Players

• Sara Leutzinger became publisher of the Jacksonville Business Journal and market president for parent company American City Business Journals. Leutzinger, who succeeded the retiring David Sillick, had been a regional audience development director in ACBJ’s corporate office.
• Karla Kretsch, COO of St. Augustine-based Creative Learning, was promoted to president. The company offers educational and enrichment programs for children. Interim CEO Rod Whiton resigned. A replacement has not been named.

Business Briefs

ALACHUA — The Sid Martin Biotechnology Institute was named incubator of the year by the International Business Innovation Association. The institute has launched more than 100 biotechnology, biomedicine and bioagriculture companies since it opened in 1995 and created more than 2,200 jobs.

GAINESVILLE — SharpSpring says it’s exploring “strategic alternatives” to enhance shareholder value but is not saying if the company is for sale. The provider of marketing automation services had a net loss from continuing operations of $1.5 million on revenue of $3 million in the first quarter.

JACKSONVILLE — Rayonier Advanced Materials is buying Montreal-based Tembec for $807 million, a deal that will more than double its revenue to $2 billion annually and expand its reach into Canada and France. Rayonier AM and Tembec both produce cellulose specialty products.

JaxPort officials are proposing to shorten its dredging project to deepen the St. Johns River channel from 13 miles to 11 miles, a move that would cut costs by $200 million to a total of $484 million, they say.

After a change in management following reports of wasteful spending, the Wounded Warrior Project’s donations dropped about $70 million to $311 million in the fiscal year ended in September 2016.

Fidelity National Financial’s investment subsidiary will be renamed Cannae Holdings and headquartered in Las Vegas when it is spun off from the title insurance company. Fidelity Chairman Bill Foley moved to Las Vegas last year after he was awarded an NHL expansion franchise there.

FIS is selling a 60% stake in its Capco subsidiaryto a private equity firm for $477 million. FIS is retaining a 40% stake in the international business, digital and technology consulting firm.

Southeastern Grocers, operator of the Winn-Dixie, Bi-Lo, Harveys and Fresco y Mas supermarket chains, is closing 20 stores throughout its seven-state region.

Availity, a health care information technology firm, is adding 250 jobs to the 350 it already has in Jacksonville. Availity applied for $1.875 million in city and state incentives to help it expand.

Genpact, a global professional services firm for financial businesses, is opening a Jacksonville office and hiring 200 people.

One Call Care Management is consolidating two Jacksonville sites into its main office on the Southbank of the St. Johns River. Its name will replace Aetna’s atop the 20-story building. The Dalton Agency merged with a Nashville advertising firm, the Bill Hudson Agency. The merger gives Dalton seven offices in the Southeast with more than 100 employees.

LEVY COUNTY — Duke Energy filed with the Florida Public Service Commission to recover $82 million in investments from its canceled nuclear power plant in Levy County. Duke seeks $2.51 from residential customers for every 1,000 kilowatt-hours of use. Duke says the site remains “a viable option” for a future nuclear plant.

ORANGE PARK — GEM Products, which supplies stainless steel boat hardware, is moving its corporate office out of Orange Park to a 70,567-sq.-ft. facility under construction in south Jacksonville. GEM says the move supports its growth of more than 20% a year.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — The PGA Tour is considering consolidating its headquarters into a new facility in St. Johns County. The golf organization, which moved its headquarters to Ponte Vedra nearly 40 years ago, occupies space in 17 buildings in the county.

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