JACKSONVILLE, Fla – One week from the 2015 crowdfunding festival that will take over downtown Jacksonville, One Spark announced the subject experts who will comprise seven juries that will award $95,000 in prizes to top creator projects at the event.
Juries comprised of three to five jurors each will award six $15,000 prizes in each of One Spark's six categories for projects: art, education, health and science, music, social good and technology. The seventh jury will award the $5,000 Jacksonville prize.
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Jurors are given instructions to award prizes to projects that will have the biggest potential impact on the category or industry that they're in, and also the likelihood of success based on the project team's ability to execute.
"We have selected subject matter experts from throughout the country as well as from Jacksonville to ensure we have a great mix of people to select top projects in each category," One Spark co-founder and CEO Elton Rivas said. "Jurors will be looking for projects that have the biggest potential impact in their field, plus have a great team in place with demonstrated traction. We look forward to the innovative projects that are selected to receive the juried awards at One Spark this year."
Jurors will select three finalists in each award category that will be announced at 6 p.m. April 11 at Hemming Park. The finalists will have a chance to pitch their projects to the jurors and the public from 1-4:30 p.m. on April 12 on the main stage at Hemming Park. The winners will be announced the closing ceremony at 5 p.m.
Art Category Juried Award presented by J. Johnson Gallery jurors:
- Michael Cavendish, trustee, MOCA Jacksonville; partner, Gunster Law
- Timothy LeNoir, senior designer, Bravado -- Universal Music Group; New York, N.Y.
- Chip Southworth, artist, Jacksonville
Education Category Juried Award presented by The Schultz Center for Teaching & Leadership jurors:
- Sheridan Brown, retired school principal, Duval County Public Schools; Jacksonville
- Betty Burney, founder and executive director, I'm A Star Foundation; former school board member, Duval County Public Schools
- Colleen Wilson, department chair and associate professor of education, Jacksonville University
Health & Science Category Juried Award presented by GuideWell jurors:
- Carla Fry, Ph.D., RN, director, RN.--BSN programs and assistant professor of nursing, Jacksonville University
- Robin Shelly, MBA., PMP., innovation consultant, Florida Blue; Jacksonville
- Pere Ventura, development engineer, Biomet Microfixation; Jacksonville
Music Category Juried Award jurors:
- Lukas Costas, co-founder, Sidereal, One Spark 2014 Music Juried Award winner; Gainesville
- Chris Martignago, A&R consultant, Atlantic Records; Orlando
- Robert Massey, president and CEO, Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra; Jacksonville
- Thomas Maxwell Sharp, content manager, Paper Garden Records; New York, N.Y.
- Israel Vasquetelle, department chair, Entertainment Business & Music Business Bachelor of Science Programs, Full Sail University; Orlando
Social Good Category Juried Award jurors:
- Jayne G. Evans, marketing and communications, Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida; Jacksonville
- Bill Heneghan, co-founder, AKIBA Health, SimplyFlex, Benefit Provisions; Orlando
- Barbara Roole, senior program officer, Jessie Ball duPont Fund; Jacksonville
Technology Category Juried Award presented by Deutsche Bank jurors:
- Grace Belangia, executive director, HACKAugusta; Augusta, Ga.
- Hampton Catlin, CEO and founder, Wordset; San Francisco
- Albert Herrera, Americas regional manager, Firewalls & Security, Deutsche Bank Jacksonville
- Jason Premo, chairman, Premo Ventures; Greenville, N.C.
Jacksonville Award presented by Wells Fargo jurors:
- Jay Harris, co-pastor, Image Church; co-founder, Strght & Nrrw; Jacksonville
- Melissa Ross, host and producer, "First Coast Connect," WJCT-FM/TV, NPR; Jacksonville
- Dr. Wayne W. Wood, arts agitator, author and historian; Jacksonville
The $95,000 in juried awards is part of the $350,000 in total awards and crowdfunds available for creator projects at One Spark 2015. Each of the six project categories also has a top-voted award worth $15,000 and awarded by festival attendees' votes using the One Spark App or on onespark.com. The remaining $150,000 is also divided out based on festival attendees' votes by percentage of votes earned by each creator projects. Projects must receive at least .1 percent of the vote to qualify.
Creator projects will also compete for direct individual contributions from anywhere in the world using the One Spark App or on onespark.com and $3.5 million potential capital investments. There are 555 creator projects competing at One Spark 2015.