HRC Board Members
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Wendy McDonald– Chair
Former Director of Habitat for Humanity Bay Waveland, Community Advocate Wendy McDonald earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Texas in Austin. She taught Marketing at several high schools and community colleges. She served as the Director of Marketing and Dean of Fine Arts and Technical Education at community colleges in Texas before returning to Bay St. Louis after Hurricane Katrina. She opened and managed Habitat Bay Waveland, serving as Executive Director for 10 years. She also served on the Bay St. Louis City Council for two terms, representing Ward 2 in Bay St. Louis. During her time on the council, she served as Council President several times, and as the City Council liaison with the engineers and architects for the Bay St. Louis Municipal Harbor. She earned the Certified Municipal Officials designation by completing the 75+ hours of Basic, Advanced and Professional course work offered by the Mississippi Municipal League.
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Mary Beth Benvenutti- Vice-Chair
Accountant, Community Member Mary Beth Benvenutti has been a member Hancock resource Center’s Board of Directors since January of 2022. She is a native of Hancock County and has a background in finance, grant accounting, and nonprofit administration. Benvenutti is a graduate of the Mississippi University for Women. |
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Noel Grafe – Treasurer
The First Bank, Community Member Noel Grafe is a Commercial Lender and Vice President of The First, A National Banking Association. He attended Mississippi State University and holds a bachelor's degree in Banking and Finance. He is from Moss Point and moved to Hancock County years ago when working for Hancock Bank. He is a graduate of the 2020 class of Leadership Hancock County. He is married to Elizabeth Grafe, and has four children: James Jr., Katherine, Caroline, and Cooper. He enjoys hunting, fishing, BBQ, and is known throughout the Hancock County community for being an excellent cook. |
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Rhonda Rhodes – Secretary
President of the Hancock Resource Center Rhonda Rhodes has served as the President of the Hancock Resource Center since it incorporated as a non-profit in November of 2008. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing and a Master’s of Arts in Management. She is nationally certified in home ownership counseling, homebuyer and post-purchase education, and is a Housing Counseling Executive with a professional certificate in home ownership and community lending. Rhonda is a registered nurse with a background in healthcare administration. After Katrina, Rhonda went to work for the Hancock Chamber of Commerce. Under the direction of the Chamber, she created and managed the Hancock Community Development Foundation. She currently serves on the Boards for the Hancock Community Development Foundation, St. Stanislaus Booster Club and the American Red Cross of Southeast Mississippi Advisory Board. Rhonda is a 2006 graduate of Leadership Hancock County and a 2014 graduate of Leadership Mississippi. |
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Tish Williams – Board Member
Director of Hancock Chamber of Commerce, Founding Member, Business Community Leader Tish Haas Williams is a native of the Gulf Coast Region with over 30 years’ experience in non-profit management and economic development. She has served as Executive Director of the Hancock Chamber of Commerce since 2002. After Hurricane Katrina, she spear-headed the establishment of the Hancock Community Development Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation with a focus on economic and community development. Today, this Foundation has incubated 20 different community causes and founded the Hancock Resource Center. It also serves as a funding conduit for small business loans, grants and technical assistance programs. She also serves as executive director of Partners for Stennis & Michoud, an advocacy organization focused on growth of jobs at these two NASA assets. Prior to her work with the Chamber, she led the fund development efforts for a national non-profit for more than a decade. Over the past decade, she has been recognized with numerous leadership awards including: the Sun Herald Top Ten Community Leaders in South Mississippi; U. S. SBA Phoenix Award for Outstanding Contribution to Disaster Recovery by a Public Official; and the Jody Compretta Person of Passion Award for her persistence and leadership to rebuild Hancock County. She is past Chairman of Our Lady Academy Advisory Board and serves on the Board of Directors for the Hancock Resource Center. |
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Gwyn Ross – Board Member
Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, Community Member Gwyn Lang Ross was born and raised in Bay St. Louis. She remains based in her hometown and is a proud mom of three kids and two grandchildren. She has 33 years of management experience in the medical field and currently works as a Clinical Manager for Memorial Hospital of Gulfport, in addition to serving on the Customer Relations and Employee Crisis Assistance committees. She is heavily involved with local organizations and causes, co-chairing Relay for Life and maintaining active roles with both CASA of Hancock County and Hope Haven. She is also a longtime member of the Krewe of Nereids and a graduate of the 2015-16 class of Leadership Hancock County. 2020 is her first full year of serving on the Board of Directors at the Hancock Resource Center, and she continues to be passionate about finding ways to give back to her community. |
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Jeremy Compretta- Board Member
Community Bank, Community Member Jeremy Compretta has been a member is Hancock Resource Center’s board of Directors since January of 2023. He holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and is the Vice President of Community Bank. Compretta is a graduate of Leadership Hancock County and is currently enrolled in the ‘22- ‘23 Leadership Gulf Coast program. He serves as a board member for Habitat for Humanity. In his free time Compretta enjoys woodworking and bee keeping. He has been married for 22 years and has 4 children. |
Heather Clark - Board Member
Gulfcoast Accounting & Tax Service, Community Member
Heather Clark is the owner of Gulf Coast Accounting. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration. Clark serves as Treasure of Gulf Coast Swim Club and Boy Scouts of America Troop Committee Chair. In her free time Clark enjoys playing piano and running triathlons.
Gulfcoast Accounting & Tax Service, Community Member
Heather Clark is the owner of Gulf Coast Accounting. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration. Clark serves as Treasure of Gulf Coast Swim Club and Boy Scouts of America Troop Committee Chair. In her free time Clark enjoys playing piano and running triathlons.
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Stephen Hicks- Board Member
Edward Jones, Community Member Stephen Hicks is a Financial Advisor for Edward Jones. He holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from the University of South Alabama. Hicks is a member of Diamondhead Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Campground Baptist Church, and a graduate of Leadership Hancock County. In his free time, he enjoys fishing and spending time with family. Hicks is married to his wife Ashley, and they share two children. He had been a member of the Hancock Resource Center’s board since January 2022.
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Cheryl Thompson- Board member
Gulfside Assembly, Executive Director
Cheryl Thompson is a recently retired Chief Nursing Officer of Garden Park Medical Center where she served over 40 years gaining experience in clinical, leadership, quality, education and human resources. She is a native of New Orleans, but has resided in Hancock County alongside her husband of 50 years, John H. Thompson for the last 25 years. Mrs. Thompson holds a BSN in Nursing from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA, and an MSN in Nursing Administration from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. Outside of her duties as the Executive Director of Gulfside Assembly, Mrs. Cheryl is a member of the Helping Hands Organization, The Friends of Valena C. Jones, the 100 Women Organization, Hancock County Library Foundation, NAACP and the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys reading, traveling and studying history.
Gulfside Assembly, Executive Director
Cheryl Thompson is a recently retired Chief Nursing Officer of Garden Park Medical Center where she served over 40 years gaining experience in clinical, leadership, quality, education and human resources. She is a native of New Orleans, but has resided in Hancock County alongside her husband of 50 years, John H. Thompson for the last 25 years. Mrs. Thompson holds a BSN in Nursing from Dillard University in New Orleans, LA, and an MSN in Nursing Administration from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY. Outside of her duties as the Executive Director of Gulfside Assembly, Mrs. Cheryl is a member of the Helping Hands Organization, The Friends of Valena C. Jones, the 100 Women Organization, Hancock County Library Foundation, NAACP and the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce. She enjoys reading, traveling and studying history.
Kimberly Fore- Board Member
City of Bay Saint Louis, Community Member
Kimberly Fore is a native of Hancock County. She lives with her husband, Jeremy in Kiln, MS, and have 5 wonderful children together. I have 22 years of financial experience. For 15 of those years, Kimberly worked as the finance supervisor for her family’s business, BayTech, which was founded by her grandfather in Bay St. Louis in 1976. She is presently employed with the City of Bay St. Louis where she is the Executive Assistant to the Mayor as well as a Deputy City Clerk. Her other work responsibilities include Grant and Capital Asset administration for the city. She is a graduate of the Hancock County Leadership Class of 23’-24’ and is now enrolled in the Mississippi Municipal Clerk Certification program. In Kimberly's free time, she loves spending time with her family, going camping and enjoying the outdoors
City of Bay Saint Louis, Community Member
Kimberly Fore is a native of Hancock County. She lives with her husband, Jeremy in Kiln, MS, and have 5 wonderful children together. I have 22 years of financial experience. For 15 of those years, Kimberly worked as the finance supervisor for her family’s business, BayTech, which was founded by her grandfather in Bay St. Louis in 1976. She is presently employed with the City of Bay St. Louis where she is the Executive Assistant to the Mayor as well as a Deputy City Clerk. Her other work responsibilities include Grant and Capital Asset administration for the city. She is a graduate of the Hancock County Leadership Class of 23’-24’ and is now enrolled in the Mississippi Municipal Clerk Certification program. In Kimberly's free time, she loves spending time with her family, going camping and enjoying the outdoors
Blair Welborn- Board Member
Navy Federal Credit Union, Community Member
Blair Welborn is a seasoned financial professional with over a decade of experience at Keesler Federal Credit Union, where she most recently served as Assistant Branch Manager in Waveland. She has since embarked on a new chapter in her career at Navy Federal Credit Union, continuing her commitment to service-oriented leadership and community impact.
Originally from Gretna, Louisiana, Blair relocated to Hancock County in the fourth grade when her mother pursued a career in the local casino industry. Raised in an underprivileged household by a single mother who struggled to make ends meet, Blair’s early experiences instilled in her a deep empathy for families facing hardship and a lifelong passion for service.
Rooted in the community, Blair serves as Co-Chair of the Board for the Hancock County Resource Center and is an active member of Hancock Young Professionals. She is a proud graduate of the Leadership Hancock County program and the Branch Manager Apprenticeship Program accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Blair also volunteers at Grace Chapel, where she serves in the sound booth and worships alongside her husband, John Welborn, and their four children: Braeleigh (16), Aleigh (15), Nathan (12), and John August (2). Through her church, she actively ministers to and serves the homeless, finding purpose in extending compassion, dignity, and hope to those in need.
Her commitment to uplifting underprivileged families in Hancock County continues to drive her advocacy for equity, empowerment, and lasting change.
Navy Federal Credit Union, Community Member
Blair Welborn is a seasoned financial professional with over a decade of experience at Keesler Federal Credit Union, where she most recently served as Assistant Branch Manager in Waveland. She has since embarked on a new chapter in her career at Navy Federal Credit Union, continuing her commitment to service-oriented leadership and community impact.
Originally from Gretna, Louisiana, Blair relocated to Hancock County in the fourth grade when her mother pursued a career in the local casino industry. Raised in an underprivileged household by a single mother who struggled to make ends meet, Blair’s early experiences instilled in her a deep empathy for families facing hardship and a lifelong passion for service.
Rooted in the community, Blair serves as Co-Chair of the Board for the Hancock County Resource Center and is an active member of Hancock Young Professionals. She is a proud graduate of the Leadership Hancock County program and the Branch Manager Apprenticeship Program accredited by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Blair also volunteers at Grace Chapel, where she serves in the sound booth and worships alongside her husband, John Welborn, and their four children: Braeleigh (16), Aleigh (15), Nathan (12), and John August (2). Through her church, she actively ministers to and serves the homeless, finding purpose in extending compassion, dignity, and hope to those in need.
Her commitment to uplifting underprivileged families in Hancock County continues to drive her advocacy for equity, empowerment, and lasting change.
Maegan Herron- Board Member
FNB Picayune Bank-Kiln Branch, Community Member
Maegan Herron is currently a branch manager at FNB Picayune Bank- Kiln Branch. She holds an Associate's Degree in Banking and Finance from Pearl River Community College. Maegan is currently a native of Hancock County and has been in banking for 19 years. She has been married for 20 years and have 3 children. Maegan is a recent graduate of Hancock Leadership Class of 2024!
FNB Picayune Bank-Kiln Branch, Community Member
Maegan Herron is currently a branch manager at FNB Picayune Bank- Kiln Branch. She holds an Associate's Degree in Banking and Finance from Pearl River Community College. Maegan is currently a native of Hancock County and has been in banking for 19 years. She has been married for 20 years and have 3 children. Maegan is a recent graduate of Hancock Leadership Class of 2024!
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