Mercer University’s Executive Forum, presented by Truist, continues its 42nd year on March 16 with a presentation by Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) Commissioner Pat Wilson in Macon.

Wilson will deliver a noon lunch presentation in the Presidents Dining Room in the University Center on the Macon campus.

Wilson, appointed commissioner of GDEcD in November 2016, leads the state agency responsible for creating jobs and investment opportunities in Georgia through business recruitment and expansion, small business growth, international trade and tourism, as well as the arts, film and music industries.

Under the leadership of Gov. Brian P. Kemp and Wilson, Georgia has been named the No. 1 state in the nation in which to do business for the eighth consecutive year by both Site Selection and Area Development. GDEcD was also rated as the nation’s best state-level economic development organization by the International Economic Development Council in 2017. 

Wilson previously served as chief operating officer of GDEcD from January 2011 until his appointment as commissioner by former Gov. Nathan Deal. Additionally, Wilson served as executive director of the Georgia Allies. 

Wilson joined GDEcD as deputy commissioner for global commerce in 2010. Prior to that, he served on the staff of former Gov. Sonny Perdue as director of government affairs, promoting the governor’s legislative agenda at the State Capitol and managing federal affairs for the state.

The Executive Forum was founded in 1979 as a business outreach program of Mercer and its School of Business and quickly became an invaluable resource for the business community and professionals across corporate Georgia through the presentation of high-quality management and leadership seminars on timely subjects. 

Mercer alumnus William H. Anderson II, then-President Dr. R. Kirby Godsey and founding dean of the business school Dr. Charles H. Andrews worked with the Office of University Advancement to plan, develop and implement the Forum in order to establish a closer relationship with the business community.

Over more than four decades of the Executive Forum, countless students and faculty have benefited from exposure to practitioners, and in turn, members of the Forum have benefited from a relationship with academia. These benefits include business networking opportunities, employee development skills and knowledge of current business trends.

Truist, formerly BB&T, is celebrating its 14th year as presenting sponsor of the Forum. This year’s co-sponsors include The 1842 Inn, Sheridan Construction, Cox Communications, Synovus, Georgia CEO and Georgia Trend. 

The Executive Forum is a membership organization composed of businesses, organizations and individuals. Events are by invitation only to members. For more information on membership, call (800) 837-2911 or (478) 301-4169, or visit forum.mercer.edu/membership.