Mitch joined Cooperative Energy as the Economic Development Manager in July of 2014. Cooperative Energy is a generation and transmission cooperative providing wholesale electric power to 11 member cooperatives serving members in 55 of that state’s 82 counties. In this position, Mitch oversees the recruitment and expansion of industrial projects by promoting the assets within the members’ service territories.

Prior to joining Cooperative Energy, Mitch was a Global Project Manager with the Mississippi Development Authority where he was responsible for recruiting new industrial clients to the state. Before joining the Mississippi Development Authority, Mitch worked as the Director of Business Development for the Madison County Economic Development Authority. Mitch holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mississippi State University. He and his amazing wife Kelly have a daughter and son, Elizabeth and Harmon, and reside in Madison.

Chuck Bell is a native of Belzoni, MS. , the founder of AIS (Advanced Infusion Solutions), now serves as President of AIS Healthcare. Chuck started in the home infusion industry in 1992. Since then, he has been involved in pharmacy and healthcare senior management, and owned multiple healthcare-related businesses as well as other businesses.

Chuck received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Louisiana at Monroe and his PharmD from the University of Arkansas. Licensed in multiple states, he has more than 30 years of pharmacy experience. Chuck also is actively involved with various industry and community committees and boards.

He and his wife, Cindy, have three sons, one that is a MSS graduate.

Grace Gore Sturdivant, a native of Grenada, MS is a graduate of the University of Mississippi (BS in Communicative Sciences) and Vanderbilt University (Doctorate of Audiology).  She was formerly Assistant Professor and Vice Chief of Audiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where she developed a clinical niche working with patients struggling with both cognitive decline and hearing loss.  This led to involvement in research studying the neurophysiology effects of untreated hearing loss on varying forms of dementia. Her work in this area has been nationally published.  It was this work that compelled Grace to create OtoPro Technologies in the Fall of 2018 to prevent and delay the neurological changes that result from auditory deprivation.

While her audiology practice has focused on the adult population, Grace is a long-time advocate for children with speech and hearing difficulties. In 2007, she founded Graceful Sounds, Inc. to provide hearing aids and audiology services to children whose families were in financial need.

Grace is married to Micajah Sturdivant and has three daughters; Eleanor, Garnett and Sykes.

Donna Kaye Byrd, Interior Designer, spent 30 years with Navarro-McLean until the company closed in 2009. Since 2009, she has worked as a self-employed interior designer traveling the eastern United States.

Donna Kaye has served on the board of Magnolia Speech School since 1994, serving on many different committees, and is also past President. Donna Kaye is a lifetime member of the Madison Ridgeland Junior Auxiliary and has served on PTA Executive Boards at Madison Middle and Rosa Scott schools. In 2008, she started Hope Hollow Ministries, a camp for children and young adults with special needs in Madison, and currently serves as President of their Board of Directors.

Her daughter Amanda was born with a viral infection, CMV, resulting in profound hearing loss bilaterally, mild cerebral palsy, and developmental delays. She attended Magnolia Speech School for 5 years and is currently a budding, young artist. She is also proud of her daughter Melissa, a graduate of Mississippi State University.

Donna Kaye is married to Robert Byrd, and they attend Broadmoor Baptist Church.

Mac Deaver served as chief executive officer of the Mississippi Bankers Association for 27 years. He is the proud grandparent of a Magnolia Speech School student.

La’Verne Edney graduated from Mississippi College School of Law in 1996 and was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 1996. Ms. Edney has significant trial experience in state and federal courts and has tried to verdict numerous cases, including medical negligence, premises liability, legal malpractice, employment discrimination, and bad faith insurance cases. In addition to her trial practice, Ms. Edney is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, the International Society of Barristers, and the American Board of Trial Advocates. She serves on the following boards: Mississippi College; the Mississippi Bar Foundation; the Magnolia Speech School; Origin Bank; the Baptist Hospital Board of Regents; and the Greater Jackson Chamber. La’Verne is a member of Butler Snow Law Firm’s litigation department and practices within the Pharmaceutical, Medical Device, and Healthcare Group.

Dr. Stephanie L. Henderson serves as Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Education and Psychology at Alcorn State University. She has over 20 years of experience in the field of education, with a particular focus in the areas of Special Education and Educational Leadership. She is involved in her community as an active member and teacher in her church, a member of The Natchez, MS Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, and a member of the board for Mission First in Jackson, MS. She is married to Dr. Roderick Henderson and they have 2 sons, RJ and Michael.

Andrew Lester is Vice President and Area Manager for the Central Mississippi region at MMC Materials. He joined MMC Materials in 2004 and has served in various capacities of increasing responsibilities throughout his tenure. As a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Construction Engineering Technology Program, Andrew has dedicated his career to the Construction Industry.  Andrew has served on numerous professional boards including the University of Southern Mississippi Construction Industry Advisory Board, the Mississippi Concrete Association, including a term as chairman, and Association of Builders and Contractors, serving terms on the board and as a committee chair. Andrew and his wife Stacy are natives of Hattiesburg, Mississippi and currently reside in Madison with their two children, Mason and Vivian. Their son Mason will be starting his fourth year at Magnolia Speech School. An avid outdoorsman, Andrew and his family enjoy spending time at their family farm in South Mississippi.

Clayton Mangum received his bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University in 2012, and he is a salesman for Lyle Machinery. Clayton is actively involved with the Mississippi Road Builders Association and the Mississippi Asphalt and Paving Association.

Clayton has a passion for the continued success of Magnolia Speech School after his niece Jane Helen Jones was diagnosed with apraxia of speech. She graduated from MSS in 2018 and is currently thriving academically, athletically, and socially at Jackson Academy. Clayton’s late father, Stanley Mangum, played an integral role in the construction development of the new school, working hard to involve numerous members of the construction industry in the successful completion of our new campus. “Magnolia Speech School is an incredible place that is changing the lives of so many children and families. I am honored to be a part of the board of directors and to help push the mission of MSS forward.”

Clayton lives in Jackson with his wife Lizze, and their two daughters, Martha Frances and Eliza.

She is a lifetime member of the Brookhaven Junior Auxiliary, serves as Board Secretary for the Crisis Pregnancy Center in McComb, MS, and is on the Mississippi Occupational Therapy Association Board. She is a Madison County resident and is married to Kevin, and they attend Fondren Church in Jackson, MS.

James Robertson is a native of Jackson who graduated from Millsaps College and completed his Masters in Reading Education from Syracuse University.

Mr. Robertson spent 30 years with Jackson Public Schools, starting as a Reading and Social Studies teacher at Whitten Middle School and ending his career as the Executive Director of Human Resources. He also served in the U.S. Air Force, 172nd Military Airlift Group.

Mr. Robertson is very involved with New Stage Theater and Mississippi College’s Theatre and Music Departments doing set design and construction. He attended Capitol Street United Methodist Church until they closed and currently is a communicant of Galloway United Methodist Church, having served as a member of their administrative board and board of trustees.

Rebecca Vaughan received her Bachelor’s and Master’s of Accounting from the University of Mississippi. She is a CPA and is currently employed at Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation. Prior to Farm Bureau, Rebecca worked in public accounting, internal audit for a publicly traded company, and was the Director of Finance for a non-profit organization.

In 2017 her youngest son, Barrett, was born with profound hearing loss. He received cochlear implants when he was 6 months old and started Magnolia Speech School when he was 15 months old. Barrett graduated from MSS in 2022 and enrolled in K-4 at Madison Ridgeland Academy. She states, “Without Magnolia Speech School, Barrett would not be where he is today. He is thriving both socially and academically which is a testament to the dedication of the teachers and staff at Magnolia Speech School.”

Rebecca lives in Madison with her husband Adam, and their two sons, Ethan and Barrett.

Thomas Woods was recently promoted to Senior Vice President and Senior Credit Officer at Trustmark National Bank, where he has been employed for 40 years. He attended Millsaps College and graduated in 1982 with a B.B. A. degree in Accounting.

Born profoundly deaf, he is an alumnus of Magnolia Speech School where he attended from 1960-1966. He has been on the School’s Board of Directors since 1992 and has been a Board President two times. He also served on the Board of Directors of VSA Mississippi from 2003 to 2013.

He is a lifelong resident of Jackson, and attends St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral.