Meet Our Team

Pat Fontaine

Executive Director 

601.720.7924
​[email protected]
Pat Fontaine
[email protected]
601.720.7924

Patrick Fontaine

Executive Officer

Pat serves as Executive Director of the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association. He has worked for the MHRA, directly and indirectly, since 2004.
​
Pat has an extensive family history in the hospitality industry in Mississippi. His grandparents operated Allison's Wells Resort in Way, MS, near Canton, from the 1930s until it was destroyed by fire in 1963. Famed for hot sulfur baths and good food, it was the original home of the Mississippi Art Colony.
 
Pat grew up on the property of the La Font Inn in Pascagoula, MS, which his family operated from 1963 until 1999. The La Font Inn was a 191-room property with a restaurant, lounge, and banquet facilities. His knowledge of the restaurant and hospitality industries began at age 8 when he assisted with banquets and carried forward to all duties, from the front desk clerk to room maintenance.
 
Pat graduated from the University of South Alabama in 1990. He also maintains his license as an independent insurance agent and is a member of the Mississippi Insurance Alliance. Pat and his wife, Amanda, reside in Brandon and attend Pinelake Church. They have three children: Wesley, Taylor, and Sydney.

About MHRA

Have you ever unlocked the front door to your business and felt you were carrying every business burden yourself? Have you ever had questions that you could not find the answer to? Did you ever wish to discover another 1% to bring to the bottom line?

If you answered yes to any of those questions, you have uncovered a reason to be a member of the Mississippi Hospitality & Restaurant Association (MHRA).

The MHRA is the only trade association in the state that exists solely to help you become successful. 

We offer a menu of training programs, many free to our members. If you need hourly training, we have it. Need supervisory skills training? Look no further. Allow MHRA to evaluate your financials free of charge. ​​
Our core of endorsed services will surely bring more money to your bottom line. From credit card processing and music licensing to health insurance and worker's compensation insurance, our programs and services will bring more money to your bottom line.

Another benefit of membership is having a team of government affairs experts dedicated to protecting you from harmful legislation while promoting legislation that will benefit the industry. Our Government Affairs victories have saved the average restaurant more than $10,000 over the past four years.

But perhaps the most important reason for joining it is simply the right thing to do. Consider it your fair share contribution to an organization already acting on your behalf. Your fair share contribution will help us expand our programs, services, and legislative presence so we can benefit the industry even more.