Susan Larsen’s People-First Approach to Business
As Chair of the Greater Kitsap Chamber Board and a key leader at Land Title Company of Kitsap County, Susan Larsen has become a linchpin in the region’s ongoing story of growth, change, and community resilience. Her journey is one marked by adaptability, mentorship, and a belief that the best kind of leadership happens when people feel connected and empowered.
A Journey Rooted in Adaptability
Larsen’s career in real estate began, as she puts it, “as a gal just trying to pay for her school books.” At just 20 years old, she was placed by a temp agency into a franchise sales administration role. What was supposed to be a short-term job turned into the foundation of a lifelong career.
From those first days, she found herself constantly filling gaps—supporting sales teams, learning the intricacies of paperwork, and eventually becoming a licensed agent in the highly competitive Bellevue market.
“My career has always been about filling in gaps, which is a lot in real estate,” she explained. “I’ve been the fill-in-the-gap girl.”
That willingness to step in wherever needed became a hallmark of her approach to business. After more than a decade as an agent, she returned to Kitsap, where her deep understanding of the industry and her passion for community connection found a new home.
At Land Title Company of Kitsap County, where she has worked since 2003, Laresn carved out a role that blends education, business development, and support for real estate professionals.
“My job is to connect with agents and lenders and convince them to use our services,” she said. “But it’s more than that—it’s about being a resource, solving problems, and building relationships that last.”
The Human Side of Real Estate
For Larsen, real estate has always been about people rather than paperwork. She delights in helping clients and professionals navigate what can often feel like an overwhelming process.
“When people ask me what I do, and I say I am in Title and Escrow, they ask me what the interest rates are. I’m not a loan officer,” she laughed. “We provide an insurance product to protect your ownership and property. We do the property research and handle the paperwork to close a real estate transaction.”
That may sound dry to some, but Larsen sees it differently. She views title and escrow as the backbone of real estate—an essential service that protects families’ most important investments. More importantly, she embraces the teaching aspect of her role.
“My love of teaching, my love of working with agents and trying to fix the challenges they encounter in their positions—for me personally, that’s what’s kept me in it,” she said.
Land Title itself mirrors Larsen’s emphasis on connection. The company has a legacy of continuity and community involvement that spans decades.
“We have deep-rooted community ties,” she said. “We have families—mother-daughter, aunt-niece, three generations working here. Our president has been here since she was 17. There’s a legacy we’re involved in.”
Navigating Market Shifts with Confidence
Over the course of her career, Larsen has witnessed the dramatic cycles of real estate: from the days of two-page contracts and 18% interest rates to the digital revolution and the upheavals of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I’ve watched the excitement to prove to regular people that real estate is your best investment if you do it right,” she said. “But when you have buyers who are waiting for interest rates to drop to 2.5% and they’re upset that they’re at 7%, you have to help them manage those emotions.”
For Larsen, that’s the heart of the job—helping clients and professionals manage expectations and emotions with honesty and education.
“Anybody in real estate, you are in charge of managing people’s emotions, and you manage them by educating them.”
She recalls teaching first-time homebuyer classes and watching the dynamics shift as prices soared. In her view, today’s slower market isn’t necessarily a negative.
“It used to be you’d take a listing agreement for two years because it took 120 days to get a contract. Now, it’s a lot slower again, but that’s not a bad thing. We’re still in a good market.”
She also sees the challenges that come with affordability and displacement.
“I know several young people who were renting, and as the market shifted, they were forced to move multiple times. Each time, the rent went up. Eventually, they had to move back in with family out of state. We see that a lot.”
These stories keep her grounded and remind her that real estate is never just about numbers—it’s about lives.
Land Title: Behind the Curtain, Ahead of the Problem
Land Title Company of Kitsap County often plays an invisible but indispensable role in real estate transactions.
“We’re the cheaper stop before it gets really ugly and before there’s money involved,” Larsen explained. “If a broker needs to find new business, we have tools to help. If a client can’t afford an attorney, we can be a resource. We’re behind the curtain, but somewhere along the line, we’re going to be involved.”
With three generations of experience and a deep archive of local knowledge, the company often serves as a bridge between ordinary concerns and complex legal realities.
“If you walk in and tell us your neighborhood, we probably know the property’s history,” she said. “That’s something you can’t get from an online form.”
Sometimes the questions are simple—like disputes over trees or boundary lines—but the answers require expertise and context.
“There’s something to be said when you can walk into a company and go straight over and meet the president if she’s available,” Larsen said. “We don’t have a mothership you have to call on the East Coast with a three-hour delay. There’s something very beautiful about that.”
It’s a mix of modern tools and old-fashioned customer service, and Larsen believes preserving that will be key in the future.
“Everything changed post-COVID, but I think you’ll find in every industry there’s a bit of a return to old-fashioned business and customer service. We like to think we’re part of that.”
Chamber Leadership: Building Community, Not Turf
Larsen’s influence extends well beyond her role at Land Title. As Chair of the Greater Kitsap Chamber Board, she has helped guide the organization through a period of transformation, including the merger of the Bremerton and Silverdale chambers.
She became Chair in July, following in the footsteps of community leaders she deeply respects.
“You talk about Chamber leadership—we have the father of a former president. Both of them were chairs with the Bremerton Chamber several years down the road. Steve, another former president, was chair and absolutely thrilled that I can be part of that legacy,” she said.
For Larsen, the Chamber is about collaboration, not competition.
“I’ve always said, it’s about business, not about turf. How do we communicate that? How do we make sure the Chamber is a tool in your toolbox, but you have to open the box and use the tool?”
Her platform is built on participation, engagement, and accountability. She wants members to feel both the value they receive and the value they contribute.
“My platform is participation and engagement from all angles,” she said. “It’s a challenge, but it’s also what makes the Chamber valuable. We want people to know there’s great value for them and their business, and that they’re valuable to us as well.”
From advocacy on transportation and workforce issues to creative networking formats, she sees the Chamber as a think tank and a safe place for business owners.
“The Chamber offers a think tank,” she said. “It’s a safe place for you, and you know that they’re all advocating for you as a small business owner.”
Women in Leadership: Bringing Unique Perspectives
As a woman in leadership, Larsen reflects often on the perspectives women bring to real estate and business development.
“Real estate, in particular, is about 65% women,” she noted. “There’s a lot of negotiating, hand-holding, and emotional management—skills that are very natural in the real estate field.”
She acknowledges that gender roles can be a delicate subject, but she firmly believes that diversity of perspective strengthens organizations.
“Feeling and emotion have a place,” she said. “If the membership doesn’t feel like they belong or have a voice, where are we? We’re stuck. We’ve got to embrace these things and keep evolving.”
Looking Ahead: Growth, Accountability, and Hope
As Kitsap County continues to grow, Larsen is both pragmatic and optimistic about the future.
“We have to prepare for FIFA, which is a huge challenge,” she said. “But we also have to focus on participation, engagement, and accountability from all directions. It’s not enough to just have a social group. We want to make a community stronger.”
Mentorship and legacy are never far from her thoughts.
“At some point, you have to go from production to mentorship,” she reflected. “If you convert that into a community sense, it’s about sharing stories, passing down knowledge, and making sure the next generation is ready to lead.”
For Larsen, navigating growth with confidence isn’t just a slogan—it’s her way of life. Whether she’s guiding a nervous first-time buyer, mentoring a new Chamber member, or helping Kitsap County prepare for its next stage of development, she brings a steady hand, a generous spirit, and an unwavering belief in the power of community.
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