Port appoints executive director

MOSES LAKE - Port of Moses Lake commissioners unanimously appointed consultant Patrick Jones as its executive director this week.

The port's current executive manager, Craig Baldwin, reports to Jones starting Aug. 1, explained port commission President Kent Jones.

Kent Jones is no relation to Patrick Jones, who had been working as a consultant for the port.

Kent Jones called Baldwin "a super manager," but said his skills do not lie in the area of long-range thinking and planning. Instead his skills are found with project planning, such as with the airport improvement project.

Patrick Jones, 57, Seattle, worked as executive director of the Washington Public Ports Association from 1992-2009.

His employment experience includes working for the Port of Seattle as its director of government relations from 1989 to 1992, and the American Association of Port Authorities from 1985 to 1989.

He is principal of Jones Strategic Consulting, but stops his consulting work when he begins his appointment at the Port of Moses Lake, he said.

Patrick Jones called Baldwin a "very, very capable manager."

Baldwin's duties are going to change slightly, "but we're hoping he stays," Patrick Jones said.

In June, Kent Jones told the Columbia Basin Herald the port was considering many staffing options as it looked to the future.

Some ideas included splitting the finance/administration manager's position into two jobs, adding an airport manager, or hiring a new employee to lead the port.

The port is currently working without an economic development director because of an employee death last year.

Kent Jones said commissioners previously discussed the need for additional help at the port and "needing it now."

"As we had those discussions, it just kept coming back, at least to me, if we could do this with Pat, he was the logical person to help us sooner rather than later," Kent Jones said.

He believes Patrick Jones and Baldwin have the ability to work together to help the port district improve.

"I think he is going to be a great addition to port staff," Baldwin said. "He has a lot of training that comes with that. He will be a great choice. I look forward to working with him."

Baldwin's title, average salary of $111,585 and responsibilities stay the same, he understands.

"We will sort things out as we go," Baldwin said.

Patrick Jones' appointment is part of a three-year contract.

His annual salary is $140,000. At this point, he is declining health benefits, Kent Jones said.

He is married to Patricia (Patty) Jones and has two adult daughters.

He is a graduate of Boston University and completed port-specific graduate work at the University of Washington Institute of Marines study.

"Pat is a known quantity and brings broad experience with economic development projects, with excellent contacts at the state and national level," comments Port of Moses Lake Commissioner Mike Conley. "He understands how ports around the country have leveraged their assets and partnered with both private business and public entities to make things happen. I think he can help us here."