Executive Director Heidi Krampitz resigns from EDA

Next week, the Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority will undergo an executive director change as current director Heidi Krampitz officially leaves the position.

The EDA Board was notified via phone and email of Krampitz’s intention to resign from the executive director position on June 19.

The EDA Board will hold a special meeting on Thursday, July 3, at 9 a.m. to officially accept and vote on Krampitz’s resignation and discuss how to move forward.

The special meeting agenda does not explicitly state that the EDA Board will be accepting Krampitz’s resignation but instead states, “The purpose of the special meeting is to discuss the continuity of EDA activities.”

EDA Board President Peter Clissold told WTIP that the intent of the July 3 special meeting is to “vote on the formal acceptance of Heidi’s resignation and discuss our plans to ensure the smooth continuity of ongoing EDA activities such as the strategic planning for Taconite Harbor, the business development grant fund, the ongoing sale of Superior National Golf Course and the sale of the last remaining lot at Cedar Grove Business Park, amongst other activities.” 

Clissold added, “I also expect we will discuss the next steps regarding identifying an interim EDA Executive Director and our plans for recruitment.” 

Krampitz’s last day serving as the EDA director role will be July 3. Clissold said, “I’ve greatly enjoyed working with Heidi, appreciate her contributions to Cook County, and wish her the best.”

Krampitz stepped into the EDA executive director role in November 2024. As a St. Cloud State University graduate in community development, Krampitz brought over 20 years of economic development experience to Cook County. She previously worked as the EDA Director in Kanabec County and within economic development in the larger suburbs of the Twin Cities.

In her resignation letter, which Krampitz shared with WTIP, she states her decision to leave the Cook County/Grand Marais EDA position was for a variety of reasons. Below is the text included in the resignation letter.  

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people and Cook County/Grand Marais EDA board as the EDA’s Executive Director since November 19, 2024. I have gotten to know and grown to love the community, and I wish success and prosperity for all.

I regretfully submit this letter as my resignation as the Cook County/Grand Marais EDA’s Executive Director, with my last day being July 3, 2025. The people and board of the Cook County/Grand Marais EDA deserve an EDA Director with expertise that is more fully utilized and better aligned with the needs of the board. The people and the board would also be best served by an EDA Director who would be more successful in catalyzing collaboration among the EDA staff, board members, and other regional groups. Finally, the people and the board would be best served by an EDA Director more focused on Cook County’s economic growth rather than administration and governance.

I plan to smoothly transition my economic development responsibilities by my last day of service to your designee(s). Please let me know how I may specifically assist with the transition. Thank you again for the opportunity to serve, and best wishes to all.”

Krampitz told WTIP she would not be in attendance for the July 3 special meeting, and when asked if she would participate in an exit interview, she said, “Absolutely not. Exit interviews are only for the benefit of the employer. There is no benefit to the exiting employee.” 

The other reason she stated she would not participate in an exit interview is, in large part, because the former executive director’s exit interview was shared and posted online, she said. Shortly before Krampitz officially started in the position, an EDA board member shared a redacted version of Theresa Bajda, the former EDA director’s exit interview with a local journalist, which was then published in an article.

The July 3 special meeting will be held in Conference Room 109 at the Grand Marais City Hall.  

Kalli Hawkins June 25, 2025