MBJ_Jul21_2017

INSIDE — How do consumers respond to social media ads? — Page 23 DINING

www.msbusiness.com

Chef, partners buy Parlor Market

July 21, 2017 • Vo. 39. No. 29 • 24 pages

TOURISM

RETAIL

NEW CENTER LANDS HOBBY LOBBY, ACADEMY SPORTS

Place a bet on Jackson’s downtown

— Page 2

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

MBJ FOCUS

SMALL BUSINESS {Section begins P12} Courtesy of City Sightseeing Natchez

» Weaving their magic » Living the cozy life

{The List P15}

» Mississippi Main Street Communities

The tour buses help to orient visitors to Natchez, making stops, including this one at Monmouth Historic Inn.

Natchez a winner in a whirl of tri- and bi-centennials

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

THE COAST {P2}

» ‘Cut above’ hotel development coming to Bay St. Louis beachfront

Natchez’ 300th birthday last year was big for the antebellum tourist destination on the Mississippi.

Next year, the city of 15,000 is counting on a fair number of travelers making their way to New Orleans for its tricentennial celebration.

“We have three historic communities in the

Deep South that are two years apart on their 300th anniversary,” said Walter Tipton, director of the Natchez Convention Center.

Natchitoches, La. – the oldest settlement in the Louisiana Purchase and site of the filming of “Steel Magnolias” – started the trend in 2014, followed by Natchez and New Orleans.

“Intruding” in that two-year symmetry – in

Work has begun on a $21 million shopping center called Crawford Farms in Madison.

Hobby Lobby and Academy Sports will be in the first phase of the 38-acre development at the intersection of Highway 463 and Welch Farms Road, east of Interstate 55.

Those two stores will make up 120,000 square feet. “Preleasing for the second phase is underway and could include up to 150,000 square feet,” said John Michael Holtmann, a principal with Duckworth Realty and a co-developer of the project.

Duckworth Realty principals Ted Duckworth and Breck Hines are in the final stages of completing the District at Eastover, a mixed use development in north Jackson.

Holtmann said he expects the 12.5-acre first phase of Crawford Farms to be completed in April.

Of the first two tenants, Holtmann said in a release: “We appreciate their trust in us to provide their facility needs in Madison.

“They have been excellent to work with.

We are pleased that they have selected Crawford Farms. It not only speaks to the quality of the site but also the appeal of the city,” Holtmann said.

Based in Oklahoma City, Hobby Lobby has more than 600 stores, 10 of which are in Mississippi.

Academy Sports is based in Katy, Texas and has nearly 300 stores.

See NATCHEZ, Page 4

http://msbusiness.com/ceo-awards-of-mississippi/

2 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q July 21, 2017 THE COAST

DOWNTOWN JACKSON

Noted chef, partners buy Parlor Market, place a bet on Jackson’s downtown

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

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A ‘cut above’ hotel development targeting Bay St. Louis beachfront

By LISA MONTI mbj@msbusiness.com It’s been in the works - and in rumors - for a few years but this month a much anticipated hotel at the prime corner of Main Street and Beach Boulevard in Bay St. Louis took a solid first step toward more detailed designs and eventual construction.

On July 10, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission voted unanimously to give conceptual approval to the preliminary drawings for the four-story, 60-room North Beach Hotel.

From there, the plans goes to the Planning and Zoning Commission and then the City Council.

The property developer, Cure Land Co., has hired Trapolin/Peer Architects, a respected New Orleans firm, to design the hotel. Architects Paula Peer and Gabriel Virdure presented the preliminary drawings to the HPC at the Monday meeting.

Principal architect Peter Trapolin said later that the project will be more of a destination hotel, “a cut above” other hotels, with high-level amenities but with competitive rates.

The ground floor will house a small lobby, restaurant and retail space and some parking.

The second floor will have a pool deck. All of the upper rooms will have balconies overhanging the sidewalk. Valet parking will be available at a lot on Beach Boulevard across the railroad tracks.

The location is perhaps its best asset. “We had some advisers in the hospitality industry we

talked to in planning and they said it’s the perfect spot, with the marina and all the nightlife,” Trapolin said.

Architect Edward Wikoff led the Historic Preservation Commission meeting July 10 in Chairman Kevin Fitzpatrick’s absence. Wikoff said the commission provides feedback in the early stages of designing and developing larger projects to ensure that all requirements will be met without hindering the project.

“In this initial review we’re looking at things like the site plan and exterior elevations giving feedback on proportion, scale and material selection,” Wikoff said.

The popular beachfront area is already populated with restaurants, bars and shops, and Wikoff said the hotel will increase foot traffic with amenities such as outdoor dining areas below the balconies.

And more development could follow the hotel. “Other property owners who have commercial property are waiting to see what happens there,” he said.

Wikoff said the architects will provide the HPC with details such as the designs for the column, balconies and hand rails as they are developed. “We expect to see additional detail in future reviews as progress is made on the design,” he said.

If everything goes well, ground will be broken in early November and construction will take about a year.

Restaurateur Derek Emerson has made an industry name for himself – reaching the semifinals of the James Beard Foundation’s Best Chefs of the South four times.

He’s done that from his base in Fondren and Ridgeland.

Now he’s betting on downtown Jackson.

He and his wife, Jennifer Emerson, are now two of six owners of the Parlor Market at 115 West Capitol St. The other four are longtime employees at Walker’s Drive-In and Local 463 Urban Dining.

Emerson also owns the CAET wine bar.

Parlor Market was opened by JACK WEATHERLY/MBJ Mart Lamar, who ran it for sevThree of the new owners of Parlor Market (from left) en years, until June 1.

Robert Rushton, Effie Hubanks and Derek Emerson.

The deal went through after Matt Kajdan, who had been executive chef for five years, left in May to take that position at the Estelle bistro and wine bar in the Westin Jackson hotel at 315 Tombigbee in downtown, which is to open Aug. 3.

The other partners are Effie Hubanks, general manager at Walker’s, Michael Greenhill, executive chef at Walker’s, and Robert and Lauren Ruston, executive chef and general manager, respectively, at Local 463 in the Renaissance at Colony Park.

“It was time for them to have little bit of ownership,” Emerson said.

Other than loyal colleagues, other threads connect the four establishments, Derek Emerson said.

Local produce and local businesses.

The former is self-explanatory. The latter is illustrated by the fact that Emerson does business exclusively with Brown Bottling Co. “Coke is a Southern company, but Brown Bottling here in Mississippi provides jobs. I like to send my check to Ridgeland.”

The new owners are shifting moving away from primary emphasis on Southern cuisine. “I feel like if we do Southern again, I’ll be robbing from myself,” Emerson said.

“We’re actually going to do Italian . . . pastas and entrees, not the pizza thing.”

“We make 30 pounds of pasta a day. We do seven or eight different shapes.”

Parlor Market will be the only restaurant in metro Jackson “doing fresh pasta on a daily basis,” he said.

He and his partners are placing their bet on downtown. Walker’s and CAET (pronounced Kate) in Fondren have a following. And Local 463 was originally in Madison but now is in Ridgeland.

“I kind of have the vision for downtown, like we had in Fondren 17 years ago when we took over Walker’s,” he said.

“I see the same thing happening in Jackson. I just hate that downtown isn’t what it should be. There are so many great downtowns in the South.”

Yet with the buildout of apartments and hotels and shops in recent years, he foresees another city on that regional honor roll.

DOWNTOWN JACKSON

OFFICES AVAILABLE

Near Capitol Private offices Reception Conference room Storage Kitchen FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alan Turner, alan.turner@msbusiness.com 601-364-1021

4 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q July 21, 2017 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Business park still growing after 20 years

By LISA MONTI mbj@msbusiness.com For two decades Seaway Business Park in Gulfport has leased commercial office and warehouse space to a growing number of tenants in an expanded footprint. The developers currently are working with a major tenant to introduce its new business concept to the Mississippi Coast.

Owner and developer Steve Goldin, said the thriving family-owned business opened in 1997 with 12,000 square feet of warehouse space, with Fastenal as its original tenant. Office and warehouse space has grown to more than 150,000 square feet in three locations - two on Seaway Road and one near downtown Gulfport.

Goldin is working with the American Automobile Association to build a service center that will serve local members with automotive services. The membership organization is best known for its emergency roadside assistance.

“Now when you call AAA, a local towing company helps with flat tires or a dead battery.” said Goldin. When the new service center is constructed, the services will be provided by employees of AAA. From the beginning, the Goldins wanted Seaway Business Park to accommodate various business types in a

NATCHEZ Continued from, Page 1

a good way – is the state of Mississippi, which is celebrating its 200th this year.

“Going into this,” Tipton said, “we kind of looked at it as a three-year window.”

Natchez’ tourism coffers reflect the generous turns of the wheel of fortune.

Last fiscal year saw a record $797,928 pour into the city’s 1.5 percent restaurant tourism tax collections, and 2017 is on course to match that, according to convention center records.

To help capitalize on that trend, openair buses are making the rounds.

City Sightseeing Natchez – also known as Hop-On Hop-Off buses – started 45-minute rounds early this year at a dozen stops on the circuit.

“These were introduced in New Orleans about three years ago,” Tipton said. “It ties our attractions together. The downtown merchants and others along the route love it.”

Sharon Brown, owner of the Natchez Coffee Company, said of the tour: “I laughed, learned history and met great people from all over.”

Tipton explained that “people can get off and shop. It ‘s a hop-on, hop-off concept.

The ticket is good all-day long, and in most cases they buy a two-day pass.” Tickets are $20 for one day and $22 for two days.

Tipton joked that “we love having things

Courtesy of Seaway Business Park

A service center for the American Automobile Association is the latest addition to the park.

common setting. Key to their success has been the central location close to all of the converging thoroughfares in the Gulfport/Biloxi area. That includes Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 for east-west traffic and U.S. 49’s north-south route.

“Dad and other (developers) saw a need for a warehouse central to everything,” said Michael Goldin, Seaway Development Co.’s legal counsel. “Location is the reason we put up the warehouse in the beginning. We hear it over

beta-tested in New Orleans and then bring them up here and implement them.”

Warren Reuther and his wife, Nancy Reuther, own the open-top bus franchise in both cities, which is also found in eight other U.S. cities and 125 cities worldwide.

The Reuthers also own Natchez’ Monmouth Historic Inn, where they stay when they are not in New Orleans.

“We felt [the buses] would enhance the opportunity to see and hear about the great Natchez story by providing . . . an overall, snapshot tour of this great city . . . in a fun and convenient way,” the Reuthers said in a news release.

Of course, places for visitors to stay are key for a tourism.

The city lost between 100 and 150 rooms of its 1,000-room inventory when the historical Eola Hotel closed in December 2014, Tipton said.

The Eola did not fail because of lack of patronage, Tipton said. The man who owned it was primarily an operator of nursing homes in Louisiana, where he suffered a $6 million judgment against him.

And so Rob Lubin bought the hotel, and may bring it back as such, or convert it to condominiums or a combination of the two, Tipton said of Lubin, who is a principal in the Magnolia Bluffs Casino at Natchez.

“All of that is up in the air,” Tipton said.

The city had another casino, the Isle of Capri, but it couldn’t compete with Mag-

and over from people who come back to develop with us.”

Said Steve Goldin, “Our biggest asset is location.”

Tenants include Sherwin-Williams, RJ Young, Siemens, Primerica and Rotech Healthcare.

The Goldins are developing final plans for AAA’s new 3,000-square-foot facility on a .5-acre parcel.

“Once we get the OK on their floor plan, we will start construction right away,” said Steve Goldin.

He said AAA will hire 10 to 12 employees and spend $500,000 on tow trucks alone.

“It’s quite an investment on our part as well as AAA,” said Michael Goldin. “They are committing to this area.”

The new AAA project is the latest expansion activity at the business park, Steve Goldin said. Sherwin-Williams grew from 3,000 square feet to 12,000 in the last few years and Fastenal, their original tenant, is gearing up for another remodeling.

“Once they get here, they don’t want to leave,” Steve Goldin said of tenants. “We take pride in that.”

The Goldins maintain a strong relationship with their tenants, starting from their first one, and recognize the importance of each tenant to their success. “Fastenal got us to where we are today,” said Steve Goldin.

Courtesy of the Natchez Convention Center/MBJ

The Hotel Natchez will add rooms to the city’s inventory.

nolia Bluffs, which opened at Natchez Under-the-Hill, he said, adding that the victor bought the loser’s 140-room hotel and refurbished it.

A $2 room tax implemented in 2008 has steadily gone up, indicating healthy tourism, Tipton said.

Collections of the room tax reached $307,940 in fiscal 2011, records show, and except for 2013, when an anomaly skewed

the figures, they have risen each year, reaching $403,004 in fiscal 2016.

To address the loss of rooms, the Reuthers are converting a former Regions bank building into the Hotel Natchez, which will add more than 65 rooms.

“It’s a beautiful building. It already has handicapped access and two elevators,” Tipton said.

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MBJPERSPECTIVE July 21, 2017 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

» RICKY NOBILE

Website: www.msbusiness.com July 21, 2017 Volume 39, Number 29

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Entire contents copyrighted © 2017 by Journal Inc. All rights reserved.

» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Save us from doofus-driven debacles

D

oofus” is an intriguing and timely word. The Oxford Living Dictionary says it likely originated in North America in the 1960s and suggests it is either an alteration of the word “goofus” or from the Scottish word “doof” meaning dolt. The Online Etymology Dictionary says it is “probably related to doo-doo and goofus.”

The definitions range from “a foolish or inept person” to “a slot-witted or stupid person” to “an incompetent and stupid, though well-meaning, person.” Synonyms include dolt, idiot, nerd, fool, idiot, airhead, birdbrain, boob.

The only doofus connection to doo-doo I could find was this, from Darrin Bell's “Candorville” comic strip (excuse the missing graphics): “Dear 'journalist,' I am offended by your biased hit-piece condemning socalled 'Fake News.' You wrote '…some of these sites' main sources seem to be their rear ends.'

Who are YOU to say what's fake and what's real? I don't know that your 'sources' are any more 'real' than my rear end. I know my rear end. I trust my rear end. You, on the other hand, are a total stranger to me.”

No surprise that fake news and doofuses are related, but the rear end trust thing got me.

A blog called The Lunatic's Asylum had another take on doofuses and news. Speaking of “political pundits” in 2012 it said, “These people are put on the air because they have acquired, we're led to believe, a certain expertise which is, sadly, all too obviously totally lacking. I cannot begin to count the number of times one of these professional pundits, paid attack dogs, campaign confederates, party hacks, the so-called 'strategists' are trotted out to examine every possible detail of even the least-interesting and least-pressing subjects in minute detail, and to put a political 'spin' on it all. What's truly amazing, though,

is that it's often the SAME doofuses showing up all over the same networks, one day uttering what they consider an undisputed fact, and the very next contradicting themselves without ever a) seeming to noBill Crawford tice, or b) making an admission that they have changed a position or assertion. This is Orwell's Doublethink in action.”

In his novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four,” author George Orwell defined “doublethink” as, “The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.... To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and See CRAWFORD, Page 7

PERSPECTIVE

July 21, 2017 I Mississippi Business Journal

I

7

»FROM THE GROUND UP

Business success is about what the market wants

Y

ou’ve heard it before. Find what you are passionate about and open your own business. Don’t just work at a job. The problem with that message is twofold: (1) what you’re passionate about might not be what you’re good at and (2) what you want might not be what the market wants.

Television commercials toss these messages at us regularly, showing people leaving their seemingly boring jobs to spend time in the garden, become adventurers, open a winery or go back to school. Even the U.S. Army got into the act with its “Be all that you can be” campaign. Some of you may remember how we were told to “Go for the gusto” and we “only go around once.”

Best-selling books are reinforcing this message of self-achievement and self-bliss.

The “seven habits” are not good enough in this knowledge economy. We now need an “eighth habit.” We must find our voice and inspire others to find theirs. And this will be so easy to do because we now know “The Secret,” which is to simply visualize it and it will happen. Can’t you just see yourself there running your own business?

I love this stuff. I am inspired by it. I am into positive imaging and having a positive mental attitude. I cannot stand to be around negative people. I’m a fan of the noted psychologist Dr. Abraham Maslow who said, “A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be.” Goal-setting, visioning and self-motivation are important. Many great companies have been built because of people pursuing their dreams.

I’m also a realist. Just because I can dream it does not mean I’m going to

achieve it. Although the above philosophy is motivational and inspiring it is not what will make you a success in business. Take a moment to stop and consider another philosophy. It basically says, “Do the best you can with what you’ve got” and “You play the cards that you are dealt.”

So what will make you a business success? The reality is that the most successful businesses are the ones that are best at providing products and services that the market wants, not what the business owners want.

To illustrate, there was a story in my local daily newspaper last week about three people who worked in a bank. They were tired of their jobs, and they were especially tired

CRAWFORD

» HOW TO WRITE US Continued from Page 6

then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed.”

Sounds so current, doesn't it?

In Orwell's novel, Big Brother was the tyrannical Party leader behind the doublethinkers. Today, the major political parties' powerful special interests play that role. And, like Orwell's Party, they primarily seek “power entirely for its own sake.”

Not that hard to detect all the doublethinking doofuses – the talking heads, the duped politicians, the ardent followers on the left and the right. The ultimate question is will the vast majority of Americans join them, or will some common sense coalition get off their rear ends and save us from doofus driven debacles?

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

of their bank being acquired by another bank time and again. So what did they do?

Did they sit around and tell each other their dreams of jobs that fulfilled them and made them whole? Hardly. They sat down and discussed leaving their jobs and forming a company. The first question they asked was, “What does the market want?” and “What skills and resources do we have that can meet the market’s needs and wants?” They did research and planning. The result was a successful computer recycling business. It does not sound very glamorous. I doubt that any one of those bankers paraphrased Maslow and said, “A computer recycler must recycle computers.”

Maslow also said, “Growth is, in itself, a

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.

rewarding and exciting process, e.g., the fulfilling of yearnings and ambitions, like that of being a good doctor; the acquisition of admired skills, like playing the violin or Phil Hardwick being a good carpenter; the steady increase of understanding about people or about the universe, or about oneself; the development of creativeness in whatever field, or, most important, simply the ambition to be a good human being.”

As you dream of finding that vocation that also fulfills your passion it is worth remembering that being the best at your current job is rather noble. Indeed, one of the best ways to get a better, more fulfilling job is to do well the job that you have the opportunity to do.

There is a wave of people who have discretionary assets and who are considering retiring or otherwise leaving the workforce to open their own businesses. Some are chasing their dreams and will open businesses for the primary purpose of fulfilling their passion. Others are chasing their dreams and will open their businesses for the primary purpose of fulfilling a need in the marketplace for a product or service at a better price. Then there are those few – those very few – who will be able to combine both. May you be one of those. » Phil Hardwick is a regular Mississippi Business Journal columnist and owner of Hardwick & Associates, LLC, which provides strategic planning facilitation and leadership training services. His email is phil@philhardwick. com and he’s on the web at www.philhardwick.com.Jackson.

>> 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 e-mail at editor@msbusiness.com.

8 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q July 21, 2017 June 2017 sales tax receipts/year to date, July 1 MISSISSIPPI STATE TAX COMMISSION Here are cities’ earnings through sales tax collections. Sales tax has a three-month cycle.

Month 1 — Tax is collected by the retailer. Month 2 — Tax is reported/paid to the Tax Commission by the retailer. Month 3 — Sales tax diversion is paid by the Tax Commission to the cities.

This report is based on the month the tax is collected at the Tax Commission (Month 2).

June June Year to date YTD CITY 2017 2016 2017 2016 ABBEVILLE $4,930.60 $5,028.12 $59,703.79 $61,329.67 ABERDEEN 74,763.24 74,529.44 846,263.00 811,309.78 ACKERMAN 21,653.08 24,501.25 279,029.66 281,156.61 ALCORN STATE U 3,694.65 192.67 14,210.90 14,795.37 ALGOMA 2,955.60 2,063.30 30,983.18 30,101.91 ALLIGATOR 392.27 441.38 5,176.33 6,058.46 AMORY 166,405.53 182,331.33 1,984,633.66 1,964,275.30 ANGUILLA 1,691.11 2,529.14 32,458.70 32,276.09 ARCOLA 1,409.66 1,213.18 16,133.10 17,064.77 ARTESIA 780.90 887.78 9,833.75 10,513.18 ASHLAND 15,594.38 16,645.12 162,365.35 164,529.71 BALDWYN 46,080.00 47,380.84 544,392.69 534,047.34 BASSFIELD 12,010.44 12,922.99 145,726.40 142,225.91 BATESVILLE 381,623.31 393,255.63 4,499,279.32 4,481,466.78 BAY SPRINGS 53,924.70 60,372.22 669,196.30 679,182.45 BAY ST LOUIS 134,431.96 127,903.39 1,511,208.80 1,474,868.15 BEAUMONT 7,985.49 7,258.13 99,174.12 71,474.23 BEAUREGARD 219.46 255.36 2,789.15 3,087.39 BELMONT 29,101.24 24,420.66 320,026.89 322,893.49 BELZONI 39,300.33 42,510.62 482,159.82 486,736.00 BENOIT 2,385.13 6,092.86 31,373.71 72,169.59 BENTONIA 12,875.58 12,830.26 151,046.78 180,713.55 BEULAH 303.40 322.80 3,780.34 4,195.89 BIG CREEK 260.71 283.50 3,424.55 5,216.16 BILOXI 1,041,659.27 1,035,774.56 12,528,167.43 11,720,152.56 BLUE MOUNTAIN 9,979.60 10,849.10 133,293.56 131,558.32 BLUE SPRINGS 2,592.70 2,397.87 30,459.90 29,712.81 BOLTON 16,606.65 12,599.29 158,045.93 129,999.11 BOONEVILLE 160,684.63 158,951.51 1,916,746.79 1,879,953.32 BOYLE 18,226.40 21,383.04 197,316.11 168,396.89 BRANDON 496,132.68 396,276.62 5,753,180.30 5,373,872.12 BRAXTON 1,638.57 1,548.78 19,247.58 16,295.52 BROOKHAVEN 513,091.31 488,514.10 5,819,254.88 5,699,248.66 BROOKSVILLE 10,617.04 10,312.74 123,984.94 126,700.88 BRUCE 46,514.39 46,873.00 521,121.32 524,745.05 BUDE 11,737.79 11,227.03 138,849.24 134,405.42 BURNSVILLE 14,203.99 14,751.02 170,265.66 175,397.14 BYHALIA 59,218.12 63,034.97 742,738.38 756,111.04 BYRAM 230,380.31 199,138.46 2,647,867.33 2,257,704.56 CALEDONIA 14,026.77 13,984.73 170,613.03 169,708.53 CALHOUN CITY 26,404.67 29,935.40 302,692.97 327,230.67 CANTON 269,436.19 275,515.99 2,966,982.93 2,917,743.85 CARROLLTON 6,651.00 6,847.46 80,800.72 81,938.21 CARTHAGE 153,750.97 147,782.40 1,778,593.52 1,726,131.61 CARY 1,009.15 1,145.13 12,228.90 13,243.03 CENTREVILLE 18,742.30 19,792.10 233,574.15 233,419.75 CHARLESTON 28,154.91 27,990.45 338,453.96 341,501.44 CHUNKY 807.78 671.23 8,358.92 8,287.04 CLARKSDALE 233,633.55 225,447.15 2,799,934.76 2,684,217.65 CLEVELAND 329,539.06 299,228.93 3,756,861.93 3,694,302.01 CLINTON 380,814.70 361,855.11 4,618,219.47 4,718,426.39 COAHOMA 738.98 632.53 7,440.28 7,775.34 COAHOMA COLLEGE 27.60 20.73 2,656.20 3,377.55 COFFEEVILLE 11,128.19 10,877.26 130,974.34 128,666.21 COLDWATER 20,464.53 18,885.12 254,189.92 227,460.34 COLLINS 142,431.39 133,545.70 1,516,809.63 1,580,427.61 COLUMBIA 284,311.87 290,145.04 3,227,013.32 3,184,528.28 COLUMBUS 843,339.95 811,061.74 9,840,799.17 10,128,847.52 COMO 19,529.23 15,333.94 192,247.87 158,937.90 CORINTH 529,048.88 532,838.24 6,224,472.45 6,320,939.28 COURTLAND 1,675.41 1,688.23 19,517.10 20,386.03 CRAWFORD 1,679.95 1,520.89 18,407.40 17,178.01 CRENSHAW 4,843.56 5,678.52 60,998.38 70,369.35 CROSBY 664.24 1,121.98 8,401.43 10,773.51 CROWDER 1,721.67 1,573.26 24,208.47 22,776.93 CRUGER 394.94 359.55 4,784.29 5,148.08 CRYSTAL SPRINGS 67,839.33 62,751.65 751,045.75 736,148.15 D LO 2,152.08 2,587.98 26,045.73 32,459.11 D’IBERVILLE 640,723.94 579,064.64 7,331,786.64 7,269,737.10 DECATUR 10,115.00 12,515.72 145,061.33 151,228.91 DEKALB 17,798.07 18,885.61 210,223.66 218,228.93 DERMA 8,537.48 1,126.10 100,661.52 101,231.45 DIAMONDHEAD 51,833.95 50,259.06 564,283.04 554,912.44 DODDSVILLE 709.50 564.41 8,016.28 8,636.32 DREW 7,220.34 9,326.48 89,175.53 117,918.63 DUCK HILL 3,671.03 3,454.40 47,318.57 47,768.92 DUMAS 1,241.64 1,388.55 15,187.07 17,817.87 DUNCAN 531.35 535.76 6,028.36 9,726.90 DURANT 38,961.11 38,797.04 492,106.76 358,575.61 EAST MS COLLEGE 39.86 38.63 2,574.36 1,811.32 ECRU 12,680.69 18,822.05 157,685.34 289,300.19 EDEN 85.52 58.77 900.88 819.28 EDWARDS 6,579.33 6,059.05 68,512.48 74,812.52 ELLISVILLE 76,326.36 77,052.77 960,577.12 913,454.17 ENTERPRISE 6,097.85 6,447.04 72,928.00 74,331.25 ETHEL 2,388.08 2,488.54 28,359.70 16,185.47 EUPORA 37,844.15 38,898.28 434,342.10 438,489.87 FALCON 71.92 181.74 1,370.50 1,449.73 FALKNER 5,869.35 5,575.67 73,191.69 65,931.66 FARMINGTON 2,876.81 3,456.09 32,474.14 46,946.28 FAYETTE 17,721.45 17,258.90 215,227.34 212,049.41 FLORA 28,828.99 29,952.08 356,675.34 331,376.47 FLORENCE 75,458.13 53,396.99 870,257.89 867,543.76 FLOWOOD 982,935.09 901,478.91 11,601,288.14 11,640,829.96 FOREST 212,324.06 195,786.33 2,385,705.20 2,328,577.83 FRENCH CAMP 1,045.72 1,586.55 16,736.52 16,122.83 FRIARS POINT 2,187.90 2,570.54 35,791.44 24,372.84 FULTON 139,537.62 140,603.45 1,600,934.67 1,555,738.60

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

143.58 216,680.84 3,432.52 3,279.53 644.03 11,871.59 4,887.63 3,485.67 518,976.41 382,454.95 383,598.19 1,792,638.86 840.47 17,438.08 307.36 1,876,710.60 110,896.50 23,254.84 309,520.20 4,477.93 5,867.45 808.23 15,368.88 113,691.15 407,360.74 8,524.82 96,534.84 177,447.83 6,929.24 2,309.60 12,489.86 77,609.65 2,752,729.80 1,855.49 693.55 5,818.67 181,881.44 4,412.44 12,690.95 2,531.43 741,706.04 26,630.47 673.95 47,098.09 1,917.31 34,566.10 23,163.15 122,584.88 2,102.78 1,155.15 182,059.69 188,035.85 2,870.80 14,466.83 1,853.37 7,535.21 50,479.43 666,089.09 177,788.70 36,489.48 19,336.25 2,620.97 4,288.97 18,471.64 16,435.42 18,068.28 708.28 499,002.73 708.43 4,253.55 11,571.38 59,834.06 1,256,198.19 7,444.49 1,069.70 8,111.68 51,854.67 139.30 8,059.70 514.96 43,404.58 157,946.02 3,777.01 164.83 21,223.19 183.48 9,272.64 4,634.88 470,372.08 28,002.12 283,869.32 12,036.15 10,439.75 86,129.93 4,075.32 8,979.93 6,637.34 438,608.16 25,020.92 886,193.37 5,100.54 785,723.59 482.17 1,725.62 80.62 449,120.13

124.74 216,298.74 3,886.70 2,042.67 403.50 11,801.30 5,118.80 3,370.76 531,360.18 370,900.52 339,441.88 1,622,634.38 791.24 17,891.07 351.44 1,406,111.43 112,074.92 18,163.97 293,452.06 3,899.10 6,492.30 992.66 15,255.49 118,726.93 388,644.63 8,525.24 97,931.20 177,355.97 6,051.60 2,226.16 14,069.72 70,127.33 1,661,536.21 2,724.38 654.33 5,666.66 178,714.05 3,107.52 4,905.37 2,613.83 702,978.36 32,068.93 645.74 31,164.09 1,848.19 37,669.69 21,645.56 121,517.26 2,819.43 1,757.35 157,387.31 186,036.49 2,822.33 13,474.94 2,343.01 7,955.76 52,790.30 918,297.42 184,727.57 32,070.43 19,703.47 2,152.97 4,330.91 18,661.11 18,706.92 15,779.85 793.38 458,301.82 2,081.51 5,181.73 12,123.73 55,749.44 1,114,986.99 6,332.10 1,170.49 7,889.99 54,254.09 163.15 7,640.05 522.03 44,045.68 132,700.99 3,984.03 117.48 24,201.95 106.06 9,115.72 4,719.61 447,454.46 28,926.64 284,359.86 14,006.24 6,940.79 85,627.29 3,749.75 7,820.98 6,502.15 419,645.03 41,397.39 812,517.46 5,088.64 716,806.75 577.36 2,030.85 82.29 418,208.75

1,425.49 2,258,956.06 39,852.02 33,230.90 4,432.91 150,275.74 58,386.95 45,005.68 6,297,399.33 4,639,015.96 4,460,505.41 20,899,113.39 9,906.90 212,402.93 3,674.83 22,270,273.68 1,322,702.25 225,175.55 3,464,990.06 70,704.04 70,490.65 9,073.19 179,560.01 1,365,070.20 4,728,778.72 103,600.22 1,095,246.86 2,002,009.97 65,130.26 27,121.72 143,351.62 870,218.25 29,987,290.57 31,249.08 4,990.41 67,036.74 2,116,395.66 41,369.89 131,209.38 31,160.51 8,296,074.31 308,753.52 8,145.48 529,247.43 21,930.35 413,199.47 268,730.48 1,411,710.92 28,599.25 14,540.86 1,913,368.16 2,198,519.31 34,596.28 170,156.99 25,925.53 93,962.83 602,521.37 8,053,386.56 2,080,759.81 420,767.52 222,775.91 30,640.24 57,355.87 234,350.52 202,783.30 187,811.41 10,411.06 5,892,411.93 12,664.43 53,136.78 143,332.86 628,313.01 14,128,336.10 86,748.15 10,891.93 92,197.86 512,591.68 1,854.57 100,281.00 6,030.12 507,352.97 1,853,083.33 45,614.99 5,646.99 439,218.51 8,019.35 121,875.13 58,601.36 5,445,047.96 349,362.87 3,290,052.59 144,693.47 86,643.54 1,024,613.11 37,196.16 101,685.61 76,974.79 4,989,417.96 284,689.62 9,961,573.78 62,533.97 9,477,278.62 6,109.40 21,001.64 794.63 5,237,795.56

1,686.97 2,260,839.97 43,482.20 25,337.51 5,692.11 147,303.68 61,090.09 40,221.94 6,489,898.38 4,436,552.71 4,276,710.05 20,666,638.17 10,385.97 205,925.26 4,269.25 22,053,589.75 1,340,661.54 239,255.13 3,250,788.10 62,827.91 68,404.37 8,414.67 171,509.05 1,370,447.40 4,367,577.42 94,922.42 1,072,567.22 1,992,985.89 62,769.46 32,235.60 144,601.24 833,840.66 31,073,744.59 34,700.20 6,726.08 71,884.60 2,075,381.01 42,001.03 76,288.86 23,718.91 8,697,899.73 315,634.53 7,210.37 486,528.98 21,052.94 424,039.85 261,356.70 1,364,626.99 30,461.06 17,385.79 1,932,604.73 2,183,293.48 34,413.45 166,291.16 25,326.17 94,361.86 611,671.78 7,638,973.75 2,119,032.23 397,398.80 242,124.90 32,336.26 53,145.57 222,685.54 235,590.78 182,880.14 11,405.15 5,696,056.99 20,314.22 64,282.18 144,101.84 638,244.60 14,602,888.87 83,578.43 13,372.86 103,321.70 526,863.92 4,133.89 103,654.49 6,728.63 499,728.49 1,809,743.58 49,311.92 5,285.16 442,663.29 7,691.82 116,031.93 57,700.35 5,490,896.20 369,294.80 3,254,996.09 163,648.36 88,350.34 1,003,830.69 40,675.53 96,756.93 77,401.27 4,940,127.03 310,104.64 9,538,618.57 62,972.99 8,796,151.36 6,787.21 22,993.28 2,113.09 5,314,239.76

PASS CHRISTIAN PAULDING PEARL PELAHATCHIE PETAL PHILADELPHIA PICAYUNE PICKENS PITTSBORO PLANTERSVILLE POLKVILLE PONTOTOC POPE POPLARVILLE PORT GIBSON POTTS CAMP PRENTISS PUCKETT PURVIS QUITMAN RALEIGH RAYMOND RENOVA RICHLAND RICHTON RIDGELAND RIENZI RIPLEY ROLLING FORK ROSEDALE ROXIE RULEVILLE SALLIS SALTILLO SANDERSVILLE SARDIS SATARTIA SCHLATER SCOOBA SEBASTOPOL SEMINARY SENATOBIA SHANNON SHAW SHELBY SHERMAN SHUBUTA SHUQUALAK SIDON SILVER CITY SILVER CREEK SLATE SPRINGS SLEDGE SMITHVILLE SNOWLAKESHORES SOSO SOUTHAVEN SOUTHWEST COMM STARKVILLE STATE LINE STONEWALL STURGIS SUMMIT SUMNER SUMRALL SUNFLOWER SYLVARENA TAYLOR TAYLORSVILLE TCHULA TERRY THAXTON TISHOMINGO TOCCOPOLA TOWN OF WALLS TREMONT TUNICA TUPELO TUTWILER TYLERTOWN UNION UNIV OF MISS UTICA VAIDEN VARDAMAN VERONA VICKSBURG WALNUT WALNUT GROVE WALTHALL WATER VALLEY WAVELAND WAYNESBORO WEBB WEIR WESSON WEST WEST POINT WIGGINS WINONA WINSTONVILLE WOODLAND WOODVILLE YAZOO CITY TOTAL

Sales Tax

118,026.59 113,605.75 238.16 214.93 871,440.31 873,024.32 32,766.16 35,567.25 227,126.53 212,699.70 364,652.59 371,636.48 418,320.08 432,665.15 7,644.80 9,735.00 1,813.76 1,611.66 4,425.98 5,441.02 1,123.36 997.99 215,661.92 213,237.00 3,457.72 3,446.65 69,732.69 66,815.68 25,735.42 18,124.94 6,714.09 6,249.83 33,934.63 37,771.95 10,719.71 10,622.18 101,939.91 70,228.67 44,515.88 43,072.96 16,395.67 14,511.71 17,808.95 17,023.74 1,848.85 2,172.74 474,288.59 471,826.63 29,476.69 29,746.56 1,102,697.43 1,047,976.99 4,447.78 4,689.43 122,652.80 132,825.84 33,203.74 36,708.53 11,185.87 10,917.33 1,616.56 1,656.77 19,014.03 19,895.62 1,779.50 1,847.35 66,748.28 80,382.70 23,424.33 28,804.96 34,404.12 26,912.99 302.93 500.38 1,037.31 1,040.79 8,759.21 7,200.17 16,014.63 17,517.95 13,202.44 12,603.62 195,108.39 196,009.27 12,388.12 11,581.50 7,385.82 6,662.06 10,709.49 10,061.77 36,905.01 29,600.96 3,871.84 3,335.48 3,101.95 2,190.13 710.57 554.60 398.43 463.44 2,630.68 2,737.49 188.46 272.95 1,387.38 1,456.03 5,838.45 6,266.91 114.27 122.07 8,956.65 10,528.08 1,210,587.30 1,258,035.45 26.11 21.25 564,539.01 513,730.09 11,701.29 10,392.83 5,951.57 6,160.95 2,548.91 2,600.42 44,307.72 40,536.81 3,864.24 5,036.35 46,431.94 58,376.04 3,179.64 3,230.57 242.59 218.85 2,822.63 2,778.54 25,919.07 32,538.37 6,227.76 8,435.35 27,084.05 36,673.72 3,512.53 3,883.44 15,308.20 11,073.29 256.77 239.03 7,346.29 6,542.12 1,288.78 1,384.39 37,118.72 35,864.53 1,775,113.52 1,681,984.29 4,837.75 5,396.56 59,419.67 65,288.86 24,794.03 30,815.23 6,944.82 25,902.74 9,231.84 10,202.47 8,468.17 9,331.04 11,920.78 9,907.14 14,922.97 19,879.15 654,294.77 639,537.06 20,838.71 18,903.45 5,499.85 5,644.80 1,212.43 1,177.71 43,419.42 47,762.76 205,979.44 206,703.95 182,975.64 177,810.87 7,733.01 7,894.54 3,170.47 1,802.42 12,826.74 12,030.77 1,075.34 1,479.32 168,134.44 206,780.48 165,407.93 118,599.51 91,538.85 95,447.21 249.01 259.49 6,103.31 3,994.45 28,885.21 33,309.05 183,301.65 141,376.31 $37,618,080.31 $34,996,322.39

1,373,662.28 1,275,847.49 2,400.26 2,405.31 9,985,980.52 10,049,613.76 382,765.99 377,000.42 2,592,782.71 2,509,193.23 4,174,675.39 4,383,636.91 4,817,822.42 4,698,402.04 77,235.34 84,736.62 20,757.86 16,324.62 54,760.17 57,034.51 13,819.77 5,350.66 2,440,172.79 2,462,550.49 39,498.36 38,076.44 778,937.70 756,821.14 336,504.42 237,842.18 91,854.04 86,418.02 414,078.37 451,909.29 101,238.79 112,781.30 1,073,608.32 844,942.22 555,083.27 544,151.77 189,831.43 196,503.07 233,276.80 228,839.36 24,283.73 28,690.07 5,669,361.48 5,569,440.25 350,710.71 346,305.14 13,333,346.42 15,181,451.44 54,677.29 57,238.65 1,359,707.10 1,338,073.41 398,413.58 382,083.21 126,836.24 124,196.10 19,982.06 19,246.63 235,096.19 230,717.41 20,761.11 20,831.88 798,837.16 1,050,311.30 389,448.57 168,710.28 321,523.71 338,423.55 4,326.82 4,639.42 11,842.77 11,218.51 97,536.97 86,144.14 192,270.14 202,127.98 161,729.56 158,617.33 2,251,629.22 2,265,651.86 154,500.75 143,078.61 84,491.15 96,725.25 116,178.46 113,375.17 370,765.76 365,818.57 47,638.75 45,410.17 34,491.39 25,245.60 6,657.38 7,439.22 5,139.95 5,617.13 30,837.35 34,533.16 1,909.70 3,025.47 17,886.51 19,378.23 70,770.73 75,584.33 1,410.60 3,891.82 125,368.85 156,054.21 14,395,839.56 14,607,844.29 846.57 905.88 7,004,027.34 6,784,791.88 140,950.81 129,901.82 72,231.26 72,068.33 31,436.12 36,195.69 450,347.57 440,881.88 45,482.10 43,711.11 558,357.56 488,712.60 38,833.59 32,798.74 3,002.00 3,323.53 28,123.54 20,514.39 326,211.45 337,473.56 80,709.39 89,842.44 356,690.47 342,335.37 43,870.22 42,903.60 149,779.39 125,165.92 3,580.23 3,242.90 89,118.01 90,422.22 16,270.41 16,404.78 335,519.79 472,028.94 20,726,778.71 19,943,233.38 52,516.17 52,935.73 690,454.56 670,311.97 322,030.95 399,820.85 409,738.06 400,261.87 107,704.82 110,547.06 103,933.43 119,703.87 141,169.42 123,622.69 188,050.33 232,370.94 7,894,409.69 7,974,382.03 229,042.97 266,751.23 67,404.85 67,665.78 14,706.59 20,697.46 518,402.82 529,517.60 2,435,600.51 2,356,859.99 2,140,325.58 2,102,027.58 86,939.17 87,421.98 38,929.38 22,127.80 155,667.78 161,657.00 12,560.76 17,065.06 2,068,556.39 2,448,152.20 1,941,203.95 1,831,107.43 1,050,552.78 1,052,695.07 3,101.54 3,292.52 61,176.61 58,445.54 364,265.87 375,240.21 1,813,046.43 1,724,797.71 $437,242,707.96 $435,371,343.21

Newsmakers

Elder appointed top panel

Amy Kebert Elder of Baker Donelson has been appointed to serve as chair of the International Association of Gaming Advisors’ Americas Advisory Committee.

Elder will be responsible for coordinating IAGA’s conference in association with the American Gaming Association at the Global Elder Gaming Expo and also advise how the IAGA should represent American issues at the 2018 IAGA Annual Gaming Summit in China.

Elder, a shareholder in Baker Donelson’s Jackson office, is serving her second consecutive term on the IAGA’s Board of Trustees. She focuses her practice on gaming regulatory and business law in Mississippi and Louisiana. Elder is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law and is a member of the Mississippi Bar, the American Bar Association and the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association.

The IAGA is an association of attorneys, financial experts, casino executives and regulators in the gaming industry.x

Walker takes Rotary post

William (Bill) R. Walker, of Columbus, is serving a one-year term as Rotary International District Governor for 2017-18. As Governor, Walker coordinates the community and international service projects of 46 Rotary Clubs and 2,231 Rotarians in the counties between Highway 82 North and Walker Highway 84. Walker will serve through June 30, 2018.

Walker is one of 535 Rotarians worldwide serving as a District Governor this year. A member of the Rotary club of Columbus, Walker is responsible for organizing new Rotary clubs and strengthening existing ones. Rotary governors are required to visit and speak to all clubs in their districts.

District 6820 Rotarians also fund water wells in Africa, sponsor kidney transplants in Mexico, and contribute funds to build a Neonatal Care Center in Guatemala. In addition, in 2018 this Rotary District plans to travel to Mexico to do hands on work with a Rotary District 4170 to administer aid in rural areas with the organization Heart 2 Heart.

As Vice President of Brickyard Properties, Walker also is a member of the Lowndes County Board of Directors and Board of Global Connections.

Walker became a Rotarian in 1985 with the Columbus Rotary Club. During this time, he has served as the Rotary Coordinator for The Lowndes Young Leaders for over 10 years. He has also served on the Columbus Rotary Club Board, Foundation Chair and Club President in 2014-15.

Hotel Vue selects Williams

Christy Williams was recently named Sales and Catering Coordinator for Hotel Vue located in Natchez. The announcement was made by Wendy Grandin, General Manager of the 91-room property.

Williams will design, plan and execute events including weddings, birthdays, business meetings and other social soirees.

Williams

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Best Lawyers’ 2017 “Lawyer of the Year” for real estate litigation.

Hood inducted into HOF Rivertrust Federal Credit Union Board Secretary Lydia Hood has been inducted into the Mississippi Credit Union Hall of Fame. Created in 1993, the Mississippi Credit Union Hall of Fame is the state’s highest credit union honor, recognizing individuals who have devoted their life to the philosophy and success of credit unions at the local, state or Hood national level.

Hood began her service at Rivertrust Federal Credit Union in 1984. She has served on numerous committees throughout the years, and currently serves as board secretary, a position which she has held for 24 years.

During her tenure, the credit union has grown from $9 million in assets to $176 million.

Courtesy of EMBDC

The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation in Meridian recently presented its June Ambassadors of the Month awards. Winners were, from left, Casey Hendricks, The Montgomery Institute, first place; Mary Atterberry, Rush Health Systems, second place; Natalie Scarbrough, Winstead Realty, red ticket drawing winner; and Heather Woodall, MSU Career Center, third place.

Williams, originally from Jackson, has lived in Natchez for over 30 years promoting the area as a leading event destination and will continue to further advance the hotel’s generous event offerings.

Her primary responsibilities include performing the administrative sales and catering functions for Hotel Vue and The Pilot House while supporting the Hotel Sales and Food & Beverage Departments to meet the hotel projection figures.

Kinesiology school honored The University of Southern Mississippi’s School of Kinesiology has been approved as a National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) Educational Recognition Program.

The Educational Recognition Program (ERP) recognizes regionally accredited academic institutions that meet educational guidelines recommended by the NSCA. The ERP program specifically evaluated the School of Kinesiology’s exercise science program.

School of Kinesiology students will have access to special preparatory sessions for certification exams, including the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) exam, and receive discounts on exam registration fees.

Whitt joins Crye-Leike Dylan Whitt of Tupelo has become affiliated with Crye-Leike’s Tupelo branch office.

Whitt works with buyers and sellers in Lee, Itawamba and Prentiss counties. He specializes in residential real estate.

Prior to joining Crye-Leike, Whitt served in the armed forces. He recently served in the Mississippi Army National Guard, Whitt including a deployment to Iraq in 2009 with the 155th Combat Brigade.

Whitt is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Mississippi Association of Realtors, and the Northeast Mississippi Board of Realtors.

Crye-Leike Real Estate Services, the nation’s fifth-largest independent residential real estate brokerage firm, is the largest in Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and the Mid-South.

Minor appointed to panel J. Douglas Minor Jr., a partner in the Jackson office of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, has been appointed to the American Bar Association Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary.

The FJC evaluates the professional qualifications of all nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court, circuit courts of appeals, Minor district courts (including territorial district courts), and the Court of International Trade.

The committee’s goal is to support and encourage the selection of the best-qualified persons for the federal judiciary. Committee members are appointed by the president of the ABA based on their reputations for professional competence, integrity and devotion to public service.

Over his more than 20 years as a litigator, Minor has experience in a wide variety of areas, including class actions, unfair competition, consumer fraud, and investment fraud actions. He has supervised litigation throughout the Southeast on behalf of several national lenders and mortgage servicers, as well as two national life/health/disability insurance companies. He has also argued appeals before the United States Courts of Appeal for the Second, Fourth and Fifth Circuit Courts.

Minor is a past chair of the Litigation Section of the Mississippi Bar, and he is a certified instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. He frequently lectures at CLE seminars on topics related to the litigation process, including settlement conference and mediation strategy, conflicts of interest and social media. He has been recognized by Chambers USA since 2007, and The Best Lawyers in America and Mid-South Super Lawyers since 2011 in the areas of general and commercial litigation, and he was named

Meadows new chief nurse Terri L. Meadows of Hazlehurst has joined the staff of Methodist Rehabilitation Center in Jackson as Chief Nursing Officer. Meadows has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. She was most recently chief nursing officer for Merit Health Madison in Canton.

Meadows has a bachelor of science degree in nursing and a Meadows master’s of health science administration from Mississippi College in Clinton.

Laughter gains certification Eva Laughter, DPT, a physical therapist at St. Dominic’s Outpatient Rehabilitation and Hand Management Center, recently became a certified aquatic therapist. The certification was awarded by the American Physical Therapy Association and demonstrates clinical competency in aquatic physical therapy for all Laughter types of patients.

Laughter obtained a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Indiana University, followed by a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northwestern University in the spring of 2015. Eva moved to Jackson and joined the inpatient rehab team at St. Dominic’s in September of 2015. She then transferred to outpatient rehab in 2016 to pursue her career as an aquatic therapist.

Eva currently leads the aquatics program at St. Dominic’s Outpatient Rehabilitation, coordinating individualized patient care with other orthopedic, neurologic, and pediatric therapists.

Breeden joins coast firm Autumn T. Breeden recently joined Deutsch Kerrigan, L.L.P. as an Associate in its Gulfport office.

Autumn is a recent graduate of the University of Mississippi Law School and a recent admit to the Mississippi Bar. She focuses on commercial litigation and professional liability Breeden matters.

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Prep hires chief of staff Jackson Preparatory School in Flowood has hire Jina Smith as Chief of Staff for Interim Head of School Denny Britt. She will continue that role when a permanent Head of School has been named. Among her many responsibilities will be overseeing J. Smith the day to day operations of the Head of School’s office, performing administrative duties for Prep’s leadership team, and managing the Head of School’s calendar.

Smith joins Prep from a long career in the retail industry with Hudson’s Bay Company, formerly McRae’s / Saks Incorporated. During her 32 years with Hudson’s Bay Company, she held various Administrative Assistant and Human Resources roles. She served most recently as Senior Manager, Human Resources – Compliance. Smith is a native of Pearl. She and her family are residents of Flowood.

Rivertrust FCU recognized

Main Street elections

A new member and a new slate of executive officers have been elected to the Mississippi Main Street Association Board of Directors.

Steven B. Dick, Economic Development Manager for Mississippi Power, was elected as a new Dick member of the state board.

As Economic Development Manager, Dick is responsible for providing growth opportunities through the location and expansion of business and industry as well as project management in Southeast Mississippi.

Additionally, he oversees a staff responsible for acting as the Beasley regional development organization for South Mississippi, working with local and state economic developers to promote the communities for which Mississippi Power serves, and advising senior management on statewide, domestic and global issues to help shape policies, practices and Gardner initiatives that impact economic development.

Before joining Mississippi Power in 2012, Dick was a practicing attorney for more than 12 years.

Dick serves on the board of directors for the Innovation Center Foundation, Biloxi Excel By 5 Coalition, and Biloxi Rotary.

Stafford The newly-elected MMSA executive officers are: President Allison Beasley, Southern Mississippi Planning and Development in Gulfport; President-elect Ed Gardner, Entergy Mississippi in Jackson; Treasurer Kevin Stafford, Neel-Schaffer, Inc. in Columbus; and Past President S. Smith Suzanne Smith, Renasant Bank in Tupelo.

The MMSA board is made up of a statewide group of business, government and community leaders.

Courtesy of Rivertrust FCU

Rivertrust Federal Credit Union in Pearl has been honored as one of only 17 credit unions in Mississippi that earned an Advocacy Award, which recognizes credit unions for extraordinary efforts to protect, strengthen and expand credit unions and improve the lives of members who choose credit unions as their financial services partner. Pictured are Rivertrust FCU President/CEO Kevin Long (left) and Charles Elliott, Mississippi Credit Union Association President/CEO.

Remaining members of the 2017 MMSA Board of Directors are as follows: Chris Chain, Renovations of Mississippi, Inc.; Kagan Coughlin, Base Camp Coding Academy; Tara Lytal, Main Street Clinton; Russell Baty, The Main Street Chamber of Leake County; Steve Kelly, Board Member Emeritus; Keith A. Williams, Hancock Bank; Katie Blount and Michelle Jones, Mississippi Department of Archives and History; Jim West, College of Architecture, Art and Design at Mississippi State University; Glenn McCullough and Sonny Thomas, Mississippi Development Authority; Ken P’Pool, Mississippi Department of Archives and History; and Leah Kemp, The Carl Small Town Center at Mississippi State University.

Turner earns top honor The Mississippi Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) honored Gigi Turner, chair and associate professor of

Belhaven’s Graphic Design Department, with the 2017 Excellence in Higher Education Award.

Turner received her B.F.A. in Graphic Design from The University of Southern Mississippi, and has more than two decades of experience as a professional designer.

She serves on the advising board Turner for Madison County Technical Center and is involved in work with the Jackson Disrict 7 chapter of the American Advertising Federation. She is in the progress of completing her M.F.A. in graphic design.

4 elected to MYB council Four Mississippi Bankers were recently elected to the Executive Council of the Mississippi Young Bankers, a secton of the Mississippi Bankers Association.

Elected were Ocean Springs banker William C. “Bill” Kilduff, Columbus banker Aaron Oberschmidt, Holly Springs banker Jeffrey King, and Pearl banker Brian Hughes.

MYB conducts programs around the state on personal finance and also promotes banker Kilduff leadership development and involvement in industry affairs.

Council members coordinate the efforts of the MYB County Chairmen in their areas and work to promote the MBA’s “A Banker in Every Classroom” project and other financial literacy programs in Oberschmidt area schools.

Kilduff is executive vice president of Community Bank, Coast, in Ocean Springs. He has been with Community Bank, Coast, for 10 years. Kilduff earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration in banking and finance from the University of Mississippi. He is also a graduate King of the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. Oberschmidt is a senior vice president for Trustmark National Bank, Columbus. He has 10 years with banking experience with Trustmark National Bank and one year with Pike National Bank.

Oberschmidt earned his bachelor’s Hughes of business administration degree in banking and finance and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is also a graduate of the Mississippi School of Banking.

King is assistant vice president for the Bank of Holly Springs. He has been with the Bank of Holly Springs for 10 years. King earned his bachelor’s of business administration degree in accounting from Mississippi State University and a master’s degree of divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary.

Hughes is vice president for PriorityOne Bank in Pearl. He has been with the PriorityOne Bank for over four years. Hughes earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a master’s of business administration degree from Liberty University. Hughes also is a Captain in the U.S. Air Force.

Silver Slipper employees of the month recognized Silver Slipper Casino recently recognized its May 2017 Employee and Supervisor/Manager of the Month winners and nominees.

Nominees with General Manager John Ferrucci, center, are, from left: Kevin Dresback, F&B Supervisor; George Soukup, Facilities; Loryjean Farve, EVS; Danielle Leitz, Valet; Bernardine Labat, Assistant Cage/Credit Manager; Alvin Parker, Slots; Alex Gibson, Security; Rich Chase, Hotel Manager. May 2017 Employees of the Month are Soukup and Farve. May 2017 Supervisor/ Manager of the Month is Dresback. Nominees and winners each received gifts and prizes including cash and gift certificates.

Courtesy of Silver Slipper ,

Newsmakers Haddox Reid promotes 5

Haddox Reid Eubank Betts PLLC recently made five promotions: Jonathan Adcock, CPA, has been promoted to Senior Manager.

He received a Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Mississippi College. Working in the tax division, his experience includes income tax planning and compliance for both business and Adcock individuals. Adcock is also heavily involved in the firm’s tax services for retirement plans.

He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA).

He has been active in the MSCPA, having served as a past officer of the Central Chapter, and he is also a May 2015 graduate of Leadership Madison County.

Jonathan is a member and student ministry volunteer at First Baptist Church Madison.

Katie Jones, CPA, has been promoted to Manager. She received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Professional Accountancy from the University of Southern Mississippi. Working in the audit division, Jones works on a variety of engagements including govern- K. Jones mental, for profit, and employee benefit plan audits. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA).Jones serves as the firm’s in-charge accountant for the St. Jude Dream Home Giveaway; volunteers for the Red Kettle Campaign with the Salvation Army each year; and serves at Stewpot Community Services throughout the year.Jones and her husband, Jared, live in Raleigh.

Domina Kaler, CPA, has been promoted to Manager. She received a Master of Accountancy and Bachelor of Accountancy from the University of Mississippi.

Working in the audit division, she has four years of experience including audit and compliance Kaler engagements for various types of entities and specializes in employee benefit plan audits. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA). Kaler is currently on the Board of MSCPA Central Chapter as Treasurer as well as Treasurer and on the Board of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jackson, Mississippi. She is also a member of both the Madison County Young Professionals and the Accounting and Finance Women’s Association. She volunteers for the Red Kettle Campaign with the Salvation Army each year; serves at Stewpot Community Services throughout the year; and also volunteers for the Young CPA Network’s Day of Giving by collecting cans of food for the Mississippi Food Bank for the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays.

Ashley Sullivan, CPA, has recently been promoted to Senior Accountant. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University, where she received her Bachelor of Accountancy and Master of Taxation. Sullivan works in the tax division. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants

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Kett joins Dale Partners

CPRAM selects Board

David Kett, a recent graduate of the Mississippi State University School Architecture, has joined the firm of Dale Partners Architects P.A. Kett will provide design, modeling, and cd production services for a variety of projects.

Kett is a native of Canada, and Kett moved to Mississippi at age 10.

He also received an Associate of Arts from Hinds Community College. He loves reading.

Baker Donelson certified

Courtesy of CPRAM

The College of Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) recently elected its board of directors for 2017-2018. They are, front row, from left: Steve Diffey of Holmes Community College, scholarship chair; Tracy Duncan of Hinds Community College, junior institutions representative; Mary Margaret Busby of Holmes, president; LaJuan Tallo of Northwest Mississippi Community College, secretary; Maxine Greenleaf of Mississippi Valley State University, vice president; Jenny Tate of the University of Southern Mississippi, past president. Back row: Kathy McAdams of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, junior institutions representative; Donna Thomas of Itawamba Community College, treasurer; Maria McLeod of East Central Community College, hospitality chair; Phillip Smith of Mississippi State University, senior institutions representative and Barin von Foregger of Holmes, junior institutions representative. Not pictured: Caron Blanton, APR, of Institutions of Higher Learning, government agencies representative; Kell Smith of Mississippi Community College Board, government agencies representative; Melissa Love of Delta State University, senior institutions representative and Sophie Wolf of Millsaps College, senior institutions representative. CPRAM is a consortium of public relations professionals employed at Mississippi’s public and private colleges and universities.

(MSCPA). She volunteers for the Red Kettle Campaign with the Salvation Army and also serves at Stewpot Community Services. As a member of First Baptist Church of Madison, Sullivan leads a youth bible study and is an Upward soccer volunteer coach.

Robert Groves has recently been promoted to Senior Accountant. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Accountancy and Masters of Accountancy from Millsaps College. Groves works in the tax division. He volunteers each year for the Red Kettle Campaign with the Salvation Army and also serves at Stewpot Community Services.

Sullivan

Groves

Magnolia banker honored Mike McClellan, Magnolia State Bank’s senior vice president, was recently inducted into the Mississippi Bankers Association Forty Year Club in recognition of his 40 years of professional banking achievement in Mississippi.

McClellan began his banking career in 1977 as branch manager McClellan of the Heidelberg location of Jasper County Bank, now known as Magnolia State Bank. After numerous promotions through the years, he currently is Senior Vice President and a member of the board of directors.

McClellan graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi in 1966 with a degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis on Physical Education and Recreation.

McClellan taught at several high schools across the region from 1966-1974 and was a Pharmaceutical Representative from 1974 until joining Jasper County Bank. He has been inducted into both the Jones County Junior College and Mississippi Junior College Hall of Fame. He has served on the JCJC Board of Trustees for 25 years, six of which he served as President of the Board.

In 2015 JCJC named a building in his honor as McClellan Hall. McClellan currently serves as a member of the University of Southern Mississippi M-Club Alumni Association as President-elect.

He and his wife of 51 years live in Hattiesburg.

Raanes earns designation Brady Raanes, Financial Advisor at Raanes Capital Advisors in Hattiesburg, recently achieved the designation of Chartered Market Technician. The Chartered Market Technician credential is the preeminent, global designation for practitioners of technical analysis. The designation is awarded to those who demonstrate mastery of a core body of knowledge of investment risk in portfolio management settings.

CMT charters are awarded to those who are members of the Market Technicians Association, successfully complete three levels of examinations, and obtain approval from the MTA Admissions Committee and Board of Directors. Raanes is the first recipient of the CMT designation in Mississippi.

Raanes, 36, also holds designations of Chartered Financial Analyst and Certified Financial Planner.

For the third consecutive year, Baker Donelson has been certified by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum as a Gold Standard Firm.

Women in Law grants Gold Standard status to firms that meet objective criteria concerning the number of women among equity partners, in firm leadership positions and in the ranks of their most highly compensated partners. Baker Donelson was among 44 law firms across the country to earn this certification.

Wisdom moves to Jackson Dawn M. Wisdom, treatment consultant with American Addiction Centers, has been selected the first AAC representative for the southern half of Mississippi.

She serves as a point-of-contact for referrals to AAC facilities, including Oxford Treatment CenWisdom ter. She is based in Jackson. Her referral area includes Vicksburg, Meridian, Hattiesburg and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Wisdom has been helping people get help for addiction since 2015. She previously worked in financial services, but became interested in addiction and recovery through family experiences.

MSU student recognized MSU architecture student honored by Building Technology Educators’ Society Zachary R. Henry, a senior architecture major in Mississippi State’s College of Architecture, Art and Design recently received national recognition from the Henry Building Technology Educators’ Society.

Henry of Knoxville, Tenn., is one of only two students who were awarded scholarships by BTES during the nonprofit’s national conference in Des Moines, Iowa.

In addition to receiving a $500 travel scholarship, free conference admission and a complimentary BTES one-year membership, Henry presented his Best Undergraduate Paper award-winner “Ecological Functionalism in the Work of Glenn Murcutt: A Case Study of the Fredericks-White House” at the conference.

The BTES award jury concluded that Henry’s paper “gave a rare glimpse into a good topic of post-occupancy evaluation for a well-known architect.”

A student in the university’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, Henry plans to pursue a master’s degree in environmental design studies following graduation. He also expressed interest in moving to Nova Scotia and working for a highly respected firm that shares similar architectural values.

AN MBJ FOCUS: SMALL BUSINESS

Once cleaned and restored, the rugs are wrapped and placed on a shelf, then scheduled for delivery or pick-up. On average, the George Bell Rug and Restoration Company cleans and restores about 100 rugs a month.

WEAVING » George Bell Rug and Restoration Company celebrates 70 years with new owner, expansion

By ALEX JACKS mbj@msbusiness.com

Society places a large amount of worth in history, especially when that history comes in a tangible form. History can be in the pages of a book, the halls of a home, or even in the threads of a rug.

But few people actually have the opportunity to play a hand in the preservation of history. The employees at George Bell Rug and Restoration Com-

Washed carpets are hung throughout the facility under the many skylights that allow them to dry naturally.

pany, including new owner Smith, have that opportun George Bell Sr. establish George Bell Rug and Rest Company in 1946 after ret from World War II with t of preserving heirlooms, S “He decided he was goin ate a business,” he said. “H intrigued by the rug cleani would be a great business t In order to become profi worked for free for anothe ration facility for six mont “He was an engineer at h how to design. This was th for him. He built it up to b Following Bell’s retirem company until selling it to “I was blessed with a suc for 22 years so I decided to

Photos by

July 21, 2017 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

G THEIR MAGIC

r Greg C. nity. hed the toration turning the hopes mith said. ng to creHe was very Smith ing process and thought it to establish in Jackson.” ficient in the trade, Bell er rug cleaning and restoths, Smith said. heart,” he said. “He knew he perfect type of business be pretty well-known.” ment, his children ran the Smith in January. ccessful medical career o retire in 2016,” Smith

Alex Jacks

said. “I had put word out on the street that I was interested in purchasing a long-tenured business here in Jackson. Through mutual friends, the Bell children and I were introduced. They were looking at finding a buyer that would allow the company to maintain itself as a family-owned business and keep the George Bell name.”

After much discussion, the Bells and Smith agreed they were a good match for each other.

“One thing led to another and here I am — six months into owning the George Bell Rug and Restoration Company and celebrating its 70th birthday,” Smith said.

Despite only owning the company for a short time, Smith aspires to expand it throughout the state and beyond state lines.

“In previous years, rug delivery and pick-ups would be made throughout the state on Tuesdays and Thursdays,” Smith said. “Now, we’re on the See BELL, Page 15 After cleaning, any rugs that need to be restored move to one of the company’s two artisans. “They can repair just about any type of rug material,” said Greg C. Smith, owner of George Bell Rug and Restoration Co.

Small Business

14 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q July 21, 2017

Living the cozy life » Outdoor speciality retailer finding a good fit in Flowood market

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

Mark Jefcoat grew up in Flowood, went to college and then traveled a lot as a sales manager for a big company out of Laurel for 12 years. While he found great success in the corporate world, he got tired spending so much time on airplanes. He also became a father, and wanted to spend more time around his daughter, Mollee, who is now 5.

So, he decided to look into business opportunities back home.

“I came back here and was studying franchises and didn’t like the franchise opportunities I found,” Jefcoat said.

“Then I looked at the Dogwood Center, which is two million square feet of retail built in 2007. There wasn’t an outfitter in any of the development. Being from here, I felt like I knew what the guys are like and what they like to wear. I developed a business plan to open Cozy Outfitters (www.cozyoutfitters.com) and took it from there.”

One plus he took into the venture was that while working in corporate sales, he was able to experience hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation all over the country. He also had the background from childhood.

“We are trying to provide something you can’t get at one of those big box stores. We have to be different. We have to be special.”

Mark Jefcoat Owner, Cozy Outfitters

“I grew up with four brothers and my dad always kept us in the woods or by the water,” Jefcoat said.

“It is something I’ve always loved.

Another plus was that in my previous job, I sold to grocery stores. So, I learned a lot talking to grocers across the country about how they do their business. It was funny how the two worlds collided, the love for the outdoors and my experience working with retail. Retail is retail whether eggs or pants. I was able to take my experiences and combine them. So, it made perfect sense.”

Cozy Outfitters, which is located at 160 Market St., Flowood, will celebrate its fourth anniversary in September. Jefcoat said they have been able to be successful by operating as a specialty shop.

“We are trying to provide something

you can’t get at one of those big box stores,” Jefcoat said. “We have to be different. We have to be special. When we look at brands, we always try to see if provide our guests (we don’t call them customers) something unique. Our clothing is built for outdoor use by rock climbers and such.

But it also translates well to activities like four-wheel riding and construction.”

One of their most popular offerings is pants made by a company in Salt Lake City called KÜHL USA. “The company has been around for about 15 years,” Jefcoat said. “They are primarily a pant company. They do a really great job with their quality and their selection.”

Jefcoat said the cooler business has been really good for them, and their selection of nice, military grade watches from Suunto

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and Luminox are also popular. They also carry a large section of collegiate gear.

“The guys in Rankin County, most of them hunt and fish and like college football and baseball,” he said. “So, we provide that, as well. We also offer kids’ clothing if little brother and sister want to look like dad and big brother.”

Like most retailers, Christmas is a big time for sales. Cozy Outfitters does 25-30 percent of its sales during a 30-day period around the holidays.

Jefcoat looked at other locations with less expensive rent. But he opted to be in a high traffic area.

“So we don’t spend a ton of money on marketing,” Jefcoat said. “Most of our marketing is in our rent. We felt this location gave us the best market for our clientele. We had to pay for it. For marketing, we focus a lot on social media via Facebook and Instagram, just like everyone else.”

Jefcoat got a SBA loan and SBA counseling from James Bennett at Hinds Community College. Bennett, a retired banker, helped Jefcoat hone his business plan.

“He had been through the process a million times and knows what to look for,” Jefcoat said. “He was very helpful.”

Jefcoat’s advice to others who want to start their own business is to forecast and budget. He said his biggest mistake early on was becoming too revenue driven.

“I was trying to get revenues and sales up as quickly and as high as possible, and basically didn’t manage my cash flow as I should have,” he said. “In my pursuit of revenue, I drove my inventory up to a point where it was hamstringing me on cash. Every small business owner I’ve talked to goes through that process. It is a challenge. You just have to learn and manage to keep the cash available and let the revenue come as you grow. Don’t force it.”

Jefcoat said their mission at Cozy Outfitters is to be the premiere outdoor specialty store in the market while encouraging their guests to get off the couch, get dirty, and experience the excitement and relaxation of the outdoors.

“People are getting a little overwhelmed with technology and the Internet,” he said.

“They recognize the outdoors as a good outlet for stress relief. It is just a nice way to relax and get out of the hustle and bustle of our technology world. I know that is what I do.”

Internet sales have been a big concern for some brick and mortar retailers. But Jefcoat said they are an apparel-driven retailer.

“The good thing about apparel is most people still want to touch it, feel it, and try it on,” he said. “I don’t see that changing.”

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Courtesy of Alex Jacks

George Bell Rug and Restoration workers have years of experience in repairing and restoring heirloom rugs in Mississippi.

BELL Continued from Page 13

road five days a week. I’ve hired more drivers to expand our coverage of the state. You can find us in every part of the state at least every week or every two weeks. As far as expansion on the shortterm, I hope to be in every part of the state at least on a weekly basis and to hire more employees.”

Smith’s long-term goals include opening a second location in another Southern state.

“All of this is a very delicate cleaning process,” Smith said. “I think the process the Bells established over the years can be recreated to cover a broader area to serve more customers. We are really one of the few specialists recognized in the midSouth.”

The motivation to expand George Bell Rug from the value customers place on the restoration and cleaning of these heirloom rugs, Smith said.

“I think one of the big draws to our company is that we view rugs as heirlooms,” he said. “We base the value of the rug on what it means to the customer.

There are a lot of rugs that are really old that our artisans have the ability to restore.

By restoring these rugs, we are maintaining history for these families.”

When a customer brings a rug to the George Bell Rug, it undergoes a process, Smith said.

“When rugs are brought in we do a complete inspection,” he said. “We check the dimensions and look for any restorative issues. Once they’ve been checked and put in the computer, we bring them to

our high system blower, which we use to blow off loose dirt.”

From there, all of the rugs — whether it’s hand-woven, wool, machine-made or synthetic — are moved to the wash pit.

“That’s where we do everything by hand,” Smith said. “We wash all our rugs in the wash pits the same way. We wash them as many times as it takes until the water left in the pit is clear. After the cleaning process has been completed, we hang all our rugs throughout the facility.

We’ve got multiple skylights that allow the rugs to dry naturally. A lot of times,

the drying process is at the mercy of the weather, especially the high humidity we have in the Southeast.”

Following the cleaning process, any rugs that need to be restored move to the artisan’s table, Smith said.

“We have two artisans here,” he said.

“Between them, they have right about 50 years of experience. This is a true art form and it is a trade. Any type of restorative work that needs to be done, they can do it.

They can repair just about any type of rug material.”

Once restored or cleaned, the rugs are

o o _- ; - true Cm-m1b-Ѵ r-u|m;uķ ou f v| -mo|_;u 0-mhĵ $u v|l-uh _-v 0;;m - |u ; Cm-m1b-Ѵ r-u|m;u =ou 1o m|Ѵ;vv 0 vbm;vv;v |_uo ]_o | |_; "o |_ =ou o ;u ƐƑƕ ;-uvĺ )b|_ - |;-l o= ; r;ub;m1;7 ruo=;vvbom-Ѵv -m7 7b ;uv; ruo7 1| -m7 v;u b1; o@;ubm]v 7;vb]m;7 |o l;;| - -ub;| o= Cm-m1b-Ѵ m;;7vķ $u v|l-uh 1-m ]b ; o |_; ro ;u |o -1_b; ; o u ]o-Ѵv -m7 or;u-|; o u 0 vbm;vv b|_ 1omC7;m1;ĺ -ѴѴ ou bvb| v |o7- |o Ѵ;-um lou;ĺ People you trust. Advice that works.

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wrapped and scheduled for delivery or pickup, Smith said.

On average, the George Bell Rug cleans and restores 100 rugs a month, Smith said.

“That number varies,” he said. “It’s hard to put a finger on an exact number.

According to my employees though, the past six months have been the busiest it has been in over 15 years.”

Smith said he hopes to continue the increasing trend in order to serve more customers in preserving their heirlooms and family history.

Small Business

16 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q July 21, 2017

MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES

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Small Business

18 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q July 21, 2017

MISSISSIPPI MAIN STREET COMMUNITIES

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New Businesses

July 21, 2017

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

19

SPARKS CPA FIRM: The Alliance recently held a ribbon cutting ceremony for The Sparks CPA Firm in Corinth. Shareholders, Dicky Sparks, CPA, and Heath Castile, CPA, are shown cutting the ribbon along with Brad Brawner, CPA, and Beth Cossitt, CPA. Also on hand to celebrate the opening were Mayor Tommy Irwin, other city and county officials. It is located at 515 E. Waldron Street.

Courtesy of Courtesy of The Alliance

Courtesy of EMBDC

NISSAN OF MERIDIAN: The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recently held a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Nissan of Meridian to celebrate its new building. Owners are Milburn Van Veckhoven and Michael Van Veckhoveni. Also attending and speaking was Gov. Phil Bryant.

Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

MATTRESS DIRECT: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Mattress Direct, 114 Market St. in Flowood.,

ICHIBAN HIBACHI AND SUSHI: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Ichiban Hibachi and Sushi of Pearl, 3 Mac Bones Blvd.

Courtesy of Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

20 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q July 21, 2017

New Businesses PRUITT RENTAL & OUTDOOR: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Pruitt Rental & Outdoor, 2404 U.S. 49 S. in Florence.

Courtesy of Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

Courtesy of Courtesy of Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

JACO’S TACOS: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Jaco’s Tacos, 5657 Lakeland Drive in Flowood.

Courtesy of Courtesy of Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

COMPASSUS: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Compassus, 3010 Lakeland Cove in Flowood.

CROSSROADS REGIONAL PARK: The Alliance in Corinth recently helped Crossroads Regional Park celebrate the completion of the new 5-Plex with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Board of Supervisors President Jimmy Tate Waldon cut the ribbon assisted by Butch Carmichiel, Mayor Tommy Irwin and other city and county officials.

Courtesy of The Alliance

New Businesses

July 21, 2017

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

21

MULTICRAFT VENTURES: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Multicraft Ventures, 4326 U.S. 80 W. in Pelahatchie.

Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI FOOT SPECIALISTS AND BRANDON HEARING HEALTH: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cuttings for Central Mississippi Foot Specialists, left, and Brandon Hearing Health, both at 103 Service Drive in Brandon.

MAC HAIK: The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership and Jackson Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Mac Haik Madison Chevrolet Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram at I-55 in Madison.

Courtesy of Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership/Jackson Chamber of Commerce

New Businesses

22 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q July 21, 2017

LAUNCH TRAMPOLINE PARK: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Launch Trampoline Park, 422 Riverwind Drive in Pearl.

Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

Courtesy of The Alliance

CORINTHIAN WHOLESALE FURNITURE: The Alliance recently held a red ribbon ceremony for Corinthian Wholesale Furniture, 2676 S. Harper Road in Manager Scotty Ethridge and wife Jenni cut the ribbon, along with Vick and Missy Etheridge. Mayor Tommy Irwin and other city and county officials assisted. Also present were employees John Moore, Robert Bristow, Brandon Steen, Zack Walker, Hunter Moore and Beth Hudson.

Courtesy of Courtesy of Courtesy of Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership/Jackson Chamber of Commerce

TOKYO TASTY BUFFET: The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership and Jackson Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Tokyo Tasty Buffet, 1410 Old Square Road.

AD MIX: The Rankin County Chamber of Commerce recently held a ribbon-cutting for Ad Mix.

Courtesy of Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

July 21, 2017

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

23

THE SPIN CYCLE

How do consumers respond to social media ads?

T

one in social media marketing is a big deal!

New research from Social Media Examiner reveals new insights on how consumers respond to ad content on social media. Here are the Top 3 drivers:

1. Brand Behavior Affects Consumer Purchase Decisions It’s not only about what types of content you post, according to a recent study by Sprout Social.

For their Q2 2017 Sprout Social Index report titled, Consumers Aren’t Looking to Buy From Brands That Are “Cool” on Social, they studied 289,000 public social media profiles and surveyed more than 1,000 consumers and found that nearly half of respondents (48 percent) want to purchase from brands that are responsive to their customers on social media. This supports the basic premise of social media marketing: It’s about the conversations you have with your audience.

Furthermore, 36 percent of respondents say that when a brand is humorous, they’re more likely to buy from them.

Interestingly, while 67 percent of respondents say they don’t like it when brands make fun of competitors, 10 percent of people surveyed say that they’ll purchase from brands that trash-talk competitors.

In fact, Sprout Social found several things that brands do that their audience dislikes including making fun of customers (88 percent), talking politics (71 percent), and using slang (69 percent).

Takeaway Not surprisingly, audience preferences on the personality a brand projects on social media depends on the platform.

For example, Sprout Social found that 79 percent of Millennials and 84 percent of other generations prefer brands to let their personalities shine on Facebook, while 51 percent of Millennials and 35 percent of other generations like it on Twitter.

This could have a lot to do with the types of content posted on the respective sites.

On Twitter, brands must be concise and link to other types of content, while on Facebook, the audience can consume much of the content directly on the platform.

There’s more space to write interesting or funny descriptions on Facebook, allowing for the brand’s personality to be communicated better.

2. Audiences React Adversely When Brands Cross the Line There doesn’t seem to be a “three strikes and you’re out” rule when it comes to how consumers feel about a brand’s social me-

dia activities.

Sprout Social learned that 51 percent of respondents will automatically unfollow a brand that does something they dislike, while 27 percent block them or report them as spam. Just over one-quarter (27 percent) go as far as to boycott the brand entirely.

One exception to this is when the brand has an ardent (read: rabid) fan base.

While it’s unlikely Apple would post something offensive or make fun of their competitors, their following would probably be more forgiving. That’s not to say that everyone would turn a blind eye to something they find offensive, but chances are good that there won’t be any massive unfollows or boycotting going on.

Takeaway A brand will remain in a positive light if it stick with content that supports its brand identity. After all, you’ll never find a company mission statement that states the organization’s goal as offending as many people online as possible.

3. Visual Content That Evokes Strong Emotion Increases Exposure Social Media Examiner’s 2017 Social Media Marketing Industry Report revealed that marketers have the right idea when it comes to the types of content they post: The vast majority use visuals. Eightyfive percent of respondents said they use visual images, while 66 percent said they blog and 57 percent report using video content.

SEOPressor.com, in their article “The Science of Emotion: 4 Keys to Effective Social Media Marketing,” wrote that positive and uplifting content garners more shares than content that’s perceived to be sad. Awe-inspiring content does well, too.

The idea here is that you want to elicit emotions from your audience … preferably positive ones.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for content that provokes anger or sadness.

Take for example the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) commercial featuring singer Sarah McLachlan singing her hit song “Angel” while a montage of sad images featuring abused and neglected animals plays on screen.

You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who saw that commercial and felt nothing.

In fact, within two years, that commercial was credited with bringing donations for the organization.

Takeaway Showing emotions humanizes brands, and people buy from people. When

brands post content that makes you feel something, they’re more likely to want to pass that feeling along to their family and friends. There’s not a person among us who hasn’t pressed the Share button on a meme that features an inspirational saying or a video featuring funny cats doing what cats do.

We want to share that experience, or a cause that we’re passionate about, with the people in our lives.

It’s important to take a holistic approach to your social media marketing. Humans are complicated, and a one-size-fits-all approach to posting content doesn’t work.

Brands should look beyond just posting funny pictures or informational videos.

They should consider how the content makes the audience feel and if it will elicit some kind of emotion.

Sick Mic | Health Care Reform Bill D.O.A The latest health care reform measure in Congress is officially D.O.A. Earlier this week, Senate GOP leaders abandoned their effort to dismantle and simultaneously replace much of Obamacare, after the defections of two more Republican senators left the party short of the votes needed to pass President Trump’s top legislative priority.

Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Jerry Moran of Kansas became the third and fourth Republicans to oppose the latest version of the bill, joining Rand Paul of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged the defeat Monday night and, in a strategy facing long odds, said the Senate would instead vote “in coming days” on legislation to unravel most of the ACA without a replacement, a bill the chamber passed in late 2015 but that was then vetoed by President Obama.

Conservatives in both chambers and Trump have pressed to repeat the vote

on the 2015 bill, which McConnell said would come as an amendment to the health-care bill passed by the House in May and would allow for a two-year transition.

Todd Smith With 52 Republicans in the Senate, McConnell needed to secure at least 50 GOP votes, with Vice President Mike Pence casting a tiebreaker. No Democrats were expected to support the bill. The latest opposition ended a frenzied period of negotiations aimed at shoring up faltering GOP support.

The downfall of the bill is a tough pill to swallow for President Trump, who has made it clear that undoing the 2010 law is a priority and has leaned heavily on fellow Republicans to make it happen. Since the latest version of health care reform – and any kind of consensus – is dying, a gridlocked Washington, D.C., continues to stay in the emergency room while the rest of us continue to pay the bill! That most certainly gets a Sick Mic! Each week, The Spin Cycle will bestow a Golden Mic Award to the person, group or company in the court of public opinion that best exemplifies the tenets of solid PR, marketing and advertising – and those who don’t. Stay tuned – and step-up to the mic! And remember … Amplify Your Brand!

Todd Smith is president and chief communications officer of Deane, Smith & Partners, a full-service branding, PR, marketing and advertising firm with offices in Jackson. The firm — based in Nashville, Tenn.

— is also affiliated with Mad Genius. Contact him at todd@deanesmithpartners.com, and follow him @ spinsurgeon.

http://www.msbusiness.com

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