Mike Clayborne has served as President of the CREATE Foundation since November 1996. Mike is a native of Northeast Mississippi having been born and raised in Amory, Mississippi. He first came to CREATE as a consultant in 1994 when he helped start the Commission on the Future of Northeast Mississippi. His career in community development started as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce in his hometown. He was Executive Director of the Starkville Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Organization. He later led the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce in Anniston, Alabama before coming to CREATE.
After receiving a B.S. Degree from Mississippi State University, Mike then graduated from the Institute for Organization Management at the University of Georgia, and the National Planned Giving Institute at the College of William & Mary.
During his twenty four years as President of CREATE, over $196 Million in contributions have been made to the organization. This represents 94% of the total contributions in the organization’s 48 year history. Total assets have increased from $13.9 million to over $146 million during this same period.