PORT TOWNSEND — Port of Port Townsend Deputy Director Jim Pivarnik will start as the new director of the Port of Kingston on April 25.

“This feels great; it is another step in my career,” Pivarnik, 64, said.

“This is a great opportunity for me to build the Port of Kingston economically and will allow me to take my profession a little further.”

Pivarnik’s announcement follows Port Executive Director Larry Crockett announcing on Jan. 13 that he would retire June 1, resulting in the turnover of the port’s top two administrative positions.

The search for Crockett’s replacement is in progress with 21 applications received, although five are incomplete according to Abigail Berg, the port’s finance and human resources director.

The port commissioners will begin evaluating the applications this week with an eye to winnowing it down to an undetermined number of finalists, Crockett said.

The director is to be selected by the three-member board while the deputy director will be determined by the new executive hire, Crockett said.

“I won’t make any organizational changes before I leave. That would be unprofessional,” Crockett said.

“The new director needs the ability to develop his or her own team.”

Crockett said senior staff will hold a planning meeting later this week to map out a short-term plan for the port to take it through the personnel changes.

When Crockett announced his retirement, Pivarnik made the decision to stay in his current job but was recruited by Patrick Jones, principal at Jones Strategic, soliciting 68 applicants that were winnowed down to three finalists for the Kingston post.

Pivarnik’s salary and benefits package is still under negotiation, but the annual salary range is between $85,000 and $105,000.

Pivarnik currently earns a $96,000 salary.

There are fundamental differences between the two ports, Pivarnik said.

“Port Townsend is more of an industrial port while Kingston is more recreational,” he said.

“Kingston is like Port Hudson on steroids.”

Pivarnik will initially commute from Port Townsend to Kingston and will move his boat to the Kingston Marina to give him a place to stay overnight if needed.

“We are really up in the air right now,” he said.

“We want to see how things go knowing that I need to become part of the community.”

Pivarnik is married to Port Townsend Marketing Director Christina Pivarnik.

Good timing

The timing is right for a move both professionally and personally, Pivarnik said.

“This is a great time to make a change since most of the most important projects are complete,” he said.

“The boat ramp is complete and the breakwater is in the permitting process.”

________

Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.