Mississippi Economic Council

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61st Annual Meeting
April 15, 2010
Jackson Convention Complex
Huge Crowd on Hand at MEC's 61st Annual Meeting

The Jackson Convention Complex Exhibition Hall was filled for the MEC Annual Meeting Luncheon.

State's Musical Heritage Celebrated;
Touted as Avenue for Economic Growth

Music legends Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives and Dorothy Moore of Farish Street Records of Mississippi headlined MEC's 61st Annual Meeting performing and speaking about the importance of musical heritage in promoting the state’s future. Stuart is a native of Philadelphia and Ms. Moore is a native of Jackson. They were joined by Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, who will focus on how music trails and cultural heritage play into both tourism and economic development in Mississippi. At the Luncheon, 2010-11 MEC Chair Tupelo Mayor Jack Reed Jr., took the reigns from 2009-10 MEC Chair Mayo Flynt of AT&T.

Scenes from MEC's Annual Meeting morning sessions and luncheon

The Morning Sessions at the Annual Meeting looked at Regionalism in Economic Development ; Tourism as Economic Development; and How a Small Town Made a Museum – The B.B. King Museum Story. In the Morning Plenary Session, panelist looked at Making The Most of Mississippi's Heritage.

Scenes from MEC's Annual Meeting luncheon and STAR Education Celebration

Videos from the MEC Annual Meeting

For video of Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant Discussing
Mississippi's Music and Cultural Heritage
For video of the Morning Plenary Session
from the Mississippi Business Journal

For a List of Annual Meeting Sponsors

60th Anniversary Celebration
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Jackson Convention Complex

Scenes from MEC's Annual Meeting
Over 2,600 Leaders
gather in Jackson

Scenes from MEC's Annual Meeting

Sen. Thad Cochran, FOX business Commentator Stuart Varney
address Annual Meeting crowd

Past MEC Chair Jack Reed Sr.
Reflects On MEC's Role
Retiring University of Mississippi
Chancellor Robert Khayat honored

Mississippi Economic Council's 60th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Membership Meeting drew more than 2,600 on Thursday, April 16, 2009, at the newly opened Jackson Convention Complex.

FOX News Business Commentator Stuart Varney delivered the keynote address and Signature Presenter Sen. Thad Cochran spoke to the crowd of business leaders. Also Jack Reed Sr., Past Chair of MEC and Bob Pittman, retired President of MEC offered a special tribute to MEC, honoring the Council's work for the past 60 years.

There was a special salute to retiring University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert Khayat, which included a special introduction by Aubrey Patterson of BancorpSouth, also a Past Chair of MEC.

State Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank Bounds provided an update regarding the On The Bus dropout prevention campaign. As part of this year's Annual Meeting, On The Bus held a session that included more than 500 educators and community leaders.

To see who sponsored

See the 2009 Annual Meeting speakers

Honorable Thad Cochran U.S. Senator	Time 11:37
Honorable Haley Barbour Governor (Special Video Message)	Time 2:16
Honorable Phil Bryant Lt. Governor	Time 5:57
Anthony Topazi MEC Chair 2008-2009	Time 6:12
Mayo Flynt MEC Chair 2009-2010	Time 3:15
Dr. Hank Bounds State Superintendent of Education	Time 2:51
Honorable Cecil Brown State Representative	Time 1:21
Chancellor Robert Khayat University of Mississippi	Time 8:15
Jack Reed, Sr. Past MEC Chair	Time 10:44
Aubrey Patterson Past MEC Chair	Time 4:55
Bob Pittman Retired MEC President	Time 8:05
STAR Student Recognition Justice James Graves Robin Robinson, Chair M.B. Swayze Educational Foundation	Time 3:25 Time 9:18
ON THE BUS (Special Video)	Time 2:45

Morning Sessions Focus on Economic Development,
Workforce Training and Higher Education

The MEC Annual Meeting Momentum Mississippi sessions looked at how Mississippi can take advantage of economic development opportunities in the defense industries, and explored ways to continue to improve the state's workforce.

There was also a session featuring the presidents of Mississippi's eight public universities.

Many Annual Meeting attendees also took part in Gov. Haley Barbour's Mississippi Stimulus Summit, which followed the luncheon.

Morning Session League of Presidents Video Replay	Dr. Aubery Lucas Interim Commissioner State College Board Time 3:59
Dr. George Ross President Alcorn State University Time 6:55	Dr. John Hilpert President Delta State University Time 5:49
Dr. Ronald Mason President Jackson State University Time 8:48	Dr. Mark Keenum President Mississippi State University Time 8:48
Dr. Claudia Limbert President Mississippi University for Women Time 5:50	Dr. Donna Oliver President Miss. Valley State University Time 8:37
Dr. Robert Khayat Chancellor University of Mississippi Time 9:17	Dr. Martha Saunders President Delta State University Time 9:06

Morning Session Defense Opportunities Video Replay	Gray Swoope Executive Director Miss. Development Authority Time 5:55
Mike Worley VP Naval Marine Programs Rolls-Royce North America Time 8:30	Joe Max Higgins President & CEO Columbus-Lowndes LINK Time 14:25

To see scenes from the Education Celebration

MEC'S 59th ANNUAL MEETING

Scenes from the MEC's 2008 Annual Meeting.

Apollo 13 Hero Fred Haise
Keynotes 59th
MEC Annual Meeting
Biloxi native spoke at May 7, 2008 event
at Jackson Marriott

Gov. Haley Barbour visits with Fred Haise after MEC's annual Meeting. Both Barbour and Haise, a former astronaut spoke at the meeting held on May 7 in Jackson..

Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise delivered the keynote address to a sold-out crowd at the Mississippi Economic Council’s 59th Annual Meeting Wednesday, May 7 at the Jackson Marriott.

"Failure is Not an Option," was the topic of the Keynote speech by Haise, a native of Biloxi. Haise gained fame as crew member on the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission in 1970. He was the lunar pilot on the mission, which was the subject of a blockbuster movie in 1995. Haise also served as backup lunar module pilot for the Apollo 8 and Apollo 11 missions.

More than 1,000 Mississippi business leaders gathered at the Jackson Marriott for a celebration of Mississippi’s economic development success over the past year.

Among featured speakers were Gov. Haley Barbour, who delivered the annual Governor’s Address, Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant and Rep. Percy Watson, representing Speaker of the House Billy McCoy. Miss Mississippi Kimberly Nicole Morgan sang as well.

The first morning session focused on a fair justice system while the other two sessions addressed Momentum Mississippi and Regional Economic Development.

Outgoing MEC Chair for 2007-2008 Carolyn Shanks said MEC brings business leaders together across the state.

“MEC is working to position Mississippi for greater economic prosperity. The leadership of business professionals statewide is a pivotal part of this process,” Shanks said
Shanks handed over the reigns to incoming MEC Chair for 2008-2009 Anthony Topazi, president and CEO of Mississippi Power.

Topazi believes the MEC agenda is key to success in businesses throughout Mississippi.

“MEC plays a vital role in shaping Mississippi’s future. As a membership based, business community led organization, MEC’s top priority is to move our state forward.”

For Video from MEC's Annual Meeting
Click on Icons Below

2008 MEC Annual Meeting - Luncheon
Blast Off to Start Annual Meeting

Rocket testing Stennis Space Center, Shuttle Blast off Kennedy Space Center. - Time: 1:31
Lt. Governor Phil Bryant
- Time 3:39
House Ways and Means Chair Percy Watson - Time 3:18
Superintendent Dr. Hank Bounds
- Time 5:47
2007-08 MEC Chair Carolyn Shanks
- Time 4:09
2008-09 MEC Chair Anthony Topazi
- Time 3:10
Governor Haley Barbour
- Time 10:43
Keynote Speaker: Fred Haise
- Time 41:11

Morning Session I

Update on the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission Want Your Courts to be Fair? Here's How

Chancery Court Judge Denise Sweet Owens, Co-Chair, Mississippi Access to Justice Commission - Time 9:00
Associate Justice Ann H. Lamar, Mississippi Supreme Court - Time 15:33

Morning Session II

Momentum Mississippi: Technology, Defense, Energy, Geospatial opportunities ... and more

Anthony Topazi, President and CEO Mississippi Power, Chairman of Momentum Mississippi, 2008-09 Chair MEC- Time 9:46

Steve Renfroe, Chevron Public and Government Affairs Manager - Time 9:00

Greg Easson, Chair of Geology and Geological Engineering, University of Mississippi - Time 8:17

Greg Stewart, General Manager, Aurora Flight Sciences - Time 9:46

Tony Jeff, Vice President and COO, Mississippi Technology Alliance - Time 10:43

Anthony Topazi, President and CEO Mississippi Power, Chairman of Momentum Mississippi, 2008-09 Chair MEC- Time 2:10

Morning Session III

Regionalism in Economic Development
- State to State

George Freeland Jr., Executive Director, Jackson County Economic Development Foundation - Time 14:07

Wade Jones, President, East Mississippi Business Development Corporation - Time 12:27

Whit Hughes, Deputy Director, Mississippi Development Authority - Time 11:26

For Fred Haise Bio
For list of sponsors

MEC'S 58th ANNUAL MEETING

FOCUSES ON FUTURE

Economic Development Partnerships,

Transportation opportunities
discussed during May 2 event

Scenes from MEC's 58th Annual Meeting Wednesday, May 2 at the Jackson Marriott

Charles W. “Wick” Moorman, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norfolk Southern Corporation, talked about how railroad are creating new opportunities and how Mississippi is part of his company's plan. Moorman, for who grew up in Hattiesburg, was be the keynote speaker at the Mississippi Economic Council’s 58th Annual Meeting May 2 at the Jackson Marriott.

Dennis C. Cuneo, counsel, Arent Fox LLP, a retired Toyota senior vice president, who continues to work as a consultant to the company and who led the site selection of Toyota’s Wellspring location, talked about Mississippi's ability to stay competitive and the cooperation and leadership in landing Toyota's eighth U.S. manufacturing plant.

The first of two morning sessions at the annual meeting focused on Intermodal Opportunities in Mississippi. Panelist, Don Allee, Executive Director Mississippi State Port Authority at Gulfport; Nick Ardillo, Principal, Ardillo McCullough & Taggart, LLC; and Alan Moore, Shareholder, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, outline the importance of airports, water ports and the rail system to economic development in the state.

In the second session, David Rumbarger, President & CEO, Community Development Foundation; Randy Kelley, Executive Director, Three Rivers Planning and Development District; Tim Weston, Senior Project Manager/Economic Development- Mississippi Tennessee Valley Authority; and Whit Hughes, Deputy Director Mississippi Development Authority, discussed the importance of regional partnerships. All were involved with the PUL Alliance's success in landing the Toyota Manufacturing Plant in Northeast Mississippi. Glenn McCullough, Principal of Ardillo McCullough & Taggart, LLC, and former Chairman of TVA moderated the session.

During the luncheon, the more than 1,000 attendees received a special welcome from Speaker of the House Billy McCoy, heard farewell addresses from Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck and outgoing Secretary of State Eric Clark.

Special entertainment was provided by First Choice of Mississippi Valley State University and from Miss Mississippi Taryn Foshee.

For the photo gallery

For a list of Sponsors

MEC Annual Meeting Video
Click below to see video from MEC's 58th Annual Meeting

Session 1 - Intermodal Opportunities

Planning for the State's Transportation Future

Alan Moore video

Don Allee video

Nick Ardillo video

Panel Discussion video

Session 2 - Regional Partnerships

Making Economic Development Work

Glenn McCullough video

Whit Hughes video

Randy Kelley video

Tim Weston video

David Rumbarger video

Panel Discussion video

2007 MEC Annual Meeting - Luncheon

Charles W. “Wick” Moorman

Governor Haley Barbour

Dennis C. Cuneo

Speaker Billy McCoy

Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck

Secretary Eric Clark

News coverage of MEC Annual Meeting
For coverage from The Clarion-Ledger
For coverage from WLBT
For coverage from WAPT