Staff and Board Members
Beverly Knox, TMI President and Director of Community Health Improvement Network (CHIN)
Beverly graduated The University of Southern Mississippi and currently is the President of the Montgomery Institute. Beverly is a former local TV News Reporter; City of Meridian employee as the Keep America Beautiful Coordinator; Project Director for the MS Tobacco Free Coalition of Noxubee, Neshoba, and Kemper Counties (contracted through the MS State Department of Health); Project Director for East Central Health Network. In her position as President of The Montgomery Institute and Executive Director of the Community Health Improvement Network (CHIN), Beverly coordinates monthly community health education lunch and Learn events. These events target the underserved and underprivileged populations of Lauderdale County and surrounding areas. Beverly also facilitates the collaboration of community partners to create other joint programs to improve and sustain overall health care.
Lacey Williams, Director – The Tobacco–Free Coalition of Noxubee, Neshoba, and Kemper Counties
Lacey graduated from Mississippi State University and currently serves as the Project Director of the Tobacco Free program which is contracted through the MS State Department of Health. Prior to her current position, Lacey has more than (7) seven years’ experience as a Pharmacy Technician and worked at Fred’s Pharmacy, Rush Hospital, and CVS Pharmacy. In her position as Project Director of the Tobacco – Free program, Lacey coordinates events to teach the dangers of tobacco use and vaping. She works in the schools in the counties where she serves teaching cessation classes and tobacco and vape prevention. Lacey also coordinates events to help adults quit smoking such as Freedom from Smoking clinics.
Richelle Putnam, Contractor for Arts & Arts Education Programs/Events, Website/Social Media
Richelle Putnam is the Community Arts Project Director for The Montgomery Institute and holds a BS in Marketing Management and an MA in Creative Writing. She co-founded the Hwy 80 Songwriters Festival through TMI West Alabama/East Mississippi (WAEM) Mayors’ initiative and facilitated five successful annual festivals. She also co-facilitated the Creative Economy Forum in partnership with Meridian Main Street, Visit Meridian, and The Montgomery Institute. As a MAC teaching artist and the TMI Arts Project Director, she works with youth in Head Start early education centers, K-12 schools, the East Mississippi Boys and Girls Club, and the Meridian Freedom Project, integrating music standards (songwriting) into ELA, History, Math, and Science standards.
TMI Board Members
Name: Beverly Knox
Profession: President – The Montgomery Institute
Ethnicity: Black/African American
_________________________________________
Name: C.D. Smith
Profession: ATT Regional Manager
Ethnicity: Black/African American
_________________________________________
Name: Brad Huff
Profession: Owner/Executive Director M’Prints Promotional Products
Ethnicity: White
_________________________________________
Name: Michael Dudley
Profession: President/CEO Commercial Bank
Ethnicity: White
________________________________________
Name: Archie McDonnell, Jr.
Profession: President/CEO Citizens National Bank
Ethnicity: White
_________________________________________
Name: Soraya Welden
Profession: Retired Educator
Ethnicity: White
___________________________________________
Name: Tracy Alford
Profession: Community Development Director Citizens National Bank
Ethnicity: Black/African American