Tim Payne

Tim is an executive leader and seasoned strategist with a strong background assisting public agencies to improve their business operations, managing contaminated site/environmental remediation efforts for industrial clients, serving as an elected city council member for 3 four-year terms, and volunteering his leadership on various non-profit/community boards.

His creative, collaborative, and practical leadership style is built on a blue-collar foundation, where as a union tugboat deckhand and dock laborer working in the Alaska Arctic, Tim paid his way through Seattle University and law school. His work career started at age 13 cleaning sail boats at Crow’s Nest Marina off Marine View Drive in Commencement Bay.

Tim’s father spent a career working around the world with Crowley Maritime. As a child, Tim followed his dad around on docks, cargo ships, tugboats, and barges in Tacoma, Seattle, San Francisco, Anchorage, Miami, and Singapore. Tim literally grew up in ports.

While Tim carries a strong business and maritime background, he also was a key leader, board member, and board chair for 14 years in the development and guidance of ECOSS, a Puget Sound regional environmental non-profit focused on environmental clean-up education and collaboration between business and ethnic communities.

Tim’s career and record of community involvement positions him to be our trusted representative who will listen and be a voice of reason and balance for the citizens of Pierce County as a Tacoma Port Commissioner.

Tim’s career highlights and outside affiliations are presented below.

• Over 21 years at EMA, Tim has served as a West Regional Director of Business Development, 2006 – 2007, Executive Vice President of the West Region, 2007 – 2009, Executive Vice President of EMA Practices, 2010 – 2016. Tim also had executive responsibility for Human Resources 2011 – 2017, and Business Services Group 2011 – 2016.
• Directed, as executive leader, numerous multi-million-dollar water/wastewater utility improvement and optimization projects for public agency utilities in the U.S. and in Canada. Focused on improving business process, technology, and organizational structure.
• Recognized trusted advisor to public utility executive leaders throughout the U.S. and Canada.

• Reviewed and supervised city budget of $143M, providing services to 72,000 citizens and unincorporated residents who view Gig Harbor as their economic and social center. Maintained 12 years of surplus ending budget balances, ample reserve funds and increased bond ratings to Aa2 (Moody’s) and AA (S&P Global).
• Lobbied US Congressmen, Senators and State legislators for city utility, transportation, and park projects and land acquisitions; built strong personal relationships; resulted in $50M+ in Federal,
• State and County funding. Negotiation team-member in four guild (Police, Supervisor & Labor) contract negotiations. Achieved City goals while maintaining labor relationships and creating a balanced and fair agreement in each negotiation.

• Directed $120M design, build, operate (DBO) project for Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), at the time the largest DBO in the U.S. Served as the managing officer for the joint-corporation, delivering the facility on time and within budget. Operated 120 million gallons per day (MGD) water treatment facility serving 650,000 customers of SPU, the largest water utility in Washington State.

PHILIP SERVICE CORP., SEATTLE, WA (acquired by American Water)

• Senior Operations Manager ▪ 1997 – 1999 Directed startup of Site Remediation Group. Converted Regulatory Group from an expense to a revenue generating entity. Initiated and managed launch of Industrial Cleaning Group.
• Manager, Business Development ▪ 1992 – 1997 Developed cross-selling program between Philip’s Hazardous Waste Division and Environmental Services Division.
• Project Manager ▪ 1990 – 1992 Primary lead for oil and chemical spill response operations & contract negotiations.

CROWLEY MARITIME CORPORATION, SEATTLE, WA

• Risk Manager ▪ 1989 Managed risk issues related to remote site operations on the Exxon Valdez oil spill response.
• Deckhand/Laborer/Foreman/Superintendent ▪ 1981 – 1989

AFFILIATIONS

• FISH Food Bank Capital Campaign, a Pierce County (WA) based community food bank; successful campaign raised $8.1M for construction of a new and expanded facility; funding goal achieved prior to construction. Board member, 2020 – 2021.
• City of Tacoma (WA), Tideflats Subarea Plan, a component of the overall City Comprehensive Plan related to the primary industrial economic area with impact to the City, the Port of Tacoma, Pierce County, the Puyallup Tribe, and the City of Fife. Facilitated meetings and workshops involving the elected leaders of the five governments. Facilitator, 2018 – 2019
• Gig Harbor History Museum, Board of Trustees, 2011 – 2017
• Gig Harbor Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, Chair 2012 – 2015
• Pierce County (WA) Flood Control Zone Advisory Committee, (County Executive appointed), 2012 – 2015
• Environmental Coalition of Seattle & the Sound (ECOSS), a Puget Sound environmental advocacy non-profit. Board of Directors, 1994 – 2007, Chairman, 1999 – 2007
• Western States Environmental, Inc., Board of Directors, 2002 – 2007
• Peninsula School District (WA), Member, Long Range Planning Task Force, 2006 – 2007
• American Water Works Association (AWWA), Member, 2001 – Present
• Water Environment Federation (WEF), Member, 2012 – Present
• AWWA Control Systems Cybersecurity Guidance Tool Development Team, Principal, 2013 – 2015
• AWWA Research Foundation (WRF), Energy Benchmarking Study for Wastewater and Water Treatment Facilities. Member, Working Group, 2001 – 2002
• Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific (IBU) – ILWU, Member 1981 – 1989

EDUCATION

• University of Arkansas, School of Law, Fayetteville, AR, Juris Doctor
• Seattle University, Seattle, WA, Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration
• Seattle University, Seattle, WA, Bachelor of Arts, English