MBJ_June21_2019

INSIDE — Ex-exec still incarcerated in Louisiana jail on fraud, bad-check charges — Page 7

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REAL ESTATE

YEARS

1979

www.msbusiness.com

Colonial Highlands still awaits turning of dirt for apartments — Page 2

MBJ FOCUS

2019

June 21, 2019 • Vo. 41 No. 25 • 16 pages

D L O S

Insurance & Employee Benefits {Section begins P8}

» Telematic devices can improve safety and reduce costs of insurance

{The List P9-10}

» Property & Casualty Insurance Companies

District at Eastover loft apartments bought by investment firm PAGE 2

» Coast veterinarian couple got SBA loan for expansion after being turned down by banks

FILE/MBJ

The District Lofts were sold to a California-based real estate investment firm only slightly more than a year after they were completed.

{P6}

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

2 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q June 21, 2019 JACKSON

District at Eastover loft apartments bought by investment firm

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

About a year after the District Lofts apartments were completed, the 261-unit complex in Jackson’s District at Eastover was sold.

The buyer, Passco Cos. LLC of Irvine, Calif., a private real estate investment firm, secured a $30.6 million loan from KeyBank, according to multifamilynews.com.

But that is not the purchase price, said Breck Hines, a co-developer of the District at Eastover.

The actual figure is higher, but it cannot be revealed because of a confidentiality agreement, Hines said in an interview.

The reporter for the online news organization said in an email: “the actual sale price was undisclosed,” just the loan amount revealed in a release from the Cleveland, Ohio-based bank.

The transaction shouldn’t be seen as a “surprise,” its just the nature of development, Hines said.

Arlington Properties is still managing the property, Hines said, which, according to the multifamilynews.com article, was completed in 2017 and had a 92.7 percent occupancy rate at the time of the transaction.

FILE/MBJ

The south courtyard of The District Lofts features a two-level saltwater pool

The Lofts are composed of 132 one-bedroom and 113 two-bedroom units and 16 three bedroom units.

Another change is underway in the 21acre development.

Cantina Laredo, which closed on Feb. 25, will be replaced by another Spanish-flavored restaurant.

MH Ventures, owned by Ray-Scott Miller, will open the Sophomore Spanish

Club in its place. MH Ventures also owns and operates Fine & Dandy, across the green space from the Cantina Laredo and its replacement, according to Hines.

The newest restaurant, which Hines said is expected to open in the first week of August, is undergoing a makeover.

In announcing the closing of Cantina Laredo, Hines said that “we asked Cantina’s parent company if we could be part-

ners with them in this restaurant and they obliged.”

“Despite Cantina Laredo’s success, we’ve come to understand that independent, local restaurant concepts are better for this market and more closely aligned with our vision for The District at Eastover.”

The district’s partnership was with Consolidated Restaurant Operations Inc. of Dallas, which, according to its website, operates more than 91 full-service and 24 franchise restaurants in 17 states, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt.

The most recent retail shop to open is Chipper & Coco. Owner Ann Somers says the store is an expression of her personal commitment to providing quality products and services for pets.

As a long-time supporter of Community Animal Rescue and Adoption (CARA), Somers chose to retire early as an architect and open a different kind of pet store.

The store has dogs and cats available for adoption and donates a percentage of all profits to CARA. Hines said retail space at Eastover is 90 percent filled and plans for a two-story office building are on the drawing board.

REAL ESTATE

Colonial Highlands still awaits turning of dirt for apartments

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

Nearly three years ago, the city of Jackson approved a plan to redevelop the former 152-acre Colonial Country Club, but dirt has not been turned on the project.

Arlington Properties of Birmingham said last August that it planned to build a 220-unit apartment complex on the property as the first phase of the mixed-use, traditional neighborhood development.

Arlington has engaged the Pickering Firm to do surveying for the apartments, which would be part of a 660-unit -- primarily free-standing residences — with with retail center including a grocery store and fitness center. The overall project’s price tag has been put at $250 million.

Dave Ellis, vice president of development for Arlington, told the Mississippi Business Journal this week that he would not have a comment on the status of the project for about another six weeks.

Asked if that meant that the project might be shelved, Ellis said, “You never know till it closes.”

Investors doing business as Colonial Jackson LLC bought the former golf course on Old Canton Road and

after a false start because of neighborhood protests on the first plan, by which the developers had sought to have the city change its zoning code to allow certain commercial development without public hearings.

The investors revamped their plan and got city approval and backing from residents in the area of northeast Jackson. The former golf course has been called the last place for a major residential development in the city, which has been losing population to neighboring towns for years.

The investment group has had its own internal shakeup in the meantime, but Arlington is working with the group.

Efforts seeking to contact the group this week were not successful.

Surveyors from the Pickering Firm were recently shooting boundaries on the property for Arlington.

Arlington is making its presence felt in Jackson. It built and was majority owner of the 261-unit District Lofts at the District at Eastover, opening it in mid-2017. But in September 2018, the Birmingham developer sold the complex to Passco Cos. LLC, an Irvine, Calif., private commercial real estate investor. Arlington is still managing the Lofts.

Brian Estes, head of the Estes Group, who is not in-

JACK WEATHERLY/MBJ

Heath Thornton and Slater Thompson of Pickering Firm set up to survey land at former Colonial Country Club.

volved in the development, said that he is not privy to the goings-on at Colonial Highlands, but he thinks it is “a good sign” that Pickering has done some work on the property.

See COLONIAL, Page 7

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MBJ PERSPECTIVE June 21, 2019 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 4

» THE OUTSIDE WORLD

» OTHER VIEWS

Website: www.msbusiness.com June 21, 2019 Volume 41, Number 25

State infrastructure needs must remain a top priority

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» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

BECKY GILLETTE Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018

Conservative Foster pushing for Medicaid reform

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S

uccessful DeSoto County small business-0wner Robert Foster is one of the more conservative members of the Mississippi Legislature, e.g. the American Conservative Union gave him a 95 percent “conservative” rating in 2018.

Serving his first term as a state representative, Foster decided not to seek re-election but put his name on the ballot for governor. He said his experience these four years is the reason.

“Career politicians have been in charge for too long,” he said, adding that many are good people but get captured by the system over time. “I realized the same thing would happen to me if I stayed.” He argues this system maintains policies that “keep us in last place.”

Relying on his lens as a small-business-owner he sees education too focused on university transfer while what we need is more skills training in high school and community college. He sees the tax structure out of kilter and proposes replacing income taxes with use taxes. He sees incarceration policies unbalanced between violent criminals and non-violent criminals with drug addictions and mental health problems.

And, he sees the need for Medicaid

reform to cover more low-income working people.

His Medicaid BILL CRAWFORD position comes from his own hiring experience at his agri-tourism business. Cedar Hill Farms hires people to grow crops such as pumpkins, gourds, and Christmas trees. It hires people to operate and perform in family-friendly activities and events. It hires people to sell farm produce and other items to the 50,000 agritourists who show up for the activities and events. Some hires are full-time but many are seasonal.

Foster said he sees too many hard working families unable to afford health insurance.

He is one of the few conservatives in the Legislature who has been willing to publicly consider reforming Medicaid to address this problem.

“What we do now is not conservative and is not working,” he says. He speaks favorably about a new Medicaid reform plan put out by the Mississippi Hospital Association called Mississippi Cares.

This plan would provide health insurance for low-income, able-bodSee CRAWFORD, Page 5

’s been a year since state lawmakers came together in a special legislative session to provide new funds for much-needed road and bridge repairs.

Since then, there has been relative silence on an issue that remains vitally important to the state’s commerce, its economy and its future – not to mention its public safety. With statewide elections looming, however, we believe there needs to be more debate about funding a critical need.

The fact is that while last year’s funding package was nice, it was nowhere near sufficient to meet the growing list of necessary repairs. Lawmakers agreed in August to divert about $200 million annually in state funds from two primary sources. Cities and counties will receive a portion of the sales tax money the state collects from online shopping, a provision expected to eventually provide local governments with $120 million to $130 million a year to use on roads, bridges and sewer projects. Meanwhile, legislators also enacted a state lottery and will divert the revenue captured during its first 10 years to the state’s roads and bridges. While work still remains to launch that lottery, lawmakers have projected it to generate about $40 million in its first year and about $80 million in subsequent years.

Mirroring a problem impacting most of the nation, Mississippi’s infrastructure is aging and in need of substantial repairs. As of December, more than 500 county bridges were closed across the state, and this year’s heavy rainfall has brought further deteriorations. A recent estimate has said fixing the state’s infrastructure shortfalls will cost $400 million annually, and that did not count money needed for city- and county-owned roads and bridges.

We continue to believe the best source for this funding should be raising the state’s 18.4-cent per gallon gas tax, a figure that has not changed since 1987 despite skyrocketing road improvement costs and the fact that greater fuel efficiency has suppressed the amount of money the tax garners.

Mississippi’s tax is the fourth lowest in the nation and is lower than its four contiguous states. A recent report by the Legislature’s oversight committee found that since 2013, 26 states plus the District of Columbia have enacted legislation that will or may increase their overall gasoline tax. In fact, most states use a motor fuel tax as the primary source of state funding for transportation needs.

It makes rational sense to collect money from those who use the roads and direct that money to fund needed repairs. It’s a much more reliable funding model – and a more sensible one – than financing road repairs with a lottery or a tax on online consumption.

We hope this year’s election cycle brings renewed discussions about the urgency of the state’s infrastructure needs and the importance of raising the gas tax to fund them.

Infrastructure is the lifeblood of our economy. It would be foolish for lawmakers to rest on the laurels of last year’s insufficient package.

— The Daily Journal

Perspective » RICKY NOBILE

June 21, 2019

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CRAWFORD

Continued from, Page 4

ied working adults and their dependents at no additional costs to the state. Instead, participants would pay low monthly premiums and some co-pays to help cover costs. Hospitals would pick up the remaining amount not covered by the federal government.

Projections show from 169,000 to 300,000 working families would receive affordable health insurance coverage. It would also encourage current Medicaid recipients to go to work. Under current policies, most lose coverage when they get a job.

Under this plan Mississippi hospitals would take on the responsibility for managing the care of new participants. That’s how hospitals would be able to cover its share of the costs. Instead of millions of dollars going to out-of-state insurance companies who manage the current Medicaid plans, most of that money would stay in state and go to cover program costs.

This, of course, is the most politically contentious part of the plan.

With huge contributions to one of the other candidates for governor, additional contributions and connections to other key politicians, and well-paid lobbyists, these companies know how to win in the flawed system Foster wants to change.

At this point, few give Foster much chance to win the race for governor. But don’t be surprised if his perspective of how conservative government should work wins lots of converts. » Bill Crawford (crawfolk@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.

» UNDER THE CAPITOL DOME

Lawyers argue over abortion access in Mississippi n 2015, on the 42nd anniversary of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, Mississippi Republican Gov. Phil Bryant said: “I am as committed as ever to ending abortion in Mississippi.”

Reproductive rights lawyers cite Bryant’s statement in their recent court filing as they ask a federal judge to permanently block a law the governor signed this year to ban most abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected. That’s at about six weeks, before many women even know they’re pregnant.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves issued a temporary injunction last month to block the law from taking effect July 1, and he asked attorneys to file detailed arguments as he considers the constitutionality of the law.

Plaintiffs who sued the state filed their arguments May 30, and the state attorney general’s office responded June 11. The filings address not only the law enacted this year but also other Mississippi abortion laws, including one requiring at least a 24-hour waiting period before a woman can have the procedure.

The lawyers present starkly different views. And, even as Bryant and other politicians have openly said their goal is to limit or end abortion, state attorneys argue that Mississippi laws have not reduced access to abortion:

I

CLINICS — Plaintiffs: Mississippi had several abortion clinics in the 1980s and has had only one since 2004. “The number of abortions provided annually in Mississippi has declined by almost two-thirds from 1991 to 2014.”

— State: “The state defendants specifically deny that

any law or regulation has caused an abortion facility to close or reduced access to abortion in Mississippi.”

LAWS IN 2018 and 2019 — Plaintiffs: Bryant signed a 2018 law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, and Reeves blocked it as unconstitutional. Writing about that law and this year’s six-week ban, plaintiffs’ lawyers wrote: “Both of these bans violate women’s constitutional right to access abortion pre-viability and should be struck down.”

— State: The state denies that either of the laws is unconstitutional under existing Supreme Court precedent.

WAITING PERIOD —Plaintiffs: Mississippi’s 24-hour waiting period requires a woman to go to a clinic twice to receive an abortion, which means “many women must take additional time off from work,” often forcing them to forgo wages or even put a job at risk. Plaintiffs’ lawyers also write that multiple trips may require a woman to get child care or to make explanations to a husband, partner or family member, putting the woman at risk of “domestic violence or worse.”

— State: “Denied.”

MEDICAL FACILITIES — Plaintiffs: Abortion providers face “more burdensome regulations than healthcare providers who perform office-based procedures that have a similar or greater risk of complications.”

— State: “The state defendants deny … that any Mississippi abortion law or regulation has placed an undue burden on Mississippi women seeking to have an abortion in the state, has caused the closure of any abortion clinic or provider, or has reduced access to abortion in Mississippi.”

Emily Wagster Pettus

PREGNANCY RISKS — Plaintiffs: “The risk of death associated with childbirth is approximately 14 times higher than that associated with abortion, and every pregnancy-related complication is more common among women having live births than among those having abortions.” Plaintiffs’ lawyers also wrote: “In Mississippi, the maternal mortality rate is more than twice the national average, at 39.7 pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births between 2010 and 2012, the most recent data available.” They cite a Mississippi State Department of Health report.

— State: “The state defendants admit only that, in the abstract, the risk of death associated with childbirth is greater than the risk associated with abortion.” It also says statistics cited by the plaintiffs “were accurate at the time they were published by the Mississippi Department of Health.” » Emily Wagster Pettus covers Capitol matters for the Mississippi Associated Press in Jackson.

6 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q June 21, 2019 SMALL BUSINESS

Coast veterinarian couple got SBA loan for expansion after being turned down by banks

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

Drs. Jennifer and Jeffrey Sutton, owners of the Gulf Coast Veterinary Emergency Hospital at 8144 E. Oaklawn Road, Biloxi, and Beach View Veterinary Hospital, 132 Porter Ave., Biloxi, went to nearly a dozen banks seeking funds to expand in 2006.

While they had a good business they started in 2003, they were disappointed trying to get financing for an expansion.

“The banks all commented on our impressive business plan and concept, but they still turned us down to expand the emergency clinic,” said Dr. Jennifer Sutton.

“Even when it became clear that our firstyear sales were exceeding projections, we still couldn’t secure the financing we needed to meet our long-term growth needs because we had a high debt ratio. And while we had a good track record and credit, we didn’t have a lot of collateral to put toward the expansion.”

The Suttons sought help from the SMall Business Mississippi District Office and through a class learned about SBA-backed loan programs, which help small businesses that are creditworthy but cannot qualify for conventional financing. The SBA-backed 504 Certified Development Company Loan program allows those who are eligible to purchase or renovate real estate with a competitive fixed-rate mortgage.

“During the loan process, Leon Darby and Matt Koons with Three Rivers Planning and Development District were instrumental in enabling our dream to come to fruition,” she said. “They have the heart of teachers, helping us to become better business owners.”

Gulf Coast Veterinary Emergency Hospital secured a 504 loan in 2015 for $1.1 million to build their new facility for the Gulf Coast Veterinary Emergency Hospital. They went from a 2,200 square-foot-leased facility to a more than 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, free-standing veterinary facility.

The 504 program requires partnering with a local bank. The SBA provides 40 percent of the loan and a local bank provides the remaining 60 percent. The total amount of the loan was $2.5 million. Their local banker is Matthew Riggins, BancorpSouth, Biloxi.

“The SBA, Three Rivers and BancorpSouth all worked tirelessly on our behalf,” she said.

The Suttons were recently named Small Business Persons of the Year by the Mississippi SBA. From business plan to expansion, the Sutton have used SBA resources

Courtesy of Mississippi SBA/MBJ

Winners of the Mississippi Small Business Administration (SBA) awards shown above at an awards ceremony May 9 in Jackson include Tor Russell, (standing in for Vickie M. Rivers, Renaissance Community Loan Fund, who was named Rural Financial Services Champion); Young Entrepreneurs of the Year, Brandon Atwell, John Penn, J. and Paul Young, IV, Murky Waters LLC, Long Beach; Small Business Persons of the Year, Jennifer and Jeffrey Sutton, Gulf Coast Veterinary Service LLC, Biloxi; SBA Mississippi District Director Janita Stewart; Rural Economic Development Champion Brenda L. Turner-Buck, Jefferson County Administrator, Fayette; and 8(a) Graduates of the Year, Kolean W. Sanders and J.R. Jones, SanJo Security Services, Inc., Jackson.

for every stage of their growth.

“It is our pleasure to recognize the Sutton’s for their accomplishments and contributions as the SBA Mississippi Small Business Persons of the Year,” said SBA Mississippi District Director Janita R. Stewart. “Gulf Coast Veterinary Emergency Hospital operates an unparalleled facility with skilled staff to deliver exceptional urgent, emergency, and critical care to small and exotic animals.”

The couple also personally benefited from SBA disaster assistance.

“After Hurricane Katrina, our family qualified for a low-interest home relocation loan,” Sutton said. “I was pregnant with twins at the time we lost our house, so this SBA loan helped us get into a new home prior to their arrival. That was 14 years ago and now my girls aspire to become veterinarians just like their parents.”

In addition, they were able to purchase an existing hospital on Beach View from a retiring veterinarian in 2015.

“We recognized it was a prime location with great clientele, and we wanted to bring same compassion and care to healthy pets that we had been providing for emergencies,” Sutton said. “We really like getting to know owners when their pets are healthy, too. It is a more lasting relationship. We wanted to enjoy the whole life of pet, not just emergency situations.”

Gross revenues at that location have grown more than 300 percent since they purchased it.

The Suttons continue to expand. Recent upgrades at the Gulf Coast Veterinary Hospital include a state-of-the-art tomography machine. They are also adding on another 1,500 square feet for a pet crematorium and a blood bank.

“Our blood bank could potentially grow into a nationwide distributor of blood products—helping families across the region care for their pets,” Sutton said.

Dogs have specific blood types, and there is a hard time meeting that need nationally. Currently the Suttons get their canine blood products from Blue Ridge Veterinary Blood Bank in Virginia.

“When Jeff and I went to Washington D.C. to receive our SBA recognition, we toured the blood bank in Virginia,” Sutton said. “The manager of the blood bank is encouraging us to start our own blood bank because she definitely feels there is a need for an additional blood bank in the country. Donor dogs come in every 60 to 90 days and give blood just like at a Red Cross blood drive for humans. They are rewarded with treats and toys. Most dogs look forward to it and their owners feel like their dogs are fulfilling an important mission.”

Sutton also serves as a handler and

founder/team veterinarian for the Jackson County K-9 search and rescue team. Her canine, Belle, was injured during the 2017 Hattiesburg tornado rescue operation.

Sutton quickly stapled Belle’s ear back in place and worked with her until the standdown command was given, and Belle could go into surgery.

After Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the emergency vet hospital opened the next day to care for injured strays, beloved family pets, and search and rescue dogs. Sutton recalls hearing Gulf Coast survivors talk about how saving their animals gave them the will to endure, even while floating in floodwaters, clinging to floating debris, or waiting on rooftops to be saved.

“Many of them said, ‘I would have given up, let go, and died’ if they didn’t have their pet clinging to them as well,” she said.

“Pets become even more valuable to those who have experienced trauma.”

The Suttons and other people who won awards from the SBA Mississippi District Office were honored at a reception May 9 in Jackson during National Small Business Week. Other SBA winners include: *Young Entrepreneurs of the Year, Brandon Atwell, John Penn, Jr. and Paul Young, IV, Murky Waters, LLC, Long Beach.

See SBA LOAN, Page 7

June 21, 2019

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Ex-exec still incarcerated in Louisiana jail on fraud, bad-check charges

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com Roger Boggs, who announced plans for a $1.2 billion aluminum manufacturing plant for auto bodies in Columbus, then pulled up stakes and moved to Louisiana, announcing similar plans there, remains in jail in Lafayette, La., under $360,000 bond for bank fraud and passing bad checks.

Sarah Pickering, a deputy sheriff at the Rapides Parish Detention Center, said that a hearing was held June 13 and the case was continued, with no court date set. Efforts to talk with his attorney, Louis Guillot, were not successful.

Boggs faces charges in Lafayette Parish as well. Calls to court officials there were not returned.

Boggs said in October 2015 that he was going to build to the plant in Louisiana.

At the time, the manufacturer was at odds with the Mississippi Development Authority and the Golden Triangle development agency, LINK. The LINK held an 826-acre site for the startup for about a year, awaiting American Specialty to show its financial arrangement for the $1.2 billion plant. It never did.

Boggs announced that his company, renamed the Revolution Aluminum Propco LLC, was to build a $1.5 billion plant in Pineville.

The Louisiana Economic Development (LED) agency said it would provide a $34 million performance-based grant for infrastructure costs. The plant was projected to employ 850 in full operation.

Another 650 jobs would be created by “corporate partners” on a 1,200-acre campus.

Roger Boggs, left, while he was still working for American Specialty and Roger Boggs, right, after he was arrested.

LED said in October 2016 that “no taxpayer dollars have been provided for this project, and none are at risk.” LED Secretary Don Pierson confirmed in an email last week that was still the case.

Revolution was sued by several parties for about $2 million for failure to repay “bridge” loans and for unpaid work. The company was put in involuntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Boggs was arrested in Mobile, Ala., on May 5 and was detained in the Rapides Parish, La., Detention Center in Alexandria and rebooked on charges from 2017 for alleged bank fraud, according to KALB TV. He was also subject to warrants issued for writing bad checks for $25,000 and failing to appear in other Louisiana jurisdictions, the television station reported.

COLONIAL

Continued from, Page 2

Arlington’s Ellis said last year that “there is excess demand for luxury rental housing in Jackson.”

Estes noted that Arlington sold the District Lofts for “a very high price,” which would give the Birmingham developer working capital.

Multifamilynews.com reported that the Passco secured a loan for $30.6 million, though Breck Hines, who, with Ted Duckworth, developed the District at Eastover, said the price was higher. The reporter for the news outfit said that the actual sales price was not revealed.

Estes was at a loss to explain specifically why the project is dragging out in a generally strong economy.

One factor, Estes said in a column published by the Journal, is that “material and labor shortage has greatly impacted both the costs and timing of new development.”

“A lot of projects are dragging behind.

[Contractors] are just busy,” Estes said in an interview.

“There were a lot of naysayers about the District at Eastover,” Estes said. Efforts to redevelop the former site of the Mississippi School for the Blind floundered for years because of legal disputes with the state and other issues.

Aside from the Lofts at Eastover and The Meridian at Fondren on Lakeland Drive across from the University of Mississippi Medical School, no major upscale apartment complexes have been built in the city in recent years.

“Jackson needs a win,” Estes said.

SBA LOAN Continued from, Page 6

*Rural Financial Services Champion, Vickie M. Rivers, Renaissance Community Loan Fund, Gulfport. *Rural Economic Development Champion, Brenda L. Turner-Buck, Jefferson County Administrator, Fayette. *8(a) Graduates of the Year, Kolean W. Sanders and J.R. Jones, SanJo Security Services, Inc., Jackson. *Lender awards went to Trustmark National Bank, Covington County Bank, Community Bank of Mississippi, First Financial Bank, BankPlus, Regions Bank, Live Oak Banking, The Cleveland State Bank, and Three Rivers Local Development Company, Inc. For more information on the award ceremony and/or to nominate someone for an award, please contact Bridget Johnson-Fells at bridget.johnson@sba.gov or (228) 863-4449, ext. 225.

For more information about SBA, visit www.sba.gov.

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AN MBJ FOCUS: Insurance & Employee Benefits

Telematic devices can improve safety and reduce costs of insurance cation offered by telematics allows better drivers to pay lower prices and allows insurers to have a more stable customer base.”

Some people find this too intrusive, but LiebTechnology is changing the way the insurance industry operates, with some applications includ- enberg said insurers overcome this by making it voluntary. ing telematic devices that are used to track the Drone inspections of property damage are also safety of drivers. growing in popularity. Leibenberg said this is anThere is some research, including a recent acother example of where technology can improve ademic study published in the journal Marketing Science, that shows improvements in driver safety the cost efficiency of insurance.

“Insurers that embrace this technology should as a result of feedback provided by telematics devices, said Andre P. Liebenberg, Ph.D., Robert- see benefits not only on the claims side but also son Chair of Insurance, University of Mississippi. before losses occur in terms of underwriting where drones can help underwriters identify risks, Liebenberg said this can also result in savings on recommend appropriate loss control, and price insurance for customers. the risks more accurately,” she said. “Insurance “It is difficult for insurers to charge each perconsumers should benefit through lower premison the price for their own riskiness, so they have ums and faster claims settlement.” historically charged prices based on the average John Langcuster, State Farm Insurance vice riskiness of the risk class that you belong to based president, agency/sales, Ridgeland, said State on observable risk factors like age, gender, and Farm has been testing safety and business applicaaccident history,” Liebenberg said. “But drivers who believe they are safer than the average driver tions of drones since 2015.

“In 2018, the FAA granted State Farm the in their risk class might feel they are paying too first national waiver for any company to conduct much for insurance, and choose to shop around for a better deal. So, the more precise risk classifi- drone flights beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight for catastrophic assessments,” Langcuster said. “Drones are currently being used in is your trusted business partner. our claims operations as an additional tool for Galloway Chandler McKinney has been named claim representatives a Best Practices Agency by the Independent during individual roof Insurance Agents & Brokers of America. This claims (aerial roof innational recognition – based on 38 different spections) primarily for performance criteria – means we excel at wind and hail damage, providing exceptional service, quality products and to assess wideand competitive pricing. spread, catastrophic damage typically after hurricanes, tornados or William wildfires. Time, safety 2019 Best Practices Agency Hilbun

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and cost are all potential benefits, and we’re always looking at how we can operate as efficiently as possible for the benefit of our customers.

“Assessing roofs is an important part of the claims handling process and our claims associates have safety measures in place.

Liebenberg Depending on factors such as trees, power lines, flight restrictions, or poor visibility, claims associates may still need to climb on the roof to confirm damage. “ State Farm’s product called Drive Safe & Save, introduced in 2009, can be incorporated through its Drive Safe & Save Mobile App or OnStar. CustomRicketts ers can earn a discount of up to 30 percent or more, based on individual driving behavior and/or miles driven.

The program collects information about an individual’s driving characteristics, which may include things like annual mileage, acceleration, braking and cornering, to determine a customer’s premium discount. Additionally, Langcuster said Drive Safe & Save Mobile customers can view their driving scores and an interactive map of their driving behaviors for each trip through the Drive Safe & Save app, providing feedback that empowers drivers to help them become safer drivers.

“Participation is voluntary,” he said. “For some, they are comfortable participating and sharing the data in exchange for the discount. For customers who choose to participate, we take their privacy seriously and maintain safeguards to protect customer information and comply with federal and state laws.”

See TELEMATICS, Page 11

Insurance

June 21, 2019

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Mississippi Business Journal

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Insurance

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Employee of the Mississippi city of Lumberton have been working without employer-provided health insurance for about three months.

Mayor Quincy Rogers tells WDAM-TV that the insurance was cut was due to ďŹ nancial issues and saved the city about $140,000. The nature or cause of the ďŹ nancial issues is unclear. The station says workers were promised raises to help compensate them for paying out-of-pocket for insurance, but those raises havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t appeared on any paychecks as of yet.

Citizens asked about the missing raises Tuesday at a Board of Aldermen meeting. The stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s report isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t clear about how those questions were answered. A June 16 meeting was set to discuss the raises.

Workers still can get vision and dental insurance through the city. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; MBJ Staff & Wire Reports

Insurance

June 21, 2019

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TELEMATICS Continued from, Page 8

The State Farm Mobile App allows customers the ability to manage their insurance policies and to file and manage their claims quickly and conveniently.

New features include a variety of self-services that customers want – car rental reservations, roadside assistance, and selection of desired repair shops.

“State Farm continues its digital presence online with a number of enhancements intended to Troutman connect to users in new ways including expanded payment options and digital self-service choices for policies, accounts and insurance claims,” Langcuster said.

Technology improvements also show promise in the area of Workers’ Compensation. Brian Ricketts, director of the Loss Control Department for LUBA Workers’ Comp, which provides coverage in Mississippi and other states, said workers can be provided with different types of wearables that have a radiofrequency emitter similar to the tags used on merchandise in stores to detect theft. Those can be used to keep track of an employee or vehicles.

“You could use a similar tag as a slip detector to find out if an employee fell down or make sure they are not in a dangerous area such as behind a big truck, for example,” Ricketts said. “On the same subject of wearable safety, there is a powered exoskeleton that has a mechanical backpack that allows the workers to bend over and pick things up with a machine instead of their back. That could be particularly helpful with nurses having to lift patients.”

Ricketts said wearables aren’t being used that much yet for a variety of reasons: Cost is always a worry. Another concern is privacy. Putting a device on someone to follow them around on the job is uncharted territory.

Kelli Bondy Troutman, vice president, director of communications and community relations, LUBA Workers’ Comp, said wearables might be used to learn more about workplace hazards. If someone slips, but doesn’t get hurt, that is classified as a near miss.

“If you can track and tune into those, you can take some preventative steps proactively, and help prevent future accidents,” she said.

Troutman said there are some simple, practical devices that have been around that aren’t as exciting and intriguing as a sensor, but are inexpensive and have a proven track record. One is the Alumagear Halo Light, a circular light that fits over a hard hat, produces a ring of light.

“It lights up the work area so they can see and do their job more safely,” she said.

“There are hundreds of examples of like that that Workers’ Comp has embraced anything to help work safer. Everyone is on board with that.”

“...drivers who believe they are safer than the average driver in their risk class might feel they are paying too much for insurance, and choose to shop around for a better deal. So, the more precise risk classification offered by telematics allows better drivers to pay lower prices and allows insurers to have a more stable customer base.”

Andre P. Liebenberg, Ph.D., Robertson Chair of Insurance, University of Mississippi

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Newsmakers

12 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q June 21, 2019

Butler Snow named Runner-Up for Law Firm of Year

EMBDC recognizes May Ambassadors of Month

Butler Snow was named runner-up for Law Firm of the Year – USA in Citywealth Magazine’s 2019 Magic Circle Awards.

The Magic Circle Awards – the premier awards for the private client financial sector – annually recognize the best advisers, managers and firms in the global private client financial industry. Following a nomination and submission process each spring, entries are shortlisted by a judging panel. Online voting opens once the finalists are announced.

Butler Snow’s team advises high-net-worth individuals, privately owned businesses and financial services firms, including family offices and private trust companies.

Haddox Reid promotes 4 Haddox Reid Eubank Betts PLLC announced four promotions.

Alex Boyd, CPA, has been promoted to Senior Manager. He is a member of the tax staff with over eight years of experience in public accounting, having joined the firm in 2010. He manages tax and tax planning in the areas of individual, business, trust, estate, Boyd and not-for-profit. As a member of the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants, Boyd served as a board member of the 2016-2018 Young CPA Network and is a member of the Central Chapter. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a graduate of Mississippi State Sullivan University with both a Bachelor of Accountancy and a Master of Taxation. Boyd is a member of the Capital Area Sunset Rotary Club. He attends First Baptist Church in Jackson where he is involved with the Music Ministry as part of the Worship Choir.

Boyd is also an avid tennis player and participates in several leagues and tournaments in the Reed Jackson area.

Ashley Sullivan, CPA, has been promoted to Manager. She joined the firm in 2016 and has four years of experience in public accounting. She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants where she is serving on the board of Smith the Young CPAs and is also a member of the Central Chapter, and the Accounting & Finance Women’s Alliance where she is currently serving as Vice President. She is a graduate of Mississippi State University with both a Bachelor of Accountancy and a Master of Taxation.

Sullivan volunteers with the Friends of Children’s Hospital, Sanderson Farms Championship, and Salvation Army. She attends First Baptist Church Madison where

Tonya Gregory-Lyons, Executive Office, was the recipient of the Administrator Award for her administrative support to the district.

Thomas Hale, Sardis Lake Field Office, was the recipient of the Park Ranger Award, for his professionalism and communication skills while performing his duties.

Lakierra Brown, Engineering and Construction Division, was the recipient of the Volunteer Leadership Award for her dedicated leadership in planning and coordinating successful projects for the district.

Baylee Jeter, Programs and Project Management Division, and Amy McAdams, Arkabutla Lake Field Office, each received the Student of the Year Award for their demonstration of initiative, commitment, competence and leadership while performing duties as students for their respective offices.

Billy Williams, Jr. was the recipient of the Wage Grade Leadership Award for his pattern of excellence as a supervisor, serving as a role model for other wage-system employees and leading his team to accomplish quality, productive and safe work.

Canizaro Cawthon Davis adds new principal Courtesy of EMBDC

The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation presented its May Ambassadors of the Month awards. Winners are, from left, Lee Williams, Regions Bank, second place; Sonya Scarbrough, BankPlus, first place; Channing Peoples, United Way of East Mississippi, red ticket drawing winner; and Tyler Covington, Citizens National Bank, third place.

she is an Upward soccer coach and student ministry volunteer.

Wesley Reed, CPA, has been promoted to Senior Accountant. He has over three years of experience in public accounting, having joined the firm in 2016. Reed is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with both a Bachelor of Accountancy and a Master of Taxation. Reed volunteers with Friends of Children’s Hospital and for the Red Kettle Campaign with the Salvation Army.

Ryan Smith, CPA, has been promoted to Senior Accountant. Smith has been a member of the assurance staff with the firm since 2017. He performs various audit and review engagements for the firm. Particular industries of focus include those of oil and gas, financial institutions, government municipalities, and non-profit entities. Smith also assists the firm in preparing state and federal tax returns during the spring tax season.

He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Accounting and a Masters of Taxation.

Smith is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants. Smith is a member of Wynndale Baptist Church in Terry.

Vicksburg District announce Engineer’s Day awards The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District recently hosted its annual Engineer’s Day awards ceremony, honoring employees with individual awards: Colby Bankston, Real Estate Division, received the Employee of the Year Award for his accomplishments and excellence in contributing to the district’s mission, his demonstration of Army and USACE values and his

leadership and mentorship.

William Shows, Engineering and Construction Division, was the recipient of the Commander’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). Shows received this award for his contribution to the EEO program, assuring full opportunity in employment for all persons.

Kent Parrish, Programs and Project Management Division, was the recipient of the Engineer Award for his dedication and expertise in the field of engineering.

Jason Overstreet, Emergency Operations Division, received the Emergency Management Award for his initiative, commitment and leadership in performing and completing specialized emergency mission assignments.

Drew Smith, Engineering and Construction Division, was the recipient of the Commander’s Public Service Award for his achievement in high-profile public service, including media relations that enhanced the USACE’s image among partners, stakeholders and the public.

Dana Moree, Engineering and Construction Division, was the recipient of the STEM Employee of the Year Award for her pattern of achievement, excellence and leadership in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math for USACE. Michael Leblanc, Engineering and Construction Division, received the Paddle Wheel Award, which recognizes an employee for excellence in specific craft and trade skills, for his performance of duties and significant support to the district’s mission and goals.

Anita Griffin, Programs and Project Management Division, received the Professional Award for her performance of duties and dedication to the USACE and district mission.

Brian Everitt, Engineering and Construction Division, received the Scientist Award for his performance of duties as a cartographer and dedication to the USACE and district mission.

Canizaro Cawthon Davis has announced the promotion of Jared Pierce, AIA to Principal.

Pierce is a proven leader and enjoys working closely with his clients to achieve success. He has been an integral part of CCD’s team for twenty years and became an Associate in 2012. Pierce Pierce has designed and managed a wide variety of project types that include healthcare, churches, schools, banks, and retail developments. A Louisville native, he graduated cum laude from Mississippi State University’s School of Architecture in 1999. In 2012, he served as President of the American Institute of Architects, Mississippi Chapter, and is currently the Secretary of the Rotary Club of Madison-Ridgeland.

Pierce lives in Madison with his wife, Heather, and three sons. They are active at Broadmoor Baptist Church, and he enjoys coaching youth sports and playing golf in his free time. In the 80 year history of Canizaro Cawthon Davis, Jared is the sixth shareholder and joins principals Danny Cawthon, AIA and Steve Davis, AIA.

Robinson joins The First The First, A National Banking Association, has announced that Marcus Robinson has joined the bank as Senior Vice President.

Robinson is a familiar face to many in the Pine Belt area having served in the banking industry for 35 years. He will be working with the Commercial Banking Team in Robinson the Hattiesburg area.

Robinson has served in a number of positions from commercial loans to business development and bank management. And, he earned an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi.

He and his wife Wanda moved back to Hattiesburg from the Jackson area where he was active in Rotary, United Way and the Rankin Chamber of Commerce.

Newsmakers Mississippi Credit Union Assn. announces board The Mississippi Credit Union Association re-elected four members to its board of directors.

The twelve-member MSCUA Board represents the association’s seventy-three member credit unions in Mississippi.

Four directors were re-elected to three-year terms: Sheila Bridges, CommFirst FCU (Jackson); John Gibbons, Triangle FCU (Columbus); Chris Hammond, Sunbelt FCU (Laurel); and James B. Smith, Jr., Singing River FCU (Moss Point).

The MSCUA board officers are Chairman Chris Hammond, Sunbelt FCU; Vice Chairman Sheila Bridges, CommFirst FCU; Treasurer Katie Nelson, Eagle Express FCU (Jackson); and Past Chairman James B. Smith, Jr., Singing River FCU. Board members are Betty Barrett, Magnolia FCU (Jackson); Billy Bridges, Mutual CU (Vicksburg); Rebecca Cooper, 1st Mississippi FCU (Meridian); Elmer Dickens, Gulf Coast Community FCU (Gulfport); John Gibbons, Triangle FCU (Columbus); Alison Lynd, Southern Coastal FCU (Biloxi); Brig. Gen. Richard Moss (Retired), Keesler FCU (Biloxi); and Ray Scott, Southern Mississippi FCU (Hattiesburg).

June 21, 2019

Holmes wins 9 awards at CPRAM conference

Bridges

Gibbons Courtesy of Holmes Community College

Hammond

Holmes Community College Communications and Marketing/Recruiting departments won home 9 awards atthe 2019 College Public Relations Association of Mississippi (CPRAM) annual conference. Holmes awards are: Newsletter - Katherine Ellard, Stephanie Wood and Mary Margaret Busby, “Paw Prints,” first place; View Book - Wood, “HCC at a glance,” first place; Annual Report - Ellard, Wood and Busby, “Development Foundation Annual Report,” third place; Single Piece of Artwork - Wood, “Major Experience,” second place; Digital Art/Photo Illustration - Wood, “Major Watercolor,” first place; Web Page - Steve Diffey and Barin von Foregger, “Holmescc.edu,” third plac; Web Page, Sports Only - Diffey and von Foregger, “homesathletics.com,” second place; Web Advertisements - von Foregger, “African-American Literature at Holmes,” second place; Creative Partners – Bronwyn Martin and Dr. Michelle Burney with the Ole Miss Division of Outreach and Continuing Education, “Holmes CC and Ole Miss Grenada Light Pole Banners,” third place. Pictured are, from left: von Foregger, Busby, Martin, Wood, and Diffey.

McCarty named Assistant VP at Community Bank Smith

Hinkle named Senior VP of LAW Investigative Group Christopher Hinkle has joined the Regional Private Investigation Firm of LAW Investigative Group, LLC as Senior Vice President. Hinkle is retiring from a 30 year career as a Special Agent with the FBI. As Senior Vice President, Hinkle is responsible for the day to day oversight of Investigations, Business Development, Cyber Security Consulting, Corporate Espionage and White Collar Crime Investigations.

Lee McCarty has been named Assistant Vice President. A native of Meridian, McCarty recently served as Loan Officer and has been in banking for four years.

In his new role, McCarty will continue to manage and grow loans and deposits in the Forest market.

McCarty is a graduate of Mississippi College with a Bachelor in Business Administration and a graduate of Mississippi School of Banking at Ole Miss.

Active in his community, McCarty serves on the Forest Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Forest Rotary Club, Forest Booster Club Broadcast Team, and is a Deacon at First Baptist Church in Lake, Mississippi.

He and his wife, Briana, are expecting their first child, Walt.

Memorial Physician Clinics Mack graduates from Economic welcomes Samantha McGill Development Institute Samantha McGill, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, joined the staff at Memorial Physician Clinics in Bay St. Louis and Diamondhead.

McGill received her master’s degree in nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi.

She has worked as a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in diabetes at The Diabetes Center McGill in Ocean Springs since 2013.

McGill is certified in pump management and is board certified advanced diabetes management.

Taquana E. Mack, with Madison County Economic Development Authority, graduated from the University of Oklahoma Economic Development Institute on May 2, 2019 at the OU EDI Spring session held in Indianapolis, Indiana.

OU EDI is an intensive 117 hour certificate program which provides a broad spectrum of advanced education for the economic development professional.

Mary Ann Moon, Dean, said, “OU EDI is the premier organization dedicated to training economic development professionals. These graduates represent some of the finest economic development practitioners in the U.S. working to support their local communities.

My congratulations to them.”

OU EDI classes focus on three major core areas including: Business Retention and Expansion, Real Estate, and Credit Analysis, as well as areas of concentration in Marketing, Strategic Planning, Entrepreneurship, and Managing Economic Development Organizations. Students typically take 1-2 years to complete the program through a series of in-person seminars, workshops and discussion groups.

OU EDI began in 1962 and is celebrating its 57th year of service to the economic development community. Fully accredited by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the program has trained over 5,500 graduates and remains the world’s leading economic development teacher.

Anderson elected Vice Chairman of Mississippi Bankers Association Andy Anderson of Anguilla has been elected Vice Chairman of the Mississippi Bankers Association (MBA) for 2019-20.

As Vice Chairman, Anderson will serve on the MBA Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and he also will serve as president of the MBA Education Foundation. The membership of Anderson the 130-year-old statewide trade association includes commercial banks and savings institutions operating in Mississippi. MBA members hold more than 95 percent of bank deposits in the state.

Anderson serves as President, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Director of Bank of

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Anguilla. He has over 36 years of banking experience, all with the Bank of Anguilla. Anderson received his bachelors and masters of business administration degrees from the University of Mississippi. He is also a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. His involvement in the MBA includes service on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and chairing the association’s Legislative and Compliance/ Audit committees. He currently serves on MissBankPAC, the MBA-sponsored political action committee.

In national banking affairs, Anderson is a member of the American Bankers Association’s Community Bankers Council and has served on the ABA Government Relations Council, Professional Development Council, and Membership Council. He serves on the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) Bankers Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of the Community Development Bankers Association, both headquartered in Washington, D. C. He was recently appointed to a two-year term as Chairman of the CSBS Advisory Board.

Active in his community, Anderson is on the board of Rolling Fork Visitor Center and Museum, Treasurer for Delta Council, and a past president and current member of the local Rotary Club. He has coached youth baseball for 23 years and high school baseball and softball for 13 years. He served as the play-by-play announcer for football and basketball at Sharkey-Issaquena Academy for approximately 23 years. He is an active member of First Baptist Church, where he serves as a deacon and is on various committees.

Anderson and his wife, Tracye, have two children, son Ryan and daughter Marlee.

Robinson inducted into Mississippi Credit Union Hall of Fame Rivertrust Federal Credit Union Board Chairman E.E. “Buddy” Robinson 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.

Robinson began his credit union service with Rivertrust Federal Credit Union in 1988. In addition to his service on many credit union committees over the years, he currently serves as chairman of the board, a position he has held for more than 30 years.

Madison County Business League & Foundation names Executive Assistant Mary Kate Rankin was named the executive assistant of the Madison County Business League & Foundation in May of 2019. She is a native of Canton, Mississippi, and a 2014 Canton Academy graduate. She recently earned her B.S. in Marketing, with a concentration in Supply Chain Rankin Management, from Mississippi State University. Mary Kate was a member of the MSU Fashion Board serving as director of the makeup committee. She also served on the marketing committee for the Fashion Board magazine, Etrè. She is now an active member of the MSU Central Mississippi Alumni Association.

Newsmakers

14 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q June 21, 2019

Greg McKee elected Chairman of Mississippi Bankers Association

Greg McKee, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Citizens Bank of Philadelphia, has been elected Chairman of the Mississippi Bankers Association (MBA) for 2019-2020.

As MBA Chairman, McKee chairs the association’s Board of Directors and Executive McKee Committee. The MBA is a statewide trade association whose membership includes commercial banks and savings institutions operating in Mississippi. MBA members hold more than 95 percent of the bank deposits in the state.

McKee joined The Citizens Bank of Philadelphia 37 years ago and now serves as President and CEO. He is a graduate of Meridian Community College and Mississippi State University. As a senior at Mississippi State University, McKee was named Orrin Swayze Scholar by the MBA’s Young Bankers Section in recognition of his scholastic achievements as a banking and finance major. He is also a graduate of the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.

McKee’s extensive involvement in the MBA includes serving a three-year term on the association’s Board of Directors, and serving as a member of the MBA Legislative, Insurance, Nominating, Strategic Planning and Compensation committees. He previously served on the Board of Trustees of the MBA group medical insurance program. In addition, McKee joined bankers from across the nation as Mississippi’s representative on the American Bankers Association Community Bankers Council.

His community activities include service on the Mississippi State University Department of Finance Advisory Board and the Board of Directors of First National Bankers Bank. He is a past president of the Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce in Philadelphia. McKee is an active member of First Pentecostal Church.

McKee resides in Philadelphia with his wife, Linda.

They have two daughters, Lauren McKee and fiancé Matt Livingston, and Meredith and her husband Evan Humphries, and granddaughter Liz Lyle Humphries.

McKee is the son of Carolyn McKee and the late Tommy McKee of Philadelphia.

Russell joins Neel-Schaffer as a Senior Project Manager Neel-Schaffer, Inc., has announced that Greg Russell, PE, PS, has joined the firm and will serve as a Senior Project Manager based in the company’s DeSoto County office.

Russell has nearly 30 years of experience as a Surveyor, Project Engineer, and Project Manager, Russell working on a wide variety of projects across the Southeast, from Mississippi to Georgia. Russell is returning to DeSoto County, where he worked from 1996-2008 with Russell and Company, LLC, a firm he established and grew, serving private residential, commercial and industrial clients in Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas,

CPRAM selects Board of Directors

The College of Public Relations Association of Mississippi elected its Board of Directors for 2019-2020.

They are, front row, from left: Kell Smith of Mississippi Community College Board, government agencies representative; Sophie Wolf of Institutions of Higher Learning, president-elect; Pam Starling of the University of Mississippi, senior institutions representative; Maria McLeod of East Central Community College, hospitality chair. Middle row: Tammi Bowles of Hinds Community College, secretary; Donna Thomas of Itawamba Community College, treasurer; Tracy Duncan of Hinds, junior institutions representative; Karen Robertson of East Central, awards chair. Back row: Caron Blanton, APR, of IHL, government agencies representative; Steve Diffey of Holmes Community College, scholarship chair; Maxine Greenleaf of Jackson State University, past-president and Barin von Foregger of Mississippi Public Broadcasting, president. Not pictured: Kathy McAdams of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Jamie Scrivener of Mississippi Delta Community College, both junior institutions representatives.

North Carolina, Alabama, and Oklahoma. He most recently served as a Project Manager and Civil Engineer for another consulting firm based in Norcross, Ga. Russell has extensive experience in residential and private commercial development. He has completed services for residential projects ranging from a few lots to 800 lots, and he has worked for such national clients as Jiffy Lube, Taco Bell and the U.S. Postal Service.

Russell is a Registered Professional Engineer in Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, and a Registered Professional Surveyor in Mississippi. He holds two degrees from Mississippi State University, a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Laster joins Hattiesburg Clinic Comprehensive Care Sonia C. Laster, CNP, joined Hattiesburg Clinic Comprehensive Care, providing care for patients with complex medical conditions.

Her goal is to help educate her patients about their health and help them avoid unnecessary hospital visits. She has special interests in illness prevention and health care promotion.

Laster received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Miss., and a Master of Science in Nursing from The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

Laster is board certified by the American Academy

of Nurse Practitioners. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Mississippi Association of Nurse Practitioners.

She said the thing she enjoys most about her role as a health care provider is the opportunity to improve people’s quality of life.

Laster joins Rebecca W. Lauderdale, MD, in practice at Comprehensive Care.

Sanderson Farms honored by 2020 Women on Boards Sanderson Farms, Inc. has been named a 2020 Women on Boards Winning ‘W’ Company for the eighth consecutive year.

Winning ‘W’ Companies are recognized by 2020 Women on Boards for having at least 20% of corporate board seats held by women. According to the latest 2020 Women on Boards Gender Diversity Index, which measures companies on the Russell 3000 Index, the percentage of board seats held by women rose to 17.7% in 2018, up from 16.0% in 2017.

Currently, women comprise 35% of those who have a seat on the Sanderson Farms, Inc. board.

A non-profit education and advocacy campaign, 2020 Women on Boards is committed to raising public awareness about the value of gender-diverse boards with at least 20% women directors.

Hoppy Cole elected Treasurer of Mississippi Bankers Association President of The First, A National Banking Association, headquartered in Hattiesburg, has been elected Treasurer of the Mississippi Bankers Association (MBA) for 2019-2020.

As MBA Treasurer, Cole serves on the association’s Board of Directors and Executive Cole Committee. The MBA is a statewide trade association whose membership includes commercial banks and savings institutions operating in Mississippi. MBA members hold more than 95 percent of the bank deposits in the state.

Cole began his banking career in 1985 as a corporate banking officer at FNBC in New Orleans. In 1989, he joined Sunburst Bank Laurel as Market President.

Cole then moved to The First, N.A., in 2003 as Branch Manager in Picayune, then Gulf Coast Regional Manager, and he assumed the role of CEO and President in 2009. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi.

Cole has previously served on the MBA Board of Directors from 2014-2017 and was Chairman of the association’s Dues Study Committee in 2015. He has also served on the MBA Legislative Committee. He is actively involved in his community through Venture Church and the Rotary Club. His serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of the Area Development Partnership, and he serves on the boards of the Mississippi Aquarium, and the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation.

Cole resides in Hattiesburg with his wife, Cindy.

They have four sons, Keith Farrish, Dusty Farrish, Mit Cole, and Drew Cole, and three granddaughters, Emma Claire Cole, Evvi Cate Cole, and Vivian Ruth Cole.

Jamie Fuqua joins Great Southern Bank Jamie Fuqua joins Great Southern Bank as Vice President, according to Ken Lee, Hattiesburg President.

Fuqua, a native of Vidalia, is a graduate of Vidalia High School in Vidalia, La.. He earned an Associate of Arts Degree from Copiah-Lincoln Community College and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from the University of Southern Mississippi. Fuqua began his financial career in 2009 in Hattiesburg. Fuqua serves as an Advisory Board Member for Ability Works, Advisory Board Member for Fieldhouse for the Homeless, and Member of the Rotary Club, Civitan International, and ADP Young Professionals. He is also a graduate of Leadership Pinebelt.

Fuqua and his wife, Whitney, have three children, Pierce, Keely, and Carson. They are members of Venture Church where he leads in worship.

Great Southern Bank, originally founded in 1902 as Bank of Quitman, holds assets totaling over $290 million and has over 110 employees that operate 12 retail banking locations in Meridian, Decatur, Quitman, Enterprise, Waynesboro and Hattiesburg.

June 21, 2019

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

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15

THE SPIN CYCLE

People don’t want to pay for online news

I

n our ever-changing media world, there’s a real evolution taking place.

Extra! Extra, read all about it … People don’t wont to pay for online news (no surprise). A new study by the Reuter’s Institute for the Study of Journalism highlighted this trend in its annual digital news report. The study found that most readers would not pay for online news, and that there was only a minor increase in the proportion of people willing to do so in the past six years.

Even among those who do pay, there is a growing “subscription fatigue.” Many are tired of being asked to pay for so many different subscriptions. Still more will opt for films or music rather than pay for news. As a result, some media outlets are doomed.

While many news organizations add paywalls and some see increases in digital subscriptions, there has been little change in the proportion of people paying for online news, apart from the “Trump bump” rise in the in 2016/2017, the survey found.

In the U.S., those paying for news online were likely to have a university degree and be wealthy. And news giants like The New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post did well on digital.

Yet almost 40 percent of new digital subscriptions at the New York Times are for crosswords and cooking, the Reuters Institute said, citing an article by Vox. Across the pond in Britain, nearly a third of those surveyed said they avoided the news due to Brexit. Voters said they avoided the news as it made them sad and said they could not rely on the news being true.

There has been no Brexit bounce.

As they fight for revenue, news organizations are facing a growing threat from entertainment providers such as Netflix, Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Prime.

“In some countries, subscription fatigue may also be setting in, with the majority preferring to spend their limited budget on entertainment (Netflix/Spotify) rather than news,” said Nic Newman, a senior research associate at the Reuters Institute.

“Not surprisingly, news comes low down the list when compared with other services such as Netflix and Spotify – especially for the younger half of the population,” he said.

When asked what media subscription they would pick if they had only one for the next year, just 7 percent of under 45-yearolds picked news. The report showed 37 percentwould opt for online video and 15 percentfor online music.

Aggregators are also waiting in the wings: Apple News+ offers a single priced subscription for some access to premium titles including TIME, The Atlantic, The New Yorker, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

That could deny publishers a direct link

with consumers, limiting the information they have to make targeted advertising more effective, and valuable.

Cannes Lions Festival Center of the Ad Universe, Brand Trust Becomes Essential The Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity has been in full swing this week, and was at the epicenter of the branding universe.

As part of the weeklong festival, leading PR firm Edelman released the 2019 Trust Barometer that showed only one-third of consumers (34 percent) trust most of the brands they buy or use, with trust now an essential buying consideration for most consumers.

The 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer Special Report, In Brands We Trust?, surveyed 16,000 people in eight countries.

The report revealed that brand trust (81 percent) is a deal breaker or a deciding factor when they’re considering a purchase, trailing only quality (85 percent), convenience (84 percent), value (84 percent) and ingredients (82 percent).

Trust is a strong purchase consideration for the vast majority of respondents across geographies, age groups, gender and income levels. It is becoming more important to consumers because of their growing concerns about product experience (62 percent), including the fast pace of innovation and their increasing reliance on brands for automation; customer experience (55 percent), including brands’ collecting consumers’ personal data and tracking and targeting them; and brands’ impact on society (69 percent), including consumers’ expectation that brands will help express their values.

Despite its importance, brands are currently failing the trust test. A majority of respondents believe every brand has a responsibility to get involved in at least one social issue that does not directly impact its business (53 percent), yet fewer than one in four (21 percent) claim to know from personal experience that the brands they use keep the best interests of society in mind.

More than half of respondents (56 percent) said that too many brands are using societal issues as a marketing ploy. And consumers have lost faith in brands and their ability to ignite social change: 41 percent, down five points from last year, believe brands have better ideas for solving a country’s problems than government; 49 percent, down four points from last year, say brands can do more to solve social ills than government; and 48 percent, down six points from last year, feel it’s easier for people to get brands to address social problems than to get government to take action.

Media Mic: Who Will Be the Next White House Press Secretary?

In the wake of Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ resignation as President Trump’s White House press secretary, inquiring minds want to know who the next spokesperson will be.

Sanders announced last week she is leaving the position at the end of the month.

Almost as notorious with the press as President Donald Trump, Sanders is a largerthan-life figure, so finding a replacement may be difficult.

Of course, the White House may take a different tack and choose someone less combative to answer media questions about Trump’s behavior and his administration’s policies.

Here are a few of the latest prognostications from the media world as to who could fill Sanders’ shoes.

Former White House comms director and financier Anthony Scaramucci Of course, “The Mooch” certainly knows the ropes and conservative pundit Ben Shapiro says he’s the only real choice. But in a Fox News interview last week, Trump said Scaramucci “should stay where he is right now.”

Chances: Is Elvis still alive?

Stephanie Grisham, press secretary to first lady Melania Trump Axios’ Jonathan Swan said Grisham is the most likely candidate to replace Sanders, and CBS has had several sources say she was near the top of the list.

Chances: Fair.

Hogan Gidley, deputy assistant to the president and principal deputy press secretary Vanity Fair’s sub-brand the Hive says Gidley seems “a likely choice,” and Debra Saunders, political reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, gives him 4/1 odds.

Chances: Pretty good.

Tony Sayegh, the departing assistant secretary for Todd Smith public affairs at the Treasury Department Sayegh was Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin’s chief spokesman, a Fox News and Fox Business contributor and helped with the media rollout of the president’s tax cut plan. According to CBS, his farewell party was attended by Sanders and her husband and he was seen chatting with Sanders.

Chances: A solid choice given his background, so it could happen.

Kellyanne Conway, White House adviser Trump already ignored a recommendation by the Office of the Special Counsel (which said Conway violated the Hatch Act) by deciding not to fire her. And given his preference for combative press secretaries, there’s some logic to the choice. But Conway has been with Trump almost since the beginning and could have been given the role before now. Plus the Review-Journal’s Saunders gives her 20/1 odds.

Chances: Is there ice water in Hades?

Nobody The position could simply be left empty. The Washington Post opined that the White House comms director is a nearly unfillable position, and at this point, finding a press secretary may be almost as hard.

But, given that under Sanders the White House has held fewer and fewer press conferences, it may not make a difference.

Chances: Not out of the realm of possibility.

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

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

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