State Superintendent of Education Dr. Hank Bounds andMississippi Department of Employment Security Executive DirectorTommye Dale Favre will be the featured speakers Thursday when theMississippi Economic Council Trailblazer Tour makes a stop inBrookhaven at 11:30 a.m. at the Country Fisherman.

Bounds and Favre will present a free 90-minute program oneducation and work force training, said Kelly Monaghan, a publicrelations officer with the MEC.

“The Mississippi Economic Council needs your ideas andperspectives on issues that impact education and work forcepreparedness in Mississippi,” said MEC President Blake Wilson. “Sowe have scheduled a series of statewide meetings – MEC’sTrailblazer Tour – to discuss these issues with our state’sbusiness, community and economic development leaders.”

Bounds will preview his plan to redesign education and betterprepare students for the work force, Monaghan said. He expectsonline learning to become a key ingredient in that realignment.

Favre will outline the various employer-oriented programsavailable through the MEC for employee training and screening andother programs targeted to educate the work force.

The event, sponsored by the MEC and area chambers of commerce,is free, but preregistration is required. Interested guests mayregister by calling the tour’s headquarters at (601) 353-0247 oronline at www.mec.ms.