Mandy Fortune

Being chosen as Statesboro Magazine’s Most Fabulous Woman of 2023 caught Mandy Fortune by surprise.

“I’m not sure why I was chosen by your readers, but thank-you so much!” she said.

We’re pretty sure why she had the good fortune to be recognized by our readers, it’s for her contributions to Statesboro’s business climate, her faith and leadership at First Baptist Church, and her many volunteer hours spent serving in various non-profit organizations and on boards of directors for local entities – with the unending smiles and positive energy for which she is known.

“I must have been chosen because I’ve been so active in the Chamber for the last few years,” said Fortune.

Actually, Fortune has been a faithful advocate for economic development in the area, since serving as Administration Director and then, Executive Director of the Statesboro Convention & Visitors Bureau from 1996 – 2002. During Fortune’s time leading the SCVB, local tourism numbers more than doubled. Her creative ideas and ways of promoting Statesboro and Bulloch County to visitors and tourists garnered statewide and national attention and increased hotel occupancy locally. During her time at the SCVB she was elected by her peers in the travel industry as president of our travel region – The Magnolia Midlands, a testament to her leadership and vision for Statesboro and south-central Georgia.

For the past 25 years, Fortune also volunteered and made a commitment to the Statesboro-Bulloch Chamber of Commerce, serving as Fundraising Chairman, Special Events Chairman, and Youth Leadership Chairman, before being elected to the executive board as Second Vice Chairman, and then ascending to the presidency during COVID-19.

“It was an interesting year,” said Fortune. “But God puts you where you need to be and gives you what you need to get the job done.”

During her Chamber presidency, she led the executive board in making a leadership change and in looking for a replacement for former director Skip Alford. Under her leadership the board promoted Jennifer Davis to Interim Director, and ultimately Executive Director of the Chamber, the position Davis currently holds. As president, Fortune continued to lead the Chamber staff, volunteers and board members through a very challenging time with optimistic success. Fortune identified areas of opportunity such as increasing membership and fundraising, during a time in which many were working from home and not meeting in person. Her bravery and tenacity are especially appreciated by those who know that Fortune lost her father to dementia that same year. For her outstanding commitment and service, Fortune rightly received the Chamber’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2021.

In addition to her work at the Chamber, Fortune has also served in the Statesboro Service League as Attic Sale Chairman, SafeHaven Chairman and Sustainer Relations Chairman. She is a member of Downtown Rotary and General Advisor to her sorority Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA). She served on the board of the Lynda Brannen Williamson Foundation, mentoring cohorts of young business women annually through a leadership training class. She also served on the board of the American Red Cross and was the United Way’s Fundraising Chairman. While her children, Jack and Cate, were students at Bulloch Academy, Fortune served as treasurer of the PTA.

“I have had wonderful mentors myself,” said Fortune. “Lynda was a friend who also served as Chamber President. She was a person I trusted and who’s leadership style I admired. My commitment to giving back to this community comes from people like Lynda and Bruce Yawn, servant leaders who have had such a positive impact on the area, not just in business, but in helping those less fortunate, too.”

"Fortune’s dedication also comes from her faith. Her family attends First Baptist Church where Fortune and her husband, (Statesboro Magazine’s Photographer) Frank, serve with the choir as vocalists and musicians. Many have seen Fortune virtually welcoming church members and visitors during COVID-19. In each video she enthusiastically shared her messages of promise and hope for better days ahead.

For many years, since leaving the tourism industry for the banking industry in 2002, Fortune has been on the rise as a marketing professional. Fortune worked for Park Avenue Bank as Marketing/ Customer Service officer, before joining Citizens Bank of the South in 2008 as Marketing Director. In her role with the bank, Fortune implemented marketing and advertising strategies in the bank’s markets in Sandersville, Statesboro and Milledgeville. She facilitated the name change and logo design for the company brand and created and managed social media presence for all markets. She also served as a member of the Georgia Bankers Association Marketing Peer Group. Most recently, she has been promoted to Chief Marketing Officer, V.P. of Citizens Bank of the South, with the responsibility of overall marketing for all three of the bank’s locations in Middle Georgia.

Fortune’s lifelong dedication to the community is evident in both her work and her areas of service.

Whenever there is an opportunity to make Statesboro shine, you can be sure our Most Fabulous Woman of 2023, Mandy Fortune, will be a part of creating the Most Fabulous impression on behalf of the community whether at work, at church or volunteering for the many organizations that are fortunate to have her leadership and support. S