Jacksonville Civic Council leaders expect to hire a new executive director by early to mid-July.
Susie Wiles, who took the interim role in February after inaugural Executive Director Don Shea returned to New Orleans, said Monday five candidates will be interviewed June 24-25 in Jacksonville.
When asked how many local candidates might be among the five, she said the Civic Council did not want to discuss specifics.
"I think we are confident that the pool of candidates will result in hiring someone well-qualified," she said.
The five were narrowed from a list of 15 who were culled from the more than 150 people who initially expressed interest, she said.
The Korn/Ferry International recruiting firm was hired to develop a short list and has been working with a Civic Council search committee chaired by University of North Florida President John Delaney.
Wiles said Korn/Ferry and the council developed a job description for the position. She said the council wanted to remain private when asked who will interview the candidates and the potential salary of the new executive director.
The Civic Council's membership of more than 60 people comprises business and civic leaders. It is governed by a board of directors.
Civic Council Chairman Steve Halverson, CEO of The Haskell Co., announced in February that Wiles, who helped to advise the council when it was formed, agreed to serve as interim executive director when Shea returned to New Orleans to become director of economic development for St. Tammany Parish.
"We hope and expect to have someone in place by July. As a general matter we aren't making public the details of the search process but of course will have a public statement when we make a selection," Halverson said Sunday in an email.