Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers celebrates 50 years

Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers celebrates 50 years © Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers

The Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers (PCC) recently celebrated its 50th anniversary conference. The event was held April 1 to 4 in Newport, Oregon, the town where the organization was founded.

The conference featured guest speakers on topics such as abandoned vessels, insurance, legal considerations, funding, and more with a keynote on Behavior, Change and Conflict: Being Effective in These Changing Time presented by George Myers of the Effectiveness Institute. A special appearance was also made by U.S. Representative Val Hoyle who addressed the audience on the value of ports.

Rep. Val Hoyle of Oregon addresses the PCC attendees - photo © Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers

The host Port of Newport treated attendees to a barbeque and a boat tour of Yaquina Bay, and other networking opportunities included an exhibitor reception, several breakfasts and lunches, and a closing night gala and awards presentation that featured a raffle to support the PCC's Barbara Schwantes fund to support maritime non-profits.

Board member Mike Loy of False Creek Marina in Vancouver, BC, and PCC training and education director Eric Olsson were presented with Making a Difference awards; and Tami Allen, harbormaster for the City of Bainbridge, WA, Paul Sorenson of BST Associates, and Jon Keiser of PND Engineers received Lifetime Member awards.

The Port of Newport was honored with a Port Host Award - photo © Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers

New board members were also elected. Scott Grindy, San Francisco Marina Small Craft Harbor will serve as president, TJ Quandt of Port of Olympia, WA as vice president, and Jeremy Talbott of Port of Valdez, AK as secretary/treasurer.

The PCC conference provides educational content for port managers and harbormasters - photo © Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers

Other board members include Michael Turkington of False Creek Harbor Authority, Vancouver, BC; Kody Robinson of Port of Newport, Newport, OR; Aaron Glidden of the City of Homer, AK; Monty Anderson of Port of Kodiak, AK; James Weaver, Port of Bremerton, WA; Chris Tibbe, San Mateo County Harbor District, CA; Alvin L. Sonza, Port of San Francisco, CA; Janice Burk, Port of Astoria, OR

Thanks go to our event sponsors, Bellingham Marine, PND Engineers, False Creek Harbour Authority, Wood Harbinger, Moffatt and Nichol, Westport Marina at the Port of Grays Harbor, and Reid Middleton. The Board of Directors also thanks the host Port of Newport for their hospitality.