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Santa Cruz, CA, May 17, 2021
Marian Olin, Port Director at the Santa Cruz Harbor, has announced her retirement effective August 15, 2021.
Olin has served in the lead role as Port Director of Santa Cruz Harbor for 4 years, and has worked at the harbor for more than 26 years. Her working career has spanned more than 41 years, including working for Gary Garmann/Architect in downtown Santa Cruz for 10 years. She and her husband are looking forward to enjoying retirement together and staying in the Santa Cruz area, while traveling, hiking, catching up on reading and spending time with family and friends.
Olin’s varied work experience prepared her for her role as Port Director, providing a background in finance, payroll, personnel management, office management and administration, mortgage lending, permitting, project management and public bidding.
"Ms. Olin has served the harbor community with distinction" said Toby Goddard, Chair of the Port Commission. "She has led the district with the utmost professionalism, integrity, management skill and work ethic, earning the respect of harbor employees and port officials across California" Goddard said. "We'll miss her."
The harbor’s financial position has continued to improve during her tenure as Port Director, while a number of important capital improvement projects were completed, including reconstruction of the west side seawall at Atlantic Avenue; pile replacement; electronic dock gate security; implementation of the concession lot parking and revenue control system and countless other projects to ensure the harbor is a well-maintained, secure, functional and enjoyable public facility. She is pleased that free water taxi service will resume this summer in a new vessel named “Never Late,” and that a replacement patrol vessel is currently being fabricated and expected to be put in service later this year.
Olin credits her accomplishments with the support she has received, commenting, “I have benefited from the dedication and skill of our staff, our users and visitors who are drawn to this beautiful harbor, and the Port Commission’s vision and guidance.” Olin stated that while she has dealt with numerous sensitive issues impacting businesses, employees and harbor users, she takes pride in the positive relationships she built with the harbor’s customers, its commercial operators, visitors and staff.
Olin was appointed Port Director in 2017. She worked under three different Port Directors and credits former Port Director Brian Foss for preparing her to lead the Port District and for teaching her “…absolutely everything you would ever want to know about dredging!” On accepting the leadership role, she lightheartedly says, “I took one for the team,” though in all seriousness she adds, “It turns out I was ready for this position. It gave me an opportunity to take my experience and the best parts of what I learned from each Port Director, and ensure Santa Cruz Harbor continues to modernize, evolve and thrive.”
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