The 8th Annual Mississippi Top 50 will be held March 12, 2025. Nominations are now open through January 20th.

Emerging Leaders – 2024

Mississippi's Top 50 Most Influential

As a Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Tate Reeves, Cory Custer oversees the governor’s communication team. Prior to joining Governor Reeves’ senior staff, Cory was a presidential appointee in the Trump administration. He served as Assistant Commissioner, Office of Public Affairs for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the nation’s largest law enforcement agency with over 60,000 employees.

Additionally, he served as Senior Advisor for the U.S. Small Business Administration where he helped administer the Small Business Investment Company and the Small Business Innovation Research programs. In 2016, Cory served as the New Hampshire and Maine Communications Director for then-candidate Trump’s presidential campaign.

Cory holds an MBA from Syracuse University and a BA in Public Policy and Administration from the University at Albany.