Annual business event light on news, heavy on hob-nobbing

*First appeared in the Nov. 7 edition of the Laurel Chronicle.


Last week was the annual HobNob Mississippi event hosted by the state’s chamber of commerce, the Mississippi Economic Council. For those of you who have never attended, the event is appropriately named. Although the day’s agenda is full of political speakers and panels, the real reason anyone goes is to, well, hobnob.

Speaker of the House Philip Gunn gave opening remarks, focusing on legislative accomplishments and personal anecdotes. In discussing the upcoming marriage of one of his children, he said his wife wanted to rehab their current home…but he didn’t realize “a wedding required renovation.” Gunn spoke early in the day due to a prior commitment to speak to a group about workforce training – an issue critical to the state’s economic future.

For the 12th annual event, organizers had to use their contingency plan for inclement weather and move festivities from the usual outdoor location at the Mississippi Ag Museum to an indoor location at the Mississippi Coliseum.

Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith seized this opportunity in her remarks, noting the Coliseum is dated and in desperate need of repair and renovation. (During the previous legislative session, Hyde-Smith advocated a $50 million makeover of the Coliseum.)

Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney told hobnobbers his office was involved in more than you’d expect: Bringing in tax revenues to the state’s coffers, fire protection for cities and counties, and stabilizing coastal homeowners insurance rates through the Windpool. Chaney touted the fact his agency is one of just “two agencies that asked the Legislature for less money to run our office.”

Treasurer Lynn Fitch referred to her agency as a “$25 billion transactional bank” and used a good portion of her comments to discuss financial literacy, an issue she’s been pushing at the State Capitol. Fitch believes “financial culture” is one gap in the state’s education system and hopes to change that in the coming years.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves highlighted the legislative successes of the previous two years, such as prudent management of taxpayer dollars, and focused much of time on education reform, one of his top priorities as head of the Mississippi Senate. He said that while others talked about making real changes, like consolidating school districts, the current Legislature and its leadership has actually made good on those promises.

Gov. Bryant was the last elected official to speak, and his comments reflected his focus on economic development. Bryant noted several new companies that have located in Mississippi and concluded his remarks by announcing November as “Mississippi Innovation Month.” (Maybe he read my last column on innovation?)

The Capitol Steps – a comedy troupe – entertained the hobnobbers while they (we) ate generous portions of chicken, barbeque, bread pudding, and even ice cream bars. Kudos to the MEC event planners for knowing how to satisfy a hungry crowd of networkers.

I chuckled as I heard one journalist ask another, “So did anyone make any news today?” They mutually agreed there was nothing newsworthy… which essentially sums up the annual event.

People are there to network, not exactly to hear breaking news. Elected officials give updates on their offices, but most of the time they don’t come with critical announcements. HobNob is an enjoyable event because it provides the business community with an opportunity to mingle with elected officials and politicos in a relaxed setting.

I’d venture to say that’s why MEC has enjoyed many years of hobnobbing success. Sure, you can make educated guesses based on speakers’ comments about their priorities during the next legislative session… but let’s face it. Nothing attracts throngs of movers and shakers like the opportunity to mingle, catch up on all the latest gossip, and eat multiple helpings of Southern food. It’s the hobnobbing way.