MBJ_Jan10_2014

INSIDE: Hattiesburg’s Nicholson & Company a leader in accountancy

www.msbusiness.com

January 10, 2014 • Vol. 36, No. 2 • $1 • 16 pages

FONDREN BUSINESS DISTRICT

GREENTECH SAYS IT’S BACK ON TRACK WITH TUNICA PLANT

Koerber earns award The American Institute of CPAs has presented the 2013 Accredited in Business Valuation Champion of the Year Award to Jim Koerber, CPA/ABV/CFF, CVA, CFE.

» Company invites Mississippi media to look at the progress being made

By TED CARTER I STAFF WRITER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

More newsmakers, P 5

Around town {P 6} » Car registraions give snapshot of what’s on Mississippi’s roads The Spin Cycle {P 9} » Get your ‘social’ media on in 2014 Lists {P 12} » Information Technology Services

A lease to have fun Ardenland gets Duling Hall control through lease

BY TED CARTER I STAFF WRITER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

Inside Biz {P 2} » Silicon metal getting a rebirth in Mississippi

Longtime Jackson concert promoter Arden Barnett has signed a three-year lease with renewal options on the performing arts venue Duling Hall, the auditorium of the former Fondren school that has become an entertainment destination since its opening with the rest of the renovated building in 2009.

Barnett, principal of entertainment booking firm ardenland, said he plans to invest from $50,000 to $100,000 in cosmetic improvements to the auditorium. “The goal is to provide a more comfortable and user-friendly environment,” he said in a Tuesday interview.

Barnett was intentionally short on specifics, noting he wants to keep some suspense alive.

The work list does not include changes to the acoustics of the ,square -foot auditorium, which Barnett says has some of the best Barnett audio quality of any venue in the state. “Every musician that plays that hall wants to come back,” he said.

The cosmetic work, which includes upgrades of the bar area, will be done in phases starting this See DULING, Page 3

MBJ FOCUS: Technology

THEY DO IT ALL Monopads hot new office tool Page 10

If you’ve been looking in the “Missing Project’s” folder for GreenTech Automotive’s Tunica plant, you need search no more.

After two years of delays and a federal investigation into enticements used to gain foreign investors for the plant, the McLean, Va.-based GreenTech erected steel support structures for the facility Wednesday and invited the Mississippi media to Tunica to witness the event .

The maker of what it describes as environmentally friendly, energyefficient vehicles says the plant’s entire exterior structure, including walls and roof, should be completed by the middle of March, allowing for the company to begin moving its production capability into the building.

GreenTech Automotive. or GTA, operates a pilot manufacturing facility in a converted elevator factory in nearby Horn Lake where it is said to be producing the MyCar, an electric vehicle that is a cross between a golf cart-sized vehicle and a conventional automobile.

The MyCars are slow-moving neighborhood vehicles that are prohibited on U.S. Highways, according to the Associated Press.

Since the 2009 groundbreaking, See GREENTECH, Page 8

2 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 10, 2014

Silicon metal getting a rebirth » Investors are betting new technologies and efficiencies can make product competitive in U.S.

BY TED CARTER I STAFF WRITER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

Silicon metal manufacturing largely died out in the United States more than three decades ago, done in by the large volume of raw materials required to produce the multi-purpose alloy and an inability to compete with cheaper foreign imports.

However, technological advances, new manufacturing efficiencies and long-awaited U.S. trade protections have brought a r e v e r s a l » NEXT WEEK — The MBJ reports on how that may Tishomingo County' is using the Tennessee-Tombigbee make a Waterway to help it rebound from big economic comeback development disappointments of earlier decades. possible.

Added motivation comes from a new generation of industrial products and household goods for which silicon is a critical ingredient.

“The timing is perfect” in terms of market demand, said Mississippi Silicon Metal’s President & CEO David Tuten in an interview last week, citing a growing shortfall in the domestic supply of silicon.

That’s the thinking Tuten’s Mississippi Silicon and partners Rima Holdings USA and investor group Clean Tech, LLC have adopted as they break ground Monday on a state-of-the-art plant in Tishomingo County’s Burnsville. The project represents a $200 million investment, including a $21 million contribution from the State of Mississippi, and is expected to generate 200 jobs in the county located in a far corner of Northeast Mississippi’s border with Alabama and Tennessee.

Rima Holdings is a subsidiary of Brazil’s Rima Industrial S/A, an employer of 4,000 workers and producer of a quarter of the world’s silicon.

Forty years ago as many as two dozen companies made silicon metal alloys in the United States, according to Tuten. “Now it’s down to just a couple of companies (Rima Holdings USA and Global Specialty Metal).”

A new plant has not been built in the United States since 1976, added Tuten, a South Carolina native and the third generation of his family to be in the silicon manufacturing business.

In leading the U.S. entry back into silicon manufacturing, Mississippi Silicon expects to continue competing against lower-cost Chinese, Russian and Third World silicon products whose makers face few of the environmental and other regulations to which U.S. operations must adhere.

“We’re constantly trying that battle,” Tuten said of the cheaper foreign imports.

Some leveling of the competitive field has come from the U.S. government allowing more anti-dumping lawsuits. “Now we have mechanisms in place that give us some protections, he said.

In an industrial battle in which only the fittest survive, Mississippi Silicon’s hand is further strengthened by ad-

SPECIAL TO THE MBJ RENDERING: Mississippi Silicon Metals’ Burnsville plant will employ advanced technology to convert Mississippi hardwood chips and other natural resources to silicon.

vances and cost-savings in converting raw materials into silicon. “We feel that the time is right to build,” Tuten said.

“There have been so many advances in technology and equipment that we have many advantages.

Energy efficiency is key when you make a product that requires six tons of raw materials for each ton of silicon, he noted.

Tuten said sitting at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway ensures cost-effective delivery of Eastern Kentucky coal, a vital raw material for silicon, and the efficient export of the finished product either into the U.S. interior or down the TennTom to the Gulf of Mexico.

Burnsville also has close proximity to the Central Alabama quartz gravel pits and Northeast Mississippi’s hardwood — two other main materials for making silicon metals, Tuten said. “Silicon metal is not really a metal; it’s an alloy.

We use the raw materials that come from Mother Nature and turn them into an alloy product.

“It’s a good marriage all the way around,” he said of the plant’s location.

The alloy is used to strengthen such industrial products as aluminum automobile wheels and to make a host of household products, among other uses, Tuten noted.

By-products from the manufacture include slag that is sold to steel makers and smoke from the silicon plant’s furnace that is sold to the concrete industry. The silicon fumes are used to strengthen concrete in structures such as high-

rise buildings and highway overpasses.

The manufacturing process does not create waste products and “has basically zero water discharge,” Tuten said, and added the Burnsville plant has all required environmental permits, including state and federal air permits.

John Lalley, Mississippi Silicon’s vice president for finance, said the $200 million in investment for the plant is fully committed. “We have begun to draw down on the funds for initial spending requirements and continue to access the money as needed for construction,” he said in an email.

The Burnsville operation and the creation of Mississippi Silicon is an endeavor separate from that of Silicor Materials, a California-based company originally named Calisolar that proposed a $600 million silicone purification plant in Lowndes County. The purification process Silicor sought to undertake was to lead to the assembling of energy cells for conventional aluminum-framed, glass-encapsulated solar modules. The effort never got off the ground and received no draws from $75 million in loan incentives offered up by the Mississippi Development Authority.

Tuten emphasized that “Mississippi Silicon is completely separate” and has a more conventional industrial focus.

“We have not accepted anything that they have mapped out,” he said.

Instead, Tuten said, what is going up in Burnsville “is a very old business yet one that is very new and is getting a rebirth.”

January 10, 2014

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Mississippi Business Journal

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REAL ESTATE

New owners renovating Waveland cinema

By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

John Watzke remembers standing in a long line back in the late 1970s to see the action comedy film Smokey and The Bandit at the movie theater in Waveland.

He’s hoping the public response is as enthusiastic when he and his brother Charles reopen the cinema they bought last year and are working to restore from post-Katrina neglect and vandalism.

“We will give them the best theater they can have there and the best movies at the lowest prices with the most reasonable concession prices in the state of Mississippi,” he said. “Whether people come again, I don’t know.”

The Watzke brothers have spent their lives in the movie theater business. Their grandfather worked as a movie projectionist starting in 1913 and their father followed.

John and Charles did stints working in the projection booth before taking a break from the industry. After moving from Bay St. Louis to Ocala, Fla., after Katrina, John Watzke along with his brother took over a deserted drive-in and renovated it. It’s one of the very few drive-ins in the country today, he said. They went on to buy and renovate a few more movie theaters for themselves and other owners.

In September 2013, they bought the old Choctaw Cinema in Waveland, which was

DULING

Special to The Mississippi Business Journal

Brothers John and Charles Watzke are looking to restore and reopen the old Choctaw Cinema in Waveland after years of post-Katrina neglect and vandalism.

heavily damaged by Katrina. The building got a modest cleaning before reopening but the business never recovered after the storm, Watzke said. Vandals destroyed what was left of the interior of the theater and the Watzkes are having to replace everything.

“Vandals did more damage than anything,” he said. They kicked holes in the walls, broke windows and destroyed the bathrooms.”

The Watzkes are in the process of buying

seats from a Florida multiplex that’s closing to install in Waveland.

“It’s good stuff,” Watzke said of the high back seats and other items. “As the owner closes one screen, we’ll take everything out of it and put it in Mississippi.”

The four renovated auditoriums each will have a different theme, including one featuring Mardi Gras. Three will have the high back seats and one will be a dine-in setting

ACCOUNTANTS Continued from Page 1

quarter, according to Barnett, whose company books concerts and entertainment events throughout the area, including Thalia Mara Hall, Hal & Mal’s, Iron Horse Grill, Jackson Academy Performing Arts Center and the Mississippi Coliseum.

While holding a lease to Duling Hall gives Barnett increased flexibility in booking shows promoted by ardenland, it also gives him a final say on non-ardenland acts that want to perform there.

Such control, he said, is important for upholding the Duling Hall brand. “My thing is that we keep the music consistently phenomenal,” he said. “All it takes is a couple of bad shows to throw our work off.”

The hall holds about 400 spectators for concerts without tables and about half as many spectators with tables in place,

By Tuesday, ardenland had 35 shows booked at Duling through early April. Barnett said he expects the venue to maintain that pace through the rest of the year.

When not used for concerts and other shows, Duling Hall is often booked for weddings, private parties and high school proms.

Mike Peters of Peters Development, known for his restoration of Fondren Corner a decade ago, restored the Duling School and reopened it in 2009. Soon afterward, the popular Babalu’s Tacos and Tapas opened in the building at 622 Duling Ave.

Hattiesburg’s Nicholson & Company has 33 CPAs and 11 partners Nicholson & Company, PLLC, is a Hattiesburg-based CPA firm with 33 CPAs and 11 partners. The firm’s address in 2 Southern Pointe Parkway., Suite 100, Hattiesburg, MS 39404 (it also has offices in Columbia and Gulfport), and the phone number is (877) 842-7137. For more information, visit www.nicholsoncpas.com.

— Wally Northway

AUTOMOTOVE

Nissan North America sets new sales record in 2013 Nissan reports total U.S. sales for December 2013 of 109,758 units, an increase of 10.5 percent compared to last year. In 2013, Nissan sold 1,248,420 vehicles in the U.S., an increase of 9.4 percent over 2012 and the best annual sales total in Nissan’s history.

Nissan Division set annual records in 2013 for total deliveries, as well as Altima, Rogue, Versa, Pathfinder, LEAF, JUKE and NV. Rogue crossover sales in December were up 27.8 percent to 14,676 in the first full month of sales of the all-new 2014 model.

All-electric Nissan LEAF sales totaled 2,529, up 69.8 percent and marking the best sales month since the model’s launch in Dec. 2010.

Sentra sales were up more than 39.3 percent to 10,799.

Nissan will unveil the Sports Sedan Concept on Jan. 14 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

with tables that will offer pizza, burgers and sandwiches. Watzke promises “a family complex,” complete with video games for the kids.

The owners will spend about $200,000 to renovate the theater, including adding new digital projection equipment in each auditorium that costs around $50,000 each.

“Before it’s all over, we’ll put about a half a million in it,” he said.

The timing on the completion of the renovation is still up in the air, Watzke said, but he promises to hold to high standards.

“We will not open until it’s right,” he said.

Watzke promises cheaper ticket and concession prices than those at the large theater chains. He said their Florida walkin cinemas charge $6 for adults for new movies, compared to the nearby chain that gets $9.75.

“The film companies get most of the box office,” he said. “We make money in our concession stands.” But, he said, “We will keep concessions as low as possible, about half what the large chain theaters do.”

Soft drinks will go for $2.50 or $3.50, compared to $5 to $7.

The Watzkes can hold prices down, he said, because they do all their own renovations and equipment maintenance in house.

“Charlie is the booking agent and I do other paperwork and marketing in house.

We cut out the middle man so we keep overhead low.”

Fred Diaz, senior vice president, sales & marketing, parts & service, U.S.A., said, “Refreshing the top five volume sellers in the Nissan lineup over the past 18 months drove us to our best sales year in history. Nissan has made key investments to increase local production of key vehicles to North America with a goal of manufacturing 85 percent of our product lineup within the region. With a strong launch for the all-new, U.S.-built 2014 Rogue now underway, we expect to maintain our strong sales momentum as we roll into 2014.”

— from staff and MBJ wire services

HEALTHCARE, INSURANCE

Cigna, UMMC hammer out multi-year contract for healthcare JACKSON — Cigna and the University of Mississippi Medical Center have entered into a multi-year contract that adds UMMC and its employed physicians to Cigna’s network of participating hospitals and doctors.

The agreement became effective Jan. 5.

With this new addition to the network, Cigna customers who receive services from UMMC or its employed doctors’ group practice, University Physicians, will now be covered at the in-network benefit level, according to the terms of their health care benefits plan. Cigna currently serves more than 18,000 customers in the region and nearly 100,000 customers across the state of Mississippi.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

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

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MBJPERSPECTIVE January 10, 2014 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 4

» RICKY NOBILE

Website: www.msbusiness.com January 10, 2014 Volume 36, Number 2

ALAN TURNER Publisher alan.turner@msbusiness.com • 364-1021 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 WALLY NORTHWAY Senior Writer wally.northway@msbusiness.com • 364-1016 FRANK BROWN Staff Writer/Special Projects frank.brown@msbusiness.com • 364-1022 TED CARTER Staff Writer ted.carter@msbusiness.com • 364-1017 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 BOBBY HARRISON Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 TAMI JONES Advertising Director tami.jones@msbusiness.com • 364-1011 MELISSA KILLINGSWORTH Sr. Account Executive

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Entire contents copyrighted © 2014 by Journal Inc. All rights reserved.

OTHER VIEWS

Time to get on getting with Common Core for education

S

tate Superintendent Carey Wright put it simply enough: the Mississippi Board of Education is moving forward with Common Core, and she doesn't see that changing anytime soon.

Furthermore, Gov. Phil Bryant and legislative leaders all have said the state should move forward with the adoption of the education standards. They have acknowledged the concerns, reiterated that they would not stand for federal interference in state education curriculum and tried to assuage the fears of Common Core opponents.

But it seems as if all the explanations and myth-debunking surrounding Common Core has done nothing to change the minds of those who continue to beat the drum for rejection of Common Core. Today, at the state fairgrounds and again at the state Capitol, a group opposed to the educational standards are rallying in support of a bill a handful of state senators plan to file that would use the force of state law to reject Common Core.

It’s logical for people to have questions and concerns about new programs, especially something as vast and paradigm-changing as Common Core. Furthermore, it's illogical to believe that such a program would have universal support from lawmakers or education advocates. However, the real trouble with the

opposition to Common Core is that it seems politically driven by a small group of lawmakers who are using the issue in an attempt to leverage political strength.

Where were these lawmakers when Common Core was first adopted by the state? Where were they two years ago? Last year? Common Core is not new to Mississippi. In fact, Wright says that nearly every district in the state has implemented Common Core standards in grades K-8, with many having adopted the standards fully in grades K-12. Testing begins with the 201415 academic year, when full implementation must be complete.

Furthermore, some of the claims coming from Common Core opponents make little sense. Common Core is not a federally mandated curriculum that Mississippi must adopt. It is a set of educational standards by which every student will be graded, and Mississippi schools — district by district, not even from the state level — will set their own curriculum.

That curriculum will be aligned in such a way as to educate students according to those standards, but that is no different than any other set of educational standards adopted by the state. Until Common Core, Mississippi — and every other state — aligned its

curriculum to standards that would be judged by the set of state tests they chose.

Common Core — which is far more rigorous than the current standards — aims at providing a more uniform standard of measuring educational achievement across the country.

That's not a bad thing. In fact, it’s beneficial to people who move from state to state, whether for work, military assignments or personal reasons. It also gives Mississippi educators the opportunity to see exactly how our students measure up to other states in a far more specific manner.

Perhaps the most important reason to move forward with Common Core is something Wright pointed out: Under the current set of standards, Mississippi ranks 48th or 49th in the country in educational obtainment. Why would we continue to do the same thing that has failed us in the past?

Fear of the unknown is understandable.

Sadly, so is political posturing. But the latter has no place in the conversation over Common Core.

Mississippi classrooms are moving forward with Common Core. The best thing we can do now is all be active supporters of educators and children. If Common Core succeeds, then we're all the better for it.

— The Clarion Ledger

NEWSMAKERS

January 10, 2014

Bank promotes McCoy

Judge appoints Crump

Jeff McCoy has been named by the board of directors of Great Southern National Bank as president and CEO. McCoy joined the bank in July 2012 as president and COO. A native of DeKalb, McCoy earned a bachelor of science degree in banking and finance from Mississippi State University in Starkville and began his financial career working as an assistant bank examiner for the FDIC in 1976. He graduated from LSU McCoy School of Banking, Baton Rouge in 1985 and has over 34 years of banking experience in East Mississippi.

McCoy is a member of the Kiwanis Club and serves on the Choctaw Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America executive board. He is also board member of the Meridian Community College Foundation, East Mississippi Business Development Corporation and member of the MSU-Meridian Advisory Council. In addition, McCoy is chairman of the East Central Planning and Development District Loan Committee.

McCoy and his wife, Ethel Ann, have two children, Leah Lack (Josh) and Kyle McCoy (Angie), and one grandson, Jonah McCoy.

Martin D. Crump of the Gulfport law firm of Davis & Crump was recently appointed

by United States District Judge Joseph Goodwin to oversee all litigation in federal court against Cook Medical Inc. involving transvaginal mesh.

Crump was also recently admitted to practice law in Missouri and Illinois.

TEC appoints Stephens, Green TEC has appointed Shannon Stephens as technician in Bay Springs. Stephens brings with him several years of experience in the technology industry.

He currently resides with his wife, Darleyne, and children in Laurel.

Also, TEC has appointed Alice Juliet Green as account executive in the Sales Department at TEC of Jackson Inc. Green brings with her over 18 years of experience working in advertising sales, counseling and the technology industry.

Green currently resides in Clinton. She graduated from Alcorn State University with a master’s degree in guidance and counseling education.

Green

Crump

Firm adds Whitley Elton Whitley has joined Pryor and Morrow Architects and Engineers, P.A.'s Tupelo office. Whitley joins the firm as construction administrator with over 40 years experience and is a 1969 graduate from University of Southern Mississippi.

Benedict, Murray named shareholders Daniel, Coker, Horton and Bell, P.A. has named J. Luke Benedict (Oxford) and Christopher H. Murray (Gulfport) shareholders.

Benedict holds a B.A. (with honors) from the University of Mississippi and a J.D. (cum laude 2008) from the University of Mississippi School of Law. He focuses his practice in premises liability, transportation law and public entity/governmental liability. Benedict is admitted to Benedict practice in Mississippi.

Murray holds both a B.A. and M.Ed. from Auburn University, and a J.D. (cum laude 2005) from the Mississippi College School of Law. Murray’s practice is focused in criminal defense, environmental law and insurance bad faith and coverage. He is admitted to practice in both Alabama and Murray Mississippi.

Lutz inducted; Hemphill selected Stephens

Koerber earns award The American Institute of CPAs has presented the 2013 Accredited in Business Valuation Champion of the Year Award to Jim Koerber, CPA/ABV/CFF, CVA, CFE. The award was presented at the American Institute of CPAs’ 2013 Forensic & Valuation Services Conference in Las Vegas. Koerber is a shareholder in The Koerber Company, PA, a Hattiesburg Koerber CPA firm.

Ernest W. “Butch” Lutz, Jr., chief of Internal Review at the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, was named one of 12 distinguished Louisiana State University (LSU) alumni who were inducted into LSU’s military Hall of Honor this past fall. Lutz graduated from LSU in 1975 with a bachelor’s degree in history and was commissioned through LSU Army ROTC. A scholarship cadet, he was a member of the Troy H. Middleton Company, Association of the United States Army and D Company, 5th Regiment, Scabbard and Blade. Lutz’s enlisted service included service in Germany and the Louisiana Army National Guard. As a commissioned officer, he served on active duty in South Korea, Germany and Southwest Asia, as well as in the United States. His last 13 years of military service were spent at the Pentagon on the Joint Staff.

His numerous military awards include the Defense

Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Army Good Conduct Medal.

Lutz, a certified public accountant in Maryland and Mississippi, served as chief, Internal Review, Department of the Army, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, prior to coming to ERDC in 2012.

Also, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District recently selected Vicksburg native Patricia Hemphill as the deputy for programs and project management (DPM). This is the highest civilian position within the Vicksburg District. Hemphill previously served as the assistant to the DPM and led long-range planning and management of the civil works programs and operations and maintenance projects.

Hemphill's education and training for this position include being a 2011 Senior Fellow, Excellence in Government Partnership for Public Service, attending Harvard University's JFK School of Government at Cambridge, Mass., and the Army Management Staff College at Ft. Belvoir, Va. She received a degree in Sustaining Base Leadership Management Program, and earned her bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Mississippi State University.

Hemphill is a registered professional engineer in the state of Mississippi and earned the Corps' project management level one certification. She is a member of the Society of Military Engineers and serves on Mississippi State University's Bagley College of Engineering Board of Diversity. She also serves on Jackson State University's College of Engineering Advisory Council.

Her awards include the District's 2012 Outstanding Achievement in Equal Opportunity, the District's 2011 Employee of the Year; Women of Color Science Technology Engineering and Math Award; Modern Day Technology Leader, Black Engineer Science and Technology Awards; 2010 Mississippi 50 Leading Business Women; and the Department of the Army Superior Civilian Service Award and Achievement Medal for Civilian Service.

Hemphill is married to Glenn Hemphill, also a Vicksburg native.

Hospital presents awards Forrest General Hospital has announced the winners of the eighth-annual Philip W. Rogers Award. This annual award is presented to health care workers who exemplify commitment to the field of medicine and excellence in patient care. Robert Wilkins, M.D., was honored with the Philip Rogers Innovator Award.

Wilkins is an interventional cardiologist who is boardcertified in cardiovascular diseases, interventional cardiology, vascular medicine and endovascular medicine.

He is responsible for the development and implementation of Forrest General’s STEMI system. Wilkins started the first STEMI program at Forrest General in 2010 and he was a key player in the Mississippi Health Care Alliance where he helped establish a statewide system of care for heart attack patients, including treatment protocols and access to care.

The Mentor Award personification was presented to Joe Marcello, service line administrator – heart and vascular services, hematology/oncology Services and director of imaging and radiation oncol-

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ogy. Marcello began working at Forrest General in 2007 as director of radiology/oncology. In 2008 he helped establish the Heart and Vascular Service Line and formed the first Joint Operations Committee, the governing body for cardiovascular services. Marcello also helped create designated Heart and Vascular patient care areas for pre- and post-procedures.

The award for Leadership was given to Thad Waites, M.D. Waites is currently the director of the Cardiac Cath Lab. Over the years, he has held several leading positions at Forrest General. Waites has brought many new procedures to the Cath Lab to advance the care of patients with heart problems. Since 2010, Waites has also been very active in the highest leadership of the American College of Cardiology.

From 2008 to 2011 he served as an elected Governor of the Mississippi Chapter of the American College of Cardiology. Waites was then nominated and elected to serve as chairman of the board of governors of the American College of Cardiology, serving as chairmanelect in 2010 and becoming chairman in 2011. “ Randy Henderson, M.D., was honored with the Humanitarian Award. Henderson joined Forrest General’s staff in 1996 as a board certified neonatologist and has been active in the hospital, community and state ever since. He has served as past vice president and president of the Department of Pediatrics and has mentored doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists and students throughout Forrest General’s referral network. Henderson is very active in the community. In 2007, he was named Hattiesburg American’s “12 Who Made a Difference.”

Also, Forrest General has presented its top employee awards, including the Employee of the Year, We C.A.R.E. Awards and Service Award recognition for employees who have served 30-plus years at the hospital.

Sandi Thames, MT (ASCP), CLS (NCA) has been selected as the hospital’s Employee of the Year for 2013. A University of Southern Mississippi graduate, Thames began working at Forrest General in 1982.

Since then she has served in numerous roles including staff technologist and quality improvement coordinator. Thames is currently the chief administrative technologist for anatomic and clinical laboratory services.

Five Forrest General employees and one physician were honored with We C.A.R.E. Awards for upholding the hospital’s We C.A.R.E. philosophy. The winners were selected based on comments from patients, patients’ family members and co-workers. Four employees were recognized for specific letters in the acronym of Forrest General’s We C.A.R.E. philosophy.

The letters stand for: Communicate with Compassion and Courtesy; Acknowledge and take Action; Respect and Reassure and Empathize and Explain. The winners are: C: Ken Roberts, hospice chaplain; A: Michael Reed, material supply; R: Sherry Amacker, RN, observation/telemetry; E: Jarrod Jackson, RRT, respiratory care.

Clay King, M.D., hospital care services, received the We C.A.R.E. Physician Award, and the We C.A.R.E. Leadership Award was given to Teresa McDaniel, PharmD, pharmacy.

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

6 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 10, 2014 TRANSPORTATION

Car registrations give snapshot of what’s on roads

By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

If you think you see a lot of late model Nissan Altimas and Ford F1S, you’re right in assuming that those two vehicles rule Mississippi roads. A look at recent vehicle registrations provided by the Mississippi Department of Revenue shows that the Altima’s 2013 and 2012 models made up the largest number of current vehicle registrations, according to the department spokeswoman Kathy Waterbury.

The numbers provide a snapshot of vehicles currently tagged and operating in Mississippi, she said. “We only pulled stats for the most current three model years because expanding the query was about to crash our 34-year old computer system,� Waterbury said. “There were a total of 2,729,713 registrations of county tagged passenger vehicles for 2013. “What you have is a picture of what 376,729 of that number looks like, or about 14 percent of the whole.�

Looking at the numbers for the popular Nissan Altima, there are 5,806 of the

model year 2013 registered; 6,666 (model year 2012); and 3,969 (model year 2011.)

That brings a total of 16,441 Altimas currently registered from those three model years, according to Waterbury.

Other top cars included the Honda Accord with a combined total of 8,072 for the three model years and Toyota Camry’s total is 16,019 for the same model years.

The top 10 vehicles for 2011, 2012 and 2013 models registered in the state were a familiar bunch. In fact, six of the 10 most popular 2013 models also made the lists with their 2012 and 2011 models, including the Chevy Malibu, the Ford Fusion and the Chevy Impala.

And we do love our trucks in Mississippi, especially the Ford F1S, which topped the last three model years with registrations at 4,304 in 2011, 3,818 in 2012 and 4,500 in 2013. That gives the Ford F15 12,622 combined registrations for the three model years.

Ford took three of 10 spots in each model year, and Chevrolet took two spots in all three years. Among 2013 trucks, Toyota held three places in the top 10 registrations.

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Top 10 trucks registered in MS Make Model 2013 trucks Ford F1S Ford F15 Chevrolet 2SK Chevrolet 2SC Ford F2S Toyota DCL GMC 1NK Toyota CRW Toyota DCP RAM 1ST

County Percent 4500 1685 1518 1207 944 750 670 640 558 503

2012 trucks Ford F1S Ford F2S Ford F15 Chevrolet 2SK Chevrolet 2SC Nissan FVL Dodge SL1 Dodge S1T Toyota CRW Nissan SLP 2011 trucks Ford F1S Chevrolet 2SK Ford F15 Chevrolet 2SC Ford F2S Dodge Q15 GMC 1NK Dodge 150 Toyota DBS Toyota CRW

Model

County Percent

20.71 7.75 6.99 5.56 4.34 3.45 3.08 2.95 2.57 2.31

Make 2013 cars Nissan Honda Toyota Hyundai Toyota Hyundai Chevrolet Nissan Ford Chevrolet

Altima Accord Camry Sonata Corolla Elantra Malibu RVG Fusion Impala

5806 3149 2701 1988 1863 1660 1655 1539 1329 1256

7 4 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2

3818 1462 1423 1417 978 880 808 792 673 671

15.43 5.91 5.75 5.73 3.95 3.56 3.27 3.2 2.72 2.71

2012 cars Nissan Toyota Chevrolet Honda Chevrolet Ford Honda Nissan Ford Nissan

Altima Camry Impala Accord Malibu Fusion Civic Maxima Focus Versa

6666 6165 2941 2896 2549 2498 2266 2117 2083 1676

6.83 6.32 3.01 2.97 2.61 2.56 2.32 2.17 2.14 1.72

4304 1956 1874 1498 1491 824 770 718 639 541

15.48 7.03 6.74 5.39 5.36 2.96 2.77 2.58 2.3 1.95

2011 cars Toyota Nissan Chevrolet Chevrolet Hyundai Ford Honda Toyota Chevrolet Nissan

Camry Altima Impala Malibu Sonata Fusion Accord Corolla Camaro Maxima

7153 3969 3499 2613 2346 2206 2097 1794 1580 1539

7.76 4.31 3.8 2.83 2.55 2.39 2.27 1.95 1.71 1.67

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Larry Clark, a partner in Butch Oustalet Autoplex in Gulfport, said roomy trucks are big sellers at Oustalet’s five dealerships on the Coast and in Wiggins. “For years, pickup trucks have been the largest segment and a lot of that was brought about by the difference cab configurations,� he said. “You can put six people in the cab of a pickup up. Twenty years ago it was one seat and you had to shoehorn three people in. Now a truck can double as a family vehicle.�

Clark said gas prices influence buying decisions and a spike in prices at the pump send customers to mid-sized cars like the Chevy Malibu or Honda Accord. “Some months they’re a little ahead of pickups, sometimes they’re just behind,� he said.

7

ATTENTION Revving at right time? NON-PROFITS Âť Road, bridge funding January 10, 2014

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

ROADS & BRIDGES

efforts gain traction

BY WALLY NORTHWAY I STAFF WRITER wally.northway@msbusiness.com

Last month, yet another group was in Mississippi raising the issue of the state’s crumbling roads and bridge and a lack of funding to repair them. TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based national transportation organization, held a news conference in Jackson, giving some of the same numbers and figures touted by other groups pushing for more road and bridge money.

And that is fine by Mike Pepper, executive director of the Mississippi Road Builders Association. “It is just one more organization saying the same thing — we have a major issue and we have to face it,� Pepper said. “Momentum is building, and TRIP is another voice.�

Rocky Moretti, director of policy and research at TRIP, was on hand for the news conference. “Our report shows that Mississippi is in better shape in some areas of transportation infrastructure than other states, and worse in some areas,� Moretti said. He added that it is a positive sign that momentum for change in funding is building in Mississippi, but is less optimistic about what might happen in the near future on the federal level. “It is a dangerous game to speculate on that,� he said.

The TRIP report titled “Mississippi Transportation by the Numbers: Meeting the State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility,� estimates that Mississippi roadways that lack some desirable safety features, have inadequate capacity to meet travel demands or have poor pavement conditions cost the state’s residents approximately $1.6 billion annually in the form of additional vehicle operating costs, lost time and wasted fuel due to traffic congestion and traffic crashes.

Twenty-eight percent of Mississippi’s roads are either in poor or mediocre condition. Sixty-eight percent of Jacksonarea major locally and state-maintained urban roads are in poor or mediocre condition, and in the Gulfport/Biloxi area, 46 percent of major urban roads are in poor or mediocre condition.

At the heart of the issue is the current state’s funding mechanism that was established back in 1987. It called for a flat 18¢ per gallon of gasoline to fund road and bridge maintenance. Since then, fuel costs have climbed with no corresponding funding increase, and more and more traffic on the state’s roads and bridges have left them in disrepair, many bridges having to be posted

or closed.

Last year, the Mississippi Business Journal ran a list of thousands of bridges across the state that are listed as deficient in the Federal Highway Administration’s National Bridge Inventory.

That and other news stories began spurring discussions last year on the issue.

At least one leader thinks the efforts in mid-2013 might have caused more harm than good.

Timing is a key factor, according to Charlie Williams, former lawmaker and president of the T1 Coalition, another organization that has joined the fight for more infrastructure funding.

Williams said efforts that began last summer and proposed to increase funding by raising taxes ($700 million) or using gaming money “scared everybody to death� and “everyone was hiring lobbyists.� “We have to make sure we don’t get blown out of the water before the legislative session even begins,� Williams said.

With an election year looming, Williams is not sure that anything will happen this year, but is optimistic that efforts now will lead to results two or three years down the road.

For Rick Webster, the issue is less about big numbers and dollar signs and more about people. Head of Key Constructors, a Madison-based road-building firm that his father started, Webster sees faces, not figures. “It has been tough,� said Webster, speaking of the historic downturn in road and bridge work. “We have had to cut back on benefits, put off any promotions and raises. We have not been hiring and have not filled positions when they became open. Fortunately, we have not had to lay off too many people.�

To survive, Key Constructors has gone after more private jobs than in the past. It means bidding more work to keep the doors open. “We were bidding about 100 jobs a year (before the downturn). Now, we’re bidding more like 300 jobs a year,� Webster said, adding that over the last handful of years the cost of construction materials has skyrocketed.

He is also worried about public safety. He said recently Key Constructors was working a bridge project and one of his people went over to a nearby bridge and looked underneath out of curiosity. It was in startling bad condition, and it was reported so the bridge could be posted.

For Webster, the politics of the issue is frustrating. Some have pointed to Mississippi’s conservative leadership as a possible stumbling block to enacting legislation to find more road and bridge money.

Webster is not buying into that. “Hey, I’m as conservative as they come, but we have an issue here,� Webster said. “What’s it going to take? A school bus running off into a creek? I certainly hope not.�

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8 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 10, 2014 FAMILY BUSINESS

Like father… » Murphys together — at last — at CRM

BY WALLY NORTHWAY I STAFF WRITER wally.northway@msbusiness.com

Since forming Corporate Relations Management in 1978, Bucky Murphy has had a number of partners, many of whom became close personal friends. But when he talks about his newest partner, he gets a little misty-eyed.

Fathers will do that.

“I couldn’t think of a better person to have as a partner,” said Bucky Murphy, speaking of his son, Camp Murphy, who recently joined his father at Canton-based CRM, a lobbying firm. “He is his own man — everything he’s gotten, he’s earned.”

“I always knew I would come to work with him, it just took a little longer than we expected,” Camp Murphy said. “Growing up, he attended every one of my sporting events, and we lived comfortably. I

Cmap Murphy found that attractive.”

Bucky Murphy, who grew up in Starkville and is a Mississippi State University alumnus, began his career as a lobbyist and in-house attorney for the Mississippi State Medical Association, positions he would hold for a decade before deciding to put out his shingle and form CRM. Over the years, Murphy built a thriving firm, landing such clients as AT&T, R.J. Reynolds, MetLife and General Motors.

When CRM was established, Cliff Finch was governor. This legislative session will mark Murphy’s 36th session since launching CRM. Meanwhile, Camp Murphy grew up in Canton watching his father with admiration. He, too, attended Mississippi State, earning both an undergraduate degree and an MBA in four years. However, he didn’t

immediately come on board with his father, instead accepting a position with the Legislative Budget Office in 2006.

He got the LBO job without any influence from his father.

“I didn’t help him at all,” Bucky Murphy remembered. “After he was hired, I had a lawmaker tell me that if he had known Camp was my son and wanted the job, he would have made a phone call. But, I didn’t want that. He earned the job.”

After more than six years with the LBO, Camp Murphy was offered the opportunity to join newly elected Gov. Phil Bryant’s team as a policy advisor. He had doubts that he would get the position, and the decision to hire him was delayed as the administration searched for a policy director.

By the time Camp Murphy knew the job was his, Bryant was preparing for his inauguration. That left the team with a mere 21 days to craft an executive budget.

It meant long days — and nights.

He also was made public safety liaison for such entities as the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, Mississippi Department of Corrections and National Guard, meaning he was on call around the clock. During all natural disasters, emer-

GREENTECH

Continued from Page 1

GreenTech has changed its business plan. Instead of producing versions of the four prototypes it showcased then, including hybrid cars, it now says its plant, when built, will have the capacity to make 30,000 electric vehicles each year, including a sedan and the small electric MyCars. It now aims to have the first ones rolling off the line in Tunica

by April, the AP reported last summer.

GTA has never confirmed the 30,000 figure reported by the AP, insisting it does not reveal production numbers. AP based its 30,000 projection on GTA’s statement that it has international distribution agreements for 30,000 vehicles over the next three years. AP noted the company originally planned 250,000 vehicles.

As 2014 approached, GTA heralded an agreement that extends its partnership with Chinese automaker Jianghui Automotive Co. Ltd. to develop and make a 4-door, all-electric vehicle for the North American market.

GreenTech has been in partnership with Jianghui to develop and produce environmentally sustainable, energy-efficient vehicles. Under the extended agreement, both companies will contribute their respective strengths based on their technology platforms, marketing and distribution channels, GreenTech says.

The U.S. start-up and its Chinese partner have both done extensive research and development in electric powertrains and battery management systems –—two critical aspects of building the new all-electric auto they plan.

Getting to this point has required backing from foreign investors and the donation of some 100 acres by Tunica

gencies and executions, Camp Murphy was on the job. It was a tough transformation as he had a new-born at home.

“I thought my wife was going to divorce me,” Camp Murphy said with a grin.

“There are parts of the job I miss, mainly the people. It was a pressure cooker — always a fire to put out.”

The position also meant a delay in joining CRM. When he accepted the position with Bryant’s office, he committed to remaining at least one year.

Last September, having met his obligation, Camp Murphy joined his father in the family business.

“I am excited about it,” said Camp Murphy about coming to CRM. “It’s the same building, the same people, but I have a lot to learn.”

With Camp Murphy’s background and Bucky Murphy’s experience, both men have high expectations as the next legislative session gets underway.

“He is his own man,” said Bucky Murphy. “When he was growing up, he cut yards for money. He learned the value of a dollar. He is smarter than I was at his age and has a better temperament. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather work with.”

County’s economic development foundation, at a cost of $1.8 million. In 2011, the state gave a $3 million loan toward site preparation.

The company says it has more than 100 workers and “once production is ramped up” should employ at least 350 — the same number of jobs required under the state loan agreement, the AP reports.

For a time, the company’s chairman was Democratic Party heavyweight fund-raiser Terry McAuliffe. He stepped down in December 2012 to make a successful run for governor of Virginia. In May 2013, the Securities & Exchange Commission began a yet-to-be-completed investigation of GTA’s foreign investments through the EB-5 visa program.

Analysts say GreenTech exposes problems with a program used to attract foreign investors — known as the EB-5 visa program, which provides investors and their families green cards in exchange for private-sector investments of $500,000 to $1 million, depending on the location of the project invested in.

In GreenTech’s case, the program called for $500,000 investments.

The EB-5 program is capped at 10,000 investors a year, and had 6,106 applicants in 2012.

GreenTech says more than 100 investors have been approved for U.S. citizenship and have been granted permanent residency in recent months. In late August, only one of more than 90 investors had received residency status, according to the Associated Press, which cited an internal immigration services document.

Simone Williams of GreenTech told AP in August the government’s pace in approving foreign investors had slowed down plans to start construction at its Tunica County facility.

January 10, 2014

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Mississippi Business Journal

I

9

THE SPIN CYCLE

Get your social on in 2014 ocial has certainly invaded the Csuite, as company leaders have embraced and harnessed the power of social media platforms such as Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube – and many more – as they seek to advance their brand to an increasingly dexterous, mobile and nimble public.

Let’s face it, in today’s fast-paced, multimedia world, we all like to communicate through social, and that’s where take-in, chew and digest the myriad messages that hit us by the hour, minute and second. As we begin 2014, let’s ponder how the top dogs are using social media as a powerful PR and marketing tool.

S

Top CEOs In Social Media In recent years, the C-suite has increasingly used social media to build their brands in the marketplace. One of the best – and most insightful – barometers is an annual global ranking of chief executive officers on social media by World of CEOs, which combines both quantitative and qualitative research to determine CEOs with the most impact. It measured the Fortune 500 Global, FTSE 100 and other leading companies worldwide. In addition to monitoring social media activities, number of followers, who’s creating value-added content – including originality, positive impact on the corporate world, industries, leadership style, etc.

10. Marc Benioff, Chairman & CEO, Salesforce Benioff has amassed 78,799 Twitter followers, posted 3,666 tweets. He advances solid content about technology/cloud, customer service and travel anecdotes. Conveys a looser connection to leadership.

9. Anand Mahindra, Chairman & MD, Mahindra & Mahindra, a global steel producer.

Mahindra has more than 1 million Twitter followers, posted north of 6,000 tweets, and Indian billionaire has become a Twitter phenom! He boasts a lively Twitter account, rich with regional and emerging markets flavor.

8. Jack Welch, founder of the Jack Welch Management Institute Welch has scored 1.4 million Twitter followers with myriad leadership and management insights, positive thinking and a whole lot about his passion for sports from this iconic CEO. 7. Jeff Immelt, CEO of GE Immelt boasts 78,637 LinkedIn influencer followers, and is an active blogger covering the “industrial internet,” shale, gas, environment and technology. He offers an enterprising global perspective.

6. Angela Ahrendts, CEO of Burberry Group & SVP-elect of Retail, Online Stores for Apple Ahrendts had infrequent but upbeat and interesting leadership tweets and LinkedIn posts. Tune-in to see whether she becomes one of the voices of Apple when she joins to lead online and retail stores in 2014.

5. Elon Musk, Chairman/CEO of Tesla Motors Musk has nearly 500,000 Twitter followers, and is an increasingly influential CEO who’s getting credit for his green vision for

One area where younger users distinguish themselves involves advertising in the tablet news space: 18-to 29-year-old tablet news users touch or click on ads when getting news to a far greater degree than older generations: Fully 25 percent versus 12 percent of 30- to 49-year-old tablet news users and 7 percent of 50- to 64-year-old users. On the flip side, though, mobile news users 50 and over are more likely to have paid for some kind of news subscription.

These data also examine which demographic groups tend to engage in other kinds of activities on their mobile devices. On both devices, for example, lower income households tend to watch more videos while women stand out as being more engaged in social media activities. And on smartphones, young people emerge as heavier readers of books and magazines.

Together, this research provides a window into emerging differences in how people use mobile devices for news and where news ranks among their other mobile activities.

Understanding these differences is important for news organizations and others in the mobile realm as they carve new pathways for content – and for revenue to support it as they continue to compete for audience share in the increasingly competitive digital media world.

motoring at Tesla. Covers how to push the boundaries and commercialize the future of automobiles and space travel.

4. Arianna Huffington, Group President, AOL & Huffington Post Huffington has some 1.5 million Twitter followers and more than 1 million LinkedIn influencer followers. She has an upbeat take on life, generally, and offers great tips on how to balance a productive and creative career.

3. Jeff Weiner, CEO LinkedIn Weiner is one of the most thoughtful leadership voices in Silicon Valley. He is intently focused on tech recruitment, social media and leadership. It’s not surprising he has nearly 1 million LinkedIn influencer followers.

2. Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo Mayer has nearly 500,000 Twitter followers and offers a great Silicon Valley stream that charts the progress of the turnaround at Yahoo. Mayer’s social media posts make great use of visuals and video via her Tumblr blog.

1. Richard Branson, Founder & CEO, Virgin Group Branson is still the social media king among top CEOs, with 3.7 million Twitter followers and nearly 5,000 tweets annually.

He offers an upbeat tone and good leader- Tarnished Golden Mic | Russia Crisis Is Dark ship material, and is an active blogger. Bran- Cloud Over Winter Olympics The Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia – son is the most followed influencer on LinkedIn and he also has the most posts which is just a little more than a month away with more than 100,000 views.

Mobile News Dominant In Digital Age In today’s digital domain, mobile news is grabbing headlines like never before. Fueling the latest trends in mobile news habits, men and the more highly educated have emerged as the more engaged news consumers, according to a new study by the Pew Research Center’s Project of Excellence in Journalism, in collaboration with The Economist Group.

The Future of Mobile News found that half of U.S. adults now own mobile devices and a majority use them for news. The reports are based on a survey of 9,513 U.S. adults.

Men, especially young men, are heavier mobile news consumers than women.

More than 40 percent of men get news daily on either their smartphone and/or tablet, compared with roughly 30 percent of women. On the tablet specifically, men check in for news more frequently and are more apt to read in-depth news articles and to watch news videos. Women, on the other hand, are more likely than men to use social networks as a way to get news.

Level of education is also tied to mobile news choices. The college-educated get news through mobile apps to a greater degree than those with less education (app use overall is tied to greater news engagement). College graduates are also heavy readers of in-depth articles on tablets. But the less well educated more often report that reading the news on tablets is adding to their overall news consumption rather than just replacing news they once got in other ways (49 percent versus 36 percent for college graduates).

– was supposed to be a gleaming beacon of sports solidarity, shining the spotlight on the world’s most talented athletes. Instead, two suicide bombings in the city of Volgograd less than 24 hours apart has raised security concerns and potentially given the Olympics a black eye. The games, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has staked his personal pride and spent $50 billion on, is certainly giving Russia another crisis to handle on the world stage. These latest attacks are Russia's deadliest in nearly three years, and Sochi's proximity to an area of conflict sets it apart from previous Olympic games. Early reports suggest the recent blasts were the work of Islamist terrorists from the volatile North Caucasus region. This is a very unfortunate PR nightmare, and needs some serious reputation repair before the games begin. For now, a very tarnished golden mic is the only accolade we can muster. Let’s hope the competitive image of the Winter Olympics soars higher than a ski jumper – and the luster of so many gleaming medals returns the reputation of the games to its rightful place with an adoring public.

Todd Smith is president and chief communications officer of Deane, Smith & Partners, a fullservice 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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January 10, 2014 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS:

TECHNOLOGY

They do it all » Mondopads are hot new office tool

By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

To hear salesmen tell it, the InFocus Mondopad sells itself. Described as a giant touch tablet for the conference room, the all-in-one computer with a multi-touch high-definition 55-inch or 70-inch display is being bought up by schools, law enforcement agencies and government departments for everything from in-house employee training to virtual field trips.

Sheriff ’s departments use the video connections for court proceedings instead of transporting prisoners to courtrooms. Professors teach classes remotely. Employees at different offices can collaborate in real time on projects. The list of possibilities for

these new white boards continues to grow.

The Mondopad comes with a price tag of around $6,000 for the 55-inch screen up to $10,000 for the 70-inch screen, according to salesmen.

Tarrien Williams, senior account manager with Adventure Technologies in Ridgeland, said the Mondopads have been in growing demand for the last couple of years. He points to the city of Jackson’s use of the integrated devices.

According to Venture Technology’s Customer Success Story on the company’s website, the city of Jackson uses InFocus Mondopads in the Public Works and Telecommunications departments.

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Sales are reported to be on the rise for the Mondopad, finding customers from local governments to law enforcement agencies as well as business and industry.

needs such as blocked streets, according to the company’s website testimonial. “Before, we had to wait until crews came back in to the office with their findings (for instruction). It was slow and inefficient,” said Fredrick Wilson, acting deputy director for Technology. “The crews now use iPads to send video and photos back to the Mondopad for upper management to review.

Using the Mondopad, management can markup photos with plans and dispatch trucks, equipment, and visual instructions quickly to the scene.”

Also, Wilson said, the Telecommunications Department, which controls 28 cell towers and the fiber throughout the city, relies heavily on maps. “They used to use paper maps that weren’t easy to view or markup. Now, with the Mondopad, they can markup maps on the screen and easily collaborate and plan before going out into the field,” he said.

Williams said the Mondopads have plenty of selling points including simplified communication among people and devices. “In the traditional conference room people bring their laptops and have to get it to work with other equipment. If there’s not tech person, there can be all kinds of problems.”

Enter the Mondopad, which even has its own email address, Williams said. Presentations can be shared, viewed and controlled from a notebook, tablet or smartphone and participants can make notes on a presentation that everyone can see. And the final product can be emailed instantly, “right there on the spot,” said

Williams. “This thing is impressive,” he said. “You can do a presentation, share with others, do video conferencing, it has a computer and Bluetooth.”

A strong selling point is the savings in travel. “Companies are looking for ways to reduce costs,” Williams said. Sharing documents on a Mondopad is secure and convenient. “You can see like you’re sitting across the table from them,” he said. “The Mondopad is in a league of its own. You don’t have to sell it.”

Next Step Innovation in Clinton, which offers electronics and IT services, has been selling Mondopads for a couple of years.

CFO Lanny Edgar said state agencies looking to cut travel costs are their biggest customers. Another selling point, he said, is outstanding video quality. “The days of the webcam and grainy picture are long gone,” said Edgar.

Chad Stewart, senior account executive with Next Step Innovation, said the Mondopad can be used for virtual field trips to such locations as the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science with presentations by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

James Griffiths, InFocus senior territory sales manager, said the Mondopad is fully integrated and as simple to operate as a little tablet. “It does everything with no other options required,” he said. “It’s an all in one tablet.” He said InFocus is “having trouble filling orders. Business is brisk. We’re pleased with the way the market has accepted the technology.”

TECHNOLOGY

January 10, 2014

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

11

Restaurant utilizes latest in IT management

By BECKY GILLETTE I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

It can be a major challenge to introduce new technology into restaurants, especially for tasks where there is already a tried and true “old-fashioned” method already in place. But the fast-growing restaurant chain Newk’s Eatery has embraced using technology to make it easier for work scheduling, handling inventory and closely tracking sales.

“Here at Newk’s, I’m lucky to work with very skilled owners and operators who are very much open to exploring ways that technology can improve upon or supplement the processes that are already in place,” said Adam Karveller, director of IT for Newk’s, which has grown to 66 locations since Karveller opening its first restaurant ten years ago in Oxford. “The owners themselves often play a key role in helping us test and refine new technologies prior to system wide roll out to ensure they’re supplementing and enhancing our operations.”

The goal of implementing new technology in their restaurants is to ensure that they are providing their operations teams with user friendly, information rich, easy to implement and accessible tools.

“We’re investing in and utilizing cloudbased technologies that allow our operations teams to remotely view sales, labor, inventory and productivity information remotely and in real time,” Karveller said.

“These technologies afford our support team at the home office, as well as the multi-unit operations and management team, access to information for every location in the system. The information from these systems allows our support team to work with every new and existing restaurant on areas of opportunity for growth or improvement. It also helps us to identify and share best practices that are used in the field, but have not yet become a standard within our system.”

Newk’s has found that the information provided by new technology solutions are instrumental in ensuring key information is available to traveling support team members, home office members and restaurant operators that aid in making key business decisions every day.

They are currently in the process of testing and piloting an online ordering system that will integrate with their point of sale system for a seamless ordering experience.

Online ordering for catering will have the following benefits: *It is far more convenient for customers to be able to view menu item information and place an order online rather than walk through a paper menu on the other end of the phone.

Photo courtesy of Newk’s

As Newk’s has grown, so has the need for new technology to manage the restaurants.

*The ability to obtain local pricing and menu information for any given location. *Compliantly stored payment information and previous order history is kept on file if so chosen, so that completing a recurring order is as simple as utilizing a repeat order function. *Group ordering by invitation will allow a single organizer to issue e-mail invites for a lunch meeting/event, allowing individuals to view the menu, choose their own meal and place their name on the order so that each item is clearly labeled and ready for the organizer when picked up at their restaurants.

The IT solutions also benefit hourly employees. Employees are able to request time off, swap shifts, check their schedule and communicate with other team members online. Schedules and shift notifiers can be retrieved on Smart Phone App, Web Browser, SMS message or on the phone via HotSchedules toll free service in two different languages.

“Hourly partners no longer have to wait for a busy manager to have a spare moment to request time off, find a posted schedule or update their availability to work,” Karveller said.

Management team benefits include various cloud-based technologies that allow access to mission critical data and key metrics from anywhere there is an Internet connection.

“Most of the technology we’re investing in also focuses on mobility and the ability to utilize and access our inventory control, scheduling, and key sales and labor metrics on the go from mobile devices such as smart phones and tablets,” Karveller said.

Providing access to their information systems through mobile devices allows them to simplify processes such as inventory by allowing a manager to divide up inventory counts to multiple mobile devices users, who are then each able to enter each location’s product counts in to the system simultaneously from their mobile device, updating the information in real time as they go. This saves teams time by eliminating ‘double work’ or the need to conduct a written count sheet and then head into the back office and re- enter their tal-

lies into software or spreadsheets.

The scheduling and labor management service (HotSchedules) allows their management team to communicate with their team members, enter and read shift notes, manage schedules, and review labor performances from a single portal.

“Because there are so many ways for our hourly partners to receive or make requested changes to their schedule online, it frees up our management team to focus on other tasks,” he said. “The real time availability and change notifications cut down on the number of phone calls, and

face-to-face inquiries from hourly partners related to current schedules and changes, and allow our management teams to focus on taking the best care of our customers.”

Newk’s is also using an eLearning suite which will allow its performance development and culture department to provide more training materials and courses that can be more widely and immediately accessed by employees, allowing for growth and improvement within their system.

Another way Newk’s takes good advantage of IT is their marketing team is actively engaged with customers through various social media channels to gather feedback about their experience, answer questions, provide information on new menu items, and even communicate to their guests which soups they can expect to be served in their restaurant that day.

“Social media has been a very valuable way to connect with our guests in each local market, and ensure that we’re meeting their expectations, answering their questions and providing them with the latest news about our menu or charity events their local Newk’s is participating in,” Karveller said.

Newk’s has plans for as many as 25 new restaurant openings scheduled for 2014, 30 for 2015 and 35 in 2016.

12 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 10, 2014

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES

Company

Address

Phone

Website

Year Founded

Top Officer

GulfPines Communications, LLC

12 Third St., Bay Springs, MS 39422

(877) 500-4853

www.gulfpines.com

1997

Wendell McCartney

Zero 3 Computers

1994 Kim Cv., Biloxi, MS 39531

(228) 219-9313

www.zero3computers.com

2003

Eric Oliver

Matrix Solutions Inc.

117A Millcreek Corners, Brandon, MS 39047

(601) 992-6789

www.matrixsolutions.com

1992

Michael Lenoir

Lane Tedder & Associates Inc.

5578 Hwy. 18, Brandon, MS 39042

(601) 824-9007

www.lane-tedder.com

1990

Bert Usry

Service Plus Communications

P.O. Box 420, Clinton, MS 39060

(866) 770-7754

serviceplus.net

2004

Steve Williams

NTS Communications

2506 Lakeland Dr., Ste. 100, Flowood, MS 39232

(601) 983-3800

www.xfoneusa.com

2005

Georgetown Telephone Company

1154 Railroad Ave., Georgetown, MS 39078

(601) 858-2211

www.gtlco.com

1986

Dusty Roberts

CompuSystems Inc.

1719 George Abraham Blvd., Ste. 1200, Greenville, MS 38703

(662) 335-2060

www.compusystemsinc.biz

1996

Gene Finley

Infinite Concepts Inc.

1365 E. Reed Rd., Greenville, MS 38703

(662) 335-3513

www.infiniteco.com

1998

Mark DiBiase

Upchurch Telecom & Data Inc.

10394 Hwy. 82 East, Greenwood, MS 38935-0301

(662) 455-1510

www.uptel.com

1992

Ron Upchurch, Anthony Upchurch

CCF Consulting Inc. (dba Mississippi.com)

2604 24th Ave., Gulfport, MS 39501

(228) 867-6008

www.ccfconsulting.com

2003

Chad Clarke

Universal ComOne, LLC

522 Pass Rd., Gulfport, MS 39507

(228) 863-4170

www.universalcomone.net

1984

Mike Fournier

2002

Bud Jones, Ryan Giles, Brian Alford

AGJ Systems & Networks Inc.

14257 Dedeaux Rd., Ste. A, Gulfport, MS 35903

(228) 392-7133

www.agjsystems.com

MegaGate Broadband

6184 Hwy. 98 W., Ste. 200, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

(601) 450-5000

www.megagate.com

1999

Kevin Pack

NetBase Technologies

5 Shoreline Blvd., Hattiesburg, MS 39402

(601) 264-1606

www.netbase-technologies.com

1986

Kenny Lance

Pileum Corporation

190 E. Capitol St., Ste. 175, Jackson, MS 39201

(601) 352-2120

www.pileum.com

2002

Jill Beneke

CDE Integrated Systems Inc.

6 Twelve Oaks Cir., Jackson, MS 39209

(601) 960-8500

www.cdelink.com

1982

Sound & Communications Inc.

5830 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39206

(601) 957-5830

www.soundandcom.com

1955

Black Box Jackson

3710 Lakeland Cv., Ste. M, Jackson, MS 39232

(601) 939-9051

www.blackbox.com

1976

Algie Broome

Enduser Inc.

3 Lakeland Cir., Jackson, MS 39216

(601) 981-2981

www.endusergroup.com

2003

Rob Perry

Systems I.T.

1855 Lakeland Dr., Ste. R-101, Jackson, MS 39216

(601) 914-4500

www.systemsit-ms.com

2002

Toni Cooley

Prominent Technologies, LLC

P.O. Box 5089, Jackson, MS 39296

(601) 427-1001

www.prominenttech.com

1999

Jackie Meck

AT&T Mississippi

201 E. Capitol St., Jackson, MS 39201

(800) 757-6500

www.att.com

1885

Mayo Flynt, III

TEC

236 E. Capitol St., Jackson, MS 39201

(800) 832-2515

www.tec.com

1923

Jody Fail, Bill Pinson, Shawn Giles, Allen McGregor

HiComp, LLC

6045 Ridgewood Rd., Ste. G, Jackson, MS 39211

(601) 859-7053

www.hicompllc.com

2006

Gary Crain

IBM Corporation

6360 I-55 N., Jackson, MS 39211

(601) 899-8684

www.ibm.com

1911

Sam Palmisano

EarthLink Business

1080 River Oaks Dr., Ste. B202, Jackson, MS 39232

(601) 709-2020

www.earthlinkcloud.com

1994

Rolla Huff

U.S.NEXT

6360 I-55 N., Jackson, MS 39211

(601) 956-4770

www.usnx.com

2001

David Crawford

Burton Computer Resources Inc.

400 N. 16th Ave., Laurel, MS 39440

(601) 426-8123

www.burtoncomputer.com

1995

Stan Burton

Infoware Inc.

509 Cobble Stone Ct., Madison, MS 39110

(601) 853-2301

www.infoware-inc.net

1994

Ray Lenow

Telpro Communications Co.

105 Lone Wolf Dr., Madison, MS 39110

(601) 856-1070

www.telpro.biz

1990

Ron Windom

Teleco Technology Solutions

P.O. Box 215, Madison, MS 39110

(601) 853-7616

www.teleco-ms.com

1993

Robert Phillips

Integrated Health Care Solutions

118 Homestead Dr., Madison, MS 39110

(601) 812-5900

www.ihealthcs.com

2007

Jody Harbour, Mike Smith, Bryan McFarland

NetLink Cabling Systems, LLC

102 Plantation Cv., Madison, MS 39110

(601) 856-0600

www.netlinkms.com

1998

Clint Gideon

ITG Consulting, LLC

302 17th St., Ste. B, Meridian, MS 39301

(601) 485-3991

www.itgconsulting.net

2003

Kelly Cluff

Black Box Ocean Springs

6911 Washington Ave., Ste. C, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

(228) 875-8183

www.blackbox.com

Jackson Communications Inc.

309 A Airport Rd., Pearl, MS 39208

(601) 932-7030

www.jacksoncom.com

1957

Bill Roberts, Jay Cole

Mid State Telephone

1032 Center Pointe Blvd., Pearl, MS 39208

(601) 936-8111

www.mstsc.us

1992

Ritchie Jones

Neopolis Technology Inc.

200 Morningside S., Ridgeland, MS 39157

(601) 790-0488

www.grassrootssystems.com

2002

Bruce Deer

C Spire Fiber

1018 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 400, Ridgeland, MS 39157

(877) 487-5500

www.cspirefiber.com

1999

Gregg Logan, Phil Rice

Tech Source Solutions Inc.

P.O. Box 2121, Ridgeland, MS 39158

(601) 914-6888

www.itech.ms

2004

Jared Grant

Bomgar Corporation

578 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ridgeland, MS 39157

(601) 519-0123

www.bomgar.com

2003

Joel Bomgar

thinkWEBSTORE.com

655 Lake Harbour Dr., Ridgeland, MS 39157

(601) 856-2000

www.thinkwebstore.com

2008

Bryan Carter

The Whit Group

403 Towne Center Blvd., Ste. 304, Ridgeland, MS 39157

(601) 607-3002

www.thewhitgroup.com

2009

Stuart Whitaker

Trinity Wave, LLC

P.O. Box 505, Ridgeland, MS 39158

(601) 856-5514

www.trinitywave.com

2008

Kevin Sims

BC3 Technologies, LLC

P.O. Box 1078, Ridgeland, MS 39157

(601) 454-1760

www.bc3technologies.com

2008

Alicia Barnes

C Spire Wireless

1018 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ridgeland, MS 39157

(601) 974-7725

www.cspire.com

1988

Hu Meena

InLine

405 Legacy Park, Ridgeland, MS 39157

(601) 956-8909

www.inline.com

1992

Venture Technologies

860 Centre St., Ridgeland, MS 39157

(601) 956-5440

www.ventech.com

1986

Gerard Gibert, Norman Katool Tony Bailey, Greg Latour, Tom Hinds

Business Communications Inc.

442 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ridgeland, MS 39157

(800) 748-6317

www.bcianswers.com

1993

Synergetics DCS Inc.

501 Hwy. 12 W., Ste. 100 , Starkville, MS 39759

(662) 323-9484

www.synergeticsdcs.com

1992

David Palmer

Lighthouse Web Designs, LLC

1020 N. Gloster St., #160, Tupelo, MS 38804

(662) 553-4777

www.LighthouseWebDesigns.com

2008

Richelle Anderson

Active DataComm Inc.

1203 Nelle St., Tupelo, MS 38801-3415

(662) 620-7996

www.callactive.com

2001

Johnny Fears

Gibens Creative Group

1014 N. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS 38804

(662) 844-9007

www.gibenscreativegroup.com

1999

Eric Gibens

Information for this list was provided by company representatives, and other reliable sources. Companies are organized by city. Please direct questions or comments to Wally Northway at research@msbusiness.com.

January 10, 2014

November 2013 sales tax receipts/year to date, July 1 MISSISSIPPI STATE TAX COMMISSION Here are cities’ earnings through sales tax collections. Sales tax has a three-month cycle. Month 1 — Tax is collected by the retailer. Month 2 — Tax is reported/paid to the Tax Commission by the retailer.

Month 3 — Sales tax diversion is paid by the Tax Commission to the cities. This report is based on the month the tax is collected at the Tax Commission (Month 2).

November November Year to date YTD CITY 2013 2012 2013 2012 ABBEVILLE $4,466.07 $3,853.48 $17,497.43 $23,724.76 ABERDEEN 53,711.62 67,183.89 322,432.62 342,939.00 ACKERMAN 22,422.52 22,537.37 113,120.48 116,527.91 ALCORN STATE U 907.99 1,123.14 3,212.02 3,921.45 ALGOMA 2,061.45 1,920.61 11,084.59 9,931.67 ALLIGATOR 553.01 807.11 3,715.16 3,572.30 AMORY 154,103.40 155,765.20 751,725.02 757,945.39 ANGUILLA 2,295.24 2,947.17 12,975.61 15,856.29 ARCOLA 1,513.45 1,634.04 7,690.63 8,195.32 ARTESIA 710.26 840.95 4,761.05 4,734.30 ASHLAND 13,092.39 10,045.82 65,886.25 59,274.85 BALDWYN 40,739.72 44,597.65 219,861.47 228,663.72 BASSFIELD 10,547.11 11,113.64 58,327.21 61,818.16 BATESVILLE 322,714.74 315,590.28 1,639,185.19 1,583,353.17 BAY SPRINGS 48,691.64 47,539.63 258,489.96 255,844.98 BAY ST LOUIS 98,677.18 95,359.49 536,140.64 481,623.71 BEAUMONT 5,572.10 5,830.06 29,935.54 30,831.30 BEAUREGARD 235.42 220.02 1,152.26 1,080.18 BELMONT 24,186.42 21,958.61 122,319.69 114,792.51 BELZONI 39,394.42 41,990.15 212,400.53 222,377.29 BENOIT 5,952.00 6,328.82 32,105.02 31,413.20 BENTONIA 29,750.81 17,558.97 159,360.54 75,382.96 BEULAH 431.45 410.43 2,047.06 1,977.22 BIG CREEK 348.13 318.52 1,655.39 1,938.13 BILOXI 893,133.59 875,991.11 4,776,760.59 4,593,272.65 BLUE MOUNTAIN 9,300.58 8,448.20 48,814.32 46,448.21 BLUE SPRINGS 4,242.94 2,676.99 15,627.48 13,153.73 BOLTON 12,966.55 9,435.32 61,725.35 54,363.83 BOONEVILLE 143,524.61 138,067.20 736,302.36 718,348.44 BOYLE 19,464.10 19,014.44 96,235.48 82,764.98 BRANDON 389,534.28 420,123.87 2,078,849.37 2,144,058.08 BRAXTON 1,245.42 1,156.29 6,448.22 5,401.18 BROOKHAVEN 440,049.77 427,082.94 2,290,234.63 2,107,435.36 BROOKSVILLE 10,125.66 8,052.68 46,839.11 43,376.48 BRUCE 41,507.45 41,011.63 205,652.31 200,173.80 BUDE 12,721.54 13,262.31 62,148.15 50,357.89 BURNSVILLE 11,137.76 10,401.41 58,868.75 59,078.45 BYHALIA 64,990.50 59,085.04 312,660.51 300,381.77 BYRAM 156,616.71 183,710.16 811,051.11 779,904.89 CALEDONIA 10,900.71 10,865.39 60,018.05 56,410.00 CALHOUN CITY 25,478.86 23,564.01 123,767.54 119,668.14 CANTON 207,849.43 205,597.41 1,037,680.95 1,031,021.55 CARROLLTON 6,029.10 5,904.99 29,997.45 28,863.42 CARTHAGE 126,672.43 125,753.09 646,634.09 639,906.45 CARY 2,443.32 3,085.73 8,450.40 CENTREVILLE 18,435.66 17,297.06 92,517.33 88,088.89 CHARLESTON 27,012.13 29,017.91 139,208.75 144,167.65 CHUNKY 686.02 491.33 4,365.77 2,777.93 CLARKSDALE 215,085.35 239,125.43 1,091,816.28 1,161,101.39 CLEVELAND 266,288.04 283,507.00 1,379,602.60 1,401,984.06 CLINTON 348,765.75 331,623.89 1,786,125.19 1,855,685.93 COAHOMA 527.35 445.11 2,685.98 2,033.39 COAHOMA COLLEGE 312.51 1,798.70 1,283.90 COFFEEVILLE 9,082.15 9,525.54 47,132.60 54,022.54 COLDWATER 15,804.98 17,378.35 85,085.78 84,124.81 COLLINS 111,501.79 103,673.19 554,279.22 550,100.39 COLUMBIA 284,953.16 277,878.34 1,403,316.91 1,343,953.10 COLUMBUS 702,848.26 671,477.89 3,488,941.58 3,495,842.24 COMO 12,411.48 13,740.25 71,209.62 71,044.77 CORINTH 468,906.99 428,145.65 2,296,165.01 2,207,115.43 COURTLAND 1,271.57 1,751.37 5,958.57 7,052.18 CRAWFORD 1,739.60 1,196.40 8,136.26 6,903.23 CRENSHAW 4,809.08 5,045.38 22,308.43 25,172.12 CROSBY 2,586.34 972.71 10,828.35 3,505.52 CROWDER 1,385.78 1,669.29 7,693.45 8,836.96 CRUGER 441.03 413.00 2,632.19 3,092.16 CRYSTAL SPRINGS 56,497.94 48,885.15 307,367.81 259,963.03 D'IBERVILLE 472,028.17 458,110.39 2,432,985.64 2,369,318.39 D'LO 3,205.33 2,915.31 16,305.89 15,667.81 DECATUR 12,875.97 11,158.55 63,695.56 60,233.36 DEKALB 18,799.20 20,196.79 101,553.06 97,687.73 DERMA 5,535.68 5,022.45 28,300.39 24,850.04 DIAMONDHEAD 35,550.60 37,839.83 184,780.23 198,707.42 DODDSVILLE 222.07 180.38 2,738.51 2,692.44 DREW 9,978.88 10,108.34 49,029.67 50,348.44 DUCK HILL 4,711.27 3,356.78 20,999.97 19,070.44 DUMAS 1,261.70 1,017.16 5,408.02 5,137.81 DUNCAN 367.14 809.90 4,728.66 4,903.64 DURANT 22,870.97 24,149.58 121,259.37 122,462.16 EAST MS COLLEGE 112.35 83.25 1,758.81 1,625.79 ECRU 11,554.83 10,568.35 61,746.88 53,445.17 EDEN 68.91 50.14 324.28 247.93 EDWARDS 6,402.32 5,901.64 39,457.57 29,370.03 ELLISVILLE 88,059.90 90,189.21 421,690.81 431,206.93 ENTERPRISE 4,915.25 4,827.98 25,413.17 24,928.58 ETHEL 1,027.15 1,087.48 5,388.97 5,587.58 EUPORA 36,330.99 33,927.19 175,336.40 176,316.04 FALCON 179.91 87.69 564.98 299.37 FARMINGTON 4,724.41 4,151.72 20,908.97 21,116.92 FAULKNER 4,003.23 3,419.22 38,856.15 16,580.51 FAYETTE 18,654.57 15,042.86 87,147.49 80,055.85 FLORA 27,045.69 24,368.91 128,459.87 130,324.89 FLORENCE 64,217.01 59,372.47 326,262.95 298,855.40 FLOWOOD 931,223.65 786,757.81 4,304,014.41 4,092,638.68 FOREST 178,555.92 160,119.70 908,677.34 852,316.20 FRENCH CAMP 1,194.94 369.63 5,003.87 5,533.96 FRIARS POINT 2,407.14 2,433.45 11,662.33 12,396.13

FULTON GATTMAN GAUTIER GEORGETOWN GLEN GLENDORA GLOSTER GOLDEN GOODMAN GREENVILLE GREENWOOD GRENADA GULFPORT GUNNISON GUNTOWN HATLEY HATTIESBURG HAZLEHURST HEIDELBERG HERNANDO HICKORY HICKORY FLAT HINDS COMMUNITY HOLLANDALE HOLLY SPRINGS HORN LAKE HOULKA HOUSTON INDIANOLA INVERNESS ISOLA ITTA BENA IUKA JACKSON JONESTOWN JUMPERTOWN KILMICHAEL KOSCIUSKO KOSSUTH LAKE LAMBERT LAUREL LEAKESVILLE LEARNED LELAND LENA LEXINGTON LIBERTY LONG BEACH LOUIN LOUISE LOUISVILLE LUCEDALE LULA LUMBERTON LYON MABEN MACON MADISON MAGEE MAGNOLIA MANTACHIE MANTEE MARIETTA MARION MARKS MATHISTON MAYERSVILLE MCCOMB MCCOOL MCLAIN MEADVILLE MENDENHALL MERIDIAN MERIGOLD METCALFE MISS. GULF COAST CC MISS. STATE UNIV. MISS. VALLEY STATE MIZE MONTICELLO MONTROSE MOORHEAD MORGAN CITY MORTON MOSS POINT MOUND BAYOU MT OLIVE MYRTLE NATCHEZ NETTLETON NEW ALBANY NEW AUGUSTA NEW HEBRON NEWTON NO. CARROLLTON NOXAPATER OAKLAND OCEAN SPRINGS OKOLONA OLIVE BRANCH OSYKA OXFORD PACE PACHUTA PADEN

118,243.82 130.94 158,220.27 3,497.82 2,126.34 427.20 12,015.46 5,092.94 2,720.84 486,488.76 352,473.83 322,562.90 1,558,079.68 683.61 14,328.10 428.99 1,767,446.68 98,803.47 28,359.89 242,359.48 3,721.18 5,381.93 716.17 13,313.09 93,709.75 307,823.22 8,579.97 80,253.50 160,587.68 5,238.90 2,920.42 12,864.67 61,940.03 2,633,241.71 3,572.16 648.33 5,759.65 155,139.62 3,502.74 7,319.06 2,578.25 830,457.61 25,907.76 422.50 39,016.54 1,635.19 37,069.12 18,855.26 112,136.43 2,592.12 617.21 147,032.43 165,214.55 3,394.40 13,123.18 5,382.37 6,352.67 49,746.11 499,019.46 164,427.86 30,092.72 15,889.17 2,737.01 4,014.68 16,316.85 19,013.61 14,760.07 507.48 435,471.15 1,109.02 5,336.88 9,211.64 54,211.59 1,220,705.20 6,684.25 1,463.85 534.50 29,989.91 3,478.74 13,732.11 36,587.72 786.36 8,305.14 629.72 38,948.78 140,825.58 2,796.30 8,334.99 4,642.73 476,855.75 24,400.82 230,397.27 14,040.80 8,220.50 81,803.69 3,357.26 7,975.47 4,990.42 399,378.71 22,117.64 647,585.88 4,891.69 704,501.78 530.74 1,598.17 171.10

114,571.40 129.32 177,440.72 3,233.02 1,556.61 328.87 10,953.84 4,522.85 3,242.96 527,849.93 346,394.36 318,334.76 1,534,592.76 802.06 15,300.30 473.71 1,662,963.58 99,609.04 36,463.73 225,257.92 3,982.52 5,686.04 706.70 13,705.02 98,404.43 301,724.35 7,643.96 83,839.71 130,125.36 5,159.28 2,085.52 11,556.17 58,697.92 2,527,750.08 3,635.12 706.37 5,978.96 158,953.61 3,601.42 6,820.56 2,764.84 746,308.28 21,391.70 459.29 39,768.20 1,575.30 37,484.63 19,492.04 111,358.69 2,298.64 562.43 140,360.20 159,418.35 3,341.45 14,438.38 4,767.91 5,933.85 52,644.83 463,254.16 154,684.34 32,945.72 15,834.62 3,267.42 4,728.96 15,653.25 19,847.40 14,812.56 594.04 424,720.84 462.55 5,326.18 10,912.17 48,292.09 1,170,129.42 6,737.70 1,092.41 809.01 27,899.00 1,068.56 10,288.00 34,829.41 178.86 8,613.84 640.32 37,536.59 130,690.78 2,695.17 7,335.75 3,730.33 443,017.45 21,432.08 229,075.86 14,538.90 6,560.87 81,733.40 2,688.08 8,467.80 5,624.30 376,281.29 23,258.13 601,997.24 5,228.47 611,477.41 559.05 1,840.35 160.21

595,081.19 639.41 925,958.83 17,873.00 10,298.83 2,193.40 60,263.40 21,151.86 18,710.44 2,501,746.54 1,785,783.94 1,679,068.40 8,104,984.04 3,976.93 78,261.14 2,218.43 8,753,438.59 505,869.56 155,493.05 1,212,984.68 19,699.99 26,453.46 4,246.83 70,766.76 501,576.68 1,621,547.66 41,202.62 398,907.71 802,828.76 25,027.31 12,096.79 58,341.07 328,596.11 13,267,820.75 19,391.30 3,194.74 29,117.16 810,850.55 18,112.24 34,017.78 19,818.26 4,016,930.41 133,854.20 2,313.16 234,692.85 8,585.41 196,852.64 95,605.61 565,502.82 12,212.28 4,645.45 744,384.82 811,832.40 16,867.35 71,906.80 24,632.07 29,452.52 242,543.18 2,564,780.98 811,784.48 166,656.82 84,129.80 12,083.78 23,191.37 88,083.80 99,016.18 76,045.47 3,042.30 2,219,795.22 13,591.67 29,752.52 50,563.40 285,916.11 6,166,672.52 34,617.69 5,672.32 2,881.43 117,013.01 4,168.42 79,943.79 189,867.13 2,753.53 42,681.79 3,105.04 204,017.18 731,006.03 19,254.79 38,275.61 22,618.43 2,227,367.91 129,216.69 1,176,314.60 75,234.32 38,512.66 420,870.83 16,662.27 42,944.19 27,948.77 1,871,750.78 121,945.17 3,275,811.16 26,024.20 3,061,799.79 2,783.36 9,217.44 1,316.30

581,285.66 597.49 923,012.25 17,662.77 8,308.33 1,731.55 55,570.83 21,376.60 17,904.57 2,532,396.53 1,769,698.40 1,623,327.83 7,862,103.36 3,829.34 75,248.16 3,078.89 8,385,679.94 517,081.54 172,911.87 1,147,793.95 19,651.10 29,573.96 3,998.22 71,687.16 487,090.72 1,581,606.97 40,335.41 416,524.45 757,498.08 26,885.00 9,189.60 59,665.71 340,345.58 12,788,277.02 18,858.33 4,626.90 28,802.35 808,613.30 18,505.48 34,392.38 16,073.90 3,705,463.03 115,094.78 2,369.23 230,462.88 7,661.98 185,678.24 95,808.09 555,672.01 11,617.48 4,941.60 708,618.95 775,757.10 16,347.33 73,201.40 26,505.40 32,011.56 248,908.18 2,346,537.56 805,969.33 170,062.84 83,675.03 13,807.45 23,526.40 80,758.70 99,888.26 77,209.67 2,677.60 2,134,319.32 2,452.42 28,802.37 50,438.59 246,589.37 5,840,898.15 34,648.74 5,506.12 2,553.76 129,747.78 4,194.33 51,495.36 189,212.15 2,848.47 49,295.39 3,024.22 189,694.33 667,221.13 25,059.46 41,242.16 18,251.01 2,164,374.02 117,260.79 1,149,245.10 79,357.80 35,811.46 416,077.77 14,332.48 45,773.17 29,196.72 1,863,883.41 121,722.44 3,072,070.24 28,625.42 2,845,458.58 2,859.52 9,133.75 764.99

I

PASCAGOULA 457,271.35 PASS CHRISTIAN 98,486.30 PAULDING 168.02 PEARL 710,418.90 PELAHATCHIE 28,825.18 PETAL 179,071.98 PHILADELPHIA 305,615.78 PICAYUNE 326,502.49 PICKENS 7,360.41 PITTSBORO 390.64 PLANTERSVILLE 4,331.14 POLKVILLE 613.10 PONTOTOC 191,669.69 POPE 2,335.61 POPLARVILLE 52,792.72 PORT GIBSON 19,515.17 POTTS CAMP 8,104.78 PRENTISS 35,469.32 PUCKETT 7,011.05 PURVIS 60,434.98 QUITMAN 44,765.50 RALEIGH 16,324.19 RAYMOND 16,863.98 RENOVA 2,345.47 RICHLAND 416,224.60 RICHTON 22,171.58 RIDGELAND 1,048,047.58 RIENZI 3,900.65 RIPLEY 97,783.30 ROLLING FORK 40,205.61 ROSEDALE 9,239.07 ROXIE 1,466.64 RULEVILLE 19,801.26 SALLIS 2,060.94 SALTILLO 50,302.66 SANDERSVILLE 59,127.45 SARDIS 23,988.56 SATARTIA 403.80 SCHLATER 857.17 SCOOBA 6,737.72 SEBASTAPOL 15,684.17 SEMINARY 11,206.21 SENATOBIA 165,665.50 SHANNON 12,567.85 SHAW 5,732.86 SHELBY 9,484.08 SHERMAN 9,601.30 SHUBUTA 4,052.16 SHUQUALAK 2,121.54 SIDON 855.17 SILVER CITY 406.59 SILVER CREEK 3,319.29 SLATE SPRINGS 309.65 SLEDGE 1,918.45 SMITHVILLE 6,136.36 SNOWLAKESHORES 441.78 SOSO 12,209.35 SOUTHAVEN 1,048,928.13 SOUTHWEST MS CC 112.45 STARKVILLE 485,681.71 STATE LINE 9,463.54 STONEWALL 6,591.10 STURGIS 2,665.37 SUMMIT 31,912.66 SUMNER 5,524.98 SUMRALL 38,576.37 SUNFLOWER 1,838.68 SYLVARENA 119.93 TAYLOR 2,680.02 TAYLORSVILLE 24,166.16 TCHULA 7,835.24 TERRY 25,479.38 THAXTON 3,238.67 THE UNIV. OF MS 47,987.67 TISHOMINGO 8,031.03 TOCCOPOLA 593.82 TREMONT 1,546.96 TUNICA 48,421.05 TUPELO 1,430,920.19 TUTWILER 3,901.05 TYLERTOWN 54,960.73 UNION 28,121.45 UTICA 11,371.03 VAIDEN 8,987.85 VARDAMAN 12,103.91 VERONA 17,885.12 VICKSBURG 644,919.51 WALLS 4,803.36 WALNUT 15,859.65 WALNUT GROVE 6,602.92 WALTHALL 1,933.67 WATER VALLEY 41,086.06 WAVELAND 160,769.51 WAYNESBORO 166,130.87 WEBB 7,509.39 WEIR 2,041.57 WESSON 14,203.68 WEST 1,677.76 WEST POINT 189,704.22 WIGGINS 141,247.55 WINONA 77,954.26 WINSTONVILLE 196.81 WOODLAND 6,509.75 WOODVILLE 28,851.83 YAZOO CITY 145,551.21 TOTAL $33,283,568.38

Mississippi Business Journal 464,672.88 86,931.81 90.47 664,755.27 24,966.63 172,477.19 284,886.91 334,304.18 7,481.17 368.89 3,564.52 989.31 174,055.13 3,759.85 54,768.11 19,124.86 8,489.60 33,598.20 8,682.51 55,817.26 43,421.29 15,830.73 16,434.89 2,474.22 441,891.61 24,031.83 966,008.43 2,800.59 98,740.49 46,155.31 9,967.15 1,458.13 18,494.09 2,225.74 62,540.81 103,364.16 23,936.37 448.07 1,035.57 6,062.68 15,135.24 10,513.45 150,936.40 14,078.18 5,322.53 9,376.84 7,586.93 3,347.57 1,584.18 816.84 409.41 3,100.11 459.76 1,630.32 5,654.52 127.65 20,135.31 945,855.00 43.48 470,242.97 8,061.38 6,122.00 2,576.10 32,083.51 4,443.73 34,452.05 2,425.45 360.57 2,351.54 23,704.15 6,989.04 22,401.08 2,687.38 28,138.98 8,167.82 524.51 1,438.23 42,286.67 1,398,837.76 3,966.59 53,610.42 27,634.52 12,224.56 10,512.61 10,403.26 19,234.01 599,117.14 2,988.86 16,143.32 6,126.70 1,742.81 39,949.80 180,083.47 184,479.11 7,755.78 2,230.95 13,202.88 1,257.79 174,037.51 137,125.87 83,272.01 291.01 4,891.77 25,431.29 146,412.44 $32,052,355.47

I

13

2,270,752.91 2,162,391.80 472,756.28 453,937.87 733.33 535.48 3,611,460.98 3,391,686.15 159,989.25 134,568.78 935,684.52 868,942.54 1,656,486.53 1,551,127.62 1,743,267.07 1,666,804.73 37,463.06 39,718.66 2,181.07 2,343.04 19,567.66 18,219.09 2,277.62 2,306.08 937,099.69 885,605.14 11,978.63 19,102.89 277,487.40 258,890.59 98,344.65 96,924.95 38,326.88 45,669.28 179,943.91 172,192.00 45,799.94 44,586.56 302,795.99 279,531.95 229,595.23 211,079.86 86,692.72 81,163.38 82,915.26 82,826.03 13,613.94 14,509.53 2,100,750.27 1,920,279.80 129,099.72 126,754.75 5,108,954.97 4,782,768.79 19,520.28 12,499.06 489,773.04 504,025.44 188,083.68 177,688.88 45,627.55 49,444.89 7,654.63 6,813.35 98,663.95 95,483.66 10,266.03 11,079.88 273,332.76 300,607.78 337,000.02 315,576.12 122,888.04 121,802.18 1,823.86 2,105.88 5,429.87 4,955.19 30,644.63 35,053.18 78,071.01 74,915.59 58,384.82 55,102.94 825,547.37 750,780.29 61,309.93 76,194.38 33,016.67 31,369.63 45,396.67 47,988.89 58,622.90 57,096.41 19,540.16 17,183.93 10,164.24 9,277.76 4,309.61 3,894.99 1,905.49 1,908.37 15,177.37 14,817.13 1,083.32 1,324.92 8,560.73 7,855.90 28,494.12 28,203.45 2,043.75 630.89 60,534.49 64,917.81 5,060,398.05 4,947,330.78 454.11 1,309.63 2,452,136.81 2,327,371.29 51,108.74 43,212.14 34,112.97 32,386.88 13,920.06 24,236.99 172,965.52 158,797.50 23,720.78 23,731.27 186,267.42 171,639.14 10,848.81 11,292.91 1,280.62 1,693.51 10,476.32 9,839.96 125,748.41 123,957.52 37,373.06 35,791.76 121,318.93 119,664.23 18,333.51 14,976.60 111,271.26 95,618.15 43,017.83 42,031.72 2,762.57 2,815.38 9,452.37 9,087.39 229,291.98 207,294.58 7,217,081.22 7,157,122.35 20,283.38 19,125.35 268,889.07 266,350.37 144,695.69 143,098.16 62,333.07 60,063.11 45,906.52 52,875.78 52,429.90 54,096.83 94,978.92 98,384.51 3,139,060.40 3,050,687.26 24,476.52 18,111.48 82,368.67 83,876.32 31,501.31 31,726.38 9,580.44 9,749.59 199,262.85 200,775.05 890,808.75 876,343.29 859,476.53 853,260.12 45,636.65 41,687.37 10,665.57 11,754.89 70,430.82 73,319.22 8,736.24 7,912.60 907,955.37 867,528.48 725,414.08 693,211.31 415,917.74 434,926.40 1,084.90 1,749.04 30,080.26 27,201.59 142,397.51 129,803.89 705,834.52 737,597.01 $167,403,684.22 $161,600,295.77

DeSoto 5.0

14 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 10, 2014

Tunica 10.4

MISSISSIPPI’S NOV. UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES

Tate 7.4

Oct ’13 1,276,800 105,900 8.5 8.3 1,170,900

Nov ’12 1,329,000 105,700 9.0 8.0 1,223,300

’12 Avg. 1,333,100 122,100 xxx 9.2 1,211,000

Yalobusha 8.5

Bolivar 9.2

Nov ‘13 155,046,000 10,271,000 7.0 6.6 144,775,000

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Unemployment Insurance Data •• Initial UI Claims Continued Claims Benefits Paid Weeks Paid First Payments Final Payments Average Weekly Benefit

Oct ’13 154,918,000 10,773,000 7.3 7.0 144,144,000

Nov 2013 10,428 77,815 $10,785,328 57,654 3,421 1,831 $187.07

Nov ’12 154,953,000 11,404,000 7.8 7.4 143,549,000

’12 Avg. 154,975,000 12,506,000 xxx 8.1 142,469,000

Oct 2013 9,994 87,951 $11,866,735 63,846 4,047 1,855 $185.86

Leflore 10.8

Tishomingo 8.9

Carroll 8.2

Montgomery 9.9

Humphreys 12.4

Holmes 14.4

Monroe 11.5

Clay 16.8 Lowndes 8.9

Oktibbeha 7.3

Choctaw 9.0

Winston 10.7

Attala 9.6

Yazoo 9.8

Issaquena 9.0

Itawamba 8.0

Chickasaw 11.1

Webster 11.0

Washington 13.0

Moving Avg.** 155,431,000 11,615,000 xxx 7.5 143.816,000

Leake 8.6

Neshoba 6.1

Scott 5.5

Newton 6.7

Noxubee 13.9

Kemper 11.4

Madison 5.4 Warren 8.8 Rankin 4.6

Hinds 6.9

Claiborne 12.3

Adams 7.4

Wilkinson 10.2

Franklin 9.2

Lincoln 7.3

Amite 8.8

Pike 8.9

Covington Jones 6.2 5.5

Walthall 9.3

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

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

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

— Mississippi Department of Employment Security

Office Space for Rent

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in downtown Jackson

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Marion 9.1

Lamar 5.5

Pearl River 7.3

Hancock 7.4

Lauderdale 8.1

Clarke 8.3

Wayne 9.4

Lawrence Jeff Davis 8.3 9.3

Unemployment Rates ates 4.6 - 5.4 5.5 - 8.6 8.7 - 12.5 12.6 - 16.8

Jasper 7.9

Smith 7.1

Simpson 6.6

Copiah 7.5

Jefferson 13.6

Nov 2012 13,334 96,709 $12,743,745 68,716 4,604 2,047 $185.46

Calhoun 8.9

Grenada 7.9

Sunflower 12.5

Lee 7.8

Pontotoc 7.6

Quitman 11.1

Coahoma 11.1

Moving Avg.** 1,306,700 116,700 xxx 8.9 1,190,000

Lafayette 5.2

Sharkey 10.0

UNITED STATES Labor Force Data Civilian Labor Force Unemployed Unemployment Rate (Adjusted) Unemployment Rate (Unadjusted) Employed

Alcorn 7.0

Tippah 9.3 Union 6.4

Tallahatchie 10.2

Nov ‘13 1,281,000 97,500 8.3 7.6 1,183,500

Benton 10.1

Prentiss 8.3

Panola 9.8

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

Marshall 8.5

Forrest 6.5

Perry 8.0

Stone 7.0

Harrison 7.2

Greene 9.7

George 7.9

Jackson 8.3

Source: Labor Market Data Publication November 2013 Design: Labor Market Information Department, MDES

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January 10, 2014

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

15

» MISSISSIPPI LEADERS by Martin Willoughby

Business in the veins Injury leads Manning into entrepreneurship

A

s we enter adulthood and get on our career paths, we don’t often take time to reflect on our choices and trajectory in life. I analogize it to being in a river with a strong current.

We can get swept along in a career without really stopping to consider if it is the path we really want to be on. In my work as a business advisor, I often consult with business owners and other professionals to take a “time out” and really consider their journey. Sometimes our timeouts are unplanned, and I was recently reminded of this in my interview this week with Dr. Mike Manning, who is the founder and owner of Mississippi Vein Institute.

Manning grew up on a cotton farm in Drew, Miss., and went on to complete his education and medical training at Mississippi State, the University of Mississippi Medical Center and Wake Forest. For 13 years he was a practicing anesthesiologist and served as president of the Mississippi Society of Anesthesiologists and president of Physicians Anesthesia Group. However, in 2007 his life took an unexpected turn.

He suffered a severe left ankle fracture, which involved 100 days in an external fixator, and he was unable to practice anesthesia for four months. He noted, “It was during that time that I began formulating the idea that would become Mississippi

Up Close With ... Dr. Mike Manning Title: Founder and owner of Mississippi Vein Institute Favorite Books: “ Iam an avid reader. I am usually reading several books at once. I love history so I prefer non-fiction. I read books and articles relative to the work that I do at Mississippi Vein. I enjoy reading books written by Malcolm Gladwell.”

First Job: “Working on our cotton farm.”

Proudest Moment as a Leader: “I am proudest of the incredible talented staff that I have been able to assemble within Mississippi Vein.”

Hobbies/Interests: Weightlifting, hunting and reading

Vein. I always had the spirit of an entrepreneur, but practicing anesthesia provided me no way of realizing it.”

His time in the external fixator was very challenging. Manning candidly noted, “If you had told me at the time that something really good was going to come out of that experience, it would have been a pretty tough sale. But, the Lord works in mysterious ways.” During this time, Manning connected with Dr. John Kingsley of Alabama Vascular and Vein, who was an

early leader in endovenous laser ablation.

Manning noted, “John took a very personal interest in me and things moved very fast because of my relationship with him.

John taught me the technical side of providing vein treatments, but it was my wife, Scarlette, who mastered the business side of the vein business.”

Manning spent the next year and a half practicing anesthesia full time and building Mississippi Vein at night and on the weekends. He said, “100-hour work weeks were

“I always had the spirit of an entrepreneur...”

Dr. Mike Manning

the norm for me during those days, but that is what it took to get Mississippi Vein off the ground.” He struggled with the timing to leave and go full time into his new business, but when he Martin Willoughby considered the patient feedback they were getting, he knew it was time to go, so he left anesthesia for good on 9/15/2009. Since then, Mississippi Vein has grown rapidly expanding to 15 employees, another physician, and re-locating into new space in Madison.

The clinic now serves patients from all over the state and surrounding states.

Manning’s advice to other leaders and entrepreneurs is to be passionate about what you are doing and maintain a sense of excitement and a sense of urgency. He also wisely noted, “Become an absolute expert in your chosen endeavor and never stop learning.” Manning also believes in the importance of having a great team. He emphasized, “Hire the very best staff that you can afford and value them; they will be the very best business investment that you will ever make.

Manning’s passion is contagious, and he certainly is a great example of how you can make a very successful mid-career shift to follow your dreams.

While the path is never easy, it absolutely can be done with hard work, focus, and the right team around you.

Martin Willoughby is a business consultant and regular contributing columnist for the Mississippi Business Journal. He serves as Chief Operating Officer of Butler Snow Advisory Services, LLC and can be reached at martin.willoughby@ butlersnow.com.

Mississippi Vein Institute

A new look at the world of sales

Q

» To Sell Is Human: The Surprising Truth About Moving Others

By Daniel H. Pink Published by Riverhead Book $16.00 softback

uick, answer the following question: “Are you in sales?” Unless your profession involves selling insurance, or cars, or something else specific, you’re likely to answer this question with a resounding “no.” But not so fast, according to best-selling author Daniel Pink’s newest book, To Sell Is Human. In it, he argues persuasively that though the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that one-in-nine Americans are in sales, the other eight of us actually are, too.

Using colorful anecdotes to personalize the points he’s making (including the story of the last working Fuller Brush Man in existence), Pink walks us through how economic and societal changes that began in the last century have affected how we define a “salesman.” To start, where formerly there was an information asymmetry in favor of the salesman, now thanks largely to the mass of information available online, the balance of power has shifted to the consumer. Consumers are better

informed about their choices and what they want to pay for them than ever before. A car salesman or an appliance salesman has to be ready for this, knowing that there’s a good chance the person walking through their doors has done extensive research and can’t be “sold” in a traditional way.

The larger point, though, that leads Pink to determine that nearly all of us are selling in one way or another is the growth of small businesses. In smaller companies, roles and job responsibilities are by necessity fluid. The founder of a small busi-

ness has to be able, for instance, to convince venture capital firms to invest in his company, to convince banks to loan him money, to convince stores to stock what he’s producing, and to convince his employees to remain engaged and loyal.

It’s this act of “moving” someone to part with something in exchange for what you’re offering — whether you’re asking them to part with time or attention or shelf space or actual money — that Pink’s referring to as “selling” in the new economic landscape. And just about all of us are doing it in one way or another, whether you’re trying to convert co-workers in a meeting to your way of thinking or even trying to talk your kids into finishing their homework.

Pink provides lots of practical guidance and tools in his book for those of us interested in improving our ability to move others and sell effectively. And if you still think you’re not actually in sales, this book might just surprise you.

— LouAnn Lofton, mbj@msbusiness.com

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