Port of Bremerton Commission elected Port Commissioner Axel Strakeljahn as President of the Port’s Board of Commissioners for 2022-2023 at the January 11 meeting.
Commissioner Strakeljahn has served on the Port’s Board of Commissioners since January 2012 and has focused on economic development and job creation for the community. During this time, he has represented the Port at various organizations, most recently by serving on the executive board of the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council (KRCC), the executive board of the Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC), and as the Vice-President of the Central Puget Sound Economic Development District Board. Strakeljahn represents the Port’s District 3, including South Kitsap, Southwest Bremerton, Seabeck, Holly, and Crosby.
“I am proud to serve as President of the Port Commission—thanks to our strong team, the Port has added many businesses and hundreds of family-wage jobs to our community in the past several years. The Port was also recognized as the Job Creator of the Year last year by the Washington Public Ports Association due to the businesses and jobs brought in by our fantastic staff,” Commissioner Strakeljahn said. “With my focus on economic development and land use, I look forward to continuing this growth in the position of Commission President.”
The Port of Bremerton comprises Olympic View Industrial Business Park, Bremerton National Airport, Port Orchard Marina, Bremerton Marina, and several parks, piers, and boat launches. The Port plans to continue with or complete multiple large projects this upcoming year at these properties. Some of the highlights include a newly constructed multipurpose facility at the airport made up of a new restaurant, hangar, pilot lounge, and office space. The Port will add 75 parking stalls for Bremerton Marina’s boaters with the completion of the waterfront apartments at Marina Square and Port Orchard Marina is in the process of rebuilding the breakwater. Additional hangars will be built at Bremerton National Airport in the next 18 months, and a 60,000 square foot manufacturing facility is scheduled to begin construction this spring in Olympic View Industrial Business Park.
“Commissioner Strakeljahn brings a vast amount of experience in business and economic development, which will be a great support to the entire Port organization,” Port CEO Jim Rothlin said. “We look forward to his leadership in the coming year.”
Commissioners Cary Bozeman and Gary Anderson also serve on the Port of Bremerton’s Board of Commissioners. Bozeman was reelected to the Port of Bremerton Commission and took his oath of office in the most recent Port meeting. With Strakeljahn becoming the President, Anderson is now the Vice President, and Bozeman is now the Secretary. Each Commissioner acts in one of these positions for two years before stepping into the next.
