Game, 04/24/2025 – 12:21 am | By: Jennifer Rigney
The University of Mississippi du Sud (USM) and the Gulf Coast Business Council (GCBC) concluded a strategic partnership to launch the Executive Management Academy (ELA) – an educational initiative designed to promote transformative leadership through the Côte du Gulf du Mississippi.
The partnership was formalized by a memorandum of understanding signed on April 24 at the monthly meeting of the GCBC. This collaboration effort marks an important step in strengthening professional development and leadership capacity for current and emerging business leaders in the region.
The Academy of Executive Directors will be hosted at the Southern Miss Gulf Park campus in Long Beach and will offer a full study program provided over a period of nine months. Designed by the University Cadre Training Program, the ELA will include at least 60 hours of face to face directed by highly qualified teachers and industry experts.
The main protruding facts of the management of the management academy include:
- A program of study based on best leadership practices and adapted to the commercial environment of the Gulf Coast
- Tuition scholarships provided for classes exceeding registration references
- A continuing training certificate and a digital badge issued by Southern Miss
- Recognition of graduates of the program during an event hosted by the GCBC
The president of southern Miss, Dr. Joe Paul, stressed the importance of the initiative.
“This is a real partnership for progress. By aligning the academic leadership forces of our university with the commitment of the Gulf Coast Business Council to unite regional leaders and to stimulate growth and opportunities along the coast, we invest in the future of our region. The Academy of Executive Directors will be revolutionary for the development of leadership along the coast, “said Paul.
The GCBC will play an essential role in training ELA by helping to identify the subjects of the programs, to recruit participants and to celebrate the achievements of graduates of the program. Tuition fees for the academy will be based on the size of the classes and will include flexible payment options to accommodate employers and participants.
“We are delighted with this unique partnership with the Gulf Coast Business Council to deliver an management academy for coastal companies. The Academy will use a framework of opinion leaders and experts in the field to provide a dynamic program that will focus on success.
The collaboration and planning of the program for the inaugural cohort of the ELA will begin this summer.
About the Gulf Coast Business Council
The Gulf Coast Business Council brings together the senior executives of companies that are both large and small to be the united voice on important public policy issues for the Côte du Golfe du Mississippi. The GCBC ensures leadership in the fields of public policies, including government and legislative affairs, the military and defense industry, economic development, infrastructure, education, the development of labor and the development of regional leadership. This organization strives to align the interests of all the communities of the three coastal counties and will represent them with a strong and united voice in Jackson and Washington DC GCBC succeeds with its regional program because of its accent on public policy and other strategic questions. The unification of the main business leaders from all sectors of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Industry means that GCBC membership represents more than 75% of the entire workforce used in the region.