The WSU Vancouver Notable Alumni Award honors alumni who have made significant contributions to society, and whose accomplishments, affiliations, careers and/or community service reflect WSU Vancouver’s legacy of excellence. The award began in 2014 with 25 notable alumni selected as part of WSU Vancouver’s 25th anniversary celebration. Each spring, a committee chooses one notable alumna/alumnus for the year.
2024 recipient: Julianna Marler
Julianna Marler, the first woman CEO at the Port of Vancouver USA, is deeply committed to community.
Before joining the Port of Vancouver USA in 2008, Julianna Marler worked for the City of Vancouver, where she rose to become manager of procurement services. It was great preparation for her future as well as for her leadership in the community.
The Procurement Department touches every department in the city, so you get to learn about the services the city provides for our citizens. I was involved with many infrastructure projects such as parks, community centers, utilities, police and fire stations. With that, you really get a sense of pride about the role you play in supporting your community,” she said. “Public service becomes very rewarding once you understand the impact you can have on our quality of life.
Marler completed her bachelor’s degree in business administration at WSU Vancouver in 1994 while working full-time for a trucking company. She’d start work at 3 or 4 a.m. and get off at 1 p.m. so she could attend classes. “I was very fortunate to have a top university located in my community, allowing me to work and attain an affordable education,” she said.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Marler is the daughter of a couple who immigrated to Washington state from Hungary and was a first-generation college graduate. She currently lives in Battle Ground, Wash.
Marler had been working in the private sector before joining the City of Vancouver, where she worked for nine years. When a job opened at the Port of Vancouver USA to build a team to support the development of the port’s largest infrastructure project in its history, Marler was intrigued. “I had spent about half of my career in the private sector and half in the public,” she said. “The port was the perfect blend of both of those experiences. The port is a place where you not only can provide public service and investment in the community but also have a much greater reach than we all realize.”
She became chief financial and administrative officer in 2014 and CEO in 2016, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the port’s now 112-year history.
Marler’s involvement in the community extends to numerous volunteer and professional affiliations. Among others, she serves on the WSU Vancouver Advisory Council, as well as the boards of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, the Association of Washington Business, the Columbia River Economic Development Council Executive Committee, Columbia Credit Union and the American Association of Port Authorities. When she began serving on the national AAPA board, she was the only woman among 11 members; now four others have joined her.
As CEO, Marler has provided many opportunities for WSU Vancouver students. Under her leadership, the Port of Vancouver has hosted Future Leaders Project interns for four summers, provided mentorship and job shadowing, and has financially supported WSU Vancouver programs and events, as well as advocated for funding to grow the campus.
I love to make connections,” Marler said, “I will do what I can to bring people together, whether it’s a port-specific opportunity or an opportunity with the 50-plus businesses located at the port. We will continue to share feedback with WSU Vancouver on the skills our employers are looking for, so they can continue to develop programs that will help our students be prepared to find great jobs right here in our community.
Marler has presided over the port during a period of considerable community impact, including redevelopment of the port’s Terminal 1 waterfront property, climate initiatives, and a doubling in size of the port itself. Many people don’t realize the sizable role the port plays in Vancouver’s economic development as well as international commerce.
I feel very lucky,” Marler said. “Representing the port, you work with people around the world and learn about things they are doing in their communities, or how they can improve lives through their work. I bring home great ideas as well as share the amazing work being done in Southwest Washington. The greatest thing we can do is continue to be better and never stop learning.