Port of Olympia names 4 executive director finalists, 3 with ties to organization
The Port of Olympia Commission on Monday announced the four finalists to be the next executive director of the organization. All are from the area and three have ties to the port.
The finalists:
▪ Joshua Cummings: Cummings is the Thurston County community planning and economic development director, a position he has held for more than six years. In all he has spent 11 years working for the county. Before that he was a government affairs and business relations manager for the Thurston Economic Development Council, according to his LinkedIn page. He earned his undergraduate degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham and a graduate degree from Western Governors University.
▪ Anthony Hemstad: Hemstad is the principal of Hemstad Consulting and currently serves on the port’s citizens advisory committee. He also has experience working for the state and as a city manager, according to his LinkedIn page. Hemstad earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma and graduate degrees from the University of London and University of Chicago.
▪ Mike Reid: Reid is the city of Olympia’s economic development director. Before that he spent 10 years with the port as its senior manager of business development, according to his LinkedIn page. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego.
▪ Alexandra Smith: Smith, who previously was known as Alex Smith, is a former director of environmental programs at the port. Other career details were not immediately available via LinkedIn.
Port commissioners Amy Evans Harding and Jasmine Vasavada shared some thoughts about the four candidates.
“I’m super excited to have four finalists who are engaged and involved in the Thurston County community,” Evans Harding said.
Vasavada echoed Harding’s thoughts about the importance of ties to the area.
“Understanding our community is very important at this time as the port transitions to an economy grounded in sustainable values,” she said.
The port has been working with Prothman, an Issaquah consulting firm, to find its next executive director. Prothman representative Cliff Moore, a former Thurston County manager, has been interviewing and screening candidates. More than 30 people applied for the opening, then that number was cut to about 15 before the commission selected finalists.
Up next is a community reception for the candidates and panel interviews.
On Monday, Feb. 5, a public reception for the candidates will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn in Olympia, 2101 Henderson Park Lane SE.
Panel interviews are set for Tuesday, Feb. 6.
The new executive director will replace former director Sam Gibboney who agreed to part ways with the port in September.
