Pablo Diaz is a charmer. And we know that from just a phone conversation.
For starters, it’s that accent.
Diaz is a native of the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, and he sounds it. But he says Mississippi is his home, thanks to the Southern Belle who won his heart.
Pablo Diaz also charms us because we think he can do for Vicksburg what he did for Grenada.
Diaz was hired Tuesday by the county and the port commission and the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce to become the area’s economic development leader.
County supervisors approved the merger of those efforts Tuesday, the final piece of the plan’s puzzle. Diaz begins work April 1.
Rarely have we heard such praise from a new hire’s former employers. Comments from Grenada officials, with whom Pablo worked for seven years, were nothing short of glowing.
“We knew this time was eventually going to come, as we have seen Pablo excel in leading our community to new heights in terms of economic development success,” said Keith Mitchell, chairman of the Grenada County Economic Development District.
Darryl Robinson, chairman of the Grenada County Board of Supervisors, called Diaz’s departure “an emotional occasion for our community, as we have enjoyed working with Pablo over the past seven years and have grown along with him as an economic development team. We are thankful to him for all his hard work and dedication, and we are confident that he leaves our community in a very good place as he departs.”
Billy Collins, Grenada mayor, said Diaz, “raised us way up the ladder as far as economic development is concerned and I am most thankful for all his hard work and dedication…I will wish him well and I wish him nothing but success in Vicksburg.”
The three credited Diaz with having lowered unemployment significantly in Grenada and directly contributing to the development of more than 1,000 jobs.
Welcome to Vicksburg and Warren County, Pablo Diaz. We can’t wait for you to get to work for us.