To mark their 50th anniversary, the Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers (PCC) are not only reflecting on their legacy but are deep in the throes of planning for the next 50 years. With recently elected President Scott Grindy providing an energized message to the membership, calling for “nothing short of a remarkable future”, PCC is poised to strengthen not only the Association, but the industry as a whole.
Established in 1974, the PCC started with a small group of seven people who recognized the importance of providing a forum for commercial and recreational marina and port professionals to promote the development and growth of the industry through communication, education, and professional certification. Since that time, the PCC has grown to represent over 150 members hailing from all parts of the North American West Coast – from Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California.
“The diversity of our members is our strength,” he said. “From newly hired staff to senior directors; from industry sectors such as management of recreational marinas, cargo/breakbulk terminals, to property development, and harbor/port activities, it’s a great family of friends that make up PCC. There is not one harbor or port that you can visit that doesn’t have something new to share.”
Grindy went on to say that “Over the past 50 years, PCC has continued its strong membership base with activities that engage in ways that help improve member collaboration, teamwork, and just having a colleague to confer with from a neighboring harbor to hundreds of miles away,” he said, adding that “we are a diverse international team of harbormasters, managers, directors of various ports and marinas focused on sharing best practices, learning new innovations of technology and related harbor equipment to support our maritime industries and customers.”
As Harbor Master for the San Francisco Marina Small Craft Harbor, falling under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Recreation and Park Department, City & County of San Francisco, Grindy describes his involvement with PCC as “one of the best networking opportunities I have been a part of in all of my various maritime adventures.”
While his 30+year professional career has not always been in the marine sphere, he credits his current success as the culmination of experiences in other areas — management of personnel, major capital projects, facilities management, capital and operational budgets, public works, building and engineering design, risk management, safety, and emergency operations to name just a few. “I was running facilities for two Washington State-area colleges as well as the University of Washington for years before coming into the maritime side. Scott also taught evening college courses in engineering and vocational licensing programs for almost twenty years. I think the simplest way to put it is that every one of those skills is something you deal with in the harbors, whether it be the water, the plumbing, the electrical, etc. Whether it’s a high-rise building or a dock with power, there are commonalities that I’ve been able to apply in my current role.” Indeed, Grindy’s activities in San Francisco Bay run from managing two harbors with numerous international sailing events, recreational and commercial fishing, to monitoring activities in over 50 recreational marinas.
For his work with the PCC, Grindy is especially proud of the way the Association maintains its focus on professional development and networking activities. In addition to the Barbara Schwantes Memorial Fund Scholarship Grant (named after the PCC’s first Executive Secretary) that supports individuals entering a post-secondary program in a marine-related field or a project that contributes to making a difference in coastal regions (for example, children’s boating safety and education or community marine outreach programs), the PCC has a very active Training and Education Committee, bringing together experienced leaders to identify existing and create new training opportunities for members. The committee provides conference content, webinars, group discussions, and partnerships that can help those in the marine industry expand their knowledge and operate high-quality facilities.
The PCC also has agreements with the University of Alaska Southeast, University of Washington, and the Association of Marina Industries to provide training and certification in areas directly related to harbor management, including Certified Marina Manager/Operator, Clean and Resilient Marina Professional, Basic Marina Management.
The third – and perhaps the most relevant activity that advances PCC’s goals – is the organization of two industry conferences per year. “We rotate the location of the conferences – one in the spring and another in the fall – between Alaska, B.C., Washington, Oregon, and California. They provide excellent opportunities for reconnecting with colleagues and peers, learning new information together and learning from each other,” Grindy said, noting that the next conference will be held in Victoria, British Columbia, October 28 to 30, 2024. Information about the conference is available on the PCC website at www.pccharbormasters.org.
Sessions at the upcoming conference already identified include marina/harbor maintenance, electrical upgrades, succession planning, and opportunities for members to highlight their own issues as well as hear from others who may have experienced the same thing and are able to offer a solution. When it comes to developing the agenda for the conference, Grindy was quick to point out some of the common issues that are trending throughout the industry will no doubt be raised. “Recruitment and training, and cybersecurity are just two areas that come to mind,” he said.
Looking to the next 50 years, Grindy reported that the PCC Board was working on a new strategic planning document that would provide new focus and new energy for the Association. “Having a mission with specific goals is so important for a member-centric group and the Board is already gearing up for the lively conversations that will result in a path forward for the future.”
To learn more about the Pacific Coast Congress of Harbormasters and Port Managers, visit www.pccharbormasters.org.
