Rochelle Hicks
Rochelle Hicks was appointed as the Director of Visit Mississippi, the Tourism Division of the Mississippi Development Authority by Governor Tate Reeves in July 2023. As Director, Hicks oversees the state’s tourism brand, advances tourism initiatives, and promotes Mississippi to a broader domestic and international audience. Hicks leads the effort to promote Mississippi as a destination for tourists by highlighting the state’s rich history, cultural and natural resources, and recreational opportunities. She and her team oversee many notable programs and initiatives including the operation of Mississippi’s 12 welcome centers. Prior to her appointment, Hicks was Director of Advancement Initiatives at Canopy Children’s Solutions. She has over 25 years of experience in the Mississippi tourism industry, previously serving as Executive Director of the Mississippi Tourism Association (MTA) and Deputy Director of the Ridgeland Tourism Commission. During her tenure at MTA, Hicks played a vital role in passing legislation to promote the states Bicentennial in 2017 and Senate Bill 2193 in 2019, which provides permanent funding for advertising and marketing tourism. Hicks currently represents Visit Mississippi as treasurer of the United States Civil Rights Trail, the Mississippi Blues Trail, The Mississippi Country Music Trail, treasurer of Travel South USA and is currently president of Mississippi River Country. She is passionate about volunteer service and serves as a commissioner on the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service and Canopy Children’s Solutions. A Louisiana native, Hicks attended the University of Louisiana. She and her husband, Jason, have lived in Mississippi for more than 25 years. They have two children, Isabella and Ethan, who are students at Mississippi State University.
Appears in 1 Episode
Visit Mississippi Executive Director Rochelle Hicks
Visit Mississippi Executive Director Rochelle Hicks joined The Extra Mile Podcast to highlight prime Mississippi summer road trip locations. She also talked about Visi...