In business and politics, most leaders on their way out don't get to choose their successors. That's what makes Britta McKenna's last days as executive director of Batavia MainStreet so much fun.

"I'm participating in the interviews, and I'm having a great time with it," McKenna said. "It's interesting because I have an inside view of what this job takes that an executive from outside doesn't have."

The MainStreet Board of Directors advertised McKenna's position in December after she announced plans to step down to work full-time on her master's degree in public administration at Northern Illinois University. Eighteen people applied; the search committee narrowed that field down to six candidates whom they are interviewing this week. The committee will choose two candidates to meet with the full board for a final interview, which could take place next week, McKenna said.

"Our problem is that we have a lot of great people in the candidate pool, which is making it very difficult to narrow the pool down," she added.

Those "great people" don't necessarily match McKenna's management style.

"I said to the committee, 'Don't go looking to hire another me,'" she commented. "When I interviewed for this job in 2004, the organization was at a different place. I've set up our systems, we're well established and we should be looking at different directions to go. I look forward to seeing where the new director is going to take it."

While McKenna will work with the new director during the transfer of responsibilities, she said she has no plans to return to Batavia MainStreet after she finishes her degree.

"I don't know what I'll do after that—I'm entertaining ideas," McKenna said. "That's what makes it so exciting."