Dan Stahl never expected to end up on a high school leadership page. If you'd met him as a restless teenager who could barely sit still in class, you wouldn't have expected it either. A late bloomer academically, he found his calling not in the classroom but at sea, choosing to become a merchant mariner. That decision allowed him to focus and, more importantly, gain real responsibility at a young age, eventually working as a licensed deck officer on American ocean-going vessels. After earning a master's degree at MIT, he came ashore and spent the rest of his career on the working waterfront — culminating in his role as CEO of the Port of Longview, from which he retired in January 2026. He now serves as Principal of Port Advocate, offering leadership coaching grounded in his maritime career to leaders of all kinds.

Dan trained as a coach at SeattleCoach and brings decades of real-world leadership and a deep respect for the character, purpose, and compassionate leadership Bishop Blanchet strives to instill in its students. His faith in Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of his life. He's glad to offer organizational leaders on campus a confidential coaching partnership as they navigate the everyday challenges of leading with purpose and heart.

Contact Dan:

dan@portadvocate.com