Selected Article:
Making a profound difference in the Delta

John C. Greer, Jr
CEO
MDEZA
Itta Bena, Mississippi

By David Lush
DBJ Contributing Writer

It’s about a one hour and 40 minute drive from Gluckstadt near Madison to the Itta Bena campus of Mississippi Valley State University—one way. But for John C. Greer Jr., he doesn’t mind the drive because he listens “faithfully to 87.7 (WABG) on the radio” and “plans for the day ahead.”

Greer, 37, is the CEO for the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc., (MDEZA) located on the campus of Mississippi Valley State University.

Since starting the job in October of 2002, Greer has made this daily workweek trek because he “believes in his job and the goals of MDEZA.”

MDEZA is a Delta-based, six county federally designated agency created by Congress in 1994 under the Empowerment Zone Program Act with a $40 million appropriation to be used in a grassroots approach toward improving community, economic and housing development along with addressing the health needs of residents in the empowerment zone counties of Bolivar, Holmes, Humphreys, Leflore, Sunflower and Washington.

“I’ve seen the good the empowerment zone has done over time,” he says. “But there’s so much more that can be done and should be done. I know with the right changes and support from the commissioners and the community, we can make this organization an even greater force for change in the counties we serve.”

Greer came to the MEDZA position following five years (September 1998 to October 2002) as the economic development specialist and facilitator for the One Stop Capital Shop with the Mississippi District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration—which was also located on the MVSU campus. His office with that job was just across the hall from the current MDEZA office.

“I really didn’t have too far to move my things,” laughs Greer.

In his nearly one year on the job, Greer has managed to initiate several substantial changes to the operation of the organization.

“I’ve instituted, with the commission’s approval, a one-year business plan based on six months, and two three month segments with specific goals and actions in order to get a handle on the management structure here. I’ve actually developed a two year plan mentally,” he says.

Along with the business plan, Greer says, “I’ve also spent a lot of time repositioning the agency internally” and “departmentalized the agency into four distinct units with specific focuses.”

Through his years of administrative and governmental experience, Greer has also learned a few things about people and what it takes to be successful.

“At MDEZA, I’ve placed people in appropriate positions to make things work better. I’ve also improved the technology capabilities of MDEZA so people can do their jobs better and work more efficiently,” he says.

On a personal level, Greer is proud of the fact that he comes “from a very professional family. We have three generations (both fraternal and maternal) that have graduated from college. I’m very proud of that fact.”

Greer’s father is a retired principal after 37 years of service but has since come out of retirement to coach and teach at Lake Village High School in Lake Village, Ark. His mother, who is now deceased, retired after 35 years of service from Carthage High School in Leake County.

“Their support and drive helped me growing up. They are professionals and instilled in me a professional attitude. It was a part of my upbringing. I also learned to be professional in everything I do. Image, combined with substance, was—and is—important. You’ve got to be professional in what you do and say and be mindful of the image you present,” says Greer.
This professional attitude is what helps makes him want the staff at MDEZA to “shine” and “do the best they can do.” His professional attitude and drive, coupled with his education, opened the door to Congressman G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery’s office. Greer secured a position as a senior congressional aide for five years in the public policy areas of rural/urban economic development, international trade/commerce, justice and agriculture.
Even though Greer lives almost two hours from his MDEZA job, he says, “it shows his commitment to the Delta.” And he’s no stranger to the Delta. Besides traveling the Delta to his MDEZA job, he also has family here.

“My mother’s father was born in Doddsville on a plantation,” says Greer. “I have many relatives here in the Delta in places like Bolivar, Leflore and Washington counties. I’ve never actually lived in the Delta but I’ve been visiting my relatives in the Delta for years.”
That constant contact and reconnection with the Delta and its people helps Greer in his MDEZA job.

“It sure does. It keeps me around the people and the areas MDEZA was set up to help. The Delta has issues other parts of the state don’t have. It’s a little different from the ‘hills’ but it’s so rich in culture and people,” he says.

Along with his thoughts about the Delta, Greer’s family also instilled a strong sense of humanity.

“I’ve had relatives who are not as fortunate. They may not have as much as I’ve had or have, but I was always taught to never forget your fellow man. There is a great capacity for people to overcome obstacles when helped along the way.

“My parents taught me that this was a noble quality to have—to deal with people as you would want to be dealt with. Not everyone has had the advantages that I have had or my family so we should give back what we can to help others,” says Greer.

With these thoughts in mind, Greer wants “to be an agent for change. I want to help make things happen and improve the quality of life for people in the empowerment zone. That’s what it was set up to do. I see things changing already but I want to keep it happening.”

Greer sees himself as a “self starter” and “a leader who is able to follow. I have a deep consciousness about my surroundings. I want to be an agent for change. I like to work within and outside the box. I’m a team player. It is not business as usual at MDEZA; I am on a mission to clean up MDEZA and run it like a corporation should be run with solid, sound business principles. MDEZA is the recipient of the public trust and this public trust will be used for the public good.”

The chief executive officer’s job also offers him “a challenge” and positions him “to be a catalyst for change to see the good that can happen in the Delta, the state, the nation and the world.”

Already Greer has put together a $40 million “visionary wish list” that has been presented to the Mississippi Congressional delegation and high-ranking federal officials to hopefully bring in more money “to do community, economic and housing development initiatives for the communities we serve.

“That includes improving water and sewage, creating affordable housing communities, creating super industrial sites, improving highways and roads, creating a small business investment corporation and creating a revolving business loans program. I’m going after the whole nine yards. We need to plan for the future and I’m excited to have a plan,” he says.

Greer has worked hard to change the image of MDEZA, improve the public relations, get the message out about the agency, lower the number of commissioners and instill an attitude that “we are not going to be a failure but we are going to be a success.”

Family is also important to Greer who is married to Lori L. Greer and is the father of four children.

“My wife and children are so understanding about what I’m doing. I try to spend as much time with them as I can when I’m not on the road. I can’t say enough for family,” he says.
Greer says he “will continue to do what he can to improve people’s lives through the programs and efforts of MDEZA.

“I love what I’m doing. I just want to see that so many others improve their lives, find hope in the future and make their own contributions to society,” he says. DBJ

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