SUNDERLAND — After four years of serving Sunderland residents, Town Administrator Geoff Kravitz is off to the state and the Select Board has tapped a familiar face as his interim replacement.

Kravitz’s last day in Sunderland will be Friday, as he caps off four years of work that began in February 2020, just a month before the COVID-19 pandemic upended life. From there, Kravitz helped lead the town through the public health crisis, several construction projects and the miscellaneous day-to-day business the job requires.

“The reconstruction of North Main Street was certainly a big one. … Even the small stuff of, ‘Hey, there’s a pothole that needs to be fixed,’” Kravitz said when reflecting on his work in town. “It’s really helping the people, that’s what I’m going to miss the most about the job.”

He is off to serve as director of the state’s Economic Development Incentive Program, which provides tax incentives for businesses committed to job growth.

Kravitz, who previously worked as deputy chief of staff for housing and economic development, and spent a year as Gov. Deval Patrick’s deputy director, said he’s looking forward to getting back to work at the state level with some of his former colleagues.

“I love working for Sunderland and municipalities, but I missed my time at the state,” he said. “I took the opportunity and was fortunate enough to be offered the position.”

In Kravitz’s stead, the Select Board has brought on former Sunderland town administrator and longtime public servant Margaret Nartowicz to serve as an interim while a permanent hire is sought. Nartowicz previously served as town administrator from 2005 to 2015 and has also worked in the same role in Berlin and Rutland. She also gained experience as Amherst’s town clerk and currently serves on Deerfield’s Finance Committee.

Nartowicz will work part-time, up to 20 hours a week, and said she is available to work until Sunderland has a permanent administrator settled in. She will start as soon as Monday.

“It’s so good to be back. Gosh, I love this town,” Nartowicz said to the Select Board. “I can’t wait to reunite with some of the folks in town.”

In discussing how to proceed in a search for a full-time town administrator, the Selectboard opted to have Nartowicz reach out to Amherst’s former Human Resources Director Deborah Radway to help conduct a search.

With Kravitz leaving and Nartowicz serving in a part-time capacity, Select Board Chair Nathaniel Waring said there will be some extra money available if the town needs to bring in an outside firm to help recruit a permanent administrator.

The Select Board thanked Kravitz for his service to the town and for his work in guiding town government.

“Geoff, it’s been an absolute pleasure,” Waring said. “I hope that everything at your new job is wonderful and we look forward to working with you in your new capacity. … Don’t forget we’re here.”

Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com.