Trent Lott National Center
Brian Henson
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Brian Henson, MBA
Director
118 College Drive #5191
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
brian.henson@usm.edu
601.266.6239
Brian Henson serves as the Director of the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship. With nearly two decades of experience in local and regional economic development. Brian most recently served as Chief of Staff for the Delta Regional Authority, a federal-state partnership covering eight states and managing a $30 million budget.
In 2008, Brian completed the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute's Certified Economic Developer curriculum. He is a dedicated economic developer committed to fostering economic development opportunities for Mississippi and the southeast. For eight years, he was the Executive Director of the Kemper County (MS) Economic Development Authority. While in this role, Brian assisted with the initial development of the Kemper County Integrated Gasificiation Combined Cycle (IGCC) Power Plant Project and the development and construction of the John C. Stennis Memorial Hospital. He also managed the county's business incubator facility and was responsible for numerous smaller business expansions and community development projects, including a senior citizens' community center.
Brian is a Mississippi State University graduate, obtaining both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Business Administration. He is a member of the Mississippi Economic Development Council and International Economic Development Council. Brian and his wife, Mary Martha, live in Ocean Springs, MS.