Leadership Jacksonville, an organization that develops youth and adult leaders in Northeast Florida, announces that Executive Director Isabelle Owen Spence will retire in May 2013. Spence has served as the executive director of the organization since 2001. The announcement was made today during the annual Reunion Luncheon for Leadership Jacksonville graduates.

“I am honored to have served as executive director for an organization that has such a positive impact on our community,” said Spence. “I truly believe I have the best job in Jacksonville and have enjoyed working with some of the finest and most dedicated leaders in Northeast Florida.”

Spence is a graduate of the Leadership Jacksonville class of 1987 and volunteered with the organization for many years, including serving on its board of directors from 1999 to 2001. During her tenure as executive director, Spence has overseen the development of several new programs including the annual New Leadership Summit, which launched in 2003, and the College Leadership Experience (CLE), which launched in 2005 under the direction of Meg Folds.

A succession plan for the executive director position is in place and a search committee has been formed to begin recruitment. Interested applicants can learn more about the position at www.leadershipjax.org or via email at [email protected].