[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 43 (Monday, March 11, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE CAREER OF MR. GARY NELSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DEREK KILMER

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 11, 2024

  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Gary Nelson 
for his many years of public service to our community as he enters his 
retirement. As the Executive Director of the Port of Grays Harbor for 
nearly 24 years, Mr. Nelson has demonstrated unparalleled leadership 
and advocacy for the Grays Harbor community.
  Mr. Nelson joined the Port of Grays Harbor in 2000, when there were 
only 21 vessel calls handling 85,000 tons of cargo. When Mr. Nelson 
stepped into leadership, the Port of Grays Harbor, like many other 
communities in my district, had fallen on hard times when the timber 
industry took it on the chin. Some folks feared that good things 
couldn't happen in Grays Harbor County anymore.
  But not Gary. Under his visionary leadership over the last 24 years, 
the number of vessel calls increased nearly 500 percent, and the number 
of metric tons of cargo was up over 3 million in 2023.
  During his tenure at the Port of Grays Harbor, Mr. Nelson oversaw the 
diversification of the Port's revenue streams and business ventures. 
This includes the operations at Satsop Business Park and recreational 
facilities at Friends Landing. He oversaw more than $275 million in 
private investment throughout Port facilities, as weII as millions of 
dollars in federal and state grants to modernize and improve the 
Westport Marina, Marine Terminals in Aberdeen, and the Bowerman 
Airport, positioning the Port to accommodate current and future 
economic growth.
  Gary's leadership will continue to impact the entire region for years 
to come. Put simply, because of Gary Nelson, there are people in Grays 
Harbor who now have jobs. Because of Gary Nelson, there are families 
that can now put food on the table. Because of Gary Nelson, the future 
for our region is brighter.
  Beyond his local impact, Mr. Nelson is a nationally recognized leader 
in the industry. He served as the Chair of the American Association of 
Port Authorities from 2019 to 2020, chaired the Washington Public Ports 
Association Legislative Committee, and served on the Pacific Northwest 
Waterways Association Executive Board.
  Mr. Speaker, I applaud and thank Gary Nelson for his amazing tenure. 
Gary's passionate and caring stewardship of the Port of Grays Harbor 
has impacted the future of the community and shown that not only can 
good things happen in Grays Harbor County--great things can. I wish him 
the best in his retirement. He will be sorely missed. I am pleased to 
recognize Mr. Gary Nelson in the United States Congress.

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