By Larry Tucker
An East Texas native has returned to the piney woods where she has been named as the new Executive Director of the Quitman Chamber of Commerce. Megan Whitworth will begin full-time at the chamber position in May, moving from Arkansas into the newly created position which is part of the City of Quitman.
Earlier this year, the Quitman City Council approved a position in the city which called for a full-time Executive Director of the Quitman Chamber of Commerce. The position is now funded by the city with full local benefits. The role is a partnership between the City of Quitman, the Quitman Development Corporation (QDC), and the Quitman Chamber.
Whitworth Ready for the Challenge
Whitworth is excited to be leaving Arkansas and coming to Texas, especially East Texas. In an article in the Wood County Monitor in March, Whitworth stated, “I’ve spent my entire career telling stories of communities I care about. Now I am excited to bring that same focus to Quitman by highlighting businesses, celebrating our people, and sharing what makes this place special.”
Whitworth does have a local connection in her family. Her grandmother was born in the Kelsey community, located about half an hour from Quitman in Upshur County, seven miles west of Gilmer on FM 1795. “Being here feels meaningful for my family, and it feels like coming full circle.”
She will be coming to Quitman with her husband, Ryan and their six-year-old daughter, Hazel. “When we found out there may be a job open in East Texas, my husband said he was ready to come home to Texas. He is a Texas native, originally from Diboll, and he really wanted to get back to the area. He misses all the good things about Texas,” Whitworth commented. “We moved around a lot because of my dad’s job when I was growing up. I consider Nacogdoches home. I spent a couple years at Nacogdoches High School.”
Whitworth has been working remotely already, coordinating with Quitman Chamber Ambassador Marlene Ovard. Ovard is excited about Whitworth coming to Quitman. “Megan has already been working with me to get things ready for her when she gets here full-time in May. I am so excited to have her here; she is going to do a great job.”
With her experience in communications, Whitworth looks forward to sharing the positive momentum taking place in the Quitman area at this time.
Background in Communications
Whitworth brings more than a decade of experience in marketing, media, and chamber leadership to the position. She comes to Quitman from her recent role as Communications Manager for the City of Siloam Springs, Arkansas.
Before her time in Arkansas, Whitworth served as Director of Marketing & Communications for the Lufkin/Angelina County Chamber of Commerce, which is headquartered in Lufkin. She worked as the Editor for Charm East Texas and also as Editor of Polk County Publishing. Whitworth has also been the Editor of the San Jacinto County News in Coldspring, and she also edited the Houston County Courier.
Whitworth wants her family to become active members of the Quitman community. “I love community work and being involved with the chamber. I’m a real believer in small businesses and the role they play in shaping the town. When the businesses in a town prosper, the entire community succeeds,” Whitworth explained.
She enjoys chamber work because she gets to work with people every day in the community. “I have always enjoyed meeting people and finding out more about them and their stories. I like the term storyteller to describe myself,” Whitworth added. “I want to be the best I can for the chamber, the city, and the surrounding areas such as Lake Fork.”
Prior to beginning her communications career, Whitworth followed a career path she feels has brought her to this point in her career. “I love small towns and the possibility of great things coming from those small towns. Quitman has done a great job promoting the city, and I hope to be a part of the great things to come from the Quitman Chamber,” Whitworth said. “Everyone I have met here has been so supportive, and I’m really looking forward to being here. Marlene Ovard has been great in helping me get going.”
Building Relationships
Whitworth was working at the Five-Star Lufkin Chamber during the Covid pandemic. “We went through Covid, and it was such a crazy time. It seemed like everything became digital, and social media became such a force,” she noted. “I was trying to come up with all kinds of ideas for communications during the Covid experience. I learned how to work from home in times of need. And I have come to know that you learn a lot from the mistakes you might make.”
Whitworth believes she must get to know the community and the chamber members in order to be successful. “My first goal is to get to know the chamber members in the community. I went out with a couple of the chamber ambassadors recently, and we went knocking on doors for about two hours, introducing who I am and getting to know them, ”Whitworth revealed. “The Quitman community has already impressed on me the friendliness and the desire to grow our business community.”
Beginning in May, Whitworth will be at the Quitman chamber office. “I hope people will come by the chamber, but I will also be in the community to meet folks as much as I can to build the chamber and my relationship with the area community.” For more information, call the Quitman Chamber of Commerce at 903-763-4411 or visit the website.