More than 50 furniture industry executives attended a manufacturing summit sponsored by Mississippi State University's Franklin Furniture Institute, the American Home Furnishings Alliance and the Mississippi Manufacturers Association on campus March 9. Howard Armistead, a founder and managing director of an investment banking and corporate advisory firm, Mann, Armistead & Epperson Ltd., gave an industry overview and economic analysis. The summit also featured speakers from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Mississippi Development Authority, Dutko Worldwide, Flexsteel, and a motivational speech by MSU head football coach Dan Mullen.