After more than a decade with the Golden Triangle Development LINK, Chief Operating Officer Macaulay Whitaker is leaving the organization for a position at Burns Dirt Construction as Vice President of Talent and Culture.

Whitaker began her time at the LINK as Programs and Events Director for the Chamber

Division, eventually becoming interim Vice President of Chamber and Vice President for Internal and External Affairs. She was named Chief Operating Officer in 2017. A press release Thursday said she contributed to workforce development, constituent relations, strategic planning, marketing and media relations, legislative affairs, private sector fundraising, project recruitment, military relations and operations and organizational leadership.

LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins said Whitaker was one of the most dedicated workers, always putting all of her effort into every project or task at hand. He said he knows Whitaker will thrive in her new role at Burns Dirt.

“(Whitaker) isn’t just well liked — she is loved by most,” Higgins said. “She’s respected. Macaulay Whitaker’s don’t come along very often. I’m happy for her in her new position, but sad to see her go.”

Throughout her tenure at the LINK, she contributed to the formation of the three-county Golden Triangle Development LINK, the region’s ACT WorkReady certification, the Communiversity and the NorthStar Industrial Park. Higgins said she was a vital part in creating 4,350 jobs throughout the community and securing $2.1 billion in investment.

Whitaker said she is thankful for her time at the LINK, saying she is a better person because of her time there. She said she is proud of the visible things the organization accomplishes like job announcements and investment, but also equally as proud of the less visible things like working with partners and elected officials to plan for the future.

“My years at the LINK have been some of the best years of my life. I began my career there, discovered my love of workforce development there. My family grew from two to five there, and I had the chance to learn from and work with literally the best in our business.”

Burns Dirt Vice President of Operations and Contracting Nic Parish said his team is excited to have Whitaker as part of the company, knowing that she embodies Burns Dirt’s culture and core values of investing in people.

“We are proud to have (Whitaker) joining our team,” Parish said. “We know that she will excel at developing our team and furthering our community involvement in workforce development.”