- Ole Miss School of Business
- Innovate.ms
- Mississippi Angel Network
- Miss. Small Business Development Center
- Transactional Law Clinic
- UM Foundation
- Insight Park
- Division of Technology Management
- Haley Barbour Center for Mfg. Excellence
- Mississippi Development Authority
- Mississippi Small Business Development Center
- Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce
- North Mississippi Enterprise Initiative (NMEI)
CIE Legacy Leadership Program
All Programs
- CIE Mentor Network
- CIE Discovery Grant
- Servin’ The South Business Model Competition
- Gillespie Business Plan Competition
- LandShark Tank Pitch Competition
- CIE Legacy Leadership Program
- REDe Entrepreneurship Summit
- Farrington Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Rebel Student Venture Fund
- Entrepreneurship Major
- Entrepreneurship Minor
- Ole Miss Entrepreneurship Society
- Scholarships
- Entrepreneurship Speaker Series
CIE Legacy Leadership Program
“Tradition is like a bow. The more we stretch the bowstring, the farther we can throw the arrows of modernity and innovation.” — Giovanni Ferrero, third-generation CEO of Italian chocolate maker Ferrero International SA (Wall Street Journal, Aug. 9, 2016).
Our Mission
Sustaining and protecting generational wealth can be challenging, however, family businesses are essential to local, regional and global economies. The CIE Legacy Leadership Program at Ole Miss is designed to serve as an empowering resource that encourages the continuity of family business ownership in the state of Mississippi and throughout the Southeastern region.
Our Vision
Through various initiatives, we foster generational continuity by inviting family business leaders from diverse industries to share their experiences and challenges to inspire, learn, and connect with other family business leaders, owners and employees in Mississippi.
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Program Initiatives
It’s All Relative Family Business Symposium
The It’s All Relative Family Business Symposium aspires to be an open forum where leaders, family members, and employees from family businesses from a variety of industries can share their concerns and questions in order to learn best practices from knowledge leaders, enabling them to grow and to continue their businesses across generations.
Social in the ‘Sip Legacy Tour
Discover the significance of preserving family business customs and traditions during the Social in the ‘Sip Legacy Tour! Hosted across the state, each refined reception features insightful conversations, key industry experts, and actionable takeaways focused on navigating the complexities of family business success.
Family Owned: A Legacy Leadership Podcast
By MPB Think Radio
Family Owned: A Legacy Leadership Podcast is your go-to source for insights into the world of family business. Brought to you by the Ole Miss Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Mississippi Public Broadcasting, this podcast dives deep into the challenges, triumphs, and evolving landscape of family business leadership. From navigating succession planning to fostering innovation, we bring you conversations with family business owners, industry leaders, and expert advisors. Listen now and discover what it takes to build, sustain, and grow a lasting legacy.
The Family Forum Newsletter
The Family Forum Newsletter is a central hub for essential news, event information and opportunities unique to Mississippi family business owners, leaders and employees. Subscribe by clicking this link!
Click here to view past issues.
Program Committee
The Legacy Leadership Program is led by an experienced group of family business leaders from a variety of industries.
Committee Members
- Jeff Conley, President of Conley Buick GMC Subaru and 662 Customs
- Dr. Clay Dibrell, Co-Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at The University of Mississippi and Professor of Management
- Melanie W. Dowell, The Dowell Group at Morgan Stanley Executive Director, Family Wealth Director, Financial Advisor
- Wesley Goings, President of Telapex, Inc.
- Steve Grantham, Jr., President of J & R Restaurant Group
- Doug Hederman, CEO and President of Hederman Brothers Printing
- Liza Cirlot Looser, Founder, Chairman and CEO of The Cirlot Agency
- Tong Meng, Director of Programs at the Ole Miss Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
- Emily Fordice-Payne, Vice President and Secretary for Fordice Construction
- Abb Payne, CEO of The Payne Companies
- Lex Taylor, President of The Taylor Group
- Benton Turnage, Partner at Gulf Point Advisors, LLC
- Amy Walker, Area Sales Manager for Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc.
Sponsorship Opportunities
For two years, your commitment will directly empower Mississippi’s family-owned enterprises, connect you with executive leadership, and establish your company as a staple of generational business success.
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