The EDB Tacoma Pierce County is pleased to announce the addition of three new board members. Nominations of Carla Bowman, Deputy Mayor and Council Member of the City of Sumner, Dick Marzano, Port of Tacoma Commissioner, and Dave Morell, community leader were recently approved as board members at large by the EDB’s Executive Committee.

Carla Bowman

Carla Bowman serves as Deputy Mayor and Councilmember for the City of Sumner, Washington, elected to the City Council for the 2024–2027 term. According to Bowman, “I am representing the City of Sumner on the EDB Tacoma Pierce County. I’d like to bring my extensive experience to the EDB while inviting new and innovative businesses to the greater Pierce County area.  I have several years of experience in leadership in manufacturing, innovation, supply chain, and logistics. All these types of industries can benefit from various locations in Pierce County, due to the port system as well as the rail system.”

A passionate advocate for thoughtful development, public safety, and regional cooperation, Bowman is dedicated to ensuring Sumner remains a vibrant and inclusive place for all who live, work, and visit.  “Many people hear Sumner’s name and think of the small-town charm of Main Street, and we like that. However, it also means that few people realize Sumner’s more hidden identity: we are also the largest Manufacturing Industrial Center in Pierce County,” relayed Bowman.  She added, “Our local decisions and needs affect business and supply chains through Pierce County, the region and the country for industry leaders like Amazon.com, Costco, Cummins, Helly Hansen and Penny’s Salsa. I feel I can demonstrate and have healthy conversations with businesses that we would like to entice into Pierce County, as well as those that would like to choose Pierce County as their next location to do business,”

When asked why she accepted the nomination to serve on the EDB Board of Directors, Bowman was enthusiastic.  “The work the EDB is doing is so important to our region because without it, I feel not only Sumner and Pierce County, but Washington State could be looked over due to the ability of other states to show why they are the best choice for a business to reside in, rather than us.  The EDB is critical in the success of obtaining and sustaining lasting relationships with growth in the Pierce County region.”

Dick Marzano

Dick Marzano is a long-serving Port of Tacoma Commissioner dedicated to creating family-wage jobs and advancing port operations with a focus on sustainability and environmental stewardship. A Tacoma native and lifelong Pierce County resident, Marzano brings more than five decades of firsthand maritime industry experience to his leadership role.

He recently retired after a 52-year career as a Tacoma longshore worker, during which he served six years as president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 23. First elected to the Port Commission in 1995, Marzano has consistently championed economic growth, community engagement, and responsible development at the Port.

“As a Port of Tacoma commissioner I am dedicated to helping grow family wage jobs to the full potential of their growth,” said Marzano when asked about why he said yes when asked to join the EDB Board.  He added “I think the challenges we face today aren’t insurmountable and through the EDB I can help open the eyes of businesspeople to our great region.”

In addition to his work on the Port Commission, Marzano has held leadership roles on regional and statewide boards, including past president of the Washington Public Ports Association and member of the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Executive Board.  He is an active member of the Tacoma Propeller Club and the Transportation Club of Tacoma. With deep local roots and a career grounded in labor and logistics, he remains a passionate advocate for the working waterfront and the region’s economic vitality.

“I always look forward to helping with the hard-working EDB board and attracting new businesses, as well as helping existing businesses,” Marzano said.

Dave Morell

Dave Morell is a lifelong East Pierce County resident, having grown up on Lake Tapps and attended Sumner schools before settling in South Hill, where he has lived for over 40 years. A resolute public servant and community leader, Dave previously served as a state representative for the 25th Legislative District, sitting on the transportation and criminal justice committees.

Morell has an extensive civic involvement reputation, so he is a natural fit for the EDB Tacoma Pierce County.  “For over 40 years my companies have seen the ups and downs of economic cycles.  As an early investor in the EDB, my philosophy has always been to support like-minded organizations that have a vision and produce results, said Morell.  Over a forty-year span, Morell was the founder of several long-standing businesses in Pierce County.  He currently serves as Board Chair of Argus Manor, a 61-unit HUD Section 8 senior housing complex.

According to Morell, “Economic development encompasses the strategies, policies and activities that aim to improve the economic well-being and quality of life of a vibrant community including job creation, business retention and attraction of companies.  The EDB contributes to the long-term economic sustainability and prosperity of the region.”