Greg Englin has been hired as the Port of Port Townsend's director of operations and business development. Sam Gibboney, port executive director, announced Englin's hiring on Oct. 7.

The new position is to function as a member of the port’s senior leadership team and be responsible for the port’s business operations and business development. As a leadership team member, Englin reports directly to Gibboney.

Englin had been port Commissioner Steve Tucker's top choice for executive director during the search for a new leader last spring. Commissioners Pete Hanke and Brad Clinefelter advocated for hiring Gibboney, and Tucker ultimately agreed. Englin, who lives on Bainbridge Island, said he was happy with how things worked out, and that he sees the new role as a "win-win" for the port.

"I love this community, and I'm excited to work with everyone here," Englin said Monday. "The staff has been great, and very welcoming."

Gibboney told the Leader she was "thrilled" to have an opportunity to work with Englin, whom she describes as highly qualified and ready to do the job.

The realignment of roles among senior-level port staff is one of the changes Gibboney has sought to bring about since taking the helm at the port in May 2016. Under former port director Larry Crockett (1999-2016), the public port district staff had included a deputy port director position. The new director of operations role assumes some of the responsibilities handled by former deputy director Jim Pivarnik, who resigned last spring, but includes additional responsibilities for day-to-day operations management and business development.

Englin brings a wealth of experience to the job, with more than 30 years in the maritime, energy and real estate sectors. He spent 13 years at the Port of Seattle, working for that port district's maritime and economic development divisions, and was involved in the design and construction of a manufacturing facility for the maritime industrial center initiative at Terminal 91. Subsequently, he led the turnaround of the maritime operations business unit, doubling direct revenue and growing that business to profitability, according to a press release. Englin holds a B.S. in economics from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

“I’m excited to welcome Greg to the Port of Port Townsend,” said Gibboney in a press release. “The depth and breadth of his experience is a perfect fit for the business challenges the port faces in the years to come. Greg will join an outstanding team that is committed to working with stakeholders and new partners to develop the economy of the port as well as Jefferson County as a whole. I’ve set an aggressive agenda for Greg and know that he will be an asset to the community.”

The salary for the new operations director position is set at $110,000/year; the previous deputy director salary was $107,307. The proposed 2017 port budget lists $1,969,153 in salary and wage expenses, up $91,000 from the amount budgeted for 2016. Actual totals for 2016 are not available; 2015 actual expenses for salaries and wages were $1,691,079.

Jefferson County's public port district was established in 1924. The Port of Port Townsend owns, operates and maintains roughly 550 acres of property throughout the county. The port's mission is "to serve the citizens of Jefferson County by responsibly maintaining and developing property and facilities to promote sustainable economic growth, to provide community access to port facilities and services, and to protect and maintain our community resources and maritime heritage."

For more information, visit portofpt.com.