JUNE 12, 2020 MBJ E-EDITION

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

| May 30 - June 12, 2020 | Vo. 42 • No. 12 • 24 pages

LOOKING TO A BRIGHT FUTURE

• Health Care

• Law & Accounting

{Section begins P13} » Will Ball is more than ready for an end to the coronavirus pandemic » Avoidance of receiving timely medical care more dangerous than COVID-19 exposure » There are safe options for health care at hospitals and clinics

{Section begins P18} » Tax filing delay » Former “King of Torts” Dickie Scruggs has a new mission to promote adult education » Top ranked Chambers USA 2020

» Dinesh Chawla is

not dwelling on the recent past. » Page 2

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Hotelier Chawla looking to a bright future >> Police matter, dissolution of alliance with Trump organization behind him

the Trump Organization decided to drop the venture, along with one to create a mid-market chain called American inesh Chawla is looking to Idea, in which the Chawlas were also the future. Not the recent to participate, starting with converpast. sion of three of their 18 hotels in the That is understandable, given the Delta. turn of events in the past year for the The Trumps praised the Chawlas and JACK WEATHERLY man who is looking forward to the opening said the decision was strictly a reaction to of the Lyric Hotel in Cleveland. politically motivated opposition to the plans for The luxury hotel, which will be a part of the As- both chains. cend Hotel Collection, the top brand in the Choice The New York Times reported at the time of the Hotels group, will open in late July in the 17-acre West End District, Chawla confirmed in a recent telephone interview.

But last August something happened to Chawla that was totally out of sync with his public image.

Chawla was arrested in Memphis on charges of felony theft of luggage at the Memphis International Airport.

Those charges were dropped “before Thanksgiving,” Chawla said. And his record has been expunged, he said.

Chawla said that an inordinate number of news stories were published and telecast about the incident, because he and his brother, Suresh Chawla, » The Parlor in the Statehouse hotel. had entered into an agreement with President Donald Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, on the Lyric, arrest that police records showed that “Mr. Chawwhich was at that time was to be named The Scion, la told an officer ‘that he knows stealing luggage is the first in a projected chain of luxury hotels. wrong, but he does it for the thrill and excitement.’”

The agreement was dissolved in early 2019 after Chawla would not discuss the case which he said does not exist as it was dismissed “with prejudice,” meaning it cannot be brought up again based on the alleged facts as they stood – but he did say that he decided to undergo psychiatric counseling. “I got what I think is a clean bill of health,” he said.

“I did express remorse. I did not express guilt for what

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

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they said I did.”

“I deny that the charges were accurate and that the quote that was attributed to me was ever said” in the context of the news reports.

The Chawla brothers announced a little more than a month after the Memphis incident that they had divided up their lodging properties.

That had been in the works since 2018, Dinesh Chawla said. “I’ve got emails to prove it,” he said. His brother wanted to concentrate on Delta properties, whereas Dinesh wanted to develop big full-service properties across the country, a plan he still wants to pursue after the Lyric is launched and the coronavirus pandemic has released its grip on the nation’s economy.

“My brother is very happy in the Delta,” he said.

He said that perception that the division of property was a result of the Memphis arrest is wrong.

He effusively praised his brother for being at his side throughout all of the turmoil and aftermath.

“Nobody could’ve been more helpful than my brother. The guy has knocked himself out.”

The brothers now jointly operate five properties in Cleveland, said Dinesh, who lives in that Photos courtesy of Dinesh Chawla city, with the exception of the Lyric, with Suresh handling the balance of 10 elsewhere in the Delta.

Top management, chef and culinary staff and marketing specialists are in place and the Lyric is about 95 percent complete, he said.

The $20 million project, which was started before the Trump chapter began, has undergone revisions, in part due to the vision that the Trump Organization had for it. The Chawlas financed the project and qualified for a $6 million state tax rebate upon completion and approval of the project.

Chawla The Trump Organization was to manage and market the property, along with the American Idea chain.

“I feel like I was a real-life apprentice,” he said, referring to the president’s former television show.

“I got to see how big shots work, how you put deals See CHAWLA, Page 3

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CHAWLA

Continued from, Page 2

together, how you organize your property development.”

“I got to work at a level that I could not imagine.”

He said he felt like Rocky Balboa, the club fighter portrayed by Sylvester Stallone in the movie, who got a shot at the world heavyweight boxing championship.

The Chawla family’s story does have a Hollywood feel. The brothers’ father, V.K. Chawla, emigrated with his family to Canada from India, then to the Mississippi Delta.

He wanted to build a motel. After being turned down by about 50 banks, he wrote a letter to Donald Trump Sr. in 1988 for help in building the motel in Greenwood.

Trump telephoned the elder Chawla at his Greenwood convenience store and suggested that he apply for a minority Small Business Administration loan, which he successfully did.

A 2016 article in the Mississippi Business Journal about the Chawlas’ growing chain — including its latest and biggest project and Trump’s phone call to V.K. Chawla – caught the eye of someone in the Trump organization.

The article stated that the property initially was to be called the Lyric Hotel and was expected to cost about $8 million but grew to $15 million after candidate Donald Trump – in a meeting orchestrated by then-Gov. Phil Bryant during a reception related to a Jackson stop as part of a

campaign swing – encouraged Suresh Chawla to “think grand.” The plan grew, and then some.

In June 2017, the Chawla brothers and the Trump brothers announced at Trump Tower in Manhattan plans for the Scion and American Idea chains.

Now, including dealing with the restrictions imposed on businesses due to the pandemic, which Dinesh Chawla said he hopes will have been lifted by the fall, the four-star hotel, once again called the Lyric, is actually easing toward its launch.

At full operation, the hotel will need a staff of 150 to 200, 70 percent of whom will be fulltime, he said.

“We’re in no hurry,” he said.

Photo courtesy of Dinesh Chawla

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» Guestroom at the Lyric Hotel in Cleveland.

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Photo courtesy of Dinesh Chawla

Photo courtesy of Dinesh Chawla

» Lyric Hotel in the West End District of Cleveland.

Photo by William Powell

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Community colleges leading the way out of this national crisis

ommunity colleges in Mississippi and nationwide have responded quickly to the COVID-19 pandemic, making contributions to enhance capabilities of emergency responders and health care professionals.

Two-year public colleges have the unique capability to re-skill the workforce as Mississippi and the nation prepare to return to productivity after the pandemic subsides.

Following the release of COVID-19 guidelines by state leaders, Mississippi community colleges took action to put safety first. The colleges transitioned face-toface courses and workforce training classes to an online delivery format to ensure the learning and training process continued uninterrupted. To adhere to social distancing guidelines, the community colleges moved classes to an online platform, broke career and technical skills-based courses into smaller groups of students to demonstrate skill-based competencies, closed dorms and cafeterias, and cancelled events to include fundraising activities. These changes resulted in significant additional costs incurred by the colleges.

On a statewide level, the Mississippi Community College Board (MCCB) has worked diligently to coordinate information about COVID-19 on behalf of the Mississippi’s community colleges. The MCCB is zealously advocating for funding and assistance for these institutions to benefit their ongoing responses to the pandemic.

On a national level, the two principal national associations for community colleges – the American Association of Community Colleges and the Association of Community College Trustees – have made COVID-19 a top priority.

They worked to secure critical funding to meet basic needs of at-risk students and to ensure the nation’s community

colleges have resources to continue teaching and learning as much as possible remotely while confronting the many impacts of COVID-19 on faculty, staff and students. They are providing guidance to help colleges safely provide critical in-person, experiential instruction that cannot be done at home for future welders and nurses, among others.

Community college graduates in Mississippi and across the country are today’s essential workers – emergency medical technicians, truck drivers, law enforcement officers, respiratory therapists among many others. Community colleges have always welcomed students who are older, have families, attend part-time, and are MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL in need of re-skilling. In this era of a global panLAW FIRMS demic and high unem> Victor W. Carmody, Jr. P.A ... ployment, they also offer www.mississippidui.com traditional-aged college PAYROLL students the opportuni> People Lease ... www.peoplelease.com ty to earn college credits close to home at a very SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT affordable price. > Mansell Media ... www.mansellmedia.net

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Prior to COVID-19, the U.S. Congress authorized new community college workforce programs.

The following are among the sectors where community colleges are essential: Advanced manufacturing – Congress directed the Department of Defense to prioritize Manufacturing and Engineering Education Program funding for community colleges.

Agribusiness – Congress prioritized Department of Agriculture appropriations for community college agribusiness programs.

Automation and unmanned systems – Community colleges are establishing new programs in robotics, unmanned systems, and other emerging areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Recognizing these capabilities, Congress authorized a new Federal Aviation Administration program, “Community and Technical College Centers of Excellence in Small Unmanned Aircraft System Technology Training,” which was formally launched on April 30, 2020. Hinds Community College has been actively involved in this emerging program.

Energy – Congress has prioritized appropriations for the Department of Energy to support community college energy-sector workforce training.

Maritime – Community colleges train mariners as well as shoreside maritime workers for well-paying jobs moving commerce along the nation’s coasts and inland waterways. To elevate this role, Congress authorized a national community college workforce program, “Domestic Maritime Centers of Excellence,” under the U.S. Maritime Administration’s jurisdiction. Hinds Community College and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College are involved in this new program.

Advanced Technological Education (ATE) – The National Science Foundation’s ATE program funds community college education in high-technology fields that drive the economy. With the strong support of Mississippi’s community colleges, on May 13, 2020 United States Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the Advanced Technological Manufacturing Act, to double the ATE program’s funding level.

Community colleges in Mississippi and across the country will be essential to America’s post-pandemic economic recovery. » DR. ANDREA MAYFIELD is Executive Director of the Mississippi Community College Board. Email: amayfield@mccb.edu. » TOM DOWNS is a Washington, D.C. attorney and higher education consultant, and founder of the Community and Technical College Consortium. Email: tcdowns@downsgovaffairs.com. » DAWN ERLANDSON is national Board Chair of the Association of Community College Trustees. Email: dawnerlandson@gmail.com.

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» FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK

I » Artist’s rendering of the exterior of the planned Hotel Tupelo.

Downtown boutique hotel to be named Hotel Tupelo, open in December 2021

By DENNIS SEID / Daily Journal TUPELO • The four-story, 80-room boutique hotel to be built in Fairpark in downtown Tupelo has an official name: Hotel Tupelo, and it should be completed by December 2021.

The name is a nod to the past, as a Hotel Tupelo once stood downtown. Its Blue Room was where the Community Development Foundation got its start when leaders met there in the late 1940s.

The Tupelo Redevelopment Agency and the City of Tupelo partnered with Hattiesburg-based hotel development group Thrash Group for the hotel, which was announced last year. The Thrash Group is a national boutique hotel developer with current projects in Austin, Texas; Golden, Colorado; Lexington, Kentucky; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

“We are grateful to the Thrash Group for sharing in our vision to grow and expand amenities offered in Downtown Tupelo,” said Mayor Jason Shelton. “For numerous years, this type of hotel has been requested by many of our existing businesses that want to provide a unique hotel experience for their customers and clients. I know our community and the many visitors to Tupelo will see that this hotel complements what we have going on here very well. We are thrilled that the Thrash Group has chosen Tupelo for its next boutique hotel destination.”

A boutique hotel is a smaller property that is individually branded with its own “personality.” These hotels are typically located in a unique setting, with upscale yet inviting accommodations.

Hotel Tupelo will be a four- story, 80room hotel which will include a potential

local restaurant concept along with ample meeting room space. The hotel will include two suites facing Main Street.

The Thrash Group’s architect, Sarah Newton, has worked on multiple historical projects throughout Mississippi; Hotel Tupelo will incorporate nods to Tupelo’s history while maintaining a modern and upscale feel.

“This has become the better part of a $16 million investment,” said Walker Thrash, partner at the Thrash Group.

“The hotel is meant to also be a place for people to gather that live in Tupelo and our hope would be at some point we hit that perfect intersection between a place for people to come visit but also a place for people to connect that live here … We couldn’t be any more thrilled to do a product like this in a city that is blossoming like Tupelo has in the last 10 years, this Main Street area, in our home state.”

“I’d also like to thank Mayor Shelton and the City Council for partnering with Tupelo Redevelopment Agency and CDF for assisting in bringing all these players to the table for this exciting Hotel Tupelo project,” said TRA Chairman Reed Hillen. “Thanks to the city leadership’s engagement in our downtown activities for over 15 years, we’ve experienced over $130 million in development in the Fairpark district alone.”

In an effort to provide adequate parking needed for the hotel, as well as the other surrounding businesses, the City and TRA will be creating a new parking lot behind Mugshots and the Renasant Center for IDEAs. The Thrash Group plans to complete this hotel project by Christmas 2021.

Our new flag will be a sight to behold

n general relativity, an event horizon is a boundary in spacetime beyond which events cannot affect an outside observer. In layman’s terms, it is defined as “the point of no return”, the point at which the gravitational pull becomes so great as to make escape impossible.

In Mississippi we passed an event horizon in 2001. That’s when Mississippi held ross reily a referendum on whether to change the state flag, with its racist, Confederate emblem purposefully placed in the top left-hand corner.

While Mississippi voted overwhelmingly to keep the flag, we, as a state, had already gone past the point of no return. The mere fact there was even a vote was the event horizon. We are going to change the flag.

We are going to strip away the racist, confederate symbol and move on to become a healthier, more well-adjusted state.

The Mississippi Business Journal has been consistent in our views on the issue.

In 2001, prior to the vote, we wrote, in part, Tourism was a $6.1-billion business in Mississippi last year (2000). That’s a tremendous segment in the Magnolia State’s economy, and it will be just as important and significant this year.…

A serious problem looms over this success story, as well as many others. In April, we vote for or against a new state flag. The emotional intensity of this issue has been inflamed by the reckless rhetoric from extremists on both sides of the flag issue. It’s been ugly, and chances are, it’s going to get worse.

This is all nonsense. Bottom line on the flag issue: get rid of the old flag. If we don’t, Mississippi will lose jobs. Period.

In 2001, following the vote, we wrote, in part, One thing is certain: our failure to remove a divisive symbol of hatred, slavery and segregation for one in three Mississippians and countless others will do damage to the state’s economy — an economy that enjoyed healthy investment and growth in the 1990s, but whose future doesn’t look as bright.…

This issue isn’t going away. Supporters of the old flag may have, in fact, won Tuesday’s battle, but the war remains.

This war is about image and economics, and while we might claim that it does not matter, it does. We can expect the damage from last Tuesday’s vote to be long-lasting, widely felt and embarrassing, too.

Even today — TODAY — there are still those out there who stick their heads in the sand and talk about topics like heritage and politics. Yet, they don’t consider the anti-business message, let-alone the anti-Christian message, they send.

Having said that, the train has already gone down the tracks.

This issue has already been decided.

We have passed the point of no return.

We have passed the event horizon. Our flag may not change today or tomorrow, next week or next month, but it is going to change. Of that, be certain.

For the good of our people, for the image of our state, the good of our economy, we need to start focusing on what the new design will be.

Our new flag will be a sight to behold. » ROSS REILY is editor of the Mississippi Business Journal.

PERSPECTIVE May 30 - June 12, 2020 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

Respect and common sense needed, not spit and aggression

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s the COVID-19 virus and thing as a hoax and those who behavior restrictions linger, resent that their “freedoms” are frustrations grow, spawning being infringed upon. irresponsible reactions by some.

Thomas Friedman is another An angry man spewed a glob of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. spit onto the mask of a PresbyteriIn a New York Times column an minister out shopping in Jackhe lamented that “we’ve let son. In Michigan a man wiped ourselves be dumb-as-wehis nose and mouth on a store wanna-be for so many years” clerk’s shirt when he was told to that we struggle in a crisis wear a mask. Also in Michigan requiring dutiful behava security guard was killed after ior. He quoted a 75-yeartelling a woman to leave a store because she was not wearold retiree from Minnesota, who said, “And what are ing a mask. In Washington a customer and employee had we now? We’re mean. We’re selfish. We’re stubborn and an altercation when the customer insisted, “I’m not doing it sometimes even incompetent.”

BILL CRAWFORD Friedman sees President Donald Trump egging on this dissibecause I woke up in a free country.”

Pulitzer Prize-winning American author, Ronald Reagan speech- dence. “At a time when we need high social trust in order to have a cowriter, and weekly columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan ordinated response at home, Trump’s political strategy of dividing us and has called for better behavior. “A mask isn’t a sign of submission as some playing everything both ways — even telling people both to rise up against idiots claim,” she wrote. “It’s a sign of respect, responsibility and eco- their governors and to lock down according to his guidelines — is the opnomic encouragement. It says, ‘I’ll do my small part.’ posite of the ‘all in this together’ approach we need to win this battle,” Gov. Tate Reeves has called on Mississippians to wear face masks in wrote Friedman.

A friend reading Jon Meacham’s “Franklin and Winston: An Intipublic. “Use common sense,” he said. “Let’s do the little things for the next few days and weeks and it will go a long ways to help ourselves and mate Portrait of an Epic Friendship” commented on the two leaders’ inspiring and uplifting discourse during their worldwide crisis and our fellow Mississippians.”

Dr. David Aronoff, director of Vanderbilt University Medical Cen- lamented Trump’s inability (unwillingness?) to do the same.

Gov. Reeves said Mississippians “still believe in personal responsibiliter’s Division of Infectious Diseases and professor of medicine, offers this. “We’re all hopeful that this pandemic disappears. Then we can stop ty” which aligns with Noonan’s call for respect and responsibility.

“People need hope,” said Noonan, what Roosevelt and Churchill prodoing as much risk mitigation. But for now, we really depend on the trust and kindness of others to protect our wellbeing. And that’s part of vided, not confusion, contradiction, and dissension.

“Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of being an American.” you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness” – Hebrews 3:13.

Hmmm.

Many seem willing to use common sense and do their part. But that trust and kindness thing seems beyond those who see the whole pandemic » BILL CRAWFORD is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

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www.mspress.org

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» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

It’s time to support health care

in recent weeks. Now is not the time uring the COVID-19 to let our guard down. We strongly pandemic, Missisencourage everyone to continue to sippi hospitals have social distance, wear masks, practice stepped up to build and good hand hygiene and avoid large staff temporary treatment gatherings. We must remain vigilant facilities, overcome perto protect ourselves and our neighbors. sonal protective equipment We also must continue to protect our (PPE) and ventilator shortagTIMOTHY MOORE health care workers who are prepared to care es, and care for the sick and dying for all of us. As Americans, we don’t send those – often at great personal sacrifice. Mississippi’s nearly 60,000 hospital employees are who wear the uniform for us into harm’s way rightly being celebrated as #HealthcareHeroes without the resources they need to win. We’re and recognized by their communities for brav- fighting against COVID-19 in this country, and our hospitals are on the front line. Let’s not send ery and commitment.

Although positive COVID cases and hospi- them into harm’s way without giving them the talizations were predicted to peak over a month resources they need to be successful.

This week, the Mississippi Legislature will ago, we have seen confirmed cases and hospitalizations increase and reach their highest levels consider how it will disburse Coronavirus Relief

A member of the Mississippi Press Association

Act funds. Hospitals have lost revenue as patients sheltered at home and elective procedures were cancelled. Hospitals have also incurred significant expenses. The Mississippi Hospital Association has advised the Legislature that at least $320 million is needed for hospitals to adequately recover the costs of coronavirus-related expenses. When May lost revenue is calculated, we expect that total lost revenue will exceed the approximately $450 million in federal funding that hospitals have already received. With decreasing revenue and increased expenses, hospitals must have help from the Legislature.

Health care in Mississippi was already in a precarious position before the pandemic, primarily because so many Mississippians don’t have health insurance. The high level of uninsured See HEALTH CARE, Page 7

Website: www.msbusiness.com

May 30 - June 12, 2020 | Volume 42, Number 12

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

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Budget writing complicated by pandemic revenue dip

ississippi tax collecsharply the next month. The the committee releases its first set of rections were robust state’s total collections from ommendations and the governor releases for the first several July through April were his own proposed budget. months of the budget year In typical times, legislators put final $108.6 million below those that started last July 1. Then for the same period a year touches on the budget at the end of their before — a 2.3 percent decrease. session. That happens by early May during the coronavirus pandemic “I just hate it, because we the first year of a four-year term, when struck, businesses were hobwere doing so well,” House a session is four months long, or by early bled by government shutdown Appropriations Committee April during the other years of the term, orders and the economy started EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Chairman John Read, a Republican when sessions last three months. to sputter.

On the status of state tax collections, from Gautier, told the AP. This year is the beginning of a term, but Writing a state budget is a long process. the pandemic disrupted the session. LegisRepublican House Speaker Philip Gunn recently told The Associated Press: “We Agencies submit requests nearly a year be- lators were sent home in mid-March and clearly got hammered in April and are still waiting to see about May.” Legislators face deep uncertainty as they approach two budget-writing tasks. They must plug holes in the current year’s budget, deciding how to fill requests from a few agencies. And they must write a new spending plan to operate state government during the year that begins this July 1.

House and Senate leaders say they will wait until at least June 10 to do most of the detailed work on the upcoming budget. That’s when they expect to receive a monthly report from analysts at the Legislative Budget Office, the full-time professionals who crunch numbers for the elected AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis lawmakers. » Rep. Vince Mangold, R-Brookhaven, marks off appropriation bills from the House Calendar during general A report from LBO (or, in legislative session at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss., Wednesday, May 27, 2020. Lawmakers requested a number of bills be speak, “elbow”) showed that the state’s to- pulled from a block vote submission for individual consideration and debate. tal revenue collections from July through March were $189.9 million above collec- fore a fiscal year begins. LBO analysts comb have worked only a few days since then.

The House and Senate met last week tions for the same period a year before — a through the numbers. The 14 members of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and passed the first set of budget bills for 5 percent increase.

With pandemic problems, revenue fell hold hearings in September. By December, the coming year, with initial proposals to

HEALTH CARE

» RICK NOBLE Continued from, Page 6

Mississippians results in over $600 million annually in uncompensated care costs for hospitals. This hampers the ability of our hospitals to continue to provide care; but, most important, it hampers the ability of Mississippians to lead healthier lives. Sadly, the number of uninsured Mississippians will rise as employers make difficult decisions during the pandemic.

Refusing to access additional federal funding for the past eight years to provide insurance coverage to working Mississippians has cost the state billions of dollars in federal revenue – money which was desperately needed yesterday and is critically needed today. In addition to providing funding to address the COVID crisis, we continue to call upon our elected leaders to consider options for extending health insurance to those who may have lost coverage through

no fault of their own and to those who are unable to afford commercial coverage. As the state expands unemployment benefits to those not normally eligible for benefits, what better time than during a pandemic to extend health care coverage to our friends and neighbors too?

The past three months have been unprecedented times for everyone. We appreciate the leadership of our Legislature during these difficult and unprecedented times, and we recognize that many Mississippians need assistance. We simply ask that they support our health care heroes and provide them with the resources they need to continue to take care of us all. It’s time to support health care.

Timothy H. Moore President and CEO Mississippi Hospital Association

shrink state spending. The action was more procedural than meaningful because leaders acknowledged the numbers could change dramatically before they reach a final agreement.

Bills that passed the House will move to the Senate, and those that passed the Senate will move to the House. The two chambers will substitute their own numbers and intentionally put budget bills into a final negotiating process.

Gunn and Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann sent a letter to state agency leaders in late April telling them to be frugal during the final two months of the budget year, doing things like eliminating outof-state travel, which should be fairly easy during the pandemic.

Making deep cuts to budgets is difficult during the final weeks of a fiscal year, when agencies have already spent or obligated most of their money.

Mississippi does have a financial cushion, with more than $550 million in a rainy day fund. Filling the fund was a big point of pride for budget writers, and it’s unclear whether legislators will decide to pull some money from it to fill in gaps for the current year. They could take some out for this year and refill it during the coming year — a shell game that helps them meet the obligation for a balanced budget. » EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS has has covered Mississippi government and politics for the Associated Press since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter. com/EWagsterPettus.

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Real Estate Realisms

n this column, we will introduce you to REALisms. What is a REALism and what does it have to do with real estate?

A REALism is a phrase, saying, or words of wisdom that captures a truism about real estate.

It is a statement that is based on self-evident or factual evidence. and is accepted as an obvious truth in a way that further proof is not considered necessary. You won’t find this word in the dictionary because I made it up. Below are nine often-stated REALisms.

REALism #1 – The three most important characteristics of real estate are location, location, and location. This particular realism points out the importance of where the property is located it says that location is more important than anything else when it comes to real estate.

REALism #2 – If there is a lender who will make the loan on a real estate project, there is a builder who will build it regardless of market demand. We all like to think that real estate projects are market-driven, but we found out in the 1980s that wasn’t true. Real estate projects are finance-driven rather than market-driven.

Many lenders and taxpayers are still paying the price for this realism today.

REALism #3 – If you’re looking for appreciation in value, buy the worst house on the best street. This realism is based on the principle of regression/progression, which states that the value of real estate is negatively or positively affected by surrounding properties. A superior property will “pull up” the value of the inferior property and vice versa. Thus, the property which will be pulled up most is the worst property. So if you’re buying a house and you are most concerned about it being a good investment, by the worst house on the street, not the best house. By the way, the best house on the street is often the one considered to be the one overbuilt for the neighborhood. But don’t forget that the house you should always buy is the one that suits you best.

REALism #4 – If you are preparing to sell your home REALism #7 – Many real estate consider having it aptransactions are closed in spite of, not praised first, but don’t list because of, the real estate contract. it at appraised value. Real If each party to a real a start real esestate appraisers estimate tate contract held the other party to market value, which is dethe strict terms of the contract, there fined as “The most probwould be a lot less real estate sold. For able price which a property example, an often verbally amended proshould bring in a competitive phil hardwick vision in a real estate contract is the closing and open market under all condidate. Sometimes the buyer’s financing needs a tions requisite to a fair sale, the buyer and seller, few more days for approval, so the parties agree each acting prudently, knowledgeably and as- between themselves to extend the closing date. suming the price is not affected by undue stimu- Many times, the buyer and seller do not go back lus.” In other words, the appraiser is estimating and forth and formally amend the contract. But what the property will sell for after negotiation. be careful. What happens if the parties get into a Remember the appraised value is the price for dispute over something in the contract? What’s which your property should sell, not what it written down on the contract is what prevails. should list for.

REALism #8 – The good analysis of any real REALism #5 – If you know and trust the estate project will include sitting on the curb builder, a cost-plus contract will cost less than a across the street and simply observing the propset price contract. Remember this realism if you erty. This realism emphasizes that real estate are thinking of building a new house this year. loans should not be made on property that has A cost-plus contract is one in which the build- not been physically inspected and been subject er agrees to construct your new home for their to the observation of the neighborhood suractual cost plus an agreed-upon percentage. Un- rounding it. You would be surprised how many less there is a sudden surge in building material investors have bought property without ever costs during construction, a buyer should pay seeing it. So go sit on a curb. less with the cost-plus contract. So if you have a good builder, you will probably save money with REALism #9 – A town grows toward the ina cost-plus contract. tersection. Most towns have a main intersection.

There, traffic counts are highest, and therefore, REALism #6 – In general, a person can af- the demand for real estate is greatest. When a ford a home that cost 2.5 times their annual in- highway bypass is built away from downtown recome. This is the general rule of thumb used by tail will quickly follow. many lenders to estimate what a person can afford. There are many other factors considered » PHIL HARDWICK is a regular Mississippi Business in the loan decision. Things such as your total Journal columnist. His email is phil@philhardwick.com. indebtedness, your monthly debt obligation, length of employment, and credit history go into the equation. Nevertheless, this is a good place to start if you are wondering how much you can afford.

Grocery wholesaler to invest $300 million, create 79 jobs in Hernando Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc. plans to expand and consolidate in DeSoto County by constructing a new facility in Hernando. The project will bring over $300 million in investment, retain the existing 511 employees, and create 79 jobs.

AWG is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independent supermarkets, serving more than 1,100 companies at more than 3,000 locations throughout 28 states, according to a release from the DeSoto County Economic Development Council.

AWG is moving operations from Southaven and Memphis to Hernando, where the company is constructing a 918,000-square-foot automated distribution facility.

The Mississippi Development Authority is providing a $4 million grant for site preparation and building improvements and a $1.98 million loan for sewer and roadway improvements.

This will become the largest and most highly automated food distribution center in the nation, and take advantage of the latest technology in material handling developed

by Witron, the release says.

This is the largest industrial capital expenditure in DeSoto County’s history, generating new property tax revenue streams for both county, city, and schools, stabilizing the tax base and creating new sources of capital to be used for public improvements.

– MBJ Staff

PERSPECTIVE

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Influencer marketing can still be a great communications tool in today’s world

nfluencer marketing has experienced explosive growth in recent years. Previous projections had it estimated to become a $15 billion market by 2022, and that was before the rapid rise of TikTok and content creation under quarantine.

However, alongside this growth have been increasingly bleak headlines: The influencer marketing bubble is set to burst, influence is phony and influencer fraud is costing companies more than $1 billion.

Some influencers, at the knowing or unknowing direction of agencies and brands, are breaking trust with their audience because of collaborations that lack relevance, are fraudulent at times and often have superficial measurement.

Here are five key tips to harness positive influencer impact, according to Adweek:

Trust isn’t built in a single post A collaboration that’s a single post, without any obvious or easily explainable alignment, can end up prompting the audience to question whether the influencer really had a belief in the product. This drives little value for the brand, reduces the audience’s trust with the influencer and brings up the question of authenticity.

Brands leading in influencer marketing

Audience size should never be the first proxy Follower numbers don’t equal actual reach. They don’t give any measure of true influence with an audience and, most important, they don’t give any insight into the audience composition.

Given that marketing is about conveying a message to a specific audience, influencer marketing is worthless if it’s not actually speaking to the desired audience, regardless of how niche or broad that audience is.

If you were selling an everyday cooking product, would are making increasingly you advertise in Vogue or Good longer collaborations a Housekeeping? If you had a finbig component of their tech product and were trying to infl uencer marketing strattodd smith reach a Canadian audience, would you egy. It allows the influencer to best understand the brand’s values work with a very large tech influencer with less and marketing needs, enabling the developthan 2 percent of their audience in Canada? ment of a thoughtful strategy to deliver that Focus on the audience. to their audience over time.

Engagement doesn’t equal effectiveness All messages are not equal Engagement rates have become the most Identifying the right influencer based on common metric by which influencer com- audience and brand alignment doesn’t mean parisons are made. However, much like fol- there isn’t still considerable work to help lower numbers, an influencer with the right each other understand shared objectives, audience and high engagement can be the values, aesthetics and styles. The strength of wrong influencer. the brief is everything.

You have to view influencer marketing as Importantly, this doesn’t mean handing a collaboration between two brands. When over total control to the influencer, nor brands come together to collaborate, the does it mean dictating everything to them. success is often in large part because of a It’s ineffective if the audience has no clue truly relevant fit. It’s the difference between what the brand is trying to convey, and it’s the wildly cool and successful Louis Vuit- just as bad when the audience doesn’t beton collaboration with Supreme and Lego’s lieve the message is coming from the voice collaboration with Shell (which Lego had to of the influencer. end because of misaligned values).

When done best, your roster of influencThe best influencer marketing comes ers should be a fully diverse and inclusive from a data-driven approach to understand- representation of your customers. It being influence with an audience combined comes a partnership, giving you a scalable with human insights to assess brand align- creative production model that, with good ment and cultural relevance. communication, can remain fully on-brand Without these, you won’t drive strong re- while talking to audiences on a much more sults at best, and, at worst, you could see an one-to-one level. audience backlash and brand safety problems.

You can’t invest in what you can’t measure Follower numbers, engagement and sentiment analysis are no longer the brilliant basics. Paid social also has an ever-growing and almost obligatory role to play – something that brings both deeper reporting, accountability and the opportunity to further scale the reach to relevant audiences for prospecting and retargeting campaigns.

The growth of influencer marketing has

stemmed from the incredible value it can deliver when done right. It’s about applying basic rules of advertising to make influencer marketing more trustworthy, more accountable, more measurable and, as a result, more effective.

Consumer confidence rebounds in May Consumer confidence edged higher in May after two months of steep declines as businesses shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic gradually reopened, but the measure still hovers near six-year lows.

The closely watched index of Americans’ outlook rose to 86.6 from 85.7 in April, the Conference Board announced recently, driven by a pickup in expectations for the next six months. That comes after a record plunge last month. Economists surveyed by Bloomberg had forecasted a slightly bigger increase to 87.

All 50 states have begun phased reopenings of their economies after nearly all closed nonessential businesses in March to curtail the spread of the virus. The abrupt shutdowns triggered the worst recession in modern history, with 20.5 million jobs lost in April and as many as 10 million more expected to be shed this month. The U.S. economy is likely to shrink at a staggering 30% to 40% annual rate in the current quarter.

“Following two months of rapid decline, the free fall in confidence stopped in May,” said Lynn Franco, the Conference Board’s senior director of economic indicators.

“Short-term expectations moderately in-

creased as the gradual reopening of the economy helped improve consumer spirits. However, consumers remain concerned about their financial prospects.”

Out-of-this-world mic: America returns to space travel In the midst of the crushing coronavirus and combustible racial injustices/police brutality, we finally have news that inspires hope for a broken world!

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and NASA blasted two astronauts into orbit, marking the first human launch from U.S. soil in nearly a decade and a new partnership between industry and government aimed at revitalizing the nation’s space ambitions.

Last Saturday’s successful blastoff – from the same launchpad at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center that sent Apollo crews to the moon during the height of the Cold War – sought to highlight American persistence and scientific know-how even as the U.S. continues to grapple with the coronavirus pandemic and spiraling racial injustice. It also is the first step seeking to establish the trajectory for space tourism, provide momentum for proposed public-private partnerships to explore the moon, and eventually set the stage for longer ventures deeper into space.

The launch was the second attempt after bad weather foiled the originally schedule mission.

Strapped into a reusable capsule called Crew Dragon, veteran astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley embarked on a scheduled 19-hour voyage to the international space station circling the globe 250 miles up, with President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence observing the fiery scene in person. The Space Exploration and Technologies Corp. Falcon 9 rocket lifted off, and successfully reached orbit before a pristine docking with the space station. The crew is slated to remain at the international laboratory for at least two months, before returning with the capsule’s parachute landing in the Atlantic Ocean.

Now that’s some out-of-this-world news we can all embrace!

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 LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/deane-smith-&-partners.

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Communities win Excellerator Grants from Entergy

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ntergy has awarded communities more than $100,000 in matching grants through the company’s Excellerator Competitive Communities program. In its fourth year, the program recognizes excellence in marketing, site readiness and organizational excellence.

“These grants are more important than ever as we work to help Mississippi recover from the economic impacts of COVID-19,” said Ed Gardner, Entergy Mississippi director of business and economic development. “The world of economic development is highly competitive, and Entergy works hard to help our communities be as prepared as possible so they can increase their chances of success.”

The success of a community is dependent on the health and structure of its economic development organization. Entergy supports nurturing successful economic development groups.

Retail phase of Oxford Commons complete and leased

Organizational Excellence winners: • Washington County Economic Alliance • Cleveland – Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce Along with assessments and grants, the Excellerator program offers training and workshops to all counties in Entergy’s service area. Entergy’s economic development team works with communities year-round to help prepare them for growth.

» The Terrace at Oxford Commons is a 16,000-square-foot retail center in the Oxford Commons. Its seven stores plan to open in August and September. Courtesy of Gill Properties Inc.

» Economic developers from 10 Mississippi counties received Excellerator grants, including (from left) Britt Herrin, Tate County Economic Development Foundation; Danielle Winningham, Madison County Economic Development Authority; Pablo Diaz, Vicksburg – Warren County Chamber of Commerce; Cary Karlson, Washington County Economic Alliance; Milton Chambliss, Claiborne County Economic Development Authority, and Matthew Harrison, Grenada County Economic Development District.

This year marketing grant applications topped the list. This shows that economic development organizations are enhancing the ways they promote their communities to site selectors.

Marketing grant winners: • Greater Jackson Alliance • Greater Grenada Partnership • Southwest Mississippi Partnership • Washington County Economic Alliance Entergy’s interest in helping communities develop and maintain quality industrial sites continues to be paramount.

The company continues to invest in site readiness activities that support industrial growth and sustainability.

Site readiness grant recipients: • Claiborne County Economic Development District • Hinds County Economic Development Authority • Pike County Economic Development District • Warren County Partnership

“We invest in our communities so customers can have opportunities without having to leave the state,” said Gardner.

“This program helps people stay and thrive right here in Mississippi.”

Learn more about economic development at Entergy and key tools to help our communities grow at goentergy.com/ our-region/mississippi/.

Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to approximately 450,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Corporation (NYSE: ETR) is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including 8,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of $11 billion and approximately 13,600 employees.

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

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he Blackburn Group has announced the completion of the Terrace at Oxford Commons, with 100 percent of the 16,000-square-foot retail center preleased.

The Oxford Commons is a projected mixed-use traditional neighborhood of 1,500 to 1,600 residences – free-standing, condominiums, townhouses and apartments – on about 700 acres in the city of Oxford.

All of the new businesses in the Terrace are planning to open in August or September.

“It is extremely rare for a multitenant project to be fully leased upon completion of construction,” David Blackburn, president of the Blackburn Group, said in a release.

The Terrace will be home to the following tenants: Core Cycle and Outdoors; Endurance Physical Therapy; Fox’s Pizza Den; Heartbreak Coffee; Oxford Commons Home Sales & Design Center, The Citizens Bank and 20-20 Lux Day Spa. Frank Dyer III of Gill Properties said in the release that the “next

mixed-use phase, The Commons, is a particularly exciting project that will include restaurants, a music/outdoor entertainment venue, retail and office space as well as a residential component.”

“The Terrace will serve as a great catalyst for . . . The Commons, which . . . begin pre-leasing in July,” Blackburn said in a prepared statement.

Dyer said in an interview that most of 170 homes have been built, with about 15 under construction. Additionally there are eight town homes underway.

Plans are for 464 town homes in addition to 775 free-standing residences, according to Adam Pittman, a new-home consultant who works with clients to determine what they are looking for in terms of budget and design. Also, there are 214 condominiums and 200 apartments on the drawing board, he said.

For leasing information, contact Dyer at frank@gillprop.com or (901) 277-8183. For more information on The Blackburn Group, visit www. blackburngroup.net.

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KiOR case still bogged down in lawsuits

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

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ore than five years ago, the state of Mississippi sued billionaire Vinod Khosla and others, contending that they knew that bankrupt firm KiOR had poor prospects for success in making biocrude oil but misled the state into making the company a $75 million no-interest loan.

What has happened since?

Another lawsuit.

The KiOR Inc. Liquidation Trust sued two men, former KiOR President and Chief Executive Officer Fred Cannon and former Vice President Andre Ditsch, Khosla later a consultant for it, in Hinds County Circuit Court on Nov. 8, 2016 for that amount, alleging, as the state has against KiOR, that the two men had known better and led KiOR into failure and Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Mississippi Development Authority did not respond immediately on Tuesday as to whether the Liquidation lawsuit has had any effect on its case.

During Gov. Haley Barbour's two

four-year terms, from 2004 through 2012, the state made a stake in some ambitious, but ultimately failed, startups, including KiOR, which was touted

by Barbour as standing to create 1,000 jobs.

Twin Creeks Technologies, facility for which was built in Senatobia at a cost of $27.7 million by the state for the solar-panel manufacturer, closed without producing marketable panels. The state eventually sold the building and thenGov. Phil Bryant said he expected the state to make full recovery. Messages left with state Auditor Chad White's office on Wednesday were not immediately returned.

The failure of the Mississippi Power Co. “clean-coal” facility in Kemper County cost taxpayers no money but overran projections by $4.5 billion as it failed to produce synthetic coal gas on a marketable scale. Mississippi Power and parent Southern Co. absorbed $6.4 billion in losses and Southern wrote off $3.4 billion on its books.

Then-State Auditor Stacy Pickering said in March 2018 that Stion Solar in Hattiesburg owed the state $93 million in its failed effort. A message left with the Chad White's office on Wednesday was not immediately returned.

» Kior plant in Columbus, Mississippi.

Photo/Ty Cole/Fortune

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» The now-bankrupt Kior site in Columbus, Mississippi

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Plans for Tupelo’s four-story Fairpark building revealed

By DENNIS SEID / Daily Journal A proposed four-story building in Fairpark – part of the overall Fairpark Towers project launched three years ago – will contain commercial and residential space.

An earlier version of this story said the building would be named “The Presley,” but that is no longer the case. Elvis Presley Enterprises in Memphis said the name would be a trademark infringement, and Century Construction, the builder of the project, decided not to pursue the case.

Permit information filed with the city’s Planning Department showed the building will cover 63,773 square feet. Construction is valued at more than $10 million.

In March, the Tupelo Redevelopment Agency approved the sale of two plots of land in the Fairpark District to different developers to eventually build housing units and a multi-story residential unit.

The public agency approved a request to sell approximately 4 acres of land located between Kansas City Railroad and the pond to Wilson Coleman, Don Coleman and Blake Whitehead for $90,000. The developers would then take on the cost of building infrastructure such as water, sewage and streets in the area. This is the second residential phase of the Fairpark District.

The agency also sold another parcel of land located between Troy Street and the last residential lot ending before the condominium units on Fairpark Drive to Maloney Development Properties. The sale is contingent upon the factor that certain legal measurements are worked out in the future. The public agency agreed to sell the land for a minimum of $345,000.

The Maloney property is where the new tower will be built.

Last month, the Tupelo City Council unanimously voted to award two contracts to engineering companies and allow construction officials to go to market to seek bids for developing the area.

One contract was awarded to Cook Coggin Engineers, Inc. to design plans for overall scope of all the infrastructure, and one contract was awarded to Alan and Hoshall to design the underground utilities that would go in the area.

The Fairpark Towers project is a public-private agreement in which Maloney Development Properties pledged to invest $12 million in exchange for infrastructure improvements to the area.

The first of three proposed Fairpark Towers buildings opened in late 2018. The 40,000-square-foot building is home to BankPlus, Ross & Yerger, Southern Craft Tap & Stove and Century Construction, which is owned by Maloney.

» dining

Pandemic lesson:

Prohibition policies don’t make us safer

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n March 12, the Senate overwhelmingly killed a bill to permit direct shipment of wine in Mississippi. This vote didn’t age well.

The bill would have made Mississippi the 44th state in the country to allow consumers to purchase wine and have it shipped directly to their house. Currently in Mississippi, a control state, you are limited to what the state has in stock, limiting your freedom to choose the wine you prefer.

If ABC doesn’t have it available, you don’t have that option without jumping through traditional government hoops. All to acquire a bottle of wine, something that’s been legal at the national level for 90 years.

But on an early session deadline day, the bill came to the floor and was defeated 32-13, with just 12 Republicans and one Democrat voting for the bill.

Just a few days later, the legislature went home, schools were closed, and a large chunk of the state was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. Mississippians were staying in, and using technology to work from home, video chat with friends and family, order groceries, and have food from their favorite restaurant delivered to their front door.

Almost overnight, we realized how important technology was, how it impacts virtually every area of our life, and how limitations generally come from government, not the lack of entrepreneurs. A glaring example, the inability to have alcohol delivered to your house in Mississippi.

If you wanted wine delivered to your house from a winery in California, or if you just wanted something from a local liquor store to be delivered via an app like Drizly, you are out of luck. After the direct shipment vote in the Senate failed, it looked like alcohol freedom was never coming to Mississippi. But the pandemic changed things. Soon, the Department of Revenue was repealing regulations.

DOR allowed restaurants, who were forced to close their dining halls during the pandemic, to sell a sealed bottle of wine with to-go orders. They also began allowing residents of Leisure and Recreation Districts (which includes most of the state) to order a mixed drink with their to-go order and take

it home. All of these small changes were previously illegal, as ridiculous as that sounds.

All of a sudbrett kittredge den, regulations that many of us have been saying were unnecessary as they simply limit consumer freedom were being lifted during an emergency so consumers could have more freedoms.

We hear about “health and safety” often when listening to proponents of regulations, but we can safely say that during an actual health crisis, alcohol prohibitions didn’t contribute to our health or safety.

If you didn’t want to go into a crowded store, it was quite the opposite. One could argue the prohibition on alcohol

to purchase alcohol from a liquor store than a grocery store, but liquor stores have an obvious financial incentive, created by the government, to maintain their monopoly. At the same time, there are plenty of limitations on what liquor stores can sell that also serve no purpose and should be removed.

But this is all overshadowed by the fact that all alcohol runs through a state warehouse, not a traditional distributor. And guess what would happen if we allowed Walmart or Kroger to sell wine? We wouldn’t have enough room at the warehouse and taxpayers would have to fund a bigger facility. Or so we are told. It’s as if we lose every concept of the free market when it comes to alcohol.

Rather, we need to back away from overburdensome regulations and prohibition-inspired laws. While this will just be a footnote from the pandemic,

delivery makes us less safe. Or if you’re having a party at your house (while following social distancing guidelines, of course), you could also argue that it’s safer to have a new bottle of wine delivered rather than someone taking their chances on the road.

We know current prohibitions don’t stem from health and safety concerns, but from the protectionist tendencies that are built by the current government policies. It’s not inherently safer

when it comes to alcohol policy, we’ve learned we simply need to ease off protectionist monopolies and trust consumers and technology to allow the market to work.

It’s unfortunate it took an international pandemic for us to learn that lesson. » BRETT KITTREDGE is the Director of Marketing & Communications of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy, the state’s non-partisan, free-market think tank.

HEALTH CARE May30 - June 12, 2020 • Mississippi Business Journal • www.msbusiness.com

Will Ball is more than ready for an end to the coronavirus pandemic

By NASH NUNNERY mbj@msbusiness.com

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ince March 13, the director of sports medicine and development for Rush Hospital Systems has spent 14-hour days screening patients and guests before they enter the Meridian hospital.

The affable Ball would rather be lending his vast expertise in sports medicine to the 30-plus high school athletic programs he covers around east Mississippi. He officially returned to his office on June 1 and couldn’t be happier.

“It’s great to be back, even though we were still evaluating and Ball treating our athletes virtually with Zoom (meetings),” Ball said. “Under the guidelines of the Mississippi High School Athletic Association and Mississippi Association of Independent Schools, the athletes are back training at their respective high schools and the coaches have been very cooperative in following all the necessary procedures to keep the kids safe.

“It will be a slow process but we’ve got to start somewhere.”

Not unlike other small businesses, Mississippi sports medicine clinics have changed due to the pandemic.

With the shutdown of sports at all levels, there’s been a marked decrease in the rate of injuries.

Dr. Gabriel Rulewicz, a physician with Tupelo-based Orthopaedic Institute of North Mississippi, said COVID-19 has altered normal clinic operations in several ways. He estimates that in the first four weeks of the pandemic, there was a drop of 80-90

percent in clinic and surgical volume.

“We’re currently screening all patients and family for coronavirus outside the clinic prior to check-in, and patients will then wait in their car until time to be seen,” said Rulewicz. “The waiting room is set-up for social distancing, as well as check out. Masks are available to patients, and hand hygiene and terminal room cleaning are done between each patient.

“The one positive is the downtime

Rulewicz

has allowed athletes currently recovering from an injury more time to rehab and less pressure to return to play”, he added.

There is also a mental aspect of coronavirus for athletes that will need to be addressed, according to Rulewicz.

“There are guidelines for management of coronavirus-positive athletes, treatment of the team, and a return to training protocols,” he said. “This will likely be a fluid situation with changes made as we move forward.”

Ball says he’s looked to the MHSAA and MSAIS for guidance in proceeding to the next phase for high school athletes during the pandemic. Both Mississippi organizations follow instructions published by the National Federation of State High School Associations.

A spokesperson for the NFSHSA said in a statement that “until a cure,

vaccine or very effective treatment is readily available, or so-called ‘herd immunity’ is confidently reached, social distancing and other preventative measures will be a ‘new normal’ if workouts, practices and contests are to continue.”

Though he doesn’t know exactly what to expect post- COVID-19, Rulewicz said the sports medicine and athletics community continue to work together on plans in dealing with the ongoing crisis. Testing of athletes, social distancing to some extent and updated recommendations for cleaning will be the rule rather than the exception on and off the field.

“For example, imagine weight rooms. This poses a complex problem with workouts,” Rulewicz said. “What number of athletes are allowed?

When and what do you clean equipment with between workouts? There will also be a need for PPE and cleaning supplies, which may limit return.

“I think we are all looking forward to the return of sports but it is a complex issue.”

With the lag in proper care and training due to the pandemic, Ball predicts an abundance of sports-related injuries during initial workouts at the high school and college level.

“These kids have been following ‘safe at home’ and ‘shelter at home’ and then suddenly they rush into lifting (weights) and conditioning drills,” he said. “We are going to be extremely cautious in the beginning.”

Despite the interruption to his normal routine, Ball beams about a return to his regular duties.

“We’re in a profession that’s hands-on – it’s always better to get an in-person visualization (of an injury or training method),” he said. “There should be no guessing games when it comes to the evaluation of an athlete’s injury care and physical training.”

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HEALTH CARE

Avoidance of receiving timely medical care more dangerous than COVID-19 exposure

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

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ome people, particularly those who are older, may be more afraid of catching the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) than they are of dying from a heart attack or stroke. Rates of hospitalizations for heart failure at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) were down as much as 80 percent at one point falling after the state declared a state of emergency and again after the “shelter in place” order.

Delays in seeking care are very worrying, said Dr. Javed Butler, professor and chair of the Department of Medicine, and the Patrick H. Lehan Chair of Cardiovascular Medicine at UMMC. “When heart failure starts getting worse, it may not be as reversible if we don’t treat it in a timely manner,” said Butler, one of eight UMMC physicians and two others who authored a recent report on the issue published in the Journal of Cardiac Failure.

Hospitals are employing strict measures such as screening patients and staff, use of personal protection equipment, hand hygiene, frequent cleaning and sanitization of the facilities and equipment to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

“Hospitals are well-prepared to protect people against the COVID infection,” Butler said. “So--and I don’t say this lightly--going to the hospital may be safer than going to the grocery store.”

Heart attacks don’t just affect the heart, but deprive the brain, liver, kidneys and other organs of adequate blood flow.

“About 50 percent of patients diagnosed with heart failure die within five years,” said Dr. Michael Hall, associate professor of medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases at UMMC, and the lead author of “Reductions in Heart Failure Hospitalizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” published May 12 in the Journal of Cardiac Failure. “It is one of the major causes of hospitalizations in the U.S. and worldwide, and as more and more people get older, it’s getting worse.”

While the UMMC Center for Telehealth is playing a major role in caring for patients with virtual visits, Hall said it’s hard to believe that, even under the best of circumstances, a telehealth visit is going to be better for a heart failure patient that an in-person visit.

Dr. Chad Washington, professor and chair, UMMC De- in-depth conversation with their physician about the partment of Neurosurgery, said over the past several months, planned procedure. He said while it is perfectly reasonable they have experienced major decreased patient volumes in to be concerned given the current circumstances, individtheir emergency rooms and outpatient clinics not just for uals should consider the long-term implications to their heart failure, but other serious health conditions. health if a procedure is postponed.

“The exact cause of this is not perfectly clear, but from Clinics, as well as hospitals, are making every effort discussions with patients and families, concern over to mitigate the risk of exposure for patients. Patients COVID-19 exposure is definitely playing a role and is a are screened for symptoms and exposure. Clinic vismajor consideration in people’s minds when making deci- its are scheduled to allow for social distancing. Patients sions about their healthcare needs,” Washington said. and healthcare providers wear face masks, and there are Physicians are very concerned because when people heightened cleaning processes of facilities. are more reluctant to call 911, visit the emergency room “It is critically important that people continue to work or hospitals or see their primary care physician, it could with their healthcare providers to manage both their acute have a significant negative impact on the health of pa- (e.g. heart attacks and strokes) and chronic (e.g. high blood tients. When they finally come back, they are likely to be pressure and diabetes) conditions,” Washington said. “The in worse shape. long-term consequences of neglecting these problems can “Many times, stroke and heart attacks have warning be severe, leading to long-term disability or even death.”

Patient attitudes may be improving as people besigns (e.g. for stroke, subtle numbness, tingling or weakness, and for heart attacks, mild chest pain, arm pain, or come accustomed to the “new normal.” And, certainly, unexplained fatigue) that precede a major stroke or heart the pandemic has underscored heavily the importance attack,” Washington said. “In normal circumstances out- of managing your own health even in the face of the side of our current COVID-19 pandemic, patients are COVID-19 pandemic. Washington said their role is to more apt to notify healthcare providers. The treatments help people navigate this very stressful and confusing for both stroke and heart attacks are time sensitive, with time in a way that provides them the best long-term outpatient outcomes significantly improved when they re- come for their health. ceive appropriate care as soon as possible.”

He said a second reason for concern is that there is increasing evidence that COVID-19 is not simply a respiratory illness, but is a multi-system disease affecting not only patients’ lungs, but also their hearts, brain, kidneys, and other organs. Also, there have been several reports indicating that for some patients, particularly younger adults, the first symptoms of a COVID-19 infection are, in fact, a stroke.

Some people have been putting off non-emergency surgery. Washington recommends that patients have an » This chart illustrates trends of heart failure hospitalizations at UMMC from

January through April 11, 2020 (red line) and the same time frame in 2019 (dashed blue line).

HEALTH CARE

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There are safe options for health care at hospitals and clinics

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

A

voiding clinics, emergency rooms and hospitals because of the fear of catching the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially deadly choice. The Mississippi Hospital Association (MHA) and Mississippi State Medical Association (MSMA) have recently started a campaign called Prepared to Care aimed at letting people in the state know there is a wide range of safe options for seeking medical treatment.

Hospitals and clinics in Mississippi and across the country have experienced steep declines causing some hospitals to be forced to lay off employees and employ other cost cutting measures. But when people don’t seek timely care for emergencies or for treatment of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease, it can have long-term negative consequences.

Timothy H. Moore, president and chief executive officer of MHA, said state hospitals and physicians are united in ensuring access to safe care for patients in the state.

“Precautions are in place to protect patients when they need face-to-face Moore care,” Moore said.

“Even throughout the COVID-19 crisis, hospitals have continued to provide a safe and caring environment for Mississippi babies entering the world, for those suffering from accidents and other life-threatening situations, and for our most infirm. We are prepared to care for everyone who walks through our doors every day.”

Mississippi has some of the highest rates of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and stroke in the country. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the state representing a third of all fatalities., Moore said 16 percent of the state’s population is 65 or older, and older adults tend to have higher rates of chronic medical conditions, putting them at much

Thank You

to all of the health care workers and essential workers on the front line battling COVID-19 so that we are able to maintain a semblance of normal life. Your sacrif ices and self ishless attitude is what makes this world a better place. We will get through this together!!!

Thanks to our valued readers and customers for the continued support! m s b u s i n e s s .c o m

higher risk of significant health complications if they delay regular appointments or emergency care.

Claude Brunson, MD, executive director of MSMA, said Mississippi’s physicians have done a tremendous job implementing telemedicine procedures to provide care for patients. But there are Brunson

some medical conditions that require patients come into a clinic or hospital.

So, while he strongly encourages patients to use telemedicine where appro-

priate, Brunson said it is vitally important for people in the state to know they can get safe, reliable, and high-quality care in-person at their local clinic or hospital today.

Governor Tate Reeves recently issued a new executive order allowing physicians and hospitals to resume performing “non-emergency, elective med-

ical procedures and surgeries” based on the current guidance from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH).

The current MSDH guidelines include screening all patients for COVID-19 prior to their visit or immediately upon arrival and delivering outpatient services in accordance with current physical distancing recommendations.

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Stroke Care Centers Mississippi Business Journal

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May 30 - June 12, 2020

Stroke Carecare Centerscenters stroke Level

Stroke Care Center

Address

Phone

Website

1 North Mississippi Medical Center 830 S. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS, 38801 662-377-3000 nmhs.net 1 St. Dominic Hospital 969 Lakeland Dr., Jackson, MS, 39216 601-200-2000 stdom.com 1 University of Mississippi Medical Center 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS, 39216 601-984-1000 umc.edu 2 Baptist Medical Center 1225 N. State St., Jackson, MS, 39202 601-968-1000 mbhs.org 2 Forrest General Hospital (Forrest Health) 6051 U.S. Hwy. 49, Hattiesburg, MS, 39402 601-288-7000 forrestgeneral.com 2 Greenwood Leflore Hospital 1401 River Rd., Greenwood, MS, 38930 662-459-7000 glh.org 2 Memorial Hospital at Gulfport 4500 Thirteenth St., Gulfport, MS, 39501 228-867-4000 gulfportmemorial.com 2 Merit Health Wesley 5001 Hardy St, Hattiesburg, MS, 39402 601-268-8000 MeritHealthWesley.com 2 Singing River Health System - Ocean Springs 3109 Bienville Blvd, Ocean Springs, MS, 39564 228-818-1111 singingriverhealthsystem.com 2 Singing River Health System - Pascagoula 2809 Denny Ave., Pascagoula, MS, 39581 228-809-5000 singingriverhealthsystem.com 3 Anderson Regional Health System 2124 14th St., Meridian, MS, 39301 601-553-6000 andersonregional.org 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital-Attala 220 Highway 12 West, Kosciusko, MS, 39090 662-289-4311 baptistonline.org/attala 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto 7601 Southcrest Pkwy., Southaven, MS, 38671 662-772-4000 baptistonline.org 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle 2520 5th St. N., Columbus, MS, 39705 662-244-1000 baptistonline.org 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital-Leake 1100 Highway 16 East, Carthage, MS, 39051 601-267-1100 baptistonline.org/leake 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi 1100 Belk Blvd., Oxford, MS, 38655 662-636-1000 baptistonline.org 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County 200 Hwy. 30 West, New Albany, MS, 38652 662-538-7631 baptistonline.org 3 Baptist Memorial Hospital-Yazoo 823 Grand Ave., Yazoo City, MS, 39194 662-746-2261 baptistonline.org/yazoo 3 Bolivar Medical Center 901 E. Sunflower Road, Cleveland, MS, 38732 662-846-0061 bolivarmedical.com 3 Choctaw Regional Medical Center 8613 Mississippi 12, Ackerman, MS, 39735 662-285-4400 choctawregional.com 3 Claiborne County Hospital 123 McComb Ave., Port Gibson, MS, 39150 601-437-5141 N/A 3 Copiah County Medical Center 27190 Hwy 28, Hazlehurst, MS, 39083 601-574-7000 myccmc.org 3 Covington County Hospital 701 South Holly Avenue, Collins, MS, 39428 601-765-6711 covingtoncountyhospital.com 3 Delta Regional Medical Center 1400 E. Union St., Greenville, MS, 38703 662-378-3783 deltaregional.com 3 Garden Park Medical Center 15200 Community Road, Gulfport, MS, 39503 228-575-7000 gardenparkmedical.com 3 George Regional Hospital 859 Winter St., Lucedale, MS, 39452 601-947-3161 georgeregional.com 3 Greene County Hospital 1017 Jackson Street, Leakesville, MS, 39451 601-394-4135 georgeregional.com/Greene-County-Hospital 3 Highland Community Hospital 130 Highland Parkway, Picayune, MS, 39466 601-358-9400 forresthealth.org/our-locations/highland-community-hospital 3 Jefferson Davis County Community Hospital 1102 Rose St., Prentiss, MS, 39474 601-792-4276 forresthealth.org/our-locations/jefferson-davis-community-hospital 3 King's Daughters Medical Center 427 Highway 51 North, Brookhaven, MS, 39601 601-833-6011 kdmc.org 3 Lackey Memorial Hospital 330 N. Broad St, Forest, MS, 39074 601-469-4151 lackeymemorialhospital.com 3 Magee General Hospital 300 3rd Ave. SE, Magee, MS, 39111 601-849-5070 mghosp.org 3 Magnolia Regional Health Center 611 Alcorn Dr., Corinth, MS, 38834 662-293-1000 mrhc.org 3 Marion General Hospital 1560 Sumrall Road, Columbia, MS, 39429 601-736-6303 forresthealth.org/our-locations/marion-general-hospital 3 Memorial Hospital at Stone County 1434 E. Central Ave., Wiggins, MS, 39577 601-928-6600 schospital.net 3 Merit Health Biloxi 150 Reynoir St., Biloxi, MS, 39530 228-432-1571 merithealthbiloxi.com 3 Merit Health Central 1850 Chadwick Drive, Jackson, MS, 39204 601-376-1000 merithealthcentral.com 3 Merit Health Madison 161 River Oaks Drive, Canton, MS, 39046 601-855-4000 merithealthmadison.com 3 Merit Health Natchez 54 Seargent Prentiss Dr., Natchez, MS, 39120 601-443-2100 merithealthnatchez.com 3 Merit Health Rankin 350 Crossgates Blvd., Brandon, MS, 39042 601-825-2811 merithealthrankin.com 3 Merit Health River Oaks 1030 River Oaks Drive, Flowood, MS, 39232 601-932-1030 MeritHealthRiverOaks.com 3 Merit Health River Region 2100 Highway 61 North, Vicksburg, MS, 39183 601-883-5000 merithealthriverregion.com 3 Methodist Olive Branch Hospital 4250 Bethel Road, Olive Branch, MS, 38654 662-932-9000 methodisthealth.org 3 Monroe Regional Hospital 400 S. Chestnut St., Aberdeen, MS, 39730 662-369-2455 N/A 3 Neshoba County General Hospital 1001 Holland Ave., Philadelphia, MS, 39350 601-663-1200 neshobageneral.com 3 North Mississippi Medical Center - Iuka 1777 Curtis Dr., Iuka, MS, 38852 662-423-6051 nmhs.net/locations/profile/north-mississippi-medical-center-iuka 3 North Mississippi Medical Center- Eupora 70 Medical Plaza, Eupora, MS, 39744 662-258-6221 nmhs.net/eupora 3 North Mississippi Medical Center- West Point 150 Medical Center Dr., West Point, MS, 39773 662-495-2300 nmhs.net/west-point 3 North Mississippi Medical Center-Pontotoc 176 South Main St., Pontotoc, MS, 38863 662-489-5510 nmhs.net/pontotoc 3 Northwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center 1970 Hospital Dr., Clarksdale, MS, 38614 662-627-3211 northwestmsmedicalcenter.org 3 Noxubee General Hospital 78 Hospital Road, Macon, MS, 39431 662-726-4231 ngcah.com 3 OCH Regional Medical Center 400 Hospital Rd, Starkville, MS, 39759 662-323-4320 och.org 3 Ochsner Medical Center - Hancock 149 Drinkwater Blvd., Bay St. Louis, MS, 39520 228-220-5200 hmc.org 3 Pearl River County Hospital 305 W. Moody St., Poplarville, MS, 39470 601-795-4543 prc-med.com 3 Rush Foundation Hospital 1314 19th Ave., Meridian, MS, 39301 601-483-0011 rushhealthsystems.org 3 Sharkey-Issaquena Community Hospital 47 South 4th St., Rolling Fork, MS, 39159 662-873-4395 N/A 3 Simpson General Hospital 1842 Simpson Highway 149, Mendenhall, MS, 39114 601-847-2221 simpsongeneral.com 3 South Central Regional Medical Center 1220 Jefferson St., Laurel, MS, 39440 601-426-4000 scrmc.com 3 South Sunflower County Hospital 121 E Baker St., Indianola, MS, 38751 662-887-5235 southsunflower.com 3 Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center 215 Marion Ave., McComb, MS, 39648 601-249-5500 smrmc.com 3 University of Mississippi Medical Center Grenada 960 Avent Dr., Grenada, MS, 38901 662-227-7000 umc.edu/Grenada/Grenada_Home.html 3 University of Mississippi Medical Center-Holmes County 239 Bowling Green Road, Lexington, MS, 39095 662-834-1321 ummchealth.com/holmes 3 Walthall General Hospital 100 Hospital Drive, Tylertown, MS, 39667 601-876-2122 forresthealth.org/our-locations/walthall-county-general-hospital 3 Wayne General Hospital 950 Matthew Drive, Waynesboro, MS, 39367 601-735-5151 waynegeneralhospital.org 3 Winston Medical Center 17550 E. Main St, Louisville, MS, 39339 662-773-6211 winstonmedical.org Level 1: Neurologist, neurosurgeon and endovasular specialists available 24/7; Capable of perform interventional neurology; Has personnel, infrastructure and expertise to diagnose and treat stroke patients who require intensive care. Level 2: Must have all the requirements of Level 1, excluding endovascular capabilities. Level 3: Must have the ability to diagnose and stabilize patient for transfer to Level 1 or 2 Referring Center. List is arranged by Stroke Care Center Level ratings as determined by the Mississippi Stroke System of Care, a collaborative effort among the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Mississippi Healthcare Alliance, the American Heart Association, and the Mississippi Hospital Association.

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Sports Medicine Clinics & Orthopedic Clinics

May 30 - June 12, 2020

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Ranked by city SPORTS MEDICINE CLINICS & ORTHOPEDIC CLINICS Clinic

Address

Phone

MOS doctors

Website

Lighthouse Clinics 1120 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS, 39530 228-202-7872 1 inezmkellehermd.com Advanced Orthopaedics Associates 2781 CT Switzer SR Dr., Biloxi, MS, 39531 228-388-6969 1 King's Daughters Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center 601 Brookman Drive Ext., Brookhaven, MS, 39601 601-823-5275 1 https://kdmc.org The Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic 670 Leigh Drive, Columbus, MS, 39705 662-328-1012 9 columbusortho.com Magnolia Orthopaedics & Sports Medine Clinic 611 Alcorn Drive, Suite 100, Corinth, MS, 38834 662-286-6369 1 magnoliaorthopaedic.com Ochsner Health Center-Shepherd Square 4540 Shepherd Square, Diamondhead, MS, 39525 228-220-5200 1 ochsner.org Capital Ortho 104 Burney Lane, Flowood, MS, 39232 601-987-8200 10 capitalorthosports.com NewSouth NeuroSpine 2470 Flowood Dr., Flowood, MS, 39232 877-554-4257 1 ns2.md Mid-South Sports Medicine & Ortho. PC 1693 S. Colorado St., Greenville, MS, 38703 662-332-8700 1 Greenwood Orthopedic Clinic, P.A. 204 8th St, Greenwood, MS, 38930 662-453-0504 3 glh.org/services/orthopedics UMMC-Grenada 965 Avent Drive, Suite 101A, Grenada, MS, 38901 662-227-7794 1 umc.edu/Grenada/Services/Orthopaedics.html Memorial Hospital Gulfport Orthopedics 1340 Broad Avenue Suite 450, Gulfport, MS, 39502 228-897-5012 2 www.gulfportmemorial.com/orthopedic-surgery Mississippi Orthopaedic Institute 15190 Community Rd Suite 120, Gulfport, MS, 39503 228-831-2400 1 msortho.net Jim Thriffiley, M.D. PLLC PO Box 7144, Gulfport, MS, 39506 228-822-2663 1 thriffileyorthopedics.com Southern Bone & Joint Specialists, P.A. 3688 Veterans Memorial Dr., Ste. 200, Hattiesburg, MS, 39401 601-554-7400 17 southernboneandjoint.com Premier Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine 15 Orleans Drive, Hattiesburg, MS, 39402 601-296-2100 2 premierorthopaedic.com Hattiesburg Clinic Orthopaedics 415 S. 28th Ave., Hattiesburg, MS, 39401 601-268-5630 1 hattiesburgclinic.com University Physicians Orthopaedics 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS, 39216 601-984-6525 20 umc.edu Miss. Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Clinic 1325 E. Fortification St, Jackson, MS, 39202 601-354-4488 15 mississippisportsmedicine.com Mississippi Spine Clinic 971 Lakeland Dr., Jackson, MS, 39216 601-982-7811 2 Jackson Orthopaedic Clinic 971 Lakeland Drive, Ste. 1252, Jackson, MS, 39216 601-981-7212 1 jacksonorthopaedic.com South Central Orthopaedics 424 S. 13th Ave., Laurel, MS, 39440 601-649-5990 1 scrmc.com/clinic/south-central-orthopaedics Orthopaedic Clinic of S. West MS 300 Rawls Dr., Ste. 400, McComb, MS, 39648 601-684-4613 1 Southwest Orthopaedic Sports Med Clinic 1506 Aston Ave., McComb, MS, 39648 601-249-4282 1 smrmc.com Meridian Orthopaedic Clinic, PA 2024 15th St., Meridian, MS, 39302 601-693-6663 4 Rush Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Clinic 1800 12th Street, Meridian, MS, 39301 601-703-9674 4 rushsportsmedicine.com Passman-Haimson Ortho Sports & Rehab 46 SGT S. Prentiss St., Ste. 103, Natchez, MS, 39120 601-442-9654 2 passman-haimson-orthopedic-sports.hub.biz Mitias Orthopaedics 206 Oxford Road, New Albany, MS, 39652 662-534-2227 1 mitiasortho.com Oxford Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, PLLC 497 Azalea Dr., Suite 102, Oxford, MS, 38655 662-513-2000 3 oxfordortho.org Starkville Orthopedic Clinic 100 Wilburn Way, Starkville, MS, 39759 662-320-4008 2 starkvilleortho.com Mississippi Bone & Joint 101 Wilburn Way, Starkville, MS, 39759 662-323-9908 1 mississippiboneandjoint.com Specialty Orthopaedic Group 1211 S. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS, 38801 662-767-4200 8 sogms.com Orthopaedic Institute of North Mississippi 499 Gloster Creek Village, Ste G1 , Tupelo, MS, 38801 662-377-2663 4 oinms.com Tupelo Orthopedic Clinic 808 Garfield St., Tupelo, MS, 38802 662-844-5330 1 Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists 6300 E. Lake Blvd, Suite 301, Vancleave, MS, 39565 228-230-2663 16 bienvilleortho.com List alphabetized city and contains clinics with Mississippi Orthopaedic Society (MOS) members. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

$9M in highway contracts set from Mississippi lottery money

T

he Mississippi Transportation Commission says it has awarded nearly $9 million in pavement restoration contracts, using money generated by the state lottery that started selling tickets in November.

By the end of April, the state had collected $47.2 million from the games, the Mississippi Lottery Corporation said Tuesday. The April collections were $9.7 million.

For the first 10 years, the first $80 million a year from lottery revenue goes to infrastructure, with the rest going to education. After the 10-year period is over, the first $80 million will go to the state’s general fund with the rest continuing to go to education.

The Transportation Commission said in a news release Monday that the first seven contracts it awarded from the lottery money were:

14-mile (22.5-kilometer) mill and overlay project on Mississippi Highway 432 in Yazoo County.

— $1.6 million to Warren Paving for resurfacing projects along 5 miles (8 kilometers) of Mississippi Highway 198 in Perry County and 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) of the same highway in Greene County.

— $1.4 million contract to WG Construction Company, Inc., of Ripley, for a 7-mile (11.3 kilometer) resurfacing project on Mississippi Highway 371 in Itawamba County.

— $995,030 to Warren Paving, Inc., of Hattiesburg, for a 1-mile (1.6-kilometer) mill and overlay project on U.S. Highway 49 in Harrison County.

— $926,960 to Dickerson & Bowen, Inc., of Brookhaven, for a 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) mill and overlay project on Mississippi Highway 467 — $2.1 million to APAC-Mississippi for a near- in Hinds County. ly 11-mile (17.7-kilometer) resurfacing project on — $148,578 to Akca, LLC, of Plant City, U.S. Highway 51 in Holmes County.

Florida, for installation of raised pavement markers in central Mississippi.

— $1.8 million to APAC-Mississippi for a

LAW & ACCOUNTING May 30 - June 12, 2020 • Mississippi Business Journal • www.msbusiness.com

Tax filing delay

By LYNN LOFTON mbj@msbusiness.com

A

n March the Internal Revenue Service extended the deadline for filing 2019 federal income tax returns from April 15 until July 15 applying to all individual returns, trusts, and corporations. This relief was automatic with taxpayers not needing to file any additional forms or calling the IRS to qualify.

With the new deadline in place, are individuals putting off filing? Donna Bruce, CPA and partner with the BKD firm in Jackson says they're seeing a pretty mixed result on filing. “Some are taking advantage of the additional time to file,” she said. “However, many clients want to go ahead and take care of the filing even if they hold their payment until the due date of July 15.”

An active member of the Mississippi Society of CPAs, Bruce says many of their members have had clients who have experienced significant negative impact from

Covid-19 as well as from the recent tornadoes in various parts of the state. “The extension has been a much needed benefit that allowed the CPAs to help the clients with other business needs that were more time sensitive.”

Bruce and other CPAs are offering tax planning advice at this time when some of their clients are experiencing a reduction of income and business. “There are a number of tax provisions that provide not only deferral but permanent tax savings,” she said. “I would suggest that everyone review their situation with their CPA to determine how the changes could benefit them. The CARES Act included a number of provisions that are retroactive such as net operating losses generated in 2018 – 2020 can now be carried back five years to recover previously paid tax.

“The IRS has also provided for an expedited filing method to be able to help taxpayers recover cash sooner than they otherwise would.”

She and other CPAs are helping small businesses apply for assistance. “My firm as well as many of our members have been very busy helping clients with the various stim-

ulus benefits, particularly the SBA Paycheck Protection Program,” she said. “The guidelines are still being issued which has caused many people to have questions as to how to apply and particularly how to quantify what their forgiveness request will be. I think we would all say that helping a client with this process is very rewarding as it brings a real benefit to them when they need it most.”

Bruce adds that the MSCPA has been proactive during this time that has been extraordinary for everyone. “Looking back, I think the MSCPA did a good job in a number of ways to provide assistance to our members. In addition to communication and education, we were involved in a very proactive way. We spoke for the members in assisting to shape rules and regulations to benefit our members and their clients,” she said.

The IRS reminds individual taxpayers who can't file by July 15 that everyone is eligible to request an extension by filing Form 4868 through their tax professional, tax software or using the Free File link on IRS.gov. Businesses who need additional time must file Form 7004.

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Former 'King of Torts' Dickie Scruggs has a new mission to promote adult education

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

T

he life of Richard F. "Dickie" Scruggs has been a wild ride. Once known as the “King of Torts,” he had phenomenal success with mass tort litigation on asbestos exposure in shipyard workers and then against Big Tobacco. In 1998, he won a $246 billion settlement from four of the largest tobacco companies.

Scruggs said he feels guilty that one unintended consequence was that corporate America became terrified of mass tort litigation and spent huge sums of money on making campaign contributions to “business friendly” legislators and judges both in Mississippi and on the federal level.

Tort reform efforts across the country saw a great deal of success in limiting punitive damages and making it harder for plaintiffs damaged by large businesses to be successful in lawsuits.

In 2007, Scruggs was involved with major litigation involving insurance companies that failed to pay damage claims from Hurricane Katrina. Little did he know that his life as one of the top trial lawyers in the country was about to come to an abrupt end. In 2007, he was indicted for judicial bribery. He later pled guilty and was sentenced to seven years in federal prison.

“It was a pretty bleak experience for a guy in his early 60s who had never been in prison,” Scruggs said. “One of the toughest things for me besides separation from wife, Diane, other family and friends was losing my sense of purpose. For most of my adult life, I always felt like I was doing something that had a purpose. I lost that in prison. It was pretty demoralizing.”

One thing that helped him regain his moorings was that the federal prison system requires all inmates without a high school diploma to get a general education degree (GED). Word got around he was a lawyer, and other inmates started asking him to be a tutor. Then the staff asked him to teach.

“Education in prison is handled pretty much by prisoners with oversight from staff,” Scruggs said. “I became a math instructor, which was a bit strange because I was never that good at math. After I started teaching math to prep inmates for taking

that portion of GED, it gave me a new sense of purpose. It was rewarding. I could see the light bulb pop on in an inmate, a middle-aged man who didn’t have any confidence in academic skills and all of the sudden was able to catch on to basic mathematic concepts. It was very rewarding to me. I had never been involved in education before. Now I can understand why people devote their lives to it.”

When he got out of prison in 2014, he

After obtaining their GED, participants can also earn skill certification in areas such as welding, commercial truck driving, HVAC, electronics, hydraulics and manufacturing skills. Those allow people to make a decent living with boomerang positive economic impacts for their families, their communities and industry.

“Community colleges in Mississippi have a great system for teaching those skills,” Scruggs said. “We have grown 2nd Chance

» 2nd Chance MS Team (L to R): Zach Scruggs, Executive Director; Sarah Rose Lomenick, Director of Programs; Dickie Scruggs, Founder, and Catti Beals, Director of Development

decided to volunteer in adult education.

He founded 2nd Chance Mississippi, a 501(c)(3) charity to help people who have dropped out of high school get a GED and/ or skills certification.

“We work primarily through the community colleges in Mississippi supporting them and advocating for their programs,” Scruggs said. “They do the instruction. We raise money and awareness, and support programs through scholarships.”

In addition to paying tuition, students also got a $25 per week gift card for attendance and a $250 bonus for completing the course. Scruggs said while that amount of money might seem negligible to most people, it really has become an incentive for the low-income people being served.

since we started up to the present where we have programs in 12 of Mississippi’s 15 community college.

More than 1,000 students have completed a GED or skill certification. Many of the students have been extremely grateful. Testimonials are posted on the website, 2ndChanceMS.org.”

One way they raise money is an annual gala in Oxford. This past year more than 200 people attended.

“My wife, Diane, and I support all the overhead, so anyone who donates money knows 100 percent goes to students we sponsor,” Scruggs said. “My son, Zachery, was brought in three years ago as the exec-

utive director of that program. I’m 74, so I have been gradually turning over the daily operation to him while serving as the chairman of the board.”

When he got out of prison, Scruggs feared that he might be shunned by people.

“I was very apprehensive when I came home,” he said. “I got, deservedly so, excoriated in the press at the time. I thought I would be denied service in restaurants when I came home. But, amazingly, I was well received. The credit goes to my wife.

She stayed here and kept her head up, kept involved in civic, church and literary activities. I think her dignity through the entire thing worked to my benefit. She stood by me through all of this. I credit her for my soft landing when I came home.”

He feels lucky to live in Oxford because of great people, a wealth of cultural activities and a good quality of life.

“It is a little oasis in the South,” he said.

The Scruggs, who recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary, live in the home they built in Oxford in 2003. They still have a home in Pascagoula, and frequently visit the Coast to see their daughter and a four-year-old grandson. They also take their sailboat out to the barrier islands.

“Sailing and racing sailboats has been my passion for most of my adult life,” he said.

“That is kind of my golf.”

When he was in prison, he was visited by former Oxford resident John Grisham, one of the most popular fiction writers in America. Grisham interviewed Scruggs and loosely based his bestseller, King of Torts, on Scruggs’ story. There was also a book written on him, The Fall of the House of Zeus: The Rise and Ruin of America's Most Powerful Trial Lawyer, by Curtis Wilkie.

A lot of his former law colleagues have been involved in the opioid litigation, and at times he thinks there are things he could offer.

“But they are getting along fine without me,” he said. “There are parts of it that I don’t miss. I was headed to burnout when I got charged in late 2007.”

LAW & ACCOUNTING

Oldest Law Firms

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Oldest Lawlaw Firms firms OLDEST Rank

Firm

Address

Phone

Website

1 2 3 4 5 6

Dabney & Dabney Campbell Delong, LLP Teller, Hassell & Hopson, LLP Wells Marble & Hurst, PLLC Holcomb Dunbar Attorneys Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes

1515 Walnut St., Vicksburg MS 39180 923 Washington Ave., Greenville MS 38701 1201 Cherry St., Vicksburg MS 39183 300 Concourse Blvd., Ste. 200, Ridgeland MS 39157 400 Enterprise Drive, Oxford MS 38655 190 E. Capital St., Ste. 100, Jackson MS 39201

601-636-6532 662-335-6011 601-636-6565 601-605-6900 662-234-8775 601-948-3101

campbelldelongllp.com tellerlaw.com wellsmarble.com holcombdunbar.com brunini.com

7

Watkins & Eager PLLC

400 E. Capitol St., Jackson MS 39201

601-965-1900

watkinseager.com

Henry, Barbour, DeCell & Bridgforth, Ltd.

117 E. Jefferson St., Yazoo City MS 39194

662-746-2134

hbdblaw.com

Lucius B Dabney Robert N. Warrington B. Blake Teller Kenna L. Mansfield Jr. R. Bradley Best Samuel C. Kelly Paul H. Stephenson III, James J. Crongeyer Jr., C. Joyce Hall E Barry Bridgforth, Wiley J Barbour, Wiley J. Barbour, Jr.

Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A. Rushing & Guice, PLLC Aultman Law, Ltd. Lake Tindall, LLP Hortman Harlow Bassi Robinson & McDaniel, PLLC

105 S. Front St., Tupelo MS 38802 1000 Government St. , Ocean Springs MS 39564 201 Hardy St., Hattiesburg MS 39401 127 S. Poplar St., Greenville MS 38701

662-842-3871 228-374-2313 601-583-2671 662-378-2121

mitchellmcnutt.com rushingguice.com aultmanlaw.com laketindall.com

William L Guice III, Maria Martinez Dorrance Aultman Heath S. Douglas

414 W. Oak St., Laurel MS 39440

601-649-8611

hortmanharlow.com

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Alexander, Johnston & Alexander, P.A.

112 N. Pearman Ave., Cleveland MS 38732

662-843-3631

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Jones Walker LLP Wise Carter Child & Caraway, P.A. Balch & Bingham, LLP Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A. Walker, Brown & Brown P.A. Gore, Kilpatrick & Dambrino, PLLC Butler Snow LLP Young Wells Williams P.A. Eaves Law Firm Montgomery McGraw, PLLC Ingram Attorneys, PLLC Upshaw, Williams, Biggers & Beckham Page Mannino Peresich & McDermott Smith Phillips Mitchell Scott & Nowak Waller & Waller, Attorneys at Law Hopkins, Barvie & Hopkins, PLLC Frascogna Courtney, PLLC Victor W. Carmody Jr. P.A. Bennett Lotterhos Sulser & Wilson Franke & Salloum, PLLC Richard Schwartz & Associates, P.A.

601-949-4900 601-968-5500 601-961-9900 601-969-7607 662-429-5277 662-226-1891 601-948-5711 601-948-6100 601-355-7961 601-859-3616 601-261-1385 662-455-1613 228-374-2100 662-563-4613 601-354-5252 228-864-2200 601-987-3000 601-948-4444 601-944-0466 228-868-7070 601-988-8888 601-957-5747

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Wilkins Patterson Phelps Dunbar Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP Chinn & Associates, P.C.

190 E. Capitol St., Ste. 800, Jackson MS 39201 401 E. Capitol St., Ste. 600, Jackson MS 39201 188 E. Capitol St., Suite 1400, Jackson MS 39201 4400 Old Canton Rd., Ste. 400, Jackson MS 39215 2540 Highway 51S, Hernando MS 38632 2000 Gateway St. No. 160, Grenada MS 38901 1020 Highland Colony #1400, Ridgeland MS 39157 141 Township Ave., Ste 300, Ridgeland MS 39157 101 N. State St., Jackson MS 39201 151 W. Peace St., Canton MS 39046 P.O. Box 15039, Hattiesburg MS 39404 309 Fulton St., Greenwood MS 38930 759 Howard Ave., Biloxi MS 39530 695 Shamrock Dr., Batesville MS 38606 220 S. President St., Jackson MS 39201 2701 24th Ave., Gulfport MS 39501 4400 Old Canton Rd., Ste. 220, Jackson MS 39211 781 Liberty Rd., Flowood MS 39232 190 E. Capitol St., Ste. 650, Jackson MS 39205 10071 Lorraine Road, Gulfport MS 39503 162 East Amite St., Jackson MS 39201 1060 E County Line Rd Suite 3A-331, Ridgeland MS 39157 1076 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 100, Ridgeland MS 39157 4735 Old Canton Road, Ste 108, Jackson MS 39211 4270 I-55 North, Jackson MS 39211-6391 210 E. Capitol St., Suite 2200, Jackson MS 39201 4316 Old Canton Rd., Ste. 200, Jackson MS 39216

alexanderjohnstonand alexanderpa.com joneswalker.com wisecarter.com balch.com danielcoker.com wbblaw.us gorekilpatrick.com butlersnow.com youngwells.com eaveslaw.com montgomerymcgraw.com ingramlawyers.com upshawwilliams.com pmp.org smithphillips.com wallerandwaller.com hopkins-law.com elderlawms.com mississippidui.com blswlaw.com frankesalloum.com 1call.ms

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Blackmon & Blackmon Law Firm

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Williford, McAllister, Jacobus & White, LLP

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Jones Jones & Jones PA

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Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A.

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Open in MS 1835 1861 1866 1871 1885 1891 1895 1895 1904 1908 1918 1919 1919

Robert G. Johnston

1920 1937 1941 1945 1946 1950 1952 1954 1962 1963 1967 1967 1971 1972 1974 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1981

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William H. Hines Charles E. Ross, George H. Ritter M. Stanford Blanton, Tara P. Ellis Wilton V. Byars III William A. Brown Jay Gore III Christopher R. Maddux James H. Neeld IV John Arthur Eaves, John Arthur Eaves Jr. Donald A. McGraw Jr. Jennifer Ingram Johnson F. Ewin Henson III Ronald G. Peresich Richard T. Phillips Robert O. Waller Mariano Barvie, Norris Hopkins Richard A. Courtney, X.M. Frascogna Victor W. Carmody Jr. Marcus M. Wilson Fred Feeney Richard B Schwartz Bernard Jones Jr., Shannon Jones, Ashley Jones

601-856-7200

copelandcook.com

John H. Geary

1985

601-366-4343 601-352-2300 601-960-8600 601-202-5594

wilkinspatterson.com phelpsdunbar.com formanwatkins.com chinnlaw.com

1985 1986 1986 1988

907 W. Peace St. , Canton MS 39046

601-859-1567

blackmonlawfirm.com

303 Highland Park Cove, Ste. A, Ridgeland MS 39157

601-991-2000

wmjlaw.com

William A. Patterson, Joe Wilkins W. Thomas Siler Jr. Trey Watkins, Edwin Gault, Joshua Metcalf Mark A. Chinn Edward Blackmon Jr., Barbara M. Blackmon Robert E. Williford, Reeve G. Jacobus Jr., Samuel H. Williford, John Robert White, Shelly Gunn Burns Vikki J. Taylor Lisa W. McKay G. Dewey Hembree III Martin Regimbal Scott Pedigo, Tricia Smith

1995

Stephen P Kruger Harris H. "Trip" Barnes III M. Scott Jones John Howard Shows Doug Vaughn Ronald C. Morton G. Michael Massey Arthur Jernigan Jr, Clyde X Copeland III Craig M. Geno Margaret Oertling Cupples Pamela L Hancock Daniel Culpepper Cheri T. Gatlin Michael A. Heilman

1996 1996 1996 1996 1997 1997 1999 1999 1999 2001 2001 2003 2003 2003

Taylor Jones & Associates, PLLC 1012 Madison Avenue Suite D, Madison MS 39110 601-608-8604 taylorjoneslaw.com Currie Johnson & Myers, P.A. 1044 River Oaks Dr., Jackson MS 39232 601-969-1010 curriejohnson.com McGlinchey Stafford 1020 Highland Colony #702, Ridgeland MS 39157 769-524-2300 mcglinchey.com The Kullman Firm, PLC 119 3rd St. S., Suite 2, Columbus MS 39701 662-244-8824 kullmanlaw.com Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & One Eastover Center, 100 Vision Dr, Ste 400, Jackson MS 601-351-2400 bakerdonelson.com Berkowitz 39211 Page, Kruger & Holland, P.A. 49 10 Canebrake Blvd., Ste. 200, Flowood MS 39232 601-420-0333 pagekruger.com Barnes Law Firm, P.A. 5 River Bend Place, Ste. A, Flowood MS 39232 601-981-6336 barnes-lawfirm.com Adams and Reese LLP 1018 Highland Colony #800, Ridgeland MS 39157 601-353-3234 adamsandreese.com Shows Law Firm 242 Market St, Flowood MS 39232 601-664-0044 showslawfirm.com Deutsch Kerrigan LLP 53 2510 14th St., Suite 1001, Gulfport MS 39501 228-864-0161 deutschkerrigan.com Morton Law Firm, PLLC 402 E. Main St., Clinton MS 39056 601-925-9797 mortonelderlaw.com Massey, Higginbotham & Vise, P.A. 55 3003 Lakeland Cove, Ste. E, Flowood MS 39232 601-420-2200 mhvlaw.com Jernigan Copeland Attorneys, PLLC 587 Highland Colony Pky, Ridgeland MS 39157 601-427-0048 jcalawfirm.com Law Offices of Craig M. Geno PLLC 587 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland MS 39157 601-427-0048 Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP 58 One Jackson Place, Ste. 400, Jackson MS 39201 601-948-8000 bradley.com Hancock Law Firm, PLLC 855 S. Pear Orchard Bldg 100, Ridgeland MS 39157 601-853-2223 hancocklawgroup.com Anderson Crawley & Burke, PLLC 60 216 Draperton Court, Ridgeland MS 39157 601-707-8800 acblaw.com Burr & Forman, LLP 190 E. Capitol St., Suite M-100, Jackson MS 39201 601-355-3434 burr.com Heilman Law Group, P.A. 4266 I-55 N. Suite 106, Jackson MS 39211 601-914-1025 heilmanlawgroup.com Information provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

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LAW & ACCOUNTING 77 Baker Donelson attorneys ranked in Chambers USA 2020

11 Jackson Attorneys and Four Mississippi Practices Ranked Eleven attorneys from the Jackson office of Baker Donelson have been ranked as leading practitioners in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA, a highly regarded directory of America’s leading lawyers for business. Chambers USA also ranked four of the Firm’s Mississippi practices as leading practices in the state.

Across the Firm, 77 Baker Donelson attorneys were ranked as leading practitioners. Chambers USA also recognized the Firm’s health law practice as a leading practice in the country, and 27 of the Firm’s practice areas were ranked as leading statewide practices.

The Firm’s 11 Jackson attorneys recognized in Chambers USA as leaders in their field are: Sheryl Bey: General Commercial Litigation (Band 4) Michael T. Dawkins: Environment (Band 3) Brooks Eason: Labor and Employment (Band 2) Amy K. Elder: Gaming and Licensing (Band 2) Adam H. Gates: Labor and Employment (Up and Coming) William S. Mendenhall: Real Estate (Band 3) William S. Painter: Corporate/Commercial (Band 1) William N. Reed: General Commercial Litigation (Band 3) David A. Rueff Jr.: Real Estate (Band 3) J. Carter Thompson: General Commercial Litigation (Band 2) Ginger Weaver: Real Estate (Band 3) The four Baker Donelson practices ranked as leading practices in Mississippi are: Corporate/Commercial (Band 2) General Commercial Litigation (Band 2) Labor and Employment (Band 3) Real Estate (Band 2) Considered a cornerstone directory whose listings are given much weight among business leaders selecting legal counsel, Chambers USA ranks law firm practice areas and individual attorneys based on research conducted by the directory’s team of researchers, including in-depth interviews with clients and attorneys.

Jones Walker attorneys in Mississippi ranked in Chambers USA 2020

Jones Walker LLP recently announced its top rankings in the 2020 edition of Chambers USA. The firm ranked regionally in 14 practices: Banking & Finance (Alabama, Louisiana); Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi); Construction (Georgia); Corporate/Commercial (Mississippi); Corporate/M&A (Louisiana); Energy & Natural Resources: Oil & Gas (Louisiana); Environment (Louisiana); Gaming & Licensing (Louisiana); Healthcare (Louisiana); Labor & Employment (Louisiana); Litigation: General Commercial (Louisiana, Mississippi); Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (Louisiana); Real Estate (Louisiana, Mississippi); and Tax (Louisiana). The firm also ranked nationally in three practices: Construction, Gaming & Licensing, and Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York).

This year, 57 Jones Walker attorneys in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi were recognized for their prominence in specific areas of law.

NATIONWIDE J. Kelly Duncan, Gaming & Licensing George J. Fowler, III, Transportation: Shipping/Maritime: Litigation (outside New York) Thomas B. Shepherd, III, Gaming & Licensing Neal J. Sweeney, Construction Mississippi lawyers recognized are: Jeffrey R. Barber, Bankruptcy/Restructuring Neville H. Boschert, Litigation: General Commercial Mark T. Davis, Real Estate Gina M. Jacobs, Corporate/Commercial Kristina M. Johnson, Bankruptcy/Restructuring Craig N. Landrum, Corporate/Commercial: Banking & Finance Christopher S. Pace, Corporate/Commercial: Municipal Finance Kaytie M. Pickett, Litigation: General Commercial Thomas B. Shepherd III, Gaming & Licensing Ann Corso Taylor, Real Estate Aileen S. Thomas, Corporate/Commercial: Municipal Finance

Chambers USA 2020 recognizes 37 Balch & Bingham attorneys and 14 practices

Balch & Bingham is pleased to announce that 37 attorneys and 14 practices have been recognized in the newly released 2020 edition of Chambers USA. Published annually, the guide identifies the nation’s top law firms and attorneys through rigorous research and in-depth client interviews.

Rankings are assessed on legal knowledge, experience, ability, effectiveness and client service, in addition to the strength and depth of a firm’s practice.

Chambers USA recognizes practices and attorneys for their work within a specific discipline and geographic area.

Highlights include: Balch & Bingham continues to be among the best in the nation for its Nuclear Energy Practice, with Stan Blanton, managing partner, along with Peter LeJeune and Alan Lovett, both partners and members of the Nuclear Energy Practice, receiving individual nationwide recognition.

37 Balch attorneys are individually recognized by Chambers USA as leading attorneys.

Three attorneys are newly recognized by Chambers USA: Jennifer Signs, partner and member of firm’s Real Estate Practice, Frank Long, partner and member of the firm’s Corporate Practice, and Alan Lovett, partner and member of the firm’s Energy Practice. Seven attorneys earned a Band 1 ranking within their practice areas, the highest ranking awarded.

14 of the firm’s practices are recognized by Chambers USA, including six practices that earned a Band 1 ranking, which include: Banking & Finance (Alabama) Environment (Alabama) Litigation: General Commercial (Alabama) Energy & Natural Resources (Mississippi) Environment (Mississippi) Labor & Employment (Mississippi) Balch & Bingham practices and attorneys are ranked in the following categories: MISSISSIPPI Practices: Energy & Natural Resources Environment Labor & Employment

May 30 - June 12, 2020 Litigation: General Commercial Real Estate Individual: Scott Andress, Gaming & Licensing Ashley Cannady, Labor & Employment (Up and Coming) Ricky Cox, Energy & Natural Resources Pepper Crutcher, Labor & Employment Jonathan Dyal, Litigation: General Commercial Bradley Ennis, Environment K.C. Hightower, Litigation: General Commercial (Up and Coming) Leo Manuel, Energy & Natural Resources (Up and Coming) Armin Moeller, Labor & Employment (Star Individual) John Rice, Real Estate Jennifer Signs, Real Estate Bill Smith, Energy & Natural Resources Ben Stone, Energy & Natural Resources (Senior Statespeople) Teri Wyly, Environment

Chambers USA 2020 ranks 44 Butler Snow attorneys and 15 categories Butler Snow has announced Chambers USA 2020, the prestigious, independent legal industry referral guide, has ranked 44 of the firm’s attorneys as leaders in their fields.

The firm has also been ranked in 15 categories.

Chambers USA ranks the top attorneys and law firms across the United States. Rankings for individual attorneys are based on their practice area(s), and evaluation of their legal knowledge and experience, ability, effectiveness and client service. A law firm ranking relates to a department of the firm and the qualities of the ranked attorneys within that department. Factors and considerations are judged by interviews with those active in the market – mainly clients and other attorneys with whom they work – and by assessing recent work done. The 2020 edition features rankings of more than 19,000 attorneys and more than 6,000 law firms.

“We congratulate all of our attorneys who were recognized by Chambers USA,” said Christopher R. Maddux, chair of Butler Snow. “This prestigious recognition reinforces our team’s commitment to the many clients, industries and communities we serve.”

Chambers USA 2020 ranked the firm in the following categories: Product Liability & Mass Torts (USA Nationwide) Real Estate (Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee) Gaming & Licensing (Louisiana) Bankruptcy/Restructuring (Mississippi) Corporate/Commercial (Mississippi) Energy & Natural Resources (Mississippi) Environment (Mississippi) Labor & Employment (Mississippi, Tennessee) Litigation: General Commercial (Mississippi, Tennessee) Banking & Finance (Tennessee) Healthcare (Tennessee) Chambers USA 2020 ranked Butler Snow attorneys in the following categories: Nationwide Leader Listings William M. Gage – Product Liability & Mass Torts Orlando R. Richmond Sr. – Product Liability & Mass Torts Paul S. West – Gaming & Licensing Mississippi: Individual Leader Listings Phil B. Abernethy – Litigation: General Commercial Paula Graves Ardelean – Labor & Employment John A. Brunini – Environment R. Barry Cannada – Corporate/Commercial Stephen C. Edds – Corporate/Commercial: Municipal Finance

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Andrea La’Verne Edney – Litigation: General Commercial John F. England – Corporate/Commercial: Municipal Finance Sue Hicks Fairbank – Corporate/Commercial: Municipal Finance Trudy D. Fisher – Environment J. Clifford Harrison – Corporate/Commercial: Banking & Finance Steven M. Hendrix – Real Estate John C. Henegan – Litigation: Appellate Robert C. Hutchison – Real Estate Selby A. Ireland – Corporate/Commercial Timothy W. Lindsay – Labor & Employment Christopher R. Maddux – Bankruptcy/Restructuring R. Wilson Montjoy II – Energy & Natural Resources Luther T. Munford – Litigation: Appellate Ryan J. O’Beirne – Gaming & Licensing E. Barney Robinson III – Litigation: General Commercial Stephen W. Rosenblatt – Bankruptcy/Restructuring Phillip S. Sykes – Litigation: General Commercial Robin Banck Taylor – Labor & Employment Timothy M. Threadgill – Labor & Employment Thad W. Varner – Corporate/Commercial: Municipal Finance Tennessee: Individual Leader Listings Dan H. Elrod – Healthcare: Regulatory Robert M. Holland, Jr. – Real Estate Jones Wilson Luna – Environment Ann E. Lundy – Healthcare Regulatory Gayle Malone, Jr. – Litigation: General Commercial, Litigation: Mediators Kara E. Shea – Labor & Employment Adam G. Smith – Banking & Finance Robert L. Trentham – Litigation: Medical Malpractice Defense Robert J. Walker – Litigation: General Commercial Alabama: Individual Leader Listings Angie Godwin McEwen – Real Estate Louisiana: Individual Leader Listings Lee C. Kantrow – Corporate/ Mergers & Acquisitions David S. Rubin – Bankruptcy/Restructuring Paul S. West – Gaming & Licensing Texas: Individual Leader Listings Eric J.R. Nichols – Litigation: General Commercial Martin A. Sosland – Bankruptcy/Restructuring South Carolina: Individual Leader Listings Bradish J. Waring – Litigation: General Commercial Massachusetts: Individual Leader Listings Stephen E. Weyl – Banking & Finance: Public Finance

Chambers USA recognizes Brunini among top law firms in Mississippi

The 2020 edition of Chambers USA, which lists leading law firms and individual lawyers in an extensive range of practice areas, jointly awarded high rankings to nine Brunini attorneys and six of the firm’s practice areas.

Chambers USA ranked six of Brunini’s practices, with the firm’s Energy & Natural Resources practice receiving the highest ranking possible in the state. The firm’s Construction, Commercial Litigation, and Environmental practices were also highly ranked.

Nine Brunini attorneys were recognized as among the best in their fields in Mississippi by Chambers USA include: Construction: Sam Kelly. Ron Yarbrough Corporate/Commercial: Walter Weems Energy & Natural Resources: James Halford, Watts Ueltschey, Gene Wasson Environment: John Milner, Gene Wasson Litigation: General Commercial: David Kaufman Real Estate: David Andress

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NEWSMAKERS

May 30 - June 12, 2020

Krebs promoted at Community Bank

MSU again named Mississippi’s top ‘Best Value College’ Mississippi State was recently recognized as the state’s top “Best Value College” in 2020 for giving students the best return on their educational investment.

In its annual Best Value Colleges study, New York-based financial technology company SmartAsset determined that MSU graduates earn higher average starting salaries than their peers from other state colleges and universities.

Photo by Logan Kirkland/MSU

According to the study, MSU graduates receive an average starting salary of $51,100, $2,600 higher than the next highest university in the rankings. The average starting salary for all Mississippi higher education graduates is $44,557.

Along with average starting salary, SmartAsset examined cost of tuition, student living costs, student retention rate, and average scholarships and grants awarded. The different categories were weighted to determine each institution’s College Education Value Index. MSU’s Education Value Index was 40.32, nearly two points higher than the University of Mississippi, the second school in the ranking. Mississippi College is third.

Amanda Krebs has recently been named Assistant Vice President for Community Bank. A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Krebs recently served as a Loan Officer and has been in banking for seven years. In her new role, Krebs will continue to manage the Spillway office, as well as, continue to grow and maintain a loan and deposit portfolio.

Krebs Krebs is a graduate of Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Psychology. She is also enrolled in her second year at the Mississippi School of Banking at Ole Miss.

She and her husband, Brandon, currently live in Madison.

Merit Health Rankin welcomes senior care director

Joey Crain has been named senior care director at Merit Health Rankin.

Crain is a registered nurse with a master of nursing/ healthcare administration degree from The University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson.

With over 20 years of healthcare experience, Crain provides oversight to the geriatric inpatient behavioral Crain health unit. In his role, he manages the day to day activities of the unit, patient care and community outreach.

The majority of Crain’s healthcare career has been serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Those years of providing child and adolescents psychiatric treatment, adult acute and chronic psychiatric treatment, substance abuse treatment and medical/geriatric psychiatric treatment have prepared me for this role,” Crain says.

“My oldest brother has cerebral palsy and lives in a long term care facility in Rankin County,” he adds.

“Seeing the challenges he has faced and his strength to overcome those challenges is what inspired me to become a nurse.”

The geriatric inpatient behavioral health unit is an 18 bed department housed inside Merit Health Rankin in Brandon. The short term treatment program is for adults aged 55 and over who are experiencing behavioral and/or emotional problems.

“We are proud to have Joey on our team. His experience in this field is an asset to our patients and their families,” said Heather Sistrunk, CEO, Merit Health Rankin.

Crain, a 1997 graduate of East Central Community College and a 2003 graduate of UMMC, lives in Forest with his wife of 21 years, Julie, and their four children.

Nancy Lane elected treasurer of National Association of Realtors

Amanda Krebs has recently been named Assistant Vice President for Community Bank. A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Krebs recently served as a Loan Officer and has been in banking for seven years. In her new role, Krebs will continue to manage the Spillway office, as well as, continue to grow and maintain a loan and deposit Lane portfolio.

Krebs is a graduate of Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Psychology. She is also enrolled in her second year at the Mississippi School of Banking at Ole Miss.

She and her husband, Brandon, currently live in Madison.

MSU Foundation fills two key fundraising positions As its “Infinite Impact” capital campaign continues, the Mississippi State University Foundation has added a new fundraiser for the gift planning area and places a veteran in a key role to lead fundraising efforts for the College of Business.

Kevin Randall of Starkville fills the newly created position of assistant director of gift planning to support the university’s efforts to secure private gifts through charitable estate planning. Randall grew up in Starkville and attended Mississippi State for prerequisite coursework before earning a Bachelor of Lack Science in physical therapy from the University of Mississippi Medical School in 1999.

Randall has worked most of his career in the field of physical therapy, specifically in the Golden Triangle area.

Most recently, he spent nearly six years as the physical therapist and clinic manager for Randall Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic Outpatient Physical Therapy Office in Starkville and Columbus. Prior to that, he was a physical therapist at the Longest Student Health Center on the MSU campus for 14 years.

Additionally, Stephen Lack of Starkville assumed responsibilities as lead fundraiser for the College of Business beginning in May. Originally of New Orleans, Louisiana, Lack joined MSU in 2018 as assistant director of development for the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering, assisting with alumni and development efforts for the college. Prior to MSU, Lack served as business resource coordinator for Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans, and designed and developed the Refugee Employment Services program for that organization.

Lack received a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg in 2010. In 2013, he earned a Master of Arts in Migration and Refugee Studies from the American University in Cairo, Egypt.

Schmidt, Jacobs join Machado Patano Machado | Patano, PLLC recently announced 2 new hires: Jack M. Schmidt, EI has joined the firm’s Civil team as Civil Design Engineer. Schmidt graduated with his MBA and Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University.

Ryeley K. Jacobs, has joined the firm’s Construction Engineering team as Asst. Construction Inspector. Jacobs graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction Science from Mississippi State University.

Schmidt

Jacobs

Finkelberg named to Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors list

Arty Finkelberg, Senior Vice President-Investments and Managing Director-Investments of Finkelberg Investments of Raymond James, was recently named to Barron’s list of the “Top 1,200 Financial Advisors.”

The prestigious 2020 list draws from all 50 states, plus the District of Columbia.

Barron’s has recognized Finkelberg for seven consecutive years.

The ranking marks the second time in 2020 that Finkelberg, who heads up the four-member team of Finkelberg Investments of Raymond Finkelberg James, has been honored by a national business publication. Forbes selected him among the Best In-State Wealth Advisors, bestowed on him for the third year in a row.

Barron’s, a financial outlet published by Dow Jones & Co., produced the listing of distinguished advisors after weighing criteria such as assets under management, revenue produced for the firm, regulatory record, quality of practice and philanthropic work.* “Our team at Finkelberg Investments of Raymond James take our clients’ trust very seriously,” said Finkelberg. “We always base our investment and retirement strategy on risk tolerance, and develop a plan based on diversification, risk and client expectations.”

Finkelberg, who manages more than $500 million in client assets, offers clients wealth management and retirement planning. He has more than 37 years in the financial services industry.

NEWSMAKERS

May 30 - June 12, 2020

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NASA accountant ‘extremely proud’ of work at Stennis Space Center E.J. Toomey is understandably excited to be working at Stennis Space Center as the site tests the rocket engines and core stage that will return humans to the Moon through NASA’s Artemis Program.

The lunar return will serve as a matching bookend for the lifelong Gulf Coast resident. Toomey’s earliest space-related memory was watching the Apollo 11 mission in 1969.

Like many others, he still recalls the words spoken by Neil Armstrong as he became the first human to set foot on the Moon – “That’s one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Fifty years later, Toomey works as the lead accountant in the Accounting Operations Branch of the Stennis Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

In that role, he manages payroll, travel, property, cost accounting and the Standard General Ledger.

The work directly supports NASA’s effort to return humans, including the first woman, to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence. “I support the Artemis program by ensuring the Accounting Operations Branch provides accurate and timely financial information so that project managers are able to readily assess the financial performance of Artemis activities at Stennis,” he said.

Toomey is well acquainted with Stennis and the Gulf Coast area. A Waveland native and Bay St. Louis resident, he began his career at Stennis in 1982 as an accountant for the Mississippi Army Ammunition Plant that once operated on site. “The facility had just begun production and was expanding its accounting workforce,” he recalled.

In 1990, Toomey became an accountant for Johnson Controls World Services on site, then joined the NASA team in 1999. He assumed lead accountant responsibilities in 2007. “I’ve been given excellent learning and career growth opportunities while being mentored by amazing senior leadership at Stennis,” Toomey said.

Toomey relishes his work at the rocket propulsion test site. “I am extremely proud to work for a federal agency that has received eight consecutive years of ‘clean’ (unmodified) audit opinions,” he said.

The record is a significant one.

Stennis Space Center is a unique NASA center, operating as a federal city with 5,000-plus employees and more than 50 resident agencies, organizations and companies on site. The center is a vital partner and economic engine for its surrounding areas.

Among other duties, Toomey leads in

» E.J. Toomey, shown in his COVID-19 home office, serves as lead accountant in the Accounting Operations Branch of the Stennis Office of the Chief Financial Officer.

compiling an annual economic impact report analyzing the financial impact of NASA and Stennis on the area. In the most recent fiscal year, the report found that Stennis had a direct global economic impact of $850 million and a direct economic impact of $569 million within a 50-miles radius.

Beyond numbers, Toomey enjoys the Stennis workplace, particularly in the way it has embraced and advanced diversity. “Stennis has a very friendly culture,” he said. “I have seen significant improvement in workplace diversity within my organization and across the center.”

Toomey has been recognized for his work. In 2013, he received the NASA Exceptional Service Medal, given to federal employees for sustained performance that embodies multiple contributions which contribute to NASA projects, programs or initiatives. The

medal recognized Toomey’s work as lead accountant, noting he has assisted, led and mentored many civil servants and contractors in key areas to ensure the accuracy and integrity of NASA’s financial information.

Now, he is looking forward to what lies ahead for Stennis, particularly as it relates to the return of humans to the Moon with NASA’s new Space Launch System (SLS) rocket. Stennis is testing the first flight core stage of the new rocket, as well as the RS-25 engines that will help power all SLS launches.

“I’m excited to support testing of the core stage as NASA prepares to return to the Moon,” Toomey said. “I’m also excited to be a part of the continued growth of Stennis as a federal city.”

ERDC researcher awarded top honor from University of Alabama

Forrest General names DAISY Award winner for May

Dr. Tim Rushing of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg has earned one of the top awards at the University of Alabama — the 2020 Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering Department Distinguished Fellow Award.

Rushing, who is chief of the Airfields and Pavements branch in the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL), graduated with a bachelor’s in civil engineering from Alabama in 2000. After earning a master’s and doctoral degree from Mississippi State University, he joined the ERDC team in 2005 as a research civil engineer.

A member of the medical profession for 18 years, Brandy Bruce, an RN at Forrest General Hospital, said it was taking care of patients that brought her to radiology after stints in both critical care and surgery. On Thursday, Brandy Bruce, a medical professional for 18 years and an RN at Forrest General Hospital, has been recognized as the hospital’s second recipient of the DAISY Award. The award is presented monthly to a deserving nurse who exemplifies clinical expertise and compassionate care and is recognized as a role model in the nursing community.

The DAISY Foundation was established in 1999 in California by the family of J. Patrick Barnes, who

As an undergraduate student, Rushing worked on transportation and civil engineering projects.

Throughout his 15-year career, Rushing has primarily Rushing researched expedient matting systems, which are flat, lightweight planks that can be quickly assembled to build temporary roads or airfields for the military.

Since the 1940s, the ERDC, formerly known as the Waterways Experiment Station, has led all matting evaluation efforts for the Department of Defense.

died at the age of 33 from complications of an auto-immune disease.

Bruce started out as a pre-med major and ended up choosing a career in nursing. Bruce Other finalists included: Kayla Lynn Murillo, RN, 5T; Jerrell Brim, RN, Education; Tamesha McDonald, RN, Emergency Department; Anjelica Morgan, RN, Float; Deanna Hayes, RN, Education; Nadia Clark, RN, Hospice/ HC; John Holland, Jr., RN, 6T; Cameron Marzette, RN, Emergency Department; Victoria Dixon, RN, PEDS.

Physicia ns s l a t i p s e i s t l a i c o e p S H

FOCUSED onYour Health We are Mississippi Health Partners Quality healthcare is about focus and attention to detail.

For nearly 30 years, Mississippi Health Partners has put businesses and their employees at the center of a network of Mississippi’s most respected doctors and hospitals – each committed to providing the services and value you’ve come to expect. With 700 physicians as part of our team of more than 1,000 healthcare professionals; and 13 hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center and St. Dominic Hospital, we make sure that your healthcare needs are met every day.

Mississippi owned and managed, our reputation is built on placing you at the forefront of an organization with an eye toward offering the finest care. Focused on quality, Dedicated to earning your trust. Mississippi Health Partners.

www.MHPartners.com