Mayor Brown's DIA Board Approved, Now What?

[Cheshire Cat]

Several month's into the process of finding a CEO for the DIA there are apparently 61 applications on file with no cut off date.

CEO: Short list of candidates expected this week
Monday, April 4, 11:02 AM EDT

by David Chapman, Staff Writer
The search firm recruiting candidates to become the first CEO of the City's Downtown Investment Authority is in the final stages of interviews, with a goal of presenting a "short list" of candidates to the authority by the end of this week.

Todd Jorgenson, managing director and principal of Jorgenson Consulting, said Thursday the search is "at the back end" of the process and he hopes the six to eight candidates he will submit to the authority will be interviewed as soon as possible.

As of Friday, 61 people had submitted their resume or letter of interest for the position, according to a list of applicants obtained by a public records request.

Of the 61, several appear to have ties to Northeast Florida.

They are Tara Gardner, a third-party claims adjuster with Transfield Services; William Spann, CEO of International Premium Cigar and Pipe Retailers Association; Michael Danhour, chief operating officer of J. Henderson Co.; Darren Gardner, director and site coordinator at Edward Waters College; Christopher Flagg, founder and principal of Flagg Design Studio; Lisa Kiernan, a resolutions and receivership specialist at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.; and Joseph Wyzkoski III, director of operations and distribution with Ignitions Music Magazine.

Several others â€" Roscoe Morton Jr., Charles Everett, Temika Jones and Ramon Clemente â€" listed Florida as their location, but there was not enough information to determine local ties.

In addition, Jorgenson said he has proactively contacted individuals to gauge interest, with some coming from "target communities."

He defined the term as a city or community with a similar makeup to Jacksonville â€" not necessarily in population â€" with a downtown that has undergone a "renaissance" with a vision and strategy set by the public and private sectors.

He declined to identify which communities he considered to be Jacksonville's counterparts, citing the confidentiality of the search.

Those who Jorgenson might have contacted but have not submitted their interest in writing were not required to be on the list.

"Overall, it's gone very well and has been very well received," he said of the search.

There is no official cutoff date for applications

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539287

[thelakelander]

Here is a link to the list of DIA CEO applicants:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539287

[carpnter]

Here is a link to the list of DIA CEO applicants:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539287

Maybe I should apply, I am more qualified than some of those applying for the job and I know I don't have the qualifications or experience for the position.

[CityLife]

Chris Flagg looks like the only local with a shot. Would like to be able to see more info about the candidates, but there are some good titles there:

Odis Jones-Director of Economic Development-Cincinnati
Kevin Hanna-Director of Real Estate-New Orleans Redevelopment Authority
Abigail Rider-Associate VP and Director of Campus properties-Yale-which is located in an urban area
Javier Betancourt-Deputy Director-Miami Downtown Development Authority
James Edwards-Charleston Urban Renewal Authority

Hard to really tell about the private sector folks without their bios.

[CityLife]

As we've seen before, there are probably some very good candidates that haven't yet submitted due to Sunshine Laws and want to ensure they are serious candidates before going public. Looks like we already have some viable candidates and hopefully there are even more behind the curtain.

[thelakelander]

James Edwards-Charleston Urban Renewal Authority

Edwards was over Lakeland's DDA when they first started implementing their revitalization plans in the late 1980s/early 1990s.  Growing up in the area back then, I remember downtown Lakeland was in pretty bad shape.  It even had a few long abandoned 1920s highrises like the Trio that were full of homeless that many wanted demolished.  Still following that plan, here's what downtown Lakeland looks like today:



Link to downtown Lakeland photo tour: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-jul-elements-of-urbanism-lakeland

At some point in the 1990s, he left Lakeland to take a similar position in Hollywood, FL.  I was down in Hollywood two years ago for a wedding and spent some time exploring that downtown.



link to downtown Hollywood photo tour: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-mar-elements-of-urbanism-hollywood

My casual observation from the redevelopment of those two downtowns is that today both seem to be a lot more lively, cleaner, pedestrian friendly, and better maintained than downtown Jacksonville.  Also, for all the excuses we come up with why our downtown looks the way it does, those city's downtowns had more to overcome.

[Tacachale]

That Hollywood Boulevard strip is pretty cool. We were there a few years ago, also for a wedding in the area. I forget why we even stopped in Hollywood, but we stumbled on that strip. Something like that in Downtown Jax would be awesome.

[tufsu1]

Thaddeus Cohen is the last name on the list....he was previously Secretary of DCA under Gov. Bush....and then moved on to the City of Pensacola as its CRA director

[Noone]

Here is a link to the list of DIA CEO applicants:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539287

Odis, Gets my vote.

[thelakelander]

^The Daily Record says Odis Jones is currently the Director of Economic Development in Cincinnati. Here's a brief press release of him taking the Cincinnati job last April.  Before then, he was the Director of Urban Development for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

Odis Jones Named New City of Cincinnati Economic Development Director

Cincinnati City Manager Milton Dohoney announced today that Odis Jones will join the Administration as the City of Cincinnati’s new Director of Economic Development, effective April 22, 2012.

Mr. Jones is presently the Director of Urban Development for the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. He has worked under two state administrations to drive investment and development in the urban areas throughout the state of New Jersey.

His background includes serving as President and CEO of the Columbus Urban Growth Corporation, a citywide public-private entity that handled economic development for the city.

Mr. Jones’ experience also extends in the city management realm, having served as City Administrator in two suburban communities: Obetz, Ohio and Keokuk, Iowa. Additionally, he spent five years handling special projects for the City Manager of Battle Creek, Mich.

He has an MPA from Western Michigan University and a BS from Central Michigan University, where he also played football. He is a public board member of the International Council of Shopping Centers, a member of the City/County Management Association, the American Planning Association and the International Economic Development Council.

http://www.choosecincy.com/news/odis_jones_named_new_city_of_cincinnati_economic_development_director

video: http://www.wcpo.com/dpp/news/local_news/crystal-faulkner-interviews-otis-jones

[thelakelander]

Eight finalists named for CEO of Downtown Investment Authority

Thaddeus L. Cohen, former assistant city manager and community redevelopment executive director for the city of Pensacola

Christopher A. DiGeorge, founder and managing partner, DiGeorge Atlantic, a real estate firm in Philadelphia

James H. Edwards, executive director, Charleston Urban Renewal Authority, Charleston, W.V.

Kevin R. Hanna, director of real estate development, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority

Michael T. Maher, founding director, Charleston Civic Design Center, Charleston, S.C.

James Schimmer, director, department of economic development, Franklin County, Ohio

Andi Udris, president, Cincinnati Restaurant Group

Aundra C. Wallace, executive director, Detroit Land Bank Authority

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/04/26/seven-finalists-named-for-ceo-of.html

[urbaknight]

Eight finalists named for CEO of Downtown Investment Authority

Thaddeus L. Cohen, former assistant city manager and community redevelopment executive director for the city of Pensacola

Christopher A. DiGeorge, founder and managing partner, DiGeorge Atlantic, a real estate firm in Philadelphia

James H. Edwards, executive director, Charleston Urban Renewal Authority, Charleston, W.V.

Kevin R. Hanna, director of real estate development, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority

Michael T. Maher, founding director, Charleston Civic Design Center, Charleston, S.C.

James Schimmer, director, department of economic development, Franklin County, Ohio

Andi Udris, president, Cincinnati Restaurant Group

Aundra C. Wallace, executive director, Detroit Land Bank Authority

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/04/26/seven-finalists-named-for-ceo-of.html

I bet they give the job to Cohen. They certainly won't give the job to an urban-oriented Yankee like they should!

[JeffreyS]

Perhaps the DIA could throw some money at the Brooklyn retail for some pedestrian concessions.

[Cheshire Cat]

Eight finalists named for CEO of Downtown Investment Authority

Thaddeus L. Cohen, former assistant city manager and community redevelopment executive director for the city of Pensacola

Christopher A. DiGeorge, founder and managing partner, DiGeorge Atlantic, a real estate firm in Philadelphia

James H. Edwards, executive director, Charleston Urban Renewal Authority, Charleston, W.V.

Kevin R. Hanna, director of real estate development, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority

Michael T. Maher, founding director, Charleston Civic Design Center, Charleston, S.C.

James Schimmer, director, department of economic development, Franklin County, Ohio

Andi Udris, president, Cincinnati Restaurant Group

Aundra C. Wallace, executive director, Detroit Land Bank Authority

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/04/26/seven-finalists-named-for-ceo-of.html

I bet they give the job to Cohen. They certainly won't give the job to an urban-oriented Yankee like they should!

Which Yankee you talking about? 

[urbaknight]

Eight finalists named for CEO of Downtown Investment Authority

Thaddeus L. Cohen, former assistant city manager and community redevelopment executive director for the city of Pensacola

Christopher A. DiGeorge, founder and managing partner, DiGeorge Atlantic, a real estate firm in Philadelphia

James H. Edwards, executive director, Charleston Urban Renewal Authority, Charleston, W.V.

Kevin R. Hanna, director of real estate development, New Orleans Redevelopment Authority

Michael T. Maher, founding director, Charleston Civic Design Center, Charleston, S.C.

James Schimmer, director, department of economic development, Franklin County, Ohio

Andi Udris, president, Cincinnati Restaurant Group

Aundra C. Wallace, executive director, Detroit Land Bank Authority

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/04/26/seven-finalists-named-for-ceo-of.html

I bet they give the job to Cohen. They certainly won't give the job to an urban-oriented Yankee like they should!

Which Yankee you talking about? 

Any one of them. We have some of the biggest cities in the world up there. Urban projects are constantly going on without any effort and without people like us trying to tell them what they're doing wrong; and what would be an easy fix. As far as urban planning and urban living goes, they got it! And I just think that we'd be smart to transplant some of that down here.

I really mean no disrespect, it's just that here in Florida all of the decision makers all know each other and are all friends. They are also friends with the special interests. (just look at the whole mobility fee moratorium crap) We need a complete outsider and maybe even someone who doesn't like us very much, but is willing to show everyone that things can be turned around.