Governor Haley Barbour announces “Momentum Mississippi” committee
Many from around the state selected to committee

SPECIAL TO THE DBJ

Governor Haley Barbour has announced the members of Momentum Mississippi at the group’s first-ever meeting. The new organization was created to help formulate a long-range economic development plan for the state. Anthony Topazi, President of Mississippi Power Company, will lead the broad-based group that has members from every region of the state. The group met recently in Jackson to begin work on recommendations.

“I am proud of the leaders who have agreed to begin working on this committee. They have great expertise and experience and will provide good counsel for an effective economic development strategy,” said Governor Barbour. “This influential group can help build the partnerships necessary to create more and better jobs in Mississippi.”

The Momentum Mississippi team will be comprised of a Special Task Force and several regional and issue committees.

The group will start with Blueprint Mississippi’s recommendations, crafted by state business and higher education leaders and the Mississippi Economic Council. Momentum Mississippi immediately fulfills one of the recommendations of Blueprint Mississippi – the implementation of the Statewide Economic Development Planning Act of 1987. The Act calls for a strategic, statewide approach to economic development that is systematically reviewed and updated. Momentum Mississippi will also draw on other reports such as the McCoy Working Group plan – developed by university and community colleges earlier this year.

Governor Barbour said that Momentum Mississippi’s initial recommendations will be included as part of his 2005 legislative agenda. “It should be no surprise that Momentum Mississippi will be a top priority for this Administration. Job creation is our state's most urgent need,” said Governor Barbour. “With innovative ideas from the private and public sector, this economic development strategy will help Mississippi become a major player in the global marketplace,” he added. “Our focus will not be on just another report, our focus will be on results – results measured in more and better jobs in Mississippi.”

The Special Task Force for Economic Development Planning, the statutory authority for Momentum Mississippi, is made up of the following appointments with terms concurrent with the Governor’s.

They are as follows: Special Task Force: Anthony Topazi of Gulfport, Business Momentum Mississippi Chairman,   President of Mississippi Power Company   • Robert Khayat, Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, representing public Universities • Clyde Muse of Raymond, president of Hinds of Junior College, representing Junior Colleges • Pete Johnson of Clarksdale, Co-Chairman of Delta Regional Authority, representing Federal agencies •   Admiral Tom Donaldson of Bay St. Louis, Director of the John C. Stennis Space Center, representing Federal Agencies • Aubrey Patterson of Tupelo, Chairman/CEO of Bancorp South, representing Business • Carolyn Shanks of Jackson, Business President/CEO Entergy, representing Business • Warren Hood Jr. of Hattiesburg, COB/CEO of Hood Industries, Inc., representing Business •   Tommy Wallace of Columbia, Wallace Construction, representing Business • Jerry St. Pe of Pascagoula, representing Business • Bill Lampton of Magnolia, Ergon, Inc., representing Business • Jon A. Reeves of Southaven, Reeves Williams Builders, representing Business • Ely Mitchell of Rienzi, Supervisor, Mississippi Association of Supervisors • Jeffrey Rupp of Columbus Mississippi, Mayor of Columbus, Mississippi Municipal Association • Clarke Holmes of Jackson, Executive Director of Central Mississippi Planning and Development, Mississippi Association of Planning and Development Districts • Wade Jones, President, of EMBD, • Blake Wilson, Director of MEC, MEC • Henry Johnson, State Superintendent of Education, Education • Tate Reeves, State Treasurer, Treasury • Brian Ami, Ex officio State Board of Health • Butch Brown, Executive Director MDOT, Transportation • Charlie Williams of Senatobia, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Governor’s Special Assistant for Economic Development • Leland Speed, Director MDA, Mississippi Development Authority.  

Momentum Mississippi Board members are as follows in order of Name, County, Representation:

Rep. Brian Aldridge, Lee, House of Representatives • Mr. Jimmy Alexander, Lauderdale, A & B Electric Company, Inc. • Mr. Reuben Anderson, Hinds, Former Supreme Court Justice, Phelps Dunbar • Mr. Roy Anderson III, Harrison, Roy Anderson Corp. • Mr. Ronald Anderson, Madison, Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. • Mr. Nick Ardillo, Lowndes, Golden Triangle Airport • Mr. Jim Barksdale, Hinds, Founder of Netscape • Mr. Jim Bennett
Alcorn, Bennett Yacht Sales • Mr. Jai Bhagat, Madison, Air2Lan • Rev. James Black Harrison, Broadcaster • Ms. Carolyn Boteler, Rankin, TempStaff, Inc. • Mr. Dave Boyer, Madison, Plant Manager, Nissan Ms. • Allegra Brigham, Lowndes, 4-County Electric Power Association • Dr. Clinton Bristow, Jefferson, President, Alcorn State University • Mr. Rick Calhoon, Hinds, Pruet Companies LLC • Mr. Fred Carl Leflore, CEO, Viking Range • Mr. N.L. Carson, Leake, N.L. Carson Construction Company, LLC • Sen Mike Chaney, Warren State Senator • Mr. Hollis Cheek, Attala, J.C. Cheek Sod and Erosion Contractor • Mr. Larry Clark, Monroe, Car Dealer • Mr. David Cole, Itawamba, President, Itawamba Community College • Mr. Jim Compton, Jones, Utility SMEPA • Dr. Wally Conerly, Hinds, Retired UMMC • Ms. Toni Cooley, Hinds, Systems Consultants Associates, Inc. • Mr. Scott Coopwood Bolivar, Publisher, Delta Business Journal • Mr. Jeff Dahl, Harrison, General Manager, Beau Rivage • Mr. Dave Dennis, Harrison, Specialty Contractors and Associates, Inc., • Mr. Bobby Dews, Forrest, Dews Foundry Admiral • Tom Donaldson, Hancock, NASA Commander • Dr. Philip Dur, Jackson, Northrop Gruman • Mr. Jabari Edwards, Lowndes, Financial Services • Dr. James M. Evans, Forrest, Mississippi Polymer Institute • Mr. Donald Evans, Harrison, Longshoremen Union • Mr. Bill Farmer, Hinds, Time Warner • Mr. Hassell, Franklin, Chickasaw Franklin Furniture • Mr. Bill Freeman, Newton, Newton County Bank • Mr. Al Gilless, Desoto, Al Gilless Development • Mr. Dan Grafton, Madison, L-3 Vertex Aerospace, LLC • Mr. Jimmy Graham, Lowndes, Graham Roofing CO Rep • Phillip Gunn, Hinds, House of Representatives • Mr. Toxey Haas Clay, Mossy Oak • Mr. Carl Hagstrom, Forrest, Hybrid Plastics • Mayor Shirley Hal, Rankin, Mayor of Richland • Mr. Asa Hardison, Lawrence, Georgia Pacific • Dr. Charles Harrison, Pontotoc, Retired, University of Mississippi • Mr. Jimmy Heidel, Warren, Economic Development • Mr. Richard Hickson, Hinds, Trustmark • Dr. John Hilpert, Sunflower. President, Delta State University • Mr. Tim Hinkley, Harrison, Isle of Capri • Dr. Beverly Hogan, Hinds, President, Tougaloo • Mr. Charles Holder, Jasper, Holmac Enterprises • Mr. Clarke Holmes, Madison, CPDD • Mr. Larry Homan, Itawamba, Homan Industries • Mr. Warren Hood Jr., Forrest, Hood Industries • Mr. Bill Hudson, Jr., Lamar, Hudson Salvage • Mr. Bubba Hudspeth, Winston, Entrepreneur • Mr. Pete Johnson, Coahoma, Delta Regional Authority • Mr. Seymour Johnson, Sunflower, Farmer • Mr. Clifton Johnson, Tunica, County Administrator • Mr. Stephen Johnston, Hinds, Smart Synch • Dr. Dan Jones, Copiah, UMMC Vice-Chair • Mr. Booker T. Jones, Hinds, MINACT, Inc. • Mr. Wade Jones, Lauderdale, East Mississippi Business Development • Mr. John Junkin, Adams, Lawyer • Dr. RobertKhayat, Lafayette, Chancellor, University of Mississippi • Mr. Wayne King, Hinds, Canadian National Railroad • Dr. Luke Lampton, Pike, Medical Doctor • Mr. Bill Lampton, Rankin, Ergon • Mr. Joe Lee, Grenada, Publisher, The Daily Star Dr. • Charles Lee, Oktibbeha President, Mississippi State University • Dr. Claudia Limbert, Lowndes, President, Mississippi University for Women • Senator Travis Little, Alcorn, State Senate • Dr. Willis Lott Harrison, President, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College • Chief Phillip Martin, Neshoba, Chief of Choctaw Tribe • Dr. Ronald Mason, Jr., Hinds, President, Jackson State University • Mr. Glenn McCullough, Lee, TVA • Mr. John McCullough, Madison, BellSouth • Mr. Lamar McDonald, Lauderdale, Meyer and Rosenbaum, Inc. • Dr. Joe McGilberry Oktibbeha, MSU Extension Service • Mr. Hu Meena, Hinds, Cellular South • Mr. Ely Mitchell, Alcorn, Alcorn County Supervisor • Mr. Manny Mitchell, Lauderdale, Mitchell Distributing • Mr. Bob Mixon , Forrest, Courtesy Ford • Mr. Chip Morgan, Washington, Delta Council • Mr. Clyde Muse, Hinds , President, Hinds Community College • Ms. Becky Nelms, Currie, Lincoln Healthcare/Nurse • Dr. Lester Newman, Leflore, Mississippi Valley State University • Ms. Pat Nichols, Harrison, Plant Manager, Dupont • Mr. David Oreck, Hancock, Oreck Vacuum Cleaners • Mr. John Osborne, Tunica , Gaming • Mr. John Palmer Hinds, Ambassador to Portugal • Mr. Aubrey Patterson, Lee, Bancorp South • Mr. Tommy Peaster Yazoo, Chairman of the Board, BankPlus • Mr. John Phillips, Yazoo, Farmer • Mr. John Polk , Jeff Davis, Polk Meats • Ms. Clara Reed, Humphreys, Mid-Delta Home Health and Hospice • Mr. Jack Reed, Jr., Lee, Retailer • Mr. Jon Reeves, Desoto, Reeves Williams Builders • Mr. Steve Renfrow, Jackson, ChevronTexaco • Mr. Chuck Roberts, Desoto, Chuck Roberts Commercial Real Estate • Senator Tommy Robertson , Jackson, State Senate Mr. Tom Robertson, Sunflower, Catfish Farmer • Dr. Bob Robinson, Tishomingo, Economic Developer • Ms. Betsy Rowell, Forrest, Forrest General • Mr. David Rumbarger, Lee, President of Community Development Foundation • Mr. Jeffrey Rupp, Lowndes, Mayor of Columbus • Mr. Mike Sanders, Bolivar, Jimmy Sanders Seed Company • Mr. Joe Sanderson, Jones , Sanderson Farms • Mr. George Schloegel, Harrison, Hancock Bank • Mr. Peyton Self, Quitman, Farmer • Ms. Carolyn Shanks, Madison, CEO, Entergy • Dr. Aaron Shirley, Hinds, Jackson State University • Mr. C. D. Smith, Lauderdale, Regional Manager, BellSouth • Honorable John Robert Smith, Lauderdale, Mayor of Meridian • Mr. Jerry St.Pe, Jackson, Gaming Commission • Mr. John Stupka, Madison, Consultant • Mr. Andy Taggart, Madison, Mississippi Technology Alliance • Dr. Shelby Thames, Forrest , President, USM • Mr. Joel Thoms, Perry, Forrest Products • Mr. Anthony Topazi, Harrison, CEO, Mississippi Power • Mr. Dennis Tosh, Lafayette, FNC Lt. • Gov. Amy Tuck, Hinds, Lt. Governor • Mr. David Waide, Clay, Farmer Mr. Tommy Wallace, Marion, T.L. Wallace Construction • Mr. Hal Walters, Hancock, Port and Harbor Commission • Ms. Jill Walters, Stone, Supervisor • Mr. Nick Walters, Stone, State Director, Rural Development • Rep. Percy Watson, Forrest, House of Representatives • Ms. Marcia Wells, Simpson, McCarty Enterprises, LLC • Honorable Phillip West , Adams, Mayor of Natchez • Mr. Blake Wilson, Hinds, President, MEC • Mr. Bill Yates, Neshoba, Yates Construction • Dr. Bennett York, Lamar, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic DBJ