The search still is on for an economic development leader who will steer downtown Roanoke's advocacy group, and selecting a candidate could take until mid-October.

A Chicago-based firm hired in June by Downtown Roanoke Inc. is sifting through stacks of applications for someone to fill its executive director job.

David Diaz, DRI's former top-hired staffer, left the organization in May to head up Raleigh, N.C.'s Downtown Raleigh Alliance. He departed abruptly in the midst of swelling controversy over discussions to close Market Square for more pedestrian and entertainment space, in lieu of parking and farmers market vendors. The exit of Diaz caught DRI officials by surprise and was first announced in Raleigh.

DHR recently presented the names of 44 candidates to a nine-member Roanoke search team, which will choose about six people to interview.

Dave Smith, executive vice president of DHR in its Pittsburgh office, said most of the candidates are from other parts of the country, but also in the mix are nine Roanoke Valley residents.

The interviews likely will take place at the end of this month or in early October.

After visiting Roanoke in June to talk with DRI board members and other downtown stakeholders, Smith drafted a profile for the executive director position, including an extensive list of qualifications and responsibilities. The search committee still is mulling the salary amount to offer. Diaz left DRI with an annual pay rate of $72,000. He's making $110,000 at his new job.

The search for a successor officially began in early July, once the profile was approved, Smith said.

In early June, Smith said he expected the hiring to take 90 to 100 days, once the search began. "We're right on schedule," he said Wednesday.

In June, Tom McKeon, chairman of DRI's board, said the group wants a leader with three to five years of management experience. It desires someone who will promote downtown living and fill the city's empty storefronts with retailers.

To that end, the laundry list of responsibilities for the executive director slot includes recruiting businesses to downtown Roanoke, representing DRI to city government, coordinating special events and overseeing management of the city's farmers market, according to the profile posted on DRI's Web site.

The candidate also should have a bachelor's degree in planning, public administration, business administration and marketing or a related field. A master's degree is preferred, according to the profile.

Some farmers market vendors have their own ideas of the type of person they would like to see head DRI.

Nancy King, whose family sells produce on the market, said she wants to "see them [a director] on the market with people."

She spoke fondly of a former DRI executive director who often strolled the market area, socializing with shoppers and vendors.

Mark Woods, who owns Woods Farms, a market vendor, said DRI's new director should be able to talk easily with a wide range of people, from city leaders to farmers.

Currently, two full-time staffers are running DRI's office, which is above Wertz's Restaurant & Wine Bar on Market Street. The executive director's office, now vacant, overlooks the farmers market.

DRI is facing another staffing challenge. Its market manager, Hope Hollingsworth, left the organization last month to manage The Second Yard, an interior design and furnishings store in South Roanoke.

Peggy Gebauer, who previously managed the farmers market on Sundays, is filling in temporarily as market manager on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

DRI's new executive director will be in charge of hiring a full-time market manager, McKeon said.

But first the new executive director must be on board. There's competition for such talent, Smith said, adding, "A lot of people are looking for good quality people," he said.