PORT OF SEATTLE 
MEMORANDUM 

COMMISSION AGENDA             Item No.      4a 
Date of Meeting       April 27, 2010 
DATE:    April 12, 2010 
TO:      Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
FROM:    Marjorie Hillson, Senior Manager, Diversity and Consulting Services 
Kristal Roberts, Senior Organizational Development Consultant 
SUBJECT: Special Order of Business Women's Outstanding Achievement Award 

BACKGROUND 
The Port of Seattle Women's Initiative also began in 2001, with the following purpose:
"To advance the mission of the Port by enhancing the inclusion, capability and equity of the women
who work here." 
Under the leadership of Kristal Roberts, the Women"s Initiative has sponsored periodic retreats to
discuss issues related to the mission statement. Products of these retreats have included founding
of the Port"s administrative professionals network, known as "ASAP" and creation of the Port"s
mentoring program (open to both men and women). In 2007, the Women"s Initiative launched an
annual celebration of women"s accomplishments at the Port which takes place in conjunction with
Women"s History Month in March. 
In 2010, twenty-four Port women were nominated for the Women"s Outstanding Achievement
Award, and a total of five nominees (two were nominated as a team) were selected by a panel of past
nominees for special recognition based on their exceptional contributions to the Port"s success
during the preceding year. 
The women honored are as follows: 
1.  Stephanie Jones Stebbins, Senior Manager, Seaport Environmental 
Stephanie received two nominations, both of which lauded her excellent qualities as a leader and
as someone who represents the Port at community events. Particularly noted was Stephanie"s
role in creating and implementing the Port"s Northwest Clean Air Strategy. One of her
nominators noted that "by observation we all see a woman, mother and leader of grace,
accomplishment, vision and hard work."

COMMISSION AGENDA 
Tay Yoshitani, Chief Executive Officer 
April 15, 2010 
Page 2 of 2 
2.  Jennifer Lewis (Health and Safety) and Desiree Prewitt (Human Resources and
Development) were nominated as a team for their role as co-global systems administrators
for the Port"s Learning Management System. 
According to their nominator, "Desiree"s and Jennifer"s contributions have been instrumental to
the success of this implementation.it was their joint work and true partnership, under the
guidance of a governance team, that has made a difference to the organization." It"s worth
noting that the Port"s LMS launch was nominated by the vendor, Plateau, for a "best launch of
the year award," and was the runaway winner when participants in Plateau"s annual conference
voted. The other finalist was a multi-national company with more than 20,000 employees. 
3.  Elizabeth Morrison, Senior Manager, Finance and Budget 
Elizabeth was cited for her "outstanding leadership in working with the Port"s financing team,
airport and project management staff, the rental car companies, and the Port Commission to
develop and implement a revised financing strategy that led to a successful bond sale in June,
2009." This bond sale allowed the rental car facility project to restart after construction was
suspended late in 2008. In addition, Elizabeth"s nominator noted that "she leads with a quiet
humility while consistently acknowledging the accomplishments of others." 
4.  Deb Sorenson, Sr. Aviation Financial Analyst 
A thirty-one year Port employee, Deb works on pursuing grant opportunities for the Airport.
Her work on an FAA grant in 2008 and 2009 was of particular note. In 2008, the FAA indicated
that the Port would receive a $20 million grant for the rehabilitation of Runway 16C. When the
grant was issued in 2009, it was for $18 million. Deb immediately started discussions with the
FAA that ultimately led to an additional grant of $3.9 million. In the end, the Port received
more grant money (a total of $21.9 million) than anticipated. Deb"s nominator also noted that
"It is important to recognize what we might flippantly think of as the "rank and file". While Deb
has a very broad range in dealing with folks throughout the organization, you have to work with
her on grants or problems before you may be aware of her valuewe are all very proud of her
ability as a Port employee and a woman"