The Port of Everett conducted a nationwide search to find a
new CEO over the past several months, but the winning candidate was in-house
the entire time.
The port announced Sept. 2 that Deputy Executive Director
Les Reardanz is being promoted to the top spot and is to begin his new role
Nov. 16.
“This is the very best decision and action not only for our
community, but all of Snohomish County,” port Commissioner Glen Bachman said.
Currently, Reardanz oversees the port’s environmental
cleanups, public policy, communications, human resources, legal and contacting
activities.
“We have so many big projects going on, so it makes sense to
bring Les on board because he has been involved with all these projects,” port
Commissioner Tom Stiger explained.
In addition to his port duties, Reardanz is a captain in the
US Naval Reserve and is the Commanding Officer, US Pacific Fleet reserve legal
command, which advises the Pacific Fleet and its subordinate commands.
Prior to being hired at the port in late 2010, Reardanz was
the municipal legal advisor at the city of Bellingham. He was also the project
manager for the city’s Waterfront District Development, which is a joint effort
with the Port of Bellingham.
Reardanz will step in for current CEO John Mohr who retires
in January.
“I am very honored to have been chosen for CEO of the Port
of Everett. The port is a valuable community asset, we have an amazing port
team, and I look forward to all the great things we are going to achieve,”
Reardanz said.
Reardanz, who received his B.A. in History from the
University of California Davis in 1987 and his J.D. from Southwestern
University School of Law in Los Angeles in 1990, is able to practice law in the
states of Washington and California and before the United States Supreme Court,
as well as other various federal and military courts.
