Marcela Cartagena

Marcela joined the chamber in October of 2021 as the new chief of staff to lead the chamber’s day-to-day operations and oversee all its projects.
Her background is in journalism and communications with over two decades of combined experience in newspapers, technical editing, and public relations, spearheading major projects and developing communications strategies.

She was also the principal and founder of MC Gray Consulting LLC (BEP certified) helping professionals, public and nonpublic entities with translations, editing, copy editing, in both English (American) and Spanish (Latin American). Her consulting business also offered specialized services in media training, media outreach, speech training, speech writing, press releases, and marketing planning and ad campaign coordination.

Prior to starting her consulting business, Marcela served as Communications Director for the former Illinois Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti. She was editor and writer for La Raza newspaper in Chicago, copy editor for The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss., copy desk chief for The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo, Miss., and lifestyles editor for The Greenwood Commonwealth in Greenwood, Miss. While residing in Chile for five years (her hometown), she was technical editor for Adexus, a General Electric Aviation subcontractor.

Marcela is a proud graduate of Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi, where she obtained a degree in communications with a major in print journalism and a minor in broadcasting. At MSU, she became the first editor of Hispanic origin for the prestigious student newspaper, The Reflector.

She has a cat named Lorenzo who brings immense joy to her life. She is the middle child of three siblings, known as the “Cartagena sisters.” She is the proud aunt of Olivia, Ana Alicia, Christian and Cecilia. In her spare time, Marcela enjoys reading, watching Netflix, especially foreign films, doing yoga, cooking, playing chess, knitting scarfs for her loved ones.