The Port of Astoria Commission on Aug. 19 unanimously voted
to hire a Port of Olympia executive as its next executive director.
Jim Knight, currently director of the Port of Olympia’s marine
terminal, was chosen to replace Hank Bynaker, who resigned from the Port of Astoria in September 2013 after 14 months on the job. Bynaker had cited
difficulties working with the Port Commission among his reasons for leaving.
Knight has directed Olympia’s marine terminal operations in
Olympia since July 2013. He began working at the port in April 2006 as the marketing
and business development manager. From 1994-2005, he was a senior executive
with two different businesses outside the maritime industry.
Knight will become Astoria’s fifth executive director in the
last two-and-a-half years. After Bynaker’s resignation, director of business
development and operations Michael Weston served as the port’s interim
executive director for 11 months. Before Bynaker, there was Jack Crider, who
resigned effective April 30, 2012 after four years on the job and is now the
CEO of the Port of Humboldt Bay. Also, former deputy director Herb Florer was
interim director after Crider’s departure and before Bynaker’s hiring.
Weston is expected to continue as interim director until
Knight comes aboard in October.
Knight is expected to earn between $130,000 and $196,000
annually in his new job.
