As we close out 2025, one theme runs through everything the Gulf Coast Business Council has done this year: alignment.
From launching new initiatives like Mission 3 and StartUp Gulf Coast, to convening mayors, legislators, educators, and industry leaders, 2025 was a year of thinking bigger as one Coast and preparing for a more competitive, innovative future.
Below is a look back at the moments, milestones, and momentum that defined this year.
January: Legislative Luncheon
We opened 2025 with a luncheon featuring a series of panel discussions with GCBC strategic partners representing:
- Hancock County Port & Harbor
- Harrison County Development Commission
- Jackson County Economic Development Foundation
- Gulfport–Biloxi International Airport
- Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MSET)
- Coastal Mississippi Tourism
- Port of Gulfport
- Port of Pascagoula
- Gulf Regional Planning Commission
- South Mississippi Planning & Development District
Each partner shared updates on major projects, opportunities on the horizon, and their priorities for the upcoming legislative session.
We also convened a mayors’ panel with:
- Mayor Billy Knight, City of Moss Point
- Mayor Jay Willis, City of Pascagoula
- Mayor Billy Hewes, City of Gulfport
The mayors discussed local infrastructure needs, community priorities, and the legislative support required to keep their cities growing and resilient.
Coast Coliseum Director Matt McDonnell addressed membership as well, underscoring the aging facility’s needs and the importance of a formal impact study to determine whether to invest in major improvements or explore replacement options.
Moving forward, we’re renaming the Legislative Luncheon to the Regional Policy & Progress Luncheon to better reflect the true purpose of the event. Rather than centering solely on legislative activity, the focus is now on the strategic partners whose work and priorities shape the Coast’s long-term economic trajectory.
February: Statewide Momentum and a Culture of Entrepreneurism
In February, members heard from Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Executive Director Bill Cork, who delivered an encouraging overview of the state’s economic momentum.
Cork highlighted:
- Billions of dollars in recent capital investment
- Major projects announced across Mississippi
- The central role Coastal Mississippi continues to play in the state’s growth story
The 2024 Masters Leadership Class also presented their yearlong project, focused on cultivating a culture of entrepreneurism on the Coast. Their work underscored how critical it is to support founders and small business owners if we want to build a more innovative, diversified regional economy.
During the meeting, Innovate Mississippi President & CEO Tony Jeff joined GCBC President & CEO Jamie Miller to announce a three-year agreement between GCBC and Innovate Mississippi. That partnership laid the groundwork for what would ultimately become StartUp Gulf Coast and the hiring of GCBC’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and Marketing to lead a more intentional push around entrepreneurship.
March: Higher Education Growth and Public Safety
March’s meeting spotlighted both higher education and public safety.
William Carey University President Dr. Ben Burnett shared the remarkable growth of the Tradition Campus, detailing new programs, enrollment increases, and ongoing investments aimed at strengthening the Coast’s workforce pipeline.
Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch joined as keynote to discuss her office’s work statewide to combat crime, with a particular focus on human trafficking. She outlined current initiatives, partnerships with law enforcement, and the importance of community awareness and engagement in keeping Mississippians safe.
April: Executive Education and Statewide Business Priorities
In April, University of Southern Mississippi President Dr. Joe Paul addressed membership with an update on the Gulf Park Campus and a major new collaboration with GCBC.
Dr. Paul and Jamie Miller announced a Memorandum of Understanding between USM and GCBC to create the Executive Education Academy, an effort to bring high-level training and certification programs directly to leaders across South Mississippi. The Academy will provide tailored executive education opportunities that align with the needs of the Coast’s business community and public sector partners.
Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) President & CEO Scott Waller also presented, sharing MEC’s statewide priorities and outlook for 2025 and beyond—reinforcing how the Gulf Coast fits into a larger strategy to keep Mississippi competitive regionally and nationally.
May: State of the Coast Symposium 2025
On May 22, GCBC welcomed a sold-out crowd of more than 550 business and civic leaders to the 2025 State of the Coast Symposium at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi.
With the theme “Leveraging Human Intelligence and AI to Work Smarter, Compete Better, and Stay Future-Ready,” the symposium explored how innovation and technology can sharpen our competitive edge without losing sight of people.
Key moments included:
- A vision for the Coast
- Jamie Miller delivered a data-rich overview of the Coast’s economy, highlighting:
- Mississippi’s second-highest GDP growth in the nation for 2024
- More than $32 billion in private capital investment announced statewide since 2020
- An 8.4% population increase on the Coast, despite a statewide decline
- A $3.37 billion tourism impact in Coastal Mississippi
- Wage growth, job gains, and population trends that underscore the Coast’s outsized role in state prosperity
Miller’s report also highlighted both strengths and challenges in sectors like tourism, gaming, and STEM employment—underscoring why continued investment in innovation, technology, and workforce development is essential.
GCBC Chairman Jonathan Jones (Harrah’s Gulf Coast) and title sponsor representative Pedro Cherry (Mississippi Power Company) emphasized that cross-sector collaboration remains the key to turning economic potential into reality.
AI, amplified
Keynote speaker Kevin Popović, “The Idea Guy®,” reframed artificial intelligence as a practical, accessible tool that can enhance—not replace—human intelligence.
Using humor, sketches, and local examples, he:
- Clarified what AI is and isn’t
- Showed how AI already powers tools used on the Coast (from smart grids to customer service)
- Highlighted 10 real-world AI use cases for Mississippi businesses
His challenge to Coastal leaders was simple: the most competitive companies will be those that use AI to elevate their people’s creativity, strategy, and decision-making.
Honoring public and private sector leadership
The Rising Tide Award (Public Sector) recognized the 11 public school superintendents of Coastal Mississippi for their role in Mississippi’s historic leap in education rankings—from 49th to 29th nationally, and first in the nation in 4th grade reading and math when adjusted for demographics.
The Rising Tide Award (Private Sector) honored Superior Optical, a veteran-owned eyewear company headquartered in Ocean Springs that serves veterans across the country through VA Hospital programs.
Together, these honorees illustrated how educational excellence and mission-driven businesses fuel long-term prosperity.
Read the complete blog post recap here: State of the Coast Symposium 2025: Innovation, Education, and Economic Momentum on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
June: Launching a Summer Series with Legislative Leadership
GCBC kicked off a three-part Summer Legislative Series in June with a packed house to hear from Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann at the Knight Nonprofit Center.
Hosemann’s remarks emphasized:
- Continued improvement in Mississippi’s education rankings, supported by teacher pay raises and new classroom technology
- Major tax cuts, including House Bill 1, while simultaneously paying down $1.2 billion in state debt and investing over $2 billion in infrastructure
- Reforms to the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) and ongoing efforts to modernize state government
- Mississippi’s strong GDP performance and economic momentum
He also spoke candidly about challenges like chronic absenteeism and the need for a stronger, more consistent workforce pipeline.
Following the general session, Hosemann met privately with senators, economic developers, and regional stakeholders to discuss Gulf Coast Restoration Fund (GCRF) allocations and the need to ensure Coastal Mississippi does not go another two years without appropriating these critical dollars.
GCBC shared its Coastal Mississippi Investment Recommendations, organized around five pillars:
- Economic competitiveness
- Quality of place
- Regional collaboration
- Innovation
- Strategic and resilient infrastructure
The June meeting also spotlighted local impact through Velkas Children’s Welfare Fund grants and Stone County Community Endowment Fund awards, supporting programs for foster children, diaper access, childhood nutrition, and early literacy.
Read the complete blog post recap here: Packed House Welcomes Lt. Governor Delbert Hosemann to Kick Off Summer Series with Mississippi’s Legislative Leadership
July: Thinking Bigger About GCRF and Benchmarking Leadership
July brought two significant touchpoints in GCBC’s leadership and planning work.
GCRF summer series continues
At the July 24 General Membership Meeting, Jamie Miller walked members through the history and distribution of the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund, outlining how more than $750 million in BP Economic Damages Settlement funds have been structured and invested.
The message was clear: it’s time to think bigger and more strategically about the remaining GCRF dollars.
A panel of GCRF Advisory Board members—including Greg Cronin, Mark Cumbest, Susan Grice, Becky Montgomery, and Jim Simpson—discussed what makes a project truly transformational, the importance of quality-of-life investments, and why timing, leverage, and regional collaboration matter.
Hearing directly from mayors and board members, the meeting underscored a shared call to move from many small, disconnected projects toward fewer, larger, and more impactful regional investments.
Read the complete blog post recap here: July General Membership Meeting Recap: A Call to Think Bigger as One Coast
2025 Masters Leadership Trip to Georgia
Later in July, the 2025 Masters Leadership class traveled to Georgia for a three-day benchmarking trip focused on cyber innovation, community-military partnership, and workforce strategies.
Highlights included:
- Site visits to the Georgia Cyber Innovation & Training Center (GCITC) and briefings from Fort Gordon and Destination Augusta leadership
- A deep dive into the 21st Century Partnership in Warner Robins, a nationally recognized model for aligning a community around its local Air Force base
- Conversations with economic developers, education leaders, and military officials about joint land use, STEM education, solar development, and long-range planning
The trip gave Coast leaders a firsthand look at how other regions build durable, mission-aligned coalitions—and provided a template that would later inform the creation of Mission 3.
Read the complete blog post recap here: Benchmarking Leadership: 2025 Masters Leadership Trip to Georgia
August: Ingalls Shipbuilding and A Conversation with Speaker Jason White
On August 28, GCBC convened more than 120 members at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula for the third event in our Summer Legislative Series.
After a welcome from GCBC and Ingalls leadership, attendees viewed an internal Ingalls video documenting the shipyard’s recovery after Hurricane Katrina—a powerful reminder of the Coast’s resilience and the essential role Ingalls plays in Mississippi’s economy and national security.
Speaker of the House Jason White then delivered the keynote. His remarks covered:
- The Gulf Coast Restoration Fund and the need for transformational, not scattered, investments
- House Bill 1 and the Build Up Mississippi Act as the largest tax cut in state history
- Progress in fully funding the state’s new K–12 formula for the second consecutive year
- Tough but necessary conversations around PERS and long-term retirement stability
- Ongoing work to address healthcare and equity challenges across Mississippi
Following the general meeting, a private roundtable brought together Speaker White, House members, and coastal leaders to discuss regional priorities in more depth—from the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Stennis International Airport to Port of Pascagoula, cyber and tech investments, and the future of GCRF (including ideas like a revolving loan fund).
The takeaway: alignment, bold project packaging, and public–private leverage will be critical for the Coast to fully realize the promise of the Gulf Coast Restoration Fund.
Read the complete blog post recap here: August Meeting at Ingalls Shipbuilding with Speaker of the House Jason White
September: Conversations with Coastal Mississippi’s New Mayors
September’s General Membership Meeting focused on the leadership transitions shaping cities along the Coast.
After an update on GCRF advocacy and a presentation from Delta Utilities CEO Tim Poché on energy reliability and infrastructure, a panel of newly elected mayors took the stage:
- Mayor Kenny Torgeson, Pass Christian
- Mayor Anna Liese, Diamondhead
- Mayor Tim Pierce, Long Beach
- Mayor Bobby Cox, Ocean Springs
- Mayor Hugh Keating, Gulfport
Each mayor shared candid insights into their city’s budget realities, infrastructure needs, and long-term vision. Topics ranged from harbor restoration, annexation, and downtown revitalization to town center development, hotel and tourism tax strategies, and critical water and wastewater infrastructure.
Throughout the conversation, a common thread emerged: each city is unique, but they are united by the need to invest in quality of place, diversify their economies, and work together when pursuing state and GCRF resources.
Read the complete blog post recap here: September Meeting: Conversations With Coastal Mississippi’s New Mayors
October: Masters Leadership Class Helps Launch Mission 3
October 23 marked a historic day for South Mississippi. At GCBC’s October General Membership Meeting, the 2025 Masters Leadership Class presented the results of a seven-month project focused on strengthening and growing South Mississippi’s military installations. Their central recommendation: establish a unified, regional defense support organization to align community, industry, and installation priorities.
They called it Mission 3: Military • Defense • Community.
Jamie Miller announced that Mission 3 had already been incorporated, and introduced the organization’s first Executive Director, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Paul Drake.
Later that same day, at the Mississippi Aerospace & Defense Symposium hosted by MSET at the Golden Nugget Biloxi, Governor Tate Reeves formally announced the launch of Mission 3—Mississippi’s first regional defense and military community support organization—funded in part through a Defense Community Support grant from MDA.
Mission 3’s charge is clear:
- Advocate for and support military installations
- Coordinate regional efforts around defense industry growth
- Strengthen quality of life for military families
- Ensure South Mississippi remains competitive for future missions and federal investment
The launch of Mission 3 is a powerful example of how GCBC’s Masters Leadership program can catalyze concrete, structural change for our region.
Read the complete blog post recap here: Masters Leadership Class Sparks Launch of South Mississippi’s Unified Defense Support Organization: Mission 3
November: From Rocket Engines to Regional Impact at Stennis
GCBC closed its 2025 general membership meetings at Infinity Science Center at Stennis Space Center on November 21, with a panel conversation that brought together federal, state, local, and industry leaders.
Jamie Miller opened with an update on this year’s GCRF advisory process, which used more disciplined screening, independent rankings, and a right-sized approach to project requests. Sixteen projects were recommended within the available $69 million, with a clear emphasis on long-term economic impact and a more balanced regional footprint.
The panel included:
- John Bailey, Director of NASA’s Stennis Space Center
- Davis Pace, President & CEO, Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MSET)
- Blaine LaFontaine, Executive Director, Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission
- Jacob Rendon, Senior Director of Neutron Development, Rocket Lab
Panelists discussed:
- How Stennis maintained testing momentum through an unusual year of federal uncertainty
- The role of MSET and the Aerospace & Defense Alliance of Mississippi in leveraging federal investment and raising the state’s profile at international air shows
- Hancock County’s alignment with national defense priorities and the development of Ignition Park at Stennis International Airport
- Rocket Lab’s decision to locate Neutron engine testing at Stennis and the advantages of the Coast’s infrastructure, workforce, and buffer zone
The conversation reinforced a central idea: Stennis is a uniquely powerful asset—not just for NASA and its partners, but for the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast. By aligning policy, infrastructure, and talent development, the region can continue to grow its aerospace and defense footprint for decades to come.
There will be no December general membership meeting this year, as attention now shifts to the 2026 legislative session.
Read the complete blog post recap here: November Meeting: From Rocket Engines to Regional Impact at Stennis
Masters Leadership: A Year of Learning, Alignment, and Action
Across all of this work, the Masters Leadership program has continued to serve as GCBC’s leadership laboratory.
In 2025, the largest Masters class to date:
- Explored models of entrepreneurism, regional collaboration, and defense-community support
- Traveled to Georgia to study cyber innovation, community–military partnerships, and STEM workforce development
- Produced a set of recommendations that directly informed the creation of Mission 3
From classroom sessions to site visits and final presentations, the Masters experience continues to shape the next generation of Coast leaders—and, in 2025, led directly to the launch of a completely new regional organization.
Read about one of the Masters Leadership sessions here: Masters Leadership Session Recap: Mississippi’s Military Advantage
Introducing StartUp Gulf Coast: A Bold New Chapter for Innovation
One of the year’s most exciting developments was the creation of StartUp Gulf Coast—a new GCBC initiative dedicated to fueling entrepreneurship, supporting innovation, and accelerating high-growth startups across Coastal Mississippi.
Led by GCBC’s Director of Strategic Initiatives and Marketing, Alexa Cutrer, StartUp Gulf Coast represents a long-term commitment to building a stronger startup ecosystem—one designed for and by the Gulf Coast.
Empowering local entrepreneurs
In partnership with Innovate Mississippi, StartUp Gulf Coast is focused on high-growth, innovation-driven companies. The initiative helps founders:
- Connect with funding opportunities and statewide accelerator programs such as Co-Builders
- Access expert mentors and professional service providers
- Refine business models, validate markets, and scale operation
Whether a founder is pre-revenue and refining a concept, or post-revenue and preparing to grow, StartUp Gulf Coast aims to meet them where they are and walk alongside them through every stage.
Read the complete blog post recap here: Introducing StartUp Gulf Coast: A Bold New Chapter for Innovation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast
The pitch starts here
StartUp Gulf Coast’s first major public milestone was the 2025 StartUp Gulf Coast Pitch Competition on June 10, at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) HRM Building in Biloxi.
Throughout the full-day event, nine emerging businesses from across the Gulf South took the stage to share their ideas in front of judges, partners, and community leaders. Split into Tech and Main Street categories, founders pitched everything from blockchain and cybersecurity solutions to church management software, modular retail displays, and essential healthcare and transportation services.
Between pitch rounds, attendees networked over local coffee, shared a catered lunch, and heard from Mississippi Secretary of State Michael Watson, who underscored the role of entrepreneurship in building resilient communities and a stronger state economy. By the end of the day, Defense Cybersecurity Group and Angkor Goods took home the top Tech and Main Street prizes, with all nine companies leaving with new relationships, resources, and recognition.
Read the complete blog post recap here: A Bright Future on Display at the Inaugural StartUp Gulf Coast Pitch Competition
Ecosystem building in action
On December 3, GCBC and StartUp Gulf Coast hosted the first StartUp Gulf Coast Ecosystem Mixer at CRAVE Food Hall in Ocean Springs. More than 40 founders, investors, mentors, service providers, and ecosystem builders attended, sampling food from the hall’s restaurant concepts while building new relationships and collaborations.
This mixer is the first of many touchpoints designed to make the Coast’s startup community feel more connected, better resourced, and more visible to investors and partners across Mississippi and beyond.
Looking Ahead to 2026
From the launch of Mission 3 and StartUp Gulf Coast to a renewed focus on GCRF strategy, executive education, and legislative alignment, 2025 was a year of laying foundations.
As we look toward 2026, GCBC will continue to:
- Advocate for transformational, region-wide investments
- Support the growth of a diversified, innovation-driven economy
- Strengthen ties between military, industry, education, and community
- Equip current and emerging leaders through programs like Masters Leadership
- Champion entrepreneurs and small businesses through StartUp Gulf Coast
Most importantly, we will continue serving as a unifying voice for Coastal Mississippi—bringing public and private sector leaders together to think bigger, act strategically, and build a future where every part of the Coast can thrive.
Thank you to our members, partners, and community leaders for your engagement and support in 2025. We look forward to the work ahead.
