The Pike County Chamber of Commerce 2016 Annual Banquet will have the president of the Mississippi Energy Institute as its keynote speaker Thursday at the Workforce Training Center at Southwest Mississippi Community College.
Chamber executive director Catherine Sanders said it is fitting to have energy institute president Patrick Sullivan speaking at the center since he will be talking about getting people to work with new initiatives the company has on the horizon.
The banquet is 6 p.m..
Tickets are $35 for the public and $25 for chamber members.
The deadline to get tickets is 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Sponsorships get an advertising package that includes name recognition through website, newspaper, weekly “Happenings” email and the chamber’s social media advertisements and announcements.
Sanders said the Mississippi Energy Institute is a nonprofit organization that researches energy policy with the goal of fostering economic growth in Mississippi.
“He will give us a broad overview of energy and economic development and then discuss Mississippi Energy Institutes’s view on workforce related challenges and opportunities,” Sanders said.
Sanders said the chamber is bringing back the Oliver Emmerich Community Service Award this year.
“We will also present the Ambassador of the Year, and outgoing president Jamie Stone will give a report of the year’s accomplishments,” Sanders said.
“Incoming president Wendy Smith will announce her new board members, as well as announce her plans for the coming year.”
Smith is the director of the Workforce Training Center.
There have been initiatives in 2015 through the center to educate the adult workforce and put them to work.
In September, Smith reported on a pilot program that would help 25 individuals earn a GED and provide vocational training and certification.
With the chamber’s strong ties to education in the community through the Mississippi Scholars Program, which Smith headed up in 2015, Sanders said it will be interesting to learn what Smith has in store for the chamber’s special programs for 2016.
Banquet sponsorship opportunities are available on three levels. They include the Platinum package for $500, with six tickets, reserved seating and name recognition.
The Gold package sponsorships are $300 and include four tickets, reserved seating and name recognition.
The Silver package is $100 and includes two tickets and name recognition.
Purchase tickets online at www.pikeinfo.com, or call 684-2291.
