Bentz Hired As SMPDD Director

Bentz Hired As SMPDD Director

The Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District has hired Southern Public Service Commissioner Leonard Bentz as its next executive director.

The board voted Wednesday to hire Bentz at $150,000.

Bentz was one of five finalists interviewed for the position. SMPDD officials said they received hundreds of applications. The field was narrowed down to a pool of 13 applicants. From that pool, a subcommittee selected five people to interview.

The other four finalists were Bill Crawford, a former assistant director with Mississippi Development Authority; Mike Lipski with Ingall’s; and Allison Beasley and Terrell McCovey, both of whom work for SMPDD.

Sam Hall
Clarion Ledger
8/7/13