In the late 1980s, an idea was conceived for an economic development tool that would draw new money to Hattiesburg. That idea was a volunteer group of business and community leaders who would put their experience, business acumen and dedication to Hattiesburg to work for the good of all of the citizens of Hattiesburg.
In 1990, the City Council requested that the Legislature of the State of Mississippi create this body and empower it to realize this vision of economic importance. In 1991, the Hattiesburg Convention Commission was formed with a legislative mandate to develop a convention center and other tourism-related facilities that would bring new revenues to our community.
Since that time, the HCC has helped bring new dollars into our local economy by constructing, renovating, and operating six attractions. These attractions bring over $50 million in visitor spending to Hattiesburg’s economy each year.
The HCC has worked to achieve the vision this community set in action when the Commission was established. So far, six tourism attractions have been created to escalate the impact of visitors and to grow the long-term economic benefits to all of Hattiesburg. With this as its historical precedent, the Commission continues to look forward.
Casey began his Scouting career as District Executive in the Sequoyah Council in Johnson City, Tennessee in 1996. He moved on to become a Senior District Executive and later Field Director. He was promoted to Assistant Scout Executive of the Westark Area Council, Fort Smith, Arkansas in 2009 and on to Director of Field Service / COO in the Great Smoky Mountain Council, Knoxville, Tennessee in 2012. He was selected as Scout Executive / CEO of the Pine Burr Area Council in Hattiesburg effective February 1, 2016.
Casey and his wife, Ann, have three children. Sam, Claire, and Ryan attend school in Lamar County.
The Pine Burr Area Council Service Center is located at 1318 Hardy Street, Hattiesburg Mississippi and serves 17 counties in the Pine Belt and the Gulf Coast.
Kelsey Land Steffens is the President of her Family's land and timber management company, Melvin Forest Management. Prior to taking on this role, she worked at the Procurement department at Georgia-Pacific. She has a Master's in Business Administration with a specialization in Supply Chain and Operations Management from the University of Alabama, where she also received her bachelor's degree in Finance in 2011. After living in Birmingham postgraduate school, Kelsey and her husband Blaine returned to her hometown of Hattiesburg where they live with their two year-old daughter, Audrey and their beagle mix, Lola.
President-Elect Mark Killingsworth presided over today’s meeting for Steven Utroska. A.D. Hunt provided the invocation and Bill MacLauchlan led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.Joe Bost was our greeter today.
Cole Gressett sat in for Michael McPhail and thanked those who helped with today’s meeting. He also introduced our visitors. Shirley Moore is a guest of Bill McLeod. Lucy Sanguinetti is a guest of Erin Granberry. Both have applied for club membership.
After serving as a board member, board president and volunteer for MHT for many years, Lolly took over as Executive Director in 2013. Lolly has over twenty years of experience in historic preservation, including her work as Historical Administrator for the City of Biloxi, Program Manager for the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Vice President of White House Properties.