‘Coastal Connections with Courtney’ captivates viewers as good news advocates for the region

April 30, 2023May 25, 2023 By Amanda Compton-Ortiz Economy / Entertainment / Eventsbusiness,community,gulf coast,Mississippi,news

A conversation with Courtney Anderson is sure to make your place in the world feel that much more special.
The 41-year-old Gulfport native’s love for the Mississippi Gulf Coast and her passion for people shines through every interaction as she shares the stories and successes of various patrons across the region; from startup business owners to some of the most prominent shareholders and stakeholders in the area. Highlights of local citizens and their efforts to contribute to their communities and beyond is the focus of live broadcasts on her very own TV show, “Coastal Connections with Courtney.”

Michael Diaz, MD, a surgeon practicing in Biloxi, and staff, is featured on “Coastal Connections with Courtney.”

     Watch the show that airs every Sunday at 10 a.m. on WLOX ABC 13 and get an insider look into the mission and works of show guests as Courtney takes viewers along with her for a 30-minute segment during which she conducts intimate interviews and onsite tours of businesses, projects, operations, and much more.
     Jonathan Allen of J. Allen Toyota, Gulfport, a title sponsor of the show, said, “Courtney is a big personality and a very, very genuinely good-hearted person…She has always been very easy to talk to, and it was an easy decision to support her in creating the show. Her love of the Mississippi Gulf Coast and its citizens led her to want to share those connections she has with a large group of people across the coast. She shares her joy and celebrates the people and accomplishments of the many remarkable and productive citizens of our coastal communities.
     “I have been happy with supporting the show through sponsorship and watching the interviews she does,” Allen continued. “There’s some valuable information about our citizens that needs to be shared and discussed through many different platforms and Courtney is providing one of them.”

Jonathan Allen of J. Allen Toyota, Gulfport, has known Courtney Anderson since preschool and fully supports her endeavor as host of her very own TV show, “Coastal Connections with Courtney.” The production highlights positive news and events along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

     Owner of Dad’s Super Pawn, Gulfport, Kevin Riley, decided to become a sponsor of the show after following it on WLOX. “The show was beneficial,” Riley said. “It is a great way to get your company out to a new market.”
     Courtney produces the show through her business, CA Productions, with help from Creative Elements Productions. She credits a rapid rise in the success of her new show to her natural curiosity and innate ability to relate to different people from all walks of life.
     “I’m very passionate about people and I love learning about the developers; the movers and shakers, of the coast,” she said.
     For Courtney, the show is her way of giving back to a community that has afforded her so much over the years.
     “I was born and raised in Gulfport,” she said. “I love the coast. It’s constantly growing, so telling others about what’s coming to the coast and who’s bringing it is so rewarding for me.
     “I’m very proud to call the coast my home and I’m inclined to support it in any way I can.”

Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich, Jr., talks with Courtney Anderson, host and creator of “Coastal Connections with Courtney,” airing Sundays at 10 a.m. on WLOX ABC 13.

Dr. Thomas Paul Mace discusses DIEP flap surgery for breast reconstruction during an episode of “Coastal Connections with Courtney,” hosted by Courtney Anderson.

Courtney brings a wealth of knowledge and skill to her production team with a background in broadcast journalism, philanthropy, public speaking, marketing and public relations, other various leadership roles. She has first-hand experience in television productions including “Spotlight Gulf Coast” led by the Bacot McCarty Foundation, a community nonprofit widely known for raising funds and awareness for community needs and partnering individuals and companies with local causes.
There, Courtney served as development director and co-host of the show alongside the organization’s director, Todd Trenchard. She worked closely with volunteers and nonprofit leaders to connect the coastal region, unveiling new initiatives and projects in service to the community along the way.

Courtney Anderson ensures accuracy as she reports on local news and happenings as part of her TV show, “Coastal Connections with Courtney.”

Courtney Anderson films on location at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi for a segment of her show, “Coastal Connections with Courtney.”

     Courtney has also served as Community Development Manager for the American Cancer Society on the Mississippi Gulf Coast working with prominent leaders across the region, exposing and engaging them as new donors, towards the Society’s ultimate goal to find a cure for the deadly disease.
     Couple this training and areas of expertise with her Type A, go-getter personality, a genuine heart of gold, deep family roots in the Gulf Coast region and its development culture, and a strong desire for transparency in the news, and you’ve got an intriguing production in “Coastal Connections with Courtney.”
     “I am an intensely passionate person and have directed that towards my career,” said Courtney. “I truly enjoy getting to know people on a personal level. I approach my work with a nonjudgmental attitude, and I love learning about others. So, if there’s a question that needs asking, I’ll ask it.”
     Courtney said she hopes the show not only serves as a source for delivering the good news across the coast, but also helps to promote Mississippi for the millennials and other future generations.
     “There’s so much good news to dig up right here in our own state, and I want to share that with others,” she said. “Right now, news seems to focus on all of the bad.
     “I’m hoping my show can create a little room for some sunshine.”

Dr. Angela Wingfield and team invites “Coastal Connections with Courtney” and its host Courtney Anderson on a tour of the medical facility.

Courtney Anderson of “Coastal Connections with Courtney” takes pride in her work as she talks with doctors, nurses, lawyers, government officials and others influential leaders and business owners who she refers to as the “movers and shakers” of the Mississippi Gulf Coast region.

     Courtney’s enthusiasm on the show and her quirky interactions with guests captivates audiences for the entire run of the show as she digs deep into their everyday works and goals. Watch as she learns about the goings-on of any trade and you’re sure to benefit.
     Since she was just a little girl, Courtney said, she has dreamed of producing her own TV show. Not to mention, she’s had a lot of positive influence in TV-making with her relationship to famous American TV show host, Kelly Ripa.
     “I grew up watching shows like “The View” and “Live” with Regis and Kelly,” she said. “I really admire the work they do, and so, I decided I’m just going to dive into it, try to be a good person, and help someone along the way.”

Courtney Anderson of “Coastal Connections with Courtney,” can’t keep her hands off of her furry friend during an interview with Circuit Court Judge Larry Bourgeois, who has served Harrison, Hancock and Stone counties for more than a decade.

     The success of the show was confirmed last May, about one and a half years after production began, when local station WLOX-TV accepted her proposal for airing her new show.
     “There’s no doubt in my mind that God did this. I think he’s been preparing me for this my entire life.”
     Continuing to learn the ins and outs of TV production, grow her business and expand, is a long-term goal for Courtney.
     “I am currently working out of my house and run around like crazy, meeting guests where they are,” she said.
     Building something from the ground up isn’t easy. Courtney learned this at a young age when her dad set the tone for commercial businesses across the coast, turning the casino industry into a worldwide, generational brand.

Courtney Anderson is greeted by her father, Roy Anderson III, chairman of AnderCorp. Courtney attributes her success in business to her father whom she deems a savvy career professional.

Courtney Anderson joins Denise Baumann and other members of Creative Elements Productions as the team prepares to shoot another segment of “Coastal Connections with Courtney.” Viewers can tune in to watch the show on Sundays at 10 a.m. on WLOX ABC 13.

     “I think I get a lot of my attributes, career-wise, from my dad,” Courtney said. “I’m very relentless when it comes to conducting business, and I can’t accept no for an answer.
     “I love God and life, and I’m intensely passionate about my work. I have a lot of love to share, and I think the show allows me to do that. I love people and learning about them and want to support them by telling others about what they do for our communities.
     “The show is definitely something I want to continue to build, grow and expand.”
     Courtney is proud of the foundation the show has formed so far and has plans to take it across the state of Mississippi.
     “There are a lot of things in the works for the show,” she said. “I’m excited for what’s to come.”

Senator Joel Carter, Jr., talks with host Courtney Anderson during an episode of “Coastal Connections with Courtney,” airing Sundays at 10 a.m. on WLOX ABC 13.

To date, the show has spotlighted big names, including Governor Tate Reeves and Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann; big businesses, such as Hard Rock Casino, Harrah’s Casino, Mississippi Power, Port of Gulfport, Ship Island Excursions; and big events like Cruisin’ the Coast, and Crawfish Music Festival at the Mississippi Coliseum.
Local VIPs Gulfport Mayor Billy Hughes, Biloxi Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich, and Pass Christian Mayor Jimmy Rafferty have also been featured guests, among others, who Courtney refers to as “local socialites shining in the community.”

Courtney Anderson conducts an exclusive interview with Butch Oustalet, owner of Butch Oustalet Autoplex, during an episode of “Coastal Connections with Courtney.”

Currently, the show’s TV crews accommodate guests by traveling to them to film on location, and monetary support for the show comes from clients who reserve airtime as well as primary sponsors including Memorial Hospital, J. Allen Toyota, Dad’s Super Pawn, Galleria BMW, Butch Oustalet Autoplex, and casinos Scarlet Pearl, Beau Rivage and Island View.
To learn more about “Coastal Connections with Courtney” or to become a featured guest on the show, connect with Courtney Anderson and CA Productions online by visiting their Web site at www.coastalconnectionsms.com, and Facebook page, Coastal Connections with Courtney.

On the cover: Courtney Anderson, founder and creator of “Coastal Connections with Courtney,” interviews Blaine LaFontine, executive director and CEO of Hancock Mississippi Port Air Space.

Amanda Compton-Ortiz

Amanda Compton-Ortiz holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism from the University of Mississippi. She relocated from North Mississippi to Long Beach in October 2016. Amanda has worked for more than 20 years in journalism, leading and reporting for various community news publications throughout the state. She has received numerous awards for her editorial contributions from the Mississippi Press Association and placed among 224 universities competing across the United States and Canada for Reach, a personally created magazine for women.