Georgetown, Del., Dec. 4, 2012: Sussex County’s finance director will retire from County government after 20 years of service, but Susan M. Webb’s service to people will not end with her career.
Ms. Webb announced to County Council at its Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012, meeting her plans to retire as finance director on May 1, 2013, at which time she will trade in a day-to-day career for more quality time with family and volunteer work in the community. Ms. Webb thanked County Council, County Administrator Todd F. Lawson, and numerous others for making her tenure as finance director, and the Accounting division director before that, a pleasant and rewarding experience the past two decades.
“I will miss the employees of the County most of all. Many of them have become like family to me. And that’s the hardest part of moving on,” Ms. Webb said. “But 20 years represents a milestone to me, and I’m ready to try something different and take a new direction in my life.”
A resident of near Milford, Ms. Webb has more than 30 years of experience in finance and accounting. She joined County government in 1993 to become director of the Accounting division, coming from the private sector where she was a certified public accountant. She was promoted to finance director in 2006, when longtime Finance Director David Baker became County Administrator. She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Salisbury University.
Ms. Webb has numerous accomplishments on her résumé throughout the years, from being an integral force in maintaining the County’s balanced budgets without tax increases to helping the County earn consecutive awards for its financial reporting the past 10 years.
Ms. Webb said she plans to use her upcoming break as a chance to recharge and spend more time with her family, including her 18-month-old grandson, and maybe take up a second part-time career working with non-profits.
“I’m looking forward to not having the next part of my life totally figured out just yet,” she said. “I know I will be doing something different, maybe some volunteer work or working with nonprofit organizations. I want to work more closely with people, doing something that makes a real difference in people’s lives. I’m excited to have that chance now.”
County Council President Michael H. Vincent said the County would miss Ms. Webb’s skills, her service, but most of all her friendship and genuinely friendly, caring personality.
“Susie is one of the nicest people you will ever have the privilege to meet. She has been a tremendous asset to County government and particularly to this Council, and we cannot thank her enough for all her efforts and for keeping us straight financially,” Mr. Vincent said. “We are sorry to see her go, but we know there is a time and place for everything. This is her time to say goodbye and move on. We wish her all the best in the next chapter in her life.”
County Council will have to consider naming a replacement for Ms. Webb. By Delaware code, the position of Sussex County finance director is appointed by Council and serves at the pleasure of the elected body. No timetable has been set on when that appointment will be made.
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