Ingram leaving USM to head up Delta economic development group: longtime developer begins new job in Greenwood Oct. 1. (Regional: Delta & River Cities).(University of Southern Mississippi executive)

HATTIESBURG -- It may be the age of retirement for some, but Robert D. Ingram, 54, isn't even thinking about it.

After a banking career and a stint as mayor of McComb in the early 1980s, Ingram, who currently serves as assistant to the president for economic development at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), served in several high-ranking economic development positions. From 1995-1998 Ingram was the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce's senior vice president for economic development, and prior to that he served for three years as the executive director of the Rankin County Economic Development District. He also served as executive vice president of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development Foundation. His work in economic development has helped to create countless jobs for the state and millions of dollars in industrial expansions.

Now the people of Leflore and Carroll counties are looking forward to what Ingram will bring to their region of the state when he takes over as the new executive director of the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Board and the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation Oct. 1.

"We interviewed a number of people and when Robert agreed to come for an interview, our board unanimously agreed he was the man we'd been looking for," said Donnie Brock, a Greenwood attorney and chairman of the Industrial Board. "And I might add that our decision to pursue Robert and hire him as our director has certainly been substantiated by the comments we've received from around the state congratulating us on hiring one of the top in his profession."

Janice Moor, executive vice president of the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce, is looking-forward to working with Ingram.