PORT ANGELES — Port of Port Angeles commissioners will review executive director applications for the port’s top administrative position Tuesday.
Commission President Colleen McAleer said Friday that all the applicants’ names — they include Karen Goschen, interim executive director — may be made public following an estimated two-hour executive session that will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the port administrative offices, 338 W. First St. in Port Angeles.
McAleer said the commission also will meet in open session Tuesday, but no earlier than 9:45 a.m.
McAleer said she hopes a new executive director will be on board at the port by mid-July.
Pat Jones of Jones Strategic will make the executive-session presentation.
Jones told commissioners April 18 that the Seattle firm will come up with 10-15 candidates for the commissioners’ review.
Jones did not return a call for comment Friday.
“It may be that on Tuesday, we determine which people we want to interview,” McAleer said.
“Hopefully, that is enough time to identify which ones we want.”
Port commissioners on Tuesday also will discuss the interview process for choosing a new executive director.
“I think we need a series of interviews and to bring some community members into it,” she said.
“We are going to be discussing those options, those ideas, and possibly give some guidance to Pat Jones, the recruiter, so he can set it up.”
Larry Boone of Jones Strategic told commissioners April 18 that an annual salary for the new executive director could be $140,123 based on the average for executive director salaries for the ports of Anacortes, Olympia, Kalama, Pasco, Edmonds and Skagit.
Goschen, who held the dual role of deputy director and finance director before filling in as executive director, has “exceptional skill sets,” McAleer said.
“My personal view on it is, we would really need to grow Clallam County economically,” she added.
“She is an exceptional administrator and strategic operations person, but I’d really love to see someone with great business development capacity as well.
“I want to see what the different options are, and it very well may be that Karen Goschen is the best option that is presented to us.
“I am keeping my mind open, but I am one vote of three.
“I want to make sure it is a very well-supported commission decision.”
Goschen, a Sequim resident hired as port finance director in August 2012, said Friday she will stay with the port regardless of the commission’s decision.
“I would think that there will be a broad range of candidates presented with varying types of experience, and the board will have to determine what they value and what they are looking for,” Goschen said.
“I know there is a role for me here regardless of how the recruitment turns out.”
Jones Strategic is under a $39,600 port contract, including up to $3,600 in expenses, to find a replacement for O’Hollaren, whose salary was $145,000 and who resigned effective Dec. 31 after barely two years with the port, several months of it as interim director.
O’Hollaren became interim director in August 2013 and permanent executive director in April 2014, succeeding longtime port employee Jeff Robb.
Robb resigned in June 2013 for “serious health issues,” he said.
Robb was immediately rehired at a newly created environmental affairs director position that port commissioners said they gave him under fear of potential litigation that centered on his relationship with senior port staff — a position that was not filled once he left.
Upon O’Hollaren’s resignation, McAleer and then-Commissioner-Elect Connie Beauvais criticized him for not consulting enough with the port commission, which then included Jim Hallett — who resigned effective Feb. 1, six days after he gave notice.
O’Hollaren defended his administration and questioned McAleer’s and Beauvais’ move to double the number of regular port commission meetings each month.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
