Supervisors hire Blaine LaFontaine for Economic Developer position

After a long search process, the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors have hired a Director of Economic Development. Blaine LaFontatine, most recently the President of the Hancock County Board of Supervisors, was hired during a specially called meeting by the Supervisors.

LaFontaine comes highly recommended by many respected business and economic leaders including Bill Cork, Chief Executive Officer of the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission and Mississippi Legislature Speaker of the House, Phillip Gunn.

Shortly after the action by the supervisors, LaFontaine was ready to get started.

“I am super excited about this opportunity and the potential of great things that are possible,” said LaFontaine.

County Administrator Adrain Lumpkin was equally excited by LaFontaine’s selection.

“We've been working on this for roughly two plus years and to get someone of his (Blaine’s) caliber is exciting for Pearl River County, “ Lumpkin stated.

LaFontaine was vetted by the county’s Economic Development Board of Directors which was put in place in February of 2018. The group includes Harold Littles, Dr. Adam Breerwood, Joey McClinton, Kevin Hedgepeth and Darren Champagne. Champagne is President of the Board of Directors and accompanied LaFontaine at Thursday’s meeting.

LaFontaine, in addition to serving on the Hancock County Board of Supervisors, has served as councilman for the City of Diamondhead (MS), Director of Hancock County Utility Authority, Hancock County Regional Solid Waste Authority, South Mississippi Twin Districts Workforce Area, and as Vice-Chair of the Mississippi Sound Coalition.

LaFontaine earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology and a Master of Science in Economic Development, both from the University of Southern Mississippi. Prior USM, he graduated from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community with Associate of Science in Industrial Drafting and Design, and an Associate of Arts in General Studies.

LaFontaine was recently recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal Top 50 under 40. He has completed the Gulf Coast Business Council’s Master Program in 2019 and also holds a Six Sigma Green Belt Certification from LSU.

He has work as an Application Engineer with Gulf Coast Pump and Equipment since 2017 and with Thomas Pump and Machinery for two years prior to that.

Lafontaine will be special guest on WRJW Radio's Focus on Pearl River County program on Monday (December 30,2019) at 8:15 a.m.