Lunch and Learn Activities
Since 2011, the PRCC Office of Community and Professional Development has partnered with the Poplarville Area Chamber of Commerce to offer quarterly Lunch and Learn sessions. Participants enjoy a great meal while listening to professional and engaging speakers. Topics primarily center around economic and community development topics, as well as timely topics of interest requested by business owners and community members.
Sessions are offered quarterly at 11:30 a.m. in the West Dining Room of the Olivia Bender Cafeteria. Meeting announcements are provided through a variety of media.
Past Lunch & Learn Topics
| Date | Speaker | Topic |
| Wednesday, April 16, 2025 | Mr. Stephen O’Mara, Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District (SMPDD) | How Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District Can Assist Our Local Business Community! |
| Thursday, October 24, 2024 | Chief Deputy Freddie Drennan, Pearl River County Sheriff Department | County Government 101 Series |
| Thursday, September 5, 2024 | Mr. Jonathan Will, Superintendent Poplarville School District | Proposed School Bond Issue |
| Thursday, March 7, 2024 | Ms. Lindsay Ward, Pearl River County Economic Development Director | Moving Forward with Economic Development What’s New and Exciting?! |
| Monday, November 13, 2023 | Hon. Melinda Bowman, Pearl River County, MS Chancery Clerk | County Government 101 Series |
| Tuesday, September 26, 2023 | Hon. Nance Fitzpatrick Stokes, Pearl River County, MS Circuit Clerk | County Government 101 Series |
| Tuesday, April 18, 2023 | Dr. Marcus Houston, Bright Steps Therapy, LLC; Mr. Steve Reid, Forrest Health Business Development Coordinator; Ms. Stachia Peterson, Poplarville Lower Elementary School, Director of Special Services, Title IX Coordinator;Ms. Cathy Wilson, Excel by 5 Community Coach | Partnerships for a Healthy Future |
| Tuesday, March 21, 2023 | Hon. Hal Kittrell, District Attorney, 15th Circuit Court District | Protect Yourself and Your Business |
| Tuesday, September 27, 2022 | Ms. Lindsay Ward, PRC Economic Director & Mr. Adrian Lumpkin, Pearl River County Administrator | Achieving Economic Momentum in Pearl River County, MS |
| Thursday, April 28, 2022 | Ms. Catherine Wilson, Southern Community Coach, Excel by 5 | Strengthening Community from the Cradle to Career |
| Tuesday, November 2, 2021 | Mr. Adrian Lumpkin, County Administrator, Pearl River County, MS | What’s New and Interesting in our County!?! |
| Tuesday, October 5, 2021 | Ms. Lindsay Ward, Economic Development Director, Pearl River County, MS | Strategy for a Stronger Economic Future |
| Thursday, February 11, 2021 | Blaine Lafontaine, PRC Economic Development Director | Strategic Plan for Pearl River County (PRC) |
| Thursday, November 12, 2020 | Dr. Rachael Carter, Center for Government and Community Development, MSU | Moving From Talk to Action. . . Solving Community Issues with Limited Resources |
| Thursday, September 17, 2020 | Dr. Phillip Collins, MSU Extension Center for Tech Outreach | Social Media Marketing During Covid-19 |
| Thursday, February 13, 2020 | Dr. Adam Breerwood, President, PRCC | State of the College address |
| Thursday, November 14, 2019 | Dr. Joe Fratesi, Stennis Institute | Keys to Collaboration |
| Thursday, September 26, 2019 | Terri Clark and Rebecca Brown | Workforce 101 |
| Tuesday, April 2, 2019 | Dr. Shannon Campbell, Director Trent Lott National Center for Economic Development and Entrepreneurship | Trends Shaping Mississippi from an Economic Standpoint |
| Tuesday, February 19, 2019 | Dr. Adam Breerwood, President of Pearl River Community College | State of the College address |
| Tuesday, October 30, 2018 | Mr. Adrian Lumpkin, Pearl River County Administrator | Pearl River County Updates |
| Tuesday, September 18, 2018 | Representatives of Federal Bureau of Investigation Jackson Field Office | Cyber Security |
| Thursday, September 7, 2017 | Adrian Lumpkin | Pearl River County Courthouse Annexes |
| Thursday, April 6, 2017 | Hudson Holliday | County’s operations, finances explained |
| Thursday, February 9, 2017 | Dr. Roberto Gallardo | Poplarville Website Presence |
| Tuesday, March 1, 2016 | Dr. Joe Fratesi | Strategic Doing |
| Monday, May 23, 2016 Tuesday, May 24, 2016 | Ms. Rachal Carter | Growing Your Brand Marketing Tools for Mississippi Agritourism and Local Foods |
| Monday, July 18, 2016 through Wednesday, July 20, 2016 | Mr. Andy Collins Ms. Monet Kees | Technology Boot Camp for Business |
| Tuesday, September 27, 2016 | Mr. Bob Stack, Chief Information Officer | Protect Yourself! Become More Web Savvy |
| Tuesday, March 3, 2015 | John O’Hara CEO of Better Business Bureau | Consumer Trust in Business |
| Tuesday, June 2, 2015 | Lara Bowman Instructor Center for Technology Outreach, MSU Extension Service | Mobile Commerce: Mobile Phones & Your Business |
| Tuesday, September 1, 2015 | Rachel Carter Specialist in Community and Economic Development, MSU Extension | Taking a Closer Look at Business in Poplarville |
| Tuesday, November 3, 2015 | Dr. Shannon Campbell USM Director of Trent Lott National Center for Economic Development & Entrepreneurship | Economic and Workforce Development Trends that Influence Small Business and Entrepreneurship Growth |
For more information or to reserve a seat, please contact Brenda Wells at 601-403-1379, 601-403-1420 or email bwells@prcc.edu.
