Metro Jacksonville

Don Shea will become the first ever director of economic development at St. Tammy Parish, near New Orleans.

QuoteDon Shea is leaving the Jacksonville Civic Council for an economic development position near New Orleans.
Shea notified Chairman Peter Rummell in a Dec. 17 letter of his intent to resign, effective Jan. 23, 2013. He will be the first ever director of economic development at St. Tammy Parish.
Shea said in the letter the decision to leave was made because he wants to be near family in the area.

full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2012/12/21/don-shea-resigns-from-jacksonville.html

Everyone is leaving.

He left us for a Parrish.....???

Maybe we need to have a Learning From: Keystone Heights.

fsujax, it does seem that way.  I've had 15 friends and colleagues give up the ghost on Jacksonville in 2012.  That's a record.

I hate to see us losing Don; he's been a solid advocate for progress in Jacksonville from downtown to diversity issues.

Since everyone is bailing, can we hope that City Council will be leaving as well ;)

Quote from: fsujax on December 21, 2012, 09:16:36 AM
Everyone is leaving.

I wish Don all the best. Will always have fond memories of sharing our city with him.

Quotefsujax, it does seem that way.  I've had 15 friends and colleagues give up the ghost on Jacksonville in 2012.  That's a record.

Any commonality in their reasons?

City Hall????

That really is a loss to Jax.  Don's been a good behind the scenes guy.

With the top of the ranks thinning so much, kind of makes me wonder who in the next generation is really ready to step up and do good things.  Hopefully the loss of the 'good guys' doesn't create a vacuum that backslides us to 1990 again...and again...and again.

Quote from: fsquid on December 21, 2012, 09:47:15 AM
Any commonality in their reasons?

The best way to sum up the commonality would be "opportunity."  Job opportunity, vibrancy and the opportunity for better work/life balance, the opportunity to live in communities that are not overtly hostile to difference or governed by people overtly hostile to difference.

A wave of people left in the aftermath of the HRO vote.  Others are trying to figure something out.  As a native, I'm used to seeing people leave Jacksonville for greener pastures.  It just seems to be accelerating of late.

Quote from: Captain Zissou on December 21, 2012, 09:29:52 AM
He left us for a Parrish.....???

Maybe we need to have a Learning From: Keystone Heights.

While it sounds bad for Jax, in reality its probably not that bad of a move for him. St. Tammy Parish has a population of 233,000 and they probably desperately need an economic development person in the post Katrina New economy. I'd imagine he will be getting a pay bump and have more autonomy in his new role. Its not like he was going to be the E.D. of the DIA anyways.

Shea is a sharp guy, but his stance on Intuition wasn't exactly the type of thinking we need for our Downtown. I haven't been to any DIA meetings, but I also wasn't impressed with the methodology he was using for the DIA CEO search. I believe he just wanted to look at what other cities like Phoenix had recently done to guide their search.

What was his stance on Intuition?

Press release from the Civic Council.

QuoteCIVIC COUNCIL ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Jacksonville, FL, December 21, 2012: The Jacksonville Civic Council announced today that Donald A. Shea will be leaving his post as the first executive director, effective late January, 2013.

“We will miss Don and appreciate all the work that he has accomplished since coming to Jacksonville to join the Civic Council in September 2010,” said Peter Rummell, chairman of the Jacksonville Civic Council Board of Directors.

That sentiment was echoed by Steve Halverson, chief executive officer, Haskell, who is slated to succeed Rummell as chairman effective January 1. Halverson said, “On behalf of the entire Civic Council membership, we are sad to see Don and Dianne Shea leave our community, but we understand that a unique opportunity has been presented to them to return to the New Orleans area, where most of their family resides.” Halverson went on to say that the Civic Council regrets his departure but supports Shea’s decision which is of a purely personal and family nature.

Shea has been named the first director of economic development for St. Tammany Parish, a fast-growing area of the New Orleans region, located just across Lake Pontchartrain from the City of New Orleans. In his resignation from the Civic Council, Shea stressed his feeling that the work of the Civic Council has been very professionally satisfying, and that the mission and purpose of the Civic Council are critically important as a way for the Jacksonville business community to bring about positive change in public policy for the community.

“In many meaningful ways, the Civic Council has been influential over the past couple of years in helping raise the dialog in the community about important quality of life issues,” said Don Shea. “We have done pioneering work on downtown development and pension reform and have advocated for education reform, strengthened human rights protection and improved race relations. I am gratified to have played a part in that process, and I look forward to an expansion of the role of the Jacksonville Civic Council in the future.”

Halverson said the Civic Council will immediately begin a search process for a new executive director. John Delaney, president of the University of North Florida, will chair a search committee.

“The Civic Council will move forward, continuing to engage the toughest issues facing our community and do so with a renewed sense of commitment and engagement by the entire membership. The best days for Jacksonville, and the Civic Council, are ahead.” stated Halverson.

If I remember correctly, something along the lines of breweries don't stimulate economic development/vibrancy or something like that. I believe he was against the city giving incentives or discounting the Shipyards land for the project.

The Shipyards/Landmar was discussed at the 12/20/12  DIA/CRA plan committee meeting which could have an effect on the Intuition attempt to open a business and stimulate economic development.
It was a 2 hour meeting.

It does seem like an awful lot of people have left recently.  Then there are those business leaders who reside in the city, but don't necessarily take much part in trying to better it (and there are those who do put their money where their mouth is).

people leaving often means more opportunity for new leadership...Nathaniel Ford at JTA is a perfect example

Ford is a breath of fresh air. Hoping for positive things to come.

Be quite nice if we could stack that election in favor of CHANGE! Imagine bringing in a whole host of new 'Nathaniel Fords.' Could be that 'Happy Day's are here again.'

Don will be missed for sure.  I don't know that he is leaving so much to get away from Jacksonville as he is to return to the city he loves.

He was a master of one liners, and someone I considered to be a trusted friend.

Quote from: CityLife on December 21, 2012, 10:32:18 AM
If I remember correctly, something along the lines of breweries don't stimulate economic development/vibrancy or something like that. I believe he was against the city giving incentives or discounting the Shipyards land for the project.

Don just sent me an email asking to clarify the issue with Intuition Ale Works.

QuoteI truly do recognise the desirability of locating IAW downtown, and The Shipyards would be a can't miss spot for them. I support that idea. On the other hand, from a public policy point of view I am strongly opposed to taking an irreplaceable and perhaps priceless waterfront site of 35 acres (more or less), and chopping it up into 3-4 acre postage stamp lots going on a first-come, first-served basis. It would end up looking like Marrakech. That would be more of the same sort of opportunistic land planning that has occurred over so many years in Jacksonville. Feels right on the surface, but results in reverse synergy....the whole becomes less than the sum of the parts.

As a matter of fact, without breaking any confidentiality, there is a very thoughtful mixed-use proposal being crafted by a bona fide developer who identifies up to three free-standing restaurant/retail sites as part of his plan. When I was originally briefed about that concept, I suggested that a conversation be started with IAW to bring that project into the mix, and am happy to report that those talks are underway. At least they were underway prior to my departure, but I'm a little out of the loop by now so can't verify if they are current.

So, it's really incorrect as some of the posts indicate that I oppose IAW downtown. In fact, quite the opposite is true.

Doug, that development sounds awesome.  Fingers crossed.

^That was more or less my feeling about IAW at the Shipyards site as well. Though I'm really bummed they haven't been proactive in finding another site for them downtown.

isn't the library up for sale?  might be a fun place.