Port Commission

Commissioner Colleen M. McAleer represents District 1 (east) and has served as a Port Commissioner since January 2014.

Colleen McAleer served for two years on the staff of the Port of Port Angeles before becoming a Commissioner. As the Port’s Marketing and Property Manager and the Director of Business Development, she became deeply familiar with the operations of the Port and the business opportunities that exist for Clallam County. With state and community partners, Colleen spearheaded what became the Composites Recycling Technology Center Advanced Composites Center. This brought Clallam County into the state and national spotlight as a proactive community partner supporting advanced composite technologies and innovative manufacturing processes.

Colleen and her family arrived to Sequim in 2002. For nine years she was a successful small business owner, offering business and commercial real estate brokerage services in Clallam County.

Community and State involvement: Colleen has served on multiple boards including Peninsula College Foundation, Sequim Design Review Board and the Clallam County Economic Council. Today she serves on boards for the following statewide organizations: Washington State Center of Excellence for Aerospace & Advanced Manufacturing, Washington State’s US Global Leadership Coalition, and the Seattle Sports Commission.

Since 2015, Colleen’s full time role has been with the Washington Business Alliance. The Business Alliance is one of the state’s premier business advocacy organizations. As the president, she leads a team of professional experts to manage the business non-profit, its communications, government affairs and organizational development with members and partner organizations.

Education & Military Service: After graduating from Florida Institute of Technology on a full scholarship, Colleen served as an US Army Aviator and a Military Intelligence Officer for ten years. She flew both helicopters and fixed wing aircraft while stationed in Europe, Asia and North America. Colleen is a decorated combat veteran. She deployed to the Middle-East as a platoon leader during Desert Storm.

She has two terrific boys, Jack and Nicholas. One attends Cal Poly studying electrical engineering and the other is a senior at Sequim High School. She is married to David Gilles, owner of DEGilles Construction.