PORT ANGELES — Linda Rotmark has no plans of slowing down.
The longtime executive director of the Clallam County Economic Development Council has announced that she will leave her post at the end of this year, but the 62-year-old Sequim woman will stay busy as a member of several state panels that affect the North Olympic Peninsula.
“My husband and I could retire, but I don’t want to,” Rotmark said.
“A lot of baby boomers are probably in the same spot as I am. I want to stay active.”
Governor appointment
Rotmark recently was appointed by Gov. Jay Inslee to serve as the economic development representative on the Washington Coastal Marine Advisory Council, which advises state officials on ocean policy and management issues, including renewable energy.
She will continue to serve on the state Community Economic Revitalization Board and the Western Washington Area Health Education Center board, while working with Clallam and Jefferson counties’ Washington State University Extension offices on a telecommunications initiative for the West End.
Rotmark’s resignation from the Clallam County Economic Development Council, or EDC, was announced at the Oct. 17 board meeting.
The EDC is a private nonprofit that assists area businesses.
Timing was right
Rotmark said she delayed her resignation to help a new staff get established. She finally decided the timing was right.
“It was just an ‘a-ha’ moment,” she said.
After more than four years in a similar role in Pacific County, Rotmark became director of the Clallam County EDC on July 1, 2005.
Looking back, Rotmark said she was proud of the “innovation partnership zone” she fostered with Peninsula College and others to merge education and innovation with economic activity.
She also touted the concept of the “industry cluster” that includes natural resources, marine trades, advanced composites and renewable energy.
During her tenure, Rotmark said, she tried to keep Clallam County “on the forefront of the funders’ and policymakers’ minds.”
Hiring successor
The board will discuss the method of hiring her successor at its Dec. 19 meeting.
Rotmark said she hopes the EDC attracts an executive director with strong local ties who understands the “importance of renewable energy and the advantage of our deep-water port.”
She will continue to live in the Sequim area.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
