the world. Colman is a Jacksonville native, while Rachel’s childhood was spent primarily in Japan while her family lived on a military base. The two met through work and have been married for 11 years. Colman has spent his career in the insurance industry and is currently chief operating officer for Harden Insurance. Rachel is a busy mother, strong community advocate and PTA president. Together, the Brodskys will chair the upcoming 26th annual River Garden Gala. They have three children, Alex, Ansley, and Ashton and enjoy living in Julington Creek.
Get to Know … Wayne Chattaway
By Angela Higginbotham
angela@floridanewsline.com
Wayne Chattaway grew up enjoying the sand and surf of Jacksonville Beach as an avid surfer and lifeguard. A graduate of Fletcher High School and Florida State University, Chattaway studied computer science and marketing. He has spent his career with tech companies throughout the Jacksonville area and currently serves as CEO of The Anti in Ponte Vedra Beach. Chattaway has given his time to the Rotary Club and volunteering with the Kate Amato foundation. He and his wife, Sue, are also franchise owners of the Bach to Rock music school in Jacksonville Beach. They have four children, students at Ponte Vedra High and Landrum Middle. The Chattaway family enjoys spending lots of family time outdoors.
Get to Know … Kim Hetrick
By Angela Higginbotham
angela@floridanewsline.com
Kim Hetrick spent her childhood both in West Virginia and Washington state. She later moved to Ohio for college where she majored in education. Hetrick and her husband of 25 years, Ron, moved to Julington Creek in 2004. They have three children, aged 22, 19 and 15. As a parent of a special needs child, Hetrick has devoted herself to countless efforts in supporting special needs children and adults. She is currently leading the Jacksonville chapter of Ainsley’s Angels, a national nonprofit that aims to build awareness about the special needs community through inclusion in all aspects of life. Hetrick has found her passion in encouraging Jacksonville families to run races with their special needs family members.
Get to Know … Japke Gosselin
By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline
Japke (pronounced “Yapka”) Gosselin grew up in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Her father was a harbormaster and the family lived on a houseboat in the harbor. When she was 12, her doctor recommended she start swimming and by the age of 13, she qualified for the national competition. She represented her country in the Rome Olympic Games when she was only 16 years old; she swam the 100m backstroke. Within a few years, Gosselin said she felt she wanted to have a normal life, away from competitive swimming and since her father had always wanted to go to the United States, that’s where she went. She settled in with an aunt and uncle in Oak Harbor, Wash. before moving to Seattle on her next adventure. She worked as a swim instructor for awhile, before learning that she could make more money as a strolling musician, playing the accordion.
Get to Know … Martha Sweet
By Martie Thompson
editor@floridanewsline.com
Florida native Martha Sweet said her life was changed six years ago when she, a recent breast cancer survivor, happened upon a booth at a concert at the University of North Florida promoting dragon boats. She had no idea what dragon boating was, but said she embarked on one of the greatest adventures of her life when she signed up.
