About AccelerateMS
Vision
Mississippi will have a world-class workforce with unlimited, quality career opportunities to create sustained individual, community and statewide economic prosperity.
Mission
AccelerateMS serves the people and businesses of Mississippi by developing and deploying workforce strategies to connect individuals with transformative, high-paying careers. By leveraging resources and partnering with organizations that hold complementary missions, AccelerateMS effectuates positive change, creating sustained individual, community and statewide economic prosperity.
The AccelerateMS Ecosystem approach is designed to develop and improve strategies that meet the unique needs of specific regions within the state. We seek to maximize proven practices delivered at local “micro” levels, while addressing “macro” concerns in an effort to meet the current and emergent needs of Mississippi's workforce.
Each ecosystem has a dedicated AccelerateMS team member, who serves as the central point of contact within their sphere of influence. Each ecosystem routinely reviews labor market data, supply chain needs, available educational and training resources, and regional/community assets in an effort to more accurately meet needs in real time. Regular meetings with ecosystem stakeholders encourage collaboration and promote the development of workforce strategies focused on the needs of each specific ecosystem.
Executive Team
Ryan Miller
Executive Director
Yolonda Boone
Senior Advisor
Garrett McInnis
Deputy Director for External Affairs
Mary Ann Myers
Chief Administrative Officer
Dr. Nathan Oakley
Deputy Director for K-12 Innovation
Bill Renick
Senior Advisor
Dr. Courtney Taylor
Deputy Director for Postsecondary Strategy
Program Managers
Erin Gordon
Program Manager
Shelika Hooker
Program Manager
Lori Nail
Program Manager
Cliff Thames
Program Manager
cthames@acceleratems.org
Ecosystem Coordinators
Jennifer Levingston
Ecosystem 1
Coahoma, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, and Tunica counties.
Forrest Bryan
Ecosystem 2
Alcorn, Benton, DeSoto, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Union counties.
Suzy Bowman
Ecosystem 2
Alcorn, Benton, DeSoto, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Union counties.
Kimberley Gatewood
Ecosystem 3
Bolivar, Carroll, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower, and Washington counties.
Kelly Martin
Ecosystem 4
Attala, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Grenada, Lowndes, Monroe, Montgomery, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, Winston, and Yalobusha counties.
LeAnne Nixon
Ecosystem 6
Clarke, Covington, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, Smith, and Wayne counties.
Krystle Culver
Ecosystem 7
Adams, Amite, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Walthall, and Jefferson counties.
Ed Hargrove
Ecosystem 8
Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, and Stone counties.
ehargrove@acceleratems.org
Tracy Yanez
Ecosystem 8
Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry, and Stone counties.