Meet Michael Shepard

Michael Shepard is an educator, community advocate, and three-term Bellingham Port Commissioner. He has taught at Western Washington University, Northwest Indian College, and Whatcom Community College, working to support students and strengthen educational opportunity across the region.

Elected countywide, Michael has earned a reputation for pragmatic leadership and a collaborative approach to problem-solving. As a Port of Bellingham Commissioner, he has worked closely with community partners, local governments, tribal nations, and industry leaders to advance projects that strengthen our regional economy, protect Whatcom County’s natural resources, expand public access, and create new opportunities for working families.

His leadership has helped drive major initiatives in economic development, environmental stewardship, and support for the local fishing, maritime, and small-business sectors—always with a focus on delivering results that make a real difference in people’s lives.

Key Achievements at the Port of Bellingham

• Modernized and reactivated the Bellingham Shipping Terminal, supporting union, family-wage jobs

• Secured nearly $20M in federal funding to reconnect the terminal with rail access

• Obtained $2M to plan an International Arrivals Terminal at Bellingham International Airport

• Expanded publicly owned, open-access broadband fiber into rural Whatcom County

• Established Seafeast, celebrating local fishing and maritime economies

• Opened the Bellingham Waterfront District, including the Portal Container Village and Waterfront Pump Track

• Supported construction of the Millworks Low-Income Family Housing Development

• Ended the Harcourt master developer contract to put the Waterfront District back on track

• Adopted a Climate Action Plan for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

• Installed the largest municipal solar energy systems in the county at Bellingham Airport & Cruise Terminal

• Sponsored popular Waterfront District festivals including Fire and Story, Noisy Waters Mural Festival, and Bellingham Tune-Up

• Provided ferry access for Point Roberts residents during the pandemic

• Purchased and preserved a heritage agricultural farm and advanced development of a WSU Berry Lab

• Negotiated a historic sovereignty and permitting agreement with Lummi Nation, establishing Squalicum Harbor as home port for the Lummi commercial fleet

• Partnered with the City to plan a new Waterfront District Skatepark

• Completed a major environmental cleanup of Blaine Harbor

• Designed a new port-managed boatyard planned for operation in 2027