POULSBO — Jan Harrison has resigned as executive director of the Greater Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce to return to business consulting. Her resignation takes effect Dec. 31.

During her tenure of two years, the chamber moved its offices from 8^th Avenue to Highway 305, meetings became more focused on networking and on newsworthy speaker programs, and membership grew from 328 to more than 450.

“Jan was the right person at the right time,” board president Jessie Nino said in an announcement issued Sept. 16. “We needed a lot of energy that would motivate others to roll up their sleeves and launch some big initiatives. She pulled us together to relocate and refresh the chamber office to its current location on Highway 305. She drove the sorting of years of records and helped clean up our membership and financial data.

“Jan also brought a renewed energy to our monthly luncheons. Our luncheons are now conveniently held in the center of our service area. Attendance has reached record levels and our members rave about how the luncheon activities create valuable business connections.”

Nino, a financial adviser with Edward Jones, said Harrison improved the relationship between the chamber, city, county, other chambers, and regional economic development organizations.

“Perhaps most important, she moved this chamber to one of inclusion, rather than exclusivity. She’s positioned us so that businesses want to be a part of the fun rather than feel obligated to join us.”

Harrison has been executive director of the chamber since December 2012. Prior to her appointment, she worked for the chamber as a consultant, with the title of director of business development.

Harrison said she sought to make the chamber more relevant to businesses. “The newer style is, let me offer you something that you find engaging and is attractive to you,” she said.

Meetings include activities like speed networking. Members have had the opportunity to listen to Mayor Becky Erickson on her vision of where the city is going in five to 10 years, and to share with her what they’d like to see more or less of in the city.

“I’m passionate about this community,” said Harrison, a Poulsbo resident since 1988. “I’m a proponent of how communities can work together and ensure they have a strong quality of life.”

Harrison is staying on the job through the end of the year. Among her projects: Planning the January community awards gala and the 2015 business directory.

As a business consultant (J. Harrison Solutions), Harrison specializes in crisis management. “I need to work with teams that need my help,” she said. ”My forte is crisis management — I’m never happier than when I get a call from an organization that is stuck in the mud. That’s my idea of fun.

“The chamber is in a great place, so I’m no longer needed. I’m someone who fixes things — I assess, I repair, I move on.”