Agenda
Conference Agenda
February 7 - 8, 2024
Westin Hotel | Jackson
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February 7th (Wednesday) - Westin Hotel
| Time | Agenda Items | Location |
|---|---|---|
|
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Registration |
Natchez Ballroom Prefunction |
|
10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Exhibitors |
Jackson Ballroom Prefunction |
|
11:30 a.m – 12:45 p.m. |
Emerging Leaders and New Members Brunch Sponsored by: Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission "Marketing Your Community on a Small Budget" Tim Mask, President & CEO, MWB |
*Invitation Only Special event for those that are 35 or younger, have been in the profession for less than 5 years, or have been a member of MEDC for less than one year. |
|
1:00 p.m. |
Welcome & Recognition of Sponsors Jeff Rent, MEDC Board of Directors President and CEO, Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership |
Jackson Ballroom I & II |
|
1:05 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. |
Opening Session Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Haley Barbour, Founding Partner, BGR Group and Former Governor, State of Mississippi |
Jackson Ballroom I & II
|
|
2:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. |
"Powering Projects" Moderator: Griff Salmon, Principal, VisionFirst Advisors Panelists: John Bradley, Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Tennessee Valley Authority Ed Gardner, Vice President of Business & Economic Development, Entergy Mississippi Mitch Stringer, Director of Economic Development, Cooperative Energy Brian Useforge, Economic Development Director, Mississippi Power |
Jackson Ballroom I & II |
|
2:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. |
Exhibitor Break |
Jackson Ballroom Prefunction |
|
2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Chamber Breakout Sessions Focus on how to build communities by building relationships and how to avoid triggers. "True Value" Charlotte Strickland, University of Central Arkansas, Strickly Speaking, Speakers of Significance |
Natchez Ballroom |
|
3:00 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. |
"Centering our Workforce Efforts by Coaching the Next Generation" Moderator: Mary Martha Henson, Deputy Director, Jackson County Economic Development Foundation Panelists: Ava McRaney, Undergraduate Student, University of Mississippi Derek Read, CTE Director & Dean of Workforce Education, Pascagoula-Gautier School District Kim Wiley, P3 Career Coach, Vancleave High School |
Jackson Ballroom I & II |
|
3:45 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
"Our Perception. Your Perception. When to Punch Above Your Weight?" An interactive presentation from VisionFirst Advisors that focuses on unlocking your community or region’s target industries through discovery tactics, determining drivers and eliminating barriers for success. Griff Salmon, Principal, VisionFirst Advisors Greg Word, Managing Director, VisionFirst Advisors |
|
|
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. |
Legislative Update from Partners Moderator: Reed Branson, Lobbyist & Public Relations Advisor, Capitol Resources LLC Panelists: John McKay, President & CEO, Mississippi Manufacturers Association Dr. Courtney Taylor, Deputy Director for Strategy & Programs, AccelerateMS Scott Waller, President & CEO, Mississippi Economic Council PJ Waldrop, Deputy Executive Director and COO, Mississippi Development Authority |
Jackson Ballroom I & II
|
|
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
MEDC Legislative Reception Sponsored by: FWD.us |
Mississippi Museum of Art |
February 8th (Thursday) - Westin Hotel
| Time | Agenda Items | Location |
|---|---|---|
|
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
Registration |
Natchez Ballroom Prefunction |
|
7:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. |
Exhibitors |
Jackson Ballroom Prefunction |
|
7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. |
Breakfast Buffet Opens |
Jackson Ballroom I & II |
|
8:00 a.m. – 8:20 a.m. |
Legislative Breakfast with Economic Development Forecast Moderator: Jeff Rent, President & CEO, Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Speaker: The Honorable Delbert Hosemann, Lieutenant Governor, State of Mississippi |
Jackson Ballroom I & II |
|
8:30 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. |
Economic Development Forcast Moderator: Jim Flanagan, President and CEO, Desoto County Economic Development Council Speaker: The Honorable Jason White, Speaker of the House, State of Mississippi |
Jackson Ballroom I & II |
|
8:50 a.m. – 9:25 a.m. |
MDA Update Bill Cork, Executive Director & Chief Economic Development Officer, Mississippi Development Authority |
Jackson Ballroom I & II |
|
9:25 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. |
MEDC Business Meeting Gwen Howard, Executive Director, Mississippi Economic Development Council Jeff Rent, President, MEDC Board of Directors Lori Watts, Secretary/Treasurer, MEDC Board of Directors |
Jackson Ballroom I & II |
|
9:45 a.m. – 10:15 a.m |
Exhibitor Break |
Jackson Ballroom Prefunction |
|
10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
Chamber Breakout Session "Goal Setting and Leadership-Casting a Wider Net" Charlotte Strickland, University of Central Arkansas, Strickly Speaking, Speakers of Significance |
Oxford Room |
|
10:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. |
"Why Don't I Have a Trader Joe's?" Moderator: Todd Jackson, Vice President, Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce, Area Development Partnership Panelists: Gabriel Prado, CEO & President, PraCon Global Investment Group Buff Teague, Senior Managing Director, JLL Joseph Thrash, Partner, Focus on Acquisitions and Finance, The Thrash Group |
Natchez Ballroom |
|
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. |
MEDC Awards Luncheon in Memory of Jimmy Heidel Sponsored by: C Spire Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Tate Reeves, Governor, State of Mississippi EMCEE: Megan West, Anchor, 16 WAPT |
Jackson Ballroom |
|
1:30 p.m. |
Conference Adjourns |
Conference Information