You're Not Alone: WPPA Hosts Small Ports Seminar in Chelan

By Eric ffitch, Executive Director

Chelan was the new destination for the 2023 WPPA Small Ports Seminar, and the historic Campbell’s Resort was our host for the first time. Leavenworth is beloved by our members and we will miss the Enzian Inn, but the fact that we seem to have outgrown their facilities is a sign of the dedication of our members to attending this particular seminar. We continue to review options for future meetings, but for now have fully embraced Chelan and all it has to offer. If you haven’t already heard, ask someone about midnight dips in the lake, nevermind the freezing temperatures outside!

Snow covered mountains beyond the lake, the Campbell’s in the foreground.

Beyond late night shenanigans, this year’s Small Ports Seminar offered a list of compelling and relevant content, and Campbell’s gave port members and Associate Members a great venue for hallway conversations and the type of collaboration that our seminars always promise. Traveling to Chelan to join our program were representatives from state agencies on which our members rely, including Marguerite Jones from the Recreation and Conservation Office, Deena Garza and Dan Mann from the State Auditor’s Office, and Josh Klika from the Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC). The theme of the conference could’ve been “you’re not alone,” as all of our speakers offered resources and encouragement to ports who might sometimes feel like they’re solo problem-solvers facing big challenges. If you ever feel a port project or problem is insurmountable, call on WPPA, your fellow ports, or these state partners, and remember: you are not alone!

Marguerite Austin has worked at RCO since 1988, and is currently their Grants Section Manager.

Speaking of port partners, another highlight was the wisdom and counsel offered to port members in the audience from their fellow port members at the dais. We kicked off the event with Jim Kuntz, CEO at the Chelan-Douglas Regional Port Authority, taking members through a 101 course on Strategic Capital Investments, and later leaned on our Executive Directors at the Ports of Woodland and Chehalis – Lindsey Senter and Jennifer Wray-Keene – to learn about how ports recruit new business opportunities. This theme of “You’re Not Alone” continued, with Jennifer again taking the stage and being joined by Randy Mueller from the Port of Chehalis, as they talked our audience through some simple and affordable approaches to communicating your port district’s work out to the public. Finally, Scott Goodrich joined us from the Port of Vancouver USA, to take a rapt audience through a very informative update on their Tax Increment Area project.

Associate Members always add value to our conferences, and in Chelan we called on “the two Scotts” – Scott Bauer from NW Municipal Advisors and Scott McJannet from K&L Gates – to buttress Jim Kuntz’s capital outline with their extensive knowledge of bonding and capital markets. They came through with not just expertise but with candy and with a WPPA Family Feud game show format, keeping things light even as we all learned about direct placement bonds and official statements. We were glad to also have Sarah Sieloff from Haley and Aldrich, another consistently impressive Associate Member, share some best practices for seeking and receiving grants, in her “Mind the Gap: Grant Strategy and Execution” presentation.

Mandy never misses a chance to catch up with port members - pictured here with Cmr. Joe Melroy, Port of Ridgefield and Cmr. Tyler Schilperoort, Port of Sunnyside

We ended on a chilly Friday with the latest edition of Stump the Chumps, where I took on the new ED prerogative of stumbling through some port trivia new and old. Thanks to all who didn’t rib me too hard when we were debating which counties are in fact without port districts, or for pointing out my big error: that the Port of Grand Coulee actually do operate the Banks Lake Golf Course. Members left with a few choice mugs, the ubiquitous WPPA water bottle, and hopefully a new appreciation for Chelan and the staff at Campbell’s. We’ll be back there next year, and between now and then just remember, “You are Not Alone!”