Helen Donaldson Awarded Lifetime Membership with Destin Chamber

During the Destin Chamber’s Nov. 14 Business Before Hours Sponsored by Eglin Federal Credit Union, Helen Donaldson (left) was honored with the Chamber’s Lifetime Membership Award. She is pictured left with 2025 Chamber Chairman Jenni Brunson of Okaloosa Gas.

Donaldson recently retired after serving the Destin Fishing Rodeo, one of Destin’s most iconic events, for almost three decades. Under her watch, the rodeo grew from just under 600 fish entries to more than 1,000. It survived and thrived despite hurricanes, the BP oil spill, and the 2020 pandemic. 

“There are things in every community that mean so much to so many.  The Destin Fishing Rodeo is one of those things. Helen has been so strong managing that event.  Her leadership has built the rodeo into one of the most unique and iconic fishing tournaments anywhere.  The time, knowledge, and wisdom it takes to run something of that magnitude is hard to describe.  And she’s done it with grace and skill.  I also thank her for being a friend, and I wish her all the best in her retirement,” said Shane A. Moody, CCE, FCCP.

Before her time at the rodeo, Donaldson worked at the Destin Chamber where she was in charge of Destin's other iconic event - the Destin Seafood Festival. She joins an elite group of Lifetime Chamber members, including Fred Fenn, Bill Head, Col. Kim M. Wintner, and Lockwood Wernet.

For information about the Destin Chamber, visit DestinChamber.com, call (850) 837-6241, or email mail@DestinChamber.com.