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South Central Mississippi Works (SCMW) proudly celebrated excellence in workforce development at the 2025 SCMW Workforce Awards, honoring individuals and organizations whose work is shaping a stronger, more connected talent pipeline across central Mississippi.

From frontline coaches to community collaborators, these award recipients are driving opportunity, dismantling barriers, and preparing Mississippians for high-wage, high-demand careers in priority sectors like advanced manufacturing, construction, IT, logistics, and healthcare.

“These honorees represent the best of what our workforce system can be — collaborative, people-centered, and always focused on impact,” said Robin Parker, SCMW Workforce Director. “Their work transforms not only lives, but entire communities.”

Workforce Impact Award: Krystal Culver

As one of Mississippi’s first Ecosystem Coordinators under Accelerate MS, Krystal Culver stepped into a role that required vision, patience, and the ability to lead without a roadmap. At a time when agencies, colleges, workforce boards, employers, and economic developers were still learning how to align under a shared strategy, Krystal became a steady force — helping partners move from parallel efforts to true collaboration.

Working closely with South Central Mississippi Works, Krystal played a critical role in shaping early partnerships across Ecosystems 5 and 7, bringing together organizations that were not always accustomed to working side by side. Through consistent communication, relationship‑building, and a solutions‑focused approach, she helped create trust across sectors and ensured that workforce initiatives stayed centered on real outcomes for people and employers.

Now serving as a Program Manager at Accelerate Mississippi, Krystal’s influence continues to intersect with the work of SCMW. Her deep understanding of regional workforce needs, combined with her ability to navigate complex systems, has helped partners stay aligned through grant development, program launches, and ongoing implementation.

“Krystal is the kind of leader who doesn’t need a spotlight to make things happen,” said Michael Curran, Senior Workforce Coordinator at SCMW. “She builds bridges, solves problems, and quietly makes sure nothing falls through the cracks.”

Community partners consistently describe her as a connector — someone who listens first, brings people to the table, and keeps momentum moving even when challenges arise.

“Whether it’s guiding us through grant applications, helping us think through strategy, or simply keeping everyone connected across initiatives, Krystal has been the glue in the ecosystem,” shared Robin Parker, the Director of SCMW.

Krystal’s impact is felt not only in systems and partnerships, but in the opportunities those systems create — stronger programs, clearer pathways, and expanded access to training and careers for Mississippians across the region. Through steady leadership and an unwavering commitment to collaboration, she exemplifies what the Workforce Impact Awardwas created to honor.

Workforce Ally Award: McNeely Plastics

This year’s Workforce Ally Award goes to a company that has become a true workforce partner — not just a job creator, but a talent developer. McNeely Plastics has embraced workforce development as a shared responsibility, opening its doors, expertise, and time to help build the next generation of skilled workers in central Mississippi.

Located in the heart of the region’s advanced manufacturing landscape, McNeely Plastics saw an ongoing challenge familiar to many employers: a persistent shortage of skilled, work‑ready talent. Rather than wait for solutions to arrive, the company partnered with Hinds Community Collegeand South Central Mississippi Works (SCMW) to design and implement a high‑impact internship and workforce pipeline tailored to local needs.

Through this collaboration:

• High school and college students receive structured, hands‑on training alongside experienced professionals on real production lines.
• Interns gain valuable experience with manufacturing processes, quality protocols, safety standards, and workplace expectations — giving them a competitive edge before graduation.
• McNeely Plastics provides dedicated mentorship, feedback loops, and professional development support to each participant, bridging the gap between education and employment.

Many former interns have transitioned into full‑time roles, bringing not only technical skill but a strong sense of workplace culture and commitment. This approach has had a multiplying effect: the company gains trained, loyal talent, while students gain meaningful careers — turning a longstanding skills gap into a steady source of qualified workers.

“McNeely doesn’t wait for talent to come to them — they help create it,” said Jane Foreman, SCMW Workforce Coordinator. “They’ve shown what’s possible when an employer invests in people first. By blending classroom instruction with real‑world experience, McNeely has helped shape a pipeline that truly works for students and employers alike.”

Beyond placements and pipelines, McNeely Plastics also regularly participates in career fairs, tours, and employer panels, helping demystify manufacturing careers and show students firsthand how rewarding and high‑tech modern manufacturing can be.

In recognizing McNeely Plastics with the Workforce Ally Award, SCMW highlights not just a company — but a community partner committed to creating opportunity, strengthening local talent, and showing how industry leadership builds thriving workforce ecosystems.

Trailblazer Award: Yazoo County Board of Supervisors, B. S. Ricks Memorial Library, and MDES

Trailblazers are the ones who go first — often without a map, but with a clear sense of purpose. In 2025, that pioneering spirit was embodied by an unlikely yet powerful local alliance: the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors, B. S. Ricks Memorial Library, and the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES).

Together, this team redefined how workforce services could be delivered in rural communities. Faced with the closure of traditional access points due to federal funding cuts, they didn’t retreat — they reinvented. The result? Mississippi’s first Workforce Digital Access Center, built inside a trusted community institution: the local public library.

By equipping the library with technology and connectivity, and integrating it with the MDES Navigator System, this model allowed job seekers to:

• Speak virtually with employment specialists,
• Explore job opportunities and training programs,
• Get résumé assistance and interview prep,
• All from within walking distance of their homes — even without personal internet access.

Robin Parker said, "This was never just about replacing a lost service — it was about reimagining how we show up for the people of Yazoo County. By working together across county leadership, a trusted public library, and a state agency, we created something none of us could have done alone. The Digital Access Center is more than technology — it’s a community-built gateway to opportunity. I’m deeply grateful to the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors, B.S. Ricks Memorial Library, and MDES for stepping up together to ensure job seekers and employers in our region don’t just maintain access — they gain it.”

The success of this pilot — in both accessibility and impact — has created a scalable model that other Mississippi counties are now exploring. This award celebrates not just innovation, but the courage to challenge ‘how it’s always been done’ in service of a more inclusive workforce system.

Catalyst Awards: Eddie Antoine & Jana Carter

Career Coaches are often the first — and sometimes only — adults who tell a student, “I see your potential.” This year’s Catalyst Awards honor two such leaders who turn belief into action every single day.

Eddie Antoine – Amite County High School

Eddie Antoine is a Career Coach at Amite County High School who doesn’t wait for opportunity to come to his students — he goes out and builds it. Whether it’s coordinating internships, arranging job shadowing, or walking students through application steps, Eddie is constantly moving — making calls, forging connections, and clearing the path for student success.

“Eddie doesn’t just believe in his students — he backs that belief with action,” said Angie Miles, SCMW Career Coach Manager. “If a student needs it, Eddie will find it or build it.” Known for staying late, driving students to interviews, and even helping with transportation solutions, Eddie treats each student like they matter — because to him, they do. “He sees promise in every young person,” said Valerie Barton, SCMW Career Coach Mentor “And he helps them see it in themselves.”

Jana Carter – Clinton High School

 Jana Carter is a spark — a force of nature whose energy, empathy, and tenacity uplift everyone around her. At Clinton High School, Jana has become a trusted partner to students, parents, teachers, and community leaders alike. She is ten steps ahead in every situation — identifying needs, removing barriers, and connecting the dots before others realize they’re even there. “When Jana says she’s ‘locked in,’ you can believe it — nothing is going to stop her from helping a student succeed,” said Angie Miles

She’s especially known for her ability to connect students with non-traditional opportunities, including training programs and internships through SCMW’s Step Up and Reconnect initiatives — creating new paths to success for students who may have felt left out of the traditional college track. “Jana lives her mission daily,” said Valerie Barton. “She believes in who her students are and who they can become.”

Both coaches demonstrate what the Catalyst Award represents: unshakable belief in the power of students and the relentless drive to help them succeed.

Workforce Champion Awards: Angela Hayes & Angela Crain

Behind every strong workforce program is someone who makes it personal. Someone who doesn’t just coordinate or manage — but cares deeply, serves selflessly, and shows up consistently. This year, the Workforce Champion Award recognizes two such leaders: Angela Hayes and Angela Crain, whose partnership, dedication, and impact have touched every part of the SCMW region.

Angela Hayes – Jackson WIN Job Center

Angela Hayes has worn many hats in her career — ITA Coordinator, Career Coach, and now Manager of the Jackson WIN Job Center. But no matter her title, her approach is the same: every person deserves a chance, and she’ll walk with them until they get it.

She was the first Career Coach for the Information Infrastructure Pre-Apprenticeship (I2PA) — a rigorous, high-expectation program. Her role didn’t stop at enrollment. She checked in daily, cheered on milestones, and helped students navigate challenges far beyond the classroom.

“Angela’s students didn’t just graduate — they called her when they got their first job, their first raise, their first win,” said Robin Parker. “That’s the kind of impact she makes.”

Angela Crain – Reconnect Program Lead

While Angela Hayes was on the frontlines, Angela Crain was shaping the vision behind the scenes. As the leader of Reconnect, Crain took a complex, multi-stakeholder training model and transformed it into one of Mississippi’s most effective pathways into high-wage jobs — earning the title of Workforce Program of the Year.

Her leadership has brought together employers, colleges, and state partners to expand access to training in sectors like advanced manufacturing, HVAC, electrical, and fiber splicing. She’s also led SCMW’s AWS-related programming — helping people with no previous experience move into skilled careers.

“Angela Crain is where vision meets execution,” Michael Curran. “She makes big things happen — and never forgets the people those things are for.”

Together, these two leaders have interviewed over 1,300 I2PA applicants, mentored hundreds of students, and built bridges across programs, partners, and systems. But what truly sets them apart is the way they lead — with integrity, empathy, and unwavering purpose.

“The two Angelas are more than champions — they are anchors in the lives of the people we serve,” said an SCMW team member. “Their work shows what’s possible when heart meets strategy.”