North Star Port

Director of Trade and Business Development, Duluth Seaway Port Authority Goals have always been central to Kate Ferguson's life. Growing up in Alpena, Michigan, and through early college at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Ferguson focused on being the best hockey goaltender possible, then shifted her energy to women's soccer. Twenty years later, she and her husband are well on their way to achieving a goal of running foot races in all 50 states by the time they turn 50 as well as playing hockey together on a weekly basis. And professionally, as director of trade and business development for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, Ferguson sets high goals and standards for herself and the port community. Relationships are a big part of the job. Ferguson is committed to building and maintaining strong connections with the individ- uals, businesses and organizations that make the Port of Dulu- th-Superior a multimodal transportation hub and cargo capital of the Great Lakes. That includes folks that operate the port's 20-plus privately-owned bulk cargo docks and terminals; the Duluth Cargo Connect facilities; logistics partners that support related to environmental clean-up and cap- ping underway in the Duluth- Superior Harbor, and helping to develop Paddle Safe Twin Ports (paddlesafetwinports.org ), a program focused on recreational boating safety throughout the work- ing waterfront. Her tenure also coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. "During COVID, we had to deal with mariners who tested positive while onboard vessels and issues related to that," Lyons said. "It was a very strange time." In 2021, Lyons left Duluth for Washington, D.C., where she worked as USCG fellow for Alaska Sen- ator Lisa Murkowski, hoping the move would take her back to The Last Frontier. "It worked. I put in for the chief of inspections job in Anchorage and that's where I am now," Lyons said. This summer, she will be promoted and head the prevention department for USCG Sector West- ern Alaska and U.S. Arctic. "The Coast Guard and maritime in general is such a fun work environment," she said. "You get out on the waterfront, meet with differ- ent people and learn about the shipping industry, which is such a critical piece of America and so import- ant to our economic pros- perity. I would encourage anyone interested to do it, especially women." Kate Ferguson 12 | NORTH STAR PORT | SPRING 2026 ABBIE LYONS POSES WITH THE WOMEN FROM PLATOON Z-3 DURING HER U.S. COAST GUARD ACADEMY DAYS IN 2005. Abbie Lyons CONTINUED

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