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Blake Wilson
President
| Dear Member:
The MEC Annual Meeting is always a popular event -- and this year offers a unique opportunity for hearing a motivational speech from Macon farmer Tommy Hamill, who was captured in Iraq while working as a truck driver - and then escaped a year ago after being held for 24 days.
We will also pause to salute those who are serving in the military -- and, if the technology works, we will connect via satellite to some of
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our troops in Kuwait.
If you haven't registered already, please do so today, because time and seats are running out. You can read all about the meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, May 4, in the story below, or go to our website at www.mec.ms.
I hope to see you there. |
| MEC to see, hear troops in Kuwait |
Marriott Downtown on Wednesday, May 4.
Registration will open at 8 a.m. Morning sessions will be devoted to discussions on the importance of military bases in the state, beginning at 9:00 a.m., and an update of Momentum Mississippi that improves economic development incentives beginning at 10:30 a.m.
Hamill's appearance will be approximately a year after his escape from 24 days of captivity in Iraq. His civilian convoy delivering fuel to the military was attacked, he was wounded, and six companions killed. He escaped May 2, 2004, after hearing a military convoy passing by the remote farmhouse where he had been held captive. He ran half a mile to catch up to the U.S. patrol from the 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry, a part of the New York National Guard.
 for a printable registration form. |
| Governor urged to add Momentum to session |
| Leaders of Momentum Mississippi, a unique public-private partnership for boosting the State's economic development future, are urging Governor Haley Barbour to add the Momentum Mississippi incentive legislation to the anticipated special session call. Additionally, the volunteers from every corner of the State are calling on the legislature to approve the incentive package to give Mississippi a more competitive edge. |
Attending the Hattiesburg meeting were, from left: Richard Jones, chair, Area Development Partnership and owner, R. Jones & Associates; Anthony Topazi, chair, Momentum Mississippi and president/CEO, Mississippi Power Company; Beverly Magee-Commodore, chief administrative officer, City of Hattiesburg; Willie Horton, director of urban development, City of Hattiesburg; and former MEC Chair Joe Tatum, Sr., chair, Tatum Development Corporation. | "We are losing ground to other States…and the window of opportunity is open now," said Anthony J. Topazi, Momentum Mississippi Chair and President & CEO of Mississippi Power Company. "We cannot afford to wait until next year. Without these improvements to our incentive programs, our local communities run the risk of losing more of our existing jobs…
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and missing opportunities to attract new ones."
To spread the word, Momentum Mississippi scheduled a series of meetings this week in Columbus, Meridian, Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Tupelo, Greenville and Natchez -- aimed at explaining how the incentives will help communities create and retain jobs. An 8th meeting is scheduled May 9 at the Jackson Hilton. |
| JA Hall of Fame to honor MEC leaders |
| On May 9 at the Jackson Marriott, four MEC members will be inducted into the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame, including MEC Chair John McCullouch and former MEC Chair Lewis Mallory, Jr. Also honored will be MEC Board of Directors member Dick Molpus of Molpus Woodlands Group and Thomas W. Colbert of Community Bancshares & Community Bank. |
Tom Colbert
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Lewis Mallory, Jr.
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John McCullouch
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Dick Molpus
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"Each of them made unique contributions not only in their area of expertise but in giving to their community and the state as a whole," said Rob Farr, event chairman and principal with Cooke Douglas Farr Lemons/Ltd. To date, 58 business leaders have been inducted.
McCullouch is president of BellSouth-Mississippi Operations, the principal source of telephone service for most Mississippians. He has succeeded in championing the latest in technology for Mississippi consumers.
Mallory, 1980-81 MEC Chair and a member of the MEC Board of Directors, is chair and CEO of NBC Capital Corporation, the holding company of its subsidiary bank known as National Bank of Commerce.
Molpus is former Mississippi Secretary of State and president/CEO of The Molpus Woodlands Group, LLC, one of the leading timberland investment management organizations in the United States.
Colbert is chair of Community Bancshares of Mississippi, Inc., the bank holding company for banks known as Community Bank, with branches throughout the state.
The Mississippi Business Hall of Fame was founded in 1989 by Junior Achievement of Mississippi, Inc., and The Clarion-Ledger is the presenting sponsor of the event. Gold Sponsors for the event include BancorpSouth, Carlisle Corporation, HORNE LLP, Trustmark, St. Dominic Health Services, and The University of Mississippi & Medical Center.
For more information or tickets, call 601-948-3997. |
| Choctaws to showcase tech opportunities May 2-3 |
The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will host the 2005 Choctaw TechVantage Conference, May 2-3, at the Pearl River Resort, showcasing the tribe's high-tech opportunities and new incentives for businesses that partner with the tribe.
Scheduled speakers include Choctaw Chief Phillip Martin, Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Leland Speed, federal and state elected officials and numerous business partners of the Tribe including AgustaWestland Inc., AAI Inc., University of Mississippi Medical Center and The Mattson-Jack Group.
Guests will also have the opportunity to attend the unveiling of the new Choctaw TechParc as well as get a sneak preview of Parc 375, a 120,000 square foot flexible-space facility. In addition, the tribe will announce a new financing program available to business partners and sign a memo of understanding with the Mississippi Research Consortium.
Other event highlights include an analysis of the competitive advantages of partnering with the tribe and a ribbon cutting, cocktail reception and dinner with the TechParc's newest partner, AAI Inc. In addition, attendees will hear tribal business partners, testimonials and discuss legal issues with the tribal attorney general.
For more information, . |
| Tupelo's Lippincott STAR Student for 2005 |
From left, Sid Salter, Perspective Editor, The Clarion-Ledger; Dr. Lee Royce, president, Mississippi College; Betty Byrd, education relations manager, BellSouth; and Gloria Johnson, director, customer service, Entergy. | John K. Lippincott, a Tupelo High School senior, has been designated Mississippi's STAR Student for 2005 in the Student-Teacher Achievement Recognition program sponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council's M.B. Swayze Educational |
Foundation and partners -- Entergy, BellSouth and Mississippi Power Company along with many other companies and individuals. He received the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation's top scholarship -- $24,000 over four years.
Fiona Gispen, an Oxford High School senior, has been designated the first runnerup STAR Student for 2005 and received a scholarship of $20,000. Sonia Savani, an Ocean Springs High School senior, has been designated the second runnerup STAR Student for 2005 and received a Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation four-year scholarship of $16,000. The remaining 17 ALL-STAR students received $500 scholarships.
More than 700 STAR Students, STAR Teachers, and parents attended the Celebration at Mississippi College that honors top high school seniors and their teachers recognized through the STAR program, now in its 39th year. Keynote speaker was Sid Salter, Perspective Editor of The Clarion-Ledger.
For additional information and click on STAR under MEC Activities on the left.
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| Mississippi Business Journal seeking nominations |
MEC member the Mississippi Business Journal is seeking nominees for the 50 Leading Business Women awards program. The awards, now in their ninth year, honor the achievements and contributions of women in business statewide. Winners are profiled in a special publication of the MBJ and also participate in a daylong event featuring seminars, an awards luncheon and networking time.
The nomination deadline is April 30. Nomination forms are available online and click on "Special Events." |
OTHER STORIES
  Peoples now Renasant as McGraw named chair
Shareholders of MEC member The Peoples Holding Company have voted to rename the multi-state bank holding company Renasant Corporation. The announcement came at the company's annual shareholders meeting and followed an earlier decision to unify bank operations under the Renasant banner as the company expanded in Mississippi and entered Tennessee and Alabama.
DuPont DeLisle planning major $100 million investment
MEC member DuPont DeLisle has begun applying for Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality permits which would allow for an investment of approximately $100 million to improve operational efficiencies at the plant and further reduce air emissions.
VT Halter Marine lays keel for passenger/vehicle ferry
MEC member VT Halter Marine Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems Inc., has held a keel laying ceremony for the double-ended ferry that it is building for the Woods Hole, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket Steamship Authority.
Viking introduces two new products
MEC member Viking has added to its product line with the introduction of induction cook tops, marking the first product Viking has produced using this innovative technology.
MINACT awarded $14M-plus contract from Labor
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a contract worth in excess of $14 million to MEC member MINACT Inc. for the continued operation of the Batesville Job Corps Center in Northwest Mississippi.
Favre foundation makes donation to Forrest General
The Brett Favre Fourward Foundation has presented MEC member Forrest General Hospital with a check for $117,505 to be used for women in their treatment of breast cancer. The proceeds were raised at the recent "Night of Faith" concert presented by Faith Hill.
Workshop to help design winning RFP responses
MEC member the South Mississippi Contract Procurement Center is hosting a workshop, "RFP's from A to Z: Producing a Winning Proposal in Response to a Request for Proposal," designed to assist prospective government or commercial customers.
MUW education division re-accredited
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education has accredited MEC member Mississippi University for Women's Division of Education and Human Sciences at the initial teacher preparation and advanced preparation levels. MUW has been continuously accredited by the NCATE for 41 years.
New, expanded facilities top $528 million in quarter
According to MEC member the Mississippi Development Authority, there were 180 new and expansion projects unveiled in Mississippi from January-March 2005. They are expected to create an estimated 2,037 new jobs and an estimated capital investment of approximately $528.39 million.
  
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