Chris Keuss, the executive director at the Port of Edmonds when it was selected by a national magazine as the 2006 Marina of the Year, is stepping down.
It is still the only time that a West Coast marina had won the award from Marina Dock Age magazine.
Keuss, 61, will retire effective May 31, 2009 in order to spend more time with his family, he said Wednesday.
No replacement has been identified.
Keuss was hired as the Port’s deputy director in 1998, two years after catastrophic roof collapses at the marina followed a December snowstorm, attracting national attention. He was appointed executive director in 2002.
The Port’s current deputy director is Marla Kempf.
“Chris has done an amazing job down there,” said Edmonds Mayor Gary Haakenson. “He was the right guy at the right point to fill that spot.”
In 2007, Keuss was selected by the local Kiwanis clubs as Edmonds’ Citizen of the Year in acknowledgement of his work at the Port.
On Keuss’ watch, the Port has constructed a 2,000-foot boardwalk with view cutouts, installed a state-of-the-art weather station, launched the heralded Destination Edmonds tourism program, and acquired the buildings on Harbor Square.
The Port has also replaced the north seawall, and refurbished the mid-marina breakwater.
“The highest compliment I could pay Chris is that he has earned the unequivocal trust of the (Port) commission and staff,” said Bruce Faires, the commission president.
In 2006, Marina Dock Age magazine selected the 1,000-slip Port of Edmonds Marina as its Marina of the Year, citing the Port’s facilities, its restaurants and the innovative Destination Edmonds program.
For most of 2007, Keuss also served as the public face of the city’s controversial waterfront redevelopment program. Progress on the project has stalled.
In addition to his role at the Port, Keuss is currently a board member of the Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce.
In retirement, he hopes to teach some public administration classes at Edmonds Community College, Keuss said.
Reporter Chris Fyall: 425-673-6525 or cfyall@heraldnet.com
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