Staff

Blaine LaFontaine was named Executive Director in January 2023.He joined HCPHC as Chief Operations Officer/Port Director in March 2021. In his role, LaFontaine is responsible for overseeing the organization's ongoing operations, procedures, and development at Port Bienville Industrial Park and Stennis International Airport.

LaFontaine has worked previously in economic development as Pearl River County's Chief Economic Developer for one year. Prior to his career in economic development, LaFontaine served a 4-year term as Board President on the Hancock County Board of Supervisors as well a 4- year term as a councilman for the City of Diamondhead.

LaFontaine received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Engineering Technology and a Master of Science Degree in Economic Development from The University of Southern Mississippi.

In 2016, LaFontaine was recognized by the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Awards as a winner of the prestigious Top 10 Under 40 award. In 2019, LaFontaine was recognized by the Mississippi Economic Council Awards as a winner of the prestigious Top 50 Under 40 award.

Geoffrey Clemens served Compton Engineering as the President and CEO since January 2019. In this role, he conducted oversight of all company operations, including all business and financial operations, HR, business development, planning, public relations, and production. Project responsibilities included certain design components, project management of large projects, and management of certain design teams composed of Compton personnel and outside sub-consultants. In this capacity, he has served in various roles; such as the City of Pascagoula Engineer, the development of Hancock County Engineer, Projects Engineer for Hancock County, and supported project funding with various state and federal grant programs, among other responsibilities.

Prior to serving as CEO, Mr. Clemens was the President of Compton Engineering for fourteen years. Internal company responsibilities included oversight of company operations including Pascagoula, Biloxi, and Bay St. Louis office locations, oversight and performance of business development, client relations, management of financial operations, oversight and development of contracts. Mr. Clemens managed up to 45 full-time employees as well as up to 20 additional contract personnel, and large projects with teams of designers and engineers.

Mr. Clemens was born and raised in Pascagoula and received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University. 

Lara Bowman joins HCPHC from the Cleveland – Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce where she led a full-service community and economic development organization overseeing operations of the Chamber, Main Street, Tourism and Economic Development for Port of Rosedale and Cleveland Municipal Airport. Bowman previously worked in Northeast Mississippi where she formed and led The Enterprise of Mississippi, a regional economic development organization amongst multiple counties.

Bowman obtained her Professional Community Economic Development (PCED) certification and is a Business Retention and Expansion Coordinator (BREC) through BREI. Bowman received her Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts degree from Mississippi State University with a graduate level Certificate in Economic Development. Bowman is an active Rotarian, member of the Mississippi Economic Development Council, Southeast Economic Development Council and Mississippi Manufacturers Association. Lara is married to Trey and they have one son, Bo who is 3 years old.

In January 2020, Madeline Walker joined the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission (HCPHC) and serves as General Counsel and Government Relations Liaison. She oversees the legal matters of the organization and communicates HCPHC priorities to local, state, and federal elected officials. Madeline is the primary contact with lobbying firms and consultants to support the HCPHC government relation goals. She administers all contracts, leases, construction projects, renewals on all items associated with Port Bienville Industrial Park, the Port Bienville Short-line Railroad & Stennis International Airport.  She is responsible for compliance, employment issues, updating and maintaining tariffs, reviewing bid documents and the scoring process for request for proposals for professional services, and handling property acquisitions for the organization. Madeline and her staff are also responsible for all resolutions and bi-monthly commission meetings.

Madeline received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Mississippi in 2009, and her Juris Doctor from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2012.

Madeline previously served as an associate at Hilgers Graben PLLC on the e-discovery and commercial litigation team. While there, she aided in numerous contract disputes, governmental investigations, and patent infringement cases. Prior to that, she served as in-house counsel and vice president of Treated Materials Co, Inc. Her primary focus was providing guidance on regulatory and compliance issues in the trucking and lumber industry. Upon graduation from law school, Madeline served as staff attorney for Chief United States District Judge Louis Guirola, Jr., in the Southern District of Mississippi.

Madeline, her husband, Fant, and their two children, live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and are active members in their community. She enjoys tennis, cooking, hiking, and traveling.

Shane Lafontaine is the Director of Port Bienville and Manager of Port Bienville Shortline Railroad. Shane started his career with the Commission in 2010 as a Conductor. Later he was promoted to Yard Master and Railroad Manager. As Railroad Manager, he oversees day to day operations, which also includes ensuring the Railroad meets all FRA and MDOT regulations and that all safety procedures are followed. Shane is certified as a Conductor, Locomotive Engineer, and Track Inspector.

Shane is currently serving his third term as Alderman Ward 3 in Waveland, MS.

Prior to working for the Commission, Shane was Co-Owner of Lafontaine Construction, LLC, in Waveland, MS.

Austin Jenkins is a certified airport operations manager with over 8 years of experience in the aviation industry. He previously served as the Airport Operations Manager for the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA), where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of two FAA 139 commercial service airports. In this role, he was the direct liaison to the FAA and TSA, and he also worked closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the airports.

Jenkins is a graduate of Delta State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Commercial Aviation. He is also a certified member of the American Association of Airport Executives and an active committee member with Airports Council International (ACI-NA). He is an FAA licensed commercial pilot with an instrument rating, and he also holds an FAA remote pilot certificate.

Tonya Ladner, Director of Finance, has worked for Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission since 2017.  Tonya began her career with HCPHC as Senior Accountant - a title she held for approximately 3 years before accepting the position as Executive Secretary / Office Manager.  Tonya worked in the Executive Secretary / Office Manager position for almost a year before accepting the position Director of Finance in March 2020.

The Bay St. Louis native graduated from Bay High School, Pearl River Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi where she received a Business Degree with an emphasis in Accounting.

She lives in Ansley with her husband, Matt.  The couple have 3 children: Samantha, Madelynn, and Wyatt.  Tonya enjoys dancing, trail riding, and spending time with her family.