The 2025 Speaker’s Edge competition will take place Thursday January 16 and Friday January 17 in the Jackson Avenue Center on the University of Mississippi Campus.
Ethical Dilemma and Marketplace Pitch Final Rounds: Live Stream starts at 9:00am
Team Pitch Final Round and Awards Ceremony: Live Stream starts at 1:00pm
Schedule of Events
Jackson Avenue Center (JAC)
1111 West Jackson Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655
Thursday January 16
| 8:00 – 9:00 | Judges Training and Breakfast (sponsored by Lott Leadership Institute) |
| 9:00 – 9:30 | Welcome Remarks from: Dr. Elizabeth (Ellie) Moore Speaking Center Director, Dept. of Writing & Rhetoric Dr. Robert VanNess Faculty Director of MBA Programs, School of Business Dr. Jennifer McClure Director of Master’s Programs, Patterson School of Accountancy |
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Keynote Address: Kevin Rust, Financial Investigator and Retired FBI Agent |
| 10:00 – Noon | Team Pitch Round 1 |
| Noon – 1:00 | Lunch (sponsored by BankPlus) |
| 1:00 – 3:00 | Team Pitch Round II |
| 3:30 – 4:30 | Soirée Keynote Address: Dr. Mike Edmonds, Speaker’s Edge Co-Founder (sponsored by the School of Business) |
Friday January 17
| 8:00 – 9:00 | Breakfast (sponsored by the Division of Outreach and Continuing Education) |
| 9:00 – 11:00 | Ethical Dilemma |
| 11:00 – Noon | Marketplace Pitch |
| Noon – 1:00 | Lunch (sponsored by E.H. Patterson School of Accountancy) |
| 1:00 – 3:00 | Team Pitch |
| 3:00 – 4:00 | Awards Ceremony and Closing Remarks from: Dr. Fred Slabach Dean, School of Law Dr. Ken Cyree Dean, School of Business Administration Dr. Mark Wilder Dean, Patterson School of Accountancy |
