By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — October 8, 2010 — After a decade of involvement, Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development President Tim McCausland is leaving for a position with Orange County Trust, an area bank.
Though he’s only been president for the past two years, McCausland has served the Partnership in various capacities in the last 10 years, as a member and on its board.
And he may return as a member, representing Orange County Trust, where he’ll hold a “broad business development position.”
“It wasn’t an advertised position,” he explained this week, noting his work as Partnership president brought the new opportunity to his attention.
Some of the attraction, he said, was on the financial side, as the job pays more than the $103,000 he was earning annually at the Partnership.
Another intriguing aspect was the ability to be “a little more entrepreneurial,” McCausland related.
“Part of it,” he added, “was I worked for a bank trust company early in my career, and I enjoyed it.”
The Rock Hill resident and Roscoe native may now have an office in Middletown instead of Monticello, but he still expects to be on the road much of the time.
And he’ll remain local, especially with his wife working for county government and three children in Monticello’s school system.
The decision, however, remained a difficult one, McCausland said.
“I’m going to miss it,” he affirmed. “I spent a lot of time at 198 Bridgeville Road [the Partnership’s current headquarters]. That’s where my law office was, too.”
Indeed, Partnership Board Chairman Josh Sommers said McCausland’s attorney credentials and status as a local “brought a lot of credibility to the job.”
“I believe he enhanced the name of the Partnership during his tenure,” Sommers remarked. “Tim has played a vital role for several years at the Partnership. ... He’s been a great member of our team, and we wish him well.”
The board is already seeking an interim replacement, he said, and hopes to have one in place before McCausland leaves, so as to ensure a smooth transition.
The offered salary will be based on experience, said Sommers, who wants someone who will be aggressive in attracting businesses and creating jobs.
McCausland hopes the Partnership’s new leader will focus on exactly that and not get caught up in the in-county minutiae and politics.
“My hope for the Partnership is it can really become lean & mean and become what a Partnership should be ... focused on attraction and site development,” McCausland related. “... That’s my opinion of where it should go, and I hope it can get to that.”