- 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)
Regional Legacy Forum
Legacy Strategy. Focused Action.
Mission: The Regional Legacy Forum seeks to provide focused insights, specialized education and actionable strategies for navigating complex family transitions to family business leaders in key regional markets across Mississippi.
The inaugural Regional Legacy Forum is a full-day strategic summit designed to deliver on our mission and your opportunity to step away from daily operations and focus intensely on your company’s long-term sustainability.
APRIL 21-22, 2026 | MERIDIAN, MS
What happens when the handshake agreements that built your family business aren’t enough to sustain its future? At this Forum, we are diving deep into a 3rd-generation case study that hits home for many Mississippi families: a business facing a talent gap in leadership, friction between active members and passive investors, and a rising generation eager for formal contracts that the founding generation never thought they’d need.
This isn’t just a discussion; it’s a strategic roadmap for protecting your brand’s reputation while ensuring your family stays whole through the transition.
Tuesday, April 21
4:00 – 6:00 PM | Legacy Circle Evening Reception | Meridian Coca-Cola Bottling Company
An exclusive opportunity to connect with fellow founders and leaders in an intimate setting before the forum begins.
Wednesday, April 22
8:45 AM | Check-In & Breakfast
9:30 AM | Keynote Speaker
10:30 AM | Coffee Break
10:45 AM | Case Study
At the heart of this year’s Forum is a deep-dive analysis of a real-world family business dilemma. We aren’t just talking about theory; we are solving for the friction points that break families and businesses apart.
11:30 AM | Lunch Speaker
12:45 PM | Session I
1:30 PM | Session II
2:15 PM | Break
2:30 PM | Case Study Wrap Up
3:15 PM | Closing Speaker
The UMCIE Legacy Leadership Program is dedicated to empowering Mississippi’s economic future. The Regional Legacy Forum reflects our commitment to providing tailored resources that ensure the strength and longevity of our region’s most vital economic engines: our family businesses.
The Forum delivers concentrated expertise from leaders in family business governance, finance, and succession planning, ensuring that all learnings are immediately applicable to drive change and secure the next generation’s success. It also provides essential localized networking opportunities to connect with other regional family business leaders who face similar challenges and celebrate shared opportunities.
Who Should Attend?
This event is specifically tailored for:
- Founders & Current CEOs/Presidents of regional family enterprises.
- Next-Generation Leaders preparing to take the helm.
- Key Family Members involved in the business’s strategic direction.
Registration
$299 per person ($199 for additional attendee in same registration group)
Ensure your family business secures its place at this inaugural event by never missing an update. Subscribe to The Family Forum Newsletter to be the first to know when registration opens!
Sponsorship Opportunities
Align your business with the inaugural Regional Legacy Forum and gain exclusive access to a select audience of established and next-generation family business leaders from across Mississippi.
To learn more about the benefits and sponsorship levels for the Inaugural Regional Legacy Forum, please download our official Sponsorship Form.
For more information, please contact Angelica Owens at arowens@olemiss.edu