By Karen Robes Meeks
In a special Port Commission meeting on July 22, Port of Everett CEO Les Reardanz announced that he will step down from his post in October to care for his aging parents and focus on his newly expanded military duties.
Reardanz, who served his fourth overseas tour of duty in 2018, was recently promoted to the Reserve list for promotion to the permanent grade of Rear Admiral (Lower Half) in the Navy Reserve Judge Advocates General Corps (JAG).
“Character and integrity are values I hold deep, and it is with great sadness that I have to move on from my role at the Port of Everett to tend to my aging parents, while also balancing my new Navy role,” Reardanz said. “It has been a humbling honor to work at the Port of Everett, and I am so proud of what our team has accomplished and will continue to accomplish in the years to come.”
Reardanz has been Port CEO since November 2014. Previously, he served as the port's Deputy Executive Director. Before coming to Everett, he worked as municipal legal advisor at the city of Bellingham and project manager for the city’s Waterfront District Development, a joint venture with the Port of Bellingham.
The commission directed staff to enter contract talks with the Port’s Deputy Executive Director Lisa Lefeber with the intent of promoting her to port director role. Lefeber was Acting CEO in 2018 when Reardanz was deployed to Afghanistan.