About Us

Downtown Hattiesburg Association

Since its founding in 1985, The Downtown Hattiesburg Association (DHA), a Mississippi Main Street program, has spearheaded the revitalization of Hattiesburg’s historic core.  DHA is a private- non-profit organization, funded in part by the City of Hattiesburg and the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, along with our Investment partners and members. 

Our mission is to be a catalyst for the preservation and economic revitalization of Hattiesburg’s historic downtown district.

Downtown Hattiesburg promotes, markets, and educates investors, developers, entrepreneurs, businesses, shoppers, visitors and residents that Downtown Hattiesburg is a destination – a place to live, work, and play.

2024 DHA OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2024 Officers

PRESIDENT

Anna Rush, Rush Law Firm

VICE PRESIDENT
Chelsey Everett, Area Development Partnership

TREASURER
Shawn Harris, Hancock-Whitney Bank

SECRETARY
Dr. Katie Anthony, The University of Southern Mississippi

PAST PRESIDENT
Seth Miles, VH Companies

EX-OFFICIO OFFICER

Marlo Dorsey, Visit Hattiesburg

Blu Jazz CaféEX-OFFICIO
DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE

Mark Yeager, William Carey University

Sharon Thompson, Forrest County Board of Supervisors

Betsy Mercier, City of Hattiesburg

Paige Thorton, Neel-Schaffer

Keith Starett, US District Court Judge

Nelson Haskins, Blu Jazz Café

Larry Albert, Albert & Associates

 Board of Directors

Marlo Dorsey, Visit Hattiesburg

Tonia Ware, Mississippi Power

Shawn Lowery, Lowrey & Fortner, P.A.

David Shemper, HCS Trading, Prospect on Main

Joel Ingram, Hub Development

Lee Anne Venable, Little Dog Consulting

Nick Fairley, Fairleys Wings & More

Shelby White, Jones

HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS

Larry Albert, Albert & Robinson Architects

Staff

Betsy Rowell, Interim Executive Director

HATTIESBURG LANDMARK PRESERVATION (HLP)

DHA establish Hattiesburg Landmark Preservation, Inc. (HLP) in 2007 as a 501(c)3 charitable organization for the purpose of preserving buildings and other structures, providing educational programming,  and for receiving donations and grants.

HLP’s mission is to revitalize Downtown Hattiesburg by preserving, protecting, and creating an atmosphere of historic character that includes the buildings, stories, and historic fabric of Hattiesburg.

Numerous activities on behalf of DHA are conducted through HLP.

 

Diversity Statement

The story of Hattiesburg is the continuing march of its history toward a more rich and complete public space. The Historic Downtown Association is dedicated to continuing that inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and respected because of their differences, for both its employees and partners. We strive to create a community where everyone feels empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to work, live and play.