If you have purchased a walk-on or bicycle ticket at Washington State Ferries terminal in Anacortes, chances are Jeani High sold it to you. She has been a fixture at the Anacortes Terminal for the better part of the past 25 years.
Jeani is an enthusiastic and loyal employee who is proud of the state ferry system and the work she does. In many ways, Jeani serves as an ambassador to those traveling through Anacortes.
Anacortes serves a diverse demographic including those traveling locally between the San Juan Islands and those who are traveling internationally to Sidney, British Columbia. Consequently, a big part of Jeani’s job as a Ticket Seller in Anacortes is to provide customer information. She provides information on how to connect with other modes of transportation, travel suggestions and much more.
“I get a lot of people from the east coast and Europe at the booth,” says Jeani. “Some of my customers have specific needs or speak very little English and I have to be able to communicate with them too.”
Jeani has traveled throughout the systems, including the San Juan Islands and Sidney, B.C., getting to know the routes and those who work at the other terminals. Those travels have increases her knowledge of the system so that she can better answer customers’ questions.
“When someone asks me something, I want to know the answers behind what they are asking,” she said.
It makes Jeani feel good when her customers come back and say: “that was a great alternate route you suggested” or “what a wonderful restaurant you recommended.”
Coworkers enjoy being around Jeani because of her positive energy and attention to detail.
“She goes the extra mile in all of her duties,” says Terminal Supervisor Glenn Welk. “In terms of getting and giving good information, she is very conscientious of the customers’ needs.”
Jeani is just as enthusiastic about her community as she is her work.
“I like telling my customers about all of the gorgeous things to see and do in this area. So if they miss the ferry, there are so many beautiful sights to see in Anacortes like Washington Park, which is a wonderful place to watch the ferries come and go.”
Jeani is also actively involved with the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, which does a great job of promoting business in the area, she said.
Jeani, who lives about a mile from the Anacortes Terminal, considers it her “home away from home.” Her coworkers in Anacortes know a lot about her family. Jeani’s husband, Dave High, is a relief Ablebodied Seaman for WSF. Their daughter Kelly, who is 18, works in the gift shop at the Anacortes Terminal. Their son Sam, who is 21, aspires to one day be an Oiler in the engine room of a state ferry. He is planning to attend Training Resources Limited in San Diego next year, which would qualify him to be an Oiler. Jeani also has two Maltese dogs: Lilly and Olie, who are almost as well know as at the Anacortes Terminal as her family is.
She began her career with WSF as a Traffic Attendant at Anacortes in 1982. After nine years as a Traffic Attendant, Jeani took a job as an on-call Ticket Seller, working throughout the system. In 1992 Jeani became a permanent Ticket Seller at the Anacortes Terminal, where she has been ever since. The town of Anacortes and the community have grown up during her time with the ferry system.
“I have seen so many little kids grow up who are now driving onto the boats themselves,” Jeani says. I love it when they remember me and tell me: ‘I remember you from when I was a little kid. I can really tell you like working here.’ That means a lot to me.”
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