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Updated
July 3
Topazi MEC's Chair for 2008-09
Topazi
Reed, Jr.
Flynt
Host
Anthony Topazi, President and CEO of Mississippi Power, was elected the Mississippi Economic Council's Chair for 2008-2009.
Topazi said his goal is to continue the legacy of excellence, fairness and respect MEC has achieved through the leadership of its past chairs and members.
"I don't view MEC as an organization. I view it as an institution. MEC is a respected institution whose advice and support are sought out on virtually every public policy issue that occurs in this state. I am committed to sustaining this level of excellence." Topazi said.
MEC also announced Jack Reed Jr., president of R.W. Reed Company Incorporated in Tupelo, will serve as the 2009-2010 Chair. Mayo Flynt, President of AT&T Mississippi, will serve as 2010-2011 Chair, while Jerry Host, President and COO of Trustmark National Bank, has taken the position of Treasurer. Roy Ward, chairman emeritus of Horne LLP, will become MEC's Treasurer Emeritus.
For More
Shanks moves to Enexus; succeeded by Fisackerly
Shanks
Fisackerly
Carolyn Shanks, president and CEO of MEC member Entergy Mississippi Inc. and former chair of MEC, has accepted a position with Enexus Energy Corporation, the independent, publicly traded nuclear power company that Entergy plans to spin off later this year.
Haley Fisackerly, vice president of governmental affairs for Entergy Nuclear, will succeed Shanks.
For More
Regulatory Fairness Forum
for Small Business July 21
Small business owners will have an opportunity to
discuss issues regarding Federal regulatory compliance and enforcement at a
Forum on July 21 at the Greater Jackson
Chamber Partnership. SBA National Ombudsman and Mississippi native Nicholas Owens will meet with
members of the small business community.
For More
Toyota News and Information
MEC will update the latest news on Toyota's $1.3 billion plant under construction in Blue Springs.
For more on PK USA announcement
For more on the Vuteq USA announcement
To read past stories about the Toyota plant
For the Toyota Suppliers Web site
For a List of supplies needed by Toyota
Ole Miss Academic Center to focus on Manufacturing
From left: Governor Haley Barbour, Dennis Cuneo, head of site selection for Toyota, and Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat announce the Center for Manufacturing Excellence.
Governor calls center 'perfect blend'
A new partnership at the University of Mississippi aims to keep jobs at home by educating the nation’s future manufacturing professionals.
Toward the center’s creation, the Mississippi Power Education Foundation has
given $500,000.
For More Photos and Information
State Superintendent delivers progress report on dropouts
Number of graduates has increased
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank Bounds delivers information on the increase of graduates in Mississippi at a press conference on June 11 in Jackson.
There were 187 more graduates in the Class of 2007 than in the Class of 2006, State Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank M. Bounds announced at a press conference held June 11 in Jackson.
“With an average $286,350 more earning potential over their lifetimes than high school dropouts, these students represent a $53,547,450 return on our investment,” said Dr. Bounds. “That’s almost $54 million more that will be going into Mississippi’s economy.”
For More
Leadership Mississippi travels to Greenwood
Members of the 2008 Leadership Mississippi class toured the Viking Range Headquarters during their session in Greenwood on June 13-14.
Leadership Mississippi participants met up in Greenwood on June 13 and 14 during a session focusing on Health Care. While there, the class saw a demonstration at the Viking Cooking School, toured the Viking facility, heard speeches on public health issues and medical technology and enjoyed a Delta Fish Fry sponsored by Atmos Energy.
For More
MEC's 59th Annual Meeting
Apollo 13 Hero Fred Haise delivers keynote
Looking for ways to improve Mississippi's educational and economic opportunities is a must and the state must take the approach of "Failure is Not an Option." In his Keynote address, Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise, talked about the importance being prepared and persevering. Haise, of a native of Biloxi, gained fame as crew member on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission in 1970.
Scenes from the MEC's 2008 Annual Meeting.
This year's Annual Meeting featured a NASA 50th Anniversary exhibit as well as a special viewing room for NASA/Stennis Space Center films and a special “Made for Space in Mississippi” presentation. Haise called the Stennis Space Center a national asset.
For Video from MEC's Annual Meeting
Welborn
Boykin
Horne LLP Announces Board Elections
HORNE LLP, the largest accounting and business advisory firm in Mississippi, announced elections to the firm’s Board of Directors.
Larry Welborn, CPA, FHFMA, has been elected to the board and will serve as secretary/treasurer.
Dee Boykin, CPA, a partner with the firm, was re-elected.
For more
George Schloegel
Schloegel delivers commencement address at USM
MEC member George A. Schloegel, chairman of the board of Gulfport-based Hancock Holding Company, was the commencement speaker for University of Southern Mississippi spring graduation ceremonies in Hattiesburg and Biloxi, May 9 and 10.
For more
Parkway Properties on list of best workplaces Parkway Properties, Inc. announced that for the second time it
has been named one of the 50 Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for in
America.
For More
Millsaps ranks 29th on national list The Center for College Affordability & Productively recently ranked Millsaps College No. 29 among all liberal arts colleges and universities in the nation.
For More
Phelps Dunbar named leading law firm MEC member Phelps Dunbar was again listed as a leading law firm in the nation, as well as in Louisiana and Mississippi.
For More
Peoples Bank gives $10K to scholarship fund Peoples Bank announced the bank has donated $10,000 to help fund the Spiritus Scholarship Award through the University of Mississippi Foundation.
For More
Stay up-to-date on important
business issues being discussed at the Capitol. MEC's Scott Waller provides
daily reports of the key events during the session.
For daily updates
MEC Annual Meeting Wednesday, May 7, 2008
MEC Legislative Scrambler Wednesdays During Legislative Session
Click the logo above to hear past web calls
Campaign Tour 2007
22 stops
Sept. 12 - Dec. 19
MEC Hobnob October 30, 2008
MEC Capital Day Held January 10, 2008 1,000 attendees
A Special Message from the President
Blake Wilson
To hear the message
Legislative Report
House, Senate vote to extend MDES
No deal on Medicaid
An extension has been granted to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. An MEC
priority issue, the reauthorization of the department came after a compromise
between the House and Senate that extends the department until July 1, 2010.
Legislators
return July 2 to hash out the Medicaid
issue.
For an update on MEC’s priority issues
Get On the Bus with MDE and State Farm
The Mississippi Department of Education and State Superintendent Dr. Hank Bounds have launched
the On The Bus dropout prevention campaign with a $1.5 million dollar grant from State Farm Insurance.
To go to the On the Bus website
Millsaps offers training for AP instructors
Millsaps College will be hosting the AP Summer Teacher Institute July 13-18. The program will help train teachers of Advanced Placement courses.
For More To go to the AP Institute website
Millsaps to co-host Welty Workshop
For More
Forum honoring U.S. Senator Cochran Set
U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, will be honored at the Forum on
American Enterprise hosted by the Mississippi Council on Economic Education on
October 14
For More
Business-Friendly in Mississippi
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is working to study and devise a business court system. For more information, from the Secretary of State, click here.
For more
Blues Trail to recognize Noxubee natives
The Noxubee Alliance is proud to announce that the Mississippi Blues Trail will recognize three Noxubee County natives who became Blues music legends
on August 19.
For More
Statewide Events Calendar
LOCAL CHAMBERS For a complete list of Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development organizations in Mississippi
A NUMERICAL LOOK AT MISSISSIPPI
$4 billion Value of manufactured goods Mississippi exports to the world
1,600 Number of businesses in Mississippi that sell their products
overseas
Source: Mississippi
Development Authority
Did you know?
In 1902, while on a hunting expedition in Sharkey County, President Theodore
(Teddy) Roosevelt refused to shoot a captured bear. This act resulted in the
creation of the world-famous teddy bear.
Click here for a map to MEC. We are located on the 9th floor of the
Trustmark Building. All visitors may park on the first floor of the parking
garage.
Home Mississippi Economic Council - The State Chamber of Commerce
248 East Capitol Street/Suite 940 P.O. Box 23276 Jackson, MS 39225-3276 (601) 969-0022 1-800-748-7626 Fax: (601) 353-0247 or 1-888-717-2809