Media Contact:
Neily Braren
Promotion & Marketing Associate, WJCT
904.318.2633 | nbraren@wjct.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — May 4, 2022 — WJCT Public Media today announced the appointment of Abel Harding to its Board of Trustees. Harding is the North Florida and Southeast Georgia market president for First Horizon Bank. In this role, he leverages more than 25 years of banking experience to support the bank’s commercial, wealth and retail businesses. Earlier in his career, he served as a senior advisor to the Mayor of Jacksonville and as the director of communications for the City of Jacksonville. Prior to that, he was an award-winning journalist for The Florida Times-Union. He covered business and politics as a columnist and worked special assignments as an investigative reporter.
In addition to his board role at WJCT Public Media, Harding serves as the Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Transportation Authority; chair of JAX BIZ, the political committee associated with the JAX Chamber; and Treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Jacksonville Humane Society. He has served on the Cultural Council of Jacksonville’s board and United Way’s Atlantic Circle Society, co-founded Rotaract of Ponte Vedra and received a mayoral appointment to the Duval County Planning Commission. He is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Jacksonville and a 2022 graduate of Leadership Florida.
“Abel’s commitment to bettering the lives of those in his community through his work, both personally and professionally, aligns with WJCT’s core values of community enrichment, public service and stewardship,” said Matt Rapp, Chair of the Board of Trustees.
Harding’s appointment was approved during WJCT Public Media’s executive committee meeting on April 21, 2022. Per the organization’s bylaws, his trustee status will be updated upon the start of the 2022-2023 fiscal year on October 1, 2022.
“Abel intuitively understands the need for a strong and independent free press, thanks to his time at The Florida Times Union. I’m incredibly grateful that he accepted our invitation to join the organization,” said David McGowan, President and CEO of WJCT Public Media. “We’re looking forward to incorporating his insight on Jacksonville’s media landscape and business community with our work here at WJCT.”
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About WJCT Public MediaWJCT is the community-owned and operated public media organization serving Jacksonville and the First Coast since 1958, using television, radio, digital media, and live events to help community members learn, share, and grow. For more information on WJCT’s in-depth programming content, log on to WJCT Online at wjct.org. Like WJCT on Facebook (facebook.com/wjctjax) and follow WJCT on Twitter (@WJCTJax) and Instagram (@WJCTJax).