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Hotel / Dress Information

MEDC 2008 Summer Conference
"SAILING THROUGH TO EXCELLENCE "
July 23-25 . IP Resort . Biloxi

SCHEDULE

Wednesday, July 23

9:00 . . Registration

10:00   MEDC Board meeting

11:30   Luncheon – “Sailing Through to Excellence”
SPEAKER: William S. Smith, III, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Trinity Yachts, LLC, Gulfport, MS

1:30     “Rebuilding for Excellence”
SPEAKER: Ricky Matthews, President and Publisher, the Sun Herald, Biloxi, MS

2:45     Ice Cream Break
            SPONSOR: AT&T

3:15     “The Arts Are Economic Development”
            MODERATOR:  Sarah McCullough, Heritage and Culture Development, MDA
            PANELISTS: 
            -Marjie Gowdy, Executive Director, Ohr-O’Keefe Museum of Art, Biloxi, MS
            -Gwen Impson, President, The Arts, Hancock County, Bay St. Louis, MS
            -Sallye Killebrew, Arts Recovery Coordinator, Mississippi Arts Commission, Jackson, MS
            -Cynthia Minton, Executive Director, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, Gulfport,            MS
            -Gayle Petty-Johnson, Executive Director, Walter Anderson Museum of Art,         Ocean Springs, MS
           
5:30     Welcome Reception
            SPONSOR: GOVERNMENT CONSULTANTS, INC.

Thursday, July 24
7:30     Networking Breakfast
            Sponsor:  Balch & Bingham LLP

8:30     Option 1 – “Excellence in Communications”
            Speaker:  Blake Wilson, President, Mississippi Economic Council

            Option 2 – “Organizational Excellence”
            Speaker:  Dr. Ann Atkinson, CEO, Atkinson & Associates and COO, CoreNet                              Global, Inc., Atlanta, GA

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

10:15   Option 1 – “Email Etiquette”
            Speaker:  Blake Wilson, President, Mississippi Economic Council

            Option 2 – “Leadership Excellence”
            Speaker:  Dr. Ann Atkinson, CEO, Atkinson & Associates and COO, CoreNet                              Global, Inc., Atlanta, GA

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

Afternoon Activities:

-GOLF at The Preserve Golf Club
SPONSOR:  Mississippi Power Company

-BILOXI SHRIMPING TRIP – Board a real shrimping boat and see all the sea creatures they bring up with the shrimp—a real eco-marine experience!  (70-90 minutes, box lunch on board)
SPONSOR: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

-FISHING TRIP – Try your luck at bottom-fishing in the waters along the coastline and Deer Island. (3 hours, box lunch on board, limited to first 16 paid registrants)
SPONSOR: Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians

-“An ExtraORHdinary Afternoon of Art, Shopping and Food” – East lunch, shop and visit the Walter Anderson Museum in Ocean Springs and tour the “Pods” at the Ohr-O’Keefe Museum in Biloxi. (3 hours)
SPONSOR: Southern Mississippi Planning & Development District

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

Friday, July 25
7:30     Networking Breakfast
            Sponsor:  Tennessee Valley Authority

8:30     “MARKET SIGNALS: What The Financial Markets Are Telling Us Now”
            Speaker: Professor Peter Ricchiuti, Assistant Dean, Freeman School of Business,   Tulane University and founder of Burkenroad Reports, New Orleans.

Outline of topics covered:
Outlook for the Deficit and Interest Rates
Outlook for Energy Prices
Market Valuation Techniques
Equity Valuation Techniques
Historic Pricing and Performance of Various Asset Classes
Pros and Cons of International Investing

9:30     Business session

10:30  Door prizes and adjourn
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Hotel / Dress Information:
IP Resort, 850 Bayview Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39350

Room rate: $104 per night, single or double. Block of rooms reserved through July 3.

Reservations: Go to I P Resort Biloxi or call 888.946.2847. Mention the group reservation code S08600.

Directions: From I-10, take Exit 46A - I-110 S / MS 15 S toward Biloxi/Keesler AFB; take Exit 1-D - Bayview Avenue; turn left onto Bayview Avenue. For check-in and valet parking, go straight at traffic light. For self-parking in garage, turn left at traffic light.

Dress: Casual attire is encouraged at all functions with the exception of business attire for the Thursday night Governor's Cup and Community Economic Devleopment Awards Reception and Banquet.