Although she was born in Columbus, Carrie Martin has lived there for just 12 of her 42 years. Even so, she’s far from a stranger, which will undoubtedly serve her well as the president of the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce.
Martin is a member of one of the most recognizable families in the Golden Triangle, the Swoopes.
“My dad was the youngest of the 14 Swoope kids,” Martin said. “It was a huge, close family, so even though I grew up mostly in Ocean Springs, we always got together there at least once a year, sometimes more. I was there for a lot of Christmas and summer vacations.”
Martin is the niece of former Dispatch Lifestyles Editor Jan Swoope, who passed away in June 2021.
Martin’s career path has been a circuitous route to becoming Chamber president in May. She graduated from Mississippi State with a degree in food science then worked for Rich Products, a company that makes non-dairy products in Arlington, Tennessee.
From there, she went to Matrix Wire in Auburn, Alabama, which makes small engine parts, followed by a year as director for the Big Brothers and Big Sisters nonprofit in Tuscaloosa. She was an administrative assistant in physical therapy centers in Tupelo and Columbus, and for the past eight years, worked as a Realtor for Coldwell Banker West Realty.
Her jobs in Auburn, Tuscaloosa and Tupelo came as her husband, Bobby, pursued his education as a pharmacist. He now works with Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle. The Martins have two children – Coleman, 13, and Lucy Ann, 11.
Martin said her work career has prepared her for this latest opportunity.
“My working career might not seem to have much to do with being Chamber president, but really it’s still about sales and getting people together,” she said. That’s something I’ve been doing for a long time.”
Martin arrives at the Chamber as it is poised for a major transition. It’s not only a new job for Martin, but a new Chamber in many respects.
The Chamber is now an autonomous body, no longer working as a part of the Golden Triangle Development LINK. It has also relocated from the LINK offices on Main Street to Third Street South where it shares office space with the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“Officially, we’re on our own on Oct.1, which is the start of our fiscal year,” Martin said. “By then, I want to know all the ins and outs and focus on member retention and adding new members. The first week, our board and myself had some really good executive training set up by the LINK. That was great timing because this is new for all of us, not just me, but for the board, too. They go from being an advisory board to a board that will make the decisions.”
Martin said she also used her first week to make contact with Chamber members, both longtime and new, and attend committee meetings.
It’s been a whirlwind, she admitted, but the work ethic she learned from her family has prepared her for it.
“My dad was the youngest of that huge family. They were all encouraged to hustle and work hard,” Martin said. “He always stressed that with me.”
When she was 16, she went to court to become legally emancipated.
“It wasn’t because there was any kind of a family issue,” she said. “I got emancipated so I could work at Aunt Jenny’s restaurant as a server and could serve alcohol at that age. Back then, it was the only way I could do that. It’s fair to say that I’ve always liked to work.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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