In 2005, Marcia Crawford began her tenure with the Harrison County Development Commission (HCDC) where she currently serves as the Director of Community Development and Information. Her areas of responsibility include administration (HCDC; MS Coast Foreign Trade Zone), business retention and expansion (industry; military), relocation information (growing and enriching the relocated household community), and Director of the MS Gulf Coast Retiree Partnership program. Her on-the-job experience was supplemented by relevant studies including USM's New South Economic Development course, and she’s served as a member of the Gulf Coast Newcomers Board, Triad Board, HSMAI Board, RSVP Advisory Council and Hometown MS Living Advisory Council.
Marcia moved from Reno, Nevada to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi 10 months in advance of Katrina. She and her recently retired husband had conducted an extensive search of locales across the country. An article in Where to Retire magazine inspired an exploratory visit to the Gulf Coast and the rest, as they say, is history.