Meet the Principal & Group Chief Executive
Dee Moye serves as Group Chief Executive & Principal of Hattiesburg Management Group, leading the firm and its subsidiaries.
"A humanitarian, a champion of what's right, and an inspiration who's had to overcome many hard times and rough circumstances." - Professor William Scott, Morehouse College
"An achiever, someone who is committed to getting things done whose greatest achievement is his involvement in our community. Intellectually, one of the smartest young men I know." - Mayor Johnny DuPree Ph.D, City of Hattiesburg, MS
"As one of his biggest fans, I think Derrian is perhaps one of the most talented and smartest people in the City of Hattiesburg." - Senior Associate Provost, Eddie Holloway Ph.D., University of Southern Mississippi
"I've known the CEO of this company for many years and found him to be a hardworking community involved individual whose work in the community is impeccable." District 2 Supervisor Sharon Thompson, Forrest County Board of Supervisors
Background
Born to a historic family, Derrian’s great great grandfather, Lawrence Moye, owned the first African American restaurant in Hattiesburg, Mississippi called the Cloverleaf. His great uncle, Harold Moye, was the first African American mail courier (mailman) in Hattiesburg. His grandfather, Marshal Cox, was signed to the NFL's New Orleans Saints. Derrian’s uncle, Jeffery Mays, is an Olympic Winning Boxing Coach.
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Raised in abject poverty by a single mother in Briarfield Apartments, commonly referred to as "the projects" located in downtown Hattiesburg, Derrian, like many young African American boys, succumbed to the statistics of being incarcerated as a youth, at the young age of 18 years old and although it was a non-violent non-sexual offense, he was sentenced to the infamous Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, regarded as "the most dangerous prison in America."
The prison was so dangerous that Federal District Court Judge Carlton Reeves described it as, "a picture of such horror as should be unrealized anywhere in the civilized world." The United States Justice Department delineated the prison as, "the worst sexual misconduct that we have seen in any facility anywhere in the nation."
Somehow surviving Walnut Grove Youth Correctional Facility, Derrian would experience further misfortune with the tragic death of his mom, what he remembers as, "the worst day of my life!" Tanesha was only 39 years old. As the oldest out of Tanesha's three kids, Derrian voluntarily stepped up to a momentous task, petitioned the state court to keep his family together, & was granted full parental rights & custody as they finished school.
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In 2022, misfortune would overcome Derrian again as his father, Johnny, was murdered. His body was discovered by fishermen in the Bouie River. Hattiesburg Police closed the case with no arrest citing their workload was to overwhelming with other cases. Forrest County Deputy Corner Lisa Klems described Johnny's body as "the worst case of a deceased person I've ever seen in my life!"
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Education
Derrian has studied the art of business from multiple estimable collegiate institutions, including William Carey University, a private Christian academic institution, where his sister, grandmother, and aunt are alums. Upon being accepted into a HBCU, he transferred from William Carey University to one of the most prestigious Black Ivy League Schools in the nation, Morehouse College, which is ranked as the number one men's college in the United States.
He's also a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi's acclaimed Small Business Development Center program, a partnership with the United States Small Business Administration, in concert with the university's College of Business and Economic Development & National Trent Lott Center.
Accomplishments, Records & Milestones
Derrian has been blessed to work with some of the biggest names in business, politics, entertainment, and community. He's successfully managed, coordinated, and organized some of the biggest events, projects, and campaigns in the Hattiesburg Metropolitan Area.
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As a revered political expert, Derrian, representing Hattiesburg Management Group, served as Chief Campaign Manager to Senator Juan Barnett's successful re-election campaign. Senator Barnett, Chair of the Department of Corrections, is considered one of the most powerful African Americans in Mississippi.
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Derrian, whom is considered a successful political pundit, also played a role in the historic election of Judge Carol Jones Russell, whom became the first woman and African American ever to be elected in a county wide position in Forrest County.
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Admired as a trendsetter in economic development, Derrian created the most successful job fair in the Hattiesburg Metropolitan Area, entitled, 'The Annual Summer Job Fair,' which to date is the largest job fair recorded in Hattiesburg, Mississippi's history. The job fair annually brings 100's of job opportunities to the community each year and is described as a leading job fair in Mississippi.
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Regarded as a quintessential marketer, Derrian has led his firm, Hattiesburg Management Group, to not only be the leading minority marketing firm in the deep south, but also as one of the top talented marketing firms in general. He's used his influence to expand the number of minority businesses on television, streaming, and digital content, opening the doors of success for countless minority companies & organizations.
Under Derrian's leadership, his firm has developed a reputation for delivering clients with immersible results, connecting clients brands to some of the biggest networks in the industry during some of the biggest moments of television such as NFL and college games on ESPN, during breaking news on The Fox News Channel & CNN, and during highly anticipated shows such as Yellowstone, Tyler Perry Series, HGTV, & The OWN Network to name a few.
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A respected humanitarian, Derrian created and organized the largest community disaster relief effort in Hattiesburg, Mississippi's history in the aftermath of a deadly EF3 tornado that destroyed parts of William Carey University as well as the region's poverty stricken community, leaving a path of destruction stretching for miles.
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Under Derrian's leadership, with over 5,000 volunteers from around the world, he fed over 3,500 meals a day, repaired 100's of homes & businesses, and gave out 1,000's of cases of water, clothes, and emergency cleaning supplies.
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A highly sought after orator, Derrian has been privileged to serve as a guest lecturer at the University of Southern Mississippi and was humbled to serve as a collegiate commencement speaker, a role he considers an honor of a lifetime.
Awards & Honors
Speaking of lifetime honors, Derrian has been bestowed several awards and honors including 3 Lifetime Achievement Honors. The University of Southern Mississippi conferred the highly distinguished Lifetime Achievement Honor of Hometown Hero upon Derrian on Saturday, February 17, 2017.
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Out of 110 million Americans, Derrian joins only 2% in which the Boy Scouts of America confers its highest lifetime achievement honor, Eagle Scout, The Scouting Institute highest rank, joining Oscar Winning Director Steven Spielberg, Astronauts Neil Armstrong & James Lovell, United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Togo West, United States Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, United States Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, and President of the United States Gerald Ford.
Upon visiting the Mississippi State Capitol, Derrian was recognized as a 'Friend of the State' with a standing ovation in the Senate Chambers.
Committees & Boards
Derrian has had the pleasure and honor of serving on multiple boards and committees including the Boy Scouts of America, Laurel Jones County Black History Museum & Arts, VUM Healthcare, Juneteenth, and serving as the distinct Chairman of the Black History Celebrations Executive Committee, overseeing major African American events.
Philanthropy
From donating thousands of dollars to a local school district to sponsoring a local middle school's football season, Derrian is known for giving back to the community. When the City of Jackson, Mississippi's State Capitol, was without water, Derrian donated tens of 1,000's of bottles of water to help the city's poorest communities.
Every year on Valentine's Day, he spends his evenings with the elderly in the nursing homes who haven't had visitors in years with surprise "date dinners," then at night, partnering with a host of local restaurants, he spends his time with single mothers & their kids.
Court
Like many very influential African American leaders before him, especially in the Deep South, Derrian has been the frequent target of perennial, unjust, legal harassments, intimidation, and fake news, often times politically motivated and perpetrated by influential bloggers, vitiated public officials, & corrupted media executives, in attempts to not only maintain power, but to also deter the ground breaking record setting work of building a better community, though most attempts have been overwhelmely unsuccessful.
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In 2018, after a failed 3 year media blitz campaign to destroy, tarnish his name and silence him, Derrian, represented by his mentor as lead counsel, the Honorable Judge Charles Lawrence Sr, one of the country's most powerful attorneys, refused to accept any deals from the State of Mississippi, and opted to go to state trial after a corrupt Hattiesburg Police detective, who resigned while under investigation, filed false charges against him for 'Intimidating A Witness.'
The disgraced detective alleged Derrian asked a witness to change her story she'd given to police about an incident within the community. Despite the local media in concert with the prosecution best efforts to negatively persuade the community against Derrian by desperately trying to connect his case with an unrelated case in which he had no involvement, the state's main witness testified under oath that Derrian never asked her to change her story.
The witness further testified that it was Hattiesburg Police Department, not her nor her family, who pressed charges against Derrian. That was quite a different story than what bloggers, the media, and the state had tried to persuade the public in believing from 2015-2018. The judge declared a mistrial.
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Derrian was victorious but had to overcome many obstacles. However, the support of the community only increased, as 1,000's continue to support his work each year. He's still regarded as one of the most influential people within the community, with tens of thousands of followers on social media and continues to experience record setting levels of success.
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Activism
Referred to as a local celebrity by local media, Derrian hasn't been shy to use his star influence to stand up for what he believes in, especially when it hurts others. This heartfelt conviction has led to groundbreaking changes, including resignations, policy and law amendments.
Derrian believes his life's mission is best defined in Proverbs 31:8-9, "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."
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In 2019 after a fight broke out at the Hattiesburg Fire Department, Derrian used his influence to bring attention to the federal hate crime of a ranking officer refusing to obey his chief's order to stop displaying a hanging noose in his city locker, which later became a national news story that led the officer to resign.
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In 2020, Derrian brought the city together of all races by creating one of the biggest marches in the history of Mississippi, the Mississippi March and simultaneously led 1,000's of people from 2 opposite sides of the city as they united in Downtown Hattiesburg, becoming the largest march in the city's history, surpassing the April 8, 1968 march in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, 4 days after he was murdered. The Mississippi march included several dignitaries including Toby Barker, the city's current mayor, and Dr. Johnny DuPree, the city's longest serving mayor and first African American Mayor.
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In 2021, still suffering after being hospitalized from breathing complications, a result of being diagnosed with severe Covid, he used his influence to advocate getting vaccinated to save lives. He appeared live with the state's top doctor, Dr. Thomas Dobbs, head of the Mississippi Department of Health, encouraging young people to become vaccinated.
Earlier in the year, the city erupted when the Forrest County Coroner made racist remarks on social media and refused to resign or apologize, even at the request of the Forrest County Board of Supervisors, after weeks of protests demanding he do so by local officials, church groups, and organizations.
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However, the coroner did agree to meet with Derrian to discuss the issue. After their meeting, the coroner agreed to stand in the heart of the African American community, at Vernon Dahmer Park, and apologize on live Tv. Vernon Dahmer Park is a symbolic historic landmark named after Forrest County NAACP Leader Vernon Dahmer who was assassinated by the KKK for registering blacks to vote.
After the apology, Derrian personally appeared at the protest, talking and taking pictures with protesters in front of City Hall. He thanked them for expressing their voices and hosting a peaceful protest. He also told the crowd they won in making their voices heard, effectively ending the protest.
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In 2022, after a series of deadly events in which a 6 year old was killed, Derrian stood comforting the 6 year old's family in a pre-recorded video asking the city to come together and give the baby a hero's farewell, which ended the spree of violence.
Buried in a spider man casket, the 6 year old was given just that as police shut down traffic standing at attention as the body of the 6 year old passed by. As a final salute, his body was driven under the American flag that was flown by the local fire department. Using his social media platform to both share the 6 year old's story and live stream his funeral, combined viewership reached almost 100k.
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Sources
https://www.wdam.com/video/2022/06/06/th-annual-summer-job-fair/
(https://www.myfox23.com/single-post/community-crisis-coalition-donates-water-to-jackson)
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(https://www.wjtv.com/news/pine-belt/21st-annual-black-history-parade-to-take-place-saturday/)
(https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2020/06/13/black-lives-matter-marches-hattiesburg-
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(https://www.wdam.com/story/34605357/19th-black-history-parade-and-picnic-held-in-hattiesburg/)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kad3mGqEvcY)
https://www.wdam.com/story/34550140/hattiesburg-considers-altering-alcohol-ordinance/
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https://www.wdam.com/2022/03/13/funeral-services-held-hattiesburg-child-killed-shooting/
Contact
You can reach the Office of the Group Chief Executive via email or via phone.
601.861.5800