Susan Beckman, Old Saybrook’s economic development director since 2013, had resigned. Her last day was Feb. 24.

“We were very sorry to lose her,” First Selectman Carl Fortuna told the Harbor News. “She did a great job.”

“Susie took a job that was very limited in scope and built an excellent [Economic Development] Department,” Fortuna said. “She was very successful for the town in procuring grants, which is a testament to her writing skills. She was active in starting up our winter festival last year and participated in ad hoc committees to ARPA and OS Cares. She helped exponentially with the marketing of Old Saybrook over the last nine years.”

“The town wishes her the best with her new endeavor,” he added.

Beckman told the Harbor News that an opportunity to work fulltime in a new field for a marketing firm in Old Saybrook was too good an opportunity to pass up.

“The town was a great place to work and was a great opportunity for me. It’s always hard to leave a place you felt fulfilled,” said Beckman. “But this was a chance to learn something new and work in the private sector.”

Asked for a favorite part of her time working for the town, Beckman mentioned her colleagues as well as some of the projects she worked on such as revitalizing Mariner’s Way, the brownfield study, the Starlight Festival, and the economic development plan for the town.

“I also want to thank the Chamber [of Commerce]. I couldn’t have done my job without them and they were great partners,” said Beckman.

With Beckman now officially no longer a part of the office, Fortuna said the town would seek the fill the position. The town will first review internal applicants before advertising for external candidates.