Gates Elected 2015-2016 MEC Chair
Robinson, Yates to Serve Future Terms
David Gates, President of the Mississippi Division of Atmos Energy, has been elected as the 2015-2016 Mississippi Economic Council Chair.
Robin Robinson, Director of Organization Development and Corporate Communication at Sanderson Farms, Inc., was elected as 2016-2017 Chair. William Yates III, President and CEO of W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company, was elected as 2017-2018 Chair.
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MEC PowerPlay Draws 2,300 Leaders to
Jackson Convention Complex
Abney, Carter Inspire Terrific Crowd
UPS CEO David Abney and Coach Ken Carter, inspiration for the movie Coach Carter, drew over 2,300 statewide elected officials and business and community leaders to MEC PowerPlay, the 66th Annual Meeting, held at the Jackson Convention Complex on Thursday, April 30.
In addition to hearing from Abney and Carter, attendees got the chance to attend various morning breakout sessions focusing on sales, customer service and MEC policy.
During the sales sessions, author and top salesman Hal Becker and sales expert Victor Antonio brought their knowledge to MEC PowerPlay attendees with two highly-charged workshops for sales professionals seeking to become the best.
PowerPlay customer service sessions featured experts David K. Aaker, IOM and Kelly McDonald, who delivered insight for exceeding customer service expectations and gave grounded methods to approaching opportunities to improve customer service operations.
During the MEC Policy sessions, Lonnie P. Taylor, JD, CEO of the National Job Corps Association and Joe McAndrew, policy director of Transportation for America joined with Mississippi panelists to focus on two of Mississippi's greatest needs - workforce and transportation. Mississippi Workforce panelists included - Paige Roberts and Karen Sock of Pathways2Possibilities: P2P; Patrick Sullivan of the Mississippi Energy Institute; James Williams of the State Workforce Investment Board and Ramona Seabron-Williams of Jobs for Mississippi Graduates. Transportation panelists included - Elizabeth Kennedy Lawlor of Norfolk Southern; Chip Morgan of Delta Council and Wilson Risinger of KLLM.
The MEC Annual Meeting Luncheon featured a keynote from UPS CEO David Abney, with remarks from Governor Phil Bryant and special entertainment by Miss Mississippi Jasmine Murray. 2014-2015 MEC Chair Alveno Castilla of Butler Snow turned over chairmanship to 2015-2016 Chair David Gates of Atmos Energy.
Gov. Phil Bryant also announced Glenn McCollugh as the new head of the Mississippi Development Authority during the Annual Meeting luncheon.
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MEC PowerPlay Videos
MEC Annual Meeting Luncheon
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MEC Mega Motivation Convocation
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Education Celebration
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STAR Students & STAR Teachers Honored for Academic Achievements at Education Celebration
ALL-STAR Scholars Receive $74,250 from Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc.
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From Left: Suzie Welch, Nicholas A. Sciortino, Elizabeth J. Liu, Sonya R. Harvey, Joonhe Jo and Cynthia J. Howle
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Nicholas A. Sciortino has been named Mississippi's TOP ALL-STAR Scholar for 2015 at the 50th Anniversary of the STAR program during the annual Education Celebration. Sciortino attends Oak Grove High School and scored a perfect 36 composite score on the American College Test (ACT), with a grade point average of 100.14634. He received a $24,000 scholarship from the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc.
Each STAR Student is asked to designate a STAR Teacher - the teacher who has made the greatest contribution to the student's scholastic achievement. Sciortino designated Suzie Welch as his STAR Teacher.
Elizabeth J. Liu was recognized as 1st Runner-Up, and received a $20,000 scholarship from the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundaion, Inc. Liu attends Madison Central High School, and scored a perfect 36 composite score on the ACT, with a grade point average of 98.02. Liu selected Sonya R. Harvey as her STAR Teacher.
Joonhe Jo was recognized as 2nd Runner-Up, and received a $16,000 scholarship from the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. Jo attends Oxford High School, and scored a perfect 36 composite score on the ACT, with a grade point average of 95.21. Jo selected Cynthia J. Howle as his STAR Teacher.
The Education Celebration program was held by MEC's M.B. Swayze Foundation. Scholarships were provided by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. and were presented by Deborah Rochelle, President of the Foundation. The Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation, Inc. donated $74,250 in scholarships this year.
This year, 278 STAR Students and their STAR Teachers were recognized from MEC's Swayze Foundation at the Education Celebration. Each STAR student received a medallion, lapel pin and certificate in recognition of their academic success.
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Former MEC Chairs Dulaney, Reed Honored at University Graduation Ceremonies
Dulaney Awarded Honorary Doctorate Degree from MSU
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(From Left) Former MEC Chair Tommy Dulaney receives an honorary doctorate degree from Mississippi State University from Dr. Jerry Gilbert, Provost and Executive Vice President at MSU and MSU President Dr. Mark Keenum at the May 2015 graduation ceremonies.
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Former MEC Chair and President & CEO of Structural Steel Services, Inc. Tommy E. Dulaney recently received an honorary doctorate in public service for lifetime achievements and longtime major support of university programs.
Dulaney founded Structural Steel Services Inc. in Meridian in 1975. The company now has more than 300 employees and provides thousands of tons of fabricated steel to customers throughout the United States and several other countries.
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Jack Reed, Sr. Awarded Honorary Doctor of
Public Service from Millsaps College
Jack Reed, Sr., former MEC Chair and Chairman of R.W. Reed Co., was recently honored at the 2015 graduation ceremonies of Millsaps College and was awarded an honorary doctorate of public service.
Few individuals have positively impacted the state of Mississippi like Jack Raymond Reed Sr. A lifelong resident of Tupelo, Reed earned degrees from Vanderbilt University and New York University before returning to a life of business and service in his home state.
A veteran of the United States Army who served in Australia and Japan during the Second World War, Mr. Reed made a career in business, managing Reed's Department Store and Reed Manufacturing Company. Reed was instrumental in building the Community Development Foundation, focused on regional economic development, and the CREATE Foundation, Mississippi's first community foundation. As a successful business leader, Reed had a strong impact on the growth of Tupelo, but his legacy goes much farther.
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MEC PowerPlay Keynote Speaker David Abney Honored with Doctoral Degree from Delta State University
MEC PowerPlay keynote speaker and Delta State alumnus David Abney, CEO of UPS, added another milestone to his resume after being granted an honorary doctoral degree at the school's recent graduation ceremony.
Abney, who became UPS's CEO in 2014, is also the creator of Delta State's annual International Business Symposium in the College of Business. The IBS provides a unique look at current trends in the business world. The symposium celebrated its 10-year anniversary this April. Abney and his wife Sherry, both Delta natives, have sponsored the IBS since its inception.
Abney studied marketing at Delta State and was named the 2007 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year. He currently serves on the Delta State University Foundation Board of Directors.
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Dr. Glenn Boyce Named
Commissioner of Higher Education
The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning appointed Dr. Glenn Boyce, Associate Commissioner of Academic Affairs at the Institutions of Higher Learning, as Commissioner of Higher Education at a press conference held recently in Jackson, allowing Dr. Jim Borsig to return to his duties as president of Mississippi University for Women exclusively.
"Dr. Boyce has a proven track record of success in educational leadership," said Aubrey Patterson, President of the Board of Trustees. "With more than 30 years of experience working at all levels of education, we know he will provide excellent leadership to the system during this important time."
Dr. Boyce joined IHL in July after serving as President of Holmes Community College for more than nine years.
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Mississippi State University Selected as
UAS Center of Excellence
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently selected Mississippi State University as the location for its Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Center of Excellence. At the civilian academic center, Mississippi State University will lead 13 other universities in helping the FAA research methods to integrate UAS into the national airspace.
"The FAA's decision recognizes that Mississippi State University and the state of Mississippi are already leaders in unmanned systems. Mississippi has years of experience in UAS manufacturing, R&D, and testing, which has positioned the state as a national leader in this growing sector," Gov. Bryant said. "The Mississippi congressional delegation, Mississippi Development Authority and my office have been heavily involved with this process for the last year. Today, we are thrilled with the FAA's decision."
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C Spire Subsidiary Vu Digital Launches
Video-to-Data Program
 Vu Digital LLC recently announced the launch of their proprietary video-to-data (V2D) product, a powerful solution capable of converting all elements within video into metadata that can be used by marketers, content creators, distributors, publishers and curators looking to better inform their brand visibility or optimize video for search. For the first time, music, dialogue, faces, logos, objects, text, chyrons and graphics can be converted to chronologically indexed text. V2D provides a transcript of video and image frames along with metadata time-stamped with frame references for a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the context of the content.
V2D can be applied to any video, including traditional television programming, online video and even security and surveillance footage.
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VT Halter Marine Announces the Delivery for
MV Marjorie C to Pasha Hawaii
VT Halter Marine, Inc. has delivered the MV Marjorie C, a combination Container and Roll-on/Roll-off Car Truck Carrier (ConRo), to her longstanding customer Pasha Hawaii. The MV Marjorie C is the second U.S. Flag, Jones Act-qualified vessel built for Honolulu-based Pasha Hawaii and will join her sister ship, the MV Jean Anne, providing additional service to Hawaii via the Hawaii/Mainland trade lane.
"VT Halter Marine is proud to have delivered the MV Marjorie C to our very valued customer, George Pasha and the entire team at Pasha Hawaii," said VT Halter Marine CEO Bill Skinner. "This delivery could not have been accomplished without the team efforts of our two companies. We look forward to continuing our relationship as they grow their business with the acquisition of Horizon Lines which is expected to take place by the end of the second quarter 2015."
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MEC PowerPlay to Serve as
Springboard to Bright Future
What a great meeting! MEC members from across Mississippi came together to make the MEC PowerPlay Annual Meeting an overwhelming success. UPS CEO David Abney and Coach Ken Carter, both Mississippi natives, provided inspirational messages. Miss Mississippi Jasmine Murray entertained the crowd with her beautiful voice. In all, more than 2,300 leaders from across the state took part in the MEC PowerPlay! This speaks volumes about the support we receive from our members and sponsor organizations. MEC PowerPlay served as a great opportunity for professionals to receive sales and customer service training, and to learn more about policy regarding workforce and transportation. The morning sessions featured author and top salesman Hal Becker, sales expert Victor Antonio, and customer service experts David K. Aaker and Kelly McDonald. Lonnie P. Taylor and Joe McAndrew, plus a host of Mississippi panelists offered insight about workforce and transportation. Mississippi's brightest students took center stage during the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the STAR Student and STAR Teacher program, held during the morning at the Education Celebration. More than 285 students from high schools across Mississippi received this honor. Coach Ken Carter, McComb native and inspiration for the Hollywood movie Coach Carter, provided high-fives, laughs and brought people to their feet in his fantastic presentation during the morning motivational convocation. Click Here to View a Video of the session. UPS CEO David Abney, a Greenwood native, stole the show at the MEC Annual Meeting luncheon, giving a great perspective from his position as a top CEO. As well as discussing the potential for Mississippi. Click Here to View a Video of his Luncheon Keynote.We would like to sincerely thank all of our sponsors for their dedication to the success of MEC and their support of this incredible event. If you attended MEC PowerPlay, you likely picked up a copy of our 2015 Annual Report, entitled "Building Bridges to Tomorrow." (If you didn't - you can Click Here to view it.) MEC aims to do just that - build bridges to tomorrow to create a better future and put Mississippi in the place of greatest opportunity. It is through the support of our more than 11,000 members from our 1,100 member firms that we are able to put on great events like MEC PowerPlay. It is that same dedication from our members that help make a great place to live and work.
Keep the faith,
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ABOUT US
The Mississippi Economic Council has been the voice of Mississippi business since 1949. MEC deals with broad issues that relate to businesses through advocacy, research, resources and leadership. MEC has approximately 11,000 members from 1,100 member firms in 2,400 locations throughout Mississippi.
Greetings! You are receiving this newsletter because of your past involvement with the Mississippi Economic Council. For more information about MEC, please visit our website at www.msmec.com
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Mississippi Economic Council - The State Chamber of Commerce
248 E. Capitol Street, Suite 940 - Jackson, Mississippi 39201
P.O. Box 23276 - Jackson, Mississippi 39225-3276
Phone: 601-969-0022 - 1-800-748-7626
Fax: 601-353-0247 - 1-888-717-2809
Click Here for MEC Web Site
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