USM hosts annual economic outlook conference

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The University of Southern Mississippi's School of Business held its annual economic conference Thursday.

Department of Communication's Van Arnold said, "The USM College of Business coordinated the annual forum that brings together experts from banking, finance, and academia to explore a number of issues and research related to the economic outlook for 2017."

This year more than 250 people were in attendance including staff, faculty, students, and local business leaders.

The First Bank's President Hoppy Cole said the conference is beneficial for the community. "A chance to interact with local business leaders, from not only around Hattiesburg, but around South Mississippi" said Cole.

He added, "I think it allows them to see how their thought process is and how to utilize this for their planning and budget process for the upcoming year, so I would hope it would be very beneficial for the students.”

Guest Speaker Stan Harrell CFO and CIO for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said economic conferences are important. FOX 23 news asked Harrell his thoughts about the economic outlook with the newly elected President Donald Trump.

“In any administration there are a lot of opportunities, for things to go very well and have a lot of economic growth, it is one of the things that we have to debate as a democracy of how to get there" said Harrell.