Media Contact: 

Katie Martin 

President, Sales & Marketing Professionals 

601-813-6312 | info@salesandmarketingprofessionals.org 

 

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2026 MISSISSIPPI PINNACLE AWARDS 

40 Finalists Announced from Across the State of Mississippi 

HATTIESBURG, MISSISSIPPI — More than 80 nominations were submitted statewide reflecting exceptional professional work completed during the 2025 calendar year. Following a formal and highly selective review process, 40 finalists were selected based on measurable results, demonstrated leadership, and meaningful impact. 

 

Business / Organization Finalists 

• Backroads and Burgers – Mississippi Gulf Coast 

• Biloxi Shuckers – Biloxi 

• Blended By Bridget – Hattiesburg 

• Chill Sloth – Ice Cream & Smoothies – Wiggins 

• Fairley’s Wings – Hattiesburg 

• Kick Glass Hburg – Hattiesburg 

• Opera Mississippi – Jackson / Statewide 

• Parish Tractor – 8 Locations in Mississippi 

• The Cottages of Hattiesburg – Hattiesburg 

• The Social Club – Jones County 

• Alzheimer's Association MS Chapter – Ridgeland / Statewide 

• Mississippi Heritage Trust – Cleveland / Statewide 

• The Lucky Rabbit – Hattiesburg 

 

Event Finalists 

• 60th Anniversary Celebration – Pearl River Valley Opportunity, Inc. – Columbia 

• America 250 Celebration – Jackson County Historical and Genealogical Society – Pascagoula

 • Behind the Big House – The Slave Dwelling Project – Mississippi Program 

• Delta Hot Tamale Festival – Main Street Greenville – Greenville 

• Denim & Diamonds Casino Night – Kids Hub Child Advocacy Center – Hattiesburg 

• Protecting Families from Cyber-Criminals – Pine Grove Behavioral – Hattiesburg 

• Purvis Street Festival – Purvis 

• Southern Spark – Mississippi AI Collaborative – Jackson 

• The Color Purple – Laurel Little Theatre – Laurel

• The Starkville Derby – Starkville 

 

Individual Finalists 

• Bettye Bell – Natchez NAACP – Natchez 

• Brandon Williams – MS Attorney General’s Office – Jackson 

• Chloe Rouse Armstrong – Chloe Rouse Multimedia Storytelling – Hattiesburg

 • Grace Kent Johnson – BREAD – Hattiesburg 

• Jasmin Baxter – Hattiesburg Public Schools – Hattiesburg 

• Jesse Johnson – Jesse Johnson Photography – Hattiesburg 

• Justina Crawley – Church Street Fairy House – Columbia 

• Kirby L. Harrell – EXIT Realty Integrity First / Elite Body Contouring MS – Hattiesburg 

• Landontalks LLC – A Storied Bookery – Laurel 

• Martha Allen – Extra Table – Hattiesburg 

• Maxine Greenleaf – Alcorn State University – Lorman 

• MyKinzi’ Roy – Red Beans Group / MSAIC / Southern Spark – Jackson 

• Pamela Moody – Jim Hill High School Choir / Jackson Public School District – Jackson

 • Patricia Meagher – Coastal Mississippi – Gulf Coast Region 

• Patt Ellis – Scouts – Mississippi 

• Teresa McCreery – Jones College – Ellisville 

• William L. Reno III, MD – Plastic Surgery Center of Hattiesburg – Hattiesburg 

 

2026 Pinnacle Awards Presentation 

Five Pinnacle Awards will be presented on April 14 including Outstanding Business/Organization, Outstanding Event, Outstanding Small Town Event, Outstanding Individual, and the Overall Pinnacle Award selected from the entire pool of 40 finalists. In addition to the Pinnacle Awards, five Humanitarians will be recognized for the legacy of their achievements and lasting impact across Mississippi. 

 

2026 Humanitarian Honorees 

• James Meredith – Oxford – Lifetime Achievement Award 

• Southern Pine Electric – Taylorsville – Oseola McCarty Community Impact Award 

• Demi Johnson – Gulfport – Rising Star Student Achievement Award 

• Marie Shoemake – Collins – Evelyn Gandy Women’s Leadership Award 

• Teresa Fields Roberts – Shannon / Tupelo Area – Vernon Dahmer Community Engagement Award 

 

Rising Star Student Excellence Fundraising Mission 

The Mississippi Pinnacle Awards Gala serves as the primary annual fundraiser for the Rising Star Student Excellence Awards. Funds raised provide financial awards to high school and college students across Mississippi pursuing business, leadership, and community engagement pathways.

 

Event Details 

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. | Lake Terrace Convention Center | Hattiesburg, Mississippi Tickets go on sale Tuesday, February 24. 

 

About Sales & Marketing Professionals 

Sales & Marketing Professionals is a Mississippi-based professional organization dedicated to advancing excellence in business development, marketing leadership, and community engagement through professional recognition and philanthropic initiatives.