Commissioners

The Port of Friday Harbor is governed by three officials elected by the residents of San Juan Island:

Mike Ahrenius

Mike Ahrenius is a northwest native.  Born in Seattle, raised mostly in Woodinville, he moved to Friday Harbor in 1988 with his family.  His wife has old island roots but Mike has adapted perfectly to the island and manages the family business, Albert Jensen & Sons, Inc. shipyard.  He is currently serving his second term as Port Commissioner and is also Vice President of the Executive Board for Washington Public Ports Association.  Although he owns a couple of boats and a couple of old British sports cars, his first love is with anything 2-wheeled.  It’s not unusual to see him show up on one of his motorcycles for a port meeting – after all – parking is always an issue.

Greg Hertel

Greg was elected to the Port in 1991. During his tenure as a commissioner for Port District 3 the Port has built the Skagit College center, leased land to District 3 for the main fire station, purchased the failing San Juan Marina and rebuilt it as Spring Street Landing, leased land to the Animal Protection Society, installed a boat launch ramp at Jacksonís beach, installed ADA accessible ramps on the main dock, and many other projects. Greg is currently working with the Port of Bellingham to secure funding for a passenger ferry run connecting Bellingham with Friday Harbor.Greg is a retired high school teacher and track coach (29 years in Friday Harbor), former commercial fisherman, was a freeholder and helped reshape county government, and a licensed Coast Guard captain. He teaches a portion of the naturalist course for the Whale Museum and has also taught classes at Skagit Valley College.  He holds a B.S. in Geology from Portland “State” University and an M.Ed. in Natural Sciences From Western Washington University. Greg lives with his wife, Lunnette, two old cats, and numerous motorcycles in a house he built in 1987.

Barbara Marrett

Barbara Marrett has lived on San Juan Island over 30 years. Arriving in 1978, her business, design and communications background were utilized as manager of Harbor Press, the commercial printing business associated with the Friday Harbor Journal newspaper. Later, as owner of a printing brokerage and design firm, Marrett and Associates, she continued to write copy and design graphics for many town and county businesses.

After sailing from Friday Harbor to Australia in a small sailboat, Barbara became a Contributing Editor for the international sailing magazine, Cruising World. She designed and self-published a book, Mahina Tiare – Pacific Passages, and became a lecturer and seminar leader on topics related to sailing.

In addition to recreational boating, Barbara holds a 100- ton USCG license and is on the staff of Orange Coast College’s School of Sailing and Seamanship. Her specialty is teaching leadership and ocean passage-making skills aboard the 65′ foot sail-training vessel, Alaska Eagle. Her experience in long distance sailing has given her a global perspective on the workings of the planet’s many ports of call.

Barbara was elected Port Commissioner in 2005 from San Juan Island Port District Number 2. She serves on San Juan County’s Marine Resources Committee and chairs their Outreach and Membership sub-committees. She holds a certificate from the City and Guilds of London Art School and a BA degree, cum laude, from Marymount College of Fordham University. Barbara combines her interest in tribal arts, and her business and organizational skills as manager of the Arctic Raven Gallery. Most recently, she has been inspired by participation in the 2009 Leadership San Juan’s program to work co-operatively with other individuals and agencies to create a sustainable economy and ecology for our islands.

Barbara supports the power of the Port of Friday Harbor to aesthetically, as well as economically, enhance our island and welcomes public input into the direction and future of their Port.