At the September 5^th, 2019 annual community meeting, neighbors and guests alike are welcome to learn what's been going on in our unique neighborhood, receive updates about on-going projects, ask questions, and meet your fellow neighbors. Also at the annual meeting, SPAR members will vote on candidates for our Board of Directors. There are five openings to serve available. The Board of Directors is presenting Jennifer Chapman, Aaron Leedy and Mallik Singareddy as new candidates who would bring valuable experience, passion and skills to the organization. We are proud to present them to our membership for approval. In addition, Tim Hope, current Vice President of SPAR, and Joey Marchy, current Secretary of SPAR, are seeking reelection to the Board for a second and final term.

Please learn more about the five candidates by reading their bios below. If you have any questions for them prior to voting at the annual meeting, please submit them prior to September 5th via email to the SPAR office at [email protected], and the candidates will provide their answers at the annual community meeting on September 5th. Join the community meeting event page here!

Jennifer Chapman, along with husband Josh and their 3 boys, spent years looking for the perfect place to call home after living in Jacksonville for 14 years. They wanted a walkable place with positive and engaged neighbors . . . and to be within a stone’s throw of a place to grab a bite and cold beverage. Now, after finding their shell of a home on West 9th Street in 2017 and finishing a whole house remodel in 9 months, the #HappyChappies are enjoying porch life in the Springfield Historic District. When Jennifer is not at home with her family, she works for Mayo Clinic in the public affairs department. Prior to her current role, she was with Fidelity Investments in government and community affairs and JAXUSA as a business recruitment manager. For fun, Jennifer and Josh have a blast running GAGA Galaxy, a business that rents, sells and installs gaga ball pits for parties, events and camp outings. She has been a Rodan + Fields consultant for more than 7 years, a business that she runs in her car on her phone while waiting for the boys at soccer practice. She has also given her time to a variety of area nonprofits with missions focused on women and girls, leadership development, early learning and financial literacy. She is excited to work with SPAR to continue to make Springfield the best neighborhood in all of Northeast Florida.

Aaron Leedy and his wife Natalie moved to Walnut Street in the Springfield Historic District in the summer of 2018. They are currently restoring a historic home built in 1914 with help from their two cats and a very friendly husky. The Leedys readily identify with the Springfield mantra, “Come for the houses, stay for the people”. Since moving here, Aaron has enthusiastically jumped into being an active member of the Springfield community, volunteering in as many events as possible. When an opportunity to apply for the board presented itself, he was excited to play a role in the growth and preservation of the eclectic neighborhood he has embraced. Aaron works at the University of North Florida as an academic adviser and an adjunct instructor for the Department of Psychology. When they are not working on their house, The Leedys spend most of their free time out exploring or at one of Springfield and its many growing establishments.

Mallik Singareddy was born and raised in India. After high school, he spent eight years living in Ukraine where he graduated from Medical University and met his wife, Marianna. The couple moved to the United States and settled in Jacksonville, FL. The unique architecture of the Springfield Historic District caught their attention and they decided to make a house on Walnut Street their "forever home" in 2006. At that time, the neighborhood needed a lot of loving care. Since then, Mallik has renovated many properties in the Springfield neighborhood, and currently manages multiple historic properties in Springfield as well as other areas of Jacksonville. The passion turned into a business: M & M Estate, a real estate company whose mission includes acquisition, disposition, design, renovations, and management of historic properties. Mallik is an active member of the Finance and Asset Management committees of SPAR. He looks forward to giving more old homes new life in our community, and tackling challenging projects on behalf of SPAR. 

Tim Hope moved to the Springfield Historic District in 2012, from Philadelphia, PA. A mechanical engineer by trade, he has put his handy man skills to good use, renovating several dilapidated homes in the neighborhood. Tim has served on the SPAR board of directors for the past three years and has been a hands on leader in the community: chairing the local neighborhood watch organization “Sheriffs Watch”, spearheading many neighborhood clean ups and leading Residential Revival projects, among many other duties. Tim is currently serving as a SPAR officer as Vice President, and is overseeing the renovation of SPAR’s building on Main Street. His hobbies include patronizing local Springfield businesses, boating over seas, and pampering his pooches.

Joey Marchy is a Jacksonville, FL native who grew up on the Southside and attended the University of North Florida. He graduated with a degree in Computer Information Systems and moved to Minneapolis in 1999 to pursue a career in web development. Joey returned to Jacksonville in 2004 and moved to the Springfield Historic District. He has lived in the neighborhood for 13 years and was active in its promotion and development as a revitalizing community in the early 2000's through his blog and weekly podcast Urban Jacksonville. Joey has served on the SPAR Board of Directors for three years, participating in the Governance committee, chairing the Development committee, and volunteering for many other events and duties. Joey currently serves as a SPAR officer as Secretary and is member of the Executive committee. In his day job, he works as a product manager for a local technology company and lives with his family (Liz Grebe and kids) on West 3rd Street.

Join the community meeting event page here!