MBJ_Dec22_2017

INSIDE — Sanderson misses quarterly earnings consensus; shares wobble — Page 2 SCIENCE

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December 22, 2017 • Vo. 39. No. 51 • 16 pages

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Developer sought for NASA Enterprise Park in Hancock County — Page 2

MBJ FOCUS

Economic Development {Section begins P8}

» VisionFirst Advisors headed

by Gray Swoope now does work in 22 states » Tourism is economic development for Desoto County

{The List P12}

» Top 20 Economic Development Projects

Courtesy of Visit Mississippi/Special to the MBJ

The former Mississippi Film Studios will become a factory.

Film industry takes a hit after incentive scrapped

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

Also in this issue: » NEWSMAKERS P7 » NEW BUSINESSES P13-14

Don’t go by the Mississippi Film Studios to catch a glimpse of movie star.

The 43,000-square-foot purpose-built facility in Canton, which dates to the 1996 movie “A Time to Kill,” based on the John

Grisham novel, will become a “bath balm” factory.

Rick Moore, who bought the facility three years ago, shut down operations Sept. 1, he said in an interview.

There simply isn’t enough movie-making to keep the studios open, Moore said.

Moore attributes the fall-off in filmmaking

in the state to the fact that a key incentive offered by the state was eliminated July 1.

The Legislature allowed the 25 percent cash rebate for money spent on production cast and crews from out of state to expire.

Gov. Phil Bryant, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and

http://msbusiness.com/events/50-leading-business-women/

See FILM, Page 3

2 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q December 22, 2017 SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Wanted: Developer for NASA’s Enterprise Park in Hancock County

By LISA MONTI mbj@msbusiness.com NASA is looking for a private sector partner to develop and operate a technology park on 1,100 federally owned acres in the northern portion of Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis.

Don Beckmeyer, NASA’s manager of strategic business development at Stennis, said the technology corridor named Enterprise Park will support future activities of commercial space transportation companies, including some already at the Hancock County center. Stennis is NASA’s primary rocket propulsion test center for government and commercial customers. It is home to more than 40 federal, state, academic and commercial entities employing approximately 5,000 people. Tenants include Rolls Royce North America, Aerojet Rocketdyne and SpaceX. “We looked around and saw a lot of activity in the commercial space industry, and also some tenants on site that have things planned in the future we thought we could accommodate,” he said. The developer would lease the land from the government, build out the park, recruit tenants and manage the day to day operation.

NASA put out an official Notice of Availability Dec. 4 to identify a private or public entity to lead the development, marketing and longterm day to day operation of the park.

The deadline to respond is Jan. 12. “We have had some interest,” Beckmeyer said in mid December. Stennis will host an Industry Day on Feb. 7, for those who want more information.

NASA wants a private sector developer because they have more flexibility and experience than a government agency to undertake such a project, Beckmeyer said. “We believe a master developer could utilize some of their best practices such as offering creative financing and be more effective at marketing as well,” he said.

The wooded property to be developed has access to Mississippi 607. Two spaces have been certified as Project Ready industrial sites by Mississippi Power. One is a 250acre site on the north end of the park and the other is 150 acres on the south end.

Access to Stennis Space Center is restricted but only some

of the new Enterprise Park will be inside the security perimeter, Beckmeyer said. That unrestricted access could be an asset to some tenants who don’t want or need it.

The 1,100 acres to be developed for the first phase of the Enterprise Park is only a portion of the 13,800 government owned acres at Stennis, so there is much more land available adjacent to the area for growth, Beckmeyer said.

The need for the park was identified by the center’s master plan to allow private sector participation in the nation’s space exploration efforts and to create opportunities for companies to locate at Stennis in support of the work being done by the federal agencies operating there.

For more information, go to FedBizOpps.gov (reference NOA # 80SSC018L0004). Offi-cial responses to the Notice of Availability are due on Jan. 12.

Courtesy of Stennis Space Center/For the MBJ

Enterprise Park, consisting of approximately 1,100 acres, is located in the northwest corner of the Fee Area of Stennis Space Center’s U.S. Government-owned land.

PUBLIC COMPANIES

SANDERSON MISSES QUARTERLY EARNINGS CONSENSUS; SHARES TAKE HIT

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com Sanderson Farms Inc. reported net income for the fourth fiscal quarter ending Oct. 31 of $72.9 million, or $3.20 per share, compared with net income of $76 million, or $3.36 per share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

The Laurel-based poultry processor missed the Zacks analysts’ consensus of $3.62 and shares dropped 13 percent on Friday, hitting $138.07 at their

low point on the NasdaqGS stock market.

On Tuesday, shares closed at $143.13, down $3.64.

Their 52-week range is $87.54 to $176.43.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 were $919.9 million compared with $790.8 million a year earlier.

Record net sales for fiscal 2017 were $3.34 billion compared with $2.82 billion for fiscal 2016. Net income for the fiscal year totaled $279.7 million, or $12.30 per share, compared with net income of $189 million, or $8.37 per share, for last fiscal year.

“The fourth quarter marked the end of another record year for Sanderson Farms,” Joe F. Sanderson, Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of Sanderson Farms, said in a release. “Market prices declined seasonally after Labor Day [and] seasonal decrease in demand was exacerbated by hurricane disruptions and higher than expected chicken production caused by higher than expected live weights.”

“For fiscal 2017, we sold 4.22 billion pounds of dressed poultry, another record, compared with 3.73 billion pounds in fiscal 2016.”

According to Sanderson, overall market prices for poultry products were generally higher in fiscal 2017 compared with prices a year ago, but were mixed for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2017.

“We are pleased that our profitability during fiscal 2017 allowed us to fund from cash on hand the completion of our new facilities in St. Pauls, [N.C.,] and start construction at our new complex in Tyler.”

Sanderson is the third-largest poultry processor in the United States.

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» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Early interventions could lift Mississippi off the bottom

W

hat one thing could Mississippi do to have a more competitive work force, a healthier population, more college graduates, fewer welfare mothers, better school performance, fewer special-needs children, less drug usage and pay for itself seven times over?

Improve cognitive development in atrisk children right from birth.

Sound too good to be true?

Science says otherwise. It has to do with neurotransmitter changes (such as serotonin and dopamine levels), synaptic pruning as a function of experience, gene activation associated with experience, and social transactions.

Say what?

Well, cognitive development deals with fundamental brain skills that enable children to think, read, learn, remember, and pay attention. From these fundamental skills, children develop their capacities to speak, understand, calculate, interact, and deal with complex systems.

Long-term research has now shown two things conclusively: 1) cognitive abilities get firmly set based on what happens to children during their first weeks and months after birth; and 2) targeted early interventions can make a profound difference.

This research has been the life work of Drs. Craig and Sharon Ramey. Leaders

Bill Crawford

in Meridian and other communities will remember the early childhood development work the Rameys did in Mississippi in the 1990s. At that time they were pioneering brain development research at the Civitan International Research Center at the University of Birmingham.

Now distinguished research scholars and practitioners at the Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute, the Rameys have pulled together over 40 years of scientific research and tracking to irrefutably show that “cognitive disabilities can be prevented in early childhood.”

They presented their findings last week at the first of a series of presentations sponsored by the University of Mississippi Graduate Center for the Study of Early Learning. Entitled “Investing in High Quality Early Childhood Education Yields Economic Returns,” the series will also feature Dr. James Heckman, Nobel Prize winning economist at the University of Chicago, whose analysis shows the economic returns, and Dr. Pat Levitt, WM Keck Provost Professor of Neurogenetics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, whose research shows how genes and environment together influence typical and atypical brain development.

See CRAWFORD, Page 5

clear break is evident on the road to full rehabilitation for Mississippians who have paid their debts to society if they are unable to find jobs afterward.

But the reality is that the process of finding and acquiring employment can be significantly more difficult for a Mississippian who has served out a prison sentence and is seeking to integrate back into the norms of society.

Oftentimes, this leaves those residents without a job and puts them straight back into the life of crime that got them into trouble to begin with. This vicious cycle of recidivism is, unfortunately, all too real in Mississippi and across the country.

One Northeast Mississippi legislator plans to offer legislation during the 2018 session that he says might help end that cycle for some.

The bill Rep. William Tracy Arnold, R-Booneville, plans to introduce would give employers a $2,500 tax credit for one year if they hire nonviolent felons who have completed their sentences. That non-violent detail is an important part of this proposal that should hopefully bring a sense of ease to those weary of considering an effort to promote the hiring of convicted criminals.

As a minister, Arnold says he's seen firsthand the hardships that these residents go through in trying to find a job with the stigma of being a felon attached to their applications. He's also seen that result in residents returning to a life of crime, which is what he ultimately hopes to prevent.

"This will give people a second chance to be productive citizens," Arnold said.

Arnold believes the tax credit will actually save the state money because it costs the state about $30,000 per year to incarcerate a person convicted of a felony, as reported by the Daily Journal's Bobby Harrison. A tax credit is the amount of money a person is able to subtract from taxes owed the government.

Arnold said he has filed similar legislation in the past, but it has died in committee.

A bill did pass the Legislature in the 2015 session providing a tax credit for employers who hire military veterans.

Obviously those two initiatives are very different, yet both are important in their own rights.

Arnold's proposition deserves consideration for many reasons.

Helping eliminate recidivism throughout our state should always appeal to residents and leaders alike. No one - including the average taxpayer — wins when someone is stuck on a continuous loop through the criminal justice system. While there will always be some that are impossible to remove from that loop, making an effort to help those that truly are capable of integrating back into society seems like a valuable effort worth further exploration and discussion.

Ultimately, it gives us an opportunity to allow Mississippians who have made mistakes in their lives a second chance once they have served their time.

— Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

PERSPECTIVE

December 22, 2017 I Mississippi Business Journal

» RICKY NOBILE

CRAWFORD

I

5

Continued from Page 5

Significant impacts for early interventions include leveling the playing field in educational performance for at-risk children, improving their college going rates by four to one, reducing their use of public assistance by five to one, and improving their average earnings by 50%.

The cost-benefit analysis by Dr. Heckman of these targeted interventions showed a 7.3 to 1 return on investment by adulthood.

“The health, education, and well-being of children forecast the future of communities and states,” said Dr. Craig Ramey. “If we don’t get a significant sector of the population started early, it is hard to make a difference later.”

So, Mississippi do we want to grow a more productive work force, smarter kids, and more college graduates while reducing welfare dependence, school retention, and specialneeds demands? These are real outcomes that would lift Mississippi off the bottom of so many national rankings.

Science is telling us what to do and that the economic payback will be terrific.

Are we in or out?

Bill Crawford (crawfolk@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.

»FROM THE GROUND UP

The ABCs of economic development for small towns

M

ayors of just about all small towns are parttime individuals interested and willing to serve their communities. They do not get paid very much and most are not holders of college degrees in economic or community development. They learn quickly that there is a lot to learn about being the CEO of a small town.

One of the many resources for small town mayors to learn about economic development and other functions of local government is the Mississippi Municipal League, especially the League’s Annual Conference. There are dozens of educational opportunities for local officials at the event. One of the presentations that I make at the Conference is entitled “The ABC’s of Economic Development for Small Towns.”

After my most recent presentation a mayor of a small town pointed out that most mayors in Mississippi are not fortunate enough to attend the training because of lack of funds or because of scheduling conflicts. After all, most parttime mayors have other jobs. She also said that many business people would benefit from the presentation. So, taking her cue, here is an abbreviated version of the presentation for those unable to attend in person.

A is for Asset-based economic development. Identify the assets in your community that you can capitalize on. These can range from natural interests to historic distinctions.

B is for Plan B. The best leaders are the ones who can manage Plan B. Many elected leaders go into office with big plans, only to find out that other priorities come first.

C is for CDBG, the Community Development Block Grant program. Administered by the Mississippi Development Authority, helps local units of government realize their potential by providing funds necessary to ensure basic com-

munity services, environmental quality and economic opportunities for their residents.

D is for Decisions, which tend to be data-driven or valuesdriven.

E is for Economy. What drives your town’s economy?

Where does the money come from that comes into your community? Manufacturing? Tourism? Transfer payments?

Out-of-towners passing through?

F is for Followers. You are the leader. Who’s following you – and what do they want?

G is for Goals, the mileposts along the highway to achieving the vision. Goals are SMART, the acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound.

H is for Heroes. Who is going to step forward when you need it the most?

I is for Incentives. Economic prospects are driven by location, work force and incentives. In today’s economic development world incentives are more of a factor than ever.

J is for Jobs. Economic development is the process of increasing the wealth in your town through creation, recruitment and retention of JOBS. K is for Keystone, the central, topmost stone of an arch (an essential part). Who or what is the keystone of your town? What’s holding it together, so to speak?

L is for Legacy. A lifetime of achievement is often reduced to one incident or program. What will be your legacy?

M is for Meetings, especially productive meetings – with board, with citizens, with developers and with prospects.

Setting and controlling the agenda is controlling the meeting.

N is for Numbers, or measurements that will quantify your town’s progress. Decide what to things measure, and

Phil Hardwick

measure them regularly.

O is for Observation. “You can learn a lot by watching,” according to Yogi Berra. Stop looking for the answers you expect to find. Be objective.

P is for People, or demographics. Know and understand your people.

Q is for Quality. If anything is worth doing, it is worth doing well.

R is for Responsibility. Most strategic plans fail because there is no accountability or responsibility. Hold people accountable.

S is for Story. What is your town’s story, and how can you capitalize on it?

T is for Taxes. Understand the source of taxes in your town and how they can be affected.

U is for Unique. What makes your town unique?

V is for Vision – your vision and your town’s vision. Are they the same?

W is for World View. How does globalization affect your town?

X is for X-Ray. Have some outside expert look “into” your town.

Y is for Youth, the future of your town. What do they think about the future? Do you have a Mayor’s Youth Council?

Z is for Zeal, the synonym for passion. One big difference in towns that succeed and those that do not is passionate leadership. » Phil Hardwick is a regular Mississippi Business Journal columnist. His email is phil@philhardwick. com and he’s on the web at www.philhardwick.com.

6 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q December 22, 2017

FILM Continued from, Page 1

House Speaker Philip Gunn all cited a study issued by the Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review, or PEER, in December 2015 that said that for every dollar spent in taxpayer money the return was 49 cents.

The industry created an annual average of 1,058 direct and indirect jobs for six fiscal years starting in 2010, according to the PEER report.

With a tight general budget, it was decided that the film incentives administered

by the Mississippi Development Authority had to be trimmed.

Most survived, including the 30 percent rebate on payroll and fringe benefits for cast and crew from Mississippi. And 25 percent for what is spent in the state outside payroll.

To justify keeping the Canton studios open, budgets of at least $5 million would be necessary, Moore said.

Moore, owner of Mad Genius Inc. and Eyevox Entertainment LLC, is still involved in production of movies, but he says he “cannot justify [the big sound stage] just for the movies that I’m going to be working on.”

A year ago, he was getting a dozen calls a month from someone wanting to make a movie. “I might get one every two months now,” he said.

Another thing that may be a factor in the cooling of the industry in Mississippi is House Bill 1523, which the Legislature passed in 2016 and was signed by Bryant.

The so-called religious freedom law was said by proponents to allow businesses, such as bakeries, to refuse service to gay couples.

Hollywood decried the law and some projects were scrapped. The Mississippi Film Office declined to comment on the

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law’s potential effect on the industry in the state. The office is an arm of the Mississippi Development Authority, which is under the administrative control of the governor.

The law is under review by the U.S. Supreme Court as opponents contend that it is unconstitutional.

Since July 1, the beginning of the state’s fiscal year, the Department of Revenue has paid out $1.1 million in incentives, including $749,264 for nonresident talent, according to agency spokeswoman Kathy Waterbury.

The nonresident rebates were made for work completed and approved before the sunsetting of that incentive.

By comparison, total rebates for the previous full fiscal year were $12.4 million, she said. Nearly half of that was for nonresident payroll, Waterbury said.

She said she did not know the cause of the drop, and she noted that the number probably will grow as production companies finalize their figures.

“It may be too soon to know whether that legislation had anything to do with it,” Waterbury said.

Corey Parker, business agent for the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi, said that the loss of the nonresident rebate has “definitely had an effect” on the attractiveness of the Magnolia State.

The Mississippi Motion Picture Incentive Program requires that at least 20 percent of the production crew must be Mississippi residents.

Parker maintains that the industry is still in its infancy and says that a local base of talent is being built.

From the union’s perspective, however, the numbers are small, only about 30, compared with 1,300 in Louisiana.

Parker said that the industry needs a voice in the Legislature.

Ward Emling played that role as director of the Mississippi Film Office before retiring July 1 at age 63.

“Ward’s retirement really leaves a hole in the film industry here,” Moore told the Clarion-Ledger in July. “He’s been our voice to the Legislature.”

He was director for 30 years and oversaw putting the incentives program in place in 2004.

Thanks to the program, the number of feature films, documentaries, commercials and other video products grew substantially.

Sixteen feature films in were made instate in 2014.

Emling did not return a phone call for this article.

Likewise, the Film Office did not return calls.

Newsmakers Brown named top employee

Merwin Brown was recently named South Mississippi State Hospital’s third quarter 2017 Employee of the Quarter. Brown joined SMSH in June 2014 as a pharmacy technician.

A Forrest County native and resident, Brown is a graduate Brown of Hattiesburg High School. He attended William Carey College for two years and transferred to the University of Southern Mississippi, where he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in 2005 in Mass Communication and Journalism with an emphasis in Radio Broadcasting and a minor in English.

Brown has been a pharmacy technician for seven years and is registered through the Mississippi State Board of Pharmacy and nationally certified by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board. Before joining to SMSH, he worked for CVS Pharmacy in Hattiesburg.

Brown enjoys reading, writing poetry, and spending time with family and Friends. He is a member of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. and of Friends of South Mississippi State Hospital. Brown also serves as the hospital’s Santa Claus for patient Christmas parties each year and performs at various hospital activities.

Butler Snow a best law firm Ridgeland-based Butler Snow recently was recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” 2018 with 67 tier-one rankings.

Butler Snow received three national rankings, including a national Tier 1 ranking in public finance law.

The firm’s Metropolitan Tier 1 rankings in Mississippi: Gulfport: Banking and Finance Law; Insurance Law; Litigation–Banking & Finance; Real Estate Law. Jackson (Ridgeland): Appellate Practice; Banking and Finance Law; Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law; Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Commercial Finance Law; Commercial Litigation; Commercial Transactions/UCC Law; Corporate Compliance Law; Corporate Governance Law; Corporate Law; Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law; Employment Law– Management; Environmental Law; Financial Services Regulation Law; Government Relations Practice; Labor Law–Management; Litigation–Banking & Finance; Litigation–Construction; Litigation–First Amendment; Litigation–Labor & Employment; Litigation–Real Estate; Litigation–Tax; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions–Defendants; Mergers & Acquisitions Law; Oil & Gas Law; Personal Injury Litigation–Defendants; Product Liability Litigation–Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law–Defendants; Public Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Tax Law; Trusts & Estates Law. Tupelo (Oxford): Product Liability Litigation-Defendants Firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Ranked firms are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale.

Carson Law Firm ranked U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers has ranked Carson Law Firm in the 2017 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list.

Firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Ranked

December 22, 2017

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Mississippi Business Journal

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Memorial Hospital pharmacy recognized

Courtesy of Memorial Hospital

Comprehensive Pharmacy Services, the nation’s leading provider of pharmacy management services, named Memorial Hospital at Gulfport the 2017 Site of the Year for outstanding pharmacy performance. The Site of the Year award is given for exemplary clinical and financial performance, strong audit results and positive relationships with hospital staff. Staff members are, seated, from left, Kim Nguyen, RPh; Andrea Kormondy, PharmD; Betty Burns, PharmD; Lynn Herbert, PharmaD. Second row, Shaun Chustki, Rph; Lauren Martino, PharmD; Timothy Wheat, PharmD. Third row, Lee Ann Reesor, PharmD; Teresa A. Bullard; Daniel Melton, RPh; Yolonda Word, Tech; Sarah Stockmeyer, Tech; Regina Holder, CPhT; Alexis Graves, CPhT; Eric Davidson, RPh. Fourth row, Chad Jordan, RPh; Cocoa Conerly, Tech; Carol Reynolds, PharmD; Sean Laird, PharmD; and Charlotte Walton, Tech.

firms are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale.

New Phi Theta Kappa AVP Phi Theta Kappa has named Paige Chandler Associate Vice President of Financial Services and Comptroller.

Prior to joining the Phi Theta Kappa staff as Director of Financial Services in 2012, Chandler was Director of Finance for Catholic Chandler Charities in Jackson. A certified public accountant, she earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and accounting from Delta State University.

Chandler is assuming the duties of outgoing Chief Financial Officer Steve Mulhollen, who has accepted a position as executive pastor of business and administration at his church. Mulhollen served as Phi Theta Kappa’s external auditor for nearly eight years before joining the Headquarters staff in 2011. He was CFO for six years and was also Vice President of Scholarship and Operations.

Davis & Crump on best list U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers has ranked Davis & Crump of Gulfport regionally in the 2017 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list.

Firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Ranked firms are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale.

Grenada appoints George Former USDA Rural Development State Director Trina N. George has joined the City of Grenada as Director of Personnel. She will be responsible for the

operation of the city’s human resources department and will be helping to implement strategic staffing plans, compensation and benefits structures and comprehensive performance evaluation processes.

In 2009, George, was appointed by President Barack Obama George to serve as Mississippi’s State Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development. Her appointment made history by being the first woman appointed in this position for the State of Mississippi.

Previously, she served over 15 years as a Special Projects Coordinator/Field Representative for Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (Miss.-D).

Brunini welcomes Grete William B. Grete has joined Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC as a Partner in its Jackson office. As the former Vice President and General Counsel of Mississippi Baptist Health Systems Inc., Grete has more than 20 years of healthcare experience. He will lead the Firm’s healthcare practice group.

Grete graduated from Georgetown University Law Center with an LLM in Taxation and earned his JD from Cumberland School of Law. He has practiced law in Jackson for over 27 years.

Ivey Mechanical promotes 2 Ivey Mechanical in Kosciusko recently promoted Nicholas Upchurch as Vice President for Business Development and Steve Barnhill as Vice President of Fabrication Services.

Upchurch began with Ivey Mechanical in 2008 and has served in numerous roles such as:

Upchurch

project coordinator, project manager, and business development manager. As Vice President of Business Development, Upchurch will continue to build and maintain customer relationships, seek and negotiate new business opportunities, focus on technology and software trends, as well as coordinate all company-wide marketing strategies.

Upchurch is Past President of the Kosciusko Lions Club, District Coordinator of the Mississippi Lions Club and a member of the Kosciusko Attala Partnership Community Development Board. He also serves on the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Public Relations Committee, as well as the ABC Young Professionals Committee.

Upchurch and his wife, Hayley, reside in Kosciusko and have two children: Milly and Stafford.

Barnhill began his career with Ivey Mechanical in 1983 as a management trainee and worked his way up to project manager, senior project manager, estimating manager, and operations manager. His current duties as Vice President of Fabrication Services involve managing and promoting the VDC/ Barnhill BIM and fabrication activities that support the needs of Ivey. These efforts focus on providing BIM coordinated installation and fabrication information, as well as the fabrication of galvanized rectangular duct, fabricated metals, pipe spools, pipe racks, and in-wall and headwall plumbing units.

Barnhill’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt and a MBA from the Massey School of Business at Belmont.

Barnhill is President of the Kosciusko Rotary Club and he enjoys cattle farming, gardening and general aviation during his spare time. He and his wife, Teresa, have two daughters and one grandchild.

AN MBJ FOCUS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

VisionFirst Swoope now

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

W

Courtesy of VisionFirst Advisors

: Gray Swoope.

Courtesy of VisionFirst Advi From left to right: Griff Sal sors mon (principal), Melissa Me dley (principal) and Gray Swoope (president and CEO).

hen the Madison County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA) wanted to do a nationwide search for a new executive director, it selected the firm VisionFirst Advisors based in Tallahassee, Fla., headed by a name very familiar and respected in Mississippi economic development circles, Gray Swoope. Swoope, who was executive director of MDA from 2007 to 2011 before taking over as CEO/secretary of commerce for Enterprise Florida Inc., now oversees the firm’s economic development work in 22 states.

Swoope said it was natural for them to be involved in helping MCEDA select its new executive director, Joseph P. “Joey” Deason. VisionFirst Advisors was already working on a competitiveness assessment for Madison County.

“The MCEDA board wanted to know what one of the most prominent counties in Mississippi needed to do to elevate their game,” Swoope said. “From doing that work, we got to know the personality of the board, and of the elected officials, as well as the vision of the business leadership. Because we were able to provide our report, we knew their direction and vision, so they asked us to extend our contract and do talent acquisition for them. We did a search utilizing our nationwide network of economic development professionals. We screened it down to four of five candidates for the board to consider. They did interviews and ultimately chose Joey Deason. Joey has taken the work we did in the report and has implemented some of those recommendations.”

Swoope draws on experience from many levels of economic development.

He started out as director of business development for the North Mississippi Industrial Development Authority before becoming executive director of the West Memphis Chamber of Commerce in 1988. In 1990, he was executive director of the Starkville Oktibbeha Development Council in 1990 and then worked for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission starting in 1991 before becoming CEO of the Area Development Partnership in 1997.

In opera opme ing ex playe to the Aviat move forts times retary In Flori launc Me siona can c throu “H those bette with ers. I it wo been regio chang innum devel field South Gray the b that f Sw Advis nomi “T have team our c work I’m e good In client ment

December 22, 2017 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

T

Advisors headed by Gray w does work in 22 states

2004 he was tapped to become chief ating officer for the Mississippi Develent Authority (MDA) before becomxecutive director in 2007 where he ed a vital role in recruiting companies e state such as Toyota, PACCAR, GE tion and Severstal. Then, in 2011, he ed to head economic development efin Florida—which has an economy 6.5 Medley s the size of Mississippi—as CEO/secy of commerce for Enterprise Florida.

2015 he joined with former MDA and Enterprise da colleagues Melissa Medley and Griff Salmon to ch VisionFirst Advisors. edley said Swoope is a consummate professional, pasate about his chosen field and the ways communities hange, businesses can grow and lives can be improved ugh economic development.

He is a visionary, inspired leader who truly cares about e with whom he works who gives selflessly for the erment of all,” Medley said Medley, who is a principal VisionFirst Advisors. “Gray grows leadership in othf you look over the course of his 30 plus year career, uld be difficult to name all of the projects he has involved in that changed the course of communities, ns and states. But more significantly, the lives he has ged through his kindness and servant-leadership are merable. Looking only at those within the economic lopment industry, today many of the leaders in the including many in leadership positions throughout the heast are where they are today due to their work with in the past. He has indelibly marked his profession for better through the leaders he has grown. This is a fact few people will ever know.” woope said people ask him all the time if VisionFirst sors is just a placeholder until he finds that next ecoic development job. he answer is an emphatic, ‘no’,” Swoope said. “We agreed to build a practice, and bring people on the m who have the passion for the work and add value to lients. We want to continue to build this practice and k with many clients, both corporate and communities. excited about what we are doing, and we are having a d time doing it. It is an exciting time.” two years the company has built an impressive list of ts, including businesses as well as economic developt organizations. They work for private businesses, as

well as government economic development groups.

“Now we have opportunities to work both sides of the fence, so to speak,” Medley said.

The chairman of the board of directors for VisionFirst is former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour. The company is a subsidiary of Butler Snow. Swoope said that gives them the advantage of the intellectual capital and resources of the firm with 400 attorneys in 17 states, as well as international offices in London, Hong Kong and Singapore.

“Having the resources of Butler Snow creates a synergy for all of us working together,” he said. “It gives us an advantage over another consulting firms out on their own without the bench strength of an organization like Butler Snow. We have a client now in a community that has a university and is looking at different options to commercialize resources. I can turn to Butler Snow and talk to public finance guys who have done similar work in almost every state in the country. That adds value for our clients.”

Florida’s economic development model is different from Mississippi’s. Swoope said both models work for their states’ benefit. Since 1996, Florida’s model has been a public-private partnership compared to MDA, which is strictly public. Enterprise Florida, the state’s public- private 501c6 entity contracts with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, a state agency. Through its board of directors, Enterprise Florida integrates business leadership into the process.

“Each state has to figure out what works best for them,” Swoope said.

Swoope said working in the consulting space, they see it on both sides.

“We look at it from establishing the needs of the clients, understanding what they are trying to accomplish and then we work with community partners to find out what is a win-win for both,” Swoope said. “In Florida, any company that uses any type of public assistance has to be transparent.

It is confidential on the front end, but then you have to show that return to the taxpayer. We work with clients to show what is the return.”

In addition to MCEDA, other clients in Mississippi have included the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, Vicksburg\Warren County Chamber of Commerce, the Warren County Port Commission and the Warren County Economic Development Commission. Utility client in Mississippi include Entergy Mississippi and Tennessee Valley Authority, For more information, visit www.visionfirstadvisors.com.

Gray Swoope Timeline 1985 North Mississippi Industrial Development Authority - Director of Business Development 1988 West Memphis Chamber of Commerce Executive Director 1990 Starkville Oktibbeha Development Council - Executive Director 1997 Area Development Partnership - CEO 1993 Arkansas Economic Development Commission - Director Economic & Comm.

Development 1991 Arkansas Economic Development Commission (then AIDC) - International Program Manager 2004 Mississippi Development Authority Chief Operating Officer 2007 Executive Director 2011 Enterprise Florida Inc. - CEO / Secretary of Commerce 2015 - Eternity! Vision First Advisors - CEO

10 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q December 22, 2017

Economic Development

Tourism is economic development for DeSoto County

By JULIA MILLER mbj@msbusiness.com

Sitting right across the border from Memphis, DeSoto County Tourism is hoping to capitalize on its growth with a new marketing campaign: “South of the Ordinary.”

“We have the extraordinary things to offer,” Executive Director Kim Terrell said, “We have that small town feel.”

DeSoto’s tourism office created a countywide strategic plan in 2016, and at the top of the list was a new look. Together with Sullivan Branding, recognized the big name destinations in their area and then listed what they have to offer that’s different.

Shopping and outdoor entertainment stood out.

Keith Goldberg, Sullivan Branding’s executive creative director, said tactilely they created a two-prong approach. First, they wanted to appeal to tourists regardless of whether or not they were coming to the region. Goldberg wants people to realize DeSoto County could be a destination in its own right. Secondly, DeSoto County could easily become an addendum to one of the many destinations in the area.

“This is going to mix it up for you and make it a little more exciting,” he said, especially for those searching for an unplugged trip.

“You can get away from the frenetic pace of life or even the frenetic pace of a Memphis vacation.”

Goldberg said some of the major regional city destinations, such as Memphis, Nashville, or even New Orleans, all have an urban feel with an emphasis on different genres of music. DeSoto County is unique because it has all that and more. Destinations like Circle G Ranch, Elvis and Priscilla Presley’s honeymoon spot, and Jerry Lee Lewis’ Nesbit work alongside the Mississippi Blues Trail to appeal to music lovers.

Meanwhile, the best crappie fishing in this part of the South, a variety of shopping options and Civil Rights markers give tourists something extra to enjoy.

“It’s a lot of quirky, cool types of spots,” Goldberg said.

Since DeSoto County Tourism opened its doors in 2002, marketing has seen an explosion in ways to reach possible visitors.

“We want to hit consumers at every possible touch point,” Goldberg said. “There used to only be one or two or three ways to reach a consumer.

Now, there are almost infinite ways.”

From online to billboards, Sullivan and DeSoto County have created a cohesive campaign, so that they not only reach more people more frequently but are also sending a consistent message.

“It says a lot about your brand’s ability to deliver on its promise,” Goldberg said.

Terrell said one of the more unique aspects of the new website is its planning help. When you visit the event information, the website suggests places to eat or stay in the area. This particular aspect has helped locals and tourists alike.

“People have said I hadn’t thought about that restaurant, or I didn’t know it had opened,” she said.

DeSoto County Tourism has already seen success, and they hope the new campaign continues that growth. When the office opened in 2002, there were 1,500 rooms across 21 hotels. Now they have 3,200 rooms in 42 hotels, with two currently under construction and scheduled for a 2018 opening. In 2015, $306 million were spent by visitors to DeSoto County. That number was up to $336 million in 2016.

“Tourism is economic development, and we are good stewards of our budget,” she said.

o County Tourism Courtesy of DeSot

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Economic Development

12 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q December 22, 2017

Top 20 Economic Development Projects for 2017

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New Businesses

December 22, 2017

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THRIFTY BUILDING SUPPLY: The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Thrifty Building Supply, Oxford’s newest building supply store owned and operated by Richard Cooper and Mark Evans. It is located at 670 Hwy. 6 West.

Joey Brent / Courtesy of Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce

Courtesy of The Alliance

TRICIA’S DESIGN GALLERY: The Alliance recently helped celebrate the grand re-opening of Tricia’s Design Gallery, 2017 E. Shiloh Road in Corinth, with a red ribbon ceremony. Owner Tricia Kuykendall and husband, Mike, cut the ribbon, assisted by Mayor Tommy Irwin, city and county officials and The Alliance Ambassadors.

Courtesy of Greater Starkville Development Partnership

COLUMBUS UROLOGY: The Greater Starkville Development Partnership recently held a ribbon-cutting for Columbus Urology, 976 Highway 12 East in Starkville.

GATEWAY RESCUE MISSION: Gateway Rescue Mission recently held a ribbon cutting and celebration to formally announce the reopening of its kitchen located at 328 S. Gallatin St. in Jackson.

The kitchen was dedicated to Steve “Scrappy” Fuller who was killed in an accident on May 9, the day a truck crashed through and demolished the kitchen.

Courtesy of Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

New Businesses

14 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q December 22, 2017

MOE’S ORIGINAL BBQ: The Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Moe’s Original BBQ, 311 South Lamar in Oxford. John Allgood, Michael Roos and Margaret Meyers are all partners of the restaurant.

Courtesy of Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce

Courtesy of EMBDC

WORLD FINANCE: The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recently held a ribbon-cutting for World Finance, 1710 North Frontage Road in Meridian.

Courtesy of EMBDC

DEACONESS HOME CARE: The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recently held a ribbon-cutting for Deaconess Home Care, which relocated to 1203 24th Ave. in Meridian.

Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce Courtesy of EMBDC

FUDGE ETCETERA: The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recently held a ribbon-cutting for Fudge Etcetera’s new location at 5011 Poplar Springs Dr. in Meridian.

BURRELL PROPERTIES: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Burrell Properties Inc. in Brandon.

December 22, 2017

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THE SPIN CYCLE

’12 Days of Christmas’ gifts rise only 0.6 percent in price; swans removed because of price volatility T rue Loves are on full display this holiday season, on their merry way to a more robust and satisfying holiday shopping season, according to the annual PNC Christmas Price Index.

To purchase the gifts included in the classic holiday song “The 12 Days of Christmas,” it will only cost 0.6 percent more than in 2016, according to the 34th annual holiday economic analysis by The PNC Financial Services Group.

PNC calculated the 2017 price tag for The PNC Christmas Price Index at $34,558.65, approximately $200 or 0.6 percent more than last year’s cost and less than the government’s Consumer Price Index, which increased 2.2 percent through September for the past 12 months.

“The U.S. economy is growing at a sustainable pace, fueled by higher consumer confidence, low unemployment, modest wage gains, and low interest rates,” said Thomas P. Melcher, chief investment officer for PNC Asset Management Group.

“However, The PNC Christmas Price Index rose at slow steady pace of 0.6 percent in 2017, as companies appear hesitant to pass through price increases to the consumer.”

The cost of Christmas presents The cost of each item was revealed last month on PNC’s interactive website (pnc. com/ChristmasPriceIndex), which teaches consumers about the index and features a historical comparison of index data. Of the 12 items measured by the index, nine remained the same price as last year. This year’s insights include: » A Partridge in a Pear Tree: The overall price for this top-of-list item increased 4.7 percent, but not because of the Partridge.

The pear tree increased 5.2 percent, from $189.99 to $199.95 due to increased cost of living for workers and the limited supply of larger, more mature trees. » Gold Rings: The largest growth rate in this year’s index was the cost of Five Gold Rings, which jumped 10 percent due to increased demand and popularity. Prices had remained steady at $750 during the last five years. » Lords-a-Leaping: Despite wages rising modestly and a tight job market, only the Lords-a-Leaping saw an increase, as prices jumped two percent to $5,618.90 after two years of stagnant growth.

To mirror the government’s core CPI, which excludes energy and food prices,

PNC removes the Swans – typically the most volatile item in the index – from its total index. The core PNC Christmas Price Index was up 0.9 percent from a year ago, while the government’s core Consumer Price Index rose 1.7 percent year-overyear through September.

For those True Loves who prefer the convenience of shopping online, the PNC Christmas Price Index also calculates the cost of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” gifts purchased on the Internet. As Internet prices tend to be higher due to travel and shipping costs, True Loves will have to splurge $45,096 ($10,538 more than in store purchases) for the convenience of online shopping this year.

The History of Christmas Past A PNC predecessor bank in Philadelphia began estimating the cost of the 12 Christmas gifts in 1984 as a holiday client letter. This year’s price is 83 percent higher than the inaugural report 33 years ago.

As part of its annual tradition, PNC also tabulates the “True Cost of Christmas,” which is the total cost of items bestowed by a True Love who repeats all the song’s verses. Purchasing all 364 gifts will require $157,558, up approximately $1,000 from last year and more than $57,000 from 1984.

The PNC index’s sources include retailers, hatcheries, the Philadelphia-based PHILADANCO and the Pennsylvania Ballet Company.

The education of Christmas yet to come The PNC Christmas Price Index website pnc.com/ChristmasPriceIndex also includes a downloadable coloring book for kids of all ages and interactive educational tools for teachers to help their students learn about the stock market. Each year, educators across the country use the PNC Christmas Price Index to teach middle and high school students about inflation and economic trends.

Teachers who visit the site will have access to a lesson plan from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) (www.sifma.org/foundation) that explains the PNC CPI, its significance and how to interpret its results.

The activities in the lesson plan also help students make predictions about this year’s cost of Christmas. The SIFMA Foundation is dedicated to providing youth of all backgrounds with an understanding of the capital markets. Its most popular program

is The Stock Market Game™.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC) is one of the largest diversified financial services institutions in the United States, organized around its customers and communities for strong relationships and local delivery of retail and business banking including a full range of lending products; specialized services for corporations and government entities, including corporate banking, real estate finance and asset-based lending; wealth management and asset management.

Fumbled Mic: Panthers owner forced to sell team in midst of allegations Carolina Panthers Owner Jerry Richardson seriously dropped the ball on his franchise amidst sexual and racial misconduct allegations, and has quickly announced plans to sell the team.

According to multiple media sources, the owner opted to long snap the team at the conclusion of the 2017 NFL season.

The announcement came just hours after a Sports Illustrated article “outlined allegations of sexual and racial misconduct

by Richardson toward former Panthers employees.”

In a statement, Richardson said, “I believe that it is time to turn the franchise over to new ownership. Therefore, I will put the team up for sale at the conclusion of this NFL season. We will not begin the sale process, nor will we entertain any inquiries, until the very last game is played. I hope everyone in this organization will be firmly focused on just one mission: To play and win the Super Bowl.”

Richardson’s statement “did not address the allegations of misconduct.” The SI

article “detailed the alleged ‘significant’ monetary settlements with at least four” former team employees as a result of “inappropriate workplace comments and conduct by RichTodd Smith ardson.”

The conduct included “sexually suggestive language and behavior, and on at least one occasion directing a racial slur at an African-American Panthers scout,” according to Sports Illustrated.

Here we go again! The Spin Cycle can hardly keep up with the despicable sexual harassment tsunami that is sweeping the world – and toppling the mighty, the powerful, the putrid – from “above the law” movie moguls to corrupt politicians to sports stars to franchise owners.

The world is finally saying “no!” Decent women and men – fed up with the outrage – are putting on the gloves and delivering knockout punches. And the bad billionaires are crumbling!

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.

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