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Todd spent the first ten years of his career as an Engineer in advanced manufacturing facilities around the country and is now utilizing that background to serve the Area Development Partnership as Executive Vice President, providing leadership to both the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Divisions. Much like the mission of the ADP, Todd’s focus every day is continually improving the quality of life in the region through economic progress. The ADP team is a group of talented hard-working professionals that work on a wide array of programs and projects to positively impact the community and Todd plays a vital role in that progress.

The first seven years of Todd’s career were spent in the engineering ranks of GE Plastics in New York, Indiana, and Alabama as a part of GE’s Operations Management and Leadership Program. This unique experience afforded him the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and skills in the manufacturing sector across many different advanced manufacturing facilities. In 2011, Todd had the privilege of moving back home and spent three years in engineering leadership roles with a new hi-tech startup company, which eventually introduced him to the field of economic development and the great work of the ADP.

A native of Poplarville, Mississippi, Todd is a 2004 graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, and since moving to Hattiesburg, has also developed a love for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. In 2013, Todd was honored by his Leadership Pine Belt Class with the Susan Walker Community Leadership Award for exemplifying outstanding leadership and commitment to the enhancement of Greater Hattiesburg. He is also a graduate of the 2018 Leadership Mississippi class. Outside of work, Todd serves as a Deacon at Crosspoint Community Church, and is very involved with the United Way of Southeast MS through his service as a volunteer, Board Member, and Chair of the Board in 2021. Todd and his wife, Jennifer, enjoy adventures with their two young boys Nolan (12) and Grant (8).

Chelsey graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and Marketing from The University of Southern Mississippi in May 2013. After completing her undergraduate studies, she entered the Economic Development and Tourism Master’s program in the Spring of 2014. Throughout her graduate career, Chelsey served as President of the Student Economic Development Association, Research Assistant to the Director of the Trent Lott National Center, and as an economic development intern for the Stone County Economic Development Partnership. In Fall 2014, Chelsey was selected as one of 12 graduate students elected into the inaugural 2015 Graduate Student Hall of Fame for her capstone project on the Adventure Tourism Impact Study in Covington County.

After graduating from the Master’s Program in 2014, Chelsey joined the Area Development Partnership (ADP) as Research Manager, where she managed numerous research initiatives focused on job creation/retention, workforce development, and business recruitment for the Economic Development Team. Since her beginning at the ADP, Chelsey has advanced to the role of Vice President of Marketing and Research. Chelsey and the ADP team have received numerous communication and marketing awards for their graphic materials. Her accomplishments have been recognized with several honors, including being named one of Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40 Business Leaders in 2019, a 2023 Distinguished Woman by the Mississippi Business Journal, a 2024 Mississippi Business Journal Business Woman of the Year Finalist, and the 2024 Volunteer of the Year for the Downtown Hattiesburg Association.

Chelsey serves as Vice Chair of the Downtown Hattiesburg Board, Chair of the Promotions Committee, and is also a board member of Pine Belt Foster Resources. When not at work, Chelsey is an avid reader, a master of power tools and woodworking, and enjoys spending time outside with her dog Keely. She is a proud member of CrossPoint Church, where she also serves in various capacities.

Adam Schraeder is the Economic Development Director for the Area Development Partnership located in Hattiesburg, MS. In this role, Adam is responsible for developing strong working relationships with state, regional and all economic development allies to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life for the citizens of the Greater Hattiesburg area. He also provides professional project management support of new business recruitment and the retention or expansion of existing businesses in the Greater Hattiesburg area.

Prior to his role with the Area Development Partnership, Adam worked at Mississippi Power from 2014-2022 where he held several positions within Marketing and Sales before becoming a Project Manager in the Economic Development department. Adam joined Mississippi Power in September 2014 after six years at Sherwin Williams, where he was promoted through their Management Trainee Program on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

He graduated from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing. He began pursuing his Master of Business Administration degree through Southern Miss in 2020 and will graduate in the spring of 2023. He is very involved in the community and has been serving on the United Way Board of Directors since 2021.

Adam and his wife Sarah have been married for 14 years. They live in Hattiesburg with their three children: Madelyn (15), Griffin (11) and Avery (10) who are all very active at their schools and are involved in plenty of extracurricular activities.