Friday, February 17, 2017

Vancouver USA Names 1st-Ever Female CEO

By Mark Edward Nero

On Feb. 14, the Port of Vancouver USA’s Board of Commissioners voted 2-1 to officially install interim CEO/Executive Director Julianna Marler into the job permanently, making her the first female CEO in the port’s 105-year history and one of just a handful of female port CEOs in the country.

Her employment agreement includes a $202,801 annual salary, plus $500 monthly car allowance and deferred compensation totaling 15 percent of her salary for a term of four years.

Marler was appointed interim CEO by the port’s commission after the departure of Todd Coleman in May 2016. She led the port in dual roles as CEO and Chief Financial and Administrative Officer before being selected through a rigorous recruiting process that included an international search and interviews with port staff, community stakeholders and commissioners.

“I’m excited about where the port is going and honored to lead this great team,” Marler said in a statement. “I look forward to working with our commissioners to ensure the port continues to be an economic engine and a good partner in building a strong and vibrant community.”

Marler’s credentials include a diverse background in logistics, sales, procurement and contracts, and leadership in finance and administration.

In her role as the port’s Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, Marler was responsible for managing and progressing the port’s business practices, as well as overseeing strategic programming to help the port move forward with its mission and vision.

The port said her priorities as CEO would include completing the $275 million West Vancouver Freight Access project in early 2018; finishing the 125,000-square-foot Centennial Industrial Building this summer and leasing space to new or growing employers; and continuing to move Terminal 1 forward to realize the port’s vision for its historic waterfront property.