Missy Kendrick

Missy Kendrick is currently employed as the President & CEO of Choose Columbus/Development Authority of Columbus, Georgia. She has worked in the chamber/economic development field in middle and northwest Georgia for over 30 years and came to Columbus in May 2025 from Rome, GA where her economic development efforts landed Rome in the Top Ten MSAs in the country two times in three years! Since arriving in May, she has worked with new and existing industries and has already seen success with twelve announcements representing $6.26 billion, 1,596 new jobs and 3,314 retained jobs.

Ms. Kendrick has a bachelor's degree in management from Gordon State College and is a certified Economic Development Finance Professional. She is also a graduate of the Institute for Organization Management and the Economic Development Institute.

Ms. Kendrick is an active member of the Georgia Economic Developer's Association and has served on a committee or as Board Member since 2008 and was elected as Chair of the statewide organization in 2018. She currently serves on the Public Policy Committee and the GRAD Certification Committee. She is also active with Southern Economic Development Council, a 17-state organization and was elected as Georgia's Director on the board for 2024-2025.

On the community service side, she is a Past President of both the Rotary Club of Barnesville and the Rotary Club of Polk County. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards for volunteer service, as well as "Career Woman of the Year," "Business Person of the Year," and "Outstanding Citizen of the Year." She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Columbus Technical College.

Ms. Kendrick considers herself a serial entrepreneur and has owned and operated several businesses over the years, giving her a unique perspective into the challenges faced by small businesses.

Before moving to Columbus, Ms. Kendrick attended the First Methodist Church of Cedartown where she sang in the choir and played in the hand bell choir. She also played alto horn with the Roman Festival Brass Band and the Broad Street Brass Band. She has two children and became a new grandmother in February 2024!