JACKSON, MS (February 18, 2025) – The Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) proudly announces its Leadership Mississippi Class of 2025, marking the program’s 51st year of developing and connecting the state’s top talent. Forty-five distinguished professionals representing Mississippi’s diverse business, government, and nonprofit sectors have been chosen for this year’s cohort.
“Each year, Leadership Mississippi brings together the brightest minds from across our state to forge connections and develop the skills needed to shape Mississippi’s future,” said Scott Waller, President and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council. “The Class of 2025 represents the remarkable diversity of talent and expertise that drives our state’s growth and success.”
Selected through a rigorous application process by a committee of program alumni, participants will engage in a comprehensive nine-month leadership development journey. The program combines intensive skill-building workshops, collaborative projects, and firsthand exploration of Mississippi’s economic drivers and challenges.
The Class of 2025’s journey begins with an opening session in Jackson this April and continues with immersive experiences across the state, including visits to the Mississippi Delta, Starkville,
and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. These locations showcase Mississippi’s diverse economic landscape, from advanced manufacturing and aerospace to tourism and agriculture.
Leadership Mississippi, established in 1974 and conducted by the M.B. Swayze Foundation, stands as the nation’s second-oldest statewide leadership program. The program has cultivated a network of more than 1,400 alumni who actively shape Mississippi’s business environment and public policy. The program continues to thrive through the endowment established by the late J.C. and Annie Redd, with J.C. Redd serving as MEC Chairman during the program’s founding year.
Leadership Mississippi Class of 2025
- Michael Adcock, Magnolia Health
- Troy Allen, Toyota Motor Manufacturing MS
- LaDarion Ammons, Ten One Strategies
- Laura Antonow, University of Mississippi
- Adam Askew, Hancock Whitney Bank
- Lisa Bradley, Ingalls Shipbuilding
- Brandon Bridges, City of Meridian
- Ashley Briscoe, Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District
- Jason Brooks, Cadence Bank
- Brianna Caldwell, Butler Snow LLP
- Trey Cannon, Cooperative Energy
- Andrew Causey, William Carey University
- Eric Chambless, Community Bank
- Ralph Clark, Trustmark National Bank
- Brady Davis, Chickasaw Nation Tribal Government / Chickasaw Inkana Foundation
- Duane Dobson, Mississippi Power Company
- Jennifer Ellis, Stringer Industries, Inc.
- Davis Gates, Atmos Energy
- Wallace Goodman, Argus Building Company
- Daniel Hamburg, EGH Architects
- Chris Harp, Hol-Mac Corp
- Elizabeth Harris, Mississippi Early Learning Alliance
- Kristi Hendrix, Midtown Partners, Inc.
- Casey Hill, Merchants & Marine Bancorp, Inc.
- Zac Howell, Forrest County
- Marcus Johnson, C-Spire
- Setrick Johnson, Mississippi National Guard
- DeLana Jones, Entergy Mississippi
- Case Knight, Tennessee Valley Authority
- Jeremy Kyser, Ergon Refining, Inc.
- Summer Lovett, Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce
- Narcisa Pricope, Mississippi State University
- Vickie Roberts-Ratliff, Shelton Roberts Properties
- Erica Robinson, Youth Villages
- Ray Robinson, Jr., W.K. Kellogg Foundation
- Teri Roddy, Covenant Caregivers
- Finée Ruffin, Jones County Junior College
- Blane Sellers, ICM Construction
- Kell Smith, Mississippi Community College Board
- Kristie Smith, Delta Lodging Group
- Dwanna Stanley, The Agency! HAUS
- Courtney Taylor, AccelerateMS
- Danny Thompson, Woodward Hines Education Foundation
- Jonathan Townes, Hinds Community College
- Holly Grissinger Tubbs, City of Oxford
For more information about Leadership Mississippi and the Mississippi Economic Council, visit mec.ms.
About Leadership Mississippi: Leadership Mississippi is an annual program of the Mississippi Economic Council conducted by the M.B. Swayze Foundation. Leadership Mississippi is the second oldest statewide leadership program in the nation. Since its inception in 1974, Leadership Mississippi has graduated more than 1,400 alumni active in Mississippi business and politics.
About MEC: The Mississippi Economic Council has been the voice of Mississippi business since 1949. MEC deals with broad business issues through advocacy, research, resources and leadership. MEC has more than 11,000 members from 1,100 member firms in 2,400 locations throughout Mississippi.