Melanie Mankamyer is a newly retired Professional Engineer and former partner in Wilson Engineering.  Her 28 years of experience as a civil engineer provided her with vast experience in public works projects, developing long-term capital improvement plans, conceptual project plans and budgets, all of which are relevant and significant to the work of the Port of Skagit.

“The level of interest and the caliber of talented applicants were impressive, and the Commission is grateful for such a robust response to the vacancy,” stated Port Commission President Mahlon Hull.  “Melanie Mankamyer is a critical thinker who is well qualified for this role, based on her experience with land development, capital planning, and public projects, as well as her community involvement.  She is very well suited for this governance role as Port Commissioner for District 2.”

Mankamyer’s appointment represents a historic moment for the Port of Skagit, as she will be the first female Commissioner to serve for the port district in its 60-year history.

“My interest in becoming a Port Commissioner stems from my long admiration of the work the Port has accomplished in creating jobs and business opportunities for our community,” stated Mankamyer.

Mankamyer will be sworn into office at the Port Commission Meeting on Tuesday, November 12th.  She will serve out the remainer of the current term until the next general election, in November 2025, at which time she will run for election to the office.  The candidate elected in the general election in 2025 will serve out the remainder of the current term through 2029.

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The appointed replacement will serve until a replacement is elected in the November 2025 general election.  That elected replacement will then serve the remainder of the current six-year term through the end of 2029.  To meet the statutory deadline, the Port of Skagit must appoint a replacement within 90 days.

Those interested in applying can access applications materials at the Port of Skagit’s human resources portal at https://portofskagit.bamboohr.com/careers/24 or by clicking HERE.

Interested individuals must be a registered voter within Skagit County, and must reside within the boundaries of Port of Skagit Commissioner District 2.  To determine if you reside in Port of Skagit District 2, please visit the interactive map for Skagit County Port Commissioner Districts through ArcGIS.com by clicking HERE.  Port staff will verify eligibility and notify applicants promptly.

To be considered, your application must be completed and received by the Port of Skagit (15400 Airport Drive, Burlington, WA 98233) or emailed to [email protected] no later than 4:00 PM on Friday, November 1, 2024.  Applications received after 4:00 PM on this date will not be accepted.  Additional written information after this date will not be accepted, unless requested by the Port of Skagit Commission.  Public comment regarding applicants will be accepted prior to the Commissioners appointing a replacement at a future Port of Skagit Commission meeting.

For more information on what it means to serve as a public port commissioner, what public ports do for our local economies, and how your leadership can impact our entire community, please visit these links:

“What Ports Do”—Washington Public Ports Association

“One Hundred Years of Ports in Washington” –Washington Public Ports Association

Additional resources, including a “Commissioner Resource Guide” are also available online from the Washington Public Ports Association.

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Omdal’s business background was in sales and management with pharmaceutical companies Wyeth-Ayerst and BASF, and later on with FedEx Services.  His sales career began in the mid-1970’s with Western Farmers Association, a nod to his roots growing up on a dairy and crop farm in nearby Bow, Washington.  His experience on the farm helped Omdal embrace and understand the importance of value-added agriculture in our community today, and the required infrastructure for production, manufacturing, and marketing for the industry.  As a lifelong Skagitonian, his passion for agriculture, the preservation of farmland, and creating opportunities for Skagit growers and producers was widely known.

His focus as Port Commissioner was on jobs creation, particularly in the manufacturing sector, as well as growth in the value-added agriculture sector.  His collaborative style included a desire to learn and a willingness to brainstorm, “think outside the box,” and not be afraid of new ideas or opportunities that may arise in a constantly changing environment.  During his time on the Commission, Omdal was involved with several significant projects and initiatives that advanced the Port’s mission, including the acquisition of the former Northern State Hospital property from the State of Washington, the purchase of 123 acres for Watershed Business Park for expansion of the value-added agriculture sector, and the completion of fiber optic network infrastructure that brought broadband access to eastern Skagit County.

In addition to his career and Port work, Omdal was dedicated to his community and actively involved in several groups and initiatives.  He served on Skagit County’s Agricultural Advisory Board, the Executive Committee of Washington Public Ports Association, Skagit Council of Governments, the Genuine Skagit Valley Advisory Committee, and Home Trust of Skagit.  Prior to being elected to the Port of Skagit Commission, he was elected as Skagit County Fire District 6 Commissioner, serving from 2008 to 2012.  His longest tenured volunteer role, and arguably one of his greatest community commitments, was to the B-E Kiwanis Club.  Since 1988, Omdal had been a proud Kiwanian, serving both his local community and in a leadership role as a Division Lt. Governor.

Plans to honor Omdal’s service to the Port of Skagit and the greater Skagit Valley community will be announced at a later date.  The Port is required to appoint a new commissioner to replace Omdal within 90 days following his death. Next steps for the selection process will be discussed at a Special Meeting of the Port Commission at 11am on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.

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A copy of the budget presentation can be downloaded HERE, or a printed copy can be picked up at the Port of Skagit Administrative Office at 15400 Airport Drive in Burlington.

The Port Commission will conduct a public hearing on the 2023 preliminary budget at its regular commission meeting on November 8, 2022, at 2:00 p.m.  Following the public hearing, the Port Commission expects to fix and adopt the final budget for the Port of Skagit for fiscal year 2023.

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Commissioner-elect Hull has an extensive background in service, within our own community and beyond.  As an Air Force and Air National Guard retired veteran, Mr. Hull’s work took him abroad, serving in the middle east, Antarctic, and Somalia, while domestically he provided relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Andrew.  Locally he’s volunteered with the Hamilton and Clear Lake Food Banks and more recently at the Heritage Ranch in Bow —all of which are experiencing higher demand for services during the pandemic.

Commissioner-elect Hull’s extensive service record is complemented by his education and work experience in the private sector.  His alma maters include Skagit Valley College, Washington State University and the University of Arkansas, as well as several military distinctions and aviation trainings and certifications.  He is a Boeing 777X engineer, a Pastor, a US patent holder, a devoted family man and now an elected official ready to serve the citizens of Port District 3.

“Port of Skagit is doing very well, and it is headed towards a bright future,”  Commissioner-elect Hull stated.  “My focus right now is to determine how and where we can help people in their daily lives and assist with economic recovery as we dig ourselves out of COVID and the impacts it has had on people and businesses.”

Commissioner-elect Hull will officially take office on January 1, 2022.  He fills the District 3 Commissioner position vacated by Commissioner Bill Shuler, who retires at the end of his second term this month.

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Shuler has served on the Port Commission since 2010 in District 3, which includes Sedro-Woolley and eastern Skagit County.  During his time as Commissioner, his commitment to identifying and building opportunities for economic development and good family-wage jobs was steadfast.

“The Port has been truly fortunate to have a man of Bill Shuler’s experience and wisdom filling the role of District 3 Commissioner for the past 11 years, and he fully deserves a major part of the credit for all the things the Port has accomplished during that time frame,” stated Port of Skagit Commission President Dr. Kevin Ware.  “On a personal note, Bill has a dry, self-effacing sense of humor that has made him just a delight to work with.  We will all definitely miss his presence at our meetings next year.”

Shuler’s wealth of knowledge and professional experience contributed significantly to the Port of Skagit, most notably from his distinguished career of 27 years as the Executive Director of the Skagit County Community Action Agency and 10 years of service on the Sedro-Woolley City Council.   He also held pivotal positions with Skagit Valley College, the Washington State Office of Community Development, and Skagit County Planning Department where he authored the county’s initial overall economic development plan.

During his time on the Commission, Shuler led many initiatives that helped bolster the local economy and work force.  But with his heart firmly planted in Sedro-Woolley, seeing the revitalization of the former Northern State Hospital property holds special significance for him.

“I remember when Northern State Hospital was one of the biggest employers around,” explained Shuler.  “Having the campus reach its full potential again, for the benefit of our citizens, is something I’ve always pushed for.  Being a Port Commissioner gave me the platform and the partnerships to help make that happen.”

Shuler’s longtime vision of redeveloping the hospital property took a leap forward in July 2018 when ownership of the historic campus was officially transferred to the Port of Skagit from the State of Washington.

Shuler will not be seeking re-election to the Port of Skagit Commission when his term ends on December 31, 2021.  “I just think the time is right,” he said.  “While I have thoroughly enjoyed working with my outstanding co-Commissioners and the awesome Port staff, it’s time for new blood and fresh eyes.  As the saying goes:  All good things…”

The Port of Skagit has three districts served by three Port Commissioners, who are elected by the constituents in their respective district.

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