BUILDING A BETTER PINE BELT

Colby Bennett received her Master’s degree in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi. Colby earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Mississippi with a major in Integrated Marketing Communication, a minor in Business Administration, and a Media Sales and Management specialization.

As a Graduate Research Assistant, Colby has worked on several projects related to economic development in Mississippi. These projects include an MS workforce funding alignment assessment, a market feasibility study for an Accelerator/Business Incubator in Jackson County, and updating The University of Southern Mississippi Economic Impact Study.

Colby’s economic development interest includes community revitalization, where strategies are created to generate jobs in underdeveloped regions. Her interests also include downtown revitalization and real estate planning. In a role as Community Development Manager, Colby can pursue these interests and assist in the economic growth of the greater Hattiesburg area.

Kaitlyn serves as the Community Development Coordinator for the Economic Development team, where she is responsible for aiding the Community Development Manager with all Education, Military, and Legislative efforts.

Kaitlyn is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. During her pursuit of an undergraduate degree, she worked in various roles for the Southern Miss Athletics Department, including athletic marketing, football recruiting, administrative assisting, and donor relations.

Kaitlyn is also a graduate of Belmont University in Nashville, TN, earning a Master’s degree in Sports Administration. During graduate school, Kaitlyn worked as an athletic marketing graduate assistant where she served as the lead game producer for Belmont volleyball and basketball games, where she took the lead on scriptwriting and enhancing their social media presence.

Before joining the ADP, she worked as an Administrative Support Specialist for the Southern Miss Athletics Department. She provided expert administrative assistance through the precise handling of day-to-day office needs and special projects.

Kaitlyn is a Hattiesburg, MS native. She is an active member of Temple Baptist Church and a Delta Gamma alumna. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new places with her husband, Dax Smith, and their two dogs, Winnie and Woods.