Contact: Maridith Geuder
A July 9 economic development forum at Mississippi State will feature local, state and regional representatives discussing how to enhance local community-university partnerships.
Co-sponsored with the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, the half-day Wednesday session in the Leo Seal M-Club Building will focus specifically on economic development and related topics.
"We want to generate an open discussion that can lead to stronger partnerships designed to move the region and our state ahead," said Amy Tuck, special assistant to MSU Interim President Vance Watson and the event's mistress of ceremonies. "Most of our time will be spent allowing participants to engage the panelists with questions and discussion."
The program begins with an 11 a.m. luncheon. While an invitation-only event, the forum--including the luncheon--is open to the news media. Reservations should be made as soon as possible with Jennifer Glaze at 662-325-3221 or jglaze@pres.msstate.edu.
Vance H. Watson, longtime MSU vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine, will be among the panelists. Others will include:
--Del Boyette, principal with Atlanta, Ga.-based Boyette-Levy, a strategic consulting firm that recently concluded a strategic analysis of Starkville commissioned by the GSDP.
--John Bradley, senior vice president for economic development with the Tennessee Valley Authority and a leader of the TVA Megasites Program.
--Terry Kemp, customer service general manager for TVA's Mississippi District and GSDP chair.
--Phil Paradice, director of the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration regional office in Atlanta.
--Gray Swoope, a West Point native now serving as executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority.
--Blake Wilson, president and chief executive officer of the Mississippi Economic Council.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.