Port Commissioners

The Port of Vancouver USA has a three-member Board of Commissioners that sets policy and direction, and approves all major expenditures. Their responsibilities include appointing major administrative staff, which are the executive director, the port auditor, and legal counsel. Commissioners are elected to six-year terms of office by the voters in the port districts. Port commission meetings are open to the public and are normally held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, 9:30 a.m., at the administrative office of the Port of Vancouver USA at 3103 Lower River Road, Vancouver, Washington.

Nancy I. Baker
Commission President

After 14 years as a port employee, Commissioner Nancy Baker was elected as the first female commissioner in the Port of Vancouver’s nearly 99-year history.  She is currently serving as the 2011 vice president of the commission. First elected in November 2003 and again in 2009, Ms. Baker is a graduate of Hudson’s Bay High School and attended classes at both Portland State University and Clark College.

In 1996, Ms. Baker was named one of Clark County’s Women of Achievement by Clark College and the YWCA. In 2006, she received the Community Service Award from the SW Washington Labor Roundtable and the Central Labor Council; and in 2007 was named by The Columbian newspaper as one of the 100 Most Powerful Women of Clark County. Ms. Baker has served on numerous boards and commissions and currently is active with the Regional Transportation Council and the Vancouver Downtown Association.

The mother of two and grandmother of four, Ms. Baker is married to Ray Barney. Prior to her work at the port, Baker spent 10 years in business management with a multi-million dollar retail store, as well as several years in the heavy, marine and building construction industry. Ms. Baker represents the Port of Vancouver’s District 2. Her current term expires December 31, 2015.
 

Jerry Oliver
Commission Vice President

Mr. Oliver was elected to the Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners in 2007 and is secretary of the board for 2011. Oliver was born and raised in Flint, Mich., and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Michigan. His career includes 20 years in the medical products distribution business, and a seven-year stint in the financial brokerage business. Oliver also was selfemployed for eight years, when he worked in mid-market mergers and acquisitions. He retired from business in 2008.

Oliver and his wife of 49 years, Joan, have two adult daughters and six grandchildren. He is an ardent hunter, fisher and backpacker and has been active with various conservation organizations and in his church, where he has served in a variety of capacities over the years.

He is a strong proponent of limited taxation and sustainable economic development. His current term expires December 31, 2013.

Brian Wolfe
Commission Secretary

Brian Wolfe was elected to the Port of Vancouver Board of Commissioners in 2005 and is president of the board for 2011. He will also serve on the executive committee of the Columbia River Economic Development Council (CREDC). Mr. Wolfe operates his own legal practice in Vancouver and has more than 40 years experience as an attorney. He helped create the CREDC, and served as chairman of its board of directors from 1983-1994. He currently serves on the general advisory committee of the Clark County Skills Center and on the Board of Directors of the Southwest Washington Community Land Trust. He is also president of the Vancouver Dawn Lions Club, and has held leadership positions with the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Clark County, the Clark County Social Services Administration, Identity Clark County and the Columbia River Education and Workforce Council (CREWC).

He holds a B.S. from Whitworth University in Spokane and earned his doctor of jurisprudence degree from Willamette University in Salem. His current term expires December 31, 2017.