Leadership

Bill Cork is an accomplished government and business executive with more than three decades of experience in economic development, organizational leadership and strategic growth initiatives. In December 2023, Bill was appointed by Governor Tate Reeves to serve as executive director of Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) following his tenure as deputy director of the agency. Under his leadership, MDA has recruited record-shattering new investments to the state totaling more than $34 billion in new capital investment and the creation of more than 23,000 jobs.

At MDA, Bill oversees a diverse team of over 190 professionals and executes a $400 million budget. His purview spans domestic recruitment, international trade, minority business development, tourism, film and energy. A key advisor to Gov. Reeves, Bill negotiated transformative deals, including some of Mississippi’s largest economic development projects like Aluminum Dynamics ($2.5B), Amazon Data Services ($10B), Amplify Cell Technologies ($1.9B) and Compass Datacenters ($10B). These projects reflect Bill’s commitment to generating significant ROI and boosting Mississippi’s economy. In 2024, Bill was recognized among Mississippi’s Top 50, an annual listing of the people considered to be the most impactful leaders in the state.

Bill’s career is marked by his ability to drive organizational transformation. From 2016-2020, he served as CEO of the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission. There, he led the acquisition of thousands of acres for industrial development and partnered with NASA on its vision for Enterprise Park, a development opportunity for commercial companies to co-locate at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. Bill also spearheaded infrastructure upgrades and expanded operations, and his successful leadership was crucial in attracting globally recognized innovators like Relativity Space. In 2019, he was recognized by Mississippi Business Journal with the publication’s Top CEO Award, and in 2018, he was honored by Mississippi Economic Development Council with the organization’s Business Retention and Expansion award.

Previously, Bill revitalized the Texarkana Chamber of Commerce, where he served as president and CEO. While at the chamber, he successfully retained major employers like Cooper Tire & Rubber Company and was instrumental in attracting FedEx to the region. As executive director of TexAmericas Center, he oversaw a complex $60M property acquisition, transforming this 12,000-acre former military base into a hub for economic activity. These roles highlight Bill’s expertise in business retention, infrastructure management and public-private partnerships.

Bill began his career in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he honed his leadership skills and was meritoriously promoted to sergeant. Transitioning to civilian roles, he contributed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and later established the Military Communities Practice at ICF Consulting, where he delivered solutions for the redevelopment of military facilities.

A skilled negotiator and mentor, Bill has led economic development teams globally, forging partnerships across Europe, Asia and the Americas. His advocacy for Mississippi’s industries has included trade delegations and international recruitment efforts in sectors such as aerospace, defense and tech. His influence also extends to academic settings, where he frequently lectures on economic development.

Bill holds a Master’s in Urban Planning with a concentration in Economic Development from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is an active member of professional organizations like the Southern Economic Development Council and serves his community through the Knights of Columbus and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Jackson. He has been married to his wife Nina Cork for 40 years, and they have four children and six grandchildren. Let's Talk

Brian Daniel serves as the Chief Administrative Officer at the Mississippi Development Authority, a position he assumed in 2026. In this role, he oversees the agency’s administrative and financial operations, continuing to provide strategic leadership in budgeting, fiscal management and organizational administration.

Previously, Brian served as director of Accounting and Finance at MDA, where he was responsible for managing the agency’s annual budget, which ranged from $200 million to $5.5 billion during his tenure. He also oversaw various financial functions, including budgets, payroll, travel, purchasing, federal reporting, receivables, cash management, fund reconciliation and grants management.

Prior to joining MDA, Brian held several key positions within state government. He served as deputy director of Budgets and Accounting at the Mississippi Department of Human Services, where he supervised budgets, cost allocation, federal reporting and grants management functions. He also worked as deputy director of Accounting and Finance at the Mississippi State Department of Health, overseeing budget, purchasing, federal reporting and grants management functions.

Brian holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University. Let's Talk

Vickie Watters serves as the director of the International Trade Office at the Mississippi Development Authority. In this role she leads the state’s international trade program, which helps Mississippi companies develop and expand exports around the globe, which helps create and retain jobs in the state. Watters brings three decades of domestic and international business experience in the public and private sectors. Before assuming her role as director, she oversaw the administration of the State Trade Expansion Program (STEP), funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Watters is dedicated to helping Mississippi companies grow through international trade. Let's Talk

Carol Harris joined the Mississippi Development Authority in January 2002 as an associate manager within the Minority and Small Business Development Division. She has since served in several positions within the division, ranging from associate manager to interim director. As current director of the Minority and Small Business Development Division, Harris leads the division in advocating on behalf of minority- and women-owned enterprises and promotes the participation of small-, minority- and women-owned businesses in the statewide economy. Let's Talk

Sara Watson is the director of the Mississippi Development Authority’s Business Incentives Division. In this role, she is responsible for coordinating state-funded incentive programs for the agency and developing incentive packages for new and expanding industry in the state. Sara also leads the agency’s efforts to provide technical assistance to companies, site selection consultants, and economic development professionals in the state regarding Mississippi’s business incentives programs. Sara joined MDA in 2006, and joined the Financial Resources Division in 2011. Let's Talk

John Tingle is Chief Marketing Officer at Mississippi Development Authority. In this role, he leads the Marketing, Communications and Research team. John is responsible for developing and executing marketing strategies to help bring new jobs and capital investment to Mississippi. He also oversees tactical marketing and research support for internal divisions across MDA.

Prior to joining MDA, John spent more than two decades in the private sector as a marketing, communications and eCommerce leader at various B2B companies in Tennessee and Mississippi. This includes time spent working for corporations, as well as a marketing agency. In his last position, John was on the executive team and head of Marketing and Digital Business at Irby Electric in Jackson. His role shifted to director of Digital Transformation for Crawford Electric upon the merger of the two companies.

John holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Mississippi College and a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.
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