MBJ_Jan17_2014 by Journal Inc

INSIDE — The last FEMA project

www.msbusiness.com

January 17, 2014 • Vol. 36, No. 3 • $1 • 28 pages

IT’S MARDI GRAS TIME

GOOD YIELDS, BAD PRICES

Valley selects Briggs

» Agriculture impacted by weaker market

Mississippi Valley State University has appointed Dr. Jerryl Briggs as executive vice president/COO. Briggs brings over 25 years of professional experience in higher education administration.

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

More newsmakers, P 8

Local Biz {P 2} » Hollywood Feed is running with the big dogs with the making of its pet beds and new stores Around the state {P 10} » Rising optimism along the Tenn-Tom Waterway Lists {P 19} » Largests Banks

ROYAL DEMAND MBJ Double Focus {P 15}

» Nonprofits » Banking & Finance

Carnival design is a year-long job

For farmers, 2013 was a year to remember, though not all of those memories are good ones. For the 19th consecutive year, poultry rang in as the top commodity in Mississippi, and forest products saw a bounce-back year, regaining the number two spot of Mississippi’s top commodity list. However, many commodities — including corn and soybeans — saw market prices that could not offset costs even as yields set new state records. John Michael Riley, agricultural economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said the major difference between 2013 and the prior year were agronomic crop prices. “In 2012, when most of the nation’s farmland was experiencing a major drought, Mississippi farmers were able to produce very good yields,” Riley said. “While yields were down across the country, our growers were able to capitalize on the higher prices.” Riley estimated agricultural commodity values for 2013 compared to the previous year and the ﬁve-year average. The estimated $7.35 billion is 4 percent less than 2012’s total value, but 11 percent more than the ﬁve-year average. Soybeans are a good example of what many farmers faced in 2013. Farmers are expected to have harvested

» Page 4

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

See

AG, Page 12

2 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014 BUSINESS PROFILE

Running with the big dogs » Hollywood Feed taking small-store feel to national level BY WALLY NORTHWAY I STAFF WRITER wally.northway@msbusiness.com

An executive who cut his teeth in corporate America grows disillusioned with bigbox stores and buys a local mom-and-pop with the goal of growing it into a large, national concern to compete against the very stores he dislikes. That might sound a little strange, but Shawn McGhee, proprietor of Hollywood Feed, a pet supply retailer based in Memphis with strong Mississippi ties, is convinced he has struck on a winning business strategy. “I am looking to create a company that will stand for the ages — the next AutoZone,” McGhee said. The Hollywood Feed story began some 70 years when a feed store opened on Hollywood Street in mid-town Memphis in the 1950s. Over the course of the next 60 years, the business left the feed business and went into pet supplies, dubbing itself Hollywood Pet Store, while growing to multiple locations. McGhee would discover Hollywood Pet Store after moving to Memphis as executive vice president with AutoZone. A pet owner, he grew frustrated from the lack of service and quality of products offered by big-box pet supply stores in the Memphis area. Looking for an alternative, he stumbled upon Hollywood Pet Store. “When I founded Hollywood Feed I had no idea of the history, but I liked the relaxed talkative folks whom you knew you could trust,” McGhee said.

He also found a company in distress. Seeing an opportunity to use his background in national retailing, McGhee purchased six stores and a warehouse in 2006 and renamed the company Hollywood Feed. His idea — to grow the McGhee company’s footprint nationally while maintaining a small-store feel — has paid dividends. Hollywood Feed’s services now not only include pet food/snacks, but also grooming, toys, apparel, vaccinations, training classes and pet adoptions. Today, the company has locations in Alabama (four), Arkansas (three), Tennessee (11) and Mississippi. Hollywood Feed, which focuses exclusively on dog and cat products and services, opened its first Mississippi location five years ago in Olive Branch and has subsequently established stores in Oxford, Ridgeland and Flowood with more on the planning table. But the Mississippi connection has evolved beyond retailing. Hollywood Feed once offered pet beds from a company run part-time by a couple of Jackson residents. Deciding to get out of the business, the owners approached McGhee about buying their existing inventory a couple of years ago. “I told them yes, but I was also interested in their business, the pet bed manufacturing process,” McGhee remembered. This led the Hollywood Feed team to

Special to The Mississippi Business Journal

The manufacturing of the pet beds in Verona has meant much needed work for local cut-and-sew employees.

Special to The Mississippi Business Journal

Shawn McGhee says the demand for Hollywood Feed’s Mississippi-made pet beds “has exploded,” and he and his team are looking to ﬁnd more markets for both their products and their stores.

Northeast Mississippi to look at prospective manufacturers to make its pet beds. The company would eventually choose a Verona cut-and-sew operation as its partner, receiving its first big load of beds in September 2012. McGhee said the Verona plant made sense because its trucks running between Memphis and Huntsville, Ala., could pick up the pet beds, which carry “Mississippi Made Products” on the label, for distribution to its stores. He added that his team felt good that they could give the Verona economy a boost. Cut-and-sew operations in the region have been negatively impacted by offshoring, and the jobs are important to the community. “When our team at Hollywood Feed set out to create a line of dog beds, we wanted them made right here at home,” McGhee said in one of Hollywood Feed’s TV ads. “I was told no one manufactures in the U.S. any more — that it was crazy. We can make the beds cheaper in China, but that’s not who we are…our commitment to creating

local jobs is strong. People in this area needed work, and we had a tall order for them — great dog beds manufactured in the very neighborhoods we serve.” Now, Hollywood Feed is looking to take that community-focused philosophy and its strategy of giving customers a smallstore experience to the national level. The company’s goal is to open 25 stores over the next 10 years, and Hollywood Feed, which employs roughly 150 workers across its locations, is currently looking at more sites in the greater Jackson area for retail locations. The company is also exploring Texas and the Dallas market as well as more stores in Birmingham, Ala., and Memphis. It follows the trend at Hollywood Feed. Since McGhee purchased the company, it has seen a growth rate of between 40 percent and 50 percent annually, and the company’s pet bed business “We are essentially doubling in size every two years. It has been a fun ride,” McGhee said.“ For more on Hollywood Feed, visit www.hollywoodfeed.com.

January 17, 2014

EDUCATION

Belhaven online ranked in U.S. News’ Top 100 For the second consecutive year, Belhaven University Online won a ranking among the “Best Online Education Program” by U.S. News & World Report. Belhaven ranked 74th for its bachelor degree program among all national colleges and universities both public and private. Belhaven is tied with the University of Nebraska and is within the top 100 spots with institutions such as the University of Florida, Arizona State University, the University of Missouri, and St. John’s University. Belhaven has achieved national distinction for its on-ground programs in the arts, science, and education and intends to do the same with its cyber educational offerings, said Dr. Roger Parrott, president of Belhaven University. “When we designed our online program, we would not launch them until we were positive we could do it right. Belhaven Online must have the same level of quality and integrity as our on-ground programs, while still allowing students the flexibility to balance the many demands of life. We hit the mark - and I'm thrilled that our aiming high has paid off for the second year in a row with national recognition by U.S. News & World Report," he said. Belhaven offers 13 online degree programs, all grounded in a Christian worldview curriculum. Offered are associate, bachelors, and graduate degrees in subjects including business, education, health administration, sports administration, public administration, and leadership. Factors used to compute the rankings this year include retention rates, graduation rates, and the indebtedness of students upon graduation. Online bachelor’s degree programs were ranked in three different categories: student engagement and assessment, faculty credentials and training, and student services and technology. People with a bachelor's degree earn 84 percent more than those with only a high school diploma over the span of their lifetime. The flexibility of online education is an increasingly popular choice for working adults that seek to balance their work, family, and educational goals. Data was collected from both for-profit and notfor-profit schools. There is no distinction between the two in the rankings.

University Business from hundreds of nominations submitted by readers. Winners were selected based on both the quantity of nominations and the quality of the nominees’ testimony of the product. “The fact that we saw an increased response in the second year of this recognition program is a testament to the interest that higher ed leaders have in products for improving educational outcomes and operational efficiencies,” says JD Solomon, editorial director of University Business. “All of the honorees in our Top Products program should be very proud of their achievement.” The complete list of products have been announced online and in the January 2014 issue of University Business.

TECHNOLOGY

Oxford to host Startup Weekend on Feb. 7 Innovate Mississippi’s Startup Weekend Mississippi statewide tour will continue this year, beginning Feb. 7-9 in Oxford for the first time. The event will be held at the Innovation Hub at Insight Park on the University of Mississippi campus. Startup Weekends are intense 54-hour events that operate worldwide, bringing together serial entrepreneurs, programmers, developers, graphic artists and business-minded people to build and

Mississippi Business Journal

develop software and internet-based business concepts. Startup Weekend Mississippi events are organized by Innovate Mississippi and powered by the Kauffman Foundation. “This event is an excellent opportunity for those in the Oxford area to participate in a high-performance startup environment and vet ideas and implement plans — all during a weekend,” said Tony Jeff, president and CEO of Innovate Mississippi, said in a news release. Visit www.oxford.startupweekend.org for more information and to purchase tickets, which include all events and meals for the weekend. Students receive 50 percent off ticket prices. Follow all Startup Weekend Mississippi events on Twitter via @SWmississippi. — from staff and MBJ wire services

Medley & Brown, LLC is proud and honored to be named once again

“Top Performer” in

Lipper MarketPlace Best Money Managers.*

MEDLEY & BROWN, LLC F I N A N C I A L

A D V I S O R S

www.medleybrown.com 795 Woodlands Parkway, Suite 104, Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-982-4123 U 1-800-844-4123

EDUCATION

Magazine honors Bomgar for education products JACKSON — Bomgar has been selected as a University Business Readers’ Choice Top Product for 2014. Its second consecutive year to receive this recognition, the Bomgar solution is deployed by more than 675 colleges and universities around the globe. The annual University Business Readers’ Choice Top Products award recognizes the Joel Bomgar most innovative products in higher education. This prestigious list informs university leaders and administrators about the products their colleagues around the country are using to help their schools excel. The winners were selected by the editors of

L to R: Tim Medley, Eddie Carlisle, Julius Ridgway, Doug Muenzenmay * In Lipper MarketPlace’s International Balanced/Multi-Asset category, Medley & Brown’s Balanced Composite placed eighth out of 82 for the quarter, fifth out of 74 for four quarters, fourth out of 49 for 12 quarters and ninth out of 29 for 20 quarters, all periods ending September 30, 2013. All client portfolios invested primarily in mutual funds with an allocation of 18% or more in cash and bonds are included in Medley & Brown’s Balanced Composite. All client accounts with managed individual stocks are included in Medley & Brown’s Focused Equities Composite. Performance figures reflect the average time-weighted return for all portfolios included in our composites. Performance data includes reinvestment of dividends and capital gains distributions and changes in principal value. The larger a portfolio is in relation to others in the composite, the more weight its performance will have in the composite’s time-weighted return. For several reasons including, but not limited to, asset allocation and investment choices, the performance of individual portfolios in a composite may vary significantly with some higher and some lower than the average. Investment returns and values of client accounts fluctuate such that at any time an account’s value may be worth more or less than the total payments into the account. Because accounts may contain both U.S. and international securities, results will depend on both management performance and underlying market and economic conditions throughout the world. Lipper MarketPlace Best Money Managers are compiled from a quarterly survey of investment management organizations and portfolio composites. Performance is calculated “net” of management fees and brokerage commissions, inclusive of cash and in U.S. dollars. Results are calculated on a minimum asset base of at least $10 million for “traditional” U.S. asset classes (equity, fixed income, balanced accounts) and $1 million for all international and for “alternative” U.S. asset classes. Only categories/time period combinations for which there are at least 20 contenders are published. Lipper is a Thomson Reuters company. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

4 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014 ON THE COAST

MORE PHOTOS » View more photos of Carter Church’s work and his studio at www.msbusiness.com Photos by LISA MONTI / The Mississippi Business Journal

IN ROYAL DEMAND » Being a Carnival designer is a year-long occupation By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

Carter Church’s talents as a costume designer keep him busy working with Carnival krewes in Mississippi and Louisiana all year long. “I’ve always enjoyed Mardi Gras,” the Jackson-born and New Orleans-raised Church said. “It’s a fun time, and it’s fun to watch somebody transformed from one life to somebody else.” But the creative demands under deadlines have given Church what he jokingly calls a seasonal ulcer. “In November, the ulcer starts kicking up, but once Mardi Gras is over, it settles down,” said Church, who has lived and worked in Bay St. Louis for the last 27 years. He began his career as an after-school and weekend helper to a neighbor who made headpieces for the all-female Krewe of Iris. When the neighbor abruptly left for a job in New York, the Iris captain looked

to Church for help. “She asked me to finish up and I did,” he said. Soon Church was asked to make the men’s costumes for the krewe and again he agreed. “I figured I’d bluff my way through it,” he said. That was 53 years ago. “I’ve been doing Iris costumes ever since.” Church attended design school in New York briefly and when he came home to New Orleans to recover from an emergency appendectomy, he never returned to school, instead building his design career among local Carnival organizations. The Krewe of Nereids, Waveland’s all female krewe, came calling in 1970, the year after Hurricane Camille, and except for a brief break, he’s been costuming members ever since. Church said he has cut down considerably on the number of krewes he works with to around a dozen, including krewes in Lake Charles and Thibodaux, La.. He doesn’t sew for all of them but creates sketches of the costumes instead. He keeps copies of all his creations in binders for reference “so I don’t do the same thing for the club again.” Among the ulcer-inducing tasks Church tackles every year is rounding up far flung krewe members for costume fittings. “When I first moved from New Orleans to Bay St. Louis, everybody had weekend homes here so it really wasn’t a problem. Since Katrina, people are scattered all over See

CARNIVAL, Page 5

January 17, 2014

CARNIVAL

Mississippi Business Journal

terwoven gold or silver fabric, jumped from $6.98 a yard last year to $14.98. With Mardi Gras just a couple of months away, Church, who is 70, has been spending long hours in his studio. He used to spend more time there but after a heart attack and six bypasses, he’s cut back some. He has two helpers who work six or eight months out of the year “doing nothing but make appliques” to embellish the costumes. A couple others help with applying the rhinestones. Everything is done with deadlines in mind and by Church’s high standards. He admits to being finicky, preferring to do all the cutting and sewing. “It’s much easier to do myself than go back and correct boo boos,” he figures. His tools of the trade are simple: a sewing machine, a good pair of scissors and “a lot of patience.” The most important tool is the glue gun to attach rhinestones that used to be sewn on by hand. “I can’t exist without glue guns,” he said. “I’m kind of a dinosaur doing costumes (by hand),” he said. “I was taught one way years ago and I’m still doing it the same way. Everybody else is cutting corners. I’m too damn old to change. That’s why a lot of clubs stick with me. I’m one of the few who does that.”

Continued from Page 4

the country.” Still, it’s easier to bring people in than transport costumes with sequined trains and collars as large as 8 feet across and 6 feet high. “You can’t throw it in back of a car and haul it around to a fitting.” The Krewe of Iris rents two huge trucks to pick up costumes from Church’s studio and take them to New Orleans. The elaborate costumes aren’t cheap, either. Some king and queen costumes run around $5,000 each, Church said. The cost varies from club to club, he said. “I’ve had them run way above and way under.” Church’s designs come together with luxurious material and festive sequins, rhinestones, feathers, zippers and notions. He keeps an eye on the prices of each item. “Feathers have really gotten out of hand,” he said. “Bird flu in South Africa has made ostrich feather prices go from $250 a pound to $600 last year and this year up to $650. That’s a hunk of money for something not really reusable.” One costume can have $1,650 worth of feathers, he said. Trade regulations have caused rhinestone prices to go up tremendously and the cost of lamé, the in-

“I figured I’d bluff my way through it. I’ve been doing Iris costumes ever since.” Carter Church Mardi Gras costume designer

GOOD NEWS IS WORTH REPEATING!

ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT JORDAN HAS BEEN PROMOTED TO

JORDAN

SHAREHOLDER.

BRYAN

IS A PERSONAL LINES PRODUCER WHO JOINED THE COMPANY IN

2010.

Digital Reprint Article or list will be reformatted with Mississippi Business Journal masthead on the top of the page and be provided in PDF format.

Framed Article

Plaque - 9”x12” or 8”x10” - $125

Articles are reformatted to ﬁt on either one or two pages with Mississippi Business Journal masthead on the top of the page. Article size is 8.5” x 11”. Frame size - 14” x 16.5” - $199

Framed articles take approximately one month to complete.

Introductory Offer $199

R Digital Reprint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$375

R Framed Article 14” x 16.5” cherry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$199 R Framed Article 23” x 16.5” cherry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $250 R Plaque 8” x 10” or 9” x 12” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$125 Call: 601-364-1044 Fax: (601) 364-1007 WAYS TO ORDER » Fax or mail: Mississippi Business Journal Attn: Marcia Thompson-Kelly 200 North Congress St, Ste 400, Jackson 39201 Email: marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com or print off form at http://msbusiness.com/wp-ﬁles/forms/article-request-form-web.pdf

200 S. LAMAR ST., STE 700 S | JACKSON, MS 39201 601-948-2900 | WWW.ROSSANDYERGER.COM OFFICES

BATON ROUGE

AND

TUPELO

A member of the Mississippi Press Association and the Alliance of Area Business Publications www.mspress.org www.bizpubs.org

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

Website: www.msbusiness.com January 17, 2014 Volume 36, Number 3

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

MBJPERSPECTIVE January 17, 2014 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

OTHER VIEWS

It’s time to put up or shut up in Mississippi

s any third-grader should know, there are 50 states in the United States. When it comes to education, Mississippi ranks 51st. You can’t get any lower than that. If ever there were a wake-up call for Mississippians, this should be it. In its report, Education Weekly places Mississippi at the very bottom in education, below the other 49 states and the District of Columbia, which has long been considered the educational equivalent of the abyss. That Mississippi lags behind in education is nothing new, of course, but the news that our state has sank to a depth that can no longer be plumbed should serve as a sobering reminder

that the time for quick fixes has past. As it has just in just about every annual session, the Legislature will devote some attention to improving our schools. There will be big talk, followed by small actions. There will be grand pronouncement of ambitious goals, but few resources set aside to achieve those goals. Again, we will hear the call for the Legislature to set aside the funds required by state law as implemented by the Mississippi Adequate Education Program of 1997. Under that plan, Mississippi public schools would be funded through a formula established by the Legislature. Since its inception, our schools have met MAEP standards just twice.

Funding continues to lag, with estimates showing that our schools have been underfunded by hundreds of millions of dollars since MAEP was written into law. What is missing, we believe, is that Mississippi's commitment to education is always viewed too narrowly. Changes will not come overnight. In fact, if the Legislature heaped money on our schools in this session, we would likely see no discernible positive result in next year's test scores. And that, of course, would prompt some to say the money was wasted. But if Mississippi is ever to reverse the trend in education in a meaningful way, we must take a long view. We must invest heavily in education and not waver in our commitment, even when results are not immediately apparent. It’s time to put up or shut up. — Commercial Dispatch

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

» THE OUTSIDE WORLD

» FROM THE GROUND UP

Nature Tourism — The Hike Inn way

MELISSA KILLINGSWORTH Sr. Account Executive

melissa.harrison@msbusiness.com • 364-1030 VIRGINIA HODGES Account Executive virginia.hodges@msbusiness.com • 364-1012 TACY RAYBURN Production Manager tacy.rayburn@msbusiness.com • 364-1019

CHARINA RHODES Circulation Manager charina.rhodes@msbusiness.com • 364-1045 MARCIA THOMPSON-KELLY Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • 364-1044 SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES (601) 364-1000 subscriptions@msbusiness.com Mississippi Business Journal (USPS 000-222) is published weekly with one annual issue by MSBJ 200 N. Congress St., Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201. Periodicals postage paid at Jackson, MS. Subscription rates: 1 year $109; 2 years $168; and 3 years $214. To place orders, temporarily stop service, change your address or inquire about billing: Phone: (601) 3641000, Fax: (601) 364-1035, Email: charina.rhodes@msbusiness.com, Mail: MS Business Journal Subscription Services, 200 N.Congress Street, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Business Journal, Circulation Manager, 200 North Congress Street, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201 To submit subscription payments: Mail: MS Business Journal Subscriptions Services, 200 North Congress Street, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201. No material in this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent. Editorial and advertising material contained in this publication is derived from sources considered to be reliable, but the publication cannot guarantee their accuracy. Nothing contained herein should be construed as a solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities. It is the policy of this newspaper to employ people on the basis of their qualifications and with assurance of equal opportunity and treatment regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or handicap. The Mississippi Business Journal, is an affiliate of Journal Publishing Company (JPC), Inc.: Clay Foster, president and chief executive officer. Entire contents copyrighted © 2013 by Journal Inc. All rights reserved.

» HOW TO WRITE Letters to the editor are one of the most widely read features of the Mississippi Business Journal, and they give everyone a chance to voice their opinions about current affairs. We’re interested in what you think and we welcome Letters to the Editor for publication. Here are the guidelines: >> Letters should not exceed 300 words in length as a general rule. >> All letters must bear the writer’s address and telephone number. Street addresses and telephone numbers will not be published, but may be used for verification purposes. Letters may not appear without the author’s name. >> Form letters, thank you letters and letters to third parties generally are not acceptable. >> Letters must be typed or e-mailed. >> Letters must conform to good taste, not be libelous and not involve personal attacks on other persons.

>> All letters are subject to editing, and become the property of the Mississippi Business Journal. >> Letters can be sent to The Editor, The Mississippi Business Journal, 200 North Congress, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201, delivered to the newspaper during regular business hours or e-mailed to editor@msbusiness.com. They may also be faxed to Ross Reily at (601)-364-1007.

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

lthough now may be the dead of winter in Mississippi, it might be a good time to consider booking a springtime hiking trip to the Hike Inn, an environmentally oriented destination in the scenic Chattahoochee National Forest in north Georgia. A visit to the Hike Inn is an invigorating, educating and relaxing experience as my wife, daughter and son-in-law discovered in April 2012. We began our weekend at Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge, starting point for the hike. We arrived at the park around 11:30 a.m. and paid the $5.00 per car entry fee. We immediately checked in at the park Visitors Center as required for those hiking to the Hike Inn. Hikers must Phil Hardwick check in by p.m. The Visitor Center is a combination snake museum, t-shirt shop and convenience store. The hike registration form includes not only the usual contact information, but vehicle tag number and whom to notify in case of emergency. (Hmm.) After completing registration we drove up to the lodge and had lunch at the restaurant. The view from the restaurant is spectacular. After lunch we headed to the parking lot at the trailhead for the 4.8-mile hike. The lime green-blazed trail is ranked as “easy to moderate,” and takes two to four hours complete. The trail briefly joins with the blue-blazed Approach Trail to Springer Mountain, the southern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. Backpacker magazine lists the trail to the Hike Inn as one of 36 “Best American Hikes.” The elevation gain is about 500 feet to the Inn. See HARDWICK, Page 7

PERSPECTIVE

January 17, 2014 I Mississippi Business Journal

» RICKY NOBILE

HARDWICK

»PERCOLATING WITH BILL CRAWFORD

Top school embraces Common Core

et’s get this straight. Politician Michael Watson, a state senator from Pascagoula, thinks Common Core educational standards are bad. Educator John Buchanan, superintendent of the Petal School District – the third highest ranking school district in the state — thinks Common Core educational standards are good. "For whatever reason, it appears as though it has become a political issue,” Buchanan told WDAM-TV. “I'm not a political guy, I'm a school guy." Buchanan said Petal is completely behind Common Core. While Petal has been teaching to Common Core standards since 2010, it has been teaching to high standards much longer. "We've been teaching these types of standards, which causes students to think deeply, more critical type thinking skills, we've been doing that for a long time,” said Petal High School principal Steve Simmons, “so to be quite honest, it wasn't that big of a change for us." Petal School District received an "A" rating for the 20122013 school year. Protesters stirred up by politicians rallied against Common Core standards in Jackson during the opening day of the Legislature. Politician Angela Hill, a state senator from Picayune, said, “We want other options than the federal standards.” Watson told WDAM-TV, “You take standards from states that have been proven, that work, that are internationally benchmarked. You bring those standards to Mississippi.” So where do they think Common Core standards came from? They were developed and adopted in 2009 by the National Governors Association (NGA) and the states’ top education

officials. They were drawn from the best standards then in use by various states in the U.S. They were internationally benchmarked and written to prepare students for success in college and the work place. Indeed, the standards are copyrighted – owned – by NGA Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers, not the fedBill Crawford eral government. Former Gov. Haley Barbour was among the early supporters of Common Core, seeing it as an effort to make all states’ education systems competitive globally. In 2010, the Mississippi Board of Education voted to implement Common Core standards, which require more critical-thinking skills of students. On the same day that politicians led the rally against Common Core, Mississippi business leaders gathered at the state capitol for the Mississippi Economic Council’s annual “Capitol Day.” MEC president Blake Wilson said business leaders stand fully behind the Common Core standards. “We cannot turn away,” Wilson told Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Mississippi must continue to implement the standards because businesses now use the benchmark when deciding which states to invest in. “If Mississippi doesn't do this, it will set us behind in economic development.” Educator Carey Wright, the new state superintendent of education, said of Common Core, “I do believe in it…. We need to stick with implementation.” Got it? Bill Crawford (crawfolk@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.

Continued from Page 6

Upon arrival at Hike Inn we were informed that dinner would be served at 6 p.m. The Inn consists of four buildings, each of which is connected to another at different levels. They are reception/bunk house, bathhouse, dining and game room. The ceilings in the reception area and the game room are high (maybe 20 feet), with windows around the top for ventilation. All four buildings are built on stilts so as to not have to do any leveling of the mountain. We played horseshoes, took in the mountain views and had a short tour while waiting for dinnertime to arrive. We learned about Len Foote, Guy Reynolds, solar panels, LEED certification, compost from toilets and Stargazer. By the way, Len Foote, a leading conservationist, biologist and nature photographer who lived and worked in Georgia until his death in May 1989, is the model for the comic strip Mark Trail. The dinner bell rang at 6 p.m., and we feasted on pork loin, cream corn, salad and cherry cake. It was a “Take all you want, but eat all you take” affair because leftovers are discouraged. They are not only discouraged, they are collected and measured. Our group of approximately 40 hikers had only a few ounces left over so we got a smiley face. :) After dinner, we played Scrabble and pondered the night sky. The place is a cell-free zone, and that is stressed verbally, with signage and on the website. Alcohol is not allowed. Rooms are small and minimal. There are two bunks, hooks, a shelf, a small corner closet, fan and no plug-ins. Sleep was difficult because the bunk house sways slightly when someone walks by. Floors are wood, no rugs. Coffee was ready at 6 a.m. Sunrise that day was at 7:04 a.m. Breakfast was served at 8 a.m. Afterwards, we bought a couple of t-shirts, said farewell to our fantastic hosts and hiked back to the beginning of the trail. The Hike Inn experience is a good example of nature tourism, also known as ecotourism . This type of tourism is characterized by visits to natural places, minimization of the environment and study or minimal interaction with the ecosystem. The International Ecotourism Society defines ecotourism as “responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well being of local people.” It is one niche in the growing subject area of cultural and recreational tourism. Another example is the Alabama Birding Trail, which represents the wildlife tourism segment. Wildlife tourism is especially profitable and growing. A recent report by Datu Research, an economic research firm, wildlife tourism in the Gulf of Mexico states is very profitable and generates over $19 billion annually, with over 2.6 million jobs. So if this kind of outdoor activity appeals to you then the Hike Inn will surely fit the bill. Rates are discounted in January and February, but reservations are more difficult to come by as spring and summer approach. More information can be found online at the website hike-inn.com. Happy hiking. Phil Hardwick is coordinator of capacity development at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government. Pease contact Hardwick at phil@philhardwick.com.

NEWSMAKERS

8 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014

Regions welcomes Guess

Council chooses Whitley

Supervisors chooses officers Webb made Jackson manager

Regions Bank has named Russ Guess community banking vice president for the Mississippi Gulf Coast region. Prior to joining the bank, Guess served as a commercial lending vice president for BancorpSouth. A native of Madison, Guess earned his bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University and his MBA from Millsaps College. He is a veteran of the Guess United States Marine Corps, where he served from 2000 2006. He is also a member of the Harrison County Republican Club.

The Greenville City Council has selected Jessie Whitley as manager of the Water Department. Born and raised in Greenville, Whitley attended Mississippi Delta Community College and majored in business administration. In 1997, Whitley graduated from Delta State University with a BA in marketing, and advanced his education by earning an MBA from Delta State University in 2004. From 2004 through 2012, Whitley Whitley worked in banking with Trustmark Bank, starting out as a teller and then advancing to a mortgage loan originator, then later as vice president of mortgage loan services. He then transitioned into non-profit work, serving as an operations manager at Mississippi Blood Services and later as CFO at Delta Foundation. He has also taught classes in marketing as an adjunct professor at Belhaven College. Whitley will fill the vacancy left since Nov. 8, 2013 when Korey Adams resigned to take a job opportunity in Little Rock, Ark.

Jackson County supervisors have elected Troy Ross to lead the board as president for the coming year and Barry Cumbest to be vice president. Ross represents the west side of the county — parts of Ocean Springs, St. Martin and Latimer. Cumbest represents Vancleave and the northeast Jackson County.

Trawick, Davis hired Think Anew has named Suzanne Trawick vice president of Carrier and interconnect solutions. Trawick has more than 20 years of data and telecommunications experience beginning with her service in the United States Navy, where she graduated top of her class. She began her civilian career as a sales professional for telephone systems, including NEC and Mitel, and gained her Cisco Sales Expert Davis certification. With network expansions and increased bandwidth needs, she became focused on voice and data circuit infrastructures used by businesses. She is certified on numerous platforms including VoIP, Managed Internet Solutions, MPLS, Ethernet, Business Continuity and Wireless Solutions. Also, the company has named Trawick Jacob Davis account manager and customer service specialist. Davis previously served with SonyBMG Music Publishing in Beverly Hills, Calif., where his responsibilities included artist revenue management, account management and customer service and support. He also served as a liaison between artist publishers and manager for such noted entertainment entities as “American Idol.” Davis earned his bachelors degree in communications with honors, with a minor in Marketing, from Mississippi State University.

House resigns MDE post Dr. Lynn House, former interim state superintendent of education, has submitted her resignation to begin working with an education leadership organization. She will be working with the International Center for Leadership in Education as a senior fellow. Additionally, she may also work with the National Institute for School Leadership, primarily coaching principals. House became interim state superintendent for the Mississippi Department of Education on July 1, 2012, after serving as the deputy superintendent for instructional enhancement and internal operations since 2010. She also previously served the MDE as the director of federal programs.

Dryden, Wilson get recognition Singing River Health System has honored Auxilians of the Year for 2013. At Singing River Hospital, Neva Dryden was honored as the Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year. Dryden has been a volunteer with Singing River Hospital since 1975 and she currently serves as the membership and orientation co-chair. Dryden and was employed at Ingalls Shipbuilding for several years. She is married and has three sons and eight grand- Dryden children. At Ocean Springs Hospital, Emily Wilson was honored as the Auxiliary Volunteer of the Year. Wilson has been a volunteer with Ocean Springs Hospital since 2007. She has worked in SICU, gift shop, MICU, corridor information desk, and has been the award manager, phone committee chair and corresponding Wilson secretary since shortly after joining the auxiliary. Wilson worked as a secretary in a school system on the Coast and moved around with her military husband about every 18 months. During that time she held a variety of office jobs including Pass and ID at Keesler, a trailer leasing company and real estate offices in Tampa, Fla. and Moore, Okla. She was the office manager for a Christian radio station in Pascagoula, house director and co-director at LOVE Boys Home in Bessimer and office manager/bookkeeper-house director of the Resource Center shelter for battered and abused women and children in Pearl. She and her husband retired in 2000 and moved to Ocean Springs. She has three children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Besides volunteering at the hospital, she is a volunteer at her church and is involved in the Homemakers Association.

Valley selects Briggs Mississippi Valley State University has appointed Dr. Jerryl Briggs as executive vice president/COO. Briggs brings over 25 years of professional experience in higher education administration. Most recently, he served as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management at Central State University in Ohio. Prior to Central State, he has held various positions within higher education administration, including Briggs serving for 10 years at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, and dean of students. He has also held positions at Clark Atlanta University, the College of William and Mary, Georgia Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois. He has received several honors, including the Outstanding Service Award from Clark Atlanta University and the Student Affairs Administrator of the Year Award from Lincoln University. Briggs serves as a board member and national advisor for the Community Foundation for Financial Literacy based in Atlanta and Cure Our Nation Organization, based in Washington, D.C. He has also authored a chapter regarding Greek life in Brown, Parks, and Phillips’ “African American Fraternities and Sororities: The Legacy and the Vision, 2012.” Briggs is a longtime member of several professional organizations, including the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, American College Personnel Association, National Association of Student Affairs Professionals, Association for Student Conduct Administration and Association of College and University Housing Officers-International. An avid supporter of HBCU’s, he has also presented professional workshops that addressed the topic “Student Success at HBCUs” at various conferences. Briggs earned his bachelor of science degree in chemistry education from Xavier University of Louisiana, a master of arts degree in human relations and supervision from Louisiana Tech University and doctorate of education degree in educational policy, planning and leadership - higher education from the College of William and Mary. He also completed Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management Program.

Wells Fargo has named Anthony Webb as senior business relationship manager for Jackson. A West Point native, Webb has over 18 years of experience in the financial services industry, all in Jackson. Before joining Wells Fargo, he served as a commercial lender for a local community bank. Webb graduated from Jackson State University and earned both a bachelor and MBA degree. He is also a 2009 graduate of the Grad- Webb uate School of Banking at LSU. He is an active member of the Jackson Rotary Club and serves on several boards for organizations across the area, including the Mental Health Association of Central Mississippi, Youth Leadership Jackson and Jackson Public School Partners in Education.

Convention center hires Ford Julie Ford has been named the sales and marketing manager at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Ford has over 14 years of sales and marketing experience and 12-plus years in the tourism and hospitality industry. She was previously a part of the Vicksburg Convention Center team from 2002-2006. Ford most recently was the sales manager for the Jackson Convention Complex.

USM staffers honored Five members of the University of Southern Mississippi staff have received the Department of Human Resources’ Staff Excellence Award for 2013. Award recipients and the category they represent include: Emily Holmes: professional; Lindsay Thompson: office personnel; Elizabeth Cranford: office personnel; Joe Barnett: service/maintenance; and Debby Hill: Jessie H. Morrison Award.

Pylate made partner Phelps Dunbar LLP has elected Seale Pylate of Jackson as partner in the firm. Since 2001, Pylate has practiced in the labor and employment group with a focus on employee benefits and executive compensation. She is a member of the Mississippi Bar, the American Bar Association, the Arkansas Bar Association and the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals. Pylate is admitted to practice in Mississippi Pylate and Arkansas. Pylate received her J.D. from Boston College Law School in 1999. Prior to entering law school, she graduated with honors from Hendrix College.

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

January 17, 2014

Mississippi Business Journal

THEATRE

Curtain comes down on Thalia Mara temporarily as refurbishing gets under way By TED CARTER I STAFF WRITER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

The restoration of Jackson’s aging Thalia Mara Hall began in earnest Monday when workers began tearing out its more than 2,300 seats. The nearly half-century-old entertainment hall has shut down as workers scramble to replace the seating, lighting, heating and air conditioning system and complete a host of other restoration chores. They must get the work done in time to present a refurbished hall as host of the June 2014 USA International Ballet’s worldwide competition. Jackson hosts the international competition every four years. The several-day event four years ago put an estimated $10 million into the local economy, officials say. Getting the improvements done on time is not the only cause for scrambling. This phase of the restoration is going to run as much $6 million and a sizable chunk of that must be raised privately through the Friends of Thalia Mara, an organization of patrons and stakeholders that so far has gained pledges of $1.3 million. The pace of fund-raising will pick up significantly in the next few months as the Friends organization seeks to ensure adequate cash flow for the cosmetic upgrades it has taken responsibly for covering, said Entergy’s Kelly Scrivener, who serves as administrator for Friends of Thalia Mara. While the group will be making its own contacts, organizers are hoping that seeing the restoration actually under way will prompt supporters to come forward on their own. “Hopefully, we’ll be hearing from them,” Scrivener said. A website detailing the fund-raising and the improvements it will cover at Thalia Mara is at Friendsoftmh.com. The restoration effort shaved some significant preliminary costs through the donation of services from Jackson architectural and engineering firm Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons, or CDFL. “They drew up the plans for the interior,” Scrivener said. “This has been a really great public-private partnership,” she said. “The city (of Jackson) has been an absolute fantastic partner.” While the current target for fund-raising is $6 million, of which the state is contributing $1 million and the city of Jackson $2.8 million, the hall will need an additional $9 million in improvements over the next decade or so, said Michael Raff, Jackson’s deputy director of cultural services. “We’re hoping the Friends of Thalia Mara will come up with $1.5 million to $2 million,” Raff said, referring to this initial phase.

FILE / MBJ

The restoration of Jackson’s aging Thalia Mara Hall began in earnest Monday when workers began tearing out its more than 2,300 seats. This first phase of improvements includes a new HVAC system, fire-safety upgrades, sound system enhancements, new chairs, interior face lifts and changes to make the performance center more assessable to the handicapped. The city of Jackson has put close to $4 million into repairs and equipment at thalia Mara in recent years, including a new roof and lighting. In this round of improvements, the city intends to recoup its $2.8 million investment through a $5 charge on each ticket sold for Thalia Mara events. Call it a “restoration charge,” Raff insisted. “It’s important to be positive.” Expect the charge to be in place at least 10 years but likely longer, considering the additional fix-ups the 45-year-old building needs, he added. Raff said he came up with the $5 figure by tabulating the average attendance for events at Thalia Mara the past five years and determining from there what would be needed to generate the $2.8 million to repay the city, plus interest. The $5 calculation also includes around $40,000 in additional upfront money to cover the costs of leasing-to-own the HVAC system, the lighting and other new fixtures, Raff said. The result will be $340,000 annually to cover the lease-to-own costs, he said. “I took the total number of tickets sold and multiplied by five to get the $340,000.” Raff conceded the “restoration” fee could be a burden on show-goers as well as show promoters who rely on a strong turnout to make their money. The fee came as the lone option to ensure the city is repaid, he said. “Either we did something like this or we close the hall in two years. The situation is that bad.”

Longtime Jackson music promoter Arden Barnett said he fears the extra charge will dissuade some performers he customarily books from doing dates at Thalia Mara.

And the repercussions likely will go beyond acts he books, he added. “The bands will have a problem with this. Unfortunately, it is not just the rock shows. I think is going to have a drastic effect on any and everything in there,” he said, and predicted the smaller arts organizations will be especially vulnerable to diminished turnouts. Barnett, founder of promotional music promotional company ardenland, said now that the surcharge is in place, he expects it’s “not going to be something they give up,” and he can only hope city officials decide to lower the charge. Friends of thalia Mara’s Scrivener said that while her stakeholder organization had no part in enacting the surcharge, the money for the city’s share of the improvements had to come from somewhere. “I think you cannot deny these upgrades had to be made and they had to be paid for,” she said.

68 33Ø(2Ø&1.6(-& in Mississippi

MMNTMBHMFØ(SRØ BPTHRHSHNMØNEØ!@QÚDKCØ Ø RRNBH@SDR +@Q@ RGKDX

".+$, -

2SDUD

+ "$8

www.VX@SSÚQL.com *HLADQKX

, -&4,

#@UHC

! 1%($+#

.SGDQ ,DLADQR NE 6X@SSlRØ3D@LØHMØ)@BJRNM

SOLICITATION MATERIAL

10 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014 NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI

Rising optimism along the Tenn-Tom » Tishomingo's despair over what could have been fades as metal fabricating grows By TED CARTER I STAFF WRITER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

Three decades ago Tishomingo County endured the heartbreak of losing a pair of multi-billion-dollar federal economic development projects – a TVA nuclear plant and a NASA rocket assembly facility. But, as fortune would have it, the federal government by the mid-1980s had set the stage for a new era of economic growth for the Northwest Mississippi county and its border neighbors in Tennessee and Alabama. Work had at last been completed on a long-planned $ 2 billion waterway project linking the Tennessee and Tombigbee rivers, and providing inland ports along the waterway access to the Gulf of Mexico at Mobile as well as the Mississippi, Tennessee and Ohio rivers. Disappointment lingered after the TVA dropped plans for its Yellow Creek Nuclear Plant and NASA backed off making a new generation of solid rocket motors using infrastructure left behind by cancellation of the nuclear plant. But with the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway open for business, the county's government and business leaders had a strong hand to play. Fast forward 29 years to today. The county is putting its money on a future dominated by steel and metals, specifically the fabricating process. Officials of the Mississippi Development Authority and Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway are on board as well with financial and infrastructure help. As a result, the Yellow Creek Inland Port Authority’s Yellow Creek Industrial Park in the Tishomingo County town of Iuka has filled up with industrial steel fabrication companies such as Roll Form, Contract Fabricators, Dennen Steel, Syline Steel and FerrouSouth. Attention is now on repeating that success about 10 miles to the south in Tishomingo County’s Northeast Mississippi Waterway Industrial Park in Burnsville. This time around the emphasis will be on metal-related processing, including alloys such as silicon. Marking a milestone of sorts for the new effort, county and state business and government leaders gathered at the Burnsville park Monday to break ground on a $200 million Mississippi Silicon Metals plant expected to create 200 jobs when in full operation. The plant will be the first silicon metals manufacturing operation to open in

Special to the MBJ

Mississippi counties with industrial sites, buildings available on the Tenn-Tom Waterway: » Tishomingo » Clay » Itawamba » Lowndes » Monroe » Noxubee

the United States since 1976, according to company CEO David Tuten, a project he said is made possible by new efficient manufacturing processes and new government trade protections. See

METAL FAB, Page 11

Top — The Yellow Creek Inland Port Authority’s Iuka port handles more than 500,000 tons of barge cargo annually. Bottom right — Aerial of the new Northeast Mississippi Waterway Industrial Park shows the cleared parcel at right for which ground was broken Monday for Mississippi Silicon Metal’s $200 million plant.

“Access to the Tenn-Tom gives us access to the Gulf. That really makes it great.” David Tuten CEO, Mississippi Silicon Metals

January 17, 2014

METAL FAB

Continued from Page 10

The Tenn-Tom Waterway gives the silicon metal maker a way to get a key component of the process — coal from Eastern Kentucky — to its Burnsville plant as well as a way to ship the finished product to markets in the U.S. heartland and to seaports via Mobile. “Access to the Tenn-Tom gives us access to the Gulf. That really makes it great,” Tuten said of the waterfront industrial park. Ricardo Vicintin, president and CEO of Brazilian parent company Rima Industrial, said the Burnsville site won out over “many locations around the world” considered for the plant. Being new to Mississippi, the silicon metals industry and the Burnsville plant create “possibilities for additional companies to locate in the state to directly support Mississippi Silicon’s operations,” said Tammy Craft, spokeswoman for the Mississippi Development Authority. Tuten said it’s unlikely that the plant that will be built over the next 18 months will be the last of Mississippi Silicon’s projects in Burnsville. “We have other plans on the books for things to do. Great things are on the horizon.” “Volume is the key word” for what the Tenn-Tom offers Mississippi Silicon, said Eugene Bishop, executive director of the Yellow Creek Inland Port Authority, which handled more than 500,000 tons of cargo last year. “We built the barge terminal,” Bishop said. “It’s right next to the existing Tenn-Tom Waterway barge terminal. They have access to all of the water transportation they need.” The Inland Port Authority is putting in the infrastructure for the Burnsville park. Once completed, it will have

Special to the MBJ

The 232-mile Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway gives shippers in Tishomingo County and several Mississippi counties below it direct access to Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico.

several large sites to offer south of Lee Highway (U.S. 72), Bishop said. The four-lane highway and the extension of rail service

Mississippi Business Journal

into the Northeast Mississippi Waterway Industrial Park provide critical intermodal components, he said. “We want to make the park attractive to users, not just shipping-dependent ones.” The new 900-acre Waterway Industrial Park, he said, “is to be a metal-focused park. It's a new location for a new process of products that could later spin off into a lot of other tenants.” Gary Matthews, executive director of the Tishomingo County Economic Development Foundation, said companies such as Mississippi Silicon Metals have been a primary recruitment target from the inception of the park which has about 600 acres remaining for development. “Silicon is used in so many industrial processes from automotive to aerospace,” Matthews said, and noted two of its key manufacturing components come from the region — hardwood pellets from Northeast Mississippi and quartz gravel from North Central Alabama. At the end of the last decade, Site Selection magazine called the Tenn-Tom an emerging economic lifeline for the South “as companies that make their living off the region’s natural resources invest at a record pace along this man-made marvel.” Of course, people still talk about the sudden loss of the prosperous future the TVA nuclear plant and the NASA rocket motor plant offered back in the 1980s, Matthews said. But he added those disappointments recede as optimism rises over what a waterway that connects 18 states and 14 rivers can bring. “We've been able to create 1,600 jobs over the last two years,” he said, suggesting there will be many more to come.

GOVERNMENT/REAL ESTATE

Capital Towers picked for Secretary of State annex office

http://www.msbusiness.com

AUCTIONS

Q Taylor Auction & Realty, Inc............................................................... www.taylorauction.com

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

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

INTERNET SERVICES

Downtown Jackson will gain up to 90 new office workers with the expected move of the Mississippi Secretary of State's annex office to the 20-story Capital Towers, 125 South Congress Street. The state was expected to sign a lease Wednesday for approximately 31,000 square feet on the 16th and 17th floors and a portion of the first floor. The move comes as the state's lease of the current annex home at 700 North Street expires this month. The state's Department of Finance & Administration said the annex operation will remain at the North Street building on a monthly lease until Capital Towers property manager The Mattiace Co. readies the new space. The office space should be ready by April, according to Jamie Chustz, Mattiace Co. senior vice president and COO. “We will be doing significant renovations on 16 and 17 including new partitions,” Chustz said. The work includes

LAW FIRMS

See TOWERS, Page 26

Q Comcast Business .......................................................................................... www.comcast.com Q TEC ..................................................................................................................................www.TEC.com Q Victor W. Carmody, Jr. P.A. .............................................................. www.mississippidui.com

MARKETING Q Nuzu Net Media SEO SEM.............................................................................. http://nuzu.net/mbj

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES Q Delta State University................................................................................... www.deltastate.edu

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

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

TELECOMMUNICATIONS Q AT&T................................................................................................................................... www.att.com Q Comcast Business .......................................................................................... www.comcast.com Q MegaGate Broadband................................................................................ www.megagate.com Q TEC ..................................................................................................................................www.TEC.com

WEBSITE DESIGNERS TED CARTER / The Mississippi Business Journal

The annex office of the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office is to occupy the 16th and 17th floors and a portion of the first floor of Capital Towers, a 20floor office building at 125 Congress St. near Jackson City Hall.

Q Nuzu Net Media Website Performance Services ................................... http://nuzu.net/mbj Q U.S. NEXT....................................................................................................................... www.usnx.com

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

12 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014 HURRICANE KATRINA AFTERMATH

The last FEMA project » Municipal pier in Bay St. Louis had been put off for years because of red tape for federal funding By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

When the Jimmy Rutherford Pier is completed in the next month or so, it will have the distinction of being the last FEMA project on Bay St. Louis’s long list of almost 70 post-Katrina projects worth around $80.5 million. Mayor Les Fillingame said, “It is very exciting to get to the point where we are trying to wrap up the very last project.” The municipal pier, named for a late city elected official, came to be the last of the FEMA projects because the Department of Housing and Urban Development wouldn’t fund the city’s long-planned harbor unless it included something to replace an asset that was lost to the storm. “When the opportunity came to get the harbor funded, Gov. Barbour immediately saw the connection and said we can make this an expansion of the rebuilding of the pier project and it will work for everybody,” said Fillingame. “That’s all that HUD was looking for to award the CDBG monies and that was a tremendous opportunity for the city.” “The pier was so late being completed only because of the harbor project we ended up attaching it to,” Fillingame said. “Had we done just a standalone project to reconstruct the pier like it was prior to Katrina we would have started it years ago.” After Hurricane Katrina bore through

Special to the Mississippi Business Journal

The municipal pier, named for a late city elected official, came to be the last of the FEMA projects because the Department of Housing and Urban Development wouldn’t fund the city’s long-planned harbor unless it included something to replace an asset that was lost to the storm. Mississippi’s coastal towns with unprecedented destruction, federal money began pouring in to pay for the recovery and rebuilding. New municipal buildings, parks, streets and sidewalks, among many other improvements, all are the result of billions of federal dollars.

Continued from Page 1

43 bushels per acre, nearing the state record of 45 bushels set in 2012. But the 2013 crop has an estimated value of $993 million, which is more than 20 percent below 2012. Corn held on to its number four ranking among the state’s commodities with an estimated value of $631 million. Still, that is down more than 30 percent compared to 2012. “Corn’s projected average price for the state is $4.40 a bushel, down from $6.89 a bushel received in 2012,” Riley said. Erick Larson, Extension grain crops agronomist, said weather was a key factor in the production of corn, which is highly dependent on moisture. “Most of the corn in the state was planted the first 25 days of March,” Lawson said. “From then until early May, there were very few opportunities to plant. A lot of the acres that were intended for corn, but never planted, were dryland acres. The state’s per-acre yield in 2013 is more reflective of irrigated yields. “In Mississippi, irrigated land normally produces yields of 50 to 100 bushels of corn more per acre than does non-irrigated land.” But the news wasn’t all bad. In fact, some value of some commodities such as rice, cotton, livestock and hay were up last year compared to 2012. Perhaps the best news was in catfish. After years of decline in acreage, catfish production is expected to come in 10 percent above 2012 — the first

Fillingame said all of the FEMA projects were designed to return things to the way they were prior to the storm and that the Community Development Block Grants paid for revitalization projects such as the harbor, which has been on the city’s wish list for years.

Top Agriculture Commodities in 2013 Poultry.......................................................................................$2.7 billion Forest products....................................................................$1.17 billion Soybeans.............................................................................$993 million Corn ........................................................................................$631 million Livestock (total hogs, cattle/calves, dairy) .....................................$473 million Cotton.....................................................................................$331 million Catﬁsh.....................................................................................$178 million Hay...........................................................................................$157 million Rice ...........................................................................................$141 million Source: Mississippi State University Extension Service

production increase in catfish in more than a decade. The 2013 crop is expected to bring $178 million. Jimmy Avery, Extension aquaculture specialist and director of the Southern Regional Aquaculture Center in Stoneville, said some consumers chose cheaper foreign imports in 2011, when catfish supplies were tight and retail prices of catfish increased about 50 percent. The shortage peaked in late 2011 and early 2012. “Now that our supply has stabilized and more consumers are requesting

“In a nutshell, our community could not have recovered, we could not have brought our infrastructure back had we been left to do it on our own. We would not have survived without FEMA and CDBG recovery monies,” said Fillingame. The largest FEMA project for Bay St. Louis was the total replacement of the sewer, water and gas systems and the roadways and sidewalks where the infrastructure in-ground work was done. That cost was more than $60 million. Early on, Fillingame said, FEMA wanted only to repair the infrastructure but the city pressed to replace the aging systems that were failing and hard to maintain. “They finally brought in a team of experts and within days (of inspecting the systems), they condemned the entire system and obligated themselves to a complete replacement project” in the areas hardest hit by flood waters. The cost went from around $8 million to more than $60 million. Even with the scope of the project, Fillingame said. “We were the first city on the Coast to be finished with all our infrastructure projects.” The second-to-last project to be completed was McDonald Field, a former ball field that got a makeover and now has a splash pad. Now all eyes are on the city’s $27 million harbor, which will be completed in May. It is expected to bring more visitors and investments to the Main Street/Old Town district, known for its shops and restaurants. Boosters have the relocated municipal pier to thank for that. “Basically we would not have qualified for the harbor money unless we has lost the pier, which we were going to end up attaching it to anyway,” said Fillingame. “Everything fell into place like it was meant to be.”

U.S. products, our markets are returning,” he said. “Farmers are finding a way to intensify production and be more efficient. They are ending the year much more optimistic about profit potential in 2014.” Poultry and forestry, however, were the two commodities that helped buoy the state’s agriculture figures in 2013. Poultry value was up 10 percent over 2012 while forestry is estimated to be up approximately 13 percent. Both poultry and forestry were up 13 percent and 17 percent, respectively, over the five=year average. For poultry farmers, the increase in corn production and corresponding drop in feed costs added up to an improved year. In 2012, poultry farmers were paying $8 per bushel for corn. Last year, the cost was $4.50 per bushel. Tom Tabler, Extension professor in the Department of Poultry Science at Mississippi State University, said, “There has been a slight expansion of the industry, not just in Mississippi, but across the country. Producers have seen fairly good market prices and feed prices that are in line with profitability.” Foresters saw a harvest value in 2013 that is more than 14 percent over the previous year. More notably, the 2013 harvest value is 34.9 percent higher than the 2009 harvest value of $864.9 million, which was the lowest valued harvest year since the recession of 2007 to 2009. “The increase can be attributed to several factors, including an increase in timber harvesting because of slightly higher prices,” said James Henderson, associate Extension professor in MSU’s College of Forest Resources. “Severance taxes collected on timber sales are up 4.4 percent as of October, compared to the same period for 2012.”

McGehee Cruise & Vacation, Inc.

TravelFest Northpark Mall - Center Court

Saturday January 18, 2014 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm ®

Special Live Presentations On Stage

12:30 PM 1:00 PM 1:30 PM 2:00 PM -

Tom Greenlief, District Sales Manager with Disney Destinations Gretchen Cook, Publisher/Editor of Parents & Kids Magazine Lori Goynes, District Sales Manager with Royal Caribbean Cruises Andrae Roberts-Dukes, Business Development Manager Sandals & Beaches

GREAT PRIZES - Drawings between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm in Center Court 1/18/14 at TravelFest

Parents & Kids Magazine is giving away a 3 Night 4 Day Magic Your Way Package, plus dining at a Moderate Resort at Walt Disney World for up to 4 in the room. For complete details and restrictions go to parents-kids.com.

FREE Quotes For Cruises & Vacations No Booking Fees

Group Event Managers

You must be present at TravelFest 2014 during the drawing to win. To be entered in the drawing to win the Disney package, email a photo of your child in a Disney costume to magazine@parents-kids.com and include “TravelFest” in the subject line. OR bring a photo of your child in a Disney costume to the Parents & Kids table at TravelFest event. You must be present at TravelFest during the drawing to win. Trip expires June 25, 2014

Group Event Managers will be available to help you plan your next group event.

Jo Beth Avdoyan

Crystal Black

Dana Buffington

Jessica Byrd

Jennifer Lippiatt

April Owens

Kim Sims

Denita Wells

Kathy Young

14 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014 TRANSPORTATION

Head of special panel insists ‘not going to accept failure’ BY TED CARTER I STAFF WRITER ted.carter@msbusiness.com Media reports speculate the Senate Highways and Transportation Special Committee recommendations for funding road and bridge maintenance will wind up in the circular file almost as soon as the chair of the Senate Highway Appropriations Committee presents them. The chairman, Cleveland Democratic Sen. Willie Simmons, has read the news reports that the six months of effort by his task force of lawmakers and business leaders with a stake in the transportation issue has already fizzled out. He’s not saying the reports are incorrect, but he insists the special committee is quite serious about getting something done on road and bridge maintenance. “I can say there is not a lot of support in the Capitol for raising taxes,” he said in an interview at the start of the 2014 legislative session. But the committee is “not going to accept failure at this point and say nothing is going to be done.” Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, the traffic cop for Senate legislation, has said he is willing to consider putting transportation maintenance in a bond bill but won’t accept consideration of new fees or taxes, including changing the 18.5 cents a gallon gas tax that has been in place since 1987.

The bond bill, which would also have to cover other pressing state needs, must come in at $200 million or below to get Reeves’ support. Simmons said it will be at least a couple of more weeks before the transportation panel presents its report. One key conclusion, however, is that no single tax or fee will be sufficient for meeting the state’s estimated $500 million backlog in current road and bridge upkeep needs. Nor would a single source be enough to cover future needs beyond the current deficit, Simmons said. The panel looked closely at making the tax a percentage of the per gallon price instead of a flat fee. While Simmons has said he supports taxing fuel on a percentage basis, he is willing to go only so far in that direction. Each cent increment of the gas tax raises about $20 million annually, Simmons noted. By adding a full 10 cents onto the motor fuels tax, sellers of gasoline in the state would lose business to neighboring states with lower taxes, he said. With fewer gallons sold, the state would generate fewer dollars for the highway maintenance, he noted. And an extra 10 cents wouldn’t stretch far enough to pay for the current maintenance deficit, according to Simmons. A tax on Internet sales has also been considered, but Simmons said he worries that the pot of money

Ofﬁce Space for Rent in downtown Jackson

I hope we do not kick the can down the road. Today we must act and act expeditiously.” — Willie Simmons the tax could generate would create a free-for-all as interest groups vied for a share. The heads of two key stakeholder groups — farmers and poultry processors — say they would look favorably at following the example of Arkansas solution for catching up with unmet road and bridge maintenance. The neighboring state’s voters in November approved a decade-long half-cent sales tax with exemptions for groceries and drugs. Arkansas’ half-cent sales tax is appealing because “it kind of gets everybody,” Randy Knight, president of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation, said in an interview late last year. The Mississippi Economic Council, which serves as the state’s Chamber of Commerce, wants another year of study before the Legislature acts. The T1 Coalition, made up of businesses, industry groups, associations, economic development interest, cities, counties and state agencies, accompanied the Economic Council on its annual road show late last year to gather ideas and suggestions for maintaining and upgrading the state transportation system. TI Chairman Charlie Williams, a Butler Snow

REAL ESTATE

Trezevant Realty sets fall 2015 opening for Oxford’s Galleria II BY TED CARTER I STAFF WRITER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

Approximately 1800 sq. ft., includes 2 private ofﬁces

Amenities available: I^Wh[Z a_jY^[d I^Wh[Z ijehW][ I[c_#fh_lWj[ e\ÓY[ ifWY[ FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alan Turner, alan.turner@msbusiness.com

601-364-1021 Tami Jones, tami.jones@msbusiness.com

601-364-1011

attorney and former legislator and chief of staff for Gov. Haley Barbour, said ideas and opinions gathered during the MEC town hall tour will go toward developing both short and long-term funding proposals for the Legislature to consider at some point in the future. Another year of delay, however, is an outcome Simmons does not want to see. “When you look at 3,000 bridges in this state that are in danger of falling down, I can’t go to sleep at night saying we are not going to advocate to ensure that public safety needs aren’t put in place.” Of the 3,000 or so bridges deemed structurally deficient, 1,054 are maintained by the Mississippi Department of Transportation and 2,016 by cities and counties. In a statement that Simmons said he will release before issuing the report, the veteran legislator said he can only hope the Senate leadership recognizes “that our transportation system is facing a crisis. I hope we do not kick the can down the road. Today we must act and act expeditiously.”

OXFORD — The success of Trezevant Realty’s Galleria 1 has led principal John Trezevant to announce a fall groundbreaking for a $35 million Galleria II. This second phase scheduled for completion in fall 2015 will add another 221,000 square feet of retail to a shopping cluster that includes Galleria 1 anchored by Belk, Home Depot and Office Depot and Trezevant’s Oxford Marketplace. With Galleria II, the cluster will have about one million square feet of retail valued at between $150 million and $200 million, according to Germantown, Tenn.-based Trezevant Realty, which also has an office in Oxford. Galleria II, which is to go up near Jackson Avenue and West Oxford Loop, will include dining, entertainment, hospitality, national retailers and bigbox stores, Trezevant said in an interview Tuesday. “By the time we start this fall the majority of merchants will have already signed leases,” he said. Some may buy their lots and build their own stores while others may contract for a build-to-suit space and others may take spec space, he added. Retailers going into the new complex want to be connected and tied to other national merchants, the developer said. “The layout of the shops will be predicated on what the national merchants want.”

There will be ... “a bunch of stores that Oxford does not have right now.” — John Trezavant Though he declined to name prospective merchants, Trezevant said the Galleria II mix will include “a bunch of stores that Oxford does not have right now.” Expectations are that tenants will include a couple of women’s ready-to-wear apparel retailers, a jewelry store, an electronics retailer and likely a men’s apparel and sporting goods seller, according to Trezevant. Trezevant said he bought an option on the Galleria II property five years ago and has waited for the region’s retail market to pick up before developing the property. “This is certain indicative of an improved economy,” he said. “It’s also the result of how well our merchants are doing at Galleria I.” Many of the current retailers set sales records in 20120 and 2013 in the fully leased Galleria I, according to Trezevant. Trezevant said his realty firm and the Davis Family Trust of Oxford are covering the $35 million cost of the Galleria second phase.

January 17, 2014 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS:

NONPROFITS

Photos courtesy of Goodwill

The Goodwill Select Store in Pearl encompasses 14,000 square feet and offers shoppers wide aisles and lighting that makes it easy to shop. Clothing is arranged by size, style and color. It is the largest Goodwill Store in the Jackson area.

‘Donations are the lifeline’ » Goodwill’s new Crossgates store has been a hit with shoppers, donors By BECKY GILLETTE I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

Goodwill Industries is one of the largest retail thrift store chains in the U.S. and beyond, operating a network of about 165 independent, community-based organizations in 15 countries. In 2011, the non profit 501(c)3 organization earned more than $4 billion, with 82 percent going to provide employment, training and support services to more than 4.2 million people. One of the newest stores that has opened under the Goodwill umbrella is the new Crossgates Select Store located in the Crossgates Shopping Center at 5708 U.S. 80 East in Pearl. Even though there were already four other Goodwill stores in Metro Jackson, including one in Rankin County, the new Pearl location has

proven to be very popular. The 14,000-square-foot store is the largest Goodwill Store in the area and opened on July 11, with its grand opening celebration Oct. 17-19. The store has been very well received, said Dave Hollingsworth, marketing and community involvement direc- Hollingsworth tor, Goodwill Industries of Mississippi Inc. “The Friday of our grand opening celebration set an all-time record for sales by a Goodwill of Mississippi store and Saturday eclipsed that record by 17 percent,” Hollingsworth said. “That strong shopping has continued since the grand opening. We have received numerous thanks

from the community for opening the store.” Hollingsworth said their mission is to assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment find jobs. “The opening of the Crossgates store has created 19 new jobs – and each of those jobs helps people who are most in need,” he said. The new store is well organized with wide aisles and plenty of lighting that makes it easy to shop for bargains. Clothing is arranged by size, style and color, much like in a department store. Goodwill relies primarily on donations to stock the store, and donations to the new Crossgates Select Store were great, particularly the last two months of the year. See

GOODWILL, Page 20

NONPROFITS

16 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014

REVITALIZED » Jackson-area Habitat awarded $20,000 for its work in bringing back neighborhoods By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area and local law enforcement leaders were recently recognized with a national award for improving the safety and vitality of neighborhoods in the Metro Jackson area. Habitat and its partners were selected from more than 540 applicants for a $20,000 MetLife Foundation Award. They were honored for demonstrating that blighted neighborhoods such as MidCity/Georgetown and Englewood Gardens can be revitalized. The Metro Jackson safety collaboration contributed to an average 55 percent reduction in crime within the targeted areas of the project. The national selection committee awarding the prize recognized the effective way Habitat and its partners worked together to reduce crime while creating high quality homes. Habitat hopes that its award-winning success will lead to more accomplishments as it finds other creative means to achieve its mission to build affordable houses that are then sold to families at cost with no profit or interest. Since its founding in 1986, HFHMCA has partnered with more than 580 families to build homes in the capital area. Cindy Griffin, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area, said: “We continually seek to replicate, strengthen and expand the kinds of community partnerships recognized by this award. A collaborative, strategic approach is critical to ensuring that neighborhood revitalization is achievable and sustainable. We are always striving in these partnerships to utilize creative problem solving, and we believe by collaborating we can seek more creative and effective solutions.” Griffin said the prize money that came with the MetLife award will help Habitat carry on its operations. “The cash award will be used to sustain our Community Safety Initiative which is critical to revitalizing blighted, decaying neighborhoods and sustaining that transformation,” she said. Griffin said Habitat also seeks operating funds by working closely with its Board of Directors and Advisory Board “to share our mission with the community. Everyone deserves a safe, decent place to live, through a hand up, not a hand out.” When Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area absorbed the Madison

Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area

Englewood Gardens is one of the model neighborhoods for which Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area was recognized by the MetLife Foundation..

Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area

The MetLife Foundation recently presented a national award to Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area for its partnership with local law enforcement agencies that has improved the safety and vitality of metro Jackson neighborhoods. Receiving the award are, from left, Sheriff Tyrone Lewis, Deputy Chief of Police Herious Cotton, Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area Executive Director Cindy Grifﬁn, City of Jackson representative Keyshia Sanders and presenter William Harris of MetLife Financial Services.

County Habitat affiliate in September 2013, it changed its name to Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area. As Habitat’s service area has grown, its role

has evolved, Griffin said. “Prior to our absorbing the Madison County affiliate, Habitat for Humanity Metro Jackson, as we were known then,

had built 560 homes and rehabilitated and/or weatherized 155 plus homes, making us the largest single family housing developer in Jackson,” Griffin said. Community support helped make the expansion into Madison County a smooth one, Griffin said. “When the absorbing of the all-volunteer Madison County affiliate was announced, we were welcomed by community leaders there. Canton Mayor Arnel Bolden said the merger affected his community in a very positive way. When there is improvement in residential life, there is improve in the quality of life for the entire community.” Griffin said more people are learning about Habitat and its programs, and what it means to a community. “More and more residents and leaders in Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties are recognizing the role we play in making a difference in the lives of individual families as well as contributing to the economic base of the community,” she said. “For every dollar spent on HFHMCA builds, an additional $1.70 is generated into the local economy.”

January 17, 2014 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS:

BANKING & FINANCE

Renasant finds strength in merger By LYNN LOFTON I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

Through a merger with Merchants & Farmers Bank, Renasant Bank saw an opportunity to enter some new markets with a banking system that had a similar culture of service, service, service. That merger was complete last September with the systems conversion and branding fully complete on Dec. 9. The completion included new signage and customer brochures. Stronger than ever, Renasant Bank now has $5.7 billion in assets and 122 locations in the states of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. It are the fourth largest bank in Mississippi by deposits. “With the M&F merger now complete, we welcome our new customers, employees and shareholders to the Renasant family,” said Renasant Chairman and CEO E. Robinson McGraw. “Since the merger an-

nouncement, both Renasant and M&F have worked diligently to ensure a smooth and successful transition. Furthermore, this partnership will benefit both current and future customers with the exMcGraw panded convenience of locations, services and product offerings.” Renasant officials believe the merger will bring improved services to M&F customers. “Renasant is the larger of the two banks and that gives M&F customers a whole set of expanded programs through trust and wealth management and treasury management,” said John Oxford, Renasant’s director of external affairs. “It’s also good because M&F did not have locations to the extent that we have.”

NEED A BANK TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SEE ONE THAT’S BEEN DOING IT FOR 120 YEARS. For a bank that means business, come to Trustmark, one of the South’s oldest and strongest ﬁnancial institutions. Trustmark combines the strength of a $11.9 billion ﬁnancial institution with the personal touch of a neighborhood bank. To see how this combination can help your business grow, visit one of our locations or call 1-800-844-2000 today. People you trust. Advice that works. Member FDIC

trustmark.com

McGraw says this merger enhances the bank’s long-term value as a company for clients, employees and shareholders. “With the addition of an experienced and talented team, we look forward to a bright Oxford future as we continue to grow our market share and expand our footprint,” he said. The combined banks cover a geographical area from the central part of Mississippi to DeSoto County at the Tennessee border with 68 branches in Mississippi. In Tennessee they are in the Memphis, Nashville and Knoxville market areas. In Georgia they are in the northern markets of Atlanta, and in Alabama they are in Birmingham, Decatur, Huntsville and Montgomery. There are

nine locations in the Jackson market in Brandon, Flowood, Madison, Pearl, Canton, Clinton and Ridgeland. “Bank mergers are always challenging,” Oxford said. “One challenge is communicating and setting up new things for customers such as debit cards, pass words and other personal information. We appreciate the patience of all our customers and everyone involved. We had the usual, regular checkoffs to go through and went through all of it just fine.” A part of Renasant’s reason for the merger was to be more involved in the Jackson market. “We are excited and glad to be in the Jackson market now,” Oxford said, “and look forward to being an aggressive competitor there.” As for future growth plans, he said Renasant Bank is always looking for new opportunities to grow and expand.

18 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014

BANKING & FINANCE

Personal financial statements can have value M ANY TIMES in the introductory stages of financial planning, it is necessary for advisers to know about the background of the individual or family for purposes of making suitable recommendations. In most instances, information provided from a tax return can be an invaluable tool for assessing the financial makeup of a person or family. However, when dealing with young graduates right out of school and entering the workforce for the first time, nailing down needed financial information can be a little more challenging when there is no track record to base your numbers. Therefore, establishing a personal financial statement can become a very useful tool towards tracking financial progress in the months and years ahead. Personal financial statements have been called the roadmap that guides us from where we are today — to where we want to be tomorrow. They also provide fixed points of reference from which we can measure progress over time. There are two basic personal financial statements that everyone should prepare, or have a financial adviser prepare, at least once per year; a cash flow statement and a balance

sheet. Having these two items in place represent a critical first step in financial planning. Tracking a financial position and progress gives you a great sense of control, that being; knowing Ike Trotter where you are headed financially. It also gives you the positive reinforcement needed in making sound decisions about financial matters ... down the road. Here are a few key issues for starters: “Cash flow” pertains to how you spend your money. A cash flow statement is an ongoing financial document that tracks your sources of income, uses of income and point out the differences between the two. If you keep a budget, you are, in essence keeping a running cash flow statement. Tracking your cash flow on a monthly basis can better prepare you to handle financial crises as they can and will occur. Here are three key items to budget as you plan your monthly cash flow: » Short-term expenses – these are your day to day expenses and standard of living items which can include such items as

food, housing, utility costs, vehicles, transportation expenses as well as clothing along with childcare items if there are young children. » Recurring expenses – these are periodic payments for items such as health insurance and property-casualty premiums, possibly life insurance premiums along with any retirement savings programs available through an employer. » Financial emergencies – As your financial situation can permit, it is recommended to keep aside 3-4 months income set aside for contingencies that can occur. It is a critical part of your cash flow picture so as to provide “rainy day” money for financial events that can and will arise. A balance sheet is a personal snapshot of your cash flow leading to a general indicator of your total net worth. Assets for this type of valuation include; cash in the bank, cash surrender values of any permanent life insurance policies, liquidation values of IRA Accounts or employer sponsored retirement plans. Also included would be value of a home, other investment real estate as well as personal property such as cars or and a boat. On the flip side, total liabilities can in-

clude: A mortgage balance on your home, car loans, other bank loans as well as charge accounts, taxes owed and college loans. Hopefully, these type of liabilities will be less than your assets! After deducting these liabilities from your assets, we arrive at the difference — which is considered your net worth. As I have written on previous occasions, one of my favorite modern day philosophers is Yankee baseball great Yogi Berra. Yogi has a knack for expressing personal observations in simplistic structure which has been described as “Yogism’s.” One of my favorites is, “You’ve got to be careful if you don’t know where you’re going because you might not get there!?!” Personal financial statements provide you directions towards “getting there” as Yogi would say –towards building a sound financial portfolio. Most importantly, keep a close watch that your plans stay well tuned both for today –and tomorrow

Ike S. Trotter, CLU, ChFC is a credentialed financial adviser in Greenville. Securities and Investment Advisory Services provided through Woodbury Financial Services. Contact Trotter at 662-378-9550 or email iketrotter@tecinfo.net

BancorpSouth merging with Louisiana bank By DENNIS SEID I DAILY JOURNAL dennis.seid@journalinc.com

TUPELO – It’s been nearly seven years since BancorpSouth Inc. acquired another bank, but that changed last week. The Tupelo-based financial holding company, the parent of BancorpSouth Bank, announced Jan. 8 it had reached an agreement to acquire West Monroe, La.-based Ouachita Bancshares Corp., and its main subsidiary, Ouachita Independent Bank. The deal is valued between $99 million to $112 million. BancorpSouth, with $12.9 billion in assets, last acquired a banking operation in 2007. In March of that year, it completed its merger with City Bancorp, the parent of The Signature Bank of Springfield, Mo. That deal, first announced in October 2006, added $852 million in assets to BancorpSouth’s portfolio. The OIB merger, pending regulatory approval and the approval of OIB shareholders, is expected to be completed by the second quarter of this year. OIB has 12 full-service banking offices in Louisiana, with six in Monroe-West Monroe, four in Shreveport-Bossier City and two in Bastrop.

As of Dec. 31, the company had more than $652 million in total assets, $477.8 million in loans and $549.7 million in deposits. Under the merger agreement, BancorpSouth will issue a maximum of 3.6 million shares of common stock plus $22.875 million in cash for the outstanding charges of Ouachita Bancshares. “This transaction will give us the opportunity to significantly enhance our market share in both the Monroe-West Monroe and Shreveport-Bossier City markets,” said BancorpSouth CEO Dan Rollins. “It will also provide an opportunity to enter the Bastrop market, a market which we’ve not previously served.” BancorpSouth has 23 branches in Louisiana, including two branches in Monroe and two in West Monroe. Ouachita Bancshares Corp. was founded by Clyde White, its chairman and former CEO, in 1997. White, who recently retired from day-today management, will continue to be chairman of the board of OIB until the merger is completed. Likewise, Kevin Koh will continue to be CEO of OIB until the merger is completed. He will then become BancorpSouth’s division president with responsibility for Northeast Louisiana markets.

“On a farm, every season is a TURNING POINT. The right partner is the difference between surviving and thriving.”

Teddy Schneider

Schneider Farming Partnership

Get the whole story at regions.com/turningpoints

As a fourth-generation farmer, Teddy Schneider knew that occasional ups and downs in production just came with the territory. Having a banker stand by him during the hard times – now that was a turning point. Regions Banker Tripp Shepherd understands the unique needs of Teddy’s business, so Tripp is constantly bringing him solutions that help him move forward. Like when he introduced Teddy to Regions’ commodity hedging product. Being able to book the price for crops 24 months in advance was another turning point for Schneider Farming Partnership, one that not only reduced Teddy’s overall risk and stress, but also helped him to streamline, optimize and, most importantly, continue to move forward. To see how we can help your business move forward when it’s at a turning point, turn to Regions.

LARGESTS BANKS

20 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014 Bank

Address

Website

Year Founded

Total Assets

Total Deposits

(in thousands)

Pre-tax Return on Assets (year to date)

Regions Bank

1900 Fifth Ave. N., Birmingham, AL 35203

www.regions.com

1928

116,068,082

93,668,475

1.66%

BancorpSouth Bank

One Mississippi Plaza, Tupelo, MS 38801

www.bancorpsouth.com

1876

12,924,483

10,649,840

1.05%

Trustmark National Bank

248 E. Capitol St., Jackson, MS 39201

www.trustmark.com

1889

11,691,188

9,623,574

1.43%

Hancock Bank

1 Hancock Plaza, Gulfport, MS 39501

www.hancockbank.com

1899

6,606,442

5,102,487

1.01%

Renasant Bank

209 Troy St., Tupelo, MS 38801

www.renasantbank.com

1904

5,721,210

4,843,012

0.93%

BankPlus

202 Jackson St., Belzoni, MS 39038

www.bankplus.net

1909

2,393,785

1,913,454

1.08%

The Citizens National Bank of Meridian

512 22nd Ave., Meridian, MS 39301

www.yourcnb.com

1888

1,078,367

926,576

1.03%

State Bank & Trust Company

916 Hwy. 82 Bypass, Greenwood, MS 38930 www.statebank1898.com

1898

979,029

830,648

0.86%

www.theﬁrstbank.com

1996

950,883

809,727

0.88%

www.thecitizensbankphila.com

1908

871,315

650,447

0.96%

The First, A National Banking Association 6480 Hwy. 98 W., Hattiesburg, MS 39402 The Citizens Bank of Philadelphia

521 Main St., Philadelphia, MS 39350

The Peoples Bank, Biloxi

Lameuse And Howard Aves., Biloxi, MS 39533 www.thepeoples.com

1896

792,496

463,377

-0.09%

Metropolitan Bank

201 S. Jackson St., Crystal Springs, MS 39059www.themetropolitanbank.com 1976

774,109

644,062

0.89%

Source: FDIC. Please direct questions and comments to Wally Northway at research@msbusiness.com.

GOODWILL

Continued from Page 15

“Donations are the lifeline of Goodwill,” Hollingsworth said. “It is donations that grow our enterprise and allow us to fuel our mission, a mission that creates jobs and changes lives for the better. We placed a major emphasis on the store’s donation center. It is state-of-the-art in terms of convenience and accessibility. Since our grand opening, donations at the Crossgates Select Store increased 32 percent in November and 39 percent in December. “So it is gratifying that the community is making a difference by their level of donations. Customers who donate and those who shop Goodwill can be — and often are — one and the same.” Generally donations made in Pearl stay at the Pearl store, although in some instances donations are distributed to other Goodwill stores including the Metro Jackson Goodwill stores and one in Hattiesburg. Hollingsworth said this is typically due to a shortage of merchandise at another local store. Goodwill does buy merchandise on occasion, but limits that amount to less than five percent of total goods sold. The merchandise purchased is often items returned to stores because of a packaging deficit or overstocking. Many customers just like finding a bargain, but second hand stores like Goodwill are particularly popular when the economy is tough. “Goodwill’s success is part of a national trend that shows consumers abandoning their traditional,

Want more? For more information, see the website http://goodwillms.org/.

high-priced shopping destinations for lower-cost alternatives,” Hollingsworth said. “We are experiencing that at our Goodwill stores in Mississippi.” There has been controversy in the past about allegations that Goodwill Industries International pays its CEO more than $500,000 in compensation per year, but pays less than minimum wage to disabled people. An article in Huffington Post Sept. 25, 2012 quoted Dr. Marc Maurer, the president of the National Federal of the Blind, as stating that, “Goodwill Industries is one of the most well-known charitable organizations in the United States, but most members of the general public are unaware that Goodwill exploits people with disabilities." The article said some employees earn just 22 cents per hour, which is legal because of a Depression-era loophole in federal labor law. About 7,300 of the 105,000 employees are paid less than minimum wage, the article said. “We can’t speak for other Goodwill agencies,” said LaKeysha Greer Isaac, chair of the board of Goodwill Industries of Mississippi. “Locally at Goodwill of Mississippi, our IRS 990 is posted on our website. Locally, executive compensation is determined by consultations with independent advisers, local and regional market studies, and executive job responsibilities and performance. All our employees earn a minimum wage or higher.”

Salvation Army gets new home after blaze The Associated Press

The Salvation Army has a new temporary home after a fire destroyed its thrift store in north Jackson on Jan. 3. New Horizon Church International is donating the use of a building it owns, the old Sam’s Club on Raymond Road. “Bishop Ronnie Crudup is giving us use of the warehouse,” said Salvation Army Captain Ken Chapman, who oversees the charity’s Jackson operations. “This community really cares.” Chapman has said the fire destroyed the store but did no damage to the homeless shelter next door. Chapman says the store was at near capacity, because of holiday donations. He estimated the damage at $1.5 million. He says the building is insured. No one was injured, including the one employee on duty when flames broke out before 6 a.m. The cause of the fire is under investigation. “Our biggest concern is the people we have living in our shelters next door and those who do work therapy in the thrift shop to serve the community,” said Chapman, the Salvation Army’s regional coordinator. “We’ve got to keep serving this community.” Also needed, Chapman said, is the use or donation of a baling machine. The charity bales clothing that can’t be sold and sells it to dealers who then resell it in third-world countries. That generates about $300,000 in income annually, Chapman said. He said the Salvation Army will soon open a temporary thrift shop in the former NAPA auto parts store near the burned facility.

INCORPORATIONS November 2013 Incorporations This is the November 2013 list of the state’s newly incorporated businesses from the Secretary of State’s Office. Listed are towns from Abbeville to Louisville. Listings include business name, type, date formed and location. Addresses reflect legal entity for service of process, not necessarily the new business entities’ operating address.

Abbeville Jason Brunner DBA OTH 11/25/13 428 County Road 202 Oxford Home & Rental Repair DBA

11/25/13

OTH

428 County Road 202

Belden Eubank Sales Solutions, LLC LLC 11/20/131113 Maxwell Street Tupelo 38804 Morning Star Properties, LLC LLC 11/6/13 144 Limousin Dr (Tupelo 38804)

Pace Rentals, LLC LLC 11/4/13 20337 Coontail Road SmartCards, LLC LLC 11/1/13 603 S. Locust St Solid Rock Properties, L.L.C. LLC 11/6/13 144B E. Commerce Street

Ackerman J&D Lawson Enterprises Inc BUS 11/18/13 6039 Ms Hwy 415 LJB Properties LLC LLC 11/13/13 33 East Quinn Street

Amory Miller’s Garage LLC LLC 11/21/13 60149 South Hatley Rd New Creation Fellowship NP 11/21/13 911 James St Sandra Keyes LLC LLC 11/19/13 210 N. Main Street Sheli LLC LLC 11/14/13 605 Highway 278E T & K Sandblasting & Painting LLCLLC 11/25/13 60089 County Barn Rd

Ashland Tip Top Showers & Flooring LLC LLC 11/18/13 17722 Highway 5

Baldwyn Bidacaga and Company LLC LLC 11/19/13 162 Road 1503 Booneville Assisted Living, L.L.C. LLC 11/6/13 391 Cr 2890

Bassfield Colt - Jack Operating LLC LLC 11/12/13 132 F McNease Rd

Batesville Druetto Properties Inc BUS 11/8/13 226 Bates St Greater Than Music, LLC LLC 11/15/13 243 Hickory Lane Taylor & Taylor Consulting LLC LLC 11/21/13 312 Oakland-Enid Road Way Making Ministries NP 11/8/13 200 Fisher St

LLC 44 S. 5th Street

Bay St. Louis CK Critter Farm LLC LLC 11/12/137110 Bayou Lacroix Rd, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520 Darden Music, LLC LLC 11/12/13 544 Main Street Gex and Artigues, PLLC PLLC 11/27/13 214 Old Bay Lane Gulf Coast Crossfit LLC LLC 11/4/13 295 Hwy 90. Unit 15 Jay J. Dillenkoffer III DBA LLC 11/7/13 605 Highland Dr Jazs Investments LLC LLC 11/7/13 605 Highland Dr Lakeshore Wine & Liquor, LLC LLC 11/8/13 7068 Meadowdale Street Old Town Pedicabs, LLC LLC 11/7/13 833 Chiniche St S & G Timber, LLC LLC 11/8/13 241 Ballentine Street

Eco-Air Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC LLC 11/22/13 603 East Church Street F & A Booneville LLC LLC 11/13/13 303 North Second St Huddleston - McCarley Cabinet Co. Inc BUS 11/12/13 100 West Parker Drive

Brandon

Belzoni Gunn Bayou B & M, LLC LLC 11/18/13 213 North Hayden Street McNair School Reunion AssociationNP 11/22/13 100 Stearman St

Agile Strategy and Solutions Group LLC LLC

AndersonCastillo Consulting LLC LLC 11/4/13 739 Buddleia Cove Apex Professional Investigative Services LLC LLC 11/19/13 2215 Popps Ferry Rd Boystrous LLC LLC 11/27/13 1955 Popps Ferry Apt. 2143 Cable Done Right LLC LLC 11/19/13 322 Shirley Court Cafe Michele, Inc. BUS 11/18/13 230 Porter Avenue Unit 1 Cannon Construction LLC LLC 11/21/13 16019 Abilene Street Coast PCP, PLLC PLLC 11/12/13 1120 Beach Blvd. Coast- Wide Reporters, Ltd., a Mississippi Limited Partnership LP 11/22/13 145 Main Street-39530 Dummer & Lowery, PLLC PLLC 11/27/13 415 De Jean Cove Gonzaflex Productions LLC LLC 11/20/13 2582 Rue Palafox IIA-Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter NP 11/4/13 151 Beach Blvd J. Vollmuth Roofing, LLC LLC 11/4/13 265 Beeman Drive MJSK1 LLC LLC 11/13/13 14510 Lemoyne Blvd. Apt #2103 Moy 1 LLC LLC 11/19/13 1955 Popps Ferry Rd Apt 1083 Natalia Okoniewski & Associates LLC

LLC

11/5/13 2020 Lawrence St Apt L87 Nguyen Enterprise L.L.C. LLC 11/4/13 13259 Alpine Drive RC Landholding Services LLC LLC 11/15/13 962 Schwan Court Rodriquez Street Investments, LLCLLC 11/21/13 2355 Pass Road S & C Electric Services, LLC LLC 11/22/13 12037 Orin Drive Sea Side Realty, LLC LLC 11/6/13 434 Sanlenay Court T & S Enterprise LLC LLC 11/20/13 149 Miramar Avenue The Daniel Enterprise Group, LLC LLC 11/14/13 3154 Wayne Drive Tree Hugger Catering, LLC LLC 11/19/13 1338 Kensington Drive V Casino Vicksburg, LLC LLC 11/5/13 131 Rue Magnolia (39530) WC, CG & JL Holdings LLC LLC 11/19/13 2355 Pass Road

Blue Mountain

Bay Springs

Booneville

Abby May LLC LLC 11/19/13 20 Eastgate Drive Suite D

Biloxi

Aberdeen

R & R Welding, LLC 11/20/13

Scanex, Inc. BUS 11/18/13 5026 Gem Street Stoney McNaughton Sea Life Company LLC LLC 11/26/13 34 Good St

January 17, 2014

W&G Investment Properties, LLC LLC 11/7/13 1901 County Road 703

Blue Springs

11/25/13 849 Southwind Lane AmeriSettlements, LLC LLC 11/20/13 2151 Hwy 18, Suite D Backup Services, Inc. BUS 11/6/13 306 Maxey Dr. Ste. D Ben Banks Properties, LLC LLC 11/21/13310 Remington Dr., Brandon, MS 39042 Branter Lacoop Inc BUS 11/19/13 816 Willow Grande Circle Cheron Construction LLC LLC 11/12/13 112 Springridge Drive Diley Brothers Repair, LLC LLC 11/4/13 140 Westlake Drive Dream Works Designs, LLC LLC 11/5/13 111 Joy Lane First Class Music Group LLC LLC 11/12/13 137 Johnson Dr Floral 18, LLC LLC 11/19/13 1029 Windrose Dr GC Enterprises Inc BUS 11/13/13 619 Willow Court Circle Grace LLC LLC 11/19/13 174 Oak Grove Dr Harris Berry Properties, LLC LLC 11/19/13 3237 Hwy 80 East Highland Colony Wealth Management, LLC LLC 11/19/13 223 Turtle Lane Hometown Brandon, LLC LLC 11/25/13 648 Lakewood Cv Interior Twist, LLC LLC 11/5/13 130 Overby St KC Forms & Printing, LLC LLC 11/26/13 573 Pisgah Road KLF Farms, LLC LLC 11/14/13 545 Westwind Drive KLF Investments, LLC LLC 11/18/13 545 Westwind Drive Lucas Constuction, LLC LLC 11/20/13 417 Julee Cir. Lundy-Lu’s, LLC LLC 11/22/13 303 Pimlico Drive Mr. Ronnie’s Famous Hot Donuts of Flowood LLC LLC 11/22/13 539 Springhill Crossing Pramukh Flowood, LLC 11/12/13 84 Grandview Circle Pressure Washing to the T LLC LLC 11/22/13 416 Stoneybrook Dr Rankin Sheriff Benefolent Fund NP 11/6/13 105 Easthaven Circle 39042 Sham Williams LLC LLC 11/22/13 102 Royal St Silveira Industries Limited Partnership LP 11/4/13 124 Sara Drive Silveira Industries Ltd. LP 11/4/13 124 Sara Drive Something Borrowed Wedding Decor & More, LLC LLC 11/22/13 5905 Suite 11, Old Brandon Rd, Pearl 39208 Spartan Investments, LLC LLC 11/18/13 111 Lakeshore Dr #F402 Superior Construction, LLC LLC 11/20/13 #7 Ashland Ave

Simply Southern Sisters Catering, LLC LLC

Superior Home Improvements DBA

11/12/13

11/20/13 #7 Ashland Ave telehealthONE, LLC LLC 11/20/13 1000 Lake Village Circle The Gathering Church NP 11/18/13 510 Edgewood Ln The Grotto Group LLC LLC 11/18/13 111 Lakeshore Dr #F402 Thornton Agency LLC LLC 11/6/13 402 Park Ridge Dr Tiger Pride, LLC LLC 11/27/13 716 Inheritance Place (Flowood 39232) TNP Holdings, LLC LLC 11/7/13 231 Greenfield Pl TSK LLC LLC 11/5/13 423 Main Sail Way

1336 Cr 180

Bogue Chitto M.E.G. Oil & Gas Consulting Inc. BUS 11/22/13 3361 Cole Dr SE

Bolton Faith Outreach Ministries Community Development Corp. NP 11/12/13 326 Texas Street First Lifetime Trucking, LLC LLC 11/12/13 10218 Hwy 22 Healing the Body, Mind & Soul, Inc.

BUS

11/4/13 8043 W Northside Dr McConnell Real Estate, LLC LLC 11/20/13 2877 N Norrell Road The Trotter Farms LLC LLC 11/4/13 6957 Bolton Brownsville Rd

About Time, LLC 11/13/13

LLC 675 Zetus Road NE

Carrollton

Coldwater

Shelley M. Harrigill, Attorney, PLLC

Liberty Tax Service of Carthage, LLC

PLLC

Edwards Brothers, LLC LLC 11/25/13 1811 County Road 272

Carthage Big Daddy’s Odds and Ends, LLC LLC 11/22/13 2627 Highway 488 Central Mississippi Monument Company BUS 11/18/13 522 Hwy 16 East Cobbs Creek Farms LLC LLC 11/8/13 1439 Barnes Rd Cook CSM LLC LLC 11/5/13 124 W. Franklin St LaLa Wellness Spa LLC LLC 11/8/13 206 Hwy. 487 West LLC

Buckatunna

11/5/13 520 Luckett Rd Life in Christ Church NP 11/1/13 122 Court Street Preventer Security LLC LLC 11/8/13 4481 Hwy 35 N The Bass Brothers Entertainment And Productions, LLC LLC 11/4/13 1247 Wright Rd

Nicholson Consultants, LLC LLC 11/21/13 214 Joe Taylor Road

Cary

Byhalia

South Delta, LLC LLC 11/27/13 10425 Highway 61 South

Bruce Primary Safety Service, LLC LLC 11/22/13 13 County Road 259 C

Hearts and Hands Ministries NP 11/18/13 32 And 34 West Brunswick Mama Food LLC LLC 11/20/13 3422 Hwy 309 N NPE Properties Memphis, LLC LLC 11/27/13 3350 Highway 309 N Shah Ali Shah LLC LLC 11/14/13 3424 Hwy 309 North

Byram Blaylock Properties, LLC LLC 11/19/13 136 Byram Business Center Dream World Investments LLC LLC 11/19/13 6009 Cedar Glen Dr Momentum Entertainment Group, LLC LLC

11/22/13 307 Corral Cove Preacher’s Kids Child Abuse Refuge Center NP 11/6/13 1384 Oak Vinyard Drive Tru Numbers Tax Service, LLC LLC 11/26/13 6644 Gary Road Suite D United Roofing and Construction of Ms, Inc BUS 11/18/13 136 Byram Business Center WJ Business Services LLC LLC 11/25/13 5027 Kaybrook Dr

Chunky Cherokee Rentals, LLC LLC 11/12/13 23832 Highway 80

Clarksdale NDHD Inc 11/19/13

APW Enterprise, LLC LLC 11/13/13 206 Simmons Drive Ext Keeton Accounting & Tax Services, Inc BUS

11/22/13

206 East Taylor Avenue

Camden Dependable Janitorial Service, LLCLLC 11/19/13 2359 Rocky Hill Rd Memas Smootches LLC LLC 11/14/13 1275 Mt. Pilgram Rd

Canton BFR Rentals, LLC LLC 11/12/13 151 West Peace Street Buffington and Fortenberry, LLC LLC 11/12/13 151 West Peace Street Clinical Mobile Diagnostics LLC LLC 11/14/13 118 Fairchild Cove Jaiket Gulf LLC LLC 11/5/13 3390 N. Liberty Street Keyway Properties, LLC LLC 11/19/13 107 Post Oak Drive Brandon 39047 Latino’s Used Cars Inc BUS 11/6/13 315 N Madison St Q Beams Construction LLC LLC 11/4/13 627 East Fulton Street Turna Group VIII, LLC LLC 11/18/13 1110 West Fulton Street

BUS 4 East Second Street

Cleveland Delta Trucking LLC LLC 11/21/13 1974 Shaw Skene Road East Mississippi Wholesale Inc BUS 11/4/13 100 Ashley Street Hayes-Gibson International, Inc. BUS 11/4/13 312 West Carpenter Street K.B. Roofing, Inc. BUS 11/4/13 1115 N. Yale St Lee Havens Investments, LLC LLC 11/26/13 527 Frederick Drive M&M- Marvin Lott Farms, LLC LLC 11/20/13 1420 Yale Street Extended Simplicity of Music LLC LLC 11/4/13 200 Ruben Smith Street Apt 15-A The Image Specialist of Mississippi LLC LLC

11/8/13

Calhoun City

LLC

Brookhaven

Pharmacon Solutions, L.L.C. LLC 11/8/13 132 E. Northside Dr., Suite C Prestige Autoplex, LLC LLC 11/21/13 801 East Northside Drive S&T Petroleum LLC LLC 11/27/13 1606 Reserve Dr #H2 Tobacco Shop LLC LLC 11/26/13 608 A Hwy 80 W

Carriere

711 Brookway Blvd, Suite B

Mississippi Business Journal

KAE, LLC LLC 11/5/13 367 George Ford Rd MLR Construction LLC LLC 11/8/13 44 Jamie Rd Norma Jean’s Sweet Shoppe LLC LLC 11/19/13 130 Tripp Ln

Brooks Management LLC LLC 11/4/13 791 Conrad Trail NE Bunyard Cabinetry LLC LLC 11/4/13 734 Zetus Rd NW Cassidy Corner, LLC LLC 11/4/13 502 W. Chippewa Center Place, LLC LLC 11/4/13 502 W. Chippewa Cleveland Corner, LLC LLC 11/4/13 502 W. Chippewa D & H Wallace Enterprises, LLC LLC 11/22/13 1941 Hurricane Lake Drive SW L & L Ventures Inc BUS 11/20/13 734 Zetus Rd NW Lin Chen LLC LLC 11/27/13 910 Brookway Blvd M Squared Construction Inc BUS 11/15/13 1110 George Trail SW Mignon’s Honor, LLC LLC 11/21/13 536 S. Jackson Street PCJ Family Properties, LLC LLC 11/19/13 1625 Westwood Lane Railroad Housing, LLC LLC 11/4/13 502 W. Chippewa Sessums Consulting Inc BUS 11/4/13 734 Zetus Rd NW 11/21/13

213 East Sunflower Road

Clinton A & R Enterprises LLC LLC 11/22/13 345 Woodstone Rd # K6 A&R Traders LLC LLC 11/15/13 50 Lakeview Dr Apt 202 Affiliated Buyers Group, Inc BUS 11/12/13 1205 Dartmoor Dr. Arlington Place LLC LLC 11/4/13 1007 Arlington St B’s Auto Sales, Inc BUS 11/5/13 103 Lantana Hill Dr Bailey Agency, Inc. BUS 11/20/13 541 B Highway 80 West CSB Booster Club NP 11/12/13 121 Heatherlynn Circle Dealer Options, LLC LLC 11/19/13 130 Thornwood Drive Global People Action Network NP 11/14/13 123-A Highway 80 East #160 James D Boone PLLC PLLC 11/20/13 1655 SW Linda Drive JFMC The Q, LLC LLC 11/27/13 604 Highway 80 East LBR Enterprise Corp BUS 11/20/13 806 Live Oak Dr Lewis Drywall & Remolding LLC LLC 11/4/13 4299 North Norrell Road Meme’s Brick Street Bakery LLC LLC 11/19/13 122 Keith Ln Neblett Family, LLC LLC 11/8/13 92 Cotton Acres Drive

Memphis Heat and Air LLC LLC 11/4/13 970 Barr Road

Collins Circle Assistant Living, LLC LLC 11/25/13 119 Sylvia St Dearman Consulting LLC LLC 11/6/13 23 Dearman Rd

Collinsville CMJS Investments LLC LLC 11/21/13 13066 McMullan Rd Hippies and gypsies Boutique DBALLC 11/18/13 2050 Hopewell Rd Jamie Hazelwood DBA LLC 11/18/13 2050 Hopewell Rd

Columbia Boleware Consulting, LLC LLC 11/25/13 671 W. Reservoir Rd Columbia Consulting, LLC LLC 11/13/13 1600 Ridgewood Drive K & J MS Properties, LLC LLC 11/25/13 39 Cook Hill Lane L & E Trucking LLC LLC 11/12/13 1498 98 Northpark Avenue Pipetracker, LLC LLC 11/27/13 2438†HWY†98†E Shaheen Ranch, LLC LLC 11/22/13 45 Lakeview Road

Columbus 101 Van Buren, LLC LLC 11/8/13 453 Motley Road 1496588 Alberta Ltd BUS 11/1/13 62 Merle Drive Abundant Life Holding, Inc NP 11/22/13 611 S Frontage Road Advanced Manufactured Solutions, LLC LLC

11/1/13 7395 Highway 45 North Body Sculpture Fitness, LLC LLC 11/13/13 200 6Th Street (39701) Burns Properties of Mississipip LLCLLC 11/4/13 469 Ginger Lane Columbus AFB Top 3 NP 11/8/13 680 7Th Street Suite 101 Cooley Center Master Tenant, LLC LLC 11/20/13 410 Main Street Corbells Loft, LLC LLC 11/25/13 550 Nash Road Curtis Family Properties, LLC LLC 11/8/13 453 Motley Road Curtis Professional Properties, LLCLLC 11/8/13 453 Motley Road D & V Melvani Rentals, LLC LLC 11/18/13 60 Brookwood Cove Friendly Estates LLC 11/27/13 1203 2Nd Ave No Jr. Stop, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 605 Leigh Drive, Apt H78 Panthera Leasing Inc. BUS 11/22/13 2193 Hwy 45 South PHG Cooley Center Leverage Lender, LLCLLC

11/20/13

410 Main Street

PHG Cooley Center Sponsor Manager, LLCLLC

11/11/13 410 Main Street PHG Cooley Center Sponsor, LLC LLC 11/20/13 410 Main Street S-SRJW LLC LLC 11/27/13 510 7Th Street North Thai by Thai, LLC LLC 11/18/13 124 5Th Street North Travels Unlimited Limited Liability Company LLC 11/19/13 34 Walnut Drive Trenary Foods of West Point LLC LLC 11/13/13 66 Maid Marion Circle Triangle Insulation & Acoustic IncBUS 11/7/13 419 College St Unbroken Hebrews 12:11 LLC LLC 11/22/13 208 Conway Drive

Como Moon Hollow Farm and Country House LLC LLC 11/27/13 839 Williams Road

Corinth Brown’s Custom Framing LLC LLC 11/12/13 1212 Garden Lane CT Industries LLC LLC 11/18/13 1407-A Harper Rd Gregfield Enterprises Inc. BUS 11/13/13 2300 Chestnut Jala Bapa, LLC LLC 11/7/13 1500 Highway 72 West JDK ER Services PLLC PLLC 11/14/13 1903 East Mount View Drive K & E Nichols Properties, LLC LLC 11/12/13 3123 Shiloh Road Lancaster Autos, LLC LLC 11/1/13 123 County Road 546 Scott’s Lakeside Restoration LLC LLC 11/14/13 1903 East Mount View Drive

Courtland Nit Wit Rod Shop, LLC LLC 11/22/13 688 Hartzell Rd

Crystal Springs Ba You Foods LLC LLC 11/7/13 1017 Lucille Ln Bell Brother’s DBA OTH 11/19/13 107 Buie Dr Double H Farms LLC LLC 11/12/13 219 N Jackson St Harco Insurance Services, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 202 East Railroad Avenue Robert Lewis Bell, Jr. DBA OTH 11/19/13 107 Buie Dr Unlimited Perspective Photography Corporation BUS 11/27/13 1021 Hunter Lake Estates

D’Iberville JMT hair products OTH 11/4/13 4061 Suzanne Dr Tech Software, LLC LLC 11/13/136819 Washington Ave Ste E Ocean Springs, Ms 39564

De Kalb T and L Manufacturing LLC LLC 11/19/13 311 Tinsley Chisolm Road

Decatur Lynn R Hayes LLC 11/18/13

LLC 16309 Hwy 15

Diamondhead 1188, LLC LLC 11/12/13 4370 Leisure Time Drive Balaterr, LLC LLC 11/18/13 4370 Leisure Time Drive Coast Service Associates, Inc. BUS 11/21/13 63767 Diamondhead Drive North Game Day Design Group LLC LLC 11/26/13 7602 Fairway Dr Heaven’s Way Cemetery NP 11/21/13 9287 Ana Hulu Street Yellowtails Sport Saloon, LLC LLC 11/22/13 6531 Kiko Street

Drew Bolivar Auto Wholesale Rebuilders, LLC LLC

11/18/13

165 N Main Street

Duck Hill Tippy’s LLC 11/20/13

LLC 572 Shiloh Rd

Edwards JESCT Properties LLC LLC 11/15/13 4345 Adams Station Rd

Ellisville Laidbac Investment Properties LLCLLC 11/21/13 12491 1/2 Dawn Circle Liberty Capital Management LLC LLC 11/21/13 62 Merchant Circle Silly Goose, LLC LLC 11/26/13 8 Julienne Lane Singh Petro I, LLC LLC 11/22/13 5263 Hwy 11 North Southern Hospitality Catering, LLCLLC 11/13/13 351 Old Highway 15 South Turner Timber & Forestry Services, LLC LLC

11/18/13

310 Sandhill Rd

INCORPORATIONS

22 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014 Enterprise Southern Roots Lawn Care Services Plus, L.L.C. LLC 11/26/13 1800 County Rd 372

Eupora A & A Bail Bonds, LLC LLC 11/27/13 2779 West Roane Avenue Jcampbell Trucking LLC LLC 11/12/13 95 South Allen St

Fayette 61 Housing, Inc. BUS 11/7/13 481 Harriston Road Rock Solid Logging LLC LLC 11/4/13 82 McGinty St

Connections IT Inc BUS 11/14/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Cottonwood Capital Management, Inc. BUS

11/25/13645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Cushman & Wakefield Global Services, Inc. BUS 11/6/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Dae Sung LLC LLC 11/1/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Discovery Benefits, Inc. BUS 11/18/13645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Dorothy’s Dream, LLC LLC 11/13/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Eden Street I, LLC LLC 11/21/13 645 LAKELAND EAST DR STE 101 Eichlitz, Dennis, Wray & Westheimer Agency, Inc. BUS 11/14/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Electronic Appraisal Solutions, Inc.

Flora Clinton Horseshoe Hunting Club, LLC

11/25/13

LLC

4846 Main Street, Suite 300

Florence A. Shelby Pottery, LLC LLC 11/4/13 104 Middleridge Drive Mississippi MSA LLC LLC 11/20/13 324 White St Orion Global Resources, LLC LLC 11/18/13 809 Church Street Rocking L Transport Inc. BUS 11/5/13 128 B South Church Street

Flowood 30 West Pershing LLC LLC 11/27/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Adidas America Inc BUS 11/27/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Advanced Industrial Services LLC LLC 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Advanced Industrial Services of Delaware LLC LLC 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 AgJunction Corporation BUS 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 AIN2013 MS Clinton LLC LLC 11/8/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Aldridge Construction Inc BUS 11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 AllSouth Pre-Engineered Components Company, LLC LLC 11/27/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Amenity Elite LLC LLC 11/13/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 American Software USA, LLC LLC 11/20/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Andrews McMeel Distribution Corp

BUS

11/14/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Applied Business Solutions, LLC LLC 11/13/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Ashley Howie Agency LLC LLC 11/25/13 2050 Treetops Boulevard Suite #100 Belcan Services Group II Limited Partnership LP 11/15/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Belcan Services Group Limited Partnership LP 11/4/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Belflex Staffing Network Dba LP 11/15/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Beverly Management International LLC LLC

11/6/13 645 Lakeland East Drive Bluetick, Inc. BUS 11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 BNT MCI, Inc 11/19/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Broadstreet Valuations Inc BUS 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 BRUKS Rockwood, LLC LLC 11/18/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Cambium Education, Inc. BUS 11/8/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 CCATT LLC LLC 11/20/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Choice Recovery, Inc. BUS 11/7/13 232 Market Street CHS Health Services, LLC LLC 11/5/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Cinatra Clean Technologies, Inc. BUS 11/8/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 CoAdvantage Resources, Inc. BUS 11/20/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Coastal Planning & Engineering Inc BUS 11/15/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101

Colcon Industries Corporation BUS 11/19/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Complete Lighting and Sign Service Inc.BUS

11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101

BUS

11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Elman Aberdeen Associates LLC LLC 11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Elman Courthouse Associates LLC LLC 11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Enable GP, LLC LLC 11/18/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 First Baldwin Insurance LLC LLC 11/6/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Friendship Check Advance Inc BUS 11/18/13 232 Market Street. GE Equipment Midticket LLC, Series 2013-1 LLC 11/22/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Genesis Technical Staffing, Inc. BUS 11/14/13645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Gordon & Grayer Tax Service LLC LLC 11/21/13 232 Market Street Grandparents.com, Inc. BUS 11/20/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Green Clean Cleaning Service LLC LLC 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 11/27/13 Green Oak Publishers LLC LLC 11/15/13 232 Market Street. Groves Agency LLC LLC 11/27/13 232 Market Street. GTMS Partners, LLC LLC 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 GTMS, LLC LLC 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Harden Manufacturing DBA BUS 11/13/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Heritage Home Group, LLC LLC 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 HM Operating Incorporated BUS 11/13/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Hollywood Casinos, LLC LLC 11/6/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Home Security of America Insurance Services Inc BUS 11/6/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Hurricane Consulting, Inc BUS 11/1/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Hutton Growth Columbus, LLC LLC 11/7/13 645 LAKELAND EAST DR #101 iDisciple LLC LLC 11/26/13 232 Market Street ImmunoTek Bio Centers, LLC LLC 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Indianola Land, LLC LLC 11/20/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Infor (Canada), Ltd BUS 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Inland National Real Estate Services, LLCLLC

11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Instrument Services Corporation BUS 11/1/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Integrated Care Professionals LLC LLC 11/4/13 645 LAKELAND EAST DR STE 101 Interval Holding Company LLC LLC 11/6/13 436 Katherine Drive, Ste 400 IntraFusion GP, LLC LLC 11/13/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 IREIT Olive Branch Wedgewood LLC LLC 11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101

J.L. Malone & Associates LLC LLC 11/4/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 JL Malone Contracting LLC LLC 11/4/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Job Performance Systems, Inc. BUS 11/15/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 John Deere Landscapes LLC LLC 11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 KAMS, PC PA 11/27/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Kelburk, Inc. BUS 11/26/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Kforce Services Corp. BUS 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 KPS Group, P.C. PA 11/15/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101

Kucera International Inc. BUS 11/4/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Lafitte Investments LLC LLC 11/4/13 645 LAKELAND EAST DR #101 Lakeside Reo Ventures LLC LLC 11/26/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Lane Home Furniture DBA LLC 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 M/J Feed Mill MS, LLC LLC 11/18/13645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Mar-Jac Poultry MS, LLC LLC 11/18/13645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Mark Mitchell LLC LLC 11/21/13 120 Wisteria Hill Dr Massey Outdoors, LLC LLC 11/27/13 3003 Lakeland Cove, Suite E Maury Cobb, Attorney at Law, LLCLLC 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 MD Farms MS, LLC LLC 11/18/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 MD Poultry MS, LLC LLC 11/18/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Megabus Southeast, LLC LLC 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 11/12/13 Metro Consulting Associates LLC LLC 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 11/12/13 MHI Wind Power Americas Inc BUS 11/18/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Mid-Continent Minerals Corporation

BUS

11/22/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Mid-South Business Alliance LLC LLC 11/14/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Midsouth PICCs, LLC LLC 11/4/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Millenium Satellite and Video Inc.BUS 11/27/13 232 Market St Mindseeker Inc BUS 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Mississippi Silicon Corp BUS 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 11/21/13 Mississippi Silicon Corp. I BUS 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Mundie Lane, LLC LLC 11/12/13 1610 Independence Blvd NEC Cloud Communications America IncBUS

11/4/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Nesco Rentals, LLC LLC 11/6/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Nesco, LLC LLC 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 11/6/13 Newton FMC LLC LLC 11/19/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Newwave Wireless LLC LLC 11/20/13 645 Lakeland East Dr Ste 101 Niemi Appraisal Placement, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Norman a Cope & Associates Inc BUS 11/27/13645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 NxGen Rail Services LLC LLC 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Optical & Telecommunication Solutions, Inc. BUS 11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Patriot Services, Inc. BUS 11/18/13 232 Market Street Patterson Trucking Enterprise LLCLLC 11/13/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Paylocity Corporation BUS 11/1/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Peak Power Services, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Pfizer Holdings Americas Corporation BUS 11/20/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101

Phillips Partnership, P.C. PA 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 11/27/13 Potomac Healthcare Solutions LLCLLC 11/20/13645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Premier Equipment, Inc. BUS 11/4/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Professional Placement Services LLC LLC 11/19/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101

Provista, Inc. BUS 11/27/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Pure Water Foundation NP 11/7/13 406 Liberty Park Court RCG-Pascagoula, LLC LLC 11/25/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 RDG Architects PC PA 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Red River Waste Solutions LP LP 11/8/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Reece Supply Company of GeorgiaBUS 11/1/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Reverse It! DBA LLC 11/26/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Reverse It! DBA 11/26/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 ROC Service Company, LLC LLC 11/19/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 RREF RB-MS, LLC LLC 11/22/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101

SBA Towers V, LLC LLC 11/20/13 232 Market Street Scarlet Pearl, LLC LLC 11/22/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Self-Directed Health, LLC LLC 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 SHI Township JV Company LLC LLC 11/13/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Signal Finders, LLC LLC 11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Southern Healthcare Solutions LLCLLC 11/25/13 307 Emerald Cv Southern Serenity Builders, LLC LLC 11/7/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Southern Serenity Homes, LLC LLC 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 11/7/13 Spirit Ventures, LLC LLC 11/26/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Storage Structures, Inc. BUS 11/22/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Sweet & Smocked LLC 11/5/13 403 Green Tree Pl. Sweet & Smocked LLC LLC 11/5/13 403 Green Tree Pl. Tally Real Estate Group, LLC LLC 11/27/13 645 LAKELAND EAST DR #101 TBM Consulting Group, Inc. BUS 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 11/4/13 TesTex Inspection, LLC LLC 11/21/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 TOC, LLC LLC 11/27/13 232 Market Street Tri- State Maritime Services, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Tyler G. Marks, M.D., P.A. PA 11/5/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Urban Financial of America LLC 11/26/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Urban Financial of America LLC LLC 11/26/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 UST Global Inc BUS 11/25/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Vertical Assessment Associates, LLC

LLC

11/14/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Wynne Systems Inc. BUS 11/5/13 645 LAKELAND EAST DR #101 YB Newton, LLC LLC 11/19/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Yundle, Inc. BUS 11/5/13 3720 Flowood Drive

Forest Candy Canes Cupcakes LLC LLC 11/21/13 113 Kirsh St FHS Soccer Booster Club NP 11/19/13 1060 Bishop Lane J & S Services and Repair, LLC LLC 11/1/13 1044 West 3rd Street Party Time Jumpers, LLC LLC 11/19/13 1060 Bishop Lane R & A Trucking LLC LLC 11/1/13 270 Woodland Drive Red Top Cemetery, Inc. NP 11/1/13 1107 Old Highway 21 Tom’s Two Sons, LLC LLC 11/27/13 201 Poinsettia Dr Tortilleria Y Taqueria La Fe LLC LLC 11/25/13 748 East 3rd St Vowell’s MS Leverage Lender, LLC LLC 11/14/13 820 Hwy 35 North Windham Family LLC LLC 11/7/13 284 Windham Lane Worrell Electrical & Controls Inc BUS 11/25/13 723 Old Hillsboro Rd

Foxworth Bobby Stringer, LLC LLC 11/18/13 62 Shady Grove Church Rd Extreme Roofing, LLC LLC 11/4/13 249 Holmes Pittman Rd USA Donuts & Kolaches LLC LLC 11/5/13 936 New Hope Church Rd

Gautier 2 Spoiled, LLC LLC 11/25/13 5001 Huntington Dr. 2 Spoiled, LLC 11/13/13 5001 Huntington Dr. Loumae Helping Hands Dauphins of Distinction Foundation NP 11/1/13 1400 Kingfisher Dr Singing River Clinical Integration, LLC LLC

11/25/13

2109 Highway 90

Georgetown Copiah Galilee Baptist Church NP 11/5/13 1050 Madison Avenue

Gloster TMS Horizons LLC LLC 11/20/13 3062 Old 24 Compromise Rd.

Greenville 3193 Hwy 82 E LLC LLC 11/14/13 1417 Trailwood Drive Suite A A.B.C.D.E.F.G., LLC LLC 11/15/13839 North Broadwat Street, Suite B ENviroHANCE Consulting DBA LLC 11/15/13839 North Broadwat Street, Suite B Grace Transit “LLC” LLC 11/18/13 1260 Wayside Dr Jo’s Personal Touch & Catering LLCLLC 11/27/13 1417 Trailwood Drive Ste A Lephiew Investments, Inc. BUS 11/22/13 357 West Reed Road Speakes Farms, LLC LLC 11/25/13 923 Washington Avenue Tighten Up LLC LLC 11/13/13 3746 Hwy 1 South

Greenwood Al Thomas Trucking LLC LLC 11/26/13 103 Downing Drive Alphenia, LLC LLC 11/22/13 107 West Market Street Delta Cherokee Flying LLC LLC 11/27/13 600 Puckett KT&T Express LLC LLC 11/8/13 103 Oriole Street Niskayuna LLC LLC 11/6/13 1201 Robert E Lee Dr The Delta Blaze NP 11/26/13 1600 Alla Court

Grenada Gifted Minds Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Center NP 11/8/13 56 Cherry St GW Farms, LLC LLC 11/14/13 629 Old Hickory Rd IDA Lives NP 11/27/13 158 Lyon Dr Mr. Monroe’s, Inc. BUS 11/4/13 133 South Mound St 38901 Robbie E. Willis, PLLC PLLC 11/20/13 205 South Main Street Sabrina D Howell Attorney at Law, PC PA 11/18/13 42 N Main St Travis Furniture Co. LLC LLC 11/15/13 122 Sunflower Drive

Gulfport 1314 25th Avenue Holdings, LLC LLC 11/13/13 1310 25Th Avenue 300 East Scenic Drive, LLC LLC 11/14/13 9490 Three Rivers Road 4H Properties Inc BUS 11/8/13 15407 Woody Drive Autumn View Outreach & Development NP 11/6/13 1800 25Th Avenue Autumn View Senior Day Services Ltd. BUS

11/6/13 1800 25Th Avenue Business Men of Tomorrow NP 11/18/13 11111 Highland Ave Apt # 214 Causey Specialized Impact Educational Consulting LLC LLC 11/1/13 12431 Oneal Road Cell Touch LA Inc. LLC 11/15/13 91 Hardy Ct Colston Enterprises LLC LLC 11/20/13 915 Hemlock Rd Crown Casters NP 11/19/13 2203 Milner Blvd CRW, LLC LLC 11/25/13 11352 Palm Valley Cove D&L Heritage Enterprises, Inc. BUS 11/18/13 7121 B 73rd Ave D&L Heritage Eterprises Inc BUS 11/18/13 7121 B 73rd Ave Designer Inches LLC LLC 11/18/13 4512 Heron Street Diversity District LLC LLC 11/18/13 12073 George St Double B Plantation, L.L.C. LLC 11/4/13 2505 14Th Street, Suite 500 Educate & Celebrate, LLC LLC 11/27/13 3 Keyser Lane Extreme Energy Services, L.L.C. LLC 11/12/13 2218 18Th Street GGLC 1 LLC LLC 11/14/13 12435 Plunkett Road GGLC 1 PG LLC LLC 11/14/13 12435 Plunkett Road Government Street Entertainment, LLC LLC

11/18/13

204 Courthouse Road, Suite B

Gulf Coast School of Music LLC LLC 11/21/13 1814 Pass Road Gulfport Manufacturing, Inc. BUS 11/14/13 14500 B Creosote Road Healthscripts of America - Jackson LLC LLC

11/21/13 12435 Plunkett Road IWBR, LLC LLC 11/13/13 11363 Palm Valley Cove J Newell Properties LLC LLC 11/14/13 2218 18Th Street JM Fabrication and Welding LLC LLC 11/21/13 12230 Ashley Drive Lin Xin, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 353 Courthouse Road M Sanzin Consultants, Inc. BUS 11/13/13 13572 John Creek Road M2 Land Holdings, LLC LLC 11/7/13 12268 Intraplex Parkway Marine Insurance LLC LLC 11/4/13 11530 Highway 49 N. Suite C MJW Investments, LLC LLC 11/18/13 15230 Creosote Road Motion, LLC LLC 11/18/13 2305 Middlecoff Drive No Smoke About It LLC LLC 11/12/13 10767 Plummer Cr. North America Nutrition LLC LLC 11/22/13 12445 Canal Rd Northfield Olive Oils & Vineager LLC

LLC

11/20/13 11304 Fairfield Lane Pass Christian/Cat Island Coffeehouse LLC LLC 11/18/13 9490 Three Rivers Road Peddler MS, LLC LLC 11/20/13 12435 Plunkett Road PF3 Heavy, LLC LLC 11/22/13 1317 26Th Avenue, Suite 320 (39501) R and A Investments LLC LLC 11/1/13 15349 Swan Lake Blvd Ruby Gator Labs LLC LLC 11/18/13 10749 E Bay Tree Dr. Seals Trucking & Dirt Works LLC NP 11/19/13 11621 Wolf River Road Seaside Solutions, LLC LLC 11/19/13 2909 13Th Street, Sixth Floor (39501) Southeastern Audiology Associates, PLLC PLLC 11/27/13 11010 Highway 49 Suite 6 Southern Reloading Supplies LLC LLC 11/25/13 13829 John Clark Road Sturgis Land, LLC LLC 11/8/13 715 Commerce Street TD Staffing Solutions, LLC LLC 11/12/13 1308 Pass Road The Elaris Network, LLC LLC 11/12/13 12260 Amanda Way Triple B Hauling, LLC LLC 11/15/13 20498 Landon Road United Thai Boxing LLC LLC 11/5/13 13054 Canal Road Unit A Web Bait & Tackle, LLC LLC 11/8/13 2300 20Th St. Whynot Corp BUS 11/18/13 11544 W Taylor Rd WSI Consulting, LLC LLC 11/26/13 4110 Franklin Avenue

Guntown Masonry Contractors, LLC LLC 11/8/13 146 Towery St T & S Auto Sales, Inc. BUS 11/1/13 447 Cr 601

Hattiesburg A & O Enterprises LLC LLC 11/14/13 107 Waverly Circle A. Corrie Hall, CPA, PLLC PLLC 11/4/13 120 South Lake Drive Alert Medics LLC LLC 11/22/13 5268 Old Hwy 11 Always Ready Bailbonding LLC LLC 11/12/13 718 James Street B&E Ventures, LLC LLC 11/6/13 47 Cinnamon Fern Backbone Express, LLC LLC 11/1/13 125 Dogwood Ln Best Stop Food Mart, LLC LLC 11/15/13 1011 Hardy Street BGK Biloxi, LLC LLC 11/15/13 309 South 40th Avenue Bombshell Comics & Stuff, L.L.C. LLC 11/12/13 2103 Hardy Street Boog Investments LLC LLC 11/13/13 121 Shadow Lake Dr Bounce It Out LLC LLC 11/27/13 33 Lakewood Dr. Cypress Property and Development LLC LLC

11/14/13 22 Marine Circle DG Buckatunna, LLC LLC 11/8/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road

DG Caledonia LLC LLC 11/1/13 2603-A Oak Grove Road DG Columbus 45, LLC LLC 11/8/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road DG Escatawpa, LLC LLC 11/8/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road DG Jackson CR, LLC LLC 11/8/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road DG Meadville, LLC LLC 11/1/13 2603 A Oak Grove Road DG Sumrall, LLC LLC 11/1/13 2603-A Oak Grove Road Distressed, LLC LLC 11/22/13 59 Belle Terre Blvd. Eleos Messengers of Mercy NP 11/19/13 136 Woodhaven Cr Energy Savings Program LLC LLC 11/13/13 12 Professional Parkway ESP Marketing Inc BUS 11/27/13 120 Longwood Terrace Eternal Bread of Life NP 11/13/13 101 Wheeless Circle Haws, Merrell, Gordin and Britt, LLC

LLC

11/4/13 5 Williow Bend Dr Inspection Report Services, L.L.C. LLC 11/1/13 11 Stones Throw Drive L & W Wheat Trucking LLC LLC 11/4/13 93 Hartfield Road Legasea Inc BUS 11/12/13 23 Town Center Magnolia Sales and Liquidations, LLC

LLC

11/13/13 217 West Pine Street Maplewood Associates, LTD., L.P. LP 11/26/13 102 North 10th Ave Marine Investments, LLC LLC 11/12/13 309 S. 40th Ave. McLelland Law Office, PLLC PLLC 11/25/13 2015 Hardy Street Oakwood Associates, LTD., L.P. LP 11/26/13 102 North 10th Ave One Love Fellowship Ministries, Inc.

11/20/13 1075 Sunrise Rd Petal 39465 Otaigbe Radiant Reflections LLC PLLC 11/27/13 6600 U.S. Highway 98, Suite B Otaigbe Radiant Reflections, PLLC

PLLC

11/27/13 6600 U.S. Highway 98, Suite B Otaigbe Southern Medical Care LLC

PLLC

11/27/13 6600 U.S. Highway 98, Suite B Otaigbe Southern Medical Care, PLLC PLLC

11/27/13 6600 U.S. Highway 98, Suite B Refuge for Homeless Veterans LLCLLC 11/27/13 19 Langston Rd Rolloff Recycling Center, LLC LLC 11/20/13 307 West Pine Street RORO Columbus LLC LLC 11/18/13 2603-A Oak Grove Road Snaxrun LLC LLC 11/18/13 105 Brookwood Pl Southbound Crescent Band, LLC LLC 11/26/13 14 Madewood Staco Decorative Iron, LLC LLC 11/8/13 5243 Old Highway 11 Sustainable Wellness Global, LLC LLC 11/26/13 105 Ford Ave T & L Montgomery Properties LLCLLC 11/18/13 102 Lake Estates Drive T & S Strong Inc BUS 11/27/13 5019 West 4th St The Kouncil LLC LLC 11/4/13 2 Brantley Drive The Kouncil of Hattiesburg LLC LLC 11/27/13 33 Lakewood Drive Tojo Motors, LLC LLC 11/26/13 21 Fox Glove Traditional Custom Painting LLC LLC 11/22/13 208 Clarence Ray Dr. Travel & Tours By Blitz LLP LLP 11/5/13 2905 Prince George Road Triple S Timber, LLC LLC 11/4/13 53 Fieldstone TSA Appraisal Services LLC LLC 11/22/13 59 Belle Terre Blvd. Turkey Cove, Inc. BUS 11/13/13 98 St. Anne’s Weiss Contracting, LLC LLC 11/7/13 433 J. C. Burt Rd

Hazlehurst Aging Gracefully Adult Social Center, LLCLLC

11/7/13 247 Caldwell Drive Blush Boutique, LLC LLC 11/7/13 303 Jackson Street C L Auto Enterprises LLC LLC 11/4/13 16153 A Hwy 51 Foundation Principles Ministry, Inc.NP 11/8/13 1010 Deerwood Trail MJT Land Company LLC LLC 11/25/13 322 West Gallatin Street

INCORPORATIONS Hernando Ag-Car Enterprises, Inc. BUS 11/18/13 1814 Tara Drive B & R Enterprises Inc. BUS 11/20/13 675 W. Commerce Street Boatwright Farms LLC LLC 11/20/13 164 Craft Rd S Friar Group, LLC LLC 11/14/13 1048 White Oak Dr J.J.W. Wheel Alignment and Tire Services LLC LLC 11/25/13 2013 Grass Pond Road JMG Properties LLC LLC 11/22/13 1096 Deer Creek Dr Marshall’s Rental World, Inc BUS 11/8/13 1921 Magnolia Manor Dr Relion Solutions LLC LLC 11/12/13 1739 Northwood Hills Shooters Surplus Ammo, LLC LLC 11/18/13 2440 Mt. Pleasant, Suite B Southern Airways Corporation BUS 11/5/13 2525 Caffey Street Tracy’s Concessions LLC LLC 11/25/13 2943 Scott Road

Hickory Flat Hickory Flat Clinic LLC LLC 11/20/13 250 Oak Street

Holly Bluff Coghlan’s, LLC 11/7/13

LLC 93 Railroad Avenue

Holly Springs A W Interprize LLC 11/12/13

LLC 1155 Hwy 311 N

CM Construction Management, Inc.

BUS

11/5/13 365 E. College Avenue M and I Properties LLC LLC 11/22/13 129 Van Dorn Ave MDC6 Inc BUS 11/13/13 608 N Swaney Rd Wildcat Oil Gas & Coal Inc BUS 11/18/13 5323 Smith Grove Road

Horn Lake AMBA Horn Lake Inc

BUS

11/14/13 6868 Interstate B Exxon Express LLC LLC 11/25/13 1535 Nail Rd W Henry Hill Group, LLC LLC 11/26/13 2154 W. Goodman Rd Joy Walk Division Inc. BUS 11/19/13 1885 Towson Ln REM Food Mart 3 LLC LLC 11/26/13 3971 Goodman Rd S & M Investments, LLC LLC 11/25/13 4131 Sharon Drive Shannon Wide Plank Flooring, LLCLLC 11/27/13 2200 Cole Road

Houston J2 Consulting Services, LLC LLC 11/1/13 111 East Washington Street Mark F. Brady, MD, PLLC PLLC 11/4/13 111 East Washington Street PTV Property, LLC LLC 11/20/13 111 East Washington Street Standard Siding, LLC LLC 11/20/13 111 East Washington Street

Hurley McCoy’s River & Marsh Tours LLC LLC 11/12/13153 Lakeview Dr. ( Lucedale 39452)

Indianola MHC Farms Inc BUS 11/27/13 285 Fairview Road Woods “A” Lawn Service “L.L.C.” LLC 11/7/13 405 B.b. King Road

Itta Bena N100RG, LLC LLC 11/15/13 32381 Hwy 7 South Oklahoma Farms, LLC LLC 11/26/13 22696 County Road 507

Iuka Bray Trucking, Inc. BUS 11/7/13 14 Cr 306 Pet Wellness Center Inc BUS 11/12/13 201 East Eastport Street

Veterinary Biopharma, Inc BUS 11/1/13 201 East Eastport Street

Jackson 4 Dimensions Carpet and Tile Care, LLC LLC 11/8/13 4987 Forest Hill Road (Byram 39277)

4RB Properties LLC LLC 11/12/13 4568 North Siwell Road AAG Holdings Inc BUS 11/12/13248 East Capitol Street, Suite 840 Absolute Advantage LLC LLC 11/14/13 1459 Northlake Dr Agent Service Company, Inc. BUS 11/4/13 506 S President St All American Landscaping L.L.C. LLC 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Altruistic Business Corporation Developing Enterprise BUS 11/18/13 5906 Kristen Drive Anna B, LLC LLC 11/15/13 2224 Eastover Drive Anytime Trailer Repair, LLC LLC 11/20/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 APX Net BUS 11/6/13 506 South President Street APX Net Inc. BUS 11/6/13 506 South President Street ARC CAFEHLD001, LLC LLC 11/21/13 506 South President Street ARC CAFEUSA001, LLC LLC 11/21/13 506 South President Street Bagwell No. 6 Family Limited Partnership LP 11/12/13840 Trustmark Bldg, 248 E Capitol Street Be Sweet Boutique, LLC LLC 11/5/13 931 Highway 80 W Suite 227 Bisel, Inc. BUS 11/14/13 405 Briarwood Dr. Ste 103A Brainiac Education Group, LLC LLC 310 Edgewood Terrace Dr. Suite B 11/26/13 Buck Armstrong Construction L.L.C.

LLC

11/18/13 2656 Key St C & Q Supermarket LLC. LLC 11/18/13 5465 I-55 North C Walker Transportation LLC LLC 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 California Nails, LLC LLC 11/20/13 1523 East County Line Rd. Candlelight Inn and Suites LLC LLC 11/4/13 1525 Ellis Ave Capital City Interior LLC LLC 11/4/13 5359 Reddoch Drive CapRock Government Solutions, Inc.

BUS

11/25/13 506 South President Street CareCore National, LLC LLC 11/27/13 506 South President Street Carson Law Group, PLLC PLLC 11/7/13 2037 London Ave Cedar Top, LLC LLC 11/22/13 4268 I 55 N Meadowbrook Office Park Change in Me L.L.C. LLC 11/15/13 311 Livingston Street Cherokee Property Management, LLC

LLC

11/7/13 506 South President Street Chester Gulf Coast, LLC LLC 11/4/13 506 South President Street CHG-Meridian USA Corp BUS 11/26/13 506 South President Street Clark Collectibles, LLC LLC 11/6/13 452 Valey Street Coffee Fusion DBA LLC 11/18/13 125 S Congress Street Suite 1240 Cohesive Networks 2, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 506 South President Street Corkern & Norris Consulting, Inc. BUS 11/19/13 4363 Forest Park Drive Da Sipp Divas LLC LLC 11/7/13 113 Maxwell Cove (Terry 39170) Delek Renewables, LLC LLC 11/1/13401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building Dex Roofing LLC LLC 11/21/13 2611 Glenn St Dippin’ Dots, L.L.C. LLC 11/14/13 506 South President Street Divine Interventions Accounting and Tax Services, LLC LLC 11/27/13 3021 Suncrest Drive (39212) Dodd Enterprises of MS LLC LLC 11/21/13 2315 McFadden Road Apt 906 DOMO Catering Services, LLC LLC 11/26/13 1839 Piedmont St Donan Solutions, LLC LLC 11/18/13 506 South President Street Dotty’s Day Care Inc BUS 11/25/13 4108 Northview Drive Doug’s Trucking LLC LLC 11/1/13 1728 Waycona Dr Drayer Physical TherapyMississippi, LLC LLC 11/4/13 506 South President Street

January 17, 2014

Ehobo.com LLC LLC 11/4/13 1230 Raymond Rd 39204 Elauwit Networks, LLC LLC 11/12/13 405 Briarwood Dr. Ste 103A EmployUS Ltd BUS 11/25/13 840 Trustmark Building Endologix, Inc. BUS 11/27/13 506 South President Street Evans Enterprises LLC LLC 11/8/13 1747 Waycona Dr Ever Working Exchange LLC LLC 11/8/13 2655 Belvedere Dr Apt A1

LeaseStar LLC LLC 11/13/13 401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building Left Coast Brewing Company BUS 11/4/13 840 Trustmark Building

Ever Working Financial Solutions LLC

Lindley & Lindley Wildlife Management, LLC LLC 11/13/13 Law Offices of James G. McGee Jr, PLLC Lindsey, Parker & Martin, PLLC PLLC 11/7/13 5380 I-55 North, Suite 103 Lomar Specialties LLC LLC 11/21/13 80 Autumn Hill Drive Lowe’s Home Centers, LLC LLC 11/14/13 506 South President Street LPC MS 1 LLC LLC 11/25/13 1220 East Northside Drive LT Medical Consulting, LLC LLC 11/4/13270 Brisage Blvd., ( Madison 39110) M&M Myers, LLC LLC 11/21/13248 East Capitol Street, Suite 840 Mama’s Eats-N-Sweets, Inc. BUS 11/22/13 2017 Boling Street Matlock Concrete Contractors LLCLLC 11/15/13 146 West Northside Dr

LLC

11/8/13 2655 Belvedere Dr Apt A1 EXOS HUMAN CAPITAL, LLC LLC 11/21/13 506 South President Street Express Yourself, Inc BUS 11/20/13 3155 J R Lynch Street F3 Documentary Photography, LLCLLC 11/1/13 586 Warrior Trail First Choice Technology, Inc. BUS 11/27/13 506 South President Street Frank F. Farmer, P.L.L.C. PLLC 11/1/13 586 Warrior Trail (39216) Frisco Lender Services, LLC LLC 11/12/13 506 South President Street Fusion Beverages, LLC LLC 11/18/13 125 S Congress Street Suite 1240 Garrison Law Firm PLLC PLLC 11/5/13 3818 Montrose Circle Gaylor Consulting, LLC LLC 11/12/13 129 Riviera Drive GM-DI Leasing LLC LLC 11/22/13 506 South President Street GrassRoot Renters, LLC LLC 11/22/13 6113 Pear Orchard Rd Griffin Realty LLC LLC 11/13/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 H&S-White-Spunner Contracting JV, LLCLLC

11/13/13 840 Trustmark Building Harvest-Time Community Outreach Church NP 11/1/13 3871 Northview Drive 39206 Haw Branch Enterprises, LLC LLC 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Health is Wealth, LLC LLC 11/25/13 5750 I-55 North Health Therapy, LLC LLC 11/4/13 101 North State Street Healthcare Support Staffing Inc BUS 11/18/13 506 South President Street Heartland Payment Solutions, Inc.BUS 11/6/13 506 South President Street High Biscuits Tea, LLC LLC 11/13/13 318 S. State Street Horizon Food Equipment, Inc. BUS 11/13/13 840 TRUSTMARK BUILDING 248 E CAPITOL ST

House Call Doctors LLC LLC 11/20/13 3223 Sage Street Howard Concessions LLC LLC 11/20/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Hunt Properties, LLC LLC 11/26/13 1211 Quinn St IntelePeer Cloud Communications LLC LLC

11/22/13 506 South President Street IRT Crossings Owner, LLC LLC 11/4/13 506 South President Street J Everett Hall Publishing LLC LLC 11/7/13310 Barrow Street- K-2 Pearl 39208 Jackson Chiropractic Center, LLC LLC 11/18/13 4811 Old Canton Rd., Suite D Jackson-Tuskegee Alumni Club NP 11/7/13 5505 Old Canton Road 39211 James C Walker PLLC LLC 11/20/13 506 S President St Jaxon Energy, LLC LLC 11/15/13 506 South President Street JDJP Development, L.L.C. LLC 11/4/13 102 Business Park Drive, Suite A (Ridgeland, Ms 39157)

Jehu Real Estate LLC LLC 11/14/13 262 Sundown Trail Jewish Family Services, LLC LLC 11/13/13 330 N. Mart Plaza Suite #1 John T Nicholas, LLC LLC 11/7/13 112 River Place JWM Ventures, LLC LLC 11/13/13 1769 Plantation Blvd Kidz Christian Academy, Inc. BUS 11/21/13 4623 Hanging Moss Rd Kingdom Financial Enterprise Inc BUS 11/7/13 2405 Courtview St Kitche, LLC LLC 11/18/13 188 East Capitol Street, Suite 1400 La Nortena II LLC LLC 11/22/13 2615 Robinson Street Landers Counseling Services, LLC LLC 11/21/13 3285 West Countyline Rd LB Designs LLC LLC 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400

Legacy Customer Management Group, LLCLLC

11/22/13248 East Capitol Street, Suite 840 LHAED Inc BUS 11/19/13 City Centre, Suite 1100, 200 S Lamar St Life Bible Study, LLC LLC 11/7/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 100 Lindley & Lindley Funeral Supplies LLC LLC 11/13/13 Law Office of James G. McGee Jr, PLLC

Matrix Communication Services, Inc.

BUS

11/12/13 4822 Windermere Terrace MBA & Associates, LLC LLC 11/1/13 5235 Hialeah Dr McDowell One Stop LLC LLC 11/1/13 723 W McDowell Rd Merz North America Inc BUS 11/12/13 506 South President Street Metro Solutions LLC LLC 11/8/13 5420 I-55 North Suite B Mikel Therapy Group Inc BUS 11/21/13 2 Berrywood Circle Minol, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 506 South President Street Mississippi Telehealth AssociationNP 11/7/13 219 N President Street Mobile Home Investors LLC LLC 11/19/13 213 South Lamar Street Motel 6 DBA LLC 11/13/13 6145 Interstate 55 North Mr. Chens DBA LLC 11/18/13 5465 I-55 North Ms D’s LLC LLC 11/6/13 711 N Congress St MS Frontage Road Properties, LLCLLC 11/7/13190 East Capital Street, Suite 100 (39201) Nanafalia Investment Group LLC LLC 11/4/13 1615 South Gallatin Street New Belgium Brewing Company, Inc.

BUS

11/18/13 506 South President Street New Ministry Church NP 11/5/13 5816 Old Canton Rd NexTitle, LLC LLC 11/4/13 506 South President Street Northview Properties Limited Liability Company LLC 11/22/13 3882-2 Northview Dr OneNation Unlimited LLC LLC 11/21/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Online Marketing Services LLC LLC 11/8/13 129 N. Brighton Dr Oriental Supermarket DBA LLC 11/18/13 5465 I-55 North Oxford Preschool, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 4406 Whip Poor Will Street P&K Reese Enterprises LLC LLC 11/20/13 506 South President Street Par Golf LLC LLC 11/4/13 109 Squirrel Hill Drive (Ridgeland 39157) Paradise Kings Inc. BUS 11/6/13 111 W Santa Clair Pathfinder Service Solutions Inc BUS 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Paul Jasco II LLC LLC 11/13/13 1601 East County Line Road Peak Oilfield Services LLC LLC 248 East Capitol Street, Suite 840 11/15/13 PEJ LLC LLC 11/14/13 188 East Capitol Street, Suite 1400 Percheron Field Services LLC LLC 11/20/13 248 East Capitol Street, Suite 840 Perfect Touch-SanJo Landscaping, LLC LLC

11/4/13 1615 South Gallatin St Suite-A Pet Biz Agency LLC LLC 11/8/13 506 South President Street Philips Project Management, LLC LLC 11/21/13 506 South President Street PHMS, LLC LLC 11/26/13 506 South President Street

Pinnix Inc BUS 11/18/13248 East Capitol Street, Suite 840 Piranha Booksellers LLC LLC 11/4/13 1491 Canton Mart Square, Suit 6 Plains Southcap Inc BUS 11/7/13 506 South President Street Planted Seed NP 11/14/13 6028 Waverly Drive Plutus, LLC LLC 11/26/13 124 Glenway Drive Power Coaching 360, LLC LLC 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Power Home Technologies, LLC LLC 11/20/13 506 South President Street Progressive Medical LLC LLC 11/20/13 506 South President Street Project Integration, Inc. BUS 11/22/13 506 South President Street Pyro Air International, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 840 Trustmark Building QG, LLC LLC 11/21/13 506 South President Street Randall Hook, LLC LLC 11/1/13 5469 Kaywood Drive Raven Rock, LLC LLC 11/25/13 4500 I-55 North, Suite 116 Ravenswood Title Company, LLC LLC 11/15/13 506 South President Street Real Estate Valuation Partners LLCLLC 11/15/13 840 Trustmark Building Real Estate Valuation, LLC LLC 11/15/13 840 Trustmark Building Rolling-N-Style, LLC LLC 11/5/13 921 Eastview Street RRK I, LLC LLC 11/20/13 5469 Kaywood Drive RRK II, LLC LLC 11/20/13 5469 Kaywood Drive RRK III, LLC LLC 11/20/13 5469 Kaywood Drive RRK IV, LLC LLC 11/20/13 5469 Kaywood Drive RRR Appraisal Services Inc BUS 11/4/13 506 South President Street RS Cambridge Apartments, LLC LLC 11/26/13 506 South President Street RT Broadus LLC LLC 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Sabre Demolition Corporation BUS 11/5/13 506 South President Street Sales and Marketing Contractors LLC

LLC

11/14/13 190 East Capitol St Ste 100 scraps r us, LLC LLC 11/15/13 174 Delano Drive Selah Management & Company LLC

LLC

11/8/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Sellers Dorsey & Associates, LLC LLC 11/5/13 506 South President Street SG Capital Partners Incorporated BUS 11/27/13248 East Capitol Street, Suite 840 Shadowleaf Solutions, LLC LLC 11/14/13 2906 North State Street 5A SHSN Hospitality LLC LLC 11/13/13 6145 Interstate 55 North Sientra, Inc. BUS 11/20/13 506 South President Street Simon & Teeuwissen PLLC PLLC 11/12/13 621 East Northside Drive Simpson L. Goodman & Associates, PLLC PLLC 11/13/13 525 East Capitol Street, Suite 405 Sinkfilledsolutions LLC LLC 11/21/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Smith Mineral Investments, LLC LLC 11/19/13 3670 Lakeland Lane Solutionstar Settlement Services LLC

LLC

11/4/13 506 South President Street Soul Soothing Enterprises LLC LLC 11/21/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Southern Beau LLC LLC 11/20/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Southern Shooting Stars Entertainment LLC LLC 11/18/13 5571 Queen Mary Ln Southern Wicks LLC LLC 11/20/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Splash Enterprise, LLC LLC 11/4/13 125 S Congress St. Suite 1240 Stoli Group (USA) LLC LLC 11/12/13 506 South President Street Sweet Tea Hospitality, LLC LLC 11/12/13 1230 Raymond Road, Suite 600 T.G.S. Enterprises Inc BUS 11/20/13 3155 J R Lynch Street T3 Solutions, LLC LLC 11/19/13 3150 Utica Aveue Tandem Diabetes Care Inc BUS 11/12/13 506 South President Street Tasty House LLC. LLC 11/18/13 5465 I-55 North

Mississippi Business Journal

Tax Savers LLC LLC 11/25/13 1230 Raymond Rd Taylor Ramey Fishing LLC LLC 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 The Cell Phone Gallery LLC LLC 11/27/13 2460 Terry Rd Ste 125 The Copper Iris Catering Company, Inc. BUS

11/5/13 4330 North State Street, Suite 7 The Credit Pros International Corporation BUS 11/4/13 840 Trustmark Building The Ice House Venue LLC LLC 11/4/13 251 W. South Street The McCann Law Group, LLP LLP 11/7/13 5446 Executive Place The Odd Coyote, LLC LLC 11/1/13 107 North State Street The Old Village, LLC LLC 11/20/13 3155 J R Lynch Street The Summit McTavish Group, Inc.BUS 11/26/13 506 South President Street Thinkpath Technical Engineering LLC LLC 11/5/13401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building

Thompson Insurance Group, LLC LLC 11/8/13 506 South President Street Top Shelf Clothing LLC LLC 11/18/13 1542 Fairwood Dr Transit Care, LLC LLC 11/15/13 1230 Raymond Rd Trendy Construction IncorporatedBUS 11/21/13 1318 Woodfield Dr Turner - Marie LLC LLC 11/13/13 317 Amanda Lane Twisted Pair Products, LLC LLC 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Unique Ideas Consultants LLC LLC 11/12/13 5515 Meadow Oaks Park Drive Vital Integrative Health Services, LLC

LLC

11/25/13 5750 I-55 North WaistSnatchers LLC LLC 11/12/13 460 Briarwood Drive Suite 400 Wasabi Sushi and Grill LLC LLC 11/5/13 100 East Capitol St Suite 105 Williams Enterprises of MS, Inc. BUS 11/12/13 3125 Lanewood Rd. Willie’s Seafood LLC LLC 11/6/13 601 Northpointe Pkwy # 611B Wilson Staffing, LLC LLC 11/20/13 151 Southern Ridge Dr. Madison 39110 Woodland Creek Timber, LLC LLC 11/21/13 120 N Congress St., Ste 300 WVVA Health Care Alliance, P.C. PA 11/5/13 248 E Capitol Street, Suite 840 Yurman Family Holdings Inc. BUS 11/4/13 506 South President Street

Jayess Sartinville Grocery & Grill LLC LLC 11/7/13 1614 Highway 27N

Lauderdale Miracle Temple Church NP 11/8/13 2621B Green Loop Rd Plumnelly Properties LLC LLC 11/27/13 9581 Hwy 45 North TerraXplorations, Inc. BUS 11/1/13 3714 Kay Dr

Laurel 4-H Pumps LLC LLC 11/1/13 63 F L Pearson Road American Farm Enterprises, LLC LLC 11/14/13 19 Old Sandersville Road Crocker’s Service Center, LLC LLC 11/27/13 2 Park Hill St D&D Rapid Refund LLC LLC 11/12/13 1407 N. 2nd Ave Hattiesburg H.P., LLC LLC 11/15/13 305 South 16th Avenue Myrick Corner Grocery LLP LLP 11/15/13 998 Freedom Rd PSX Music Production and Publishing Company, LLC LLC 11/6/13 1407 Laurelwood Cir., Apt. 14g (39440) R and R Green, LLC LLC 11/20/13 525 Central Ave Suite 1 Stan Holifield Plumbing Service LLC

LLC

11/4/13 37 Whippoorwill Drive Stitchin Krazy LLC LLC 11/15/13 466 Hwy 15 S The Helping Hands of Mississippi Foundation NP 11/21/13 543 Central Ave Ste 208 Xtreme Graphix LLC LLC 11/5/13 35 Walt Byrd Rd

Leland Delta City VIP, LLC 11/21/13

LLC 311 Peyton Drive

Little Bales of Cotton of Leland, LLC

LLC

11/20/13 112 Cotton Drive Pot Luck Farms & AG Service, Inc.BUS 11/8/13 188 Doolittle Road TBFREE, LLC LLC 11/20/13 305 Willeroy Street

Lena Blue Magic Gentleman’s Club LLC LLC 11/8/13 246 Kiddie Rd

Lexington All Saints Independent School of Refuge NP 11/6/13 105E. China Street

Liberty Anderson Tree Farm Maintenance, LLC LLC

Kansas City Lawrence Land Holdings, LLC 11/27/13 1201 Walnut, Suite 2900

Kiln Bayou Delights LLC LLC 11/22/13 1399 Firetower Rd Dempsey’s at Port Bienville, LLC LLC 11/18/13 6208 Kiln Delisle Road Fire Pit, LLC LLC 11/15/13 21341 Cameron Rd R&N Construction, LLC LLC 11/6/13 18010 Hwy. 603 Rainbeau Farm LLC LLC 11/18/13 4000 Michelles Way Sokol Energy LLC LLC 11/22/13 7160 Crazy Horse Dr

Lake Prospers, Inc. 11/19/13

NP 1648 Hwy 489

Lake Cormorant Best Value AMA LLC LLC 11/18/13 410 Old Hickory

Lambert Far Distant Farms LP LP 11/22/13 3000 Anderson Road FDF Management Company, LLC LLC 11/22/13 3000 Anderson Road Mehrle Hunts LLC LLC 11/12/13 3000 Anderson Road

11/21/13 147 S. Holmes Street Chemstone, Inc. BUS 11/25/13 2382 Hwy 569 Five Acre Farms, L.L.C. LLC 11/26/13 3318 Enterprise Road Hebert Steel Company, Inc. BUS 11/8/13 458 Old Jackson Rd Sunshine Property, LLC LLC 11/27/13 210 Main Street Vine’s Taste of the South, LLC LLC 11/7/13 3014 Berwick Cassels Rd Vine’s Taste of the South, LLC 11/1/13 3014 Berwick Cassels Rd

Long Beach Beau Vie Fitness- OS, LLC LLC 11/22/132996 Bienville Blvd (Ocean Springs 39564) CLM Equipment Co., Inc. BUS 11/18/13 106 Olson Avenue Gulf Coast Marine Survey, LLC 11/14/13 110 N Burke Ave # E Gulf Coast Marine Survey, LLC LLC 11/26/13 110 N Burke Ave # E MS Gulf Coast Paddle LLC LLC 11/27/13 826 E. Railroad Street

Louisville Agnew Heating & Air Conditioning LLC LLC

11/6/13 3210 Yellow Creek Rd Creekside Services LLC LLC 11/18/13 1111 Whitehall Road Dale Dickerson Logging, LLC LLC 11/13/13 333 White Rd When It Really Matters, LLC LLC 11/5/13 224 W Main St

24 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014 THE SPIN CYCLE — Pithy PRognostications From A Recovering Journalist

Winter weather goes viral with #polarvortex hen much of the country turned into the world’s largest freezer earlier this month with a massive arctic blast, it ushered in another buzzword to society’s collective vocabulary – polar vortex! No, it’s not a new weather-busting, wind protecting garment, but yet another meteorological explanation to the sub-zero gale hitting us head-on. Did you know what a polar vortex was even a month ago? The Spin Cycle sure didn’t. The deep chill created a digital avalanche of top brands capitalizing on Old Man Winter. Here’s some of the coolest responses: Crest — the minty-fresh and cool-tasting toothpaste sent a Twitter shiver with: “Is eating ice cream your #PolarVortex?” AMC Theaters — went Silver Screen with “Anybody else think it's funny that #Frozen was the #1 movie last weekend and temps were at record lows? #polarvortex pic.twitter.com/WZ4VVuIyoM” Junior Mints — With this #polarvortex you don't even need a freezer. Just throw your Junior Mints outside!” TGI Fridays — “Fighting the #polarvortex one stacked burger at a time.” Corona — tried to take us to a tropical

beach with “RT if you’re stocked up. #PolarVortex pic.twitter.com/ UXuA1R56X1.” Wendy’s — although, cheesy, was perhaps the coolest with a phoTodd Smith toshopped spicy chipotle sandwich weather app that brought them 380 retweets and 402 favorites. It was indeed a social winter wonderland!

fect customer? Here are ways to meet this target market more effectively:

ing to Nielsen. » Seventy-nine percent of marketers have integrated social media into their traditional marketing activities. Social media earned a seat in the integrated marketing mix last year. Going beyond paid, owned and earned social, brands are now actively integrating social with traditional marketing and creating a full view of social’s integration within CRM systems, according to a recent Social Media Examiner industry report. » Pinterest drives referral traffic — conversions are a marketer’s best friend. As it pertains to social media, Pinterest proved its power in driving users from the social network directly to corporate websites, second only to Facebook, according to Shareaholic research.

Where to reach women in social media In the same study, Pew broke down social media usage by network and user profile: » Facebook — More women 18-29, 67 percent of online users » Twitter — Mix of urban men and women 18-29, 16 percent of online users at a time of survey, but growing quickly » Pinterest — Mostly women under age 50, 15 percent of online users » Instagram — Adults 18-29, more women Women use social media more than men (gaining popularity with teens in Tarnished or Golden Mic — ‘Bridgegate’ & While men are more apt to us mobile the last year) Gov. Chris Christie apps as showcased in a recent Spin Cycle, It was a classic scene in reputation repair women are much more social. Shift into high marketing gear for 2014 101 in the wake of a vitriolic scandal. After According to Bloomberg BusinessWeek, women When considering how to strengthen news broke about an allegedly engineered “control more than $20 trillion or about 70 your brand and maximize your reach for traffic jam on the George Washington percent of global consumer spending.” your marketing initiatives this year, consider Bridge by some on his team, New Jersey In a survey conducted by Pew Research these helpful statistics as you chart your Gov. Chris Christie took the stage at a news Center examining online social media communications goals: conference to distance himself from the habits for a five-year period (May 2008 to » Facebook users spend 6.35 hours each simmering controversy. Time will only tell if May 2013), researchers discovered women “Bridgegate” will remain a major problem month on the social network via computer were five to 10 percent more likely to use When it comes to sheer usage, Facebook still for him in the now and looking ahead to a social media compared to men. reigns supreme, accounting for almost twice potential 2016 presidential bid. Here are Seventy-four percent of women online as much time spent monthly by users on the some things he did right on the PR front: use social media sites. 1. First and foremost, he was remorseful social network over Google. And while moSo with that in mind, does your company, and apologetic – it wasn’t hedged, and bile usage is on the rise, the majority of this product or service target women as the pertime is still via a desktop experience. (Face- didn’t heap all the blame on his staff. He did blame some, and took plenty of blame, himbook) self. He had a real and heartfelt tone, a de» Thirty-three percent of consumers cite January 30, 2014, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. parture from his typical brashness and social networks as a way they discover new bluster, and genuinely seemed sincere. brands, products or services 2. He fired people – there was no way One-third of all consumers are discovering new brands and products via social net- Bridget Kelly could keep her job after the email trail about the scandal was revealed. works. That may not lead to direct Mississippi Agriculture Christie even fired Bill Stepien, a close poattribution on the brand side yet, but it’s an & Forestry Museum indicator that brand awareness and reputa- litical ally – calling both of their actions Sparkman Auditorium “stupid” and “deceitful.” tion are powerful in the social consumer 3. He took many questions and was ready 1150 Lakeland Drive lifecycle, according to eMarketer. to answer any reporter. Christie may have Jackson, Mississippi » Business decision-makers use social media for work purposes — Social networks lingered way too much, however. Open to Under the spotlight of public opinion, it are thriving, but does that mean they are the Public NO being used for business purposes? Forrester was probably about as good as one could exADMISSION Research confirmed that, statistically every pect from Christie. While this publicity FEE business decision maker is both using social strategy may have worked in the shortterm, there is no way the New Jersey goverFor more information media and doing so in part for some type visit jobfairs.ms.gov nor has moved beyond the political peril. So work purpose. depending on your perspective, it could ei» Seventy percent of marketers say that ther be a Golden Mic moment or Tarnished content marketing has increased their brand ADVANTAGES FOR EMPLOYERS HIRING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Mic episode. You be the judge! Time will awareness. Content marketing is on the s Large pool of skilled ready-to-work individuals rise for a very important reason: social is an only tell if the guv repaves the bridge to a s A dedicated and loyal workforce with LOW turnover better reputation. always-on platform, and it requires comEach week, The Spin Cycle will bestow a pelling content to consistently reach and s Tax credits are available for employers who hire people with disabilities Golden Mic Award to the person, group or resonate with audience members. The Booth space is still available for the January 30, EmployAbility Job good news? iMedia reports that brands are company in the court of public opinion that Fair, contact: Adam Todd at (601) 321-6154 or at atodd@mdes.ms.gov. seeing positive results as it pertains to con- best exemplifies the tenets of solid PR, tent, raising brand awareness. marketing and advertising – and those who An equal opportunity » Sixty-five percent of marketers cited an don’t. Stay tuned – and step-up to the mic! employer and program, MDES has And remember … Amplify Your Brand! increased social media ad budget in their auxiliary aids and services available 2013 plans. To advertise on social, or not upon request to those with disabilities. advertise on social is no longer the ques- Todd Smith is president and chief communiThose needing TTY tion. Two out of three marketers incations officer of Deane, Smith & Partners, a fullassistance may call 800-582-2233. creased their social advertising budget in service branding, PR, marketing and advertising firm Funded by the U.S. Department 2013. And with greater stringency placed with offices in Jackson. The firm — based in Nashville, of Labor through on Newsfeed placement, this number Tenn. — is also affiliated with Mad Genius. Contact him the Mississippi Department of at todd@deanesmithpartners.com, and follow him will likely rise in 2014 for marketers to Employment Security. @spinsurgeon. reach their intended audiences, accord-

EmployAbility Job Fair

January 17, 2014

Mississippi Business Journal

HEALTH CARE AND BUSINESS

SALES MOVES: JEFFREY GITOMER

Taking a toll on business

Four More Words That Will “Shape” my 2014

» An answer to health care questions needs to be found and quickly before we are all sunk he ongoing level of turmoil in the health care world is beginning to take a toll on business in Mississippi, and throughout the United States. The primary culprit in this scenario appears to be anxiety, i.e., a general fear and uncertainty about the long-term impact on businesses and employees. From a business point of view, there is trepidation over the rules and regulations associated with the Affordable Care Act, and more appropriately, what that will do to the cost of doing business. We’ve seen a variety of prognostications from various think tanks and policy experts on all sides of the political spectrum, but on some things, they all seem to agree. The cost of providing health care to emAlan Turner ployees is going to increase. The level of government regulation is going to increase. The cost of compliance is going to increase. From a business owner’s perspective, none of these are good news. In response, it appears that businesses are taking steps they deem vital, such as delaying hiring, utilizing more part-time and contract workers, sharing more of the increasing costs with employees, and in many cases, looking at whether to keep providing health insurance at all. Businesses seem to be reducing expenses regardless of their current balance sheet numbers. One wonders what the outcome from such changes will mean. If everyone cuts back, everyone will suffer. As the old adage suggests, a rising tide lifts all boats. Conversely, a sinking tide lowers all boats. And that may be exactly what we’re seeing. From an employee perspective, many workers are seeing increasing costs, decreasing levels of coverage and a corresponding deterioration in their quality of living. For those folks who are thrown onto the mercy of the Health Exchanges, there is not much to celebrate. We’ve seen numbers that have topped $1000 a month for a family of four, and yet, for that amount of money paid out every month, the family would still be liable for many thousands in deductibles and co-pays $1000 is enough to cover the principal

and interest on a $200,000 home. Or, on an annual basis, it would buy lots of clothes and groceries and weekend trips to the Coast, cell phones, donations to worthwhile charities, and so on. Instead, it will go into insuring the family against potential health issues. We’d think of that as an intangible, like all insurance. But the more money that gets spent on the intangibles, the less there will be left for the tangibles. Obviously, that’s not good news for business. So far, the notable success in the Affordable Care Act seems to be in signing up millions of new Medicaid recipients in the states which opted to expand Medicaid. While no one can argue with the need, one can still wonder about the escalating cost. The latest long-term estimates on providing this care now appear to be far higher than originally projected, and if too few healthy people sign up on the exchanges, insurance premiums are likely to soar. This is a scenario that

The cost of providing health care to employees is going to increase. The level of government regulation is going to increase. The cost of compliance is going to increase. From a business owner’s perspective, none of these are good news. Gov. Bryant and others in Mississippi warned about, and it appears that their caution was warranted. No one seems to have the definitive answer on this whole challenging issue. We can hope that the Administration and Congress will work together to find the right answers that are supportive of the needs of business. But we’d better figure it out soon, or it’s liable to sink all our boats. Contact Mississippi Business Journal publisher Alan Turner at alan.turner@msbusiness.com or (601) 364-1021.

ast year I posted four words on my bathroom mirror: FINISH, WRITE, SHAPE and YES. Based on last year’s success, this year I decided to create two four-word categories. One for achievement and one for improvement. Not “goals” in the sense that you may be thinking about — rather intentions that I consciously and subconsciously work on every day, and build success all year long. By posting the words on my bathroom mirror, I consciously see them each day, and subconsciously think about them and act on them regularly. Because they’re right in front of me every morning and every Jeffrey Gitomer evening, they are inescapable mental confrontations. Oh, and the process works. After I explain each achievement and improvement word I have selected for this year, I’ll provide a lesson that you can incorporate into your life as you select your word or words. The lesson is the motive behind the word so you can use the same principle as you generate your words. Last week I wrote about my four words on achievement. They were: ADVISOR, DIGITAL, POWER and TIME. (If you missed it, you can get both parts by entering the words IMPROVE ACHIEVE in the GitBit box at www.gitomer.com.) This week it’s four words about improvement. Improvement means GET BETTER at what you’re already doing. If you’re looking to start something new, and make it happen, that’s achievement. For example, when you want to achieve your sales plan, you must improve your sales skills, presentation skills, or your networking skills. On the improvement side of life, my four words are: INSTAGRAM – BLOG – SHAPE – BEST INSTAGRAM — It’s the new Facebook. Thousands of teenagers are abandoning Facebook every hour and refocusing their social efforts on Instagram. Interestingly, Microsoft Word, the word processing program I use to write with, thinks Instagram is a misspelled word. That's a pretty good indicator of where Microsoft is in the social media world: nowhere. You have to figure there's got to be a pretty good reason Facebook paid a reported one billion dollars for Instagram. For you as a salesperson and/or a business person, there's got to be a pretty good reason as well. Here's what I intend to improve this year: I already have a business and personal account. My personal account is jeffreygitomer. My business account is gitoSee

GITOMER, Page 26

26 I Mississippi Business Journal I January 17, 2014

GITOMER

Continued from Page 26

mer. I want to let my family, my customers, my friends, the readers of my books, the followers of my blog, the subscribers to my YouTube channel – all of my social connections – have a chance to view me as a person and as a business person. And you need to consider the same. Every day or so I post a picture to my personal account. And every day it is my intention to post one meaningful quote on my business account. My intention is to give my followers something to think about, something to learn about, something to smile about, and something to replicate. I try to be both a lesson, and an idea.

LESSON: All of your connections both business and personal need to see your human side, and her intellectual side. There's an opportunity in Instagram for you to create a leadership position. BLOG — I intend to make my blog much more personal this year. On salesblog.com (pretty good URL, eh?) I’ll be posting on-the-road insights from my travels, kitchen thinking, morning thinking, ideas I captured from reading, and the most important ideas I'm capturing from and for my daughters and granddaughters. LESSON: A blog is a place to document and expose. When you put yourself out on the Internet, blogging is the best way to be found. Hundreds of millions of people have jumped on that bandwagon

and will stay there. The key to blogging is consistency. At the moment I post two or three times a week. You should begin by doing the same. Just a paragraph or two, but make sure they contain keywords that others can find as they search about you, your products and services, and your company. SHAPE — Last year I failed to lose the weight I promised myself I would. This year I have a personal trainer and a new eating habit set in motion. My mantra will be better health leads to increased wealth. LESSON: I didn't achieve my goal. I didn't follow through on my own intentions. But the lesson is not failure. The lesson is persistence. Just because I didn't do it last year, doesn't mean I won't get it done.

If you don't meet a goal, if you don't achieve your intentions, keep moving baby! BEST — One thing that the BEST people I know have in common – they’re all seeking to become better. My best skills on the business side of my life are: selling, speaking, writing, humor, friendliness, and creativity. The reason I'm excellent at those skills is that I seek to become better at them every day. My driver is very simple, I just ask myself this one question: Am I doing the best I can right now? LESSON: Ask yourself this question after EVERY meeting, phone call, project, and social and social media outreach: Is this the BEST I can do? Hopefully the words I have chosen for improvement and achievement, and the lessons I have provided, will inspire you to write and define your words for the year. Interestingly, you most likely mentally know what they are, but have yet to bring them to the visual surface as Post-it Notes on your bathroom mirror. Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of “The Sales Bible”, “Customer Satisfaction is Worthless” “Customer Loyalty is Priceless”, “The Little Red Book of Selling”, “The Little Red Book of Sales Answers”, “The Little Black Book of Connections”, “The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude”, “The Little Green Book of Getting Your Way”, “The Little Platinum Book of ChaChing”, “The Little Teal Book of Trust”, “The Little Book of Leadership”, and “Social BOOM!” His website, www.gitomer.com, will lead you to more information about training and seminars, or email him personally at salesman@gitomer.com.

TOWERS

At BancorpSouth we see our business customers as people and not just account numbers. We are looking out for your best interests, acting with integrity and care in each interaction to help you achieve your financial goals. Come by and talk to one of our local representatives. Experience our common-sense approach to taking care of your financial needs. For a location near you call us at 1-888-797-7711, or visit our Branch Locator at BancorpSouth.com.

Continued from Page 11

raised ceilings, new flooring, wall-covering, paint and finishes, new common areas and restroom finishes and new building lobby finishes, he added. After new owners acquired the 42-yearold Class A building in 2000, the lobby and common areas underwent extensive renovations, with the exception of the 14th floor. The building is currently undergoing a lighting retrofit that includes energy efficient LED lights throughout the garage, Chustz said. With its new tenants, Capital Towers will become approximately 85 percent occupied. The Secretary of State’s office will join the Neel-Schaffer engineering firm, which occupies the 10th and 11th floors, as the building's largest tenants. The building has 200,116 square feet with a lease rate of $17.95 a square-foot, according to LoopNet, a national commercial real estate data and research website. Capital Towers won out in a building selection process that the Mississippi Department of Finance & Administration narrowed from five candidate buildings to the Congress Street building and Regions Building, owned and managed by the Hertz Investment Group. The main office of the Secretary of State is in the Heber Ladner building at 401 Mississippi Street.

January 17, 2014

Mississippi Business Journal

» MISSISSIPPI LEADERS by Martin Willoughby

A continual learner Lumaghini keeps pushing forward to educate himself and become better

continually look for exciting companies and young leaders that are making a difference in the state. These individuals have the vision, passion, and courage to take calculated risks and put ideas into action. I believe this entrepreneurial spirit is critical to Mississippi’s future. Christopher Lumaghini, president of Jackson-based Magnolia Data Solutions, is one of those young leaders that is aggressively growing his business and making a difference in Mississippi. A native of Quincy, Mass., Lumaghini graduated from Curry College where he studied business management.Prior to Magnolia Data Solutions, he founded MagnoliaTrading.com, which quickly became one of the most successful third-party dealers of Kronos equipment in the country. Established in 2008, Magnolia Data Solutions collects and recycles all types of electronic waste and specializes in the sustainable dismantling of consumer electronic items. Under Lumaghini's leadership, the company has fast become the largest recycler of electronic waste in the state of Mississippi. In addition, the company is Mississippi's only R2 certiﬁed recycling facility and serves customers in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi Tennessee and Texas. Last fall, Magnolia Environmental Solutions, LLC, a subsidiary of Magnolia Data Solutions, completed the acquisition of Advantage Destruction Services Inc. (d/b/a

Up Close With ... Christopher Lumaghini Title: President, Magnolia Data Solutions, LLC Favorite Books: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Mark Twain) First Job: JCM Computers, LLC Abington, MA Proudest Moment as a Leader: ”The proudest moment as a leader is deﬁnitely when Magnolia Data Solutions was granted recommendation for R2 certiﬁcation. There is a lot of work that goes into implementing a globally recognized operating standard, and I give our team a tremendous amount of credit in properly executing this operation standard.” Hobbies/Interests: ”Spending time with my wife (Erica) and daughter (Lily-Cate), traveling, sports and being outdoors.”

“On my journey to becoming a leader, the best experience has been learning by doing.” Christopher Lumaghini President, Magnolia Data Solutions, LLC

Advantage E-Cycling) to further strengthen it as a leader in the recycling of ewaste and on-site shredding services. Lumaghini commented on the merger, “To-

gether, our companies will have enhanced resources to compete aggressively in the southeastern United States market, while also allowing us to better serve our clients

Gone Girl is devilishly dark thriller

» Gone Girl By Gillian Flynn Published by Crown Publishers $25.00 hardback

pon ﬁnishing this engrossing book, I gave a sigh of relief that it was over and moaned at the unsatisfactory ending. Even though the book has had lots of buzz, I probably would not have read it had my book club not chosen it as the January selection. The member who pitched it claimed the book is similar to Girl with a Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson; that's what sold it to me. After reading Gone Girl, I can say the only similarity to Larsson's Swedish thriller is that both have intricate plots with surprise twists. I read all three of Larsson's books, but will not read another of Flynn's based on the characters of Gone Girl. Flynn didn't make me care about her main characters, and I had sym-

pathy for a pitiful few of the supporting characters. As one of the dust jacket blurbs says, “a tense story with terrifyingly believable characters.” That's just one of several gushing complimentary cover blurbs. I will say it is a well-written book with turns and twists that can not be predicted. My hat is off to the author. However, the main character Amy — whose disappearance is the story's

“I bet a movie deal is already in the works...”

with increased support staff, fleet lines, and processing equipment." Lumaghini shared about his leadership style, “On my journey to becoming a leader, the best experience Martin Willoughby has been learning by doing.” He continued, “I’ve never been the kind of person that waits to get the job done. In my early leadership development, I learned skills by trial and error that I could apply to my business.” Lumaghini believes in surrounding himself with the very best team members. He noted that his father as well as his grandfather were early influences on him and taught him the value of following through on his commitments. Another key principle he follows is to be a continual learner and to be highly skilled at what he does. He said, “I like to set the example in the workplace and train my employees as a team. We work together so we can operate at our fullest. By working as a team, our communication is always open which ensures tasks are understood and accomplished.” Simply stated, his philosophy as a leader is to “Lead the way.” Lumaghini believes, “A boss tells others what to do, a leader shows it can be done and is not afraid to jump in and help accomplish the task at hand.” Lumaghini’s “hands on” leadership style has served him well, and it sounds like he will be continuing to grow and expand his enterprises throughout the Southeast. 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.

plot — is so cunningly diabolical it makes me wonder what sort of mind comes up with the lengths to which Amy would go to ensnare her husband, Nick. For instance, staging a fake antifreeze poisoning and save her vomit in a jar in the freezer! Considered a perfect couple, Amy and Nick's world begins to unravel when both lose their writing jobs in Manhattan. They move back to Nick's Missouri hometown on the banks of the Mississippi River. Through Amy's bizarre diary and ﬂashback from both of them, all sorts of bad and strange feelings come to light and make Nick the prime suspect in Amy's disappearance. Most often when a man or woman disappears or is killed, the spouse becomes a suspect. As has been proven over and over, the line between love and hate is thin. I do recommend reading this book for the taut, gripping tale of suspense that it is. It's devilishly dark and fast paced. I bet a movie deal is already in the works and there's no way the screen will be able to adequately capture this psycho thriller.

— Lynn Lofton, mbj@msbusiness.com