McBride named Chamber Director

The Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce proudly announces Amanda McBride as their new Chamber Director. She officially began her role on July 1, 2022. McBride will succeed Donna McKay, who retired in June.

McBride served as the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce’s Communications Coordinator for seven years before being promoted. In this role, she worked in every aspect of the Chamber and community development, which prepared her to serve as Chamber Director.

“Serving the Chamber and Choctaw County as Chamber Director has been one of my goals for several years. I’m thankful to the Choctaw County Economic Development District Board and the Chamber of Commerce Board for giving me this opportunity,” said McBride.

“The Chamber has a bright future, and I’m excited to lead us in that future. We will continue serving the Choctaw County community while adding and changing things to serve our businesses and members better. We have great things coming from the Chamber!” she added.

While serving as Communications Coordinator, McBride has trained in community and economic development and attended many workshops and conferences. This year, she completed the Mississippi Economic Development Council’s Emerging Leaders Fellows program and is currently enrolled in the Community Development Institute (CDI). McBride has completed Year 1 of CDI and is looking forward to finishing the program and earning her PCED designation. In addition, she earned her IOM designation in 2018 when she completed the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organization Management. In 2018 – 2019, McBride completed the Mississippi Development Authority’s Aspire Mississippi Program and the ACT Work Ready Communities Boot Camp.

She also earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with an emphasis in Journalism from Mississippi State University.

Outside of community and economic development, McBride loves to spend time with her husband, Josh, and their two children, Hope, 12, and Luke, 8. In addition, she writes as a freelance journalist taping into her journalism background.

McBride is a member of the Ackerman Elementary School PTO, the Choctaw/Webster County Republican Women’s Club, serves as a stringer for the Associated Press, and volunteers with the Choctaw County Summer Youth Baseball/Softball League.