NEWS RELEASE For More Information:
For Immediate Release Port Communications Manager Carolyn Casey:
April 7, 2005 360-676-2500
LYDIA BENNETT HIRED AS PORT REAL ESTATE DIRECTOR
[Bellingham, Wash.] The Port of Bellingham is pleased to announce the hiring of Lydia Bennett as Port Real Estate Director. Bennett, currently the President of Saratoga Commercial Real Estate, will begin work at the Port on May 16.
“It was important for the Port to retain someone with a private sector background to work with the Port’s current and future tenants,” said Port Executive Director Jim Darling. “Lydia is known throughout the region for her high caliber real estate skills and her understanding of the local business community.”
Bennett was a key member of the Port and City of Bellingham’s Waterfront Futures Group, which developed a bold, community vision for the future of Bellingham’s waterfront. She also is a member of the Downtown Renaissance Network. In 2004, Bennett was noted as a “Mover and Shaker” by the Bellingham Business Journal.
“The opportunity to work on the various Port real estate projects is so very exciting and intriguing to me that I couldn’t pass it up,” Bennett said. “While it is somewhat sad to leave my current position and the people I work for and with, I am looking forward with great anticipation to the challenges that this position will bring.”
Bennett will be responsible for managing and marketing the Port’s real estate holdings and guiding the Port in strategic real estate investments, such as property on the Blaine and Bellingham waterfronts. The Port of Bellingham has more than 1,600 acres of property, including waterfront, commercial, industrial and mixed-use areas, as well as major land and marine transportation terminals. Nearly 300 businesses lease buildings or land from the Port of Bellingham or its tenants.
Bennett earned her bachelor’s degree in economics at the Western Washington University, graduating magna cum laude. She is in the process of completing her CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Manager) designation, a designation held by only six percent of the estimated 125,000 commercial real estate practitioners nationwide. Bennett also is a Certified Property Manager®, a designation awarded by the Institute of Real Estate Management to the top professionals in the real estate management industry.
Bennett established Saratoga Commercial Real Estate in 1994. The company manages and provides brokerage services for 690,000 square feet of commercial, industrial, office and retail properties. Before launching the business, Bennett worked as the Marketing Manager for Crown Point Development, Inc. Bennett also has worked as the Asset Manager for the Trillium Corporation.
Before beginning her work with the Port, Bennett will transition out of her role in Saratoga Commercial Real Estate and, over the next several months, will phase out of being the broker of record for that company.
The Port of Bellingham operates Whatcom County’s major transportation terminals including the Bellingham Airport, Fairhaven Transportation Station and the Bellingham Cruise Terminal. The Port also serves about 2,000 moorage customers in its Blaine and Squalicum Harbors. The Port of Bellingham is a countywide independent special purpose government.
