Former Dexter man again chosen for district role for statewide trade organization

Brian Thompson, president and chief executive officer of Lebanon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (Lebanon-REDI), was re-elected this week by regional peers to serve as a district director on the Missouri Economic Development Council (MEDC) Board of Directors.

MEDC is the authoritative voice on economic development and related issues in Missouri. A statewide, nonprofit association of economic development professionals and community leaders, MEDC has been the unified voice of Missouri economic developers since 1979. Each year, seven different MEDC districts elect district directors to leadership roles to help unite members within their respective boundaries. Thompson was one of two professionals picked to serve MEDC District 6, which covers 26 counties in southwest Missouri.

“I am humbled that my peers from MEDC District 6 have once again selected me to serve as a co-director on the MEDC Board of Directors on behalf of our region,” said Thompson. “This continues a long-standing tradition of regional and statewide MEDC service by Lebanon and Laclede County economic development officials.”

MEDC drives economic growth through program initiatives and alliances with other economic development entities. This collaboration gives MEDC members access to industry-leading professional development, public policy, legislation and marketing communications programs. Whether working independently or in cooperation with partners, MEDC, its members and professional staff are effective, efficient and reliable.

“Lebanon-REDI has been able to maintain an important presence within the MEDC organization throughout our years of existence,” said Marc Roecker, chairman of the Lebanon-REDI board of directors. “We are pleased that District 6 economic development leaders once again elected Brian for this regional position, thus continuing REDI’s strong role within the statewide entity.”

Thompson is a 1999 graduate of Dexter High School with a pre-journalism degree from Three Rivers Community College (2001) and a degree in journalism with an emphasis on public relations from Arkansas State University (2003). His parents are Jimmy and Thelma Thompson of Dexter.

For more information on MEDC, visit www.showme.org. Additional information on Lebanon-REDI can be found at www.LebanonREDI.com.