Jackie Rowland, President and CEO of Russell Rowland, Inc. has been named 2023 overall Small Business Leader of the Year.

The 11 Northeast Florida business leaders were selected for the honor by the Chamber Councils, the Beaches Division, NextUp JAX, and Venture Services. All individual winners were recognized Tuesday at the Small Business Leaders Breakfast presented by TD Bank at the Adam W. Herbert University Center.  

After working as an engineering manager for eight years, Rowland decided to start her own structural engineering firm in 2018.  

Russell Rowland, Inc. works to partner with their clients and be a true ally to the construction industry by creating safe, innovative structural designs. Since 2018, the business grew, along with its positive reputation, to be one of the largest engineering firms in Jacksonville and is trusted to provide design services for new construction, renovations, and repairs for residential and commercial structures.

Rowland was JAX Chamber’s Hightower Emerging Leaders Fellow in 2021 and is an active member of the Chamber along with NextUP JAX. She was also named Rookie Board Member of the Year in 2022 by the St. Johns County Building Council and was the 2021 & 2022 Finalist for the NEFBA Associate of the Year.

Russell Rowland, Inc. continues to make a statement with their 13 employees and an impressive revenue growth which increased at rate of nearly 50 percent year-over-year. They maintain excellence for each of their clients by having a strong full-time staff of engineers, designers, administrators, and finance faculty members.

In addition to Jackie Rowland, nominated by NextUp JAX, the 2023 Small Business Leaders of the Year are:  

• Della Sellers, Virtue Consulting, Arlington Council

• Greg DiFranza, Kamp K-9 Jax Bch., Beaches Division

• Cantrece Jones, Acuity Design Group, Inc., Downtown Council

• Jenn Kjellman, JSK Marketing, LLC, Health Council

• Greg Davis, Azola Creative, LLC, Jacksonville IT Council

• Steph McFee, Connections Curator, LLC, Professional Women’s Council

• Ismael “Izzy” Amado, IT Ninjas, South Council

• Nichole Mobley, T&N Xpress, LLC, Transportation & Logistics Council

• Desiree Jones, Step-By-Step Behavioral Health Services, LLC, Three Rivers Council

• Dionne Wellington, Icecapade Frozen Treats, Inc., Venture Services