Port of Olympia commission votes to re-interview 2 of 4 executive director finalists
And then there were two.
Port of Olympia commissioners, who met in executive session Thursday afternoon, did not emerge to name the next executive director of the port. Instead, they voted unanimously to re-interview candidates Mike Reid and Alexandra Smith, both of whom have worked for the port before.
The commission announced that candidates Joshua Cummings, the community planning and economic development director for Thurston County, and Anthony Hemstad, a consultant who also serves on the port’s citizens advisory committee, did not advance.
Reid, the city of Olympia’s economic development director, and Smith, who works for the state Department of Natural Resources, are now set to be interviewed again by the commissioners Feb. 13.
Former Thurston County manager Cliff Moore, who works for a recruiting business called Prothman, said the interviews with the commission will take place from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Each finalist will get 90 minutes, he said.
After the interviews, the commission will go back into executive session, then could emerge to name the next executive director late Tuesday, Moore said.
Smith previously worked for the port as its director of environmental programs, while Reid spent 10 years at the port as its senior manager of business development.
Smith or Reid will replace former executive director Sam Gibboney, who agreed to part ways with the port in September.
After Thursday’s executive session, Commissioner Jasmine Vasavada said she is excited to move forward with both candidates, saying they each have the integrity and confidence to do the job. However, she also shed light on why the commission needs a little more time.
“It is our role as commissioners to take responsibility for the decisions we make, and the executive director plays such an important bridge to us by building transparency and connecting to community and serving the staff of the Port of Olympia,” she said.
“I look forward to continuing this process,” she added.
The port began looking for a new executive director in November. More than 30 people applied for the position, which was then cut to 15 and then four finalists.
The four finalists took part in a public reception on Monday at the Hilton Garden Inn, then were interviewed by the commissioners and a second panel on Tuesday. The members of that second panel included Ray Peters of the Squaxin Island Tribe, Joel Hansen of the port’s citizens advisory committee and David Schaffert, president and chief executive of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce.
The finalists also had lunch with 16 port staffers on Tuesday, Moore said. Comment cards were collected by the port at the public reception and after the lunch, he said.
This story was originally published February 8, 2024 at 5:34 PM.
