Each year the AAHPA ask the membership to consider nominating members of the community that have demonstrated superior performance in harbor or port management, innovative methods to improve harbor users, creative methods of reducing operating costs, service and support to the AAHPA, or other actions that have produced marked benefits for port and harbor users would be ideal candidates for nomination.
Awardees are honored during the banquet at the annual conference. Nominations for Harbormaster of the Year will open in Spring 2019.
2018 Harbormaster of the Year
Norm Regis, Harbormaster for the City of Seward, is hereby honored as the 2018 Harbormaster of the Year by the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators. In his time as Harbormaster, Norm has been a continual force of positive change by striving to improve crucial systems, infrastructure, and day to day functions in both the Harbor and Seward Marine Industrial Center. These welcomed changes have brought new investors, increased public interest, and brought record numbers of personal and commercial boaters to the Seward area. Under Norm’s watch the Seward Harbor and Marine Industrial Center have seen improvements to the Travelift, completion of the breakwater, a heated wash down pad, launch ramp improvements, improved handicap accessibility, and improved fish cleaning stations to name a few. Every project that comes across Norm’s desk is picked apart to save any penny that can be found. From utilizing rocks in Seward’s quarry to fabricating new components in-house, he finds solutions from other projects and continually manages them to be done in a manner that benefits the Harbor and the Community of Seward. As a Board member with the AAHPA and with his understanding of the Municipal Harbor Matching Grant program, he has been able to collaborate with other harbormasters and port executives on projects to help grow the maritime industry for Seward and Alaska’s future. It is with great pleasure that the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators recognizes Norm for these accomplishments as AAHPA’s 2018 Harbormaster of the Year.
Jean Barrett, Harbormaster for the City of Dillingham, is hereby honored as the 2018 Harbormaster of the Year by the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators. Bristol Bay and Dillingham have seen near record activity the past two years which translates to a significant increase in harbor usage. Every year, Jean works with vessel captains and processors to make sure each is exceptionally supported through the fishing seasons. He is currently working with the federal delegation on a much needed harbor upgrade, and is gaining traction and support. His efforts have been instrumental in keeping the city’s ice machine operational, and he is personally refurbishing the lost fishermen memorial. Jean has taken on the job of Public Works Director as well. He is able to direct the dock and harbor operations successfully while also managing the streets, water and sewer, landfill, and other public works needs for Dillingham. Jean’s service to the citizens of Dillingham and the harbor community do not stop with Harbormaster and Public Works Director. He volunteers to coach local youth, serves as the Vice Chair on the Board of the local native village corporation, mentors the interns he receives at the Harbor annually to help them grow and learn, and he is member of the AAHPA Board of Directors. It is with great pleasure that the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators recognizes Jean for these accomplishments as AAHPA’s 2018 Harbormaster of the Year.
2018 Employee of the Year
Administrative Assistant Ed Tagaban is hereby named the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators Employee of the Year for Petersburg for 2018. In the spring of 2000 Ed joined the Department and right from the start he challenged the good ol’ boy system and proceeded to implement changes such as making the Harbor Office a no smoking environment and installing a computerized point-of-sale system. With skill and humor he took on the challenge of teaching an aging staff the skills associated with operating a computer system. Ed is an exceptional employee and co-worker, and he is the backbone of the Petersburg Harbor team. He gives sound advice to his superiors, to fellow staff, and to customers seeking local knowledge. Ed assists management by keeping excellent records and a running tally of project plans that aide in budget development. Among Ed’s many accomplishments, he worked to secure Homeland Security funding and designed and oversaw the installation of an all-weather outdoor camera system that revolutionized security within the Petersburg Harbor. Many current AAHPA members met Eddie at the 2017 annual conference in Petersburg and appreciated his efforts at organizing and hosting that great event. Ed Tagaban has truly established himself as an exceptional member of the department and is genuinely deserving of being recognized by AAHPA members as Petersburg Port & Harbor Employee of the Year.
Deputy Harbormaster Matthew Creswell is hereby named the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators Employee of the Year for the City and Borough of Juneau Docks & Harbors for 2018. Mr. Creswell’s arrival to the team marked a watershed event enabling the department to accomplish much since his first day in December 2015. In addition to being highly skilled in marine and heavy equipment operations, he has brought energy, ideas and commonsense to ALL of the Docks & Harbor offices. Matt is the definition of a “force multiplier” through his outstanding ability to cultivate effective working partnerships with other departments in achieving our goals. His effort in leading Docks & Harbors to achieve Alaska Clean Harbor certification is nothing less than amazing. Matt was the catalyst within his peers and amongst the harbor patrons promoting the benefits of a voluntary program to implement best management practices to prevent pollution, reduce waste, reduce costs, and promote clean boating. Matt took on an unenviable role of hosting multiple harbor live-aboard meetings. The efforts have enabled Docks & Harbors to positively engage with the live-aboard community. He has painstakingly listened to the needs of our customers, and with the patience of Job, has made improvements to both the physical plant and how the department interacts with the human-nature side of our patrons. Matt is a highly skilled, innovative, and valued Harbor employee. Matthew Creswell has truly established himself as an exceptional member of the department and is genuinely deserving of being recognized by AAHPA members as Juneau Docks & Harbors Employee of the Year.
Administrative Supervisor Lisa Ellington is hereby named the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators Employee of the Year for the City of Homer Port & Harbor for 2018. Lisa began working for the Port & Harbor in 2006, and was promoted to Administrative Supervisor in 2010. Homer’s Admin department is often the first point of contact for our customers, and Lisa’s professional, calm, and concise presence makes even the grumpiest customer, if not smile, at least nod in understanding, and creates a supported and tranquil environment for staff. Her depth of knowledge is expansive. Lisa’s work on Homer’s new management software program this past year is just another example of her dedication to the Department’s mission of customer service. The new software is now up and running, thanks to Lisa’s hundreds of hours of painstakingly detailed work behind the scenes helping to develop a system that is tailored to our needs. She coordinated with the software developer, harbor operations, and City IT to plan for a smooth transition on launch day. The results were that the Department transitioned the whole system over in JUNE and customers only noticed newly formatted bills with better information – no interruption in service! Pretty amazing given the scope of work that was undertaken. For the past two years, Lisa has also worked to help organize the Administrative Breakout Day for the AAHPA conference to share, exchange, and gain new knowledge, giving the front-line staff from our organizations a place and time during the conference with an administrative-focused agenda. Lisa Ellington has truly established herself as an exceptional member of the department and is genuinely deserving of being recognized by AAHPA members as Homer Harbor Employee of the Year.
Administrative Assistant Angel LaDuke is hereby named the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators employee of the year for Ketchikan for 2018. Since being hired in 2017 she has been a whirlwind of activity and organization. She overhauled the filing system and created a user manual for her multitude of job functions and cross trained the customer service representatives on an array of office procedures. She researched and purchased new weather proof tablets for use by the Harbormasters. She also was instrumental in the planning and implementation of a major revision to the reserved moorage billing procedures and cycle and in the preparation of the annual budgets for both the Port and the Harbors. Ms. LaDuke has established herself as a true team player who treats both coworkers and customers fairly and with respect and is genuinely deserving of being recognized by AAHPA members as Ketchikan Port and Harbors Employee of the Year.
See past recipients of Employee of the Year awards
2018 Life Member Award
Retired Harbormaster Lon White of Kodiak, Alaska is hereby recognized as Life Member by the Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators. Kodiak Harbor has long been a leader in harbor management within the State, and our members have greatly benefited from Lon’s astute and affable wisdom. Working his way through the Kodiak harbor system, Lon was uniquely qualified to provide guidance to municipal harbors throughout the State on a host of issues. Lon spearheaded numerous infrastructure improvements in Kodiak, initially as Deputy Harbormaster and project manager to then Harbormaster, including the Saint Hermon Harbor expansion and recapitalization of the large vessel float system; the Kodiak marine repair facility and large vessel boat lift; the new cargo dock facility; the completion of the Alaska Marine Highway System Dock; the rebuilding of the Channel Transit float system, and many, many harbor float replacements and upgrades. The Alaska Association of Harbormasters and Port Administrators hereby commends Lon White for the exemplary professionalism, hard work, intelligence, and dedication he has exhibited throughout his tenure with the Kodiak Harbor and as a dedicated member of AAHPA.