POULSBO — Adele Heinrich has resigned as executive director of the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce, effective Nov. 15.

“It’s just time,” she said from her office on Tuesday.  She said she plans to stay in Poulsbo and may pursue a new career.

Heinrich joined the chamber on Nov. 13, 2007. She previously was administrator of the Sons of Norway lodge in Poulsbo. She moved here in 2005 from Portland, Ore., where she was bookkeeper for an advertising firm.

Chamber President Tom Taylor announced Heinrich’s resignation Tuesday in an email to chamber members.

“The chamber has experienced great changes over the past four years with the many accomplishments that Adele has implemented at the chamber,” Taylor wrote. “Adele, with Katherine Quade’s help, was instrumental in the forming of the Poulsbo Marketing Coalition, where Poulsbo benefited by marketing all events and entities under one umbrella of the lodging tax dollars.”

Heinrich helped establish the Americana Music Festival, and was instrumental in the planning of the Poulsbo Street Dance and in the development of the Westsound Business Expo.

“Adele was involved in the creation of the North Kitsap Tourism Consortium and bringing tourism to our community through the ferry system,” Taylor wrote. “Other Greater Poulsbo Chamber committees that were formed throughout her tenure were the Military Affairs Committee, Ambassadors Program, Chamber involvement in the Viking Fest Parade, the expansion of the Poulsbo Community Guide and the Volunteer program, as well as many other committees.

“Even in these tough economic times, we have been able to increase our membership base when many chambers have reduced in size.”

Taylor said the board will begin accepting applications for a new executive director in mid-November, and will make a decision in early January.