Our Team
Our Team
Jim Miller
Executive Director
Jim Miller is the Executive Director for the Mississippi Main Street Association, where he leads the statewide organization's administrative, advocacy, and development efforts and serves as the state coordinator of Mississippi for Main Street America. Jim previously worked as the Alignment Specialist and Assistant Director of Resource Development for the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) in Jackson, Miss, where his primary role was to research and secure federal and private grant dollars for the state’s community college system and individual institutions where he managed more than $10 million in federal and state grants. Jim is a graduate of MCCB's Expanding Capacity for Excellence in Leadership and is also a graduate of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy. He received a degree in political science and a minor in history at the University of Mississippi, and he received a master's degree from Mississippi College in higher education. Jim will obtain his doctoral degree in 2024 from the University of Southern Mississippi in higher education administration. He currently serves as a board member for the Mississippi Heritage Trust and is a deacon at Broadmoor Baptist Church. Jim is from Tupelo, Miss. and now resides with his wife and their three sons in Madison, Miss.
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Phone: 601-339-2042 ext. 1
Jeannie Zieren
Director of Communication and Marketing
Jeannie is the Director of Communication and Marketing for the Mississippi Main Street Association. She enjoys promoting Mississippi’s downtowns, and her work includes public and media relations, planning trainings for Main Street directors, conference and event planning, marketing and advertising, and communication services for the Main Street coordinating program in Mississippi. Jeannie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Mississippi State University and a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi. She received the Main Street America Revitalization Professional (MSARP) credential in 2018. Jeannie is a native of Jackson and a seventh generation Mississippian. She lives in Oxford with her husband Jon, son Grey, and daughter Ella Charlotte.
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Phone: 601-339-2042 ext. 2
Jennifer Lay
Director of Community Development
Jennifer is the Director of Community Development for the Mississippi Main Street Association. Jennifer worked previously for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, having served as Special Events and Projects Coordinator, Director of Main Street and Tourism, and as the interim Chief Executive Officer. A native of Olive Branch, MS, Jennifer attended Mississippi State University and began her career with the Partnership in 2005. After later working in the MSU Office of Admissions and Scholarships and the Global Leadership Continuum at MSU, Jennifer ventured back to the Partnership in 2013, where she most recently held the position of Director of Tourism and Interim Chief Executive Officer before joining the MMSA Staff in 2019. Jennifer obtained her Tourism Marketing Professional certification through the Southeast Tourism Society. Jennifer currently serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Tourism Association as a member of the Tourism Promotion Act Ad-Hoc Committee and Co-Chair of the Membership Committee. She lives in Starkville with her husband John Michael and their two daughters, Addie and Jillian.
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Phone: 601-339-2042 ext. 3
Beth Raney
Director of Business Services
Beth is Director of Business Services for the Mississippi Main Street Association. Beth works at the organization’s state headquarters at the GM&O Depot building in downtown Jackson and is responsible for office administration, record keeping, staff support, and bookkeeping services. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Florida. Beth lives in Clinton with her husband, Jimmy, and their three children, Avery Grace, Greyson and Walker.
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Phone: Phone: 601-339-2042 ext. 5
Jim Miller
Executive Director
601-339-2042 ext. 1
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Jim Miller is the Executive Director for the Mississippi Main Street Association, where he leads the statewide organization's administrative, advocacy, and development efforts and serves as the state coordinator of Mississippi for Main Street America. Jim previously worked as the Alignment Specialist and Assistant Director of Resource Development for the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) in Jackson, Miss, where his primary role was to research and secure federal and private grant dollars for the state’s community college system and individual institutions where he managed more than $10 million in federal and state grants. Jim is a graduate of MCCB's Expanding Capacity for Excellence in Leadership and is also a graduate of the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy. He received a degree in political science and a minor in history at the University of Mississippi, and he received a master's degree from Mississippi College in higher education. Jim will obtain his doctoral degree in 2024 from the University of Southern Mississippi in higher education administration. He currently serves as a board member for the Mississippi Heritage Trust and is a deacon at Broadmoor Baptist Church. Jim is from Tupelo, Miss. and now resides with his wife and their three sons in Madison, Miss.
Jeannie Zieren
Director of Communication and Marketing
601-339-2042 ext. 2
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Jeannie is the Director of Communication and Marketing for the Mississippi Main Street Association. She enjoys promoting Mississippi’s downtowns, and her work includes public and media relations, planning trainings for Main Street directors, conference and event planning, marketing and advertising, and communication services for the Main Street coordinating program in Mississippi. Jeannie has a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Mississippi State University and a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of Mississippi. She received the Main Street America Revitalization Professional (MSARP) credential in 2018. Jeannie is a native of Jackson and a seventh generation Mississippian. She lives in Oxford with her husband Jon, son Grey, and daughter Ella Charlotte.
Jennifer Lay
Director of Community Development
601-339-2042 ext. 3
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Jennifer is the Director of Community Development for the Mississippi Main Street Association. Jennifer worked previously for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, having served as Special Events and Projects Coordinator, Director of Main Street and Tourism, and as the interim Chief Executive Officer. A native of Olive Branch, MS, Jennifer attended Mississippi State University and began her career with the Partnership in 2005. After later working in the MSU Office of Admissions and Scholarships and the Global Leadership Continuum at MSU, Jennifer ventured back to the Partnership in 2013, where she most recently held the position of Director of Tourism and Interim Chief Executive Officer before joining the MMSA Staff in 2019. Jennifer obtained her Tourism Marketing Professional certification through the Southeast Tourism Society. Jennifer currently serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Tourism Association as a member of the Tourism Promotion Act Ad-Hoc Committee and Co-Chair of the Membership Committee. She lives in Starkville with her husband John Michael and their two daughters, Addie and Jillian.
Beth Raney
Director of Business Services
Phone: 601-339-2042 ext. 5
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Beth is Director of Business Services for the Mississippi Main Street Association. Beth works at the organization’s state headquarters at the GM&O Depot building in downtown Jackson and is responsible for office administration, record keeping, staff support, and bookkeeping services. She has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Florida. Beth lives in Clinton with her husband, Jimmy, and their three children, Avery Grace, Greyson and Walker.
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
- Marlo Dorsey – President | Visit Hattiesburg – Hattiesburg, MS
- Chris Hinton – Vice-President | Entergy – Jackson, MS
- Kelle Barfield – Treasurer | Lorelei Books/Delta Warren Properties – Vicksburg, MS
- Michelle Jones – Past President | The Cottage Industry – Starkville, MS
At-Large Members
- Jim Rosenblatt | Mississippi College – Jackson, MS
- Brent Fairley | Hancock Whitney Bank – Gulfport, MS
- Brad Reeves | Reeves, Gentry & Vitart, PLLC – Jackson, MS
- Tomeka Durr-Wiley | Mississippi Power – Gulfport, MS
- Chance McDavid | MSU Stennis Institute – Starkville, MS
- Mandy Hegwood | Neel-Schaffer – Laurel, MS
- Chip Johnson | City of Hernando – Hernando, MS
- Jean Kelly | Staplcotn - Greenwood, MS
Directors’ Representatives
- District 1: Cynthia Sutton | Ocean Springs Main Street – Ocean Springs, MS
- District 2: Lisa Klutts | West Point Main Street – West Point, MS
- District 3: Lori Tucker | Booneville Main Street – Booneville, MS
Permanent Members
- Meredith Massey | Miss. Dept. of Archives and History – Jackson, MS
- Leah Kemp | Carl Small Town Center – Mississippi State, MS
- Tim Climer | Mississippi Development Authority – Jackson, MS
Emeritus Members
- Steve Kelly | Retired – Madison, MS
- Ken P’Pool | Retired – Clinton, MS
Investors
The Mississippi Main Street Association helps revitalize our communities through the generous support of our Investors. These companies, organizations, and individuals believe in our mission because they have seen the positive impact that Main Street has in downtowns across Mississippi. To learn more about opportunities for investment, please contact MMSA Executive Director Jim Miller.
Cupola
Keystone
Pillar
Cornerstone
Foundation
Promoter
Advocate
Sustainer
Paula Beasley
Ken P'Pool
Dean Jim Rosenblatt
Supporter
Rebecca Davis
Partners
As a Main Street America Coordinating Program, Mississippi Main Street Association is part of a powerful, grassroots network consisting of 45 Coordinating Programs and over 1,600 neighborhoods and communities across the country committed to creating high-quality places and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development.
Mississippi Main Street partners with other statewide entities to leverage our resources to provide training and technical services for MMSA community members. Our strategic partners in Mississippi include:
Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy
Mississippi Development Authority
Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area
Mississippi Gulf Coast National Heritage Area
Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area
Mississippi Economic Development Council
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Mississippi Department of Transportation
MSU Extension Center for Government and Community Development
MSU Stennis Institute of Government
Mississippi Tourism Association
USM Trent Lott National Institute
Grisham-McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement
Friends
Thomas and Anne Marie Gregory
Ivey Mechanical Company
Jennifer Lay
Jim Rosenblatt
Lora Beasley