Sponsored by The Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship
In This Issue
Save the Date
MSED Alumni and Friends Tailgate September 5th

The Student Economic Development Association (SEDA) is planing a tailgate for the USM vs. Mississippi State game on September 5th. Mark your calendars and plan to join us for a great time of fun and networking. The game starts at 9pm. Stay tuned for more details. 
Job Openings 

Regional Economic Enterprise of Mississippi Executive Director, Economic Development, Choctaw, MS View Posting
Upcoming Events
July 6, 2015

Sports Management Program Joining MSED Program

Effective July 1, 2015 the Sports Management Program will be joining MSED and the tourism program to form the new   Department of Economic Development, Tourism, and Sport Management in the College of Business. USM is a leader in developing sport administrators, facility and event managers, league officials, and security-related personnel with industry-specific skills in sport safety and security.  USM offers both a Bachelor of Science and a Master's of Science degree in sport management.  The most recent offering is a first in the nation MBA with Emphasis in Sport Security Management in partnership with the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4) and practioners from such places as the SMG managed Mercedes-Benz Superdome and the Dallas Cowboys' AT&T stadium.  The new department will be seeking ways to take advantage of the synergies between sporting event management, tourism, and economic development. 
Alumni Spotlight with Ashley Congelosi Llewellyn
Ashley Cangelosi Llewellyn joined the St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation (STEDF) in June 2013. She currently serves as Programs Manager, overseeing strategic partnerships and all activities designed for business retention and development, workforce development, and entrepreneurship. These initiatives contribute to the impact of economic development within her local community and nurture local business. 

In 2014, Ashley launched a Workforce Development Series that shares relevant workforce development information regarding St. Tammany, the Greater New Orleans region and the state of Louisiana with business leaders, community representatives, and economic development partners in the area. 

Prior to joining STEDF, Ashley served as Manager of Transition Programs in the Office of First Year Initiative at The University of Southern Mississippi. She also served as a graduate assistant in the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship and as a national consultant for Chi Omega Fraternity. Ashley's range of skills and work experiences include strategic communication, leadership training, event planning, and organizational development. 

In service of continued professional development, Ashley is currently seeking certification through the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association (LIDEA) and completing additional coursework through the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute. These professional certifications also serve as credit toward future certification as an IEDC Certified Economic Developer. 

Ashley graduated from Southern Miss with a Master's degree in Economic Development in 2011 and a Bachelor's degree in Speech Communication from the Honors College in 2008. She held various leadership positions with the Chi Omega Fraternity-Epsilon Delta Chapter, Southern Style, The Legacy-Student Alumni Association, and the Student Government Association. She also received numerous awards and honors such as Miss Southern Miss and was named to the Southern Miss Student Hall of Fame.
Mississippi Development Authority Welcomes New Leadership

Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) has announced Glen McCullogh, Jr. as the new executive director and Mike McGrevey as the new deputy director

 

Glen McCullough is the former chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority, former director of the Appalachian Regional Commission and former mayor of Tupelo, Miss. He holds a bachelor's degree in agricultural economics from Mississippi State University.

 

Mike McGrevey comes to MDA from the city of Meridian where he served as chief administrative officer responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the city. McGrevey holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Master of Science in Management from Webster University and a Ph.D. in Education from Mississippi State University. 

Mississippi Needs to Improve Its State Economic Climate

Based on a CNBC scorecard on state economic climates, Mississippi ranked number 43 of the 50 states for business.  The ranking was based on sixty measures of competitiveness, developed with input from a broad and diverse array of business and policy experts, official government sources.  Mississippi scored #1 and #2 on cost of living and cost of doing business, but was dragged down by the state economy, technology & innovation, education, and business friendliness.  Comparatively slow economic growth and job creation along with the number of major corporations headquartered hurt Mississippi in the rankings. Traditional measures of K-12 education, including test scores, class size and spending also was a major detractor.  The top states were Minnesota, Texas, and Utah, while the bottom states were Hawaii, West Virginia, and Rhode Island. 

Southern Miss Economic Development | [email protected] | 118 College Drive #5191
Hattiesburg, MS 39401-0001