The Downtown Investment Authority board conducted a workshop March 4 to formally begin the process of searching for the organization’s next CEO.
Current CEO Lori Boyer joined DIA in 2019. She is retiring and her contract expires in May 2026.
In addition to board members, representatives from the Jorgenson Pace executive recruiting firm participated in the workshop.
Jorgenson Pace also recruited Boyer and her predecessor, Aundra Wallace, who left DIA to become president of JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development division of JAX Chamber.
First on the agenda were the special qualifications and skills the board wants in its next chief executive.
The board agreed that the next CEO will have to understand that Jacksonville’s Downtown is not a traditional urban street grid, but rather a multiregion layout that includes property on both sides of the St. Johns River, a Sports Complex and distinct neighborhoods such as Eastside and Brooklyn in addition to the urban core.
Jorgenson Pace partner Todd Jorgenson said the successful candidate also will have to understand the different development patterns already underway Downtown, including the development of the University of Florida graduate school campus, redevelopment of the former Jacksonville Landing site and the possibility of building a new jail.
Boyer said her successor will have to be able to shift priorities and focus over time.
“As the market changes, the CEO has to be flexible and nimble,” Jorgenson said.
Other traits that will be included in the search include being “a visionary with a proven track record” and government affairs experience to be able to work with the mayor and City Council to promote development.
Jorgenson said his firm will begin recruiting locally, in Florida and nationwide in about two weeks after completing interviews with stakeholders to determine their qualification recommendations.
The recruitment phase will begin in six to eight weeks, after which a slate of candidates will be presented to the board.
The board will rank the candidates and narrow the list to a first round that will be interviewed on Zoom.
That group will be narrowed to the top three candidates that will be interviewed in person in a public final round.
Jorgenson said the process to identify the next DIA CEO should be completed in three months or less.