MEDC 2009 Summer Conference
July 22-24, 2009
COMMUNICATE. EDUCATE. INNOVATE "A Beacon for the Future"
Beau Rivage, Biloxi, MS

Wednesday, July 22

9:00 AM                 Registration

11:30 AM               Luncheon – “Success One Pint at a Time”
Speaker: Leslie Henderson, Founder/Owner, Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company, Kiln, MS

Founded in September 2003 as Mississippi’s first packaging brewery since prohibition, Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company now produces five different beers that are sold in three states. Their mission: “We do not tell people what to like, we just give them great choices.”

1:30 PM                 “Closing the Generation Gap”
Speaker: Kimberly Nastasi, IOM, CEO, MS Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Gulfport, MS

In today’s ever changing workforce, multiple generations are working together. Understanding how to manage, how to motivate and what drives each generation ensures a successful workplace. Learn the ABC’s of each generation and what makes them tick.

2:45 PM                 Ice Cream Break
                                Sponsor: AT&T

3:15 PM                 Using Social Media to Your Advantage!
Speaker:   Mark J. James, CEcD, Principal, ED Solutions, Inc., Powell, OH    
Learn the latest social media tools to be more effective in business attraction, business retention, attracting and retaining ‘talent’ and community development.

5:30 PM                 Welcome Reception
................................ Sponsor: Government Consultants

Thursday, July 23

7:15-8:15 AM        Networking Breakfast
.................................Sponsor: Balch & Bingham LLP 

7:30 AM                 Registration

8:30 AM       A Current Snapshot – Technology in Economic and Community Development
                          Speaker:  Mark J. James, CEcD, Principal, ED Solutions, Inc., Powell, OH
Can site selectors and visitors to your area access all the information you offer on your website using their mobile devices? An overview of websites (mobile and otherwise), contact management systems, the latest office tools, GIS, charting, email, marketing tools, etc.

9:45 AM                 Networking Break
                                Sponsor:  Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC 

10:15 AM               The Innovative University
Speaker: Dr. Martha D. Saunders, President, University of Southern Mississippi
The role of the university in economic and community development. 

11:30                      Lunch: tickets provided for all attendees not involved in activities

Thursday Afternoon Activities:

Golf:  Sunkist Country Club Golf Course, Biloxi
Enjoy lunch at the club and then an afternoon of golf on this beautiful course.
(12:00 lunch; 12:30 shotgun start – directions available at registration)
Sponsor: Mississippi Power Company

Tour of Trinity Yachts, Gulfport, Mississippi  
After lunch at a local spot, tour one of the world’s elite builders of custom superyachts.
(3 hours, 12:00 bus leaves hotel – limited to first 20 paid registrants)
Sponsor:  Harrison County Development Commission

Tour of Lazy Magnolia Brewery, Kiln, Mississippi 
See the Mississippi Gulf Coastline from the Beau Rivage to Pass Christian, have lunch at a local diner and see where Mississippi’s new favorite beer is made.
(3 hours, 12:00 bus leaves hotel – limited to first 20 paid registrants)
Sponsor:  Hancock County Port & Harbor 

Sailing on the Biloxi Schooner, Biloxi, MS
Have lunch on board this authentic replica of a 19th century Biloxi oyster schooner as you sail the Mississippi Sound.
(3 hours; 12:00 bus leaves hotel – limited to first 40 paid registrants)
Sponsor:  Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
 
Thursday evening

Governor’s Cup / Community Economic Development Awards
6:30 PM                 Reception
7:30 PM                 Banquet

Friday, July 24

7:15 – 8:15 AM     Networking Breakfast

8:30 AM                 The YP Impact!
Moderator: Kimberly Nastasi, IOM, CEO, MS Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Gulfport, MS
Panelists:
Heather Brown, Co-Chair, Jones County Young Professionals, Laurel, MS 
Sara Carmichael, Manager, Chamber of Commerce, Meridian, MS 
Christen Hartley, Coordinator, Coast Young Professionals, MS Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Gulfport, MS 

Young Professionals entering the workforce are requiring companies to rethink employee strategy.  The way to recruit and retain this educated, diverse and tech-savvy new generation is by understanding and embracing these qualities.

9:30 AM                Tapping Into the Programs of the Economic Development Administration
Speaker: Tonia Williams, CEcD, Economic Development Representative, U. S. Economic Development Administration, Atlanta, GA

Learn about the programs of the EDA, the agency’s current funding priorities and evaluation process, along with updates related to recent federal funding opportunities (FFOs) such as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act “aka stimulus” and Supplemental Disaster Relief assistance.

10:30 AM               Business meeting

11:30 AM               Door prizes and MEDC $1,000 cash giveaway

Be Computer Savvy! Sign up now for the MEDC Facebook Group and for Twitter.  You will receive information about the upcoming conference.  Follow the links on the MEDC website at www.medc.ms.  Have you heard about them, but never used them?  This will be a great way to learn by experience. 
Hands on Learning – The “Internet Aces” will be on hand during the conference to show attendees how to use social networking tools Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and blogging for their own membership communications.