JACKSON – The Destin Collection from Kevin Charles Furniture in New Albany is the winner of the 2024 Mississippi Makers’ Challenge Sponsored by Hancock Whitney and earns the title of The Coolest Thing Made in Mississippi.
Hosted by the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, the Mississippi Makers’ Challenge began with three weeks of product nominations followed by a two-week Nominated Products Voting Round. The top 16 products advanced to a three-round bracket-style competition.
The Destin Collection, which collected 47 percent of the total votes in the final Round of Four, offers custom designs for living rooms with its modern look, modular design, cozy seating, and 50+ fabric offerings. Representatives from Kevin Charles Furniture were presented with a trophy and a ‘Winner’ banner during a news conference at the Mississippi State Capitol Wednesday morning.
“This competition highlights the best of Mississippi’s manufacturing community, and we want to congratulate Kevin Charles Furniture for winning the title of The Coolest Thing Made in Mississippi,” said MMA President & CEO John McKay. “We had four great finalists and an outstanding variety of products submitted into the competition. We hope this contest made a lasting impression on the public as we showcased all of the cool things made in our state."
The other finalists were the GOShelter Hands-Free Wearable Canopy (The GOShelter, Tupelo), Little Birdie Pillows (The Little Birdie, Calhoun City), and Walk-In Coolers and Freezers (Thermo-Kool, Laurel). All four finalists received ‘Finalist’ banners and were recognized on the floors of the House and Senate before the awards ceremony.
“We at Hancock Whitney extend our good wishes and gratitude to all of the Mississippi Makers’ Challenge nominees. Their commitment to manufacturing high-quality products helps our economy thrive and further affirms the initiative, ingenuity, and creativity that distinguish our state,” said Hancock Whitney Commercial Banking Senior Vice President James Kaigler. “We’re especially proud to recognize and celebrate Kevin Charles Furniture’s Destin Collection as the 2024 winner and congratulate finalists Thermo-Kool, Go Shelter, and Little Birdie.”
There were 71 products submitted in this year’s competition and a total of 118,210 votes, which is the second-most in contest history.
“There’s no better place to build things than in Mississippi. We’re going to continue doing whatever it takes to make our state the manufacturing capital of America,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “Congratulations to Kevin Charles Furniture on winning the Mississippi Makers’ Challenge and thanks to the rest of the finalists for helping to showcase the very best of manufacturing in our state.”
2023 Winner: Next Generation Jammer, Raytheon
2022 Winner: TM 1000, Taylor Power Systems
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For more than 70 years, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association has represented the interests of Mississippi’s manufacturers at both the state and national levels. As the Voice of Industry, MMA represents manufacturers in the Mississippi Legislature and U.S. Congress. MMA promotes a strong manufacturing environment within Mississippi and is a central source of information and assistance in industrial management. To learn more about MMA and manufacturing in Mississippi, please visit www.mma-web.org.
Since the late 1800s, Hancock Whitney has embodied core values of Honor & Integrity, Strength & Stability, and Commitment to Service, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility. Hancock Whitney offices and financial centers in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas offer comprehensive financial products and services, including traditional and online banking; commercial and small business banking; private banking; trust and investment services; healthcare banking; and mortgage services. The company also operates combined loan and deposit production offices in the greater metropolitan areas of Nashville, Tennessee, and Atlanta, Georgia. More information is available at www.hancockwhitney.com