The Maximum Impact Simulcast that delighted almost 100 businessand local leaders in Brookhaven last April will be back this year,and planners are stepping up their game this year.

The Maximum Impact Simulcast is a one-day leadership trainingevent to be broadcast live from Atlanta on Friday, May 8, toapproximately 500 host sites throughout the nation.

Southern Leadership Symposium members began meetings Monday tomake the event bigger and better than last year. The 2008 eventattracted more than 100 people to Easthaven Baptist Church, whichwas the only host site in Mississippi.

This year’s simulcast will bring even bigger names to the bigscreen, said event organizer Patrick Porter. He said this year’slineup features former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, golfgreat Jack Nicklaus, Walt Disney’s Al Weiss and Inside the NBA hostErnie Johnson, among others.

Event organizer Kenny Goza said the attraction of the event,besides being a great way for leaders to hone their leadershipskills, is that it’s a chance for people in Brookhaven to seespeakers they might never have a chance to see.

“These guys will never be in Brookhaven personally unlessthey’re going through on the interstate,” Goza said. “We’re notgoing to get Tony Blair in Brookhaven, not Jack Nicklaus, but youhave the opportunity to hear them on the platform, speaking abouthow they got so successful.”

Besides having bigger names, there’s a bigger incentive forpeople to attend the event, which will be held at Easthaven againthis year. Porter said the economic climate being as it is, it’s aneven bigger savings than before.

“It’s a great event because it’s a cost effective alternative tosome of the more high-dollar training you get in bigger cities,”Porter said. “The live event is in Atlanta, and it costs severalhundred dollars to attend, while the simulcast will cost you$45.”

Porter said event planners wouldn’t have brought the simulcastback if it hadn’t been such a success last year.

“Coming out of the simulcast last year, I feel like attendancewill double,” he said. “One of the skeptical feelings last year wasnot knowing what to expect, and now people understand what it isand what to expect. Some of the companies said they’ll be sendingmore people because they know what it’s all about.”

And some people find the simulcast atmosphere more conducive totaking a day away from the office than actually attending a liveevent, Porter said.

“I kind of like it better because being busy business people,you can get up and walk out if you need to take a call,” he said.”You’re not interrupting the speaker, and they’re not sitting therelooking at you leaving. You’re with them live, but they’re notthere looking at your every move as well.”

While the event is in the planning stages on details, the dateis set for Friday, May 8. Porter said organizers are planning theevent with an eye toward helping area business leaders provide fortheir employees in the best way possible.

“Basically this morning we laid out our game plan, and how we’lltackle each goal we have,” Porter said Monday. “A lot ofbusinesses, especially small businesses, want to provide trainingfor their employees, but they don’t want to spend the money becausethey don’t have it. This is a low-cost alternative, and there’shigh value in return.”

Goza said planners hope the seminar will reach not only businesspeople and management types, but everyone.

“This is an opportunity for Brookhaven and the surrounding areato improve life and leadership skills anywhere you work,” he said.”And it’s not just business leadership, it’s life leadership.”

The cost to attend is $45 per person, which includes lunch. Moreinformation on the event may be found atwww.maximumimpact.com/mis.

Questions about tickets and times can be directed to theBrookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce at (601)833-1411.