Page 10 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2026

FROM THE editor’s desk
What I
Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
and the 2026 Women in
Business Cover Models
“Women,
whether subtly or
vociferously, have
always been a
tremendous power
in the destiny of
the world.”
– Eleanor Roosevelt
Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
Editor
About This Issue
There’s something special about the women who
choose to build, lead, and leave things better than
they found them. Across South Mississippi, women
are launching businesses, leading teams, creating
opportunities, and finding meaningful ways to invest
in the communities they call home. Their paths may
look different, but they share a common thread:
determination, vision, and the willingness to keep
moving forward.
Our 2026 Women in Business edition is a
celebration of those journeys. Inside, you’ll meet
women from across the Coast who are making their
mark in industries ranging from entrepreneurship
and health care to hospitality, finance, the arts, and
beyond. Some are women whose careers I’ve had the
joy of watching unfold over the years; others are new
connections I’ve been fortunate to make along the
way. Each has a story worth telling, and I hope you’ll
find the same inspiration in all of them that I have.
We kicked off this year’s celebration with a
fantastic cover reveal party, bringing together seven
remarkable women from seven different fields for a
day of connection, laughter and, of course, a little
glamour. A special thank you to The Markham Hotel
for hosting our cover shoot, Ann Marie Walley and
the Antonian Salon Glam Squad for making everyone
camera-ready, and our fabulous cover models for
bringing their personalities and energy to the day.
We’re equally grateful to our advertisers, sponsors,
and everyone who helped make the celebration
possible. Thank you to Island View Casino Resort
for hosting our party, along with Snaparazzi Photo,
Alpha-Lit, Pretty Pumped Balloon Design, La Passion
Artisan Chocolates, and Pugh’s Floral Shop. And to
our event sponsors—Agape Wealth, Memorial Health
System, and Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort—thank
you for helping us celebrate these women in such a
meaningful way.
Now, let’s meet the remarkable women who make
up our 2026 Women in Business.
PUBLISHER: MICHAEL SUNDERMAN
michael@m2mediacorp.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER: MARY SUNDERMAN
mary@m2mediacorp.com
EDITOR: KELSEY SUNDERMAN-FOSTER
editor@m2mediacorp.com
BUSINESS MANAGER: AMY CHATAGINER
manager@m2mediacorp.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR: LORI BETH SUSMAN
loribeth@m2mediacorp.com
ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES:
SUZETTE CARLSON suzette@m2mediacorp.com
228.669.3335
JENNIFER COX jennifer@m2mediacorp.com
228.697.5119
JIM MCCLOSKEY jim@m2mediacorp.com
228.297.1173
DESIGNERS:
BRIAN TREADAWAY brian@m2mediacorp.com
JOHN SUKMANN john@m2mediacorp.com
KEVIN BROUILLETTE II kevin@m2mediacorp.com
CONTRIBUTORS:
Carlin Duncan
John N. Felsher
Chelsea Gieselmann
Holly Harrison
Joey Lee
Lynn Lofton
Dr. Nickie Harris-Ray
Victoria Snyder
Shannon Stage
Barbara Travis
Cherie Ward
Gaye Winter
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
James Edward Bates
Nadiya Copeland
Christopher Duncan
Daniel Gibson
Madeline Romano
Katherine Sowers
Arielle Victoria
CONTACT
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Gulfport, MS 39503
Office Phone: 228.385.7703
Website: www.smliving.net
Advertising: advertising@m2mediacorp.com
Copyright, 2026
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