Ryan Calkins

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About Commissioner Calkins

Ryan Calkins was elected to the Port of Seattle Commission in 2017 and re-elected in 2021. Ryan works as a nonprofit professional at Ventures, a charitable organization that supports low-income entrepreneurs to start and grow their businesses in the Puget Sound area. For more than a decade, Ryan ran an import and distribution company in Seattle that was recognized for its industry-leading sustainability initiatives. In 2007, he formed Seattle Microfinance Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs with limited economic resources. Ryan began his career in Central and South America, working for disaster relief and human rights nonprofits.

He received his Master of Arts from Yale University in International Relations and his Bachelor of Arts from Willamette University in Religious Studies. Born and raised in Edmonds by a public school teacher and a small business owner, Ryan now lives in Seattle with his wife and three children.

Commissioner Calkins focuses on sustainable economic development at the Port of Seattle, working to ensure that our region's prosperity is shared among all our communities. Ryan balances current needs with a long-term vision for the Port of Seattle, to ensure that one of our region's most valuable public assets will continue to thrive for generations to come.