EDITOR’S NOTE: Corrects that Sam Gibboney is director of environmental resources/deputy director of public works for San Juan County.
PORT TOWNSEND — The selection of a new executive director for the Port of Port Townsend is moving into its public phase with three finalists for the post being named and an open forum to introduce the candidates set for Friday.
After an executive session Monday, port commissioners named three finalists: maritime industry veteran Greg Englin, consultant Sam Gibboney and former Jefferson County employee Josh Peters.
The public meeting is set to take place at 9 a.m. Friday in commissioners’ chambers, 333 Benedict St.
During the forum, the candidates will respond to two questions from each member of a panel that includes Quilcene activist Linda Hertzog, former Port Townsend Mayor David King, rigger Gordon Nielsen, engineer Bill Putney and Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Teresa Verraes.
Each candidate is to give a 10-minute presentation followed by the question period, in which the public can observe but not participate.
Replacing Crockett
The search is for a replacement for Larry Crockett, 68, who is retiring June 1 after 17 years as executive director.
Crockett announced his retirement plans in January with the search process beginning a month later.
According to Human Resources Manager Abigail Berg, the port received 19 completed applications.
Port commissioners narrowed these down to eight semifinalists with five selected for interviews, said District 1 Commissioner Steve Tucker.
Interviews of the five applicants took place last week.
The three finalists were selected from that field and contacted Monday.
“We selected those candidates who we thought were the best fit,” Tucker said.
“This forum’s purpose is for them to meet the public, but we also want them to see what they are up against.”
Local connections
Gibboney and Peters both have connections to Port Townsend.
Gibboney, currently the director of environmental resources/deputy director of public works for San Juan County, worked as a political consultant in Port Townsend for several years.
She served on the board of the Food Co-op. Her age was not available Monday.
Peters, 46, now employed by the state Department of Natural Resources in Chimacum, previously worked for the Jefferson County community development and public works departments as well as the King County Department of Transportation.
Englin, 53, lives in Bainbridge Island and most recently worked for the Seattle branch of the Icelandic company Marel as a vice president.
He worked previously for 13 years at the Port of Seattle, according to his Linked In profile.
The executive director position is not the only high-level management change at the port: Last month Deputy Director Jim Pivarnik left to become executive director at the Port of Kingston.
Crockett said he was not going to fill Pivarnik’s position, adding that it was a decision for the new director.
A salary package will be determined after the new director is hired, but the advertised range is between $115,000 and $125,000 annually.
For more information, go to portofpt.com.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
