MS Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Announces 2023 President, Amber Olsen and Board of Directors

Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce Amber Olsen of Nextaff and The United MSD Foundation as the 2023 President of the Board of Directors.

Amber Olsen started Nextaff Gulf Coast in Ocean Springs, MS in 2007 offering recruiting services for businesses in South Mississippi and Alabama. Amber is certified by the Human Resource Certification Institute as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and by the Society for Human Resource Management as a Senior Certified Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-SCP).  

Before 2007, Amber was the Chief Operating Officer of Keystone Capital Management. She is originally from Missoula, Montana, where she earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business in 1998 from the University of Montana. Amber has held various community leadership positions, including Past President of the Ocean Springs Rotary Club, Past President of the Gulf Coast Human Resource Association, President of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber Board of Directors, and founder of Women Entrepreneurs Gulf Coast (now a program of the MS Gulf Coast Chamber). 

Amber has been honored to receive the One Coast Top 10 Under 40, Community Leader, American Business Women’s Association SRCC Woman of the Year, and a Goldman Sachs 10K Small Business Program graduate.
Amber Olsen is the mother to three daughters. In 2016, her youngest daughter Willow was diagnosed with Multiple Sulfatase Deficiency(MSD), an ultra-rare, fatal genetic condition. Since the diagnosis, Amber formed the United MSD Foundation (501c3), creating and leading an organization that has pushed and funded multiple pre-clinical treatment projects and clinical trial readiness support and ultimately paved the way for first-ever clinical trials to treat children with MSD. Olsen spent the last 6 years as chief fundraising officer for the organization and can’t wait until every child with MSD has an opportunity to live a healthy life without limitations. Amber resides in the beautiful and giving community of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, with her three wonderful daughters, Kylee (19), Jenna (16), and Willow (9).

Others serving on the 2023 Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors are:

Eric Chambless: President-Elect, Community Bank
Sam Sandoz: Immediate Past President, Hancock Whitney
David Duhe: Attorney, Balch & Bingham LLP
Jennifer Lee: Treasurer, Island View Casino
Justin Chance: Biloxi Chamber Chair, Hancock Whitney
John Payton Hood: Gulfport Chamber Chair, Hancock Whitney
Colette  Byrnes: Long Beach Chamber Chair, University of Southern Mississippi
Kristen Garriga: Pass Christian Chamber Chair, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Andy Ratcliffe: Leadership Gulf Coast Chair, MS AVCRAD
Jase Payne: Coast Young Professionals Chair, City of Gulfport
Jerry Taranto: Military One Coast Chair, The Talking Oyster
Dr. Kady Pietz: Board of Directors, MS Gulf Coast Community College
Jakavious Pickett: Board of Directors, Ingalls Shipbuilding
Angelyn Zeringue: Board of Directors, SouthGroup Insurance
Bryan Jacobs: Board of Directors, State Farm Insurance
Nicholas Breaux-Fujita: Board of Directors, Harrah’s Biloxi
Ryan Goldin: Board of Directors, Florence Gardens
Frank Dawson: Board of Directors, Mississippi Power
Annette Rand: Board of Directors, Doubletree by Hilton Biloxi
Keva Scott: Board of Directors, Boys and Girls Club of the Gulf Coast
Hope Blankenship: Board of Directors, To the Rescue Bookeeping, LLC
Emily Burke: Board of Directors, Beau Rivage
Dr. Kimberly Rasmussen: Board of Directors, Pugh’s Floral Shop
Dr. Christen Duhe: Board of Directors, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
Georgia Storey: Board of Directors, Singing River Health System
Clay Wagner: MGCCC Foundation Chair, Retired, Ex-Officio
Brent Fairley: Investment Committee Chair, Hancock Whitney, Ex-Officio
Jakavious Pickett: Diversity Council Chair, Ingalls Shipbuilding, Ex-Officio