David P. RUmbarger
David P. Rumbarger serves as president/CEO of the Community Development Foundation; a position he has held since August, 2000. CDF is a 60-year-old comprehensive economic development organization comprised of the Lee County Council of Governments, Tupelo Area Chamber of Commerce, the Renasant Center for IDEAs incubator, and Lee County’s industrial parks, industrial buildings and economic development program. Under his leadership, Tupelo/Lee County was ranked the #1 Small Market in the U.S. for 2008 by Southern Business and Development Magazine and #2 in 2006 and #3 in 2007 in the U.S. by Site Selection for micropolitan projects, capital, and job growth. He is the team leader for the location of the Toyota Highlander plant #8 located at the Wellspring Project Site in Pontotoc, Union and Lee Counties.
Prior to coming to CDF, David was employed as president and chief operating officer of Conway Data. Previously, he was with Progress Energy and was promoted from vice president of economic development to vice president of sales and service. In that role, he was responsible for more than $1.3 billion in direct electric sales. His past work experience includes a stint as president/secretary with the Area Development Partnership in Hattiesburg, MS in the early nineties. He also served as a member of the governor’s cabinet in Alabama and directed the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. His career in economic development began at Alabama Gas Corporation in the eighties.
Mr. Rumbarger completed his undergraduate studies at Auburn University where he received a bachelor of science degree in public administration in 1982. He completed Duke University’s advanced management program in 1999 and holds a masters degree in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi. He received his Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) in 1989 from the International Economic Development Council.
David serves on a variety of boards including: U.S. Federal Reserve Board, Memphis Branch; Yocona Area Boy Scout Council; CREATE Foundation.
Professional awards include: designation as Top Ten Developer by Raleigh’s Triangle Business Journal; Top 40 Under 40 by the Mississippi Business Journal; Hattiesburg Sales and Marketing Executive of the Year; Top Young Developers by Expansion Management Magazine; Top Deals in U.S. and Top 20 Area Development Partnership and Top Deals and Top 10 for the Community Development Foundation in 2008 by Site Selection Magazine.
Mr. Rumbarger is married to the former Donna Adkinson of Auburn, AL, and they have two children, Rudy, age 20 and Mary Larkin, age 14. He is an active member of First Baptist Church of Tupelo.
