The Clallam County Economic Development Corporation announced its executive director’s retirement following a closed-door session at its board meeting Thursday, Nov. 17.

Bill Greenwood, who started as the EDC’s executive director in early 2014, will retire Dec. 31, EDC board chairman Randy Johnson said.

Greenwood declined to comment following the executive session and could not be reached by phone despite several attempts Thursday afternoon.

When asked if Greenwood was asked to retire, Johnson said Greenwood and the executive committee had “mutual discussions.”

“That’s confidential between the executive committee and Bill,” Johnson said. “I think it was a mutual idea.”

Several board members said they couldn’t comment on why Greenwood was retiring.

Greenwood started as executive director in early 2014 on a $60,000 annual contract, which most recently was increased to $92,000.

A Sequim resident, Greenwood was the president of the Seattle investment banking firm Windswept Capital LLC, which focuses on mergers and acquisitions of Pacific Northwest Companies.

Sellon steps in

Vice chairman of the board Doug Sellon will step in as acting executive director until a replacement is hired, Johnson said.

Sellon will become the chairman of the board when Johnson steps down Dec. 31 to start his new role as a Clallam county commissioner.

As chairman, he will serve on the executive committee, which will be composed of Ryan Malane, current secretary and treasurer of the board, Sellon and another person who has yet to be selected.

The executive director reports to the executive committee.

“You don’t want to have a conflict of interest,” Johnson said. “He can’t report to himself. You still have to report to the executive committee.”

Sellon, who represents the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe on the EDC board, will earn $50 per hour for no longer than four months, Johnson said.

He’ll be capped at payment for 40 hours per week, Johnson said.

“He doesn’t want to take the job full time,” Johnson said.

The board has put forward a transition plan for uninterrupted operation of the EDC and will seek to hire Greenwood’s replacement in the next three to four months.

Johnson hopes the EDC will find a new executive director soon but doesn’t anticipate it taking longer than four months.

The remaining staff members have agreed to continue to work with the EDC, he said.

Johnson said it was Greenwood’s leadership that caused the EDC to grow from 20 or 25 business members to well over 100 business members.

“Bill is responsible for that,” Johnson said.

Johnson said the board still is discussing benefits such as health insurance for Greenwood when he steps down.

Jim McEntire, board member, said Greenwood had done a terrific job of getting businesses on board with the EDC.

“I wish Bill the very best and thank him profusely for all the good he’s been able to do while he was executive director of the EDC,” McEntire said.

Jesse Major is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. He can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.

Terry Ward, publisher of the Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum, serves on the Economic Development Corporation board of directors.