The DeSoto County Economic Development Council promotes business and economic development and quality of life issues for this booming Mississippi county just south of Memphis.  The Council works closely with business and industry, civic organizations, city and county governments and chambers of commerce in Hernando, Horn Lake, Olive Branch, Southaven and Town of Walls.


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Staff



Jim Flanagan
President/CEO
Industrial Recruitment
and Retention

jflanagan@desotocounty.com


Cynthia Ramsey-Short
Manager, Business Services
Property Tax Exemptions,
Buildings and Sites
Database Management

crshort@desotocounty.com


Susan Fernandez
Manager, Member Services
Leadership DeSoto,
Education Foundation,
Member Services

sfernandez@desotocounty.com


2024 Executive Committee

John Ray, Chairman

Davy Hunt, Vice Chairman

Rhodes Thompson, Treasurer

Bobbie Espitia, Secretary

Diego Lejwa, Past Chairman

2024 Board Members

David Baker, Fisher Arnold

Calvin Jones, Amazon

Tom Allmon, The Armstrong Company

Russ Sneed, Michael Hatcher and Associates

Kevin Doddridge, Northcentral Electric Cooperative

Reggie Durham, Walmart Distribution Center

Brad Grisson, Associated Wholesale Grocers

Dwayne Napper, Owens Minor

Shad Sims, Atmos Energy

John Ray, Teleflex

Sonnet Booth, Comcast

Davy Hunt, SouthGroup Insurance

Scott Felsenthal, Whitmor

Nicky Goodson, Intuitive Surgical

Shawn Clayton, Renasant Bank

Wayne Spell, DCRUA

Dane Chamberlin, Entergy

Shane Crain, CN Rail

Tanya Crehan, Thrivent

Danny Sanders, Toshiba

Bobbie Espitia, Ground Support Specialist

Rhodes Thompson, K W Commercial

Matt Kelso, Edward Jones

Trish Spalding, Medline

Dr. Patricia Coats, University of Mississippi - DeSoto

Jay Goss, Trustmark National Bank

Ken Ibsen, Guaranty Bank

Jon Stevenson, Stevenson Enterprises

Ritchie Hampton, Cadence Bank

Diego Lejwa, Express Employment Professionals

The DeSoto County Economic Development Council's mission is to facilitate, promote and provide effective, unified leadership for economic development and improved quality of life.

The DeSoto Council was incorporated in 1978 by a group of forward-thinking citizens of DeSoto County who saw a need for a unified effort toward economic development in DeSoto County.  Since its beginning, the DeSoto Council has seen the opening and expansion of hundreds of industries, the creation of millions of jobs, and capital investment reaching into the billions.

The Council works closely with business and industry, civic organizations, city and county governments and chambers of commerce in Hernando, Horn Lake, Olive Branch, Southaven, and the Town of Walls.