CHOCTAW, Miss. — Sarah Swanner-Medlock, a member of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians (MBCI), was recently selected as one of 48 standout Mississippians to participate in the Mississippi Economic Council’s (MEC) Leadership Mississippi Class of 2020. Medlock, a native of the Bogue Chitto Community, is the first MBCI member to be selected into the prestigious program and currently serves as Operations Manager for the MBCI Office of Economic Development.

“I’m excited about attending the classes and I hope to learn and make connections throughout the state,” said Medlock. “The more connections I can make, the more information I will be able to get that can be beneficial for us.”

Leadership Mississippi is an annual MEC program conducted by the M. B. Swayze Foundation and is the second-oldest statewide leadership program in the nation. Top business executives, community leaders, and elected officials in the state have participated in Leadership Mississippi as a way to expand their networks and possibilities for future success. Participants are selected by a committee of MEC’s Leadership Mississippi Alumni as they work together in a training program that combines individual study, group sessions, and project experience in using leadership skills.

“We’re going to tour different areas of the state and visit businesses to see what they do economically, how they are working with community colleges, training and workforce, and bringing in businesses. I hope to take all of that information I can and bring it back here to the Tribe,” said Medlock.

Medlock was encouraged to apply by John Hendrix, MBCI Economic Development director and 2008 Leadership Mississippi Alumni. He is pleased by her inclusion into the class and hopes she will acquire additional knowledge to optimize the Tribe’s economic development plan. “It will involve different aspects that she can bring back and apply to the Tribe to make the community better,” Hendrix said.

Medlock received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration, her M.S. in Education, and is presently a Ph.D. candidate at Mississippi State University. She resides in Collinsville and has 20 years of experience working with the MBCI, beginning with the Adult Education program, Head Start and now with the Office of Economic Development. She also had previous employment stints at Meridian Community College, Mississippi State University (MSU)-Meridian campus and the City of Meridian.

As Economic Development Operations Manager, Medlock performs a variety of administrative, technical, and professional work in preparation and implementation of economic and community development plans, programs, and services. She was instrumental in coordinating a National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER)-accredited certification for Tribal members. Once a Tribal member has attained certification in a specific construction or technical craft area, such as HVAC or electrical, they are added to a NCCER national registry. With their qualification registered, Tribal members can obtain a higher paying job anywhere in the U.S.

“I want to bring tribal members up. I want everyone to have their certification in anything they want to go into. That’s what I’m working with right now, the education, training and other projects that we have going on,” said Medlock.

As one of the United States’ original first nations, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is the only federally recognized American Indian tribe living within the State of Mississippi. With over 11,000 members, Choctaw lands cover over 35,000 acres in 10 counties. Providing permanent, full-time jobs for over 5,000 Tribal-member and non-Indian employees, the Tribe is a major contributor to the state’s economy.

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