The Best of Mississippi Awards

06/13/2026

Honored to be one of the judges of the 2026 “100 Successful Women to Know” presented by Gulf Coast Magazine and founder and creator Dr. Dorothy P. Wilson. Today’s attendance was at 642, a record breaking attendance for the ten year old event. Congratulations to the winners, nominees and Dr. Wilson on a job well done!

06/13/2026

Special congratulations to Catrina Wordlaw, a 2026 Official Nominee of The Best of Mississippi Awards who was one of the finalist and nominees of the 2026 “100 Successful Women to Know” on the Mississippi Gulf Coast! Keep soaring my friend!

06/13/2026

Congratulations to Lauren Marie Amador, 2022 The Best of Mississippi Awards Teacher of the Year who won a prestigious spot in the 100 Successful Women to Know!

06/12/2026

👶💜 THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! 💜👶

Only days away from the opening of nominations for the inaugural My Mississippi Baby Contest!

Do you have a little star who lights up every room they enter? 🌟 Now is their time to shine!

My Mississippi Baby is a statewide recognition and fundraising competition celebrating Mississippi's most precious gifts—our babies and young children. From first smiles and tiny giggles to big personalities and unforgettable milestones, we're excited to celebrate them all!

🍼 Open to children ages newborn to 5 years old

📅 Registration & Nominations Open:
June 15 – August 15, 2026

🏆 Compete for:
👑 My Mississippi Baby of the Year
🤴 Mississippi Baby Prince of the Year
👸 Mississippi Baby Princess of the Year
⭐ Division Awards & Special Recognitions

💜 Every participant receives recognition because every baby is a blessing!

Visit our website to learn more:
www.thebestofmsawards.com/my-mississippi-baby

Tag a parent, grandparent, auntie, uncle, or proud supporter who needs to nominate their little star! ✨👶👑

06/11/2026

🌟 CALLING ALL FEATURED VISIONARIES! 🌟

Do you have a business, ministry, nonprofit, initiative, project, or community vision that deserves to be heard?

Blueprints, Burgers & Blue Jeans is your opportunity to share your vision with business professionals, community leaders, collaborators, and decision-makers who are passionate about making an impact.

This is NOT a competition. It is a platform for visibility, connection, collaboration, and growth.

As a Featured Visionary, you'll receive:
✅ One-Minute Vision Share
✅ Featured Visionary Recognition Certificate
✅ Social Media Spotlight
✅ Professional Visibility
✅ Powerful Networking Opportunities
✅ Event Recognition

Only 25 Featured Visionaries will be selected! Click the link and be one of them!

"Blueprints, Burgers & Blue Jeans: Featured Visionary Registration Application" at: https://form.jotform.com/bechambers/featured-visionary-form

📅 Thursday, July 30, 2026
⏰ 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Business Empowered International Chamber of Commerce
414 S. State Street, Suite 101
Jackson, MS 39201

💼 Featured Visionary Investment: $125

Your vision matters. Your voice matters. Your impact matters.

Wear your jeans. Share your vision.

06/05/2026

👶💜 IT'S BACK! 💜👶

The search is on for Mississippi's cutest, brightest, and most loved little stars!

✨ Oh Baby is officially returning as “My Mississippi Baby” and we can't wait to celebrate the precious babies and young children who bring so much joy to our families and communities.

Parents, grandparents, family members, churches, and community supporters are invited to nominate their little stars for this exciting statewide recognition and fundraising competition presented by The Best of Mississippi Awards.

🌟 Open to children ages newborn to 5 years old

📅 Registration & Nominations Open:
June 15 – August 15, 2026

🏆 Compete for:
👑 My Mississippi Baby of the Year
🤴 Mississippi Baby Prince of the Year
👸 Mississippi Baby Princess of the Year
⭐ Age Division Awards & Special Recognitions

🍼 Tiny Blessings Division (0–6 Months)
🌟 Little Miracles Division (7–12 Months)
☀️ Sunshine Babies Division (13–24 Months)
⭐ Rising Stars Division (25–36 Months)
👑 Mississippi Sweethearts Division (3–5 Years)

This is more than a contest—it's a celebration of Mississippi's most precious gifts while creating memories that families will cherish for years to come.

💜 Because Every Baby is a Blessing!

Register beginning June 15, 2026:
www.thebestofmsawards.com/my-mississippi-baby

Tag a parent, grandparent, auntie, uncle, or proud supporter who has a little star that should be part of My Mississippi Baby 2026! 👶✨

👑

06/04/2026

🚀 LEADERS, THIS IS FOR YOU!

Are you looking to grow as a business owner, entrepreneur, ministry leader, nonprofit leader, coach, educator, or community influencer?

Join us for the **Vision Impact Marketplace Leadership Lab—a FREE hybrid leadership development experience designed to equip you with practical strategies, leadership insights, and tools to help you build stronger organizations and stronger communities.

📅 1st & 3rd Tuesdays
🕛 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM CST
📍 In Person: BE International Chamber of Commerce Leadership Training Room
414 S. State St., Suite 201, Jackson, MS 39201
💻 Online via Zoom

✨ In-Person Participants Receive:
• Light Lunch
• Printed Worksheet
• Leadership Journal
• Networking Opportunities

✨ Online Participants Receive:
• Digital Worksheets
• Session Resources
• Live Virtual Access

🎓 Leadership Passport Program
Receive a Leadership Stamp for every session you attend and earn special recognition and a Leadership Achievement Certificate after completing six sessions!

Our first session launches Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

Register today:
https://form.jotform.com/bechambers/vision-impact-leadership-lab

Learn. Lead. Launch.

06/02/2026

By Dr. Kathy L. Amos This past weekend, as our team prepared for Family & Friends Day, there was much to accomplish. Certificates had to be prepared,

05/29/2026

Today, we proudly honor Pastor James O. Bowman Sr., a 2025 Best of Mississippi Hall of Fame Inductee, 2022 Pastor of the Year, 2022 Church of the Year Honoree, and a faithful BOMA Legacy Partner.

Pastor Bowman is a man of honor whose life reflects a powerful legacy of faith, service, leadership, and sacrifice. A Retired Sergeant Major of the U.S. Army, he served our nation faithfully from 1966 to 1996 and later continued to shape young lives as a JROTC Instructor at Vicksburg High School.

Called into ministry in 1994, he began preaching in 1998 and stepped into pastoral leadership in 2000. After serving New Poplar Grove, Ind. Methodist Church faithfully for 12 years, he has now served as pastor of New Beginning Church in Christ in Vicksburg, Mississippi, for more than a decade.

A devoted husband to Mrs. Betty J. Bowman and proud father of seven children, Pastor Bowman’s life represents more than five decades of leadership, mentoring, and community impact.

Although he was unable to attend this year’s celebration, we want to publicly salute and thank him for his continued support. Since the day he won his title, Pastor Bowman has remained a proud monthly sponsor, and for that, we are deeply grateful.

We celebrate and salute this Kingdom general for his unwavering faithfulness, strength, and legacy.

05/29/2026