Business Leaders Gather at the Mississippi Wing for “Picnic in a Hangar”

The Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force recently welcomed members of the local business community for a unique and engaging “Picnic in a Hangar” event, combining leadership, networking, and community collaboration inside one of Mississippi’s most historic aviation settings.

Surrounded by vintage aircraft and military memorabilia, attendees gathered for an afternoon centered on business growth, leadership, and building stronger community connections.

“Getting Your Business Unstuck”

The featured speaker for the event was Paul Povolni of Voppa Creative, who delivered an energetic and insightful presentation titled “Getting Your Business Unstuck.”

Sharing what he referred to as “Headsmack Wisdom,” Paul challenged attendees to think differently about business culture, leadership, and long-term sustainability. His presentation focused on how organizations can create, sustain, monitor, and continually improve a company culture that not only reflects its mission—but also creates meaningful experiences for clients and customers.

One thing was certain by the end of the presentation: attendees would never look at a jar of mayonnaise the same way again.

New Community Events Announced

The event also served as the launch point for two new upcoming community initiatives revealed by members of the Business Network Advisory Council.

Sarah Cote and Teri Roddy introduced attendees to plans for:

• The upcoming Scarecrow Tailgate Showdown

• A future Holiday Cash Back Rewards Auction

  
  

Both events are expected to further strengthen community involvement and support local businesses throughout the Madison area.

A Collaborative Community Effort

The Mississippi Wing was proud to provide the hangar as the backdrop for the event, giving guests the opportunity to experience aviation history while connecting with fellow business leaders and community officials.

Special appreciation was extended to:

• CAF Chaplain Mac McLemore for offering the invocation

• CAF Executive Officer Jack Welch for leading the Pledge of Allegiance

The event was also attended by several distinguished guests and local leaders, including:

• Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler

• Aldermen Guy Bowering, Janie Jarvis, Sandra Strain, Paul Tankersley, and Tawanna Tatum

• Madison County Supervisor Casey Brannon

• Judge Cynthia Brewer

The Business Network Advisory Council members who helped host the event included:

• Ken Ivey of TechSource Solutions

• Caralee Farell of Novum Advisory

• Sarah Cote of Sarah Cote Financials

• Mark Doiron of Mark Doiron Insurance

• Teri Roddy of Covenant Caregivers

• Jessie Haley of Haley Properties

• Christina Woods of Alfa Insurance – The Woods Insurance Agency

Continuing to Grow Community Connections

Events like Picnic in a Hangar continue to showcase how the Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is becoming more deeply integrated into the local community—not only as a steward of aviation history, but also as a gathering place for leadership, education, and collaboration.

By opening the hangar to organizations, civic leaders, and businesses throughout the region, the Wing continues to strengthen relationships that help preserve history while building a stronger future for the community.

Get Involved

The Mississippi Wing of the Commemorative Air Force welcomes individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations who want to be part of preserving aviation history and supporting meaningful community engagement.

To learn more about becoming a member or getting involved, email us at mississippicaf@gmail.com.