Comment on Barbour to lead Butler Snow economic development firm

BARBOUR RIDGELAND (AP) – Former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour is among the leaders of a new economic development firm formed by Ridgeland-based Butler Snow LLP. The law firm said Monday that Barbour will serve as chairman of VisionFirst Advisors, which will provide strategic analysis and identify market opportunities for organizations. He will be joined by former Florida Secretary of Commerce Gray Swoope, who will serve as president and chief executive officer. As a subsidiary of Butler Snow, with client representation throughout the United States as well as internationally in more than 30 countries around the globe, firm officials said the partnership gives VisionFirst Advisors national and international reach. VisionFirst Advisors’ new office is located in Tallahassee, Florida.