Isabelle Owen Spence, Executive Director, Leadership Jacksonville Inc.
Mission
Leadership Jacksonville develops youth and adult leaders to assume greater responsibility as community trustees who improve the quality of life for self, family and community.
Serving Jacksonville
Based in Jacksonville, incorporated in 1976.
Those served
Serves the Northeast Florida counties of Duval, Clay, Baker, Nassau, St. Johns and Putnam counties. Since 1976, the Leadership Jacksonville Program has graduated 1,660 adults, of which 1,244 continue to reside in Northeast Florida. The Youth Leadership Jacksonville Program, begun in 1989, has graduated 951 high school students. The Collegiate Leadership Experience Program, begun in 2005, has graduated 172 college students. Eighty-six percent of the students indicated that they are more likely to reside in our community following graduation from college as a result of participating in Collegiate Leadership Experience. The New Leadership Summit Program, an orientation for CEOs and senior level executives new to the community, has worked with 97 participants since its inception in 2002.
Biggest challenge
To stay on the cutting edge with all of our programs.
Biggest satisfaction
My greatest satisfaction is observing the power of the Leadership Jacksonville network of community leaders.
Hometown
Suburban Detroit, Mich.
First experience with community service
My community service began in childhood as a Girl Scout with many service projects, including teaching piano lessons to a child who lived in a children’s home. In college, I helped lead a Girl Scout Troop.
Your job before Leadership Jacksonville
Licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice.
Upcoming events
On July 7, Leadership Jacksonville alumni and members will hear Cynthia Barnett, author of “Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S.“ She will speak about “Blue is the New Green: Water Sustainability and the Future of Florida.” The event is open to alumni and members only.
Contact information
www.leadershipjax.org or 396-6263