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Marta Howell at a glance

Occupation: The first executive director for the Boca Grande Community Center in 25 years.

Start date: Wednesday.

Birthdate: Sept. 24, 1953.

Married: 30 years with twin daughters.

Hometown: Port Huron, Mich.

Residence: Lancaster, Pa.

Qualifications: community development professional for numerous not-for-profit organizations with expertise in management.

Education: bachelor's degree in urban planning from Michigan State University.

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Marta Howell, the first executive director in history for the 25-year-old Boca Grande Community Center, grew up in a boating family in Port Huron, Mich., where being outdoors and anywhere on the water became two of her favorite pursuits. They still are.

She and her husband decided to take the plunge into Florida living by taking a job on an island she had never even seen before interviewing for the position. The Friends of Boca Grande plan to formally introduce Howell to the community with a reception in November but the Gasparilla Gazette talked with her Monday as she was still in the process of moving. This week, she shares her hopes, dreams and goals for the challenging new position on Boca Grande:

Question: Why take this job?

Answer: I have a real deep commitment to being involved in and improving communities. I like giving back to the communities where we live and helping make things better. That's what excites me about the Boca Grande Community Center. It gives me a part to play in helping the community.

Q: How did you find out about the opening for which you had to overcome roughly 50 applicants?

A: I noticed an ad for it on an executive search website. It looked like just the kind of opportunity that would suit me. I would say the interview process took a good eight weeks or so.

Q: How did the fact you and your husband were already looking to move to Florida help in the interview process?

A: I had already made flight arrangements to come to the St. Pete area to look for an apartment when I got the call for a telephone interview. I just used that opportunity to to say why don't I come down and visit in person? And that visit went very well. Interviewing, I got the feeling the job would fit me very well and, if you have those kinds of feelings, usually it means the people you are interviewing with have them, too.

Q: You had never been to Boca Grande before the interview?

A: Yes, it was the first time. My husband and I have been down on the west coast of Florida quite a bit. Many of our Michigan friends are in the Venice area. Mom and Dad live in the Fort Myers, area. But I had not been to Boca Grande.

Q: What are your immediate goals for the BGCC?

A: In these days, where funding is limited, I'll be curious to see how I can help generate support for the community center. From everything I've learned and seen of the BGCC, I'm astounded what they're able to accomplish, really, with so little. I'm also looking forward to getting to know all the many volunteers that help make this all work. I'm also really interested - there are numerous not-for-profit groups in the area - and I'm really interested in finding out how I and the BGCC can work with all of them.

Q: Why were you attracted to this position?

A: My husband and I are at a point in our lives and careers where we think at some to point we'd like to retire. We'd want to be very engaged in the community where we lived. So I started looking for a job that would be attractive to me and help get our first foot down in Florida.

Q: What are some of the projects you've engaged in?

A: As a community development consultant for more than 20 years, I've specialized in creating organizational systems tailored to carrying out neighborhood revitalization. I've been CEO of Neighborhoods Inc. of Battle Creek, Mich., and executive director of the M.S. Hershey Foundation in Hershey, Pa., interim director for the National Alliance of Community Economic Development Associations in Washington, D.C., and interim director for the Boys and Girls Clubs in Bay County, Mich.

Q: How would you describe the challenge laid out by Friends of Boca Grande Board and Chairman Pat Chapman for your new position?

A: The Friends of Boca Grande will celebrate their 25th anniversary in January 2011 and I've been asked to help enlarge and enhance the services and programs in support of its mission to meet the needs and interests of the entire community. The Life Long Learning lectures, After School program for elementary children and maintaining the community calendar are all included as well as the Munchkins, free first-run movies, Literature Forum, Boca Grande Sleuths, the Writing program and special lectures and concerts.

Q: When do you start?

A: I'm driving down this Friday with my daughter and taking a couple days to get there. We've rented an apartment off island but very nearby. I'll start work on Wednesday.

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