Bringing a passion for opportunities
In Mississippi for four decades now, the name David Rumbarger resonates with—and is symbolic of—economic development excellence.
As President and CEO of the Community Development Foundation (CDF) based in Tupelo, Rumbarger has overseen and guided more than 385 new and expanded industry projects across Lee County, in the process generating thousands of jobs and over $230 million in new payroll since joining the organization in August 2000. This impressive figure doesn’t include the Toyota’s billion dollar project. For this effort, Rumbarger led the marketing campaign over the six-year recruitment period.
Rumbarger’s leadership was instrumental in attracting globally recognized companies to the area, among them Toyota, Goodyear, Ashley Furniture, General Atomics, Amazon and Liebherr—diversifying the economy in the region and in strengthening its industrial foundation. Among his notable achievements is his leadership in recruiting the Toyota plant in 2007, a project that continues to yield long-term regional benefits. With all these projects current efforts, CDF has partners. Three Rivers Planning and Development, Appalachian Regional Commission, Mississippi Development Office and Tennessee Valley Authority, local senators and representatives along with U.S. congressional offices, all contribute and play a critical part in the success model for Tupelo/Lee County.
Rumbarger’s passion for fostering balanced growth and revitalizing communities has shaped his dynamic career spanning roles in local, state, and utility-based economic development. As such a distinguished Economic Development Specialist—whose career has been defined by visionary leadership, community stewardship, and a lifelong commitment to service—you might think Rumbarger would be more vocal about his many accomplishments. However, you would be wrong.
Quick to deflect praise, Rumbarger displays a humble and grateful attitude and demeanor when discussing his impressive career, focusing instead on the team he currently works with at the CDF and those who have mentored and worked with him along the way. “I’ve been very blessed to do what I do for a living and plan to continue economic development work as long as I’m able,” said Rumbarger.
Born on September 25, 1959, in Cincinnati, OH, and raised in Birmingham, AL, Rumbarger said he developed an early appreciation for ,teamwork and perseverance from his parents, values that continue to guide his professional and personal life.
“My dad, David, Sr. was a Dayton, Ohio ‘yankee’ who met my mother, a teacher and Auburn Graduate from Birmingham, on a blind date when he was in basic training in the Army,” said Rumbarger. “He worked in civil engineering and my mother continued as a teacher and eventually focused on raising four children. We quickly moved to Atlanta for dad’s job, so I consider myself a Southerner!” he said, before another move to Birmingham where his father started his own company.
“My dad just passed last May at the age of 92 and my mother had passed several years earlier. I was pleased to have been able to share my successes along the way with them,” said Rumbarger.
Rumbarger’s storied professional journey began unexpectedly when he attended a meeting that led to the formation of Alabama’s first statewide economic development strategy, a moment that launched a career dedicated to building opportunity for others.
That career began when Rumbarger obtained his a Bachelor of Public Administration from Auburn University (1982), a Master’s in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi (2006), and a Business Management Certificate from Duke University (1998). “In sports, I root for all SEC teams,” he said with a laugh. “My son went to Mississippi State and my daughter went to Ole Miss, so we have interesting conversations at family get-togethers!”
From his early work at Alabama Gas and the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs—after working in his dad’s company for a year—to leadership roles in Hattiesburg (where he helped start the Area Development Partnership in 1990), to Raleigh, NC and then eventually to Tupelo, Rumbarger has consistently driven transformative progress through strategic planning, policy innovation, and collaborative partnerships at every stop along the way in his career.
“I really got hooked on business recruitment and economic development early on,” said Rumbarger. “And, I had the opportunity to work alongside experienced people who became mentors, many of whom I stay in touch with,” he said. “The legendary banker who recently passed away, Aubrey Patterson in Tupelo, actually recruited me down to Tupelo in early 2000. He was not the kind of man you say ‘no’ to and I’m glad I didn’t!”
Rumbarger said that, of his many success stories over the years, bringing Toyota to Lee County and the PUL Alliance in 2007 has to stand out. But the recruitment of General Atomics, Martinrea, Grammer, Toyota Autobody, Amazon and Ashley are notable too, he added. “Our existing company expansions are the lifeblood of the community, trusted names in HM Richards, Southern Motion, Raybern Foods, Westrock, Wey Valve have all expanded and added capital and jobs,” he said.
“We put in about six years of hard work with the PUL (Pontotoc, Union, and Lee) Alliance to get Toyota here, which was so important after the massive loss of furniture jobs at the time,” said Rumbarger. “We could not be happier with our relationship with Toyota and their executive team. And, as far as recruitment, I’m personally very proud of our CDF team bringing Liebherr here last year. It’s a generational-type investment by a privately-company from Switzerland whose leadership is absolutely wonderful to work with. Their arrival here will have ripple effects for decades to come in this area.”
Beyond corporate recruitment, Rumbarger’s enduring career legacy lies in his commitment to education and community advancement, which is substantial. He was the architect of the Tupelo-based CREATE Foundation’s Marchbanks Helping Hand Scholarship Program, which provides two years of tuition-free education for every Lee County high school graduate. Since its inception in 2010, the program has awarded more than $2.5 million in scholarships to over 4,300 students, empowering future generations to pursue their goals and strengthen their communities.
A Certified Economic and Community Development (CEcD) professional, he has served as President of the Mississippi Economic Development Council (1994, 2009), Board Member of the Southern Economic Development Council, and Fellow and Honorary Life Member of the International Economic Development Council. Rumbarger’s numerous accolades include the Jeffrey Finkle Organizational Leadership Award (IEDC, 2021), induction into the Southern Business and Development Hall of Fame (2025), and recognition as Alabama’s Distinguished Service Award recipient (1990).
Equally committed to civic engagement, Rumbarger is an active member of Harrisburg Baptist Church, where he serves as Moderator, Deacon, and Sunday School teacher. He is also deeply involved in Scouting USA, where his decades of volunteer service have earned him the Vigil Honor (2009), Distinguished Eagle Scout Award (2011), Silver Buffalo Award (2022), and the title of Distinguished Citizen of the Natchez Trace Council (2022). He also received the Chickasaw Inkana Foundations Legacy Award (2025). His tenure as Chairman of the North Mississippi Healthcare Board (2022-2024) further exemplifies a commitment to strengthening rural healthcare and community well-being.
“In 1948, George McLean, our founder, structured a public-private partnership in CDF that has stood the test of time for 78 years,” explained Rumbarger. “A big part of that partnership is the leaders in the community that serve and chair the CDF board of directors, their plans and enabling the professional staff to execute those plans and implement the strategy for the community.”
This job is done by the sixteen full-time staff members that serve Tupelo and Lee County with Rumbarger. “Their long tenure and professional expertise make the organization successful,” he said. Half of the staff has been with the organization over 15 years. “My job is to make sure the board and management equip them with clear and unambiguous direction, the tools that allow them do their job, and the training to be highly effective. Several staff members have achieved higher degrees while working with us. My success and CDF’s success start with the skills, knowledge and professional execution of our CDF team,” said Rumbarger
Outside his professional pursuits, David enjoys hiking, hunting, and tending to the land, sharing his love of nature and conservation with his children and grandson. He and his wife, Donna Adkinson Rumbarger, whom he met at Auburn University, have been married for 43 years. Together, they have two children, Rudy (wife Marley, son Parker) and Mary Larkin (husband Quinn Peebles).
As is obvious, for Rumbarger economic development is more than a profession—it’s a calling. His enduring contributions have not only transformed the economic landscape of North Mississippi but also exemplified the values of leadership, integrity, and service that define a true community builder.
“Economic development now is about putting roots down. That’s why it’s been so wonderful for me, Donna, and my family to have lived and worked in Tupelo since 2000,” said Rumbarger. “It’s been a great ride in a unique and vibrant community—and that ride’s not over. It’s still so much fun for me and there’s a lot work yet to be done.”