Our Team
The VISITHATTIESBURG team is here to make your stay the most comfortable, fun, easy experience you’ve ever had. Our team prides itself on providing information and tips to visitors with that Southern hospitality charm known around the world.
Her leadership has earned statewide recognition, including the Governor’s Award on Tourism DMO of the Year (2019, 2024), Tourism Promotion of the Year, Tourism Resilience Award, and individual honors such as Mississippi Tourism Association Member of the Year (2020), Mississippi Main Street Champion (2023), and Hattiesburg Main Street Hero Award (2022).
Marlo also serves on the Advocacy Committee for Destinations International, the Southeast Tourism Society Board of Directors, and is a Past President of both the Mississippi Main Street Association and the Mississippi Tourism Association, where she is still active as a board member. She also serves on the Downtown Hattiesburg Association Executive Board and the Hattiesburg Concert Association Board and is a Founding Member and Advocacy Chair of the Mississippi Destination Marketing Organization.
Marlo earned a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Louisiana State University and an MBA in Executive Management. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Hospitality Management with an emphasis on Sports Tourism at the University of Alabama. Passionate about tourism and building community through partnerships, she considers it a privilege to serve both her city and state.
She also serves as program director of Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art (HAPA) and Mississippi Miss Hospitality program.
With more than 20 years of experience in the tourism industry, Brock previously served as Sales Manager for the Hattiesburg Tourism and Convention Commissions and as Advertising Director for publishing company HubCitySPOKES. Her professional service includes membership on the Mississippi Society of Association Executives Executive Board (2024–2027), serving as Silent Auction Chair for the Mississippi Tourism Association Governor’s Conference on Tourism (2023), and participation on the Dixie Boys Baseball World Series Planning Committee through 2025. Locally, she serves on the Downtown Hattiesburg Association’s Economic Vitality Committee and is Past-President of Sales and Marketing Professionals. She is also a graduate of the Area Development Partnership’s Leadership Pinebelt, completed Destinations International’s Sales Academy I and II, and earned a Mastery Certificate in Excellence in Tourism Leadership through Mississippi State University in 2023.
Contact Kristen with inquiries about:
- VisitHATTIESBURG (Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok, and Pinterest)
- Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art (Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok)
- Mississippi Miss Hospitality (Facebook and Instagram)
Prior to her full-time role as VisitHBURG’s Marketing Director, Maddie worked for the organization for two years as the Communication Manager and more than six months as a part-time Communication Coordinator and with the Downtown Hattiesburg Association as an intern. Through these jobs, Maddie found her passion for tourism, which she now gets to use in attracting visitors to the city. Maddie is a California native and a 2022 graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in public relations and advertising.
Contact Maddie with inquiries about:
- Hattiesburg GeoTour
- Advertising
- Organizational Assets
- Requesting to add your business to VisitHBURG.org
- Requesting to add your Hattiesburg event to VisitHBURG.org
A Hattiesburg transplant, Lydia has spent the last several years thriving in multiple roles that tie into Hattiesburg’s tourism industry. Serving as guest services manager at the Residence Inn by Marriott then moving into sales with the Hattiesburg Tourism and Convention Commissions, Lydia’s hospitality and tourism career was happenstance when her first post-grad job offer was to work the front desk of a local hotel. For the last ten years, Lydia has worked at Southern Miss, managing summer camps and conferences, before moving into the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management office where she served as executive assistant.
Lydia is a graduate of The W (Mississippi University for Women) with a bachelor’s degree in English creative writing. Most recently, she earned a master’s degree in human capital development from the School of Leadership at The University of Southern Mississippi.
Lydia has given back to her community in many facets, including as a member of the Mississippi Miss Hospitality Advisory Board and organizer of annual community music festival Eaglepalooza.
Contact Lydia with inquiries about: