2024 CTE Conference Program

July 31, 2024

DAY 1: WEDNESDAY

Welcome from the city of Natchez, Mississippi

Dan Gibson has always loved Natchez – but he has not always lived here. He grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, the youngest of four boys and two loving and hard-working parents. Attending the Jackson Public Schools, he graduated from Murrah High School in 1983, where he served as both Student Body President and Editor of the School Newspaper. Dan continued his education at Mississippi State University, graduating in 1987 with a bachelor’s in business administration.

He began his political career there as Student Association President and as President of the Mississippi Student Body Presidents’ Council, representing Mississippi’s eight universities before the State College Board and MS Legislature. Acting on a lifelong passion for Natchez, Dan finally made the oldest city on the Mississippi River his home in 2016 and quickly became an active citizen, creating a hospitality business and volunteering for various community organizations. Desiring to be a force for positive change in Natchez, Dan answered the call of friends urging him to run for mayor in the fall of 2019. He was elected in July, 2020 with nearly 64% of the vote and solid support from every demographic. Even before taking office, Dan began building support for “The Natchez Renewal” – a plan to reverse years of decline in his adopted hometown and create jobs. Working with city and county leaders, Dan made keeping the local economy safely open during the national covid pandemic his top priority.

Dan M. Gibson Mayor of Natchez, Mississippi

This work paid off quickly: in February 2021, Forbes Magazine ranked Natchez #5 on its list, “The Top Ten Best Places In America To Travel Right Now And Avoid The Pandemic”. Many more national rankings soon followed such as #7 on USA Today’s “Top Ten Best Historic Small Towns” list, #8 on Southern Living’s “Best Small Towns”, and #1, National Public Radio’s “Most Affordable City in America”. Taking office in the wake of national unrest following the George Floyd incident, Dan has worked tirelessly to promote unity in Natchez. He seeks to build a better city where Unity is celebrated and with it, Community and Opportunity.