Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce

08/28/2026

Thank you Katy Ann Dodd Photography for capturing how much fun the annual DSU Welcome Back event was last week! 🥳

Do you see any familiar faces? Tag them! 💚

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

THANK YOU to the sponsors who helped make our Annual Delta State University Welcome Back Celebration last week possible! 💚🤍

This event is one of our favorite ways to kick off a new school year and welcome Delta State’s faculty and staff back to Cleveland. We’re so thankful for the businesses and community partners who sponsored the event and donated raffle prizes to help make the evening so special!

We truly couldn’t do it without you! 💚

08/26/2026

Last Tuesday’s L.E.A.D. Bolivar session gave our class an incredibly thorough, behind-the-scenes look at healthcare in our community through Bolivar Medical Center.

Our group visited Outpatient Services, IT, Materials, Long-Term Care, Plant Operations, Administration, Med/Surg, ICU, Surgery, Labor and Delivery, and more. Along the way, we learned about everything from patient care and daily hospital operations, Respiratory Therapy, Swing Bed, to Materials Management and the supply chain challenges healthcare facilities face.

Caitlyn Thompson, Director of Marketing, Growth and Outreach, explained what it means for Bolivar Medical Center to operate as a privately owned hospital and how that model differs from many of the other hospitals surrounding us. She also talked with the group about the hospital operating its clinic, physician recruitment, and what goes into maintaining and expanding healthcare services locally. Bolivar Medical Center CEO, Jimmy Young, also took time out from Strategic Planning to speak with the class, answer questions, and share insight into leading a rural hospital.
John Paul Gates, Operations Manager for Pafford Medical Services, then joined us to share the history of ambulance service in Bolivar County and the history of Pafford, which began in 1967 and has grown into the largest family-owned ambulance service in the country. We learned about Pafford’s reach and disaster response efforts, the different levels of EMS training, its tiered response system, centralized dispatch, staffing and paramedic shortages, local ambulance coverage, and the roughly 700 calls Pafford responds to in Bolivar County each month.

Unfortunately, we didn’t get a picture with John Paul, but we did document everyone’s personal favorite swag… the PAFFORD SOCKS! 🚑🚁

A huge thank you to Caitlyn and everyone at Bolivar Medical Center for opening your doors to us, sharing your knowledge, and taking the time to give our class such a comprehensive tour. We also appreciate John Paul and Pafford for helping us better understand the emergency medical services available throughout our area!to give our class such a comprehensive tour. We also appreciate John Paul and Pafford for helping us better understand the emergency medical services available throughout our area!

08/26/2026

Our Young Professionals have some seriously cute Cleveland gear available for preorder! 💙

Choose a T-shirt for $25 or one of two sweatshirts for $30, all made locally by Flatlanders. Every order helps CBYP continue connecting young professionals and making a difference in our community.

Preorders close September 30, so check out the original post below and get yours ordered!

Your closet called📲…. It needs more Cleveland 😜

Every purchase helps support the Cleveland-Bolivar County Young Professionals and the events, networking opportunities, and community projects we bring to our town. These shirts are being made right here in Cleveland by Flatlanders, so you know they’ll be the best!
Wear local. Support local. Get your orders in!