Big Changes at Port and BMS

DAYTON – Brad McMaster's last civic activity in Dayton will be handing out candy to kids on Main Street during Halloween, and it will also be his last day on the job.

McMasters, who has been the Economic Development Coordinator for the Port of Columbia County since Feb. 2015, said he will join United Way of Walla Walla as the Director of Development on November 13.

"So much of the work in economic development is capacity building and community development and making the community a more vital and healthy place to be," he said.

McMasters counts his work on the Blue Mountain Trails, Ridges, Towns and Rivers project committee, his work creating business classes and workshops, and working on regional workforce development issues, among his greatest accomplishments, he said.

Through his service on the United Way of Walla Walla Board of Directors for the last two years, McMasters has served as an important conduit, connecting United Way to Columbia County.

"We were able to get United Way, Jr. Achievement, and the Community Council of Walla Walla connected to Columbia County," he said.

He named getting the Jr. Achievement Program into the Dayton School District as one of his greatest achievements.

"It's a great program," McMasters said.

He said his time at the Blue Mountain Station has been rewarding and fruitful.

"I have helped a lot of new businesses. I have learned as much from them as they have from me," he said.

Since moving to Dayton from Seattle in 2002, McMasters said he has made many friends, here and he cherishes the relationships he has established, first, as a restaurateur at the Weinhardt Café, and then when he served as the manager at the Dayton Chamber of Commerce from 2013-15.

McMasters said he wishes he could be here to see the bike trail from Dayton to Waitsburg become a reality, and he would like to be around to help with job creation from Columbia Pulp spin off.

"That will be exciting to see," he said.

"Dayton has been good to me. It gave me a purpose for making a difference and working with people who have been working on Dayton," McMasters said.

"I've learned so much working with Jennie (Dickinson) who has improved the Port's assets," he added.

Port Manager Jennie Dickinson said, "The Port appreciates Brad's work over the last two and a half years and we will miss him very much."

She said the port will begin advertising for that position later this year.