Butler Snow attorney Tray Hairston will moderate a panel titled "Site Selection, Economic Development and its Impact on Capital Markets and Communities of Color," at the National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP) Annual Conference on June 4, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio.
The NASP's 36th Annual Financial Services Conference is an influential forum for knowledge exchange, innovation, and strategic networking. Spanning three transformative days, the conference offers deep dives into critical topics, including trustee education, investment opportunities on the African continent, alternatives, institutional investing and public finance. This industry education and networking event attracts over 250 companies, 100 asset allocators and trustees, investment consultants, public and private pension plans, foundations, endowments, and more.
Tray Hairston is a member of the firm's Public Finance, Tax Incentives & Credit Markets group and concentrates his practice on public finance and economic development matters. He has served as bond counsel for various cities and counties as well as incentive counsel to developers and companies working on transactions totaling more than $2 billion. In addition, he is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council. In his role as a CEcD, Hairston provides economic development consulting advice to communities throughout the country and site selection consulting advice to companies throughout the U.S.
Hairston has been recognized by BL Rankings, The Best Lawyers in America® for Economic Development, Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers® and Southern Business & Development's Under 50 Economic Developers to Watch. In 2018, The Bond Buyer publication recognized Hairston as one of the 28 "Rising Stars" within the public finance industry throughout the country. Hairston recently participated in the Harvard University Kennedy School's Effective Leadership Across Sectors Program, a leadership training program designed and led by Harvard faculty.
Introductory Remarks:
- The Honorable Cheryl Brooks Sullivan, Franklin County Treasurer
Moderator:
- Tray Hairston, Esq., MBA, CEcD
Panelists:
- Quentin Messer, CEcD, is the CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and was appointed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Quentin is charged with implementing and executing MEDC's core mission of business development and attraction, community development, providing access to capital and enhancing Michigan's image and brand with a focus on building a strong and equitable economy for all Michiganders.
- Ann Rybka, site location consultant and director at Atlas Insight with 15 years of combined experience as a tax and incentive consultant. Ann is widely regarded as an expert in the industry providing her clients with location strategy andmulti-state economic development and financial incentive negotiation services.
- Brian Hicks, President & CEO, Hicks Partners, LLC, a multidisciplinary business consulting firm that delivers powerful results for clients seeking to enhance their image, impact policy decisions and grow their bottom line.