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Giving Back

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Celebrating the Contributions of Arthur “Buddy” Jacobs

Arthur I. “Buddy” Jacobs has devoted decades of service to historic preservation, community revitalization, public service, and legal advocacy — leaving a lasting legacy in Fernandina Beach and throughout Florida.

Community Preservation & Leadership

Founded the Amelia Island-Fernandina Restoration Foundation (1972). Jacobs was named pro bono executive director of the foundation, leading early efforts to save Fernandina Beach’s architectural heritage after the loss of the Keystone Hotel. His leadership helped spark the movement that ultimately restored and revitalized downtown Fernandina Beach. (fernandinaobserver.org)
Under his guidance and collaboration with community partners, dozens of downtown blocks were surveyed and placed on the National Register of Historic Places, preserving the unique character of the city for future generations. (jswflorida.com)
Jacobs’ preservation work included securing major funding and grants — from National Endowment for the Arts planning support to large federal economic development awards — enabling restoration projects and infrastructure improvements that benefited the entire community. (jswflorida.com)
He has remained active in local preservation circles, including appearances and speaking engagements with the Amelia Island Museum of History and community preservation organizations. (ameliaisland.pastperfectonline.com)

Recognition for Historic Preservation

2010 Beinecke-Reeves Distinguished Achievement Award — University of Florida College of Design, Construction and Planning recognized his exceptional dedication to historic preservation in Florida.
Carl Weinhardt Award — The Florida Trust for Historic Preservation honored Jacobs for his long-standing leadership and achievements in state preservation efforts. (fernandinaobserver.org)
2019 Preservation Champion Award — Fernandina Beach’s Historic Preservation Awards highlighted Jacobs’ “preeminent role” in preserving the city’s architectural heritage, noting his decades of dedication to fund-raising, planning and advocacy that transformed downtown Fernandina. (fernandinaobserver.org)
The Amelia Island-Fernandina Restoration Foundation, which Jacobs helped found and guide, continues to be celebrated as a cornerstone of local preservation, including recent recognition at community awards events. (Fernandina Main St)

Public Service & Legal Advocacy

Beyond preservation, Buddy Jacobs has served the public for more than 50 years in legal and civic roles. (sayfiereview.com)
He represented the State Attorneys of Florida as general counsel for nearly five decades, providing legal guidance at the highest levels of state government. (sayfiereview.com)
As Nassau County Attorney for 13 years, Jacobs authored the county’s first zoning code, shaping thoughtful growth that respected community values and historic context. (sayfiereview.com)
Over the years he served as counsel to major legal organizations including the Trial Lawyers Section of The Florida Bar, advocating for justice in courts and the Florida Legislature. (sayfiereview.com)

Legacy of Service

Buddy Jacobs’ commitment to community, preservation, and the rule of law exemplifies a life of giving back. Whether negotiating historic preservation funding, guiding civic improvement initiatives, or mentoring future leaders, his impact continues to shape the character and quality of life in Fernandina Beach and beyond.

Meet The Team

ARTHUR I. “BUDDY” JACOBS

Founder & Managing Member

Arthur I. “Buddy” Jacobs’ family moved to Fernandina Beach in 1943 where he has remained a resident. He is a graduate of the University of Florida and was President of the Student Body. Upon graduation, he became Dean of University Relations and Development, at the age of 26. He served as an Organized Crime Strike Force Prosecutor in the Fourth Judicial Circuit.

While serving as Nassau County Attorney for 13 years, he wrote the first zoning code for the County. He has been General Counsel for the State Attorneys of Florida for 47 years, representing them in the US and State Supreme Court, District Courts of Appeal and the Florida Legislature. He was Counsel to the Trial Lawyers Section of the Florida Bar, for 32 years representing 7,000 civil Trial Lawyers in Florida. He represented them in the State Supreme Court and the Legislature. He has served as Chairman of the State Arts Council of Florida and was a member of the National Council of the Arts for a decade under Reagan and Bush. He has been Chairman of the Advocacy Committee of the American Arts Alliance in Washington. He has served since 1977 as a member of the Board of Advisors of the Preservation Institute of Nantucket and served as Chairman of the Board for over a decade. He has lectured throughout the country on Historic Preservation on how to restore towns and cities and uses his work in the restoration of the historic city of Fernandina as an example.

He served for six years as a Regent on the Board of the American Architecture Foundation in Washington, DC. The Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers named Jacobs the top advocate in Florida among trial lawyers for justice for the citizens of Florida for 2005. Mr. Jacobs has successfully represented counties, municipalities, cities and community associations seeking federal and state funding for beach renourishment projects critical to local economies, as well as appropriations for transportation projects, environmental enhancement projects, and preservation of historic landmarks. He was also the 2010 recipient of the Beinecke-Reeves Distinguished Achievement Award in Historic Preservation from the University of Florida. He has also been a recipient of the Distinguished Citizen Award from the Florida Shore and Beach Preservation Association. On May 18, 2012, he received the prestigious Carl Weinhardt Award from The Florida Trust For Historic Preservation recognizing his many years of service to Historic Preservation. He has been Head Usher of his church, Amelia Island Plantation Chapel, for 23 years.

RICHARD J. SCHOLZ

Managing Member

Richard J. Scholz graduated from the Ohio State University College of Pharmacy in 1977 and became a licensed pharmacist in Ohio, embarking on a career in community pharmacy. In 1987, Scholz founded Complete Pharmacy Network, a pharmacy benefit management company that pioneered the implementation of real-time computerized pharmacy management and cost controls to clients throughout the U.S. He launched the Denali Group Inc., a multi-faceted health care economics management consulting group that managed projects for stakeholders in the distribution, delivery, and financing of pharmacy care, in 1994. Branching outside of the pharmacy field, Scholz was president of Sound Point Strategies, Inc., a real estate consulting, management, and holding company from 1998 to 2005. Scholz graduated cum laude from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida in 2005, and became a member of the Florida Bar in 2006. Scholz joined Jacobs Scholz & Associates in 2005. Since joining the firm, Scholz has led Jacobs Scholz, LLLP, a holding company for health care ventures in the medical device, optics, and digital healthcare markets, and co-founded Optimized Care Network, which connects primary care and specialty care providers with their patients via state-of-the-art CareSpaces, improving healthcare accessibility and affordability.

He is currently Chief Strategy Officer of Optimized Care Network. Scholz is a registered lobbyist for local government entities as well as representing domestic and international healthcare stakeholders interacting with both the State of Florida and the Federal government. He is an active member and on the Board of Directors of Pharmaceutical Printed Literature Association (PPLA) in Washington, D.C. Scholz works with international businesses in developing and managing coalitions to complete clinical trials, process FDA approval for medical devices, and implement international production and distribution strategies. He represents healthcare clients in complex regulatory and litigation interfaces with CMS, FDA, OMB, U.S. Military branches, U.S. Veterans Administration, and Tricare. He has presented at national conferences and summits for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, PHARMA Packaging and Labeling USA Conference, and Verizon Life Sciences and Healthcare, and was a panelist at the HX360, HIMMS 2015 TeleHealth Turnabout. The Ohio House of Representative has recognized him for his work as president of the Board of Education his local public school district in Ohio. He is an active member of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy and the National Council of Prescription Drug Programs. Locally, he is a member of the Board of Directors for the Nassau County Education Foundation, and the Robert M. Foster Inn of Courts.

DOUGLAS A. WYLER

Member

Douglas A. Wyler, originally from New York, but raised in Frederick, Maryland, graduated with his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Philosophy from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles. He interned with Merrill Lynch and during his study of law, Wyler interned with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid (“JALA”) and the Jacksonville Film and Television Commission. In 2010, Wyler graduated from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville. He earned a Certificate in Advanced Legal Research and Writing from Florida Coastal.

He joined Jacobs Scholz & Associates in 2015. Wyler has spent considerable time volunteering with non-profit organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and Guardian ad Litem Program of Nassau County. He is a member in good standing with the Florida Bar.