Mar. 27, 2025–Davis Pace / President & CEO, MS Enterprise for Technology / Chair, MS Aerospace

Davis PacePresident,

Mississippi Enterprise for Technology

Chair, Mississippi Aerospace and Defense Alliance

Davis Pace leads the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology (MSET), a public-private partnership

at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. At MSET, Davis leads efforts to attract aerospace and defense

industries to Mississippi, working closely with NASA, the Navy, the Mississippi

Development Authority, and the state’s major universities. Since joining MSET in 2021, he helped launch the Aerospace and Defense Alliance of Mississippi (ADAM) and an annual symposium on aerospace and defense.

Before MSET, Davis spent nearly a decade in Washington, D.C., working on international

relations, technology, telecommunications, and cybersecurity issues. He served as senior staff for

the House Foreign Affairs Committee under Ranking Member Michael McCaul (TX), managing

emerging technologies, space, and cybersecurity. Davis also served as Legislative Director for

Rep. John Ratcliffe (TX) – now the CIA Director – leading reforms in cyber defense and information systems.

Davis has been named one of Mississippi’s Top CEOs by the Mississippi Business Journal, is the

inaugural Chairman of ADAM’s Board of Directors, and a graduate of the Gulf Coast Business

Council’s Masters Class. He is a member of the American Enterprise Institute’s Leadership

Network. Davis holds a bachelor’s from the University of Mississippi and a J.D. from

Mississippi College School of Law. He lives in Gulfport with his family.

Mar. 20, 2025–Jane Herndon / Executive Director, South Alabama Land Trust “Land Conservation: How it works and why it’s important”

Jane Herndon

Executive Director
jherndon@southalabamalandtrust.org

Jane Herndon brings a breadth and depth of environmental experience to our organization that will enhance SALT’s ability to protect land in coastal Alabama. She has two degrees in geology and gained her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Jane enjoyed a successful 20-year career as an environmental attorney representing clients in environmental law and real estate.

Shifting from law to policy, she was Assistant Commissioner for the New Jersey Department for Environmental Protection where she administered the Department’s air quality, solid & hazardous waste, and the environmental safety and health divisions.

Moving from NJ to Alabama, she lived in Orange Beach and worked in Florida for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Among other responsibilities and accomplishments, Jane administered the Department’s Water Resource Management program, including coastal resources, coastal construction, port expansion, dredging, wetland, and wastewater.

Most recently, Jane worked for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as manager of the Aviation Department’s environmental programs. There she led work to support environmentally-sound operations at its five airports. She is happy to change the sounds of airplanes for the sounds of waves as she resumes her residence in Orange Beach.

Jane is a well-rounded professional with a demonstrated commitment to environmental protection and stewardship. She is concerned about the potential adverse impacts of rapid development in coastal Alabama. Coming from a highly developed state (New Jersey) that did not plan for open space and conservation until late in the state’s development, she understands the need to prioritize open space conservation. She also recognizes the importance of instilling the value of conservation in local communities, including their residents, landowners, and elected officials.

We are thrilled to have Jane lead us as we protect land and promote environmental education in coastal Alabama.

Mar. 13, 2025–John Driscoll / Director & CEO, Alabama Port Authority

John Driscoll

Director and Chief Executive Officer, Alabama Port Authority

John C. Driscoll was named director and chief executive officer of the Alabama Port Authority in 2020. Since taking the helm, Mr. Driscoll has implemented a major capital expansion program to meet cargo volume growth in the port’s coal, container intermodal, and freight rail business lines. Between state and federal grants, public-private partnerships, and port revenue, the director is overseeing a ten-year, $2 billion capital program.

The Alabama Port Authority was named the second fastest-growing port of entry in the U.S. by Forbes magazine and is the largest steel port in the U.S. The Authority oversees the State of Alabama’s deep-water facilities at the Port of Mobile and inland waterway facilities statewide. Under Driscoll’s leadership, the Port is also developing inland intermodal rail depots. Through its partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Port is actively deepening the Mobile Harbor Channel to 50 feet and widening the channel to accommodate two-way traffic. Once complete, the Port of Mobile will be the deepest port in the Gulf of Mexico.

Prior to joining the Port Authority, Mr. Driscoll was the maritime director at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, California, from 2014 to 2020, where he oversaw operations and marketing at one of the nation’s top container seaports. He is credited for improving Oakland’s operating efficiency and financial performance. Driscoll has also held a variety of leadership positions in the maritime industry, including at CMA CGM LLC, Maersk Line, and Sea-Land Service Inc.

Mr. Driscoll serves as chair of the board of directors of the New Orleans Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and is also a member of the Business Council of Alabama, among other community organizations. He earned his BS in business management from the University of Maryland.

 

Feb. 20, 2025–Todd Martin / Chair, NEST of Mobile

Todd Martin, III is Chief Executive Officer at Southland Capital Realty Group, LLC., a real estate development company.

Mr. Martin is a professional real estate developer who has over 35 years of experience in the field. Southland Capital Realty Group owns and manages properties in eight states in the Southeast. He also devoted over 15 years to the ServiceMaster franchise business, where he won numerous awards including “Distributor of the Year”. He was also involved in site selection for franchise locations. He has held positions including ServiceMaster Franchise Association Director from 1996-2000, ServiceMaster Distributor Services Chief Executive Officer from 1990-2000, Delicious Dietitian Chairman from 2013-present, Malbis Plantation Board of Directors 2010-present, ETG Board of Directors 2005-present, Men of St. Joseph Chairman Emeritus, Board of Directors from 2008-2010, Advisor from 2010-2020, Autism-2-Ability Chairman of Board of Directors from 2020-present, and he currently serves as the Chairman for NEST of Mobile, a non-profit local mentoring agency for at-risk youth in our community.

Mr. Martin is married and has four children and five grandchildren.