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Young Professionals Make Connections

Posted 2012 08 03

Joshua Thornton, vice president of Economic Development at the Area Development Partnership is a Waynesboro native and a Mississippi State University graduate where he earned a bachelor's degree in forestry management. He spoke with us about his job and offered up a little wisdom to other up-and-coming young professionals.

What advice would you offer someone who wants to get into the same line of work as you? The best way to get into the profession would be to get a master's degree through the University of Southern Mississippi Economic Development program.

Why did you choose to live and work in Hattiesburg? I grew up just an hour from Hattiesburg, visiting the area numerous times through my high school and college years, so I was very familiar with Hattiesburg. I also have family and several friends in the area.
The Area Development Partnership reached out to me about my current position and, of course, I was interested because, one it was a chance to get back to my home state and closer to family and friends. Second, the ADP is an outstanding organization and I couldn't have asked for a better place to work and advance in my career. With that being said, I chose to live in Hattiesburg, not only because my job is located here, but because it's a wonderful place to live and raise a family.

What do you do in your free time? In my free time, I enjoy reading and studying the Bible, hanging out with my wife watching movies and taking weekend trips. I also like to spend time in the gym, playing golf and watching sports ... preferably football. During the winter months, I spend most of my free time deer hunting on family land.
 

If you can meet anyone, living or dead, who would it be and why? I would say I'd like to meet my savior Jesus Christ, but I already plan to meet him one day. With me being a golf fan, I would like to meet Bobby Jones. I've always had an interest in him as a golfer considering he never turned professional or played for money but stayed an amateur his entire career, which was a short career by golf standards and is still considered one of the greatest to have ever played the game. He played the sport for the pure passion and pride of winning instead of playing for money. I've always admired that about him so he would be a guy I'd like to meet, just to sit down and talk in general about golf and the game itself.

If you could go back 10 years and give a younger you tips/advice on life, work or anything in general, what would it be? This was a tough question for me because there really isn't a lot of advice or even tips I would give myself 10 years ago.
My ups, downs, mistakes, heartbreaks and other life-changing events I faced the past 10 years have made me who I am today and that is nothing I would change. I guess the only advice I would give a younger me would be to save your money.

Source: Hattiesburg American