The 20th annual MTSU Economic Outlook Conference was held on Frida at the Embassy Suites Hotel and Conference Center.

One of the featured speakers at the event was Greg Gonzales, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Financial Institutions.

Other speakers were Dr. David Penn, director of the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center, who shared statistics and insights about the Midstate and regional economy; and Donald Ratajczak, nationally known economist and regent’s professor of economics emeritus at Georgia State University.

MTSU alumnus J.B. Baker, owner of Sprint Logistics and chairman of the board for Volunteer Express Inc. and Associated Companies, was presented the Jennings A. Jones Champion of Free Enterprise Award.

The Jennings A. Jones Chair of Excellence in Free Enterprise, the MTSU Business and Economic Research Center, and the Weatherford Chair of Finance co-sponsored the event.