MEC, MMA, and BIPEC combination to soon become reality
The Mississippi business community is fully vested in the plan to create a new statewide organization combining the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC), the state’s chamber of commerce, Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA), and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee (BIPEC) of Mississippi.
The Mississippi Business Alliance (MSBA), the name of the new entity, could be operational before the year’s end, hopefully by January at the latest.
“In the House of Representatives, we spend a whole bunch of time trying to create consensus on issues and it’s this type of organization that y’all are looking at that enhances our ability as policymakers to support you fully as Mississippi’s business community,” said House Speaker Jason White, speaking at MEC’s Hobnob Mississippi.
The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), the state’s lead economic and community development agency, gave it a green light.
“MDA has great relationships with all three groups in their current form,” said MDA Executive Director, Bill Cork. “Their combination will certainly make it easier for MDA to have a ‘one-stop shop’ to address a variety of common interests. Regardless of what these groups choose to do, MDA has a long history of supporting its members, and that won’t change with this combination.”
This much is known. John McKay, MMA President and CEO, will lead the MSBA. BIPEC President and CEO Derek Easley, will be his right-hand man.
“John and I have worked together for 20 years,” said Easley. “And I see a scenario where he and I can work together for another 20 years to build something incredible for the state.”
MEC President and CEO, Scott Waller, initially discussed the idea of creating a partnership among business organizations with the MEC Board in 2019. He will have a role in the new organization focusing primarily on education and workforce development.
“There’s a lot of ability to use the foundations to promote research from a business alignment standpoint as it relates to workforce development,” said Waller. “We’re focusing on how to streamline expenses, increase funds for the foundations, and build on programs to help us create a stronger workforce in Mississippi. We cannot miss that chance.”
MSBA will be housed in the current MMA-owned building on North President Street in Jackson.
MSBA will start with more than 1,100 member companies.
The Business Alignment 2026 plan was unveiled just prior to MEC’s Hobnob Mississippi on Oct. 31 to great interest. Waller pointed out that 29 states already have similar organizations that combine the services provided by MEC, MMA, and BIPEC.
“I started noticing the trend (of organization consolidation) and seeing how well it was working in other states,” said Waller, who had begun thinking about a succession plan for MEC. “John and Derek are at the right point in their careers to make a huge difference.”
The Consolidation Phase
A Shubuta native and Mississippi State University graduate, Waller began his career as a journalist, including turns as business editor of The Clarion-Ledger, and owner and editor of The Madison County Journal. He joined MEC in 2006, eventually becoming former MEC Chief Blake Wilson’s second-in-command. As Executive Vice President and COO, he devised and deployed a comprehensive advocacy plan among many other successful programs.
In 2017, Wilson retired and Waller took over the CEO post. Since then, Waller has spearheaded many successful statewide initiatives to improve the state’s business environment, including the Business Alignment 2026 transformative initiative, to promote all sectors of the state economy and unify the business community. MSBA will deliver greater value, effectiveness, and advocacy power for the members of the three existing organizations.
The idea for the new entity emerged as part of the MEC strategic plan adopted in 2021. One of the plan’s goals was creating an alliance with other business organizations.
In late 2023, Waller approached McKay and Easley about the consolidation. Both were intrigued.
“If you talk to the folks in the business community and elected officials, it’s probably long overdue to combine these three organizations,” said Easley, who worked at MMA before serving as Director of Government Relations for the Mississippi Association of Realtors (MAR) for nearly a decade, and BIPEC chief since 2016. “We’ve been in many foxholes together and it just makes sense.”
Due Diligence
In early 2024, the trio formed a steering committee and later hired consultant Adam Hollingsworth of TSG Advisors in Florida to guide them through the consolidation process.
First up was a trip to visit counterparts in Wisconsin, which created a successful model from its consolidation, and Arkansas. They studied Tennessee’s organization, and many other states, as well.
Listening sessions were held in October and November, in Tupelo, on the Gulf Coast, and in Jackson.
“The primary question was what you do you think (about the consolidation) and why does it matter,” said Hollingsworth. “There was near unanimity to create a more powerful voice for business. Why wouldn’t we have one entity moving forward and leaning into solving the state’s No. 1 issue (workforce)?”
Gerard Gibert, host of the three-hour Middays on SuperTalk Mississippi, who interviewed all three men on air, said it makes sense to have a cohesive voice and alignment on needs and policy applicable to the business community.
“Combining the organizations simplifies that task somewhat,” he said.
In May, the executive committees passed a resolution to enter a letter of intent for merging the organizations. Final approval by the boards is expected in August or September.
Unveiling MBA
“I’m proud that folks have the confidence I can take on this really exciting challenge,” said McKay, who earned English and Political Science degrees from Ole Miss and a master’s degree of Public Administration from the College of Charleston. He also gained research and analytical skills at the Joseph P. Riley Institute for Urban Affairs and Policy Studies, and management expertise from his role in Florida’s Sarasota County Government.
A Jackson native, McKay joined MMA under Jay Moon as a deputy Director of Government Affairs, then promoted to Executive Vice President in 2017 and President and CEO in 2019. While there, he studied at the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma, the nation’s premier economic development program.
“When I started MMA in 2008, I was the low man on the totem pole of the lobbying team, concentrating on taxation and environmental issues,” said McKay, who took over the lead lobbying role in the mid-teens.
The MSBA will have a political action committee (PAC), something MEC did not.
“We believe Mississippi is the only state chamber of commerce without one,” said Easley, who earned a business administration degree from Mississippi College. “MEC has always been very active at the Capitol on legislative issues, but not so much in elections. When we started looking at this possible joint venture, that fact stood out, with us realizing your state chamber of commerce should have a healthy PAC that’s actively involved in elections.”
McKay said the policy perspective of all three organizations will not change much.
“The policy perspective of the three organizations isn’t going to change all that much,” said McKay. “The big difference is we’re going to dive deeper into specific policies around workforce development, for instance, and transportation and infrastructure funding.”
Right now, transition teams within the organizations to guide the strategic direction of MSBA, are working on many consolidation issues, including staff redundancy. The MSBA is not expected to reduce its combined staff. BIPEC, for example, only has two and sometimes three employees on hand.
“We’ve been very diligent about trying to make sure we have the opportunity for everyone currently on staff has a place in the organization,” said Waller.
The timing is impeccable, said Easley.
“I want MSBA to have a full year under its belt before the 2027 elections because those elections are going to be critical,” he said.