A day-long conference to help African-Americans, women and other minorities improve their skills as international trade entrepreneurs will be held April 4 in Biloxi.
Speakers include retired Louisiana congresswoman Lindy Boggs of New Orleans and former Mississippi congressman and U.S. agriculture secretary Mike Espy of Jackson. Joining them will be Thomas W. Dortch, president of the Atlanta Business League and Fred Edenfield, president of Atlanta-based F.L. Eden Trading Co. Dortch also is president and chairman of 100 Black Men of America Inc.
Boggs will discuss international opportunities for women entrepreneurs; Espy, global markets in the 21st century; Dortch, ways to take advantage of international opportunities; and Edenfield, creation of international trading teams.
Also on the program will be Allison Crews of the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development and Paul Johnson, president of Chemserv Industries in New Orleans and a member of the board of the Southeast Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce. Crews will explain export financing, while Johnson outlines methods to identify international opportunities.
The 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. conference will be held at the Treasure Bay Hotel on Beach Boulevard. A $25 registration fee covers the costs of take-home materials, lunch and refreshments.
Mississippi State University's College of Business and Industry is co-sponsoring the program with the Hancock Bank, Harrison County Development Commission, Mississippi Consortium for International Development, Mississippi State Port Authority, Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, John C. Stennis Center for Public Service, Hinds Community College's International Trade Center, Peoples Bank of Gulfport, and Trustmark National Bank.
For additional information on the various sessions, telephone Edwin H. Duett Jr., associate professor of finance and economics, at (601) 325-7472.
To register, contact Janis Bryant at 325-8475.