MBJ_Apr26_2019

INSIDE — Renasant earns $45.1 M during the first quarter — Page 2

40

AWARDS

YEARS

1979

2019

2019

Special Section

www.msbusiness.com

April 26, 2019 • Vo. 41 No. 17 • 24 pages

TOURISM

Mississippi’s 2019 Top Entrepreneurs — Section begins pg 13

MBJ FOCUS

Law & Accounting {Section begins P10}

» New tax law created one of the most challenging seasons ever faced

{The List P11-12} » Largest CPA Firms

Courtesy of Heron and Hare/Special to the MBJ

The Heron and the Hare will be built in the Town Center of The Lamar mixed-used development.

IMPORTING {P4}

» My Greek Orchard expands olive oil market to restaurants

Oxford getting its first brew pub PAGE 2

http://msbusiness.com/events/health-care-heroes/

2 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q April 26, 2019 TOURISM

Oxford getting its first brew pub

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

It’s like a bit of jolly old England coming to Oxford, with a detour to Florida, to establish the city’s first brew pub.

Tyler White, who was a founder of Grayton Beer Co. in Santa Rosa Beach on the western end of the Florida Panhandle, is moving to Mississippi to oversee the making of craft beer at the pub that will be known as the Heron and Hare.

But the idea is not to transplant the success of Grayton Beer – and its celebrated 30A Beach Blonde Ale – to the north Mississippi hills.

White, who studied at the World Brewing Academy in Chicago and in Munich, Germany, said only that “the goal of a brewery is [to appeal] to the palate of the local beer drinkers.”

To achieve that, the approach will be broad, with 12 to 15 varieties, he said.

“Oxford is primed and ready for craft beer,” White said.

The pub will become part of the Town Center of The Lamar, a 48-acre devel-

Courtesy of Heron and Hare/Special to the MBJ

The Heron and Hare will be built in the Town Center of the Lamar, a mixed-use development.

opment featuring classic neo-Southern houses and a town center blocks from the courthouse square.

The Lamar will hold open houses this weekend for some of the residences that have been built since ground was broken

on the development about a year ago.

It will have a block party Friday from 4 p.m. till 7 p.m. in conjunction with the Double Decker Arts Festival on the square, according to consultant Kimberly Sharp.

Tours of the homes will be held on Saturday and Sunday as well, Sharp said.

If the name of the pub, which is expected to open in the summer of 2020, sounds British, that’s no accident.

White and business partner Bryan Spill-

BANKING

Renasant earns $45.1 M during the first quarter Renasant Corp. reported first-quarter earnings of $45.1 million, or a record 77 cents per share.

For the first quarter of last year, Renasant earned $33.8 million, or 68 cents per share.

The holding company for Renasant Bank posted revenue of $173 million in the first quarter of 2019.

Its revenue net of interest expense was $149 million, beating Street forecasts.

Renasant shares have risen 14 percent since the beginning of the year. In the final minutes of trading on Tuesday, shares hit $34.50, a decrease of 25 percent in the last 12 months.

The company also said it would pay a quarterly dividend of 22 cents per share on June 28 to shareholders of record as of June 14. The dividend is 1 cent more than the fourth-quarter dividend and the fifth dividend increase since March 31, 2016 and the third increase in the past year.

“Our first quarter results prove our commitment to enhancing our profitability while at the same time effectively managing risk,” said Renasant President and CEO, C. Mitchell Waycaster. “We remained disciplined in our pricing decisions and prudent in our underwrit-

man give a tip of the hat to those institutions and two famed British writers, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, who might not be associated with a public house.

But they met regularly at a pub in the town of Oxford, for which the home of the University of Mississippi was named, which decidedly has its own literary traditions, starting with Nobel Prize laureate William Faulkner, continued by Willie Morris and Barry Hannah and Larry Brown and others and continuing as the town has become a writer’s colony.

In the Heron and Hare, there will be the Rabbit Room, so named for a room in the Eagle and Child pub in Oxford, England, which Lewis, Tolkien and others frequented as members of the Inklings to quaff a pint or two and discuss their writing and philosophical matters.

Spillman said he and White and had long dreamed of opening such a pub.

“We’re really lucky to get a guy like Tyler.

He’s an incredible brewer,” White said.

To go with brews and talk, there will be wood-fired barbecue, overseen by pit master Brad Hayden, owner of Smokehouse Oxford.

Another venue will be the Biergarten, which will share space with heavy steel cylinders of the brewery and stacked hardwood for the smokehouse.

“There are a lot of breweries in the country now and if you’re not going to do something creative and new there’s not a whole lot of reason to step out and do it,” White said.

ing standards such that we maintained a stable core margin without sacrificing credit quality. Furthermore, we are excited about the additional talent we have added over the last two quarters throughout our footprint. We also intend to take advantage of ongoing market disruptions to bring seasoned lenders and bankers to our team, positioning us well for continued growth during 2019.”

Total assets were $12.86 billion at the end of the first quarter, compared to $12.93 billion at the end of last year.

Total deposits increased to $10.3 billion from $10.1 billion over the same time span.

Net interest income was $113.1 million for the first quarter of 2019, compared to $115.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 and $89.2 million for the first quarter of 2018.

Noninterest income for the first quarter of 2019 was $35.9 million, versus $36.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 and $34. million for the first quarter of 2018. Mortgage banking income for the first quarter of 2019 was $10.4 million, versus $12 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 and $11 million for the first quarter of 2018. Brand Mortgage Group LLC, which was divested on Nov. 1, 2018, contributed $2 million to mortgage banking income during the fourth quarter of 2018.

— MBJ Staff & Wire Reports

BANKING

Citizens Holdings issues earnings report Citizens Holding Co. announced Monday that its net income for the quarter ending March 31 was $1.227 million, or 25 cents per share, a decrease of $488,000 from $1.772 million, or 36 cents per sharein the year-earlier period.

Citizens Holding is the parent of The Citizens Bank of Philadelphia. Citizens Holding stock is listed on the NasdaqGM stock market as CIZN. Its shares fell 45 cents on Monday to close at $22.55. Shares ranged from $19.08 to $24 over the past 52 weeks.

Most of the decrease in net income relates to an increase in the interest paid on interest bearing liabilities, partially offset by an increase in interest income and a decrease in non-interest expense.

Net interest income for the first quarter of 2019, after the provision for loan losses, was $6.015 million, approximately 14.6 percent lower than the same period in 2018.

Non-interest income decreased in the first quarter of 2019 by $53,000, or 2.5 percent, while non-interest expenses decreased $408,000, or 5.8 percent, compared to the same period in 2018.

Total assets increased to $1.057 billion, up $98.762 million, or 10.3 percent, when compared with $958.630 million at Dec. 31.

The company paid dividends totaling 24 cents per share for the quarter.

The Bank currently has 24 banking locations in 14 counties in east-central and south Mississippi and a loan production office in Oxford.

TOURISM Hattiesburg voters approve increase in hotel, restaurant tax Voters in a south Mississippi city have voted to increase the local hotel and restaurant tax from 2 percent to 3 percent to pay for parks and other services.

The change in Hattiesburg takes effect June 1.

The referendum on Tuesday needed at least 60 percent of votes to pass. News outlets report it received about 81 percent.

Mayor Toby Barker says the tax increase could generate at least an additional $1.2 million a year.

The money will pay for park improvements and let the city aid renovations to the University of Southern Mississippi’s Reed Green Coliseum. City officials say they hope the arena could host other events besides basketball games and commencements.

Barker says the added money will let Hattiesburg use existing revenue for other purposes, including more road and drainage projects.

FITNESS

Fitness gym chain targets metro Jackson Atlanta-based Workout Anytime, a 24-hour, sevenday-a-week fitness concept with 175 units in 20 states across the U.S., is looking establish itself in metro Jackson.

Or re-establish itself. Workout Anytime didn’t succeed it in Ridgeland, but the company is trying again.

“We’ve only closed a handful of them. Unfortunate-

ly, that was one of them,” said Randy Trotter, senior vice president for development.

This time, it is offering a $10,000 discount off its usual $35,000 franchise fee, according to Trotter The monthly membership fee is $19, with no contract, Trotter said.

Trotter said Workout Anytime is seeking a “hometown hero” to bring the low-cost facility to communities not known for having the healthiest population.

The goal is to open four gyms in Mississippi and bring the overall total to 200 by the end of the year, he said.

The company runs specials for $1 as a joining fee, but could charge a one-time fee of $25-$30, he said.

“We help find the location, we help negotiate the term of the lease,” he said.

The gyms typically employ six to 10 people, he said.

April 26, 2019

The company has seen four to six locations that would be suitable, he said.

“A lot of our owners have other businesses, or are professionals. You can be semi-absentee.”

POLITICS

Stone circuit clerk overdue on filing income reports A south Mississippi elected official faces a possible contempt of court citation for failing to file income reports.

The Sun Herald reports Stone County Circuit Clerk Jeffrey O’Neal did not file the state-mandated reports

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

3

for several years and missed an April 15 deadline for the 2018 document. In November, state Auditor Shad White demanded O’Neal’s reports for 2016 and 2017.

Circuit Court Judge Christopher Schmidt has also ordered O’Neal to file the reports.

O’Neal tells the newspaper he has submitted the 2016 report but is still working on 2017 and 2018. He says he takes responsibility for neglecting to file.

Circuit clerks are paid from fees collected by their offices.

Schmidt says O’Neal can avoid a contempt of court citation by submitting the overdue reports to the auditor by Tuesday.

— MBJ Staff & Wire Reports

Publish Date: May 10 Lists: Electronic Security Firms www.msbusiness.com

FOCUS ON: Security Stories this week: » DIGITAL SECURITY — It seems digital camera security systems are getting less and less expensive. What are the advantages of having these for both home and office? ** NOTE — All stories are subject to change

» The Mississippi Business Journal keeps its readers informed – and does so with quality. » In 5 of the last 7 years, the MBJ printed product was awarded the state’s overall “General Excellence” award in its category.

Ad closing is 10 days before publish date.

» Our print and online edition readership 185,000 monthly.

Deliver your message to a powerful and focused audience weekly!

» Daily, the nearly 13,000 readers who subscribe to our email list receive e-alerts with links back to our website. » Our nearly 15,000-plus Twitter followers receive tweets about stories with links to our website. » More than 3,300 readers “like” us on Facebook and nearly 8,000 YouTube followers. » Ask about bundling print & online advertising.

For More Information contact Tami Jones, Associate Publisher at (601) 364-1011 or email: tami.jones@msbusiness.com

4 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q April 26, 2019 IMPORTING

My Greek Orchard expands olive oil market to restaurants

By DENNIS SEID Daily Journal When Jimmy Pappas decided to get into the olive oil business in 2017, he started small.

“We had three pallets shipped over and

about 3,000 bottles of olive oil,” said Pappas, the longtime Tupelo hotelier and owner of the Summit Center.

While growing up in Greece, Pappas had worked in the family olive oil orchards.

When he came to the U.S. and found his way to Tupelo, he imported small quantiTHOMAS WELLS/DAILY JOURNAL

Jimmy Pappas unloads his newest shipment of “My Greek Orchard” olive oil last week.

ties of the olive oil to give away to family and friends. Then he and longtime friend and business partners Sam Calloway in 2017 decided to build a business to sell olive oil in the U.S. And not just any olive oil, but olive oil from Pappas’ native Metamorphosis and eight nearby villages.

“My Greek Orchard” was born, and the oil is bottled and labeled in nearby Sikia, Greece, with labels designed by Pappas’ nephew, Hristos Zervakos.

It has been a hit with customers.

“Our second shipment six months later was four pallets,” Pappas said. And just last Friday, the largest shipment to date – eight pallets – was delivered.

“Sam and I unloaded 795 boxes,” he said.

Along with the thousands of bottles of olive oil are 3-liter tin cans of it, which they hope will catch the eye of restaurants that need and want to buy high quality olive oil in larger quantity.

“We have a few restaurants now using our olive oil, and we think with these larger sizes, it’s more economical and we can attract more restaurants as customers,” Pappas said.

Pappas and Calloway travel to Greece regularly, and Pappas was most recently there in January to oversee some of the processing of the olive oil he imports. It’s that batch that has made its way to Tupelo, bottled and canned under the My Greek Orchard label.

“The company that processes the olive oil had it in nine large containers – some 800 tons – and I was assured that we would have the best of it bottled in our name,” Pappas said.

With retail outlets in Mississippi and Alabama selling My Greek Orchard, Pappas is planning to expand into Louisiana and Tennessee.

“We even have one vendor in Arkansas right now, and once I close the Summit Center, I’ll have more time to recruit vendors,” Pappas said.

The Summit Center, a longtime convention center and meeting place, will serve its last buffet this Sunday, and will host its final event May 4.

“Then I will spend all my time selling My Greek Orchard olive oil,” Pappas said.

Newsmakers

Higginbotham Automobiles – which owns Mercedes-Benz of Jackson – also earned Best of the Best Gold Laurel for its Mercedes-Benz of Collierville, Tenn., dealership.

The Higginbotham family constructed and opened the new Mercedes-Benz of Jackson dealership, a 70,000-square-foot facility in Ridgeland in 2017 after outgrowing its previous location.

Luckney’s appointment to Personnel Board confirmed The Mississippi Senate has confirmed Governor Phil Bryant’s reappointment of Alwyn Luckey to the Mississippi State Personnel Board for a five-year term beginning July 1. Luckey was originally appointed to the Board

by Gov. Bryant in 2012.

Luckey is currently the sole shareholder of The Law Firm of Luckney Alwyn H. Luckey, P.A. His law practice includes state and local government consulting, business law, construction defect/water intrusion, asbestos injury, real estate, and general practice. He has also served as judge for the City of Ocean Springs.

A long-time resident of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Luckey earned both a bachelor’s degree and a juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi.

Gojmerac appointed outside plant manager TEC announced the appointment of Thomas Gojmerac as Outside Plant Manager at TEC of Bay Springs.

Gojmerac will be responsible for directing and coordinating outside plant activities in construction, installation and maintenance of company services.

Gojmerac has 35 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. He lives in Laurel.

Mercedes-Benz dealership of Jackson honored Mercedes-Benz of Jackson has been honored by the luxury automobile brand as a Best of the Best for 2018, recognizing it among the upper echelon of Mercedes-Benz dealerships nationally.

The Best of the Best Program distinguishes dealers based on exemplary performance in sales and service as well as excellence in operations and customer experience. Mercedes-Benz of Jackson was named Best of the Best Gold Laurel, placing it among the top 10 percent of dealerships in the United States.

Gojmerac

Neel-Schaffer launches ‘Complete Communities Group’ Neel-Schaffer, Inc., has announced the formation of the Complete Communities Group, a firm-wide collaboration aimed at bringing expert engineers and planners from different specialties in the firm under one umbrella to develop multi-disciplinary solutions to complex community problems.

April 26, 2019

“We are excited to launch our Complete Communities Group,” said Rosemary Aldridge, PE, Senior Vice President for Neel-Schaffer’s Florida operations. “The firm’s experience in multi-modal transportation and urban planning form the basis for our services. Formalizing this group allows our planners and engineers to work collaboratively to focus on developing, funding and implementing master plans and resulting projects for our clients.”

The Complete Communities Group stresses the importance of authentic community engagement to fully articulate and understand the unique needs of the communities we serve. Our group members serve on boards, lead civic organizations, and perform community service – roles that help us connect to the end users and consider how our projects affect them and their communities.

The group members serve as leaders in the firm to assist local offices in identifying funding and bringing proven solutions from our regional experience.

Finkelberg recognized by Barron’s and Forbes Arty Finkelberg, CFA, CFP, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Investments with Raymond James & Associates, member New York Stock Exchange/SIPC, has been listed among the nation’s best wealth advisors by two national financial publications.

Finkelberg was named to Barron’s list of the “Top 1,200 Fi-

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Malco Theatres taps Tashie Memphis-based Malco Theatres has promoted David Tashie to President and Chief Operating Officer.

Tashie, son of Co-Chairman Jimmy Tashie and great-grandson of founder M.A. Lightman, Sr, began his career with Malco in 1998 and worked his way up through the 102-year old family business.

Tashie will continue overseeing the day-to-day operations of the theatre chain and bowling / family entertainment centers.

Memphis-based Malco Theatres is a fourth-generation family owned and operated business that reached its 100th anniversary in 2015. Malco Theatres operates over 350 screens at 34 locations across the Mid-South, as well as bowling and family entertainment centers in Louisiana and Mississippi.

Finkelberg

High-Speed Business Internet with No Data Caps

Ultra-Reliable Phone Service

You’re running a business. Not walking a business. Or crawling a business.

Running. And how fast you run depends on your technology.

Starting at Only

Absoluutely

500 Mbps With multiple tiers Ì wÌ Þ ÕÀ LÕ`}iÌ

Risk Free

Ultra–Reliable Buusinnesss Phonee That’s superior to cell service

5

nancial Advisors.” The prestigious 2019 list, published March 8, draws from all 50 states plus the District of Columbia. It is the largest, most comprehensive annual advisor list circulated by Barron’s.

Finkelberg also recently was among the Raymond James-affiliated advisors named to the Forbes list of Best-In-State Wealth Advisors. The list, which recognizes advisors from national, regional and independent firms, was released online in February.

Finkelberg heads Finkelberg Investments of Raymond James, a five-member team. Finkelberg, whose office is located at 1062 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 100 in Ridgeland, manages more than $490 million in client assets and specializes in wealth management and retirement planning.

25 Mbps

Speeeds up to

Q

69

$

99 /mo.

for 25 Mbps and One Basic Business Phone Line

Call Today to Get the Technology You Need

833-662-0070 *À Ì > «À Vi à wÝi` v À Ì i VÕÃÌ iÀ½Ã Ì Àii Þi>À ÃiÀÛ Vi >}Àii i Ì Ü i LÕ ` } Õà iÃà ÌiÀ iÌ Óx Ü Ì i L>à V v>ÝÉVÀi` Ì V>À` LÕà iÃà « i i° µÕ « i Ì] Ì>Ýià > ` viià >Ài >`` Ì > ° -«ii`à Û>ÀÞ LÞ >À iÌ° ÝViÃà Ûi `>Ì> ÕÃ>}i >Þ Li ÃÕL iVÌ Ì Ài>à >L i iÌÜ À > >}i i Ì° -ii ÌÌ«Ã\ÉÉLÕà iÃðV>L i i° iÌÉ i}> É>VVi«Ì>L i ÕÃi v À `iÌ> ð > v À >`` Ì > `iÌ> Ã] iÛi à v ÃiÀÛ ViÃ] ÌiÀ ` ÃV Õ Ìà > ` >«« V>Ì ÀiÃÌÀ VÌ Ã° "vviÀ Ìi` Ì >L i " Õà iÃà ÃiÀÛ Vi>L i >Ài>à ް Ƃ ÃiÀÛ ViÃ Ì >Û> >L i > >Ài>ð À Ài v À >Ì ÕÀ Îä >Þ iÞ >V Õ>À> Ìii] « i>Ãi Û Ã Ì ÌÌ«Ã\ÉÉLÕà iÃðV>L i i° iÌÉ}Õ>À> Ìii° Ƃ ΣÓÚäÓ£

A member of the Mississippi Press Association www.mspress.org

132 Riverview Dr., Suite E • Flowood, MS 39232 Main: (601) 364-1000 • Fax: (601) 364-1007 E-mails: mbj@msbusiness.com, ads@msbusiness.com, photos@msbusiness.com, research@msbusiness.com, events@msbusiness.com

MBJ PERSPECTIVE April 26, 2019 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

» THE OUTSIDE WORLD

» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Website: www.msbusiness.com April 26, 2019 Volume 41, Number 17

Capitalism with a strong safety net is not socialism

ALAN TURNER Publisher alan.turner@msbusiness.com • 364-1021 TAMI JONES Associate Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • 364-1011 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • 364-1018

E

FRANK BROWN List Researcher frank.brown@msbusiness.com • 364-1022 JACK WEATHERLY Staff Writer jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com • 364-1016

TACY RAYBURN Production Manager tacy.rayburn@msbusiness.com • 364-1019 CHARINA RHODES Circulation Manager charina.rhodes@msbusiness.com • 364-1045 MARCIA THOMPSON Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • 364-1044 TED CARTER Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 BECKY GILLETTE Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 NASH NUNNERY Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 Subscription Services (601) 364-1000 subscriptions@msbusiness.com Mississippi Business Journal (USPS 000-222) is published weekly with one annual issue by MSBJ 132 Riverview Dr., Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232. Periodicals postage paid at Jackson, MS. Subscription rates: 1 year $109; 2 years $168; and 3 years $214.

To place orders, temporarily stop service, change your address or inquire about billing: Phone: (601) 364-1000, Fax: (601) 364-1007, Email: charina.rhodes@msbusiness.com, Mail: MS Business Journal Subscription Services, 132 Riverview Dr., Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Business Journal, Circulation Manager, 132 Riverview Dr., Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232 To submit subscription payments: Mail: MS Business Journal Subscriptions Services, 132 Riverview Dr., Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232.

No material in this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent.

Editorial and advertising material contained in this publication is derived from sources considered to be reliable, but the publication cannot guarantee their accuracy.

Nothing contained herein should be construed as a solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities.

It is the policy of this newspaper to employ people on the basis of their qualifications and with assurance of equal opportunity and treatment regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or handicap.

The Mississippi Business Journal, is an affiliate of Journal Publishing Company (JPC), Inc. Entire contents copyrighted © 2019 by Journal Inc. All rights reserved.

» OTHER VIEWS

State needs more inclusive campaign for governor

T

he race to become Mississippi’s next governor has just begun, but unfortunately, the divisiveness has already arrived.

Three months after he filed qualifying papers to run for the office, current Mississippi Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves launched a “kick-off rally” in which he clearly outlined his strategy — stir up divisiveness and mistrust.

Reeves claimed the “radical liberals” were taking aim at Mississippi.

In doing so, Reeves made a blanket namedrop in the process saying, the “liberals” are upset that Mississippi elected former Gov. Haley Barbour and current Gov. Phil Bryant each for two consecutive terms, then later dropped a Donald Trump reference as well.

Then he went for the GOP jugular — guns

and church.

“The liberals are mad that we go hunting on Saturday and then we still go to church on Sunday.”

We were hopeful that this election would be different. That we could collectively talk about real issues facing Mississippi like the need for better economic opportunities for our children and improving educational standards.

Instead, it appears the candidate with the most money in the bank per the last campaign finance reports instead wants to follow the national narrative of fussing and squabbling rather than talking and debating.

» HOW TO WRITE US

>> Form letters, thank you letters and letters to third parties generally are not acceptable. >> Letters must be typed or e-mailed. >> Letters must conform to good taste, not be libelous and not involve personal attacks on other persons. >> All letters are subject to editing, and become the property of the Mississippi Business Journal. >> Letters can be sent to The Editor, The Mississippi Business Journal, 32 Riverview Dr., Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232, delivered to the newspaper during regular business hours or e-mailed to editor@msbusiness.com. They may also be faxed to Ross Reily at (601)-364-1007.

Letters to the editor are one of the most widely read features of the Mississippi Business Journal, and they give everyone a chance to voice their opinions about current affairs. We’re interested in what you think and we welcome Letters to the Editor for publication. Here are the guidelines: >> Letters should not exceed 300 words in length as a general rule. >> All letters must bear the writer’s address and telephone number. Street addresses and telephone numbers will not be published, but may be used for verification purposes. Letters may not appear without the author’s name.

— The Natchez Democrat

vil socialism is about to take over America and Mississippi.

At least that’s the fear-mongering political message these days from President Donald Trump, favored governor candidate Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, and their minions.

One of America’s great capitalists rejects that approach, contending we should focus more on fixing capitalism than fearing socialism.

Bill Crawford In his latest annual stockholder report, Jamie Dimon, chairman and CEO of America’s largest bank, JP Morgan Chase, said: “There is no question that capitalism has been the most successful economic system the world has ever seen.”

“This is not to say that capitalism does not have flaws, that it isn’t leaving people behind and that it shouldn’t be improved.”

“The American Dream is alive but fraying.”

“Middle class incomes have been stagnant for years.

Income inequality has gotten worse. Forty percent of American workers earn less than $15 an hour, and about 5% of full-time American workers earn the minimum wage or less, which is certainly not a living wage.

“In addition, 40% of Americans don’t have $400 to deal with unexpected expenses, such as medical bills or car repairs. More than 28 million Americans don’t have medical insurance at all. And, surprisingly, 25% of those eligible for various types of federal assistance programs don’t get any help.

“No one can claim that the promise of equal opportunity is being offered to all Americans through our education systems, nor are those who have run afoul of our justice system getting the second chance that many of them deserve. And we have been debating immigration reform for 30 years.

“Simply put, the social needs of far too many of our citizens are not being met.”

“Many countries are called social democracies, and they successfully combine market economies with strong social safety nets. This is completely different from traditional socialism.”

“It’s essential to have a strong social safety net.”

Dimon points to 11 issues he sees as our real problems. Socialism is not one of them. He says fixes will be complicated then suggests one for each problem area.

1. Implement mandatory preschool for children at three years of age.

2. Systemically address soaring health care costs.

3. Reduce the number of state licenses and local regulations required to open and run small businesses.

See CRAWFORD, Page 7

Perspective » RICKY NOBILE

April 26, 2019

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

7

CRAWFORD

Continued from, Page 6

4. Fund and implement the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) and streamline permitting processes.

5. Expand Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) supplements for low- to moderate-income working individuals and couples, particularly with children.

6. Reduce frivolous litigation designed principally to extract fees for lawyers.

7. Pass and enact legislation to resolve immigration that makes DACA permanent and gives a path to legal status/citizenship for law-abiding, hard-working, undocumented immigrants.

8. Reform mortgage markets to increase mortgage availability.

9. Improve labor force participation through EITC expansion, providing students with work skills, and supporting re-entry programs to formerly incarcerated Americans.

10. Stop irresponsible government lending to students.

11. Implement proper budgeting and spending and hold state and federal government accountable.

Sir John Skelton nearly 100 years ago (see earlier column) said conservatives need to step up and face the social and economic challenges facing their nations. He called this “constructive conservatism.

Dimon’s view to fix capitalism is eerily similar – combine capitalism with a strong social safety net.

Republican candidates would do well to focus on fixing capitalism rather than stir hysteria over mock socialism. » Bill Crawford (crawfolk@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.

» FROM THE GROUND UP

Getting the most from attending conferences and conventions

T

he Mississippi Municipal League Annual Conference is the largest in the state. Held in the summer of each year at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center, it is attended by some 3,000 local elected officials, presenters, vendors, and a variety of other parties.

It is only one of hundreds of conferences and conventions each year in the Magnolia State. Some are one-day events such as the Mississippi Economic Council Annual Meeting that draws hundreds of attendees. Others, such as the Mississippi Nurses Association, run for several days and offer a variety of educational courses to affiliated subgroups.

If you’re like most businesspeople you will attend a conference or convention this year. Probably even more than one. By planning ahead you can get the most out of your attendance.

First, consider why you are attending the conference or convention. Are you looking for a new job, in the market for new customers, looking for new vendors, networking with others, or perhaps even making a presentation? Are you attending at the behest of your employer or going on your own? Perhaps you are with an organization that provides a stipend for you to attend a conference of your choice. If so, how would you sell your boss on the value of attending? Your reason for attending should dictate your activities at the conference.

Next, let people know you are going. Who you notify

will depend on your goals for attending the conference.

For example, if you are with a company that sells products to attendees, you would certainly want to send an email or other correspondence letting your customers that you will be there and how to reach you at the conference. If you are making a presentation at a conference, you may want to expand your notice to social media and even the press.

Most conference attendees say that networking is the best thing they get out of attending conferences. If that’s the case, let your colleagues be informed.

If you’re attending a conference primarily to learn something new, take some time in advance to research the presenters, sponsors and exhibitors. Many conferences that have a lot of educational offerings make it impossible to attend every breakout session. Examine which sessions are most worthy beforehand instead of attempting to decide at the conference. In other words, decide in advance which sessions you want to attend.

No matter what your reason for attending a conference, take along along plenty of business cards, organization brochures and other other handouts that might be appropriate. Make it easy for people to connect with you.

Dress for success. Dress codes vary, and seem to be ever-changing downward toward the more casual. Some conferences include guidelines for what to wear at conference events. Even then, sometimes it can be confusing.

What exactly is business casual anyway?

One clue may be found on the organization’s website. If photos from last year’s conference were posted, check out what attendees were wearing at each event.

Stretch yourself. Are you an introvert or extrovert? If you’re a chatty person, Phil Hardwick don’t overdo it. People tend to remember others who listen to them, not those who talk to them. If you’re an introvert, it’s tempting to simply attend the sessions and then go back to your hotel room and order room service. Many times, I’ve dreaded going to a conference or session only to have said afterwards, “I’m sure am glad I went.”

After the conference, take time to evaluate and reflect what you liked best and least about the conference. What would you say to a group of coworkers if you had to make a report? Consider who you met and whether you want to follow-up with an email, personal note or phone call.

How many times do you hear or say, “Let’s get together,” but then don’t do so? One person who attends over 30 conferences each year says that when she hears that phrase she takes out her calendar (smartphone) and asks, “When would be a good date and place for you?”

In summary, when it comes to getting the most out of attending conferences and convention, a little planning goes a long way.

» Phil Hardwick is a regular Mississippi Business Journal columnist and owner of Hardwick & Associates, LLC, which provides strategic planning facilitation and leadership training services. His email is phil@philhardwick. com and he’s on the web at www.philhardwick.com.

Newsmakers

8 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q April 26, 2019

Georgia-Pacific names Breazeale Public Affairs Manager Georgia-Pacific has announced that Jessica Breazeale has joined its mill in Monticello as Public Affairs Manager. A native of Copiah County, Breazeale has been in public relations for 15 years. Breazeale will focus on using internal and external communications to increase facility Breazeale long-term value and understanding of the facilities’ operations.

Breazeale is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. She holds a bachelor of arts in mass communication and journalism with an emphasis in public relations and a master of science in public relations. She is also a graduate of Copiah-Lincoln Community College.

Breazeale holds a seat on the board of directors for Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Co-Lin Bluewave Alumni Association and the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. She’s a Lincoln County Rotarian and a member of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi.

She is married to Ricky Breazeale, pastor of CenterPoint Church in Brookhaven, and they have a 7-year old son named Walker.

Senate confirms Moore appointment The Mississippi Senate has confirmed Gov. Phil Bryant’s appointment of Gregory A. Moore to the Mississippi State Personnel Board to fill an unexpired term through June 30, and for a five-year term beginning July 1.

Moore is the Chief Executive Officer for Community Bank of Moore Mississippi. He oversees the daily operations of the bank and each of its subsidiary regions located in Mississippi, Tennessee, Alabama, and Florida. He also serves as Vice Chairman for the Community Bancshares Board of Directors and is a member of the Community Bank Risk Management Committee.

Moore is on the Hartfield Academy Board of Trustees and the legislative committee for the Mississippi Bankers Association. He is a past member and treasurer of the Metro YMCA Board of Directors.

Moore is also a past member of the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education and Sacred Heart League. He is the past President for the Madison County American Heart Association.

Moore is a graduate of Mississippi State University.

He and his wife, Cheryl, live in Brandon and have two grown children. They are members of Crossgates Baptist Church.

Local REALTORS influence policy Private transfer fees are fees charged to either buyers or sellers at the closing of a transaction each time a property is sold. These fees decrease affordability, increase potential liability and provide no benefit to the property sellers or buyers. They have

Credit Unions form emerging leader group

Wills holds his master of arts degree in public and private management from Birmingham Southern College in Birmingham. Additionally, he holds his bachelor of science degree in nursing from the University of Texas at Austin and received his diploma in nursing at Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Lubbock, Texas.

Wills serves on the executive leadership team of the American Heart Association. He is also a commissioned officer in the United States Army Reserve with the current rank of Major.

Robinson named CB&S Regional President

A new program was formed to develop young Mississippi credit union professional’s leadership skills and passion for the credit union movement: L.E.A.D. - Leaders Engaging in Action & Development -- was formed to help young Mississippi credit union professionals develop leadership skills. L.E.A.D. was organized by Sedric Brinson (Statewide Federal Credit Union), Christian Hartley (Keesler Federal Credit Union), and Drew Allen (Members Exchange Credit Union). 2019 members are, from left, front row, Rachel Jergins, Ferguson FCU; Lurline Simmons, Mutual CU; Kellie Broome, Gulf Trust FCU; Christian Hartley, Keesler FCU, L.E.A.D. Chairman-elect; Ashley Neal, Navigator CU; Angela Mitchell, Members Exchange CU; and Brent McAlpin, Mutual CU. Back row,, Dylan Lea, Ferguson FCU; Cavina Wells, Singing River FCU; Brian Flatt, Statewide FCU; Jessica Hearn, Mutual CU; Drew Allen, Members Exchange CU, L.E.A.D. Vice President; and Alana Miles, Rivertrust FCU. Not pictured: Sedric Brinson, Statewide FCU, L.E.A.D Chairman. also been called “harmful” by the National Association of REALTORS®, Mississippi REALTORS®, and Central Mississippi REALTORS®.

HB 962, recently signed into law by Gov. Phil Bryant, becomes effective July 1, 2019 and codifies existing judicial precedent that has not been clarified

by Mississippi statutes relating to which private transfer fees are proper and which ones are not. This new law makes it clear to everyone that transfer fees documented in the public records are legal, while attempts to collect transfer fees that are not properly documented in public land records are not. This clarification in the law is intended to stop abusive practices being experienced across Mississippi.

Mississippi’s law prohibits private transfer fees as a rule, but then excludes any property owner’s association or the association’s managing agent from the prohibition. HB 962 clarifies Mississippi law by making it clear that the right of a property owner’s association or its managing agent to collect a transfer fee is evidenced by a deed restriction or covenant filed in the public land records, an approach already recognized by the Mississippi Supreme Court in reported appellate decisions.

Ginocchio named director of Public Policy and Advocacy Southern Bancorp announced the hiring of Janie Ginocchio as the new Director of Public Policy and Advocacy. Ginocchio will advocate for public policies in Arkansas, Mississippi, and at the federal level that create economic opportunity in underserved communities and empower individuals to save, reduce debt, Ginocchio and increase their net worth.

She will also lead research and publication initiatives around these issues.

The new position is administered and guided by Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP).

An Arkansas native, Ginocchio was lead policy and program analyst for the Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care (AFMC) and the coordinator for the Arkansas Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience Workgroup. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Georgetown University and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

The Board of Directors of CB&S Bank announced the addition of a Mississippi Regional President.

Craig Robinson has been named Mississippi Regional President. In his new role, Robinson will be responsible for providing commercial banking sales leadership to CB&S Bank offices Robinson throughout Mississippi. Robinson has over 45 years of banking experience and has served in executive management positions, including President, in various banks located in Alabama, Florida and Mississippi. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi, the School of Banking of the South at LSU, the National Commercial Lending School at the University of Oklahoma, and the International Center for Creative Leadership.

CB&S Bank is a $1.6 billion community bank, headquartered in Russellville, Alabama, operating 50 offices in the Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee markets. The company offers a complete line of full-service banking products and other related financial services to retail and commercial customers through its subsidiaries.

Merit Health Central names Kevin Morgan joins Waggoner Engineering Wills as new COO Waggoner Engineering, Inc. has announced its Merit Health Central in Jackson has named Tom Wills, MPPM, BSN, RN, as Chief Operating Officer.

Wills has served over 20 years in healthcare, beginning as a charge nurse and quickly moving into leadership over multi-faceted departments and Wills service lines.

In his previous role as executive director of heart and imaging services with another facility in the market, Wills led a total of 31 departments, including the inpatient and outpatient cardiovascular, imaging and pharmacy service lines.

While serving at Brookwood Medical Center in Birmingham, Ala., Wills served as administrative director of cardiovascular services, where he managed 18 departments, which included cardiovascular and radiology services.

Prior roles include director of cardiovascular services at North Austin Medical Center; team leader/ director of Heart Hospital of Austin; and cath lab nurse at St. David’s Medical Center, all in Austin, Texas; and charge nurse/RN at the University Medical Center in Lubbock, Texas.

hiring of Kevin Morgan, PE, who will serve as a Senior Project Manager/Client Account Manager with special emphasis in the Aviation & Airport sector.

Morgan comes to Waggoner with over 30 years of civil engineering project experience that includes project management for general aviation, commercial and military airports, personnel and facility management, and engineering design.

Most recently, Morgan was a Civil Engineer/ Program Manager for the Federal Aviation Administration - Jackson Airports District Office. There, he was responsible for administering airport programs for both general aviation and commercial airports. He also provided policy guidance, direction, and interpretation of technical requirements relating to airport programs that include airport engineering, airport and system planning, capacity management, environmental planning, financial assistance, and compliance with grant assurance and airport safety to consultants and sponsors.

In addition to working with the FAA, Morgan was as an engineer with the Department of Defense at Columbus Air Force Base.

Morgan has a Bachelor of Science, Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University.

Newsmakers Alef named president of BNA Insurance and Investments Mike Alef has been named President of BNA Insurance and Investments, a division of BNA Bank. In 2001 Alef joined BNA Bank as Vice President and started BNA Bank Insurance and Investments which has steadily grown under his leadership.

He is licensed as a General Securities Representative and Alef holds a Series 7 designation. Alef is also licensed as an Investment Advisor Representative and holds a Series 65 designation.

Alef is a graduate of Tupelo High School and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Mississippi. He is a member of the New Albany Rotary Club where he has served as secretary/treasurer for the last 17 years and is a Paul Harris Fellow. He has served on the Board of Directors of UNITE, as secretary and board member for the New Albany Bulldog Athletic Foundation, has been active with the Union County Leadership Academy, and is a past president of the Dean Provence Endowment for Excellence in Education. As a member of First United Methodist Church, he is Chairman of the Administrative Board and teaches Sunday school. Alef and his wife, Anita, have three adult children.

Troutman recognized as Great Futures honoree Kelli Bondy Troutman, Director of Communications and Community Relations at LUBA Workers’ Comp, was named a Great Futures Honoree by the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge. Troutman was identified for her professional, personal, and philanthropic involvement in the community and her passion Troutman for making the city a great place to live and work. Her class was honored at the Third Annual Great Futures Gala at the Shaw Center for the Arts on Saturday, March 23.

The Great Futures Gala is an awards program put on by members of Club Blue—the young professionals affinity group of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge. The gala’s purpose is to select and honor young professionals on a path to achieving a great future not only in their careers but using their platform to do good in the community.

A selection committee comprised of past honorees and community leaders was created to review the nominations and to choose 15 individuals. “Kelli was selected an honoree given her impressive resume of community involvement. She consistently utilizes her leadership position at LUBA and her personal time to improve our local community,” said Jen O’Connell, Great Futures Gala Chair.

At LUBA Workers’ Comp, Troutman oversees the donations and support for over 60 local nonprofits each year. Personally, she is a Baton Rouge Area Chamber Leadership Program graduate, Baton Rouge Rotary Club member, and serves on the board of directors for the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI), the Emerge Center for Autism Foundation, and the Knock Knock Children’s Museum.

As an honoree, Troutman raised at least $2,000 for the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge ahead of the March 23 gala. “A hundred percent of the event’s proceeds benefit the club,” said O’Connell. “The gala committee hopes to raise $60,000 this year to further promote the club’s after school activities, summer reading programs, youth legislature, and violence prevention programs.”

To make a donation to the organization, visit www. greatfuturesgalabr.com.

Nine Bradley attorneys named to Who’s Who Legal Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP has announced that nine of the firm’s partners have been named

by Who’s Who Legal as among the world’s leading product liability defense practitioners. The Bradley attorneys listed in the Who’s Who Legal: Product Liability Defence 2019 are Lindsey C Boney IV, W. Wayne Drinkwater, James W. Gewin, William F. Goodman III, Tripp Haston, Lela Hollabaugh, Kim Bessiere Martin, Charles A. “Chuck” Stewart and R. Thomas Warburton.

Based in the firm’s Birmingham office, Boney is a member of Bradley’s Litigation Practice Group and the Appellate and Life Sciences Industry teams. He regularly represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in national mass tort litigation, often as a national team member, particularly involving regulatory and legal strategy issues. He has been involved in significant wins in the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, the Florida Supreme Court, the Iowa Supreme Court, and the Missouri Court of Appeals. He also has represented numerous national and international companies in a variety of other matters.

Based in the firm’s Jackson office and a member of the Litigation Practice Group, Drinkwater has extensive experience in major business, commercial and constitutional litigation and has tried some of Mississippi’s most significant cases. He also has handled more than 70 appeals, arguing more than 30 of them in state and federal courts across the United States.

Based in the firm’s Birmingham office, Gewin is a member of Bradley’s Litigation and Insurance practice groups, as well as the Life Sciences and Media & Entertainment industry teams. He concentrates his practice in general civil litigation in both the state and federal arena. A substantial portion of his practice centers around the representation of corporate defendants in the product and insurance fields. His clients also have included claimants in civil disputes relating to antitrust, construction, copyrights, pharmaceutical issues, and unfair competition.

Goodman is based in the firm’s Nashville, Tenn., office and is a member of Bradley’s Litigation and Environmental practice groups, as well as the Life Sciences and Food & Beverage industry teams. He also is co-chair of the Food and Agriculture Litigation and Regulatory team. Licensed to practice law in Mississippi and Tennessee, Goodman defends agricultural, chemical and pharmaceutical companies in high stakes commercial and personal injury litigation.

His significant case management, discovery and trial experience includes major chemical exposure, class action, commercial and pharmaceutical litigations, most of which involved hundreds or thousands of claims.

Based in the Birmingham office and co-chair of Bradley’s Life Sciences Industry team, Haston represents a broad spectrum of clients on regional, national and international engagements. He regularly represents medical device and pharmaceutical clients

April 26, 2019

in products liability litigation. In addition, he has served numerous clients as national trial and coordinating counsel and as a national team member in individual actions as well as mass tort and multi-district litigation. His experience has involved matters throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South America.

Hollabaugh is the managing partner of Bradley’s Nashville office and a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and Life Sciences Industry team. She has served as the lead trial lawyer in more than a dozen jury trials, as well as more than two dozen bench trials, arbitrations and administrative hearings.

She represents leading pharmaceutical, medical device and other product manufacturers in matters ranging from individual lawsuits to mass tort cases.

Based in the Bradley’s Huntsville, Ala., office and leader of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, Martin focuses her practice on general litigation with an emphasis on medical device and pharmaceutical products liability litigation, as well as white collar matters and False Claims Act litigation. She has extensive experience representing media clients on First Amendment issues and defamation claims. Her trial experience includes defense of personal injury, products liability, commercial litigation, First Amendment, and labor and employment claims. She has tried cases in state and federal court.

Based in the firm’s Montgomery, Ala., office, Stewart is co-chair of the Product Liability team and is a member of Bradley’s Litigation, Intellectual Property and Labor & Employment practice groups, as well as the Life Sciences Industry team. He has more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer, having successfully tried a vast number of cases, primarily in the defense of corporations in product liability, employment, business disputes, class actions, intellectual property, antitrust, construction and catastrophic personal injury matters.

Based in the Birmingham office and a member of Bradley’s Litigation Practice Group, Warburton has appeared in state and federal courts across the country, and has tried antitrust, business, construction, civil rights, insurance, mineral rights, negligence, product liability, land use, real property, tax, and wrongful termination cases to verdict or final judgment. He has significant arbitration experience, as well as first chair trial experience in both state and federal court. He has litigated and arbitrated in dozens of venues across the country and also has litigated international disputes.

MAPA recognizes top Mississippi asphalt projects The Mississippi Asphalt Pavement Association (MAPA) held an awards ceremony at its annual Quality Asphalt Conference to honor members for their work to improve Mississippi’s transportation system.

Award categories and winners are: Best Local/Commercial Paving – ADCAMP, Inc., Flowood, for Stribling Road in Madison County Best Mill and Overlay – APAC-Mississippi, Inc., for U.S. Highway 72 in Tishomingo County Best Interstate Mill and Overlay – Dunn Roadbuilders, LLC, Laurel, for Interstate 59 in Jasper County Best Ultra-Thin Overlay – APAC-Mississippi, Inc., for U.S. Highway 45 in Clarke County Best Overlay – Dunn Roadbuilders, LLC, for U.S. Highway 84 in Wayne County The award winners were chosen by a committee of their peers and Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) officials using a metrics-based grading system.

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

9

Road Builders group elects new members The Mississippi Road Builders Association elected members to a 3-year term: Dwayne Boyd, APAC – Mississippi, (Jackson); Michael Burroughs, Burroughs Diesel, (Laurel); Tracy Clark, Riverside Traffic Systems, (New Albany); Richard McCool, J.L. McCool Contractors, (Pascagoula); Rick Webster, Key, LLC (Madison).

Steven Warren, Warren Paving is President. Hunter Fordice, Fordice Construction Co. is 1st Vice President.

Clint Estess, Dickerson & Bowen is 2nd Vice President. Cindy Warner, American Field Service Corp. is Secretary Treasurer. Joe Lauderdale, Sunbelt Sealing is Past President.

Board members are Terry Ausbern, Ausbern Construction Company (Okolona); Bill Blain, W.E. Blain & Sons (Mt. Olive); Lee Carson, N.L. Carson Construction (Carthage); Bradley Coker, Falcon Contracting Company (Columbus); Michael Ellis, Lehman-Roberts Company (Batesville); Harold Hammett, Hammett Gravel Company (Lexington); John Lyle, Lyle Machinery Company (Jackson); Hastings Puckett, Puckett Machinery (Flowood).

Mike Pepper is the Association’s Executive Director.

Gulfport hospital names Wack as CFO Memorial Hospital at Gulfport has named Mark Wack, CPA, MBA, as Chief Financial Officer.

Wack joins Memorial with a background of more than 30 years of business, accounting and administration with experience specifically in healthcare finance and business development.

Wack most recently was Senior Wack Vice President and CFO at Touro Infirmary in New Orleans; and CFO at Merit Health in Biloxi from 2009 until 2016.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and Master of Business Administration from William Carey College.

Robertson named Memorial Hospital Foundation President Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Directors has named Aimee Robertson as president.

Robertson joins Memorial Hospital Foundation with a background of more than 12 years in finance and business. She most recently served as Senior Regional Marketing Manager at Hancock Whitney in Gulfport; and as a Relationship Manager in Hancock Robertson Bank’s Trust and Asset Management group 2010 until 2014.

Robertson received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Mississippi State University and her law degree from the University of Mississippi School of Law. She is on the board of Lynn Meadows Discovery Center, St. Vincent de Paul Community Pharmacy, Gulfport Main Street Association, Extra Table Gulf Coast Community Board, and is a Junior Auxiliary of Gulfport Life Member. Aimee was also appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant to serve on the board of directors for Mississippi Home Corporation.

April 26, 2019 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS: Law & Accounting

New tax law created one of the most challenging seasons ever faced

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com Early in the year, CPAs in Mississippi predicted that the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act of 2017, which ushered in some of the most major changes in U.S. income tax law seen in a long time, would not necessarily make filing a tax return easier. While the tax reforms benefited both large and small business, and many individuals, the changes were comprehensive and it has been not been an easy transition either for taxpayers or tax preparers.

“The TCJA has made this season one to remember,” said Marsha Dieckman, CPA, HORNE LLP, Ridgeland, partner in charge, wealth strategies, firmwide director of tax operations. “The changes are voluminous with so many moving parts impacting other decisions.”

The TCJA was billed as legislation that would simplify the tax code.

“Simplification? Not in my practice,” Dieckman said. “The change in the forms alone makes prior year comparisons and explaining the results to the taxpayer harder than in previous years. Overall, the majority of taxpayers we serve have been positively impacted, especially business owners. The compliance burden has increased, but the reduction in taxes makes it worth it for most.”

Dieckman said a big takeaway for W-2 employees is check your withholding. Tax tables resulted in more take home pay each month and less of a refund for many.

“That can change in 2019 if taxpayers are proactive,” she said.

Ted Edwards, CPA, senior member in charge of tax services for Haddox Reid Eubanks Betts PLLC, Jackson, early in the year predicted it would be an

“interesting” tax season. That has proven to be true.

“Absolutely, the new tax laws have created confusion,” Edwards said.

“Frankly, even those of us who work in this world all day, every day, are trying to figure things out. As CPAs, we are required to prepare tax returns in accordance with the tax Dieckman code and the other official guidance provided by the IRS. We all do our best to do that; however, when the law and other guidance is not clear, it makes it difficult.”

Are more people seeking professional help? Edwards said he doesn’t know for certain, but believes most of the new clients he has picked up this year came to him because of the Edwards tax law changes.

“I will say that the 1040 looks totally different, which could, in itself, cause more people to seek professional help,” Edwards said.

He has seen more people filing for extensions of time to file taxes.

“The changes in the tax law have certainly contributed to this being an unusual and difficult tax season,” Edwards said. “As a result, I do Flesher anticipate there will be more extensions filed.”

There were winners and losers with the new tax code. But Edwards thinks that many, if not most, taxpayers are paying less taxes under the new tax structure.

“However, there are certainly exceptions,” he said.

“There is no way to categorically answer who are the winners and losers with the new tax rules. I think generally lower to middle income taxpayers are winners, whereas, higher income taxpayers may not be.”

Melanie Woodrick, CPA, tax services team leader for GranthamPoole Certified Public Accountants in Ridgeland, agrees this has been one of the most challenging tax seasons they have faced.

“The new Tax Cut and Jobs Act created tremendous opportunities for tax saving for our clients,” Woodrick said. “These tax savings opportunities require thoughtful planning and execution to be successful. Fortunately, we got a jump on much of the planning. However, the IRS was considerably behind on finalizing regulations and forms this year and this pushed the software providers behind schedule. “ That has meant they are filing extensions for more returns than usual to ensure successful execution of tax plans and to look for additional opportunities for tax savings for their clients.

“For those clients whose returns we have completed, we have found that, in general, this year provided an overall reduction in federal taxes,” Woodrick said.

It may be too early to figure out how people were affected by the new law, said Dale L. Flesher, professor of accountancy and associate dean, Patterson School of Accountancy, University of Mississippi.

“Refunds have been down so far compared to last year, but that might be misleading because the withholding tables were different in the two years,” Flesher said. “People cannot be really sure how they will be affected until they prepare a return. Someone might think they will benefit from the higher standard deduction, but that will be offset by the loss of the exemption deduction. Also, the impact of the limitation on state tax deductions depends on your income level and the state and community in which you reside. In summary, there were so many conflicting changes that you can’t make an overall assessment of what the net impact will be.”

Flesher said Section 199-A is quite complex. Section 199A provides many owners of sole proprietorships, partnerships, S corporations and some trusts and estates, a deduction of income from a qualified trade or business.

“Many people (small-business owners) don’t know if they are eligible, and then if they learn that they are eligible, they might get no benefit because of the phaseout due to excessive income,” Flesher said.

Law & Accounting

April 26, 2019

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

LARGEST CPA FIRMS

$+' ) & + ,,

.,-1&3) 4143= 0;= !8* .),*1&3) !

-%$(, + - !!)+ 422*6(* !8 $*78 4.38 !

)1 $ . (% --, &5.841 !8 !8* &(0743 ! + (-# ' ))&

.,-1&3) 4143= &60;&= !9.8* .),*1&3) !

+* + $(, ($"#- ) .,-1&3) 4143= &60;&= !8* .),*1&3) !

!498-*63 4.38* 0;= !8* &88.*7'96, !

++ $"", ("+ '

$ &60;&= 1 !8* .),*1&3) ! , /$,)+, &5.841 !8 !8* &(0743 ! )-- )'* (2 8- !8 4192'97 ! & 1 ( + ( ))( &) ( / (, /+

"-6** .:*67 ) 91+5468 !

&5.8&1 !8 !8* &(0743 ! $& , $'')(, 422*6(* !8 &8(-*> ! # 0 $!!$( -. + 8- !8 *6.).&3 ! $& $(( 2 &).743 !8 "95*14 !

& *#)( ,$-

)* !!$ + + ).(

+-( +, $(

, $(

-463*115 (42

4*= &:*37

;;7(5& (42

&))4< *.) (42

&2*7 !8&++46)

6*, .3,

,6&38-&25441* (42

4'*68 933.3,-&2

-60(5& (42

*(.1 &65*6

82-(5&7 (42

6&30 ($-468*6 6

(6.(5& (42

'0) (42

8*1488 (42

&:1(5& (42

052, (42

7.1&77.22437 (42

67,7(5& (42

32(5& (42

1843 !.27

*)*6 4-3743

"-42&7 9(01*=

.3)= !14&3

7-1*= $.11743

*.8- :&37

&:.) .11*6

GOOD NEWS IS WORTH REPEATING! Framed Article Plaque - 9â&#x20AC;?x12â&#x20AC;? or 8â&#x20AC;?x10â&#x20AC;? - $199

Articles are reformatted to ďŹ t on either one or two pages with Mississippi Business Journal masthead on the top of the page. Article size is 8.5â&#x20AC;? x 11â&#x20AC;?.

Framed articles take approximately one month to complete.

Digital Reprint Article or list will be reformatted with Mississippi Business Journal

Frame size - 14â&#x20AC;? x 16.5â&#x20AC;? - $199

masthead on the top of the page and be provided in PDF format.

WAYS TO ORDER Âť Call: 601-364-1044 Fax: (601) 364-1007 Fax or mail: Mississippi Business Journal Attn: Marcia Thompson-Kelly 200 North Congress St, Ste 400, Jackson 39201 Email: marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com or submit a request online at http://msbusiness.com/mbj-article-request/

Introductory Offer $199

R Digital Reprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$375 R Framed Article 14â&#x20AC;? x 16.5â&#x20AC;? cherry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$199 R Framed Article 23â&#x20AC;? x 16.5â&#x20AC;? cherry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250 R Plaque 8â&#x20AC;? x 10â&#x20AC;? or 9â&#x20AC;? x 12â&#x20AC;? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$199

11

Law & Accounting

12 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q April 26, 2019

LARGEST CPA FIRMS

$+' ) & + ,, &).743 !8 "95*14 !

& *#)( (5& ,$(4

2 )'* (2 4392*38 1 #.(07'96, !

--# 0, .-+ + $( , 2 !8**) ) .),*1&3) ! (( +)0( .,, ) &0*1&3) 6 !8* &(0743 !

2&=(5& (42

2(1(5& 3*8

8&33'64;36977 (42

2&)+ )0 && $&,)( +-!)+ .,-;&= $*78 6**3;44) ! $&-3 $&&$ ', ), ) "422= 9364 6 .14<. ! $&&$ ', $--, ( +

( 3,:&1* ) *63&3)4 !

2+( $33$ $&7-.3,843 !8 497843 !

+).* , $ &60*8 !8 6**3;44) !

+-#.+ & 2 0, 422*6(* 6 !8* &88.*7'96, !

# ) + + )'* (2 &).743 1&>& &88.*7'96, !

)&&$(, ++ ' + - 4938&.37 1:) !8* &).743 ! ( ) $ *++*6743 !8 "95*14 !

) ++ , .,$( +,, /$,)+,

&2&6 <+46) !

! "

+-( +, $(

, $(

.1*= *1743

&88 6**1&3)

.(-&6) $ 977

4;&6) &:.7 6 $.11.&2

&:.) 488

85;- (42

.(-&*1 *.11

5;1(5& (42

&33= $.11.&27

;;; ;5'(5& 3*8

"-42&7 =63* 6 2.1=

%.>>.

'=63*>.>>. (42

6&., 6*;*6

$,6495 (42

3)6*; *;7 &66=

( 68-96 &=243) 410

27) (5&7 (42 &96& 1&(0;*11

&2*7 4*6'*6

04*6'*6(425&3= (42

$&11&(* 411.37

('-(5&7 (42

&2*7 #&3(*

/*:&3(* (42

.(-&6) *#4* -.11.5

&66

)*:4*(&66 (42

!

T.E. LOTT & COMPANY

CPAs and BusinessAdvisors since 1926 Quality, Integrity, Service & Professionalism Audits, Reviews & Compilations Tax Planning & Preparation Payroll Services Estate & Trust Tax Preparation Management Advisory Services Pension & Profit Sharing Services Quickbooks Advisors Accounting & Bookkeeping Services Business Valuation Technology Consulting COLUMBUS OFFICE

221 North 7th Street | (662) 328-5387

STARKVILLE OFFICE

106B South Washington St. | (662) 323-1234

TUSCALOOSA OFFICE

6834 Highway 69 South | (205) 759-4195

w w w. t e l o t t . c o m

)* !!$ + + ).(

2019

Special Section

14 Q MBJ Q April 26, 2019

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2019 CLASS Jason Bailey, Summit Management Services. LLC .............................. 15 Daniel Cole, PrecisionKing................................................................ 15 Lameshia Edwards, Community First Real Estate............................... 15 Brandt Galloway, Galloway Chandler ................................................. 15 Dr. Lee Gary, The Winning Smile Dental Group ................................. 16 Felisha Hendon, Family Strong Construction ..................................... 16 Ryan Kelly, Horizon Professional Services ......................................... 16 Shenika Kelly-Moore, Kelly Family Denistry ...................................... 16

CONGRATULATIONS TO

Emmie King, Nandy’s Candy..............................................................17

DR. LEE GARY DR. WENDY LEWIS

Tim Lampkin, Higher Purpose Co. .....................................................17

2019

Amy Oliver, Love AO Jewelry ............................................................ 18

Mississippi Business Journal

Deryll Stegall, Stegall Imagery .......................................................... 19

ON BEING NAMED AS A

Dr. Wendy Lewis, The Winning Smile Dental Group ...........................17 Duvalier J. Malone, Duvalier Malone Enterprises ................................17 Joshua Norris, Corkern and Norris .................................................... 18 Kendall Poole, Inspiration Mississippi ............................................... 18

TOP ENTREPRENEUR

Bilal Qizilbash, Bilal’s EasyKale Brands ............................................. 18 Timothy Quinn, Quinn Healthcare .................................................... 19 Richard A. Sun, CFA, Sun & Co......................................................... 19 Allen Taheri, T Enterprises/A2Z Printing ........................................... 19 John Tierre, Johnny T’s Bistro ......................................................... 20

off 2 o 2016 WINNER

VOTED #1 DENTIST/BEST COSMETIC DENTIST IN MISSISSIPPI 4 YEARS IN A ROW!

BRANDON | FLOWOOD | JACKSON SAME DAY DENTISTRY | EXTENDED HOURS | 7 AM - 7 PM 601-203-1943 | WWW.THEWINNINGSMILE.COM

Sam Waters, Waters Creative .......................................................... 20 James R. Wier Jr., Wier Boerner Allin Architecture, PLLC.................. 20 Event photos ................................................................................... 21

TO NOMINATE FOR FUTURE CLASSES PLEASE GO ONLINE www.msbusiness.com/mississippis-top-entrepreneurs

Top Entrepreneurs

April 26, 2019

Jason Bailey

Daniel Cole

Summit Management Services, LLC

PrecisionKing

J

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

B

ason Bailey is the owner and CEO of Summit Management Services.

Bailey has been owner and CEO of Summit Mangement Services, a property management service in Oxford, since 2009. He is responsible for day-to-day operations of 40 condominium/homeowner associations and more than 700 long-term rental properties.

Bailey is also the Ward 6 city alderman in Oxford, where he has been a lifelong resident.

He previously worked for Bailey Management Co., Sun South Development, Grand Oak Realty, Guest Realty and Land Co., and Campus Crusade for Christ.

He earned his Bachelors of Business Administration in Insurance and Risk Management is at the University of Mississippi in 2002.

Bailey was a member of the 2006 class of Leadership Lafayette, was a Rotary Club Paul Harris fellow in 2015 and was named Mississippi’s Under 40 Person of the Year for 2017.

He and his wife have two sons.

orn and raised in the Jackson area, Daniel Cole developed a love for technology from an early age. He began working on computers at the age of 12, and had written his first software program by the age of 15. His interest in the digital world eventually led him to pursue a degree in Computer Science from Mississippi College.

Following his college graduation in 2004, he was named the Director of Information Technology at Mississippi College School of Law, where he worked 13 years. In January of 2017, he transitioned full-time to PrecisionKing, an agriculture technology firm he and a friend had started together in 2014. He now serves as PrecisionKing’s Chief Technology Officer.

In his spare time, Cole enjoys saltwater fishing, hunting, and serving as a member at Pinelake Church. He lives in Clinton with his wife, Bethany, and their two sons, August and Deacon.

Lameshia Edwards

Brandt Galloway

Community First Real Estate

Galloway Chandler

M

eshia Edwards is the Broker/Owner of Community First Real Estate, which was established 2012. Edwards is a member of the National Associations of Realtors, Central Mississippi Realtors and Mississippi Association of Realtors. Edwards has passionately served the Real Estate Community Since November 2007, and has held multi million dollar producer status since 2008.

Edwards continually seeks and achieve designations to better served her clients. She currently holds the following designations (MRP) Military Relocation Professional, (ABR) Accredited Buyers Representative, (SRS) Sellers Representative Specialist, (RENE) Real Estate Negotiation Expert and (GRI) Graduate of Realtor Institute. She specializes in Residential Home Sales In Hinds, Madison and Rankin Counties.

B

randt Galloway has been with Galloway Chandler McKinney since 2007. He began his insurance career in 2002 with Travelers Insurance Company.

After spending five years underwriting large construction accounts, he joined Galloway Chandler McKinney as a producer. In his current role of Partner, he is responsible for production and agency management. Galloway has been committed to the community since his return to Columbus.

He has served as President of the YMCA board of directors and Main Street Columbus and is currently Vice Chairman of the Golden Triangle Development LINK. He and his wife, Martha, are active members of First United Methodist Church.

They have two children, Lizzie and Ben. In his free time, he loves to ride bikes, play golf and tennis, hunt and fish. An occasional thrill-seeker, he also enjoys scuba diving, sky diving and has completed two Ironman triathlons.

Q

15

16 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q April 26, 2019

Top Entrepreneurs

Dr. Lee Gary

Felisha Hendon

The Winning Smile Dental Group

Hendon Construction

A

native of Yazoo City, Lee Gary graduated from Manchester Academy and earned an associate degree from Hinds Community College. He then attended Mississippi College earning a BS in biology.

Gary began his dental training in 2001 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry graduating with a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry in 2005.

After dental school, he spent one year as an associate dentist with Ballard Family Dentistry before transferring to Flowood and spending another year as an associate dentist with Caldwell Comprehensive Family Dentistry.

In 2007 he purchased The Winning Smile with Dr. Mark Stevens and then formed The Winning Smile Dental Group. He and his wife, Karmon, two daughters, Evans and Holland.

F

elisha Hendon had never thought about the construction business. But when a flood forced her into having to rebuild her own home, she made it work for herself.

After six years of operating Hendon Trucking, she switched to the construction business and has been doing that ever since.

She has learned everything on her own and made her way in the business world.

Ryan Kelly

Dr. Shenika Kelly-Moore

Horizon Professional Services

Kelly Family Dentistry

R

yan Kelly is a Mississippi native and founder/CEO of Horizon Professional Services.

He previously served as Chief Advancement Office for William Carey University and Director of External Relations for The University of Southern Mississippi College of Health.

Kelly earned a bachelor’s of science with honors from The University of Southern Mississippi in 2005 and a master’s of science with honors from Mississippi College in 2007.

He is a graduate of the Area Development Partnership’s Leadership Pinebelt, the Mississippi Economic Council’s Blueprint Mississippi committee, the Association of Fundraising Professionals, and the Mississippi Society of Association Executives.

In addition to professional activities, Kelly also serves as a deacon at Temple Baptist Church, the United Way of Southeast Mississippi, and others.

D

r. Shenika Kelly-Moore is a native of Jackson. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Alcorn State University. She attended the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry where she obtained a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree.

Kelly-Moore completed a one-year general practice residency at Louisiana State University.

Kelly-Moore knew she wanted to be in the health professional field at a very young age. She has a passion for people and loves to provide the best care to her patients.

Kelly-Moore is married to Davie Moore, and they have three daughters Chaightlin, Christina and Chloe. She is the daughter of Christine Kelly-Travis and Bobby Weathersby. Kelly-Moore enjoys spending time with family in her spare time and also traveling. She strives everyday improving herself and the world around her. She believes you can do whatever you put your mind to and that there’s nothing impossible with God.

Top Entrepreneurs

April 26, 2019

Emmie King

Tim Lampkin

Nandy’s Candy

Higher Purpose Co.

J

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

T

ackson native Emma King was destined to make beautiful and delicious candy at Nandy’s Candy.

A daughter of founder Nancy King, Emmie went away to college and the became a part of the New York City art world.

But she came home and now oversees what is arguably the best candy store in the South.

King graduated from the University of Kansas in 1996. She moved to New York after college and began making art.

She and her husband, Spencer Beard, returned to Mississippi after the 9/11 tragedy. From 2002 to 2005, King worked with the David Lusk Gallery in Memphis, then as the gallery director at Millsaps College and then the director of development and marketing at the Mississippi Museum of Art. She became the co-owner of Nandy’s in 2009, and in 2015 took over the family business.

Nancy King opened the confectionery business in Colonial Mart in 1980. Emmie King and her husband have two sons.

In her spare time, she likes to read, hang out with friends and make art.

im Lampkin is the co-founder and CEO of Higher Purpose Co. a nonprofit social impact agency building wealth in communities of color across Mississippi by supporting the ownership of land, businesses and homes.

Ashoka and American Express recognized him in 2018 as an emerging innovator addressing the racial wealth gap in the United States.

An BALLE and Movement Voices Fellow, he has a decade of community development and entrepreneurship experience. He previously managed the Racial Equity Program for the Mississippi Humanities Council which won the national 2018 Schwartz Prize.

Lampkin also worked for Southern Bancorp to implement several community initiatives. He continues to produce narrative change documentaries highlighting relevant Mississippi topics. Lampkin serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis Community Development Advisory Council. He is a graduate of Mississippi Valley State University and is currently finishing a Doctor of Education degree at the University of Arkansas.

Dr. Wendy Lewis

Duvalier J. Malone

The Winning Smile Dental Group

Duvalier Malone Enterprises

A

native of Puckett, Dr. Wendy Lewis is a cum laude graduate of Mississippi College and a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry. As a member of the American Dental Association, the Mississippi Dental Association, the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the Academy of General Dentistry, Lewis advanced care.

From an early age, Lewis said she wanted to become a dentist. She even insisted that all her dolls have teeth. “My pediatric dentist, Dr. Heber Simmons, Jr., of Jackson was the largest influence on me,” she said. “From the time I was 16 months old until I became an adult, I spent a lot of time with him.” Simmons documented in his records that Lewis – while in third grade – said she wanted to be a dentist. When she was accepted into dental school, he sent her a copy of the record.

D

uvalier Malone is an accomplished author, political columnist, motivational speaker, community activist and CEO of Duvalier Malone Enterprises, a global consulting firm delivering services to non-profits and underserved communities throughout America. A native of Fayette, he has dedicated his life to motivating, enhancing and refining the hidden success stories within communities across the country. His work places him squarely on the front lines regarding the issues of equal rights and equal opportunities for all.

He has traveled across the country as a speaker at high schools, churches, communities, and universities. He was featured in Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals in 2011, Who’s Who in Black Mississippi in 2012 and Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40 Business Leaders in 2016.

Malone has a B.A. in Political Science from Alcorn State University, and he graduated from Jackson State University with a Master’s Degree in Political Science.

Q

17

18 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q April 26, 2019

Top Entrepreneurs

Joshua Norris

Amy Oliver

Corkern and Norris

Love AO Jewelry

J

A

osh Norris owns a tax practice and financial planning firm in Jackson. After graduating from the University of Mississippi, where he received a degree in both accounting and international studies, he began his career with Ernst & Young in Memphis. In 2010, he moved back to his hometown where he worked for Richard L. Corkern, CPA P.A. for a year before purchasing the firm and renaming it Corkern & Norris.

In 2015, he created LeFleur Financial, a fee-only financial advisory firm, which allows him to provide more extensive financial services to his clients. He operates both firms from his office in Fondren.

s the owner of two small businesses, Amy Oliver runs the day to day management of all ordering for both the jewelry line and for the storefront, filling orders, booking markets, prepping for shows, scheduling, travel itineraries, representing LoveAO in both Americasmart Atlanta and Dallas Market Center as well as managing employees.

Oliver started in the business world after graduating from Mississippi State University in 2008 with two degrees and multiple job offers.

She began as a Retirement Sales Coordinator and helped guide business owners in the states of Mississippi and Alabama as they setup and managed retirement investment accounts.

But she wanted something for her own. She started small and worked toward a goal. In July of 2012, she took a leap of faith and left her full time job to build a business with LoveAO. Oliver says it was the best decision she ever made. “The days aren’t always fun or easy but I thoroughly enjoy what I do,” she says. “I love that I get to travel and meet new people daily. The best part of this “job” is that I get to make women feel great about themselves by adding that personal touch of style to their daily wardrobes.”

Kendall Poole

Bilal Qizilbash

Inspiration Mississippi

Bilal’s Easy Kale Brands

K

endall Poole is the owner of Kendall Poole Event Planning and Gifts by KPEP. She is the lead coordinator at Kendall Poole Event Planning. KPEP specializes in organizing spectacular events. She loves to help clients celebrate any occasion, from their wedding to their child’s first birthday party Gifts by KPEP has locations in Ridgeland and Oxford.

They also offer custom stationery, monogramming services, and gift wrapping! “I am a huge believer in supporting local businesses and a lot of the products we carry in the store are Mississippi made.”

Poole is married to Will Ellis and they have two children, Emma and William, and live in Madison.

W

hen Bilal Qizilbash — with a B.S. in Biology, M.S. in Medical Sciences from Stony Brook College of New York — discovered that juiced leafy kale would selectively kill melanoma cancer cells in vitro while leaving non-cancerous cells alone, he’d had a breakthrough... and a realization.

The breakthrough led to a U.S. patent and continued laboratory studies.

The realization was that Bilal could help humanity with a product—Bilal’s EasyKale—that makes it easy for people to add #dailykale to their diets. Bilal is now CEO and chief scientist for EasyKale Labs, LLC. Bilal pledges 2.5 percent of net profits to feeding the homeless, something Bilal does every Friday in Jackson. Another 2.5 percent goes to the Mississippi Coding Academies, helping atrisk kids build technology careers.

Bilal received a 2019 and 2018 Young Professional on the Rise Awards and has been nominated for 2019 Top Entrepreneur in Mississippi. He’s also been nominated for the 2016 CNN Hero of the Year award.

Top Entrepreneurs

April 26, 2019

Timothy Quinn

Deryll Stegall

Quinn Healthcare

Stegall Imagery

F

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

D

or Dr. Timothy Quinn, giving back to the community means “walking the walk”. The Medical Director for Ouinn Healthcare PLLC, Quinn has devoted countless hours to mentoring students at Jackson’s Lanier High School.

The Chicago native serves as a “father figure” to many of the students, especially youngsters from single parent households. Quinn also has provided job opportunities and educational assistance for Lanier High students. His Ridgeland family health clinic employs a full-time staff of nine and is celebrating a decade of service.

Prior to opening the clinic, Quinn served as a staff physician at St. Dominic’s and Central Mississippi Medical Center. A published writer, Quinn is a frequent contributor to the Clarion-Ledger’s Health section and is a medical correspondent for Jackson radio stations WKXI and WJMI. When he has leisure time, Quinn enjoys weight training and running.

eryll Stegall is a true entrepreneur. After a nearly 20-year career with one company where he did seemingly everything except photography, the Jackson native took the risk and opened Stegall Imagery. Today, his studio is booming, and Stegall couldn’t be more satisfied.

After beginning with senior and graduate level photography courses in college, and continuing with various other photography classes and ventures throughout all his adult life, “photographer” now truly describes Deryll. It’s his vocation, his hobby, and his ministry.

Deryll, a graduate of the University of Mississippi, began his full-time photography business in 2002.

He is a member of Professional Photographers of America and Wedding & Portrait Photographers International, and attends National & Regional professional photography conventions and schools to continue growing his skills and feeding his creativity.

Deryll has extensive experience with weddings, studio and location portraiture, large event coverage, executive portraiture and specialized corporate assignments.

His hobbies include Broadway and theatre productions, fishing and travel.

Richard A. Sun, CFA

Allen Taheri

Sun & Co.

T Enterprises/A2Z Printing

R

ichard Sun, of Jackson, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University and a Masters of Business Administration from New York University. He has also earned the esteemed designation as a Chartered Financial Analyst. He has served as an investor, adviser, senior executive or board member in over 30 startup and early stage high-potential companies.

Additionally, Sun was a banker for 22 years with Bankers Trust Company (now Deutsche Bank), Goldman Sachs, First Boston (now Credit Suisse) and UBS (once Swiss Bank Corporation). From 1994 to 2001, he was a private equity investor with Emerging Markets Partnership, a $6 billion firm backed by AIG and the Government of Singapore. He has arranged, advised on or made over $11 billion of private debt and equity investments.

Sun is currently a member of the Board of Directors of Innovate Mississippi (and its Executive Committee) and past chairman. He has also served as Innovate Mississippi’s Entrepreneur in Residence and on its Seed Fund Investment Committee. He is co-founder of the Mississippi Coding Academies and the Director of the Jackson cohort. He is co-founder of EasyKale Brands with Bilal Qizilbash.

A

llen Taheri was born in Iran in 1982 and moved to Starkville in 1989 and became a first-generation immigrant.

Taheri then moved to Jackson and attended high school at Jackson Academy. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Mississippi State University in 2007. He has owned a business from age 14 and has been an entrepreneur ever since.

He started T Enterprises, Inc. aka A2Z Printing in 2008 and has made it prosper with his business and people skills. It started off as a two-man crew and has now expanded to employ 49 people with a revenue of $7.5 million. Taheri helps contribute to the community by donating printing to the Phoenix Club. He is the chairman of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Compliance Advisory Panel and member of Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Air Counsel. He has been married to Michelle for six years. He has a three-year-old daughter, Mina, as well as one-month-old twin daughters.

In his free time, Allen enjoys playing in an adult soccer league and traveling with family and friends.

Q

19

20 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q April 26, 2019

Top Entrepreneurs

John Tierre

Sam Waters

Johnny T’s Bistro

Waters Creative

J

ohnny T’s has become a meeting spot for young professionals and business owners over the years.

The spot is the vision of owner John Tierre. Originally from Houston, Texas, Tierre came to Jackson on a tennis scholarship at Jackson State University. After graduation, he decided to plant his roots in Jackson.

Along with Dr. Justin Turner, these entrepreneurs, deciding to invest in Jackson hasn’t always been easy.

It took Tierre years to raise the money himself to build Johnny T’s.

“I know things take time,” he once said. “It is a process for the whole revitalization, but I am showing here by proof of concept what can be done. And it doesn’t take big business in order to do it. We can do it.”

Since opening Johnny T’s, Tierre has given back by inviting local bands to perform, including Elisha Roberts Turner’s band, Forever Elisha.

S

am Waters had better be a self-starter, because he is the sole employee of Waters Creative Marketing.

Other than the general business administrative tasks, he focuses on creating the best marketing value to his clients through logo design and brand identity, website design, graphic design and videography projects.

The 2007 University of Mississippi graduate says the most satisfying professional moment happened while waiting one a train to pass in Tupelo.

“I looked to my left to see a printed billboard I created for a client. I looked straight ahead to a digital billboard where 3 of the 6 rolling billboards were designed by me, and then looked to the right and there was a food truck (Tupelo’s first food truck) that I designed its complete brand identity. It was very fulfilling to see how many people have given me the opportunity to be instrumental in their own pursuit of entrepreneurial success.

It also revealed to me that my own footprint in the community was larger than I thought.”

In his spare time, Waters enjoys really good coffee, traveling, live music, watching Ole Miss sports, and spending time with his family.

James R. Wier Jr. Wier Boerner Allin Architecture, PLLC

S

ince his childhood, Jamie Wier has been fascinated with the built world: how structures, spaces, and environments affect our lives, moods, and behaviors.

Wier and Michael Boerner began the firm Wier Boerner Allin in 2009. For the first year, they mostly worked out of their living rooms or local coffee shops like Cups and Starbucks. Partner Jack Allin joined later on. In September of 2010, the firm moved into the first floor of Fondren Corner.

Wade Thompson, associate, joined shortly thereafter in 2010.

The firm grew quickly, adding associates Brian Wiginton and Molly Frascogna in 2011, and Ryan Hansen and Russ Markle in 2013. Eric Whitfield joined in 2012 and has recently been promoted to partner.

Through architecture, Wier is able to interpret his clients’ needs in ways that constructively influence those interactions, while leaving a physical legacy and impression on the world around him. He spends most of his free time enjoying hunting, hiking, and a watching a good football game with his family.

Top Entrepreneurs

April 26, 2019

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

2019

Photos by Stegall Imagery

21

22 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q April 26, 2019 THE SPIN CYCLE

The Tiger Woods brand is pure green & gold

I

n the wake of winning his 5th Masters in grand style, the Tiger Woods brand is pure gold!

And the brands that stuck with him – namely Nike – cashed in big when Tiger won his 15th major, following a drought of championship victories that lasted more than a decade.

The value of Woods’ victory for Nike is roughly $22.54 million according to Apex Marketing. That’s equivalent to the brand value that the athletic apparel company received from Woods’ on-camera exposure during the final round of the Masters broadcast on CBS, the firm said. The iconic Nike swoosh was featured on Woods’ hat, shirt, pants and shoes.

After the historic victory, the Woods-branded apparel and accessories for men on Nike’s website were sold out.

Shortly after Woods’ victory, Nike dropped a video on its social media channels starring the golfer. It said: “It’s crazy to think a 43-year-old who has experienced every high and every low and has just won his 15th major is chasing the same dream as a 3-year-old.”

Nike’s ties to Woods date back to the debut of the golfer’s professional career in 1996 at the Greater Milwaukee Open. At the time, Nike had reportedly just signed a five-year deal with Woods for $40 million.

And Woods has since re-signed his contract with the company numerous times.

Nike famously stuck by Woods in 2009, when the golfer took an indefinite leave from the sport amid personal issues that landed him on the cover of tabloid magazines calling attention to allegations of his marital infidelity. Sponsors from the likes of AT&T and Accenture dropped him.

But, at that time, Nike stuck by him.

Nike stayed with Woods again in 2017 when the golfer was charged with driving

under the influence, and found asleep behind the wheel of his car.

Apex has also estimated that the Monster Energy brand made nearly $1 million for being featured on Woods’ golf bag, while Bridgestone made more than $130,000 for being on Woods’ golf ball, which was shown during close-up shots of various putts at the Masters.

The green jacket is most definitely gold!

Frame Reinvents Digital Magazine Concept I’ve written a lot in this space about the demise of the once-heralded print media – newspapers and magazines, which used to be the go to for all our news.

In today’s digital age, major media outlets are constantly reinventing the news.

Those that are most innovative win consumers and readership.

The weekly news magazine is almost an afterthought in today’s plugged-in world.

While the past decade has been particularly harsh for many news organizations, newsweeklies have fared even worse.

Glossy, full-color pages are expensive. So is national and worldwide distribution. And when the internet-driven churn of the news cycle puts value on speed, in-depth looks at yesterday’s news doesn’t sell like years past.

But, there’s a new media sheriff in town that could be the next trailblazer on the digital highway.

Most Millennials don’t know what a news magazine is, but Ben Moe, a 25-yearold Columbia University graduate, has launched a publication called Frame, a modern take on the outdated medium.

The beta version, which launched last month, is a narrative-driven blend of photos, videos and maps, all presented in a mobile-friendly vertical format that’s reminiscent of The Washington Post’s AMP

http://www.msbusiness.com

BANKS

Q Regions Bank.................................................................................................................. www.regions.com

HUMAN RESOURCES

Q People Lease.........................................................................................................www.peoplelease.com

INSURANCE AGENCIES

Q Account Services Group........................................................... www.accountservicesgroup.com

LAW FIRMS

Q Victor W. Carmody, Jr. P.A........................................................................... www.mississippidui.com

PAYROLL

Q People Lease.........................................................................................................www.peoplelease.com

SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT

Q Mansell Media.................................................................................................... www.mansellmedia.net

Have your business listed here! Contact your advertising representative at 601.364.1000

stories. Frame isn’t another phone-cluttering app, but a digital experience in which users sign up through Frame’s website and then access articles and features through a variety of novel portals.

Frame is built around two ideas: leveraging technology to tell stories in new ways and providing in-depth context that weekly news magazines have traditionally filled.

To appeal to attention spans that have grown used to constant news bombardment, Frame fuses just about every media type available – text, photos, videos, podcasts, technology that hasn’t been invented yet – to tell its stories on an app that will work on all devices. It’s an ode to what magazines were known for – combining text, images and graphics on high-def pages to tell stories, an experience that was lost when mainstream magazines switched to online versions.

Frame’s content management system includes a feature called “detours,” where readers can follow story threads in directions that articles typically wouldn’t allow.

In Frame’s launch story about the opiate-related death of a teenager in North Dakota, for example, audiences can take detours to learn more about fentanyl and why it’s popular among drug dealers. Detours are presented in the same blend of media formats as the main story.

When users subscribe to Frame, they’re prompted to select which ways they’d like to receive news. If they enable calendars, Frame’s stories will be added as all-day events with a headline and some text. Users can load the story right from that pane in Google Calendars, or through a pop-up link in iCal. New stories automatically load on users’ calendars as Frame prepares and publishes them.

It’s a novel idea for the tired old mag!

Rising Mic | First Responders Save Notre Dame Cathedral Treasures When the tragic fire struck Notre Dame Cathedral, first responders came to the rescue, fighting back flames, while others raced to save the cache of priceless relics and works of art stored inside the historic church.

Some emergency workers were guided to “precious zones” to focus on saving the Christian treasures inside, including a tunic of St. Louis and the crown of thorns that is believed to have been worn by Jesus.

The leaders of Paris thanked French firefighters and other emergency workers at a ceremony leading up to Easter for their heroic work saving the beloved Paris landmark from total destruction and for

rescuing some of France and Christianity’s most prized relics.

The ceremony included readings from the Victor Hugo novel “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” and a Todd Smith Bach cello concert.

Paris fire brigade chaplain Jean-Marc Fournier was among those honored He told media outlets he climbed atop altars to save some of the paintings and also said he was most proud to have “removed Jesus” from the Cathedral.

The Paris Fire Brigade worked for two days to extinguish the inferno, as crowds of people gathered outside and sang prayers in homage to the site.

Many were brought to tears as the fire collapsed the cathedral’s roof and took down its iconic spire, but firefighters were able to save the building’s main structure.

And the world responded in unison and dedication to rebuild the iconic treasure of the ages.

Within hours of the fire, donors pledged more than $1 billion to restore the Parisian icon to its former glory.

Even before the smoke had cleared, luxury goods magnate Francois-Henri Pinault announced his family would donate 100 million euros ($112 million) to the effort.

Not to remain on the sidelines, his rival Bernard Arnault – the chief executive of LVMH and the richest man in Europe – pledged twice that amount. The Bettencourt Meyers family, which controls L’Oreal, quickly matched that pledge. And Patrick Pouyanne, chief of executive of French oil giant Total, offered another $112 million.

So thanks to the heroic first responders, and rich donations, Notre Dame will be restored to its former glory!

Todd Smith is president and chief communications officer of Deane, Smith & Partners, 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, and follow him @ spinsurgeon.

April 26, 2019

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

Q

23

February 2019

MISSISSIPPI’S FEB. UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES

DeSoto 3.9

Mississippi 4.8 U.S. 4.1

Tunica 6.2

UNITED STATES Labor Force Data Civilian Labor Force Unemployed Unemployment Rate Employed STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Unemployment Insurance Data •• Initial UI Claims Continued Claims Benefits Paid Weeks Paid First Payments Final Payments Average Weekly Benefit

Feb ‘19 1,255,000 60,700 4.8 1,194,300

Jan ‘19 1,254,400 65,000 5.2 1,189,400

Feb ‘18 1,276,200 62,400 4.9 1,213,800

‘18 Avg. 1,275,700 60,700 4.8 1,215,000

Panola 5.7

Jan ‘19 162,104,000 7,140,000 4.4 154,964,000

Feb 2019 3,815 31,095 $4,329,950 20,575 1,574 427 $210.45

Feb ‘18 161,494,000 7,091,000 4.4 154,403,000

Jan 2019 5,426 37,969 $5,126,696 24,460 2,116 450 $209.60

‘18 Avg. 162,075,000 6,314,000 3.9 155,761,000

Feb 2018 3,928 38,326 $5,432,737 26,273 1,931 556 $206.78

Prentiss 4.6

Yalobusha 5.0

Bolivar 6.5

Calhoun 4.9

Leflore 7.3

Carroll 5.6

Montgomery 5.5

Holmes 9.5

Moving Avg.** 162,356,000 6,271,000 3.9 156,084,000

Yazoo 5.5

Issaquena 12.1

Lowndes 4.9

Oktibbeha 4.5

Choctaw 5.0

Winston 5.6

Attala 6.0

Sharkey 8.2

Monroe 4.8

Clay 6.2

Webster 5.0

Washington 7.7

Tishomingo 4.7

Itawamba 4.2

Chickasaw 5.0

Grenada 4.6

Sunflower 8.9

Lee 3.9

Pontotoc 3.9

Tallahatchie 6.3

Moving Avg.** 1,273,000 61,000 4.8 1,213,000

Leake 5.1

Neshoba 5.1

Scott 3.9

Newton 4.8

Noxubee 6.1

Kemper 6.8

Madison 3.8 Warren 5.8 Rankin 3.5

Hinds 4.6

Claiborne 8.9

Copiah 6.0

Adams 6.5

Wilkinson 8.9

Franklin 5.9

Lincoln 4.7

Amite 5.9

Pike 5.7

Covington Jones 4.4 4.9

Walthall 6.4

Marion 5.1

4 - 5.4 5.5 - 8.2 8.3 - 12.8

— Mississippi Department of Employment Security

3.5 - 3.9 4.0 - 5.4 5.5 - 8.2 8.3 - 12.8

Lamar 3.7

Pearl River 4.7

Hancock 5.1

Lauderdale 4.8

Clarke 5.5

Wayne 5.4

Lawrence Jeff Davis 6.2 6.0

Unemployment Rates Unemployment Rates 3.5 - 3.9

Jasper 6.1

Smith 4.9

Simpson 4.7

Jefferson 12.8

** Average for most recent twelve months, including current month •• Unemployment Insurance amounts presented in this section only represent regular UI benefits, federal program amounts are not included.

Labor force amounts are produced in cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note: Unless indicated state and county data presented are not seasonally adjusted.

CLASSIFIEDS

Alcorn 4.2

Tippah 4.7

Lafayette 3.6

Quitman 7.7

Coahoma 7.6

Humphreys 10.2

Feb ‘19 162,793,000 6,625,000 4.1 156,167,000

Tate 4.9

Benton 5.2

Union 3.9

Labor force and employment security data STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Labor Force Data Civilian Labor Force Unemployed Unemployment Rate Employed

Marshall 4.8

Forrest 4.4

Perry 6.1

Stone 5.5

Harrison 4.5

Greene 6.6

George 6.6

Jackson 5.5

Source: Labor Market Data Publication Design: Labor Market Information Department, MDES

MULTI PROPERTY AUCTION • Airport Transportation • Corporate Car Services • Town Cars, SUVs, & 15 Passenger Van Services • Serving the Greater Tri-State Area • Fully Licensed & Insured

Act One Corporate Transportation Services established in 1993

601.421.8385 • www.jacksonmscarservice.com

15 Acres Prime Commercial Realty I-55 Frontage next to Germantown High School and John Deere dealership 5.9 Acres Zoned Industrial next to rail service and airport 15 Residential Lots Sold All for 1 Money Located in Jackson between Lake Trace and Pear Orchard Established Commercial Building in North Jackson 6500 sq ft with 3 suites and 1 tenant 1844 Eastover Dr. Jackson Corner of Eastover and Pinewood.

5 bedroom 3 bath on 1.6 acres 6.99 Acres Commercial Land Next to Jackson International Airport 1.77 Acres Commercial Corner Lot High Visibility 10.92 Acres Commercial Land in Pearl Shadows Walmart Chapel or Event Center on 3 Acres Located in Crystal Springs 94 Residential Lots Sold for 1 Money All in Hinds County 48.2 Acres on Channel 16 Way. Land

Auction Date: Tuesday April 30th @10:30am Auction will be held OFFSITE at 5829 Ridgewood Road Jackson, MS 39211 For more information please visit www.HeadAuctions.com or call (601) 209-3020

MS LIC# 892 R.E. LIC # 19794