Scenic Jacksonville announced on Mar. 11 the appointment of new board members and officers for its 2026 term, including Catherine Duncan and Travis Smith as new additions to the board, and Bill Hoff, Jr. as president.
The announcement marks a period of transition for the organization, which focuses on preserving and enhancing Jacksonville’s built and natural environment. The changes in leadership come after former president Michael Kirwan resigned from the Board of Directors last August to run for Congress.
Catherine Duncan, principal architect at LOCI Architects, LLC, brings experience from her leadership roles with AIA Jacksonville Chapter and the City of St. Augustine’s Historic Architectural Review Board. “I am looking forward to helping Scenic Jacksonville effectively advocate for design excellence in projects that impact the broader community, and to participate in civic discussions about placemaking, design and the interfaces with the natural environment,” Duncan said.
Travis Smith joins as director of Corporate Engagement for Year Up United and recently earned a Master in Public Administration degree from the University of North Florida. “I care deeply about the way that the natural and built environments complement each other, and this is a very exciting time in our city,” Smith said. “There is so much momentum and great work to be done to ensure that the growth truly creates a more beautiful, livable and aspirational city.”
Bill Hoff, Jr., who has served in various civic leadership roles including with Springfield Preservation & Revitalization (SPAR), Jax Chamber Hightower Fellowship, Greenscape of Jacksonville, Leadership Jacksonville, and the City of Jacksonville’s Historic Preservation Commission, was appointed president for 2026. “It is a privilege to serve our city and this storied organization in this way, and I look forward to continuing the work of the late Bill Brinton and others who have done so much to improve Jacksonville’s quality of life,” Hoff said.
Other officers named include Matthew Edelman as treasurer; Susan Grandin as secretary; Wiatt Bowers as first vice president; Oliver Barakat as second vice president; and Tyler Grant serving at large.
Scenic Jacksonville is a nonprofit advocacy group dedicated to protecting Jacksonville’s character through initiatives such as hosting annual events like Great Cities Symposium and Scenic Visions program. The organization also works on reducing visual blight from billboards, expanding tree canopies, advocating for historic preservation, unique neighborhood character, streetscapes improvements, parks enhancement, public spaces development, utility management reforms, among other focus areas.
