Mississippi Development Authority awards Pablo Diaz the Marsha N. Hamilton Spirit Award for extraordinary service in Economic Development
The Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership announces that Diaz recently received the Marsha N. Hamilton Spirit Award for Economic Development, which is presented annually by the Mississippi Development Authority to the state's most deserving leader in that field of expertise.
VICKSBURG, Miss., Feb. 25, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership recently announced that its President & CEO, Pablo Diaz, was awarded the Marsha N. Hamilton Spirit Award Thursday by the Mississippi Development Authority at the Mississippi Economic Development Council Awards Luncheon. The award was presented by the Mississippi Development Authority, recognizes extraordinary service in economic development, and is presented to the state's most deserving leader in that field of expertise. Recipients of the Award must display a number of traits, including:
1) Exhibit professional competency and consistent collegiality with his or her peers
2) Exhibit the highest degree of integrity at work and in the community
3) Have gone beyond the norm in the input of time, energy and resources to further the goals of economic development in Mississippi and to bring honor to their profession in general
Diaz, who previous served as Director of Economic Development in Grenada, Miss, has served as President & CEO of the Vicksburg Warren Partnership since April of 2017. The Partnership is an umbrella organization encompassing the Vicksburg Warren Chamber of Commerce, the Warren County Port Commission, and the Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Foundation. With Diaz at the helm of the Partnership and in less than three years, the organization has announced the relocation of six new companies to the area and the creation of 730 jobs new full time jobs with an annual payroll of $27.9M and associated capital investments of $108M.
The award is named for Marsha Nell Hamilton, a graduate of Jackson State University who served at the Mississippi Development Authority from 1983 until her passing in December of 2012. Hamilton's area of specialization was global trade and international diplomacy and as manager of the international trade office in Jackson, MS, Hamilton worked on behalf of small businesses to promote and distribute their products and services worldwide. Hamilton was largely responsible for the establishment of the now-permanent MDA global trade STEP grant, which to date has provided more than $500 million in direct funding to small businesses.
The Mayor of the City of Vicksburg, Mr. George Flaggs stated, "Congratulations to Vicksburg-Warren Economic Development Partnership President and CEO Pablo Diaz for receiving the Marsha N. Hamilton Spirit Award. Thank you for your great leadership, Pablo."
Vicksburg Warren School District Superintendent of Education Chad Shealy also attended the event added, "We were excited to support Pablo as he received the Marsha N. Hamilton Spirit Award, and it was an honor to be able to present at the MEDC 2020 Legislative Luncheon with Pablo, (District 5 Supervisor) Kelle Barfield, and (Superintendent of Education in Corinth) Lee Childress about how to involve education in driving economic development across MS."
SOURCE Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership
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