Brian Thompson, president and chief executive officer of Lebanon Regional Economic Development, Inc. (Lebanon-REDI) and a former Dexter resident, was selected last week by statewide peers to serve as an at-large 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, MEDC members select 14 district directors representing seven sub-regions of the state and three at-large directors to serve in positions representing the state of Missouri overall. Thompson served two years as a co-director for District 6, comprised of 26 counties in southwest Missouri, prior to his statewide appointment.

“I am humbled that my peers from throughout the state of Missouri have chosen me to serve as an at-large director for MEDC,” said Thompson. “Lebanon and Laclede County have benefited from representation on the MEDC board for several years and I am truly honored to continue this tradition in a different role as an at-large director.”

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.

“We are grateful that the MEDC Board of Directors recognizes the importance of a Lebanon and Laclede County presence for its organization,” said Marc Roecker, chairman of the Lebanon-REDI board of directors. “Congratulations to our Lebanon-REDI president Brian Thompson on his recent advancement on the MEDC Board.”

Thompson is a 1999 graduate of Dexter High School. He earned his associate of arts degree in pre-journalism from Three Rivers Community College (Poplar Bluff) in May 2001 and his bachelor of science degree in journalism, emphasis in public relations with a minor in marketing, from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Ark., in 2003.

Thompson is the son of 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.