Bio for Randy

Beginning as a teenager in Fort Collins, I worked summers as a carpenter in residential construction while attending Colorado State University. After a two-year stint with the Peace Corps, I settled in Alaska and accepted a job as a project manager for a Fairbanks company that pioneered super-insulated homes with double-stud walls and energy recovery ventilation systems. I started just after a purchase contract was signed for the first model home to be built. I prepared the construction cost estimate, which revealed that the home's construction would be considerably more expensive than the sale price. I delivered that difficult news to the company principals and managed the construction while negotiating with the buyer and moderating internal conflict. That experience taught me the value of sound engineering, clear communication, and the lessons that come from a business failure.

Motivated to deepen my expertise, I earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks while working for the City of Fairbanks, including a water treatment expansion project. After graduation, I joined the nationally recognized firm RW Beck in Seattle, embarking on a career that would span more than 30 years in construction management and public works leadership. My work at Beck involved a risk management and mitigation plan for a Southern California solar peaking plant, an assessment of replacing the penstocks at the Fort Peck hydroelectric dam, a resolution to a lawsuit between a university and a regional construction company, and an innovative wastewater treatment system for Homer, Alaska.

My wife and I preferred the qualities of a rural community, so I then served as Public Works Engineer in Port Townsend during a period of rapid growth, where I worked closely with city leadership and community members while overseeing capital projects, developing stormwater regulations, managing utility infrastructure, securing grants, and ensuring environmental compliance.

I later helped launch a Habitat for Humanity affiliate. While it took a challenging two years to birth, I can only say that all we did was build one house and “strike a match.” Today, it is a $14M nonprofit with multiple projects, including a five-year, 3-phase, 158-home development in the heart of Port Hadlock that will combine low-income and workforce families to help address the housing gap.

I then joined Island County as Assistant County Engineer, leading large teams and delivering innovative, cost-saving programs for capital projects and road maintenance, and implementing an inter-agency countywide GIS mapping system supported by grant funding.

In the final phase of my career, I held senior leadership roles with the City of Port Angeles, overseeing City Light operations along with other utilities, and the Port of Port Angeles, at both of which I improved operational efficiencies through strategic purchasing and preventive maintenance systems serving two airports, two marinas, an industrial shipyard, a log yard, and 58 buildings. These efforts reduced costs and strengthened long-term infrastructure performance. After decades of public service and continuous learning, I retired with a broad range of experience in engineering, management, and community-focused solutions.

As PUD commissioner, I intend to listen carefully and work closely with fellow commissioners, staff, experts, and ratepayers to explore issues and determine how to obtain the best value for ratepayers while planning for the future.