Not-for-Profit Conference

Butler Snow attorney Blair H. Jussely was named among the Mississippi Business Journal’s 2022 Distinguished Leading Business Women in Mississippi and has been named a Top 10 Finalist for the Mississippi Business Journal’s 2023 Business Woman of the Year.

Jussely is a member of the firm’s Business Services group and focuses her practice on estate planning, estate administration, tax exempt organizations, and state and local tax. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the American Bar Association, the Capital Area Bar Association, the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants and the Estate Planning Council of Mississippi. She has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America® for her work in tax law and trusts and estates.

Jussely holds a B.Accy. degree in Accountancy and M.Tax from the University of Mississippi. She obtained her J.D. from the University of Mississippi and received her LL.M. in Taxation from New York University. She is admitted to practice in Mississippi, as well as to the U.S. District Court of Mississippi’s Northern and Southern Districts and the Fifth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Whitney is a Senior Manager at BMSS, LLC, in Huntsville, AL, with experience providing assurance services to local government and nonprofit organizations. She is leader within BMSS's nonprofit niche, with a specialty in compliance for organizations exempt from income tax.

Steve Mulhollen is an Assistant Professor of Accountancy at Mississippi College, where he teaches Principles, Intermediate, and Cost accounting. He also serves as the University's Assistant Chief Financial Officer.

His 27-year career spans investor relations and financial analysis at WorldCom, wood and fiber procurement accounting for Georgia Pacific, public accounting at HORNE, and leadership roles as CFO of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and Executive Pastor/Treasurer at Broadmoor Baptist Church.

Steve holds a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi, an MBA and Certificate in Accounting from Mississippi College, and a BA in Christian Studies. He maintains an active CPA license and SHRM-SCP designation, serves on the MSCPA Not-for-Profit Committee, and provides consulting services to non-profit and governmental organizations through his company, Poiema LLC.

 Rex Baker has served as Executive Director of Gateway Rescue Mission for 23 years. He is married with two daughters and five grandchildren. He also has three dogs and a cat. He lives in the Castlewoods subdivision in Rankin County and is a member of Pinelake Church.

Rex graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1983 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism. He graduated in 2003 with his Master of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Rex loves telling the stories of people who come through Gateway Rescue Mission and continues to focus on helping the homeless and those trapped in addiction.

Jay Philpott has dedicated decades to nonprofit work, beginning as a student phonathon caller in high school and advancing through roles such as phonathon manager and advancement intern during his college years. Over the span of 25 years, he has honed his skills in marketing, fundraising, and revenue generation, primarily within independent schools, colleges, and universities across the Southeast Region.

Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Jay pursued his education at a boarding school in New York before earning his Bachelor of Arts in History from Presbyterian College (SC) and his Master of Science in Leadership with a concentration in higher education from the University of Memphis (TN).

Throughout his career, Jay has spearheaded fundraising and revenue efforts at various institutions, including Presbyterian College (SC), Sweet Briar College (VA), Rhodes College (TN), The University of Memphis (TN), St. George’s Independent School (TN), Trinity-Pawling School (NY), and St. Andrew’s Episcopal School (MS). His development work has taken him across the Southeast and Midwest, where he has cultivated relationships and secured funding for crucial educational initiatives.

In July of 2021, Jay transitioned to The Education Group, a national search firm specializing in leadership searches for independent schools. During his tenure, he facilitated over ten searches for schools across several states and represented the firm at sales conferences. He completed more than ten searches for schools located in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia and represented the firm at sales conferences.

Jay’s passion for facilities, endowment work, and nonprofit governance is evident through his service on various boards and committees, including those at St. Columba Episcopal Retreat and Conference Center (TN), St. Andrew’s Episcopal Cathedral (MS), and as President of the Dinsmor Neighborhood Home Owners Association (MS).

Residing in Ridgeland, MS, with his wife Emily, who serves as the Director of Global Studies and an AP teacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Jay cherishes family time and global travel adventures. An avid cyclist, in 2024 Jay completed the entire 444-mile stretch of the Natchez Trace Parkway in four days, in addition to routine century rides, including the UCI Gran Fondo World Series at Cheaha State Park, and the Dragons Tail and Cherohala Skyway in 2025.

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Sean A. Milner became the 11th executive director of The Baptist Children’s Village ministry in November 2016 after nearly 25 years of practicing law. He is a graduate of Mississippi College and Mississippi College School of Law. Sean serves as a past president and current chairman of the advocacy committee of the Mississippi Alliance of Child Caring Agencies (MACCA). He also serves as the president of The Baptist Coalition of Child Care Agencies (BCCF), a Southern Baptist national organization and a board of directors for the national organization known as the Coalition of Residential Excellence (CORE). Additionally, he serves as vice chairman of the Mississippi Ethics Commission. He and his wife Elizabeth have two grown children, Nathaniel and Rebecca, and are active members of Morrison Heights Baptist Church where Sean is a deacon and a longtime adult Sunday school teacher.

Sean is an alumnus of The Baptist Children’s Village. He came to the ministry at a young age with his three brothers and one sister and remained in the care of The BCV for 18 years. He is the only former childcare resident to serve in the position of executive director of The Baptist Children’s Village and the only one among all of the Southern Baptist child-caring agencies nationwide.

As President and COO at Abacus Technologies, Brian Jackson oversees all executive decisions and operations of the company, along with developing and providing client solutions. He initially started his career in technology by implementing accounting systems, business intelligence solutions, and system integrations. Now, he leverages his experience to help clients implement and support business applications, computer hardware, network infrastructure, cloud solutions, and cybersecurity processes at Abacus Technologies.

Since joining Abacus Technologies in 2000, Brian has been instrumental in developing the company’s growth and success. Originally established by BMSS Advisors & CPAs to provide targeted solutions in business intelligence, managed services, and cybersecurity, Abacus Technologies has now emerged as a trusted leader in technology solutions across the southeast. Brian’s exceptional leadership skills were recognized when he received the Top CEO Award from the Birmingham Business Journal in 2022.

As an Auburn University alumnus with a BSBA and a Master’s in Accounting, Brian contributes extensive expertise to the organization. His professional accomplishments span areas like cybersecurity, business intelligence, and information systems. Outside of work, Brian is passionate about outdoor pursuits such as fishing, hunting, and adventure sports. He lives in Trussville, AL, with his wife, Lynne, and their three children.

Brad Steffani is a purpose-driven executive with over 20 years of experience leading growth and transformation in some of the nation's top-performing Goodwill organizations. As President and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Mississippi, he leads a $10 million agency focused on expanding opportunity through the power of work. His leadership has brought new energy to board engagement, sharpened the agency's strategic direction, and fostered a culture of collaboration and accountability.

Brad’s philosophy, “Make nouns better,” reflects his commitment to improving people, processes, and places. He leads with empathy, humor, and a relationship-first approach that builds trust from the front lines to the boardroom.

Before joining Goodwill of Mississippi, Brad held executive roles at Goodwill-Suncoast and Goodwill of the Columbia Willamette. He led initiatives that drove a 54 percent increase in revenue and earned national recognition for operational excellence. He has also contributed to national partnerships like the OfferUp.comcollaboration and is an active voice in leadership groups across the Goodwill network.

Brad holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix and completed both the Senior Leader and Executive Development Programs through Goodwill Industries International. He brings vision, heart, and a deep belief in the power of mission to everything he does.

Rev. Jill Buckley has served Stewpot as its Executive Director since 2017. She received her B.A. in Sociology from Mississippi State in 1996 and her M.Div. from Boston University School of Theology in 2003. She was ordained by Northminster Baptist Church in 2008 and served that congregation as its Associate Pastor for Community Ministry before coming to Stewpot. It is at Stewpot where, to use a phrase from Frederick Buechner, Jill's deep gladness meets one of the world's deep needs. Her work in communities of need in Jackson and in Boston has spanned nearly 30 years.

Jill has served on the Boards of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Habitat for Humanity, CONTACT the Crisis Line, and Gleaners; and on the Community Advisory Boards of the Jackson Junior League, the Institute of Interfaith Dialogue, and the Forge AHEAD Center for Health Equity. She is also very active at her church.

She is married to Paul, who teaches history at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, and they have one son, Benjamin. All three of them are glad to be in the pack of the Very Best Dog in the whole world, a rescue named Oreo.

Amy Honeycutt is the Chief Marketing Officer at Reformed Theological Seminary, where she leads the institution’s brand strategy, enrollment marketing, and donor communications. With over 20 years of experience in advertising and marketing, Amy brings a strong blend of creative insight and strategic leadership to her role—leveraging digital platforms, data-driven campaigns, and AI tools to engage students and supporters across RTS’s national footprint.

Before joining RTS, Amy spent nearly two decades in agency leadership, managing regional accounts for nationally recognized brands like Sonic Drive-In, Chick-fil-A, and John Deere. Her client-focused approach and results-driven strategies helped her previous agency become one of AdWeek’sfastest-growing firms in 2023.

In addition to her work at RTS, Amy serves as an adjunct professor at both the University of Mississippi and Mississippi College, where she teaches marketing strategy, digital marketing, and campaign development. She holds a Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications and is known for her collaborative spirit, operational discipline, and deep commitment to mission-driven work. Whether leading a brand campaign or mentoring a student, she brings clarity, creativity, and conviction to everything she does.

Baylea Blough, Assistant Secretary of State, Business Services & Regulation Department. Baylea has been with the Secretary of State's Office for 11 years.