Rod Jackson is considering his next venture after leaving the Barrie Chamber of Commerce.
The former MPP parted ways with the Chamber last week after taking the post as CEO in Nov. 2015.
"The crux of it is there's a big inability to agree on operations and strategy going forward there and it got to the point where I think somebody needed to go. It was either going to be them or me and it ended up being me," Jackson said.
Jackson notes the Chamber was experiencing the best net growth in membership in ten years and the best event revenue it's ever had.
"I was enjoying it and was really happy with the way things were going but sometimes you can't always agree on how to move forward," he said.
"I think the board is used to being involved at a very granular operational level. It was really difficult to do the job with 13 people giving direction, having different ideas on the way things are going."
There have been several changes at the top of the Chamber in the past couple of years.
Jackson was selected to lead the long-term revitalization and rebranding of the group.
"The Chamber has been shattered once again," said Chamber Event Manager Louise Jones. "Our mission is to promote and advocate for businesses in the community. Our goal is to help them become successful. We ask that they advocate to save the Chamber."
Jones also emphasized how well the Chamber was doing under Jackson's leadership.
"Rod was a pleasure to work with and we all worked very well together. Our membership numbers were rising; revenues from events increased significantly; the Chamber was becoming revitalized."
Chamber First Vice President Patricia Dent told BarrieToday that Jackson left the Chamber to go back to running his own business.
"We wish him well," Dent said, adding the Chamber would be issuing a news release today.
Jackson wishes the Chamber future success and says his next move might be to start his own business or find another opportunity.
For now, he says he doesn't know.
