Southern Miss College of Business and Economic Development Honors 2025 Entrepreneur and Alumnus of the Year Award Recipients
Fri, 11/07/2025 - 01:52pm | By: Bailey Harris Shoemake
The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) College of Business and Economic Development held its prestigious Business Excellence Awards on Nov. 7, recognizing exceptional achievements in entrepreneurship and alumni impact. The awards luncheon honored distinguished individuals in three categories: Entrepreneur of the Year, Alumnus of the Year and Young Alumnus of the Year.
Keith and Melissa Saucier were recognized as the 2025 Entrepreneurs of the Year. Owners of Keith’s Superstores, the Sauciers have 43 store locations with additional sites currently under construction. They are also the owners of Keithco Petroleum, BRJ Oil Co., Saucier Enterprises, Shop Local Mississippi, and Mississippi Made & More. Both Keith and Melissa began working in family-owned businesses at an early age, a foundation that shaped their entrepreneurial drive. Today, they remain hands-on leaders while also investing heavily in philanthropy, particularly in causes supporting children and education. Their commitment to community impact includes support for the NICU Tower at Children’s of Mississippi Hospital and the USM Circle of Champions.
Retired Maj. Gen. Steve Ainsworth was recognized as the 2025 Alumnus of the Year. A two-time Southern Miss graduate and longtime banking executive, Ainsworth retired in 2024 as executive vice president and managing director for Cadence Bank, where he focused on financing corporate entities, mergers and acquisitions, and specialized lending transactions. Over the course of his career, he led major corporate banking divisions for regional and national institutions while also serving more than 42 years in the U.S. Army Reserve. His decorated military career included numerous command positions across the U.S. and overseas. Notably, he served as commander of the 377th Theater Sustainment Command, the largest two-star command in the Department of Defense.
Ashton Williams, CPA, was honored as the Young Alumnus of the Year for his early career success in corporate finance. Williams serves as vice president of finance at Codaray Construction, where he has played a vital role in the company’s rapid growth of increasing revenues by more than 200% over the last five years. He is a two-time graduate of the School of Accountancy, earning his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting and his master’s in professional accountancy from Southern Miss. As a student, Williams took advantage of many opportunities within the College of Business and Economic Development, including studying abroad in Japan through the Business and Culture in Asia program, being an active member of Beta Alpha Psi, and serving as a graduate assistant while pursuing his degree. Beyond his professional and academic achievements, he is deeply committed to service and leadership. He is a graduate of both the Jones Leadership Academy and the Leadership Pinebelt Class of 2022. Additionally, he serves on the USM School of Accountancy Advisory Board and the USM Alumni Association Finance Committee.
“Our college takes immense pride in recognizing leaders who not only achieve professional success but also embody the values of integrity, service and innovation that define Southern Miss,” said Dr. J. Bret Becton, dean of the College of Business and Economic Development. “This year’s honorees exemplify what it means to use business as a force for good—driving growth, giving back to their communities and inspiring the next generation of Golden Eagles to lead with purpose.”
The Southern Miss Business Excellence Awards luncheon is dedicated to and sponsored by the late Joseph Boardman Jr., a 1953 graduate of Southern Miss, who majored in marketing. Boardman remained connected to his alma mater through both his generosity and service as a past president of the Southern Miss Alumni Association and former member of the USM Foundation Board.