Mississippi Gulf Coast native Matti Rae Seymour has hit the ground running in her new role as Director of the Long Beach and Pass Christian Chambers of Commerce.
“When I arrived in August, I jumped right on in and got to work,” Seymour says. “Since September, the Long Beach Chamber has successfully held an Update on Education with Dr. Talia Lock, Breakfast with Mayor Bass, presented our 2022 First Responder and Citizen of the Year awards, our 13th Annual Taste of Long Beach, and presented our 2022 teacher grants to THREE deserving educators. In addition, since September, the Pass Christian Chamber hosted a successful Breakfast with Mayor Rafferty, Christmas in the Pass t-shirts, and supported shopping local through our Christmas in the Pass Passport Program.”
Seymour was actually among the first to learn of the Long Beach School District’s impressive designation as the top school district in the State of Mississippi by the Mississippi Department of Education on September 27 while at the Chamber’s impeccably timed Q&A event with Long Beach School District Superintendent Dr. Talia Lock.
“There is no doubt that education is beneficial in more ways than one,” Seymour says. “Not only do these award-winning educational institutions provide us with knowledge and the opportunity to grow, but they also allow for employment opportunities in the community. It is a continuous circle that flows into each other, pushing us forward.”
Seymour and those at the Chamber of Commerce are not ones to rest on laurels, though, as evidenced by Seymour’s vision moving forward as Director of the Long Beach and Pass Christian Chambers of Commerce.
“For 2023, I want more!” Seymour proclaims. “More opportunities for community outreach, more involvement, more giving back, and more fun and excitement. The goal is to succeed, and we will do just that!”
One popular fundraising event hosted each year by the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce is just around the corner.
“Our next upcoming event will be held in March, Long Beach Chamber’s Touch-A-Truck,” Seymour says. “We will announce the date soon. Come out and see us and support the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce.”
The Touch-A-Truck event in Long Beach re-emerged after a brief hiatus due to COVID, and like many organizations, the Chamber took a hit during the pandemic, but Seymour and her colleagues are looking ahead, and hopeful about the future.
“As like most businesses/organizations, we lost some members due to COVID,” Seymour says. “However, we have seen a steady growth of new members in Long Beach and all along our Gulf Coast. Our Chamber immediately became a source of information for our members. We utilized ZOOM to get our information out to our members. In general, I believe COVID-19 affected the way many things were done. Events changed, priorities changed, and the main goal was to survive to be able to thrive again in the future. I have seen nothing but resilience and drive since arriving in this role. We adapted with the times and looked forward to the day when we could enjoy life like we had in the past, and it worked.”
Seymour is also excited about what she sees on the horizon for both Pass Christian and Long Beach.
“On Jeff Davis Avenue, you can see the new developments, Harbor View Beer Garden, to mention one. Also, as heard at Breakfast with Mayor Bass in October, the City is doing updates and modifications to City utilities to better the lives of Long Beach residents,” Seymour says.
Harbor View Beer Garden will be perched just north of the Harbor View Café, and is expected to be up and running for business by the time Jeepin’ the Coast rolls out in the Friendly City in late May, on property owned by former mayor Robert Bass, who also owns the Harbor View Café. Harbor View Beer Garden is designed to be a relaxing environment, offering games, bonfires, bars and TVs.
As for the Friendly City, Seymour says there’s plenty to work with, and the sky is the limit.
“The residents and businesses make Long Beach who and what it is,” Seymour says. “The unobstructed views of the Gulf are worth a visit in itself. The City of Long Beach created handicap access to the beach. Also, it’s one of the few cities that has a large pavilion on the beach that is open to the public. One of the top attractions is the University of Southern Mississippi, the home of the Friendship Oak tree. The university also offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in a large variety of academic fields.
“The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a beautiful and evolving place, and I believe others are starting to see that, too. Long Beach is a city that is growing, and I believe will continue to grow. With the Navy base close by, many active and retired military people are proud to call Long Beach home. More attention means more people, and more people mean more business. It is a positive cycle.”
While local residents and businesses are struggling with nationwide inflation, Seymour believes the local economy will continue to grow and improve, and she says the Chamber of Commerce, as always, is here to provide support.
“The Long Beach Chamber and the Pass Christian Chamber are both a division of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce,” Seymour says. “Our mission is to connect, inform, advocate and develop. We all collaborate together to share new ideas, build relationships and make connections with those outside of our divisions to ensure the success in future partnerships.
“Teamwork makes it all possible. The help of volunteers and support from the community is pivotal in making the Chamber a success. We couldn’t do it without each other,” Seymour says.
“I am extremely grateful and blessed to have been given this opportunity to work alongside so many wonderful and inspiring individuals,” Seymour says. “I am ready to see what the future holds and excited to see what all we can accomplish!”
For more information about the Long Beach/Pass Christian Chamber of Commerce, call 228-604-0014, or email Seymour at MattiRae@MSCoastChamber.com.
