With a nearly 200-year history in Jackson County, the passion behind her endeavors, volunteerism, and advocacy are deeply rooted in her love for a place she calls home.
“I have dedicated my life to balancing a successful professional career with a deep commitment to service and a profound love for my community,” is how Lisa Koschny best describes her life journey.
Lisa Clark Cannon Koschny is a lifelong resident of Jackson County, where she is a fourth-generation resident on her 30-acre property, once buzzed with the sounds of a sawmill and farm owned by her great grandparents in the 1800s. Today the property has been renamed “Tranquility Place” where she and her husband, Drew, along with their two beloved labs, Rocky Clark and Ryleigh Jean, reside in the Forts Lake community.
“It lives up to its name daily,” she said.
She is a descendant of William Rufus (W.R.) Clark and Rosaline Seaman Clark and is the fourth of six children of James E. and Doris Jean Clark Seay.
Her professional journey has taken her through various roles, including banking, administration, real estate, and finally, financial advising at Edward Jones, where she retired.
“Every position I held were viewed as a ministry of service, not just a business,” she said. ” My job was helping families achieve their goals and serving others with integrity.”
Although retired, she is still a strong advocate for her community that is currently the source of a potential annexation by the City of Pascagoula. She actively attends city council meetings and shares information. Her spirit of volunteerism is evident in her numerous roles. She is a Paul Harris Fellow with the Rotary Club of Gautier, was a spokeswoman for Volunteers in Medicine, Gautier, and has served multiple terms as a Planning Commissioner for Jackson County.
Additionally, she served as a board member of CASA of Southeast Mississippi and the MS Maritime Museum and Activity Center. Lisa also remains a dedicated Trustee of the WR Clark Memorial Cemetery and a member of the American Business Women’s Association.
Mrs. Koschny is a graduate of Live Oak Academy and attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and The University of Southern Mississippi. She has continued her education through courses at the American Institute of Banking where she has obtained specialized licenses in real estate and insurance and federal financial licenses for multiple states.
She has served as an ambassador for the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and is a graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Jackson County. She is also a member of First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula where she has served in multiple key roles.
“My faith serves as my foundation,” she said. “I have dedicated myself to living each day with a servant’s heart, committed to Christ.”
While enjoying the beauty of her home, her hobbies include building and remodeling homes, a hobby she shared with her late husband, Ashton. Today she enjoys classic cars, ATVs and her tractor.
“I particularly enjoy cruising in my 1970 Dodge Challenger,” she said. “In my free time, I enjoy walking in the woods or riding the ATV through the trails on my land. I call maintaining the trails and acreage my ‘tractor’ time, and I relish it.”
