MOUNT IDA – A new Executive Director has been hired at the Mt. Ida Area Chamber of Commerce. We are pleased to welcome Jeannie Brakefield, former resident of Montgomery County, recently returned to the area after a 16-year absence. After leaving she spent time as the Human Resource Coordinator for a manufacturing company near Fort Smith and then moved to Branson, Missouri to become the Human Resource Coordinator, Office Administrator and Event Coordinator at the Bass Pro Shop on The Landing, before returning to Story. Jeannie has also worked for International Student Exchange as a Placement Representative and a Regional Advisor for many years, and still places students on occasion.
She says that she is excited to be back HOME. She has a wonderful family, her oldest, Whitney, who is attending nursing school, and her husband Mike have one son, Luke and they live in Yuma, Arizona. Her son, Brendyn, a graduate U of A in Fayetteville, is a mechanical engineer and owns Ouachita Mechanical in Hot Springs, and the youngest daughter, Erica, graduated from Arkansas Tech in Russellville, she is the Educational Coordinator for Elite Home Care, she and her fiancé Kolten reside in Hot Springs. “Now that all the children are grown, and are productive adults, I jumped at the chance to return to God’s Country” she said. Jeannie enjoys spending time on Lake Ouachita, crafting, cooking, time with family and friends, talking and making other people laugh. She also loves Montgomery County! Jeannie is looking forward to serving and promoting area businesses. If you’d like more information about the Mt. Ida Area Chamber of Commerce please stop by the office (next door to the post office) or call 867-2723. The Chamber serves ALL of Montgomery County.
