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.

Ecosystem-health
Ecosystem-Map

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

Taylor_Courtney

Dr. Courtney Taylor

Executive Director

McInnis_Garrett

Garrett McInnis

Deputy Director for External Affairs

Myers_Mary Ann

Mary Ann Myers

Chief Operations Officer

Boone-Yolonda-head

Yolonda Boone

Senior Advisor

Program Managers

Gordan_Erin

Erin Gordon

Industry Engagement Manager

601-414-6067
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Hargrove_Ed

Ed Hargrove

Federal Projects Manager

601-414-6084
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Hooker_ Shelika

Shelika Hooker

Adult Programs Manager

601-414-6066
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Nail_Lori

Lori Nail

Youth Programs Manager

601-414-6068
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Smith_Trey

Trey Smith

Director of Talent Solutions

601-414-6087
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Thames_Cliff

Dr. Cliff Thames

Data and Insights Manager

601-414-6086
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Wheeler_Bree

Bree Wheeler

Executive Assistant

601-414-6061
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Hawthorne_Daniel

Daniel Hawthorne

Communications Manager

601-414-6069
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Ecosystem Coordinators

Levingston_Jennifer

Jennifer Levingston

Ecosystem 1

Coahoma, DeSoto, Panola, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Tate, and Tunica counties

601-414-6073
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Bryan_ Forrest

Forrest Bryan

Ecosystem 2

Alcorn, Benton, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Marshall, Prentiss, Pontotoc, Tippah, and Tishomingo counties

601-414-6075
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Gatewood_Kimberley

Kimberley Gatewood

Ecosystem 3

Bolivar, Carroll, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Leflore, Sharkey, Sunflower, and Washington counties

601-414-6079
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Thomas_Kari

Kari Thomas

Ecosystem 5

Claiborne, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, and Yazoo counties

601-414-6081
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Nixon_LeAnne

LeAnne Nixon

Ecosystem 6

Clarke, Covington, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Kemper, Lauderdale, Leake, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, Smith, and Wayne counties

601-414-6082
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Culver_Krystle

Krystle Culver

Ecosystem 7

Adams, Amite, Copiah, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Pike, Walthall, and Wilkinson counties

601-414-6083
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Yanez_Tracy

Tracy Yanez

Ecosystem 8

Forrest, George, Greene, Hancock, Harrison, Jackson, Lamar, Marion, Pearl River, Perry and Stone counties

601-414-6085
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