As the City of Nome prepares for a $548 million port expansion, it’s turned to a familiar face to keep the ship on course. Former Port Director, Joy Baker, has returned to a Project Manager role where she will focus on projects related to the expansion.
Once complete, the port will become the U.S.’s first deepwater port in the Arctic. Its 40 foot depth will allow for large cruises ships, cargo vessels, and every U.S. military ship except aircraft carriers to dock.
Baker previously served as Nome’s Harbormaster from 1997 to 2013 before stepping into a Special Projects Manager role. In 2015, she served as Port Director until June 2023 when she announced her intent to retire just as the port headed toward receiving funding from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The City of Nome moved to retain Baker during the critical time by signing her to a Project Manager role. Her contract expired at the end of May 2024 and Baker’s retirement briefly began. Following what she described as mutual interest in returning to the Project Manager role, Baker made the decision to end her retirement.
“I just realized that I really wasn't done with the project, but I didn't want to come back and tie up the majority of my time with the port director position,” Baker said.
The City of Nome has struggled to fill the Port Director position vacated by Baker over a year ago. Baker said salaries in the private sector have made it difficult to attract qualified candidates for the position, particularly as the project heads toward in-water construction next year.
Baker said her time will be spent focusing on satisfying requirements for a U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Port Infrastructure Development Program grant that is helping to fund the port expansion. The grant is just one piece of a huge web of people making the project possible, and Baker said she’ll be tasked with making sure they all stay on track.
“Talking to people, WebEx, Zoom, Teams, meeting with designers, the state, our own engineers, the corps, FEMA. There's more than enough to do and I feel as if I'm essentially picking up the ball that I sat down when I left,” Baker said.
After spending a short summer away, Baker said she’s happy to be back to the community she called home for over 30 years.
“It feels pretty good. Every time I've gotten off the jet, coming into Nome it always feels like I'm coming home, that feeling doesn't change,” Baker said. “It was a nice break, but I'm glad to be back on deck and prioritizing the needs, working with the Commission, and trying to keep all the ducklings coddled up and moving forward.”
