BEST OF JACKSON // Biz Services
Best of Jackson: Business Services
W
elcome to the debut of a new pop-up Best of Jackson winners’ list: Business Services. This inaugural spread spotlights a number of local businesses in the area that specialize in helping other businesses run more smoothly, as well as assisting individuals with similar needs. We applaud these very necessary community leaders in a tough time for businesses.
Best Accountant/CPA; Best CPA or Accounting Firm; Best Payroll Service: Natasha McLaurin; Midstate Financial Group
Best Recruiter/Employment Agency: TempStaff
(962 North St., 601-353-4200; 164 Watford Parkway Drive, Canton; 601-859-8860; 608 Delaware Avenue, McComb; 601-250-080; tempstaff.net)
(400 Highway 51 N., Suite F, Ridgeland; 601-552-8800; midstatefinancials.com)
November 25 - December 8, 2020 • jfp.ms
Best CPA or Accounting Firm Finalists: Lightheart Sanders (116 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1200, Madison; 601-898-2727; lsacpafirm.com) / Parker & Associates (355 Edgewood Terrace Drive, 601-982-5341, parkcpa.com) / TEC Partners (217 Draperton Drive, Ridgeland, 601-605-4842) / Windham & Lacey (2708 Old Brandon Road, Pearl; 601-939-8676; 219 N. Jackson St.; 601-892-4001; windhamandlacey.com) Best Payroll Service Finalists: Pay Pros of Mississippi (210 Industrial Drive, Suite 2, Ridgeland, 601-607-7801, payprosms.com) / People Lease (Account Services Group) (689 Towne Center Blvd., Suite B, Ridgeland; 800-723-3025; peoplelease.com) / Personnel Plus (404 Legacy Park, Ridgeland, 601-206-1620, personnelplusms.com) / Watkins & Company (436 Katherine Drive, Suite 100, Flowood; 601-935-9288; watkinsandco.com)
courtesy Tempstaff
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Best Accountant/CPA Finalists: Carolyn Wakefield (6045 Ridgewood Road, Suite F, 601-957-0073) / Conrad Ebner (TEC Partners LLP, 217 Draperton Drive, Ridgeland, 601-605-4842) / Kevin Lightheart (Lightheart, Sanders and Associates; 116 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1200, Madison; 601-898-2727; lsacpafirm.com) / Phillip Parker (Parker & Associates CPAs PLLC, 355 Edgewood Terrace Drive, 601-982-5341, parkcpa.com)
courtesy Natalie McLaurin
Founded in 2014, the Midstate Financial Group in Ridgeland handles everything from back-office functions like payroll management and bookkeeping to full-service business accounting, all while aiming to help clients solve their problems through personalized service. Natasha McLaurin, the company’s current president, has been with the company since it was founded, having also served as an insurance broker and a licensed tax professional in her six-year tenure. McLaurin graduated with a degree in business administration from Jackson State University in 2005 and combines that education with almost nine years’ experience in health-compliNatasha McLaurin ance and insurance-claims roles. “I love learning and growing my business,” McLaurin says of her position. “I take time and work with my clients, I don’t just do their taxes I try to explain every step I take and work with them so that they’re on the same page as me. I think they really appreciate that effort, and it’s something I love to do.” As explained on the business’ website, Midstate strives to help solve financial problems both today and down the road, handling the issue at hand and implementing measures to keep those problems in check. For instance, tax specialists not only prepare business tax returns; they also provide long-term plans that manage tax burdens. Midstate not only diagnoses and remedies payroll issues, but also represents clients and helps them restructure systems to better suit them and their employees in the future. McLaurin asserts that her favorite aspects of her job include “getting to meet new people, learning new things about the tax profession and learning how to apply them to everyday situations,” she says. A self-described “people person,” she also attributes a portion of her appreciation for her work to Midstate operating in the Jackson metro. “I love the location and community we have here,” McLaurin says. “Word-of-mouth is great, and of course, I love the people.” —Sarah Kate Pollard, Kyle Hamrick
Since 1981, TempStaff has placed approximately 4,000 people per year in jobs across central Mississippi, relying on a reputation of diligence and excellence honed by decades working in the Jackson metro area. Carolyn Boteler, CSP, who has served as president and CEO since 1991, says her staff’s longevity and focus on relationships gives TempStaff its edge. “Our staff really get to know our customers,” she said, adding that company’s goal is to create partnerships. Those partnerships are maintained by recruiters with more than five years’ experience at the company, which, Boteler says, “makes a big difference for our customers because they aren’t having to adjust to a new person.” Motivated by a belief that every person is made to fill a particular job, Boteler and her staff work with employers and job-seekers to fill vacancies in administrative, professional and industrial positions with the candidates they find that best match the jobs’ qualifications. She says she is proud of her team’s work and hopes to expand TempStaff’s reputation as central Mississippi’s premier staffing agency as the company enters its 40th year. The business’ philosophy, “A Personal Touch to Employment Staffing,” resonates with the customer service it aims to uphold day after day, with both employers and those seeking jobs alike. A member of the American Staffing Association and a regular winner of ClearlyRated’s Best of Staffing Client Satisfaction Diamond Award, TempStaff has offices in Jackson, Canton and McComb. Since 2014, TempStaff has donated more $20,000 to area organizations, and staff members hold leadership roles in several local civic and business organizations. —Kyle Hamrick Finalists: Capitol Staffing (661 Sunnybrook Road, Suite 110, Ridgeland; 601-957-1755; capitolstaffing.com) / Express Employment Professionals (4220 Lakeland Drive, Suite D, Flowood; 601-355-7000; expresspros.com) / Kinetic Staffing (4266 Interstate 55 N. Frontage Road, Suite 102, 601-3624545, kineticstaffing.com) / Professional Staffing Group (2475 Lakeland Drive, Suite C, Flowood; 601-981-1658; prostaffgroup.com)
