CONTRIBUTED BY THE OPELIKA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

OPELIKA —

The Opelika Chamber recently announced the promotion of Mackenzie Poole to vice president. She will continue to be responsible for events and leadership programming but will take on additional responsibilities as it relates to workforce development and the daily operations of the Opelika Chamber.

Poole has been with the Opelika Chamber for four years and previously served as the director of leadership and events, and programs and events manager, prior to that position.

“Mackenzie is an essential part of our team, and I am grateful for her continued commitment, hard work and dedication to excellence,” said Ali Rauch, president and CEO of the Opelika Chamber. “Much of what we’ve accomplished in the last three years is directly linked to Mackenzie, so this promotion is very much deserved.”

Through her tenure, Poole has doubled the programming and execution of events for the Opelika Chamber — averaging over 170 events a year. She also served as the staff lead for the Opelika Chamber’s REACH Campaign the past two years — where with the assistance of volunteers surpassed a $200,000 goal by more than $35,000 in 2021 and surpassed a $275,000 goal by more than $136,000 in 2022. During her four years at the Opelika Chamber, she has developed the Minority Business Scholarship Program, established the SNOPELIKA Christmas parade and tree lighting, improved the Lee County Young Leaders application process and built the Opelika Chamber’s Public Policy Agenda.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to grow and develop in this new role,” Poole said. “I am truly excited for the continued success of our team at the Opelika Chamber and look forward to advancing the efforts of our organization while also strengthening our business community. I am incredibly grateful to serve the Opelika community, and I appreciate the many people who have encouraged and supported me over the past four years.”

Originally from Roswell, Georgia, Poole obtained a bachelor’s degree in hospitality, sport and tourism management and a master’s degree in public administration from Troy University. She previously worked for the city of Troy in the Community Engagement and Special Projects Department, as well as Troy’s University’s Student Involvement Office.

ABOUT THE OPELIKA CHAMBER

For more than 80 years, the Opelika Chamber has worked to strengthen the community as the champion of business by building bridges, cultivating community and elevating business in order to achieve excellence. Representing more than 900 businesses and over 20,000 employees in the region, the Opelika Chamber has been recognized for its operational best practices among 501(c)6 not-for-profit chambers of commerce. The Opelika Chamber is one of only three five-star accredited chambers in the state of Alabama. You can learn more at www.opelikachamber.com.