Hairston joins alumni network of 500 trained community leaders
Butler Snow is pleased to announce that Tray Hairston is one of six Mississippi graduates of Delta Regional Authority’s (DRA) Delta Leadership Institute (DLI) Executive Academy.
The year-long training program brings together public, private and nonprofit-sector leaders from each of the eight states served by DRA and equips participants with the tools, experiences and networks that will help them create new economic opportunities in Delta communities and support the growth of the region’s economy.
“We applaud Tray’s commitment to helping grow local economies in diverse cities and towns throughout our region,” said Donald Clark, Jr., chairman of Butler Snow. “Tray is an exceptional leader in our firm, and we are excited to see him continue this in the communities we serve.”
The graduates participated in six training sessions over the past year to educate them on the regional and local economic and community development tools that are working for Delta communities to spark ideas that can be implemented in their own communities.
“I appreciate the support and training the Delta Leadership Institute provides to help prepare leaders who can contribute to the future growth of Mississippi,” said Gov. Phil Bryant. “I look forward to the contributions this group will make to enhancing economic development in their communities, in our state and in our region.”
The Mississippi graduates are:
- Eric Atchison, Jackson | Director of System Analysis, Research, & Enrollment Management, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning
- La Shon Brooks, Greenwood | Chief of Staff & Legislative Liaison, Mississippi Valley State University
- Jo Ann Clark, Ridgeland | Constituent Services Representative, U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
- Emanuel Edmond, Greenville | Chief Monitoring & Compliance Officer, Delta Regional Authority
- Jean Gross, Vicksburg | Vice President/Community Development Coordinator, Trustmark National Bank
- Tray Hairston, Madison | Partner, Butler Snow LLP
“It is an honor to be a part of DLI, which is one of the premiere leadership programs in the country,” said Hairston. “It has been a tremendous opportunity learning from governor’s office staffers, congressional staffers, mayors, supervisors, councilmen, aldermen, economic development professionals, leaders in the private sector and community leaders from the eight states that comprise the Delta region. The ideas and strategies I have learned will be put to good use in Mississippi.”
DLI fellows learn from local, regional and national experts in infrastructure and transportation, small business and entrepreneurship, workforce training, public health and other fields necessary for economic growth in the Delta region.
Since 2005, DLI’s Executive Academy has enhanced the leadership skills, policy knowledge and networks of community members across the region. After graduation, the Mississippi graduates become members of the Delta Leadership Network, which includes more than 500 community leaders dedicated to regional collaboration, resource sharing and innovative thinking.
DLI is a program of DRA in partnership with three institutions of higher education in the Delta region: The University of Alabama, Arkansas State University-Jonesboro and the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Hairston focuses his practice on public finance, economic development and government relations. Prior to joining Butler Snow, he served as counsel and economic development advisor to Gov. Phil Bryant. He has served as bond counsel for various cities and counties throughout Mississippi. Hairston currently serves as an adjunct law professor at Mississippi College School of Law and regularly publishes scholarly legal articles.
