David Schlegel, CPA
David Schlegel is President and Founder of VR Jacksonville, Fl. Prior to forming VR Jacksonville, Mr. Schlegel was President & CEO of Envirco Corporation, a $30M sales, 200 employee developer and manufacturer of sophisticated contamination control products for microelectronics firms, health care companies and hospitals. Mr. Schlegel acquired Envirco in a leveraged management buyout and immediately thereafter he and his management team executed a strategy of developing and manufacturing unique patented products which soon made Envirco the preferred worldwide supplier to hi-tech giants such as Intel and Applied Materials. After several years of rapid growth, Mr. Schlegel negotiated an acquisition of Envirco by NASDAQ company Trion, Inc. producing an 1100% return to Envirco shareholders in less than 3 years. Mr. Schlegel remained as Envirco CEO after the acquisition and also became Vice President of Trion. He played a key role In Trion's $55M acquisition by Fedders Corp. 4 years later.
Prior to that Mr. Schlegel was Executive Vice President, COO & CFO of Environmental Air Control, Inc (EACI) a $50M diversified manufacturing and service company providing ultra-clean air products and services to the consumer, medical and industrial markets. Mr. Schlegel had direct P&L responsibility for 2 EACI Divisions as well as full operational and financial responsibility for the corporation. He initially led a turnaround of the company and then worked closely with its CEO to develop and execute a highly successful growth strategy. This culminated in taking EACI to market and a complex multi-party acquisition in which Honeywell, Inc. acquired EACI's Enviracaire Division; Donaldson Corp. acquired ENV Services, Inc.; and Mr. Schlegel led a leveraged management buy-out of the Envirco Division.
Mr. Schlegel began his career with the then Big Eight accounting firm Haskins & Sells where he specialized in serving a variety of mid-market companies. During this time Mr. Schlegel attained his CPA license by passing the examination on his initial attempt. At the age of 26 Mr. Schlegel began his entrepreneurial career when he became became Chief Financial officer of Standard Building Systems, Inc. A $40M sales, 400 employee steel joist , truss and girder manufacturer which had just been acquired from Standex International Corp. in a leveraged management buyout.
Mr. Schlegel is a highest honors Summa Cum Laude graduate of the Renowned Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an Economics and Finance concentration. His numerous community services include 4 years as volunteer President of the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Headquartered in Washington D.C. and with chapters and offices worldwide, AAFA sponsors research and provides an array of services and information to patients and their families.
Mr. Schlegel has also passed the Series 7 and 63 securities license exams and is a licensed Real Estate Broker.
John Josey
Mr. Josey is a native of Jacksonville, Florida and has resided in the area since 1974. He has over 30 years of diversified experience with small and medium size independent businesses including 20 years working in a small family wholesale operation. Prior to joining VR First Coast Business Group, Mr. Josey spent 10 years as an independent representative for a privately held graphics manufacturer.
Mr. Josey graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Management and a secondary concentration in Industrial Engineering. He and his wife, Bonnie, have 4 adult children. They have lived in Ponte Vedra Beach for the past 12 years and enjoy beach life and traveling. Mr. Josey is active in his local church and various alumni and fund raising activities for The Bolles School, his secondary school Alma Mater.
George Palmer
George Palmer is an award-winning marketing strategist. During his 30-year corporate career, he rose to the top of the marketing/communications profession and for nearly ten years led the communications function of two multi-billion dollar corporations.
Mr. Palmer began his professional career with DuPont where he spent 23 years rising to the position of Corporate Public Affairs Manager. He left DuPont in 1992 to assume the position of Vice President-Corporate Communications of Rhone -Poulenec, a $5 Billion chemical and pharmaceutical company. In 1998 he attained the position of Vice President - Corporate Relations for Fluor Corporation, a $10 Billion engineering and construction firm. Mr. Palmer retired from corporate life in 2000 and relocated to Jacksonville, Florida.
Finding golf, tennis and fishing fun but not entirely satisfying, Mr. Palmer launched a career consulting to the small and mid-size Jacksonville area business sector in 2003. In 2005 he joined our team at VR First Coast Business Group bringing a wealth of experience, savvy and creativity that will be of immense benefit to our clients. Mr. Palmer approaches business on a personal basis and works closely with clients to identify and effectively package the unique strengths of their business. He then develops a compelling business description and a results-oriented marketing plan that is highly effective in establishing and obtaining the best possible price and terms for the client.
Mr. Palmer graduated from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. and completed an advanced business studies program at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed DuPont’s Executive Marketing Management Program and Rhone -Poulenic’s Senior Management Entrepreneurship Programme.Mr. Palmer has earned numerous awards for his creative marketing and communications work including the Best in Class CIPRA Award and the PRSA Bronze Anvil.
Mr. Palmer is a licensed Real Estate Sales Associate and is accredited by both the Institute for Independent Business and the Public Relations Society of America. He is a Board Member of the Northeast Florida Chapter of the American Red Cross and Chairman of the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce’s Creative Industries Taskforce.
Wana Wilson
Ms. Wilson is the Office Manager and Marketing Assistant for VR First Coast Business Group. She is a graduate of Essex County College where she received her degree in Business Administration as well as Empire Technical Institute where she received a degree in Computer Software & Programming.
Her past experience includes 5 years with the Prudential as a Programmer and Administrative Assistant followed by 5 years as an Executive Recruiter for an agency in Honolulu, Hawaii. Most recently Ms. Wilson served as Executive Assistant to the President & CEO of GJ Chemical Company in Newark, New Jersey. Ms. Wilson joined our organization in 2005 and has been invaluable in refining our internal systems and marketing programs so that we can continually provide better service to our clients.
Please contact us to discuss your individual business needs.
