Mississippi Business Journal » Brent Christensen

MDA chief shows early leadership on workforce issue

MBJ Staff — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 06:01:00 +0000

Like any good salesman about to embark on selling a new product, Brent Christensen has assessed his product’s strengths and weaknesses. The new executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority sees the state set to play a strong hand in the energy and health care sectors. Mississippi’s hand is on the weak side, though, in [...]

The post MDA chief shows early leadership on workforce issue appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

New MDA chief cites potential in energy, medical sectors

Ted Carter — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 06:01:48 +0000

Speaking publicly for the first time since taking over as head of the Mississippi Development Authority June 6, Brent Christensen sounded optimistic notes on the state’s prospects in the energy and medical sectors but cautioned strides must be made in preparing Mississippians for 21st century jobs. In a talk before the Madison County Business League [...]

The post New MDA chief cites potential in energy, medical sectors appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

Read August 13 issue of MBJ

MBJ Staff — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 19:18:34 +0000

>> CLASS CRUNCH Experts: Troublesome nursing faculty shortage to get worse— By Clay Chandler Also in this week’s paper: >> KEMPER UPDATE PSC to examine formula rate plans for Entergy, Miss. Power— by Clay Chandler >>TECHNOLOGY Google shares the ‘how-to’s’ of getting your business online— by Ted Carter >>MDA New chief cites potential in energy, medical [...]

The post Read August 13 issue of MBJ appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

Is farming good economic development?

Ted Carter — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 18:02:23 +0000

Eight years chairing the Mississippi Senate Agriculture Committee led Cindy Hyde-Smith to conclude there’s a lot of gold to be mined down on the farm. The state just needs to more vigorously dig for it, she decided after a dozen years in the Senate and a lifetime working in agriculture. As the state’s newly elected [...]

The post Is farming good economic development? appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

New MDA chief enters arena in competitive fashion

Ted Carter — Sun, 27 May 2012 06:01:16 +0000

The background of Brent Christensen, the new executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority, stacks up well against his rivals around the South, a review of the professional biographies of the chief executives of several nearby states shows. One of those rivals, Florida’s Gray Swoope, is well known in Mississippi, having led the Mississippi Development [...]

The post New MDA chief enters arena in competitive fashion appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

Mississippi ties helped put Brent Christensen atop list for new MDA chief

Ted Carter — Sun, 27 May 2012 06:01:08 +0000

Former Netscape and FedEx executive Jim Barksdale took over leadership of the Mississippi Development Authority with one over-riding goal — find his replacement. He wanted a pro with a track record of success but he also sought to follow the wishes of state business leaders to hire someone with ties to Mississippi who would “understand [...]

The post Mississippi ties helped put Brent Christensen atop list for new MDA chief appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

Barksdale comments on Christensen hire as chief of Miss. Development Authority

Stephen McDill — Sun, 20 May 2012 06:01:13 +0000

Upon announcing the appointment of Brent Christensen to the directorship of the Mississippi Development Authority, Gov. Phil Bryant recalled joking about the salary with current interim chief Jim Barksdale. “I told (Barksdale) I would double what Leland Speed was making,” Bryant said. “Leland was making a dollar a year.” The governor has an eye for [...]

The post Barksdale comments on Christensen hire as chief of Miss. Development Authority appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.

BREAKING NEWS: Brent Christensen named new head of the Mississippi Development Authority

MBJ Staff — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:56:17 +0000

JACKSON — Brent Christensen has been named the new head of the Mississippi Development Authority. Gov. Phil Bryant made the announcement during a press conference at the Marriot Hotel in downtown Jackson. Christensen, who has been the CEO of the Gainesville (Fla.) Area Chamber of Commerce the last 10 years, replaces interim director Jim Barksdale, the [...]

The post BREAKING NEWS: Brent Christensen named new head of the Mississippi Development Authority appeared first on Mississippi Business Journal.