Visit Jackson CEO Chosen by Mississippi Business Journal Among Mississippi Top CEOs

The Board of Directors and staff of Visit Jackson has announced that Dr. Rickey L. Thigpen, President & CEO of Visit Jackson, has been named by Mississippi Business Journal as one of Mississippi‘s Top CEOs.

Dr. Thigpen, along with other winners, was honored during a special breakfast Thursday, January 26, in downtown Jackson at the Old Capitol Inn at 226 North State Street.

“This remarkable recognition is truly a reflection of the work ethic of my team and the collaborative ambition of stake holders that support me week in and week out,” said Dr. Thigpen. “The landscape of tourism has changed drastically since the pandemic. This honor is a powerful testament to the strength of our strategic investments and growth, coupled with the fortitude of all who make up the tourism industry who have gone the extra mile this year through many adversities. I’m grateful to serve in this capacity.”

A special issue will be published in February featuring the 2023 honorees including their photos and biographies. The special publication will be distributed to all print and online readers of the Mississippi Business Journal. It will also be available at select distribution outlets across the state.

The full list includes:

Dr. Jay Allen - Itawamba Community College

Patricia Bennett - Mississippi College School of Law

Janet C. Benzing - Delta Health -Northwest Regional Nancy Luke Carpenter- Visit Columbus

Michael Chancellor - Chancellor Inc.

Dr. Rozelle Chapman - Mallory Community Health Center

Tina Seymour Demoran - Seymour Law Firm

Dr. Mary Graham - Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Tripp Hammett - Hammett Gravel Company

Cynthia Henderson - Cypress Environment & Infrastructure

Thomas Hudson - Jackson State University

Dan Keown - Steel Dynamics Columbus, LLC

Bill Lavers - Harrison County Development Commission

John McKay - Mississippi Manufacturers Association

Martin Eugenio Palomo, IV - Pinnacle Wealth

LuAnn Pappas – Scarlet Pearl

Tyler Raborn - Raborn Media

Muhammad Sohail - Seimens Energy/ Richland, Ms.

Charlie Smith - UniTek Global Services

Belinda Stewart - Belinda Stewart Architects

Dr. Rickey L. Thigpen - Visit Jackson

Quentin Whitwell - Progressive Health Systems

Tkeyah Williams - Mamas Nature’s Juice Bar

The Mississippi Business Journal, founded in 1979, is a statewide weekly business newspaper, located in Jackson, Mississippi. Each issue contains news coverage relating to the Mississippi business world along with regular opinion and freelance columns.