MRCTI Leadership
HON. Mitch reynolds, MAYOR, MRCTI CO-CHAIR
Mitch Reynolds was elected in 2021 to serve as mayor of La Crosse. This is the first elected office he has held. Prior to becoming mayor, Mayor Reynolds was the Operations Manager for a sustainable manufacturing company. He also spent 16 years as a radio journalist in La Crosse at Midwest Family Broadcasting. Additionally, he has worked as an arborist, a bartender, a room service waiter, a crab fisherman, and a piano mover.
Mayor Reynolds originally hails from Michigan and spent many years in south Louisiana before moving to Wisconsin and settling in La Crosse in 1994 where he has lived since.
Mayor Reynolds has an undergraduate degree in History from UW-La Crosse and an MBA from Viterbo University.
Mayor Reynolds has focused his efforts as mayor on improving the quality and quantity of housing in La Crosse, implementing sustainability and resiliency measures, and modernizing systems and processes that fulfill his mission of providing the highest possible level of equitable services for all who live in La Crosse.
HON. George Flaggs, Jr., MAYOR, MRCTI CO-CHAIR
Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. was sworn in for his third term as mayor of the City of Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 1, 2021, after winning 68% of the vote. Before becoming the city’s chief executive, Flaggs represented his legislative district in the Mississippi House of Representatives from 1988 until 2013. He served as chair of the Corrections, Juvenile Justice, and Banking and Finance committees in the House of Representatives and was an active member of the Appropriations, Constitution, Legislative Budget, Public Health and Human Services, and Rules committees. Flaggs also chaired the Mississippi Legislative Black Caucus, was the only elected official to be named one of Mississippi’s Most Influential African Americans of 2019 and, most recently, was appointed by Governor Tate Reeves to lead the search committee for a new Corrections Commissioner for the State of Mississippi.
Mayor Flaggs has championed a transparent city government in Vicksburg committed to growth and service at the least cost to the taxpayer. Under Mayor Flaggs’ leadership, taxpayers have seen groundbreaking quality-of-life improvements, the creation of innovative economic development policies, and an unprecedented pro-business environment that will benefit Vicksburg for generations to come.
Mayor Flaggs and his wife, Valencia, have three adult children and seven grandchildren. Mayor Flaggs is of the Baptist Faith.
Executive Committee
Hon. Jerry Koch, Coon Rapids, MN
Bio coming soon…
WI Mayor TBD
Hon. Brad Bark, Muscatine, IA
Bio Coming Soon
Hon. David Goins, Alton, IL
David Goins was born on July 26, 1960 to Mark and Opal Goins. David received his formal education at the Alton Public Schools and graduated from Alton High School in June 1978. While attending high school, he played basketball and eventually attended College of the Ozarks in Clarksville Arkansas, playing four years and in 1983 where he received a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English Education.
In December of 1985 David Goins was hired by the City of Alton as a police officer for the Alton Police Department. Goins served as a DARE Officer and School Resource Officer in the Alton School District for 7 years and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant in the department. Goins retired on his birthday July 26, 2010 from the Alton Police Department after nearly 25 years of service.
David made history becoming the first black Mayor for the city of Alton, which he was sworn into on May 12 of 2021.
David is married to his high school sweetheart Sheila and they have three children and eleven grandchildren.
Hon. Phil Stang, Kimmswick, MO
Mayor Phil Stang was appointed to the Kimmswick Board of Aldermen in 2013, he was elected in 2014 and named Presiding Officer of the Board. In 2015, he was elected Mayor and was reelected in 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023. Mayor Stang was born in Providence, RI and graduated from Pilgrim High School in 1964. Following high school, he served in the USAF attaining the rank of Sargent. Mayor Stang received a BSBA in 1973 and an MBA in 1976 from Bryant University.
During his business career Phil held Executive and Managerial positions with IBM, Gemini Consulting, Pro-Tech Consulting, ITT, and General Dynamics. He also founded the Stang Consulting Group. Mayor Stang has consulted with numerous organizations in Europe, Asia, Australia, and The Middle East, as well as North and South America.
Following his retirement, Phil pursued his lifelong passion for art, becoming a professional clay artist. He founded the Out of My Mind Art Studio in Naples, FL and Kimmswick, MO.
Hon. Cliff Berry of Tiptonville, Tennessee
Mayor Cliff Berry Jr. was elected in November 2018 to the Tiptonville City Board. Prior to his current position, Mayor Berry served as Alderman and Vice Mayor to the Tiptonville City Board for 4 years. Mayor Berry was born and raised in Tiptonville, TN and graduated from Lake County High School in 1995. Mayor Berry works for the United States Postal Service and serves on numerous other boards including the Lake County Road Commission and the Tiptonville Planning Commission.
Hon. Melisa Logan, Blytheville, AR
Elected to the office of Mayor in November 2022. The first female and only the second African American elected to this office in the city’s 100+ yrs. history. Former Human Resource Director, Mayor’s Assistant, Former Election Coordinator, Owner and Operator of the Tax Boutique Bookkeeping and Tax Preparation Service, and Adjunct Instructor at Arkansas Northeastern College. 16 ½ year decorated Army Veteran, Served in Desert Storm and Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. BA in Behavioral Science, BS in Business Administration with a Minor in Political Science; Master’s degree in Law with an Emphasis in Non-Profit Management, and a current doctoral candidate in Public Administration. Mother of three beautiful children Ellisjah, Jelisa and Christopher, her family is very dear to her. Home is where she learned that what matters more than your name is how you love people. She has wonderful living and very active parents who support and encourage every step of life’s journey.
Her military tenure included Army careers in Behavioral Science as a Neuro-Psychometrist, JAG as a Unit Readiness Specialist, The Medical Corp as a Paramedic, and as an Active-Duty member of the Arkansas Army National Guard as a Training and Mobilization Specialist. She has had tours of duty in Venezia and Vincenza, Italy, Ramstein AFB, Germany, the 121st Infantry Hospital, Seoul, Korea, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and her most grueling tour Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Service to her country and for her fellow man has been one of her most treasured milestones.
People are her business, moreover, the city of Blytheville is her business. She is diligently working with the City Council and Administrative Staff on a 5-year strategic plan, moving forward with tearing down dilapidated housing, rebuilding infrastructure and creating safe spaces for all families to live work and play.
Hon. Errick Simmons Greenville, MS
Mayor Errick D. Simmons is the first African-American male and the second African-American mayor of Greenville, Mississippi, where he received the highest percentage (74%) of the popular vote ever received by a mayoral candidate in Greenville.
In 2007, Mayor Errick D. Simmons began his career in municipal government. Before returning home to Greenville to start his municipal government career, Simmons graduated second in his class at T.L. Weston High School in 1995, second to his twin brother and law partner, Mississippi State Senator Derrick T. Simmons, who is the Senate Minority Leader for Democratic Party. Simmons later studied at Jackson State University, where he received a Bachelor in Business Administration in Economics in 2000. In 2002, he received a Master’s in Arts in Economics from Howard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and received his Juris Doctorate from Howard University School of Law in 2005.
Currently, Simmons serves as a member of several local, state, and national boards and organizations, to name a few: President, Mississippi Delta Mayors Association, 1st Vice President of Mississippi Municipal League (MML), Vice President of Delta Council, Mississippi Economic Council Board of Governors, Boys Scouts of America, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Washington County Economic Alliance Board of Directors, Greenville Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), Annie E. Casey Applied Leadership Network, life member of NAACP, life member of Magnolia Bar Association, life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., member of Mississippi Association of Justice, Mississippi Bar Association, National Bar Association, American Bar Association, Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society, and Chairman of Washington County Democratic Party. Simmons is a certified municipal official who has completed all three certification levels (i.e. basic, advanced, and professional) of the Mississippi Municipal League’s Certified Municipal Official Program.
Hon. Belinda Constant, Gretna, LA and CAB Presiding Mayor
Before entering public office, Mayor Belinda C. Constant enjoyed a career in the Louisiana court system as a court reporter, educator and leader of alternative sentencing programs. In 2005, Mrs. Constant was elected as the first woman to the Gretna City Council. Since 2005, she has driven revitalization efforts in the City’s downtown. After two terms as Councilwoman, Mrs. Constant was sworn in on July 1, 2013, as the City’s first female Mayor. As Mayor, she has prioritized quality of life, economic development and cultural promotion issues. Working with residents and the business community, her administration has helped facilitate a renewed interest in the City – resulting in countless business openings, new community events and greater community appreciation for the City’s potential. She is a past co-chair and the current Louisiana chair of the MRCTI. Mrs. Constant has been recognized numerous times for her economic development work, having recently received an honorary doctorate in humane services from the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans. She is most proud to say that she has been happily married to her husband, Ronnie, for 45 years and has three married children (Blair, Brennan, and Cambre), two daughters-in-law (Ashley and Meghan), a son-in-law (Joshua), and four grandchildren (Kennedy Grace, Brennan Konrad, Noah Paul, and Stelly Bee).
Hon. Buz Craft, Mayor of Vidalia, LA for City/State Task Force Chair
Bio Coming Soon
Staff
Colin Wellenkamp
j.d., LLM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Colin Wellenkamp's extensive career in the legal and policy fields has been focused on advocating and advancing public interests through improving local government functions and the activity of the business world. Mr. Wellenkamp is dedicated to assisting organizations and people transition to a sustainable way of life. Colin has a B.A. in Environmental Studies from Saint Louis University, a J.D. from Creighton University School of Law, and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Sustainable Development Law from George Washington University Law School.
A native of Missouri, Colin now lives in St. Charles, MO, with his wife and daughters.
Tiara Lumas
Operations Manager
Tiara Lumas educational background is in Human Service Management and Business Administration. Previously Ms. Lumas worked for the Saint Louis Development Corporation (SLDC) assisting with operations in Human Resources, Communication/Marketing, Minority Business Development(MBE/WBE), and Real Estate. Ms. Lumas has extensive experience scheduling and planning events. Ms. Lumas's current role as Operations Manager includes a wide variety of duties, including outreach and community engagement, project management assistance, forming and nurturing multisector collaboration, and plastic waste reduction efforts.
Tiara cares deeply about public interest and expanding growth in communities surrounding the Mississippi River with an emphasis on equity and environmental justice in underserved communities.
Tiara spends her time learning about restoring natural infrastructure, working in real estate, cosmetology, and participating in community engagement activities. and spending quality time with her family.
Brandt Thorington
Director of Public Policy
Brandt Thorington serves as the Policy Director for the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI). Brandt has over 14 years experience advancing the interests of state and local governments, in the process, he has helped to secure millions in funding from federal, state and local governments. Brandt specializes in analyzing legislation affects, building coalitions and advancing legislation. His primary areas of expertise are tax policy, appropriations, budget, energy, health care, immigration reform, homeland security, public safety, transportation, water infrastructure, and community development. Brandt has extensive experience working with various levels of government including Congress, federal officials, state legislators, mayors, and other local officials.
Brandt received his Bachelor's degrees in Political Science and Economics at The Pennsylvania State University. He also has Master's degrees in Political Management from George Washington University and an MBA from John's Hopkins University.
Jennifer Wendt
Plastic Waste Reduction Campaign Manager
Jenny Wendt began her career in environmental stewardship by receiving a degree in Chemistry and working in environmental laboratories analyzing soil, water, and wastewater for contamination. Ms. Wendt moved from the laboratory field to focus on widespread environmental stewardship, currently as a senior project manager for University City dedicated to improving sustainability pertaining to waste reduction, energy efficiency, stormwater management, and a variety of other projects and environmental programs, as well as the co-chair for the regional OneSTL Materials and Recycling working group. Ms. Wendt’s primary area of expertise are sustainable materials management and resource conservation.
Ms. Wendt joined MRCTI in 2018 as the Plastic Waste Reduction Campaign Manager for the Mississippi River watershed. Ms. Wendt has devoted her professional life to environmental protection