Faces of Hattiesburg

Katie Dixon’s love for food was born from a desire to fuel her body while developing a passion for healthy eating. Katie opened the Birdhouse Cafe in 2017 and now has multiple eateries, creating an environment where everyone leaves feeling loved, nourished, and inspired. Katie also serves as a spokesperson for the MS UProot Campaign - a campaign with the objective of “building a healthier Mississippi from the ground up.” Katie was awarded Best Chef of the Pine Belt in 2017, Best Personality & Best New Restaurant in the Pine Belt for 2018, and Best Vegan Restaurant in the Pine Belt in 2020. Katie has been featured in Food and Wine magazine, Garden and Gun, Southern Living and The Local Palette. A finalist on Masterchef season 7 and Food Network Star, Dixon is also a published cookbook author.

Michael Marks is a National Milken Educator and a former Mississippi Teacher of the Year, who was selected as America’s Outstanding Teacher of the Performing Arts. Director of Speech and Debate at Hattiesburg Public Schools for 25 years, he produced over 50 stage productions. Internationally, Marks represented America at the Education International Conference in Berlin; keynoted the IndiaTeachers Conference in Mumbai; and has presented international workshops on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Barbados as well as across the continental USA. His impact on Mississippi continues with his civic contributions, include serving as the first African-American President of the Downtown Hattiesburg Association, Hattiesburg Municipal Elections Commissioner, Hattiesburg Tourism Commissioner, Mississippi Miss Hospitality Advisory Board, Pinebelt Foundation Development Chair, YMCA Board President, Sales & Marketing Professionals President, and many many more.

Jeremy is a Hattiesburg artist and entrepreneur. Living with a lung disease called Cystic Fibrosis, he has lived summer to summer waiting to run out of breath. It has impacted his every decision, and especially his art. Thomley was chosen as the Festival South featured artist for 2015. His series of lung sculptures were a triumph over a disease and celebration of friendships. In January 2016, Thomley purchased a Mobile Glassblowing Furnace and began to build a Hot Shop for Glassblowing. He and his business partner opened their establishment in October of that year and by December it was like a runaway train. As students of a craft that is 5,000 years old it can be hard to find your niche. At Mohawk Steel & Glass they care more about teaching than making the perfect goblet. Here, they blow glass with people who don’t know how and want to meet families and blow them away with a good time.

Robert St. John, born and raised in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is a renowned restaurateur, author, philanthropist, and international travel guide. With over four decades in the restaurant industry, he has established several notable establishments in Hattiesburg, including Crescent City Grill, Mahogany Bar, Branch, Tabella, Ed’s Burger Joint, The Midtowner, and Loblolly Bakery. Beyond his culinary ventures, St. John has authored 13 books and has penned a weekly syndicated newspaper column for over 25 years. In 2009, he founded Extra Table, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing healthy food to Mississippi's soup kitchens and food pantries. St. John is also the co-founder of the Institute for Southern Storytelling at Mississippi College. He continues to reside in Hattiesburg with his family, leading Onward Hospitality and contributing significantly to his community.