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WHERE: Thad Cochran Center, Southern Miss Hattiesburg campus

SPECIFICS: Dennis P. Lockhart, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta will be the keynote speaker during the annual Economic Outlook for South Mississippi conference hosted by the Southern Miss College of Business Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

Lockhart will address speak on The U.S Economy at 12-1:30 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center 2^nd floor. The conference is co-sponsored by The First, a National Banking Association, located in Hattiesburg.

Other conference sessions and their presenters include:

9:15-9:45 a.m. -- "The World Financial Crisis: An Update" Dr. Lance Nail, dean of the Southern Miss College of Business.

9:45-10:30 a.m. -- "The U.S. Recession: How Long, How Deep, How Wide?" Dr. William Gunther, director, Southern Miss Bureau of Business and Economic Research and professor of economics.

10:45-11:15 a.m. -- "The Mississippi Economy: Fiscal and Employment Prospects"² Dr. William Gunther.

11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. -- "South Mississippi: Beyond Katrina," Dr. Edward Ranck, associate director, Southern Miss Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

CONTACT: Jana Bryant at 601.266.4497, or e-mail [e-mail missing]; or David Tisdale at 601.266.4499, or e-mail [e-mail missing].