Board Officers
Our board of directors comprises dedicated community leaders and passionate advocates committed to fighting hunger and improving food security for our needy neighbors.
Our Board
Together, they bring a wealth of experience, diverse perspectives, and a shared vision to guide our organization in its mission to provide nutritious food and support services to individuals and families facing hardship. Their leadership and commitment ensure that our pantry not only meets the immediate needs of our community but also works towards long-term solutions for a hunger-free future.
Lisa Cowand
Chairman of the Board
Lisa grew up in New Orleans but enjoyed spending time in her parent’s summer home in south Mississippi, eventually moving to Bay St, Louis in 1977. Lisa has been very active in service to the community, serving three years on the Bay St. Louis City Council and 23 years on the Hancock County Board of Supervisors. She was the first woman elected to both the Bay St. Louis City Council and the Hancock County Board of Supervisors and also served as President of both groups during her numerous terms of service. Lisa and her husband Norman have four children and two grandchildren.
Marshall Kyger
Executive Director
Marshall was raised in Ft. Worth, Texas. He received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University in Palo Alto, California and did his post graduate work at the University of California – Berkeley. Marshall then embarked upon a 29-year career with the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale, California, eventually rising to become the Director of Business Operations for the Missile Systems Division.
After his retirement in 2004, Marshall has spent his time giving back to the community he and his wife, Arva love so much. He spent five years as a Commissioner of the Diamondhead Water & Sewer District, four of those years as Chairman. In 2010, he was elected to the first of two terms, serving a total of six years, as President of the Diamondhead Property Owners Association. Marshall lives in Diamondhead with his wife Arva who is also involved in volunteer organizations. They share 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
Tom Woolbright
Deputy Director
Tom served in the US Navy before finishing his education with a BS in Respiratory Care. He worked in hospital management at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, MS for over 30 years. After retirement, 8 years ago, Tom and his wife, Terri, moved to Diamondhead. He is active in the Diamondhead Methodist Church and has worked as a volunter at the Food Pantry for over 6 years. Tom also serves as the Ward #2 Councilman for the city of Diamondhead.
Peg Walton
Peg was born in Freeport, Illinois, and graduated from Aquin High School there. She married Terry Walton and raised two children, Jennifer and Tom. Peg worked in the banking industry for 23 years in three different states. Now that Peg is retired, she volunteers at Gaits for Success, RSVPs, and is the Volunteer Coordinator for the Food Pantry. She also sings with the Coast Chorale and is their treasurer.
Jan Vest
Treasurer
Jan Vest has a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale,
Illinois and MBA from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO.
Jan was a founding board member and CEO of the Signature Medical Group in St.
Louis and Kansas City, Missouri. Signature is a 150-provider multi-specialty
medical practice with over 30 locations and 700 employees. He was also a
founding member of the Signature Healthcare Foundation in St. Louis, which
distributes funds to patients and innovators in the healthcare industry.
He and his wife Jane have lived in Diamondhead, MS, since 2022 and
enjoy working with many community organizations in Hancock County.
Jane Vest
Assistant
My husband, Jan, and I moved to Diamondhead two years ago from Gulf Shores, Alabama, where we had retired 12 years before. Originally from the St. Louis area, we feel that Hancock County has everything we want in retirement, especially the fact that we are only 30 minutes away from our daughter and granddaughter, who live in Slidell, LA.
I have a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s in social work from the University of
Illinois. I worked as a social worker in many capacities, including mental health, hospital, children and family, school, and home health. For the last 25 years, I have been a psychotherapist in a private practice specializing in anxiety disorders.
Helping others has been my life’s goal, which I will continue into retirement.
While living in Gulf Shores, I was involved in sea turtle rescue and care Presbyterian
Church, Women’s Club, and I expanded the local food pantry to a location at our
church. Since moving to Diamondhead, we have been involved with the Hancock
County Food Pantry, Old Town Presbyterian Church, Diamondhead Senior Village, and the Mid-South Gulf Association. I am also in a stimulating book club and The Diamondhead Boaters Association.
2023 Directors
Marilyn Finch
Vice President
The First, A National Banking Assoc.
Mandy Ladner
Vice President of Human Resources
Penn National Gaming Gulf Coast
Rev. Lee Winter
Christ Episcopal Church
John W. Wittliff
Food Pantry Treasurer Emeritus
Marcie Baria
Attorney
Baria-Williamson PLLC
Elizabeth Snyder
Silver Slipper Casino
Rev. Jason Edwards
Diamondhead Community Church
Jimmie Ladner
Hancock County Tax Assessor
Ernest LaRocca
General Manager
Bay Waveland Yacht Club
Bill Blaisdell — Retired
Food Pantry Executive Director Emeritus
Shannon Favre
Staff Attorney
MS 2nd District Circuit Court
Jade Karnes
Mortgage Production Specialist
Hancock Whitney Bank
Alice Vaughn
Store Lead
Walmart Supercenter #1195
Shelley H. Ray, CPA
Owner Shelley H. Ray CPA. PC
Jim Marlowe
Owner
JEM LLC Mechanical Contractors
Stephen Hicks
Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
Stacy Gooden-Crandle
Social Service Program Coordinator
The Salvation Army
Rev. Chip Williams
Jacob’s Well Baptist Church
Janell Nolan
Director of Community Development
Coast Electric
Volunteer Staff
Suzi Wilson – Webmaster
Pat Jarrell – Client Database Specialist
Volunteer, Donate, Advocate.
Contact Us
The Food Pantry is operated entirely by volunteers. Over 96% of all funds spent in 2023 were used to purchase food for those in need.
