August 21, 2020 MBJ E-EDITION

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

| Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020 | Vo. 43 • No. 6 • 32 pages

• Technology

• Banking & Finance

{Section begins P13} » Voter Tech » State ISPs meet the challenge of dramatically increased need for high speed internet services

{Section begins P16} » If anyone knows the importance of community banking to rural Mississippi, Andy Anderson does » Wild and crazy - With this market atmosphere, there are no guarantees

» Page 22

Pages 15 & 20-21

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St. John: Purple Parrot closing won’t stop Fondren project

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

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he closing of the Purple Parrot Cafe in Hattiesburg “has absolutely nothing” to do with Robert St. John’s plans for the Fondren District in Jackson.

Yes, the coronavirus pandemic had something to do with both, St. John said.

The 32-year-old Purple Parrot, a fine-dining restaurant that has been awarded a number of Diamond ratings from AAA, held an extended farewell celebration ending Aug. 4 after its closing in March due to the onset of the virus.

Owner and chef St. John said the last farewell was more like a wake because of the celebration of many special days – wedding anniversaries, graduations and so on.

Next comes a Tex-Mex restaurant in the same space, St. John said in an interview.

Coronavirus restrictions squeezed all restaurants, which have thin profit margins, and fine-dining eateries have even narrower margins, St. John.

Not so with others, such as Tex-Mex. And not so with Ed’s Burger Joint, which will be part of the $13 million project St. John announced in October 2019.

The plan had called for completion about a year later.

St. John said that he and his partners in the project, David Pharr and Jason Watkins, who own the property, hit the pause button, but expect to turn dirt this fall.

He said the idea is to build in stages.

In addition to Ed’s, whose eponym is in Hattiesburg, in its converted service station with rooftop bar, there will be a reimagined Capri Theatre with reclining seats, food service and a full bar, and Highball Lanes, for bowling, a full-service dining and a cocktail bar.

In all, about 30,000 square feet.

St. John said he has been working on the Tex-Mex concept for several years, and had planned it for another building, but now will use the former Purple Parrot space,

and he expects the inside dining space to be complete by the end of September, and an outside bar area to follow.

The Parrot won’t entirely flee the cage. St. John will have » Robert St. John a small space in the building to to have a pop-up private dining room with the same décor and food, except for three nights a month, when it will open to the public.

Also in the building on Hardy Street are the Mahogany Bar and Crescent City Grill.

“Before the pandemic we had six restaurants and two bars, and, come November of this year, we’ll have five restaurants and two bars.”

The parent company that owns Crescent City Grill and Mahogany Bar, are doing fine.

The parent is New South Restaurant Group, of which St. John is sole owner, while he is sole owner or part owner of the limited liability companies.

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Golf recovering from coronavirus handicap » Old Waverly, Mossy Oak, and Fallen Oak golf courses make top 100 in ‘Courses You Can Play’

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

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olf is making a comeback across the country after the initial impact of the coronavirus.

The lure of fresh air and sunshine the smell of new-mown grass has people thinking about shots and scores again. (Ninety-eight percent of all courses – public or private – are now open, according to Golf Advisor.)

And rankings.

Mississippi has three of the of the top 100 private courses with public access, according to Golfweek magazine.

Fallen Oak at Beau Rivage in Biloxi ranks 27th, followed by Mossy Oak, No. 39, and Old Waverly, No. 65, both at West Point.

Given Fallen Oak’s history, one might think that its name has a connection with Hurricane Katrina.

The historic storm that laid waste to the Mississippi coast on Aug.. 29, 2005 de-

» Mossy Oak Golf Club, West Point, MS

» Fallen Oak Clubhouse

layed the opening of the course, which was about 60 percent complete when it struck, said Matt Hughes, who has been director of grounds for Fallen Oak since it opened in the fall of 2006.

The namesake tree, a live oak lying along the 18th fairway, was actually down before Katrina, Hughes said.

The course was designed by renowned architect Tom Fazio, noted for creating championship layouts.

It is the site of a tournament on the Professional Golf Association’s Champions Tour, which features top senior golfers from the PGA Tour.

For now, the course, located in the shadow of the DeSoto National Forest about 20 minutes from the casino, is only played Thursday through Sunday.

Since the course is seen as an amenity for those staying at the casino hotel, it is not being pushed beyond a safety-comfort zone as the pandemic waxes and wanes.

A guest can play the course for $165.

» The 18th Hole Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point. Photo by USGA/Russell Kirk

That greens fee will rise when the fall season starts Oct. 1, Hughes said.

The casino is offering a package for $600, which includes a round for a foursome and one room at the resort.

Other publications, Golf Digest and Golf Magazine, have consistently ranked it as the best course in the state.

Mossy Oak dates to 2016 and has made a place for itself in the Golfweek Top 100 Courses You Can Play.

Like all courses, it was struck with a storm of cancellations in March, when the pandemic was made public, according to Chris Jester, director of the club.

By May, the panic had lifted, and, after a strong July, the course is slightly ahead of last year’s pace as of July 31, he said.

Things are looking up further for the Gil Hanse-designed course – the opening of a clubhouse in September, he said.

Mossy Oak made West Point a drive-to destination, as it is across the road, Old Magnolia Drive, from Old Waverly, a private course.

“Not many people are wanting to fly,” he said.

Mossy Oak and Old Waverly are a pairing, of sorts.

Within common bloodlines, they work together.

George Bryan and about 80 investors own Mossy Oak. Bryan in 1988 started Old Waverly, which emphasizes the elegance of the Old

South and Old Scotland in its eateries and bars. It was the site of the U.S. Women’s Open in 1999.

While it is private, “a nonmember can play Old Waverly if they stay on the property,” whether Mossy Oak or Old Waverly, Jester said.

Cottages and condos on both properties can accommodate up to 200, he said.

The Golfweek ranking in Courses You Can Play is the highest yet for the 7,200yard Mossy Oak. Mossy Oak daily greens fees are $180, including a cart. For stay-and-play rates are $140 during the week and $170 on the weekend.

Jester said Mossy Oak will host the Mississippi State Amateur next year.

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Aquarium a monument to post-Katrina recovery; $98 million attraction to open Aug. 29

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

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ifteen years to the day after Hurricane Katrina made landfall and destroyed most of the infrastructure along the coast of Mississippi, a new structure will open, celebrating the recovery of the area.

The $98 million Mississippi Aquarium will open in Gulfport.

Though located on the coast, the public-private facility will tell the story of Mississippi’s aquatic resources from the Delta wetlands and marshes, down the Mississippi River to the coastline.

The facility was funded through a public and private partnership, with 90 percent of the funding from city of Gulfport bonds, Mississippi Development Authority grants and federal sources. The other 10 percent will come from private donations through

the Mississippi Aquarium Foundation.

The aquarium includes more than 80,000 square feet of interactive exhibits, a Shores of Mississippi exhibit, an outdoor boardwalk, an aviary, and habitats for various wildlife, including alligators, river otters, river fish, dolphins, stingrays and shorebirds and other species.

There is a 360-degree suspended acrylic tunnel in the main habitat, giving guests to view marine life from every angle.

One-year membership fees are $95, with unlimited admission days. For four or more memberships, the price is $86.

With membership, daily admission prices are: $26.95 for adults (13 and up), $22.95 for ages 3-12. Even without membership, tickets are $26.95 for those 65 or older; Children up to 2, free, and 10 percent off for military families. Group rates are available.

The not-for-profit business is located on 5.8 acres at 2100 Beach Blvd.

Mississippi Lottery Corporation transfers more than $10 million to the state

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he Mississippi Lottery Corporation (MLC) completed its July transfer of $10,148,035.69 in net proceeds to the Lottery Proceeds Fund in the Mississippi State Treasury. This is the first deposit for Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21), which began July 1, 2020.

“This is a great way to start the new fiscal year,” said MLC President Tom Shaheen of the transfer. “In the coming months, we

look forward to raising even more revenue for Mississippi’s roads, bridges and education. Since the first day of sales on November 25, 2019, the MLC has transferred more than $80.9 million to the State.”

In accordance with the Alyce G. Clarke Lottery Law, the MLC is required to transfer net proceeds within 20 days following the close of each calendar month.

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Sweetie Pie’s owner arrested in alleged murder-for-hire scheme

Aquarium signs up Levy for dining and hospitality Mississippi Aquarium has contracted with Levy Restaurants as its dining and hospitality partner.

The $98 million aquarium will open to the public in Gulfport on Aug. 29.

Chicago-based Levy, which provides food for large venues and events, will provide on-site dining destinations for aquarium visitors, catering for special events such as corporate meetings, school field trips, weddings and a yearround café experience, as well as collaborating with the aquarium to implement and monitor a health and safety plan.

Local and sustainable sourcing will be a focus, and as menus rotate. Levy has created a strong foundation of celebrating local flavors through its offerings at Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center in Biloxi.

Levy will also tap into experience at popular regional and national cultural and entertainment destinations, including Chicago’s Navy Pier, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Woodland Park Zoo outside Seattle.

Levy’s portfolio also includes entertainment and cultural events such as the Grammy Awards and Kentucky Derby, as well as many of the country’s largest stadiums and arenas.

– MBJ Staff

» FILE — Tim Norman moves a grill in the shape of a steer from in front of the previous location of Sweetie Pie's in Downtown Jackson. Photo by JACK WEATHERLY

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

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ames Timothy “Tim” Norman, owner of Sweetie Pie’s restaurant in Jackson, has been arrested by the FBI and is being detained in the Madison County Detention Center for an alleged murder-for-hire scheme in which his nephew was slain in 2016, according to WLBT News.

WLBT reports as follows, based on a complaint filed by the FBI on Aug. 11 in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Missouri.

“According to the complaint, Norman, Terica Ellis and others conspired to commit a murder-for-hire in exchange for money.

“Federal authorities allege that in 2014, Norman obtained a $450,000 life insurance policy on his 18-yearold nephew, Andre Montgomery.

Norman was the sole beneficiary.

“In the days leading up to Montgomery’s murder, Ellis told Montgomery that she was coming to St. Louis. On March 13, 2016, the day before Montgomery’s murder, Norman flew to St. Louis, Missouri from his home in Los Angeles.

“On March 14, 2016, Ellis and

Norman communicated using temporary phones activated that day, according to the complaint filed in federal court in Missouri.

“Around 8:00 p.m. that same day, Montgomery was shot and killed. Ellis’s phone location information places her in the area of the murder at time of the shooting.

“Immediately following Montgomery’s murder, Ellis placed a call to Norman, and then began travelling to Memphis,

Tennessee. In the days after the murder, Ellis deposited over $9,000 in cash into various bank accounts.

On March 21, 2016, Norman contacted the life insurance company in an attempt to collect on the life insurance policy he had obtained on his nephew.

“Terica Ellis was also charged by complaint with conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, resulting in death.”

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PERSPECTIVE Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Reeves takes firm but skittish steps to stop virus spread

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ome applaud, some lay start until after Labor Day.” flower, and Washington. slight Gov. Tate Reeves Firm orders, but the short 12 day time She also called for “a statewide for his recent firm, frame and the limited number of schools mask mandate.” but skittish, steps to slow In response, Reeves or- appear skittish in the face of the state’s inthe spread of the deadly dered schools to delay open- creased pandemic risks and Dobbs’ and COVID-19 coronavirus in ing, but only for some students Woodward’s concerns.

Mississippi.

“Are there risks? Sure there are,” Reeves in a few schools and only until These come as Mississippi’s insaid.

“I’m aware of those risks and I still beAugust 17.

He also implemented BILL CRAWFORD fections soared and the positivity rate a statewide mask mandate, but only lieve this is the best decision for our state.” moved to number one in the nation (hitting for 12 days from August 5 to August 17.

Prior to this, Reeves had implemented 25.8% last week). Earlier, Dr. Ashish K. Jha, His mask order calls for masks to be worn mask and social distancing mandates in 37 Director of Harvard’s Global Health Insti- inside schools, businesses, and other build- counties. And he has consistently encourtute, wrote on Twitter that Missisaged everyone to wear masks. Yet, sippi was “doing VERY badly” with infections and deaths soared. infections soaring, the positivity rate His latest actions came after ruclimbing, hospitalizations up, and the mors circulated that he was condaily death toll nearly doubling. sidering much stronger orders, “Can’t open schools now,” he said. including another stay-at-home “They’ll just shut down.” He said the mandate. He did not reveal how recipe to get schools open would be he had come to his more skittish to stop indoor dining/bars/gyms, imdecisions in contrast to the strong pose statewide masking, and fix testrecommendations by state health ing problems. “Then, maybe, kids can experts. Nor did he explain how he go to school safely.” determined 12 days of mask wearSoon after, the state health officer ing would make a real difference. and the head of Mississippi’s largNo doubt he was influenced by est medical center called for school President Donald Trump’s insisopenings to be delayed until Septem- » Gov. Tate Reeves sports a "Mississippi Strong" face mask following tence that schools open as usual. At ber. least Reeves left final opening dehis coronavirus news briefing.

“As far as starting traditional school cisions to school boards, something in the near future, I think it’s nuts,” said ings and spaces open to the public. It also Trump does not favor. state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs. requires masks to be worn outdoors when We can only wonder what the Governor “There’s just no plausible scenario where it’s social distancing of at least six feet cannot will do if infections and deaths continue to just not going to be bad.” escalate. be maintained.

“A false balance is an abomination to the “It is time to make the tough decisions,” His school order delayed openings for Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Vice Chancellor seventh through twelfth grades in schools Lord” – Proverbs 11:1. of the University of Mississippi Medical located in hot spot counties Bolivar, CoaCenter, wrote on Twitter. “K-12 schools de- homa, Forrest, George, Hinds, Panola, Sun- » BILL CRAWFORD is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

» note from publisher

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ike many businesses, the Mississippi Business Journal began to navigate the new normal of doing business in the midst of COVID-19. The Mississippi Business Journal has been in business for more than 40 years as a locally-owned newspaper. We are still committed to bringing business news that matters to you and the state of Mississippi. We continue to analyze how we can continue to bring the news to you efficiently with the resources available to us. The editorial team has not missed a beat in their coverage on COVID-19 with updates on state mandates, and how many of the businesses are doing within their industry to combat the negative impact this pandemic has caused.

Going into the last half of the year, the Mississippi Business Journal will continue to provide the business news that matter. We will, however, be distributing the news differently than we have in the past. Beginning in September, we will publish monthly, with the first

issue being September 25. We will still continue to publish focuses that highlight industries in the state, and produce our lists that many rely on as a resource for marketing and prospecting. COVID-19 has been hard hit on the newspaper industry, and the Mississippi Business Journal is not immune to these impacts. But never fear, we will still publish our news daily on our website at www.msbusiness.com that receives more than 160,000 page views per month.

Our commitment to the state and the business community is still strong, but like many other businesses, we have to make adjustments to continue in this struggling economic environment. We are thankful for all our readers, supporters, advertisers and subscribers for sticking with us, and valuing us enough to remain loyal through the good and bad times. If there is anything you need and we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate in reach out to us.

We will get through this together.

A member of the Mississippi Press Association

www.mspress.org

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Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020 | Volume 43, Number 6

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PERSPECTIVE

Changing minds: Why it is so difficult

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hears a statement the more likely they believe it is correct.

The illusory Truth Effect was introduced in 1977 in a research paper describing a study by Lynn Hasher, David Goldstein, and Thomas Toppino. The authors were from Villanova University and Temple University. Illusory Truth Effect is the positive feeling that is experienced when we hear information that we know is true is similar to the feeling that occurs when we hear information we have heard before. Thus, if we choose to get our news regularly from the same sources, such as a certain cable news network or radio talk show, we often hear the same bias.

Speaking of news media, which many blame along with social media, for the current polarization of the country, an August 4, 2020 Gallup study entitled “News Media Viewed as Biased but Crucial to Democracy” found that, “More than eight in 10 Americans say the media bears “a great deal” (48%) or “a moderate amount” (36%) of blame for political division in this country. But nearly as many say the media could do “a great deal” (49%) or “a moderate amount” (35%) to heal those divisions.

The same study reported: “Americans are largely overwhelmed by the sheer volume and speed of news coverage, and 78% say the spread of misinformation online is “a major problem,” exceeding all other challenges posed by the media environment. Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults would like to see major internet companies find ways to exclude false information or hateful expression online.”

Also, Party Affiliation Remains Key Predictor of Attitudes About Media: “Seventy-one percent of Republicans but far fewer Democrats (22%) and independents (52%) have an unfavorable opinion of the news media. Across all measures, Republicans express more negative sentiments about the media than do Democrats and independents.”

In summary, it is becoming more difficult to change the mind of someone who has deeply held opinions and beliefs.

So how does one change someone else’s mind under these circumstances? We will address that subject and discuss the effect on businesses and organizations in our next column.

Faced with the choice between changing one’s mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.

– John Kenneth Galbraith

why businesses and individuals request that you like or follow them? Social media has a way of meeting our emotional need of belonging. We recall that in Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, the most basic emotional need is to be accepted by others.

Is it really difficult for someone to change their ave you ever read a social media mind about something they believe? The answer post that was so idiotic and is yes, and there are reasons based on research. misinformed that you couldn’t Confirmation Bias and Motivated Reasoning believe anyone would post something – A person accepts facts when they come from like that? And then you find out that it a source on their side, and rejects facts that was the product of someone you know come from a source on the other side. » PHIL HARDWICK is a regular Mississippi Business Journal and respect. Someone you know who In a study entitled “Confirmation Bias in columnist. His email is phil@philhardwick.com. you cannot believe that they have that the Utilization phil hardwick opinion? You think you can change their of Others’ Opinion mind? You should probably just forget about it.

Strength,” published in » RICKy NOBLE In this case, we’re talking about someone who has made the December 16, 2019 a controversial post on social media, not someone who is issue of Nature Neorosciopen to discussion about an issue. ence, researchers found The main problem with changing someone’s mind these that “Humans tend to disdays is because so many lines have been drawn between count information that politics, COVID 19 response, environmental impact, so- undermines past choices cial justice, and school re-openings, just to name a few. In and judgments.“ Senior authis column, we will look at how values, beliefs, and opin- thor Professor Toli Sharot, ions are formed and how difficult for them to be changed. stated in a related article in Opinions are often based on the groups we belong to Medical News Today that and on emotion, not facts. For some people, being alien- “Because humans make the ated by the group is worse than conforming to the group, vast majority of decisions thus we accept the group’s opinions and values. We feel — including professional, that we belong when we make a statement that is immedi- personal, political and purately agreed to and reinforced. We feel shunned when the chase decisions — based members of the group ridicule our opinion or statement on information received and attempt to change our mind. In other words, we feel from others, the identified good when someone else validates our opinion. bias in using the strength of Thanks to social media, some of our groups are our on- others’ opinions is likely to line friends and followers. Social media companies accel- have a profound effect on erate our affiliation with our groups. It is much easier for human behavior.” someone simply to “like” our opinion than to comment on The Illusory Truth Efit. There is no “dislike” button. Have you ever wondered fect – The more often one

Don’t confuse me with facts.

My mind’s made up.

– Anonymous

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» spin cycle

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Communicators Help Brands Influence Real Change

value to the conversation: ecently, Cision, a leading media monitoring service, hosted a we• Understand what conversations and binar titled “Demanding Change: actions are taking place. What pain points How to Best Communicate Brand Acdoes your organization and industry face? tion,” which focused on best practices for • Check in with your competition. How internal and external communications in are your competitors framing the issue and challenging times. where can you complement it to help drive The two featured panelists were Laura the conversation further? Are there importtodd smith Peterson, public elations (not a typo!) managant points they may have failed to address that er of North America at Ben & Jerry’s, and Pablo your brand can? At the end of the day, it’s about Toledo, executive vice president at Camino PR, both making real change, and you should look to competitors as dedicated to brands doing good in the world. partners in these conversations.

Here are some key takeaways that can help PR pro- • Monitor social media. What are people expressing? Adfessionals worldwide, according to the Public Relations dress any issues that may arise from your followers. Now is Society of America: the time to listen and learn.

“Understanding what is happening in your sector, in your narrative and how your competitors approach it can Organizations must be only help you as you craft your communications strategy,” transparent with their clients, Toledo said. partners and customers.

When asked what the most important thing PR and communications pros can do right now to support di- PR professionals should earn versity and inclusion, both panelists stated the impor- media opportunities that keep their brand accountable. tance of transparency.

“This is really the answer to most PR questions: Be As PR leaders, we need to provide powerful messaghonest and be transparent,” said Peterson. “It’s very es around important issues and ensure that employees important for companies to communicate their efforts have the tools they need to speak powerfully and accualong this journey. Racial justice is still in front of us and rately, Toledo said. there’s a long way for a lot of us to go.”

Getting leaders at your organization in front of the Toledo followed up by noting that we must ensure media to address the issues your brand is taking on is a that crisis communications efforts go beyond having clear way that PR practitioners can ensure their organigood talking points. It’s about participating in honest zations are held accountable, Peterson said. conversations and providing tangible actions with a “One of my most influential levers to pull is messaging clear timeline so brands are held accountable and real and interviews,” she said. “The more I can get my CEO change will be implemented in a given time frame. in front of journalists saying things about our commitment to racial justice and equality, the more he’s going to be expected to follow through on those issues.”

It is key to understand the While a lot can be learned from Ben & Jerry’s and public conversation.

Releasing a statement for the sake of releasing a state- Camino PR’s communications strategies, the discussion ment will not help your organization and, in many cases, made it evident that PR pros have the power — now it will actually hurt your brand. When it comes to issues more than ever — to guide their companies and organiof racial injustice especially, PR professionals must think zations in a direction that creates real change. more along the lines of how organizations can add real

Social Media is Most Popular Way to Engage with Brands

Salesforce surveyed more than 3,500 consumers worldwide to gain a pulse check on how consumers engage with brands, focusing on the channels, messages, and promotion types that are resonating during the coronavirus pandemic.

Social media is the most influential channel for communicating with consumers, according to the study.

Earlier this year, Salesforce collected data from 7,000 marketing leaders across the globe for its sixth annual “State of Marketing” report.

The report demonstrates the values that will remain critical as marketers and their businesses recover. The report notes that in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, standards of customer engagement are shifting yet again, and marketers are at the forefront of innovation. Here are the three key takeaways of the State of Marketing 2020 report:

•

Marketing transformation takes on new urgency. The expectations and behaviors of consumers,

businesses, and society at large are shifting with unprecedented speed and magnitude. Marketers are under tremendous pressure to overhaul their organizational models and use of technology to provide differentiated, digital-first customer engagement. Innovation is marketing leaders’ number one priority.

•

Customer data sets set the stage for empathetic marketing. As customers navigate a series of

“new normals,” personalized, empathetic engagement has never been more important. Delivering messages and offers that resonate with an individual’s unique needs and expectations requires deep insights. Marketers are shifting how they source and manage customer data and ramping up the use of technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) that help them make the most of it. Marketers report a 186% increase in AI adoption since 2018.

• Marketers double down on business value. As businesses shift from crisis triage to recovery and adSee COMMUNICATORS, Page 9

PERSPECTIVE COMMUNICATORS

Continued from Page 8

aptation, marketers have a unique opportunity to turn trusted customer relationships into business value. Marketers increasingly track metrics like customer satisfaction, digital engagement, and lifetime customer value to gain a holistic picture of what’s working and what isn’t across the customer journey. B2B marketers have a particularly strong role in business growth through account-based marketing (ABM). Ninety-two percent of B2B marketers have an ABM program.

Every two weeks, Salesforce Research surveys the public to discover how consumers and the workforce are navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are some of the key findings: • Social media is the most interesting and most noticed channel across all demographics.

• TV ads are the second-most noticed channel – quite interesting given how investment in TV ad spend has fallen in recent years as media consumption patterns changed • Personalized offers are generally favored over product-specific and brandwide discounts, but not universally.

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• Millennials are the most interested in joined forces with an army of civil rights personalized offers.

luminaries who harnessed their poten-

alized offers.

• Brands face a conundrum in that consumers want a greater variety of brand content, but less volume of brand content.

• Despite their appetite for discounts, most consumers believe brands should forego customer discounts if it means they can retain staff.

• Consumers are generally eager for brands to move forward with holiday promotions – signaling an appetite for some semblance of traditional and normalcy

lunch counters.

“Nashville prepared me,” Lewis said in a 2013 Nashville Tennessean article. “If it hadn’t been for Nashville, I would not be the person I am now.”

Lewis, was a leader of the sit-ins that desegregated those lunch counters in the 1960s. Physical violence and arrests were no match for his deep faith in the cause.

Together with a core group of Nashville students, he changed the face of activism in America, embracing nonviolent civil disobedience that became the bedrock of the modern fight for racial equality.

From Nashville, Lewis went on to participate in the Freedom Rides, to speak at the March on Washington, to cross the bridge at Selma and to enter the halls of power in Congress. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 for his work.

And this week, his larger than life impact was felt in poignancy even in death – as the first Black lawmaker to lie in state at the U.S. Capitol.

Rest in peace, visionary leader. Your movement continues to make the world a better place!

Each week, The Spin Cycle will be-

• Gen Z is the least interested in person- tial in local churches and at downtown

Hero Mic: John Lewis Was a Civil Rights Legend

U.S. Rep. John Lewis – the human rights lion who demanded change on societal attitudes on racial injustice and police brutality – died recently at age 80, leaving an incredible and lasting legacy on civil rights.

When he arrived in Nashville at age 17 to study at American Baptist College, the ambitious leader was forever changed by the stances he made in Music City.

His activism is embedded in the DNA of the city where he came of age, learned the language of protest and

Photo courtesy of Bettmann Archive

» John Lewis, at 23, was the youngest speaker at the March on Washington on August 28, 1963.

stow a Golden Mic Award to the person, group or company in the court of public opinion that best exemplifies the tenets of solid PR, marketing and advertising – and those who don’t. Stay tuned – and step-up to the mic! And remember …

Amplify Your Brand! » TODD SMITH is co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Deane | Smith, a full-service branding, PR, marketing and advertising firm with offices in Jackson.

The firm – based in Nashville, Tenn. – is also affiliated with Mad Genius. Contact him at todd@deanesmithpartners. com, follow him @spinsurgeon and like the ageny on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/deanesmithpartners, and join us on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/ company/deane-smith-&-partners.

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Mississippi Business Journal

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Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Iuka roll steel components maker to invest $6.9 million, add 30 jobs

S

TVA board to review CEO pay amid Trump complaint

A

federal utility’s board plans to review its CEO pay amid ongoing criticism from President Donald Trump, the board’s chairman said Monday.

Tennessee Valley Authority interim board chairman John Ryder told the Chattanooga Times Free Press the board will look at the compensation of CEO Jeff Lyash, who topped $8.1 million in 2019 total compensation in his first six months in the position.

Last week, Trump called on the board to fire Lyash and pay the new CEO at most $500,000 annually.

The TVA Act requires competitive compensation with other utilities.

“The issue is not Jeff ’s performance – everybody agrees he is doing a great job,” Ryder said. “There is an issue of compensation that the board is going to take a serious look at and how we structure that so that we are in compliance with the TVA Act.” Last week, Trump fired TVA’s former chairman and another board member – Richard Howorth of Oxford – over TVA’s hiring of foreign workers. Days later, TVA rescinded a decision to lay off more than 200 in-house technology workers and outsource 20% of its technology jobs to foreign-based companies.

TVA has said it doesn’t get any taxpayer money and the CEO salary is in the bottom fourth of other big utilities.

www.gcminsurance.com

In 2020, Galloway Chandler McKinney Insurance celebrates 100 years of serving our customers and communities. Without our loyal customers and past and present staff, as well as our carrier relationships throughout the years, this milestone would not be possible.

Although there are too many people and organizations to individually acknowledge, a warmest word of gratitude is due to Kyle Chandler III, Steve McKinney, and the late Jimmy Galloway. Without their wisdom and leadership, our organization would not be what it is today.

teel components manufacturer and supplier Samuel Roll Form Group, a division of Samuel, Son & Co. (USA) Inc., is expanding operations in Iuka. The company is investing $6.9 million in the project and will create 30 more jobs by May, increasing employment at its facility to approximately 160.

Samuel Roll Form Group provides heavy roll-formed steel products to major industries, including the construction and rail sectors. The company is constructing a 67,000-squarefoot addition onto its current 125,000-square-foot facility to accommodate the expansion.

Group President Lou Sartor said: “The expansion will also help generate local employment opportunities for approximately 30 new people. We would like to thank the Mississippi Development Authority, Tishomingo County and Tennessee Valley Author-

ity for all of their support assistance and support, and we look forward to continuing to grow in this area for many years to come.”

The Mississippi Development Authority is providing a $400,000 grant for equipment relocation and a $50,000 grant for work-force training. Tishomingo County and the Tennessee Valley Authority also are assisting with the project.

– MBJ Staff

Co-ops get second round of broadband grants

P

ublic Service Commissioner Brandon Presley announced on Monday that 13 north Mississippi electric cooperatives have received more than $5.9 Million in a second round of funding from the Mississippi Electric Cooperatives Broadband COVID-19 grant program.

Presley recently announced that the co-ops would get $65 million the grants in the first round of funding.

The program was established by the Legislature to increase expansion of high-speed Internet service to underserved areas.

The grant program will enable recipients to begin construction in certain census blocks not covered with broadband service as defined by the Federal Communications Commission (25 mbps download, 3 mbps upload). The cooperatives must first agree to match every dollar of grants with private money and provide certain speeds in the area. The portion of each project funded by the grant program must be

operational by Dec. 30.

The amount of each second round award is listed below.

Alcorn County Electric Power Association, $519,799.59; Delta Electric Power Association, $468,994.00; East Mississippi Electric Power Association, $574,174.00; 4-County Electric Power Association, $574,174.00; Monroe County Electric Power Association, $402,559.00; Natchez Trace Electric Power Association, $417,209.00; North East Mississippi Electric Power Association, $392,217.78; Northcentral Electric Power Association, $263,163.00; Prentiss County Electric Power Association,$478,478.00; Tallahatchie Valley Electric Power Association, $431,851.00; Tippah Electric Power Association, $574,174.00; Tishomingo County Electric Power Association, $453,835.00, Tombigbee Electric Power Association. $401,825.00.

– MBJ Staff

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

4 poultry plant execs indicted after 2019 immigration raid

F

Two people from the indictments unsealed Thursday — Salvador Delgado-Nieves and Iris Villalon — worked at A&B Inc., a plant in Pelahatchie.

Delgado-Nieves, 57, of Pelahatchie, was charged with harboring people who were in the U.S. illegally and assisting them with falsely presenting themselves as U.S. citizens. He was also charged with helping immigrants obtain false Social Security cards and of making false statements to law enforcement. Conviction would carry up to 74 years in prison and $2.5 million in fines, Hurst said.

Villalon, 44, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was charged with harboring a person who was in the U.S. illegally and one count of making false statements about hiring immigrants without proper documentation. Conviction would carry up to 20 » Four executives from two Mississippi poultry plants indicted on federal years in prison charges tied to ICE raids and $750,000 in fines, Hurst said.

The two others indicted — Carolyn the raids in which 680 people were arrested at seven poultry plants in central Johnson and Aubrey “Bart” Willis — worked for Pearl River Foods LLC in Mississippi.

Hurst and Albence also scolded jour- Carthage. nalists for reports that focused on the A indictment says Johnson, 50, of arrests separating children from immi- Kosciusko, Mississippi, was a human grant parents who were sent to deten- resources manager, and Willis, 39, of tion centers.

Flowery Branch, Georgia, was manager “If a parent puts their child in that po- of the plant. sition where they commit a criminal act Johnson was charged with harboring that subjects them to being arrested and people who were in the U.S. illegally, detained … that responsibility falls on wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. them,” Albence said.

Conviction on all charges would carry up None of the four people from the new- to 84 years in prison and $2.25 million in ly unsealed indictments were arrested on fines, Hurst said. the day of the raids, said Hurst, who is Willis was charged with harboring the U.S. attorney for south Mississippi. people in the U.S. illegally. Conviction He said they worked as managers, super- on all charges would carry a maximum visors or human resources employees. of 50 years in prison and $1.25 million in Hurst said journalists have failed to fines, Hurst said. focus on the American victims of idenAn indictment says both Willis and tity theft — people whose Social Secu- Johnson harbored immigrants after the rity numbers have been falsely used by plant was raided. immigrants working in the U.S. without It was not immediately clear whether proper documentation. any of the four people indicted is repreAlbence said last year’s raids in Mis- sented by an attorney. They were schedsissippi have brought 126 indictments, uled to appear before federal magistrates 117 criminal arrests and 17 convictions. later Thursday.

Hurst said the investigation continues. our executives from two Mississippi poultry processing plants have been indicted on federal charges tied to one of the largest workplace immigration raids in the U.S. in the past decade.

U.S. Attorney Mike Hurst and the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Matt Albence, announced the indictments as the documents were unsealed Thursday.

Their announcement happened a day before the one-year anniversary of

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COVID-19 puts brakes on Mississippi catfish sales

Cash flow challenges are the latest struggle for Mississippi catfish producers, as product sales to their biggest consumers – restaurants – are way down due to COVID-19.

“Even though prices are relatively stable, it has no meaning when producers are unable to sell their products,” said Ganesh Kumar, an agricultural economist at Mississippi State University’s Delta Research and Extension Center in Stoneville. “Sales lost due to COVID-19 related closures are irrecoverable.

“Sales lost to restaurants has a downward effect on the supply chain. Eventually, fish inventory builds up in ponds, and producers spend more money on maintenance feeding, increasing the cost of production,” he said.

Catfish packed for sales to restaurants are difficult to repackage for sales to grocery stores and other retail outlets. This problem made it difficult to quickly tap the increasing demand at the retail sector, resulting in processing sales significantly lower in April and May of 2020.

“Prices have been relatively stable at slightly above $1 per pound for the last three to four months. However, individual producers are hurting because of reduced sales due to business closures,” Kumar said.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reports that the U.S. catfish industry generated about $379 million in sales in 2019, of which $226 million originated from farms in Mississippi. U.S. consumption of seafood, which includes catfish, is 16 pounds per capita annually, up from 14.7 pounds in 2016. U.S. catfish accounts for 0.56 pound of this amount.

Jimmy Avery, Extension aquaculture specialist with the MSU Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center,

said Mississippi continues to lead the country in catfish production, with 35,300 acres of catfish ponds as of June 30. The majority of these ponds are in the Delta, but about 8,000 water acres are in east Mississippi.

“Farmers have gotten more efficient by producing more fish per acre,” Avery said. “In 2009, farmers were producing around 4,000 pounds of catfish per acre. In 2019, that production level had increased to 6,700 pounds per acre, an increase of 59 percent.”

Avery said that increase can be attributed to the adoption of new technologies such as the use of hybrid catfish, more intensive production systems, increased aeration and improved vaccines.

The significant slump in sales to restaurants is contributing to another challenge facing the catfish industry: finding adequate markets for very large fish. The longer fish are held in ponds, the bigger they get. Not only does this cost money in feed, reducing profit, but it produces a fish with filets too large for traditional markets.

Imported fish products continue to erode the domestic market for catfish.

“In 2019, 62% of the catfish-like products eaten in the U.S. were imported,” Avery said.

MSU continues to support the U.S. catfish industry through research and Extension from the Thad Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center. Major areas of current research are fish health, water quality, production systems, economics, nutrition and genetics. Additionally, the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine operates the Aquatic Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, where producers can have their fish diagnosed and water quality checked.

– By Bonnie Coblentz MSU Extension Service

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Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Former Fred’s to be storage facility

A

140,000-square-foot self-storage facility is being built where a Fred’s store was located on Old Canton Road in Jackson before the company filed for liquidation last year.

Wimco Corp. of Raleigh, N.C. is the general contractor for GHK Developments Inc. of New Orleans.

The facility is being fashioned out of the old Fred’s store, and a three-story building is to be

constructed in front of it, according to Jimmy Johner, project manager for Wimco.

Mid-April is the target for completion, he said.

The Snobiz shop will remain at 6230 Old Canton after the conversion of the rest of the property, Johner said.

There will be about six employees at the storage facility, he said.

– MBJ Staff

Gouging case against Cal-Maine dismissed

C Panelists include:

MOLLY BRASFIELD

University of Mississippi Medical Center

LINDSAY THOMAS DOWDLE Jones Walker LLP

CAROL HARRIS

Mississippi Development Authority

And:

Date: August 25, 2020 Location: Virtual Time: 11:30am-12:30pm

ANNA WOLFE Mississippi Today

To purchase tickets or sponsorships, or for more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2NnWAa0

al-Maine Foods, Inc. on Tuesday issued a statement regarding dismissal of the state of Texas lawsuit alleging that the company engaged in price-gouging during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Jackson-based company’s motion to dismiss was granted on Aug. 13 in the District Court of Harris County, Texas, and therefore the original petition has been dismissed with prejudice.

“We are grateful the Court dismissed with prejudice all claims brought by the State of Texas against Cal-Maine Foods.

As we demonstrated to the court in our court filings and during oral argument, Cal-Maine Foods has never engaged in price gouging.

“Since 1957, we have strived to operate with honesty and integrity and will continue to do so going forward. We will also continue to do our part to help those affected by COVID-19 by having our employees follow applicable CDC guidelines and supporting the communities we serve through humanitarian efforts.

Cal-Maine Foods denied price-gouging after the attorney general for Texas filed suit in April.

“There has always been great volatility in the egg pricing market,” the Jackson-based company said in a release at the time. “The Covid-19 pandemic caused a massive disruption in every sector of the economy, including the egg industry.”

Cal-Maine is the largest producer of in-shell eggs in the country.

technology August 21 - September 3, 2020 • Mississippi Business Journal • www.msbusiness.com

VOTER

By LISA MONTI mbj@msbusiness.com

E

ligible voters in Mississippi cast their ballots using one of two methods: an electronic system, usually with a touchscreen, that records and stores their votes or by checking off their choices on paper ballots.

With growing concerns about hackers and cyberattacks, county election officials who oversee local voting are showing more interest in having a paper trail in case of any disruptions or challenges to an election outcome.

Secretary of State Michael Watson, whose office is the repository for Mississippi’s voting results, said the direct recording electronic systems have been in service since the early 2000s. Currently voters in several of the large counties are casting their votes on paper and entering their own ballot into a scanner to be recorded.

He thinks more counties will adopt the new technology in the next year.

This year Watson’s office put out a request for proposals for new voting systems.

When a group of circuit clerks and other election officials around the state saw the new technology, Watson said, he found a

trend favoring paper ballot voting.

“I think this is interesting watching the conversation change back to paper ballot,” he said. After a national focus on cybersecurity, he said the message from local election officials was, “We want technology but we want a paper trail to go back and audit to show that the people who won actually did win and we can prove it."

Watson said his hope is to get all the counties “on the same page” using similar voting equipment. The decision, though, is a local one. “The county decides which machines they’re using. We are the repository.

On election day they pass all the results from the local level to us.”

Some Mississippi residents are eligible to vote absentee because of their age (65 or older), health, work demands, if they are away at school or in the U.S. Armed Services. Mississippi is one of eight states that don’t allow a fear of COVID-19 as an excuse to vote absentee. The ACLU and the Mississippi Center for Justice recently filed a lawsuit against the state over absentee voting excuses related to the pandemic.

The Mississippi Legislature did add two COVID-19 related excuses this year. You can vote absentee if you are under a physician-imposed quarantine or if you are the

TECH caretaker of someone quarantined. The Circuit Clerk or Municipal Clerk can determine eligibility to vote absentee.

Mississippi also is one of seven states with strict photo ID laws. Voters are required to have one form of identification, such as a driver’s license, passport or student ID. “If you don’t have an ID and want one, we will provide one,” Watson said.

“Voters can call the Voter ID hotline and our office will schedule a time to give them a ride to their Circuit Clerk’s Office.”

Watson said the ballot that Mississippi voters will receive for the Nov. 3 election will be an usually long one, topped by the presidential race and including races for the U.S. Senate and four congressional districts, the state Supreme Court, a medical marijuana initiative and a new state flag.

There will also be a measure changing the way Mississippi voters elect their statewide officeholders.

According to Watson, Mississippi has 3.4 million voter records in the Statewide Election Management System, with 1.9 million active voters.

The Mississippi Secretary of State’s office has an Elections section with comprehensive information to prepare voters for the 2020 election.

Here are some important absentee voting deadlines • Absentee voting for UOCAVA (military and overseas) voters will begin Saturday, Sept. 19.

• Absentee voting for all other absentee voters will begin on Monday, Sept. 21.

• The in-person absentee voting deadline is Saturday, Oct, 31 at 5 p.m.

• Mail-in absentee ballots must be postmarked by Election Day (Nov. 3) and received within five business days of Election Day in order for the vote to count.

- The Secretary of State’s Office

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TECHNOLOGY

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

State ISPs meet the challenge of dramatically increased need for high speed internet services

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

W

ith the unprecedented shifts in how business services and education are delivered due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), demand for high speed internet service has doubled and tripled from uses ranging from more telecommuting to online remote education, said Dave Miller, senior media relations manager for C Spire in Mississippi.

Miller said most of the demand on the business side has been for companies that want to switch to remote access for employees or need to change their business and service delivery models to safely and responsibly continue to meet the needs and desires of customers.

In some areas of the country, internet service providers (ISPs) have struggled to meet the demand, with customers complaining of spotty service particularly during times of peak demand. Miller said C Spire has been able to meet the need without customers having trouble accessing the internet.

“We have pivoted and changed most, if not all, of our processes and policies on how to service consumer and businesses– all with the goal of meeting their voice and data communication needs in these special times and continuing to make it simple, easy and intuitive to order and receive service,” Miller said. “We’ve done a lot since mid-March.”

Miller listed some highlights: *At C Spire, we build our wireless and fiber networks, data centers and essential services for the ultimate reliability, even in the most challenging situations. Our team has stepped up with even more customer-inspired ways to serve your unique needs during the COVID-19 outbreak. *We provided more high-speed data at no extra charge. *We waived overage fees as part of our efforts to help communities stay connected during the coronavirus outbreak. Even customers who aren’t on Unlimited talk plans receive as many minutes as they need to keep in touch with loved ones and keep upto-date on COVID-19. And customers who are on eligible smartphone Unlimited plans are getting an extra 25GB of highspeed data for free (a $50 value) through Sept. 30, and double the high-speed data up to an additional 25GB on eligible prepaid plans each month through Dec. 31.

With schools grappling with how to safely reopen for fall classes and many people continuing to work from home, demand for network services continues to grow. Streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube are more popular with many alternative forms of entertainment not available. Miller said C Spire has stayed ahead of the curve by increasing direct capacity to those sites by more than 50 percent. They have also expanded direct capacity to Facebook by 30 percent.

In mid-March when the pandemic began, the University of Mississippi Medical Center moved quickly to set up a large outdoor testing facility at the Mississippi State Fairgrounds in Jackson. As a partner with UMMC on the C Spire Health app, their development team stepped up to repur-

pose the app to handle triage for the main testing facility as well as pop-up testing centers around the state, with a streamlined registration and login process.

“During the first two months of use, more than 110,000 patients received evaluations through the app,” Miller said. “Our network team also stood up a mobile network for UMMC at the fairgrounds so they could access their servers and operate in full. C Spire repurposed its health care app in early June after new cases started to wane, although infections have recently spiked as more areas have resumed normal activities.”

Rural areas in Mississippi have long suffered from what is known as the “digital divide.” With

public Wi-Fi locations like libraries and businesses closed or hours curtailed under social distancing policies, C Spire took its fiber signal and broadcast it to 27 local areas to provide complimentary high-speed Wi-Fi for students working on school assignments.

Demand is expected to continue to increase for the foreseeable future.

“The public health emergency has dramatically altered and forever changed the lives of most Mississippians, including working remotely from home, students transitioning to distance learning educaSee State ISPs, Page 15

TECHNOLOGY State ISPs

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Continued from Page 14

tion models, businesses using e-commerce, online ordering and drop off or pick up options and doctors, hospitals and medical centers and clinics exploring and implementing creative solutions to serve patients via telehealth,” he said.

C Spire plans to continue to invest in the network. C Spire has more than a million consumer and business customers in Mississippi, and also serves many business customers in Alabama and Tennessee. It is the sixth largest wireless provider in the U.S. and eighth largest fiber-tothe-home ISP in the nation.

ISP provider TEC has also seen demand from customers double and triple during the pandemic. TEC spokesman Jordan Kay said their network is robust and engineered to handle the increased load.

“We were prepared, and our customers have not had issues accessing the internet due to increased usage,” Kay said. “We have created Wi-Fi hotspots for public use in the Bay Springs area. One hot spot is at our office and one is at the park in downtown Bay Springs. We also have stepped up internal procedures to get people connected more quickly and efficiently.”

Kay said with more people working from home, schooling from home, telemedicine, and streaming options, TEC expects to see demand continue to greatly increase.

“And we are dedicated to meeting these demands,” he said. “TEC works diligently getting as many people connected as fast as we can. We are actively adding more fiber to our network to bring internet connections to rural Mississippians.”

The company recently received an Infrastructure Loan for almost $10 million that will allow TEC to expand their network in Jasper County and surrounding areas. Additionally, they are collaborating with Southern Pine Electric Cooperative to offer internet to many of their underserved and unserved members.

TEC has about 8,000 customers in Mississippi.

AT&T, ranked as the largest ISPs in Mississippi with about 2,800 employees, reports that their network continues to perform well as more people work from home and students attend school remotely.

“We continuously monitor bandwidth usage with tools that analyze and correlate network statistics, which reveal network trends, and provide us with performance and capacity reports that help us manage our network,” said AT&T spokesman Daniel Hayes. “This is standard practice. It’s what we do.”

AT&T has a long history of investing in Mississippi. Hayes said for more than 140 years, the company has worked to deliver the connectivity

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Mississippi residents and businesses want and, from 20162019 alone, invested nearly $750 million to enhance and expand their wired and wireless networks in the state.

“We are committed to continuing our work to help close the remaining digital divide in the state and to deliver the high-speed services that keep communities and businesses across the state connected,” he said.

Internet Service Providers

internet service providers Internet Service Providers

Mississippi Employees

Rank

Company

Address

Phone

Website

Services Offered

1

AT&T Mississippi

209 E. Capitol, Jackson, MS 39201

601-592-6580

att.com/local/mississippi

Entertainment, video, broadband internet, and voice services – mobile and fixed.

2,300

2

Comcast Mississippi

5915 I-55 N., Jackson, GA 39213

601-982-0922

comcast.com

High speed interenet; cable tv; Internet phone service; inhome wifi; business services

1,160

3

MaxxSouth Broadband

105 Allison Cove, Oxford, MS 38655

662-720-4410

maxxsouth.com

Cable TV; high-speed Internet; digital phone

250

4

C Spire Home Services

1018 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 500, Ridgeland, MS 39157

855-438-1009

cspire.com/home

Commercial and residential broadband internet access, live streaming TV, digital home phone and smart WiFi services.

200

5

Sparklight

786 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Biloxi, MS 39530

877-692-2253

sparklight.com

6

TEC

700 S. West St., Jackson, MS 39201

601-353-9118

tec.com

7

Netlink Voice

400 Liberty Park Ct., Flowood, MS 39232

601-707-9000

netlinkvoice.com

Telephone, Internet, Managed IT, Cloud, and Network Engineering

40

8

Fuse.Cloud

175 E. Capitol St, Suite 500, Jackson, MS 39201

601-926-6000

www.fuse.cloud

VoIP, Fiber Internet and Managed IT Services

18

9

TecInfo Communications, LLC

601 N. Deer Creek Dr. E., Leland, MS 38756

800-863-5415

tecinfo.net

Business Internet Solutions, VoIP Hosted Voice Services & Network Security. Products include Fiber, Fixed Wireless, Broadband, Voice Lines, Hosted PBX, Managed CyberSecurity and Co-Location

17

10

Metro Network Solutions, Inc.

1900 Dunbarton Dr. Suite E, Jackson, MS 39216

601-366-6630

metronetworksolutions.com

Internet Access, Email Hosting, Network Security, Telephone Service, Data Network.

10

11

Dixie Net Communications, Inc.

301 N. Main St., Ripley, MS 38663

662-993 2000

dixie-net.com

Fixed Wireless Internet, DSL broadband Internet; T-1; web hosting; dial-up Internet; computer repair; business services; telephone services; VoIP phone services; telephone systems

8

12

Complete Computers

119 Public Square, Batesville, MS 38606

662-563-0806

completecomputers.cc

Fixed Wireless Broadband, VOIP, Networking

7

13

Internet Doorway, Inc. (Netdoor)

812 N. State St, Jackson, MS 39202

601-969-1434

netdoor.com

Business Internet, Colocation, Virtualization and IT service Consulting.

5

Residential & Business high-speed internet with Gig speeds, advanced WiFi solutions, cable and phone service.

MS offices: Batesville, Biloxi, Clarksdale, Cleveland, Columbus, Grenada, Gulfport, Long Beach, McComb, Natchez, Pascagoula.

Serving business customers with IP Voice Services, HighSpeed Internet solutions, network management along with personalized customer service.

198

135

List is ranked by Mississippi employees. Information was provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Direct questions to Frank Brown at frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

Banking & finance August 21 - September 3, 2020 • Mississippi Business Journal • www.msbusiness.com

If anyone knows the importance of community banking to rural Mississippi, Andy Anderson does

By NASH NUNNERY mbj@msbusiness.com

F

or the past 37 years, Anderson has served in some capacity with the Bank of Anguilla in the south Mississippi Delta, where the swamps and cane breaks were transformed into perhaps the most fertile farmland in the world over a century ago.

Anderson

Anderson holds an abundance of titles with the bank – CEO, CFO, president, director and dog whisperer – and considers himself late if he arrives to his office at 6:01 a.m. The bank’s adopted canine ambassador Boots happily greets Anderson every day waiting to be fed and watered.

He also serves on the Rolling Fork Visitor Center and Museum board and several

national banking boards. During a 12-year period in Anderson’s career, the self-professed baseball aficionado also moonlighted as a high school baseball and fastpitch softball coach at Sharkey-Issaquena Academy.

In May, Anderson added another title he’s the newly elected chairman of the Mississippi Bankers Association, a statewide trade organization whose member banks hold more than 95 percent of bank deposits in Mississippi.

The son of a banker, Anderson said he was humbled to be elected as MBA chair.

“It is a tremendous honor and a tremendous responsibility,” he said. “The pool of talent is huge as Mississippi has many talented CEOs. There are quite a few deserving bankers that could have been chosen instead of me.”

Growing up in Anguilla, the world of banking was not on Anderson’s career horizon. He had his sights set on becoming the next Jacque Cousteau.

“I spent a year and a half at Ole Miss in Marine Biology - I wanted to be on a boat and study marine life,” he said. “I learned to scuba dive and got my license. (But) I learned that most people who graduate with a marine biology degree wind up teaching.

That was not for me.”

After earning his bachelors and MBA at Ole Miss, Anderson accepted a posi-

“Bank regulations have tion with the Bank increased a thousand times of Anguilla in 1983. in complexity and size,” AnHe took the job with derson said. “Technology the caveat of eventuhas evolved tremendously. ally leaving the Delta When I began, we had just for a move to the “big gone with JHA as our core city”, either Dallas or processor and all of us had to Austin. count checks that went into He never left. each statement to make sure “The bank hired me none were missing.” to be an operations Loans were typed on typeperson and be trained writers and not loan proto do everything in the cessing computers, he said. bank,” he explained.

“The amount of paper“I was making $1,000 work for one loan was much per month that first shorter,” Anderson acyear. After a few knowledged. “Banking was months of training, we had an employee » The bank’s adopted canine ambassador not near as complex when I started as it is now.” leave and I managed Boots and Mr. Anderson the Cary branch for alAs the 2020-21 MBA most a year. I’ve been here ever since.” chairman, Anderson set a series of goals he Since he entered the profession nearly wished to accomplish – visit each bank unfour decades ago, Anderson has seen bank- der the MBA umbrella, re-shape the coming change dramatically - Increasing fed- mittee structure within the MBA, emphasize eral regulations, growing compliance costs the importance of political and legislative and the introduction of technology all involvement, and make diversity a priority have contributed to a new industry land- within the industry. scape, especially for a community bank like Then along came the worldwide pandemthe Bank of Anguilla. According to FDIC ic, and the layers of new banking regulations statistics, community banks represent over and laws as a result.

94 percent of all banks.

“With the COVID virus and the downturn in the economy, our priorities have shifted,” Anderson said. “We’re spending most of our time helping banks and bankers through both of these issues, which includes working on liability protection for banks as we look to the future of re-opening (bank) lobbies.”

While the 116-year old Bank of Anguilla is a community bank, Anderson himself preaches community, period. Whether he’s taking 63 local youth on a baseball-oriented trip to Chicago to see the Cubs and White Sox play, or giving his employees compensated time off to attend their child’s school play or out-of-town football game, Anderson believes in the well-being of others.

“We stress caring for each other at the bank and caring for our community. We stress family time,” Anderson said. “Sharkey and Issaquena counties are two of the poorest in the nation. We’re the only bank here. We find ways to help our citizens that many other establishments in other places would not.

“Banking boils down to one aspect – helping others.”

BANKING & FINANCE

WILD AND CRAZY » With this market atmosphere, there are no guarantees

By LYNN LOFTON mbj@msbusiness.com

F

or investors and those following the stock market, 2020 might be described as a wild and crazy ride. It's down; it's up. What's fueling this ride and can it last? Some of the state's financial advisors point to federal stimulus funds and the optimism that the virus will be controlled as important factors.

Hancock Whitney Chief Investment Officer David Lundgren said, “The market recovery since March 23 has been incredibly impressive and also befuddling for many investors given that U.S. economic growth in the second quarter will likely be the largest economic contraction for the U.S. economy since WWII.” He believes there are several contributing factors that have fueled this rally. “The Federal Reserve, as well as Central Banks across the globe, have done 'whatever it takes' to provide liquidity and stabilize financial markets. Congress’ passage of the CARES Act provided many businesses and individuals much needed support when much of the country was locked down,” he said. “Additional legislation

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

totaling approximately $700 billion was also passed this year that targeted more support for businesses, schools, municipalities, medical supplies, and health care facilities. Also, businesses reopening and COVID-19 vaccine and effective treatment optimism helped.”

Suzie P. Sawyer, managing director and investment advisor representative with Trinity Investment Services in Gulfport, notes that the market is constantly changing and there are no guarantees. “One of the things that has been extremely difficult in the market this year has been the speed and velocity of the market correction and subsequent recovery,” she said.

“To put the speed of this pullback into perspective—it took the market just 22 days to fall -20 percent from the February 19 peak. That was the fastest correction of -20 percent that we have ever seen (excluding the 1930s).

“In 2008, it took none months for the market to correct -20 percent off the October 2007 high.

In 2002, it took six months to hit -20 percent down. As quick as the move down was off the February peak, the rally back has been equally as intense.”

Sawyer adds that it's not the common bottoming process for

n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

17

the market. “For example, in the 2002 and 2008/2009 bottom, there was quite a bit of back and forth, as those bottoms were more of a process LYNN LOFTON rather than an event.”

Lundgren tackles the question of whether or not the recovery can last. “In the very long term, we believe the outlook is clearer, and the economy will recover and prosper, and in turn, stock investors will likely be rewarded.

“The short term is a different, much more complex question to answer as the market has many more challenges to contend with than usual. Additionally, while there is optimism regarding a vaccine, many questions loom regarding its effectiveness and the ability to produce and apply hundreds of millions of doses of a vaccine just in the U.S. Alone. Any setback on this front could be detrimental to markets.

“A rise in virus cases and an additional lockdown in the fall/winter season would again provide a significant challenge to the market continuing to rally. Discipline and patience have never been more important.”

Scott Reed of Hardy Reed Investments in Tupelo says there's a prevailing attitude that we'll get out of this pandemic and be okay. “Technically, we're in a bull market but it doesn't feel that way because we went down so much in March,” he said.

“There's nothing to fix in the economy at this time; we have to fix the virus. It's medical, not economic, and how deep the hole is to climb out of it depends on how we manage it.”

Reed, who's been in the financial services business 35 years, says most See WILD AND CRAZY, Page 18

18 n

Mississippi Business Journal

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Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

BANKING & FINANCE

WILD AND CRAZY

Continued from Page 17

portfolios are down five to 10 percent.

“There's a ton of risk having money in the market if you will need it this year. The worst case: you need money while the market is down; that Ballew affects the money you would make back,” he said. “People expect us to have answers by the end of the first quarter of next year.”

Matt Ballew of Ballew Wealth Management in Jackson said, “Many investors assume the economy is strong if the stock market is rising. However, if you dig a little deeper, you will find that earnings at the corporate level—not per share—have not made much improvement since 2012. The Fed stimulus, deficit spending and a tax cut in 2018 have been the main support for stock prices along with $500 billion (+/-) per year in stock buybacks for the last six years, reducing outstanding shares

and raising earnings per share with no increase in earnings at the corporate level.”

Ballew goes on to say that in truth,

economic growth has been anemic by historical standards and well below the growth rates of the ever increasing debt. “Also, the valuation metrics of the

U.S. stock market are at an extreme and suggest future returns will be disappointing.

“Then, finally, the ever increasing debt is becoming a larger and larger drag on the economy, meaning we can’t outgrow it; and, ultimately, in these circumstances (which are global), governments take the easy way out—destroy the currency and inflate the debt away over time.”

He predicts that stagflation or outright inflation is in our future. “The best values currently are commodities on a relative and absolute basis. Many commodities are at 40–50 year lows and they don’t go to zero. Companies providing energy, materials, industrial metals, food, clothing, and shelter all come to mind as better opportunities.”

Ballew adds that in general, small investors can do as well as large investors in the public markets although small investors are not usually in a position to take advantage of private placements or non-public securities.

CLI Trus

DES Sma

Your small business is big to us.

In uncertain times, your business remains our priority.

From simple checking accounts to complex loans and services, our dedicated relationship managers are here to help you no matter what challenges your business may be facing. Together, we can help your business stand strong and move forward.

Learn more at trustmark.com/business

MEMBER FDIC

PUB MS

TRI 10 x

COL 4C

WHEN HE INTERVIEWED A REGIONS S B A S P E C I A L I ST, he pressed us for big ideas on small business lending.

You should too.

You won’t find us at a loss when it comes to suggesting ways to help your business grow. So ask us the tough questions.

1 I understand Small Business Administration (SBA) loans require as little as 10% down. Is that true?

2 What are the advantages of an SBA loan for a business like mine?

3 Can I get extended repayment terms with an SBA loan?

4 Is Regions a preferred SBA lender? What makes it one?

Your Regions SBA Specialist can help you determine the best loan for your situation.

So interview a Regions SBA Specialist today to learn how we can move your business forward.

Meade Tyler | SBA Specialist | 228.701.9056 | meade.tyler@regions.com

Š 2020 Regions Bank. 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.

20 n

BANKING & FINANCE

Credit Unions Mississippi Business Journal

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

n

Credit Unions

credit unions

Rank

Credit union / Address

Phone

Website

Founded

1

Keesler Federal Credit Union 2602 Pass Rd, Biloxi, MS 39531

228-385-5500

kfcu.org

1947

2

Navigator Credit Union P.O. Box 1647, Pascagoula, MS 39568

228-475-7300

navigatorcu.org

3

Hope Federal Credit Union 4 Old River Place, Suite A, Jackson, MS 39202

601-944-1100

4

Sunbelt Federal Credit Union 6885 US 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

5

Top Officer

Employees

Members

Offices

Assets

Andrew Swoger

736

253,515

38

$3,161,165,658

1939

Sonya Jones

127

45,100

16

$342,492,097

hopecu.org

1995

Bill Bynum

176

35,130

28

$309,374,569

601-649-7181

sunbeltfcu.org

1953

Christopher Hammond

99

37,532

10

$237,310,717

Mutual Credit Union P.O. Box 25, Vicksburg, MS 39181

601-636-7523

mutualcu.org

1931

Michael Mathews

63

21,435

5

$222,987,149

6

Singing River Federal Credit Union 6006 Highway 63, Moss Point, MS 39563

228-475-9531

srfcu.org

1953

James Smith Jr.

71

19,396

4

$220,660,382

7

Rivertrust Federal Credit Union 409 Riverwind Drive, Pearl, MS 39208

601-664-2085

rivertrustfcu.com

1935

Kevin Long

15

8,427

1

$166,438,698

8

Statewide Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 320483, Flowood, MS 39232

601-420-5535

statewidefcu.org

1949

Casey Bacon

48

19,329

4

$139,230,819

9

Mississippi Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 55889, Jackson, MS 39296

601-351-9200

msfcu.us

1958

Mike Lightsey

49

22,086

5

$132,776,588

10

Magnolia Federal Credit Union 240 Briarwood Dr, Jackson, MS 39206

601-977-8300

magfedcu.org

1935

Michael Waylett

56

20,124

4

$131,127,824

11

Members Exchange Credit Union P.O. Box 31049, Jackson, MS 39286

601-922-3350

mecuanywhere.com

1954

Mitzi Tate

42

15,107

3

$118,221,707

12

Gulf Coast Community FCU 12364 Highway 49, Gulfport, MS 39503

228-539-7029

gulfcoastcommunityfcu.org

1935

Lisa Graham

64

11,713

4

$104,764,394

13

Triangle Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 8300, Columbus, MS 39705

662-434-6052

trianglefcu.com

1959

John Gibbons

34

12,516

4

$87,399,103

14

Ferguson Federal Credit Union 5162 Plaza Dr, Tylertown, MS 39667

601-587-4037

fergusonfcu.org

1968

Vernon Clevenger

53

9,730

7

$83,270,756

15

Jackson Area Federal Credit Union 5675 Hwy 18 W, Jackson, MS 39209

601-922-7055

jacksonareafcu.com

1953

Gary Fairley

23

14,120

2

$81,895,237

16

1st Mississippi Federal Credit Union 600 19th Ave, Meridian, MS 39301

601-693-6873

1stms.com

1972

Rebecca Cooper

25

9,599

2

$62,381,834

17

Eagle Express Federal Credit Union 567 S. State Street, Jackson, MS 39205

601-355-6363

eagleexpressfcu.com

1935

Katie Nelson

11

3,985

1

$60,385,013

18

CenturyFirst Federal Credit Union 3318 Hardy St, Hattiesburg, MS 39401

601-450-4114

centuryfirstfcu.com

1956

John Harmond

26

7,523

6

$49,651,989

19

Meridian Mutual Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 310, Meridian, MS 39301

601-693-1900

meridianmutualfcu.com

1953

Debbie Smith

14

6,364

1

$41,846,336

20

MUNA Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 3338, Meridian, MS 39303

601-693-8563

munafederal.com

1962

Biffle "Bo" Pittman Jr.

15

5,606

1

$36,762,757

21

Securtrust Federal Credit Union 3870 Goodman Road, Southaven, MS 38672

662-890-8760

securtrust.org

1949

Martha Rushing

9

3,070

2

$29,569,864

22

Gulf Trust Federal Credit Union 2533 Denny Ave, Pascagoula, MS 39567

228-762-0659

gulftrustcu.org

1973

Betty Hutchinson

10

3,476

2

$26,218,845

23

Mississippi National Guard FCU 142 Military Dr, Jackson, MS 39232

601-932-5194

msngfcu.com

1962

Vickie Bourne

4

2,511

1

$25,642,829

24

Mississippi Public Employees Credit Union 613 S West St, Jackson, MS 39201

601-948-8191

mspecu.org

1966

Debbie Cox

12

6,269

1

$25,241,986

25

ECM Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158

601-605-8600

ecmfcu.com

1967

Jennifer Lovett

2

1,991

1

$22,377,456

26

Brightview Federal Credit Union 713 S Pear Orchard, #101, Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-977-9468

brightviewcu.com

1950

Dawn Parks

10

2,966

2

$21,777,611

27

Camp Shelby Federal Credit Union Warehouse Ave, Bldg 82, Hattiesburg, MS 39407

601-544-5421

campshelbycreditunion.us

1967

Denise Collier

7

2,835

1

$21,591,479

28

Meridian Mississippi ANG FCU P.O. Box 4232 WSS, Meridian, MS 39304

601-483-7307

meridianangfcu.org

1963

Darlene Wilkerson

3

1,399

1

$20,684,770

29

Old South Federal Credit Union 148 N. Shields Lane, Natchez, MS 39120

601-442-4382

oldsouthfcu.com

1953

Stacy McCann

8

2,845

1

$17,885,285

30

First Neshoba Federal Credit Union 547 E. Main St., Philadelphia, MS 39350

601-656-1183

fnfcu.org

1964

Jackie Long

8

3,478

1

$17,176,108

31

Elevator Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 368, Olive Branch, MS 38654

662-895-2964

1967

Pamela Collier

2

1,881

1

$16,458,288

32

N. Mississippi Health Services Employees FCU 830 S. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS 38801

662-377-3235

nmhs.net/creditunion

1982

Daphne Burson

3

3,066

1

$13,336,128

33

CommFirst Federal Credit Union 1151 N. State St., Suite 104, Jackson, MS 39202

601-938-1213

commfirstfcu.com

1954

Sheila Bridges

5

2,321

1

$13,011,977

34

CM Members Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 1444, Columbus, MS 39703

662-327-3030

cmcreditunion.com

1986

Casey Halbert

4

1,813

1

$12,009,291

35

Pine Belt Federal Credit Union 1808 Evelyn Gandy Pkwy, Hattiesburg, MS 39401

601-583-3242

pinebeltfcu.org

1942

Brian Green

7

1,929

1

$11,940,444

36

The New Horizons Federal Credit Union 7290 Hwy 45 Alt., West Point, MS 39773

662-494-7700

newhorizonsfcu.com

1960

Vickie Bagwell

7

2,698

2

$11,439,115

Information from the Mississippi Credit Union Association is ranked by total assets as of March 31, 2020. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

BANKING & FINANCE

Credit Unions

Credit Unions

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

21

credit unions

Rank

Credit union / Address

Phone

Website

Employees

Members

Offices

Assets

37

Vickswood Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 820240, Vicksburg, MS 39182

601-636-4434

vickswoodcu.com

1967

Jerry Hicks

4

1,388

1

$11,280,581

38

Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol FCU P.O. Box 958, Jackson, MS 39205

601-987-1290

mhspfcu.com

1964

Tracy Burleigh

2

1,364

2

$11,268,603

39

Vicksburg Railroad Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 802, Vicksburg, MS 39181

601-638-3134

vrcums.com

1934

David Bell

3

1,144

1

$11,073,807

40

AMPOT Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 352, Hamilton, MS 39746

662-343-8793

ampotfcu.org

1969

Cristina Jones, Renelda Goode

2

1,428

1

$10,276,687

41

Southern Coastal Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 503, Biloxi, MS 39533

228-432-0284

socofcu.org

1973

Alison Lynd

5

1,481

2

$10,274,146

42

Treasury Employees Federal Credit Union 100 W. Capitol St., No. 1059, Jackson, MS 39269

601-355-5411

1948

Daniel Quinn

1

501

0

$10,140,853

43

McComb Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 456, McComb, MS 39648

601-684-7764

1940

Laura Burris

6

1,851

1

$10,070,991

44

Biloxi Teachers Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 168, Biloxi, MS 39533

228-436-5126

1965

John Welter

1

1,510

0

$9,426,777

45

Mississippi DHS Federal Credit Union 767 N President St, Jackson, MS 39202

601-354-6544

msdhsfcu.com

1952

Joey Minton

4

2,002

1

$9,020,039

46

Memorial Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 1810, Gulfport, MS 39502

228-865-3142

memorialfcu.org

1962

John Curry

3

1,661

1

$8,392,965

47

Twin States Federal Credit Union 59 Yorkville Park Square, Columbus, MS 39702

662-327-7666

twinstatesfcu.com

1965

Melissa Carter

3

1,842

1

$7,801,198

48

Healthplus Federal Credit Union 500H E. Woodrow Wilson Ave, Jackson, MS 39216

601-354-6633

healthplusfcu.com

1948

Stephen Hopkins

4

2,322

1

$6,578,427

49

First Unity Federal Credit Union 122 5th Ave Ste B, McComb, MS 39648

601-680-4419

2014

Samuel Hall

3

2,623

1

$6,319,596

50

Northeast Mississippi Federal Credit Union 101 3rd Ave S, Amory, MS 38821

662-256-9697

1964

Sandra Vaughn

3

975

1

$6,285,317

51

Delta Federal Credit Union 2339 Highway 1 S., Greenville, MS 38702

662-332-7184

1992

Barbara Rodgers

3

1,262

1

$5,638,225

52

Water's Edge Federal Credit Union 1976 Popps Ferry Road, Biloxi, MS 39532

228-896-0038

watersedgefcu.com

1953

Amy Olier

3

764

1

$5,500,869

53

Tombigbee Federal Credit Union P.O. Drawer 539, Amory, MS 38821

662-256-2791

tombigb.virtualcu.net

1966

Carolyn Logan

0

1,125

1

$5,323,332

54

Community Partners FCU P.O. Box 5, Newton, MS 39345

601-683-3322

ecmcu.net

1971

Deloris Little

5

2,093

0

$4,965,736

55

Meridian Postal Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 654, Meridian, MS 39301

601-693-7413

1932

Linda Payne

0

456

0

$4,938,788

56

MUW Employees Federal Credit Union 1100 College St., No. 41, Columbus, MS 39701

662-327-2500

1965

Tova Hamm

3

843

2

$4,119,753

57

Mississippi Central Federal Credit Union 5134 Highway 80, Morton, MS 39117

601-732-8887

1986

Susan Pinter

3

956

1

$3,578,250

58

Shelby/Bolivar County Federal Credit Union 630 Gaines Hwy, Boyle, MS 38730

662-843-0060

1955

Barbara Black

2

2,002

1

$3,020,226

59

Armstrong Federal Credit Union 1085 Highway 80 W, Jackson, MS 39204

601-960-5240

1956

Linda Alford

2

362

0

$2,923,730

60

Choctaw Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 6284, Choctaw, MS 39350

601-656-0055

1976

Sandy Balderas

4

1,953

1

$2,652,935

61

Mississippi College Employees FCU Box 4033, Clinton, MS 39058

601-925-3895

1958

Angela Poole

0

202

1

$2,552,781

62

Ellisville State School Employees FCU 1101 Highway 11 S, Ellisville, MS 39437

601-477-9384

1973

Debra Perkins

1

524

1

$2,297,707

63

Mid Delta Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 670, Indianola, MS 38751

662-887-4347

1965

Faye Vance

2

1,384

0

$1,918,240

64

Pearl Municpal Federal Credit Union 2420 Old Brandon Road, Pearl, MS 39208

601-939-3126

1981

Karen Williams

0

591

1

$1,627,951

65

Natchez Educators Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 774, Natchez, MS 39121

601-445-2851

1961

Teresa Ford

0

510

1

$1,319,928

66

Issaquena County Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 87, Mayersville, MS 39113

662-873-4393

1969

Sherida Stovall

0

452

1

$1,208,609

67

JPFCE Federal Credit Union 600 E McDowell Rd, Jackson, MS 39204

601-559-6100

1952

Sharecia Atkinson

1

197

1

$1,078,029

68

Citizens Choice Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 17879, Natchez, MS 39122

601-442-5888

1966

Patricia Smith

0

442

1

$1,026,388

69

United Methodist of Mississippi FCU PO Box 245, Booneville, MS 38829

662-617-0088

1961

Marilyn Rowland

1

291

1

$745,336

70

Forrest County Teachers Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 1271, Hattiesburg, MS 39403

601-584-7331

1961

Deron Hall

0

281

0

$236,774

mccombfcu.com

https://www5.homecu.net/fi/ muwfcu/

shelbybolivarfcu.org

pearlcu.com

citizenschoicefcu.org

Founded

Top Officer

Information from the Mississippi Credit Union Association is ranked by total assets as of March 31, 2020. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

22 n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

TOP ENTREPRENEURS

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

TABLE OF CONTENTS Todd Barrett . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

T1 Telehealth

Rachel Bolaños . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

The Smocking Place

Dea Dean . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

James and Natasha King . . . . . . . .26 .

LMP Consultants

Marlo Carter Kirkpatrick . . . . 27

Jessica Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

O! How Cute

Bernard Reed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Kirkpatick and Porch Creative

Reed’s Metals

Dea Dean Counseling Collective

Thimblepress

Kristen Ley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Valerie Butler Sidney . . . . . . 29

Sara Denham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Preston Hugh Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Lee Dentistry

Lee Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Cornerstone Counseling

Amanda Frazier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Cliff Osbon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Office of Evolution, Flowood

Indeed Community Solution

James Gammill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Lateshia Pearson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 National Women’s Brunch Organization

The Fashion Carriage XPO Logistics

Fat Mama’s Tamales

Jill Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Enrich Mississippi

Tonyatta Hairston . . . . . . . . . . 26

Envision Eye Care

Valerie Butler Sidney

Rosalind Yarber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

TOP ENTREPRENEURS

To nominate future entrepreneurs please go online msbusiness.com/ mississippis-topentrepreneurs

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

23

24 n

Mississippi Business Journal

n

TOP ENTREPRENEURS

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Todd Barrett

Rachel Bolaños

T

R

T1 Telehealth

odd Barrett is the CEO of T1, a telehealth company located in Canton. T1 is a healthcare provider using telehealth as a tool to improve healthcare and patient outcomes. He began working with T1 in 2016 with a desire to improve patient care, lower healthcare costs, and provide access to the best providers available.

Barrett has spent most of his work life within the pharmacy industry and still is involved in pharmacy with the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy and a couple of other companies. Providence Health Technologies (PHT) is a company developing hardware and software technologies to integrate healthcare sectors to allow faster access to medication as well as lower the costs of healthcare and medication delivery. One project PHT developed and holds several patents for is its mobile medication cart www.apscart.com that helps make medications available to patients almost instantly. PHT is also participating in an FDA study to measure and evaluate the movement of medications throughout the U.S. drug supply chain.

Congratulations Dr. Tonyatta Hairston 2020 Top Entrepreneur

ENVISION EYE CARE • 1316 N State St., Jackson, MS 39202 www.987eyes.com • 601.987.3937

The Smocking Place

achel Bolaños is the founder and co-owner of two successful children’s clothing companies, The Smocking Place and Luella Lane.

One late night in early 2016 The Smocking Place came to life.

Bolaños founded the successful e-commerce company in her living room and asked her sister to be her co-owner, and within the first month the company had over 1,500 online sales. Wildly exceeding her expectations, The Smocking Place continued to grow, and within the first 24 months the company made over $1M in sales.

In 2018, Bolaños dreamt up another idea: a sister company to The Smocking Place that would carry high-end pima cotton children’s clothes. The name is a combination of her children’s names, Luca and Stella, and so became Luella Lane. Luella Lane launched the first collection in late 2018.

Bolaños serves with the Junior League of Jackson. She is a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church with her family. She is married to Danny and they have two children.

Dea Dean

Dea Dean Counseling Collective

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ea Dean is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist running Dea Dean LPC, a Counseling private practice she formed in 2015.

Her practice employs three other counselors. Dean graduated from Belhaven University with a Bachelors of Science in 2010, before attending Reformed Theological Seminary, in Jackson.

She graduated in 2013 with a Masters degree and received the “Marriage and Family Therapy Counseling Award”. Dean opened Counseling Collective, a professional office space leasing company for independent mental heath practitioners.

Dean is enjoying connecting and networking with the tenants who share her profession and her space, and she looks forward to continuing to train counselors at Dea Dean LPC before deploying them into self- employment, to run their own private practices.

Dean resides in Madison with her husband Jack, son Everett, and daughter Emmett.

TOP ENTREPRENEURS

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Sara Denham

Amanda Frazier

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The Fashion Carriage

ara Denham had a dream and she made it happen on the Gulf Coast.

Denham founded The Fashion Carriage, starting it out of a Federal Express truck that she converted into the mobile boutique. She now has a brick and mortar store but she still loves going out into the community for different events to bring The Fashion Carriage directly to the customers.

She says she had thought about taking her vision to a brick and mortar location when everything fell into the right place at the right time. Taking her mobile truck to at an event in Biloxi, another store owner informed her of a location for rent. Denham took the leap, signed the lease and has been going strong ever since.

The store has an eclectic mix of clothes and gifts and Denham says the future is bright for her and her business.

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XPO Logistics

manda Frazier started as a young entrepreneur when she made her first business deal at 18. To actively negotiate business contracts at this age, she requested the state of Mississippi to recognize her as an adult to allow her to pursue her business goals.

Next, she became a real estate salesperson in 2003 and worked in Alcorn, Desoto, and Marshall counties before being asked to sell transportation solutions for FedEx Services. In 2013, to make time for family, she left the corporate world and purchased a small dry-cleaning business.

In 2018, she was recognized as Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40. Last year, she re-entered the transportation industry as an Account Executive for, XPO Logistics.

She was recently recognized for taking an under-performing territory and increasing it by 300 percent. Frazier also manages several rental properties, has a daughter in college, a daughter in her freshman year of high school, a son in kindergarten and is engaged to be married as soon as she finds the time.

James Gammill Fat Mama’s Tamales

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at Mama’s Tamales started to take form in the mid 1980’s when a local woman who had been making tamales for years in Natchez passed away, leaving a real need for homemade tamales.

Jimmy and Britton Gammill, two local residents, began attempting to make tamales on Saturdays with the help of friends and family. After multiple attempts, the recipe began to take form to improve the taste of the tamales and refine the recipe.

Over time and many makings, some good, some bad, the tamale recipe improved to the point that people began to call and reserve tamales to be picked up. While looking for a location, the discussion started as what the tamale shop should be named.

Well it just so happened, that David and Poppy Gammill, children of Jimmy and Britton, had started a small joke between themselves that if mama and daddy keep messing up the tamale recipe, she is going to have to name the shop Fat Mama’s after eating all the mistakes. Once the joke was revealed, the term Fat Mama’s Tamales was agreed upon.

P.O. Box 5023 • Brandon, MS • 601.622.7067 • enrichms.org

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TOP ENTREPRENEURS

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Jill Gordon

Tonyatta Hairston

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Enrich Mississippi ill Gordon is the Executive Director and CEO of Enrich MS. Enrich MS was founded by Gordon in 2019 and is a community supported statewide youth enrichment program to greatly reduce vaping, educate on the dangers of substance abuse, suicide prevention, social media use, cyber bullying and a variety of youth related issues. Gordon has over 18 years of professional experience in the banking and finance industry as well as several years as a Marketing professional.

A Brandon native, Gordon graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with honors in 1998.

Gordon has a tremendous passion for helping others and she prides herself in helping her clients achieve their dreams while maximizing their earnings and savings. Gordon is married to Justin Gordon, Project manager for Thrash Construction, and they have one child- Jase. The live in Brandon and attend Pinelake church. The Gordon family enjoys being part of IFC Soccer and spending time outdoors.

Envision Eye Care

r. Tonyatta Hairston is a native of Jackson, Mississippi.

She received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Tougaloo College.

Hairston attended Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tennessee where she graduated with honors. While at SCO she was a Dean's List Student, recipient of the Clinical Science Award, Student of the Year, and Gold Key International Honor Society President.

She studied at externships including Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi, Dr. Dewey Handy Optometry in Jackson, and Dr. Watts Davis in Laurel.

Hairston was also named Mississippi's Young Optometrist of the Year and was a member of the 2011-2012 Class of Leadership Greater Jackson.

Hairston is serving in her provisional year with Junior League of Jackson. She also is an Adjunct Professor for extern students from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis and the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

James and Natasha King LMP Consultants

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ames and Natasha King are an entrepreneurial couple from the Magnolia State with genuine hearts to lead through service. Their journey to this point has been based upon a shared vision with every detail divinely orchestrated.

Native Mississippians, James and Natasha both have more than 14 years of experience in their respective fields of education (Natasha) and graphic design and ministry (James). In 2013 they decided to undergo an 18-month transition toward full-time entrepreneurship.

Their work produced opportunities to produce a magazine Love, Marriage & Partnership – the Review, a VIP Awards program recognizing entrepreneurs and community leaders, speaking engagements domestically and internationally, instructional courses for singles and married couples, nine published books and more.

James and Natasha have recently welcomed the honor of being crowned as National Ambassadors for the Mr. and Mrs. Black America Pageant. Humbled by the experience to serve contestants from California, the Midwest, Florida, New York and many more, they were extremely grateful to represent Mississippi and receive the Outstanding Leadership Award during the National Pageant.

Congratulations to Bernie Reed on being selected as a 2020 Top Entrepreneur Reed’s Metals | 19 E Lincoln Dr NE | Brookhaven, MS 39601 Office #: 601-823-6516 | reedsmetals.com

TOP ENTREPRENEURS

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Marlo Carter Kirkpatrick

Kristen Ley

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Kirkpatick and Porch Creative

arlo Kirkpatrick is a storyteller whose work evokes emotions from humor to sorrow, excitement to frustration, and uses those emotions to move audiences to action.

Marlo has headed her own creative services business since 1995, and brings extensive experience in brand development and advertising that generate bottom line results. She has managed individual project budgets and annual marketing budgets ranging from less than $20,000 to more than $400,000, consistently demonstrating strong stewardship of client funds. Marlo has won more than 200 local, regional, and national awards for creative excellence, including recognition as the Jackson Advertising Federation’s Writer of the Year five times.

When she’s not in the office, Marlo enjoys adventure travel to destinations ranging from the Amazon rain forest to the coral reefs of the Caribbean and the deserts of the Middle East. She and her husband, wildlife photographer Stephen Kirkpatrick, fell in love on an expedition to the jungles of the Amazon, and returned to Peru in 1998 for their wedding ceremony at Machu Picchu.

Preston Hugh Lee Lee Dentistry

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r. Preston Hugh Lee III was born in Greenville. He spent his early years attending Washington School where he met his later to be wife — the former, Elise Hayles. At an early age, Lee developed a keen interest in working with his hands building various things. As he matured, he decided in seventh grade that the field of dentistry greatly interested him. After high school graduation, Lee moved to Oxford, and attended the University of Mississippi where he earned a Bachelors of Business Administration with emphasis in Marketing and Management. Upon the completion of his undergraduate, he was accepted in the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in Memphis.

Lee moved back to Oxford, where he started his first company and dental practice. Lee has grown his dental practice and has also spent time in raw land acquisition and sales. Lee currently owns three companies and continues to look for new business growth and opportunities.

In 2013 and 2014. Dr. Lee and his wife have two daughters. Lee is active in his local church and other not-for-profit organizations. Lee enjoys time on Smith Lake with his family and friends.

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Thimblepress

risten Ley is the founder, owner and creative director of Thimblepress®.

Founded in a garage in 2012, Thimblepress® is a design & lifestyle company aiming to create products that make people happy. Each product is designed by Ley and filled with loads of love & color. Thimblepress® is sold in more than 1500 retail shops internationally and her products are also available on Thimblepress. com. Thimblepress has worked and collaborated with Target, Hallmark, Moon & Lola, Glitter Guide, Throw Pillow, Speak Wines, June & January, Keds. Since January 2019, Thimblepress launched three collections with Eccolo and a 3 greeting card collections with Calypso Cards, sold the Kristen Ley line into Homegoods & TJMaxx and developed a line of beach towels for Dillard’s department stores nationwide.

Ley also runs kristenley.com where she focuses her efforts on mentoring and creative consulting with individuals and brands.

In her free time, Ley enjoys painting, traveling, perusing the local flea markets & hanging out with her two Goldendoodles, Willow & Henry.

Congratulations to Rosalind Yarber on being selected as a 2020 Top Entrepreneur

INDEED COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS indeedcommunitysolutions@gmail.com

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TOP ENTREPRENEURS

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Cliff Osbon

Lateshia Pearson

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Jessica Phillips

Bernard Reed

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Office of Evolution, Flowood liff Osbon, along with his wife Angela, is the franchise owner of Office Evolution in Flowood.

Office Evolution is now open close to the airport and Flowood conference center. Office Evolution is perfect for a growing business, including private offices, conference rooms, and virtual office solutions.

Osbon spent nearly 18 months in the process of opening the business. For a number of months, they evaluated multiple franchise options among flexible office space operators. They completed their franchise agreement, spending a number of months evaluating real estate options, ultimately deciding on the Flowood – Airport – Conference Center area.

Osbon graduated from pharmacy school at the University of Louisiana-Monroe in 1984 and has had a number of non-traditional pharmacy practice experiences and several unique business experiences. These included nine years of community pharmacy practice, and five years as a Senior Manager of CPSI, among many other opportunities.

O! How Cute

essica Phillips is the owner of O! How Cute Boutique & Gifts and Flirt Jewelry.

O! How Cute Boutique & Gifts consists of three retail gift boutiques focused on providing unique, affordable gift options to customers in the Jackson metro area. Since opening our doors in 2005, O! How Cute has been able to expand its footprint from one location to three as a result of its customer centric growth strategy.

Phillips graduate from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2006 and has been in the business world since 1996.

She is a member of the Ranking County Chamber of Commerce, the Pearl Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber of Flowood and the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.

Jessica says her husband Andy is a major role model in her life as are her father and father in law.

When not working, Jessica says it is all about family time with her husband and two children as they do many activities, including trying to make it to Orlando for Disney World, SeaWorld and Universal once a year.

National Women’s Brunch Organization ateshia Pearson is changing the mindset of individuals across the globe. As the founder of National Women’s Brunch Organization, Inc., Pearson is gaining major acclaim and public notoriety as a force of empowerment, inspiration and encouragement for others to start a business, practice self-care, and to gain control over their own mind.

Through her coaching, financial literacy and empowerment brunches, and her professional experience, Pearson is able to get others to move outside of their comfort zone, and believe with and in them by helping them imagine themselves at their highest level of happiness, and success.

Pearson’s coaching, brunches, and mindset techniques have proven to produce efficient, positive, and life lasting results.

Outside of being a mother, a wife and full time entrepreneurs, Pearson says “one of the best things that happened is having the faith to step outside her comfort zone in order to become a better version of herself in order to inspire others.”

Reed’s Metals

ernard T. (Bernie) Reed, understands the mindset of today’s consumer, and he has built a thriving business based on meeting his customers’ needs. Reed is the owner of Reed’s Metals Inc. based in Brookhaven, which provides metal roofing and metal buildings direct to consumers.

Reed is originally from Florida, but he grew up around the country as his family worked in a seasonal agricultural business. As an adult, Reed planted his roots in Monticello and started a pine tree reforestation business; however, the business was seasonal so he wanted to find something else to do in the off season.

In 1998, at the age of 28 he decided to start Reed’s Metals with a pair of hand shears and a forklift. From that humble beginning, the company quickly grew and today Reed’s Metals has over 160 employees in five locations: Brookhaven; Tupelo; Benton, Arkansas; Lake Charles, Louisiana; and Jackson, Tennessee.

TOP ENTREPRENEURS

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Valerie Butler Sidney

Lee Smith

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Val’s Place

alerie Butler Sidney is the owner and operator of Val's Hair Gallery LLC, a business that has been established since 2004. Val's Hair Gallery LLC is currently located at 1698 Pass Road in Biloxi near Keesler Air Force Base.

Sidney is a graduate of Biloxi High School and has been a cosmetologist for more than 15 years. Val’s Hair Gallery has been recognized as one of the top hair salons in South Mississippi during that time.

Congratulations

to Lateshia Pearson on being selected as a 2020 Top Entrepreneur National Women’s Brunch Organization, Inc.

Lateshia Pearson, CEO & Founder Email: info@nationalwomensbrunch.com www.nationalwomensbrunch.com Instagram: nationalwomensbrunch

Changing lives and minds, one brunch at a time!

Congratulations

to Lee Smith on being selected as a 2020 Top Entrepreneur

4500 I-55 North Frontage Rd. Jackson, MS 39211 601-405-7440 | www.cornerstone.ms

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Cornerstone Counseling ee Smith is the founder and clinical director of Cornerstone and has been counseling since 2006. A native of the Mississippi Delta, he attended Delta State University and later Mississippi College where he received his M.S. in Counseling Psychology. He is a nationally board certified, Licensed Professional Counselor.

Since being in private practice, Smith has worked with adolescents, families, marriages and individuals addressing a variety of topics. He specializes in marriage and family dynamics, anxiety and depression and working with those who serve in the ministry. In addition to his work in private practice, Smith is a sought after speaker at churches, retreats and events.

Smith and his wife of more than 20 years, Jenni, has three children — Ford, Millie, and Moses and they are a transracial family through international adoption.

Smith also loses traveling, coffee, fishing, hiking, and kayaking.

Rosalind Yarber

Indeed Community Solutions

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osalind Yarber is the founder and CEO of Indeed Community Solutions.

There, she provides personal/staff development, teen/youth engagement, leadership training, employability skills workshops, social service program evaluations, referral services, consulting, team & character-building trainings, workshops and seminars.

Yarber also prepares documentation for submittal to the Mississippi State Board of Examiners of Social Workers & Family and Marriage Therapists to become a CEU provider for social workers and related professions Yarber believes you are who God says you are and you become what you submit to Him. When asked what her purpose in life is, she quickly asserts to say I exist to make people’s lives better today than they were yesterday. It could be a word of encouragement, a hug, a prayer, a smile. She believes if she can empower and motivate people to focus on the major.

Yarber has three amazingly unique children: Carmen, Cameron, and Toni Michelle.

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Cole elected vice chair of MBA

M. Ray (Hoppy) Cole, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and President of The First, A National Banking Association, headquartered in Hattiesburg, has been elected Vice Chairman of the Mississippi Bankers Association (MBA) for 2020-2021.

As MBA Vice Chairman, Cole will serve on the MBA Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and he also will serve as president of the MBA Educa- Cole tion Foundation. The MBA is a statewide trade association whose membership includes commercial banks and savings institutions operating in Mississippi. MBA members hold more than 95 percent of the bank deposits in the state.

Cole resides in Ellisville with his wife, Cindy. They have four sons, Keith Farrish, Dusty Farrish, Mit Cole, and Drew Cole, and three granddaughters, Emma Claire Cole, Evvi Cate Cole, and Vivian Ruth Cole.

Waycaster elected treasurer of MBA

C. Mitchell Waycaster, President and Chief Executive Officer, of Renasant Bank, headquartered in Tupelo, has been elected Treasurer of the Mississippi Bankers Association (MBA) for 2020-2021.

As MBA Treasurer, Waycaster serves on the association’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. The MBA is a statewide trade as- Waycaster sociation whose membership includes commercial banks and savings institutions operating in Mississippi. MBA members hold more than 95 percent of the bank deposits in the state.

Waycaster received his Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware American Bankers Association Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the American Bankers Association National Compliance School at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Colorado. He is also a graduate of the Mid-South School of Banking at the University of Memphis and the Tennessee Commercial Lending School at Vanderbilt University.

Waycaster and his wife, Christy, have raised three children and have three grandchildren. The Waycasters reside in Tupelo and are active members of First Baptist Church.

Staten elected to MBA board of directors Mike Staten of BNA Bank, New Albany, has been elected to a 3-year term on the Mississippi Bankers Association Board of Directors.

Staten will represent his region of the state on the Board, which governs the 132-year-old association.

Staten

NEWSMAKERS

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020 MBA’s membership includes commercial banks and savings institutions operating in Mississippi, and the association’s members hold over 95 percent of bank deposits in the state.

Staten serves as President of BNA Bank. He has been with BNA Bank for 41 years in a lending capacity. Staten is a graduate of W.P. Daniel High School, Northeast Mississippi Community College, and he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Mississippi. He is also a graduate of Leadership Mississippi and has completed additional banking and finance training at Louisiana State University and Vanderbilt University.

Staten and his wife, Angie attend First Baptist Church where he serves as a deacon, and they have two children: Matt (wife, Ellen) and Luke (fiancé – Amy Grobelny of Houston, Texas).

Williams elected to MBA board of directors

Philip C. Williams, Bank of Yazoo, Yazoo City, has been elected to a 3-year term on the Mississippi Bankers Association Board of Directors.

Williams will represent his region of the state on the Board, which governs the 132-year-old association.

MBA’s membership includes commercial banks and savings institutions operating in Mississippi, and the association’s members hold over 95 percent of bank deposits in the state.

Williams serves as Chairman of Bank of Yazoo, where he has Williams worked for 33 years. He has held many positions at Bank of Yazoo, including starting as a teller, AS/400 computer operator, and lender. Williams served as Executive Vice President for several years overseeing the Bank’s operations, information technology, regulatory compliance and marketing efforts. He has been a Bank and Holding Company Director since 1999 and has served as Chairman since 2010. Williams holds a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance and an MBA in Finance and Economics from the University of Mississippi and is a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.

Williams is involved in numerous community organizations and has served as President of the Yazoo County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Yazoo, Yazoo Downtowners Association, and the Yazoo City Lions Club.

Phil and his wife, Lynn, have two daughters, Katie and Laura, and one granddaughter, Emery Grace.

Wallace elected to MBA board of directors

Jennifer Sones Wallace of Pike National Bank, of McComb, has been elected to a 3-year term on the Mississippi Bankers Association Board of Directors.

Wallace will represent her region of the state on the Board, which governs the 132-year-old association.

MBA’s membership includes commercial banks and savings Wallace institutions operating in Mississippi, and the association’s members hold over 95 percent of bank deposits in the state.

Wallace serves as President for Pike National Bank (PNB) and has been with the bank for 21 years. Wallace began her career at Entegrity Consultants, Inc., as a Consumer Compliance Auditor, then joined Magnolia Federal Bank as a Teller Platform Software design team member, and then worked as a Compliance Coordinator and Legal Claims Administrator at Union Planters. In 1999, she joined Pike National Bank where she has served in various roles including Compliance Officer, BSA Officer, CRA Officer, Investment Officer, and Deposit/Teller Operations Management. Wallace is now President of PNB and serves on the Board of Directors and the PCNB Corporate Board of Directors.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance and a Master of Business Administration with a graduate emphasis in Finance from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Wallace is married to Eddie Wallace, and they have four children Zach Stewart, Kaylee Wallace, Alex Wallace, and Amy Wallace. They are members of First Baptist Church, Summit.

Leard elected to MBA board of directors

Robert Leard of Regions, Jackson, has been elected to a 3-year term on the Mississippi Bankers Association Board of Directors.

Leard will represent his region of the state on the Board, which governs the 132-yearold association. MBA’s membership includes commercial banks and savings institutions Leard operating in Mississippi, and the association’s members hold over 95 percent of bank deposits in the state.

Leard serves as Market Executive for Regions and has been with the bank for 25 years. Prior to his current role, Leard held several positions including Commercial Banking Executive, Energy Banking Credit Executive, Regional Credit Executive, Business Banking Sales Executive, and Business Lending Manager for Regions. Before joining Regions, he served in various roles at Trustmark Bank in Jackson, after completing the management training program in 1990. Leard earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

Leard and his wife, Ginger, have been married for 30 years and have three children: Alyssa (29), Jonathan (25), and Samantha (21). They are active in First Presbyterian Church of Jackson, MS.

Anderson elected chairman of MBA

Andy Anderson of Anguilla has been elected Chairman of the Mississippi Bankers Association (MBA) for 2020-2021.

As MBA Chairman, Anderson chairs the association’s Board of Directors and Executive Committee. The membership of the 132-year-old statewide trade association includes commercial banks and savings Anderson institutions operating in Mississippi. MBA members hold more than 95 percent of bank deposits in the state.

Anderson serves as President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Bank of Anguilla. He has over 37 years of banking experience, all with Bank of Anguilla. Anderson received his bachelors and masters of business administration degrees from the University of Mississippi. He is also a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Anderson and his wife, Tracye, have two children, son Ryan and daughter Marlee.

MSS names new VP for operations

Methodist Senior Services is pleased to announce that Christie Vance has been selected as the new Vice President and Chief Operations Officer for Methodist Senior Services in Tupelo.

Vance is a twenty-year veteran employee with Methodist Senior Services (MSS), having served first as Manager of Accounting and most recently as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining MSS, Vance was an accountant with Watkins Ward and Stafford, CPA, and worked on the MSS audit for four years. Vance has led the MSS financial services through several transitions during her tenure. She has been directly responsible for ensuring financial stability of the organization and finding Vance ways to grow the mission to serve elders in Mississippi.

Vance received her Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi. She is married to Cory Vance and they have two daughters, Abby and Olivia. She is active in her local church serving as Sunday School teacher and on the Finance Committee and Activities Committee. She also serves on the Calhoun County School Board and is active in her community. In her spare time, Christie enjoys running, reading and softball.

ERDC researcher honored

by USM Dr. Kent Newman of the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) received a distinguished honor from the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) – the 2020 Outstanding Alumni Award from the College of Arts and Sciences – in the Newman spring of 2020.

Newman, a research physical scientist with the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratory (GSL), holds a bachelor of science in chemistry and doctoral degree in polymer science from USM. Since joining the ERDC team in 1993, his research has allowed him to travel the world – including a deployment to Kosovo in 2000 to support Army road construction, as well as Australia in 2007 to support rapid construction of airfields.

Newman also plays a major role in connecting ERDC to his alma mater, USM. His dedication to bringing people together combined with his scientific career achievements made Newman the perfect candidate for the Outstanding Alumni Award.

NEWSMAKERS

Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2020

Bailey Education Group Brady named Director of Warren joins Waggoner welcomes Jennifer Boykin Marketing for MMA as project manager Jennifer Boykin, Ed.D., has joined Bailey Education Group and will serve as a project manager. Boykin brings 16 years of experience in the field of special education in the public sector. “We are proud to have Jennifer on our team,” announced Pat Ross, Vice President of Operations.

“There is a great demand for her services, and she will enable the Bailey team to improve the lives of more and Boykin more children.”

Boykin most recently served as Adjunct Professor of Education at the William Carey University School of Education and as Director of Special Services for Pearl Public School District.

Boykin studied at Millsaps College, Arkansas State, and William Carey culminating in receiving her doctorate.

Boykin will manage projects in districts throughout the tri-state area. She will also serve as our Special Supports Department Lead. Our Special Supports department includes MTSS, Early Childhood, Classroom Management, and Policies and Procedures.

Boykin resides in Pearl, MS with her husband, Justin. They have two children, Ally Grace and Brady.

The Mississippi Museum of Art recently announced that Jana Brady has been appointed to Director of Marketing. Brady has more than a decade of experience in strategic marketing and communications.

Brady most recently worked at The Ramey Agency as Account Director, where she led strategic planning, created new brands and managed existing brands across a variety of industries.

She previously worked at Mis- Brady sissippi Public Broadcasting, overseeing public relations efforts. After receiving her bachelor’s degree from Millsaps College, Brady started her career at the Mississippi Museum of Art, where she led Museum events (including family, public program and fundraising events) and planned marketing and communications efforts.

Brady will be responsible for building awareness, relevance, and participation among the Jackson-metro area and across the state. Brady will support the Museum’s staff by guiding communications strategies that increase exposure for its programs and exhibitions. Brady will also lead the Museum’s branding efforts in order to captivate and engage audiences and deepen community connections.

Waggoner Engineering has announced the addition of Darion Warren, CFM as a Project Manager in our Jackson office.

In his new role, Warren will be interacting with and serving our public agency clients to ensure that we are delivering value to their projects.

“Darion has spent his career in public works and in leaderWarren ship of capital programs for public agencies in Mississippi,” Central VP of Operations Hunter Arnold, PE, said. “His experience and public policy insight in municipal, aviation, and county government will be extremely valuable to clients.”

Before joining Waggoner, Warren worked at the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority in various roles, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer.

He led the operations and services of numerous departments and assisted the CEO in the day-to-day administration of the airport in planning and executing programs and activities. He was the Director of Capital Programming before briefly serving as Interim Chief Executive Officer.

Warren holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Jackson State University and a Master of Science in Management from Belhaven University.

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Jamie Williams joins Bailey Education Group

During this season, small business owners are learning to adjust in order to survive, and entrepreneurs are considering new opportunities. The “Entrepreneurship for Small Businesses” course is a unique chance to engage a larger think tank and to network among other small-business owners.

SCAN TO REGISTER.

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Jamie Williams, a former teacher, assistant principal, and principal, is joining the Bailey Education Group as a project manager specializing in leadership coaching and managing our work with school districts. Jamie is certified in Elementary Education, Special Education, Psychometry, and School Administration, thus allowing her to serve schools and districts in many capacities.

Williams has statewide relationships having worked throughout Mississippi. Her skills include instructional leadership, academic administration, federal programs, budget Williams administration. “Jamie will be a great addition to our leadership coaches,” furthered Ross.

“I am excited about working with Bailey Education Group,” commented Williams. “I believe in offering children the best, and I look forward continuing the work Bailey has done throughout the state.

Williams is a graduate of University of Southern Miss, William Carey University. She resides in Vancleave, MS with her husband, husband Harry. Together they have four children – Gabrielle who is a teacher in Alabama, daughter Tarryn, a pharmacy technician, son Dylan who is a mechanical engineer, and son Ethan who just graduated from high school.

ENTREPRENEURSHIP COURSE FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

• Hone skills to recognize opportunity.

• Indentify benefits & drawbacks to business plans, sources of start-up funding, & business legal structures.

• Analyze regulations, ethical practices, operating procedures, & growth strategies.

• Develop a marketing & sales plan.

• Understand financial management fundamentals.

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• Investigate product development, digital economy, human resources, legal issues & global entrepreneurship.

• Once the session is successfully completed, participants are prepared to take the ESB certification exam.

September 15 - December 8 | Register by September 8.

Schedule: Tuesday evenings, 6:00p - 9:00p Fee: Funded by the ReSkillMS initiative Location: Hurst Review, 127 S Railroad Ave, Brookhaven, MS Space is limited - First come, first served

Workforce Education

This small business opportunity is possible through a partnership between CopiahLincoln Community College, the University of Southern Mississippi, and the Mississippi Small Business Development Center.

REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.COLIN.EDU/ESB Copiah-Lincoln Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or other factors prohibited by law in any of its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment practices.

Our customers come first.

Now, more than ever.

New payment options for COVID-19 relief.

At Entergy Mississippi, we understand the immense impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on our customers and communities. And we know that now, electricity is more important than ever. So for those struggling to make ends meet, we’ve developed new payment options to provide some relief during these uncertain times.

Our Enhanced Customer Assistance Plan provides flexible options to extend time to pay with payment arrangements. Any customer experiencing financial hardship is eligible to take up to 12 months to pay their current bill and/or unpaid balances.

For added convenience, new self-service options are available to select the extended payment arrangement that works for you. Visit entergymississippi.com/mypaymentoptions, or select Deferred Payment on the Entergy Mobile App, or call 1-800-ENTERGY and follow our automated response system billing and payment menu. entergymississippi.com/mypaymentoptions

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