She’s driven, experienced, and tailor-made to succeed in any quest she sets her mind to.

That doesn’t make the decision to leave her current position as Lehighton borough manager any easier for Nicole Beckett.

Beckett is leaving May 20 to become associate director of public service at the Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Center for the Study of State and Local Government at Lafayette College.

In January, council approved the employment agreement with Beckett in the amount of $97,031.

Projects under her watch

Beckett served briefly as treasurer/assistant secretary before she became borough manager in 2011. Before that, she was secretary-treasurer for the borough of Lansford for over six years, and secretary/assistant treasurer in Rush Township for two years.

As borough manager, Beckett oversaw the completion of several significant projects, which she said were “all team efforts with many excellent players.”

Among them were the borough fire station construction project; rehabilitation of the Col. Jacob Weiss Park and Upper Park/Amphitheater; construction of the D&L spur of the Lehighton Trail and Trailhead; construction of new Light & Power building; implementation of the Main Street Program in the borough’s downtown area; multi-municipal blight remediation grant, specifically the recent demolition of the building 209 N. First St.; “as well as numerous land development projects for the betterment of the community, with the Lehighton Outdoor Center serving as one of the most significant.”

Beckett said her career in local government has been a “very rewarding experience. Working the public sector opens the doors to becoming part of a community, to developing people skills in a dynamic setting and to see all of your hard work come to fruition.

“My favorite part of being a municipal manager is the production of tangible results. There is no better feeling than seeing the end result of the hard work and dedication of an entire team.”

A new career

Beckett, of Franklin Township, stated that her goal before she began her career in government was always to work in academia.

“While working full-time, I had pursued continued education and earned both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in public administration,” Beckett said. “Having the opportunity to work at the Meyner Center at Lafayette College enables me to pursue my career in academia while utilizing my education, skill set and experience in local government.”

Beckett said that the mission of the Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Center for the Study of State and Local Government “aligns with my goals and passion.

“Using my experience to provide services, programs, studies and training to local governments will be gratifying,” she said. “Encouraging students, as the next generation of leaders, to participate in local government and expand their interest in our communities is significant.”

Beckett said that while she’s excited by the prospects of her new journey, leaving her position as borough manager is “bittersweet.”

“Significant relationships are built with the staff, the elected officials, the residents, our attorney, our engineers, the press and the business community. I am grateful for the experience, and value every day dedicated to the betterment of the borough. Being a part of a community makes you a better person and you are enabled you to bring both your brain and your heart to the table.”

Beckett said that in 2001, she had entered local government as a temporary clerk, “and after decades of hard work, I will be leaving the public sector as a borough manager.

“There are many stories to tell, many challenges that have been faced, and many memories built with truly exceptional people,” she said. “I look forward to the next phase of my career, and will always remember where it started.”