Rickey L. Thigpen
Rickey L. Thigpen joined Visit Jackson (formally the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau) in 1987 as the Information Systems Manager. For the past 33 years, Thigpen has served in multiple management positions within the administrative and marketing disciplines. In October of 2018, the Visit Jackson Board of Directors named Thigpen as the Interim President of Visit Jackson. Prior to being named the Interim President, Thigpen served as the official destination marketing organization’s Executive Vice President, where he was responsible for governmental & community engagement, stakeholder relationships, signature event management, and new & untraditional market initiatives. On February 1, 2019, the Visit Jackson Board voted to remove “Interim” from Thigpen’s title and make him the official President & CEO.
Thigpen is a member of numerous professional organizations, including Destination International, where he serves as a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, Mississippi Tourism Association Board of Directors, the Mississippi Tourism PAC, where he serves as Chairman, and the Downtown Jackson Partners Advisory Board. Thigpen was most recently appointed to the U.S. Travel Board of Directors. Thigpen is also engaged civically, including 100 Black Men of Jackson, Inc., Mississippi Valley State University National Alumni Association (Life Member), Greater Leadership Jackson Alumni Association, Alpha Foundation, Inc. (Vice-Chairman), and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., National Chairman of the Committee on Life Membership and the 10th Mississippi District Director.
Rickey is a native of Jackson, Mississippi. He holds a baccalaureate degree in Computer Science from Mississippi Valley State University – ‘87 and a master’s degree in Leadership from Belhaven University. Thigpen is currently a Ph.D. Candidate at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, finalizing degree requirements in Psychology/Organizational Leadership. Additionally, Thigpen has
earned professional certifications from the University of Southern Mississippi, the Mississippi Tourism Association, and Destination International. Thigpen has appeared in Black Meetings & Tourism magazine as one of the most influential African-Americans in the tourism industry multiple times and in 2020 received an APEX Award. In 2019 Thigpen was named Mississippi Tourism Association’s Member of the Year, and in 2020, under his leadership, Visit Jackson received DMO of the Year. Most recently, Thigpen is a recipient of the 2020 EIC Social Impact Award.
Thigpen is a Cade Chapel Missionary Baptist Church member, where he serves as a member of the Music Staff and Public Relations Ministry.
Rickey Thigpen’s life mission is “to be a lifelong learner dedicated to imparting knowledge to, uplifting and empowering those he is so fortunate to influence.”