Paula Dee Ann Campbell
Gilbertown,AL
Summary
I am an award-winning newspaper publisher with 24 years of experience in covering community events, governmental meetings, and issues that affect Choctaw and surrounding counties. My work has earned multiple awards for in-depth coverage of issues, including awards for public service, healthcare, agriculture, business, and issues related to demographic changes as it relates to workforce and economic development.
My role as newspaper publisher has also led to opportunities to serve the public and my community in a variety of capacities, including service on the Gilbertown Town Council and membership on multiple business and economic development boards and committees in an effort to better my county and promote the best interest of the public.
My experience with business development led me to gain my current role as Chief Industrial Development Officer for Choctaw County and Executive Director of the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce. The position has allowed me to further pursue my interest in the promotion and economic growth of the area.
It is my goal to continue to work for the betterment of this area of the state, provide assistance to area businesses, foster economic growth, attract new industry, bring in tourism, and create a better place to live for residents in this part of Alabama.
Overview
43
43
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Industrial Development Officer
Choctaw County Economic Development Alliance
Butler, AL
09.2022 - Current
• Recruit potential new business and industry for Choctaw County, Alabama;
• Develop and maintain database of industrial sites including specifications of property and existing buildings, water/sewer infrastructure, potential development prospects, other data related to development of sites for prospective industries;
• Research and pursue grant funding for industrial/economic development projects;
• Work with local, regional, and state economic development officials and organizations to promote Choctaw County for economic growth;
• Work with Choctaw County Commission on projects to promote industrial development;
• Develop relationships with existing business and industry to promote future growth.
- Developed and implemented community development programs to enhance local resources and services.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to identify funding opportunities and secure grants for various initiatives. Gained multiple grants for economic and community development projects, including Rural Business Development grants, infrastructure improvement grants, arts and history grants, technology improvement grants, and community beautification grants.
- Facilitated training sessions to educate community members on available resources.
Executive Director
Choctaw County Chamber Of Commerce
Butler, AL
09.2022 - Current
• Work with Board of Directors to implement programs to support local businesses;
• Maintain database of member businesses and work toward new member recruitment;
• Work with board members to create and implement annual budget and meet financial goals of the organization;
• Plan, organize, and implement promotional events to support and grow local small businesses;
• Work with small business owners to research grant funding opportunities for growth and development;
• Work with municipalities to plan and promote events that bring business into their communities;
• Plan and coordinate events to promote tourism, and research grant funding opportunities for those events;
• Work with various councils and committees to promote arts and educational opportunities for county residents and students.
- Directed strategic initiatives to enhance community engagement and economic development.
- Cultivated partnerships with local businesses to drive membership growth and retention.
- Implemented programs promoting tourism, resulting in increased regional visibility and visitor traffic.
- Facilitated workshops and seminars to educate members on best business practices and networking opportunities.
- Collaborated with government officials to advocate for policies beneficial to the local business environment.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
- Pursue and gain grant funding to support and promote local businesses, develop new business ventures, and promote workforce and economic development in the area.
Member of Town Council
Town Of Gilbertown
10.2020 - Current
• Work with mayor and council to make decisions related to operation of the Town
• Work with Mayor, council members, clerk to set annual budget for Town
• Set long-term and short-term priorities for town projects and needs
• Seek grant opportunities to fund town projects
• Plan, organize, and oversee events hosted by the Town
• Provide support for town employees, law enforcement, and fire department
Publisher/Managing Editor
The Choctaw Sun LLC
10.2003 - Current
- Oversee publication of print and digital products, including two newspapers and a quarterly magazine, along with multi-media platforms including internet television broadcasts and social media pages
- Oversee financial operations for corporation, including payroll and accounting for multiple publications
- Provide news content, coverage of governmental meetings, events, and issues for news publication
- Provided research for in-depth reports on local/regional demographics, economic trends, population data, healthcare information, and data on regional agriculture and business
- Winner of a long list of statewide awards for in-depth reporting on healthcare issues, agriculture and business, community events, editorials, and local news coverage.
- Design and produce news pages, website content, advertising
- Promote newspapers through public interaction
- Proofread, edit, and evaluate final copy for weekly newspaper publication
- Conduct editorial meetings with staff members to collaborate and review proposed publication suggestions.
- Delegate and track staff member's assignments and deadlines.
- Develop and maintain working relationships with key officials in public and private sector to provide accurate and comprehensive information to the public
- Develop and maintain network of contacts in state, regional, and local government as sources for news content
- Provide public service for the community through promotion of events, businesses, and organizations.
News Reporter
The Avery Journal
05.2003 - 09.2003
- Interviewed individuals for news/feature stories.
- Reported events and topics of interest for publication
- Researched and produced news reports.
- Typed and edited submitted news content for publication
Owner/Operator
Happy Hearts Daycare Center
08.1996 - 05.2000
- Managed day-to-day business operations.
- Consulted with parents to provide quality care for children
- Trained and motivated employees to perform daily business functions.
- Scheduled employees for shift rotations
- Managed budgets, accounts and costs of operation for business
- Planned meals, maintained budgets, and procured items for federal Child Nutrition Program
- Selected and provided educational materials for students
Medical Lab Technician
Choctaw Family Medical Clinic
07.1989 - 08.1992
• Collected blood, other samples for diagnostic testing
• Tested samples in chemistry, hematology, microbiology, serology, and urinalysis to aide in diagnosis of patient disease
• Maintained data records for laboratory testing
• Oversaw new lab trainees
• Provided instruction for new techs joining staff
Medical Lab Technician
Medical Pathology Lab
11.1985 - 05.1989
- Worked in microbiology and bacteriology
- Performed culture growth, testing of cultures, microscopic examinations to determine presence of pathogens
- Planned and performed culture testing to determine identity of pathogens to aide with diagnosis of disease
- Performed testing to determine which antibiotics would aide in treatment of disease.
- Handled hundreds of samples and culture projects on a daily basis
Medical Lab Technician
Meridian Regional Hospital
09.1983 - 04.1984
- Collected blood, body fluid samples for testing
- Performed chemical and pathological testing on blood, tissue, and body fluid samples to aid in diagnosis of disease and the planning of medical treatments
- Provided emergency response for on-call physicians when needed
- Worked with medical staff and assisted physicians with procedures and exams.
- Oversaw night shift in medical laboratory.
Education
Associate of Arts - Medical Laboratory Technology
Meridian Community College
Meridian, MS05-1983
High School Diploma -
West Lauderdale High School
Collinsville, MS06-1981
Skills
- Skilled writer with excellent communication skills
- Knowledgeable in marketing and business promotion
- Skilled in scheduling and planning
- Experienced in data and statistics research and verification
- Experienced in grant research, seeking funding options for small businesses, organizations
- Experienced in operation of governmental meetings
- Experienced in networking on local, regional, state levels
- Experienced public speaker
- Experienced in public service and public relations
- Experienced in promotion and planning of community events
- Detail oriented and organized
- Skilled in multitasking
- Skilled in the following computer programs: Photoshop, Microsoft Word, Excel, Quark Xpress, Adobe, Powerpoint, iMovie, Production Truck Broadcasting
- Proposal development
Accomplishments
• Newspaper reporter/publisher with more than 20 years experience in news reporting, including the coverage of governmental meetings, publication design, research, public/community service, and internet broadcasting.
• Appointed as Chief Industrial Development Officer for Choctaw County in Sept. 2022.
• Three-term member of Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce and Community Development Foundation Board of Directors; served as President in 2019; Now serving as Executive Director of the organization.
• Elected to Town Council for Town of Gilbertown in 2020 and re-elected in 2025. Currently serving as Mayor Pro-Tem.
• Elected State President of the Alabama Press Association, 2023; Member of APA Board of Directors since 2014.
• Member of Choctaw E911 Board of Directors; 2020-2022, served as Secretary of the Board.
• Named one of Top Women in Alabama Media by Business Alabama magazine in 2019.
• 2019 recipient of ‘Dedicated to Service’ award by the Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce.
• 2020 and 2025 recipient of the ‘Heart of Gold Award’ by the United Way of Southwest Alabama for service and volunteerism in Choctaw County.
• Active member of workforce development committees in Choctaw County, including programs for high schools and post-secondary education.
• Served on multiple Advisory Boards for Career Technical Education and Economic Development; Founding member of the Choctaw County Workforce Development Alliance; member of the Coastal Alabama Community College Workforce Advisory Council.
• Four-time recipient of the William H. McDonald Journalism Award from the Medical Association of the State of Alabama.
• 2014 recipient of the Alabama Farmers Federation Communications Award for agriculture reporting.
• Alabama Southern Community College's 2012 ‘Woman of the Year’.
• Worked to pursue and gain grants for infrastructure, beautification, tourism, and technology projects for Choctaw County and the Town of Gilbertown.
Affiliations
• Alabama Press Association, President in 2023, Chairman of the Board, 2024
• Alabama League of Municipalities
• Alabama Republican Party
• Choctaw County Chamber of Commerce
• Republican Women of Choctaw County, founding member
• National Federation of Independent Businesses
• National Newspaper Association
Certification
STAR certified Rural Economic Developer, Alabama Department of Commerce, 2023.
Timeline
Chief Industrial Development Officer
Choctaw County Economic Development Alliance
09.2022 - Current
Executive Director
Choctaw County Chamber Of Commerce
09.2022 - Current
Member of Town Council
Town Of Gilbertown
10.2020 - Current
Publisher/Managing Editor
The Choctaw Sun LLC
10.2003 - Current
News Reporter
The Avery Journal
05.2003 - 09.2003
Owner/Operator
Happy Hearts Daycare Center
08.1996 - 05.2000
Medical Lab Technician
Choctaw Family Medical Clinic
07.1989 - 08.1992
Medical Lab Technician
Medical Pathology Lab
11.1985 - 05.1989
Medical Lab Technician
Meridian Regional Hospital
09.1983 - 04.1984
High School Diploma -
West Lauderdale High School
Associate of Arts - Medical Laboratory Technology
Meridian Community College
References
• Mayor Mike Williams, Town of Butler
222 S. Mulberry Avenue,
Butler, AL 36904
1-205-459-3795
• Chief Jimmy Huckeba, Butler Police Department
222 South Mulberry Avenue
Butler, AL 36904
1-256-294-5279
• State Representative Brett Easterbrook
633 Escatawpa Road
Fruitdale, AL 36539
Office (House of Rep.) 334.261.0402
Cell 251-423-5336
• Nicholas Harrell, Director, Choctaw Co. Cooperative Extension Office
218 South Hamburg Street
Butler, AL 36904
1-334-643-7822
• Brenda Tuck, Executive Director, Selma/Dallas County Economic Development
Former director Alabama Department of Commerce, Rural Development Manager
912 Selma Avenue
Selma, Alabama 36701
334-875-8365.
btuck@selmaeda.com
• Jay Jimerson, Board of Directors, Choctaw County Industrial Development Alliance
214 Ida Avenue
Butler, AL, 36904
(205) 457-2502
• Brett Allred, Public Affairs Manager, Georgia-Pacific Corporation
308 Farley Lane
Butler AL 36904
1-405-334-2202
Award-winning journalist, Economic Developer
I have spent the last 24 years working in my community to provide information to the public and to help promote the area for business and industry. In addition to managing and publishing the newspaper in Choctaw County, I have been serving as the Chief Industrial Development Officer and Chamber of Commerce director for Choctaw County for the past five years.
CERTIFICATION
I gained my STAR certification as a rural economic developer from the Alabama Department of Commerce in 2023 and have a working relationship with that department. I’m currently working on two industrial development projects with the Department.
I am familiar with marketing and the listing of industrial properties and have a working relationship with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama – the EDPA – which is vital to property development and marketing in the state.
I am also familiar with the process to respond to RFIs and put together strategies for marketing properties.
LEGISLATIVE CONTACTS
Over the past decade, I have cultivated and gained working relationships with a list of state officials, including officials with the Alabama Department of Commerce and the Alabama Department of Workforce. I have developed close contacts with members of the state legislature as well as Alabama’s delegation in the U.S. Senate and have worked with legislators on a variety of issues that have affected this area of the state.
COMMUNICATIONS
When it comes to the flow of information to business, industry, governmental entities, and the public, I have spent much of life gathering and disseminating relevant information, putting it together in a coherent manner, and providing that information to ensure a more informed public. It’s what I do on a day-to-day basis. Communication is my strong suit.
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
I have personally written and gained a long list of grants for entities in Choctaw County, including grants for infrastructure projects, arts council projects, technology, historical, and business development grants. I can provide a list of those successful grant applications, if needed.
I spend countless hours on a regular basis searching for information on grant opportunities that I feel would fit a particular need in the area and have gained successful grant submissions that have brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars for projects within my community. I am currently working on six local projects that were made possible through grants that I submitted.
DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH
I have completed extensive research and provided information to the public about demographic and population changes, as well as other data related to the population of the area for more than 20 years. It’s been a specific focus of much of my reporting because I believe understanding and having access to this kind of information is key to addressing issues and bringing about change in our communities.