NATCHEZ — The Natchez Board of Aldermen began interviews Thursday of 13 candidates who applied for seats on the Natchez Convention Promotion Commission.

The board met with the first set of applicants Thursday evening and will continue interviews Tuesday.

Mayor Darryl Grennell said he thinks the city has a great pool of candidates for the commission, which oversees the operations of the Convention and Visitors Bureau.

“We’re expecting team players to work in harmony and synergy to move the commission and tourism forward for Natchez,” he said.

Grennell said the city is looking for candidates with tourism and cultural experience, as well as those who can manage conflict resolution and do not have conflicts of interest.

The commissioners selected will replace the commission that the aldermen asked to resign in mid-April after ongoing personnel issues at the CVB and conflicts with then director Kevin Kirby, who was terminated at the same time.

Applicants for the commission are:

-Former Judge Mary Lee Toles, who served this year as interim Ward 2 alderwoman and former president of the Natchez Association for the Preservation of Afro-American Culture.

-Patricia Lozon, general manager of the Hampton Inn.

-Margaret Watkins Robison, a personal caregiver who previously worked for Education Travel Associates and was office manager for the Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration.

-Rhonda Souderes Clifton, a former employee of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, the Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchez Film Commission and various local hotels.

-Shelley Deanna Rogers, director of operations at Dunleith Historic Inn.

-Lance Harris, director of the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians.

-Katie Johnson McCabe, office manager for Ameriprise financial adviser Forrest A. Johnson III and marketing chair for the Natchez Festival of Music.

-Helen Moss Smith, co-founder of Smith Mason & Company, owner of Texada antebellum house and Natchez Garden Club board member.

-Jarita Frazier-King, an educator at Alcorn State University, owner of Vixen’s Corner Lingerie Boutique and organizational and creative concept chair for Krewe of Mer.

-Brittany Nicole Smith, director of sales for the Natchez Grand Hotel.

-Stratton Bull, chair of the Natchez Tricentennial Commission.

-Jeremy Houston, a tour guide for the Natchez Museum of African-American History and Culture and director of Miss-Lou Heritage Group and Tours.

-Paul Wade, a software engineer with Three Wire Systems and owner of Starling’s Rest Bed-and-Breakfast.

Grennell said he expects the board of aldermen will make their selections at the board’s Sept. 13 meeting.