The J.L. Holloway Center for Entrepreneurship is where Mississippi College business students advance their skills to succeed in the real world.

The MC students learn from CEOs and other outstanding professionals year-round. One of the ways to do just that is by attending the 2020 Mississippi Entrepreneurship Forum.

The April 2-3 program at the Vicksburg Convention Center will attract economic developers, future business owners and students from institutions across the Magnolia State.

The sixth annual conference will help participants learn more about Mississippi’s current entrepreneurial climate.

John Brandon, director of MC’s entrepreneurial programs in the School of Business, says students are already pitching new ideas to bring to the conference this Spring.

One is for Mississippi businesses to develop sustainable promotional signs out of recyclable plastics. The signs will help companies combat the plastic pollution crisis that people face today. The effort, Brandon says, is designed to provide jobs for people in the state’s homeless community.

Other ideas circulating at Self Hall include setting up a non-profit catering to at-risk youth in metro Jackson. MC students are developing proposals to prepare teens for entrepreneurial success under the foundation of Christ.

Another concept in the works at the Christian university is offering custom design initiatives and a design studio so churches can save money on imprinted clothing.

The ideas stemming from Mississippi College and other institutions statewide will be presented at the conference’s Student Business Pitch Competition on April 2.

Entrepreneurship majors such as Brooke Burrell and Mackenzie Danahar, both of Madison, Saqwanna Williams of Brandon, and Logan Courtney of Florence, are among those busy crafting innovative proposals.

With April fast approaching, John Brandon is taking on extra conference duties as a member of the MEF planning committee. Previous forums have been held in Clarksdale, Tupelo, Greenwood, Oxford and Jackson.

MC School of Business Dean Marcelo Eduardo says the 2020 Vicksburg conference will prove beneficial to students for years to come.

“This is another great example of the tremendous opportunities that our business program is providing our entrepreneurship majors,” Eduardo said. “It is also an example of the effective leadership that our entrepreneurship director John Brandon is providing our program and the school of business.”