The search for a new president at Florida Gulf Coast University moved a step forward this morning.

The university’s ‘Presidential Search & Screen Committee’ has unanimously selected Greenwood & Associates from among 3 finalists to help the 8-year-old university find a new president.

The Miramar Beach-based firm specializes in finding university presidents - most recently at the University of Florida in Gainesville. Chair of the search committee – Dr. Peg Gray-Vickrey – says Greenwood had everything they were looking for.

“Has this executive search firm been successful in presidential searches? What are their references from other institutions that have gone through presidential searches? They look at does the person understand how unique the state of Florida is in regard to our Sunshine Laws?”

Gray-Vickrey says the three people from Greenwood who’ll be working specifically on FGCU’s search are all themselves former university presidents – and so have extensive networks to tap into.

“They know individuals who would be perfect for a position who might be, and are, very content at their current job, but they know that this might be a real gem of a position for them. So they start using their contacts and their networks to let individuals know about the position.”

Greenwood & Associates won’t make recommendations – but will help find people to go into the applicant pool. Gray-Vickrey says they mostly help with marketing – and that they’ll send representatives to campus later this month to help the university determine what exactly it’s looking for in a president. She says the goal is to have a new leader in place by year’s end.

The cost to hire an executive search firm like Greenwood & Associates? Roughly a third of the new president’s first year salary… about 85-thousand dollars.