Mississippi Prospects

Dr. Nashlie Sephus is part of the Amazon AI team focusing on fairness in AI. Dr. Sephus formerly led the Amazon visual search and AR team which launched Part Finder. Previously, her team was acquired from Atlanta base start-up, ParkPick, where she served as the companies CTO. Find out more about this Jackson, Mississippi native’s vision of growth for her home state.

Best selling author, attorney, and speaker, Kwame Christian, is the director of the American Negotiation Institute and a respected voice in the field of negotiation and conflict resolution. Christian has conducted workshops throughout North American and abroad. Host of the world’s most popular negotiation podcast, Negotiate Anything, Kwame is dedicated to empowering professionals through the art and science of negotiation and persuasion. Listen now to level up your negotiation skills.

Kyle Sexton is an award-winning marketing strategist, international speaker and the author on topics about membership development, marketing and innovation. He was recognized in 2011 by Chamber Executive Magazine as one of the most influential innovators in the chamber of commerce industry. He has been marketing and selling memberships since 1996. Listen now to learn more about Kyle’s mindset for growth.

Ryan Miller serves as the Executive Director for Accelerate Mississippi, formerly the Office of Workforce Development for the state of Mississippi. The office was created by law in 2020 to oversee and coordinate state workforce development efforts. The office is focused on being a resource and advocate for partners that believe in Mississippi’s people and want to see more opportunities for high paying careers. Find out more about Miller’s plans to accelerate workforce efforts in Mississippi.

Former Dotcom executive and author Seth Godin said, “In a crowded marketplace, fitting in is failure. In a busy marketplace, not standing out is the same as being invisible. Business and economic development leaders often look at successful communities and they try to emulate what that community did to become successful, instead of looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their neighbors. Here to talk about how to differentiate your community through storytelling is Tyler Raborn, CEO of full-service marketing firm Raborn Media LLC. At Raborn Media, Tyler has married creativity with cost efficiency to produce a return-on-investment centered culture. Through creative storytelling, he has helped a variety of organizations achieve their goals. Join us to learn more!

Chances are if you’ve been involved in economic development and corporate recruitment during the last few years, you’ve heard discussions about opportunity zone funds or new market tax credits. Both of these programs are focused on investment and development in low-income communities across the country. While these programs may have similar goals, knowing which program may be the best option for you or your client often takes the guidance of an expert. Joining us in this episode is Certified Public Accountant Kathy Gelston, who is a financial analyst with VisionFirst Advisors. Kathy has nearly 30 years of executive-level, public sector experience, previously serving as the associate vice president of corporate engagement and economic development at Mississippi State University, and as chief financial officer for the Mississippi Development Authority, the state’s lead community and economic development agency. Join us to learn more!

When you hear the term influencer, it often conjures up the image of a young person on social media traveling through exotic and interesting places. Or, eating some delicious food photographed perfectly. However, our next guest is helping bring the term influencer back to its roots, meaning someone with the ability to inspire and guide the actions of others. With more than 20 years of experience in business, seven as a consultant, Cause Collaboration’s Erin Meadows has carefully watched and studied what makes organizations and the people in them succeed—and what makes them struggle—concluding that most successful organizations keep four key aspects in alignment: 1) Thoughtful strategy, 2) Clear, honest, effective communication, 3) intentional team-building, and 4) accountable leadership. With these four things in alignment, Erin believes any organization can succeed. Join us to learn more!

This quote was taken straight from a presentation by this episode’s special guest: “If you want to think like a futurist, stop marveling at What’s New and begin to think about What’s Next.” Here to talk about trends which are sure to affect Mississippi and our future in the next decade is Ted Abernathy. Ted is the managing partner of Economic Leadership LLC, a consultancy currently working in more than a dozen states to develop economic and workforce strategies. Ted has 35 years of experience in directing economic development and workforce development programs. Join us to learn more about trendspotting lifestyle and business trends with Mr. Abernathy.

Special Guest: Will Coppage, Executive Director for the Washington County Economic Alliance Description: Anyone who's spent time in Mississippi knows the state boasts many distinct regions, from the Gulf Coast to the Pine Belt, or even the Hills Region. But no other region evokes the vivid imagery of Mississippi more so than the Delta, best known for cotton and the state's most renowned export, The Blues. Once the heart of the state's agriculture-based economy, the Delta today is home to some of our state's most impoverished communities. Not willing to let this narrative persist, the Washington County Economic Alliance and several key partners have developed an innovative program for at-risk young people to provide them with access to educational and workforce training. Join us to learn more!

Special Guests: Danielle Winningham, Chief Operating Officer for the Madison County Economic Development Authority and Jan Collins, Executive Director of the Madison County Business League & Foundation Description: Workforce development is a top driver of site location decisions made by most companies today. During the recruitment process, economic development officials will be asked a couple of key questions: First, do you have the workforce to get the job done, and second, do you have a sustainable workforce development model to provide the talent pipeline? Madison County, Mississippi has embraced these challenges with their award-winning workforce development initiatives, which take a multi-pronged approach, incorporating educational partners in the private sector. Join us to learn more!

Special Guest: Lindsay Ward, Economic Development Manager of the Workforce Development Division for the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District Description: When you hear people talking about economic development, what they're often speaking of is industrial development, which is only one piece of the true economic development pie. Another important piece of this pie is community and commercial development. Think of it as diversifying your investment portfolio. Joining us to talk about her award-winning commercial redevelopment program is Lindsay Ward, with the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, where she is the economic development manager for the Workforce Development Division. Join us to learn more!

Special Guest: Andre’ Kennebrew, Leadership Development Project Lead & Talent Acquisition Senior Manager, Chick-fil-A Corporate Description: Just as important as having a great site to attract a new company or helping an existing business expand is having the talent to get the job done. Talent attraction and retention continues to be a top factor in corporate site selection. Andre’ Kennebrew is well known for his unique ability to recruit, develop and retain top talent for Chick-fil-A. Andre’ serves up his process for recruiting and maintaining a productive and enthusiastic workforce.

Special Guest: Deborah Mcgill-Smith, Vice-President - Industrial Brokerage & Consulting, Cushman & Wakefield | EGS Description: You’ve heard the saying many times before, “the most important thing in real estate is location, location, location!” Even though more commerce is being conducted electronically, location and location strategy still are important factors for any company. And for the local economic developer how you present this location option can be the difference between winning or losing a project. Deborah McGill-Smith shares her insight on effective site marketing.

Special Guest: John Longshore, Principal, VP of Innovation, Global Location Strategies Description: State and local economic developers often place their primary focus and their attention on the site selector themselves, but is it possible that the site selector is merely a small piece of the larger puzzle? John Longshore will discuss the role of the site selection consultant and other important factors to consider that could benefit your community.

Special Guest: Gray Swoope, President & CEO, VIsionFirst Advisors Description: British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said “Plans are of little importance, but planning is essential.” You also may have heard the Maxim, “those who fail to plan, are planning to fail.” Gray Swoope will walk us through the key elements to developing and implementing strategic plans that can benefit your economic development organization.

Special Guest: Josh Bays, Partner, Site Selection Group Description: In the eyes of many people Mississippi is still primarily an agriculture state, but what they don’t know is that we have made tremendous strides in the manufacturing sector. Agriculture and manufacturing actually go very well together. You have a population that is very comfortable working with their hands and making things. We like to say “if you can make it, we can make it in Mississippi.” Josh Bays will share his perspective on the North American trends of industrial site selection.

Special Guest: Carol Henderson, Senior Director, Business Incentives Practice, Cushman & Wakefield Description: High tech jobs are desired by many communities due to the higher salaries and what it can mean for the community, but these jobs require a workforce with a higher skill set that often seeks out a certain quality of life within the community before committing to live and work there. Do your community and workforce have what it takes to secure these high tech industries?

Special Guest: Jeannette Goldsmith, Vice President, Strategic Development Group Description: When competing for economic development projects, the main goal across the country is pretty simply “don’t get cut”. Jeannette Goldsmith will critique RFI responses and discuss the “why” or “why not” for why some communities get cut and other keep moving to the next round.

Special Guest: Chris Schastock, Senior Vice President, CBRE | Advisory & Transaction Services Description: Site selection is sometimes based more on site elimination and risk mitigation than selection. Companies want to be successful and profitable through a safe investment. How are your and your community building a team to formulate core pillars for success when the opportunity comes?

Special Guest: Tim Mask, President, MWB Creative Description: “You can go farther faster in Mississippi”, yet between 2010-2014 we still lost ~8,700 total graduates from Mississippi colleges to opportunities out of the state. With Mississippi experience low employment, how do we address the brain drain in order to attract and retain our future workforce?

Special Guest: Christine Chmura, CEO and Chief Economist, Chmura Economics & Analytics Description: In the corporate site selection world, data is king! It is easy to say, “We have the workforce to do the job.” “Our economy is growing.” But site selection consultants want more than just your word. They want the data to back up these claims. CEO & Chief Economist of Chmura Economics & Analytics, Chris Chmura will help us better understand how to turn labor and economic data and tell a compelling story to site selection consultants.

Special Guest: Rhea Steele, Chief Operating Officer, DECA, Inc. Description: An organization's ability to adapt with a rapidly changing world can be the difference between success and failure. Each day organizations are faced with new internal and external challenges which require small or even big changes. Building resilience within an organization can set an organization on the path for sustainable growth. Strategy advisor, Rhea Steele will talk about common changes or disruptions and how to handle them to keep your organization on the path to sustainable growth.

Special Guest: Aaron Brossoit, Chief Executive Officer, Golden Shovel Agency Description: If you’ve watched any science fiction movie or television show in the last decade chances are you have seen virtual reality devices used as unique tools. These uses are sometimes beyond even our own imagination. However, our next guest is here to tell us how virtual reality isn’t just science fiction or a novelty entertainment item. It is a powerful tool finding its way into our workspace, including the economic development world.

Special Guest: Chat Phillips, Senior Consultant, Navigator Consulting Description: Mississippi has done very well in recruiting foreign direct investments to the state. All you have to do is look at our mix of corporate partners like; Nissan, Toyota, Calbee Foods, Ajinomoto Windsor, Continental, and Schulz Xtruded Products, just to name a few. Since 2016, the state has announced 16 foreign direct investment projects accounting for more than 4,300 new jobs worth a total of 1.93 billion dollars in new corporate investments. Listen with us as we hear from Chat Phillips of Navigator Consulting on what makes Mississippi attractive for FDI.

Special Guest: Guillermo Mazier, Vice President, Global Innovation, Conway, Inc. Description: In the world of economic development if you don’t tell your community’s story, then someone else will. In some cases, you may not like that narrative. This is why marketing your community is a critical component of economic development. The marketing world has changed dramatically in recent decades. Gone are the days where printed pieces alone will get the job done. Today, you need video content to go with a strong digital marketing campaign. Guillermo Mazier, Vice President of Global Innovation at Conway, shares information on digital marketing campaigns and how to use them to leverage your communities competitiveness.

Chamber membership sales strategies, techniques, and skills to help you build your membership base week to week, month to month and year to year.

Special Guest: Jim Carroll, J.A. Carroll Consulting Predicting the future is not an easy game, but making database predictions based upon trends and careful observation certainly up your success rate of accurate prediction. Jim Carroll shares growing trends that could change industry recruitment within economic development. Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Kim Moore, Managing Director, Newmark Knight Frank Description: Today’s workers need “21st Century skills,” which include technical literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving, adaptability to new work environments, and social/communication skills. Earnings gaps between those proficient and not proficient in 21st Century skills will continual to grow. States and communities that develop creative solutions for meeting the changing labor force training needs of today’s companies will have an edge in the “War on Talent.” We will discuss how Mississippi’s target industries could be impacted by mega-trends and proactive solutions to keep Mississippi at the top of their competitive game for retention and recruitment of talent in this century and the next.

Special Guest: Ben Teague, Vice President of Strategic Development, Biltmore Farms Description: Mississippi native, Benjamin Teague,has had a well-rounded economic development career. Over the past 16 years Benjamin has worked to place more than 60 economic development projects and over $1.5 Billion dollars in capital investment in multiple states. Ben was selected as North America’s Top 50 Best Economic Developers by Consultant Connect in 2017 and Top 40 under 40 for economic developers internationally by Development Counselors International (DCI) in 2017 as well. Ben has shared with us his 5 most powerful lessons learned during his economic development career in this episode. Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Mark Williams, President, Strategic Development Group Description: Mark Williams discusses his process and fundamentals for site selection along with current trends in the Southeast. You don’t want to miss hearing about drivers for key decision makers! Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Didi Caldwell, Founding Principal, Global Location Strategies Description: The success of attracting economic development projects depends on many corporate location issues such as; workforce, incentives, corporate taxes, permitting speeds, cost of doing business, etc. This list changes depending on current trends and issues of importance. Recently, available ready sites has been near or at the top of this list. Learn from Didi Caldwell on what site selectors are expecting from your site for projects and how to be prepared for maximum success. Host: Jeff Rent, Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Jackson Alliance Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Darin Buelow, Principal and National Practice Leader, Real Estate and Location Strategy, Deloitte Consulting LLP Is the opioid crisis depleting your workforce? Tainting your community's quality of life? How is it eating into your municipal budget? Explore how the opioid crisis can impact corporate location decisions. Host: Jeff Rent, Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Jackson Alliance Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Chad Newell, President, Area Development Partnership Description: It’s something we have that is infinite, but yet there is never enough of it, and that is time. We’ve got travel, dinners, work meetings, and work breakfasts. We’ve got to get the kids off to school and to sporting events. Finding a work life balance, especially in economic development, can be incredibly challenging. Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Jon Maynard, President and CEO of the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation Description: A common saying in economic development is that community development precedes economic development. In other words, you can’t have economic development occur unless the community is successful. Our special guest, Jon Maynard, will make a strong case that community development IS economic development Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Keith Turner, Member, Watkins & Eager Description: A top factor in the site selection process is the availability of sites for development. Navigating the development process can be challenging in any state. Learn more on how to prep your site from our guest, Keith Turner, leader of the Environmental Practice Group at Watkins & Eager. Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Glenn McCullough, Executive Director, MS Development Authority Description: Mississippi’s Governor Phil Bryant likes to say that, “Economic development is a team sport.” What this means is that by working together Mississippi is able to punch above its weight. In economic development, the state recently won the Continental Tire deal. $1.45 billion-dollar investment that will create 2,500 jobs. States across the country competed for this project. Collaboration, and that is where Mississippi excels, was one of the deciding factors and why Mississippi is a top competitor in economic development. Host: Jeff Rent, Senior Vice President of Economic Development, Greater Jackson Alliance Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Lara Bowman, Executive Director, The Enterprise Description: Disruption or disrupt, if you look in the dictionary a number of different definitions come up. Some of the more common ones; to cause disorder or turmoil; to destroy, usually temporarily; to break apart, but in business this is one of the new buzzwords. To radically change an industry, business, strategy, etc. by introducing a new product or service that creates a new market. Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Trey Hess & Annie Mcilwain of PPM Consultants Description: Environmental 101: Brownfield redevelopment, regulatory compliance, and what economic developers need to know before proceeding with the acquisition and development of a property. Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: Ted Abernathy, Managing Partner, Economic Leadership Description: Mississippi has a complex, diverse and rich history. It is the birthplace of America’s music. Home to musical greats like Robert Johnson, Jimmie Rogers and even Elvis Presley. Beyond the states musical heritage, Mississippi has helped shape modern economic development and corporate recruitment, going back as far as 1929 when Columbia, Mississippi Mayor Hugh White help launched the Balance Agriculture with Industry Act, which was adopted in the 1930s. Today, national trends will play an important role in shaping Mississippi’s future in economic development.

Special Guest: Ron Kitchens, CEO, Southwest Partnership and Consultant Connect Description: Teamwork is what wins in economic development. Collaboration between local, community, regional and even state level partners is critical. If you can’t work together your results will be less than desirable. But remember, projects begin and end locally. Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Special Guest: David Rumbarger, President and CEO, Community Development Foundation Description: Leadership is defined as one person inspiring another person to take a positive action. It can be an elected official, corporate leader, or even your manager, community leader of some sort; how about a parent or your personal mentor? Effective leadership is one of the most important factors in any successful community. Host: Jeff Rent Studio: Podastery Studios (twitter.com/Podastery) - http://podastery.com Learn More: MEDC - http://medc.ms/

Welcome to Mississippi Prospects, a podcast series from the Mississippi Economic Development Council