PORT ANGELES — Linda Rotmark will step down as executive director of the Clallam County Economic Development Council at the end of this year, board member Jim McEntire said.
Board President Charles Brandt made the announcement at the Oct. 17 board meeting.
“We were all kind of sitting there with our mouths open,” said McEntire, who is also a Clallam County commissioner.
“I wished Linda well, as did everyone else, I’m sure.”
Rotmark did not return phone calls seeking comment Wednesday.
Brandt could not be reached at his office at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Sequim.
The board will discuss the method of hiring her successor at its Dec. 19 meeting.
Rotmark has been executive director of the Clallam Economic Development Council, or EDC, for more than eight years.
“I just really appreciate her service,” McEntire said.
“She’s been a constant presence in the community, and I appreciate her doing what is a very difficult job.
“She’s done it in some very uncertain and turbulent times.”
McEntire said Rotmark will continue to serve in key roles at the state level. Rotmark serves on the state Community and Economic Revitalization Board and the Western Washington Area Health Education Center board.
“Linda’s got a lot of stuff going on other than this,” McEntire said.
“It’s not like she’s going away.”
The EDC is a private nonprofit organization that helps businesses in Clallam County.
As one board member, McEntire said he hopes the next executive director will have strong local connections so he or she can “hit the ground running.”
“I personally would be looking for somebody who wouldn’t have a huge community learning curve,” McEntire said.
“The EDC is more about relationships than anything else.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
