The departing executive director of the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce will begin leading the Camarillo, Calif., chamber Jan. 17.
Jennifer Wells MacGillonie has served as the executive director of the Jefferson County chamber for about two years. She announced in November that she would step down.
Her last day in that position will be Tuesday, she said Saturday.
The next day, she will begin the move to California, where she will be known as Jennifer Wells, having reverted to her maiden name after her divorce from Martin MacGillonie.
“I really will always consider Port Townsend my home,” she said.
She has lived in Port Townsend for 10 years, during that time owning and operating several businesses.
She won the 2005 Business Leader of the Year award and served on the chamber board — one year as president — for six years.
MacGillonie took over as the executive director upon Rod Davis’ departure in March 2009 after he had served for only five months. She also acted as interim director prior to Davis’ tenure, as well as after Tim Caldwell’s resignation in June 2008.
MacGillonie accepted the Camarillo post in December.
She stopped operating The English Inn bed and breakfast that month.
She has the house that housed the inn up for sale.
At one time, she was co-owner with her former husband of Dockside Cleaners.
She told the Ventura County Star that the architecture of Old Town Camarillo reminded her of downtown Port Townsend.
“Old Town really attracted me,” she said. “It’s like a town center and has that feel to it. I want to make certain I take advantage of things like that.”
“I love the fact that Camarillo’s chamber is very well-functioning,” she told the newspaper.
“It’s got a lot on the ball, and it is very politically active, which is the best way to advocate for businesses.”
Michael Lavenant, the chamber’s board chairman, mentioned Wells’ technological savvy as one of the reasons she was selected for the job.
“She’ll take the chamber to a whole different level,” Lavenant told the newspaper.
The Jefferson County chamber plans to have a new director in place by the end of January, said board member Mike Cavett, adding that final interviews were planned early this week.
Kris Nelson, Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce president, had said that MacGillonie would be “sorely missed.
“Her leadership and expertise helped us grow from the Port Townsend chamber to the Jefferson County chamber,” Nelson said.
