Daytona Beach, FL - After a long day of individual interviews, the First Step Shelter Board has narrowed the field of finalists for the Executive Director position from six to three. The finalists are Victoria Fahlberg of Ormond Beach, Shannon Mathis of New Smyrna Beach and Darcell Streeter of Daytona Beach.
Board member Chase Tramont said that for him, any and all of the six original finalists would be a great choice as Executive Director. He credits interim directors Jane Bloom and Leslie Bonner with narrowing down the selection to some really great candidates. In the end, Tramont said he, Mayor Henry and board member Mike Panaggio had the same three finalists. The other board members had at least one of the three finalists in their choices.
The three candidates: Fahlberg, Mathis, and Streeter will all be in the hot seat again next week when they are brought back for a public meeting. Each applicant will go in front of the Board for a 20-minute question and answer session. Tramont likes the idea of seeing the candidates in front of the public and says it's critical to see how they handle themselves in a public forum.
Tramont said he hopes that the Board will be able to make a decision on the final hour at the conclusion of the public meeting. "There's no reason to continue to prolong and at the same time, I don't want to rush something and make a poor decision just to get somebody in there." He said he feels the one-on-one interviews gave the board members what they needed from the candidates and seeing them in a public setting should confirm or maybe change a mind to make a final decision. Tramont said he feels any one of the three can do the job. He said he feels that Volusia County and the First Step Shelter are in a very good situation with the choices available.
The next public meeting, with only the selection of a new Executive Director on the agenda, is scheduled for next Tuesday, October 1 at 4 p.m. at Daytona Beach City Hall.
