Greenbank Farm Tenants Question Port of Coupeville's Executive Director Search Process

Tenants at Greenbank Farm and residents of the broader Coupeville community raised concerns Thursday about how the Port of Coupeville is conducting its search for a new executive director, questioning whether the process has been sufficiently transparent.

The scrutiny centers on the port's effort to replace Chris Michalopoulos, the long-time executive director who is retiring this spring. Michalopoulos's departure marks a significant leadership transition for the port, which oversees Greenbank Farm, one of Whidbey Island's most distinctive public assets.

The specific concerns raised by tenants focused on process and transparency, though the port has not publicly detailed what selection criteria or timeline are guiding the search. For Greenbank Farm tenants, whose livelihoods and operations are directly tied to decisions made by port leadership, the identity and priorities of the next executive director carry practical weight.

The Port of Coupeville has not announced a replacement candidate or a finalized timeline for completing the search.