EVERETT—The Port of Everett is shaking up its leadership team with a series of promotions and a new hire, aiming to capitalize on booming growth in its real estate division and improve the visitor experience at its bustling waterfront destination.
Port Executive Director and CEO Lisa Lefeber described the changes as part of a broader surge in activity at the port, from rising visitor numbers to upcoming developments like the Millwright District.
“We are rising with the tide here at the Port of Everett,” Lefeber said. “Our destination waterfront is energized like never before serving our valued boating and business community, while also supporting a significant uptick in visitors, and this momentum is only going to continue growing.”
The moves come as the port prepares for major milestones, including groundbreaking on the next phase of its billion-dollar Waterfront Place mixed-use project and a world-class sporting event expected to draw record tourism next year. Lefeber praised the internal promotions and the addition of fresh talent, calling it a remarkable period for the organization.
Catherine Soper has stepped into the role of chief of business development and tourism, where she will manage the port’s expansive real estate holdings—about 3,600 acres that span commercial mixed-use sites, public access areas, and industrial properties. Her priorities include maximizing land use, pursuing new ventures, boosting tourism, and refining the visitor experience at Waterfront Place, Snohomish County’s premier waterfront spot.
The timing aligns with key initiatives, such as advancing the second and largest phase of Waterfront Place and starting redevelopment planning for properties along the Mukilteo waterfront. Soper brings 15 years of experience in communications, marketing, and economic development at the port, where she has played a central role in transforming Waterfront Place into a vibrant year-round hub.
Through efforts in site planning, tenant attraction, branding, events, and historic preservation, Soper has helped double annual site visits to 1.6 million over the past decade. Her projects include a maritime exhibit at the expanded Imagine Children’s Museum and a partnership with Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center and Maritime Institute to launch the county’s first high school maritime program.
A graduate of Central Washington University and the Leadership Snohomish County Young Professionals program, Soper recently earned certification as a Maritime Port Executive in 2024. She has served on various boards and industry committees in the region. “From the people to the projects to the future plans, the Port of Everett is truly one of the best places to be and work,” Soper said. “I’m thankful for this opportunity and look forward to continuing the Port’s important work in economic development in service to our Port District and the greater Snohomish County region.”
In October, the port also elevated James Gerry to director of marina and real estate operations and Kate Anderson to marina manager. The pair will collaborate to strengthen customer service and the overall experience for slipholders, guest boaters, and visitors across the waterfront.
Gerry’s newly created position focuses on integrating operations between the marina, the expanding Waterfront Place, and other upland properties. Before this, he served as the port’s property manager since 2020, handling daily operations for over 65 tenants and coordinating more than 90 annual events. Gerry previously spent 25 years at Ameron Pole Products on the Everett waterfront, overseeing production, safety, and quality control.
Anderson, now in charge of the marina, draws on her deep roots in the boating world to serve the port’s more than 2,000 slipholders and thousands of visiting boaters. She started at the port in 2018 as a customer service representative and later handled media and marketing, with a focus on the marina. Her earlier career included positions at Roche Harbor Marina, Elliott Bay Marina, and the Northwest Marine Trade Association.
Anderson serves on boards for the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Boating Programs Advisory Committee, the Recreational Boating Association of Washington, and Leadership Snohomish County. She earned spots on Boating Industry Magazine’s 2021 “40 Under 40” list and a 2019 Young Leader Award from Marina DockAge Magazine.
Rounding out the changes, Alan Stetson joined in November as director of security, succeeding retirees Ed Madura and Walter Seidl, who had filled the role on an interim basis. With over 20 years in safety and security across manufacturing, hospitality, and entertainment, Stetson will ensure protection across the international seaport, marina, Waterfront Place, and other properties as the port recommits to a secure environment for all.
The Port of Everett Marina, the largest public marina on the West Coast, anchors these efforts with space for 2,300 boats across its south, central, and north docks. It features 5,000 linear feet of visitor moorage, a fuel dock, laundry and shower facilities, and the Craftsman District boatyard with advanced equipment like Travelifts, a boat transporter, and on-site repair services. A 13-lane boat launch—the biggest in Washington—offers easy access to fishing, crabbing, and shrimping, all enhanced by the surrounding Waterfront Place amenities.
Author: Mario Lotmore
