JEREMY MCCLAIN • DIRECTOR, SOUTHERN MISS ATHLETICS
Jeremy McClain returns to the University of Southern Mississippi after serving as the Director of Athletics at Troy University since August of 2015. He served as the Deputy Director of Athletics at Southern Miss for three years prior to his departure to Troy. During his time at Troy, McClain hired Chip Lindsey earlier this year to run the school's football program as well as named a new head men's basketball coach Scott Cross.
Under McClain, the football program won 31 games, tied for the most wins over the last three seasons by Group of Five conference schools with Boise State and UCF. The Trojans won three-straight bowl games and a Sun Belt Conference title while earning a national ranking and recording a historic victory at LSU in that time period. In addition, the football program enjoyed record attendance in the last three seasons.
Chris Goodwin is the Director of the Public Information section of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, where he has worked since 2001. MDAH is a comprehensive historical agency that performs the functions of multiple groups in other states, from the operation of the state archives to the oversight of the state’s historic preservation program to the administration of museums and historic sites across Mississippi. The highest-profile attractions the department has opened in recent years are the new Museum of Mississippi History and Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, which have welcomed more than 300,000 people since December 9, 2017. The weekly History Is Lunch lecture series, coordinated by Goodwin, averages 125 attendees and features guest speakers discussing various aspects of the state’s history.
Before joining the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Goodwin was an editor at the Clarion-Ledger newspaper. A native of Water Valley, Mississippi, he attended both Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi, which is problematic mostly in November during the Egg Bowl. He will present “Ten Things You Didn't Know about the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.”
Given in recognition of their outstanding service and unwavering dedication to the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg. T. C. Hannah, charter member and first president of the Rotary Club of Hattiesburg.
Ryan Kelly is a Mississippi native and founder/CEO of Horizon Professional Services. He previously served as Chief Advancement Office for William Carey University and Director of External Relations for The University of Southern Mississippi College of Health.
Jonathan B. Jones is the CEO of Jones Companies, which was founded in 1949 and based in Mississippi. Jones Companies is made up of 9 privately owned entities operating in 42 states. During Jonathan's leadership, the company has grown to become the market share leader in several industries including recycling, integrated power line, and pipeline construction support services. Before becoming CEO of Jones Companies, Jonathan earned a Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi. Immediately upon graduation, Jonathan began working as an assistant controller for the family business. Within 4 years of employment, Jonathan purchased a controlling interest in the company and was promoted to CEO.
George Bassi has been the Director of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art in Laurel, Mississippi, since 1993. He is a native of Leland, MS, and received his undergraduate degree in business from Delta State University and his Master of Arts degree in mass communications and public relations from The University of Southern Mississippi.
He has more than thirty years of non-profit management and arts administration experience. George conducts workshops and retreats on fundraising, arts management, public relations & marketing, grant writing and board resources. He has participated in the National Arts Stabilization project and has authored an article for American Art Review.
Dr. Mike Lopinto, originally from New Orleans, is a true Renaissance man, he has written, directed, music directed, designed sets and lighting for numerous productions, most recently directing shows including Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera (2017—American Prize for Musical Theatre Semi-Finalist), to Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins (2015), for the Southern Miss School of Music and James and the Giant Peach (2017– American Prize for Musical Theatre Semi-Finalist), and Rock of Ages for the Hub City Players, Hattiesburg’s professional theatre company. This summer, he will direct Sister Act to open the 10th anniversary of FestivalSouth.
Lopinto spent a decade teaching in some of the most successful programs in Texas winning state and national honors and continues to judge music and visual arts events internationally. Currently, he serves as the Assistant to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for Arts PR/Marketing at Southern Miss.
During his tenure, he brought a new level of recognition to arts programs in Mississippi, most notably the acclaimed symphony orchestra. He coordinated events with world-renowned classical celebrities to pop icons as well as designing and directing the award-winning Symphony Galas. He has become a favorite emcee for the Mystic Krewe of Zeus and his voice can be heard at all Southern Miss games as "The Voice of The Pride" and on commercials across the South.
He is the artistic director of FestivalSouth® that has reshaped summers in the Hub City and the creative director of Consult M, a multi-faceted arts development organization that has worked regionally with performing arts organizations.
.jpg?_=636966402506674568)
.png)
.jpg)
