Leadership
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
Amy Whitten
President
The Whitten Group, P.A.
Principal
Beverly Hogan
President-Elect
Tougaloo College
President
Rhea Williams-Bishop
Secretary
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Director of Mississippi and New Orleans Programming
Nora Miller
Treasurer
Mississippi University for Women
President
Rita Wray
Immediate Past President
Wray Enterprises, Inc. | CEO
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Carol Todd Puckett
Membership/Nominating Committee Chair
Viking Hospitality Group | President (Ret.)
Geraldine Chaney, M.D.
Membership/Nominating Committee Co-Chair
Capital City Children’s and Adolescent Clinic, PLLC
Owner
Joey Garner
Communication Committee Chair
TEC
President & CEO
Debra Billups
Presidents’ Circle Co-Chair
121 Millsaps Corporation
Founder and President
Myrtis Tabb
Presidents’ Circle Co-Chair
Delta State University
Associate V.P. for Finance and Administration
PRESIDENTS’ CIRCLE
Carol Puckett
1997-1998
- Co- Founder of the Mississippi Women’s Forum (with Donna Kennedy Barksdale and Julie Hines Mabus)
- Led process to incorporate Mississippi Women’s Forum and become an official member of the International Women’s Forum (with Jamie Planck Martin).
- Served as President from 1991-1998
Jamie Martin
1999-2000
- Lobbied IWF in Boston for Mississippi Forum membership
- Prepared all inaugural governance organizational documents
- Served as second Forum president
Liza Looser
2001-2003
Inactive
Sylvia Stewart
2004-2006
Deceased
Frances Lucas
2007-2008
- Introduced a relaxed environment to Gatherings to facilitate camaraderie and networking
- Lead endeavors to increase member attendance at event
- Nurtured a synergic soulful feel to Gatherings
Courtney Blossman
2009-2010
- Hosted meetings on Gulf Coast of Mississippi to explore conservation and history of the Gulf; speakers included scientists from the area and an educational excursion to the barrier islands.
- Visited the Alluvian Hotel in Greenwood for fun, cooking classes, and spa relaxation
- Back to Gulf Coast of Mississippi to see the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina
Carol Burger
2011-2013
Inactive
Debra Billups
2014-2015
- Facilitated the name change from Mississippi Women’s Forum (MWF) to International Women’s Forum Mississippi (IWF MS)
- Initiated the development of an IWF MS web site
- Led the Bylaw change to revise Board of Directors and Committee Chairpersons term of office from one year to two years
Myrtis Tabb
2016-2017
- Conceptualized and executed officers and executive leadership team’s strategic planning session in January with the goal of providing members with an annual calendar of programs and meeting dates
- Conceptualized and executed members fall weekend retreat to encourage fellowship and team building.
- Implemented strategies to increase membership and attendance at meetings while operating under budgetary guidelines
Ann Shackelford
2018-2019
- Continued the practice in setting firm dates for the year and providing creative and engaging programs
- Attended and networked during four consecutive World Leadership Conferences, including 2018 in Miami when our own Beverly Wadem Hogan was honored as one of five Women Who Make a Difference.
- Coordinated a joint meeting with the Arkansas Women’s Forum
Rita Wray
2020-2021
- Implemented a transition from in-person quarterly meetings to a virtual platform during Covid-19 to maintain the viability of the Forum.
- Conceptualized and incorporated into quarterly meetings the agenda item “We Say Your Name” to pay tribute to members /family members who have passed.
- Executed a refresh of the IWFMS website.
Myrtis Tabb
2016-2017
- Conceptualized and executed officers and executive leadership team’s strategic planning session in January with the goal of providing members with an annual calendar of programs and meeting dates
- Conceptualized and executed members fall weekend retreat to encourage fellowship and team building.
- Implemented strategies to increase membership and attendance at meetings while operating under budgetary guidelines
Ann Shackelford
2018-2019
- Continued the practice in setting firm dates for the year and providing creative and engaging programs
- Attended and networked during four consecutive World Leadership Conferences, including 2018 in Miami when our own Beverly Wadem Hogan was honored as one of five Women Who Make a Difference.
- Coordinated a joint meeting with the Arkansas Women’s Forum
Rita Wray
2020-2021
- Implemented a transition from in-person quarterly meetings to a virtual platform during Covid-19 to maintain the viability of the Forum.
- Conceptualized and incorporated into quarterly meetings the agenda item “We Say Your Name” to pay tribute to members /family members who have passed.
- Executed a refresh of the IWFMS website.