Mayor Barker at The Statewide Mississippi Society Association Professionals Conference

Friday, Mayor Toby Barker attended the Statewide Mississippi Society of Association Professionals Conference. Mayor Barker gave the welcome address, and he used his speech to talk about the community of Hattiesburg by highlighting the culture of Mississippi.

"First we plan to welcome these people to Harrisburg and talk about our community," Barker said. "These are the best and brightest leaders across the state in each of our associations and to have them to come here is a real honor."

"Secondly we want to encourage them to go out and be the best versions of themselves and reflect the positive values of their organization in our state," Barker said. "We want them to be up and doing things not only to better their organization, but better our state."

Also, the newly named executive director of Visit Hattiesburg, Marlo Dorsey helped plan Friday's conference.

"I was very delighted to hear that I was selected for the leadership position for the community," Dorsey said. "We want to grow, we want to continue to get the word out that this is a great destination, whether you're here for business or for leisure travel."