The Mississippi Economic Council will host its 76th annual meeting on Thursday, with childcare, talent retention, and workforce development headlining the topics set to be discussed by leaders looking to see the state thrive.
Being hosted at the Jackson Convention Complex, this year’s event will feature a “WorkFuture” theme and bring together business leaders, policymakers, and industry experts to address critical workforce challenges and economic opportunities through a series of panels and speakers.
“As we enter our 76th year of service to Mississippi’s business community, MEC remains committed to bringing together diverse perspectives to address our state’s most pressing economic challenges,” MEC President and CEO Scott Waller said. “This year’s focus on workforce development through our WorkFuture initiative is crucial as we collaborate to build the talent pipeline Mississippi needs to compete and thrive in today’s rapidly evolving economy.”
Registration for the event begins at 8:30 a.m. on the day of, with concurrent panel discussions starting at 9 a.m. Lunch will be included with registration.
“Child Care: The Impact on Businesses & Their Employees” will feature Daisy Carter-Slater of Excel by 5, Ellen Friloux of North Mississippi Health Services, Elizabeth Harris of Mississippi Early Learning Alliance, and Linda Southward of Children’s Foundation of Mississippi. The group of experts will discuss how childcare accessibility affects workforce participating and business operations.
The “Talent Retention: Why Business & Education Partnerships Matter” panel will include Dr. Beth Little of the Mississippi Community College Board, Pamela Maxwell of We Work the Waterways, Dr. Derek C. Read of the Pascagoula-Gautier School District, and Dr. Susan Seal of Mississippi State University. The group plans to use the discussion to explore resourceful models for collaboration between educational institutions and the business industry.
A plenary session titled “What Industries Need: The Importance of Attracting New Workers” will follow the 9 a.m. sessions at 10:30 a.m. Wil Crawford of Forvis Mazars, LLP, Edward Johnson of Atmos Energy, Dr. Phyllis Johnson of the Mississippi Board of Nursing, and Geno Perkins of Nissan Motor Manufacturing will discuss the challenges and potential solutions to landing new members of the workforce in their respective industries.
The event’s luncheon begins at 11:45 a.m. and will be used to recognize Mississippi STAR Students, STAR Teachers, the Leadership Mississippi Class of 2025, and Opera Mississippi’s 80th season. Waller will take some time during the lunch hour to discuss MEC’s incoming merger with the Mississippi Manufacturers Association and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee.
The Mississippi Economic Council was founded in 1949 and has since served as a collective voice for the state’s business community through advocacy, research, and resources. MEC has over 11,000 members throughout the state.
