Florida State College at Jacksonville General Counsel Jeanne Miller has been hired as the executive director of the Jacksonville Civic Council, succeeding inaugural director Don Shea, who returned to Louisiana.
Miller, also a former interim executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, joins the Civic Council on Sept. 30.
"It's truly the chance of a lifetime to work with some of the city's greatest business minds and leaders," Miller said Tuesday morning.
The Civic Council is a private, nonprofit organization that comprises almost 60 business and not-for-profit leaders.
She said her diverse career in the public and private sectors and experience in economic development has acquainted her with area business leaders.
Miller said her seven-year tenure at the college will conclude in mid-September and she plans to attend meetings with Civic Council members and executive committees before she joins the organization.
She said she knows many of the members, but will meet with each member when she begins.
Miller said another goal will be to ensure the Civic Council's goals are complementing, not duplicating, the work of other organizations.
"Jeanne has deep skills in areas the Civic Council requires," said Steve Halverson, chairman of the Civic Council and president and CEO of The Haskell Company.
"She is a proven leader with a breadth of experience over her career that makes her perfect for this very important position and I look forward to working with Jeanne on the many important projects the Civic Council undertakes," he said.
Miller is general counsel and vice president of strategic initiatives at the college. A news release this morning from the Civic Council said Miller "will begin immediately to transition from that role."
"As much as we at the College hate to see Jeanne leave after the years of enormous value she has provided, the position with the Civic Council is a wonderful opportunity for her," said Will Holcombe, interim president of the college, in the release.
"On behalf of the College, we wish her great success in her new endeavors," he said.
Miller was chosen from applicants within Jacksonville and outside the area. The search was conducted by the Korn/Ferry International recruiting firm.
The Jacksonville Civic Council was formed in 2010 and develops recommendations about public issues.
It recently sent a letter to Mayor Alvin Brown and Jacksonville City Council President Bill Gulliford that Brown's proposed pension reform plan "isn't enough" and should not be approved by City Council. It wasn't.
The Civic Council's stated mission is "to create a clear vision for the city of Jacksonville along with concrete strategies and tactics for achieving this vision."
"This vision will improve the quality of life in Jacksonville and offer a safe, personally satisfying, economically rewarding place to live and work by offering equal opportunities for all regardless of race or religion, a quality education, a growing economy, a government that is modern, efficient and effective, and a vibrant and thriving downtown," it said.
Miller's LinkedIn page shows she has been with the college for seven years, joining in 2006.
Before that, she was with the City, first as chief of the City Legislative Affairs Division from 2002-04 and then as deputy executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, serving for a time as interim executive director, from 2004-06.
Before working with the City, Miller spent four years with Regency Centers Corp. as corporate counsel and senior manager and was an associate attorney at the Smith Hulsey & Busey firm from 1995-97.
She was a senior market research analyst with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida from 1991-93 and a research analyst with the Florida Medical Association from 1989-91.
Miller graduated in 1995 from the Florida State University College of Law.
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