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Keenum to deliver keynote address at GSDP annual banquet |
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Wednesday, 07 January 2009 |
By PAUL SIMS
Starkville Daily News
Mississippi State University President Mark Keenum will deliver the keynote address for the Greater Starkville Development Partnership’s annual banquet later this month.
The GSDP banquet — with the theme “Change for Success” — will take place Jan. 29 in the Colvard Union Ballroom on the MSU campus at 6:30 p.m.
Keenum most recently served as undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and previously served as chief of staff for Republican U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.
He holds a bachelor’s, a master’s and a doctoral degree in agricultural economics from MSU. He joined MSU’s faculty in 1984. In 1986, he took a position as a research associate with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station at the university.
Keenum’s main research and extension work focused on the marketing and economics of aquaculture, specialty crops and forestry. Keenum joined Cochran’s staff in 1989 as legislative assistant for agriculture and natural resources. During his tenure on the senator’s staff, he worked such legislation as the 1990, 1996 and 2002 Farm Bills. Keenum served as Cochran’s chief of staff from 1996 to 2006.
In this capacity, Keenum served as Cochran’s chief advisor on political, legislative and appropriations issues and he was responsible for the legislative and administrative operations of the senator’s Washington, D.C. and three in-state offices. He had direct oversight of two U.S. Senate committees – one being Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the other being Appropriations.
Arma delaCruz Salazar, the GSDP’s vice president of tourism and retirement development, provided an overview of the basic details of the banquet.
Jon Maynard, the GSDP’s president and CEO, will provide an update on the GSDP and speak on the banquet’s theme.
Officials will also present the following honors: Ambassador of the Year; Crystal Pineapple (for tourism impact); Industry of the Year; R. Clay Simmons Exemplary Enterprise and T.E. Veitch Community Service Award.
The banquet will be an opportunity for “all of our partners to assemble and hear a unified message,” said Maynard.
Regarding the banquet’s theme, Maynard said: “Starkville in general has experienced many changes over the past 12 months. Some by design, others not. Our messages is that change is good if embraced and led by us.”
Reservations are $35 per person. Sponsorship opportunities for the banquet are available.
To make reservations or to inquire about sponsorships, call the GSDP office at 323-3322.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 January 2009 )
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