Page 30 - South Mississippi Living - March, 2018

PEOPLE taking the helm BILOXI YACHT CLUB
Salutes First Woman Commodore
story by Lynn Lofton photos by Donn Hupp
Something new has happened at the venerable Biloxi Yacht Club. The country’s fourth oldest yacht club has its first woman commodore, Elizabeth Corso Joachim (Liz). The Biloxi
community leader took the helm recently at a Change of Watch ceremony when she received the gavel from outgoing Commodore Bob Tucei.
“I grew up in the Yacht Club. My father was a member. After Jack and I married, our three children sailed in all kinds of sailing races,” Joachim says. “Through the years I watched the commodores do such great jobs that when I was asked to be first woman Rear Commodore and then Vice Commodore, I was happy to serve.”
Joachim says she never expected to be the first woman commodore and is quite honored to assume the post. “I hope to make all the members enjoy their membership in the Biloxi Yacht club,” she said.
Tony Norris was elevated to Vice Commodore and James K. Wetzel to Rear Commodore.
Operating in a man’s world is nothing new for Joachim. As owner of Corso’s Wholesale Distribution & Full Line Vending company, she’s been running a standout of the Biloxi business community for years. “I am sure there will be challenges in managing the Biloxi Yacht Club, and I will try to manage them with the help of my outstanding board,” she said. “I will be able to overcome these challenges with the board and the greatest feeling for all of the members.”
Honors are nothing new for Joachim during her years of community service. She was named Biloxi Outstanding Citizen in 1996; Biloxi Mother of the Year in 1998;
Who’s Who in Leading American Executives in 1991; March of Dimes Citizen of the Year in 2001; Sun Herald Outstanding Community Leader in 2010; Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Pat Santucci Spirit of the Gulf Coast Award in 2012; Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year in 2016 and many more. She is a member of numerous civic and professional organizations.
She and her husband, John Joachim Jr., are the parents of John III, Todd and Elisa and the grandparents of Jack IV, Anna Elizabeth, Sadie Rose and Cooper.
30 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • March 2018
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Elizabeth Corso Joachim (Liz)
Change of Watch ceremony where Liz Joachim received the gavel from outgoing Commodore Bob Tucei.