Following a brief bout of negative news at the local level, the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link is making national headlines for the right reasons.
The Link will be featured in Forbes magazine”s January issue in an article highlighting the economic development entity”s three female vice presidents.
“They called looking for women in business in Mississippi. They discovered we had two female VPs initially,” said Brenda Lathan, vice president of economic development for the Link. “When they called me I said ”No, we”ve got three.” That prompted them to want to do an article based on us.”
“We”re the only (economic development group) of our size that has all women VPs,” added Melissa Cook, vice president of the Link”s chamber division, who was recently named to the board of regents for the Southeast Institute for Organization Management.
Mary Cates Williams, vice president of government relations and business development at the Link, says a “good many” women hold senior positions within similar organizations like the Mississippi Development Authority. Just none like the trio of VPs assembled by Link Chief Executive Officer Joe Max Higgins.
“I am extremely fortunate to have in place a top notch team that contributes to our successful efforts and the fact that they are all women is just the icing on the cake. They are all extremely talented and the fact that someone of the caliber of a Forbes magazine recognizes this just validates my point,” said Higgins.
The Forbes article details the responsibility of each vice president, the overall operation and success of the Link and the state of economic development in Lowndes County.
“They wanted to find out abut how the organization runs and what all our goals and objectives are and how we make things happen,” said Lathan. “They were really impressed when they found out about all our industrial development.”
Each Link VP was happy to shine a light on their organization and area in a national publication.
“It was really quite flattering. You just wanted to make sure you told the story of the Link and your own story. We made sure they understood what an honor it is to work for this organization,” said Cook.
“I was thrilled,” said Williams. “I think it says a lot about the organization as a whole and what Joe Max has been able to do, because we”re a very small staff.”
The interviews with Forbes were conducted over the phone and the Link e-mailed pictures of the vice presidents.
While Forbes may be the most recognizable organization to recognize the Link, it certainly isn”t the only one. Expansion Solutions magazine recently recognized the Link for making Lowndes one of the Top 5 Defense industry locations.
Lowndes contains defense manufacturers such as Stark Aerospace, American Eurocopter, Aurora Flight Sciences and Nammo Talley, which develops and manufactures shoulder-fired rocket systems.
The International Economic Development Council this year presented the Link with an Award of Merit for Paid Advertisements for its commercial touting the Golden Triangle Global Industrial Aerospace Park.
Lathan says the IEDC award is one of less than 100 international awards.
The Link also received five of 40 awards presented this year by the Southern Economic Development Council.
The SEDC awards included the Judges Award for the aerospace park movie, a Superior rating for the movie, an Award of Merit for Announcements, a Superior rating for print advertising, and an Award of Excellence for a special purpose brochure.
“We are very excited about being recognized by our peers for our efforts,” said Higgins. “It”s one thing for your community to know it, and we are totally appreciative of the local support, but it”s always flattering when your constituents acknowledge it.”
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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