Karen R. Goon

Established public sector leader

Karen has held a variety of administrative and leadership positions throughout the Puget Sound region and is well versed in the issues and challenges of working in a public sector environment.  Prior to joining the Port of Seattle, Goon served as Kitsap County Administrator reporting directly to the County Board of Commissioners, overseeing Administrative Services, Facilities, Human Resources, Information Services and Commission staff.  She also served as a liaison between the Commission and the other separately elected county officials and public facing departments.   

Prior to Kitsap, Karen held several roles within Pierce County government including civil deputy prosecuting attorney, interim director of the Medical Examiner’s Office, Administrative Services Manager, deputy and interim director of Public Works and Utilities Department, and Special Assistant to the County Executive for Regional Transportation Issues. Notable Pierce County projects that Karen participated in include the expansion of the Chambers Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Chambers Bay Golf Course.

The Deputy Executive Director is a member of the Executive Leadership Team and works with all departments to move all Port initiatives forward. Her duties include overseeing the Port’s continuous process improvement efforts, Strategic Initiatives, Engineering and Construction Services, Port of Seattle Police, and Central Procurement Office Departments.

Education: 

• Master’s Public Administration from Seattle University
• Juris Doctorate from Seattle University School of Law 
• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Seattle University