Meet the Founder
Jodie Watson
My Story
The idea for The Magnolia Connection came from seeing an opportunity to bring Mississippi's business community closer together. I realized that incredible businesses exist in every corner of our state, yet many struggle to gain visibility or connect with the customers, partners, and resources they need to grow. At the same time, people often don't know where to find the businesses, organizations, and opportunities available right in their own communities.
That's why I founded The Magnolia Connection—to bridge those gaps by creating meaningful connections that help businesses grow, encourage collaboration across industries, and strengthen communities throughout Mississippi. My vision is to build a year-round resource for businesses, with the annual Business Expo serving as a catalyst for relationships, opportunities, and long-term economic growth.
Family is at the heart of everything I do and the driving force behind my "why." I married my husband, Richland Fire Captain Chase Watson, in 2024, and together we're raising a beautifully blended family—my son, Rylan, my bonus daughter, Rowan, and we're excitedly awaiting the arrival of our baby girl in September 2026.
Add in four dogs and a cat, and life is wonderfully full! My family inspires me every day to build something meaningful, create a lasting legacy, and serve others with faith, purpose, and heart.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans." - Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
Because when businesses connect, communities thrive.
About Us
The Magnolia Connection was founded on a simple belief:
great businesses deserve to be seen.
Across Mississippi, incredible businesses exist in every community, yet many struggle to gain visibility, reach new customers, and build the connections needed to grow. At the same time, consumers, entrepreneurs, job seekers, and even established businesses often don't know where to find local companies, networking opportunities, educational resources, or trusted business resources.
That's where The Magnolia Connection comes in.
Through year-round networking, business promotion, strategic partnerships, educational initiatives, and our signature annual Magnolia Connection Business Expo, we're helping businesses expand their reach, build lasting relationships, and contribute to a stronger Mississippi economy.
Our Mission
Our mission is to create meaningful connections that increase visibility, strengthen relationships, and generate opportunities for Mississippi businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs, and communities through networking, promotion, education, and collaboration.
Our Vision
The vision is to become Mississippi’s leading business networking organization by connecting businesses, professionals, entrepreneurs, students, and communities while creating opportunities that support long-term economic growth throughout the state.
Our Purpose
The purpose of MC is to create intentional environments where those introductions are more likely to happen while helping participants discover opportunities already available within their communities and across the state.
Creating Connections With Purpose is more than a tagline. It represents the reason the organization was created.
The Opportunity
Mississippi is home to thousands of businesses representing nearly every industry. While many organizations provide valuable support within specific locations, sectors, or membership groups, there is an opportunity to create stronger relationships across industries.
MC brings together businesses and organizations that may not otherwise have the opportunity to interact.
A contractor may meet a property manager.
A financial institution may meet current and future business owners.
A healthcare provider may develop relationships with local employers.
A manufacturer may discover a Mississippi-based supplier.
A growing company may find a marketing partner, lender, vendor, or future employee.
A new business owner may meet representatives from a local chamber of commerce, learn about membership resources and upcoming events, and become more engaged in the local business community.
A student or job seeker may discover an industry or career path they had never previously considered.
Rather than replacing chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, educational institutions, or industry associations, The Magnolia Connection is designed to complement their work by offering an additional cross-industry platform for visibility and collaboration.
In some cases, MC may serve as the introduction that leads a business to a chamber, economic development resource, financial program, educational partner, or another organization that can continue supporting its growth.
The goal is to broaden relationships, encourage collaboration, and create opportunities that may not have developed through traditional industry-specific networking alone.
MEET THE TEAM….coming soon
The Best Is Yet to Come
We're just getting started, and we're building something pretty special. As The Magnolia Connection grows, so will our team.
Check back often—you'll get to meet the amazing people who join us on this journey!