Port of Ridgefield enters into contract negotiations for CEO position

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Port of Chehalis CEO Randy Mueller is returning to his old stomping grounds in Ridgefield.

Having previously worked as the Port of Ridgefield’s business development director, Mueller is returning to the northwest Clark County community sometime in the coming months to fill its head spot, according to an Aug. 25 Facebook post from the Port of Ridgefield.

Mueller will succeed outgoing Ridgefield CEO Brent Grening, who is retiring after 24 years of service to the community, the port says. Ridgefield’s port authority board at a meeting last month approved entering into contract negotiations with Mueller.

Mueller said he’s hoping to start in his new position the first week of January. Grening’s retirement date is set for Jan. 3, according to Ridgefield.



“Lewis County was my home. I graduated from Centralia High School and it was a real thrill to come back for seven years and work,” Mueller said, adding he met his wife in the area and established a family. “I’m just really excited about the future, both in Ridgefield, where I’m going back to, and I’m excited to see where my successor takes Chehalis. It’s a great time.”

The Chehalis port CEO of seven years announced his planned departure back in June. Since then, Chehalis port commissioners have worked to outline and execute plans to find his replacement. The first round of candidates will be selected early in September, with multiple rounds of interviews taking place in the preceding weeks.

Roughly two dozen candidates have applied to fill Mueller position at the Port of Chehalis, he said.