Mayor-elect Lenny Curry’s leadership team for his transition into City Hall will be chaired by prominent businessman Tom Petway.
Rena Coughlin and Dr. Charles Moreland are co-chairs, Sam Mousa is executive director and Susie Wiles will serve as policy director, according to a news release.
Curry said he will put together a community-based transition committee to work with the leadership team, according to the release.
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“In the days and weeks ahead, I will be working with the transition leadership team, as well as additional advisors and team members, to implement my plan to restore Jacksonville’s greatness,” said Curry, who takes office July 1. “With so much expertise across so many communities and issues, these leaders are exactly the right start to this important process.”
Petway was one of Curry’s early confidants when the former chair of the Republican Party of Florida was deciding whether to challenge Mayor Alvin Brown.
Once Curry was a candidate, Petway, members of his family and companies tied to them were substantial donors, giving more than $340,000 to the campaign.
Petway was a founding partner of Touchdown Jacksonville and a co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars before the team was sold to Shad Khan.
Coughlin has been CEO and president of the Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida since 2005. Before that she was CEO of Girls Inc. of Jacksonville.
Moreland is a member of the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, having served in many capacities including chief of rescue and district chief.
Mousa is well-known in political circles, including serving in the administrations of three former mayors: John Delaney, John Peyton and Tommy Hazouri. Among his jobs was chief administrative officer, where he ran the day-to-day operations of City Hall, as well as Delaney’s Better Jacksonville Plan.
Wiles has political experience at the local, state and federal levels. She worked for both Delaney and Peyton, was Gov. Rick Scott’s campaign manager in 2010 and was former presidential candidate Jon Huntsman’s first national campaign manager. Wiles also was a driving force in the Jacksonville Journey, Peyton’s crime-prevention program.