“Rex has been studying the impact of communication since a young high school teacher
introduced the concept more than 45 years ago. Along the way, Rex has continued to gain and
apply knowledge of communication across a wide range of organizations and personalities.”
Rex was for more than two decades Director, Corporate Communications for Mississippi Power.
His understanding of strategic communications and external process led his company to the top
spot nationally in customer satisfaction and earned Utility Communicators International’s (UCI)
Communicator of the Year award six times. Rex demonstrated the impact of Public Relations /
Communications both within the board room and in day to day interactions. His impact on the
profession within Mississippi and beyond is demonstrated through the many organizations he has
served and the work he has accomplished through them.
Rex E. Kelly, Principal/ Strategic Communications / Public and Corporate Relations
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Though semi-retired, Rex still serves as a consultant in the area of Public and Corporate Relations through his own
firm and as a Senior Advisor with The Hawthorn Group, Alexandria, VA. Rex has leveraged his expertise and
experience to assist clients who seek additional perspective regarding organizational behavior, public / corporate
relations, public affairs and organizational effectiveness through communicative process. Rex is skilled in crisis
management but also works to impact the long term bottom line through appropriate positioning. His success as a
consultant mirrors his former success as a Mississippi Power executive responsible for positioning the
company among its many publics.
Rex is well respected within his profession having served in many capacities within the Public Relations Assn. of
Mississippi (PRAM), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF) and other related organizations. Rex is a past
president of PRAM and is a recipient of its Professional Achievement Award. While president of PRAM, three new
chapters were organized across the state and membership more than doubled. Rex was instrumental in founding the
Mississippi Beach Chapter of PRAM and served the chapter as its president. In 2001, the Mississippi Beach Chapter
created the Rex E. Kelly Professional Achievement Award in his honor. Rex is a member of SPRF and its Council of
Leaders. Rex was inducted into the inaugural class of the SPRF Hall of Fame in 2010.
Rex has a long and distinguished history of community service. He was named a Top Ten Community Leader in
2003 and was inducted into the Roland Weeks Leadership Hall of Fame. The coast chapter of Christmas In April/
Rebuilding Together named its volunteer award in honor of Rex in 2004. Rex is a Leadership Mississippi graduate
and served as President of Leadership Gulf Coast. Rex currently serves on the Board of Governors for the
Mississippi Economic Council, the voice of business in our state and is a director of Peoples Financial Corporation
and its subsidiary The Peoples Bank, a leader in coast banking.
Rex has also used his expertise and experience in service to his alma mater, Southern Miss and was inducted into
the USM Alumni Hall of Fame in 2005. Rex has served as President of the USM International Alumni Association and
as President of the USM Foundation. Rex, while President of the Alumni Association, implemented a strategic
planning process which has moved the Association toward more focused goals and accomplishments. Rex served
as Co-Chair for Presidential Transition Teams for both President Martha Saunders and President Rodney D. Bennett.
Rex serves as a member of the Mass Communication and Journalism Advisory Council. Rex was inducted into the
Mass Communication and Journalism Hall of Fame in 2009. Rex and Becky are long time members of the USM
Foundation Honor Club and The Eagle Club. Rex holds a BS in American Studies from Southern Miss.
Rex and Becky are members of First Presbyterian Church of Gulfport where Rex serves as Elder and Bible Class
leader. Rex and Becky have two children and four grandchildren.