Farrell, commission agree on port ‘leadership transition’

FARRELL

“I’ve been greatly appreciative of the opportunity,” Port of Tacoma Executive Director Timothy J. Farrell replied when asked about his experience working at the port for the past decade.

The Port of Tacoma Commission announced on Oct. 19 that Farrell will continue working full-time through the end of the year; however, his employment with the port will officially end on May 31, 2010. Commissioners will outline a process soon to name his replacement. In the meantime, Deputy Director John Wolfe will serve as interim director.

“We want to assure our staff, our customers, and our community that the port is dedicated to their continued success,” Commission President Clare Petrich said after the Oct. 19 meeting with Farrell. “We continue to focus on maintaining our competitiveness during this challenging economy.”

Farrell joined the port in 2000 as deputy executive director and became the executive director in 2004. Before coming to Tacoma, the native of Massachusetts worked for the Port of Seattle and Massachusetts Port Authority.

While obtaining a master’s degree in port and marine transportation management at the University of Washington, Farrell visited the port on numerous occasions.

“This port really stood out to me, among all the ports I got to know, as a thoroughbred,” he said. “It was focused on the business and knew its customer base. The community and the port worked well together and it showed.”

During his time as an executive, Ferrell is most proud of the port’s increased container volumes and the addition of new shipping customers, such as YANGMING, Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL), and NYK. He is also proud of the relationship built between the port and Puyallup Tribe of Indians.

“The leadership on both sides are going to come up with some brilliant ideas that are going to be great successes for both of our organizations,” he noted.

Amidst the recent controversy of the NYK shipping line, Farrell said his biggest disappointment has been the port’s 2006 purchase of the Maytown property in Thurston County. He explained when that occurred, port volume was up, the real estate market was strong and the rail system needed to expand for growth.

“We found ourselves in a situation that if we were going to expand our rail system, we were going to have to act quickly,” Farrell said. “Ideally we would have had more time, gone in and taken the pulse of the community. That would have informed our decision, but may not have changed it.”

Looking toward his future, Farrell is not planning on leaving Tacoma just yet. His wife Jessen and their young daughter are vested in their community. However, Ferrell said he would take some time before jumping back into a job with such demanding commitments.

“I have a young family and I take great joy in them,” he said. “If you have a job like this, if you really do it right you have to throw yourself into it.”

Farrell is also considering stepping aside to support his wife’s ambitions. Over the years, she has been the rock of their family, while he advanced his career, he explained.  

“She is experiencing great successes and has numerous substantial opportunities in front of her,” Farrell said. “I want to play this role to allow her a launching pad to pursue her ambitions.”

Commenting rules