Michael E. Pierce is a 1991 graduate of Tulane University where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. While at Tulane, he excelled as a student athlete becoming Tulane’s All Purpose Yardage Leader and Pre-Season Street & Smith All-American candidate in 1989 after having graduated from Murphy High School in Mobile Alabama as the All-Time Leading Rusher three years earlier. Pierce was invited to join the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent in 1990. Unfortunately, a lingering knee injury caused his retirement before his NFL career could begin.
Michael is Chief Executive Officer of the Mobile Housing Authority (MHA). He has total responsibility for administering, managing, maintaining, planning, and directing the Agency’s programs. Pierce is the Agency’s primary liaison with the Board of Commissioners (BOC), HUD, and state and local entities. He has contact with a broad range of individuals including: the news media; BOC; federal, state, and local government personnel; social service personnel; housing residents; the general public; various special interest groups; and all levels of Agency personnel. MHA currently oversee 4,506 HCV (Section 8) vouchers and 3,278 Public Housing Units.
Pierce served as Executive Director of the MLK Avenue Redevelopment Corporation (MLK) for 25 years before taking over MHB. His primary responsibility was to develop and implement a comprehensive community and economic redevelopment program in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue community. Since 1993 MLK invested HUD HOME Funds in excess of $15 million to construct 137 new affordable homes benefiting several hundred Low to Moderate-Income Mobilians. MLKARC has also invested $3.4 million to develop commercial retail space on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue and Broad Street. The retail centers were developed to provide area residents convenient access to goods, services and employment opportunities. Renaissance Plaza on Broad Street was a catalyst for the development of a Dollar Tree Store on an adjacent parcel and a Family Dollar Store across the street.
Pierce is also active in civic and community affairs. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Infirmary Health System, Member of the Whitney New Markets Advisory Board, Former Co-Chair of Mayor Sandy Stimpson’s Transition Team, Past-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Commonwealth National Bank and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce and Past-President of the Rotary Club of Mobile. He serves on the Board of the Mobile Arts & Sports Association, was named Senior Bowl Game Captain for 2018-19 and is chairman of the Senior Bowl Hall of Fame Committee. He has also served on the Board of Directors of the Mobile Airport Authority and the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.
Pierce is married to wife, Daphne; they have two sons, Michael, Jr. and Myles, and two pets Simone and Aspen and one grand pup Princeton.