Chamber > Staff

Executive President of the Corsicana Chamber of Commerce

Corsicana/Navarro County Chamber of Commerce
Corsicana, Texas 2006 to Present
Executive Director for Chamber of Commerce, Corsicana Development Commission and Chamber Foundation with 500 members. Navarro County has a population of approximately 46,000 and the city of Corsicana with approximately 26,000. Our industries consist of mainly manufacturing, distribution and logistics. This is the home of Navarro College, which has been recognized as the fastest growing community college of its size, 10,000 or less and Richland Chambers Reservoir, the 3rd largest lake in Texas. You may know us as the “Fruit Cake Capital of the
World”.

North Central Texas Council of Governments
Arlington, Texas 2004 to 2006
Senior Business Representative working with communities in Ellis, Hunt, Kaufman and Navarro counties to provide workforce development grants, supporting local workforce center initiatives to provide WIA training, tax credits and support for other TWC programs. Supported local economic development projects to bring businesses and jobs to these communities.

Texas Workforce Commission
Arlington, Texas 2002 to 2004
Business Service Representative working with communities in Ellis, Kaufman and Navarro counties supporting local TWC workforce center programs, workforce training, out placement services and job placement for existing and new businesses and industries.

Information Technology Industry
North & South Carolina, Georgia, Texas 1972 to 2001
Started in a service bureau while attending community college on the GI Bill and was able to expand my career while remaining in the same industry accumulating a variety of experience:
• Computer Programming;
• Systems Analysis and Development;
• Project Leadership;
• System Implementation, Conversion and Change Management;
• Project Management;
• Contract Consulting ;
• Sales and Customer Service;
• Branch Management.

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Central Piedmont Community College
Charlotte, North Carolina
A.S. Data Processing

Texas A&M Commerce
Commerce, Texas
B.A.A.S. – Went back to complete degree with about 25 hours remaining.

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North Central Tech Prep Consortia 2002 to Present
Industry Representative, Executive Committee, Budget Committee, current Chair

United Way of Navarro County 2006 to Present
Executive Committee, Budget Committee, Campaign Chair, President-Elect

Family Services 2006 to Present
Board of Directors, Budget Committee

Impact Corsicana County (Teenage alcohol and drug abuse) 2006 to Present
Board of Directors

STAR (Success through Active Role Modeling working with CISD AVID program) 2007 to Present

Corsicana High School Industry Advisory Committee 2007 to Present

Strategic Planning Group for City of Corsicana 2008 to Present

CASA – Court Appointed Special Advocates 2008 to Present


Paul was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was the oldest of four children and he now has two daughters (21 & 24) and a son (34).

Paul joined the US Navy in 1968 after graduating High School in 1967 and served as a Hospital Corpsman and Operating Room Technician until his discharge in 1972.

Paul enjoys meeting people, being outside, family, friends and golf (when time allows).

Oh yes, he learned how to play 42 since coming to Texas and really enjoys a fun evening with close friends playing 42.








Email: Paul Hooper




Executive Secretary of the Corsicana Chamber of Commerce

Semonna Battenfield was born and raised in Lancaster, Texas. In 1996 she moved to Midlothian, Texas before moving to Blooming Grove in May of 2006. Prior to accepting the position as Executive Secretary of the Corsicana Chamber of Commerce in May of 2007, Semonna worked for HKS Architects, Dallas, Texas as Billing Coordinator. She loves working with the public and really enjoys being able to use her creative nature in her daily duties, which - among many other things - include correspondence with Chamber members, organization of Chamber business, and often enough answering the numerous questions of the general Public.

In her spare time Semonna enjoys working on her home-based business, "Sam?s Designs and More", which includes handmade jewelry, clay candle holders, wind spinners, and much more. For relaxation she spends time with family going fishing, watching movies, reading and cooking. Future plans are to become more active in the community, help in the growth of the Chamber and expand her own business. Semonna is married with 3 children and a 3 year old granddaughter.

Email: Corsicana Chamber of Commerce