Legislative Conference Agenda

9:15 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Registration

Natchez Ballroom Prefunction

10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Pre-Conference Workshop

Project Financing Principles: Leveraging Grants, Loans, and Other Incentives to Win Economic Development Projects While Minimizing Risk

Sara W. Bowen, Director of Business Incentives, Mississippi Development Authority

Chris Pace, Partner, Jones Walker

Oxford Ballroom

*Separate registration for workshop required. $50/attendee. Limited seating.

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 and Harbor Commission 

Speaker: Jennifer Vernon, Strategic Consultant, Fortif Advisors

Session Title: "Whose lane is it anyway?"

Session Description: In today’s increasingly integrated landscape of economic, community, and workforce development, alignment often falls short. Subsequently, economic developers are facing growing challenges from competing for resources to navigating complexity regarding performance metrics. This session explores strategies for leveraging core strengths to boost competitiveness while maintaining focus and avoiding unnecessary overlap.

*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

Chelsea Baulch, President, MEDC Board of Directors and Regional Specialist, Tennessee Valley Authority

Jackson Ballroom I & II

1:10 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.

Opening Session

Keynote Speaker: The Honorable Tate Reeves, 65th Governor, State of Mississippi

Jackson Ballroom I & II

1:45 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Federal Outlook: Navigating the First 100 Days and Beyond

Speaker: Richard "Drew" Marrs, Senior Director, Government Relations, Norfolk Southern

Session Description: Join us for an in-depth analysis of the first 100 days of Congress and the outlook for the remaining 9 months agenda.  Discover how the power shift could impact economic development in Mississippi through key legislation and policy around transportation and infrastructure.

Jackson Ballroom I & II

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Exhibitor Break

Jackson Ballroom Prefunction

3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

"Myth Busters of Hot Projects"

Moderator: Stevie Phillips, Senior Economic Development Representative, Cooperative Energy and VP of Community Development, Mississippi Economic Development Council, Inc.

Panelists: Gary Chandler, Industrial Development Division, Three Rivers Planning & Development District

Joey Deason, Executive Director, Madison County Economic Development Authority

R. Wilson Montjoy, Partner, Butler Snow LLP

Session Description: This panel will delve into the rapidly growing industries of data centers, solar, renewable and clean energy/biofuels, addressing common misconceptions and uncertainties surrounding these projects.  Panelists will address how to assess the credibility around these projects, strategies for mitigating risks when the projects go awry, and share real-world examples of successful projects.

Jackson Ballroom I & II

4 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

MDA Update

Speaker: Bill Cork, Executive Director and Chief Economic Development Officer, Mississippi Development Authority

Legislative Update with Partners

Moderator: Bill Cork, Executive Director and Chief Economic Development Officer, MDA

Panelists: John McKay, President & CEO, Mississippi Manufacturers Association

Dr. Courtney Taylor, Executive Director, AccelerateMS

Scott Waller, President & CEO, Mississippi Economic Council 

PJ Waldrop, Deputy Executive Director and COO, Mississippi Development Authority 

5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

MEDC Legislative Reception

Sponsored by Vicksburg Warren County Partnership

Mississippi Museum of Art

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 Forecast

Moderator:

Todd Jackson, Executive Vice President, Area Development Partnership

Speaker:

The Honorable Jason White,  Speaker of the House, State of Mississippi

Jackson Ballroom I & II

8:50 a.m. – 9:25 a.m.

AccelerateMS Update

Speaker: Dr. Courtney Taylor, Executive Director, AccelerateMS

Panelists:

Bill Cork, Executive Director, Mississippi Development Authority

Justin Hall, Executive Director, Marshall County Industrial Development Authority

Skip Scaggs, Executive Director, North MS Industrial Development Authority

Trey Smith, Director of Talent Solutions, AccelerateMS

Description: This session will provide an update on the progress of AccelerateMS Talent Solutions.The discussion will cover the team’s efforts to address workforce recruitment and training for economic development projects. Key highlights will include successful partnerships between industries, K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities to build a strong talent pipeline, as well as initiatives aimed at amplifying workforce development efforts in local communities. Discussion will also explore how these strategies are aligning statewide resources with local workforce needs to support Mississippi’s economic growth.

Jackson Ballroom I & II

9:25 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

MEDC Business Meeting

Gwen Howard, Executive Director, Mississippi Economic Development Council

Chelsea Baulch, 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

Jackson Ballroom Prefunction

10:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.

"Non-Traditional Incentives"

Moderator:

Todd Jackson, Executive Vice President, Area Development Partnership

Panelists:

Chris Gouras, Owner and Principal, Gouras and Associates

Troy Johnston, Attorney, Butler Snow

Mark McCormack, COO, Mattiace Properties, Inc.

Ross Tucker, President and CEO, Economic Development Authority of Jones County

Natchez Ballroom

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

MEDC Awards Luncheon

Sponsored by C Spire

EMCEE:

Megan West, Anchor, 16 WAPT

Jackson Ballroom

1:00 p.m.

Conference Adjourns