By Staff
TAKING CHARGE n Wade Jones, a veteran community development specialist, takes charge as president of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation on February 19. Photo by Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star.
By Ben Alexander/The Meridian Star
Jan. 18, 2001
Wade Jones, an experienced hand in economic development and working successfully with officials at every level, was named today as president of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation
Jones, former executive director of the Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, has spent the last three years in Meridian as division manager for Mississippi Power.
A Greenville native, Jones will begin his new duties on Feb. 19. His salary was not disclosed.
After Jones received a marketing degree from the University of Mississippi in 1979, he went to work for the Delta Council, an 18-county consortium dedicated to addressing economic development needs in the Delta.
He served a two year stint on the Jackson Metro Chamber of Commerce as assistant manager of economic development before joining the Chamber in Gulfport as executive director, a position he held four years.
Jones spent the past 13 years as an executive with Mississippi Power, where he lobbied state legislators on a number of issues, made contacts with high-ranking officials in the state capital and across the state.
Jones said teamwork will play a vital role in the economic prosperity of the area over the next several years and he plans to help cultivate that teamwork by reaching out to various entities and developing a cohesive plan for the area.
In order to help establish such a consensus, Jones said the EMBDC will need to become a vehicle that enhances Lauderdale County and the surrounding counties of East Mississippi.
Although leaving Mississippi Power was a difficult decision to make, Jones said some new projects in Meridian, such as downtown revitalization and the new industrial park, made him feel like the formula for success was in place.
Jones and his wife, Wanda, have five children.
Ben Alexander is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. E-mail him at balexander@themeridianstar.com.