Port San Luis Harbor District Operations Manager Casey Nielsen has been named the 2007 state harbor master of the year by his peers.

Nielsen received the award earlier this month during the annual training meeting of the California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains in Emeryville.

Nielsen, a five-year employee of the harbor district, was nominated for the award by other association members, he said.

“It's a great honor to be selected by your peers who know what you deal with ... a huge honor,” Nielsen said.

He added that the award isn't his alone, and attributed his nomination and win to the team effort that all port employees employ when they come to work.

Nielsen joined the Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains several years ago as an alternate for former harbor district manager Jay Elder, and was elected to the association's board of directors in 2005.

He still serves on the board, which is the policy-setting body for the association that oversees all aspects of boating on the California coast. Membership in the association is voluntary, Nielsen said.

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The award recognizes Nielsen for his public-safety leadership, and guidance efforts to ports and harbors throughout California; organizational, communication and adaptability skills with the association; and his willingness to provide financial auditing services to the association.

The Harbor Commission recognized Nielsen's accomplishment and most recent award during Tuesday's commission meeting.

Nielsen was born and raised in Atascadero, where he still resides. He's a graduate of Cuesta College and Cal Poly, and also works as a seasonal park ranger at Lake Nacimiento, which is located 15 miles north of Paso Robles.

Port San Luis Harbor District is the largest independent special district in San Luis Obispo County.

October 24, 2007