Ken Malone - USM Forum -- Message Board

Date: Nov 25, 2004

Ken Malone

Date: Nov 25, 2004

Googling...

http://www.pinebeltpacers.org/Members/KMalone.html

http://www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/gccoo.html

https://www.usm.edu/gradapp/html/dir_grad_progs.html (Look under Economic Development.)

Date: Nov 25, 2004

“Economic development is a major function of this university,” emphasized Thames,

When did that happen?

Just for Dr. Malone, et. al., 's information: When my sister died in 2001, she specified that memorials should be made to Tulane's A.B. Freeman School of Business for the benefit of women entrepeneurs. Family and friends made substantial donations to The Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship. A visit to the School of Business' webpage would disabuse you of the notion that you are doing something new and unique.

Apparently this dead horse needs more beating!!

Date: Nov 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"Googling... http://www.pinebeltpacers.org/Members/KMalone.html http://www.usm.edu/gulfcoast/gccoo.html https://www.usm.edu/gradapp/html/dir_grad_progs.html (Look under Economic Development.)"

Thanks Invictus. I guess the "gulfcoast" word was missing from my search.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

http://www.freeman.tulane.edu/lri/

Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship
"The Levy-Rosenblum Institute for Entrepreneurship (LRI) trains and inspires entrepreneurs through coursework, community service projects, and internships. Freeman School students are provided the opportunity to work with experienced faculty members of entrepreneurship, network with a regional board of entrepreneurs and participate in a student based entrepreneurial association which provides a training ground for business development.

In addition, LRI coordinates joint academic, government and business initiatives that stimulate private enterprise and regional economic growth. It also contributes to regional and economic development by assisting the corporate and family business communities in identifying and exploring business issues through shared learning experiences."

Date: Nov 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"Economic development is a major function of this university,” emphasized Thames, When did that happen?"

It happened long before the current administration moved in. It happened long ago, when USM first began to educate the young minds of Mississippi. But there is nothing unique about this - it has been happening at every institution of higher education, public and private, in the State of Mississippi since the establishment of those respective institutions.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

I get your point, Historian. I was posting in a fair degree of irritation. But what you mean by "economic development" and what today's USM means by "economic development" are probably not the same thing. At this point I'm getting in over my head so I'll leave the discussion to others.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Historian
""

Historian, I would love to hear more details about how and what changes occurred.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"I get your point, Historian. I was posting in a fair degree of irritation. But what you mean by "economic development" and what today's USM means by "economic development" are probably not the same thing. At this point I'm getting in over my head so I'll leave the discussion to others."

Your point was very well put and is a very important one. I was referring, for example, to things like Mississipi State's academic program in forestry. Educating forestry professionals at Mississippi State has contributed much to this state's economic development. I get irritated when USM tries to take the credit for being at the forefront of economic development in Mississippi. That just ain't true. There are numerous other examples. Forestry is only one.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

Mississippi was very impotant in the early history of the tung oil plant still used in varnishes. A United States Department of Agriculture site says, ". . . this bit of agricultural history is not likely to be forgotten by the present generation." This occurred long before USM got into the business of polymers and paints. The first tung orchards in Mississippi appeared on the gulf coast back in the 1920's. The history of the tung oil industry in Mississippi is rather interesting and predated USM.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

Mississippi Governor Hugh White's BAWA program ("Balance Agriculture with Industry) was an early meaningul economic development event in this state (I believe Invictus mentioned this on this board some months ago). Along with that program, the term "Cotton to the Carolinas" became outdated and was replaced by the phrase "Mills to Mississippi." These things predated USM's professed econonomic development "emphasis."

Date: Nov 25, 2004

Pascagoula was a major shipbuilding site long before USM's piddling in the area. That industry on the coast would survive and be healthy with our without USM's ED presence.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

And what about the catfish industry up in the Mississippi delta? Our state is a major player there. But not USM. Talk about economic development"

Date: Nov 25, 2004

They are small, but there are more furniture manufacturing factories in Mississippi than even in North Carolina which is known for that industry.

I've been called to dine on Turkey right now so I will post no more about this. My point is that educating Mississippians is the most important type of economic development of all - each of Mississippi's colleges and universities share in that endeavor.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: Invictus
"Googling... (Look under Economic Development.)"

Ken Malone's industry background appears to reflect a career path in staff functions. In essence, people who fill these positions report to senior higher ups for whom they conduct market or product application research and to whom they make recommendations. Staff positions are ideal for young, energetic, often bright people who cannot manage others and who cannot implement what they recommend. Often viewed as loose canons, relatively few earn the respect of their operational counterparts. I am not the right person to comment on the educational equivalent to this.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

I am back from the Thanksgiving table where we discussed this topic in general. I'll make one final comment. The leaders of industry want to establish their major operations or headquarters in localities where cultural and educational opportunities are available for their employees. The best thing USM could do to facilitate economic development in Mississippi is to fully support its programs in disciplines such as art, music, theatre, and education. That's what the moguls of industry are seeking as they make decisions about where to locate (aside from labor availability, of course). The community colleges are every bit as important as the four-year universities in this regard.

Date: Nov 25, 2004

quote:
Originally posted by: LVN
"“Economic development is a major function of this university,” emphasized Thames. When did that happen?"

See Goal #4 of the Current IHL 5-Year Strategic Plan. What is important, folks, is that this is only one of nine strategic goals & ranks eighth out of ten in priority order (one of the priorities cites all nine goals) for FY 2002, the year the strategic plan was developed.

Of course, the #1 goal & priority (resolving Ayers) is now out of the way, but such things as enhancing support services & enhancing education programs still ranks above economic development ... UNLESS the IHL website is grossly out-of-date (which would be no surprise) & IHL has an updated, unpublished list of priorities (which also would be no surprise).

I think it will be interesting to see how the next 5-year plan will look. Presumably it would be developed beginning next year with Ms. Newton as board president.