Southaven Parks' Marketing Director Reflects on DeSoto Center Tenure

Olivia Craig

Olivia Craig has been quite busy since graduating from the University of Mississippi at DeSoto Center -Southaven in May.

Craig, who earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing, immediately landed a job as director of marketing for the city of Southaven’s Parks and Recreation Department.
The department oversees multiple facilities for various sports, including the Snowden Grove Baseball Complex and the city’s new tennis complex. Southaven’s 20 neighborhood parks also fall under the department’s purview.
A large portion of Craig’s job encompasses acquiring sponsorships for Snowden Grove baseball. She is also tasked with building awareness of Southaven’s parks through community events.
“One of my first priorities in this new role was to build relationships,” she said. “I’m involved in all our local chambers and represent Snowden while attending their events.”
Craig even helped organize the swearing in for Mayor Darren Musselwhite in June.
“I love that what I do at my job changes every day,” she said. “Having received the opportunity to welcome back Mayor Musselwhite and the aldermen sworn in that day was one of my favorite moments I’ve experienced thus far.”
Craig has helped the department surpass its fiscal year marketing projections by more than $50,000 since her arrival in May, said Wesley Brown, director of the parks and recreation department.
“Olivia is a remarkable asset and addition to our team,” Brown said. “Our presence in the business community is growing daily because of her efforts. She knows her audience, she is a powerful communicator, she’s a brilliant strategist and she implements our game plan effectively and efficiently.
“It’s evident that Olivia received a first-class education at the University of Mississippi-Desoto.”
Beginning her college career at Northwest Mississippi Community College’s DeSoto Center in 2012, she took a short break in her sophomore year to determine what the next step in her academic journey should be. She ultimately decided to pursue marketing at the university’s DeSoto Center in fall 2013.
Hailing from Hernando, Craig felt at home at the DeSoto Center.
“I fell in love with the campus,” she said. “Not only did it feel like home because it was in DeSoto County, but I also received a number of scholarships that worked to my advantage.”
Craig received support from her peers, as well as faculty and staff at the facility.
“I love Dr. Rachel Smith (assistant professor of marketing),” Craig said. “I took her for four or five classes. She is genuinely so interested in her students and so nice.”
Pat Coats, UM-DeSoto’s coordinator of academic support services, also positively influenced Craig during her time at the campus by inviting her to her office for words of encouragement.
Like many of her fellow students, Craig worked throughout her time at the campus. She ultimately learned about Southaven’s marketing position through networking at her job at Lucky Brand. With a freshly earned degree, she was the perfect candidate.
Craig credits UM-DeSoto for her degree and her success as a young professional.
“I can’t brag on the DeSoto campus enough,” Craig said. “It was such a great opportunity for me and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there.”

By Erin Garrett
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