Leadership Mississippi 2008-09 Class Graduates

Forty-seven standout Mississippians have graduated from the 2008-09 Class of Leadership Mississippi, the nation’s second oldest leadership program. A graduation ceremony was held on January 9, 2009 at the Old Capitol Inn in Jackson .

The following graduates completed the program:

R. Mark Alexander Jr., Gulfport, Balch & Bingham LLP

Julian Allen, Hattiesburg, Southern Miss

Matt Allen, Jackson, Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC

Natasha L. Baughman, Columbia, Quality Manufacturing Group

Jacqueline Beasley, Jackson, MINACT, Inc.

Paul J. Bertucci, Gulfport, F.E.B. Distributing Company, Inc.

Debra Brown, Jackson, Phelps Dunbar, LLP

Mike Bryan CSC, Tupelo, Insurance Management Group

David E. Buckner, Meridian, Mississippi Power

Ken Bush, Meridian, Southern Cast Products, Inc.

Chad Daniels, MA, MS, Camp Shelby, Mississippi Armed Forces Museum At Camp Shelby

Jane Dennis, Gulfport, Specialty Contractors & Associates, Inc.

Marlo Dorsey, Ellisville, Jones County Junior College

J. Gibson Eatherly, Yazoo City, Bank of Yazoo City

Tara P. Ellis, Jackson, Balch & Bingham LLP

Christopher Espy, Jackson, Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC

John Garrett, Jackson, Mississippi Department of Employment Security

David Gates, Flowood, Atmos Energy

Nora R. Ginn, Gulfport, American Heart Association

Julie Gresham, Biloxi, Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC

Kenneth Forbes Grogan IV, Vicksburg, BancorpSouth

Ronald Hall, Biloxi, Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

Lori A. Harper, Pascagoula, Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding

Kourtney Hollingsworth, Gulfport, Mississippi Legal Services

Susan Hunt, Biloxi, Biloxi Public Schools

Tyrone Jackson, Cleveland, Delta State University

Amanda Jones, Jackson, Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP

Rosiland Lipscomb, Philadelphia, Yates Construction

Nora Miller, Columbus, Mississippi University for Women

Tim Mood, Ridgeland, Electric Power Associations of Mississippi

Dalton K. Morgan, Clarksdale, Delta Regional Authority

Moses Newsome Jr., Itta Bena, Mississippi Valley State University

John S. Oxford, Tupelo, Renasant Bank

Gertrude E. Pfisterer, Robinsonville, Harrah's Entertainment, Inc.

Rachel M. Pierce, Tupelo, Phelps Dunbar, LLP

Joseph B. Piernas Sr., Pass Christian, Alderman

William Lee Prout II, Wiggins, Pizza Inn of Wiggins, Inc.

Jan Reid-Bunch, Fulton, Itawamba Community College

Chandler Russ, Brandon, Tennessee Valley Authority

Kathleen Shaughnessy, Gulfport, AT&T

Errick D. Simmons, Greenville, Simmons Law Firm

Ashley Skellie, Gulfport, PBS&J

Verlanda A. Tate, Laurel, Sanderson Farms, Inc.

Tosha Taylor, Clinton, Cullari Communications Group

Ben Teague, Hattiesburg, Area Development Partnership

Todd Terrell, Gulfport, Mississippi Power

Mike Tubb, Columbus, CECO Building Systems.

Leadership Mississippi’s purpose is to identify and work with Mississippi leaders in strengthening our state by focusing on government and public affairs, economic development, environmental resources, health and education and quality of life.  By focusing on these five areas, Leadership Mississippi empowers participants with information to make a strong impact in our state.

Sessions were held across the state in Jackson, Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Biloxi, and Greenwood.

Leadership Mississippi has graduated 31 classes since 1973 and more than 1000 graduates are located across the state and nation.

The Leadership Mississippi program is endowed through a generous contribution by the late J.C. and Annie Redd. The program is conducted through the M.B. Swayze Educational Foundation, and created in 1978 by the Mississippi Economic Council.