NEW EVENT!

We’re excited to invite you to our Chamber Growth & Strategy Workshop: Back to Business Basics!

This workshop is designed to provide actionable insights and strategies to help your business thrive in today’s dynamic environment.

RSVP REQUIRED. LIMITED SEATING.

Join us for a half-day workshop featuring experts from Pearl River Community College, The University of Southern Mississippi, and William Carey University sharing key strategies that can make a lasting impact on your business.

Workshop Highlights:

• Customer Experience & Personalization: Learn how to create personalized experiences that drive loyalty and satisfaction.
• Staying Competitive in a Changing Market: Explore strategies for flexibility, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Integrated Online Marketing: Discover how diversified marketing approaches can boost your overall success.

This is an invaluable opportunity to learn from industry leaders and network with fellow Chamber members, all while gaining practical tools to enhance your business.

Don’t miss out!

Katie Ball

Business & Marketing Management Instructor, Pearl River Community College

Katie Ball is a Marketing Instructor at Pearl River Community College, where she has been shaping the next generation of marketing professionals for ten years in the Business and Marketing Management program. She holds an MBA from Delta State University, a BS in Integrated Marketing Communications from the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), and an AAS in Business and Marketing Management from Pearl River Community College.

Katie’s commitment to her students is evident through her passion for motivation and inspiration, blending extensive academic expertise with hands-on industry experience. Prior to her academic career, she served as a Marketing Coordinator at Frigo Orthodontics in Biloxi, MS, where she spearheaded strategic marketing efforts. Katie is devoted to fostering an engaging and supportive classroom environment, ensuring her students are well-prepared to excel in their marketing careers.

Kevin Jon Cesa Buckley

Professor of Practice, The University of Southern Mississippi

Before teaching university students, Kevin spent 10 years in B2B sales and tourism marketing. While finishing his master's at USM, Kevin landed the opportunity to work in Houston, TX, in oil & gas tubular sales, managing multi-million dollar accounts. After a few years in Texas, he brought his talents back home to Columbia, MS, and grew a manufacturing company’s sales team. The most noteworthy accomplishments were achieving an exclusive distribution contract with a nationwide mining supplier, shipping metal products internationally, and spearheading the company’s first federal contract with US Geological Services in Mississippi. During his time as sales manager in Columbia, Kevin also led the marketing efforts for Experience Columbia, MS known for its regional Christmas holiday events.

While directing marketing for Experience Columbia MS, marketing campaigns reached over 1 million digital users attracting at least 200,000 visitors each season. Kevin’s team achieved “FestivalSouth 2022 Best of the Pinebelt” and “Best of Mississippi Travel 2022 – Holiday Attraction”. After moving to university teaching, his hand-picked marketing successors also achieved the statewide Pinnacle Awards “Outstanding Small Town Event Award”.

From consulting c-suite teams to training dozens of tourism attendees, Kevin Buckley brings years of marketing, sales, and team-building experience to his worthwhile seminars. Expect to hear impactful stories of change, interact with fellow peers through hands-on activities, and depart the training with tangible resources and realistic next steps to foster your professional network.

Kevin Buckley currently teaches sales and marketing classes at The University of Southern Mississippi while directing the Professional Sales Program for the College of Business and Economic Development. He also provides consulting for corporate teams on the topics of sales management, marketing strategy, and team building. Kevin resides in Hattiesburg, MS with his wife, Serena, and three

young children.

Jenifer Freridge

Director of Business Programs and External Relations Coordinator, William Carey University

Jenifer is a dedicated leader and lifelong resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, with a deep

commitment to education and community service. A 1997 graduate of Gautier High School,

Jenifer earned her MBA from William Carey University and is currently pursuing a PhD in

Higher Education Administration.

Her professional journey began at the Beau Rivage, where she spent a decade honing her skills

as a Convention Services Manager. During this time, she also completed the prestigious MGM

Mirage Management Associate Program, an intensive internship designed to prepare college

graduates for leadership roles within the resort industry.

Jenifer then transitioned to Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, where she spent seven

impactful years. She started as the Alumni Relations Coordinator before advancing to Director of

Foundation and Alumni Relations. In these roles, she was crucial in executing college-wide

events, overseeing the Bulldog Club and Lifelong Learning Institute, and leading the Alumni

Association.

In 2017, Jenifer joined William Carey University as the Tradition Campus Advancement Officer.

Her dedication and expertise led to her promotion in November 2023 to Director of Business

Programs and External Relations Coordinator.

Jenifer is deeply involved in her community and has completed several leadership programs,

including the 2018 Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) Masters Class, the 2019 Leadership

Gulf Coast Class, and the 2023 Leadership Mississippi Class. She is an active member of

numerous organizations, including the Junior Auxiliary of Pascagoula/Moss Point, the

Mississippi Coast Chamber, the Jackson County Chamber, the Public Relations Association of

Mississippi Beach Chapter, and the Gulf Coast Business Council. Her commitment to service has been recognized with multiple awards, including the One Coast Top 10 Under 40 in 2018, One Coast Community Leader in 2021, and induction into the CYP Hall of Fame in 2022.

Jenifer’s dedication to her community and her profession continues to drive her work as she

seeks to make a lasting impact on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.