Commissioner | Position #3
Email: Deanna.Keller@portoftacoma.com
First elected to commission: 2019
Current term: Jan. 1, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2023
Current Commission Office: President

Deanna Keller is a native Washingtonian and longtime Pierce County resident. Keller is a Marine Corps veteran who served for five years in the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band in Washington, D.C. She graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, and worked toward a doctorate degree at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. 

Keller was the co-owner of Kel-Tech Plastics Inc., a Tacoma-based custom plastics fabricator, and served as its CEO and president from 2008 to 2020. Prior to Kel-Tech, she held a variety of positions over her 24-year career with the Puyallup and Clover Park School Districts, including high school teacher, district program administrator and school principal. 

Keller has been active as a business advisor for Tacoma School District’s middle school STEM program and worked with the Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County on its “Place for Jobs” initiative. She previously served on the board of trustees of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts (now Tacoma Arts Live) for eight years. She participates as a member of the Transportation Club of Tacoma, Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Tacoma Propeller Club, Rotary Club of Gig Harbor and the Northwest Marine Trade Association. 

Keller is focused on economic development and recovery, working to ensure that there is equal access and training for career, family-wage jobs in Pierce County. As a former business owner, she is committed to responsible environmental stewardship practices that exceed regulatory standards. A collaborative leader, she has been working closely with other local and state governmental agencies to maximize multiple agency resources.

Port of Tacoma Committees

• Audit (chair)
• Workforce Development
• Strategic Business Initiatives

Northwest Seaport Alliance Work Groups   

• Audit (co-chair)
• Environmental
• Internal Governance
• Trucks

Outside Boards & Committees 

• Pierce County Flood Control Zone District
• Joint Municipal Action Committee
• Pacific Northwest Waterways Association
• Pierce County Regional Council
• Regional Access Mobility Partnership
• South King County Area Transportation Board
• Tacoma Waterfront Association
• Tideflats Subarea Plan Steering Committee
• Alaska State Chamber of Commerce (alternate)
• Economic Development Board Tacoma-Pierce County (alternate)
• Manufacturing Industrial Council (MIC) South Sound (alternate)
• Puget Sound Regional Council Economic Development Board (alternate)
• Pierce County Workforce Development Council
• Tacoma Youth Marine Center 
• Tacoma Schools Career & Technical Education General Advisory Committee
• World Affairs Council of Tacoma 
• Pierce County COVID-19 Cares Act Steering Committee
• Economic Development Committee - Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce, WA
• South Sound Military Community Partnership’s Elected Official Council