Port of Port Townsend Picks New Leader

By Mark Edward Nero

During a special May 9 meeting, the Port of Port Townsend’s three-member port commission unanimously selected Sam Gibboney, the director of environmental resources/deputy director of public works for San Juan County, Wash. as the port’s next executive director.

She will replace Larry Crockett, 68, who is retiring at the end of May after 17 years in the position. Crockett, who has served as executive director since April 1999, announced his retirement in January.

“I’ll be 69 this summer, and I have some other adventures I want to try while I am still in good health,” he said at the time.

Gibboney, who beat out two other finalists for the job, has a BS in Civil Engineering from San Diego State University, and a Masters of Public Administration at the University of Washington. She had been San Juan County’s deputy public works director, a newly-created position, since late 2015. Prior to that, she was the county’s community development and planning department director.

As the port’s executive director, she will be responsible for all operations and lease negotiations with over 175 tenants/businesses, leading a staff of 26 people that oversees operations of three marinas, boat yards, industrial parks and the Jefferson County International Airport.

Port of Port Townsend Head Retiring

By Mark Edward Nero

Larry Crockett, who’s been the executive director of the Port of Port Townsend in Jefferson County, Wash. for nearly 17 years, has announced his retirement from the port, effective June 1.

“The time is right for me to step away,” he said in a Jan. 13 statement. “We have a stable commission in place, current port projects are well in hand, and we have sufficient time before the next budget cycle begins. This is a window of opportunity that I hope will allow the port to move forward with minimal impact. I’ll be 69 this summer, and I have some other adventures I want to try while I am still in good health.”

Commission President Peter Hanke noted that Crockett’s tenure was highly successful. “When Larry was hired in 1999, the port couldn’t pay its bills, and had to secure a line of credit just to meet cashflow,” Hanke said. “He and his staff have done an outstanding job of placing the Port on sound financial footing, which enables more than 400 marine trades jobs to flourish in an environment where other ports are struggling.”

The port’s executive director is responsible for all operations and lease negotiations with over 175 tenants and businesses, and leads a staff of 26 people that oversees operations of three marinas, boat yards, industrial parks and the Jefferson County International Airport.

Hanke said that the port commission will begin immediate discussions on a process to replace Crockett, who’s been the executive director of the port since April 1999.

Prior to that, Crockett served 30 years in the United States Army, retiring in February 1999 as a Colonel.

“The thing I miss most about the military was the fact that in 30 years of service, I felt that I was part of something larger than myself,” Crockett said. “I never thought I would get that feeling again after retiring. But I found that again at the Port of Port Townsend.”