JACKSON, Miss. — November 24, 2025 – Leaders from education, industry, and workforce development across Mississippi gathered this fall for a series of ATLAS Industry Roundtable meetings designed to align the state’s talent pipeline with employer needs and emerging career pathways.
Hosted by the Mississippi Business Alliance in partnership with AccelerateMS, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, the Mississippi Department of Education, and the Mississippi Community College Board, the roundtables brought together hundreds of participants representing manufacturers, school districts, economic developers, workforce agencies, and community organizations. The conversations centered on strengthening partnerships, modernizing workforce systems, and preparing Mississippi students for high-demand careers.
“Mississippi’s future depends on our ability to work together,” said Dr. Courtney Taylor, executive director of AccelerateMS. “These meetings let us break out of our silos and build the relationships needed to deliver real opportunities for our communities.”
Throughout the conversations, employers consistently emphasized the importance of soft skills such as communication, teamwork, punctuality, and professionalism. Industry representatives also highlighted the need for stronger hands-on training, digital literacy, and earlier exposure to career pathways.
John Stembridge, HR and safety manager at HomeStretch in Nettleton, said employers are focused on building a dependable next-generation workforce. “We’re looking for solid citizens—people that do the basics, come to work on time, get along with other people, and work as a valuable team member,” he said.
Jeremy Johnson, operations manager at Idaho Forest Group, said the roundtables allowed industry to clearly communicate its workforce challenges and help shape future solutions.
“We wanted to discuss what we’re looking for in applicants and how we can help drive change in the education system so that we’re getting better applicants and helping the workforce in Mississippi grow,” Johnson said.
Educators shared their commitment to preparing students for the modern workforce and expressed appreciation for the opportunity to connect directly with local employers.
“This is my first time participating in a roundtable like this, and I learned so much,” said Mary Martha Crowe of the Oxford School District. “These conversations help us see opportunities, share ideas, and build relationships that benefit students.”
Dr. Jamilah Ruffin-Pugh of Northwest Rankin High School underscored the importance of statewide collaboration.
“When we’re operating in our individual silos, we aren’t as effective,” she said. “Bringing K–12, colleges, and workforce partners together helps create alignment and real pathways for our kids.”
Companies attending the roundtables shared how deeper engagement with schools can strengthen Mississippi’s workforce for the long term.
Chivona Roberts, community engagement specialist at Hitachi Energy, said aligning curriculum with industry needs can help employers recruit job-ready talent.
“If we work hand in hand to establish what that curriculum looks like, we can create a pipeline so that when students leave school, they’re ready for work,” Roberts said.
Mac McIlwain of Raytheon Technologies said the events also provided insight into statewide workforce resources employers may not be fully utilizing.
“It’s important for us to know what’s happening across Mississippi from a workforce development standpoint,” McIlwain said. “These conversations help companies like ours stay engaged and invest in Mississippi talent.”
Economic developers echoed the importance of aligning education and training with real job opportunities.
“Our goal is for people in our communities to have good jobs,” said Thomas Gregory, executive director of the Greenwood Leflore Carroll Economic Development Foundation. “The programs that get them there are critical, and the roundtables help us collaborate to make that possible.”
In addition to collaboration, employers stressed the need to modernize systems like MDES and MS Works, calling for improved user experience, mobile compatibility, and better communication with businesses.
The feedback gathered at the roundtables will inform statewide strategies to strengthen work-based learning, expand career pathways, and support Mississippi employers.
About AccelerateMS
AccelerateMS serves the people and businesses of Mississippi by developing and deploying workforce strategies that connect individuals with transformative, high-paying careers. Through strong partnerships and effective grants management, the organization drives sustained individual, community, and statewide economic prosperity.