PORT ANGELES –– The Port of Port Angeles selected Karen Goschen of Sequim to be its next top administrator during its regular meeting Monday.
Port commissioners said Goschen, who has served as interim executive director for six months, has proven in that time that she has what it takes to lead the district.
“I’m very pleased that the commissioners expressed confidence in me and that we have worked well during the period of being interim,” Goschen said. “[I’m pleased] that I will have this opportunity to build upon a foundation I’ve already started.”
Goschen will succeed Ken O’Hollaren, who resigned effective Dec. 31.
O’Hollaren succeeded Jeff Robb, who resigned in June 2013.
Port Commissioner Colleen McAleer called the commission’s decision to hire Goschen as the executive director the “single most important decision the three of us will make.”
Goschen was one of four finalists for the position. The others were David Walter of Port Angeles, James Kuntz of Walla Walla and Robert Uptagrafft of Everett.
Salary
The new director’s salary could be about $140,000, based on the average of executive director salaries for the ports of Anacortes, Olympia, Kalama, Pasco, Edmonds and Skagit, according to Jones Strategic, the executive search firm hired by port commissioners.
Yearly benefits for that salary would be an additional $28,500, for total compensation of $168,500.
O’Hollaren’s annual salary was $145,000.
The executive director will supervise 43 full-time-equivalent employees and administer budgets of $8.3 million for operations and $15.5 million for capital projects for 2016.
The hiring process included four public interviews on June 16, which included staff participation.
Those interviews were followed by closed-door interviews, McAleer said.
“Goschen is deeply devoted to this organization,” McAleer said. “She’s kind, thoughtful and diligent.”
McAleer said Kuntz has had successful projects that created large growth in Walla Walla and that the port’s goal is to help facilitate job growth.
“We want to have the port not just be a landlord, but to help grow jobs,” she said.
Port Commissioner Connie Beauvais said that after two days of interviewing candidates, she is confident she made the correct choice in selecting Goschen.
Beauvais pointed to Goschen’s experience as interim executive director as evidence of her qualifications.
“Karen is anxious to make us a more business-friendly port,” Beauvais said.
For Port Commissioner Steven Burke, the decision came down to two candidates: Goschen and Walter.
Burke said Walter has proven to be an experienced business person and lauded his work as chairman of the board of the Composite Recycling Technology Center.
“We want CRTC to be successful too,” Burke said.
Burke too said Goschen was the top candidate for the position. He praised Goschen for her dedication to the port, saying she was working Sunday when there was no guarantee she would be selected as the executive director Monday.
“She really has brought this port forward so far in the last six months,” McAleer said.
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Reporter Jesse Major can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56250, or at jmajor@peninsuladailynews.com.
