Meet Our Team

 

Pat Fontaine
[email protected]
601.720.7924

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Patrick Fontaine

Executive Director

Pat serves as Executive Director of the Mississippi Hospitality and Restaurant Association. He has worked for the MHRA, directly and indirectly, since 2004.
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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.

 

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Megan Carmean

Membership Coordinator

​Megan Carmean manages recruiting and onboarding of new members, as well as connecting members with MHRA’s endorsed partners and resources and liaising with ServSafe instructors.

She draws on her background in hospitality and sales, which includes roles with Walt Disney World, Lancôme-USA, and GanzMidwest-CBK. A native of Clinton, Mississippi, now residing in Brandon, Megan attended the American Musical & Dramatic Academy in New York City while majoring in Musical Theatre.

Megan resides in Brandon. She and her boyfriend David are active members of The Exchange Church in Pearl. They have one dog, Rambo.

Megan Carmean
[email protected]
601.926.2737

Tad Wilkes
[email protected]
​662.801.0456

Tad Wilkes

Communications Manager

Tad leads MHRA’s strategic communications, media relations, content development, and member engagement efforts across the state’s dynamic hospitality industry.

His dynamic background includes communications and content strategy, with over two decades as a writer and editor in the food and beverage industry, as well as experience in marketing, public relations, and law.

Tad earned both his Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Juris Doctor at The University of Mississippi. He and wife Amy live in Oxford and have two daughters, Carter and Alice.