# Liza Cirlot Looser

> Liza Cirlot Looser is the founder, chairman and CEO of The Cirlot Agency, a Jackson, Mississippi-based brand strategy, public relations and business development firm with a Washington, D.C. presence and international clients. She started the agency in 1984 with a $78 state tax refund, developed an aerospace and defense communications practice, broke gender barriers in Mississippi civic leadership, and helped establish entrepreneurship and family-business programs at the University of Mississippi.

- **Role:** Founder, Chairman and CEO at The Cirlot Agency
- **Organizations:** The Cirlot Agency, MBDi | Mastering Business Development, LLC, University of Mississippi Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, National Defense Industrial Association, Washington, D.C. Chapter, Harvard Club of Mississippi, MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi World Trade Center
- **Education:** Bachelor’s degree; she described her degree as advertising in a 2010 interview, Mississippi University for Women, Owner/President Management (OPM), executive education, Harvard Business School
- **Known for:** First woman to chair the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce in its 116-year history., First woman to chair the Mississippi World Trade Center board., Mississippi Business Hall of Fame laureate, 2009.

## Career timeline

- **Before 1984** — Worked as an advertising account executive at The Clarion-Ledger/Jackson Daily News, an account supervisor at Maris, West & Baker, and communications director for the Mississippi Republican Party; exact dates are not established.
- **1984** — Founded The Cirlot Agency with a $78 Mississippi state tax refund.
- **1988** — Married Rick Looser, who joined the agency as president and COO.
- **1997** — Chaired the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce, its first female chair in 116 years.
- **1998** — Invited by NATO to help devise communications surrounding the Bosnian land mine crisis.
- **2005** — Liza and Rick Looser launched Mississippi, Believe It! through the agency.
- **2008** — Served as chief communications strategist for the agency’s work on the first presidential debate at the University of Mississippi.
- **2011-2013** — Chaired the Mississippi World Trade Center board.
- **2018** — Helped initiate the CIE REDe Entrepreneurship Summit.
- **2019-2022** — Chaired the advisory board of the University of Mississippi Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
- **2023** — Named Farrington Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year by the University of Mississippi CIE.
- **2025** — Appointed to the NDIA Washington, D.C. chapter board.
- **2026** — Remained CEO as Sabrina Turner became agency president.

## Achievements

- First woman to chair the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce in its 116-year history.
- First woman to chair the Mississippi World Trade Center board.
- Mississippi Business Hall of Fame laureate, 2009.
- Tozzoli International Business Leadership Award, 2010.
- Mississippi Business Journal Top CEOs recognition, 2016.
- American Advertising Federation of Jackson Silver Medal Lifetime Achievement Award, 2016.
- University of Mississippi CIE Farrington Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year, 2023.
- Helped establish the REDe Summit, Legacy Leadership program and It’s All Relative Family Business Symposium.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — An executive resume linked from the agency leadership page presents her continuing founder and CEO role, board advisory work, and mentorship of future business leaders.
- **2026-01** — The agency appointed Sabrina Turner president; Liza continues as CEO and Rick Looser as COO.
- **2025-09** — Listed with Dr. Allyn Cascio to lead the day-two learning review at the fourth It’s All Relative Family Business Symposium.
- **2025-01** — Appointment to the NDIA Washington, D.C. chapter board announced January 21.

## Links

- Website: https://cirlot.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizacirlotlooser
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/CirlotCEO

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/liza-cirlot-looser
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22