Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association to convene the region’s top automotive manufacturers

The Mississippi Automotive Manufacturers Association (MAMA) will host the 2016 Southern Automotive Conference (SAC), the region’s premier automotive tradeshow, Oct. 5 to 7 at the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino in Biloxi, Miss. The conference, now in its ninth year, is projected to welcome approximately 90 exhibitors and about 700 attendees.

The SAC provides a forum for top executives from original automotive manufacturers (OEMs) and major suppliers to showcase new product developments, collaborate on best practices and discuss strategies to strengthen the region’s burgeoning automotive industry.

Highlights of the SAC’s three-day program include:

• The “Stars of Southern Manufacturing” award that honors recipients who work on the factory floor at Southern manufacturing companies. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant will present awards to this year’s honorees on the main stage.
• Interactive workshops that will provide attendees with tangible takeaways on key issues including recruiting employees in rural areas and using big data to secure supply chains.
• Main-stage and workshop sessions featuring Millenials in the automotive workforce that will explore best practices for recruiting and retaining top talent.
• Distinguished speakers including Tulane University professor Peter Ricchiuti, who will deliver the keynote address on the final day of the conference.
• Speakers from IBM, STEM Premier, Alabama Robotics Technology Park, and many other nationally-renowned organizations.

“We are thrilled to bring this year’s conference back to Mississippi’s Gulf coast,” said MAMA Executive Director Donald Stoegbauer. “The automotive manufacturing industry in Mississippi is booming, and we are proud to welcome people to Biloxi and the Beau Rivage to showcase our flagship event. This year, we are especially excited to partner with Cruisin’ the Coast, which will bring thousands of classic and muscle cars to the Misssissippi coastline as they cruise from Ocean Springs to Bay St. Louis”

MAMA is organizing the event alongside SAC partner organizations from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. The conference offers numerous networking opportunities, allowing attendees to interact face‐to‐face with potential clients and new business contacts from across the Southeast. The SAC also allows attendees ample pre- and post-conference opportunities to socialize.

 Companies and individuals interested in exhibiting or attending may register here.