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Architects & Engineers

1979

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2014

August 1, 2014 • Vol. 36, No. 30 • $1 • 24 pages

MOVIE STARS LEAVE MADISON ABUZZ

More photos, Page 10

{Section begins P 12}

» Online graduate program at Bagley College of Engineering gaining national attention — and students The Lists {P 16} » Largest Engineering Firms Profiles {P 20} » JAN COLLINS: From high fashion to high business maven Strictly Biz {P 3} » Baseball stadium for Farish Street District under consideraton

SARAH DILL REILY / For the Mississippi Business Journal

“Get On Up” director and Mississippi native Tate Taylor and “Get On Up” star Chadwick Boseman meet with the media on the red carpet at The Malco in Madison last week as part of the premiere of the movie. It is Taylor’s second movie to shoot in Mississippi, following up on “The Help.”

Tote and vote?

Land may hold key to airport’s success By TED CARTER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

» Carrying your gun into the voting booth may be legal when you vote in the November election, the attorney general says. Story, P 11

Developing and attracting businesses to several hundred acres on Jackson Municipal Airport Authority land east of Medgar Wiley Evers International may be the Authority’s best hope for offsetting the $800,000 lost annually to the departure of Southwest Airlines. The revenue loss has already cost the Airport Authority a Fitch Ratings Service down-

SPECIAL REPORT: MISSISSIPPI SKIES » Jackson may gain ﬂights to Orlando » Jackson searches for airport director » Gulfport/Biloxi making most of its airport — Stories, Page 2

grade of a $39.4 million bond issue, forcing a delay in improvements planned for the terminal and security checkpoints. Further, the

Authority has put a series of fee hikes on remaining carriers and hit visitors with increased parking fees. Nearly two-thirds of the Authority’s annual operating revenues of $17.6 million come from non-airline sources. Of the $17.6 million, parking revenue accounts for $6.1 million, according to Fitch. See

http://msbusiness.com/events/leadership-law-nomination-form/

AIRPORT, Page 9

2 I Mississippi Business Journal I August 1, 2014

SPECIAL REPORT: MISSISSIPPI SKIES

A savvy pro is sought for Airport CEO » Some airports ‘would die’ to have the kind of land Jackson Evers has, says chief of head hunting firm

Deal with Allegiant on Jackson-Orlando service in works Low-cost carrier Allegiant Air would give Jackson two direct ﬂights a week to and from Orlando under an agreement approved Monday by the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority and contingent on a U.S. Department of Transportation grant subsidy. Flights offered by the Nevada-based commercial and charter airline would land at Orlando/Sanford International, a small airport in the Central Florida city of Sanford about 15 miles north of Orlando. Access to Orlando and its theme parks is made easier through a toll expressway that rings the entire metro area, including Sanford. Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International lost direct service to Orlando with the June departure of Southwest Airlines.

The duration of the service will hinge on passenger levels to and from Jackson, said Dirk Vanderleest, Airport Authority CEO. “If they like it, they will stay if not they pull out,” he said. He emphasized the Small Community Air Service Development Grants approval is “not firm,” though airport officials previously have voiced confidence the U.S. DOT will approve the grant designed to meet air transportation needs of under-served airports. The grant is the same one by which the airport gained service to New York City. “We feel fairly confident that we will be equally successful this year,” airport spokesman Gene Moore said. — Ted Carter / MBJ

By TED CARTER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

The aviation executive search firm hired to find the next CEO of the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority is likely to focus on an airport pro skilled in economic development. “You need someone who can make that happen,” said Doug Kuelpman, founder and president of ADK Executive Search, a Jacksonville, Fla., company the Airport Authority selected Monday to find a CEO to replace Dirk Vanderleest, who is retiring after 25 years in the post. As a draw for economic development, Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport has some infrastructure in place with more to come and ample available property, Kuelpman said. Land is an asset airports like Jackson around the country have used to replace revenue from airlines that either died or departed the market, as Southwest Airlines did with Jackson in June, taking with it about $800,000 a year in revenue. But some airports are hemmed in with few options for economic development expansion, Kuelpman noted. “There are airports that would die to have the kind of land you have there,” he said. “They would love the opportunity to expand and develop that revenue stream.” Considering Jackson Evers’ long odds in landing another major airline, the Airport Authority board needs someone who can lure new businesses and their dollars onto airport property, Kuelpman said, and cited Melbourne (Fla.) International Airport’s success drawing aeronautical and aerospace companies to its industrial park component. “They would like to have more airline service but they are not hurting financially because of their park. “As you grow the economic base, which is what they are doing in Melbourne, there will be a lot of travel requirements” that will help drive the air passenger business, Kuelpman said in an interview several days ahead of ADK winning the $33,000 executive search contract from Jackson. The Airport Authority expects the search and final selection to take around four months, Chairman James L. Henley said. Vanderleest steps down Sept. 30. Henley said the need to find and hire a CEO promptly precluded doing a request for proposals to find a search firm. Skills needed by an airport’s chief executive have See

DIRECTOR, Page 19

Courtesy of Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport

Million Air built this 52,000-square-foot general aviation facility that includes a customs ofﬁce to process international travelers arriving on private ﬂights. Million Air also supplies fuel to commercial airlines at Gulfport/Biloxi International.

Hotels, industrial park, offices part of mix at Gulfport/Biloxi airport By TED CARTER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

In his slightly more than two years on the job, Clay Williams has picked up where retired predecessor Bruce Frallic left off in seeking to make the most of Gulfport/Biloxi International Airport’s assets. So far, property controlled by the Gulfport/Biloxi Airport Authority has added a pair of hotels, a Fixed Based Operator which invested $12 million in its facilities, an industrial park and an office park that is on the verge of expansion. “One of the things we have tried to do at Gulfport/Biloxi is really make sure we have a good mix of both public and private investment,” Williams said in an interview last week. “We go

after FAA funds for safety, security and airport enhancements. We also have tried to bring in private investment.” Two years ago, developers put up $52 million for the hotels, one a Hilton Garden Inn and the other a Marriott Extended Stay. In exchange for a longterm ground lease, the developers give the Airport Authority a cut of money the hotels generate. “These were something that were greatly needed,” said Williams, a former government relations specialist with Washington-based Capitol Resources who also served on the staffs of former Sen. Trent Lott and U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering. “These hotels are very popular with the flight crews and feed of the volume of general travel,” he said. The hotel investment came after completion of a terminal remodel and

expansion to 160,000 square feet and the building of a new control tower. Together with contributions from the Federal Aviation Administration, the Airport Authority funded the projects with a $38 million bond issue. Last month, the Authority refinanced $27 million remaining on the bond issue down to 3.81 percent from 4.85 percent, according to Williams. Bond repayment comes from a $4.50 fee on tickets. On land set aside for the industrial park, the Authority used FAA money after hurricane Katrina to build a 40,000 square foot cargo facility, half of which offers refrigerated storage. A main tenant, Gateway Air America, has a large irridiation operation that is used

See

COAST, Page 19

August 1, 2014

Baseball stadium for Farish Street? It’s possible JACKSON — The City of Jackson, Jackson State University and Tim Bennett, owner of Overtime Sports, may begin talks in the next few weeks on the feasibility of building a baseball stadium for JSU in the Historic Farish Street District. “This is just in the observation stages,” said Bennett, who was the force behind moving the Mississippi Braves to Pearl 10 years ago and moving the Huntsville Stars to Biloxi for next season. “We’re taking a look at the potential for a stadium. The next step is to sit down with the mayor (Jackson Mayor Tony Yarber) and discuss entering into an agreement to do feasibility and economic impact stories.” “Jackson State is agreeable to taking a look at this opportunity, but there are no firm commitments in place.” The Jackson State baseball program won the SWAC Championship this year and participated in the

MANUFACTURING

Great River Industries moving HQ to Natchez NATCHEZ — Great River Industries, formerly known as Enersteel, is expanding its operations in Natchez by locating its corporate headquarters there and adding 12,000 square feet of manufacturing space. The project represents a corporate investment of $4 million and will create 25 new jobs. Additionally, the company will retain the facility’s existing 150 employees. Great River Industries specializes in fabricated steel plate products that include storage tanks and pressure vessels for industrial process markets. The company will also produce ductwork and other major air quality control components for the power and energy industry. “We are pleased to be growing in southwest Mississippi again. Great River Industries will continue to bring innovation and competitive manufacturing/fabrication practices to this region, thus supplying high-skilled job availability,” said Great River Industries’ Vice President of Business Development Aaron Shermer. MDA provided assistance in support of the project for the construction of the new corporate headquarters building and upgrades to the existing facility. Adams County provided assistance for the project, as well.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Barefoot Carriers investing, creating jobs in Ripley RIPLEY — Barefoot Carriers is expanding its operations in Ripley. Officials say in a news release yesterday that the project represents a $2 million corporate investment and will create 25 new jobs. The expansion involves the addition of 12 trucks and trailers, new equipment, and the extension of the company’s truck and trailer parking and lay-down area. Established in 2001, Barefoot Carriers is a familyowned and operated company that primarily provides over-the-road trucking and long-haul service throughout the United States. — from staff and MBJ wire services

Division I post-season, which included a victory over highly regarded Louisiana Lafayette. The Tigers’ stadium was built in 2006 and seats about 800 in bleacher seats. “The primary interest is getting Jackson State a facility that has locker rooms, a clubhouse, concessions, chairback seating that it needs as a Division I program,” said Bennett. “I know they don’t really have anything of substance now — no fixed seating, no seating for the a pressbox, or bathroom facilities.”

By building the stadium in the Farish Street District, it would be available for concerts and other events. “Most developments now are multi-event facilities,” said Bennett. “JSU would be the main tenant, but we’d naturally go after regional and national tournaments. There also are a lot of underprivileged youths in downtown Jackson area who would be able to use it, too.” Bennett said any new stadium would not compete with the Mississippi Braves in Pearl. “This will not be a minor league facility,” said

Mississippi Business Journal

Bennett. “This is totally separate and has nothing to do with the Braves. “The idea is to promote downtown business and growth. You see what happened in Pearl when they built a stadium. I feel strongly that building on for JSU would provide a catalyst.” Bennett tried to build a downtown stadium before the Trustmark Park was built in Pearl, but the city administration showed little interest. “Talking with the administrations at the city and Jackson State has been a breath of fresh air,” said Bennett. They’re open to the idea. They are optimistic groups.” — Frank Brown / MBJ

4 I Mississippi Business Journal I August 1, 2014

Quiet success: Flowood-based Cirlot Agency celebrates turning 30 years old BY WALLY NORTHWAY wally.northway@msbusiness.com

It’s perhaps only appropriate that Rick and Liza Looser are being mum and lowkey about the 30th-anniversary celebration for their global brand strategy, integrated communications and business development firm, The Cirlot Agency. After all, the Flowood-based company has rather quietly gone about its business, partly due to the nature of its work and the types of clients Cirlot represents. However, it is also a reflection of the Loosers themselves. The firm’s headquarters on Airport Road are well-appointed yet conservative, offering an ambiance that says success without yelling it. And the Loosers match the decor — Rick in his neat pink button-down shirt open at the neck and Liza in a stylish, understated black dress. Both seem relaxed and confident, yet humble. “People ask me all the time if working here is like on the show Mad Men,” said president and COO Rick Looser. He added with a grin: “That always makes me laugh.” “I heard a coach or someone say one time that if you’re doing what you love, you’ll never work a day in your life,” said Liza Looser, who started the firm with less

Rick and Liza Looser met in the 1980s and formed a successful team at The Cirlot Agency in Flowood.

Photos courtesy of Rick and Liza Looser

than $100 in her pocket. “I sometimes can’t believe I’m getting paid to do this.” The Loosers’ reluctance to talk about their success is more noteworthy when the firm’s history is revealed, a story of meager beginnings, love and marriage, team work and a lot of determination.

Congratulations to the newly Elected 2014 Board of Directors for the Phoenix Club of Jackson! President - Trey Guerieri, Terramark Real Estate Treasurer - Witt Ruffin, Trustmark National Bank Events Director - Tripp Segars, Diaz Law Firm, PLLC Programs Director - Cody Bailey, Brunini, Grantham, Grower, & Hewes, PLLC Communications Director - Mark Hosemann, Brunini, Grantham, Grower, & Hewes, PLLC Fundraising Director - Jay Mooney, Liberty Mutual Treasurer At-Large - Matt Thiel, Matthews, Cutrer, & Lindsay, P.A. Sponsorship Director - Jake Rogers, Trustmark National Bank Fundraising Director At-Large - Robert Aiken, Aiken Insurance Agency

Congratulations to the 2014 New Members of the Phoenix Club of Jackson! Ryan Aldridge - SAS Institute Brad Baskin - Pollan Dobbs, PLLC Dustin Blount, Northwestern Mutual Andrew Butler - Dippin Dots Todd Butler - Phelps Dunbar, LLP Jonathan Day - Law Office of Jonathon T. Day Colby Dearman - Cooke, Douglass, Farr, & Lemons Carter Dobbs - Pollan Dobbs, PLLC Preston Dowell - Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC Frank Fritts - International Wines & Craft Beer Sam Gregory - Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. Nick Gullette - Purdue Pharma, LP Will Ivison - Adcock & Morrison, PLLC Tripp Johnson - University of Mississippi Medical Center Austin Lane - Trustmark National Bank Clark Luke - Watkins & Eager, PLLC John Martin - Montgomery McGraw, PLLC Collin Mascagni - Mascagni Wealth Management Coleman Mockbee - Mockbee, Hall & Drake, PA Bobby Morgan - Mississippi Republican Party Jordan Musgrove - Company.Politics. Martin Palomo - Pinnacle Trust Will Pentecost - Waggoner Engineering Dr. Eric Reiners - University of Mississippi Medical Center Matt Sitton - Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, PA Pete Stokes - Mississippi Pharmacists Association Andrew Warmath - Mazda of Ridgeland Thomas Watson - Forman PerryWatkins Krutz & Tardy, LLP

The Phoenix Club of Jackson has donated over $200,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central MS since inception in 2008. It's almost time to order your company Christmas Cards! Place your fully customizable order at http://www.pcjackson.serviceprintersinc.com/category and proceeds will benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi. For more information about the Phoenix Club of Jackson, please visit www.PhoenixClubofJackson.com

It begins with Liza, a Mississippi native and graduate of Mississippi University for Women and the Harvard Business School. She worked at The Clarion-Ledger before going to what was then the state’s largest advertising agency and spending time in the political arena during the Reagan/Bush era working as communications director of the Mississippi Republican Party. In 1984, Liza decided to go her own way, and with a $78 tax return check launched The Cirlot Agency. Her last boss told her she would never make it in the advertising industry. For a while, Liza wondered if he was right as she turned long hours working alone from her home. “I was meeting with my clients during the day and doing the work myself at nights. Sometimes I would go 48 hours without sleeping,” she remembered. However, Liza persevered, and four years later she would find a partner. Rick grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, forging a career in the public relations field, particularly in the area of crisis management. The couple met at an American Advertising Federation Conference and struck an immediate bond. Rick flagged down a photographer at the event and told him, “Take a picture of the night we met so I can show our children.” “I wonder how many times he had used that line,” Liza said with a laugh. At first, there were no plans for Rick to join Cirlot. However, they quickly realized that Liza’s brand strategy skills and Rick’s PR/crisis management background were a great fit. In fact, it would be key in the Cirlot’s watershed moment. One day, the firm received a phone call from Ingalls Shipbuilding with a problem. The largest employer in Mississippi had a brochure project that was in trouble. Could Cirlot help? The team scrambled and got a proposal together. It would have represented a six-

digit project, but at the last minute Rick, a 2009 inductee into the Mississippi Business Hall of Fame, began to worry that the cost was too high. So, they managed to get the price down to under $100,000, though Rick was still concerned about sticker shock. “We laid out our proposal, and they loved it,” Rick said. He cringed when they flipped the page to see what Cirlot was asking. “I thought, ‘Oh, gosh, here we go.’ They glanced at it, and said great. The contract negotiation took all of 10 seconds. I thought, “Oh, what have I left on the table?’” “I remember one person said, ‘I can’t believe you can do this for this little bit of money,’” Liza said with a laugh. The Loosers can laugh about that now because it proved a turning point for Cirlot. The firm subsequently landed Ingalls as a full client, and when Northrop Grumman purchased the shipbuilder, Cirlot was retained. That led to more defense clients such as ATK, Bell Helicopter and Elbit Systems of America. A short list of other clients includes Sanderson Farms, Mississippi Power Co., Entergy, Mississippi World Trade Center, BancorpSouth and The Taylor Group. Some of the firm’s noteworthy projects includes working with NATO during the Bosnia crisis to raise awareness of the danger of unexploded landmines; serving as the lead agency in the 2008 presidential debate at the University of Mississippi; and the creation of Mississippi Believe It!, a campaign that highlighted Mississippi’s achievements and people and was delivered to every public and private school, as well as every college and university in the state, for free, representing a donation of $500,000 in time and resources. Over its 30-year history, The Cirlot Agency has won more than 1,000 awards and is now noted as one of the top three defense agencies in the country. As impressive, the firm that employs a staff of approximately 30 workers and operates an office in Washington, D.C., has never laid off a single employee, even in 2008 when the recession hit. Cirlot offers a three-week sabbatical to all employees who have been with the agency 20 years or more. The firm just awarded its sixth sabbatical. “We have been blessed with great people,” Rick said. “We had our best year ever in 2013, and we’re on pace to better that this year. Having an experienced team is crucial to our success.” Those people will take center stage during the Cirlot’s 30th birthday celebration, set for Aug. 14 at the River Hills Club in Jackson. Passed that, the Loosers are silent, though they are quick to say that they have their sights set on tomorrow, not yesterday. “We have no long-term debt, and we’re still having fun,” said Liza of the firm’s future. For more on The Cirlot Agency, visit www.cirlot.com.

August 1, 2014

Mississippi Business Journal

From the Delta to Kuwait » DSU geospatial director finds receptive audience

Photo courtesy of Talbot Brooks

“It’s easy to see an Arab in traditional dress and make the assumption that they are perhaps not the most sophisticated users of technology,” said Talbot Brooks. “That would be a grave mistake...” BY WALLY NORTHWAY wally.northway@msbusiness.com

As director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies at Delta State University, Talbot Brooks is a man in demand, logging thousands of miles annually, supporting the adoption and implementation of geospatial information technologies. A recent trip to the Middle East, however, ranks as one of his most satisfying. Brooks recently traveled to Kuwait at the request of the Kuwaiti Geographic Society and the government of Kuwait to keynote a conference. His keynote presentation was televised nationally on Kuwaiti public television. “My visit to Kuwait was among the most enjoyable trips I’ve had thus far in my career,” said Brooks. “It’s easy to see an Arab in traditional dress and make the assumption that they are perhaps not the most sophisticated users of technology. That would be a grave mistake as we have much to learn about the many cutting edge ways they are already using it to grow their economy and improve the lifestyles of all citizens.” One of the principal challenges faced by governments at all levels and locals is the prevention of duplication of effort and promoting coordination among departments and offices, said Brooks. This saves taxpayers’ money as it promotes a “buy it once, use it many times” philosophy. “By way of example, a department of transportation, a department of interior and a department of environmental quality might all need aerial photography, Brooks said. “Rather than each purchasing this type of data independently for millions of dollars each, a coordinated effort would allow them to buy it once and split the cost three ways.” The United States recognized this need early on and created the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) to coordinate such efforts at the federal level. These efforts are mirrored at the state level

through the Mississippi Coordinating Council for Remote Sensing and GIS (MCCRSGIS). In each case, the lead executives from each governmental department meet on a regular basis to discuss geospatial needs and build collaborative efforts to meet mutual needs while saving taxpayer dollars. Brooks serves as the chair of the Technical User’s Group for MCCRSGIS and is part of the advisory body for the FGDC. This experience, among many, has helped him gain a global reputation as an expert in spatial technologies and their implementation within government. Brooks’ geospatial information career and his rise to director of DSU’s Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Technologies is an interesting story. Earning an undergraduate degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology, he conducted his graduate studies at Arizona State University. He began his career in 1986 as a firefighter Massachusetts and he has since held numerous paid and volunteer positions within the emergency response domain. He was introduced to spatial technologies while researching the effects of global climate change on agronomic crops for the U.S. Water Conservation Research Laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona in 1993. He joined the faculty at Arizona State University’s Department of Geography in 2000 before coming to Mississippi in 2005. He is the current president of Geospatial Information Technology Association and provides volunteer geospatial information services for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. Service activities include the National Geospatial Advisory Committee, the Mississippi Coordinating Council for Remote Sensing and GIS (Technical User’s Group Chair) and the board of directors for the GIS Certification Institute. The mission of the Center for Interdisciplinary Geospatial Information Tech-

nologies is to provide geospatial services, accessible education and training and institutional knowledge for geospatial information technologies. The center provides degrees in geospatial technologies, forcredit courses and professional training. Brooks plans to return to Kuwait in January and hopes to bring a few select students with him in an effort to start an

exchange program and to attract Kuwaiti students to Delta State. “The potential investment in research and development programs centered on the use of spatial technologies within the oil and gas industry would complement emerging needs here in Mississippi as new wells are drilled in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the state,” he added.

SERVING OUR CLIENTS FOR OVER A CENTURY BRUNINI IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THOMAS E. WALKER, JR. HAS JOINED THE FIRM IN THE JACKSON OFFICE

Mr. Walker’s areas of practice include financial services, corporate, commercial and regulatory matters. Along with prior experience in private practice, Tom also has community banking executive management experience as a COO and CFO. In addition to receiving two accounting degrees from Mississippi State University and a J.D. from Ole Miss, Tom is also a 2014 Graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. JACKSON

•

BILOXI

• COLUMBUS • www.brunini.com

WASHINGTON, D.C.

FREE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. This notice is authorized by Granville Tate, Jr., Chairman 190 East Capitol Street, Suite 100, Jackson, MS 39201

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

200 North Congress, Suite 400 Jackson, MS 39201-1902 Main: (601) 364-1000 Faxes: Advertising (601) 364-1007; Circulation (601) 364-1035 E-mails: mbj@msbusiness.com, ads@msbusiness.com, photos@msbusiness.com, research@msbusiness.com, events@msbusiness.com

Website: www.msbusiness.com August 1, 2014 Volume 36, Number 31

ALAN TURNER Publisher alan.turner@msbusiness.com • 364-1021 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 WALLY NORTHWAY Senior Writer wally.northway@msbusiness.com • 364-1016 FRANK BROWN Staff Writer/Special Projects frank.brown@msbusiness.com • 364-1022 TED CARTER Staff Writer ted.carter@msbusiness.com • 364-1017 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018

MBJPERSPECTIVE August 1, 2014 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

OTHER VIEWS

Congress sustains high drama on highway funds

he U.S. Senate on Tuesday afternoon on a bipartisan vote sent back to the House a bill that would provide a shortterm fix paying for the Highway Trust Fund, the main source of money for the states to build and maintain highways including the interstate system. The deal is worth about $11 billion and would sustain the trust fund through May 2015, but the vote to approve several amendments could mean the trust fund will become insolvent in a few days if the House does not agree to changes or if an agreement cannot be reached before the August recess

begins Friday. The Hill, a Washington newspaper, reported that Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said Tuesday that there is still time to deal with amendments to a nearly $11 billion bill to extend federal transportation funding. U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker and Thad Cochran, both Mississippi Republicans, voted for the bill on final Senate passage. Republican leaders in the House have insisted that the Senate accept their version of the transportation funding because the Department of Transportation has said it will have to begin cutting road payments to states

on Friday if Congress doesn’t act. The House GOP measure would extend road and transit funding until May 2015, and lawmakers in the House have argued since they approved their bill last week that an extension is the only viable way to prevent a transportation funding bankruptcy. Wyden said Tuesday as he was offering an amendment that would shorten the deadline to Dec. 31, to allow for a possible longterm extension to be crafted after the November elections. See VIEWS, Page 7

BOBBY HARRISON Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 TAMI JONES Advertising Director tami.jones@msbusiness.com • 364-1011

» THE OUTSIDE WORLD

» EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

State’s film industry hits another home run

MELISSA KILLINGSWORTH Sr. Account Executive

melissa.harrison@msbusiness.com • 364-1030 VIRGINIA HODGES Account Executive virginia.hodges@msbusiness.com • 364-1012

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» HOW TO WRITE 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. >> 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, 200 North Congress, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201, 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.

» CORRECTIONS The Mississippi Business Journal takes seriously its responsibility to provide accurate information, and will correct or clarify articles produced by the editorial department if we have made an error or published misleading information. The correction will be placed in the perspective section. If you see inaccuracies in Mississippi Business Journal news stories, please report the mistake via email at editor@msbusiness.com.

s the credits rolled at the end of the Madison premier of “Get On Up,” several hundred Mississippians applauded the efforts of star Chadwick Boseman and director Tate Taylor for a job well done. There’s no doubt this film about the life and times of music superstar James Brown will be critically acclaimed and financially lucrative. Boseman may very well get an Academy Award nomination for his role of the tough-as-nails performer who all but raised himself as a child to depend on no one else. Ross Reily In the end, Mississippi is the winner. Another blockbuster movie hit filmed right here in the Magnolia State, raising our image from a business, as well as, social image. This is the second film Taylor has filmed in Mississippi. First, there was the Academy Award winning “The Help,” which was filmed, partly, in Greenwood and Jackson. This time “Get On Up” was filmed in Jackson and Natchez. To encourage — and persuade — filmmakers, the Mississippi Film Office provides a tax incentive, which, started in 2004, provides a 25 percent cash rebate on in-state production expenses. These include site and equipment rentals, contract labor, goods and services from state vendors, housing, dry cleaning and food and salary paid to out-of-state workers. The rate on salaries paid to Mississippi residents is 30 percent, with an extra 5 percent for honorably discharged military veterans. The Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive, as it’s See REILY, Page 8

PERSPECTIVE

August 1, 2014 I Mississippi Business Journal

» RICKY NOBILE » SENATE RACE

Photo conspiracy not yet before grand jury

»INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Reagan — Brotherhood an essential leadership pillar

ivil society requires civil leadership. Just as Ronald Reagan defined civil society — order with virtue, he also was the epitome of civil leadership — strong but conciliatory, demanding but willing to compromise, conservative but willing to work across party lines. Reagan said, “Our first President, George Washington, Father of our Country, shaper of the Constitution and truly a wise man, believed that religion, morality and brotherhood were the essential pillars of society.” Reagan affirmed the prayer embodied in America the Beautiful — “America! America! God shed his grace on thee, and crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea!” For him, brotherhood transcended politics, as demonstrated by his legendary relationship with Tip O’Neil, the Democrat Speaker of the House. O’Neill’s son Thomas described their relationship, their commitment to “find common ground” this way: “What both men deplored more than the other’s political philosophy was stalemate, and a country that was so polarized by ideology and party politics that it could not move forward.” “While neither man embraced the other’s worldview, each respected the other’s right to hold it. Each respected the other as a man.” The late Congressman G. V. “Sonny” Montgomery also bought into the notion that brotherhood should transcend politics. His relationship with Republican President George H.W. Bush is also legendary. “When it came to matters affecting our national security and matters of war and peace, we stood as one,” Bush wrote in

Bill Crawford

the foreword to Sonny’s memoir The Veteran’s Champion. The late Senator John C. Stennis may be the best 20th century example of civil leadership. Stennis was respected for his character, steadfast faith in God, and love for people. Reagan said of Stennis, “The humble man who came to Washington from a small town in Mississippi has made an impression on American government that is difficult to measure and hard to fully describe. He has demonstrated for all of us that one man, committed to God and country, willing to work hard and sacrifice personal gain and comfort, can make a difference.” “He considered it a point of pride, not weakness, to be able to work across the aisle with presidents of the other party,” said Brother Rogers, associate director of the John C. Stennis Cener for Public Service. “When we face difficult times, difficult issues,” Reagan said, “we Americans can unite for the common good.” Montgomery and Stennis would agree, but today’s snarly politics would not. As Thad Cochran’s race shows, national groups with big money are anxious to demean and ditch civil leaders willing to work across the aisle for the common good. As civil leadership wanes in our national leaders, what does that foretell for state and local leadership? For our national fabric and civil society? Patriots should stand up for brotherhood and civil leadership. Bill Crawford (crawfolk@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.

An attorney said Monday that it could be weeks before a Mississippi grand jury considers a case against his client and others charged with conspiring to photograph Sen. Thad Cochran's ailing wife in a nursing home and then using those images in an antiCochran video before Mississippi's Republican primary. Kevin Camp is the defense attorney for Clayton Kelly, a conservative blogger who was arrested in May and charged with exploitation of a vulnerable adult, filming without permission and conspiracy. Camp said a Madison County grand jury begins meeting this week, and he knows the case against Kelly and two others won't be presented during this court term, which lasts about five weeks. Another grand jury will begin to meet in several weeks. District Attorney Michael Guest did not immediately respond to a message Monday. Camp said it normally takes prosecutors weeks to prepare to present a case to a grand jury. If it had been done in the current court term, "it would've been a real, real quick turnaround," Camp said. The unauthorized image of Rose Cochran was included in a video that was briefly posted online. The arrests in the incident dominated headlines in the weeks before Cochran, a six-term incumbent, defeated tea party-backed state Sen. Chris McDaniel in the Republican runoff. McDaniel said he and his campaign had nothing to do with the incident, which he called "reprehensible." His campaign also said Cochran exploited the situation for sympathy and political advantage. Four people who had publicly supported McDaniel's campaign were charged in what Madison police said was a conspiracy for Kelly to photograph Rose Cochran, who has dementia, on Easter Sunday in the Madison nursing home where she has lived since 2001. One of the four, attorney Mark Mayfield of Ridgeland, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home June 27, Ridgeland Police Chief Jimmy Houston said.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

VIEWS

Continued from Page 6

The high-stakes scenario was increased when House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Tuesday if the Senate replaces the House revenue plan the House would strip out the new language and bounce the bill straight back to the Senate, Congressional Quarterly reported. GOP leaders indicate they are confident that the Senate ultimately will accept their version of the transportation funding package because neither party is eager to be blamed for shutting down construction projects. Senate aides insisted in published reports that even with the delay, they still expected the House bill would go to President Obama’s desk this week. Those who make decisions on Capitol Hill don’t appear overly concerned, but for contractors, employees, state transportation officials and many highway users, the drama is in no way entertaining. — Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

8 I Mississippi Business Journal I August 1, 2014

PERSPECTIVE

»FROM THE GROUND UP

» WHAT YOU’RE READING

Why I love breakout groups

Here are the most-read stories on msbusiness.com from July 22-29.

sing breakout groups can be an effective way to garner the opinions and recommendations of a group as large as 200 members and as small as 12, especially if there is only a limited time to do so. In this column we will discuss several reasons that breakout groups can be useful. By definition, a breakout group is a subset of a larger group. It assumes that a larger group meeting was held and that instructions were given to the breakout groups. These instructions can range from making a list of certain things to coming up with recommendations. Breakout group are especially useful when a business or other organization is holding a strategic planning retreat and desires to hear the opinions or suggestions of those in attendance. Breakout groups offer a way for people to participate in a decision that is to be made. Often the leadership of an organization will simply announce a new policy or a new direction without giving employees or constituents a say in the process. Consequently, employees or members may not buy into the new way. Consider the case of the synthetic basketball. In 2006 the NBA announced that it would change from using a leather basketball to a synthetic one. It was the first time in more than 35 years that the ball had been changed. The change went into effect only to have many players criticize the new ball. “The only thing that we love the most is the basketball,” said Lebron James, then of the Cleveland Cavaliers. “That’s your comfort. I mean, without your basketball, it doesn’t work. That was my biggest problem, was, why would you change something that means so much to us?” Even though the NBA had tested the ball and had experts recommend using it, it did not take long for Commissioner David Stern to realize the mistake. He later said that “we could have done a better job” involving players in the ball change. “We’ve got to do the right thing here” ... and that “the right thing is to listen to our players.” Breakout groups also offer a way for participants to have a certain degree of anonymity. Many people are not comfortable standing up in front of a large group of people and expressing their views. But put them around a table with just a few other people and they feel more at ease in a conversational rather than a speech-giving mode. Another benefit of breakout groups is that in many cases the participants make new acquaintances and get to know others that they might have otherwise known had they not had the opportunity to interact with them. This is especially true if participants are allowed and encouraged to tell their personal stories

REILY

Continued from Page 6

known, is capped at a maximum of $20 million per year, with a maximum credit of $10 million for a qualifying movie. To qualify for the incentive, a film project must have a minimum budget of $50,000. However, there are critics of the film system in Mississippi and other Southern states, like Louisiana and Georgia, which have incentives similar to the Magnolia State. According to Stateline, “The Help” earned $3,547,780 from Mississippi as the movie went on to gross $169,705,587 in the U.S. Critics contend there isn’t enough payback for taxpayers and that the movie industry will only go to the highest bidder, never setting down roots. Gov. Phil Bryant seems to be aware of the challenges and has

about how an issue affected them. Breakout groups can also be used to difPhil Hardwick fuse conflict, especially when it involves a change in policy. Just for example purposes, let’s say that it a city that was experiencing a drought and was considering a proposed rule would make it so that only odd-numbered addresses could use outside water, such as for watering a lawn or washing a car, on odd-numbered days and even numbered addresses on evennumbered days. When such measures come before a regulatory body there are typically three types of people who will show up for the meeting: those who support the proposed regulation, those who are against it and those who are open to discussion. In such a case, an experienced facilitator might assign groups by simply pointing at a person and counting off 1,2,3,4. Those who were a “1” would be assigned to one breakout group, those who were a “2” assigned to another, and so on. Why this method? Because most people tend to sit beside those who have the same position on the issues as they do. This method serves to separate those with similar opinions and put them in groups where they will have to listen to other viewpoints. Speaking of facilitators, breakout groups usually work better when someone in the group is appointed as the facilitator. The facilitator’s purpose is to make certain that everyone has a chance to speak and that participants speak only one at a time. They should also ask participants listen to understand the others in the group. Sometimes groups will be asked to complete a task. For example, list the three biggest impediments to curing rundown housing or list the three best restaurants in town. In these cases, the facilitator’s skill comes into play if some members do not agree with the list. That’s when the overall facilitator needs to give an instruction on how to resolve differences. Breakout groups are an efficient use of time. How many times have you been to a meeting thinking that it would be a so-called town hall meeting where you could ask a question or have a dialogue with the presenter only to find out that there would be no questions taken or that questions had to be submitted on a card because of time limitations.? Obviously, breakout groups are not the panacea for solving every problem, implementing change or discussing every issue. But use of breakout groups can be an effective tool because after a change is made or not made, people can say, “At least I had the chance to voice my view.” Phil Hardwick is coordinator of capacity development at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government. Pease contact Hardwick at phil@philhardwick.com

his eyes wide open. On the red carpet Sunday, he talked about that, saying that preparing the Mississippi workforce for the jobs that are needed is the next step. “The incentives are fine,” Bryant said. “The question now is whether we can train the workforce.” No one really believes, I don’t think, that Mississippi is going to take over the title of film capital of the world from Hollywood and New York, but our recent success in luring filmmakers here is a feather in our cap. And it appears we aren’t slowing down as “The Hollers” is filming in Canton right now. As the governor has said, bringing this positive business to Mississippi is worth every penny. Contact Mississippi Business Journal editor Ross Reily at ross.reily@msbusiness.com or (601) 364-1018

1. Tyler Raborn finds success and fulfillment 2. DAVID DALLAS: Mr. McDaniel goes to Washington 3. Three indicted, alleged to have embezzled 4. White House hotel making comeback in Biloxi 5. Supreme Court deals blow to McDaniel’s challenge

» MBJ COMMENTS ONLINE

Musgrove should back off RE: “Former Gov. Musgrove pushing lawsuit to school districts” ... Musgrove knows what this would do to our state budget. but that is the least of his concern. His only concern is that he gets more money than he can ever possibly need.

McDaniel must challenge RE: “DAVID DALLAS: Mr. McDaniel goes to Washington” ... The chances of Bryant (who endorsed Cochran) appointing McDaniel are zero. That said, the chances of Cochran “deciding” to retire mid-way through his final 2014-2020 term, so that Henry Barbour or somesuch estab-repub can be appointed in his place, are excellent. Similarly, the chances of McDaniel running third-party are effectively zero. Which means a challenge-lawsuit. Your point about the timetable is important, of course. Your point about the legal hurdles and obstacles is very important, too. But in essence, McDaniel has to fight the legal battle, to force a redo-runoff. This isn’t just so that he has a shot (however slim) at winning the seat; it is also to show that falsely smearing the tea party candidate as a racist, will not be allowed to stand. ...

Fanatics a bad term RE: “Guns OK inside Mississippi polling places, attorney general says” ... Your article describes gun owners as fanatics, demonstrating a bias or point of view of the writer. I think all the hoopla over this will be forgotten when it is discovered that the “fanatics” were really just ordinary responsible citizens. It is the responsible firearm owner who has caused the drop in crime. Countless episodes of crimes prevented have happened, but the evidence is never mentioned in the national media. Specific instances of lives defended and “saved” are published every month in NRA publications, citing local newspaper reports. When criminals committing violence are stopped by a responsible gun owner, the report rarely makes it post the local newspaper. Gun free zones are defenseless zones. They are locations to which certain crazy people are attracted. Every mass shooting since 1950 save 2 have been in “gun-free zones.” The creation of gun-free zones should be labeled “defenseless zones.” Please read John Lott;s book, “More Guns, Less Crime.”

August 1, 2014

AIRPORT

Mississippi Business Journal

According to the Air Cargo Logistics Center brochure, Jackson is strategically located in within 500 miles of approximately 76 major metropolitan areas that comprise over one-third of the United States’s population.

Continued from Page 1

The aim is to achieve a sufficient combination of fee increases and operational belt tightening to convince Fitch to restore the A- rating, said soon-to-retire Authority CEO Dirk Vanderleest in recent interviews. In designating the bonds BBB+, Fitch noted it still sees them as investment grade. The executive who replaces Vanderleest will inherit 900 undeveloped acres the Authority owns east of the airport — an asset known as the East Corridor Project. It offers the prospect of a greatly enhanced revenue picture. But it comes with plenty of challenges. The five-member Airport Authority board spent a week in early July at the Farnborough Air Show in London, a trade showcase that attracts aviation businesses from around the world. The idea was to put the airport on the radar of the companies gathered there, especially those on the supplier side of the business. But can the Airport Authority realistically pitch the property to suppliers who rank transportation as a key priority? A trio of circumstances makes that a long shot, say commercial real professionals and executives of a pair of companies that develop airport cargo and other industrial complexes at airports around the country. Geography — specifically Jackson’s proximity to such major transport hubs as Atlanta, New Orleans, Memphis and Dallas — diminishes it appeal for warehouse distribution, they say. Further, the abundance of privately owned land near Jackson Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport further erodes the value of those 900 acres owned by the Authority, commercial real estate professionals say. The trifecta’s final barrier: The perception, at least locally, that real estate professionals and developers have received only limited accommodation from the autonomous Airport Authority and the members appointed over the years by various Jackson mayors. One high level executive of a major industrial development company said the single time in his long career he has been screamed at during a presentation occurred at a briefing he gave the Airport Authority a decade ago. Some commercial brokers removed the airport and its property from consideration a long time ago. “It’s been a screwed up mess,” said Walter Becker, who founded Jackson’s Commercial Real Estate Services firm in 1985. “They’ve never done anything,” Becker said, referring to the 900 acres. He said he won’t take a client out to discuss a lease or purchase on Airport Authority-owned land. “Those who make a living on commissions have to spend their time wisely,” Becker said. It’s unclear who has the job of developing the East Corridor property and seeing that infrastructure is eventually provided.

Courtesy Mississippi Air Cargo Logistics Center

Authority CEO Vanderleest, COO Bonnie Wilson and Communications/Marketing Director Gene Moore referred all questions about the East Corridor development to Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads, chair of the East Metro Corridor Commission, a body made up of Rhoads, Pearl Mayor Brad Rogers, Brandon Mayor Butch Lee and Vanderleest, as the representative for the Airport Authority. Rhoads said in an interview with the MBJ that development of the tract is out of the East Metro Corridor Commission’s purview. Its job, he said, is to get a roadway built from Flowood through airport property to Old Brandon Road, a project he says will be completed soon. Getting the East Corridor ready as a business park would probably be a task for the Airport Authority, Rhoads said, though he noted as mayor of Flowood, he would work to extend utilities into the property if a prospective buyer for property with the East Corridor tract wanted it. Rhoads said he stays out of Airport Authority business. “I’ve never been to one of their meetings,” he said. Vanderleest, he said, once showed him a master plan for developing the corridor. “It was done by the airport a couple of years ago,” Rhoads said. Asked about a master plan, COO Wilson said she could not confirm there is one. If a plan for developing the property and devising a strategy for bringing businesses into it have been completed, the Central Mississippi Planning & Development District has not participated, said Mike Monk, CMPD’s director of community and economic development. The planning agency helps cities and other entities in the region to develop landuse plans and prepare grant applications for economic development infrastructure. “We have not been involved in any work for them for quite some time,” said Monk, recalling the last joint effort with the Airport Authority involved preparing a grant request for a construction of a logistics center to house a United Parcel Service operation. He said he expects “they will eventually reach out to us on some plans” for getting roads and utilities into the East

Corridor tract. Likewise, the Mississippi Development Authority says it is can help prospects get settled on airport property. “If a company looking at a site on airport-owned land, and it meets its particular needs, then MDA will work with our local economic development partners to assist the company as it prepares to locate there — just like the agency does any time a company selects a location in Mississippi,” spokeswoman Tammy Craft said. The Mississippi Air Cargo Logistics Center, a 41,000 square-foot complex, is among the most notable economic development achievements of the 50-year-old airport. Along with a designation as a federal Free Trade Zone and provider of federal inspections services, the fully-leased complex is a distribution point for air cargo, truck and rail shipments generated by manufacturers and consumers in most major Midwest and eastern U.S. and Canadian markets, says Aviation Facilities Co., a Dulles, Va.-based aviation-warehouse development company that received a ground lease on which to build the center 10 years ago. In all, the airport has around 75,000 square feet of cargo warehouse space and an additional 450,000 square feet of aircraft parking space. While Aviation Facilities Co. is pleased the center is fully leased with such tenants

as UPS, Integrated Airline Services and freight forwarders Page and Jones, the development company is unlikely to add to its presence at the airport, said John Garrott, company director. “The airport would love us to develop another air cargo building but there is no demand for it,” he said. Garrott agreed with Metro Jackson commercial real estate brokers who say the region’s proximity to major distribution hubs damages the airport property’s warehouse distribution prospects. “I think there is some truth in their observations,” he said. Add the option of buying land instead of taking on a ground lease to the reasons site selectors may bypass the airport property, said David Hoster, CEO of Jackson’s EastGroup Properties, a real estate investment trust that specializes in warehouse and industrial development and leasing in the South and West. “You can’t pledge it to the bank as collateral,” Hoster said of ground leases. What’s more, plenty of privately owned land west of Airport Road leading to Lakeland Drive can be bought inexpensively, he noted, and added that with infrastructure already in place, it can be developed more easily than the airport tract. He said he can see “nothing that the airport is doing that is going to create a reason for anybody to be out there.”

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10 I Mississippi Business Journal I August 1, 2014

Walking the red carpet Hundreds of Mississippians turned out to the Malco Cinema in Madison for the Metro area premiere of the James Brown biopic “Get On Up” as star Chadwick Boseman and director, Mississippi native Tate Taylor, among others walked the red carpet. Here are some scenes from the event as photographed by Sarah Dill Reily. See more photos from the premiere at www.msbusiness.com

1. “Get On Up” director Tate Taylor hams it up on the red carpet beside Chadwick Boseman. 2. McKenzie Matthews, of Terry, who played James Brown’s daughter, poses for the photographers. 3. Twins Jordan Scott and Jamarion Scott of Natchez played young James Brown 4. Jean Frazier and her husband Sen. Hillman Frazier dressed for the occasion at the premier. 5. Jackson native and St. Andrew’s graduate Jaclyn Bethany, who now lives in New York and works as a professional actor, is accompanied by actor Evan Brechtel on the red carpet. 6. Grant Cumbest, left, who played the assistant to the mayor of Boston, poses with his father Mark Cumbest. 7. Chadwick Boseman with Alvin Edney, who played James Brown’s son Teddy. Edney is from Brandon.

August 1, 2014

Mississippi Business Journal

STATE GOVERNMENT

Guns OK inside state polling places, AG says By TED CARTER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

The trend among gun fanatics of openly carrying assault weapons and other firearms into stores and restaurants could spread to polling places around Mississippi in November. The key in Mississippi is that gun owners must wear the weapon so it is visible to everyone, says Attorney General Jim Hood, who this week replied in the affirmative to a query on guns in the voting booth. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Legislature has given no authority to counties or municipalities by any statute to restrict open carrying of weapons into polling places,â&#x20AC;? Hood said. He emphasized, however, that gun owners may have to ask permission of the property owner if the polling place is on private property such as a church. High security government buildings may also be off limits to gun toters. Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange affirmed the right of Alabama voters to open carry guns into most polling places followed an Alabama Sheriffs Association plea to the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s counties to keep unconcealed weapons from polling places. Voting officials turned away several gun owners for bringing visible firearms into polling places. Attorney General Strange reacted after those entry denials. Like Hood, Strange was empathic in his message to Alabama voters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The state Legislature has already said where guns cannot be openly displayed and polling places are not on the list,â&#x20AC;? said in a statement published by the New York Times. Mississippi treats the carrying of concealed weapons into polling places much differently than it does openly carried ones. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If a person with a regular gun permit carries a concealed weapon into any polling place, that person is violating state law,â&#x20AC;? Hood said. However, owners of â&#x20AC;&#x153;enhancedâ&#x20AC;? concealed weapons permits can legally take concealed weapons into polling places, he noted. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Counties and cities may not restrict this right.â&#x20AC;? Enhanced permits require the owner to undergo specific weapons training. Meanwhile, attempts by President Obama to require background checks on purchases of firearms at gun shows has led so-called Second Amendment advocates around the county to openly arm themselves and carry their weapons into stores such as Target, coffee shops and such restaurants such as Chipotles and Jack . While Texas, led by the group Open Carry Texas (OCT), has been the site of most recent demonstrations by open-carry groups, other open carry demonstrations have

taken place at Target stores in Alabama, Ohio, North Carolina, Washington, Wisconsin and Virginia, USA Today reports. After protests from the group Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Target began asking the gun owners to quit brining their weapons into the stores. Even the National Rifle Association

asked for a stop to the practice, saying, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Using guns merely to draw attention to yourself in public not only defies common sense, it shows a lack of consideration and manners.â&#x20AC;? However, the NRA took back the statement after receiving criticism from opencarry groups.

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Looking nationwide

Online engineering graduate program a big draw for Bagley

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

HAT DOES A CITY engineer in have in common with a city engine York City? In this case, both have e master of engineering degrees from

August 1, 2014 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

NEERS

engineer in Starkville a city engineer in New both have earned degrees from the

Photo courtesy of Beth Wynn, Mississippi State University Ofﬁce of Public Affairs

Bagley College of Engineering-Learning program at Mississippi State University. The graduate students are Edward C. Kemp, who is the engineer for the city of Starkville, and Leon Felix, a city engineer in New York City. Currently BCoE-Learning provides online graduate education to about 200 graduate engineering students across the country. With approxi-

mately 600 total graduate students in the college, the online programs are helping industries and agencies across the country meet their workforce needs, as well as comprising a significant portion of the enrollment in graduate programs.

See

BAGLEY, Page 15

ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS

14 I Mississippi Business Journal I August 1, 2014 PROFILE: JOHN STOLARSKI

‘Legos were ... a staple of my childhood’ » Design was the career choice from an early age for Ocean Springs architect By LYNN LOFTIN mbj@msbusiness.com

Few people know in high school what they want their life’s work to be, and even fewer know earlier than that. Architect John Stolarski, AIA, is the exception. A principal with the Allred Architectural Group of Ocean Springs, Stolarski decided at age 12 that architecture was the career for him. Design was important to him at an early age. “I still remember when my brother Kevin sat down with me when I was 3 or 4 to teach me to draw. From that moment on I was always drawing or creating something,” he recalls. “In second grade, I actually took an oil painting course. Legos were of course a staple of my childhood. “In seventh grade we took a career course, which concluded with an aptitude test. My results listed my No. 1 career choice as cartoonist, and No. 2 was architect. Ironically enough, in my mind I thought being a cartoonist would be too much work and a long shot, so I set my sights on being an architect. So much for the easier route.” Stolarski grew up the youngest of three sons in Westminster, Maryland, a community about 45 minutes northwest of Baltimore. His father is an Air Force veteran who worked for Bell Atlantic, which eventually became Verizon, and his mother worked as a head bank teller and cash office manager for Wal-Mart before retiring.

“Whenever I go by a structure that I had a hand in creating with a talented team of people and see how it has touched people’s lives for the better, that is what gives me the most satisfaction. Knowing I have left a positive mark on the community is very rewarding.” John Stolarski, Architect, Allred Architectural Group “I believe you are a product of the environment you are brought up in. Luckily for me, I had a very goal-oriented group of friends who all wanted to be architects, landscape architects, naval architects or industrial designers,” he said. “I believe we all fed off each other and unknowingly pushed each other to reach our personal goals.” Stolarski had an outstanding opportunity in high school when he was selected as one of 20 students in the nation to attend an Architecture Summer Camp at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania. “It was an amazing experience,” he said. “Experiences like this, along with support of my family and friends, kept my goal alive and 22 years later in 2009, I was finally licensed as an architect.” “I have also been blessed to have some great mentors along the way; my college professors, the principals at Eley Guild

Hardy, my current business partners Chet and Hoppy Allred and the clients I have served over the years. They have all had a profound effect on my career.” That first camp experience was expanded when Stolarski was hired as a camp counselor at Fallingwater for two summers. He earned two Bachelor’s degrees at Auburn University – one in architecture and another in interior architecture. Before joining the Allred Group, Stolarski was a senior project manager with Eley Guild Harry Architects in Biloxi. Recently selected as one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40, this professional isn’t able to single out one project in particular that he considers his biggest achievement. “However, I am most proud of all the post-Katrina recovery and rebuilding work I was lucky enough to be a part of over the

past eight-plus years,” he said. “From new high schools, a new city hall, community storm shelters, a new college library, a rebuilt church, a new car dealership and even comfort stations on the beach – I’m proud of all of them and the small part I played with the teams or individuals that made these projects possible to bring back our community.” Seeing projects utilized for their intended purposes gives him the most satisfaction with architecture. “Whenever I go by a structure that I had a hand in creating with a talented team of people and see how it has touched people’s lives for the better, that is what gives me the most satisfaction,” he said. “Knowing I have left a positive mark on the community is very rewarding.” Stolarski believes architecture influences the way we live because the built environment is the back drop of our lives. “It is our shelter; it can be our escape; it provides a vehicle for business – the list is endless. Architects have the opportunity every day to help shape and mold the communities around us and leave it just a little better than when we started,” he said. This young architect embraces the trend of sustainable design and adaptive reuse/urban renewal. “Architects have a responsibility to be conscious of the environment we help create and the resources we utilize,” he said. “We should strive to create an end product that is more perpetual than disposable.” He sees the main challenge of those trends as educating clientele and the public that these ideals are not necessarily cost prohibitive. “True, some elements of sustainable design ideals may have additional up-front costs, but these costs can be balanced out by energy savings throughout the life cycle of the building,” he said. “Or, in reference to adaptive reuse, in many downtown areas around the state, significant urban renewal investment is eligible for tax incentives to help mitigate any additional up-front redevelopment costs.” Stolarski is not one dimensional; he also has musical interests. He played the trumpet almost 20 years and briefly considered majoring in jazz performance after taking a master class from Wynton Marsalis. “That was the only time I wavered in my goal to become an architect but that whim lasted only about a week,” he said. “I love music and one day would like to learn guitar.” He is married to WLOX-TV morning news anchor Meggan Gray and enjoys spending time with family and friends, including drawing with crayons with their children, and photography.

ARCHITECTS & ENGINEERS BAGLEY

Continued from Page 13

The master’s of engineering program is a unique, interdisciplinary program that allows students to select the courses to build their programs of study in a variety of disciplines like mechanical, electrical, computer, civil engineering or a combination of those courses. A limited number of courses may also be taken in business, mathematics, or science. “They can select the courses they need that support their jobs,” said Rita Burrell, manager of graduate and distance education, BCoE. “It is unique to each student, very individualized. Both the city engineers have undergraduate degrees in civil engineering. The engineer in New York did a very civil engineering focused program in the areas of water and the infrastructure that supports the water system in the city, applying the knowledge he gained in his courses to solve damage that was a direct result from Hurricane Sandy. “The Starkville City Engineer had a more general program of study which included civil engineering, industrial engineering, and business courses. It is interesting to me that a city engineer here in Starkville and an engineer from the City of New York, both of whom could have chosen an online program anywhere in the country, chose our program.” The program has been ranked 21st in the country by U.S. News & World Report. “There are a lot of factors that US News and World Report uses in determining these rank-

ings,” said Dr. Jason M. Keith, interim dean and professor at the BCoE. “Our faculty are trained and understand the difference between face-to-face and distance learning. Also, the students in our program complete their degrees in a reasonable Keith amount of time.” Jason said the graduate program is popular because they have excellent teachers, cutting edge technology, and a wide range of courses to cater to the working professional. “What makes this program great for students is that they can take courses towards their degree from anywhere while working a full time job,” Keith said. “It is also a great value for the students. The students acquire practical knowledge that they can apply on the job. We have been ahead of the curve in many things in engineering education and research, and the distance program is one of our points of pride. Distance learning is here to stay.” A master’s degree at BCoE costs about $18,500, about half of what similar programs can cost. Burrell said almost 100 percent of their students are full time employees who take one course per semester. “This is all in support of economic development to the state, the region, and across the country,” he said. “We are also now looking at opportunities on an international level.”

August 1, 2014

Burrell believes that the online program is ranked so highly because of the large number of the courses offered, normally 80 to 90 courses online an academic year. Customer service designed to meet the special needs of online students. “Our technical delivery Burrell is very strong,” she said. “We are constantly upgrading and implementing new technology. We are also reasonably priced because our program does not charge out-of-state tuition. So that makes us particularly attractive to students across the country.” The college supports the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineering Research and Development Center at Vicksburg with the BCoE-Learning program and have 12 online graduate students from ERDA. There is also a large enrollment of engineers who work at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, and even students at Qualcomm in the Silicon Valley. “Our programs are designed to be very helpful to businesses and industries in the state,” Burrell said. “With Mississippi being such a rural area, the online program provides opportunity across the state to people who work full time and don’t otherwise have other access to a graduate program.” Courses are delivered via the web. Classes on the main campus are recorded, and posted to a website daily. Engineers can work the studies into their work schedule.

Mississippi Business Journal

Often employers have educational benefits that pay for the tuition. Students pay for class and can get reimbursed after successful completion of the courses. Burrell said they go through a vigorous review process for their online graduate programs. “We have to make sure they are the equivalent of what is offered on campus,” she said. “It goes through several layers of review. In order to deliver these courses we have to verify the programs are identical to the programs we have here on campus.” In 2012 it was estimated that over 70 percent of American households have broadband Internet at home. With access to faster download speeds, students expect a more interactive, higher quality experience with online courses. Keith said current efforts have been focused on offering the ability to capture video from a wide range of devices and formats including multiple cameras, computers, and document types but in a simple fashion that allows the instructor to teach without worrying about the setup. “Automation of the video conversion process using a centralized server allows student workers to submit a single recording and have it automatically placed in the proper location in several different formats,” Keith said. “Future design elements will incorporate interactive audio and video to allow students an experience analogous to physically being in the classroom.” For more, visit www.bcoelearning.msstate.edu.

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NEWSMAKERS

18 I Mississippi Business Journal I August 1, 2014

Firm welcomes Walker

Reeves taps Boerner

Thomas E. Walker Jr. has joined Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC as a member in the firm’s commercial department. Walker’s main areas of emphasis focus on corporate, commercial and regulatory matters. He is the former executive vice president of Bank of Forest. There, as well as serving as the bank's general counsel, he also served as its COO, CFO and CIO. Before his experience with Bank of Forest, Walker was engaged in private practice in Jackson with a focus on the financial services industry. Walker is a CPA and received a bachelor of accountancy in 1999 and a master’s of accountancy in 2000 from Mississippi State University and his juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi in 2004. He is also a 2014 graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at LSU.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves has named small business owner and local architect Michael Boerner to the 1percent sales tax commission charged with overseeing expenditures from a recent sales tax increase in the city of Jackson. Boerner, AIA, LEED AP, is the principal of Wier+Boerner Architecture in Jackson. He has a bachelor of architecture degree from Mississippi State University and a bachelor of science Boerner degree in business administration from Millsaps College. Boerner has architectural experience working for firms in Dallas, Birmingham, New Orleans and Jackson. The Jackson resident has worked on numerous projects around Mississippi, including Babalu restaurant in the Fondren neighborhood of Jackson, renovations to the Mississippi State Fairgrounds and Coliseum and the Iron Horse Grill restaurant in downtown Jackson. He also serves on the State Board of Architecture. Boerner and his wife, Katherine, have one daughter.

Alexander dies at 78 Dr. Ted J. Alexander, president of Pearl River Community College from 1986-2000, has died. He was 78. Alexander came to PRCC after 10 years as superintendent of the McComb Municipal Separate School District. During his 46-year career in education, Alexander also served as superintendent of schools in Newton, high school principal in Pascagoula and Franklin County, Alexander guidance counselor in Franklin County and in Meadville as biology and physical science teacher, football, basketball and baseball coach. He was a member and past officer of numerous professional organizations. Alexander received a B.A. degree from Millsaps College. He earned master of education degrees in educational administration and guidance from Mississippi College and the doctor of education degree in educational administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.

CMI adds Ford Corporate Management Incorporated (CMI) recently added Holly Ford as director of payroll services. Ford brings seven years of human resource, finance and operations experience to CMI. She has both her masters of business administration and bachelor of science in business administration with a concentration in marketing and management from Millsaps College.

Ford

Shivangi made chairman Sampat Shivangi, M.D., of Ridgeland, was recently named chairman of the Mississippi Board of Mental Health. From 2005-2008, Shivangi served as the advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is the past president-elect of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin. He is the founding president of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin in Mississippi and is the past president and chair of the India Association of Mississippi. Shivangi is the president and CEO of U.S. Info Systems of Mississippi. He previously served on the Mississippi State Board of Health.

Ramey welcomes new hires The Ramey Agency has made three new hires — Katherine Capocelli, Emily Cutrer and Joshua McCrary. Capocelli, originally from Richmond, Virginia, earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications/business and master’s degree in brand management at Virginia Commonwealth University. Before joining Ramey, she worked at Moroch and AKQA. She has joined Ramey as an account supervisor helping to lead and coordinate the team while managing all dayto-day aspects of the C Spire account. Cutrer is from Gulfport, and graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in marketing communications and public relations. She interned at Calvin Klein and worked at Alison Brod Public Relations, both in New York City. She now holds the position of associate account executive at Ramey. McCrary is a native of Huntsville, Alabama. He attended the University of North Alabama and the Miami Ad School. Prior to working at Ramey, he was a creative intern at Digitas San Francisco, MRY New York and Greenlight Media and Marketing Los Angeles. He is now the associate art director at Ramey. Capocelli, Cutrer, and McCrary will be located at Ramey’s Jackson office in Fondren.

Main Street elects members Mark Loughman of Gulfport-based Mississippi Power has been elected the 2014-2015 president of the Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) board of directors. He has served as treasurer and vice president on the executive committee since joining the board in 2011. New officers include: past president Joey Hudnall of Neel-Schaffer in Jackson; president Loughman; and president-elect Suzanne Smith of Renasant Bank in Tupelo. Three new board members were also elected during the general meeting: Mayor Chip Johnson, City of Hernando; Steve Kelly, board member emeritus; and Matthew McLaughlin, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz P.C. The 2014 MMSA board of directors are: board president Loughman; past president Hudnall; presi-

dent-elect Smith; Allison Beasley, Southern Mississippi Planning and Development; Hilary Burroughs, Sanderson Farms Inc.; Kelly; McLaughlin; Mayor Smith; Sheila Varnado, consultant; Wyatt Waters, Wyatt Waters Gallery; Beth Williams, The Alluvian Hotel & Spa; Mayor Johnson; H.T. Holmes, Mississippi Department of Archives and History; Leland Speed, EastGroup/Parkway Properties; Jim West, College of Architecture, Art and Design at Mississippi State University; Mickey Howley, Water Valley Main Street Association; and Vickie Duke, New Albany Main Street Association. Ex officio members are Brent Christensen of the Mississippi Development Authority and Alex Thomas, Mississippi Advisor to the National Trust. Designated representatives to the board are Ken P'Pool, Mississippi Department of Archives and History; John Poros, The Carl Small Town Center at Mississippi State University; and Joy Foy of the Mississippi Development Authority.

Antinnes earns recertification Dr. Jay Antinnes, a Southern Bone and Joint Specialists fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon, was recently recertified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. After graduating from Yale University, Antinnes received his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine. He trained at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans, and completed his fellowAntinnes ship training in spinal deformities at the University of California in San Francisco. Antinnes has stayed involved in spinal research and has authored numerous books and papers and lectured around the world. He wrote the chapter on adult scoliosis for the International Society for Study of the Lumbar Spine. He is a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, Mississippi Orthopedic Society and Mississippi State Medical Association.

Pharmacy welsomes Lofton Laura G. Lofton, PharmD, recently joined Hattiesburg Clinic’s Owl Drug Store as a pharmacist. She earned her doctorate of pharmacy from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. Lofton is a member of the Mississippi Pharmacists Association. She joins Debra V. Akers, RPh and Diane S. Ashley, RPh.

Lofton

Ziegler named Fellow Melissa Ziegler, a kinesiotherapy instructor in the School of Human Performance and Recreation at the University of Southern Mississippi, has been named a Fellow by the Medical Fitness Association (MFA). Ziegler also serves as executive director of the American Kinesiotherapy Association (AKTA), a national non-profit organization based in Hattiesburg. Fellowship status is reserved for MFA members who are physicians, scientists and wellness professionals. Selection is based on contributions to the medical fitness industry and demonstrated leadership in the MFA. Ziegler has been an MFA member for

seven years and helped establish a conference relationship with the ATKA in 2008.

Nissan promotes Gibb, Confer Nissan has promoted Greg Gibb to senior director, manufacturing operations at the Canton Vehicle Assembly Plant. Gibb joined Nissan in 1996 and has held positions with increasing responsibilities at all three of Nissan’s U.S. manufacturing facilities — Decherd, Tennessee, Smyrna, Tennessee and Canton. Gibb moves to the position after having served as plant manager, body/stamping. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Baker College of Business. Also, Pam Confer joins Nissan to lead community relations for the Canton plant. She has a bachelor’s degree from Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee, and a master’s degree from Jackson State University. Confer is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Jackson State University. Working in central Mississippi for the past 18 years, Pam most recently managed the minority business inclusion program for the city of Jackson and owned her own consulting and communications firm.

Nelson earns promotion First American Title Insurance Company has promoted Jim Nelson to vice president and deputy general counsel, operations. Most recently, Nelson served as the vice president and senior operations counsel for First American’s Direct and Agency divisions in the southwest region. In 2007, Nelson returned to First American Title following a six-year term serving as Mississippi assistant secretary of state overseeing the Business Regulation and Enforcement Division. Before that, he spent three years as the assistant vice president and associate state counsel for First American Title in Mississippi. Nelson also previously served as Mississippi assistant secretary of state and executive director of the Public Lands Division. Nelson is a member of the Scottsdale Bar Association, Arizona Bar Association, Mississippi State Bar, the United States District Court for the Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar. He is also a member of the Title Action Network and served on the board of directors for the North American Securities Administrators Association and the board of directors for the Western States Land Commissioners Association. He earned his law degree and a dual major bachelor’s degree in English and political science from the University of Mississippi and earned a master’s degree in business administration from Millsaps College.

Claret joins Nations Jerry Claret has joined Nations Equipment Finance, LLC as senior vice president-sales. Claret has over 30 years’ experience in the equipment finance industry, and prior to joining Nations served as business development manager at ENGS Commercial Finance. He previously held positions at Old Claret Florida National Bank, Equify Financial, LLC, People’s United Equipment Finance Corp. and CitiCapital Commercial Corporation.

NEWS MAKERS Seal, Moody get new posts Two women have been named to upper-level administrative positions at Pearl River Community College. Dr. Jennifer Seal became vice president for planning and institutional research and Tonia Moody is director of admissions and records. Seal most recently served as PRCC’s director of institutional effectiveness. Moody has been with PRCC since 2006, working with disability services, admis- Moody sions and recruitment. As director of institutional effectiveness, Seal served as a reaffirmation review committee member for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), the college’s accrediting body. She is chair of several college committees, including the Seal Women’s Health Symposium Steering Committee, and is on the Honors Institute Advisory Board. Seal was director of the quality enhancement plan (QEP) from 2006 to 2012 and successfully led the college in the completion of its first QEP, a requirement of SACSCOC. She began her work at PRCC as an adjunct mathematics instructor in 1995 and became a full-time instruc-

DIRECTOR

tor in 2002. Prior to coming to PRCC, she was mathematics department chair at Hancock High School in Kiln and received National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification. She holds a doctorate degree in community college leadership from Mississippi State University and the master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in mathematics education from the University of Southern Mississippi. Seal has served on the Hancock County School Board since 2006 and is secretary of the Gulf Coast School Board Association. She is a member of Phi Delta Kappa, the Rotary Club of Poplarville, Hancock County and Poplarville Chambers of Commerce. Seal and her husband, Michael, live in north Hancock County with their 6-year-old daughter, Raleigh, and are the owners of Seal’s Market Place near Picayune. A lifelong resident of south Mississippi, Moody holds the bachelor of science degree from USM and the master of science degree from MSU. Moody is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Rehabilitation Association of Mississippi (RAM), a division of the National Rehabilitation Association; the Mississippi Association on Higher Education and Disability, National Association on Higher Education and Disability, National Association of ADA Coordinators, Women In Higher Education Mississippi Network and Southern Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers. She is a member of Fellowship Chapel, where she teaches the adult ladies Sunday school class and serves as music director.

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evolved significantly in the year since airline de-regulation in the late 1970s, noted Kuelpman, a former airport planner with the Federal Aviation Administration and business development executive with several airlines. “Back in the ’70s, a lot of guys were coming out of the military and becoming airport directors,” he said, describing the typical manager as someone who had overseen a military airfield and could keep things running smoothly, essentially “someone who could keep the lights on.” The airlines and the federal Civil Aeronautics Board decided on air carriers, fares and passenger polices, with airports and their communities left to be bystanders. Fast forward to today’s free-for-all-industry. “It’s a sea change,” Kuelpman said. “Today, airport directors are business people who are CEOs of a multi-million-dollar industry.” Many have business degrees, he said, and a knack for pro-

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to kill bacteria in oysters. The building includes 6,000 square feet of office space. The 50-acre park in the south-central area of the airport has ramps and a pair of taxiways and is designed to accommodate aviation-related business offices and aviation industrial tenants. It’s among the 5,000 acres situated along the state’s coast at airports, water ports and industrial parks designated as the Mississippi Coast Foreign Trade Zone. Goods coming into the into the FTZ

August 1, 2014

Mississippi Business Journal

Allen, Mixon get certification Bates wins award St. Dominic’s employees Allyn Allen, CFNP, and Lacey Mixon, CFNP, recently became part of a select group of 400 nurses from across the country who have earned the Stroke Certified Registered Nurse (SCRN) certification through the American Board of Neuroscience Nursing (ABNN).

Barnes returns to MC Don Barnes is the new operations manager at STAR 93.5. A 47-year-old Brandon resident and Mississippi College alumnus, Barnes began his radio career at WHJT on the Clinton campus when he was a student in the MC Communication Department in the 1980s. Away from the Clinton campus, Barnes serves as the owner of AMP Entertainment of Mississippi, a full-service DJ and community events entertainment company. Jackson area listeners may be familiar with the voice of the 1989 Mississippi College mass communications and marketing graduate. He worked at local radio stations like 94.7 JACK FM, US96.3, MIX 98.7, Y101 and 105.9 FM. After working the past two years as marketing director of CCSI-Peak Solutions, a company specializing in brand development and promotion, Barnes rejoined the Mississippi College family this summer. A native of Richardson, Texas, Barnes has longtime Jackson roots. He moved to Mississippi’s capital city as a three-year-old, was a Jackson Academy student and grew up attending Colonial Heights Baptist Church in Jackson. Today, he and his wife, Leslie, have four children, Ryan, Gracie, Cameron and Ava.

moting their communities. Kuelpman’s firm has done 53 airport executive searches the last three years. “Twenty-four of those have been for Dirk’s level,” he said of Vanderleest, the Airport Authority CEO. Meeting individually with Airport Authority board members is akey first step the 18-year-old company will take, its founder said. “We’ll talk with all of them to find out what their hot buttons are what they are looking for.” ADK distributes a brochure that sells the community to executive prospects and details the needs to be filled and skills required. “That will be out there for about 30 days or so,” Kuelpman said. After that, the whittling starts, he added. “We’ll take the top 10 or 12 and start the interview procedures.” Eventually, a short list of a half dozen candidates is prepared. These are the candidates who will go through the reference and background checks, he said. Finally, three or four will be invited to final interviews, ac-

from out of the country are generally considered part of international commerce and not officially entered into U.S. commerce. Thus, duties charged on the cargo can be deferred until all or part of the shipment is distributed for U.S. consumption. Tariffs are waived when goods are re-exported from the zone. The nearby business park so far has four class A buildings with a tenant lineup that includes government agencies, an insurance company, engineering firm and a law firm. A developer has leased an additional seven acres across from the office park and is ready to add more office space once a principal

University of Southern Mississippi Assistant Professor Philip Bates is the winner of the 2014 Paul K. Stumpf Award, presented biannually to exceptional scientists in plant lipid research. Paul K. Stumpf, who died in 2007, is the recognized father of plant lipid (fats and oils) research. A renowned biochemist, Stumpf trained many students who went on to become leaders in the field, while publishing more than 250 research papers over four decades. Among his achievements was the discovery in plants of the alpha-oxidation pathway for degrading fatty acids. Genetic defects in the same pathway in animals are linked to rare hereditary diseases. The award is presented to scientists who have held doctoral degrees for six years or less. Bates bested a global pool of candidates to earn the prestigious distinction. A native of Napa, Calif., Bates earned his bachelor of science from the University of California, Davis and his doctorate from Michigan State University. Before joining the faculty at Southern Miss, he conducted postdoctoral research at Washington State University.

For announcements in Newsmakers; Contact: Wally Northway (601) 364-1016 • wally.northway@msbusiness.com

cording to Kuelpman. As an entity governed by an autonomous Airport Authority, Jackson Evers International will have an advantage on the salary side, the head hunter said. Airports run by cities and counties — including Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson — must stick to salary scales that pay their CEOs in a range equal to their other department heads, Kuelpman noted. As an example, the CEO of Hartsfield-Jackson, the world’s largest airport, makes around $240,000 a year; the head of Dallas-Fort Worth International, an airport governed by an independent authority and the world’s fifth biggest, earns $500,000 a year, according to Kuelpman. The chief of Tampa International Airport, which is run by an authority, left to take the top job at the much larger Hartsfield-Jackson. He took a $40,000 pay cut, Kuelpman said. Airports that find a CEO with the range of skills required to effectively run an airport today and broaden the revenue base are wise to put a pair of “golden handcuffs” on the executive, Kuelpman advised.

tenant is signed, Williams said. Fixed Based Operator Million Air built a 52,000 square-foot general aviation facility that includes a customs office to process international travelers arriving on private flights. Million Air also supplies fuel to commercial airlines at Gulfport/Biloxi International. Katrina destroyed the facilities of the previous FBO, Atlantic Aviation. Million Air operated out of portable trailers for several years before putting up its own building. Williams, the airport chief, said success converting the Airport Authority’s assets into revenue has helped the airport re-

bound from such disappointments as the 2009 loss of Air Tran, a discount commercial carrier which pulled out after area casinos ceased their subsidies of the Gulfport/Biloxi route. Today, the airport is served by Delta Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and U.S. Air. “The more we are able to diversify our income streams the better off we are going to be,” Williams said. “We have tried hard to develop additional tenants and a diversity of tenants so if we’re down in one area you aren’t (down) in another area.”

20 I Mississippi Business Journal I August 1, 2014 »MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS PROFILES

From high fashion to high business maven Madison County Business League’s Collins brings people together through a variety of events

orn and raised in Pascagoula, Jan Collins remembers her younger years on the Coast with fondness. “The thing I loved most about growing up on the Coast was the lack of cliques,” she said. “Everybody had a sense of community, and we knew each other.” After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in marketing, Jan pursued her ambition to develop a career in fashion. After going through McRae’s management training program, she eventually served as a buyer for the chain. “It was a great experience, working for McRae’s,” she said. “I traveled not only to New York and California, but to Paris, Milan, Florence. It was demanding but very rewarding as well.” Eventually, she gave birth to a son and left the career world for 10 years. During that time, through her husband’s work as legal counsel for munici-

Courtesy of Jan Collins / Special to the MBJ

Jan Collins, executive director of the Madison County Business League, calls her organization “the bridge between business and government.”

palities in Madison County, she got to know many of the civic and business

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leaders in the region, and that led her eventually to work for the Madison County Foundation, and finally to the Madison County Business League. “I was really honored when I was approached by a number of leaders to join the Madison County Business League as executive director,” she said. “I started in the spring of 2009, and it’s been a great experience.” Today, the MCBL has 155 members. The mission of the organization is to foster communication and positive relationships between business and the public sector. “I guess you’d say we’re the bridge between business and government,” she said. “We’re proud of the progress we’ve made in the past 5 years.” One focus of the MCBL is to bring people together through a variety of events which have included health forums, energy, law enforcement, and education. Jan is particularly passionate about education, including early childhood education and programs benefitting children with learning disabilities. Among other programs, there is a youth leadership program to prevent what Jan calls the “brain drain,” i.e., helping to keep some of Madison County’s best and brightest students in the county after college. “There are great opportunities in our County,” she said proudly. “That includes business and career opportunities for young professionals, as well as capitalizing on Madison as a

certified retirement community.” A key to Madison County’s growth and prosperity, she feels, is quality secondary education. She points to the AAlan Turner rated schools in the county and the commitment to quality education shared by public and private leaders. “That has to be a collaborative effort among all parties,” she said. “It’s hard to over-emphasize the importance of education to the future of this county and to Mississippi as a whole.” She’s also involved in the creative economy initiative, which is dedicated to recognizing the impact that creative professionals and businesses make on the community as a whole. “That includes architects, designers, artists, craftspeople and many others”, she said. Jan sees many opportunities for Madison County in the coming years, and points to the effectiveness of the Madison County Economic Development Agency and Executive Director Tim Coursey. “If you look at what has been accomplished just in the past 10 years, it’s really amazing,” she said. Asked what issues need to be addressed to keep Madison County as the hallmark of both economic development and a strong community with a high quality of life, she pointed to a perception that there could be some negative impact from crime spreading from Jackson into Madison County. “For all of us, it means we need the very best law enforcement. We’re certainly pleased that we have professional agencies which react to the needs of the community.” Otherwise, she points to a need to manage growth in an efficient and effective manner that will keep Madison County’s prosperity alive and well for years to come. If energy, commitment, passion and determination can help Madison County meet its objectives, it’s obvious that Jan Collins can and will provide ample reserves of those commodities. Contact Mississippi Business Journal publisher Alan Turner at alan.turner@msbusiness.com or (601) 364-1021.

August 1, 2014

Mississippi Business Journal

» MISSISSIPPI LEADERS by Martin Willoughby

A visionary leader Pastor’s dream provides hope for village in Haiti

bolitionist Harriet Tubman once said: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” Most of us start out life with big dreams. Too often the challenges, and even routineness of life, can cause those dreams to fade away. However, some people are able to retain that ability to dream and often they go on to change the world. To truly make an impact, you not only need to dream big dreams, but also have the ability to turn ideas into action. Colin Powell noted: “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” Whether in the business world, government, or non-proﬁt sectors, great leaders point followers to ambitious game changing goals and motivate people to take action. My interviewee this week, Stan Buckley, is one of those visionary leaders. He is currently executive director of BUT GOD ministries, a faith-based 501(c)(3) organization. Prior to his current role, Buckley served as senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Jackson, one of the state’s largest churches. Buckley, a native of Natchez, did not start out in full-time ministry. The son of a pastor, he pursued a career in law after

Up Close With ... Stan Buckley Title: Executive pastor, BUT GOD ministries Favorite Books: To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee); The Hole in Our Gospel (Rich Stearns) First Job: ”In junior high, I worked for a construction company mowing grass at various work sites and properties owned by the company. In high school, my brother and I opened our own snow-cone business driving a snow-cone truck all over Natchez six days per week, eventually employing one of my friends as our business expanded.” Proudest Moment as a Leader: ”One of the proudest moments I have as a leader was in 2012 when we moved an 81 year old Haitian lady from the filth and squalor of a tent city into her new home. It was the culmination of hundreds and hundreds of people believing, giving, going, sacrificing, and trusting. It was very exciting knowing that she and the other 42 families who have moved into our new community were not only receiving adequate housing, but also access to health care, clean water, food, a new church home, educational scholarships for the children, and opportunities to work.” Hobbies/Interests: Reading non-fiction, particularly books on WWII and North Korea. Thinking, planning, and discussing how to make a long-term difference in the lives of the poor.

graduating from Mississippi College School of Law. After working as a lawyer for several years, he left the practice to follow a call to full time ministry. From 1995-2011, he pastored three churches including First Baptist of Jackson, and he went on to earn his master’s and doctorate in divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In 2011, Buckley had the vision to found

BUT GOD ministries with an initial focus on making an impact in Haiti. The organization focused on building a sustainable community in Ganthier, Haiti and has achieved remarkable success. In the last three years, volunteers from around the world have partnered with native Haitians to start a medical/dental clinic that has seen more than 24,000 patients, build over 50 houses, an orphanage, and a church.

“Spend your life doing something that matters.” Stan Buckley Executive pastor, BUT GOD ministries

Buckley shared: “In May of this year we began construction on a second Haitian community in the mountainous village of Thoman. This village is located about an hour’s drive from Martin Willoughby our current community where approximately 6,000 people live with no primitive housing, no electricity, no running water, no jobs, no medical care, and not much else. The success of BUT GOD ministries in building sustainable communities has attracted attention from leaders from around the world including back in Mississippi.” Buckley credits his father, Gerald Buckley, who was a pastor for 50 years, in teaching him how to rally people to a cause. “He was not afraid to take a chance, try something new and risk failure. He also taught me to stand firmly for what is good and right and to respect, but not fear, others.” Buckley advises future leaders to not be afraid to attempt something new or different. “Nothing great has ever been accomplished by the weak and the timid and those afraid to take a chance or those satisfied with the status quo,” he said. “Spend your life doing something that matters.” Buckley cited Teddy Roosevelt’s famous quote: “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” I am inspired by leaders like Buckley who have the ability to dream big and the courage and perseverance to turn those dreams into reality . Martin Willoughby is a business consultant and regular contributing columnist for the Mississippi Business Journal. He serves as Chief Operating Officer of Butler Snow Advisory Services, LLC and can be reached at martin.willoughby@ butlersnow.com.

Hens and music in the Suffolk countryside help win the war

» La’s Orchestra Saves the World By Alexander McCall Smith Published by Anchor Books $14.95 paperback

lexander McCall Smith is one of the most proliﬁc authors writing today. The list of other books he’s written takes up a whole page in the front of this novel, La’s Orchestra Saves the World. This one is called a “stand alone novel.” That’s because it’s not part of several series that have made Smith a popular literary ﬁgure. He’s best known for the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, the Isabel Dalhousie series and the 44 Scotland Street series. But this stand alone novel is a delight to read. With his usual warmth and well-drawn characters, Smith creates a story of England’s home front during the dark days of World War II. It’s a story not usually told; one without the drama of battles, heroes, spies and bombings. It’s a tight — 294 pages — tale of what one lonely, heartbroken woman did in the quiet Suffolk countryside as her small part for the war effort.

Lavender — La to her friends — escapes the London blitz and the wreckage of a failed marriage. Able bodied people not serving in the military or working full-time jobs are asked to help local farmers whose sons and farm hands are serving at the front. La volunteers to help an arthritic farmer by taking care of his hens; not work she imagined herself doing with her Cambridge education.

La has no family but begins to ingratiate herself with the locals. As she becomes a part of the community, she detects a sense of isolation. Wanting to do something to boost morale, she uses her love of music to organize a small orchestra. A reviewer for The Washington Post expresses the opinion that the book is “a metaphor for the transformative power of music…crafted with the author’s usual wit, wisdom and grace.” I just read and enjoyed the story, not thinking of the music as a metaphor because there are other elements, including romance and the simple grace of country people carrying on in the face of confusion and tragedy. Through the orchestra and its concerts, La gives hope and courage to the people of the community and meets a Polish airman who changes her life.

— Lynn Lofton, mbj@msbusiness.com

22 I Mississippi Business Journal I August 1, 2014 THE SPIN CYCLE

Amplify your agency online to reach a broader audience ublic Relations professionals are proud champions of earned media, as are ad pros with unearned media. But now the most successful PR and ad agencies deftly integrate earned, owned and paid (unearned) media activities to promote clients – and the agencies themselves. By using multiple communications channels, agencies can reach prospects exactly where they are, in the format they prefer. Deploying all media channels expands agency visibility to the widest audience possible. In promoting an agency to potential clients, each media channel propels the others. A blog post can be picked up by a journalist and published in a trade journal. Native advertising or content marketing can generate awareness about agency services among potential clients. Here’s how agencies, clients and brands can use earned, owned and paid media tactics to flourish:

Earned Media Encourage user-generated content. Content and recommendations from friends, colleagues and peers are what clients trust most. Encourage your audiences to contribute blog posts, comment on content, share stories and participate in brand discussions. They boost engagement and provide your PR team with “free” content to share and use in other materials. Give to a cause. Volunteer your employees at a charity event or establish a corporate social responsibility program. When you give back to your community, the community’s media outlets notice — hence the phrase, “Do well by doing good.” Conduct a survey and share the data. One way to become a recognized influencer and score publicity is by releasing a survey or research that reports on important issues within the industry. Credible data accompanied by real insight establishes expertise and influence. Enter industry awards. Winning notable industry awards programs like the Bulldog Digital/Social PR Awards provide instant bragging rights and are sure to score media coverage for your agency and its clients. A word of caution: some awards programs have a long and expensive entry process, so make sure your agency stands a good chance of winning. Owned Media Produce and share a video. YouTube is the “inbound TV” of marketing. PR pros can use their network and storytelling skills to produce videos that attract and convert clients. Consider the different types of videos that you can share on your blog and across owned social media channels, including tutorials, interviews with executives and experts, client testimonials, and webinars. Here’s 8 Ways to Promote Your Brand’s YouTube Video for tips on optimizing the video for search. Create a hashtag. Whether it’s to promote a webinar or a new campaign, an original hashtag gets your potential client base talking about the agency. Just make sure audiences don’t misinterpret or abuse the hashtag so that it becomes a bashtag. Paid Media Develop a sponsored content piece. The New York Times has proven that there is such a thing as well-written sponsored content. A post titled “Women Inmates: Why the Male Model Doesn’t Work” serves as a noteworthy case study of content marketing. The reasons it’s so good: it’s well researched and interesting, it contains credible interviews,

there’s plenty of compelling multimedia, and it naturally weaves in “the sell.” Consider product placement. It’s not just for big brands and movies. Agencies can participate in product placement by providing PR and marketing advice at community events and at local TV and radio. Bonus: such giveaways of expertise will likely generate earned media, as well. Research keywords for search advertising. SEO isn’t as scary as you think. Most PR people already possess the skills and knowledge needed to research keywords for optimized Google ads. PR and ad agencies can utilize Google and Wikipedia for inspiration on what their target audience searches for. Search advertising can be affordable for small agencies and even freelancers if the ads are focused and localized.

“Encourage usergenerated content. Content and recommendations from friends, colleagues and peers are what clients trust most.” Todd Smith Deane, Smith & Partners

Bottom line: Agencies can perform self-promotion by utilizing their skills across earned, paid and owned media to reach a wider audience with more credible messages.

How To Manage Social Media Crises The question of how to spot and manage social media crises as they unfold emerges when companies first start listening to social media. The first step is to realize that monitoring 100 percent of the Web is not only impossible, but also costly and unnecessary. Here are three quick tips for online crisis monitoring: 1. Data Spikes – an unusual amount of information on one topic is one possible tip-off to a coming crisis. This is why organizing data can be so important. If comments coming in are grouped into one topic or another, you can quickly and easily see that one topic (such as price, environmental impact or product name) is receiving far more comments than usual. One technique for identifying potential crises is to define an average volume threshold for your brand, which, if surpassed by a data spike, will trigger an alert to your team. DKNY found themselves in an online situation that

could have escalated and created a potential crisis for the brand. However, it didn’t – the company was accused of using stolen photos in an exhibit, and the photographer called them out on a Facebook fan page – DKNY provided a prompt and honest response before the issue escalated. 2. Large Conversations with Many ComTodd Smith ments – A growing conversation that is visible via an increasing number of comments may also signal a coming crisis. A good rule of thumb is that any online conversation pertaining to your brand that sparks more than five comments should be given close attention by your team. When a disgruntled British Airways passenger paid $1,000 to promote a tweet to the airline’s 300,000 followers, the audience empathized with him. The critical tweet was amplified to the tune of 76,000 replies. The airline apologized, and the customer acknowledged that he was satisfied with the resolution. 3. Real-Time Alerts on Sensitive Topics – Setting up alerts based on sensitive keywords is also a must for any company hoping to detect and manage crises. Pharmaceutical brands, for example, can easily fall prey to attacks online. For brands launching new products, keeping an eye on those keywords is essential to ensuring that the launch goes smoothly. One sensitive topic for companies that deliver packages is how their employees handle the goods. FedEx was faced with a crisis management challenge when a video of an employee carelessly tossing a package went viral. FedEx VP Matthew Thornton provided a speedy response to the crisis with a candid and honest apology in a YouTube video that was shared more than 50,000 times.

Tarnished Mic | White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest got into it with reporters recently about anonymous sources. Specifically, a Washington Post story by David Nakamura, saying sourcing in the story is not evident until the reporter cites “former government officials.” The gist of the story isn’t favorable for the White House. It concerns President Obama and his aides being forewarned of a border crisis a full year before it happened. Reporters bristled at anonymous sourcing not being seen as valid, considering the amount of this type of sourcing that goes on in Washington on a daily, weekly and yearly basis. One of the sacred tenets of enterprising journalism is protecting unnamed sources. It’s a critical part of the media game. The Obama administration took office vowing to take transparency to new heights, but has largely opted for opacity. Earnest’s recent actions muddy the water further. For that, the press secretary gets a tarnished mic! Each week, The Spin Cycle will bestow a Golden Mic Award to the person, group or company in the court of public opinion that best exemplifies the tenets of solid PR, marketing and advertising – and those who don’t. Stay tuned – and step-up to the mic! And remember … Amplify Your Brand! Todd Smith is 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.

SALES MOVES

August 1, 2014

Mississippi Business Journal

» JEFFREY GITOMER

The slight difference in thinking is money H

ave you ever thought about the way you think? How do thoughts just pop into your head? How do you create an idea? Most people take thinking for granted, or at least never look beyond the surface of what makes it happen. What are the triggers for your thoughts? Are you a reactive thinker or an original thinker? That's an interesting thought all by itself. You watch the news, and you have thoughts about it — that's reactive. When an idea about something you've been working on enters your mind — that’s proactive. All of a sudden, proactive thinking seems better. But reactive thinking is the norm. The great thinkers of the world are all proactive. That should be your first clue. My personal development, and real creative thinking, began when I read Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill in 1971. Actually I did more than read it; I devoured it, reread it several times, studied it and then applied it to my life. Think and Grow Rich impacted me and led me to all the other works of Napoleon Hill. Most notable to me are How to Sell Your Way Through Life (the best sales book of all time), and The Master Key to Riches (the follow-on elaboration of Think and Grow Rich). Hill filmed The Master Key to Riches and as I was watching it again last week, I thought this below piece was worthy enough to share with you. It's about thinking, or should I say accurate thinking, or should I say YOUR accurate thinking. Here are Hill’s exact words (keep in mind this was written 60 years ago)…

Rules for Accurate Thinking by Napoleon Hill Now I will give you seven rules to follow which, if you memorize them and follow them as a daily habit, may bring you top-rating as an ACCURATE THINKER. 1. Never accept the opinions of other people as being facts until you have learned the source of those opinions and satisfied yourself of their accuracy. 2. Remember that FREE ADVICE, no matter from whom it is received, will bear the closest of examination before it is acted upon as safe, and generally speaking this sort of advice is worth exactly what it costs. 3. Alert yourself immediately when you hear anyone speaking of others in a discourteous or slanderous spirit because this very fact should put you on notice that what you are hearing is BIASED to say the least about it, and it may be out and out misstatements. 4. In asking others for information DO NOT DISCLOSE TO THEM WHAT YOU WISH THE INFORMATION TO BE, because most people have the bad habit of trying to please under such circumstances. Well measured, tactful questions can be of great benefit to you in THINKING ACCURATELY. 5. Remember that ANYTHING WHICH EXISTS ANYWHERE THROUGHOUT THE UNIVERSE IS CAPABLE OF PROOF, and where no such proof is available it is safer to assume that NOTHING EXISTS! 6. One of the great inexplicable miracles consists in the fact that both truth and false-hood, no matter by what means they may be expressed, carry with them silent, invisible means of identifying themselves as such. Therefore, remember this truth and begin

developing the necessary intuitive faculty to enable you to “sense” what is false and what is true. 7. Follow the habit of asking “HOW DO YOU KNOW?” when anyone makes a statement you cannot identify as true. Follow this habit faithfully and you will see many persons squirm and turn red in the face when you insist upon a direct reply. The most ACCURATE THINKERS are the scientists. They investigate with open minds and never allow their WISHES TO BECOME THE FATHERS OF FACTS, but deal with each fact as it is – not as they would like it to be. Now, one final word of warning I feel I should leave with you: STUDY YOURSELF CAREFULLY AND YOU MAY DISCOVER THAT YOUR OWN EMOTIONS ARE YOUR GREATEST HANDICAP IN THE BUSINESS OF ACCURATE THINKING. It is easy to believe that which you wish to believe, and unfortunately that is precisely what most people do! It's interesting the way that Hill distinguishes between fact and fantasy, true and false, logic and emotion, and accurate and inaccurate. It's about challenging your own thinking, and having the courage to challenge others about their thinking. It’s about doing so in a positive way, and challenging yourself to rely on your senses, not just your beliefs. “Think” is a very powerful word in our language, and it's an even more powerful action. I recommend

that you set aside at least 10 Jeffrey Gitomer minutes a day to think. Put it on your calendar. Daily. Document your thoughts, and then put them into action. When you dedicate time to yourself, and have a relaxing, creative atmosphere that allows you to dig deep into your own thoughts, and you have some recording device or keyboarding device to document your thinking and your thoughts, after a few months you will begin to blossom as both a thinker and a person of action. You will begin to feel your genuine power. Thought power. And that power will manifest itself into stronger relationships, stronger sales, and a stronger bank account. Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of “The Sales Bible”, “Customer Satisfaction is Worthless” “Customer Loyalty is Priceless”, “The Little Red Book of Selling”, “The Little Red Book of Sales Answers”, “The Little Black Book of Connections”, “The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude”, “The Little Green Book of Getting Your Way”, “The Little Platinum Book of ChaChing”, “The Little Teal Book of Trust”, “The Little Book of Leadership”, and “Social BOOM!” His website, www.gitomer.com, will lead you to more information about training and seminars, or email him personally at salesman@gitomer.com.

http://www.msbusiness.com

INSURANCE

Report: State sees biggest hike in premiums in U.S. ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Average annual home insurance premiums in Mississippi increased 15.5 percent during the second quarter of 2014, the largest hike of any of the 25 states that experienced increases, according to the HomeownersInsurance.com Premium Report. The average climbed to $1,170 a year. Nationally, premiums rose to $829 during the quarter, about 2.1 percent higher than in the first three months of the year. But Mississippi was the only state where the percentage increase hit double digits. The state faces many threats — hurricanes and flooding in the southern half and tornadoes in the north. “Because of all the factors that go into setting home insurance premiums, it’s always difficult to pinpoint the reasons for fluctuations,” says Jana Bell, vice president of HomeInsurance.com, the parent company of HomeownersInsurance.com. — from staff and MBJ wire services

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INTERNET SERVICES Q Comcast Business .......................................................................................... www.comcast.com Q TEC ..................................................................................................................................www.TEC.com

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REAL ESTATE Q State Street Group........................................................................www.statestreetgroup.com

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS Q Synergetics DCS, Inc. ...................................................................... www.synergeticsdcs.com

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TIRE RECYCLING & INJECTION MOLDING

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Patented Building Products - Mississippi & Louisiana

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Polyvulc seeks an immediate sale of tire recycling and injection molding business units (or machinery and equipment, permits, and/or product lines and/or related real properties). 1 of only 2 tire recycling permits in the state of MS and 1 of 4 in LA. Shredding, steel/rubber extraction, and fine grinding - recycles tires into “TDF”, raw steel, and fine grind rubber. Injection molding of proprietary manufactured housing products. Also available, riverfront terminal loading facility on the Intracoastal in Lake Charles with a moveable cement unloading barge system. Contact:

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