Mississippi Business Journal January 28th 2022 Issue

January 2022 Issue

MSBUSINESS.COM | JANUARY 28, 2022 ISSUE

VOLUME 54 • NO. 23 | 44 PAGES

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Law and Accounting Pages 8-9

Banking and Finance Pages 12-13

Healthcare Pages 16-18

Mississippi’s Nonprofit Awards

Technology Pages 20-21

Pages 10-11, 15, 19, 22

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January 2022 Issue

Madison County’s Flora getting first new construction in decades

BY TED CARTER

» REACTING TO COUNTY’S WESTWARD MIGRATION, PARTNERS TO BUILD SMALL MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT

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aron Oliver has decided that he can stay ahead of Madison County development trends by returning to the

past.

He wants to “build something new that looks old,” he said.

The thinking is that the county has room among all its spanking OLIVER new 21st century-style developments for a bit of yesteryear, Oliver said in a recent interview.

Oliver and his West Main LLC partners say they’ve got just the place to recreate that long ago time: Western Madison County’s Flora, a town of 1,800 people whose last new downtown construction came during World War II, when the nearby Kearney Park small arms ammunitions plant was going big guns.

In line with the fondness of Flora’s leaders for the past and desire to keep the town small, the West Main developers are limiting their condominium/commercial project to three unadorned wood-frame brick veneer buildings of 12,000 square feet each, built with steel supports.

“When we do it, it needs to look and feel old, because that is what gives Flora its charm,” said Oliver, a Flora resident who owns construction company BayHill Services and Cypress South Realty with wife Amy. Situated on a slightly more than one-acre mixed-use parcel on which a long-ago movie theater once stood, each of West Main’s three buildings will have 6,000 square feet of condominium space on the second floors and an equal amount of space on the ground floor for commercial use. Each building will be served by a lobby elevator.

Parking will be on Main Street and behind the buildings, according to Oliver, who is joined in the project by fellow Mississippi natives Walt Lamp-

ton, Ray Kinney, Reed Robinson and Chase Williams.

All of the partners are under 40, but “pretty much everyone in the partnership has run a business, and in their own right been successful,” Oliver said.

“We’re looking to come out of the ground in April if the weather allows,” he said, adding the buildings will go up consecutively.

Pricing on the condo units has not been determined. Nor have leasing rates for the commercial units. “We’ve got a range on the commercial space,” Oliver said. “It will be lower than they charge in Madison and Ridgeland,” he added, putting rents in those localities at around $30 a square foot.

He said interest in the project so far has brought a potential tenant pool of restaurants, professional services and health care providers. West Main is also mulling possible retail tenants, he said.

“We’re actively assessing applications,” Oliver said. Rather than bring in businesses that would compete with ones already in Flora, West Main is “working to make sure we have the right mix to complement businesses that are already in town.”

To that end, the project will limit restaurant tenants to “three or so,” he added.

Oliver said his quest to capture the past led him to architect Tracy Ward, who with wife and architect Kimberly has an office in Flora and a specialty in historic design.

“The secret weapon is actually our architect,” Oliver said of Ward.

He said his first question to Ward was: Can you give us something new that looks old?

Yes he could, Oliver said.

He said when he first saw the designs, his reaction to Ward was: “You just hit it out of the park.”

The design also won favor from town officials, he said.

“We have plenty of politics involved in this,” Oliver said of the town’s allegiance to maintaining its “Mayberry-esque” ambience.

A Mississippi State University graduate with a career as a general contractor, Oliver had West Main on the drawing board for seven years. But until now, the timing has not been right for either town officials or the marketing of the mix-use buildings.

Investing in a small town nearly 20 miles from Interstate 55 and an equal

number from Jackson meant he had to get the timing right. He said he saw enough westward migration of rooftops and businesses to put his money on Flora.

“Flora is less than 30 miles from 2,390 businesses with 242,000 employees,” Oliver said, estimating the population in a 30-mile radius at over 291,000 people.

Flora is 20 minutes from the three million square-foot Amazon distribution warehouse in Canton and the Continental Tire factory “is just down the road,” he said. Both have large workforces.

Projections, according to Oliver, are that Madison County will have double digit growth over the new decade. He said he thinks the county’s school district is fueling much of the population growth.

“The school district is the ‘X’ factor,” he said.

Oliver suspects the interest from office space and retail users stems from the same desire he has – to stay “a little ahead.”

“They can see it, absolutely,” he said. “It is all driven by what is happening to the east.”

Flora’s heyday came during World War II when the Army built an installation at Kearney Park for producing ammunition. The town was bursting with soldiers and civilian contractors.

“Then the war is over and people go away,” Oliver said. “Downtown Flora was kind of forgotten about.”

Oliver does not see that happening again. But he does recall some unease that came just after he bought the downtown parcel. He had a street-side encounter with a man who asked him what he would do with the property. Informed of the plans, “he looked at me and said, ‘Why would anyone want to build anything in downtown Flora?’ and drove off.”

It was the kind of remark, Oliver said, that reminds him that “development is not for the faint of heart, I can assure you.”

January 2022 Issue

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MBJ SPECIAL REPORT: Diamondhead leaders see new homes, businesses coming in the new year

BY LISA MONTI

» 2022 is expected to be a year of ribbon cuttings, business openings and new business announcements in Diamondhead

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ifty years ago, developers began carving out a master planned community with a Hawaiian theme in rural Hancock County that is now home to 9,370 residents. Many residents left nearby cities and harsh northern winters to take advantage DEPREO of the golf-cart lifestyle in Diamondhead and the amenities in coastal Mississippi.

Now Diamondhead is turning 10 years old with a boom in residential construction and revitalization of the commercial district.

“This is going to be a busy, busy year for Diamondhead, with new businesses coming and new homes being built,” said Mayor Nancy Depreo. “We have so much going on and we hope to get a lot accomplished that we’ve been working on. This is going to be a very exciting year.”

Michael Reso, Diamondhead’s city manager, expects a year of ribbon-cuttings and “big dollar projects” for the city.

The improvements and projects are part of Envision Diamondhead 2040, the comprehensive plan prepared by Orion Planning and Design of Hernando, Miss., and approved by the city council last July. Orion planners are also developing a master plan for Diamondhead’s entrance from I-10 and a wayfinding navigation plan.

The activity will be coming up on the east and west sides of Gex Drive, the main entrance off I-10 into the city.

Improvements are even planned for that entranceway. MDOT will spend $6.9 million to add three roundabouts at the I-10 exit and at the entrance intersection and make improvements to help traffic flow.

Officials just awarded a contract for the first phase of the East Aloha Drive revitalization project that will see $420,000 invested in the business district which already includes Rouse’s Market, medical facilities and strip malls.

parking and boardwalk into the Jourdan River,” he said. The city hopes to see construction this year on a dog park with a pier and walking trial paid for by a $150,000 grant from DMR and a $25,000 grant from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation.

Officials hope the projects will keep that residents spending money at home.

A study showed they spend $135 million annually outside of the city limits.

Depreo said, “I’ve reviewed the business leakage since 2012 and I hope with the new businesses and commercial district we are able to keep those tax dollars and help our residents.”

Alison Kingston owns Exit 16, a popular boutique on East Aloha that opened 18 years ago in Diamondhead and has Envision Diamondhead 2040, Diamondhead’s comprehensive plan, was prepared by Orion expanded to Slidell and Gulfport. She Planning and Design of Hernando, Miss., and approved by the city council last July. Orion said she’s “all for the improvements planners are also developing a master plan for Diamondhead’s entrance from I-10 and a in the business district. Anything that attracts more businesses and people to wayfinding navigation plan. the area is great.”

She lives with her family in Diamondhead where they enjoy what the city offers to residents. “We love it. We enjoy the amenities, the country club and the community. It’s just a great place. It has everything we want.”

Kingston said she’s seen a lot of change in the community over the years especially in demographics and it’s “all been good.” “Before Katrina it used to be more of a retirement community,” but she said, “since Katrina families of all ages are living here now.”

The Diamondhead real estate market is robust, with little inventory to match the high demand. “We’ve now got multiple subdivisions coming on line. Overall about 500 houses will be built over the Depreo said additions to the comparallel parking, bulb out and drainage. next several years,” Reso said. mercial area include a Taco Bell which That work will begin soon, Reso said. A Jon Ritten, broker/owner of RE/MAX announced plans to build its first $500,000 grant will pay for 10-foot sideCoast Delta Realty in Diamondhead, said double drive thru in the U.S. on East walks, decorative street lights, landscap- homes are selling as fast as they hit the Aloha. Memorial Hospital at Gulfport is ing and pavers for crosswalks. market, and multiple offers are common. building a $4.6 million, 20,000-squareTo the west, the city will begin conThat sounds like a good problem to have foot physicians clinic on Veterans Drive struction this year on a mixed use Town but Ritten said “it does add complexity to and Aloha Drive that will have 20 exam Center using $4.2 million from the state’s a deal and makes it challenging.” rooms, a cancer treatment facility and a Gulf Coast Restoration Fund to build Buyers are coming from around the pharmacy. roads and public infrastructure. country, with the lion’s share from The goal of the commercial district upDepreo said, “The Town Center will Louisiana and California. “It’s not just grades is to create a pedestrian-friendly eventually connect with East Aloha’s one group or one place. It’s all over the environment where people want to gath- commercial district featuring narrow board. It’s insane,” Ritten said. er for food, drink, entertainment and tree-lined streets with parallel parking, “Now that people are able to work shopping. Buildings will be constructed all brought together with some very remotely we are seeing a lot of people along the sidewalks with parking in smart planning.” moving in from expensive places that the rear of buildings to create a “Main Reso said the city has applied for 2022 don’t have the amenities” in and around Street” feel welcoming more pedestrian funding from the state Legislature for Diamondhead. “We’re seeing a lot of traffic than vehicles. $1.2 million to connect the Town Center people moving back home, young and Reso said Orion is creating a landroads to Noma Drive which leads to the old, either retiring or finding opportuniscaping plan to include plants and trees new Noma Drive Waterfront Project, ties on the Coast. The lifestyle here offers used throughout the city. About $450,000 funded by $800,000 in Tidelands grants. so much more” than high-cost locations, will go to improving the roadway to add “This has a new boat launch, trailer he said.

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January 2022 Issue

Meridian’s Threefoot Hotel celebrating new life with Jan. 6 ribbon cutting

BY TED CARTER

» THE MARRIOT PROPERTY BECOMES A KEY COG IN DOWNTOWN MERIDIAN REVIVAL

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he Threefoot Hotel’s gleaming brick façade and bright future as a Marriot Hotel belie how close the 16-floor Meridian landmark came to vanishing into Mississippi history.

A close call, for sure, said Elliott Street, a feature film actor who returned to his native Meridian more than a decade ago to help save the Opera Center, later resurrected as the Riley Center. Street soon added the nearly century-old Threefoot to his preservation list.

By 2010, the Threefoot’s dilapidation landed it on the National Trust for STREET Historic Preservation’s list of “America’s Most Endangered Places.” Bricks were falling from façade of the one-time “Crown Jewel of The Queen City” amid a battering from the weather that accelerated the abandoned tower’s decline, especially in adding to the gaping holes in a deteriorating roof.

Mayor Cheri Barry sought support for getting the Threefoot delisted from the National Register of Historic Places and torn down. Barry lost the mayor seat’s before she could get a demolition done, however.

“She felt it was an eyesore” and a legal liability, said Street, whose Threefoot Preservation Society persuaded Barry’s successor, Percy Bland, to let them clean, clear and stabilize the lower floors. They hoped to buy time for a rescuer to come along.

The rescuer is John Tampa and Ascent Hospitality Management, developers of a variety of hotel properties in such places as Huntsville, Mobile, Chattanooga and Birmingham, where Ascent converted the historic 17-story Empire Building into the Elyton Hotel.

Tampa and Ascent will celebrate the Threefoot’s new life as a Tribute

by Marriot boutique hotel with an official grand opening and ribbon

the building, Street said.

They met the goal but not without a fierce struggle with the windows.

Some were rusted shut and some were rusted open, he recalled in an interview. “We were oiling all of the joints. They wouldn’t budge,” he said.

“We never got all of the windows shut.”

He said he thinks the rust probably set in during the 1970s.

The Threefoot Preservation Society gained a lot of community support for its effort. But enlisting that support required Street and other supporters to dispel a couple of longstanding rumors about the building.

One was that a creek ran through it, he said.

While no creek runs through the building, a drainage reservoir is below The Threefoot Hotel in downtown Meridian. the basement’s concrete floor, said Street, whose skill portraying villains cutting from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on made it a poor candidate for the hotel landed him roles as a movie bad Jan.6. company’s portfolio. “Disastrous,” is guy. “You’ve probably seen me kill Named for Sam Threefoot, who how Tampa termed the Threefoot’s somebody,” said Street, whose work built it on the site of the family’s condition when he first saw it. includes roles in such feature films Threefoot Brothers Wholesale Co., the But the building and its historical as Kansas City Massacre, The Harrad 109-room Threefoot Hotel will serve a charms were too enticing to pass up, Experiment, Melvin Purvis G-Man Jumix of leisure and business travelers. according to Tampa. “It’s the most wanna Man, Last Vegas, Bagger Vance Tampa said the circa 1929 former iconic building not just in Mississippi and Runaway Jury. office tower will have a 1920s ambibut in the South,” he said.

The other rumor was that the ence. To make that happen, designers Yet reviving it would be “extremely Threefoot itself could collapse, as retained as much of the ’20s era feel risky,” Tampa realized early on. There shown by the bricks falling from it. as possible, he said. were so many “unknows,” he said.

Street and other preservationists The result, according to Ascent Tampa did not disclose a dollar fig- strived to quell the rumor by remindHospitality’s promotional materials, ure but said the privately held Ascent ing townspeople that the bricks were “is a portal to experience travel as it spent several million dollars on the 3 a façade to a steel structure. once was – a time when traveling was ½-year renovation.

Today, Tampa sees the Threefoot sophisticated & illuminating.”

With water-damaged walls through- Hotel as a major part of downtown The renovated hotel revitalizes the out, the task required gutting the inte- Meridian’s maturation. “It is a most spirit and opulence of the Roaring rior, he said. important piece,” he said.

Twenties with the comforts lodgers Ascent Hospitality so far has not re“I think our location and amenities would expect from modern-day trav- ceived either federal or state historic support the Riley Center, The Max el, Ascent said. preservation tax credits. One sticking and the restaurants around us,” TamThe Threefoot is a full-service hotel, point has been the painted metal pa noted, referring to the Mississippi Tampa said in an interview, with a va- windows and the work and expense State University’s complex for the riety of sleeping rooms, from regular required to return them to their 1929 performing arts and the state’s new to executive suites. Rooms have walk- condition, according to Tampa. museum celebrating Mississippi’s in closets and some have walk-out Restoring the elaborately fixtured abundance of artists and entertainers. balconies. All have art deco touches, windows with the original materials “There is great momentum for Medrawing from the building’s original would have increased renovation ridian,” he said. “I think there will be features and design. costs by 50 percent, putting the projmore development coming to down“The view is astronomical, Tampa ect’s cost out of reach, he said. town.” said, especially from the Boxcar, an Based on that calculation, the tax Some of that development could 11th floor rooftop restaurant and bar. credit offset of 20 percent was insuffi- come from Ascent Hospitality, acAnother restaurant and bar, 601 Lo- cient, Tampa added. cording to Tampa. “We are working cal, is on the ground floor. The hotel Long before Tampa’s arrival in on several projects. We will announce will add Meridian’s first Starbucks in Meridian, Elliott Street and fellow them next year,” he said. late spring 2022, Tampa said. members of the Threefoot PreserHis faith in Meridian, he said, is Ascent Hospitality owns and vation Society had been working to rooted in his belief that the city will manages its own properties. Tampa clean up, paint and stabilize the first become a destination “where people conceded the dilapidated condition three floors. The goal was to celebrate come and explore like never before.” of the aging and abandoned building the Threefoot’s 83rd birthday inside

January 2022 Issue

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Threefoot Brewing Co. adds craft beers to downtown Meridian options

BY TED CARTER

» HOMEBREWER COUPLE LOOKING FOR SUDSY SUCCESS IN DOWNTOWN MERIDIAN

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ohn and Bridgette Purdy don’t remember exactly what beer they made in their first venture into home brewing back in 2012. But it was a fulfilling – and tasty – enough experience to cause the Meridian couple to think brewing might be a business they’d like to try.

Nearly a decade later, the Purdys are brewing and serving ales, pilsners, stouts and other craft beer varieties under the iconic “Threefoot” name as the Threefoot Brewing Co., joining the neighboring Threefoot Hotel as new additions to a downtown that business leaders say is becoming a destination for Meridians and visitors alike.

“I can’t remember what the first beer was, but it was acceptable enough for me to fall in love with this industry,” said John Purdy, in an email. » READ MORE – Threefoot wins battle against time, starts life anew as a hotel Bridgette Purdy is an educator and John is an architect. With an office attached to the back of the brewery at 517 23rd Ave., he can stay close to his beer business while at his day job.

For the Purdys, downtown was the only place they would put their brewery and restaurant. They saw downtown becoming a living-and-breathing locale, with a business and visitor rebound that started with the opening of the Riley Center’s Grand Opera House, followed by the $50 million Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Experience and now the Threefoot Hotel.

“We never considered being located anywhere but downtown for a lot of reasons, but mostly because I believe that

Interior of Threefoot Brewery a thriving downtown is part of any community’s success,” John Purdy said.

It’s common for craft breweries to be in converted warehouses in industrial neighborhoods.

But not the Threefoot brewery.

Native Meridians will remember the brewery’s new home as the old Merchant & Farmers Bank, first opened in 1923.

Making a brewery out of a bank has its challenges, not least of which a bank has a vault or two. In this instance, they’d have to cut through the vaults to make an entrance to a hallway, according to Purdy.

Beyond the vault difficulties, the overall layout had “some inherent challenges,” he said.

“That along with the thick masonry and concrete walls were a big hurdle, but they also helped us make some decisions.”

As the planning for the conversion progressed, “the building told us where everything needed to go,” Purdy said.

“All that said, cutting the concrete was by far the biggest physical challenge.”

Now the two main vaults are a favorite feature of the building,

Purdy said. “We exposed the areas of the concrete where the vaults had to be cut and they provide a really unique experience as you pass through them.”

The Threefoot has a full-time brewer who brews the-morethan one dozen varieties of beers and ales before the 4 p.m. weekday opening. “At anytime we could have 16 beers on the wall,” said general manager Jerome Trahan, a former Amtrack marketing professional making a return to the food and beverage business after 35 years. “We have an initial set up that can brew multiple [types] of beers at a time,” Trahan said.

Brews from the Threefoot are also distributed to bars and restaurants around the state, including a brown ale for 22nd Avenue restaurant neighbors Weidmann’s and Harvest Grill.

“We consider those folks partners,” Trahan said. “There is a synergy between us.”

That synergy also includes to-go cups for people moving between the establishments.

Allowing this represents some progressive thinking by city fathers, Trahan said.

Soon, the brewery will make a pilsner beer exclusively for the Threefoot Hotel. The hotel gives the brewery a sort of bird’s eye exposure, Trahan said. “They have this incredible rooftop bar,” he said of the Boxcar.

“When you’re up there and look down, there we are.”

Just as the hotel has reminders of its 1920s origins, the brewery building shows signs of its past. Bygone days especially come to life with marble flooring that shows slight indentions from where bank customers waited for tellers over the years, Trahan said.

Together, the bar and inside tables and an outdoor beer garden just off the main room seat over 100 customers.

With the belief that “beer brings people together,” the proprietors put eight large “common” tables in the main room. “Strangers sit together,” Trahan said. “And we’re pet friendly and kid friendly.”

The brewery also offers a full menu of bar fare.

The main room has four high-top tables and a bar that seats 20. “Beyond that there are

couches and a dart board in a “little chill area,” the general manager said.

In a quest for “the right flavor,” Trahan and the Purdys acquire their malts, barley, yeast and other ingredients from suppliers around the country.

Musical entertainment in the beer garden and sponsorship of gatherings on the “town green” next door are in the Threefoot’s plans. “We’ve got a lot of talent here,” Trahan said. “We want to tap into that.”

The brewery is closed Monday and Tuesday and open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. Hours are 11a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

Business has met expectations since the Threefoot Brewing Co.’s mid-August opening, Trahan said. “We’re very positive about where we are going.”

Trahan said he sees a unity of purpose among the brewery, the hotel and other businesses that have put their money on a revitalized downtown Meridian. “We’re holding hands and working this thing together,” he said.

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January 2022 Issue

MBJ

PERSPECTIVE January 2022 Issue • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

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January 2022 Issue | Volume 54 , Number 23

TAMI JONES Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1011 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 MARCIA THOMPSON Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1044 FRANK BROWN List Researcher frank.brown@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1022 LYNN LOFTON Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 TED CARTER Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 BECKY GILLETTE Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 NASH NUNNERY Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES (601) 364-1000 subscriptions@msbusiness.com Mississippi Business Journal (USPS 000-222) is published

‘We the People’ timely for bicenvicenquinquennial Here’s a word for you – inalienable rights; and (2) have semiquincentennial. had a profound influence What’s that mean? throughout the world.”

Well, in 2016 the U.S. ConGiven the events of Janugress chose semiquincentenary 6 last year and ongoing nial as the commemorative disunity across America, you name for the 250th anniversacan only wonder if we can all ry of the signing of the Declacome together again in four BILL CRAWFORD ration of Independence. years to celebrate our national “This Act may be cited as the ‘’United birthday.

States Semiquincentennial Commission The many who believe it is time once Act of 2016’ – Congress finds that July again to revolt and throw off the yoke of 4, 2026, the 250th anniversary of the government cite parts of the Declaration founding of the United States, as marked to justify their beliefs. They miss, or deby the Declaration of Independence in liberately overlook, the very first words: 1776, and the historic events preced“The unanimous Declaration of the ing that anniversary – (1) are of major thirteen united States of America.” significance in the development of the The key word is “unanimous.” The national heritage of the United States of Declaration goes further in that opening individual liberty, representative govern- sentence to say “one people,” not some ment, and the attainment of equal and people.

Here’s another tongue twister – bicenvicenquinquennial.

What’s that?

Well, 10 years ago this September we celebrated it, the 225th birthday of the United States Constitution, that other essential founding document for our nation.

You may recall its original Preamble begins in extra large letters, “We the People.” Again, the emphasis is “we,” not “some of us” or even “most of us.”

The Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution back on that 200th anniversary in 1987 established something called the Center for Civic Education. It still exists, though you probably haven’t noticed lately (see www.civiced.org).

TURN TO CRAWFORD, 7F

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PERSPECTIVE

FROM THE GROUND UP Never assume anything about legislation

Every business in Missisdays, so a telephone call or a sippi is affected by actions letter is probably more likely taken by the State Legislaway to contact your Senature. It might be related to tor or Representative. Your taxes, regulation, or employrepresentative will let you ment. It is therefore importknow the best way to stain in ant that business owners contact with them. keep up with legislation or There are thousands of PHIL HARDWICK get involved in the process if bills introduced each year. necessary.

Last year, 2,621 bills were introduced.

When it comes to influencing the Imagine how long it would take just Legislature, businesses generally have to read that many bills. It’s easy to see four options: (1) Hire a professional why the committee system is needed lobbyist; (2) Work through a trade to filter the mass of filed bills. association group; (3) Work through a If you are interested in a certain bill, pro-business group such as the Misit needs a champion in the House and sissippi Economic Council; or (4) Do it the Senate. A champion is a member themselves. of the Legislature who will guide the The size of the business has a big bill through the process and always impact on which option will be used. know its status. Stay in touch with your Large corporations have in-house or champion. You also need to know that paid lobbyists working or their behalf. members of the Legislature will introEven cities hire lobbyists. Although the duce bills on behalf of constituents. term “lobbyist” is often seen as negaIf you want a bill merely introduced tive, members of the Legislature rely in the Legislature, you will find many on them for valuable input and exper- members will accommodate you. That tise, especially on technical subjects. doesn’t mean they will support the But even the smallest businesses can bill. Also, when a bill is tagged as being benefit from the last three alternatives. introduced on behalf of a constituent, Regardless of which option or comit sometimes means there is really no bination of options a business might support for it. choose, there are certain basic things There are games (strategies) that that should be understood when deal- are played. For example, the House ing with the Legislature. A few of them of Representatives might pass a bill are listed below. knowing that it will die in the Senate.

Members of the Mississippi Legisla- Another so-called game is the assignture really do want to hear from you. ment of a bill to a committee where it This is especially true in those issues will surely die. Then there is the adding you believe they are uncertain about of untenable amendments onto a bill how their constituents feel. Also, they so that even supporters oppose it. are more interested in knowing your If there is controversy in your indusopinion on matters when a close vote try, the bill will probably die. When is involved. Members of the Legislature members of the Legislature get mixed are overwhelmed with email these messages, they will probably defeat

Crawford FROM 6F

Some teachers in Mississippi have.

The Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) has promoted the center’s Project Citizen program. A number of Mississippi leaders participated in the center’s Civitas International exchange program several years ago. Otherwise, civic education withered as a public

concern for many years.

The legislature doesn’t seem interested, ignoring proposed civics education bills. Since 2018 Sen. Kevin Blackwell of Southaven and now for two years Sen. Brice Wiggins of Pascagoula have introduced bills to require civics education in schools. An attempt last year by 11 state representatives to require the MDE to develop a civics curriculum failed.

Of course there is no reason to re-in-

the bill until they learn more about the issue. For example, let’s say that a Senator has heard from a trade association, has held hearings on the bill with no dissent, and then gets a call from a known constituent who says, “Just want you to know that not everybody in our industry supports this bill.” Now the Senator has a dilemma. They need more time to find out why there is opposition to the bill. But the deadline to pass the bill is tomorrow. The best solution may be to table the bill until more facts can be gathered.

The Legislature website – http:// www.Legislature.ms.gov – has a wealth of information. It contains a bill status system, the schedule of committee meetings, and information about the legislative process and its members.

Honor your champion. Even if your bill does not become a law or if the legislation you opposed passed, honor and recognize the member who worked for you. Have a banquet or reception. Give them an award recognizing the effort. Work for your champion.

Get involved in the political campaign.

Yes, raise money and make a monetary contribution.

In closing, one should never assume anything about legislation. As the saying goes, “It ain’t even over even when it’s over.” Special sessions can always be called.

vent the wheel? The Center for Civic Education developed an outstanding curriculum called “We the People.”

Years ago Mississippi State University helped introduce the program to 5th grade teachers.

It remains a remarkable, and now timely, resource.

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.

Instead, to suit their own desires, they

will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” – 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

» PHIL HARDWICK is a regular Mississippi Business Journal columnist. His email address is phil@philhardwick.com.

» BILL CRAWFORD is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

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Mississippi Business Journal

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January 2022 Issue

assurance - consulting - tax - technology

Law and Accounting

Ole Miss School of Law

First woman law school dean at Ole Miss has had major influence on legal education

BY BECKY GILLETTE

Susan Hanley Duncan, the first woman to become permanent dean of The University of Mississippi School of Law, had an interesting and varied career prior to moving to Oxford. She has done a lot of work in the field of protecting children from pornography, has DUNCAN taught in five foreign countries, done studies on gender inequities in the legal education community, and is involved in trying to address the bullying of children on the internet.

She is president of SCRIBES, the American Society of Legal Writers, and does site accreditation visits for the Association of American Law Schools.

Her major influence on the field of legal education led Business First to recently name Duncan as one of the top 20 people to know in the field of education.

Duncan, a native of Louisville, Ky, grew up watching her attorney father, John “Jack” Hanley, in the courtroom and the office. Her mother, Jean Hanley, a teacher, was also a big influence.

“I wanted to make a difference and felt being a lawyer would allow me to help other people,” Duncan said. “I know my dad had a lot of fun being a lawyer and my mother enjoyed teaching. I combined the best of both careers, and got to be a teacher in the area I love, the law.”

In the U.S., there were some very important cases late 1990s allowing child pornography as long they were putting virtual faces on children. There were many lawsuits about whether that was constitutional. When teaching in Europe, where they don’t have the First Amendment, she realized they have a very different idea of freedom of speech taking into account the dignity of the individual.

“That really resonated with me,” Duncan said. “American law is very big on freedom of speech. I had problem with protecting people viewing child porn.”

Duncan also has great concerns about sexting and online bullying in grade school and high school. She and her husband have seven children in a blended family, and six of seven are females. When the children were younger, TURN TO DEAN, 41F

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January 2022 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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Law and Accounting

9

Accounting profession moves faster toward automation

BY LISA MONTI

the technology and the fession is facing a wave interest by young people fewer jobs for CPAs in the spends a lot of her time automation.” of retirements from in joining the profession future.

Accounting, like many The accounting probaby boomers, a lagging and the possibility of Moody said she TURN TO AUTOMATION, 41F other professions, has seen automation taking a bigger role in firms and practices, replacing tedious tasks and outdated systems. The profession was among the first to see the potential of cloud computing’s superior capabilities that make it possible to access data and perMOODY form tasks from anywhere.

Accenture Strategy, a global consulting company, published a report titled Finance 2020 Death by Digital, which predicted “cloud-based platforms will become the predominant technology for reporting, planning, forecasting and analytics in the finance organization of the future.”

Accenture’s research showed that “85 percent of CFOs say they plan to increase their investment in the cloud–while over a third expect the investWhen it comes to managing the challenges facing your business, it’s critical to partner with a ment to grow by more legal team that has a sophisticated understanding of your goals. From initial contract negotiation than 25 percent in the and bid preparation to project close-out and dispute resolution, our attorneys can address the next two years.” unique and complex needs of our construction clients. At Bradley, we’re focused on providing you In the last two years, the move toward autowith innovative solutions, dependable responsiveness and a deep commitment to success. mation in accounting was accelerated by the Named the nation’s “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law in U.S. News & World Report pandemic, which forced — Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” for 2022, 2020 & 2018 businesses of all kinds to send workers home to work remotely.

“All of a sudden Covid came along and had an unexpected impact on For more information on our Construction Practice our accounting firms,” Group, visit www.bradley.com/construction Karen Moody, President and CEO of the Mississippi Society of CPAs, said.

“Basically the world went No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. to remote working and Contact: Margaret Oertling Cupples, Esq., 601.592.9914, mcupples@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 188 E. Capitol Street, Suite 1000, Jackson, MS 39201. ©2022 everyone had to work out

Focused On You

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Mississippi Business Journal

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January 2022 Issue

Law and Accounting Largest Law Firms

Largest Law Firms Rank

Firm Name Address

Phone/Website

Top Officer

Butler Snow LLP 601-948-5711 Christopher R. Maddux butlersnow.com 1020 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 1400, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz 601-351-2400 2 Scott Pedigo bakerdonelson.com One Eastover Center, 100 Vision Dr, Ste 400, Jackson, MS 39211 Watkins & Eager PLLC 601-965-1900 C. Joyce Hall, Corey Hinshaw, James 3 watkinseager.com Crongeyer, Jr. 400 E. Capitol St., Jackson, MS 39201 Balch & Bingham, LLP 601-961-9900 M. Stanford Blanton, Tara P. Ellis, Ricky 4 balch.com Cox 188 E. Capitol St., Suite 1400, Jackson, MS 39201 Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A. 601-856-7200 5 John H. Geary, Jr. copelandcook.com 1076 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 200, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Phelps Dunbar 601-352-2300 6 W. Thomas Siler, Jr. phelpsdunbar.com 4270 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39211-6391 Wise Carter Child & Caraway, P.A. 601-968-5500 7 Charles E. Ross, George H. Ritter wisecarter.com 401 E. Capitol St., Ste. 600, Jackson, MS 39201 Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP 601-948-8000 8 Margaret Oertling Cupples bradley.com One Jackson Place, 188 E. Capitol St., Ste. 1000, Jackson, MS 39201 Jones Walker LLP 601-949-4900 William H. Hines joneswalker.com 190 E. Capitol St., Ste. 800, Jackson, MS 39201 Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP 601-960-8600 Trey Watkins, Edwin Gault, Joshua 10 formanwatkins.com Metcalf 210 E. Capitol St., Suite 2200, Jackson, MS 39201-2375 Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC 601-948-3101 11 Samuel C. Kelly brunini.com 190 E. Capital St., Ste. 100, Jackson, MS 39201 Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A. 662-842-3871 12 John Wheeler mitchellmcnutt.com 105 S. Front St., Tupelo, MS 38802 Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A. 601-969-7607 Wilton V. Byars, III danielcoker.com 4400 Old Canton Rd., Ste. 400, Jackson, MS 39215-1084 Adams and Reese LLP 601-353-3234 14 M. Scott Jones adamsandreese.com 1018 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 800, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Burr & Forman, LLP 601-355-3434 15 Cheri T. Gatlin burr.com 190 E. Capitol St., Suite M-100, Jackson, MS 39201 Wells Marble & Hurst, PLLC 601-605-6900 16 Kenna L. Mansfield, Jr. wellsmarble.com 300 Concourse Blvd., Ste. 200, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Richard Schwartz & Associates, P.A. 601-988-8888 17 Richard B Schwartz 1call.ms 162 East Amite St., Jackson, MS 39201 Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC 601-812-6630 18 John "Jack" C McCants maronmarvel.com 1020 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Upshaw, Williams, Biggers & Beckham, LLP 662-455-1613 19 J. L. Wilson, IV upshawwilliams.com 309 Fulton St., Greenwood, MS 38930 Anderson Crawley & Burke, PLLC 601-707-8800 Daniel Culpepper acblaw.com 216 Draperton Court, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Currie Johnson & Myers, P.A. 601-969-1010 21 Lisa W. McKay curriejohnson.com 1044 River Oaks Dr., Jackson, MS 39232 Page Mannino Peresich & McDermott PLLC 228-374-2100 Ronald G. Peresich pmp.org 759 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS 39530 Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh, PLLC 662.234.7447 23 Milton "Dee" Hobbs, Jr. harrisshelton.com 829 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 2, Oxford, MS 38655 Biggs, Pettis, Ingram & Solop, PLLC 601-713-1192 24 Christopher Solop bpislaw.com 111 E. Capitol St., Ste. 101, Jackson, MS 39201 Holcomb Dunbar Attorneys 662-234-8775 25 R. Bradley Best holcombdunbar.com 400 Enterprise Drive, Oxford, MS 38655 Young Wells Williams P.A. 601-948-6100 Wes Daughdrill youngwells.com 141 Township Ave., Ste 300, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Taggart, Rimes & Graham, PLLC 601-898-8400 27 Andy Taggart trglawyers.com 1022 Highland Colony Parkway, Ste. 101, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Christian & Small LLP 601-427-4050 28 Greer B. Mallette csattorneys.com 409 W. Parkway Place Suite 200, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Hagwood and Tipton PC 601-608-6300 Michael E. Phillips hatlawfirm.com 213 Draperton Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39211 Mayo Mallette PLLC 601-366-1106 J. Cal Mayo mayomallette.com 4400 Old Canton Rd., Ste. 150, Jackson, MS 39211 Franke & Salloum, PLLC 228-868-7070 31 Fred Feeney frankesalloum.com 10071 Lorraine Road, Gulfport, MS 39503 Jernigan Copeland Attorneys, PLLC 601-427-0021 Arthur F. Jernigan, Jr, Clyde X Copeland, jcalawfirm.com III 970 Ebenezer Blvd, Madison, MS 39110 Alexander Law, P.A. 601-968-8571 33 Amanda Green Alexander alexanderlawpa.com P.O. Box 1664, Jackson, MS 39215 Wilkins Patterson 601-366-4343 Casey Younger, Amy Felder, Nicholas wilkinspatterson.com Garrard, Robert Stephenson 4735 Old Canton Road, Suite 108, Jackson, MS 39211 Lake Tindall, LLP 662-378-2121 35 Heath S. Douglas laketindall.com 127 S. Poplar St., Greenville, MS 38701 Campbell Delong, LLP 662-335-6011 Robert N. Warrington campbelldelongllp.com 923 Washington Ave., Greenville, MS 38701 Page, Kruger & Holland, P.A. 601-420-0333 pagekruger.com 10 Canebrake Blvd., Ste. 200, Flowood, MS 39232 Burson Entrekin Orr Mitchell & Lacey, PA 601-649-4440 Romney H. Entrekin beolaw.com 535 N. Fifth Ave., Laurel, MS 39440 McGlinchey Stafford 769-524-2300 39 G. Dewey Hembree, III mcglinchey.com 1020 Highland Colony Parkway, Ste. 702, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Mozingo|Quarles, PLLC 601-812-5885 James R Mozingo, Esquire mozingolaw.com 4500 I-55 N., Highland Village Ste 278, Jackson, MS 39211 Deutsch Kerrigan LLP 228-864-0161 Doug Vaughn 2510 14th St., Suite 1001, Gulfport, MSwww.harrisshelton.com 39501 | 901-525-1455 deutschkerrigan.com | Memphis • Nashville • Covington • Oxford Ranked by number of attorneys. Information provided by companies and MBJ research. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

1

Proven Results Over 100 years

Founded

Partners in Miss.

Attorneys in Miss.

1954

91

167

1995

24

70

1895

50

65

1945

33

53

1985

25

47

1986

26

45

1941

29

44

2001

17

43

1937

26

43

1986

23

40

1891

28

39

1904

17

31

1946

22

31

1996

13

29

2003

4

28

1871

15

26

1981

5

23

2015

4

19

1971

14

17

2003

9

17

1994

11

15

1972

9

15

1956

3

14

2006

9

13

1885

8

12

1962

8

12

2010

3

11

2019

7

10

2013

7

10

2000

6

10

1981

8

9

1999

2

9

2005

2

8

1985

7

8

1919

5

7

1861

5

7

1996

4

7

2007

7

7

4

5

1978

2

5

1997

3

5

Ranked as one of US News and World Report’s Best Law Firms 12 years and counting1995

11

Samuel C. Kelly brunini.com 190 E. Capital St., Ste. 100, Jackson, MS 39201 Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A. 662-842-3871 12 John Wheeler mitchellmcnutt.com 105 S. Front St., Tupelo, MS 38802 Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A. 601-969-7607 Wilton V. Byars, III danielcoker.com 4400 Old Canton Rd., Ste. 400, Jackson, MS 39215-1084 Adams and Reese LLP 601-353-3234 14 M. Scott Jones January 2022 Issue n adamsandreese.com 1018 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 800, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Burr & Forman, LLP 601-355-3434 15 Cheri T. Gatlin burr.com 190 E. Capitol St., Suite M-100, Jackson, MS 39201 Wells Marble & Hurst, PLLC 601-605-6900 16 Kenna L. Mansfield, Jr. wellsmarble.com 300 Concourse Blvd., Ste. 200, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Richard Schwartz & Associates, P.A. 601-988-8888 17 Richard B Schwartz 1call.ms 162 East Amite St., Jackson, MS 39201 Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC 601-812-6630 18 John "Jack" C McCants maronmarvel.com 1020 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Upshaw, Williams, Biggers & Beckham, LLP 662-455-1613 19 J. L. Wilson, IV upshawwilliams.com 309 Fulton St., Greenwood, MS 38930 Anderson Crawley & Burke, PLLC 601-707-8800 Daniel Culpepper acblaw.com 216 Draperton Court, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Currie Johnson & Myers, P.A. 601-969-1010 21 Lisa W. McKay curriejohnson.com 1044 River Oaks Dr., Jackson, MS 39232 Page Mannino Peresich & McDermott PLLC 228-374-2100 Ronald G. Peresich pmp.org 759 Howard Ave., Biloxi, MS 39530 Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh, PLLC 662.234.7447 23 Milton "Dee" Hobbs, Jr. harrisshelton.com 829 N. Lamar Blvd., Suite 2, Oxford, MS 38655 Biggs, Pettis, Ingram & Solop, PLLC 601-713-1192 24 Christopher Solop bpislaw.com 111 E. Capitol St., Ste. 101, Jackson, MS 39201 Holcomb Dunbar Attorneys 662-234-8775 25 R. Bradley Best holcombdunbar.com 400 Enterprise Drive, Oxford, MS 38655 Young Wells Williams P.A. 601-948-6100 Wes Daughdrill youngwells.com 141 Township Ave., Ste 300, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Taggart, Rimes & Graham, PLLC 601-898-8400 27 Andy Taggart trglawyers.com 1022 Highland Colony Parkway, Ste. 101, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Christian & Small LLP 601-427-4050 28 Greer B. Mallette csattorneys.com 409 W. Parkway Place Suite 200, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Hagwood and Tipton PC 601-608-6300 Michael E. Phillips hatlawfirm.com 213 Draperton Drive, Ridgeland, MS 39211 Mayo Mallette PLLC 601-366-1106 J. Cal Mayo mayomallette.com 4400 Old Canton Rd., Ste. 150, Jackson, MS 39211 Franke & Salloum, PLLC 228-868-7070 31 Fred Feeney frankesalloum.com 10071 Lorraine Road, Gulfport, MS 39503 Jernigan Copeland Attorneys, PLLC 601-427-0021 Arthur F. Jernigan, Jr, Clyde X Copeland, jcalawfirm.com III 970 Ebenezer Blvd, Madison, MS 39110 Alexander Law, P.A. 601-968-8571 33 Amanda Green Alexander alexanderlawpa.com P.O. Box 1664, Jackson, MS 39215 Wilkins Patterson 601-366-4343 Casey Younger, Amy Felder, Nicholas wilkinspatterson.com Garrard, Robert Stephenson 4735 Old Canton Road, Suite 108, Jackson, MS 39211 Lake Tindall, LLP 662-378-2121 35 Heath S. Douglas laketindall.com 127 S. Poplar St., Greenville, MS 38701 Campbell Delong, LLP 662-335-6011 Robert N. Warrington campbelldelongllp.com 923 Washington Ave., Greenville, MS 38701 Page, Kruger & Holland, P.A. 601-420-0333 pagekruger.com 10 Canebrake Blvd., Ste. 200, Flowood, MS 39232 Burson Entrekin Orr Mitchell & Lacey, PA 601-649-4440 Romney H. Entrekin beolaw.com 535 N. Fifth Ave., Laurel, MS 39440 McGlinchey Stafford 769-524-2300 39 G. Dewey Hembree, III mcglinchey.com 1020 Highland Colony Parkway, Ste. 702, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Mozingo|Quarles, PLLC 601-812-5885 James R Mozingo, Esquire mozingolaw.com 4500 I-55 N., Highland Village Ste 278, Jackson, MS 39211 Deutsch Kerrigan LLP 228-864-0161 Doug Vaughn deutschkerrigan.com 2510 14th St., Suite 1001, Gulfport, MS 39501 Ranked by number of attorneys. Information provided by companies and MBJ research. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

Largest Law Firms

1891

28

39

1904

17

31

1946

22

31

1996 13 Journal Mississippi Business

11

n29

2003

4

28

1871

15

26

1981

5

23

2015

4

19

1971

14

17

2003

9

17

1994

11

15

1972

9

15

1956

3

14

2006

9

13

1885

8

12

1962

8

12

2010

3

11

2019

7

10

2013

7

10

2000

6

10

1981

8

9

1999

2

9

2005

2

8

1985

7

8

1919

5

7

1861

5

7

1996

4

7

2007

7

7

1995

4

5

1978

2

5

1997

3

5

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Mississippi Business Journal

n

January 2022 Issue

Banking and Finance

Technology brings change to banking but will it bring with it new customers?

BY LISA MONTI

D

igital banking is rapidly growing in popularity as more customers rely on the internet and technology to deposit checks, pay bills and sign bank documents without leaving home. Not surprisingly, the pandemic made believers out of some who were resistant to the trend.

Mississippi bank customers are among those taking advantage of various digital banking options but the technology isn’t as widely used as it could be, says John Oxford, Renasant Bank’s Senior Vice President and Director of Marketing.

“We live in a rural state, and some areas lack high speed internet, but that’s

starting to change,” Oxford said. Also there is a reluctance to break old habits such as talking face-to-face with bank employees. “They’ve done it that way for so many JOHN OXFORD years, it’s more a matter of people getting more comfortable with it and adopting the technology in their everyday lives,” he said.

Oxford said that technology doesn’t get in the way of those who want to keep relationships with their banks. “It’s not going to take away the personal relationship and it may even make doing your banking more efficient,” he said.

Bank locations are not going away

Bank Of Okolona

either as some fear but a lot of small everyday services you’ll be able to do with technology and digital banking, he said.

The main benefit of digital banking is to make people’s lives more efficient, Oxford said. Customers save on gasoline and time traveling to and from the bank or the post office to mail bills, for instance. Getting bank statements by email instead of paper statements is an environmental bonus.

The banks benefit from the technology which performs faster than an individual doing the work and eliminates human error. “It saves time and money on both ends,” Oxford said.

He predicts digital banking will create jobs in cybersecurity, coding and de-

veloper jobs. “I don’t think the shift (to digital banking) will cause a decrease in jobs, it will just be a shift in what those jobs are. Instead of being a teller, the employee may reset passwords or beef up the online chat to help people do their banking wherever they want to versus visiting a branch.”

One area that Oxford expects to experience huge growth in the future is person-to-person payments. “The ability to move money now with technology is so far advanced than just five years ago.

We’re already at the point of paying the babysitter with our phone.The digital wallet feature on your phone is only TURN TO DIGITAL, 19F

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January 2022 Issue

n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

13

Banking and Finance

FEDERAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL State economy to receive infusion of $4 billion

BY LYNN LOFTON

The passage of the federal infrastructure bill is good news for all of Mississippi. The state will receive more than $4 billion in infrastructure improvement programs over the next five years.

These funds will be used for projects that include bridge replacement and repair; road and highway upgrades; drinking water and wastewater improvements; and airport, port, and rail improvements. Banks will not be directly involved in the disbursement of these funds but will be involved with the overall economy.

As U.S. Senator Roger F. Wicker puts it, “This law will have a major impact on our state, because strong infrastructure benefits every sector of our economy. Roads, bridges, railroads, ports, and airports move people and products through the economy.

“Drinking water, wastewater, and electrical grid improvements will mean residents and businesses will have more reliable and safer utility connections. Enhanced broadband internet access will help everyone from students on up to CEOs to connect to jobs and opportunities from their own homes.”

Mississippi Bankers Association President and CEO Gordon Fellows said, “While the banking industry did not advocate directly for the passage of the bipartisan infrastructure package, we do believe it will have a positive economic impact on the state. Mississippi bankers look forward to supporting local entities in any way we can as projects and businesses likely begin to grow as a result of this bill.”

“The primary way banks are involved is that our customers– transit authorities, airport authorities,

construction companies, etc.–could receive contracts to do this work,” Robert Leard, Metro Jackson Market Executive for Regions Bank, said. “Our team of bankers stands ready to work one-on-one with any clients who may be identified for upcoming projects.

Put another way: at times, legislation on the state or federal level creates opportunities for new investments in our communities, and this is one of those times.”

Leard says the role of a bank is to deliver financial insights to help clients involved in infrastructure-related investments. “While much remains to be seen in terms of Mississippi-specific impacts, we will be ready to deliver financial advice and guidance based on our years of local experience,” he added.

Sen. Wicker says he wants to give Mississippians and job creators every

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reason to stay and build their lives in the state. “This package provides the resources we need to repair and expand our transportation infrastructure, while also making new long-term investments in broadband internet, drinking water, wastewater, and flood control projects that will create jobs and keep Mississippi communities safe,” he said.

His priority as Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce Committee will be to oversee the administration of this funding to ensure that Mississippi and the rest of the country are able to make the most of this hard infrastructure investment.

Also, Mississippi is well-positioned to compete for additional funding from several new federal grant programs, according to Sen. Wicker.

TURN TO INFUSION, 24F

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Mississippi Business Journal

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January 2022 Issue

Today’s market calls for a financial team you can rely on.

Working with a dedicated team driven by a shared vision can make all the difference.

Regions Commercial Relationship Managers know that developing a strong understanding of your business and its unique operations helps us provide highly responsive, personalized solutions. Let us leverage our capabilities and create a comprehensive financial strategy to help guide and strengthen your business.

Commercial Banking | Treasury Management | Capital Markets Specialized Industries Robert Leard Mississippi Commercial Banking Executive 601.790.8397 | robert.leard@regions.com regions.com/commercial-banking

© 2022 Regions Bank. Banking products provided by Regions Bank. Only banking deposit products are FDIC insured. All loans and lines subject to credit approval. | Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

January 2022 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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Banking and Finance Oldest Banks

Oldest Banks Rank 1 2

4 5

7 8 9 10 11 12

14

17

20 21 22 23

Holding Company/Bank Address

Telephone Website

Holly Springs Bancshares/Bank of Holly Springs 970 Hwy 7 N, Holly Springs, MS 38635 Cadence Bank (formerly BancorpSouth) 201 South Spring St, Tupelo, MS 38804 Yazoo Capital Corp./Bank of Yazoo City 104 N. Main St., Yazoo City, MS 39194 Bancorp of Winona 312 N. Applegate, Winona, MS 38967 Citizens National Bank 512 22nd Avenue, Meridian, MS 39301 BankFirst Capital Corporation 900 Main St. , Columbus, MS 39701 Trustmark Corp./Trustmark National Bank 248 E. Capitol St., Jackson, MS 39201 RiverHills Capital Corp./RiverHills Bank 1400 Highway 61 N., Vicksburg, MS 39183

662-252-2511 bankofhollysprings.com 662-680-2000 bancorpsouth.com 662-746-5421 bankofyazoo.com 662-283-3231 bankofwinona.com 601-693-1331 yourcnb.com 662-328-2345 bankfirstfs.com 800-243-2524 trustmark.com 601-636-1445 riverhillsbank.com

Copiah Bancshares/Copiah Bank 101 Caldwell Drive, Hazlehurst, MS 39083

601-894-2831 copiahbank.com

Mechanics Bank 319 N. Main St., Water Valley, MS 38965 First Southwest Corp./First Bank 100 S. Broadway, McComb, MS 39648 Peoples Financial Corporation 152 Lameuse St., Biloxi, MS 39530 BNA Bancshares 133 E. Bankhead St, PO Box 811, New Albany, MS 38652 Merchants & Marine Bank 3118 Pascagoula St., Pascagoula, MS 39567 Unity Bank of Mississippi 650 Craft, Holly Springs, MS 38635 Hancock Whitney Corporation 2510 14th St, Gulfport, MS 39501 Tate Financial Corp./Sycamore Bank 301 E. Main St, Senatobia, MS 38668 First Forest Corp./Bank of Forest 211 W. 3rd Street, Forest, MS 39074 Pontotoc Bancshares Corp/First Choice Bank 19 S. Main St., Pontotoc, MS 38863 The Jefferson Bank 3008 E. Reed Road, Greenville, MS 38704 Great Southern Capital Corp/Great Southern Bank 218 22nd Ave. S., Meridian, MS 39301 Bancorp of Lucedale/Century Bank 4282 Main St., Lucedale, MS 39452 Genesis Bancorp / Genesis Bank 202 Main St, Benoit, MS 38725 Morton Bancorp/Bank of Morton 366 S. 4th St., Morton, MS 39117 Pyrimid Financial Corp./Bank of Anguilla 130 Holland St., Anguilla, MS 38721 Renasant Bank 209 Troy St., Tupelo, MS 38804

662-473-2261 mechanicsbankms.com 601-684-2231 firstbankms.com 228-435-5511 thepeoples.com 662-534-8171 bnabank.com 228-762-3311 mandmbank.com 662-252-1341 mandfbankhs.com 800-448-8812 hancockwhitney.com 662-562-8201 sycamorebank.com 601-469-3663 bkforest.com 662-489-1631 firstchoice.bank 662-332-7545 thejeffersonbank.com 601-693-5141 gsnb.com 601-947-7511 centurybank.net

Commerce Bancorp Inc./Bank of Commerce 310 Howard St, Greenwood, MS 38930

662-453-4142 bankcom.com

Top Officer Steve M. Gresham James D. Rollins Van K. Ray, Philip C. Williams, Benjamin W Aldridge

Additional Locations Abbeville, Potts Camp, Slayden, Holly Springs, Ashland, Byhalia, Barton, Victoria More than 400 full-service branch locations across the South, Midwest and Texas Yazoo City, Flora, Flowood, Crossgates West

Founded in Miss.

1869 1876 1876

Eddie Hammond

1885

Archie R. McDonnell, Hampton D. Thames

1888

Moak Griffin

16 additional Mississippi locations

1888

Gerard R. Host, Duane A. Dewey

180-plus systemwide (AL, MS, FL, TN, TX)

1889

Robert D. Gage IV

Madison, Port Gibson, Vicksburg

1890

Steve Bozeman, Terri D Montgomery, Rebecca Barrentine

Byram, Clinton, Crystal Springs, Florence, Richland, Wesson, Hazlehurst, Flowood

1891

Cam Tyler

Oxford

1892

James W. Covington

McComb, Liberty, Magnolia, Osyka, Summit, Madison, Hattiesburg, Brookhaven, Monticello

1895

Chevis C. Swetman

19 branches in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties.

1896

James R. "Bo" Collins

Belden, Myrtle, Saltillo, New Albany, Oxford

1896

Clayton L Legear

11 Mississippi locations and 4 Alabama locations

1899

Sam P. McClatchy, Dwight Rutland

Holly Springs, Byhalia, Ashland, Hickory Flat, Mt. Pleasant

1899

John M. Hairston

177

1899

Jay Tindall, Mike Webb

Coldwater, Hernando, Southaven, Independence, Oxford

1900

Allen Breland

Flowood; Walnut Grove

1900

Buddy R. Montgomery, Shane Clayton

Pontotoc, Ecru, Tupelo, Houlka

1900

Todd Turner

Rosedale, Greenville

1901

Jeff McCoy

Decatur, Enterprise, Hattiesburg, Quitman, Waynesboro

1902

Peter D vanLingen

Ten regional and statewide locations in Mississippi and Alabama

1903

662-742-3342

John Rankin, Alice Herbison

601-732-8944 bankofmorton.com 662-873-4346 bankofanguilla.com 1-877-367-5371 renasantbank.com

Martha J Rogers

None

1904

Andy C Anderson

Cary, Rolling Fork, Mayersville

1904

C. Mitchell Waycaster

More than 200 statewide and regional

1904

Greenwood, Oxford, Starkville, Columbus, Charleston, North Carrollton, West Point

1904

Bryan E. Thornhill, Zach S. Luke, Clifton Thach, Mark Vemer Bertram (Buddy) Mortimer, Kent Mortimer

1904

Kilmichael Bancorp/Bank of Kilmichael 662-262-7844 Winona, Mathiston, Eupora, Kosciusko, Ackerman bankofkilmichael.com 120 North Depot Ave., Kilmichael, MS 39747 Community Bancshares/Community Bank 601-825-4323 Charles W. Nicholson 52 statewide and regional locations 29 communitybank.net 1255 W. Government St., Brandon, MS 39402 PriorityOne Capital Corp./PriorityOne Bank 601-849-3311 Magee, Ridgeland, Flowood, Richland, Pearl, Mendenhall, Collins, Robert J. Barnes priorityonebank.com Seminary, Hattiesburg, Morton, Pelahatchie, Brandon 220 N. Main Ave., Magee, MS 39111 Merchants & Planters Bank 601-857-8044 T. H. Kendall, Henry A. Logue Bolton, Clinton 31 mpbank.net 308 Raymond Square, Raymond, MS 39154 Peoples Bancshares/Peoples Bank 601-847-2210 Collins, Magee, Mendenhall, Richland, New Hebron (video teller), Dennis A Ammann 32 peoplesbank-ms.com Puckett (video teller) 160 E. Maud Ave., Mendenhall, MS 39114 Independent Bancshares /Community Spirit Bank 256-356-4445 Bradley M Bolton Belmont, MS, Red Bay, AL, Russellville, AL, Vina, AL communityspirit.bank 200 4th Ave. SW, Red Bay, AL 35582 Cleveland State Bancorp/Cleveland State Bank 662-843-9461 Daniel F Whalen, Harrry L. Lott Grenada, Merigold clevelandstatebank.com 110 Commerce Ave, Cleveland, MS 38732 Citizens Holding Co./Citizens Bank of Philadelphia 601-656-4692 Greg McKee 27 branches thecitizensbankphila.com 521 Main St, Philadelphia, MS 39350 BancPlus Corp./BankPlus 601-898-8300 William A. Ray Located in MS, AL and LA 36 BankPlus.net 1068 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ridgeland, MS 39157 First National Holding Co./FNB Oxford 662-234-2821 John L. Barrett Tupelo, Oxford 37 fnboxford.com 101 Courthouse Square, Oxford, MS 38655 Franklin Bancshares/Bank of Franklin 601-384-2305 Bradley B Jones Brookhaven, McComb, Meadville 38 bankoffranklin.com 9 Main St. E., Meadville, MS 39653 Citizens Corp./Citizens Bank of Columbia 601-271-8517 U.S. 98 Columbia, Hattiesburg, Tylertown, Magnolia, Sumrall, 39 Trey E Carley citizensbk.com Seminary, Laurel 814 Main St., Columbia, MS 39429 Commercial Capital Corp./Commercial Bank 601-743-5871 Michael J. Dudley Collinsville, Meridian, Philadelphia, Briarwood 40 commercialbankms.com 175 Hopper Ave., De Kalb, MS 39328 Information provided by individual banks and holding companies and MBJ research. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

1904 1905 1905 1906 1908 1908 1908 1908 1909 1910 1912 1913 1914

16 n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

January 2022 Issue

HelpingYou StayHealthy

Find the right doctor Connect with the best hospitals Get the most value

As our lives return to familiar landscapes, ensuring good

health is more important than ever. For nearly 30 years,

Mississippi Health Partners has made your well-being our

priority. We offer the right doctors and hospitals to help you make

the best decisions to stay healthy.

Mississippi Health Partners

is a locally owned network of

700 physicians and 12 hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center and St. Dominic Hospital.

We provide Mississippi

businesses and their employees with the services and value they expect for good health, today and in the years to come.

Stay healthy with us. We are Mississippi Health Partners.

www.mhpartners.com

January 2022 Issue

n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

17

Healthcare

LONG ROAD TO RECOVERY

Methodist Rehab provides comprehensive help for long COVID

BY BECKY GILLETTE

For some people, there are medical complications from a COVID-19 infection that can be perplexing, long lasting and difficult to resolve.

The condition known as long COVID can result in weakness, numbness, fatigue, joint and nerve pain, changes in vision, brain fog, strokes, heart and lung problems, and numerous other ailments.

Long COVID is not well understood or recognized, which can delay treatment to help patients recover. That is why the Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson has established a Recovery After COVID Clinic headed by Dr. Michael Montesi, 52, who had a full-time family practice in Cleveland before contracting COVID. Montesi was active working 60 hours per week before he got COVID, and did a lot of “Delta country boy” stuff like driving a tractor. He was healthy. A year and a half after becoming ill, he still has issues such as fatigue that limit his ability to be as active in the past.

Another suspected consequence of COVID can be stimulating cancer growth. One recent scientific paper found there has been a tento 20-fold increase in cancer in the U.S. since the pandemic began.

Montesi was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma

while recovering from COVID. The initial scan showed a small lesion.

By the time he got out of Methodist Rehab, it had tripled in size.

“There are indications viruses like this can stimulate cancer growth,” Montesi said. “I am working on a scientific paper that is being peer reviewed to make people a little more aware that we have seen a change in how malignancies develop after COVID. I go to MD Anderson for treatments and surgery.

It seems to be responding well.”

Initially, there wasn’t much known about long COVID, and many people weren’t seeking timely treatment for the estimated 30 to 40 longterm health issues that can result from a COVID infection. Montesi said awareness is growing because of news articles and television shows.

“Now, two years in, I think people are starting to know someone who has had COVID with residual symptoms,” Montesi said. “Some primary care providers are realizing that some of what we thought were chronic medical conditions can be long COVID.” Montesi had a rough time with COVID. He was airlifted from Cleveland to the Baptist Hospital in Jackson. He coded, and was intubated for 26 days. He was paralyzed during his six weeks there, and then

spent another six weeks at Methodist Rehab learning routine things like how to move.

He initially put off going to the hospital. By the time he was admitted, he was in severe respiratory distress.

“I think male physicians sometimes delay or are reluctant to go in,” Montesi said. “We are terrible patients. By the time I went in, I was already in severe respiratory distress. I think I would have done better if I had gone in earlier.”

Most people being treated for long COVID are older and have another chronic illness like obesity, hypertension or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. But COVID is extremely variable, and it is puzzling why some people get far more ill than others.

Montesi suspects his malignancy could have made him more ill. His mother, 70, had COVID, stayed home, and didn’t get that sick.

Recovery after COVID Clinic Coordinator Rhonda Meadows, NP-C, said they provide a onestop shop for complete evaluation and treatment.

“We try to take a holistic view of the patient because so much can be going on with long COVID symptoms,” Meadows said. “We have physical, speech and occupational therapists here to evaluate them.

TURN TO CLINIC, 19F

OLIVIA WALTERS

Payroll Specialist Olivia Walters joined People Lease in May 2021 as a Payroll Specialist.

Olivia brings six years of outstanding customer service experience including four years working in insurance. She brings laughter, sunshine and positivity to our office.

Olivia is a native of Leake County, now residing in Rankin County. In her spare time you will find her cheering for her nieces and nephews at their ball games or spending time with family and friends.

18 n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

January 2022 Issue

Healthcare

Cardiologists face challenges with innovation, education

BY LISA MONTI

M

ississippi has one of the highest per capita incidence of cardiovascular disease in the country due to hypertension, diabetes, obesity and tobacco use and the state’s cardiologists are facing the challenge with the help of new heart procedures, medications and medical devices.

“Overall our resources are very good in the state,” said Dr. Michael Mansour, past chair of the American College of Cardiology’s Board of Governors and past president of the state medical association.

“Mississippi has been a national leader in increasing access to care through the statewide networks to treat trauma, heart attacks and strokes. We were the first state in the country to have all three networks,” Mansour said.

Cardiologists put together the Mississippi Health Care Alliance, which is a system of care provided by the state’s hospitals. The health networks are designed “so that when a

person presents to any hospital in the state or in the field, they are going to get the most rapid and appropriate treatment,” Mansour said.

Dr. J. Clay Hays Jr., president of the Jackson Heart Clinic and past president of the Mississippi State Medical Association said there are around 200 cardiologists practicing in the state, which is “a decent number for our population. It’s still low compared to other states but we’re getting better.” The University of Mississippi Medical Center graduates around six to eight cardiologists a year.

One major change in the profession is the number of women who are becoming cardiologists. “For a while we had a hard time getting women to go into cardiology but now 10 percent of the state’s cardiology workforce are women which is a big number. It was less than one percent and now we’re at 10 percent. That’s a good thing,” Hays said.

Hays, an interventional cardiologist, performs minimally invasive procedures such as angioplasty and stenting. “We

can fix the heart through the wrist or from the femoral artery without having to open up the chest like we once did. It’s a much quicker recovery time,” he said.

Newer procedures to avoid open-chest operations like bypass surgeries are handled more as outpatient cases. As a result, the practice of cardiology is shifting to ambulatory surgery centers much like orthopedists are doing instead of working in hospitals. “Cardiologists typically have done procedures in hospitals but are shifting to outpatient centers which is a new thing for Mississippi,” Hays said. “Nowadays people can come in and get a stent and go home the same day where they used to have to spend the night or stay several days in the hospital.”

Heart patients are served by outpatient centers in Jackson, Hattiesburg and Tupelo, and Hays expects more to open in communities throughout the state.

Cardiac medications and devices such as those used to replace heart valves also

have greatly improved, Hays said.“The medicines we have now are a whole lot better for the treatment of coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and high cholesterol.

We have a lot more options than we once did. It’s an exciting time to be a cardiologist,” he said.

Hays said research into cardiac diseases and care is ongoing at the University Medical Center and his Jackson Heart Clinic which also works with ultrasound equipment companies to develop better heart disease diagnostic tools, including artificial intelligence.

Mansour said the state medical association focuses on improving healthcare and making it more cost effective for everyone and that the Legislature has been supportive of patients having access to care.

“We try to emphasize that patients be treated to national guidelines for diabetes, hypertension and other conditions to modify risk factors where we can really save the state a tremendous amount of health care expense.” The compar-

atively small cost of making sure people have proper access to care and medicine is cost effective for the state, Mansour said.

Progress continues to be made in cardiology health nationally and in Mississippi with the rate of heart attacks and deaths from cardiovascular disease falling, Hays said.

“A lot of it has to do with education,” he said. “People are realizing they want to stick around and see their grandkids grow up and they understand it’s not a good idea to smoke and that they need to exercise more and see their doctors to take care of their diabetes and blood pressure.”

With the health challenges the state faces, medical professionals say there is still more that has to be done.

“We’ve really worked hard to help people with coronary disease. That’s not to say we don’t still have problem. We have an epidemic of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure and too many people smoke but we’re bending the curve as they say,” Hays said.

January 2022 Issue

n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

19

Healthcare Cardiovascular Care Centers

Cardiovascular Care Centers Rank

Name & Address

Telephone

Website

1

Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto, 7601 Southcrest Pkwy., Southaven, MS 38671

662-772-4000

baptistonline.org/locations/desoto

1988

2

University Heart, 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216

601-984-2280

ummchealth.com/heart

1999

3

Jackson Heart Clinic. P.A., 970 Lakeland Dr., Ste. 61, Jackson, MS 39216 Mississippi Heart and Vascular Institute, 969 Lakeland Dr., Jackson, MS 39216 North Mississippi Medical Center Heart and Vascular Institute, 830 S. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS 38801

601-982-7850 601-200-2000

jacksonheart.com stdom.com

1973 1972

662-377-3477

nmhs.net/heart_institute.php

1981

601-969-6404

baptistheart.org

2008

228-762-3000

SingingRiverHealthSystem.com

228-762-3000

singingriverhealthsystem.com

601-288-7000

forrestgeneral.com

601-268-5800 228-575-2445 601-553-6000

hattiesburgclinic.com gulfportmemorial.com andersonregional.org baptistonline.org/locations/northmississippi cardio.com mrhc.org baptistonline.org/locations/goldentriangle och.org/cardiology

5 6 7

9 10 11 12

Baptist Heart, 501 Marshall St, Jackson, MS 39202 Singing River Center for Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery , 3603 Bienville Blvd Ste 103 , Ocean Springs, Singing River Center for Heart & Vascular Services, 3603 Bienville Boulevard, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Forrest General Hospital Heart & Vascular Services, 6051 U.S. Hwy. 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39404 Hattiesburg Clinic Heart & Vascular , 415 S. 28th Ave., Hattiesburg, MS 39401 Memorial Hospital Heart Services, 4500 Thirteenth St., Gulfport, MS 39501 Anderson Regional Health System, 2124 14th St., Meridian, MS 39301 Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi, 1100 Belk Blvd., Oxford, MS 38655

662-636-1000

15

Cardiovascular Institute of the South, 4909 Great River Dr., Meridian, MS 39305 Magnolia Regional Heart & Vascular, 611 Alcorn Dr., Corinth, MS 38834

601-282-8980 662-293-1000

16

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle, 2520 5th St. N., Columbus, MS 39705

662-244-1000

18

OCH Cardiology with University Heart, 400 Hospital Rd., Starkville, MS 39759 Merit Health Central , 1850 Chadwick Dr., Jackson, MS 39204

662-615-3711 601-376-1000

19

Delta Health-The Medical Center, 1400 E. Union St., Greenville, MS 38703

662-378-3783

Founded

deltahealthsystem.org/locations/ delta-regional-medical-center MeritHealthWesley.com

Top Officer Cheryl Berry, Brian Hogan Camille Richards, Mark McMullan Stephanie Carr Delon Thornhill T. J. Adams, Jackie Soden Terri Diffy, James Warnock

38

N/A

Tim Neese

15

N/A

Laurin St Pe

15

1952

Rosa Byrd

14

1963 1986 1928

John Weems Holly Rodriguez Dennis McDill

13 12 10

1989

weight loss.

“It is a unique clinic FROM 17F where we can do all of that A lot of people think with one visit, granted it speech therapy is just takes two or three hours,” about talking, but speech Meadows said. “We also therapy does a good job get lab work with all the with brain fog and mem- inflammatory markers ory problems. A lot of and COVID antibodies, if our post-COVID patients they are present. After the have that problem and patient leaves, we send speech therapy can be a a letter with synopsis of good avenue for them to all the findings. They are tap into.” aware of the lab work, the The respiratory evalubreathing test and the ation provides a view of results of the chest x-ray to pulmonary function after make sure nothing major COVID. Physical therapy is going on with the lungs. can help with endurance Not everybody gets all of and getting people back that. It is tailored to the to doing normal tasks patient and their sympagain. Meadows said they toms. We get them back also have a nutritionist in a month to formally go if someone is having over everything, and make trouble with weight gain sure all referrals are made, or weight loss. Loss of the and everyone gets the senses and taste and smell appointments needed.” can impact the desire to Sometimes the patient’s eat, leading to unhealthy primary care provider

does not always know what to do with some of the stranger symptoms that seen. But Meadows said that, most of the time, they have heard of similar complaints through other patients and try to help.

“There is so much that is not completely understood about long COVID,” she said. “We make them aware they are not the only ones with long COVID. It is not all in your head. It does bring a form of comfort to them. We are not here to take the place of primary care, and always keep them in the loop.”

For information or to make a referral to Methodist Rehab’s Recovery After COVID Clinic or to make a referral, call 601-364-3392.

Digital FROM 12F

going to grow.”

Investing in the popular personal finance management tools such as those used for budgeting “have got to be right to enhance customer experience,” Oxford said. “Banks have to make heavy investments in technology to train staff, coding, security and compliance. Hopefully it will only enhance the customer experience, make banking easier and safe.”

What’s really going to shape digital banking is the next generation of kids who have grown up using cellphones and tablets, Oxford said. “Their lives are more digitized and they will shift more to banking technology.”

And that technology is expanding, giving bank

35 18 18 17 16

10

2016 2007

Kim Hardwick

10 7

1969

Paul Cade

6

2020 1996

David C Henry

6 5

1953

Scott Lloyd

4

Merit Health Wesley, 5001 Hardy St, Hattiesburg, MS 39402 601-268-8000 1900 Matthew Banks South Central Regional Medical Center Catheterization Lab, 1220 Jefferson St., Laurel, 601-426-4494 scrmc.com 1952 Scott Smiley MS 39440 Cardiovascular Institute of Mississippi, 303 Marion Ave., McComb, MS 39648 22 601-249-1350 smrmc.com 2003 Wendy Sasser Merit Health River Oaks, 1030 River Oaks Drive, Flowood, MS 39232 601-932-1030 merithealthriveroaks.com N/A Sam Dean Merit Health River Region , 2100 Hwy. 61 N., Vicksburg, MS 39183 601-883-5000 1998 Ben Richaud List is ranked by cardiologists on staff. Information provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

Clinic

Cardiologists

leaders a challenge to choose the best options to offer consumers.

David Peterson, Chief Innovation Officer for First National Bankers Bank, a Baton Rouge-based correspondent bank with an office in Ridgeland, foresees banks facing “a dramatic change” over the demographics of their customers as baby boomers are getting older.

“The issue is not only the technology of digital banking,” he said. “There is a whole group of people who are age 12 to mid-20s who grew up as digital natives and they only know a fully digital world that works according to strongly held expectations.”

Financial institutions, some 100 years old or more, are offering mobile or online banking but only the basic features,

4 4 2 2 2

he said.”A lot of financial institutions are on autopilot. In reality they haven’t done much with their digital presence. We have to change our attitude to adapt to who the customer is going to be and start working now to have the services that tomorrow’s customers desire and expect.”

Peterson said every CEO needs to ask their young niece or granddaughter how they would consume bank services when they get older.

“The real issue is not to convince 50 year olds to take advantage of digital banking but what online or mobile options are attractive to today’s teenagers. Will we deliver services in the manner to which they are accustomed to using or will they discard us as non-relevant?”

20 n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

January 2022 Issue

Technology

Major federal funding coming for broadband expansion

BY LYNN LOFTON

F

or several years the expansion of the state’s high speed internet has been an important priority by state leaders, educators and the public. An infusion of cash from federal programs and grants has provided the impetus for upgrades. Now comes the recently passed feder- improve internet services. al infrastructure bill that, As ranking member of among other provisions, the U.S. Senate Commerce will provide more funds to Committee, the state’s

SAVANNAH ORTNER Payroll Specialist

Savannah joined People Lease in September 2021 as a payroll specialist. She has over 8 years of experience in customer service and truly enjoys helping people.

Savannah was born in Jackson, Mississippi and is married to her high school sweetheart, Kaleb.

She and Kaleb have a two year old cat named Charles and they plan to adopt more fur babies in the future. Savannah enjoys spending her off time with family and friends, and she loves to take impromptu day trips over the weekends.

Sen. Roger Wicker says, “I want to give Mississippians and job creators alike every reason to stay

and build their lives in our state. This package provides the resources we need to repair and expand our transportation infrastructure, while also making new long-term investments in broadband internet, drinking water, wastewater, and flood control projects that will create jobs and keep Mississippi communities safe.Enhanced broadband internet access will help everyone from students on up to CEOs to connect to jobs and opportunities from their own homes.”

Sally Doty, executive director of the Public Utilities section of the State Public Service Commission, says the new infrastructure bill initially provides $100 million to Mississippi and every state. “This money is part of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program that will be administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA),” she said. “The BEAD program has a total appropriation of $42.45 billion for all states and territories.

Each state will receive the initial $100 million, then the remaining funding will be distributed based on a formula that considers the number of unserved and high-cost locations in the state, based on maps that are being updated and will be published by the FCC in mid 2022.”

At this time Doty does not have an estimate for that allocation, but

explained that given the high number of unserved locations, she believes Mississippi will receive a sizable allocation. “There is no plan as of yet for this funding. NTIA will provide guidance on requirements and the Mississippi Legislature may provide guidance as well, she said.

Other funds have also aided the enhancement of broadband in Mississippi with the state receiving $162 million under the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund of the American Rescue Plan. “The Treasury Department has published guidance for this funding and each state must provide a plan within a year of the grant portal that will be launched by Treasury,” Doty said. The Public Service Commission was tasked by the state legislature with administering the COVID 19 Broadband Grant Fund in 2020 and administered $75 million in grant funding that provided over 5,000 new miles of fiber in Mississippi, according to Central Commissioner Brent Bailey. “Feedback on the service provided by this funding has been overwhelmingly positive.

Some of the most rural areas of the state now have some of the fastest internet speeds,” he said.

Thus far, Mississippi committed $75 million (with at least a 1:1 match) through the Mississippi Electric Cooperatives Broadband COVID-19 Act. The program was administered by the Mississippi Public

Utilities Staff . “Approximately $495 million has been collectively awarded to Mississippi through the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) Phase I. A Phase II action should be taking place later this year,” Bailey said.

In addition to the Recovery Act funds, the state, county and municipal governments received $1.8 billion, $365 million and $577 million in Recovery Act funding that can be used to supplement broadband expansion if they so choose, Bailey said.

“However, these funds will not flow through the Public Service Commission,” he added. “The MPSC has not been authorized nor appropriated any monies to support the expansion of broadband in Mississippi.”

Asked about procedures for determining needs for these funds, Bailey responded, “Because the Commission does note regulate internet service or its providers, the Commission has not established any guidelines or procedures for determining need. Need is currently determined/defined at the federal level for the most part. The Mississippi Broadband Enabling Act did define performance minimum standards.”

Unfortunately, Mississippi does not have a state broadband office, broadband coordinator, broadband program, or a state broadband plan. So enforcement is unclear, he added.

January 2022 Issue

n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

21

Technology

TECH TRACTION

Local startups gain foothold in market with investors

BY BECKY GILLETTE

Technology is important both because of its effect on every job and every industry and because technology startups have been shown to be great wealth and economic development engines, said Tony Jeff, CEO of Innovate Mississippi, which provides services to entrepreneurs, investors, job seekers and service providers.

“Technology permeates every industry and every profession and is changing how jobs are done, even for those who don’t think they are ‘in technology’,” Jeff said. “Knowledge economy jobs are better paying and more attractive to many workers and they are critical to a balanced economic development strategy. That’s not to say that they should be the only focus, but a focus on knowledge economy jobs should be an important part of any economic development strategy.”

Knowledge economy jobs are also the types of jobs that stem the “brain drain” problem, with many of Mississippi’s college graduates leaving the state for good jobs. Jeff said many Mississippi natives, even those who left the state immediately after college, could be attracted back if good career opportunities were available to them.

Today’s employees, especially Millennials and Gen Z workers, expect to be able to balance work and lifestyle. Jeff said knowledge economy jobs allow workers to quit at 4 p.m. to spend time with their families and then fin-

ish their work from 8-10 p.m. when the kids are asleep.

“That’s just not possible with many other types of jobs and not having enough of those types of opportunities hurts Mississippi’s ability to grow,” Jeff said.

The pandemic initially had negative effects on many different kinds of businesses, and certainly made it more challenging for startup companies. But Jeff said after an initial lockdown for a couple of months, the startup scene in Mississippi has really picked up.

“We are at record levels of companies pitching to investors and getting traction in the market and with investors,” Jeff said in late 2021. “We’ve always

had a lot of companies working with us that are ‘side hustles’ where the entrepreneur has a main job and is working on this on PARKER the side. Many of these folks have reassessed their main jobs and their lives overall and that has many of them now focusing on their JEFF big idea and trying to make it work.

The fact that markets are up, and money is flowing now, too, has helped on the investor side as well.”

Innovate Mississippi held its first in-person conference since the pandemic in early November 2021. In 2020, the conference was all virtual because of the pandemic.

“We hosted the Accelerate Conference in 2020 as a 100 percent virtual

event,” said Janet Parker, director of business development and marketing for Innovate Mississippi.

“While good content is achievable using this platform, it was difficult to recreate the networking component in a meaningful way.”

The 2021 conference broke records for attendance. They had to close registration when they went over capacity for the Westin Jackson at 400 attendees.

“It’s really the perfect size crowd for the robust networking that has become a cornerstone of this event,” Parker said. “I know everyone was very excited to be back in-person.”

Jeff said big focus of their conference was on the fact that from agriculture to marine science, and everything

in between, technology is affecting the way we all do our jobs.

“Another reason for the importance of technology is that technology startups have shown to be incredible wealth and economic development engines not only in Silicon Valley, but also in nearly every region that has any concentration of these companies,” Jeff said. “With everyone working remotely and with remote connectivity not being a hurdle for most startups, Mississippi is as well positioned as anywhere to grow our technology startups into big companies. Success stories like Bomgar, FNC, Next Gear Solutions and others show how that is possible in Mississippi.”

While that was the first in-person conference since the pandemic began, Innovate Mississippi has

been hosting another event, CONNECT, in-person – a networking event for anyone interested or involved in the entrepreneurial ecosystem, which takes place on the first Thursday of each month at Cultivation Food Hall.

The entrepreneurial ecosystem includes a lot of startups that are not focused on technology, but the really high-growth and scalable entrepreneurial ventures are almost all centered around technology.

“That’s simply because technology allows for increasing margins with scalability a lot better than service or product-oriented companies,” Jeff said. “These companies need up-front funding to develop their technologies, though, so angel TURN TO STARTUPS, 22F

22 n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

January 2022 Issue

Technology Information Technology Services Information Technology Services Company

Address

Phone

Website

1

AT&T Mississippi

209 E. Capitol, Jackson, MS 39201

601-592-6580

att.com/local/mississippi

2

The Vertex Company

555 Industrial Dr. S., Madison, MS 39110

601-856-2274

vtxco.com

1975

John "Ed" Boyington, Jr.

700

3

TEC

700 S. West St., Jackson, MS 39201

601-353-9118

tec.com

1923

Joey Garner

200

C Spire Home Services

1018 Highland Colony Pwy, #500, Ridgeland, MS 39157 1018 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ridgeland, MS 39157 578 Highland Colony Pkwy., Suite 200, Ridgeland, MS 39157 442 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ridgeland, MS 39157 1094 Monroe Rd, PO Box 446, Bude, MS 39630 501 Hwy. 12 W., Ste. 100 , Starkville, MS 39759

5

C Spire Business

6

BeyondTrust

7

Business Communications Inc.

8

Franklin Telephone Company Synergetics DCS Inc.

Founded

Top Officer

Mississippi Employees

Rank

Mayo Flynt

2,0001

855-438-1009

cspire.com/home

2013

Ben Moncrief

200

855-277-4732

cspire.com/business

2012

Suzy Hays

150

877-826-6427

beyondtrust.com

1985

Matt Dircks

123

601-898-1890

bcianswers.com

1993

Jonathan Hollingshead

95

877-422-1212

ftcweb.net

1959

Wesley Goings, Tom Griffin

70

662-323-9484

synergeticsdcs.com

1992

Brandon Kim

70

10

ConvergeOne

613 Crescent Circle, Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-956-5440

convergeone.com

1986

Mark Frye

50

11

SCS, LLC

2506 Lakeland Drive Suite 400, Flowood, MS 39232 190 E. Capitol St., Ste. 175, Jackson, MS 39201

601-939-7533

BeTheGeek.com

2003

W. Gauthier

30

601-352-2120

pileum.com

2002

Jill Beneke

30

LEC, Incorporated

110 Excell Drive, Pearl, MS 39208

601-939-8535

lecinc.com

1989

Justin Hogue, Robin Price

30

1510 N. State St, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201 14257 Dedeaux Rd., Ste. A, Gulfport, MS 35903

Pileum Corporation

14

Fuse.Cloud

15

AGJ Systems & Networks Inc.

16

Sound & Communications

17

Upchurch Telecom & Data Inc.

601-926-6000

fuse.cloud

2006

Gary Watts

28

228-392-7133

agjsystems.com

2002

Brian Alford, Jenny Schlegel, Nicole Johns

26

105 Metroplex Blvd., Pearl, MS 39208

601-957-5830

soundcomav.com

1955

Keith Lofton

25

10394 Hwy. 82 East, Greenwood, MS 38930

662-455-1510

uptel.com

1992

Anthony Upchurch

20

Jackson Communications Inc.

309 A Airport Rd., Pearl, MS 39208

601-932-7030

jacksoncom.com

1957

Bill Roberts, Jay Cole

20

HORNE Cyber

100 Research Blvd Suite 213, Starkville, MS 39759

662-268-5007

hornecyber.com

2015

Mike Skinner, Brad Pierce

20

NetLink Cabling Systems, LLC

102 Plantation Cove, Madison, MS 39110

601-856-0600

netlinkms.com

1998

Clint Gideon

19

21

TechSource Solutions Inc.

359 Towne Center Blvd, #602, Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-914-6888

techsource.ms

2004

Ken Ivey, Jared Grant, Jerry Watts

18

22

U.S.NEXT

6360 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39211

601-956-4770

usnx.com

2001

David Crawford, Buddy Sharp

17

20

23

InCare Technologies

193 Business Park Dr, Suite C, Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-956-8909

InCareTechnologies.com

2013

Brian Walker

15

24

Burton Computer Resources

400 N 16th Ave, Laurel, MS 39440

601-426-8123

burtoncomputer.com

1995

Stan Burton

14

25

CDE Integrated Systems Inc.

6 Twelve Oaks Cir., Jackson, MS 39209

601-960-8500

cdelink.com

1982

Phil Hutchins

10

Telpro Communications Co.

105 Lone Wolf Dr., Madison, MS 39110

601-856-1070

telpro.biz

1990

Ron Windom

10 10

HiComp, LLC

618 Crescent Blvd. Suite 102, Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-672-9284

hicompllc.com

2006

Gary Crain, Mark Wakefield

28

Matrix Solutions Inc.

117A Millcreek Corners, Brandon, MS 39047

601-992-6789

matrixsolutions.com

1992

Michael Lenoir

9

29

Lane Tedder & Associates Inc.

5578 Hwy. 18, Brandon, MS 39042

601-824-9007

lane-tedder.com

1990

Bert Usry

8

BeCloud

653 N State St., Jackson, MS 39202

855-250-9981

becloudit.com

2011

James Phipps

8

32

35

thinkWEBSTORE.com

655 Lake Harbour Dr., Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-856-2000

thinkwebstore.com

2008

Bryan Carter

8

Service Plus Communications

606 Hwy 80 W, Suite A, Clinton, MS 39056

601-924-4150

serviceplus.net

2004

Steve Williams

6

NetBase Technologies

5296 Old Hwy 11, Suite 3, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

601-264-1606

nbtol.com

1986

Kenny Lance

6

Active DataComm Inc.

1203 Nelle St., Tupelo, MS 38801

662-620-7996

adcmsp.com

2001

Johnny Fears

6

Infoware Inc.

509 Cobblestone Ct., Suite 1, Madison, MS 39110 4714 Northcentral Way #105, Olive Branch, MS 38654

601-853-2301

infowareinc.com

1994

Ray Lenow

4

662-667-7796

netsecuris.com

2000

Leonard Jacobs

4

P.O. Box 505, Ridgeland, MS 39158

601-856-5514

trinitywave.com

2008

Kevin Sims

3

601-427-1001

prominenttech.com

1999

Jackie Meck

2

Netsecuris LLC 37

Trinity Wave, LLC

38

Prominent Technologies

PO Box 16403, Jackson, MS 39236

The Whit Group

403 Towne Center Blvd. C-4, Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-607-3002

thewhitgroup.com

2009

Stuart Whitaker

2

Shamrck Software LLC

4300 Shenandoah Rd, Vicksburg, MS 39180

678-607-9330

shamrck.com

2015

Sheffie Robinson

1

40

Ranked by Mississippi employees. Data provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

1 MBJ estimate

Startups FROM 21F

investors, development shops and other support organizations have to be in the ecosystem or companies can’t grow effectively. No matter whether a company is a technology-centered startup or not, any new company has to utilize technology in their operations to get better efficiency and compete with others in the market. For that reason, having technology support companies

in Mississippi is just as important as having lawyers, accountants, and other service providers that growing companies need.”

The growth of innovation-based companies was already accelerating in the economy. Jeff said the pandemic made remote work more accessible, making people comfortable with remote meetings via video conferencing.

“Mississippi is a big state and it’s hard to do face-to-face meetings across the state,” Jeff said. “But now that everyone is used to–and sometimes

prefer–video conferencing, we’ve been able to be a lot more efficient as we work with folks from all corners of Mississippi.”

Innovate Mississippi recently announced the launch of Mississippi’s first-ever statewide accelerator, called “CoBuilders: A Partnership-Driven Accelerator”. CoBuilders is equipping seven regional partners to identify, develop and support the best startups in their area who will compete in pitch competitions for the opportunity to be invited to join the 12-week cohort be-

ginning in the spring of 2022. Companies invited to participate in the cohort will receive a seed fund to help with initial startup costs, at a minimum of $6,000/company.

For more information about Innovate Mississippi and how the organization helps to accelerate startups, visit www.innovate.ms, and join the newsletter mailing list to receive monthly updates on innovative activities going on around the state.

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January 2022 Issue

Mississippi agriculture reaches a record high

BY BONNIE A. COBLENTZ

High commodity prices in 2021 pushed Mississippi agriculture to a sharp increase in total value – a record estimated $8.33 billion – despite a huge decline in government assistance aimed at coronavirus relief.

Agriculture’s estimated value is up 19% from 2020. Ag value is back to the high levels seen in 2012-2014. Commodities alone, without considering government payments, reached a record high of $7.88 billion, a 27% increase.

Poultry, soybeans and forestry continue to rank first, second and third, respectively, in the state’s agricultural economy.

Will Maples, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said high prices were matched by mostly good yields.

Strong exports added to the positive picture.

“The main cause of the increase we saw in commodity values this year was much better prices across the board,” Will Maples said. “It was a much better year for farmers, but we’re coming off some years with pretty low prices.”

Poultry posted an estimated $2.65 billion value in 2021, up 39% from the $1.9 billion it registered the previous year. Broilers saw the highest increases, but eggs and chickens also had positive growth.

Josh Maples, Extension agricultural economist, said this steep increase in poultry value represents a return to historic levels, rather than a new level of success.

“For poultry, this is really a rebound after a very low value of production in 2020,” he said. “The biggest driver of the increase was stronger broiler prices, which increased about 36% from where they were in 2020.”

Value of production totals do not include input costs, and

Infusion FROM 13F

“A lot of funds will go through local banks for the various sectors that will be affected,” Leard said. “Our

Peanuts were another crop that was down in estimated value in 2021, dropping 27% to $14 million. Excessive rain at planting time kept some acreage from being planted to peanuts, and growers instead grew soybeans, which have a much longer planting window.

Sweet potatoes dropped 10% to $110 million.

Hay production held steady in Mississippi, dropping less than 1% to an estimated value of $160 million.

Strong hay production supports the state’s dairy and cattle industries. In 2021, cattle and calves increased 10% in PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY MSU EXTENSION SERVICE estimated value to $282 million.

Poultry continues to be the state’s top agricultural commodity, followed by soybeans and forestry. Strong prices Milk dropped 14.6% to $22 million based on lower milk propelled the state to a record ag value. (Photo illustration by MSU Extension Service) production for the year. these are a key concern for the pine chip-n-saw increased to its “Last year, we exported Hogs were another bright poultry industry, Josh Maples highest respective levels in over historic levels of corn to China, spot, rising 33.5% in estimated said. five years. with China accounting for 32% value to $95.7 million.

“Feed prices and energy pric“This is driven by weather-re- of the entire U.S. corn export “Hog prices are up by more es are both sharply higher than lated supply constraints and market,” Will Maples said. than 40% over 2020 levels, they were in 2020,” he said. tight inventories at the sawmills “This is an abnormal purchase which is the key driver for the Soybeans achieved an estithat are also trying to keep up from China, and there is a lot of higher value of production mated value of $1.49 billion, up with price volatility in lumber uncertainty that they will be a this year,” Josh Maples said.

25% from a value of $1.2 billion despite fairly steady increases consistent corn customer in the “Similar to poultry, this increase in 2020. This is the second year in demand,” he said. future.” reflects much stronger prices the crop has exceeded the value While soybeans were the only Cotton had a strong year in compared to the very low prices of forestry in Mississippi. row crop to single-handedly top Mississippi, bringing a total val- in 2020.”

“Soybean prices were strong $1 billion, Mississippi row crops ue of $558 million, up an overall Catfish posted a $232 million throughout 2021 helped by brought in an overall estimated 27% from 2020 values based estimated value in 2021 – up good exports and strong dovalue of $3.31 billion, up 31% solely on strong prices.

3.5% – an increase supported mestic demand,” Will Maples from the $2.52 billion posted “Cotton acreage was actually by stronger catfish prices comsaid. “We can probably expect in 2020. Hay, peanuts, rice and down from 525,000 in 2020 to pared to 2020. the 2022 soybean market sweet potatoes were the only 430,000 harvested in 2021,” Will “This increase was offset by to remain in a similar price row crops with lower estimated Maples said. slightly lower water surface range with demand remaining values.

Specialty crops are fruits and acres used for production, strong.”

Wheat saw the greatest invegetables, tree nuts, dried according to U.S. Department Forestry saw a relatively mod- crease, up a whopping 450% to fruits, and horticulture and of Agriculture estimates,” Josh est increase of 5.7%, but that $27 million. nursery crops, including floriMaples said. pushed it to an estimated value “We planted 60,000 acres of culture. These crops made the Each year, producers across of $1.29 billion, compared to wheat this year, up from just top 10 in Mississippi agriculthe country receive a variety of $1.2 billion in 2020.

22,000 planted in 2020,” Maples ture in 2021 with an estimated government payments through Shaun Tanger, MSU Exsaid. “Better prices drove more value of $108.5 million, a 2.5% various ag safety net programs. tension assistant professor of acreage, and a combination of a increase.

COVID-19 relief in 2020 drove forestry economics, said that lot better prices and a lot more Rice suffered the biggest degovernment payments up most of this increase was driven acres accounted for the dramat- crease in estimated value, down sharply to $766 million. by sawtimber and chip-n-saw ic increase.”

39% to $92 million.

“That relief has mostly prices.

Corn was up 129% from 2020 “Rice was down because ended, though there has been “Mississippi’s prices were to an estimated value of $748 acreage was down this year,” some spillover into 2021,” Josh largely in-line with the entire million. A major driver of this Will Maples said. “Higher corn Maples said. “Government paySouth,” Tanger said. “Beginning growth was an increase in corn and soybean prices this past ments dropped 40% to a more in the second quarter, the price acreage from 490,000 to 700,000 spring led rice to lose some typical $456 million in 2021.” of both pine sawtimber and acres in 2021. acreage to other crops.”

understanding is the vast majority of transportation funds will either flow from the Treasury to the states, transit authorities, or airports via a formula or they will flow from the Treasury

to individual grantees (which are state and local governmental entities) through discretionary grant competitions.

“At Regions, our focus every day is to make our

communities stronger, and we know quality and efficient transportation infrastructure is a major component to a community’s economic success. From roads to bridges to airports, rail and ports, the

federal investment in updating our physical infrastructure should positively impact the growth of communities.”

January 2022 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

FOR SALE

“NORTH MISSISSIPPI’S COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMPANY” CLAY SHORT

(662) 231-4262

cshort@trirealestate.net

BARRY REPLOGLE

(662) 321-1201

breplogle@trirealestate.net

CHRIS WINDERS

(662) 255-4404

chris@trirealestate.net

TRI INC. COMMERCIAL | WWW.TRIREALESTATE.NET | 662-842-8283

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AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

T

he American Heart Association works tirelessly to bring awareness and education to Mississippians about overall health. Through events like the Heart Walk, Heart Ball and the Go Red For Women Luncheon, the AHA brings the community together, raises funds for life-saving research, and educates people about how to incrementally decrease their risk for cardiovascular diseases.

Funding research is at the heart of what we do. By funding more than $3 million of research right here in Mississippi, we’re propelling breakthroughs that have saved and improved thousands of lives.

The AHA depends on the generosity of our donors and sponsors, and the time and talent of our many volunteers, to help move us towards a world free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.

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365-7059

• Pizza Spaghetti • Salad Bar • Sandwich 709 S 4th St. • Baldwyn, MS • We Can Accommodate Mon.-Thurs. 11-10 • Fri.-Sat. 11-11 • Sun. 12-10 Large Groups

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January 2022 Issue

CASA OF HANCOCK COUNTY

C

ASA of Hancock County recruits, trains and supports a diverse volunteer base of community members who advocate for the abused and neglected children of Hancock County. CASA of Hancock County has increased its number of volunteers by 400 percent over the last five years.

Currently, CASA is serving 84 percent of the children in foster care with a goal a providing every child a CASA by the end of this year. CASA maintains diversification in terms of funding and maintains fiscally sounded business practices. CASA of Hancock County also works closely with the Youth Court, Mississippi Child Protection Services and other stakeholders in terms of child welfare training and best practices.

CATCH A DREAM FOUNDATION

T

he Catch-A-Dream mission is to provide not only the opportunity to “catch an outdoor dream,” but also to provide spiritual encouragement that is often so badly needed by children and youth. It is this very message of Christian hope, promised in Isaiah 40:31, that seeks to instill in these children and their families. Catch A Dream uses hunting and fishing as opportune tools to expose these children to the wonders of God that await them in the outdoors, away from the bleak and sterile world of medical facilities, treatments, and hospital gowns, but in the presence of the Creator who is the Author of real Hope.

On each trip, these children and the family members who accompany them are surrounded by outdoors-minded people who understand these children are often “…sick and tired of being sick and tired!” A designated and specially trained Catch-A-Dream Volunteer Host accompanies each family and, together with the outfitters and local volunteers, facilitates their dream experience.

They love and nurture them through the strong personal relationships that inevitably are forged in the lodge, on the stream, or in the woods.

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COALITION FOR CITIZENS WITH DISBILITIES

T

he Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities is a state-wide, cross-disability organization comprised of people with disabilities, family members, organizations that represent or advocate for people with disabilities, professionals who work in disability-related fields, and other interested citizens.

The Coalition was founded in 1989 thanks to a small group of passionate advocates who saw the need for an organization to serve as a united voice for people with disabilities and for their families.

The Coalition works collaboratively to expand opportunities and enhance the quality of life for Mississippians with disabilities and to empower them to reach their full potential in all aspects of their lives.

The Coalition is the one organization in Mississippi that serves as the collective voice of Mississippians with any kind of disability, whether it be physical, developmental, or medical. In fact, through the best of times and the worst of times, the Coalition has never wavered from implementing its mission, or its mantra, “Opening Doors Together.”

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF EAST MISSISSIPPI

T

he Community Foundation of East Mississippi (CFEM) is a public charity dedicated to maintaining, improving and enriching the quality of life in East Mississippi by supporting worthy causes, providing philanthropic services, and encouraging and providing leadership in response to changing community needs. We are a catalyst for charitable giving where civic-minded individuals, families, and businesses can meet their philanthropic goals. The Foundation meets this mission by developing and managing a comprehensive base of funds–an expanding pool of charitable dollars, permanently committed to meeting the needs of the people of East Mississippi.

CFEM serves a five county area, Lauderdale, Kemper, Neshoba, Newton and Clarke.

CFEM is supporting and enhancing a wide variety of programs and initiatives required to maintain a vibrant and vital community. Acting as a convener of divergent interests, CFEM encourages cooperation and collaboration to move projects forward. Partnerships may include private and corporate foundations, businesses, civic groups, nonprofits, and local, state and federal agencies.

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January 2022 Issue

CROSSROADS MINISTRIES

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rossroads Ministries offers a primary care home that focuses on physical, emotional and spiritual healing.

The ladies attend several hours of classes for instruction to achieve the goals they have for their lives. Crossroads has an after care home that helps with getting the ladies jobs and saving money.

Crossroads Outreach Ministries is a transitional home

for women who have been incarcerated and are returning back to the “Outside World”.

The ministry is Christian

based. The program at Crossroads is designed to prevent re-incarceration. It teaches the women how to live outside of

prison, to reconnect with their Resale Store which helps the children and families, job skills ladies and serves the commuand assistance in finding a job. nity.

It also operates a Thrift

GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER MISSISSIPPI

G

irl Scouts organization is much more than cookies.

Girl Scouting helps build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi has approximately 10,700 members of which almost 7,900 are under the age of 14. The educational programs include anti-bulling and financial literacy. Adapting to the times with working parents, the In-School Program is a way to allow girls who stay after school to participate in a well-guided after-school program.

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HISTORIC NATCHEZ FOUNDATION

T

he Historic Natchez Foundation has been a positive force for historic preservation in Mississippi since its 1974 founding and has used almost every tool available to preserve historic resources in Natchez and Southwest Mississippi. HNF has listed multiple historic districts in Adams and Jefferson Counties in the National Register and numerous individual buildings in seven counties in Southwest Mississippi.

These listings made available grants and tax incentives, and HNF has written grants, overseen projects, and/or completed tax credit applications for about 500 buildings.

In 1983, as HNF completed a storefront restoration project, it created the state’s first Main Street Program.

HNF operates a research library, is creating a Natchez Museum of History, and on a daily basis, assists scholars, students, writers, filmmakers, genealogists, architects, contractors, realtors, historic property owners, etc., while also producing publications, lectures, tours, conferences, exhibits, and special events like the Natchez Balloon Festival, which began in 1986 and is one of the largest festival events in the state. HNF has also created a multi-million-dollar endowment to insure its future.

INNOVATE MISSISSIPPI

I

nnovate Mississippi works to drive innovation and technology-based economic development for the state of Mississippi. It accelerates high-growth startups, connect entrepreneurs to resources they need to grow their businesses, and strengthen the innovation ecosystem in the state.

In 1998 Mississippi Technology, Inc. was formed as a 501c3 organization with the mission to champion technology–based economic development in Mississippi and rebranded as Innovate Mississippi in 2012.

In that time, it has helped develop more than 1,500 new companies, connected them to resources, and helped them raise over $181 million in private equity financing, resulting in the creation of over 2,800 high-paying jobs in Mississippi.

In November of this year, Innovate Mississippi launched the first ever partner-driven statewide accelerator, called CoBuilders, including 7 regional partners throughout Mississippi with the goal of inviting 21 new companies to participate in the cohort. The program will culminate in a “Pitch Day” event in July of 2022 to showcase the new companies.

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January 2022 Issue

JACKSON HEART FOUNDATION

J

ackson Heart Foundation was founded in August 2009 by Dr. Harper Stone, with the idea of improving cardiovascular health and awareness in the Jackson Metro area. Funds raised through efforts of the JHF are guaranteed to be used for local improvements in cardiovascular health.

Such programs implemented by JHF include replacing fryers in school kitchens with combi ovens, CPR training in schools and local businesses, and educational gardens, among other programs.

JHF is excited as they pass the 10-year mark, as they have made a real impact in cardiovascular health in the community.

JHF does not offer any products or services. As a non profit organization, it serves the community through philanthropic support and funding of local community projects that align with the mission to lead the fight against heart disease in our community through education, prevention, and early detection.

JUVENILE DIABETES RESEARCH FOUNDATION

J

DRF Mississippi works every day to improve the lives of those affected by type one diabetes – and to prevent anyone else from ever knowing the disease – by raising funds for research, advocating for government support of research and new therapies, ensuring new therapies come to market and connecting and engaging the T1D community.

JDRF Mississippi recognizes that none of this could happen without the commitment and generosity of our dedicated volunteers and corporate partners. JDRF Mississippi staff focuses on supporting and facilitating our community donations of time, talent or dollars to bring about life-changing breakthroughs in T1D treatments and therapies.

In 2018 the JDRF Mississippi Chapter was awarded “Excellence in Engagement” as well as “High Performing Financial Metrics”. In 2017 the JDRF Mississippi Chapter received “Recognition for Net Income”.

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LYNN MEADOWS DISCOVERY CENTER

L

ike many other families and businesses, Lynn Meadows Discovery Center in Biloxi has felt the strain due to COVID-19. It was forced to close the museum in March 2020 and was not able to reopen until June.

During this time, it was able to impact its community by providing Discovery at Home Kits to children through Feed My Sheep Food Pantry. It also reached out into the community and “adopted” a low income housing apartment complex where we provide Discovery at Home kits, a free library and museum experiences for the children and families.

Today, more than 400 children’s museums throughout the United States break the rules of traditional museums by encouraging visitors to touch, talk, interact and have fun. The exhibits are catalysts for questions, exploration and discovery, and the entire facility is a playground for the mind. Lynn Meadows Discovery Center is happy to be among those many museums and is proud to have been the first children’s museum in Mississippi.

METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOMES OF MISSISSIPPI

T

hrough Jesus Christ, Methodist Children’s Homes brings hope and healing to hurting children in Mississippi.

Methodist Children’s Homes seeks to bring restoration to children and youth who have been neglected or abused.

By the end of their time with MCH, it is hoped that they find reconciliation with their biological families, love within an adoptive family or success as a productive, independent individual.

Methodist Children’s Homes has been providing care and love for children and families in Mississippi since 1896. Originally an orphanage, MCH has cared for more than 11,000 children for over a century. It has grown from its original location in Water Valley to multiple homes across the state, and its primary campus is now in Jackson. The legacy of Methodist Children’s Homes has always been that of Christ-centered, generous love – something that will never change.

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January 2022 Issue

MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE

T

he Mississippi Center for Justice is a nonprofit public interest law organization founded in 2003 in Jackson and committed to advancing racial and economic justice. Supported and staffed by attorneys and other professionals, the Center develops and pursues strategies to combat discrimination and poverty statewide. The Center concentrates its work in the areas of access to healthcare, educational opportunities, access to fair and affordable housing, access to public benefits and fair lending. By attacking obstacles faced by people living in poverty in a variety of areas, MCJ is able to assist families from a variety of directions.

MCJ has developed the infrastructure needed to manage a $3.4 million annual budget, and it leverages its resources with pro bono attorneys, volunteer students and national partners to increase its effectiveness.

The people MCJ represents often do not know that their rights have been violated. MCJ tries to offer them a voice to have the ability to better their lives. It believes in working with policy makers to craft reasonable solutions, but it is not afraid to advocate hard for our clients.

MISSISSIPPI CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

T

he mission of the Mississippi Children’s Museum (MCM) is to create unparalleled experiences to inspire excellence and a lifelong joy of learning. The museum is guided by five core values: we take fun seriously; we provide children with innovative learning experiences that tap into their curiosity and creativity; we reach diverse populations throughout the state; we develop partnerships that empower children and those who care for them; and, we are responsible stewards of our resources.

The top priority for museum staff is to ensure that MCM is an accessible centerpiece for education serving the state’s almost 3,000,000 people, of which 26% are children and 33% live in poverty.

Visits to and activities of MCM instill in children the wonder of discovery and a love of learning, with special emphasis on those children who need and deserve new, creative experiences that are not typically available to them.

MCM is a statewide leader in tackling the substantial developmental obstacles that face Mississippi children and their families to gain exposure to the types of essential development skills which lead to literacy and future success in academics and life.

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MISSISSIPPI CODING ACADEMY

M

ississippi Coding Academy started as part of Innovate Mississippi and its launch funding was via Mississippi Works. It commenced training its first participants in October 2017 in Jackson.

A few weeks later it started a cohort in the Golden Triangle. MCA graduated its first 20 coders 11 months later; graduated 33 more in May to June 2019 and have 54 in its third cohort.

MCA spun out of Innovate Mississippi and became an independent entity in 2019, with Innovate providing administrative support.

MCA was first to brand this model as a workplace rather than a classroom, replacing education words with workplace words (coders vs. students) and highlighting business concepts more than educational ones (scrum vs. classroom). It is informally educating using the “workplace” and preparing the coder/developers for lifetime learning in the tech workplace.

MISSISSIPPI COUNCIL OF ECONOMIC EDUCATION

M

CEE works tirelessly around the state to increase the economic and financial literacy of Mississippi students. It knows that 100 percent of its students will make economic and financial decisions during their lifetime.

The quality of the decisions they make is directly attributable to the quality of economic and personal finance education they have received or the lack thereof.

It achieves its goals by equipping K-12 teachers with quality instruction and proven curriculum to use in the classroom.

The education its providing its teachers and students is seen as the best in the nation, as proven by the “Outstanding State Council” award received in 2017. This education is an important part of helping citizens reduce the level of poverty in Mississippi via education on decision making skills, opportunity cost, money management, risk management and proper planning for the future to include post-secondary education.

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MISSISSIPPI HERITAGE TRUST

T

he Mississippi Heritage Trust works to save and renew places meaningful to Mississippians and their history.

The Mississippi Heritage Trust was formed in 1992 to be an independent voice for historic preservation in Mississippi.

Since that time, the Mississippi Heritage Trust has engaged in numerous educational outreach programs and advocacy efforts to help communities find preservation-minded outcomes for historic schools, churches, theaters and commercial buildings.

Programs of the Mississippi Heritage Trust include the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places in Mississippi, which was started in 1999 to help local advocates in their efforts to preserve the places that tell the story of Mississippi, the Preservation Toolkit program, designed to educate developers about incentives such as state and federal historic tax credits, which educates people about the many values of Mississippi’s newest historic places and the biennial Heritage Awards, which celebrates Mississippi’s many preservation victories.

MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION

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he Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) is Mississippi’s most successful preservation-based community development organization. MMSA employs the time-tested Main Street Approach through its more than 50 local Main Street programs in Mississippi. Ranging in population from 1,000 residents to more than 70,000 residents, Main Street communities vary in size and resource capacity, but the Main Street Approach has successfully guided downtown revitalization efforts in Mississippi for over 37 years. Through educational training and program services, including community development grants for downtown revitalization projects, MMSA empowers its local Main Street programs with the tools needed for success and economic vitality.

The mission of the Mississippi Main Street Association is to be a catalyst for the preservation and economic revitalization of Mississippi’s historic downtowns and districts. MMSA provides visionary leadership to Mississippi’s most storied places. We foster economic and community development through strategies that promote community engagement, pride of place, and quality design to achieve long-term economic growth.

January 2022 Issue

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MISSISSIPPI VOLUNTEER LAWYERS PROJECT

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he Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project is a 501© (3) non-profit legal aid organization. Formed in 1982, MVLP is the nation’s first formal association of a state bar association, the Mississippi Bar Association, and the Legal Services Corporation. MVLP’s long-standing relationship with the Mississippi Bar and the LSC has resulted in a professional and productive partnership, with attorneys unselfishly offering their time and talents to serve Mississippi’s poor and less fortunate.

Since 1982, MVLP has helped thousands of clients with a wide array of legal matters. More recently, the organization has narrowed its services to assisting clients with domestic matters, exclusively. Without the contributions and support of volunteers and partners, MVLP could not have reached out to so many Mississippians in the broader effort to ensure equal access to justice for all.

PLANTING POSITIVE SEEDS

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he purpose of Planting Positive Seeds is to empower, encourage and motivate women and girls to live a positive life through community outreach.

To provide a healthy, safe and positive environment that fosters growth.

PPS wants to promote positive change to reduce the number of statistics concerning the teens, young adults and adults in our society. PPS wants to ensure to develop positive awareness and increase knowledge.

PPS began in 2013 as an outreach conference to empower teens, young adults and adults to have the resiliency tools they need in life to be successful.

PPS has done outreaches across the globe, including Kenya in 2020 with Awaken Girls Ministry, providing toiletries and monetary donations from partners, sponsors and donations.

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January 2022 Issue

RIDGELAND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

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he Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce is keeping their members and the community connected and making an impact through a variety of programs.

Over the past 29 years, the Ridgeland Chamber has reached many milestones and today the Chamber is recognized across the metro area as a pro-active Chamber offering opportunities to help businesses succeed.

Not only does the Ridgeland Chamber explore ways to help their members spread their message throughout Madison County and beyond, the Chamber gives back to the community by supporting their police officers, firefighters, first responders and other non-profit organizations such as Our Daily Bread and MadCAAP. With a membership of over 900, the Chamber is comprised of corporations, service businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals who share the Chamber’s goal of promoting and maintaining a healthy business environment for businesses to succeed.

The Ridgeland Chamber serves as a catalyst by uniting member businesses, community agencies, education and government to make Ridgeland a great place to live and work.

The Chamber provides members with networking, referral, and promotional opportunities, and sponsors quality programs. The Ridgeland Chamber also advocates for business on a variety of issues on the local, county, state and federal levels, and works diligently to support new and expanding businesses.

“A Blueprint for Success” is the 2022 Chamber theme.

As they say at the Chamber, “If it is important to business, it is important to the Ridgeland Chamber.”

2nd CHANCE MISSISSIPPI

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nd Chance MS was founded by Richard “Dickie” Scruggs. Scruggs is best known as the architect of the litigation that resulted in the multi-billion-dollar Tobacco Settlement, and for later going to federal prison in a judicial bribery scandal. In prison, Scruggs taught the Math portion of the high school equivalency to other inmates. That led him to establish 2nd Chance MS. His son Zach Scruggs, now the executive editor, had the same experience and passion.

In 2016, he established 2nd Chance MS as a 501©3.

Results from their efforts have been: » 1,113 adults have benefitted » 347 High school equivalencies » 304 Employable workforce certifications » 287 Smart Start credentials

January 2022 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

STEWPOT COMMUNITY SERVICES

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tewpot provides food, shelter, clothing, care and support to people who are homeless or are living in deep poverty.

The 14 ministries include: a Community Kitchen; a Meals on Wheels delivery service; a Food Pantry; a Clothing Closet; an After School Program and Summer Camp for K-12th graders; two emergency shelters, one for men and another for women and women with children; a day shelter for people who are homeless; a Rapid Rehousing Program, which helps people move from shelters into stable housing; a chapel service; the HeARTWorks art program; the St. Dominic Community Health Clinic; and a Legal Clinic.

Through these various ministries, it serves between 500 and 600 people every day, depending on the season.

It can do these things because it has a wide base of support: nearly 200 congregations now contribute their time, energy, and/or money as well as numerous local and federal grants.

According to the most recent audit, 87 percent of every dollar goes directly to programs, to helping the people we were founded to help.

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January 2022 Issue

Growers must manage 2022 high input costs

BY BONNIE COBLENTZ MSU EXTENSION SERVICE

High fertilizer prices continue to be a hot topic any time farm professionals gather, but now is not the first time costs have doubled or even tripled for some crop staples.

Larry Oldham, soil specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said producers must plan around dramatically rising costs.

“Some December reports show potash prices nearing historic high prices over $800 per ton, and individual nitrogen fertilizer prices increasing 5% to 9% within one month,” Oldham said.

While these high prices can seem staggering, fertilizer price increases of this magnitude have happened before.

“The late 2000s was the time of the great fertilizer price reset,” Oldham said.

“Potash prices had been 14 cents a pound for many years, but increased domestic and international

JUSTTODD

Producers must plan carefully and manage well for farms to break even financially this year as farm input costs have risen dramatically in the past months. grain demand more than quadrupled the price for potash.”

Oldham said that means the current fertilizer price volatility is not uncharted territory.

“This is a moment for patience as the storm swirls,” Oldham said.

“Large-scale components – some anticipated and some not – interacted in late 2021 to develop the

current situation. We anticipate these interactions will continue through winter.”

Speaking at the 2021 Row Crops Short Course in December, Brian Mills, an agricultural economist at the Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville, said this input volatility makes crop planning for 2022 difficult.

“Enterprise and

planning budgets are built annually with the MSU Budget Generator,” Mills said. “We gather data from Mississippi companies on costs such as herbicide, pesticide, fertilizer and equipment, and a multidisciplinary team develops the budgets based on common production practices and recommendations.

“The big thing for 2022

is the input costs are significantly higher than the previous year, and they went up after the data was collected in October,” he said. “Actual costs will vary for each producer, and it is important for you to do your own cost estimates and determine what your breakeven will be for the coming year.”

Mills said careful planning and management is needed for a farm to break even financially.

“If you develop an enterprise budget, you can plan out where costs can be cut, and you can determine which crop will be most profitable for your situation,” Mills said.

Since no one can anticipate market prices with certainty, growers trying to make crop decisions for the 2022 season can take steps to limit their costs.

“We should concentrate on components of the production system we can control,” Oldham said. “Many variables determine the ultimate

success of a crop, such as variety selection, water management, insects, nematodes, diseases, weed pressure and climate.”

One way to cut high input costs is to be efficient with fertilizer application.

Careful soil tests determine phosphorus and potash fertilizer needs and help avoid overapplication of these nutrients.

Then, be sure to apply at the best time and in the best way for highest efficiency.

MSU’s Enterprise and Planning Budgets, along with the MSU Budget Generator and various Decision Tools that can be used to manage farm costs, can all be found at https://www. agecon.msstate.edu/ whatwedo/budgets.php.

Visit https://extension. msstate.edu/agriculture/ soils/soil-testing for information on soil testing and how to submit samples to the MSU Soil Testing Lab.

‘HOME TOWN’ COMES HOME

HGTV stars open new company in Laurel, create 85 jobs Scotsman Manufacturing Company is proud to call Laurel home of its new manufacturing operations.

Erin and Ben Napier, hosts of HGTV’s hit series Home Town and co-owners of Laurel Mercantile Company, along with partners Mallorie and Jim Rasberry and Emily and Josh Nowell, are locating wood countertop and cutting board manufacturing operations under a new company, Scotsman Manufacturing Company.

The new company will be housed in a revitalized facility near downtown Laurel. The Scotsman Manufacturing team is committed to American-made goods and will

wholesale its products to retailers nationwide, creating 85 jobs in a once-shuttered industrial complex.

The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance for building improvements.

Scotsman Manufacturing Company also has been certified for the Advantage Jobs Rebate Program, which is designated for eligible businesses that create new jobs exceeding the average annual wage of the state or county in which the company locates or expands. Mississippi Power is aiding with energy efficiency upgrades to the facility.

January 2022 Issue

Automation FROM 9F

mentoring young CPAs in hopes they will take leaderships roles in the years ahead. “I also speak at colleges and high schools to promote and inspire interest in the accounting profession and its many rewards,” she said.

Moody, herself a CPA, worked previously as an auditor when audits were conducted in person by examining samples of a company’s data. “Now, with automation, auditors can analyze 100 percent of transactions remotely in a fraction of the time. It’s changed the landscape entirely,” she said.

Moody said the rise of automation is reminiscent of robots being introduced as replacements for workers on the factory floor. “Data automation is like robotics,” she said, referring to the speed and efficiency of getting the job done.

She sees the pros and cons of automating accounting tasks and said some scenarios keep her up at night.

On the plus side, she said, automation saves worker’s valuable time by speeding up the ability to collect, process and analyze data “with the snap of a finger.”

“What may have taken two weeks or two days in the past you can do in two

Dean FROM 8F

My Space was a new big platform.

“I started to see that bullying was very different for these young girls than it had been from when I grew up,” Duncan said. “There have always been bullies from the dawn of time. But you could get away from them when you left school. Social media and sexting are 24/7. They can’t get away from it. I love advances in technology, but it comes with a lot of problems. I think we are seeing some negative impacts even on law school students’ resilience. Students are comparing themselves to others on different social media platforms that makes them feel bad. It is hard for students to determine what is factual and accurate on the internet.”

Her interest in preventing children from being exposed to bullying and pornography led to her writing many papers on the topic of passing laws to help with those issues. She also became very involved in advocating for restorative justice, a system of criminal justice which focuses on the rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation with victims and the community.

Instead of putting children in detention, juvenile courts in some areas have introduced something similar to a Native American peace circle where

hours,” she said. Instead of crunching numbers and tracking transactions, CPAs can focus on providing value added services to clients.

In the negative column, Moody said, automation can reduce the number of people needed to work in accounting and is complicating how firms operate in a pandemic-related environment.

“A lot of firms are having trouble figuring out how to work through this type of work environment and the workers now. It’s changing how and where peo-

ple work and how employers communicate, motivate, mentor and retain staff,” she said.

Some employees prefer remote working over returning to their offices, presenting a new challenge to employers. Others opt to stay home but change employers.

“I’m seeing some CPAs leave Mississippi firms and continue to work for a firm in Arizona or New York and they are getting New York pay and living in Mississippi,” she said. Those who are

the child who created the harm and the people impacted by the harm talk about what happened and who was impacted.

It changes how the harm is repaired.

“It is not about punishing people, putting children in a juvenile detention center or expelling them from school,” Duncan said. “It is about getting children back in the circle and repairing the harm. Restorative justice is very powerful with bullying and other situations. It is a better way to handle it than what is traditional in school where the bully gets mad, the bully’s friends get mad, and the victim isn’t any safer. If you can get the bully to understand the harm being caused, that is a better solution. Lots of religions believe in redemption and second chances.”

Duncan worked doing restorative justice in Louisville, Ky., and saw it was very effective. She said it is getting increasingly popular in the U.S. Australia and Canada do a lot of it. New Zealand closed eight juvenile detention centers after adopting the system.

“This path won’t work for everyone, but it can be very powerful,” she said.

Bullying on the internet has become a bigger problem with some children committing suicide because of it.

“It is hard for parents because the technology is always changing, and there are more covert ways of doing it,” Duncan said. “The bullying can be very tragic if schools and parents don’t take

it seriously. When it is anonymous, it can be even more vicious. It is a huge problem for young children.”

Regarding gender balance in law schools, Duncan said when she went to law school from 1988 to 1991, her law school was about 50 percent female, and there were women professors and a woman dean.

“I got to see a woman at the top,” Duncan. “And while I was the first permanent woman law school dean at Ole Miss, long-term professor Debbie Bell was interim dean for two years before me. She really set the stage. She paved the way for me. Everyone loved her.

They were used to seeing a woman dean when I arrived.”

While some people she meets are surprised she is the law school dean, Duncan has been delighted by the response from the community.

“People have been so welcoming,” Duncan said. “Both my husband, Kevin, and I love the state, the university, the community. Oxford is our Camelot. If you are from Mississippi, you might not realize how fantastic people are here.

They are so friendly. If you love their state and their university, they love you.

I’ve had no problems. We have really enjoyed the people here. They are great storytellers, generous, and loyal friends.

It has opened my eyes to how wonderful it is to live in Mississippi.”

She graduated from the University

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working remotely are not just doing basic tax returns, she said, they are also auditing clients in other states.

“Several of our firms are having to offer incentives (to keep) current staff and attract new hires,” she said. Some firms offer a certain number of days that employees can continue to work remotely, sweetening the work/life balance options.

Moody said with more work being done by automation, firms may not need to hire as many accounting graduates as in the past.

Automation also is impacting how colleges teach accounting to accommodate those who want to specialize in the data analytics and IT side of accounting.

It is also changing how the accounting profession certifies new practitioners.

In Mississippi, CPAs are required to pass an exam and have a year of experience before they can be licensed. In 2024, the CPA exam will include a section on technology and data analytics for the first time. “The whole scale of the exam is changing,” Moody said. “The whole world of finance and accounting is having to be reworked for the future. It is already different than it was two years ago because of Covid. The future is going to be a whole different landscape.”

of Louisville Brandeis School of Law, where she began as an adjunct professor in 1997 and a full-time faculty member in 2000. She was interim dean for five years there before taking the position at Ole Miss.

“So, this is a great growing experience for me personally to be at another law school and see how other people deliver education,” she said. “It has broadened my perspective.”

She feels her biggest accomplishment is being a mother. She and her husband, a patent law attorney and electrical engineer who has his own law firm in Kentucky, are proud of their children who range in age from 21 to 30. Duncan said she is fortunate to have a flexible husband who can come down here.

She is also pleased to see that 52 percent of law school students at Ole Miss now are female, and that the number of female deans in the country has doubled in the past ten years from 40 out of 200 to about 80.

“We are seeing more female deans of color be hired, which is very exciting,” Duncan said. “It is still not great in the judiciary. Maybe only a third of females make partners. There are few female managing partners, and not a lot of Fortune 500 general counsels. But there is room for hope.”

The Duncans love to travel, play golf, read, and spend time with their family.

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January 2022 Issue

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January 2022 Issue

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THE SPIN CYCLE: Biden holds few interviews, news conferences President Biden is wrapping up his first year in the White House, and he is setting a first with the media – fewest news conferences.

Biden held less news conferences than any of his five predecessors at the same point in their presidencies and has conducted fewer media interviews than any recent commander in chief.

The president has done only 22 media interviews, fewer than any of his six previous White House predecessors, according to the Associated Press.

TODD SMITH The 46th president has held just nine formal news conferences – six solo and three jointly with visiting foreign leaders.

Ronald Reagan, whose schedule was scaled back early in his first term in 1981 after an assassination attempt, is the only recent president to hold fewer first-year news conferences, according to new research published by Martha Joynt Kumar, a professor emerita in political science at Towson University and director of the White House Transition Project. However, Reagan did 59 interviews in 1981.

The dynamic has the White House facing questions about whether Biden – who pledged to have the most the most transparent administration in the nation’s history – is missing the mark on how the administration operates.

However, Biden does more frequently field questions at public appearances than any of his recent predecessors, according to Kumar.

He routinely pauses to talk to reporters who shout questions over Marine One’s whirring propellers as he comes and goes from the White House. He parries with journalists at Oval Office photo ops and other events. But these exchanges have their limitations.

Former President Donald Trump, who regularly pilloried the media, did 92 interviews in his first year in office, more than two dozen of those with Fox News.

Biden’s 22 media interviews have included one-on-one sessions with journalists at three of the major television networks, three CNN town halls, an appearance on MSNBC, a trio of regional television interviews via Zoom, as well as conversations with late night host Jimmy Fallon and ESPN’S Sage Steele, according to the AP. He’s given just three print interviews.

The White House has fielded requests from media outlets – and complaints from the White House Correspondents’ Association – for Biden to do more one-on-one interviews and

formal news conferences.

Press secretary Jen Psaki has pushed back, arguing that a formal news conference with cushions on journalists’ seats is unnecessary since Biden answers questions several times a week.

Only problem is, those exchanges often don’t allow for follow-up questions, and Biden routinely ignores questions he might not want to answer.

The president has answered questions at 55% of events where he’s delivered remarks or an address, more than even two of the chattier presidents, Bill Clinton (48%) and Trump (41%), according to the AP. White House officials pointed to such frequent interactions with reporters as evidence that Biden has demonstrated a commitment to transparency. Officials also suggested that the pandemic has also affected the number of interviews and news conferences in the administration’s first year.

Advertising & PR Jobs Increased in December Employment in advertising, public relations and related services increased by 2,300 jobs in December, according to the monthly employment report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For the overall economy, U.S. employers in December added 199,000 jobs, the weakest monthly increase in a year, while the unemployment rate fell to a pandemic low point of 3.9%.

U.S. employment in the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classification of advertising, public relations and related services increased to 460,400 jobs in December.

The ad business banked its 11th consecutive month of growth since ad jobs hit a pandemic period low of 432,100 in January 2021.

The December increase in advertising employment came in below November’s gain of 3,300 ad jobs.

BLS upwardly revised the November figure from the preliminary 2,900 jobs increase it reported a month ago.

This BLS figures includes ad agencies, PR agencies and related services such as media buying, media reps, outdoor advertising, direct mail and other services related to advertising. Ad agencies account for the biggest portion – 44% – of jobs in the statistics.

Americans Reading Fewer Books Americans say they read an average of 12.6 books during the past year, a smaller number than Gallup has mea-

sured in any prior survey dating back to 1990. U.S. adults are reading roughly two or three fewer books per year than they did between 2001 and 2016.

The results are based on a Dec. 1-16 Gallup poll, which updated a trend question on book reading. The question asks Americans to say how many books they “read, either all or part of the way through” in the past year. Interviewers are instructed to include all forms of books, including printed books but also electronic books and audiobooks, when entering the respondent’s answer.

The decline in book reading is mostly a function of how many books readers are reading, as opposed to fewer Americans reading any books. The 17% of U.S. adults who say they did not read any books in the past year is like the 16% to 18% measured in 2002 to 2016 surveys, though it is higher than in the 1999 to 2001 polls.

The drop is fueled by a decline in the percentage of Americans reading more than 10 books in the past year. Currently, 27% report that they read more than 10 books, down eight percentage points since 2016 and lower than every prior measure by at least four points.

The reasons for the decline in book reading are unclear, with Americans

perhaps finding other ways to entertain themselves. It is uncertain whether concerns about COVID or COVID-related restrictions are leading to a decline in visits to libraries or bookstores.

The new data on book reading reinforce that the popularity of reading is waning, with Americans reading an average of three fewer books last year than they did five years ago and had typically read for the past three decades. The decline is not because fewer Americans are reading at all – a percentage that has held steady at 17% – but because Americans who do read are reading fewer books. The changes are especially pronounced among the most voracious book readers, namely, college graduates, women and older Americans. » 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@deanesmith.agency, follow him @spinsurgeon on Twitter 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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