Port of Seattle CEO Ted J. Fick appointed Dave Caplan as a member of the port’s executive team as director of the new Office of Strategic Initiatives.
Caplan will be responsible for exploring, developing and implementing innovative initiatives that support a high performance organization. He will work to ensure the port’s metrics are aligned with strategies, that programs support a high performance organization, and that the LEAN philosophy is incorporated into all aspects of the port’s business processes.
“He brings lengthy and broad experience in managing organizational change and developing strategies that improve operational efficiencies,” said Fick. “Throughout his career Dave provided leadership and direction to high performance teams, while improving quality and increasing productivity, and managing to achieve profitable growth.”Most recently, Caplan was a senior vice president for AGCO Corporation, a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of agricultural solutions. Prior to AGCO, he held various management positions at PACCAR Inc. He has a bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University, is trained in LEAN and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.
In addition to these strategic functions, Caplan also will provide leadership and direction to the Central Procurement Office. He will officially join the port on April 6, 2015.
About the Port of Seattle
Founded in 1911, The Port owns and operates Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, four container cargo terminals, two cruise ship terminals, one grain terminal, a public cargo terminal, four public marinas, and manages a number of real estate assets for financial return and economic advantage. The port’s operations currently help create nearly 200,000 jobs and $7 billion in wages throughout the region. Over the next 25 years, the port’s “Century Agenda” seeks to create an additional 100,000 jobs through economic growth while becoming the nation’s leading green and energy-efficient port. Learn more at www.portseattle.org.
