(Program subject to change. Check this site for complete program details as they emerge.)
Sunday February 17
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Registration Desk Open
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Exhibit Set-Up
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Reception at the Historic Hoover/Randle House
Randle House
(Click to view larger image)
Monday February 18
7:15 am - 8:00 am Continental Breakfast
8:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration Desk Open
8:30 am - 9:15 am Welcome and General Session
"What is Economic Development, Really?"
Michael J. Olivier, CED - Regional President of the Americas, Future Pipe USA and former Secretary, Louisiana Economic Development Department, Baton Rouge, La.
9:15 am - 10:00 am General Session
"The Tupelo Miracle: How Mississippi Landed Toyota"
David Rumbarger, CEcD - CEO, Community Development Foundation, Tupelo, Miss.
10:00 am - 10:15 am Break
10:15 am - 11:00 am
"The Incentives Factor: Why Incentives are Necessary, How They Work and why they are so Controversial"
Robert E. Leak, Jr., CEcD - President, Winston-Salem Business, Inc., Winston-Salem, N.C.
11:00 am - 11:45 am General Session
"Winning in the Raging Global War for Talent and how it Affects Economic Development"
Mike Wheless, Chairman and CEO, Wheless & Associates Executive Search, Birmingham, Ala.
12:00pm- 1:30 pm Luncheon
Keynote Speaker
Former Louisiana Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Baton Rouge, La.
1:45 pm - 2:30 pm General Session
"The Recruitment Process and Why Product is so Essential"
Joe Max Higgins, CEcD. AICP, CES - CEO, Columbus-Lowndes Development Link, Columbus, Miss.
Linda Swann, CEcD, HLM - Assistant Director, Alabama Development Office, Montgomery, Ala.
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm General Session
"What Site Selectors Expect From a Community"
Jubal Smith, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Dallas, Tex.
3:00 pm - 3:15 pm Break
3:15 pm - 4:00 pm General Session
"How you can be a More Valuable Member of the Economic Development Team"
Jay Chesshir - President and CEO, Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce, Little Rock, Ark.
J. Mac Holladay, CCE, CEO, Market Street Services, Atlanta, Ga.
Lamar Smith, Director of Economic Development, Alabama Gas Corporation, Birmingham, Ala.
4:00 pm - 4:30 pm General Session
The Southern Economic Development Council
Gene Stinson, CEcD, CAE - President, Southern Economic Development Council, Atlanta, Ga.
Robert Ingram, PCED - SEDC Chairman, President & CEO, Baldwin County EDA, Robertsdale, Ala.
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Reception
Tuesday February 19
7:15 am - 8:00 am Continental Breakfast
8:00 am - 9:00 am Registration Desk Open
8:30 am - 9:15 am General Session
Effective Use of Alabama Tax Incentives
Bruce P. Ely, Partner, Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP, Birmingham, Ala.
K. Wood Herren, Partner, Bradley Arant Rose & White LLP, Birmingham, Ala.
9:15 am - 10:00 am General Session
"Are we on the Same Page? Understanding the Economic Development Process for Boards and Elected Officials"
Jay A. Garner, CEcD, CCE, FM, HLM, President and Founder of the Competitive Strategies Group, LLC, Atlanta, Ga.
10:00 am - 10:15 am Break
10:15 am - 11:00 am General Session
"The Future of the South -- Which Way Now?"
J. Mac Holladay, CCE, CEO, Market Street Services, Atlanta, Ga.
11:00 am - 11: 15 am General Session
Closing Comments and Adjournments
Southern Business & Development
P.O. Box 380789
Birmingham AL 35213-0789
(Shipping Address)
4237 Old Leeds Lane
Mountain Brook AL 35213
205-871-1220
Fax: 205-871-1375
ShellyJo@SB-D.com
Morgan@SB-D.com
Michael@SB-D.com