New jobs are stressful. But for some of us, diving into the deep end is just another day. Newly hired Port of Olympia Executive Director Sam Gibboney’s first few weeks have been a maelstrom of snow, cows, vision projects, and overwhelming community support.
The Port of Olympia is a far-reaching entity responsible for a wide array of things. They handle the airport, seaport, Swantown Marina and Boatworks, Port Plaza, and so much more. Looking for something to do? Port supported events include the Olympic Airshow, Summer Splash! at the Hands On Children’s Museum, Music on the Plaza, Thurston County Fair, Olympia Brew Fest, and Harbor Days.
On January 18, 2019 Sam Gibboney started as the new Executive Director. After more than three months and 37 potential candidates, she was determined to be the best fit for our booming region. Formerly Executive Director of the Port of Port Townsend, Olympia’s bigger size, scale, and scope have her excited for the future.
“I’m still in the drinking-from-a-firehose stage,” laughs Gibboney, but she’s using every aspect of her “very competent, hands on staff” as well as years of personal experience to learn the ropes. It helps that the snow has melted and she’s finally settling into a local home.
Gibboney hit town during our recent winter snowpocalypse. Her small rental property lost power and she was quickly taken in by Port staffers she’d only just met. During this hectic time, the Port oversaw their first cattle shipment, with more than 1,600 dairy heifers loaded from truck to ship bound for Vietnam. As of early March, the mooing cargo had arrived safely at their destination. The cow’s trans-pacific journey is done and Gibboney can focus on Vision 2050.
In April and May of 2019, Port staff will be attending events in their trademark blue shirts looking for additional feedback from residents. Vision 2050 combines public input from surveys and community recommendations and presented them to a task force in March 2019. TGoals and actions were created to springboard the Port—and greater economic region—into a strong, successful future. The final plan will be presented to the Port Commission in August 2019.
Having the visioning process underway “was a gift from the community and such an opportune time to step in,” admits Gibboney. She’s worked with similar outreach and vision projects before, but this way she’s able to participate, learn and meet people along the way.
“The Port district is county-wide, few people realize the breadth of what we can do,” says Gibboney. With 42 staff, they’re “running pretty lean” for their size and assets, but always look forward with a simple goal: how are we going to serve the community?
Everything the Port does is with a goal of civic pride, engagement, development and expansion. They strive to improve relationships with partners and improve the evolution of the Port as a whole. The task force evaluating Vision 2050 suggestions comes from selected individuals, representing Thurston County’s finest. “I’m quite literally astounded by the task force team,” says Gibboney, “at their levels of experience and commitment to the community. It’s a real opportunity for the Port to draw on their expertise. I am humbled at the opportunity to hear from such a high-quality group of folks.”
An Ohio native, Gibboney journeyed to California for her undergraduate education and then on to Alaska. She moved to Washington in 1993 and actively enjoys life on the water with her husband, an elementary school teacher, and son, currently studying wind energy at an eastern Washington college.
She loves time on the water—whether in a kayak or stand-up paddleboard—and biking. During rainy days, this librarian’s daughter is an avid reader. Coming to Olympia from the Port Townsend area means “taking advantage of all Thurston County has to offer and getting to explore the Olympics and Cascades from a different direction.”
Look for Gibboney and other Port representatives in and around the area. They’ll host meet-and-greet sessions with local elected officials, Port tenants, administrators and business partners. Once scheduling permits, Gibboney will speak to small groups and at Chamber of Commerce or Thurston EDC functions.
Find a full list of news, calendar events, incoming ships and info on free port tours on the Port of Olympia website. You can also track activities on their Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages. Contact them with questions online or by calling 360-528-8000.
More than 100 years ago author George William Curtis noted that “It is not the ship so much as the skillful sailing that assures the prosperous voyage.” With Executive Director Sam Gibboney at the helm, the Port of Olympia continues its confident, successful journey.
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