Page 16 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2017

COASTNOTES
NEW CEO TAKES REINS AT GULF COAST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE story by Lynn Lofton
Noting that she is beginning a new chapter in her professional career, Adele Lyons has begun her tenure as chief executive officer of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc.
Prior to accepting this position, Lyons served as the director of development and communication for Habitat for Humanity of the Mississippi
Gulf Coast since 2010. “Her experience with overseeing fundraising and grant writing efforts, donor relations, volunteer management, speaking experience, and marketing and communication skills coincide with the qualifications needed
to fulfill the chief executive officer position,” Chamber spokeswoman Rachael Seymour said.
Before working at Habitat, Lyons was the program director for the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation from December 2006 to March 2010. During her time there, more than 33 proposals were awarded on the Mississippi Gulf Coast totaling over $14 million in grants. She also served as the executive director of the Gulf Coast Business Technology Center and the Greater Biloxi Economic Development Foundation from 1991 to 2006.
Lyons’s activities and civic involvement include multiple leadership roles for organizations such as chair of the Knight Donor Advised Fund committee, president of the Board of Trustees of the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, president of
the Biloxi Chamber of Commerce, and chair of
the Board of Directors of the National Business Incubation Association. She has also been a member of the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits Board of Directors, University of Southern Mississippi Foundation Board of Directors, Knight Nonprofit Center Board of Directors, and the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Business Advisory Board.
Among her extensive list of awards and honors, Lyons has received the 4-ever Young Award from the Coast Young Professionals, Outstanding Community Leader Award from the Sun Herald, City of Biloxi’s Art & History Volunteer of the Year, and Top 10 Business Leaders under 40 from the Sun Herald. Lyons received her Bachelor’s of Science degree and Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce
228.604.0014 | mscoastchamber.com
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