Here at The Pine Belt News and Signature Magazine, we take our mission very seriously. Everything we do is measured against it – we aim to inform, connect, and celebrate. Our print and digital products inform every day. Our advertising staff constantly connects buyers and sellers. That leaves celebrate. Our “Best of the Pine Belt” celebrates the outstanding businesses and professionals that make this place so special. Now we’ve chosen another group, one that we feel is crucial to our community.
We realize it takes a very special combination of individuals of all ages to make a difference in any local community, but we want to single out those under the age of 40 who are making a significant impact. There is little doubt the challenge we face in a smaller community to keep our best and brightest right here at home. Too often they leave to attend college never to return or they leave seeking better employment opportunities in larger cities.
Fortunately, there are those who do opt to remain in our community and strive to make a difference. And it is those hard-working, dedicated young professionals that we want to support, encourage, and recognize with our 20 Under 40 Awards.
We started this journey last November, when I reached out to the public to nominate their choices for “20 Under 40.” In my dreams, I hoped I might get 20 nominations, all of them deserving. In reality, I got over 100 nominations resulting in 48 nominees. I asked all the nominees to complete a questionnaire and sent the results to a few community leaders to help me with the decision. Well, they took almost two weeks but finally returned 20 names to me and we had our 2024 class of honorees.
I hope you enjoy getting to know these 20 exceptional individuals. They cover a wide variety of professions. Some of them are multi-generational Hattiesburgers, and some moved here as adults. But they have several traits in common. When asked, “What leadership skills were the most challenging for you to develop?” most of them answered “delegation.” Not surprising as they are a “boots on the ground” and a “can do” group.
Every one of our honorees shared a primary trait – a deep and abiding love for the Pine Belt. And every one of them, in answering the question, “Where do you see yourself in 10 years?” said they would be right here working to better this extraordinary community.
A few words of thanks to Lisa Pierce and her staff at Southern Oaks. We gathered with the honorees, their families, and coworkers on January 11 to celebrate, and as usual the event was beautiful, and the food was delicious. We would also like to thank our Gold Sponsors – William Carey University, without whom we would not be able to celebrate these honorees in style at no charge to them.
To our 20 Under 40 honorees, it has been a joy getting to know you, your award was more than well-deserved, and we can all be assured that the future of the Pine Belt is quite bright indeed.
Christina Pierce is the publisher at Hattiesburg Publishing, which produces The Pine Belt News and Signature Magazine.–
Dr. Joseph Bird
Dr. Joseph Bird serves as the Dean of the School of Missions and Ministry Studies at William Carey University. He is also a speaker, a book editor, and an ordained minister. Dr. Bird obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Biblical Exposition from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2018. In addition to his duties at William Carey, he is the pastor of Leaf River Baptist Church in Collins.
Dr. Bird feels that his greatest quality is his love for people. He says, “I genuinely desire for my family, friends, colleagues, and community to thrive and excel in every area. My leadership philosophy has always been to simply treat people the way I want to be treated and to assume the best, not the worst in people.”
A confessed bibliophile, he scours the Salvation Army Family Store of Highway 49 pretty much every weekday for new books. His first job was at the Pelahatchie Trading Post in Brandon, and he shares this advice, “Everyone needs to go to a gas station, diner, and bait shop and just strike up conversations with people. Our state is filled with these types of stores and with amazing people with stories to tell.”
Bryan Buckley
Bryan Buckley is one of several chosen who work for Forrest General Hospital. He is their Administrative Director of Nursing, and says that his toughest challenge was completing a Master’s Degree with three children and a new job role. He serves on The University of Southern Mississippi School of Nursing Advisory Board and describes himself as determined, caring, and compassionate.
When asked what movie he would recommend to a neighbor, Bryan responded, “Rudy. I love football, and it is a very inspirational movie that shows you always have to push for your dreams.” If he could speak with his 18-year-old self, he would say, “Always keep your eye on your goals. Don’t let things distract you.” His biggest success in the past 12 months was starting a new role with many up-hill challenges. He adds that he’s been able to make great strides in the last seven months, with still a lot of work to do.
The word Bryan used several times when completing his questionnaire was “Passionate.” Passionate about quality healthcare and passionate about leadership. Related to his passionate nature, the leadership skill most challenging for him to develop was taming his passion and his outspoken nature to listen and hear all aspects of a situation before responding.
Jessica Cathey
Jessica Cathey’s resume speaks to her determination and perseverance. In her role as Director of Human Resources with the Hattiesburg Convention Commission, she approaches each day prepared not only to tackle the assignments and projects assigned to her, but with the intention of enhancing the overall well-being and morale of her co-workers. She expresses her passion for philanthropy through her role as Ward 1 Representative on the Board of Adjustments for the City of Hattiesburg, work with World Vision, and serving Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
In 2019, Jessica established the Convention Commission Cares. Also known as C3, this employee-led committee addresses in-kind donation requests for the Convention Commission. She has also implemented various initiatives such as an employee assistance program, an employee of the year program, employee engagement surveys, and contests. Jessica shows her great sense of humor when discussing her open-door policy, which “may sometimes be utilized more than expected.”
Jessica says about her favorite nonprofit, “World Vision is an international partnership of Christians whose mission is to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice, and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of God.”
Jeremy Cumpton
Jeremy Cumpton is one of two young professionals we are honoring this year who works for the Hattiesburg Zoo. As the Director of Conservation, Education, and Wildlife, he is key in the transformation of our zoo’s shift from not quite “up to par” to a leader in education, recreation, and tourism. He is a board member for the Mississippi Environmental Education Alliance and an advisor for Hattiesburg High School’s polymer science classes.
In sharing examples of professional excellence, Jeremy says, “I have been lucky enough to build several programs from the ground up. These programs range from education events such as Earth Day and our outreach program, to events where I infuse some of my personal hobbies into the zoo such as Ren Fest. I have also developed our manager on duty program, sustainability committee, community cleanups, and many other back of house programs.”
If Jeremy had a chance to speak with his 18-year-old self, he would say, “You are making the right decisions. Buy bitcoin now. And Scooby-Doo never goes out of style.” His toughest challenge to date has been to challenge the way things have always been run to see where improvements can be made.
Chelsey Everett
Chelsey Everett combines a Master of Science in Economic Development and Tourism, a Bachelor of Art in Journalism/ Public Relations, and a Part 107 UAS Pilot License to serve as the Vice President of Marketing & Research at the Area Development Partnership. She is particularly proud of her involvement in bringing the Idaho Forest Group to Lumberton. She says, “This wasn’t just a project; it was a beacon of hope that resulted in an investment of over $250 million and the creation of 170 new, well-paying jobs. These positions weren’t just jobs; they were promises of a brighter future.”
Chelsey is deeply involved in several community and professional organizations. She’s a board member and a volunteer with PineBelt Foster Resources, a group which assists foster families with clothing and essentials. She serves as Media Director at CrossPoint Community Church, overseeing live-streamed worship services, marketing church events, maintaining the website, and engaging with social media audiences.
Chelsey credits her work in economic development with taking her from a shy individual to a confident professional who thrives on aiding others. Her favorite movie is Inside Out, and she loves it as an excellent tool for opening up conversations about mental health and emotional well-being.
Katherine Frye
Katherine Frye is an entrepreneur who began her career in graphic design at The University of Southern Mississippi while still a student. She now co-owns Twin Raven Marketing, a firm with four contract employees and over 15 clients. Her company provides branding, social media management, graphic design, and website design.
Katherine’s community involvement includes serving as a board member with Sales & Marketing Professionals Pine Belt (2018-2019), USM MSPA Graphic Design Speaker (2015-2016), and VisitHATTIESBURG as an event volunteer. Currently she works with several community businesses and organizations, including FestivalSouth, VisitHATTIESBURG, and Schools Against Vaping.
Katherine strives to be a smart, kind, and hardworking business owner who brings agility and patience to every project, regardless of the challenge or the client’s unpredictability. She tries her best to ensure her employees feel heard with open office hours, weekly check-ins, and pulse-checks on burnout. She pushes her employees to learn new things, get new certifications, and grow into themselves, just as she aims to do for herself.
She would tell her 18-year-old self to lean on others more, instead of operating like an island. Her toughest challenge has been battling with imposter syndrome, and, aware that a lot of people struggle with this, she strives to create a supportive environment for her employees.
Emily Gallaspy
Emily Gallaspy is the Hattiesburg Community Arts Center Director and Grant Writer for Hattiesburg Parks and Recreation. She manages over 35 resident artists and tenants, oversees maintenance and remodeling, creates arts programming, teaches a class from time-to-time, and, in the 2022-2023 fiscal year, received $700,000 in state funding to improve Parks and Recreation’s program offerings.
A few months ago, the Hattiesburg Community Arts Center opened the Paper Warehouse Theater with a $220,000 grant from the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Building Funds for the Arts. Next year, due to a $480,000 grant from the Mississippi Outdoor Stewardship Trust, work will begin to build a second public river access point in Hattiesburg along the Leaf River.
Emily’s volunteer efforts include serving as a volunteer for the Piney Woods Conservation Group, a board member for the Pine Belt Blueways, a volunteer and grant-writer for the Hattiesburg Landmark Preservation, and a volunteer for Damn It, Do It!. She can be found organizing the after party for The Pinebelt Foundation’s Hattiesburg Half Marathon, pouring beer at the Downtown Craft Beer Festival, and volunteering at the Downtown Crawfish Jam.
Emily describes herself as “a person who notoriously follows through.” She thrives on taking the comment “someone ought to” to a job done well and under budget. She is a new mom and is currently training with her mother to run a half marathon.
Dustin Gatlin
Dustin Gatlin is responsible for facility maintenance, facility construction, and property management for one million square feet of Forrest General Hospital and another one million square feet of outlying buildings either owned or operated by Forrest General. He is a licensed Professional Engineer and takes the Code of Ethics for Professional Engineers very seriously, stating, “Engineers routinely design and oversee construction for systems that could potentially cause great harm to the general public. It is critical that engineers put the health and well-being of the public ahead of financial or personal gains.”
Dustin currently serves as the President of the Southeast Area Chapter of the Mississippi Engineering Society and as the Treasurer for The Circle Church. He routinely works with engineers for local entities on grant requests for which participation from multiple stakeholders is required in efforts to better the greater Hattiesburg area and specifically the Midtown Hattiesburg area.
Dustin’s first job was with a worldwide cement company as a college student. He observed that many of the workers seemed almost like family to each other. He says, “As a leader in my current job role, I hope that the people under me feel that I genuinely care for them as a person and not just an employee.”
Heather Glausier
Heather Glausier is the first half of our first of two husband/wife teams. She has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology from Southern Miss. She is a business owner and a mother of four.
During Covid, the restaurant that Heather and her husband own, Pier 98 Steaks, Seafood and Catering, was one of five local restaurants to not shut down, and they retained 100 percent of their employees. In fact, they increased the hourly server rates and offered employer paid insurance to lessen the financial burdens of their employees. When the spring tornadoes hit that same year, she and her husband were among the first people allowed into the hardest hit areas and continued to serve those communities with food, water, and help in cleaning up until larger groups could navigate to the areas.
Heather believes in serving her employees. She will help them apply for higher learning, find appropriate medical and mental health professionals, find housing, budget, and will even provide childcare when they need a break. She even instituted an imaginary drop box for her employees to leave their problems and hassles at the end of the day.
Heather’s advice to her own 18-year-old self? Life is too short to not do the things you want to do, but life is too long to not do the things you want to do.
Josh Glausier
Josh Glausier is the other half of the owners of Pier 98 Steaks, Seafood and Catering. After years of working in food service sales, this winner cashed out his 401K and bought a po’boy shop that was on the verge of closing down. Flash by seven years and his restaurant now offers a warm, family friendly atmosphere and plates typically found in high-end fine dining establishments. He is still expanding, now offering a food trailer and full event catering.
Like his wife Heather, Josh sees his employees as family and will offer a chance to the homeless, the individuals straight out of drug and alcohol treatment, and even those still in active addiction. His goal is always to increase their self-confidence and give them the opportunity to make a better life.
His guests are also family. He says, “One particular family started coming in after their teen daughter committed suicide. They had no family and quickly became regulars. Thanksgiving would be their first holiday without their daughter, so I decided to open up and cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal to help distract them. These precious people are now called Aunt and Uncle by my children and started one of our favorite traditions, Thanksgiving at the Pier.”
Danielle Herrington
Danielle Herrington describes herself as kind, compassionate, and understanding, qualities which shape her personally and professionally. She left off determined, but in 2015 she was working full time and obtaining her MBA at William Carey. She went to her very last class on a Tuesday night and had her daughter the next morning. She is a mother, a youth cheer coach, and the Director of Accounting for the Hattiesburg Convention Commission.
Danielle is the recipient of the coveted Shining Star award, earned for her efforts in raising funds for tornado victims through merchandise sales. In 2021, she played a key role in overseeing the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Process during Covid, securing approximately $1 million for the Convention Commission.
One of Danielle’s favorite nonprofit organizations is the “To Write Love on Her Arms” (TWLOHA) organization. TWLOHA strives to provide support, encouragement, and resources for those who are struggling with mental health issues such as depression, addiction, or self-harm, by offering a compassionate approach to mental health advocacy and support.
A leadership skill Danielle found challenging to develop is effectively dealing with conflict. She now understands that addressing conflict empathetically doesn’t mean avoiding the issue but rather finding resolutions that consider the emotions and perspectives of everyone involved.
James Isenhower
The first half of our second husband/wife honoree team, James Isenhower is an entrepreneur devoted to helping others have unique experiences. James owns Hub Spins and The Hub Laser Tag. He says, “I design, build, set-up, and run laser tag games unlike anything we have in this part of the country. I also try to give people an experience with flavors of cotton candy unlike what most have tried.”
His wife says that he wants people to know they are seen and that they matter. His wife stated, “He may be horrible at remembering dates, but faces and the stories that go with them stay with him.”
Diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 18, James chooses to look beyond any limitation, saying, “This has been both a huge struggle and a huge help. I don’t have the luxury of doing things the way most people do. Because of that, I am able to come at problems from different angles and offer unique solutions.”
Because James feels that facts should come in threes, here are three fun facts about him: 1. Rheumatoid arthritis has fixed multiple of his joints. 2. He chose to spend a year homeless traveling the country to better understand homelessness. 3. Denzel Washington once woke him up from a nap.
Lacey Mai Isenhower
Lacey Mai Isenhower can be found on weekdays at the Mississippi Department of Child Protection Services office, where she serves as a supervisor for the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Program, an organization that helps youth in foster care work towards permanency with people in their networks when parental rights have been terminated. When she is not there, she’s at The Hub coordinating event details with her husband, or Hub Spins, educating folks on their dye-free and allergen-free cotton candy. She strives to be timely, informative, and friendly while coordinating customer service, looking for opportunities to connect with customers so that she can make the experience what they imagined it to be and hopefully more.
Lacey Mai is very active with Ekklesia Hattiesburg, serving as a co-leader for the church’s Youth Group. She and her husband James host SNAC (Sunday Night After Church) at their house on a weekly basis, where they share a meal before the lesson. She says, “A lot of fun is had at SNAC and supporting the youth in their extra-curriculars!”
Lacey Mai is a self-confessed daydream believer and has been accused of having a little thing called “spunk.” An example? She once introduced herself to the United States Ambassador to Cambodia while eating a melting ice cream cone at an Independence Day celebration in Phnom Penh.
Ann Claire Reynolds Kelly
When asked for examples of personal qualities that make her stand out, Ann Claire Reynolds Kelly cites commitment to excellence. In addition to owning a business with her husband, Steven Kelly ALFA Insurance, and owning Posh Pines Parties, she is currently the President of Hattiesburg Junior Auxiliary, was a 2023 WISH Society member for Make-A-Wish Mississippi, was a 2022 Ambassador for Partners for the Arts with USM, and has served as the local director of Petal’s Miss Hospitality program for eight years. She also serves as a member of Lebonte of Petal, which sponsors Petal’s Distinguished Young Woman program.
Ann Claire says, “I genuinely enjoy any service that I can do to better the quality of life in the Pine Belt. Whether it be direct community service through volunteer work, supporting our local universities, or spending time at local businesses or events, I strive to consistently promote our city and area. In 2011, I served as Mississippi’s Miss Hospitality where my role was to promote tourism and economic development across the state... The quality of life we have in the Pine Belt is unmatched, and I strive to make it the best it can be in all that I do.”
Ann Claire began teaching piano lessons at the age of 14 and has taught for over 15 years. Her bucket list contains “grandparenting.”
Demetric Kelly
Demetric Kelly began his career at WABG-TV in Greenville, where he learned that there are so many stories to be told and time is of the essence, it waits for no one. He is now the Director of Guest Services & Retail for the Hattiesburg Zoo. He has the distinction of being named “Employee of the Year,” and is proud of his part in the Africa Expansion, High Ropes Adventure Course, and development of Serengeti Springs. He has also played a key role in developing new events such as Zoo Boo, Lights of the Wild, and Rum Under the Sun.
Demetric is passionate, reliable, hardworking, and professional, and greatly enjoys making guests feel welcome and creating lasting memories for them, even if they don’t know the face behind the magic. He is always willing to share his expertise and experience with others, and has done so with local groups such as OLLI at USM and youth groups at the African American Military Museum.
Demetric is an advocate for all things mental health and truly believes we all deserve to live a balanced life. A few fun facts about him are that he played the trombone in middle and high school and he’s a really good cook.
Akwete Muhammad
Akwete Muhammad is the Resource Development Director for Habitat for Humanity of the Pine Belt and this year’s President and Chair of the Pinebelt Young Professionals. She’s an ADP Ambassador, a proud Rotarian, a board member for Disability Rights Mississippi, and the Habitat Chair for the United Way of Southeast Mississippi Economic Mobility Council. She mentors at-risk youth and helps them develop themselves professionally and educationally.
Akwete is a true Army brat with both parents serving. Her biggest recent success was completing Habitat Home Build #71. After many Covid-related twists and turns, they lost the father of the Habitat partner family and were able to qualify his sister to take over the mortgage. She adopted his three teenage sons and they just hosted the housewarming on December 22.
Akwete says, “A quality I possess is knowing that service is the greatest power that anyone can possess. I know that prayer is the greatest weapon anyone can have. Muhammad Ali stated, “Service to others is the rent we pay to live on earth.” I strive to always exude the principle of service.” Her advice to her 18-year-old self? Find your inner voice and never be afraid to use it.
Mallorie Pittman
Mallorie Pittman is the PR/ Marketing Manager for Nelson Haskin’s Restaurants, including Bourbon on Front, Hattiesburgers and Blues, Nellie’s Chicken & Daiquiris, Blu Jazz Café, and Southbound Bagel & Coffee Shop. She’s built the website, built the social media, and built the entire brand for Bourbon on Front. She loves getting to know new people and says that since she can’t sing, dance, or paint, people are her talent.
Mallorie’s community involvement includes serving on the Downtown Hattiesburg Association Communication & Event Committee and Founding the DHA Ambassadors, a group of young college students tasked with promoting downtown through social media, with the goal of bringing USM/SCU students downtown. She has spearheaded events such as the Santa Pub Crawl, Hattiesburgers and Blues’ Ugly Sweater Party, Blu Jazz Café’s New Year’s Eve VIP Experience, and First Fridays at Bourbon on Front.
Mallorie’s talents include making really bad dad jokes and remembering 15 drink orders without a notepad. If she could talk to her 18-year-old self, she would tell her to slow down! She says, “I found myself constantly looking forward to the next big milestone and forgot that where I was in life at that time was something I had prayed for in the past.”
Harley Russell
Harley Russell is a Project Analyst at Forrest General Hospital, a role in which she has significantly increased staff recruitment and retention for the emergency department by researching the specific characteristics and expectations of Gen Z employees in the healthcare workplace. She’s integrated artificial intelligence technologies, promoted mental health, and spearheaded too many initiatives to list. Her decisions are driven by a belief in the power of data, and she quotes, “If you’re not measuring it, you can’t change it.”
Harley proudly led and contributed to a high-performing Emergency Department team that earned the esteemed “Team of the Year” recognition in 2023. She was acknowledged as an exceptional healthcare professional with nominations for Innovator of the year, Nurse of the Year, and the prestigious Daisy Award. This triple recognition highlights Harley’s dedication to innovation, outstanding nursing practice, and compassionate patient care, showcasing her commitment to excellence and making a meaningful impact in the healthcare field.
Harley is a voracious continuous learner and a huge believer in a holistic perspective. The book she would be most likely to recommend is The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz. A fun fact about her is that her stress-reliever is kickboxing classes.
Dalton Selby
Dalton Selby has been a full-time licensed REALTOR with KW Elite Keller Williams Realty for three years. He particularly enjoys working with first-time homebuyers and is grateful in knowing that he is helping individuals build generational wealth. Within just a few short years he has become a top producing agent at his brokerage and was invited to serve on the Associate Leadership Council, a board comprised of the top percentage of Agents which advises leadership and plans and facilitates the day-to-day operations of the brokerage.
Dalton is passionate about his customers and says that nothing is more meaningful than having satisfied clients who are so excited about the new chapter of life they are about to embark on. He takes pride in being extremely thorough and detail-oriented so that his clients feel prepared and educated every step of the way.
Although a relative newcomer to the Pine Belt, Dalton says, “Something about Hattiesburg just felt like home, and I never looked back. I am extremely thankful for this community that has embraced me and made me feel like I have lived here my entire life.” A fun fact about Dalton is that while in college he spent time in Croatia and eastern Europe studying macroeconomics and the European Union.
Trenton Yawn
Trenton Yawn is a Loan Officer at First Southern Bank. He was recently promoted to Assistant Vice President and Internal Audit Manager. He is a member of Lions Club, a coach at Temple Baptist Flag Football, a Deacon at Temple Baptist Church, and a Patrick Davis Memorial Fund Advisor. He is described as respectable, kind, a people-person, and a hard worker.
Trenton’s favorite nonprofit organization that he has participated in is Christian Services. He says, “We did several different projects with them through the Boy Scouts when I was growing up. It truly made me thankful for what I have and more willing to serve.”
Trenton says his biggest personal accomplishment recently has been the total renovation of his house. Although it took a lot of time and money, he was taught patience and learned about finances and construction.
Asked where he sees himself in 10 years, he says, “I see myself being an active person in my church, in good standing in my community, success in my job, and loved by my family.” The leadership skill that was the most challenging for him? He says, “Definitely public speaking. Talking to people is not difficult for me but speaking in front of people is not one of my strengths.”
