Coast Young Professionals announces 2026 Board and Chair, Grace Russell

Coast Young Professionals is pleased to announce that Grace Russell has been appointed as the 2026 Chair.

Grace is an experienced mortgage loan officer and sales manager with over nine years of dedicated service, helping hundreds of families across the Gulf Coast and country achieve their homeownership dreams. Throughout her career, Grace has built a strong reputation for providing expert guidance, personalized mortgage solutions, and unwavering support throughout the loan process. Committed to making homeownership accessible to all, Grace has earned the trust of clients by simplifying the mortgage process and delivering results tailored to individual needs.

Beyond professional success, Grace is deeply invested in the community. Since 2016 she has been an active leader in the Coast of Young Professionals , serving on the board since 2020 and currently holding the position of Chair-Elect. Grace’s involvement with CYP highlights their dedication to supporting local professionals, fostering networking opportunities, and promoting community growth. With a passion for both her career and community, Grace continues to make a lasting impact on the Gulf Coast.

2026 Coast Young Professionals Board of Directors

Grace Russell: Chair, CMG Home Loans
Gardner Hewes: Immediate Past Chair, Cadence Bank
Janet Schnurr: Chair Elect, WLOX
Laithan Simmerman: Treasurer
Dr. Anthony Lopez: Clear Families Chiropractic
Denise Johnson: Victory Behavioral Center
Melissa Hewes: Southern Company - Mississippi Power
Sawyer Walters: University of Southern Mississippi Foundation
Taylor Wilson: Hancock Whitney
Samantha Loomis: Hancock Whitney
Gretchen Reid: Navigator Credit Union
Sam Resultan: Northwestern Mutual
Kadin Snow: Generations Health Care
Kelsey Polovich: Ingalls Shipbuilding
Briana Pfarrer: Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. 
Pierce Weatherly: Community Bank
Julianna Alford: AGJ Systems & Networks
Day Radford: Hancock Whitney
Austin Knue: Community Bank
Dex Magee: Boys and Girls Club / Memorial Hospital
Ella Blankenship: EB & CO.
Janae Heath: United Way of South Mississippi
Makenzie Kelley: Nextaff

For more information regarding the 2026 Coast Young Professionals Board of Directors, visit mscoastchamber.com or call 228-604-0014.