May 29, 2020 MBJ E-EDITION

M S B U S I N E S S . C O M

| May 16 - May 29, 2020 | Vo. 42 • No. 11 • 24 pages

• Economic Development

• Banking & Finance

{Section begins P12} » Amazon during pandemic » Walmart hires in Mississippi grow during COVID-19

{Section begins P15} » Mississippi banks rate top in country for PPP loan success » Gabardi joins First Commercial Bank

AMAZON DURING PANDEMIC » State’s Amazon footprint helps keep America going during pandemic » Page 12

Pages 14, 18

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Americans have positive view of COVID-19 media coverage “The findings show that during the COVID-19 outbreak, Americans are largely evaluating the news media in similar ways to how they evaluated it prior to the pandemic,” said Jeffrey Gottfried, Pew senior researcher. “Even in a time of crisis, there is continued disconnect between the two parties when it comes to attitudes toward journalists and the content they produce.”

By TODD SMITH mbj@msbusiness.com

C

overage of the coronavirus outbreak has consumed much of the news media’s attention as Americans look for information in a time of high anxiety and uncertainty.

U.S. adults overall hold more positive than negative views of the news media’s coverage of the COVID-19 crisis, while their broader attitudes toward the news media are more evenly divided or more negative, according to a new survey from Pew Research Center. At the same time, Republicans and Democrats continue to stand far apart in their views of the news media.

When asked in the survey to evaluate the news media’s coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak, Americans are more likely than not to think that the news media todd smith are fulfilling four key roles. For example, most Americans (59%) say the news media are providing them with the information they need while about a quarter of Americans (24%) say they are not. And about half of U.S. adults (49%) say the media coverage of COVID-19 has largely been accurate, compared with 24% who say it has been mostly inaccurate.

But there are strong partisan divides.

For example, while two-thirds of Democrats (66%) say the media’s COVID-19 coverage has been largely accurate, about three-in-ten Republicans (31%) agree, a divide that is even larger between Republicans who identify as conservative and Democrats who identify as liberal.

The survey, conducted April 20-26, 2020, among 10,139 U.S. adults who are part of the center’s American Trends Panel, also finds that Americans are more split or negative in their broader views of journalists than they are toward COVID-19 coverage.

For instance, Americans are about evenly divided when it comes to their overall confidence in journalists: About half (48%) have at least a “fair amount” of confidence in journalists to act in the best interest of the public, while a similar share (52%) say they have not too much or no confidence in journalists. In

Good Golly Mic: Little Richard Has Left the Stage!

fact, confidence in journalists has dropped slightly since 2018.

Among the other key findings:

• Of four measures of the news media’s coverage of COVID-19, the news media receive the highest marks for whether they are keeping the public informed. Nearly six-in-ten Americans (59%) say the news media’s coverage of the outbreak is getting them the information they need, compared with far fewer – about a quarter (24%) – who say coverage is not serving that role. The remainder (17%) say that neither phrase reflects their view.

• More Americans see the news media’s coverage of the pandemic as working for the benefit of the public (48%) and helping the country (46%) rather than benefitting the media themselves (36%) or hurting the country (34%).

• Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are between 29 and 38 percentage points less likely than Democrats and Democrat-leaners to hold a positive view of the news media’s coverage of the COVID-19 outbreak across for different measures surveyed. Previous Pew Research Center research finds that Republicans generally express more negative sentiments of the news media than Democrats, particularly since the 2016 presidential election.

• Fully 43% of Americans say the news media coverage of COVID-19 has been more negative than it should be. Far fewer (12%) say the

tone of the coverage has been more positive than it should be. Still many Americans (44%) say the coverage had been neither too negative nor too positive.

• More broadly, views of journalists’ overall ethics are somewhat more negative than positive.

Roughly four-in-ten Americans (43%) say journalists have “very high” or “high” ethical standards, while a majority (56%) say they have “low” or “very low” standards.

• Similar to views on coronavirus coverage, partisan divides persist over opinions toward journalists generally. Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to say journalists have high or very high ethical standards (64% vs. 19%), a 45-point divide that is about the same as last year.

• Partisans are more divided in their level of confidence toward journalists than other groups of individuals. For example, the 47-point gap between Democrats and Republicans (including leaners) in the share who express at least a fair amount of confidence in journalists to act in the public interest is at least 10 points larger than the split for nine other groups of individuals asked about, such as business leaders, elected officials and religious leaders • When it comes to overall ethical standards, Americans are more likely to think medical doctors (92%), police officers (73%) and religious leaders (67%) have very high or high ethical standards, while journalists (43%) are about on par with lawyers (44%).

Rock legend Little Richard is kicking it up with a Heavenly audience!

The performer known for such rollicking hits as “Tutti Frutti,” “Long Tall Sally and many more who defined the genre and a generation, along with Elvis and the Rolling Stones – died recently in Nashville. He was 87.

Born Richard Wayne Penniman, he was one of rock and roll’s first stars, and his wild, flamboyant approach to perform-

ing was a key influence on a generation of musical giants, from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones to James Brown and Michael Jackson. He was among the first inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.

While Little Richard’s dynamic sound reached all corners of the world, he also spent considerable time in Nashville at both ends of his 65-year career.

In the last decade, he split his time between his home in Lynchburg, Tenn., and the Hilton Hotel on Nashville’s Lower See MEDIA COVERAGE, Page 3

May 16 - May 29, 2020

FIVE AIRLINES SUBMIT BIDS FOR TUPELO REGIONAL AIRPORT

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Blue Delta Jeans featured on LinkedIn’s Beyond the Call’ list

B (Photo/Thomas Wells)

By DENNIS SEID Daily Journal Air service has seen a remarkable turnaround in Tupelo the past four years under Nashville-based Contour Airlines, reaching passenger boardings unseen in a decade.

“It’s good to see so many interested in service in Tupelo,” said airport Executive Director Cliff Nash.

The current contract expires Sept. 30, and four other airlines are proposing to replace Contour, which hopes to continue its run.

Under the Alternate Essential Air Service federally subsidized program, Contour is paid by the Tupelo Regional Airport Authority rather than the U.S. Department of Transportation. The DOT still oversees the program and funds it, but the local airport authority has a little more flexibility in negotiations.

The 30-month contract signed in 2017 is valued at $10.1 million, and Contour provides 15 round-trip flights between Tupelo and Nashville weekly on 30-passenger regional jets.

Another player has emerged offering service under Alternate EAS: SkyWest Airlines. While no formal proposal has been submitted, Nash said the airline is offering connections to Houston and Chicago. A larger 50-passenger jet would be used, and the number of roundtrip fights would be 14.

SkyWest provides regional jet service between Meridian and Dallas.

As for the other three proposals, those airlines are seeking standard EAS contracts, and two companies have bid unsuccessfully before: Boutique Air and Southern Airways Express. The other company is Cape Air. All three airlines use smaller 9 to 12-seat single or twin-engine aircraft.

The Tupelo Regional Airport Authority hasn’t developed a recommendation, however. At a special called meeting Tuesday, the board voted to forward all the information to the Department of Transportation to seek its guidance.

Nash is writing a letter to the DOT detailing the bidding process and what the community wants in air service.

“Their response to our letter will indicate the direction that the board needs to head,” he said.

The airlines’ proposals aren’t detailed service agreements, but they do give an idea of what they intend to provide. However, Nash said the board is remaining neutral until it hears back from the DOT on what it prefers.

“We’re just requesting guidance from them on how to proceed with the process of the proposals and getting to a point of recommending which air service under what plan – EAS or Alternate EAS,” he said.

lue Delta Jeans is featured on LinkedIn’s Beyond the Call list, which highlights the nation’s top 20 companies who are going above the call of duty in the face of the pandemic.

LinkedIn spent the last month tracking the actions of big and small companies to distill its traits, speaking with business professors and historians and tapping the insights of members of LinkedIn’s Top Voices, as well as some of its most thoughtful Influencers. Also interviewed were people attempting to contribute while staying in business, from a bookstore owner in Ann Arbor, Michigan to an American car manufacturer in nearby Detroit; from a Mississippi blue jeans company to the largest grocery store chain in the world.

“What has emerged is a rich portrait of individuals taking action through uncertainty, acting quickly to put their resources to work,” said LinkedIn’s senior editor-at-largee Jessi Hempel.

“These are just a few examples of industries and companies that have acted quickly to help their employees, customers and communities. They have gone Beyond the Call.”

Here’s the writeup on BDJ: “The seamstresses operating in the back warehouse just outside Tupelo, Mississippi have spent years sewing jeans for the moderately rich and often famous as employees of Blue Delta Jeans. Since

MEDIA COVERAGE

AP Photo/Julio Cortez

» In this Thursday, March 26, 2020 photo, Jose Pedro Sanchez, originally from Veracruz, Mexico who is a seamstress at Blue Delta Jeans, sews together a face guard at the jeans manufacturing site in Shannon, Miss.

The company has shifted its operation from making custom jeans to help with the demand of face masks to combat the coronavirus outbreak.

Josh West and Nick Weaver started this custom blue jeans company in 2011, their made-to-order pants have become staples in the closets of everyone from the actress Nicole Kidman to Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lester (who reportedly owns dozens of pairs).

“Then COVID-19 set in. Business paused as the sporting events where they often fit and sold their pants were called off. Demand for their $500 jeans stopped overnight. But if demand for jeans had fallen, the need for masks was suddenly significant. ‘We thought, ‘Let’s try to plug

Continued from, Page 2

Broadway, overlooking his star on the Music City Walk of Fame, one of his proudest accolades, which meanders through downtown in the shadows of the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Though he rarely made public appearances, locals would spot him at times – frequenting the Wendy’s drive-through and other fast food restaurants on West End Avenue, where he’d give a friendly wave to fans.

In a way, Little Richard came full circle by spending his final years in Music City. Some 60 years ago, before he was discovered, he held long residences in the famed R&B nightclubs on Jefferson Street.

He went from a club favorite to a superstar in 1955 after “Tutti Frutti” hit the airwaves. In his biography, Little Richard said he heard it for the first time on Nashville’s WLAC radio station, which boasted a 50,000-watt signal that brought R&B music to half of the United States.

A wave of electric hits followed over the next few years, including “Long Tall Sally,” “Keep a Knockin’” and “Good Golly, Miss Molly” as well as appearances in “The Girl Can’t Help It” and other early rock films. But in 1957, he abandoned rock and roll for religion, releasing three gospel albums in the early 60’s and touring the evangelical circuit.

In 1964, Little Richard returned to rock with the album “Little

as much gap of the need as we can,’’ said Weaver.

“Blue Delta retooled its factory in a matter of days, installing partitions to protect workers who’d once worked in open spaces and testing new materials to make masks. Now, the company manufactures 10,000 masks a week, which they sell to Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and other local government agencies. They’ve been able to keep people employed and even hire a few additional staff, while providing necessary materials to keep people safe.”

Richard is Back.” While his legend grew as acts like The Beatles proudly touted his influence, he never reached the same popular heights as his run in the ’50s. Still the music and accolades continued, notably with a run of well-received albums in the early ‘70s.

That decade also saw Little Richard struggling with drug abuse.

He once again sought refuge in religion and came to Nashville in 1979 to record the gospel album “God’s Beautiful City.”

He reconnected with Music City in 1994, teaming up with Tanya Tucker on a song for the “Rhythm, Country & Blues album.” The pair also performed on that year’s CMA Awards. He also expressed his admiration for modern country music, singing some of Kenny Chesney’s “Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven.”

And I know Little Richard is rockin’ with the angels!

Each week, The Spin Cycle will bestow a Golden Mic Award to the person, group or company in the court of public opinion that best exemplifies the tenets of solid PR, marketing and advertising – and those who don’t. Stay tuned – and step-up to the mic! And remember … Amplify Your Brand! » TODD SMITH is co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Deane | Smith, a full-service branding, PR, marketing and advertising firm with offices in Jackson. The firm – based in Nashville, Tenn. – is also affiliated with Mad Genius. Contact him at todd@deanesmithpartners.com, follow him @spinsurgeon and like the ageny on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/deanesmithpartners, and join us on LinkedInhttp:// www.linkedin.com/company/deane-smith-&-partners.

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NASA takes preliminary steps to resume SLS core stage testing N

ASA resumed Green Run testing activities this week on the first flight stage of its Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, with the return of limited crews to perform work at the agency’s Stennis Space Center in Bay St. Louis.

“This is an important step toward resuming the critical work to support NASA’s Artemis program that will land the first woman and the next man on the south pole of the Moon by 2024,” Stennis Center Director Rick Gilbrech said.

“Though Stennis remains in Stage 4 of NASA’s COVID-19 Response Framework, we assessed state and local conditions and worked with agency leadership to develop a plan to safely and methodically increase critical on-site work toward the launch of the next great era of space exploration.”

Stennis moved to Stage 4 on March 16, with only personnel needed to perform mission-essential activities related to the safety and security of the center allowed on site. NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, and its Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, which are building SLS, also are in Stage 4.

“The test facility has been in standby mode, so we allotted two days to reestablish some facility support of mechanical and electrical systems that will also assist the vehicle contractors in performing their operations,” said Barry Robinson, project manager for the B-2 Test Stand SLS core stage Green Run testing at Stennis.

Reestablishing, or “waking up,” the Stennis B-2 Test Stand systems in the days ahead includes restoring facility power and controls, as well as ensuring pressurized gas systems are at proper levels for SLS operators to proceed with testing activities.

“Michoud has been cleaning and preparing the rocket manufacturing facility for critical production restart of the SLS core stage and the Orion capsule,” said Michoud Director Robert Champion.

According to Julie Bassler, SLS stages project manager responsible for the core stage work at Stennis, Michoud and Marshall, Marshall also is resuming critical flight software and hardware testing.

Returning workers were trained on general safety procedures, personal protective equipment requirements, and self-monitoring. Site personnel also installed signs and markings to indicate where employees should stand and sit during upcoming activities.

“We want to make sure employees are armed with the appropriate information to be effective on the job and return safely to their families,” Robinson said.

All sites are closely following CDC guidance to safely operate and protect the health and welfare of all employees. Michoud plans to transition to Stage 3 and operate in that stage for 30 days, in coordination with local government plans. Marshall remains at Stage 4.

Stennis plans for 30 days of limited crew activity on site in anticipation of the center’s transition from Stage 4 to Stage 3. Once that transition occurs, increases to onsite work will continue slowly and methodically. The focus then will shift to preparing for the avionics power-up

test – the next in a series of core stage Green Run testing milestones. According to Robinson, it’s too early to calculate a precise schedule for the various test milestones.

“Like so many others, in so many places, we’re operating under a new normal. We’re working now to determine exactly what that looks like,” he explained. “The virus, and our knowledge of safety as it relates to the virus, will dictate any changes we consider and implement. We will adjust tasks based on the most current information and guidance.”

Green Run represents the first topto-bottom integrated test of all flight core stage systems prior to its maiden Artemis I flight. All testing will be conducted on the B-2 Test Stand in the coming months and will culminate with an eight-minute, full-duration hot fire of the core stage with its four RS-25 engines, as during an actual launch.

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Cubicle comeback? Pandemic will reshape office life for good

L WALK-ON’S SPORTS BISTREUX TAPS FRANCHISEES FOR STARKVILLE, TUPELO Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, a popular Baton Rouge, Louisiana-based chain, has more than 100 locations under development in 15 states, and Mississippi is one of its prime targets.

Earlier this week, company co-founder Brandon Landry tweeted that Eddie and Allen Gant became franchisees for Starkville, Tupelo and Meridian. Currently, the Hattiesburg store is the only Mississippi location. The company’s website also says it has sold franchise locations in Jackson, Biloxi/Gulfport, Southaven and Oxford.

Officials haven’t yet said when any of the new franchised locations will open.

Walk-On’s founders Brandon Landry and Jack Warner were walk-ons on the LSU basketball team in early 2000, and they opened Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar in the shadows of LSU’s Tiger Stadium. in 2003.

In 2012, ESPN named Walk-On’s the No. 1 Sports Bar in America. Three years later, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees became a co-owner in the company.

Walk-On’s says it offers “authentic, mouthwatering Louisiana cuisine prepared fresh in a fromscratch kitchen. That includes seafood, traditional Cajun cuisine and burgers built for two hands.”

The menu also includes a variety of gumbos and soups, sandwiches and poboys, wraps and tacos and desserts. The restaurants also serve beer and alcohol.

ONDON — Office jobs are never going to be the same.

When workers around the world eventually return to their desks, they’ll find many changes due to the pandemic. For a start, fewer people will go back to their offices as the coronavirus crisis makes working from home more accepted, health concerns linger and companies weigh up rent savings and productivity benefits.

For the rest, changes will begin with the commute as workers arrive in staggered shifts to avoid rush hour crowds. Staff might take turns working alternate days in the office to reduce crowding. Floor markings or digital sensors could remind people to stand apart and cubicles might even make a comeback.

“This is going to be a catalyst for things that people were too scared to do before,” said John Furneaux, CEO of Hive, a New York City-based workplace software startup. The pandemic “gives added impetus to allow us and others to make changes to century-old working practices.”

Hive plans to help employees avoid packed rush hour subway commutes by starting at different hours, said Furneaux, who tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies. In Britain, the government is considering asking employers to do the same.

At bigger companies, senior executives are rethinking cramming downtown office towers with workers. British bank Barclays is making a “long-term adjustment in how we think about our location strategy,” CEO Jes Staley said. “The notion of putting 7,000 people in a building may be a thing of the past.”

That is already happening in China, where lockdowns started easing in March.

Beijing municipal authorities limited the number of people in each office to no more than 50% of usual staffing levels, required office workers to wear face masks and sit at least 1 meter (3.3 feet) apart.

At a minimum, the COVID-19 crisis could be the death knell for some recent polarizing office trends, such as the shared workspaces used by many tech startups to create a more casual and creative environment. Cubicles and partitions are making a return as the virus speeds the move away from open plan office spaces, architects say.

Design firm Bergmeyer is reinstalling dividers on 85 desks at its Boston office that had been removed over the years. That “will return a greater degree of privacy to the individual desks, in addition to the physical barrier which this health crisis now warrants,” said Vice President Rachel Zsembery.

There’s no rush to return. At Google and Facebook, employees will be able to work remotely until the end of the year. Other

firms have realized they don’t even need an office.

Executives at San Francisco teamwork startup Range had given notice on their office because they wanted someplace bigger. But when California’s shelter in place order was issued, they instead scrapped their search and decided to go all remote indefinitely, a move that would save six figures on rent.

“We were looking at AP Photo/Steven Senne the writing on the wall,” » This Thursday, May 7, 2020, photo,\ shows Interior Designer Stephsaid co-founder Jennifer anie Jones at the design firm Bergmeyer putting up a safe distancing reminder indicating one way foot traffic to a cubicle at the firms offices Dennard.

One upside of having in Boston. When workers around the world eventually return to their an all-remote workforce desks, they’ll find myriad adjustments by their companies to reflect the is that the company can post-pandemic “new normal” way of life, executives and experts say. hire from a broader pool of candidates beyond San Francisco, where from home but “we’re still going to need astronomical housing costs have priced offices,” because some jobs are best done out many. But Dennard said the downside there, said Chief Digital Officer Jen Felch. is that it eliminates the “chaotic interrup- She cited customer support staff, who can tions” – the chance encounters between access more resources at the office to diagstaff members that can spark creativity, so nose equipment problems.

More than 90% of Dell’s 165,000 fullthe company is planning more online coltime global staff are working remotely laboration. during the pandemic, compared with 30% Good Brothers Digital, a public relations before it started. Once lockdown sends, she firm in Wales, also ditched its office space in estimates that number will be above 50%. downtown Cardiff. Director Martyn John The outbreak is also going to force comsaid productivity is just as high as it was panies to take hygiene much more seriously. before the pandemic forced them to work “The amount of people cleaning and sanfrom home, so he decided to give up the itizing an offi ce is going to shoot through company’s office space to save on rent, one the roof,” said Brian Kropp, Gartner’s chief of his biggest expenses. of human resources research.

Why drag employees into the office if they’re Extra attention will go to places like happier working from home, he reasons. conference rooms, which will have to be “People are just going to expect it now.”

Many changes are expected to remain cleaned between uses, bringing added disin place even after the COVID-19 threat ruption, he said.

Or companies could do away with in-perends, as companies prepare for new disease son meetings altogether. outbreaks or other emergencies.

“What’s the point of sanitizing everyThe work from home trend will only conbody’s desk if you’re getting them all in the tinue to accelerate, according to consultancy same room,” said Hive’s Furneaux, who said Gartner. he’s thinking carefully about how to hold After the pandemic, 41% of employees events such as “all-hands meetings” for his expect to work remotely at least some of the 70 staff .

“We might get the weird scenario time, up from 30% before the outbreak, acof in-offi ce conference calls.” cording to 220 human resources executives High tech solutions will play a role, such it surveyed. Workers who do return will as sensors to remind people to maintain solikely welcome wearing office attire once cial distancing, said Joanna Daly, vice presiagain as a signal things are going back to dent for corporate health and safety at IBM. normal, Gartner said.

Existing industrial sensor technology Not all companies can go fully remote, escould easily be adapted to offices, said Daly. pecially big corporations with thousands of One possible example: “We’d want our staff. Even so, they’re thinking carefully about phones to buzz if we got closer than 2 meters who should return to the office and who can while we were having a conversation,” she said. and should continue to work from home.

At Dell, more people are going to work - The Associated Press

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» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

More help needed to keep nursing home residents safe

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ississippians trust the care of precious loved failed to demonstrate proper use of personal protective equipones to many wonderful nursing homes and ment, both longstanding prescribed infection control meaother long-term care facilities. But, the sures for all nursing homes.

Mississippi has approximately 414 long-term care faCOVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns. cilities (the number varies each year) with 33,604 beds While 13% of the state’s virus cases occurred in longlocated in 81 counties. There are 208 nursing homes, term care facilities, they had 50% of deaths (the nation184 personal care homes, 8 psychiatric residential facilial average is about 33%). ties, and 14 intermediate care facilities for individuals with More specifically, through May 21 there had been 1,627 cases reported at long-term care facilities with 300 deaths, BILL CRAWFORD intellectual disabilities.

Many are small with limited financial resources and staff capacity. a mortality rate of 18.4%. Excluding those, state cases totaled Most are privately owned and not eager for much regulatory oversight.

10,997 with 296 deaths, a mortality rate of 2.7%.

While federal and state sources have provided protective equipment, So, many are asking if their loved ones are safe in these facilities.

No clear answer has been provided by the Mississippi Department of supplies, and virus test kits and the National Guard may help with testing, many need additional financial and staff resources plus oversight to Health (MSDH).

State Health Officer and MSDH director Dr. Thomas Dobbs told cope with this crisis.

On April 3rd, Dobbs told the Clarion-Ledger the department would WLBT long term care facilities have “heightened risk factors” because residents are older and live in close quarters. CMS Administrator See- not increase inspections at nursing homes, but would send inspectors ma Verma called nursing homes “ground zero” for the virus as the feder- to those with cases to ensure proper isolation and quarantine measures were followed. The surge in cases coupled with major staff cuts imposed al government increased reporting and testing requirements.

Two weeks ago Gov. Tate Reeves and Dobbs announced all patients on MSDH by the Legislature suggests the agency has too few inspectors and staff at long-term care facilities will be tested. Reeves said testing to provide needed support.

Nursing homes and long-term care facilities play a vital role in caring and contact tracing is especially important in long-term care facilities.

This follows the issuance of strict infection control and other screening for our elderly citizens. Most do wonderful jobs in normal circumstancrecommendations in mid-March by federal health officials and more de- es but were unprepared for COVID-19. With Dobbs expecting cases tailed guidance issued on April 2nd. As thorough and detailed as the gov- to “skyrocket” in the fall, he, Reeves, and legislators should go all out to ernment issuances were, they were recommendations, not requirements. get these facilities the financial resources and staff support needed to We do not know how well our facilities have implemented them. What assure our loved ones’ safety.

“Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right” – Philippians 4:8. little we know has been anecdotal from local newspaper and TV reports.

Nationally, in late March, CMS conducted surveys that showed 36% of facilities did not follow proper hand washing guidelines and 25% » BILL CRAWFORD is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

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Economic development Q&A

Measuring that can get complicated sometimes. Generally, an increase in sales tax collections and/or the assessed value of property is used.

Some organizations choose to use workforce productivity as a measure.

What do economic developers do?

Short answer. Economic developphil hardwick ers are primarily facilitators. They help make it easier for the parties involved in creating wealth to come together and complete a transaction.

First, what is economic development?

It is the process of increasing the wealth of a community. Some definitions refine it What are the skills needed for economic by adding things like, “through the creation, developers? expansion and retention of jobs,” “recruiting Finance, real estate, negotiation, communew industries to the area,” “using technolo- nication, and marketing just to name a few. gy, “creating sustainability,” or “improving the quality of life for all citizens.” But in its purest What’s the best background for an economic form, it’s about increasing wealth. development career?

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to informally research that question by asking a How do you measure increasing wealth?

The essence of economic development is group of those in attendance the 2012 Misthat more money comes into a communi- sissippi Economic Development Council ty than leaks out, or leaves the community. (MEDC) annual summer conference about ay is the month of graduations and the month that the week of economic development is recognized nationally and in Mississippi. Graduates who are considering a career in economic development often ask the questions listed below.

Website: www.msbusiness.com

May 16 - May 29, 2020 | Volume 42, Number 11

TAMI JONES Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • 364-1011 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 MARK MOORE Production Manager mark.moore@msbusiness.com • 364-2244 MARCIA THOMPSON Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • 364-1044 FRANK BROWN List Researcher frank.brown@msbusiness.com • 364-1022 JACK WEATHERLY Staff Writer jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com • 364-1016 LYNN LOFTON Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 TED CARTER Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 BECKY GILLETTE Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 NASH NUNNERY Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 Subscription Services (601) 364-1000 subscriptions@msbusiness.com Mississippi Business Journal (USPS 000-222) is published

their previous occupations. The results are presented below.

Those surveyed were in attendance at the program on Friday morning of the conference. Attendees were comprised of a variety of people involved in economic development in some form. Most were economic developers or chamber of commerce professionals.

Almost all were members of MEDC, which is their professional association.

The methodology in this survey was very simple. I asked a roomful of conference attendees to write down on a piece of paper the answer to this question: What was your occupation immediately prior to your entering the field of economic development? I received 122 responses. Here are the top 10 responses by percent: MARKETING 15.6% MANAGEMENT 8.2% STUDENT 8.2% GOVERNMENT 7.4% LENDER/BANKER 6.6%

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Mississippi to mull many requests for relief cash

itol last week about the need to ississippi lawmakers expand high-speed internet and Gov. Tate Reeves service, particularly in rustill have to make ral areas where coverage is big decisions about spending spotty or nonexistent. most of the $1.25 billion that Reeves said he would like the federal government is to use some of the money to sending the state for coronareplenish the state fund that virus relief. pays for unemployment beneAfter ending their feud over EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS fits. He also said he wants to spend who has power to spend the money, the Republican governor and the Legisla- some of the relief money to help the tourture worked efficiently last week to create a ism industry. plan to use $300 million for small business grants.

“My priority from day one has been the quick release of these funds and getting back to the people who need it,” Reeves said during a news conference recently, hours after legislators approved the grant program in a late-night session.

Republicans hold a three-fifths supermajority in the Mississippi House and the Senate. While Democrats have had few prominent roles in writing important legislation in recent years, some were deeply involved in creating the grant program for businesses. The proposal passed with broad bipartisan support.

Reeves and legislators will face long list of requests as they consider how to spend the additional federal money.

Cities and counties, for example, have in“Whether you’re a bed-and-breakfast curred extra expenses because of the coronavirus pandemic, with police officers and in Natchez or a major casino on the coast, sheriff ’s deputies patrolling places like parks the shutdown has significantly changed and beaches to ensure that large crowds are your business outlook, it has significantly changed your revenue, and it has signifinot congregating.

Educators and others spoke at the Cap- cantly impacted your employees,” he said.

Q&A

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Where should I look for economic development jobs?

I recommend starting your career with a relatively large organization such as the state economic development agency, one of the utility companies or a large regional economic development organization.

That should provide you with a broad overview of the profession early on in your career.

“I think we’ve got to make sure that we are getting monies in the hands of those who were most affected that have not been helped by other programs.”

The small business program has $240 million for grants ranging from $1,500

» RICK NOBLE

Continued from, Page 6

What’s your advice for someone who’s trying to make a decision about an economic development career?

Go to the Mississippi Economic Development Council annual conference. There you will meet economic developers, attend programs on trends and issues, and generally get a feel about whether this is the profession you want to pursue.

The $300 million small business grant program is divided into two parts. One has $60 million to provide $2,000 grants for businesses that were forced to closed by government orders, including barbershops, salons, dance studios, gyms and child care centers.

Reeves said many barbers and salon operators were not able to collect unemployment benefits and did not receive aid from the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

Speaking of the state grants, Reeves said:

What’s the worst thing you’ve seen in your career?

Economic developers disparaging other locations in order to get a company to move there.

What’s the best thing you’ve seen in your career?

Hundreds of people getting better jobs and being able to improve their lives and the quality of life in their communities. » PHIL HARDWICK is a regular Mississippi Business Journal columnist. His email address is phil@ philhardwick.com.

to $25,000 to cover expenses for virus response. For the first 21 days, the only applications considered would be from businesses that did not receive aid from the federal Paycheck Protection Program.

And for the first 60 days, $40 million of this money would be reserved for minority-owned businesses.

Both parts of the grant program are for businesses that existed before March 1 and have 50 or fewer employees. The U.S. Treasury Department has issued rules about how the federal money can be spent. The grants can cover expenses that businesses face because of the coronavirus pandemic — restaurants that have to buy masks for their employees, for example. The grants cannot be used to make up for businesses’ lost profits.

Mississippi Development Authority, the state agency that promotes job creation and tourism, will handle the applications for the $1,500 to $25,000 grants, and officials say they hope the application process will be simple.

The governor said he wants to get money into people’s hands soon.

“It will never happen as quick as I’d like,” Reeves said. “But I know that we’re through the first days of the negotiating process, I’m grateful to everyone who got involved in this, for working together and get this done for the people of Mississippi.” » EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS has has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus.

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» dining

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Now more than ever, allow cottage food operators to earn as much as they can

he cottage food industry is a popular and they are purchasing it from, and that it does not growing slice of Mississippi’s economy. come from a government-inspected kitchen.

But as is usually the case, the state has They willingly accept the so-called risk. not kept up with consumer demands in new And as we know, today’s technology makes markets and current laws are holding entreit easy to find high-quality food, read reviews preneurs in Mississippi back. from happy (or unhappy) customers, and Of course, we are using the word “new” make knowledgeable decisions. Online reviews loosely. People have been selling food they make and apps are doing the job of a government inat home longer than we’ve had stores or restau- brett kittredge spector. The free market is the most effective regurants. Still, it was just in the past few years that Missislator. Instead of needing the sippi “legalized” the industry. cookie police, we know an individual But in a world where the economy has changed, where mil- who sells an awful-tasting cookie or lions are out of work, and where we’re still a little unsure about cake won’t remain in business long. going back to the office, home-based businesses like cottage The other unnecessary regulation food operations stand to grow even faster. In Mississippi and on cottage food operators is a prohinationwide. If government allows the market to work. bition on internet sales. Initially, the The Mississippi cottage food law has an annual sales cap Department of Health interpreted of $20,000. Most operators don’t approach the cap, but why this to mean that you couldn’t even is it there? This is the third lowest cap among states with a post a picture of the food you just cap, something the majority of states, including Arkansas and made on Facebook or Instagram.

Tennessee, do not even have. All the cap does is restrict an We clearly had a lot of outlaws on entrepreneur’s ability to earn a living, which then negatively the streets in Mississippi. impacts the state’s tax base. If a single mom can sell $100,000 They even went so far as to send worth of goodies she bakes in her kitchen while trying to ho- cease and desist letters to home bakmeschool her child during the pandemic, she should be able to. ers who dared to post pictures on The state has already said it is okay for her to make up to social media. They’ve said that’s no $20,000 in her kitchen, why can’t she make more? If “health longer their practice, but the vague and safety” is the concern, as established restaurants and bak- law remains. Cottage food operators are also currently proeries would like to claim, it doesn’t matter whether they are hibiting from selling to restaurants and retail stores. making $5 a year or $10,000 a month.

Fortunately, the legislature has shown an interest in expandBut, of course, we know there’s no real health concern. ing and updating the current law. While we don’t know exactThere has not been evidence to suggest that the lack of com- ly what bills the legislature will be tackling for the remainder prehensive regulations pose a threat to public health as some of this session, the House passed a bill, House Bill 326, that indicate. Consumers know what they are purchasing, where would remove the internet prohibition and expand the cap to

When will we celebrate V-C Day?

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ay 8, 2020 marked the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe, commonly referred to as V-E Day. The war would not officially end for another three months when Japan surrendered on August 15th, 1945, now known as V-J Day. It was the largest, deadliest, and most destructive war in history, lasting six years, involving thirty countries and resulting in the death of over 70 million people. Virtually everyone who lived through it endured varying degrees of sacrifice, economic hardship, and personal loss.

We now find ourselves engaged in another world war – this time against an invisible enemy that has spread misery, death, and destruction throughout the

globe. One big difference in this war is that almost all the world’s countries and greatest minds are united against a single, yet determined, foe. COVID-19, the novel coronavirus, is six months into its silent assault and as of this writing, over 4 million people worldwide have been infected resulting in close to 300,000 fatalities.

Many more likely became infected but were asymptomatic and recovered having never known they were infected. The economic destruction is unprecedented as dozens of governments made the controversial decision to shut down their economies trying to bend the infection curve.

The U.S. alone has lost over 33 million jobs and our unemployment rate has gone from a fifty-year low to possibly the highest rate

$35,000. While there is no reason for a cap other than protectionism, this is a step in the right direction. That bill passed the House unanimously and awaits action in the Senate.

By eliminating the current restrictions on the cottage food industry in Mississippi, we can give consumers new options, grow the economy, and encourage entrepreneurship. Barriers to economic liberty have long existed in Mississippi, but this is something we should be interested in removing, especially during the current times.

We need to embolden small business growth, even the smallest of businesses. Freeing home-based businesses like cottage food operators is the right thing to do. » BRETT KITTREDGE is the Director of Marketing & Communications of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, the state’s non-partisan, free-market think tank.

since the Great Depression, We may appreciate the joys of a in just three months. slower, more intimate lifestyle People are speculating that includes deeper converon how long the pandemic sations, longer walks and simwill last, how the world will pler forms of entertainment. differ on the backside of Maybe we will understand that this crisis, and what victory happiness and security is not will look like. No one can anfound in the size of our bank acsam taylor swer those questions definitively, counts or investment portfolios, but but if there is one certainty, it is that rather in the depths of our relationships the war against COVID-19 will be won. and faith in something bigger than ourThe pandemic will end when therapeu- selves. Life, in and of itself, is a risky proptic drugs and effective vaccines are readily osition and there are no guarantees, as we available, or herd immunity is achieved. realize more acutely today.

It will then become something we treat Many people who lived through WWII with the same caution and pro-active ini- resolved to make the post-war world saftiatives as the flu which kills thousands er, better, and more prosperous for future of Americans annually but does not shut generations. There have been other wars, down our economy. One bright spot is the but none like WWII. That war ended the many people who were likely infected but Great Depression with an “all hands-on never knew it means the mortality rate of deck” effort replacing bread lines. Germathe virus is lower than the ratios derived ny and Japan, our former foes, were rebuilt only from confirmed cases. People may by the Allies and transformed themselves view things differently after COVID-19, See V-C Day, Page 11 and hopefully with a better perspective.

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May 16 - May 29, 2020

» FROM THE EDITORS DESK

Just wear the damn masks

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kay, Mississippians, its time to make a change.

News this week came that scientists found that the coronavirus’ transmission rate via respiratory droplets or airborne particles dropped by as much as 75% when masks were used.

I am pretty sure I didn’t need this study to know that that if we wear masks in public, the chances of passing on Covid-19 will drop.

But wearing a mask is a pain.

It is, I admit, and I have to remind myself about it every time I get out of my car.

I haven’t been as consistent as ross reily I need to be. I have to be better.

So, as the Mississippi economy continues to open up more and more, we all have to be more careful.

In most retail and commercial locations, no one is wearing a mask. In a few, everyone is wearing a mask and customers are required to wear a mask.

To those folks, thank you.

It would appear, however, that most Mississippians are not wearing masks when in public.

Don’t we want to get back to some sort of normal way of life? Don’t we want to be able to open our businesses to a point that we are really making money?

Don’t we want to be able to go to a college football game this Fall (if that is really a possibility)?

Then, we need to wear masks in public to keep the monster at arm’s length.

While advances have been made, a vaccine for Covid-19 is further away than we would like.

Wearing a mask and making smart choices is our best bet in the short term.

Having said that, Friday’s report from the Mississippi State Department of Health show our numbers back on the rise. More than 400 Mississippians tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday — our second worst day since the outbreak began. Sure, you can argue the numbers aren’t as bad as they seem or you can argue they are worse than they seem. But there is one thing for sure, the numbers aren’t going down.

None of us wants to shut everything down the way it was more than a month ago. That is certainly a losing proposition for the businesses of Mississippi.

Yet, if we keep going that way we are going, Gov. Reeves (to protect us from ourselves) is going to have no other option than to shut everything down again.

While it may not be the most comfortable thing to do, the smartest and easiest thing to do to keep Covid at

bay is the one thing we all know we need to do.

Just wear the damn masks, y’all!

» ROSS REILY is the editor of the Mississippi Business Journal. He can be reached at ross.reily@ msbusiness.com.

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SMP names Pinnacle Award winners

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ales & Marketing Professionals-Pine Belt (SMP) announced the winners of the 2020 Pinnacle Awards in a multi-stage celebration of marketing accomplishments all over the city. The Pinnacle Awards recognize, promote and honor excellence, professionalism and outstanding achievement in Sales and Marketing in The Pine Belt.

“SMP’s Pinnacle Awards represent an opportunity to recognize successful public relations colleagues for their efforts and achievements in 2019. Typically, we announce the awards and celebrate our winners’ contributions at our yearly gala, but like many industries, we needed to get creative while adhering to social distancing guidelines,” said Michael Marks, event chair. “This year’s event really could not have been more fun!”

Instead of the traditional gala, surprise celebrations were planned all over the city.

SMP board members presented trophies at recognizable locations all over Hattiesburg from the steps of City Hall to the Museum District downtown. Hattiesburg Half-Marathon, 10k, and 5k runners delivered trophies at each celebration adorned with masks bearing the SMP/Pinnacle logo; this exciting addition was reminiscent of the Olympic passing of the torch.

The winners were chosen from an impressive group of finalists, all of which have contributed greatly to sales and marketing in the Pine Belt. The finalists for the Pinnacle Awards were: After School Academics and Arts Program, Blu Jazz Café, Casablanca/Partners for the Arts, Katie Dixon, Dog Days 5K/Hub City Service Dogs, Festival South 10th Anniversary, Forrest Funeral Home, Here We Grow/ University of Southern Mississippi’s Children’s Center,

Hattiesburg Public School District’s Strings Program, Petal School District Foundation, Southern Tire Mart, SVN/Southgate Realty, LLC, Speakeasy/Dubard School, West Nile Event/YMCA.

This year’s Pinnacle Award winners: 2020 Overall Pinnacle Award: Vasti Jackson

SMP Event Chair, Michael Marks, assisted by Richton native and Miss Presley Heights, Katelyn Brown, presented the award to Vasti Jackson, the official Mississippi Music Ambassador, making him the first individual to receive the Overall Pinnacle honor. In years past, the award has exclusively gone to businesses, but because of Jackson’s continued ingenuity and marketing savvy, it was clear this year’s Overall Pinnacle Award should go to him. Jackson, originally from McComb, MS, has enjoyed an illustrious, 43-year career as an elec-

tric blues guitarist, singer, songwriter and record producer. In 2017, at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, Jackson’s album, The Soul of Jimmie Rodgers, won the Best Traditional Blues Album category. Jackson is currently starring in the musical, Simply the Best: The Tina Turner Story, as Ike Turner. In addition to his work in the mu-

sic industry, Jackson values giving back in meaningful ways. In conjunction with his acceptance of the Overall Pinnacle Award, Jackson announced the formation of a new 501 (c)3 organization, a foundation to help the nursing community, inspired by his song Healing Angel.

“Healing Angel” is our way of expressing gratitude for those who offer their caring as a gift of health, and healing,” said Jackson.

Visit the following link for more information about Healing Angel: https://youtu. be/v__o8V8iQaA. Healing Angel is available online at all digital music platforms.

Business of the Decade/Lifetime Achievement Award: Forrest General Hospital’s Women and Children’s Services The very first Business of the Decade Award was presented by Event Chair, Michael Marks, to Millie Swan, vice president, Forrest Health.

“As the nation refocuses its attention on equal rights for women, we note that over the years Forrest General’s Women and Children’s Services has provided careers and leadership opportunities for women in the workplace. In the era of CoVid-19, that leadership now constitutes a critical mass of healthcare heroes on the frontlines of a pandemic,” said Marks.

Over the past decade, Forrest General has made tremendous strides for women in the Pine Belt community from the thousands of career and leadership opportunities to offering the highest quality healthcare as evidenced by several prestigious awards.

Among those honors are becoming the first Baby-Friendly Hospital in the state and the first hospital in the state to be named a Blue Distinction® Center+ of Excellence for Maternity Care by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi. Both of these awards follow strict, evidence-based criteria for their requirements ensuring mothers and babies only the highest quality care at facili-

ties with these designations.

With over 8,000 members, Forrest General is also the exclusive Spirit of Women hospital for Mississippi, having attained Premier status in recognition of strong efforts in moving women to take action for their health! Spirit of Women® is a national network of American hospitals and healthcare providers that ascribe to the highest standards of excellence in women’s health, education, and community outreach.

Bernice Linton Events Award: Hattiesburg Half-Marathon, 10K, and 5K

Colleen Munkel, SMP vice president of programs, presented the first Bernice Linton Events Award to the Pinebelt Foundation for their exemplary work on the Hattiesburg Half Marathon, 10k, and 5k.

Rhonda Hayden, race director, accepted the award on behalf of the Pinebelt Foundation. The Hattiesburg Half-Marathon,

10k, and 5k race is the region’s premier race experience that simultaneously provides a platform for area nonprofits to raise awareness and funding for their diverse charitable work. Fourteen charities benefited from this year’s virtual race alone; those charities were: The Historic Downtown Association, R3SM, Hattiesburg Civic Light Opera, Rise, The 3D School, Kids Hub Child Advocacy Center, The Arc, Laughs4Life, Laurel Christian School, Sacred Heart Catholic School, Habitat for Humanity, See PINNACLE AWARDS, Page 11

May 16 - May 29, 2020

PINNACLE AWARDS

Continued from, Page 10

Presbyterian Christian School, Southern Pines Animal Shelter, and Pinebelt Foundation. Last year’s event drew over 1,000 runners to the Hattiesburg area, not only raising funds for charity, but also boosting Hattiesburg’s economy. The 2019 race brought in more than $200,000 for the 14 participating charities. Additionally, through its Charity Runners Program, the race enables each of the charities to recruit runner, raise funds, and educate the public about their organizations.

Bud Kirkpatrick Outstanding Professional Award: Andy Stetelman, realtor

The Bud Kirkpatrick Outstanding Professional Award was presented by Amanda Kirby, SMP vice president of membership.

Stetelman also got a special shoutout from Great American Country star, Nan Kelley, all the way from her studio in Nashville.

A graduate of USM, Stetelman has been working with one of the largest property management and commercial real estate firms in Mississippi, London & Stetelman, in various roles since 1975. Stetelman is the first realtor in Hattiesburg to specialize in commercial real estate and manages one million square feet of lease space in commercial and multi-family properties. He has received recognition as Mississippi Commercial Realtor of the Year, published articles in Realtor News and Mississippi Realtor, and most recently was awarded Small Business Leadership Award

V-C DAY

Continued from, Page 8

into two of the world’s largest, and most productive economies. America, which entered the war bruised and weakened after Pearl Harbor, became the greatest super-power and economic engine in the history of the world, lifting more people from poverty than all other countries combined.

What unknown benefits will this war against COVID-19 create? Stay tuned, as I am betting on a blow-out in creativity, compassion, and advancements in the human condition over the next twenty years.

When victory was announced in 1945, there were crowds celebrating in streets

for his area development partnership with William Carey University and the HUB Award. No stranger in the Hattiesburg community, Stetelman has served many charitable organizations over the years including the City of Hattiesburg Homeless Task Force, Mission Possible/Hood Team Honduras Mission, and the Pinebelt Foundation board.

Charlie Holt Outstanding Business Award: Spartan Mosquito

Kristen Brock presented the Charlie Holt Outstanding Business Award to Brett Conerly, president of Spartan Mosquito.

Spartan Mosquito experienced tremendous growth from August 2018 to August 2019

thanks to the tireless efforts of AC2T management and the diligent support of local partners. By mid-April 2019, all products capable of being produced for the remainder of 2019 were purchased in advance. A few months later, all products capable of being produced for 2020 were sold out in advance. The remarkable growth in sales generated additional financial resources enabling philanthropic efforts locally and internationally. Among their many efforts to aid in public safety, Spartan worked to institute the first Mosquito Awareness Week in Mississippi to inform the public about prevention measures for West Nile Virus. Most recently, in response to CoVID-19, Spartan Mosquito provided 60,000 masks for the city’s use followed by a sizable gift of hand sanitizer.

across the world with tears, hugs, and one very iconic kiss. The victory over COVID-19 may be heralded in deafening declarations from governments, news organizations and celebrities or, it may simply be quietly revealed day by day as more and more people go back to work, school and places of worship, look around and realize that the pandemic is no longer a significant threat. In either case, my guess is that someone will select a date when the world won the battle and that day will become known as V-C Day (Victory Over COVID-19). May it come soon! » SAM TAYLOR is CEO of Wealthview Capital

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Buying, selling homes moving along during pandemic

By DENNIS SEID Daily Journal

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UPELO • While the economic fallout from the coronavirus has been widespread, the housing market has managed to hold its own.

During March and through mid-April, sales of new and existing homes plummeted. But since, the numbers are trending back up.

According to Zillow, new listings dropped to a low of 43.8% on April 17 before reversing course. The most recent

ing,” he said. “But I think now we’ll wait til the house sells. Or we may find a place to rent temporarily. That’s the main thing that COVID has done.”

In fact, Martin said housing sales are going through a surge despite the low inventory and the economic uncertainty.

“Top it all off with some of the lowest interest rates we have experienced, and the time to buy or sell is now,” she said.

The Northeast Mississippi Board of Realtors is comprised of real estate agents in the seven-county area of Lee, Pontotoc, Itawamba, Prentiss, Union, Chickasaw

Buy at PHOTOS.DJOURNAL.COM

» Homeowner Joe Lowder, left, shows his kitchen to Realtor Meredith Martin as he gets ready to put the family home on the market. Thomas Wells

estimates place listings down 37.7% yearover-year.

In Northeast Mississippi, a low inventory of homes has kept it a seller’s market.

Meredith Martin, a Realtor with Tommy Morgan Inc. Realtors in Tupelo, has been busy during the past few weeks showing and selling homes.

“People buy and sell real estate for a myriad of reasons. During this time of pandemic I have seen that trend continue as new people move to our area while others, possibly on the fence about moving pre-pandemic, decided the property where they shelter in place is not right for them long term,” she said. “Are they smart to do so? Absolutely! COVID-19 came onto the scene during a low housing inventory period, or seller’s market, while demand for housing has remained high.”

Joe Lowder is looking to sell his custom-built, three-bedroom, 3,600-squarefoot home after three years. The home sits on six acres, but he and his wife are looking to downsize.

A smaller lot has been purchased, and on it will be a swimming pool, something the current home doesn’t have.

“We were looking to sell, and the only way I can say that COVID-19 has affected is that before, I was ready to start build-

and Monroe. In March, there were about 325 listings. Typically there are twice and three times that.

Zillow economist Jeff Tucker said while overall real estate transactions and new listings have fallen, prices haven’t been significantly affected.

In a weekly survey, 74% of real estate agents said their clients have not reduced listing prices to attract buyers, according to the National Association of Realtors.

There is clearly no panic selling, despite the uncertainty.

With two younger kids and his wife returning to work, Lowder said they were looking for a smaller house and yard to manage But, “if the house doesn’t sell, we love the place and we’ll stay here,” Lowder said.

“We’ll try and see what happens.”

Martin said she doesn’t think selling the Lowder home will take too long.

“People are buying, there’s no doubt,” she said.

After a short burst of activity, Zillow expects a 10% increase in home sales each month once recovery begins. According to Zillow’s model, the housing market will reach February’s pre-pandemic highs in late 2021.

economic development May 16 - May 29, 2020 • Mississippi Business Journal • www.msbusiness.com

Amazon during pandemic

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

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wo of the largest new job creator announcements in Mississippi recently have been Amazon fulfillment centers located in northwest Mississippi near Memphis, Tenn. The first 554,000-square-foot warehouse on Southern Way opened in mid-2019 was expected to provide 850 full-time jobs paying $15 per hour. The second fulfillment center on Way Olive Branch currently under construction is expected to employ 500.

Across the country, there has been a surge in online shopping linked to the coronavirus pandemic with Amazon and Walmart seeing the biggest increases in sales. A spokesman for Amazon declined to say whether hiring has increased at the Southern Way warehouse, but the company has reportedly hired an additional 100,000 full-time workers and 50,000 part-time workers in the U.S. since the beginning of the pandemic.

Amazon stock prices have increased about 25 percent the beginning of the

year. Bloomberg Billionaires Index has estimated Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ assets in the firm have increased by $24 billion to $138.5 billion dollars since the beginning of 2020. But the company has also come in for bad publicity from some warehouse workers who complained of unsafe conditions that could leave the door open for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections.

Workers have complained about lack of hand sanitizer, masks and gloves, and failures to notify workers when others in the facility they have come into contact with have become ill with COVID-19.

“The company has also come under fire from workers who feel their employer has all but abandoned them even as it struggles to meet the extraordinary consumer demand presented by the crisis,” said an article in U.S. News and World Report.

Some employees have accused Amazon of stifling employee discontent over COVID-19 complaints. Employees are prohibited from speaking publicly about the larger online retailer in the world without approval from executives. But

complaints have been relatively small considering the size of the company’s workforce estimated at 840,000 in the U.S. prior to pandemic.

Bezos said in an earnings release that the company plans to spend $4 billion on COVID-related expenses getting products to customers and keeping employees safe.

“This includes investments in personal protective equipment, enhanced cleaning of our facilities, less efficient process paths that better allow for effective social distancing, higher wages for hourly teams, and hundreds of millions to develop our own COVID-19 testing capabilities,” Bezos said. “There is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, and the best investment we can make is in the safety and well-being of our hundreds of thousands of employees.”

Timothy Carter, an Amazon spokesman, said the company’s top concern is ensuring the health and safety of employees.

“We've made over 150 process updates—from enhanced cleaning and social distancing measures to new efforts like disinfectant spraying,” Carter said. “We've distributed personal protective gear, such as masks, for our employees, and implemented disinfectant spraying and temperature checks across our operations worldwide.”

Carter said someone diagnosed with COVID-19 will receive up to two weeks of paid time off that is in addition to their other paid and unpaid time-off options. He said Amazon employees receive comprehensive health benefits starting on day one of employment.

“We're working on building scalable testing for coronavirus,” Carter said. “We

increased pay for hourly employees by $2 per hour in the U.S. We doubled the regular hourly base pay for every overtime hour worked. We established a $25-million relief fund for partners (e.g. delivery drivers) and seasonal associates facing financial hardship or quarantine.”

Amazon, which also owns Whole Foods Markets, is providing free masks to all Whole Foods Market customers nationwide.

“We are increasing capacity for grocery delivery from Amazon Fresh and Whole Foods Market as quickly as possible,” Carter said. “We enhanced cleaning at all Whole Foods Market stores. We're reserving the first hour of grocery pickup at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide for customers 60 years and older, those with disabilities, and those whom the CDC defines as high risk. Customers ordering delivery from Prime Now, Amazon Fresh, and Whole Foods Market can select ‘unattended delivery’ during checkout.”

Carter said they are focusing on high-priority items to ensure the fastest delivery of household staples, medical supplies, and other high-demand products coming into our fulfillment centers.

“We're vigorously combating price gouging to help protect customers, help ensure fair pricing, and combat those seeking to profit off the COVID-19 crisis,” Carter said.

In addition, Bezos has donated $100 million to Feeding America.

DCH1 Amazonians United on Facebook has an online petition that asks for paid sick leave regardless of diagnosis, childcare pay and subsidies, 1.5x hazard pay, no retaliatory write-up for participating in protests, and that facilities be shut down if a worker tests positive for COVID-19.

“We need real solutions for keeping ourselves, our families, our communities, and the whole of society healthy and safe,” the Facebook page states. “Not token offerings that amount to little more than PR stunts. Please sign and share this link with your coworkers!”

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Walmart hires in Mississippi grow during COVID-19

By LYNN LOFTON mbj@msbusiness.com

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s one of the state’s leading employers, Walmart has a total of 85 retail outlets that includes 65 super centers, three discount stores, 10 neighborhood markets and seven Sam’s Clubs in Mississippi. As of January 31, the company had 23,313 employees. No exact figures were available for Mississippi, but that number has undoubtedly grown due to the company’s plan to employ 150,000 additional workers throughout the U.S. because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Spokeswoman and Chief People Officer Donna Morris said the goal was to have the new employees in place by the end of May. “Walmart is committed to helping our fellow Americans seeking work, while serving our customers during this unprecedented time,” she said. “We recently committed to hiring more than 150,000 additional associates by the end of May. Since then, we’ve had over 1 million applicants, hiring an average of 5,000 people per day.”

Morris is pleased to share that the goal was reached in less time—more than six weeks ahead of schedule. “But we can do more. Today, we’re announcing a new commitment to hire an additional 50,000 associates,” she added.

“Hiring will be across our stores, clubs, fulfillment and distribution centers, but this won’t be a one-size-fits-all approach. Hiring 50,000 new associates will give us the opportunity to provide additional staffing in key areas where it’s needed most.

“These hires will primarily be temporary associates and will support our current associates and customers in locations with specific needs. We are humbled and proud to be able to give an opportunity to so many workers during this critical time.”

Continuing to see a strong demand in Walmart stores, the additional employees will give current associates the flexibility to take time off and stay home if they feel more comfortable doing so. “In stores and clubs, we’ll continue to hire key roles, such as cashiers, stockers and personal shoppers. In distribution centers and fulfillment centers,

we’ll hire additional fillers and pickers. And, we’ll also continue adding roles such as more drivers to our fleet,” Morris said. “To hire these 150,000 new associates, we’ve worked with more than 70 companies that have furloughed workers. We’re seeing these associates come to us from restaurant and hospitality industries and other retailers.”

Of the associates hired, approximately 85 percent are being hired into temporary or part-time roles. “While many of these associates want temporary employment that serves as a bridge during this time, we also expect others to convert to permanent roles,” Morris said. “We’ll continue to hire new associates through our expedited hiring process—from application to offer as quickly as 24 hours.”

There are two easy ways for candidates to apply: by visiting careers website or by texting ‘jobs’ to 240240.

“We’re seeing huge successes from the talent we’re adding to the team, and we are proud and appreciative of everything our associates are doing to provide a vital service to our communities during this time,” Morris said.

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Highest Paid Occupations

Highest Paidpaid Occupations highest occupations RANK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Occupation

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

May 16 - May 29, 2020

Workers

Mean hourly wage

Mean annual wages

Surgeons 330 $134.78 $280,350.00 Pediatricians, General 140 $124.48 $258,910.00 Internists, General 100 $115.41 $240,050.00 Obstetricians and Gynecologists N/A $112.58 $234,160.00 Family and General Practitioners 950 $109.32 $227,390.00 Psychiatrists 50 $106.28 $221,060.00 Physicians and Surgeons, All Other 1,720 $83.82 $174,340.00 Nurse Anesthetists 310 $78.52 $163,320.00 Dentists, General 700 $73.95 $153,810.00 Optometrists 230 $64.12 $133,370.00 Law Teachers, Postsecondary 100 N/A $129,630.00 Dentists, All other specialities N/A $60.16 $125,140.00 Pharmacists 2,280 $59.67 $124,120.00 Podiatrists 30 $59.12 $122,970.00 Architectural and Engineering Managers 890 $58.92 $122,550.00 Chief Executives 730 $53.99 $112,310.00 Aerospace Engineers 90 $53.25 $110,760.00 Chemical Engineers 240 $52.85 $109,940.00 Nurse Practitioners 2,930 $52.74 $109,700.00 Environmental science teachers, postsecondary 20 N/A $109,120.00 Administrative Law Judges, Adjudicators and 21 80 $52.08 $108,330.00 Hearing Officers 22 Sales Managers 1,350 $51.97 $108,100.00 23 Actuaries 50 $51.88 $107,910.00 24 Marine Engineers and Naval Architects N/A $51.02 $106,130.00 25 Commercial Pilots 300 N/A $103,000.00 26 Personal Financial Advisers 760 $49.44 $102,820.00 27 Engineering Teachers, Postsecondary 190 N/A $102,730.00 28 Financial Managers 3,670 $48.96 $101,840.00 29 Nurse Midwives 20 $48.92 $101,750.00 30 Physicists 100 $48.76 $101,420.00 31 Natural Sciences Managers 180 $48.67 $101,240.00 32 Computer and Information Systems Managers 1,150 $48.22 $100,300.00 33 Nuclear Engineers 120 $48.03 $99,900.00 34 Lawyers 3,070 $47.11 $97,990.00 35 Industrial Production Managers 1,800 $47.01 $97,780.00 36 Agricultural Sciences Teachers, Postsecondary 150 N/A $97,550.00 37 Nuclear Power Reactor Operators 110 $46.65 $97,040.00 38 Economics Teachers, Postsecondary 40 N/A $96,740.00 39 Hydrologists 20 $46.49 $96,700.00 40 Purchasing Managers 510 $46.34 $96,400.00 41 Computer and Information Research Scientists 340 $46.09 $95,860.00 42 Education Administrators, Postsecondary 1,650 $45.75 $95,160.00 43 Medical and Health Services Managers 3,010 $45.58 $94,800.00 44 Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers 180 N/A $94,760.00 45 Business Teachers, Postsecondary 500 N/A $94,150.00 46 Marketing Managers 610 $45.16 $93,930.00 47 Public Relations and Fundraising Managers 220 $45.14 $93,890.00 48 Electrical Engineers 1,100 $45.07 $93,740.00 Geoscientists, Except Hydrologists and 49 350 $43.98 $91,490.00 Geographers 50 Soil and Plant Scientists 80 $43.61 $90,700.00 51 Human Resources Managers 850 $43.60 $90,680.00 52 Sales Engineers N/A $43.45 $90,370.00 53 Genetic Counselors N/A $43.44 $90,350.00 54 Computer Hardware Engineers 110 $43.42 $90,320.00 55 Physical Therapists 1,630 $43.13 $89,720.00 Mining and Geological Engineers, Including 56 N/A $43.10 $89,650.00 Mining Safety Engineers 57 Computer Network Architects 400 $43.05 $89,550.00 58 Training and Development Managers 160 $42.59 $88,590.00 Transportation, Storage and Distribution 59 1,000 $42.26 $87,910.00 Managers 60 Electronics Engineers, Except Computer 470 $42.04 $87,440.00 From the 2019 Mississippi Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates report, as created by the Labor Market Information Department for the Mississippi Department of Employment Security. For comments, write Frank Brown at research@msbusiness.com

Jackson's Tapestry NorthRidge scheduled to open fall of 2020

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

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apestry NorthRidge, a 220-unit luxury apartments project, plans to open in the fall, according to a sign erected on the 152-acre former Colonial Country Club in northeast Jackson.

need of more luxury apartment homes that appeal to professionals who desire upscale suburban living,” Arlington Properties said in the September 2019 news release.

This is the first construction project for NorthRidge, and the owner is looking for other projects that will help rejuvenate the community – and enhance the area,” Ellis

» The clubhouse and apartments are taking shape as Tapestry NorthRidge.

Efforts to reach the developer, Birmingham-based Arlington Properties, on Tuesday were unsuccessful.

The owner of what had been called Colonial Highlands rebranded the mixed-use development as NorthRidge to “position the property for future growth.”

The announcement comes four years after the development plans were approved by the city of Jackson.

Tapestry NorthRidge will be built on 14.4 acres, less than a tenth of the total acreage of the 152-acre former golf club.

It will feature a clubhouse, outdoor dining and gaming lawn, cyber cafe, fitness center, yoga room, outdoor pavilion with big screen TVs and fireplace, cabanas, a grilling station, urban garden, outdoor seating lounge, grand lawn, pet spa and dog park, according to a release issued last September.

Arlington Properties – which created The District Lofts at The District at Eastover – has built major real estate properties nationwide, including luxury developments in Birmingham, Tampa, Cincinnati and Chattanooga. Civil engineering services were provided by the Pickering Firm.

Nearly four years ago, the city of Jackson approved a plan to redevelop the former Colonial Country Club as a traditional neighborhood design.

The apartments will be part of a 660unit plan approved by the city of Jackson — primarily free-standing residences — with a retail center, including a grocery store and fitness center. The overall project’s price tag was put at $250 million.

“This is an iconic area of Jackson in

Photo by Jack Weatherly

said. “Additional phases are in the works, and will be announced as plans are finalized.”

Luke Guarisco, managing partner of NorthRidge, said in the release that “this will be a cornerstone to our vision for the area.”

Arlington built and owned the 261-unit District Lofts at the District at Eastover, which opened in mid-2017. In September 2018, the Birmingham developer sold the complex to Passco Cos. LLC, an Irvine, Calif., private commercial real estate investor, with Arlington managing the Lofts.

The project intially got city Planning Board approval in February 2016 and the City Council stamp of approval two months later as a traditional neighborhood, a change from from special use, which is reserved for golf course, parks, churches and other community assets.

The initial effort by the developers in early 2015 to move forward with a plan was a cause for bad blood and suspicion.

The developers sought to have the city change its zoning code to allow mixeduse development on land zoned for special use, such as parks, hospitals, churches and golf courses. That would have allowed commercial development in those lands without public hearings.

But at a showdown at City Hall with an angry standing-room-only crowd of residents convinced the council members that was not a good idea to pursue. The developers dropped that approach.

The developers enlisted Steven Oubre’ of Lafayette, La., a noted new urbanism architect, to oversee the design.

May 16 - May 29, 2020

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banking & finance May 16 - May 29, 2020 • Mississippi Business Journal • www.msbusiness.com

Mississippi banks rate top in country for PPP loan success »State's banks have been working around the clock

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or small businesses around the country, the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) was a beacon of hope during the global pandemic crisis, but not a guarantee. For banks, PPP was and remains a to-be-determined double-edged sword; but ultimately it gave banks a tool to offer their customers immediate help, and banks weren’t going to turn down that opportunity.

The Paycheck Protection Program was officially created when the CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, and by April 3, banks were given full portal access, although not the full clarity, to help process these loans for desperate small businesses. The original $350 billion was expected to run out quickly, and it did. Within 13 days of implementation, the first round of PPP funding had been distributed. Mississippi banks fared well, having provided over 87% of the state’s payroll in PPP loans; 40,362 in loans and $3.1 billion in loan dollars in both rounds combined so far, according to data provided by Bloomberg News as of May 11, 2020.

There are no perfect metrics to measure the success rate, but the consensus has remained that Mississippi rates at the top in allocating PPP funds in round 1.

According to an analysis by the Economic Innovation Group, Mississippi was the best state in the country.

PPP success is measured by a ratio of total small businesses active in each state compared to total allocation of PPP funds by state. No matter the metric, Mississippi was clearly one of the top performing states in implementing the program.

“As soon as we learned that Congress was considering the PPP program, Mississippi banks went to work to prepare for what we all knew would be a tremendously large lift. Our banks worked really hard to take care of Mississippi businesses, and we are really proud of their efforts. Certainly, this will help the state’s economy as we continue to struggle with the implications caused

by Coronavirus,” said Gordon Fellows, president and CEO of the Mississippi Bankers Association.

These successes reflect a strong and dedicated banking industry in Mississippi, but they also reflect hours of preparation from determined bankers around the state.

“In my 40 years of community banking, the last few weeks have been the most challenging and the most rewarding,” said Dan Rollins, chairman and CEO of BancorpSouth, headquartered in Tupelo and covering an 8-state footprint. “It was challenging as our team worked around the clock to originate, document, close and fund PPP loans for almost 13,500 of our neighbors and friends across our eight-state footprint. It is rewarding to see the immediate impact our efforts have

on thousands of jobs for the small businesses in our communities.”

Overnight practically, BancorpSouth and other banks across the country had to develop plans to keep their employees and customers safe, establish plans to work remotely, and all while also preparing to process the PPP loans, a program in which there are still many unknowns.

For experienced and new Small Business Administration (SBA) lenders alike, the PPP loans were truly unprecedented, meaning everyone was working through the process as the process itself was being developed.

“It was chaotic and mass confusion at first. It was just all done so fast, said Leigha McLendon, First Vice President and Director of Guaranteed Lending with BankPlus, headquartered in Ridgeland. “With the pandemic and small businesses suffering and employees not knowing about jobs; Congress was rushing, the SBA was rushing… It was all hands on deck trying to get things done as fast as possible. But when that happens, things don’t get done as thoroughly. Our team jumped in full force and moved as quick as possible to serve our customers and communities.”

To put the scale of PPP into perspective, BankPlus is an established SBA lender, and in 2019, an average SBA year, they processed 21 SBA loans for a little over $5 million in fiscal year 2019, and 24 loans for $9.4 million in fiscal year 2018. In the past few weeks so far, they have processed a total of around 3,500 loans (combined with the loans processed by their newly-acquired State Bank and Trust).

The program, both rounds, launched with great frustration for bankers. There was lack of clarity from the US Treasury, then there were severe technical glitches—minutes after round two reopened, the entire system crashed.

“When the program launched, we experienced some initial frustrations, just like other financial institutions. The guidance about the program was issued less than 12 hours before the first applications were accepted. We dealt with frequently changing SBA rules and guidelines along with SBA technology challenges.

Also, the messaging from our elected officials created a frenzy about this program, which caused a high level of stress and uncertainty for small businesses early in the process. However, as our company started funding these loans, everyone felt a great sense of pride as a result of the tireless efforts by literally thousands of BancorpSouth’s teammates. The level of care and concern our bankers exhibit daily is a huge source of strength for our company,” said Rollins If you’ve applied for a PPP loan, know a banker, or have just even driven by a bank in the past few weeks, you know that bankers have kept some crazy hours lately. Those hours are a direct correlation to the rate of success that Mississippi banks have had with the PPP loans for their customers.

“Most of the smaller banks were doing this manually.

We got a lot of our files loaded in after 5 pm and before 2 am. Some of our people were just determined to get See PPP LOAN SUCCESS, Page 16

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Mississippi Business Journal

PPP LOAN SUCCESS

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May 16 - May 29, 2020

BANKING & FINANCE tomers, and we felt powerless. There was nothing we could do at the time, said Legear.

Thankfully, the second round of funding did get approved on April 23, offering hope and an additional $300 billion to those who had missed out the first time.

In West Point, Doris Mitchell of D&B Furniture had skipped the first round of PPP loan application altogether because she didn’t think she needed it or would even qualify given her seasonal business and small shop.

“I talked with my accountant who had been working with BancorpSouth. Jennifer Woodruff [a community bank president in West Point for BancorpSouth] was so helpful the whole way. I texted with her. She answered questions even after 5 pm. Within a day, she had it,” said Mitchell.

Banks across the state repeated the same story: new business via these loans because of word of mouth; then the customers are so pleased with the care and grateful for the loan handling, they switch other business to the bank.

“We had customers go to other banks, and vice versa, and in this case you’re just glad they got the money and that it worked out for everyone,” said Paul Howell, BankPlus Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer.

In the end, what started as a healthcare crisis, quickly turned into a financial crisis, and while healthcare heroes carried the world through this, bankers also stood ready to help during the crisis, and will be there to help in the recovery, too.

“One of the greatest success stories will be the speed at which our team built out from scratch a system processing fewer than 10 SBA loans in year to 600 in a few weeks,” said Legear. “But what was impressive was the tenacity, flexibility, and confidence. I hope this confidence stays with them and belief in our mission. We have this sacred trust that our nation has given us. We get to take care of the finance resources. We don’t take it lightly. When we’re called upon, we will be there.

We’re not on the medical front lines, but we have this amazing opportunity and privilege to help shape and guide our communities toward best possible future.”

At the time of publishing, bankers and borrowers continue to wait for loan forgiveness guidance and other key details of the program to finalized. There are even bills filed in Congress to make structural changes to PPP. No matter what happens next with the program, Mississippi banks have shown they are ready to go above and beyond to support the small businesses and communities they serve.

“In some cases, the non-profits are more negatively impacted than some businesses. Donations may stall but they are still providing their services that are even them in and did whatever it took. I remember seeing more needed,” said Rollins. some nights communicating at 2 am. There was cerBancorpSouth was able to process several PPP loans tainly strong desire to meet the needs of the customer,” for non-profits in the communities they serve, includsaid Alan Walters, president and CEO of First Coming Faith Haven, an emergency shelter in Tupelo. mercial, Jackson, with locations in central and north “The PPP loan came at the right time. Our organiMississippi. zation had lost funding because of the pandemic. Most This rang true throughout the state. people don’t realize that Faith Haven provides shelter “We had folks who on their own free will elected to and services 24 hours a day, so it takes full and part time camp out so they would be ready to go, so we had a sigstaff to provide the needed services to our clients. We nificant backlog that we had ready to go when the porwould have had to furlough our staff without the PPP tal opened. Literally we had people choose to work 26 loan, which would have made it impossible for us to hours. It comes from a place of them having a servant’s continue servicing our community. I am really grateful heart, wanting to help their communities, said Clayto BancorpSouth for guiding us through the applicaton Legear, president and CEO of Merchants & Mation process,” said Jackie Smith, Executive Director. rine Bank, headquartered in Pascagoula, with branches BankPlus also counted a nonprofit whose mission throughout the Mississippi and Alabama Gulf Coast. is helping people with disabilities among their loans.

The immediate relief they were able to give custom“We’re not their primary bank. But we were able to assist ers’ though was worth the stress and long hours. them, and they kept 178 employees,” said McLendon.

“One company that specializes in consulting had alThe employees staying on ready laid off their employpayroll are adding up: from the ees, of course unhappy about small 1-2 employee carwash type it. We obtained the loan, and #MSBANKSSERVE shops, to the manufacturing within notice of the loan apMississippi banks made company that would have had proval on Friday, they called enough PPP loans to to shut down without their loan their employees to tell them cover more than 87% of from BankPlus—they kept over come back to work the next the state's payroll.

125 people employed in a rural Monday. It was a really cool community. moment,” said Legear.

We had some customers lit40,362 Approved PPP Loans Legear said that of their erally crying when they were $3.2 B Approved PPP Dollars 600+ loans, approximately 50 approved because they did not percent had original balancknow if they were going to be es of $25,000 or less. “These able to pay employees. There’s a loans have been truly to small lot of pressure on employers and businesses. The smallest was Source: Bloomberg News; based on data released May 11. fear,” said McLendon. “That lit $1000. We’re not standing to a fire under us. It was a passion gain a lot from this, but the driver for the late nights and earreal focus is standing in the gap and serving. A rising ly mornings. We saw a few sunrises, and worked around tide lifts all boats. If our communities don’t bounce the clock to approve as many as we could to help as many back, our bank won’t either,” said Legear. businesses as possible.”

Even businesses deemed essential by the state still have Bankers weren’t always able to deliver good news, a need for these loans to keep their staff on payroll. John though. The process has been a roller coaster, through Scarbrough of Paul Moak Automotive knew about the and through.

PPP loans and had his information ready for his bank “The toughest time who handles all of his high-volume inventory accounts. through this was the day “We submitted our information to them within the that the initial round first hour. It just sat there. We would call our contact ran out. We all felt that and he would not have much information. They just lost a championship didn’t have the process to get the information down to game. We had customhis level,” said Scarbrough. ers with loans in process He started getting nervous about money running out, and had been working and then called Alan Walters and explained his situaaround the clock, away tion. His loan was approved within the same day. from families. They “It highlighted for me the differences and benwere literally typing in efits of local contact and relationships. When it loans and got kicked out comes to something like this, it shows the benefits,” and get that notice. We said Scarbrough. had people on our team Scarbrough knew about First Commercial because he who were distraught beMain Office: 5675 Hwy 18 W Jackson also serves as treasurer for Friends of Children’s Hospital. cause the next step was Branch Office: 7375 Siwell Rd Byram Typically, nonprofits are not eligible for SBA loans, to contact those cuswww.jacksonareafcu.com • 601-922-7055 but that was another positive for the PPP loans.

Continued from, Page 15

• Savings, Checking, CDs

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Mississippi Business Journal

Gabardi joins First Commercial Bank

irst Commercial Bank has announced that veteran regional banking executive Curt Gabardi has been elected to the bank’s Board of Directors and has been named Executive Advisor, President and CEO in Wait, effective May 1, 2020. Under this planned, transitional management succession arrangement, Gabardi will assume the role of President & CEO and Alan Walters, President & Chief Executive Officer will become Chairman of the Board effective May 1, 2021.

Gabardi brings to First Commercial a rare depth of top financial services leadership and experience, including serving as Regional President of Union Planters Bank of Greater Mississippi and South Alabama preceding the bank’s merger with Regions Financial; in early 2006, Gabardi was named President and CEO of Regions Bank of Memphis and West Tennessee. Following the merger between Regions and AmSouth, and in the midst of multiple bank mergers, acquisition activity, and the onset of the Great Recession, Gabardi believed it was an opportunistic time to start a new bank. In the Fall of 2007 he left Regions and in 2008 founded

Metropolitan Bank, a simple, talent-driven, client centric boutique bank, which was very similar in operating strategy to First Commercial Bank’s business model.

Gabardi

Over the next nine years Metropolitan Bank’s assets grew to roughly $1.5 Billion, ultimately operating two offices under the Bank of the South brand in Copiah County, two offices in metro Jackson, and two each in Memphis and Nashville, Tennessee. Most recently Gabardi served as President and Chief Banking Officer with Tupelo-based Renasant Bank

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following its July, 2017 purchase of Metropol- team of business banking and private client itan Bank, until departing in 2018 to pursue professionals. other business interests.

First Commercial Bank currently operates “Curt and I have maintained a decades-long strategic Mississippi friendship and mutual trust, so his role with locations in Jackson, First Commercial is truly energizing both per- Ridgeland, Oxford, sonally and professionally,” Walters said in a and Southaven. “We’re statement. “This is a unique strategic combina- going to enhance our tion that leverages our history of client centric existing client delivery focus and solid reputation with Curt’s prov- channels to make sure en executive leadership and unique knack for our clients are able to executing a talent-driven strategy that fuels easily choose the simconsistent growth.” plest way to bank,” said Walters “Everything begins and ends with possess- Walters. Gabardi adding talented associates, and Alan and I agree ed, “Going forward, we will focus on attractthat this core belief is our primary ing seasoned talent, leading us to new point of differentiation, the growth markets and future exingredient that elevates a pansion.” Gabardi noted that “Curt and I bank from ordinary to extwo-thirds of Metropolitan have maintained traordinary, both culturalBank’s client base resided in a decades-long friendship and ly and in its performance,” Memphis and Nashville. mutual trust, so Gabardi said. As part of “I look forward to Curt’s his role with First that strategy he noted that initial support from an adCommercial is truly a number of his former visory standpoint, and ultienergizing both Metropolitan Bank colmately his proven leadership personally and leagues joined First Comas President and CEO. His professionally” mercial Bank earlier this association represents a powyear, further bolstering the erful pooling of expertise, insight bank’s highly regarded existing and experience,” Walters said.

Free Checking Free Mobile Banking Free Mobile Deposit Auto & Personal Loans Home Mortgage Loans www.RivertrustFCU.com

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Phone: 601-664-2085

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BANKING & FINANCE

Oldest Credit Unions Mississippi Business Journal

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May 16 - May 29, 2020

Oldest Credit Unions UNIONS OLDEST CREDIT Rank

Credit Union

Address

Phone

Website

1 2 3 4

Mutual Credit Union Meridian Postal Credit Union Vicksburg Railroad Credit Union Eagle Express Federal Credit Union Gulf Coast Community FCU Magnolia Federal Credit Union Rivertrust Federal Credit Union Navigator Credit Union McComb Federal Credit Union Pine Belt Federal Credit Union Keesler Federal Credit Union Healthplus Federal Credit Union Treasury Employees Federal Credit Union Securtrust Federal Credit Union Statewide Federal Credit Union Brightview Federal Credit Union JPFCE Federal Credit Union Mississippi DHS Federal Credit Union Jackson Area Federal Credit Union Meridian Mutual Federal Credit Union Old South Federal Credit Union Singing River Federal Credit Union Sunbelt Federal Credit Union Water's Edge Federal Credit Union CommFirst Federal Credit Union Members Exchange Credit Union Shelby/Bolivar County Federal Credit Union Armstrong Credit Union CenturyFirst Federal Credit Union Valley Gas Employees Federal Credit Union Mississippi College Employees Credit Union Mississippi Federal Credit Union Triangle Federal Credit Union The New Horizons Federal Credit Union Forrest County Teachers Federal Credit Union Natchez Educators Credit Union United Methodist of Mississippi FCU Memorial Federal Credit Union Mississippi National Guard FCU MUNA Federal Credit Union Meridian Mississippi ANG FCU First Neshoba Federal Credit Union Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol FCU Northeast Mississippi Federal Credit Union Biloxi Teachers Federal Credit Union Mid Delta Credit Union MUW Employees Federal Credit Union Twin States Federal Credit Union Citizens Choice Federal Credit Union Mississippi Public Employees Credit Union Tombigbee Federal Credit Union Camp Shelby Federal Credit Union ECM Federal Credit Union Elevator Credit Union Vickswood Federal Credit Union Ferguson Federal Credit Union

P.O. Box 25, Vicksburg, MS 39181 P.O. Box 654, Meridian, MS 39301 P.O. Box 802, Vicksburg, MS 39181 567 S. State Street, Jackson, MS 39205 12364 Highway 49, Gulfport, MS 39503 240 Briarwood Dr, Jackson, MS 39206 409 Riverwind Drive, Pearl, MS 39208 P.O. Box 1647, Pascagoula, MS 39568 P.O. Box 456, McComb, MS 39648 1808 Evelyn Gandy Parkway, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 2602 Pass Rd, Biloxi, MS 39531 500H E. Woodrow Wilson Ave, Jackson, MS 39216 100 W. Capitol St., No. 1059, Jackson, MS 39269 3870 Goodman Road, Southaven, MS 38672 P.O. Box 320483, Flowood, MS 39232 713 S Pear Orchard Rd, Ste 101, Ridgeland, MS 39157 600 E McDowell Rd, Jackson, MS 39204 767 N President St, Jackson, MS 39202 5675 Hwy 18 W, Jackson, MS 39209 P.O. Box 310, Meridian, MS 39301 148 N. Shields Lane, Natchez, MS 39120 6006 Highway 63, Moss Point, MS 39563 1506 Congress St, Laurel, MS 39440 1976 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS 39532 1151 N. State St., Suite 104, Jackson, MS 39202 P.O. Box 31049, Jackson, MS 39286 630 Gaines Hwy, Boyle, MS 38730 1085 Highway 80 W, Jackson, MS 39204 3318 Hardy St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 1400 Lakeover Rd Ste 140, Jackson, MS 39213 Box 4033, Clinton, MS 39058 P.O. Box 55889, Jackson, MS 39296 P.O. Box 8300, Columbus, MS 39705 7290 Hwy 45 Alt., West Point, MS 39773 P.O. Box 1271, Hattiesburg, MS 39403 P.O. Box 774, Natchez, MS 39121 PO Box 245, Booneville, MS 38829 P.O. Box 1810, Gulfport, MS 39502 142 Military Dr, Jackson, MS 39232 P.O. Box 3338, Meridian, MS 39303 P.O. Box 4232 WSS, Meridian, MS 39304 547 E. Main St., Philadelphia, MS 39350 1900 E Woodrow Wilson Ave #204, Jackson, MS 39205 101 3rd Ave S, Amory, MS 38821 P.O. Box 168, Biloxi, MS 39533 P.O. Box 670, Indianola, MS 38751 1100 College St., Columbus, MS 39701 59 Yorkville Park Square, Columbus, MS 39702 P.O. Box 17879, Natchez, MS 39122 613 S West St, Jackson, MS 39201 P.O. Drawer 539, Amory, MS 38821 Warehouse Ave, Bldg 82, Hattiesburg, MS 39407 P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158 P.O. Box 368, Olive Branch, MS 38654 P.O. Box 820240, Vicksburg, MS 39182 5162 Plaza Dr, Tylertown, MS 39667

601-636-7523 601-693-7413 601-638-3134 601-355-6363 228-539-7029 601-977-8300 601-664-2085 228-475-7300 601-684-7764 601-583-3242 228-385-5500 601-354-6633 601-355-5411 662-890-8760 601-420-5535 601-977-9468 601-559-6100 601-354-6544 601-922-7055 601-693-1900 601-442-4382 228-475-9531 601-649-7181 228-896-0038 601-938-1213 601-922-3350 662-843-0060 601-960-5240 601-450-4114 601-362-7623 601-925-3895 601-351-9200 662-434-6052 662-494-7700 601-584-7331 601-445-2851 662-617-0088 228-865-3142 601-932-5194 601-693-8563 601-483-7307 601-656-1183 601-987-1290 662-256-9697 228-436-5126 662-887-4347 662-327-2500 662-327-7666 601-442-5888 601-948-8191 662-256-2791 601-544-5421 601-605-8600 662-895-2964 601-636-4434 601-587-4037

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Michael Mathews Linda Payne vrcums.com David Bell eagleexpressfcu.com Katie Nelson gulfcoastcommunityfcu.org Lisa Graham magfedcu.org Michael Waylett rivertrustfcu.com Kevin Long 8 navigatorcu.org Tony Taylor 9 mccombfcu.com Laura Burris 10 pinebeltfcu.org Brian Green 11 kfcu.org Andrew Swoger 12 healthplusfcu.com Stephen Hopkins Daniel Quinn 14 securtrust.org Martha Rushing statewidefcu.org Casey Bacon 16 brightviewcu.com Dawn Parks 17 Sharecia Atkinson msdhsfcu.com Joey Minton 19 jacksonareafcu.com Gary Fairley meridianmutualfcu.com Debbie Smith oldsouthfcu.com Stacy McCann srfcu.org James Smith Jr. sunbeltfcu.org Christopher Hammond watersedgefcu.com Amy Olier 25 commfirstfcu.com Sheila Bridges mecuanywhere.com Mitzi Tate 27 shelbybolivarfcu.org Barbara Black 28 Linda Alford centuryfirstfcu.com John Harmond 30 valleygasemp.virtualcu.net Guylean Cooper 31 Angela Poole msfcu.us Mike Lightsey 33 trianglefcu.com John Gibbons 34 Vickie Bagwell 35 Deron Hall Teresa Ford Marilyn Rowland 38 memorialfcu.org John Curry msngfcu.com Vickie Bourne munafederal.com Biffle "Bo" Pittman Jr. 41 meridianangfcu.org Darlene Wilkerson 42 fnfcu.org Jackie Long mhspfcu.com Tracy Burleigh Sandra Vaughn 45 John Welter Faye Vance www5.homecu.net/fi/muwfcu/ Tova Hamm twinstatesfcu.com Melissa Carter 49 citizenschoicefcu.org Patricia Smith mspecu.org Debbie Cox tombigb.virtualcu.net Carolyn Logan 52 campshelbycreditunion.us Denise Collier Jennifer Lovett Pamela Collier vickswoodcu.com Jerry Hicks 56 fergusonfcu.org Vernon Clevenger Cristina Jones, Renelda 57 AMPOT Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 352, Hamilton, MS 39746 662-343-8793 ampotfcu.org Goode Issaquena County Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 87, Mayersville, MS 39113 662-873-4393 Sherida Stovall 59 Community Partners FCU P.O. Box 5, Newton, MS 39345 601-683-3322 ecmcu.net Deloris Little 60 1st Mississippi Federal Credit Union 600 19th Ave, Meridian, MS 39301 601-693-6873 1stms.com Rebecca Cooper 61 Ellisville State School Employees FCU 1101 Highway 11 S, Ellisville, MS 39437 601-477-9384 Debra Perkins Gulf Trust Federal Credit Union 2533 Denny Ave, Pascagoula, MS 39567 228-762-0659 gulftrustcu.org Betty Hutchinson Southern Coastal Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 503, Biloxi, MS 39533 228-432-0284 socofcu.org Alison Lynd 64 Choctaw Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 6284, Choctaw, MS 39350 601-656-0055 Sandy Balderas 65 Pearl Municpal Federal Credit Union 2420 Old Brandon Road, Pearl, MS 39208 601-939-3126 pearlcu.com Karen Williams 66 N. Mississippi Health Services Employees FCU 830 S. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS 38801 662-377-3235 nmhs.net/creditunion Daphne Burson 67 CM Members Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 1444, Columbus, MS 39703 662-327-3030 cmcreditunion.com Casey Halbert Mississippi Central Federal Credit Union 5134 Highway 80, Morton, MS 39117 601-732-8887 Susan Pinter 69 Hope Federal Credit Union 4 Old River Place, Suite A, Jackson, MS 39202 601-944-1100 hopecu.org Bill Bynum 70 First Unity Federal Credit Union 122 5th Ave Ste B, McComb, MS 39648 601-680-4419 Samuel Hall Data from the Mississippi Credit Union Association and individual credit unions. Ranked by year founded in Mississippi. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

Founded 1931 1932 1934 1935 1935 1935 1935 1939 1940 1942 1947 1948 1948 1949 1949 1950 1952 1952 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1953 1954 1954 1955 1956 1956 1957 1958 1958 1959 1960 1961 1961 1961 1962 1962 1962 1963 1964 1964 1964 1965 1965 1965 1965 1966 1966 1966 1967 1967 1967 1967 1968 1969 1969 1971 1972 1973 1973 1973 1976 1981 1982 1986 1986 1995 2014

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May 16 - May 29, 2020

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Shoppers are on a mission, metro retailers say

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

M

ajor shopping centers in metro Jackson are moving toward full reopening as the state continues to loosen the constraints imposed on businesses to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

The U.S. Census Bureau said on May 15 that retail sales in the nation's brick-and-mortar stores fell 17.8 percent in April from a year earlier due to the lockdown of state economies.

But shopping centers in metro Jackson are singing a more-upbeat tune since that report.

Shoppers are more intent on buying, rather than just looking, according to the local retail centers.

Forty-eight of the 63 businesses in the Outlets of Mississippi will have opened by the end of this week, said general manager Kathy Hacksaw.

The stores are doing better than they had expected, Hacksaw said. “The people who are coming are shopping”

instead of browsing, she said.

The open-air mall does not require masks for shoppers, though some of the stores may, she said. The children's playground reopened last weekend, she said.

Roughly 60 percent of the 120 tenants in Northpark mall, the state's largest, are open, according to Christy

Pender, director of marketing and development.

About 90 percent of the 37 retail and restaurant tenants in Highland Village in Jackson have reopened, according to Lynsie Armstrong, marketing director.

On June 3, Lululemon and Vineyard Vine will reopen, along with Bravo!, she said.

In some regards, “we're incredibly healthy,” Armstrong said, adding that because of the demands on creativity, the tenants are “stronger than ever.”

Sales are strong because most people come to actually buy something, rather than just window shop, she said. That, she said, is unusual.

Forty of the tenants at Renaissance at Highland Park in Ridgeland have reopened, with five more by the end of this week, said Jan Mattiace, marketing director for the open-air mall.

That includes Caet's and Local 463 restaurants by the end of the week, Mattiace said. P.F. Chang's restaurant “is not permanently closed. Operations are temporarily suspended, but plans are to reopen at a later date,” an email from corporate headquarters said.

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NEWSMAKERS

May 16 - May 29, 2020

Two UM faculty members appointed as distinguished professors

An engineering professor and a law professor are the two newest Distinguished Professors appointed by the University of Mississippi.

The two honorees are Arunachalam Rajendran, chair and professor of mechanical engineering, and Ron Rychlak, professor of law and Jamie L. Whitten Chair of Law and Government.

The Distinguished Professor appointment is an honorific title started by UM in 2018 that recognizes the best faculty with sustained excellence at the university. The award was created in response to the university’s strategic initiative to develop a post-professorial recognition.

“The Distinguished Professor award recognizes our most outstanding faculty members,” Provost Noel Wilkin said. “The accomplishments of the university are really the accomplishments of its people.

Rajendran joined the university in 2008 after earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aeronautical engineering from institutions in India and his doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics at the University of Washington in 1981.

He worked at the University of Dayton, the U.S. Army Materials Technology Laboratory and the Army Research Laboratory before joining the Army Research Office as a chief scientist (engineering sciences) in 2000.

He worked there for eight years before coming to UM, where he is serving his third term as chair of mechanical engineering.

While at UM, Rajendran has been awarded the School of Engineering Faculty Teaching Award in 2011, been named the School of Engineering Outstanding Teacher of the Year in 2016 and received the Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching and Mentoring from the Graduate School in 2018.

Rajendran has taught a wide range of courses at the university, from ME 101: Introduction to Mechanical Engineering to engineering fracture mechanics. He serves as an adviser to all undergraduate mechanical engineering seniors and has served on 18 master’s thesis committees and five Ph.D. committees.

During his Ole Miss tenure, Rajendran has been the principal investigator or co-principal investigator for research funding that has explored topics such as bio-inspired composites for hazard mitigation and resistant nanomaterials in space applications.

He is a fellow of the Society of Engineering Sciences, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the Army Research Laboratory, along with serving as a reviewer for numerous journals and as a member of

several scientific and engineering societies.

Rajendran also has organized more than 150 technical and scientific workshops, authored hundreds of publications, given presentations across the country and around the world, and served on dozens of boards, committees and panels.

Internationally known for his contributions to the field of impact dynamics, Rajendran’s scholarly work has made transformational contributions in the field, along with contributions in the area of blast dynamics of both ductile and brittle materials. The “Rajendran-Grove” model is widely used for determining shock effects on ceramics.

A 1980 graduate of Wabash College with a bachelor’s degree in economics, Rychlak earned his Juris Doctor from the Vanderbilt Law School in 1983. Before joining the UM School of Law in 1987, Rychlak served as a clerk to Judge Harry W. Wellford of the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and later joined the law firm Jenner & Block in Chicago.

While an Ole Miss faculty member, Rychlak has taught several classes, covering topics from the First Amendment to evidence to international security.

In 2017, he received the school’s Ben Hardy Faculty Excellence Award.

He’s the author, co-author or editor of 11 books and a nationally and internationally renowned scholar researching and writing across an array of disciplines, including criminal law, gambling law, environmental law, international law and the study of religions in times of war. He also has written more than 100 academic papers, covering topics from baseball and the law to crimes before the International Criminal Court, and given more than 90 presentations to U.S. and international audiences.

Rychlak’s writings on the history of the Catholic Church in World War II have been labeled as definitive by Vatican scholars.

His academic writing has been published in prestigious law journals such as the UCLA Law Review, and in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and other publications. He also has made numerous media appearances on TV networks such as ABC and CNN. Last year, Rychlak received the Distinguished Research and Creative Achievement Award, the university’s highest research award, which recognizes a faculty member who has shown outstanding accomplishment in research, scholarship and creative activity.

Beyond his classroom and research duties, Rychlak also has served as the president of the Southeastern Association of Law Schools and as a Vatican delegate to meetings of the United Nations’ International Law Commission. He is secretary of the Southeastern Conference Executive Committee.

Outside of law, Rychlak has since 2007 served as the university’s faculty athletics representative and chair of the University Standing Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics. He also serves on the Athletics Diversity Committee and the Athletic Compliance Committee, which he chaired for almost 10 years.

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PriorityOne Bank promotes PriorityOne Bank promotes Natasha Braxton Joni Garner Johnson PriorityOne Bank has announced the promotion of Natasha Braxton. Braxton will be serving as Assistant Vice President and Loan Officer for PriorityOne’s Collins branch.

Natasha holds an associate degree from Hinds Community College and is a graduate of The Mississippi School of Banking sponsored by the Braxton Mississippi Bankers Association and The University of Mississippi. She has 12 years of experience in banking. She has served in many areas of the bank including, Teller and Loan Assistant.

Braxton has also served her community in multiple leadership roles. She is a member of the Covington County Chamber of Commerce. She also serves as the Youth Sunday School teacher at Zionell C.M.E. Church where she is an active member.

Natasha and her husband, Eric, have two children, Alexis and Noah.

PriorityOne Bank, based in Magee operates fifteen offices in twelve Mississippi communities: Collins, Seminary, Hattiesburg, Magee, Mendenhall, Richland, Brandon, Ridgeland, Flowood, Pearl, Pelahatchie, and Morton. The bank has assets of approximately $700 million.

Brewer promoted to loan officer at PriorityOne Bank

PriorityOne Bank has announced the promotion of Brandi Brewer. Brewer will be serving as a Loan Officer for PriorityOne’s Richland branch.

Brandi has 16 years of experience in banking and has been with PriorityOne Bank since August of 2016. She has served in many areas of the bank, most recently, Loan Brewer Assistant.

Brewer has also served her community in multiple leadership roles. She organizes a St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Fundraiser yearly. She is a member of Cleary Activities Committee for Cleary Heights Neighborhood and teaches the Kid’s Club class at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Florence where she is an active member.

Brandi and her husband, Daniel have four boys, Ashton, who passed away at age 8 to cancer, Bryson, 9; Cason, 4; and Daxon, 2. Brandi stated, “I aspire to be a professional banker that strives to fulfill my duties to my utmost abilities and to raise my sons to be Godly men.”

PriorityOne Bank, based in Magee, Mississippi, operates fifteen offices in twelve Mississippi communities: Collins, Seminary, Hattiesburg, Magee, Mendenhall, Richland, Brandon, Ridgeland, Flowood, Pearl, Pelahatchie, and Morton. The bank has assets of approximately $700 million.

PriorityOne Bank recently announced the promotion of Joni Garner Johnson. Johnson will be serving as Customer Service Representative Administrator for PriorityOne. Johnson who graduated from Magee High School; holds a Cosmetology Degree from Mississippi College of Beauty Culture. She also is a 2019 graduate of The Mississippi School of Banking Johnson sponsored by the Mississippi Bankers Association and The University of Mississippi. Joni attends yearly training from Get Technical Education for Finance Institutions for Mississippi Deposit Accounts and IRA Advanced Courses. She has been with PriorityOne Bank since March of 2012.

Joni has served in many areas of the bank including, Loan Processor, Customer Service Representative, Diamonds Banker and Branch Officer.

Johnson has also served her community in multiple leadership roles. She is active in the American Bankers Association programs, Teach the Children to Save and A Banker in Every Classroom.

Joni is a member of the PriorityOne Fundraising and Marketing Committees. She is a lifelong member of Rocky Hill Baptist Church. Joni and her husband, Eli, live in Mize with their son, John Garner, and daughter, Eliza Rose.

Tadlock promoted at PriorityOne Bank

PriorityOne Bank has announced the promotion of Beverly A. Tadlock. Tadlock will be serving as Assistant Vice President, Loan Officer and Branch Manager for PriorityOne’s Morton branch.

Beverly who graduated from Mississippi School of Banking; holds an Associate Degree in Legal Assisting/ Paralegal from Phillips Junior Tadlock College. She has 15 years of experience in banking and has been with PriorityOne Bank since January of 2016. She has served in many areas of the bank, most recently, Loan Assistant, Loan Officer and Branch Security Officer.

Tadlock has also served her community in multiple leadership roles. She is on the Board of Directors of Morton Lions Club where she is involved with public relations. She has served as President of the Morton Chamber of Commerce. Beverly and her husband, Billy, live in Morton and have three children, Kristin Tadlock Hines, Chance Tadlock and Anna Grace Tadlock. She is very family oriented and in her spare time, Beverly loves to read, crochet and quilt.

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NEWSMAKERS

May 16 - May 29, 2020

Harrell now Assistant Vice President for PriorityOne Bank

PriorityOne Bank has announced the promotion of Lynn Harrell. Harrell will be serving as Assistant Vice President, Loan Officer and Branch Manager for PriorityOne’s Pelahatchie branch.

Lynn attended Hinds Community College. She has been with PriorityOne Bank since August of 1999. She has served in many areas of the bank, most recently, Branch Harrell Officer and Lender.

Harrell has also served her community in multiple leadership roles. She is the treasurer Rehobeth Baptist Church. Lynn and her husband, Tim, have three children, Curtis Wood, Kayla Gray and Candace Harrell and two grandchildren Paisyn Jade Gray and James Ace Gray.

Ahlberg named branch manager for PriorityOne Bank

PriorityOne Bank has announced the promotion of Meaghan Ahlberg. Ahlberg will be serving as Branch Manager for PriorityOne’s Brandon branch.

Meaghan is a graduate of Louisiana Bankers School for Supervisory Training. She has 11 years of experience in banking and has served in many areas of the banking including, Teller, Customer Service Representative and Personal Banker.

Meaghan and her husband, Ahlberg Phillip, have two children, Camden and Sullivan.

Bennett joins AGJ Systems & Networks

Becky Bennett recently joined AGJ Systems & Networks in Gulfport.

Bennett has nine years of sales and business development experience in the hospitality sector.

Previously, she was the Sales & Event Manager at Morton’s The Steakhouse (Landry’s Inc.), where she was a top sales manager for 5 years.

Bennett is a native of Coastal Mississippi and graduate of Whitman College, where she graduated Cum Laude with honors.

She began with administrative work in a law firm, then administered a small hospitality business.

She was Assistant Director of Public Relations and Events at Oak Crest Mansion, and Special Events Coordinator for the Salvation Army.

Bennett is involved in the community as President of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi Beach Chapter and is vice president of Membership of the Southern Public Relations Federation. She is a launch team member of Back Bay Church, and an active member of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Leadership Gulf Coast class of 2020.

Forrest General honors Nurses of the Year

Buras named Public Works Director for Hancock County Port & Harbor Commission

The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission recently announced that James Buras has been named Director of Public Works. In his role, he is responsible for a variety of duties to include overall responsibility for facility life cycle planning, permitting, design, engineering and construction, and maintenance of HCPHC assets. He will also manage all Port & Harbor grant programs on a federal, state, and local level.

Buras worked as a Project Buras Manager with Compton Engineering for 8 years. In his role with the engineering firm, Buras performed detailed design work, managed public bids and contracts, and worked closely with local government agencies. Buras also spent time in the National Guard, gaining experience in Department of Defense operations and realistic military training.

Buras is a native of Hancock County, and graduated from Hancock High School. He received a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of South Alabama with an emphasis in Structural Engineering and holds a Civil/Structural Engineering Professional License.

Buras and his wife, Lauren, live in Bay St. Louis and are active members of the community. Buras is involved in The Hancock County Chamber Leadership program as a committee member and is also active in the Waveland Civic Association.

» Clinical Nurse of the Year Vickie McGowan, a nurse on the Inpatient Rehabilitation floor, second from left, is pictured with, from left, Phyllis Chambers-Berry, Chief Nursing Officer; McGowan; Susi Folse, MD, Southern Bone and Joint, PA, and Andy Woodard, Forrest General President/CEO. Forrest General honored its outstanding nurses during National Nurses Week celebrations, including announcing Nurse of the Year, Nurse Manager of the Year and Tech of the Year.

Forrest General’s nurses are dedicated to their job as is evident in the number of years they have worked to keep Pine Belt patients safe. According to records kept by Forrest General’s Human Resources Dept., nurses (RNs and LPNs) employed at the hospital have a total of 9,401.7 service years as of April 30, 2020. Of those years, 5,835.55 years are attributed to the services of registered nurses.

The announcement of the nursing awards is always a special time during Nurses Week, as these men and women are often known as the heart of healthcare. Leadership surprised the award winners on their units surrounded by their co-workers.

Clinical Nurse of the Year, Vickie McGowan, RN, Inpatient Rehabilitation Services;

Nurse Manager of the Year, Galen Pace, RN, 2T; Nurse Mentor of the Year, Ruby Jones, RN, Asbury Hospice House; Nurse Rookie of the Year, Janet “Kim” Graves, RN, 7T; Nurse Preceptor of the Year, Amarylis Caves, RN, 4FB; Nurse Team of the Year, Critical Care (ICU) team; Tech of the Year, Kadetrias Holmes, RN, 8T.

“Nurses are the heartbeat of our hospital,” said Phyllis Chambers-Berry, Chief Nursing Officer.

“Without their skillset and desire to care for and serve others, we would not be capable of providing the best care in the Pine Belt. I’m grateful to work beside such a skilled and caring group of professionals, and it is an honor to lead these professionals in such a fine organization as Forrest General Hospital.”

Methodist Rehab names Employees of the Year for 2019

Methodist Rehabilitation Center has announced 2019 Clinical and Support Service Employees of the Year for its Jackson hospital and external campuses.

The honorees include Kaitlin Snyder of Pearl, physical therapist for MRC’s brain injury program; Shelia Floyd of Jackson, rehabilitation technician for MRC’s brain injury program; Lori Verhage of Cleveland, certified orthotist/prosthetist at Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics’ Cleveland Clinic; and Abdul Muhammad of Jackson, security officer for MRC’s east campus in Flowood.

Methodist Rehabilitation Center provides comprehensive inpatient medical rehabilitation programs for people with spinal cord and brain injuries, stroke and other neurological and orthopedic disorders.

MRC’s external campuses include Methodist Outpatient Therapy clinics in Flowood and Ridgeland, Methodist Specialty Care Center in Flowood, Methodist Physical Medicine in Flowood, and Methodist Orthotics & Prosthetics clinics in Flowood, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Cleveland, Oxford, Starkville and Monroe, La.

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NEWSMAKERS

Mississippi Trucking Association presented Truckers Against Trafficking Champion Award

Truckers Against Trafficking Executive Director Kendis Paris recently presented The Mississippi Trucking Association with the 2020 TAT Champion Award in the Association category.

The Truckers Against Trafficking Champion Award is given to recognize and honor the creative, innovative, generous and dedicated efforts of specific TAT partners whose actions have significantly furthered TAT’s work in engaging more members of the industries TAT works with, as well as the efforts of more agencies and organizations within the state and nation, in the fight to end human trafficking and recover more survivors and prosecute more perpetrators.

“MTA member companies have trained almost 10,000 trucking industry employees in conjunction with TAT. These trained employees are acting as a watchdog on the American highways to combat this horrific crime,” said MTA President Hal Miller.

Eley Guild Hardy and Barlow Eddie Jenkins announce merger

Eley Guild Hardy Architects and Barlow Eddy Jenkins have announced their merger, effective May 18.

New member of the Eley Guild firm are as follows: Charles “Chuck” C. Barlow, Jr., AIA – Principal Chuck Barlow graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Mississippi State University.

As a testament to the quality of his academic achievements, at graduation, he was awarded the American Institute of Architects Student Medal. After working in Boston for a year, Barlow left for England where he attended graduate school Barlow at Cambridge University.

Finishing two years of further study in Scroope Terrace, he received the Cambridge Diploma in Architecture, with Distinction, in 1983. Previously a guest design critic and/or lecturer at Harvard, Tulane, Ohio State, Carlton, Auburn, Virginia Tech and Mississippi State universities as well as the Cranbrook Academy for Arts, Chuck has continued to be involved in architectural education by serving as an occasional guest lecturer and design critic.

May 16 - May 29, 2020

J. Scott Eddy, AIA – Principal Scott specializes in healthcare architecture and Master Planning. He has worked with hospitals, clinics, physician groups, and other healthcare providers to identify their needs, evaluate existing facilities and to provide design services that best maximize operational efficiencies that will allow the providers to follow best practices in the delivery of Eddy patient care.

Over the past 30 plus years, Eddy has worked on a broad range of healthcare projects from small renovations to large, multi-phase additions for many healthcare institutions and has maintained long-standing client relationships. He has managed the project teams from the planning and design phases through construction to ensure the implementation of the design concepts.

Licensed since 1987, Scott is a 1982 graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette) with a Bachelor of Architecture degree and joined BEJ in the fall of 1983.

Brian T. Cabunac, AIA, LEED AP – Principal Brian T. Cabunac received his Bachelor of architecture from Mississippi State University in 1993 and he joined Barlow Eddy Jenkins, P.A. shortly after graduation. Brian has gained over 20 years of experience in programming, planning, construction documents and specifications, construction administration, and project Cabunac administration as a key player in most of the firm’s major medical and laboratory projects.

Cabunac earned the LEED AP credential in 2009, continues the tradition of leadership in energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable building that has spanned more than four decades.

Charles C. Barlow, III – Intern Architect Before attending architecture school, Barlow attended the University of Mississippi as a physics major. After three years at Ole Miss, he had an epiphany which resulted in changing majors and universities. He graduated from Mississippi State University in May of 2018 with a Bachelor of Architecture degree with a minor in history.

While at MSU, he had the privilege of spending the Summer of 2015 in Rome studying Architecture Theory at the Rome Center. Following graduation, he moved to the Belhaven area and began working at BEJ in May 2018.

He and his wife, Hannah live in Jackson and we were married late last year. They are expecting our first child in July.

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U.S. officials award $5.5M for Gulf Coast train service

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lans to restore passenger train service along the Gulf Coast are getting a big boost.

Members of Congress from Mississippi announced Friday that the Federal Railroad Administration had awarded just under $5.5 million to support operating costs for the first three years of the Amtrak service. It stopped after Hurricane Katrina damaged tracks in 2005.

“Restoring passenger rail service on the Mississippi Gulf Coast has been a long-held dream for the past 15 years,” Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith said in a statement. “This grant, along with a lot of hard work by many people, brings that dream closer to a reality.”

The grant to the Southern Rail Commission will allow Amtrak to run two daily round trips from New Orleans to Mobile, Alabama with stops in four Mississippi cities: Bay

St. Louis, Gulfport, Biloxi and Pascagoula, according to a news release from Hyde-Smith and two other members of Mississippi’s Congressional delegation. Louisiana, Mississippi and Mobile will provide additional funding to restore the route.

Actual train service is still likely years away. Officials with the Alabama State Port Authority have raised concerns that Amtrak could interfere with freight train service through the main dock area in Mobile.

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