Jackson Free Press

Rosemary Maxey likens her office to a museum of the Jackson Convention Center's history. A picture on her wall displays the 2006 groundbreaking, in which city leaders shoveled sand on an empty lot in downtown Jackson. She also has documents showing Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.'s original appointments to the Capital City Convention Center Commission, which managed the center's initial development and its future expansion.

As the commission's administrator since 2005, Maxey has helped it build one of the city's largest developments in decades. The Convention Center opened in 2009, and she attributes its success to the commission, where she serves in the only paid position.

"They have overseen the building of the building and have been fabulous," Maxey says. "They have worked hard and worked many volunteer hours. When the building was built--on time and on budget--they also made sure the building was LEED certified."

In addition to her paid position, Maxey often volunteers for events to promote Jackson. The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership named Maxey its Ambassador of the Month for February for her high attendance at chamber events, bringing prospective members to events and enrolling new members.

Maxey says she is always looking for an opportunity to contribute to Jackson's renaissance. She volunteers for several organizations such as Keep Jackson Beautiful, a nonprofit that hosts beautification projects in the city and anti-litter campaigns, as well as the annual pet parade before Mal's St. Paddy's Parade last weekend.

"Our community is growing, and downtown is booming now," she says. "It's fun to watch it, and there are so many volunteer opportunities and a great community of warm people who open their arms up to folks who come into Jackson."

The New Albany, Miss., native moved to Jackson in 1983. Prior to her current position, she served as assistant to Melanie Musgrove, then the wife of former governor Ronnie Musgrove, and also as the manager of Everyday Gourmet. The 64-year-old grandmother of two lives in northeast Jackson.