Leadership Jacksonville, an organization that develops youth and adult leaders in Northeast Florida, announces Jill Langford Dame has been named executive director for the organization. Dame is the interim executive director of Jacksonville Children’s Commission and has served as a nonprofit and leadership consultant since 2005. She will take over the executive director position in May, succeeding Isabelle Owen Spence who announced her retirement in September.

“Jill is a graduate of the adult program, former member of our board of directors and brings more than 25 years of nonprofit experience and community involvement to Leadership Jacksonville,” said Justin Terry, executive vice president at Harden and president of the Leadership Jacksonville Board of Directors. “Her experience, coupled with her passion for leadership development in our community, makes her the ideal candidate to carry out Leadership Jacksonville’s mission and goals.”

In her role, Dame will be responsible for the overall strategic and operational direction for Leadership Jacksonville’s operations, staff, programs and fund development. She will oversee the processes, programs and resources to execute Leadership Jacksonville’s mission of developing youth and adult leaders to assume greater responsibility as community trustees who improve the quality of life for self, family and community.

“I am excited to join Leadership Jacksonville and look forward to working with Jacksonville’s brightest and most talented individuals to develop current and future leaders in our community,” said Dame.

Dame is a long-time Jacksonville resident who has held volunteer leadership positions for numerous Northeast Florida organizations including Jacksonville Community Council, Inc. (JCCI), PACE Center for Girls, Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, Inc., Junior League of Jacksonville and the Mayor’s Commission on the Status of Women. Recognized as a Girl Scouts of Gateway Council Women of Distinction Honoree in 2013, she received the Leadership Jacksonville Distinguished Leadership Award in 2003.

To learn more about Leadership Jacksonville and its programs, visit www.leadershipjax.org.