CAMPOBELLO ISLAND, New Brunswick — The superintendent of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park is moving on to become chief financial officer for the Regional Medical Center at Lubec.
Ron Beckwith resigned his position as park superintendent and executive secretary in November, he said Monday.
“It’s time for something a little different,” he said, adding that he expects his work with the medical facility will be challenging.
Beckwith, 56, a 30-year park employee who served as superintendent for five years, plans to start his duties at the medical center sometime in March.
“I’ll be at the park through the end of February,” he said, adding that initially there may be some overlap in his duties between the park and the medical center, which offers outpatient services to more than 4,000 patients at its clinics in Lubec and East Machias, according to its website.
“This isn’t a two-week notice kind of job,” he said of his current position.
Roger Quirk, chairman of the board for the medical center, said he believes Beckwith’s experience — 25 years as finance manager and five years as superintendent — will serve him well at the medical facility, which also has an office in Calais.
“I think he will be a wonderful addition,” Quirk said. “We’re very glad to have him at the medical center. We’re thrilled.”
Beckwith said no problems or issues contributed to his decision. However, he did acknowledge that the park’s approximately $3 million budget was cut by $270,000 — or $135,000 from Canada and $135,000 from the U.S. — for the 2014 fiscal year. That same level of funding has remained since.
The shortfall was made up by reduced employee hours and cutting expenditures for equipment such as cellphones, he said.
There were no layoffs.
“I managed not to do that,” he said.
During Beckwith’s tenure as superintendent, the international park celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2014.
It also saw a 58-percent growth in attendance and added new programs including the popular “Tea With Eleanor” experience, according to the news release.
Beckwith saw the acquisition and development of the new park restaurant, The Fireside, and pushed to develop tourism partnerships with local, regional, state and provincial partners, according to the press release.
“I am grateful to the remarkable park staff who routinely rise to the challenges and truly make history come alive here. I will miss working with them,” Beckwith said. “This position has allowed me the chance to visit fascinating places and enjoy the company of remarkable people over these many years. For this I am truly thankful.”
In accepting Beckwith’s resignation, Canadian Commissioner and Chairman Edward McLean said, “I want to express our appreciation for Ron’s long service to the park including his many years as finance manager and most recently as superintendent and executive secretary.”
U.S. Commissioner and Vice Chairman Christopher Roosevelt stated, “Ron Beckwith has provided many years of dedicated service to the park, the park family, and its many public visitors. He leaves with our appreciation and respect for his love of the park, his integrity and his commitment to the park’s entire community, including Campobello Island and Lubec, Maine.”
A committee has been formed to search for a new superintendent, according to the press release.
The Roosevelt Campobello International Park was established by a 1964 agreement between the United States and Canada. It is open to visitors seven days a week from the Saturday before U.S. Memorial Day through the Saturday after Columbus Day.