Port of Tacoma Commission began preliminary discussions on its search for a new executive director on Dec. 10. Although no formal decisions were made about the search, commissioners highlighted a few key points. Commissioners and staff pointed out that this search would take time.
“This is the most important decision we will make in 2010,” Commission President Clare Petrich said. “We are all committed to finding the most qualified candidate.”
The port plans to begin interviewing candidates by next spring, however the commission does not want to be obliged to follow any strict timeline if a qualified candidate does not present themselves.
“Let’s not kid ourselves, this is going to take some time,” Commissioner-elect Don Meyer said. Meyer will be an integral part of the commission’s decision-making process when he takes office in January.
Additionally, commissioners were in favor of utilizing a professional search firm to help seek out candidates.
Carol Mitchell, director of human resources for the port, told commissioners that six firms have expressed interest in assisting the port with the search. Mitchell noted that only a few of the firms specifically have conducted searches for ports, but that all have experience conducting searches for the public sector.
“I assume we will have significant interest because this is such an important position within the organization,” Mitchell said.
Finally, commissioners want the community, staff and stakeholders to be involved in choosing the port’s new leadership. After the commission identifies criteria for a candidate, there will be a series of public input sessions and informational workshops. However, the commissioners will ultimately select the new executive director. The port’s attorney Robert Goodstein noted that the commission is obliged to hold some form of public meeting during the candidate selection process, with regard to open meetings laws.
“We want to conduct this search in the right context of being open, but this is also a commission-driven process,” Meyer said.
