Strategic Partnerships, Inc. salutes you, public sector officials: The Profiles in Power section spotlights and recognizes powerful figures across America’s public sector landscape. This week’s Profile in Power is of Chris Wimsatt, Chief Financial Officer for the Port of Seattle.
My public career highlights and education
As the Chief Financial Officer for the Port of Seattle, I lead the Budget, Capital Finance, Treasury, Accounting and Risk Finance functions for an organization with a $1.2 billion budget, a nearly $5 billion debt portfolio, and a $3.5 billion investment portfolio. The Port of Seattle owns and operates the Seattle Seaport as well as Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
I have spent my career in public finance, much of it in Aviation and transportation. Prior to joining the Port, I worked as Assistant Director of Airports as well as Chief Financial Officer for the Sacramento County Department of Airports, and prior to that as the Head of Finance for the Department of Aviation in Dayton, Ohio.
I have a bachelor’s in political science from Ohio University and an MBA from Western Governors University.
What I like best about public service
What attracts me to public service is the opportunity to have an impact – at scale – in the community that I live in. Even entry level people in public service contribute meaningfully to community outcomes that are seen and felt by the entire community. Whether you’re on a street-paving team, a mowing crew, or structuring financing for an important airport improvement, the role that you get to play as a public servant is forward-facing and a part of the fabric of community life. Playing a part in making those outcomes real is a source of immense pride for the many public servants that I work with every day.
Some of the best advice I have ever received
There are two indispensable pieces of advice that have guided my career:
- Don’t let your ambitions outpace your talents: This is advice that I received as an undergraduate student that I think about frequently. Rather than an admonition to dream small, it’s more of a reminder that we are all responsible for the self-improvement necessary to achieve big things, and that a big title or a big role is only meaningful if we are equipped to do the work. Big dreams carry an equally big responsibility for learning the new skills required to see them to fruition.
- Knowing how to get to “Yes” as a finance leader is a strategic differentiator: Many finance professionals develop their careers based on their willingness and ability to control the costs associated with other people’s dreams. That often means telling people “No” about spending decisions in artful new ways. What truly sets visionary finance leaders apart is their ability to identify the investments that their organization can’t afford not to make. Knowing when and how to get to “Yes” on spending makes a finance leader a constructive part of strategic planning.
Something I wish more people knew about my division of government
A lot of people understand that the Port of Seattle, like the port authorities in other jurisdictions across the United States, play an important role in facilitating travel and trade for their local communities. What would be great for more people to understand is that the Port of Seattle, through its core functions of financing, building and operating some of the most important trade infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest, delivers an economic impact comparable to major fortune-500 companies. The Port has both the opportunity and the obligation to facilitate growth for the region while serving as a conduit for global connection.
A current project or initiative that I am working on
The Port’s $5 billion five-year Capital Improvement Program is a constellation of major improvements that will serve as enduring testament to the creativity, resilience and vision of the region. These projects include important passenger improvements at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, projects on the Seattle waterfront, and environmental projects. The role that my team and I play in capital raising for those efforts, as well as in managing the day-to-day financial health of the organization that will deliver those improvements, is a role that I am excited to continue playing.
One thing outside of government service people may not know about me
I am a devoted history buff, and by that I don’t mean that I occasionally watch a YouTube video about World War 2. I go through phases of specialization, and I hyperfixate. My most recent deep-dive was on the Duchy of Burgundy that dominated the low countries during the ebb in French continental domination during the 100-years’ war. I have also read extensively on the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire (the successor state to the Roman Empire in the East), the history of civilization in Japan, the history of Iran, history of India, the (very long) history of Egypt, the histories of Islam and Christianity, the American Presidency, and recurring forays into financial history from pre-history to the rise of cryptocurrency. I am not an expert on any of these topics, and the more I learn, the more I realize I still don’t know!
