BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Yellowhammer Multimedia on Thursday announced program details for the inaugural Alabama Economic Growth Summit, a two-day event that will celebrate Alabama’s recent economic development successes and spur the state toward being the country’s most attractive state for business.

The Summit, which will take place at The Renaissance Ross Bridge Golf Resort & Spa in Hoover on Feb. 18th and 19th, will assemble the state’s top leaders in government, business, economic development and academia.

Tickets for the event are currently available at AlabamaJobsSummit.com. Seating will be limited. Additional questions, including sponsorship inquiries, can be directed to Yellowhammer Multimedia COO Ryan Boggus at rboggus(at)yellowhammernews(dot)com.

Program details are as follows:

The Summit will kickoff at 7 p.m. with a celebration of Alabama’s recent successes — including the state’s selection as Business Facilities Magazine’s “State of the Year” — featuring live music by Act of Congress and a buffet dinner prepared by Ross Bridge’s award-winning culinary staff.

Act of Congress is consistently voted one of the “must see live acts of Alabama.” The band has performed throughout the United States and around the world. Last year they participated in their third tour as U.S. Cultural Ambassadors, led by the U.S. State Department. Dave Higgs of NPR calls them “one of the freshest sounding, exuberant bands in all of the known acoustic universe.”

Ross Bridge Executive Chef Robert Kamm was named 2015 “Chef of the Year” by the Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Alliance.

Summit attendees wanting to stay the night at the 4-star Renaissance Ross Bridge can do so at a discounted rate while rooms remain available.

Governor’s Breakfast
Day Two of the Summit will kickoff with a breakfast hosted by Alabama Governor Robert Bentley

PANEL: Perspectives of the Business Community: An Interview with Alabama Business Leaders
Moderator:
– John D. Johns, Chairman & CEO, Protective Life Corporation

Panelists:
– J. Michael Kemp, President & CEO, Kemp Management Solutions
– G. Ruffner Page, President and Director, McWane Inc.
– Jimmy Parnell, President & CEO, Alfa
– James W. Rane, President and CEO, Great Southern Wood Preserving

PANEL: Site Selection Experts: National Economic Trends and Emerging Industries
Moderator:
– Greg Canfield, Alabama Secretary of Commerce

Panelists:
– Jason Hickey, President, Hickey & Associates (Clients ranging from consumer products and health care, to defense and renewable energy, including UnitedHealth Group, Lockheed Martin, General Mills & many more)
– Mike Mullis, President & CEO, J.M. Mullis, Inc. (Clients ranging from automotive and aerospace, to the food industry and data centers, including Toyota, Harley-Davidson, Boeing, FedEx, Nike, and many more.)
– Hartley Powell, Principal and National Leader of Global Expansion & Relocations Services, KPMG
– Ron Starner, Executive VP, Conway, Inc., and Site Selection magazine, an international corporate real estate publication based in Atlanta.

PANEL: Alabama’s Workforce Strengths: Capitalizing on Public-Private Partnerships
Moderator:
– Zeke Smith, Executive Vice President of External Affairs, Alabama Power Company

Panelists:
– Ed Castile, Director, AIDT; Deputy Secretary of Commerce
– Dr. Mark Heinrich, Chancellor, Alabama Community College System
– Jennifer Himburg, Young Farmers Director, Alfa; Workforce Structure & Alignment, Alabama Workforce Council
– Fitzgerald Washington, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Labor

PANEL: Planning for the Future: Industries Poised for Economic Growth in Alabama
Moderator:
– Mary Johnson, Director of News Services, Alfa

Panelists:
– Brian Hardin, Director of Governmental Affairs & Agriculture Programs, Alfa
– Dr. Arthur J. Tipton, President & CEO, Southern Research
– Carter Wells, Vice President of Economic Development, HudsonAlpha Institute of Biotechnology; Chairman, BioAlabama

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Andy Andrews
Mr. Andrews, an Alabama native, is an internationally known speaker and novelist whose combined works have sold millions of copies worldwide. He has spoken at the request of four different U.S. presidents and coached numerous CEOs of billion-dollar corporations, top-tier college and professional sports coaches, the Special Operations Commander for NATO, and many more.

Dave Ramsey called him the “Life Whisperer.” The CEO of AdvoCare credited his company’s 247% growth to Andy’s work with their leaders. A Chick-fil-A executive called his presentation a “once in a lifetime experience.” The New York Times said he has become “one of the most influential people in America.” And famed motivational speaker and author Zig Zigler called him, quite simply, “the best speaker I have ever seen.”

Andy will close out the morning session with a can’t-miss presentation.

Senator’s Lunch
A conversation with U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, facilitated by Yellowhammer Multimedia CEO Cliff Sims

PANEL: The Politics of the Right-to-Work Movement in the Southeast
Moderator:
Jim McLaughlin, President, McLaughlin & Associates

Panelists: (Tentative)
– Billy Canary, President and CEO, Business Council of Alabama
– Catherine Glover, President, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce
– Ted Pitts, President and CEO, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce

For additional information contact Ryan Boggus at rboggus(at)yellowhammernews(dot)com.