By Mark Edward Nero
Cowlitz County Public Works Director Kent Cash has been hired as the Chief Operations Manager for the Port of Vancouver USA, he said June 25.
Cash, who has been with the county for more than two decades, announced his departure in a prepared statement.
“I am very fortunate to have worked for the past 21 years with staff that is committed to providing exceptional public service on a daily basis,” Cash said in the statement.
The port, which began advertising the operations manager position in late May, has yet to comment on the hire.
In his new job, Cash will have overall responsibility for the port’s operations department, which includes supervision of the port’s Terminal Manager, Facilities Manager, Chief of Security, Project Delivery Manager, Real Estate Manager, Engineering Manager and Safety/Risk Manager.
The Chief Operations Manager also has the overall operational and budget responsibility for terminal operations, security, facilities, property management, project delivery and engineering, and is tasked with overseeing short and long-term strategic capital improvement programs for the port.
Cash said he’s expected to depart Cowlitz County in early July and begin at the port not long after.
