Coastal Chambers of Commerce Announce 2026 One Coast Award Recipients
The Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Hancock Chamber of Commerce, Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce, and Jackson County Chamber of Commerce announced recipients of the 2026 One Coast Awards on Tuesday, April 15 at the Beau Rivage during the annual One Coast Awards breakfast attended by over 400 participants.
Community Leader:
Derek Bodart, Superior Optical Labs, Inc.
John Brdecka, Hancock County Library Foundation
Dr. Jacob Breland, The University of Southern Mississippi
Chris Estrade, Hancock Whitney
Dr. Carla Evers, Pass Christian School District
Tami Foto, WXXV
Melanie Landsiedel, Chevron Pascagoula Refinery
Latrina McCarty, Pascagoula-Gautier School District
Heather Rowley Porter, Singing River Health System
Katherine Sutton, Mississippi Heroes
Top 10 Under 40:
James Bordelon, Bollinger Shipyard
Kelly Devine, Singing River Health System
Denise Johnson, Victory Behavioral Health Center
Janilyah Khadaran, Mississippi Grassroots United
Shelly Laughlin, Ingalls Shipbuilding
John McMackin, Phelps Dunbar LLP
Tanner Montella, Coast Roast
Caroline Nettles, Port Pascagoula
Ravin Nettles, City of Gulfport
Katarina Scott, Chevron Pascagoula Refinery
The One Coast Awards were started in 2002 by the Sun Herald and were named in honor of the long time publisher Roland Weeks as the Roland Weeks Hall of Fame, the Top 10 Under 40 and Community Leader Awards. Recognizing the wealth of outstanding business and community leaders across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, the awards were developed to recognize community leaders and strong, up-and-coming young business leaders.
The program and awards have been continued with the coastal Chambers of Commerce (Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber, Jackson County Chamber, Hancock Chamber and the Ocean Springs Chamber) organizing and administering the program to carry on the ideal that One Coast is a regional belief that our common interests far outweigh any difference; an awareness that what benefits one, ultimately benefits all; a celebration of our unique communities and an attitude of no boundaries.
