February 25, 2025
Since 1976, the United States has celebrated Black History Month in the month of February due to Carter G. Woodson’s establishment of Negro History Week in 1926. This month draws attention to the significant contributions and achievements of African Americans throughout history. The Port of Seattle has benefitted from the brilliant minds and tremendous efforts of the many Black people who have worked for the Port. One of those brilliant minds is that of Delmas Whittaker, Director of Marine Maintenance.
Delmas is a committed advocate of diverse and small businesses. You may recognize him from his time speaking on a panel with our Business Accelerator cohort or at many of the PortGen training and networking events he attends. Learn more below about his journey to becoming a director at the Port, and how equity, and partnership with small, diverse businesses factor into his work.
Background
Tell us a little about your professional background and what you do at the Port.
I’ve been a proud member of the Port family for over 17 years and am currently the director of Marine Maintenance. I have the pleasure of managing about 154 skilled laborers and non-represented staff that provide maintenance for all our maritime properties along our 19 miles of waterfront- including our industrial parks along the Duwamish waterway. I also oversee a mighty fleet team that takes care of about 600 pieces of equipment that supports the Port’s corporate, executive, and construction services teams.
I landed at the Port after retiring from 25 years of service in the United States Navy. My first job at the Port was as the Logistics Manager of Aviation Maintenance which is one of the largest departments at the Port. Simultaneous to that, I worked as the small works manager and even wore a third hat as the interim manager for the planning department. About six years ago, I moved over to the Maritime Division where I served 3.5 years as the Senior Manager for Fishing and Commercial Services, managing the Port’s first property, Fishermen’s Terminal, Salmon Bay Marina (our newest Port property), and the Maritime Industrial Center which is one of our older properties. I’m thankful the Port has awarded me with many diverse experiences which allows me to lead with knowledge from a multitude of angles.
Representation
During your tenure at the Port, how have you seen it change?
When I arrived at the Port, I noticed it was a very diverse group of people working in various capacities. What I think has changed since then, that we should be proud of, is that we have more representation in higher leadership than before. To see people like Lance Lyttle, Dwight Reeves, Kenny Lyles, Dawn Hunter, Mian Rice - someone that looks like you that has risen to the top is inspiring.
I worked for a very wonderful and powerful woman by the name of Jennifer Mims who was my senior manager when I was in my logistics position at the airport. She always encouraged us to put in the hours at the Port so we could strive and compete for higher level opportunities. Now that I am in a leadership position, it’s incumbent on me to emphasize that leadership roles like mine are for those who work hard and include those who look like me too.
What impact does it make having Black employees and Black leadership at the Port?
I think representation provides courage to employees letting them know they too can be leaders here and elsewhere. Ten to fifteen years ago there may have been Black people and people of color that may have not thought they could be at the C-Suite level at our agency because of the make up of our leadership for the last 100 years. Representation serves to dispel that. It also serves as a great reminder to our agency that there are more than enough qualified people of color for these jobs.
For example, I am part of the employee resource group, Blacks In Government (BIG), which has been around since 1975 to promote inclusion, growth, and power for Black people in federal, state, and local government workplaces. I once served as the president of the Port of Seattle’s Chapter of BIG and I still attend their national networking events. When I go to a national Blacks in Government conference and see Black people with various titles holding their doctorate degrees, working GS13 jobs and who are open to opportunities around the country, I know we have no excuse to not have Black representation at the top.
"When we ask for representation, no one is asking anyone to lower their standards. I can’t emphasize that enough. What we’re asking is to find more opportunities for those who are incredibly qualified and to think beyond our preconceptions of what it looks like to be qualified."
When we ask for representation, no one is asking anyone to lower their standards. I can’t emphasize that enough. What we’re asking is to find more opportunities for those who are incredibly qualified and to think beyond our preconceptions of what it looks like to be qualified. The way we did it in the past didn’t encourage enough young Black, Latino, Asian, Native, etc., people to be part of our prestigious group which is the Port. We have a responsibility to those we serve to remind anyone that has had doors shut in their face that they too can work here. I’m thankful the Port allowed me to have discussions around the way we recruit our talent, and I know the Port has done a lot to increase diverse representation at our agency.
Supporting Black Businesses
How have you seen the Port support diverse business owners and Black business owners over the years?
People both in and outside of the Port have played a huge role in our support of diverse and Black business owners. I would be remiss if I didn’t shoutout Director Mian Rice for the work he and his team have done in Diversity in Contracting to support more women and minorities get contracts at the Port. I remember being at the airport when some of the first PortGen events were being launched to encourage businesses to bid on different contracts and provide them with the resources and connections to help them understand the projects, so they were in better position to get a slice of the pie. These events have really helped opportunities blossom through the Port.
I also give credit to the former Managing Director of Economic Development, Dave McFadden, who was a champion for women and minority owned firms. He helped the Port make certain investments in outreach around the region that weren’t immediately on our radar but have helped expand contracting opportunities. He’s also the person that built the Port of Seattle’s Diversity in Contracting department!
There are also those outside the Port like Eddie Rye that came in from the community and worked hard to make it clear where we should be working harder to afford opportunities to businesses in the Black community while also educating us on the challenges they face. Through his diligence and support, community partnerships were formed over the years, and we’ve been able to find more opportunities for women and Black-owned businesses.
I’m proud the Port has been proactive in casting a wide net by exposing underserved communities to the maritime industry. We have other investments like the South King County Fund, and the Youth Maritime Career Launch so young people can investigate pathways to living wage jobs in our industry. We’ve had so many great launches over the years that have continued to make us a presence in the community and made us put our money where our mouth is.
Why is it important that the Port connects with Black business owners, WMBE firms, and small business owners in general?
How could we not work with the people that have a rich history in the central district and around the region that have been here since our city really started coming alive? Seattle is a port city that has a rich and vibrant Black history, and we’ve missed opportunities to make that relationship better. Why look elsewhere when there are capable hands in our own community?
"I’m thankful I wasn’t seen as someone that wasn’t “built” to do the work that I did. We need to make sure we don’t do the same thing to Black and diverse business owners because, like me, they are very capable of doing our jobs well."
Some time ago, I remember speaking with a captain of a fishing vessel and I remember him saying, “You know, some people aren’t built to be at sea”. But as a 17-year-old kid that could barely swim when I went to the Navy, I rose to the rank of lieutenant commander navigating a 96,000-ton displacement aircraft carrier because someone led the way for me. I’m thankful I wasn’t seen as someone that wasn’t “built” to do the work that I did. We need to make sure we don’t do the same thing to Black and diverse business owners because, like me, they are very capable of doing our jobs well.
What kind of needs does your division have and how could people get in contact with someone from the Maritime team to supply your needs?
We’re a very diverse group that has a lot of different parts and pieces to it. When I think about how small businesses owners and WMBE firms can be a part of the business we do, there are multiple ways to get connected with us.
Marine maintenance owns the responsibility of maintaining the maritime assets and there are opportunities to partner in the area of goods and services. Our logistics manager, Garrett Terwilliger, is the best person to connect with especially if you’re a supplier. He supports contracts that are above $20K so connecting with him could be a great opportunity to hear more about our specific Goods and Services needs. Also, we have some properties that are a little long in the tooth that need upgrading and our energized Waterfront Project Management (WPM) team led by Tin Nguyen is always looking for more contractors to support Small Works and Capital Projects for our Maritime properties. Once again, we support the fishing industry, the Port’s cruise ships, industrial parks, and the industrial lands we operate in. I would encourage anyone that has experience supporting any of the areas we support to reach out to the Diversity in Contracting team, [email protected], so they can connect them with Garrett, Tin, or myself.
A unique opportunity we have to offer is that we have some capacity to help small businesses find a home. There is office space at our Fishermen’s Terminal and at the Maritime Industrial Center for firms looking to find a place of settlement. Nevertheless, for any of these opportunities, please don’t hesitate to connect with me if you see me! I try to make it to PortGen events or at the very least have marine maintenance representatives there. I always welcome an opportunity to exchange business cards and have a conversation. I also have no problem being a connecting point for people too!
In your role as director of Marine Maintenance, how do you lead your team to towards equity, and opportunities for Black people and all people?
I do my best to lead by example. The Port’s values of respect, anti-racism and equity, integrity, stewardship, and excellence (RAISE) is something I base all my work on and use as a foundation. And because I believe so much in these values, I encourage my peers and team to adhere to them as well. Once again, it starts with me. In this position, I need to demonstrate the same values our Port preaches to its employees and be the first to humble myself and be willing to get educated in the struggles of our contemporaries.
When I first got here, I had a friend by the name of Lindsay Pulsifer who was the general manager of marine maintenance at the time and would go on to be the managing director of the Maritime Division. She and I connected a lot through our work. She was on the forefront of supporting women in their maritime career pursuits and became a voice for those who didn’t feel they could openly express themselves due to their sexual orientation. She is not only a Charles Blood Award recipient but was also recognized with the Pat Davis Women’s Outstanding Achievement award at the Port because of her exceptional contributions. Her example and the example of others at the Port remind me to continue their legacies of inclusivity. I’m extremely honored to be in the small group of recipients of the Charles Blood Champion of Diversity Award and I’m proud others within my department that are also recipients and several colleagues in my department have also been nominees for that award since its inception. We’ll always be a work in progress, but my team is dedicated to building a culture of inclusion in the place we call the maintenance department.
Black History Month
How will you commemorate Black History Month this year?
For me I want to recommit to being a leader that continues to shed light on our community, so we won’t be forgotten or shoved to the side. I was proud of the work our country has done in recent history because it kept us honest and reminded us that there’s a struggle Black people are forced to fight on many fronts. Right now, we have large obstacles to overcome, and many Black businesses and people will be displaced by certain policies or the lack thereof. We still have a lot to do around equity and I want to do my best to lift people and our firms up to stay the course and continue the journey.
Delmas represents the best of us here at the Port. We are thankful for him, the Black-owned firms, employees, and community partners that have been instrumental to the Port’s development and transformation. It’s fitting that this year the Black History Month theme is African Americans and Labor. This theme focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people. The Port invites you to learn about A. Philip Randolph - the father of the Black labor Movement and learn more about the origins of Black History Month and check out Black History Month events offered by the Northwest African American Museum.
Read about the journey of a Black business owner who has contracted with the Port: Samuel Obunike, O’Bunco Engineering
