MBJ_Jan05_2018

INSIDE — TODD SMITH: Google’s top searches of 2017 — Page 15 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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Chawla family: construction to resume on Cleveland hotel — Page 2

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January 5, 2018 • Vol. 40 No. 1 • 16 pages

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2 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q January 5, 2018 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

GULF COAST

Chawla family: construction to resume on Cleveland hotel

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

Chawla Hotels has answered reports that its most ambitious hotel project in the Delta has been stalled for months with reassurances that the $21 million project in Cleveland is still on go.

Since the Delta-based hotel operation signed a deal with the Trump hotel organization in June on the Cleveland hotel – originally called the Lyric and now called the Scion – the project’s plans have had to undergo major revisions, according to Suresh Chawla, president and chief executive.

In an email to the Mississippi Business Journal on Wednesday, he said: “We continue to stay committed to our SCION and American IDEA hotel projects and have been working diligently and collaboratively with the Trump team in New York and our local teams in Cleveland to create the very best experience for our future guests.”

Before the Trump organization reached out to Chawla last June “we originally planned a very different project — the former Lyric Hotel & Spa. As such, we have made significant modifications to our plans that were functional, experiential and cost-saving. Much of the work that has been done to date has been in the planning-phase. Construction will begin in January 2018.

“We are looking forward to the renovations of existing hotels into refurbished, like-new American Idea Hotels in 2018.

Partners to buy SC wood pellet plant, build Mississippi port

“We were contractually not able to start renovations until previous franchise agreements lapsed. By this summer we will have two American Idea Hotels open in the Mississippi Delta.”

The Trump organization selected Chawla for the first three properties in its new mid-market chain, American Idea. Chawla properties in Cleveland, Clarksdale and Greenville will be rebranded and managed by the Trump group.

Suresh Chawla was introduced to Donald Trump, who made a campaign stop in June 2016 in Jackson.

Gov. Phil Bryant, a staunch supporter of the candidate, had heard about an incident in 1988 V.K. Chawla,who owned a convenience store in Greenwood contacted the Trump hotel group to see if the billionaire developer would help him get started.

Trump called him at his store and encouraged his ambitions and suggested that he apply for a Small Business Association minority loan. The elder Chawla did, and the first of 18 Delta hotels owned by the family was opened.

Trump was reminded of that story at the campaign stop. He encouraged Suresh Chawla to “think grand.”

And so the Chawlas doubled the cost of the project to $15 from $8 million.

Then in June 2017, the story reported in the Mississippi Business Journal about Trump’s 1988 phone call to V.K. Chawla came full circle, with the Mississippians signing a deal for the Scion, a $21 million project, overseen by the Chawlas and managed by the organization run by Trump sons Donald Jr. and Eric.

Associated Press BETHESDA, Md – A company that makes wood pellets and sells them to power plants overseas says it’s forming a new joint venture with an insurance company to buy a plant in South Carolina and build a port in Mississippi.

Enviva Holdings of Bethesda, Maryland, on Tuesday announced the deal with the John Hancock Life Insurance Co. The joint venture will buy a wood pellet plant in Greenwood, South Carolina from Navigator Co. SA, a Portuguese paper company. Terms weren’t disclosed.

Navigator opened the plant in 2016, and Enviva says it will increase production.

The joint venture will also build a port terminal in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and plans to build two more pellet plants.

A previous joint venture between the two will keep ownership of a plant being built in Hamlet, North Carolina.

bringing

wellness home

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» ANALYSIS

Mississippi seeks parity, but academic achievement gaps grow M

ississippi has an ambitious plan to close academic achievement gaps among student groups by 2025, but last year’s results won’t help - most gaps grew wider.

Black and Hispanic students fell further behind their white counterparts in proficiency in English language arts and math.

Poor students fell further behind those who aren’t poor. And students with disabilities fell further behind students without disabilities.

It’s the second year the state has produced a report on achievement divides , part a federal push to make sure high scores among some students don’t disguise problems among disadvantaged groups. State Superintendent Carey Wright, in a Board of Education meeting earlier this month when the data was released, urged districts to use the data to target areas for improve-

ment.

“Behind every data point, there’s a face,” Wright said.

Proficiency levels for all those groups actually rose on the English and math tests, as was expected in the second year of the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program tests. That’s at least in part because students and teachers both become more familiar with what a test covers and how it’s structured.

But the share of white students scoring as proficient on math tests, for example, jumped from 45.8 percent to 52.7 percent, while the share of African-American students reaching that benchmark rose from 17.9 percent to 23.5 percent. That meant, even at the higher score levels, the distance between white student proficiency levels and black student proficiency levels grew, a pattern that held true for most other mea-

sures.

Gaps did narrow between multiracial and white students. And students with limited English skills narrowed the distance between them and native English speakers on math tests, although not on English language arts tests.

State testing and performance director Walt Drane said state officials aren’t sure why the gaps widened. Data Analytics Director Anna Furniss suggested it could be because minority groups are more transient, making it harder for school officials to track them.

Among Mississippi districts, the achievement gap tends to be most severe in districts that serve a diverse mix of students, with some very high achievers. Even students on the wrong end of a divide in higher-performing districts can be scoring higher than students in lower-performing

districts. On the other hand, gaps are narrow in some districts because all students are performing poorly.

Much attention has been focused on the issue in Oxford, which Jeff Amy is not only the top scoring school district in the state, but a district with some of the biggest chasms between performance by rich and poor students and black and white students. Some of Oxford’s gaps got narrower last year, and Superintendent Brian Harvey said the district worked hard to make that progress. He said Oxford saw more parity in ACT college test scores and advanced coursework as well.

“We’re still not proud of where we are, but we’re proud we’re moving in the right direction,” Harvey said.

» Jeff Amy has covered politics and government for The Associated Press in Mississippi since 2011. Follow him at http://twitter.com/jeffamy . Read his work at https://www.apnews.com/search/Jeff_Amy .

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Website: www.msbusiness.com January 5, 2018 Volume 40, Number 1

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» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

New year economy pivotal for Republican leaders

T

he New Year promises to be a pivotal year for Republican leaders in Mississippi. With “job creation” tax cuts in place at both the state and federal levels, voters will be looking for Mississippi’s moribund economy to take off But, that’s not what Mississippi’s state economist Dr. Darrin Webb forecasts.

“Mississippi’s growth will not catch the national growth” in the near future, he told the Legislative Budget Committee in November.

“That is not likely to happen.”

As reported in the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Webb told legislative leaders that Mississippi’s economy continues to lag that of the nation and will do so for the foreseeable future. “As you know, the state has struggled to gain momentum since the recession of 2008,” Webb said. “It seems we take one step forward and two steps back.” He said

the state’s “real” gross domestic product (GDP), the total of everything produced in the state, is lower now than it was in 2008 before the so-called Great Recession.

At the state level, Gov. Phil Bryant, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, and House Speaker Philip Gunn, all Republicans, have said business tax cuts enacted over the past several years will stimulate the economy and bring growth. At the federal level, Sen. Thad Cochran, Sen. Roger Wicker, Rep. Trent Kelly, Rep. Gregg Harper, and Rep. Steven Palazzo, all Republicans, have said the big cuts in federal corporate taxes they helped pass will stimulate Mississippi’s economy.

Despite the positive rhetoric, Bryant, Reeves and Gunn must agree with Webb that not much economic growth will occur in the near future. They agreed to a revenue projection for state government for the upcoming fiscal year that is below this year’s level. Then,

the Legislative Budget Committee adopted a “bleak” budget recommendation that cuts most state agencies, “which are already reeling from several planned and unexpected budget cuts the past three fiscal Bill Crawford years,” reported the Clarion-Ledger.

It’s these cuts, not the tax cuts, that have the attention of economic developers. As one conservative developer told me, “underfunding education, infrastructure, and health care hurts” development.

That aligns with what the state economist told legislative leaders – Mississippi faces ecoSee CRAWFORD,ũPage Ď

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nomic headwinds because its workforce is less educated and less healthy than those in other states. “I believe the only thing we can do for Mississippi to be more competitive is for our people to be more competitive,” Webb said.

The Mississippi Economic Council sees infrastructure shortfalls hurting Mississippi’s competitiveness. “Every business relies on the road surface transportation system,” MEC interim president Scott Waller told the Mississippi Farm Bureau. “If you can’t move your crops, livestock, and machinery because a bridge can’t support the weight, and you have to find a different way to go, it costs you time and money.”

Since the recession in 2008, Mississippi’s GDP has grown just 1.7% compared to national GDP growth of over 14% and neighboring state GDP growth of 16%.

All this makes 2018 the year to watch for Mississippi politics. Will Republican leaders’ investments in business tax cuts pay off and spur economic growth? Or will their lack of investment in education, infrastructure, and health care hold Mississippi back?

Happy New Year!

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

»INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Analysis: 2018 could bring substantial debate in Mississippi

M

ississippi legislators are starting the third year of a four-year term, which means they have a chance to accomplish goals without the immediate pressure of election-year politics.

Leaders are already discussing the possibility of rewriting the education funding formula, enacting a long-term plan to pay for better highways and bridges and creating a state lottery.

Discussing these issues and committing to them are two vastly different things — and there is plenty of debate to be had on the faults and merits of those issues. Legislators also threw words at them in 2017, and no big changes occurred.

The three-month session begins at noon Tuesday.

Medicaid, a government health insurance program that covers about 1 in every 4 Mississippi residents, is up for a thorough review. A so-called "technical amendments" bill could bring changes to the big, expensive program and it could keep lobbyists fully employed in 2018: a December legislative meeting about Medicaid was packed with health care executives and people representing special interests.

By early April, legislators are supposed to agree on about a $6 billion budget to keep state government running during the year that begins July 1.

Years ago, the Mississippi legislative website showed gen-

eral bills that were filed before the beginning of each session.

Now, bills start to appear online after the House and Senate are gaveled to order on the opening day.

As in the past, legislators are likely to expend plenty of sound and fury on social issues. Recent years have brought debates on religious objections to same-sex marriage, Confederate symbols and guns in church.

Some NFL players knelt during the national anthem in 2017 to protest racial injustice and police brutality. In Mississippi, a few high school athletes did the same, and some were punished. If there is an inflammatory issue waiting to be debated by the Mississippi Legislature, a proposal to prohibit kneeling during the anthem could be it. Based on past debates over social issues intertwined with race, this could expose raw emotions on all sides.

The Confederate battle emblem that has been on the state flag since 1894 was a point of contention during the 2017 legislative session, and could be again in the coming year.

Critics see the emblem as a racist symbol to slavery and segregation. Supporters say it represents history and their heritage.

Republican Gov. Phil Bryant has said many times that if the flag design is to be reconsidered, it should be put on the ballot for a statewide vote, as it was in 2001.

Confederate symbols came under increased scrutiny after June 2015, when nine black worshippers at a church in a Charleston, South Carolina, were massacred by a white man who had posed for photos with the rebel flag.

In Mississippi, Republican House Speaker Philip Gunn said after Charleston that this state should change Emily Pettus its flag to a design that could unite, rather than divide. But since then, Gunn has said there's no consensus in the House to advance any of several redesign proposals. Flag supporters in 2017 tried to withhold money from universities that refuse to fly the banner; that effort also failed in the House.

Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, who presides over the state Senate, is gearing up to run for governor in 2019. He had the relative luxury so far of letting most of the flag fight happen in the House rather than the Senate. Like Bryant, Reeves has said the flag design should be handled by a statewide vote, if it is reconsidered at all.

Emily Wagster Pettus covers Capitol matters for the Mississippi Associated Press in Jackson.

Newsmakers

6 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q January 5, 2018

Hurt gets HORNE award

Jackson State University student Robert Hurt was recently awarded the HORNE LLP – Charles Curry Scholarship Award.

The award was established to honor the memory of HORNE Senior Manager Charles Curry who passed away in 2015. Curry was a Hurt charter member of the Belonging at HORNE Steering Committee.

Hurt, of Greenville, is a senior accounting and finance major at Jackson State University. He is the president of the Mississippi State Honors College Conference and Mr. Accounting Society for the JSU Accounting Society. He has received several academic honors and consistently makes both the Dean’s and President’s lists.

MSU’s Hopper earns national award

Griffin joins Adams & Reese Adam V. Griffin has joined Adams and Reese as an associate in the firm’s Jackson office.

Licensed to practice law in both Mississippi and Alabama, Griffin will be a member of Adams and Reese litigation practice group.

Griffin joins the firm following Griffin a stint as an associate at a large Mississippi-based firm. His practice is focused primarily on civil litigation, including large and complex litigation as well as work in secured transactions, construction and risk management services.

A 2007 graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in business information systems, Griffin completed his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 2010. He is a member of the Mississippi State Bar, Alabama State Bar, Defense Research Institute, Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association and Jackson Young Lawyers.

Adams & Reese ranked The Jackson office of Adams and Reese had 10 practice areas ranked Metropolitan Tier 1 and a combined 10 others garnered Tier 2 and Tier 3 distinction in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” published by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers.

Earning Tier 1 status for the firm were Employment Law-Management, Energy Law, Financial Services Regulation Law, Litigation-Real Estate, Litigation-Securities, Litigation-Trusts & Estates, Natural Resources Law, Oil and Gas Law, Securities/Capital Markets Law and Securities Regulations.

Earning Metropolitan Tier 2 listings were Banking and Finance Law; Corporate Law; Insurance Law; Labor Law-Management; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions-Defendants; Mergers & Acquisitions Law; Real Estate Law; Trusts & Estates Law. Metropolitan Tier 3 were Environmental Law; and Litigation-Environmental.

Adams and Reese had 18 practice areas ranked nationally as Top Tier, while 70 garnered Metropolitan Tier 1 status. The firm had a total of 51 practice areas ranked among Metropolitan Tier 2 practices and 36 areas ranked as Metropolitan Tier 3. All told, the firm had a total of 175 practice areas ranked in the 2018 report, representing 17 markets throughout Adams and Reese’ regional footprint – which includes the southern United States and Washington, DC. Firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list are

Submitted photo courtesy of MSU

George Hopper, third from left, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station director and College of Agriculture and Life Sciences dean at Mississippi State University, accepts the 2017 Southern Association of Agricultural Experiment Stations Directors ESS Excellence in Leadership Award during the APLU’s recent annual meeting in Washington, D.C. Congratulating him are, from left, Gary Thompson, Experiment Station Section chair and associate dean for research and graduate education for Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences; Jay Akridge, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity at Purdue University; (Hopper); and Ian Maw, vice president of food, agriculture and natural resources at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. recognized for excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Ranked firms are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale.

Deutsch Kerrigan lawyers ranked Super, Rising Doug Vaughn and Matt Quinlivan of Deutsch Kerrigan in Gulfport have been selected to the 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers and Rising Stars lists. Quinlivan was named as a Rising Star in the area of Professional Liability Defense and was the only lawyer recognized in that subject area among his age group. Vaughn was listed in Super Lawyers for his work in the area of Personal Injury Medical Malpractice: Defense.

Vaughn

Quinlivan

Hilton names new manager Hilton Garden Inn Jackson Downtown has appointed Shawn Cochran as the hotel’s new general manager. Cochran will be responsible for directing all aspects of hotel operations, including guest services, hotel administration and all sales and marketing efforts. Cochran has worked in professional hospitality management for over 20 years.

Cochran has held positions of increasing responsibility with groups including CDA Hospitality, HP Hotels, Summit Management, Prism Hotels and Resorts and Bristol Hotels and Resorts serving as General Manager, Director of Operations and Director of Rooms in hotels across the southeast. His hotel brand experience includes Hilton, Holiday Inn, Hampton, Doubletree, Springhill Suites and the boutique Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Ala.

Balch & Bingham on list Balch & Bingham recently received top tier rankings from U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” 2018 in 61 of the firm’s practice areas, both nationally and across six of the firm’s metropolitan areas across the Southeast. The firm received six national and 55 metropolitan practice rankings.

In Gulfport, the firm was ranked in Metropolitan Tier 1 for Banking and Finance Law; Environmental Law; Gaming Law; Real Estate Law. It was listed in Tier 3 for Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants.

In Jackson, Tier 1 recognition was given for Commercial Litigation; Copyright Law; Employment Law - Management; Gaming Law; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Labor & Employment; Litigation - Real Estate; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants. It was ranked in Tier2 for Environmental Law, and in Tier 3 for Insurance Law; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants; Public Finance Law. Firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Ranked firms are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale.

Arnemann joins Renasant Natalie Lefoldt Arnemann has recently joined Renasant Bank as Senior Managing Director/ SVP in Private Client Services in the Highland Colony Office in Ridgeland. Prior to joining the bank, Arnemann was Vice president with BankPlus in the Private Client department for nine years. Arnemann Arnemann will be responsible for building relationships and growing the Private Client area within the bank.

She attended the University of Mississippi, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.

Arnemann serves on the boards of organizations such as Make A Wish Foundation, Assisi Early Learning

Center and Metro Jackson TriDelta Alumnae Chapter.

She is active with Jackson Prep Alumni Council, and is the group leader for her Small Faith Community group at Saint Richard’s Catholic Church. She and her husband, Michael have two children, Baker and Lucy.

The Arnemanns are members of the Saint Richard’s Catholic Church and reside in Jackson.

Bradley gains high rankings

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP recently received 13 Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for its practice areas in Jackson in the 2018 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.” In addition, the firm was named the nation’s “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction and also garnered a Tier 1 national ranking for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants.

Only one law firm in the nation is named “Law Firm of the Year” for each legal practice area.

The firm received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Jackson in the following practice areas: Appellate Practice; Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Corporate Law; Health Care Law; Insurance Law; Land Use & Zoning Law; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation - Real Estate; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants; Real Estate Law Firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Ranked firms are listed on a national and/or metropolitan scale.

Deutsch Kerrigan ranked U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers has ranked has ranked Deutsch Kerrigan of Gulfport regionally in the 2018 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list. The Gulfport office was listed for Insurance Law in Metropolitan Tier 3 Firms included in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers.

Newsmakers

January 5, 2018

Baker Donelson recognized Baker Donelson Earns Highest Number of Metro Tier 1 Rankings in 2018 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” List Baker Donelson has received the most Metro Tier 1 rankings of any law firm in the country in the 2018 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list. The Firm earned 197 first-tier metropolitan rankings across 13 metropolitan markets in eight states and Washington, D.C. in the eighth edition of an annual analysis that includes more than 13,000 U.S. law firms.

In addition to its metropolitan rankings, Baker Donelson ranked nationally in 26 practice areas, including earning a Tier 1 national ranking in nine practice areas: Commercial Litigation; Construction Law; Employment Law – Management; Health Care Law; Litigation – Construction; Litigation – Labor and Employment; Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants; Railroad Law; Real Estate Law Additionally, Baker Donelson achieved 24 Tier 1 metropolitan rankings in Jackson: Antitrust Law; Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships); Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law; Commercial Litigation; Corporate Law; Criminal Defense: White-Collar; Economic Development Law; Environmental Law; Government Relations Practice; Health Care Law; Insurance Law; Litigation - Antitrust; Litigation - Environmental; Litigation - Labor & Employment; Litigation - Tax; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Mergers & Acquisitions Law; Municipal Law; Personal Injury Litigation Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants; Project Finance Law; Real Estate Law; Tax Law; Trusts & Estates Law. The firm was selected in Tier 2 for Administrative / Regulatory Law; Banking and Finance Law; Employment Law - Management; Gaming Law; Litigation - Construction; Litigation - ERISA; Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants; Public Finance Law; Transportation Law. The Jackson office was chosen for Tier 3 in Corporate Compliance Law; Labor Law - Management; Litigation - Real Estate.

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

Griffin appointed to panel Charles E. Griffin of Butler Snow has been appointed to serve on the Defense Research Institute’s (DRI) insurance roundtable steering committee.

The work of the insurance roundtable steering committee is vital to the continued growth of DRI, and the future success of the Griffin organization is dependent in large part on the vision, energy and focus of its volunteers to this committee.

Griffin is experienced in complex litigation and insurance defense. He is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, American Law Institute, International Association of Defense Counsel, American Bar Association, National Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, Mississippi Bar Association, Charles Clark American Inn of Court, Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, Magnolia Bar Association, Capital Area Bar Association, Commercial Litigation and Financial Institutions Section and Community

Memorial names STAR recipients

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Outstanding Master of Science in Sport Management Award: Ray Durr Graduate Sport Management Leadership Award: Dennis Hilton, Biloxi.

College-wide Awards Academic Achievement Award: Amy Ligon, Gulfport.

College of Business Leadership Award: Benjamin Smith, Tylertown.

Spirit of Business Award: Picasso Nelson Jr., Hattiesburg.

Lalor Bailey & Aby listed U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers has ranked Lalor Bailey & Aby, PLLC, of Jackson regionally in the 2017 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list.

The firm was ranked in Metropolitan Tier 2 for Insurance Law, and Metropolitan Tier 3 for Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Workers’ Compensation - Employers.

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

Courtesy of Gulfport Memorial Hospital

Memorial Hospital at Gulfport has named the recipients of the Third Quarter 2017 Star awards, which recognizes outstanding customer service. The recipients are, front row, from left, John Foxworth, Environmental Services; Greg Lefort, Biomedical Engineering; Sonya Williams, Diagnostic Imaging. Middle row, Loretta Crocker, Medical Telemetry; Ashleigh Jones, Hospitalists; Tammy Arcana, Patient Registration. Back row, Janice Monteleone, Food & Nutrition Services; Bree Wallace, Same Day Admit; and Kim Bischof, Food & Nutrition Services (Not pictured: Miles Davis, Acute PT)., Foundation of Greater Jackson.

Daniel Coker among best U.S. News and World Report and Best Lawyers in America recently ranked Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A. as Best Law Firm - Metropolitan Tier 1 in three markets in the following practice areas: Gulfport: Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers Jackson: Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Litigation – Construction; Litigation – Municipal; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants; Workers’ Compensation Law – Employers Oxford (Tupelo): Commercial Litigation; Insurance Law; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Workers’ Compensation Law - Employers 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.

USM gives business awards Students in The University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Business were recently recognized for outstanding academic achievement during the fall 2017 honors program).

School of Accountancy Outstanding Accounting Student – Hattiesburg campus: Sheri Lowery, Sumrall.

Outstanding Accounting Student – Gulf Park campus: Moises Espinal, Santo Domingo, D.R. Department of Finance, Real Estate and Business Law Finance Faculty Award: Cody Childs, Yazoo City.

Outstanding Finance Student Award, Picasso Nelson Jr., Hattiesburg.

Department of Management and International Business Outstanding Entrepreneurship Student Award: Lachelle Holmes, Tylertown.

Outstanding Business Administration Student Award: Tyler Murry, Indianola.

Outstanding Student in Management Award: Michael Smith, Panama City, Fla. School of Marketing Spirit of Marketing Award: Randa Amason, Pearl.

Outstanding Student in Sales Award: Nia Edwards, Ocean Springs.

Special Recognition in Healthcare Marketing Award: Morgan Musgrove.

Outstanding Student in Healthcare Marketing Award: Justin McCool, Magee.

Outstanding Senior in Merchandising Award: Madison Silva, New Orleans.

Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Sport Management Spirit of Hospitality Award: Tyler Lee, Hattiesburg.

Outstanding Hospitality and Tourism Award: Alex Davis.

Leadership in Sport Management Award: Kevin Holland, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Outstanding Sport Management Award: Dylan Burdeaux, West Monroe, La. Graduate Student Awards Outstanding Student in Business Foundations Certificate: Lindsey Philpot.

Outstanding MBA Graduates: Alexis Tymkiw and Mallory James Outstanding Graduate Student in Professional Accountancy: Maria Saylor, Biloxi.

Outstanding Master of Science in Economic Development: Matthew Harrison.

9 at Jackson firm honored Nine Adams and Reese Jackson-based attorneys were recently named 2017 Mid-South Super Lawyers and another three claimed 2017 Mid-South Rising Star recognition.

Across the firm, 23 individuals claimed Super Lawyers honors and eight were named Rising Stars.

Claiming Mid-South Super Lawyers honors from the Jackson office were Holmes S. Adams (Estate & Probate), William C. Brabec (Business Litigation), C. Phillip Buffington, Jr. (Banking), Elizabeth Lee Maron (Employment & Labor), Jeff Trotter (Energy & Resources) and Charles R. “Chip” Wilbanks, Jr. (Class Action). Matthew R. Dowd (General Litigation), M. Scott Jones (Business Litigation) and G. Austin Stewart (Civil Litigation: Defense), meanwhile, were named Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters service, publishes a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

According to Super Lawyers, the selections are made using a multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates and peer reviews by practice area.

McGlinchey Stafford ranked U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers has ranked McGlinchey Stafford in the 2018 U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” list.

The firm’s Jackson office was ranked in Metropolitan Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation.

McGlinchey Stafford received National Tier 2 rankings in the areas of Commercial Litigation and Litigation – Banking & Finance, as well as a National Tier 3 ranking in Financial Services Regulation Law, recognizing the strength and work of the firm’s Commercial Litigation and Consumer Financial Services teams.

McGlinchey Stafford received metropolitan tier rankings for 49 practice areas in Baton Rouge, Birmingham, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Jackson, and New Orleans.

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

Newsmakers

8 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q January 5, 2018

White

Leadership Mississippi 2017 class graduates Sherman

Fredericks

Memorial elects officers

Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees in Gulfport recently elected officers. David White was elected Chairman; Linda Sherman, Vice-Chairman; and Gary Fredericks, Secretary/Treasurer.

White, of Gulfport, was appointed by the Harrison County Board of Supervisors in September 1993; Sherman, of Gulfport, was appointed by the City of Gulfport in March 2010; and Fredericks, of Gulfport, was appointed by the City of Gulfport June 2015.

Other members of Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees include: A.J.M. “Butch” Oustalet, III, Carrolyn Hamilton, Carlos Bell, and Dr. Thad Carter.

Harrigill earns certification

Monica Harrigill of Madison, Managing Member and co-founder of The Sunray Companies, recently graduated with a certificate from the Owner/President Management Program at Harvard Business School in Boston.

Established more than 45 years Harrigill ago, OPM is a 9-week Executive Education program held over a 3-year period, for business owners and entrepreneurs with at least 15 years of management experience and who hold a major equity stake in their company.

Harrigill is a Mississippi native and graduate of Millsaps College. She began her career managing her family’s restaurant when she finished college at the age of 18. She quickly advanced, ultimately running a conglomerate of restaurants, hotels and convenience stores with up to 70 locations and 1,600 employees.

As Executive Vice President of Jackies International, Inc. and Certified Hospitality Corp, Inc., Harrigill oversaw all aspects of operations and development of the companies through 2014. Along with her husband, Ray, she also co-founded The Sunray Companies in 1996. It owns and operates Massage Envy clinics, Hampton Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express & Suites-branded hotels, Bumpers Drive-In restaurants and Palm Beach Tan salons in Mississippi and Louisiana that employ over 700 team members.

Copeland Cook among best Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush had 9 practice areas ranked Regional Tier 1 and a combined 9 others collected Tier 2 and Tier 3 distinction in the 2018 “Best Law Firms” published by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers.

Tier 1 status: Insurance Law, Mass Tort Litigation/ Class Actions- Defendants, Energy Law, Health Care Law, Litigation- Environmental, Oil & Gas Law, Personal Injury Litigation- Defendants, Transportation Law, Workers’ Compensation Law- Employers.

Tier 2 status: Commercial Litigation, Litigation- Real Estate and Water Law. Tier 3 status: Banking and Finance Law, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Corporate Law, Financial Services Regulation Law and Litigation- Bankruptcy.

Photo courtesy of Mississippi Economic Council

The Mississippi Economic Council’s Leadership Mississippi program recently graduated 50 for the Class of 2017. Leadership Mississippi is the second oldest statewide leadership program in the nation and is conducted by the M.B. Swayze Foundation. Graduates, alphabetically, are Frankie Adair, Thania Averett, Heather F. Bennett, Jerry Bennett, Vernell Bennett, Ed.D., Christa Rouse Bishop, Caron Blanton, APR, Steven Blaylock, Kent Bloodworth, Kevin Burgess, Greg Burks, Laketter Cannon, Chris Champion, John Coughlin, Tearsanee Davis, Navketan Desai, Cindy Duvall, Lee Ann Foreman, Judy Forester, Rodney Francis, Felicia Gavin, Jacqueline Gibson, Ed.D., Lee A. Green, Terrell Grindle, Alex Harvey, Greg Hodges, Benjie Houston, Elissa Johnson, Blaine LaFontaine, Clayton Legear, Jenny Levens, Emily Scheuer Lowe, Lashaundra McCarty, Jamie McKenzie, Charlie Moomaw, W. Abram Orlansky, Jason Patterson, Amanda Rebecca Price, Amy Reed, Chanda Latara Roby, Esq., Kantera Ruff, Sandy Sanford, LaMarcus Smith, Jason Snider, Matthew A. Taylor, Brett Thompson-May, J.D., Amy L. Walker, Hunter Walters, Ashley Wicks, and Allyson L. Winter.

IP honors team members IP Casino Resort Spa recently recognized several outstanding team members for September as well as the honorees for Team Leader and Part-Time Team Member of the Third Quarter of 2017.

September’s honorees: Gloria Atkinson (Table Games), Cindra Heisler (Food and Beverage), Linda Stewart (Hotel Sales), Kimberly Lane (Facilities), Jorge Pecua (Food and Beverage), and Leona Tremont (Food and Beverage). Third quarter honorees included part-time team members Edward Briggs (Environmental Services) and Travis Cook (Table Games) as well as Team Leaders Narissa Behrens (Hotel Sales), Jerri Gore (Food and Beverage) and Daniel Guy (Marketing). Caroline Fountain (Player Development) was recognized with the Safety Spotlight Award.

Maron Marvel recognized Maron Marvel Bradley Anderson & Tardy LLC was ranked among the 2018 Best Law Firms by US News & World Report and Best Lawyers.

Maron Marvel’s Jackson office was recognized at Metropolitan Tier 1 in the following areas: Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation Defendants.

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

Partners join Barlow firm Kristi G. Thompson, CPA, Rose L. Williamson, CPA, and Hogan E Allen, CPA, have joined Charles S. “Sandy” Barlow as partners in Barlow & Company, PLLC in Brandon. The accounting firm was

previously known as Barlow, Walker & Co. Barlow and Company provides accounting and tax services and areas of expertise.

member of the Mississippi Rural Physicians Scholarship Program Commission and the School of Medicine Promotions Committee.

Pinebelt names director

MSU is Military Friendly

The Board of Directors of the Greater Pinebelt Community Foundation recently appointed Michel Dixon as Executive Director.

Dixon and others started a church in Hattiesburg known as Ekklesia which adopted Hawkins Elementary School as its primary mission. Three years ago he became Executive Director of Extra Table, a non-profit organized by Robert St. John, that connects food deserts and food resources across the state of Mississippi.

Mississippi State has earned the 2018 Military Friendly Schools Gold Medal for its veteran-oriented campus culture.

Presented annually by Victory Media, the distinction showcases some of the most powerful and effective veteran-centered programs at more than 800 post-secondary schools that were designated as Military Friendly Schools. Criteria for inclusion is based on commitment, effort and success in creating sustainable and meaningful benefits for military service members, veterans and their family members.

UMMC taps Pittman Dr. Shannon Pittman has been named chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

A faculty member since 2005, she is professor and former vice chair of the department. She has been residency program director Pittman and medical director since 2007.

A graduate of Tougaloo College, Pittman earned her M.D. at UMMC and was a family medicine resident there. She served as chief resident and received the department’s highest award at graduation, the George Lally Bevill Memorial Fellowship in Family Medicine.

She completed the UMMC Leadership Development Program in 2012.

Pittman is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the American Medical Association and has served on numerous UMMC committees. She is a

ADP promotes Jackson Todd Jackson has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Economic Development, Area Development Partnership (ADP) in Greater Hattiesburg.

Jackson joined the ADP in September 2014 after spending a decade working in manufacturing Jackson engineering around the nation.

Jackson is a graduate of the True South Course in Economic Development at The University of Southern Mississippi and the University of Oklahoma’s Economic Development Institute. He is also a graduate of Leadership Pinebelt and has been accepted into the Mississippi Economic Council’s 2018 Leadership Mississippi Class.

At the ADP, Todd leads a four-person economic development team focused on helping local companies start, existing businesses expand, and recruiting new ones from around the globe.

January 5, 2018 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

MBJ FOCUS: LAW & ACCOUNTING

When lawyers stumble ...

... Help comes from a source that won’t judge

By NASH NUNNERY mbj@msbusiness.com

F

orget stereotypes – being a lawyer isn’t quite as glamorous as Hollywood portrays it to be.

Television legal drama ‘Suits’ or 1990s hit series ‘LA Law’ might make for mustsee Netflix viewing but the practice of law can be demanding and exceedingly stressful.

Work days stretch into work nights. Demand to meet the firm’s billable hours quota can be excruciating. Familial relationships often are strained.

Even the most poised and well-adjusted lawyer

eventually succumbs to the pressure of the profession.

Substance abuse, divorce, suicide, depression and poor physical health are but a few of the problems facing those employed in the legal industry.

A former attorney, Chip Glaze is a recovering alcoholic. He’s Glaze also the director of the Mississippi Bar Lawyers and Judges Assistance Program. Sober for 19.5 years, Glaze personally knows the pitfalls of the legal profession meat grinder.

“We see 100 to 110 new clients state-wide each year. The most difficult part of the process is getting them to have a conversation,” he said. “Finding help is not a thinking process – it requires surrender, which doesn’t exist in the lawyer’s playbook. Things are never easy.”

According to a 2016 study conducted by the American Bar Association together with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, one in three practicing lawyers are ‘problem drinkers.’ Based on the volume and frequency of alcohol consumed, 28 percent suffer from depression while See LAWYERS, Page 12

Law & Accounting

January 5, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

11

Mississippi less taxing for retirees

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

Mississippi has been named the No. 4 most-friendly tax state for retirees by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance in the recently released 2017 Retire Tax Map which looks at the most and least tax-friendly states for retirees across all 50 states.

Sandra Block, senior editor, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, said one reason Mississippi scores so high for being tax friendly for retirees is because the state exempts all qualified retirement income from state taxes.

“For that reason, it compares favorably with states that have no income tax (unless seniors have earned income from a part-time job, which would be taxable),” Block said.

On the local level, property taxes are more favorable in Mississippi than many states. Block said property taxes are below average for the U.S.—the median property tax on the state’s median home value is the 14th lowest in the U.S. Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough, Jr. was not surprised at Mississippi’s high ranking for being tax friendly to retirees.

“Mississippi offers our residents an abundance of affordable, unique and authentic lifestyle offerings,” McCullough said. “Mississippi honors and recognizes the professional and civic contributions of retirees. The state’s generous exclusion of taxable Social Security benefits, retirement income such as pensions, IRAs and 401ks is attractive to retirees seeking to relocate. Mississippi’s high ranking for being tax-friendly to retirees serves as another competitive advantage found in the Magnolia State.”

MDA offers resources to communities in Mississippi which aspire to align themselves with other areas around the country as a retirement destination. MDA sponsors the Hometown Mississippi Retirement program which is designed to retain and attract retirees in the state.

McCullough said the program is nearing 25 years of dedicated service in supporting MDA’s mission to strengthen communities.

McCullough said Mississippi’s tax structure serves as a catalyst to bolster services offered by the state. Retirees depend on adequate health care, available housing and retail services—these and many other industries are positively affected by retiree spending.

“Having a reasonable tax structure in place has substantial outcomes in terms of economic fluidness: the financial steadiness of retirees is often uncompromised and non- dependent on local economic factors,” McCullough said. “According to published reports, retirees spend up to 80

percent of their income locally. Data from the Federal Reserve shows retiree households (55+) have the largest net worth nearing $200,000.

McCullough said retirees relocating to Mississippi find their dollars go further in our state than anywhere else in the country. A report from The Tax Foundation states the value of $100 in Mississippi is 15 percent higher than the national average.

Retirees are a valuable asset to a community.

“The purchasing power of retirees in a tax-friendly climate like Mississippi allows for greater opportunities in entrepreneurship, where retirees may consider starting their own business, or acquiring assets such as homes or property,” McCullough said. “Mississippians are known for their charity, and there are a number of vol-

unteer organizations which welcome the assistance of retirees. Many retirees move to the state equipped with professional background and experiences they share with up-and-coming professionals or a craft they have mastered. Leadership and mentorship platforms often benefit retirees as a way to connect with the community.”

See TAXES, Page 12

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Suzie Baker Sandra D. Buchanan Kenny Bush Angela Carpenter Tucker Carrington Claude F. Clayton, Jr. Marie Saliba Cope Tara P. Ellis Chip Glaze Lynne K. Green Benjamin E. Griffith Pamela Gunter Dewey Hembree Cliff Johnson Edward Otis Johnson, Jr. Whitman B. Johnson, III James L. Kelly Dan Kitchens Matthew Kitchens John Kitchens

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12 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q January 5, 2018

LAWYERS Continued from Page 10

19 percent show symptoms of anxiety.

Even for those without “red flag” concerns, Glaze says chronic stress from a life out of balance is harmful on its own and can feed into one of those conditions.

“The law is a rough way to make a living,” he said. “(A career in law) might you a success in the public eye but for some, it’s not good on the home life. And, suicide is high in the profession.

“The adversarial nature of the practice of law is very difficult on a person.”

Founded in 1993, the LJAP offers help to Mississippi attorneys, judges and law students who experience physical or mental disabilities due to many factors, including substance abuse. According to Glaze, the help extends to those in the legal profession coping “to practice in a competent and professional manner”.

Approximately 65 percent of LJAP participants seek help on their own – the remainder are referrals from colleagues and family members. Interventions are not uncommon - either in the plush offices of a law firm or even a judge’s chambers.

“Our mission, first and foremost, is to

Law & Accounting help those that are struggling,” Glaze said.

“We also have a duty to protect the public, as an attorney who is mentally incapacitated can wreak havoc for a client and the court system. And third, our job is to educate. I speak to various legal entities an average of 30 times a year, and we have a cadre of volunteers, from judges to lawyers, who have been a part of the program themselves and want to give back.”

Glaze admits that many lawyers are reluctant to seek help, worried that their practice (or firm) will suffer if time is missed. However, the stigma of seeking help is gradually decreasing in the Missis-

sippi law community.

“The firms are recognizing that these mental conditions aren’t failures but a disease,” he said. “It is a slow and gradual process but I believe Mississippi firms truly want the best for their partners and shareholders. Today, most law firms in the state are less likely to dismiss an employee for a condition beyond that employee’s control.”

For Glaze, the road to sobriety was a pathway marked with detours and potholes. As a former attorney/alcoholic, he believes helping law professionals who can no longer help themselves is his calling.

“There are only 50 people in the nation that do what I do in a legal assistance program,” he said. “It’s very challenging and interesting work, and affords me lots of opportunities. When I got sober, I knew I wanted to do something else with life and this is it.

“I found my niche.”

TAXES

Continued from, Page 11

Better Together.

At Bradley, we combine legal experience and knowledge with a sophisticated understanding of the industries that drive Mississippi. We use our talents, judgment, work ethic, and experience to develop practical, strategic solutions specifically tailored to our clients’ business operations. We go above and beyond expectations to help our clients meet their goals.

Our attorneys leverage a broad range of perspectives to help achieve the results that we expect and our clients demand.

bradley. com BIRMINGHAM | CHARLOTTE | HOUSTON | HUNTSVILLE | JACKSON | MONTGOMERY | NASHVILLE | TAMPA | WASHINGTON, D.C. No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Contact: Margaret Oertling Cupples, Esq., 601.592.9914, mcupples@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 188 E. Capitol Street, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201. © 2017

Valencia Williamson, executive vice president of the Area Development Partnership (ADP) in Hattiesburg, which is one of the cities involved in the Hometown Retirement City program, agrees the value of retirees to the local area goes beyond economics.

“Retirees get involved,” she said. “At the ADP, we have a plethora of volunteers who’re retired. Retirees want to stay in tune with what’s happening around them; being a member of an organization such as the Chamber of Commerce or the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) keeps them connected, and engaged.”

In Greater Hattiesburg, retirees (55+) make up 24 percent of the population.

Williamson said in addition to this being an economic driver because these individuals are likely to bring expendable income into the community, they use fewer services than they pay through taxes.

Williamson said affordable living is one of the most important factors when choosing a retirement destination.

“With a vast array of affordable housing and low property taxes, coupled with tax exemptions on retirement income and superb quality of life, Mississippi is the premier retirement destination in the South,” Williamson said.

Williamson said Certified Retirement Cities focus not just on helping their own city, but also work diligently to promote the region on a national level, with help from local volunteers and organizations who recognize the importance of attracting retirees to live and play in their community.

Another asset that helps attract retirees is having good options for entertainment, lifelong learning and independent living communities.

“Organizations such as the OLLI and

See RETIREES, Page 14

Law & Accounting

January 5, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

13

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14 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q January 5, 2018 List continued from Page 13

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RETIREES Continued from, Page 12

independent living communities such as the Claiborne at Hattiesburg have been instrumental in helping us attract new retirees to the area,â&#x20AC;? Williamson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also partner with VisitHattiesburg, the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tourism arm to promote our retiree recruitment efforts locally to individuals whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re passing through. Recently we hosted a travel writer with Ideal Living Magazine who is writing a feature on Greater Hattiesburg and the emphasis we place on attracting retirees to our community. With premier healthcare, educa-

tion, booming retail and service sectors, arts, festivals, and bountiful recreation, Hattiesburg is the ideal place for retirees to call home.â&#x20AC;?

Kiplingerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees are: 1. Wyoming. 2. Alaska. 3.

South Dakota. 4. Mississippi. 5. Florida.

6. Pennsylvania. 7. Nevada. 8. New Hampshire. 9. Kentucky. 10. Georgia. The 10 Least Tax-Friendly States for Retirees are: 1. Minnesota. 2. Connecticut. 3. Kansas.

4. Vermont, 5. Nebraska, 6. New Mexico. 7. Utah. 8. Maryland. 9. Indiana. 10.

Wisconsin.

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January 5, 2018

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15

THE SPIN CYCLE

Google’s top searches of 2017 included Matt Lauer, Hurricane Irma, Tom Petty, Las Vegas shooting I

n 2017, you wanted to know more about one of the most powerful storms on record, the devastating Hurricane Irma.

But you were also curious about Cardi B. and Unicorn Frappuccinos.

Google’s annual list of the most popular searches is here, offering a peek into what people are really thinking about. Like 2017 itself, this year’s top searches skew a little darker than usual, but are punctuated with some whimsy and positive moments.

The top trending searches in the U.S. were Irma, Matt Lauer, Tom Petty, the Super Bowl and the Las Vegas shooting.

To determine the most popular trending searches, Google looked at its trillions of queries, filtered out spam and repeats, and identified searches that had the highest uptick in traffic compared with the previous year. It breaks them into categories like news, memes, and recipes (beef stroganoff was a hit).

While “#metoo” didn’t show up on the lists, the movement’s impact certainly did.

High profile men who have been accused of sexual misconduct were among the most searched for people in the U.S., including Lauer, Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Bill O’Reilly.

Lauer topped global searches, as well, and Louis C.K. was one of the most searched for actors.

No Trump Donald Trump isn’t anywhere to be found on Google’s lists, but that’s because he was just as searched for last year and therefore not “trending.”

Politics were everywhere, though.

Among the top “What is ...?” searches were DACA, antifa, net neutrality, covfefe and the Paris Climate Agreement. France had the most googled election, followed by Germany and the U.K. Google also broke out the most searched for protests in the U.S. The top query was the NFL national anthem protests, followed by Charlottesville.

Money was on everyone’s mind. People wanted to know what bitcoin is, how to buy it, and the latest bitcoin price. They also asked how to freeze their credit, a common concern after the year’s enormous Equifax hack.

There was plenty of joy, too.

The solar eclipse trended in multiple categories. People wanted to know how to make their own slime and how many calories were in Starbucks’ Unicorn Frappuccino (410 in a Grande). April the giraffe was the ninth most popular news story in the U.S. All in all, it was a very historic – and interesting – year!

Top news stories of 2017 It was quite a year for real news, fake news and no news in 2017!

Numerous brands, including United Airlines and Uber, dealt with major crises, sometimes compounding the problem with clumsy communications. Fake news continued to hound major social media platforms, while brands braced themselves for the possibility of being tweeted at by President Trump.

In short, PR pros and brand communicators had a busy year, according to PR News.

But it certainly wasn’t all negative news.

Beyoncé broke the internet with a pregnancy announcement heard ‘round the world, April the giraffe captivated the nation, Twitter doubled down on its character count and the #MeToo movement sparked an important national conversation (while compelling many organizations to update their own crisis plans).

Here are seven of the most memorable PR stories that defined 2017, according to PR News.

1. The #MeToo movement’s impact continues to be felt, with new allegations making headlines on an almost daily basis. Showing the sheer power of social media, one tweet by a celebrity started a movement that grew until it affected nearly every industry.

While the spotlight was initially aimed at Harvey Weinstein and the entertainment industry, the movement spread to politics and B2C brands, and led to a long-overdue national conversation around sexual harassment.

2. The United Airlines dragging incident. When video of a bloodied 69-year-old doctor being dragged off an overbooked flight went viral, United was faced with a huge crisis.

While United CEO Oscar Munoz publicly apologized the next day, the crisis grew when he took a decidedly tougher stance

in an internal letter to employees, essentially blaming the victim.

3. Pepsi’s Kendall Jenner ad. It’s safe to say that years from now, this Pepsi ad will be studied by brand commuTodd Smith nicators as an example of what not to do. The tone-deaf spot tried to capitalize on political or social protests without actually defining the issue – taking a stand without actually taking one. While Kendall Jenner might be a fine choice for Pepsi in a different context, casting her as the hero of this ad felt insulting to anybody who had devoted time to a cause.

4. Beyoncé’s record-breaking Instagram post. On a more positive note, Beyoncé’s simple, but beautiful, photo to announce her pregnancy with twins quickly claimed the record for most-liked photo on Instagram after hitting 6.4 million likes. The February 2017 post now has over 11 million likes, so it will most likely hold onto that title for a while.

5. NFL player protests during the national anthem. Although Colin Kaepernick started the protests last year, it grew exponentially this season and continues to be a hot topic of conversation and debate, turning the national sport into a national political issue. The tension among the owners, fans and players was only inflamed when President Trump took a hard-line stand.

6. Twitter’s move to 280 characters. The bold move redefined Twitter, which had been characterized by its 140-character limit since its inception. Although the platform is the president’s preferred mode of communication, usage had been declining.

While it’s still unclear whether the expansion has bolstered Twitter’s popularity, it certainly got people talking and landed Twitter plenty of media coverage.

7. Uber faces one crisis after another. The popular ride sharing service experienced a seriously tough year. In February, a video of Uber’s then-CEO Travis Kalanick berating an Uber driver went viral, and started a downward spiral for the company, including accusations of rampant sexism in the company and eventually leading to Kalanick’s resignation. What’s more, the

company revealed in November that it had suffered a major data breach, and paid off the hackers to keep it quiet.

Silenced Mic: Legendary sports broadcaster Dick Enberg dies Oh my, the world has lost a legendary sports broadcaster in the death of Dick Enberg.

The Hall of Fame broadcaster whose “Oh my!” calls rang familiar with so many was 82.

Enberg was one of America’s most beloved sports broadcasters, with his versatile voice spanning the world of networks, including NBC, CBS and ESPN. In all, he covered 28 Wimbledons, 10 Super Bowls and eight NCAA men’s basketball title games, including the Magic Johnson-Larry Bird showdown in 1979.

His work was celebrated with a host of honors, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award (2015), the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Rozelle Award (1999) and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Gowdy Award (1995). He won 13 Sports Emmy Awards and a Lifetime Achievement Emmy. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and UCLA named its media center in Pauley Pavilion after Enberg in 2017.

Most recently, Enberg had served as the primary play-by-play TV voice of the San Diego Padres, retiring in 2016 after seven seasons with the team. Now, the angels have a new play-by-play man to bring greater glory beyond the Pearly Gates!

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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