By Ashley Fletcher Frampton
aframpton@scbiznews.com
Published Aug. 23, 2010

Dick Trammell, executive director of Patriots Point Development Authority, plans to resign from the job by Dec. 31.

Trammell sent a letter to board chairman John Hagerty on Friday announcing his decision.

He has held the top position officially since September, after being appointed to serve as interim executive director in April 2009, when Brig. Gen. Hugh Tant stepped down. Tant had been on the job about a year.

Trammell initially joined Patriots Point in July 2008 as director of tourism, marketing and business development.

He said he is stepping down as executive director because the membership of Patriots Point Development Authority board is about to change significantly for two reasons: A new governor will be elected and given the chance to appoint three members and a chairman, and legislation passed earlier this year adds new seats to the board.

Soon, six of the nine board seats could be filled with new members, he said.

Trammell said the new board should have the chance to choose the leader with whom they want to work.

“Though I take great pride in what we have accomplished, Patriots Point still faces tremendous challenges for the future,” Trammell wrote in the letter. “In the coming months, the authority will have an almost entirely new board resulting from legislation passed earlier this year and a new governor taking office. As a travel industry professional that has worked with boards throughout my career, I feel the new board should have the opportunity to employ an executive director of their choice.”

Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum faces substantial financial challenges because of a backlog of needed repairs to its historic ships. The authority was created by the state in the 1970s but does not receive state appropriations. Revenue from tourists and from leased land is not enough to cover the repairs.

Trammell said he will work through Dec. 31. If the board hires a new director prior to that date, and if the new director wishes, he said he would transition back to his previous job as director of tourism, marketing and business development until the end of the year.

“If the new executive director would like for me to serve in that position beyond Dec. 31, 2010, I am willing to do so,” Trammell said in his letter.

Reach Ashley Fletcher Frampton at 843-849-3129.