SEATTLE – Port of Seattle Commission President Courtney Gregoire and Executive Director Steve Metruck have announced that Pete Ramels has been hired to serve as General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer for the Port of Seattle. Ramels currently serves as a Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in the Civil Division of the King County Prosecutor’s Office, and will start at the Port on January 14, 2018.
“I am honored to join the Port of Seattle as General Counsel, and look forward to using my years of legal experience in government, real estate and land use to help our region prosper during this time of economic growth and opportunity,” said Ramels.
“Our General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer is critical to maintaining trust with our community and showing employees, residents, and partners the respect that they deserve,” said Port of Seattle Commission President Courtney Gregoire. “We appreciate Pete’s expertise on the key legal issues and his commitment to helping a public agency meet the highest ethical standards.”
“The Port just approved a budget blueprint that commits to some of our most significant investments we’ve made in decades, particularly along our working waterfront,” said Port of Seattle Executive Director Stephen P. Metruck. “Pete’s expertise in real estate, environmental, land use, and regulatory issues will help the Port work effectively while being governed by the highest ethical standards.”
As General Counsel, Ramels will be responsible for advising Port leadership on legal strategies and approaches, leading an experienced legal team and public records office, and supporting the public governance of the Port. As Chief Compliance Officer, he will oversee the Workplace Responsibility office and compliance with the Port’s Code of Conduct. The General Counsel/Chief Compliance Officer also serves as a member of the executive leadership team supporting both the executive office and commission.
Ramels holds a Juris Doctorate with Honors from the University of Washington School of Law, with a B.A. in Political Science from Washington State University.
About the Port of Seattle
Founded in 1911, the Port owns and operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Fishermen’s Terminal—home of the North Pacific fishing fleet—and public marinas. The Port also owns two cruise ship terminals, a grain terminal, real estate assets, and marine cargo terminals through its partnership in the Northwest Seaport Alliance. Port operations help support nearly 200,000 jobs and $7 billion in wages throughout the region. Over the next 19 years, the port’s “Century Agenda” seeks to create an additional 100,000 jobs through economic growth while becoming the nation’s leading green and energy-efficient port. Learn more at www.portseattle.org.
