SHAPING A BRIGHTER FUTURE for BUSINESS & COMMUNITIES

A new era in Economic Development, Strategic Planning, & Site Location Services.

Founded by experienced business and economic development professionals Tray Hairston, and Shane Hooper, Paragon Advisors is dedicated to enhancing economic development through innovative strategies and collaborative partnerships

The PARAGON ADVISORS Mission

Our mission is to deliver tailored, location-specific strategies rooted in data-driven insights, industry best practices, and extensive real-world experience. We believe successful collaboration is built on active listening, meaningful relationships, and effective engagement with stakeholders.

Our Suite of Services

Strategic Planning Services

We assist communities to help them define their economic future and chart a clear, actionable path toward inclusive growth and long-term resilience. Our approach will engage public and private stakeholders, analyze local assets and challenges, and align economic priorities with realistic implementation strategies.

Our services help cities, counties, regions, and institutions:

Assess their economic landscape through data-driven research and stakeholder input;
Identify competitive advantages and targeted sectors for growth;
Align community values with economic objectives, including equity, sustainability, and job creation;
Develop a roadmap with measurable goals, timelines, and performance indicators;
Position themselves for public and private investment, including site readiness, incentive structuring, and capital access.

Whether you’re a local government, a regional partnership, or a higher education institution, we can help you move from vision to action—crafting strategies that attract investment, support entrepreneurs, expand opportunity, and deliver real outcomes for your community.

Site Selection Consulting Services

Making the right location decision is one of the most critical—and complex—moves a company can make. Our site selection consulting services guide companies through every phase of the location analysis and decision-making process, helping clients identify the optimal site for long-term success while maximizing incentives and minimizing risk.

With deep expertise at the intersection of economic development, public finance, and capital investment, we provide end-to-end advisory services for corporate expansions, relocations, and new facility development.

Our site selection services include:

Location screening and comparative analysis based on workforce, logistics, infrastructure, tax environment, and industry alignment;
Incentive identification, and consulting, including local, state and federal economic development incentives;
Stakeholder engagement with state, regional, and local economic development partners;
Due diligence and risk assessment on regulatory, political, and financial considerations;
Confidential project management that protects your business interests from planning through closing.

We work with companies across industries—industrial, tech, life sciences, logistics, data centers, and beyond—helping them land in communities that are positioned for growth and aligned with their strategic goals.

We don’t just find sites—we unlock value.

About Us

Tray Hairston

Tray Hairston, CEcD, Esq., is a licensed attorney and economic development/site location consultant. Tray has served as counsel and economic development advisor to Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and has been recognized by Mid-South Super Lawyers® for Government Finance (2016-2023), Mississippi College School of Law as Young Lawyer of the Year (2013), and Mississippi Business Journal as one of its Top 40 under 40 (2012–2013). In addition, The Bond Buyer publication recognized Tray as one of the 28 “Rising Stars” throughout the country within the public finance field.

Tray was also named to Southern Business & Development’s Under 50 Economic Developers to Watch in its Summer 2024 edition. Most recently, Tray participated in the Harvard University Kennedy School’s Eff ective Leadership Across Sectors Program, a leadership training program designed and led by Harvard faculty consisting of an advanced education opportunity off ered exclusively to Delta Leadership Institute (“DLI”) alumni, who are members of the Delta Leadership Network – a post-DLI community of nearly 700 community leaders representing public, private and nonprofit sectors from across the Delta Regional Authority’s eight-state region.

Tray is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, International Economic Development Council, Southern Economic Development Council and Mississippi Bar Association. He is also on the International Economic Development Council Board of Directors. He received his undergraduate degree from Tougaloo College, his MBA from Belhaven College, and his Juris Doctor from the Mississippi College School of Law. Tray is also a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) through the International Economic Development Council. In his role as a CEcD, Tray provides economic development consulting advice to communities and site selection consulting to companies throughout the U.S.

Shane Hooper

Shane Hooper is the co-founder of Paragon Advisors LLC, bringing over two decades of experience in economic and community development to provide solutions for our clients. He holds a Master of Science in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi and an undergraduate degree from Lipscomb University. Shane’s career is distinguished not only by his expertise in economic development but also by his service as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.

Throughout his career, Shane has led municipal efforts to create jobs, attract capital investment, and grow local economies. His leadership has been instrumental in a wide range of community development initiatives, from housing and education support to enhancing quality of life and improving places where people live and work. Shane’s work has spanned numerous sectors, including multi-use developments, housing solutions, revitalization efforts, retail recruitment, and the preparation and marketing of industrial parks.

One of Shane’s key achievements was spearheading the property selection and site preparation for an industrial park, which culminated in the successful recruitment of the municipality’s largest advanced manufacturer. His ability to nurture relationships and drive significant capital investment has led to increased employment opportunities and economic growth in the regions he has served.

Shane is also deeply committed to education and workforce development. He has served on two statewide boards of directors for over 10 years, helping shape policy for a variety of institutions, including large research universities, historically black colleges and universities, community colleges, and state-funded vocational institutions. He believes strongly in the direct correlation between educational attainment, workforce development, and long-term economic prosperity.

Outside of his professional life, Shane enjoys spending time with his wife, Sarah, and their three children. The family loves traveling and is also kept busy by their two Springer Spaniels, Max and Millie.