Leadership author, speaker coming to Tupelo

TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) – A renowned author and speaker is coming to Tupelo.

The Community Development Foundation (CDF) has announced that author, speaker and pastor John Maxwell will be the featured speaker at its annual Ignite Conference.

Maxwell, along with two members of his team – Mark Cole and Valorie Burton – will appear in Tupelo as guests of the foundation.

The conference is scheduled for Jan. 21, 2027.

The event is made possible through sponsorships from North Mississippi Health Services and Renasant Bank.

Leaders from both organizations attended the announcement ceremony in the CDF’s Jesco Incorporated boardroom.

“I think we all just think about leadership when we think of the name John Maxwell,” said North Mississippi Health Services President and CEO Shane Spees. “Many of us have grown up over the years learning from his leadership lessons through the many books and sessions that he has given all of us.”

“We want to invest back into the community, and leadership is integral in everything that we do,” said Kevin Chapman, the President and CEO of Renasant Bank. “Not only at the bank, but in the community.”

The Ignite Conference has been in existence for 10 years. During that time, 6,000 people have attended the annual conferences and 40 nationally recognized speakers have appeared.

Maxwell has written more than 90 books on leadership and has sold more than 38 million copies worldwide.