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.
2022 DHA OFFICERS & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2022 Officers
PRESIDENT
Michael Marks, Stage, Style, Study
VICE PRESIDENT
Seth Miles, VH Companies
TREASURER
Shawn Harris, Hancock-Whitney Bank
SECRETARY
Anna Rush, Rush Law Firm
PAST PRESIDENT
Shawn Lowrey, Lowrey & Fortner, P.A.
EX-OFFICIO OFFICER
Marlo Dorsey, Visit Hattiesburg
EX-OFFICIO
DESIGNATED REPRESENTATIVE
Mike Madaris, William Carey University
Sharon Thompson, Forrest County Board of Supervisors
Betsy Mercier, City of Hattiesburg
Keith Starett, US District Court Judge
Board of Directors
Marlo Dorsey, Visit Hattiesburg
Amber Ross, Jone Company
Nelson Haskin, Blu Jazz Café
Austin Lovitt, Neel-Schaffer
Nick Fairley, Fairleys Wings & More
Chelsey Everett, Area Development Partnership
Joel Ingram, Hub Development
Lee Anne Venable, USM Foundation
HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS
Larry Albert, Albert & Robinson Architects
Staff
Andrea Saffle, Executive Director
Allison Neville, Events & Promotions Coordinator
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.