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BOARD OF DIRECTORS BIOGRAPHY
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Mary Beth Wilkerson
Director, Mississippi Development Authority, Tourism Division
PO Box 849
Jackson, MS 39205
For Media Inquires, Contact:
Sandy Bynum, Senior Manager
Advertising, Publications and Promotions
Mississippi Development Authority, Tourism Division
sbynum@mississippi.org, (601) 359-3297
Mary Beth Wilkerson serves as the Director of the Mississippi Development Authority’s (MDA) Tourism Division. Wilkerson is responsible for the overall management of the Tourism Division and the conception and implementation of short and long range plans and activities that will create economic growth and opportunity through the promotion and development of Mississippi as a tourism destination. In addition to Tourism Development, the Division includes the Office of Film and Culture and the Welcome Centers/Visitor Services Bureau.
Mary Beth Wilkerson began work with the agency in 1991 and coordinated the state’s domestic and international travel trade tourism efforts for over nine years. She was appointed Sales and Marketing Bureau manager for the Division in 2000.
In 2002, Wilkerson was named Deputy Director of the Tourism Division and managed the daily operations of the division and provided extensive tourism development and marketing experience to Mississippi’s Tourism Industry. As Deputy Director she had oversight of all Division programs.
She has represented the Mississippi Tourism Industry at major domestic and international conferences, marketplaces and travel trade events. She works closely with and provides industry leadership to Travel South USA, Southeast Tourism Society, Appalachian Regional Commission Tourism Council, West Alabama – East Mississippi (WAEM) Regional Initiative and the Mississippi Tourism Association. She also served on the 2007 National Tour Association Leadership Council.
In 1997, Mary Beth was named by Travel Agent Magazine as one of the industry's "100 Rising Stars.” She is a Certified Tour Professional (CTP) a designation by the National Tour Association’s (NTA). Prior to joining MDA she was Convention Sales Manager for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A native Mississippian, she holds a B.A. degree in Communication from Mississippi State University. She and her husband reside in Ridgeland and have one son.
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