MEC CAPITAL DAY

Nearly 1,000 Attend MEC Capital Day 2023

Nearly 1,000 business and community leaders attended MEC Capital Day 2023 on Thursday, Jan. 5. MEC's largest legislative event was held at the Mississippi Trade Mart and the Mississippi State Capitol.

This year, the legislative briefing returned to the State Capitol for the first time since 2020, allowing attendees to meet with their legislators while there. MEC Capital Day focused on the priorities during the 2023 session.

Attendees heard from:

Morning Session – Mississippi Trade Mart

Welcome: With MEC Chair Martin Williams, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling Group
A conversation with Governor Tate Reeves: Strengthening Mississippi’s Economy by Building on the success of 2022
Connecting the Dots: Checking the Pulse of College, Business, and Workforce Development Leaders on ways to Collaborate for Improving Education Outcomes and Increasing College and Career Readiness. Featuring:

Dr. Al Rankins, Jr., Commissioner, Institutions of Higher Learning
Dr. Mary Graham, President, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
Ryan Miller, Executive Director, AccelerateMS.

Staying Up-to-Date: MEC’s Jason Word discusses ways MEC members can keep their fingers on the Pulse of what’s happening at the Capital.

Policy Insight: Taking the Pulse on Legislative issues impacting the business community. Featuring:

John McKay, President & CEO, Mississippi Manufacturers Association
Derek Easley, President & CEO, Business and Industry Political Education Committee
Gwen Howard, Executive Director, Mississippi Economic Development Council

Capitol Briefings – Mississippi State Capitol

What’s Ahead for Legislative Session: Leaders from the Mississippi Senate and House of Representatives outline priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session. Featuring:

Delbert Hosemann – Lt. Governor
Philip Gunn - Speaker of the House
Dean Kirby – Senate President ProTem
Jason White – House Speaker ProTem
Josh Harkins – Senate Finance Committee Chair
Trey Lamar – House Ways and Means Committee Chair

Bryant, Reeves & Gunn Highlight MEC Capital Day

Over 1,000 business and community leaders from across Mississippi braved cold temperatures to join state officials and legislators for MEC Capital Day on January 4. Capital Day discussions included a panel on Regionalism and Workforce Development presented by community leaders from across Mississippi, and overviews of top legislative agenda items.

Speakers at MEC Capital Day included:

Governor Phil Bryant
Lt. Governor Tate Reeves
Speaker of the House Philip Gunn
Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann
2017-2018 MEC Chair William Yates III, CEO/President – W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Company
President Pro-Tempore of the Senate Terry Burton
Speaker Pro-Tempore of the House Greg Snowden
Senator Eugene S. “Buck” Clarke, Appropriations Committee Chair
Representative John Read, Appropriations Committee Chair