MBJ_June27_2014

INSIDE — Big investment in Halcón drilling reflects confidence in a lucrative TMS

35

The Blues & higher education

YEARS

1979

www.msbusiness.com

2014

June 27, 2014 • Vol. 36, No. 26 • $1 • 20 pages

PUBLIC SERVICE

The next transition

» While the debate continues over the location of “The Crossroads” where legend has it that Robert Johnson made a pact with devil to become the greatest bluesman ever, Delta State University is looking to solidify the city of Cleveland as the place where the blues and academia intersect.

More, P 2

Strictly Biz {P 3} » MBJ wins 14 awards at MPA newspaper conference Around town {P 17} » Bookstore owner’s first novel opens old family secrets

» Hardwick leaving Stennis Institute — Page 2

BANKING AND FINANCE

Federal regulators giving bankers chance to vent on regulations MBJ Focus {P 11}

» Healthcare Lists {P 14-15} » Vision Centers » Sports Medicine Clinics

» Revised home-mortgage rules seen as threat to home ownership in rural Mississippi

By TED CARTER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

New home mortgage lending rules that threaten to end balloon mortgage lending in

Mississippi likely will top the list of concerns the Mississippi Bankers Association will note in a reply to federal regulators who have initiated a series of comment periods on banking regulations.

The replies by Mississippi bankers and their advocacy organization, the MBA, will come in response to an invite from federal bank regulatory agencies to help identify outdated, unnecessary, or unduly burdensome regulations imposed on insured depository institutions. The FDIC, Office of the

Comptroller of the Currency and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve extended the invitation in order to meet terms of the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act of 1996.

Regulators plan to hold roundtable discussions with bankers and interested parties as the series of comment periods progress over the next two years. The current period, which

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RULES, Page 8

2 I Mississippi Business Journal I June 27 2014

PUBLIC SERVICE

MISSISSIPPI

The next transition

The Blues and higher education

» Hardwick leaving Stennis Institute

BY WALLY NORTHWAY wally.northway@msbusiness.com

Few people can match Phil Hardwick’s resume when it comes to diversity. Over his career, Hardwick has been a clerk, soldier, law enforcement officer, investigator, real estate consultant, author/columnist, community and economic developer and educator/trainer.

On Sept. 1, Hardwick will begin yet another chapter in his eclectic career after stepping down as coordinator of capacity development at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government. Officially, it is a retirement, but Hardwick refuses to call it that.

“I’m transitioning, not retiring,” Hardwick said. “There are still a lot of things I want to do.”

He light-heartedly writes off the twists and turns of his career, saying, “Obviously, I can’t hold a job.” But, the truth is that Hardwick’s career is an example of hard work and a little serendipity.

“I heard someone say one time that if you want a better job, do the job you have now better. I’ve never forgotten that,” Hardwick remembered.

Hardwick’s journey began in his home-

Hardwick joined the Army at the height of the crisis in Southeast Asia.

“I thought I was going to Vietnam. I was going to win the war all by myself,” Hardwick said with a smile.

However, Hardwick ended up being assigned to the White House as part of the security team, and spent several years riding on Army One, the Presidential helicopter also known as Marine One. He would eventually rise to sergeant and command a security unit.

After his enlistment, Hardwick served with the Fairfax County Police Department in Virginia with no plans to return

“I heard someone say one time that if you want a better job, do the job you have now better. I’ve never forgotten that.” town of Jackson, raised by a single mother who worked split shifts as a waitress to provide for her two children and still managed to save enough to buy a house. Hardwick’s dream was to become an FBI agent, so after graduating from Central High School he hired on at the local FBI office as a clerk in 1966 while attending Millsaps College at night. (He would go on to eventually earn an MBA from Millsaps.)

Still looking for more “action,” in 1968

to Mississippi, but the first of many serendipitous events occurred. While home during Christmas, Hardwick learned from an old FBI acquaintance that the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office was looking for a chief investigator. Jumping at the chance, Hardwick would remain for three years before being named chief investigator and deputy director of the then-new Enforcement Section of the Mississippi Real Estate Commission.

The work with the Commission changed Hardwick’s focus from law enforcement to real estate and education.

While still at the Commission, he started teaching courses at the Real Estate Institute, and after leaving the Commission in 1985 he established his own real estate consulting firm.

His work as a consultant won him an appointment as the city of Jackson’s chief economic developer, and he made a name for himself in his new field when Jackson was chosen as the site for the proposed Defense Finance and Accounting Center.

A change in the Secretary of Defense post nixed the deal, but Hardwick started fielding inquiries for his services from economic development organizations, including one in Tennessee.

It looked as if Mississippi would lose Hardwick again when fortune intervened.

Hardwick was having lunch with Matt Holleman, who was then president and CEO of Mississippi Valley Gas (now Atmos Energy), when Hardwick’s pager went off. Seeing a Tennessee number, Hardwick said, “Well, this must be my call.”

When Holleman found out Hardwick was about to leave the state, he asked Hardwick if he would consider coming to work for him. Not wanting to relocate, Hardwick accepted, and spent the next 11 years as vice president of community and economic development.

“I count my work at Mississippi Valley Gas as the most rewarding of my career,” Hardwick said. “Matt believed in hiring the right people then letting them do their job.”

After “retiring” from Mississippi Valley Gas, Hardwick came on board with the Stennis Institute, serving primarily as a training and strategic planning facilitator working with public sector leaders. His last day there will be Aug. 31.

Hardwick isn’t sure what he might do next. He plans on continuing to teach at Millsaps. The author of nearly a dozen books, Hardwick also said he might write a novel or two, and he has committed to continue to write his longstanding column for the Mississippi Business Journal.

He also looks forward to spending more time with his wife, Carol, former head of the Mississippi Economic Development Council, his two children and two grandchildren.

“It’s kind of funny. I started out wanting to be James Bond, and I ended up being a family man,” Hardwick said with a laugh.

“Over my career, every time I’ve planned something I end up doing something else.

So, who knows? But, I am not retiring.”

» Delta State launches the International Delta Blues Project

BY WALLY NORTHWAY wally.northway@msbusiness.com

While the debate continues over the location of “The Crossroads” where legend has it that Robert Johnson made a pact with devil to become the greatest bluesman ever, Delta State University is looking to solidify the city of Cleveland as the place where the blues and academia intersect.

DSU recently announced the establishment of the International Delta Blues Project, funded by a three-year, $598,000 grant from the Robert M. Hearin Foundation. The public university is attempting to leverage its existing blues-related offerings to bring blues-related opportunities to not only its students, but also to Delta residents.

“Delta State’s vision of LaForge becoming the academic center for the blues is gaining traction,” said DSU President William N. LaForge. He added that the International Delta Blues Project aims at impacting the Mississippi Delta including “an increase in tourism to the Delta, a revival in the interest of the blues, increased opportunities for study and employment in the creative economy and growth in the number of economic partnerships created.”

The initiative encompasses three tiers — an International Conference on the Blues, development of blues-focused curriculum at DSU and a Blues Leadership Incubator aligned with the GRAMMY Museum that is under construction at DSU. The International Conference on the Blues has been set for Oct. 6-7. The annual event will include workshops, presentations and performances focused on African American musical tradition, influence on American music and culture, folklore and more as well as a “sampler concert/jam session” called Juke Joint on the Stage.

The keynote speaker will be Bob Santelli, executive director of the GRAMMY Museum, author and blues/rock historian. The keynote speaker with be Scott Barretta, an instructor of sociology at the University of Mississippi, where his courses include Anthropology of Blues Culture, and host of Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s “Highway 61 Radio Show.” The guest artist will be bluesman Alvin Youngblood Hart, an influence on such musicians as Bob Dylan and See

BLUES, Page 8

June 27, 2014

EDUCATION

Wendy Scott named new dean at MC School of Law Wendy Scott will soon make history as the first AfricanAmerican to serve as dean at the Mississippi College School of Law. This summer, the accomplished lawyer, legal scholar and administrator also becomes the second women to lead Baptist-affiliated MC Law. On August 11, Scott succeeds Dean Jim Rosenblatt, who helped build the law school’s regional and national reputation during his 11-year tenure, MC leaders announced Monday.

Rosenblatt will become a full-time professor at the private law school in downtown Jackson.

Scott has taught at the North Carolina Central University School of Law since 2006, including service as associate dean for academic affairs from 2009 to 2012. She previously worked as a professor at Tulane University Law School in New Orleans for 17 years, including service as vice dean for academic affairs. “Professor Scott brings a lifetime of exceptional service to the position, having distinguished herself as a lawyer, teacher, legal scholar and administrator,’’ MC President Lee Royce said. “We are so pleased to have someone so well known and respected in the legal academy provide leadership to our law school.’’ Reached at her institution in Durham, North Carolina, Scott is thrilled to join the law school that sits a few blocks from the Mississippi Capitol and state Supreme Court. “MC Law has what any dean would want,’’ Scott said. “MC Law has a talented faculty, exceptional students, a hard working staff, dedicated alumni, an attractive facility and a supportive university administration.’’ A graduate of Harvard University and New York University Law School, MC’s new law dean is anxious to become an

integral part of the Mississippi College family and the state’s vibrant legal community. “I look forward to working with all of the constituents of the Law School to continue providing an excellent educational experience to our students and service to the people of Mississippi.’’ Rosenblatt commended her selection. “Professor Scott has the background and interest to tie MC Law’s legal education mission with community initiatives to promote social justice and to provide practical learning opportunities for its law students,’’ he said.

During the tenure of the Natchez native as dean, MC Law has experienced more than $10 million in facility improvements. In recent years, the law school’s moot court teams have participated in 26 regional and national competitions. The law school’s mission is truly global with overseas study programs in Germany, France, Mexico, Cuba, China and South Korea.

The law school’s two award winning web sites deliver timely information to the public about the state Legislature and Mississippi’s appellate courts. Its legal aid clinic provides extensive assistance to low-income residents of inner city Jackson.

During her career, Scott taught a wide range of subjects – from Constitutional Law to Native American Law and Women and the Law. She’s been active in community service – from the Christian Bible Fellowship Ministries to the New Orleans Human Relations Commission. Her scholarship has focused on legal issues surrounding the desegregation of public colleges and universities.

In addition, she’s faithfully served in a variety of positions with Baptist institutions, alongside her husband, Rev. Eddie Scott. The incoming MC Law dean and her husband are the parents of a 15-year-old son, Christian. Dr. Royce noted: “Wendy Scott is an excellent fit for the Christian mission of Mississippi College. We look forward to her fine leadership of the law school.’’

I

Mississippi Business Journal

MBJ wins 14 awards at MPA The Mississippi Business Journal won 14 awards, including eight first place awards and finished second in General Excellence Saturday at the Mississippi Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest at the IP Biloxi Resort and Casino.

The MBJ competed in the Weekly Division B category along with other midsize weeklies. Contest entries were from newspapers in Mississippi for work published in 2013.

Staff writer Ted Carter won a first place in the In-depth/Investigative Coverage category for his work on “Mississippi’s Tuscaloosa Marine Shale showing promise as a Texas wannabe,� a package of stories that outlined how drillers were enthusiastic about prospects in southwest Mississippi.

The award marked the third time in the last four years the MBJ has won the Investigative category. It is Carter’s second consecutive win in the category.

Editor Ross Reily won a first place for Best Editorial Page and a first place for Editorial Writing, which included opinions on moving the Jackson Zoo and taking the Madison mayor and Tulane University to task of over Jackson State moving a campus to Madison.

MBJ staff writer Frank Brown won three first place awards: Best Graphic on

Mississippi exports, Best Headline for a collection of work, and Best Feature Photo for a photo from the Bike Crossing showroom in Ridgeland.

Stephen McDill won Best Sports News Story along with Reily and Brown for their local coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing, which included stories on local runners Martha Davis and Donna Bruce.

McDill’s photographs and Clay Chandler’s writing combined to win the Best PictureStory Combination for a business feature on the opening of Fondren Public.

Second and third place awards are listed below: Âť Second Place — General Excellence — MBJ Staff Âť Second Place — Best Planned series of stories — Ted Carter: “Mississippi’s Tuscaloosa Marine Shale showing promise as a Texas wannabeâ€? Âť Second Place — Best News Photo — Tacy Rayburn Âť Second Place — Best Special Section — MBJ Staff Âť Third Place — Best General News Story — Ted Carter Âť Third Place — Best Special Section — MBJ staff

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4 I Mississippi Business Journal I June 27 2014

ENERGY

Big investment in Halcón drilling reflects confidence in a lucrative TMS GDP Crosby 12H-1 IP: 1,300 Boe/d

GDP CMR/Foster Creek 20-7H-1 IP: 527 Boe/d

HK Fassman 9H-1 Drilling

GDP CMR 8-5H-1 IP: 950 Boe/d

ECA Anderson 18H-1 IP: 1,178 Boe/d GDP Bates 25-24H

ECA Anderson 17H-2 IP : 1,540 Boe/d GDP Nunnery 12-1H Flowing back

MISSISSIPPI

SN Dry Fork East Unit 2H

ECA Horseshoe Hill 10H-1 IP: 830 Boe/d Lateral Length: 4,678’

ECA Pintard 28H 1 ECA Pintard 28H 2

ECA Lyons 35H 1

GDP CH Lewis 30-19H-1 IP: 1,450 Boe/d

ECA Lyons 35H 2

ECA Lewis 7-18H GDP Denkmann 33-28H

HK SD Smith 1H Drilling Pilot Hole with Core

ECA Mathis 29-32H

GDP SLC Inc. 81H 1 GDP Beech Grove 94H 1

HK Horseshoe Hill 11-22H-1 Drill Days: 39 Effective Lateral Length: 7,060’ IP: 1,548 Boe/d (1)

TMS Producing wells TMS Drilled wells TMS Drilling wells HK TMS Drilling wells HK TMS Producing wells HK TMS Drilled wells HK TMS Future wells

LOUISIANA

GDP Smith 5-29H-1 IP: 1,045 Boe/d

HK Black Stone 4H-2 Drill Days: 28 Lateral Length: 5,400’ WOC

GDP Blades 33H; TMS RA 1 IP: 1,270 Boe/d

TANGIPAHOA

HK Lease Area

Structure at Base TMS

Source: Company investor presentations and publicly available information.

IP rates are 24 hour rates unless noted differently.

(1) 1,208 Bo/d and 1.1 MMcf/d of 1,551 BTU natural gas; assuming full ethane recovery, total IP rate 1,548 Boe/d.

for The Mississippi Business Journal

TMS core area is outlined.

9

» Drillers accelerating efforts in Mississippi's portion of the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale formation

By TED CARTER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

A private equity firm's pledge to invest up to $400 million in Halcón Resources' deep drilling in Mississippi and Louisiana could lead to a doubling of Halcón's 2015 operations in the region.

The investment from Apollo Globe Management allows Halcón to accelerate its drilling for oil and gas on the 314,000 acres the Houston-based company has leased within the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale formation a several-hundred square mile reserve spanning Southwest Mississippi and Southeast Louisiana.

The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources estimates the formation holds seven billion barrels of light, sweet crude oil. Further estimates are that the premium crude makes up 94 percent of extractable deposits within the TMS, with natural gas accounting for an additional 4 percent and water for the remainder.

Getting to the sweet crude, however, requires drilling from 10,000 to 125,000 feet and extending horizontal bores that extract oil and gas through s shale rock fracturing process that requires millions of gallons of water. With the hydraulic pressure of water, sand and chemicals exerted

through a horizontal bore hole, drillers try to fracture the rock to free trapped oil and liquefied natural gas. Operators prefer to drill in areas where the shale is brittle and has fewer clay deposits.

Halcón plans to spend $950 million this year in its U.S. drilling operations, nearly half of which will go into the Bakkan/Three Forks formation in North Dakota and 40 percent into rigs operating within the Southeast Texas Eagle Ford formation.

The remaining portion of the $950 million, according to the company's 2013 10K filing with the SEC, is earmarked for the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale, or TMS, formation and the Utica/Point Pleasant trend in Ohio.

The Ohio fracturing operations are in pursuit of natural gas a little more than 1,200 feet below ground. Low market prices for natural gas have stalled momentum there, industry experts say.

With the Apollo Global investment, Halcón says it can increase its TMS drilling by $100 million this year and hike that amount by two to three times next year. Apollo' initial investment in the TMS is for $150 million, Halcón says.

“This year we expect to spud (start) 10 to 12 gross wells in TMS and participate in

15 to 20 non-op wells,” spokeswoman Kelly Weber said in an email.

So far this year, Halcón has drilled one well in Wilkinson County with a 38-day period from start to reaching of its total depth. The well is producing 1,548 barrels a day, the company says. The company drilled a second Wilkinson County well that took 28 days to reach total depth. It has since started a third well in Wilkinson County.

Halcón and other drillers, including Encana Corp., Devon Energy and Goodrich Petroleum, want to get their per-well drilling costs to below $12 million. Halcón is getting close, Weber said.

“We're tracking between $13 million and $13.5 million currently but expect to decrease costs by $1 million a year over the next two years,” she added.

Meanwhile, Halcón plans a $6 oil handling terminal at the Port of Natchez on 50 acres it plans to buy from Adams County. The terminal will give the company direct access to refineries on the Lower Mississippi River.

“This is a proactive move to position us for the future,” Weber said. “We think as the play develops, it will require addiSee

TMS, Page 9

BRYANT ON THE TMS

By TED CARTER ted.carter@msbusiness.com Gov. Phil Bryant earlier this month delivered a keynote address to oil company executives and others gathered in Houston for the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale Summit.

Upon his return, the governor's office agreed to answer a series of questions on the subject of the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale.

Here is the Q&A: Q — Does the governor have plans in the remainder of his administration for additional actions to spur development of the TMS? A — The governor has developed an aggressive energy agenda and continues to support development in the TMS. As activity there transitions into its next phase, we will continue working with companies to determine if additional actions to spur development are appropriate.

Secondary suppliers are also important to TMS, and MDA (Mississippi Development Authority) is working with these companies and local economic developers to identify opportunities. Counties in Southwest Mississippi that aren’t directly involved in TMS extraction can benefit from secondary supplier activity.

Q — The severance tax reduction has helped create new interest in opening and expanding operations in the TMS. Can the state take additional steps to hasten development of the TMS? A — One of Mississippi’s major strengths is permitting speed (we are #2 in the nation per Area Development magazine), and The Oil and Gas Board and MDEQ are continuously looking at ways to speed up the permitting process.

Q — The condition of roads in Southwest Mississippi is a huge concern for both the oil companies operating there and residents and local government officials alike. Is Gov. Bryant contemplating ways to assist with upgrading and maintaining the road transportation system in the TMS? A — Transportation infrastructure is obviously very important to TMS and to all economic development endeavors. The companies operating in the TMS are in contact with the counties that manage these roads to reach agreements on conditions and maintenance as necessary. MDA also maintains communication with the companies and the counties. As development increases, counties will see additional resources through the state’s severance tax formula.

Q — Any other comments and perspectives?

A — Gov. Bryant continues to advocate energy development throughout Mississippi and is very encouraged by the increase in activity in the TMS. Our state’s positive business climate, including the changes to the severance tax formula, is spurring development and increased economic activity. As chairman of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the governor will continue seeking new ways states can innovate and lead their own energy policy development.

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Website: www.msbusiness.com June 27, 2014 Volume 36, Number 26

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MBJPERSPECTIVE June 27, 2014 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 5

PERSPECTIVE

Mississippi Senate race: 2 parties have to regroup

F

resh off Sen. Thad Cochran’s comeback to defeat tea party challenger Chris McDaniel in Mississippi’s bitter Republican Senate runoff, the general election matchup between the six-term incumbent and Democratic former Congressman Travis Childers features two pragmatists each trying to wrest a winning coalition out of a jumbled primary.

Cochran will have to chase Republicans who backed his more conservative primary rival, while Childers must pursue members of his party who voted for Cochran in the GOP primary.

Unofficial returns after Tuesday’s primary runoff vote showed Cochran with a statewide lead of about 6,400 votes over McDaniel, or 50.9 percent to 49.1 percent, using a substantially higher turnout to erase a 1,400-vote deficit to McDaniel in the initial primary that ended without a majority winner.

It produces a potentially compelling general election matchup in a state that otherwise should be an afterthought in the GOP’s national effort to reclaim a Senate majority — a threshold that could return Cochran to his old post as Senate Appropriations chairman where he could deliver on his promise to “do more for Mississippi.”

The Nov. 4 ballot also will include Shawn O’Hara of the Reform Party.

In a brief appearance Tuesday night, Cochran praised his supporters for a “great victory” and called his win an endorsement of “more and better jobs for Mississippi.”

The 76-year-old senator didn’t mention McDaniel, a 41-year-old state senator, but it’s obvious Cochran must mend fences with conservatives inspired by McDaniel’s critique of the incumbent as the face of a $17 trillion

national debt.

Cochran’s rebuilding effort starts even as McDaniel refuses to concede, instead raising the specter of a legal challenge that would at least nominally extend this midterm election year’s most bitter battle between tea party conservatives and traditional Republican powers.

McDaniel’s complaint: unspecified “irregularities” he attributed to “liberal Democrats” supporting Cochran.

National tea party aligned groups that

running in a state where President Barack Obama got less than 40 percent of the vote.

And instead of running against McDaniel — a firebrand whom Childers certainly would have framed as too extreme even for Mississippi — Childers must now run against an incumbent who, even if battered, is more popular across the electorate than within his party’s conservative core.

Consider Ronny Barrett, a 56-year-old mechanic from Jackson and a black Democrat who voted for Cochran on June 3 and again Tuesday.

“Sen. Cochran has done a lot of things for the black community, and a lot of people in the black community know that,” Barrett said at Cochran’s victory party. “First time in my life I voted Republican. ... I think I’ll vote Republican again.”

Because Mississippi voters don’t register by party, it’s impossible to know exactly how many Democrats or independents voted for Cochran.

But turnout increased by almost 70,000 votes over the June 3 turnout, and Cochran improved his vote totals substantially in several key counties, including about 7,000 additional votes in Hinds, the seat of state government; more than 1,000 in Harrison and more than 1,200 in Jackson, both coastal counties.

McDaniel did not say Tuesday night that he would challenge the result, but he was defiant as he addressed his supporters in Hattiesburg.

“We are not prone to surrender, we Mississippians,” he declared. “Before this race is over we have to be absolutely certain the Republican primary was won by Republi-

Mississippi law allowed anyone who did not vote in the June 3 Democratic primary to cast a Republican runoff ballot. McDaniel and his supporters previously cited a Mississippi law — effectively invalidated by the courts — that requires primary voters to support a party’s nominee in November. backed McDaniel — outside PACs spent about $12 million on the race — didn’t protest the results, but made clear they aren’t eager to cozy up to Cochran. At FreedomWorks, director Matt Kibbe called it “disgraceful” that GOP stalwarts like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell “champion a campaign platform of pork-barrel spending and insider deal-making, while recruiting Democrats to show up at the polls.”

Besides raising questions about whether Cochran can easily win over McDaniel voters, those sentiments also could make it harder for Cochran and his fellow Republicans to hit Childers with the typical GOP charge that Democrats are spendthrift liberals.

Childers still must navigate the challenge of

» HOW TO WRITE Letters to the editor are one of the most widely read features of the Mississippi Business Journal, and they give everyone a chance to voice their opinions about current affairs.

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See PERSPECTIVE, Page 6

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PERSPECTIVE

6 I Mississippi Business Journal I June 27, 2014 » RICKY NOBILE

PERSPECTIVE

Continued from Page 5

can voters.”

One of his top supporters, state Sen. Michael Watson, was asked whether the candidate offered Cochran a concession. “You didn’t hear one, did you?” Watson replied.

It’s not clear what grounds McDaniel would have to contest Cochran’s nomination. Mississippi law allowed anyone who did not vote in the June 3 Democratic primary to cast a Republican runoff ballot. McDaniel and his supporters previously cited a Mississippi law — effectively invalidated by the courts — that requires primary voters to support a party’s nominee in November. Mississippi elections officials confirmed before polls opened that the statute is unenforceable.

But that still doesn’t settle whether Cochran can win over McDaniel backers like 88-year-old Fonzo Finch or 23-year-old Kari Purvis.

“We need new spirit, new people in Washington,” Finch, a World War II veteran, said after voting in Jackson on Tuesday. Purvis, a middle school teacher, said at her Magee polling place, “Thad Cochran’s been up there a while. ... I just wanted a change for the better.”

Those are exactly the kinds of voters Childers wants.

“Senator Cochran does not have the confidence of his state, let alone his own party,” Childers said in a statement Tuesday. “If we are going to change Washington, we will need to change who we send to Washington.”

»MAN FROM MISSISSIPPI

The new minimum wage and our economy

I

magine you make $7.50 an hour. Imagine your work week is limited so that your employer does not have to share responsibility for your healthcare costs or provide other benefits. Imagine your having to take a second job where you are also paid $7.50 an hour and work less than 30 hours a week. Let’s say you are fortunate enough to work 60 hours total and make, roughly, $440 a week. Well, that’s close to $2,000 a month. Why, that’s almost $25,000 a year. Who couldn’t live off of whatever that ends up being after taxes? Who couldn’t be a single head of household raising and providing for a family? People have to do it everyday.

As an increase in the federal minimum wage is considered or hotly debated, the lack of empathy for those surviving on less and less becomes horrifyingly apparent. Have you considered how you and your family would survive on a minimum wage? Which would mean your being fortunate enough to find even a minimum wage job in the current economy. Have you taken the time to consider those folks who do survive on the minimum wage? Do you care?

Just as with those living on some form of federal assistance, we have done a good job of demonizing low-income laborers in this country, which probably goes a long way in helping us all sleep better at night. It is also why businesses are eager to support some form of immigration reform. Immigrants are happy to work for more than they could ever receive in their own countries. And we need people who want to work. Of course, they — like us — want higher wages. Who doesn’t?

There must be a justifiable answer for why there are those willing to work for less. If not, they would find a higher paying job. Right?

You hear it repeatedly, “if folks want a better job, they should just go find one,” or “just go out and get themselves a better education.”

Wages have stagnated for the vast majority of Americans, but particularly low-income laborers, since the 1980s. Our dollars purchase much less these days. Todays minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is 25 percent below the inflation adjusted value of wages in 1970, but slightly higher than adjusted value of wages in 2008 which is a small sign that things may, just may, be getting better. If our economy is improving ever so gradually, do we really want to risk increasing the minimum wage now?

Low wages are bad for business and bad for our economy overall, regardless of our inflated stock market. Concerns about the general welfare of our labor force are legitimate, so several states and many communities around the country have sought to raise minimum wages for employees.

Boston is poised to raise its minimum wage to $11 per hour over the next three years. New York City and state are exploring an increase. State legislatures in Maryland, Hawaii, Vermont, West Virginia and Minnesota have passed increases as high as $10 an hour.

It is not easy to figure out the problem with such significant hikes. If the minimum wage is increased it could crush many of our small mom and pop shops and make it even harder for medium-sized companies to do business. Some argue that a forced raise in the minimum wage would only end up increasing the economic power of larger corporate entities and thus push even more wealth to the (equally demonized) top one percent. There is no question that the highly profitable, larger companies will be in a much better position to handle the cost increases and adjust accordingly thereby strengthening their hold on the markets in which they operate.

That’s why the time is now to get busy and creative in Mississippi when it comes to building a better and more productive work force. What little manufacturing we have

in Mississippi, coupled with our critically-important agricultural production is competing against business interests operating in central AmerDavid Dallas ica and Asia that pay their workforce much, much less. Those foreign companies also deal with little or no government regulation, oversight, and taxes. If you speak with most business owners in Mississippi you will find that they do appreciate their employees and want to keep them working. They understand that a viable working wage is the best way to ensure productivity and a sense of purpose for all involved.

We can applaud the success of those more prosperous communities around the country and more progressiveminded states demanding a minimum-wage hike for workers. It would be wonderful if we raised the minimum wage to $10 or even $15 an hour here in Mississippi to give our labor force a fighting chance in today’s economy and to encourage people to get back to work and off of whatever form of assistance they may be receiving.

Could our communities and even our state do the same at some point? Are any of our economic leaders thinking about and maybe even offering options other than just digging in our heels, hoping to fight off any form of wage increase? In Boston they are hoping to lower costs for businesses through reforming their unemployment insurance system. Other state legislatures around the country are also working creatively with cities and communities to set standards. These experiments are needed quickly, before a minimum wage hike is likely mandated by the Feds. We must be proactive in exploring how such an increase might benefit labor, business and ultimately build a better Mississippi. » David Dallas is a political writer. He worked for former U.S. Sen. John Stennis and authored Barking Dawgs and A Gentleman from Mississippi.

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8 I Mississippi Business Journal I June 27 2014 Continued from Page 1

bankers who do mortgages that lack a level of securitization to qualify for the secondary market do not want to be stuck for 15 to 30 years with a fixed-rate loan.

is open to anyone who wants to voice a concern, runs through Sept. 2.

“We haven't decided what comments we will make,” said Mac Deaver, Mississippi Bankers Association president.

“Gosh, where do we start.”

Deaver said the first step will be a close look at the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform & Consumer Protection Act, a 2010 financial sector regulatory overhaul that the MBA chief says brought a lot of “over-kill” by putting small banks under new rules designed to rein in irresponsible lending by giant national banks.

However, the most immediate concern he hears from bankers comes from the Dodd-Frank-created Consumer Finance Protection Bureau's new qualified mortgage rules and what he says is inconsistent enforcement. The inconsistency comes, he said, from having one agency, the CFPB, make the rules and the three regulatory entities interpret and enforce them.

“That is a concern in itself because of the potential inconsistency there,” Deaver said.

On the home lending front, the worry stems from the “non-qualified” status the new rules put on the longstanding practice of balloon lending, Deaver said, referring to an arrangement by which a loan is issued for five to seven years to be either refinanced or paid in full at the end of the loan term. Being non-conforming and ineligible for the secondary market, the loans are kept on the books of the originating banks.

Without access to such loans, many Mississippians will be shut out from home ownership, Deaver said.

The financial services industry has always deemed balloon-payment mortgages made throughout Mississippi and elsewhere as non-conforming. A chief reason for that classification is the absence of securitization that could otherwise qualify the borrower for conforming loans such as those insured by the Federal Housing Administration, the U.S. Department of Agriculture or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Further adding to their non-conforming status is the absence of fixed interest rates. Given the fluctuation in rates,

Lend But Carry the Risks While not making non -conforming loans off limits, the CFPB is removing legal protections from them and warning bankers that they make them at their own risk.

Realizing the potential for loss of home ownership opportunities, particularly in rural Mississippi and other regions where non-conventional lending is practiced, the Bureau is encouraging lenders to keep making the loans.

CFPB Director Richard Cordray emphasized the need for continued non-conventional lending in a visit to Mississippi several months ago. He sought to convince bankers the risks of borrower lawsuits from balloon lending and other non-qualified mortgage loans are minimal.

You still must respond to the suits, even if there is, in the end, no liability, Deaver noted. “With things as tight as they are and margins being as close as they are, banks don't want to assume that risk.”

Already, much of Mississippi's mobile home mortgage lending has disappeared, he said, noting the risks involved in the non-qualified nature of the lending.

Freddie Bagley, chairman of Brandon-based Community Bancshares and 2014 chair of the Mississippi Bankers Association, said he expects lawsuits to arise once lawyers around the state catch on that bankers are making unprotected mortgage loans. The exposure is to individual borrower and class action suits challenging the underwriting and adherence to guidelines of the balloon mortgages, banking lawyers say.

Should the challenges be upheld, the bank could lose repayment of the loan as well as the option of foreclosing on the property that secured the loan.

New mortgage lending rules give safe harbor protection to loans that meet federal criteria for qualified loans, chief factors being ability to repay, a fixed-rate and securitization adequate to qualify for the secondary market.

“For them to say we shouldn't worry is an erroneous statement to me,” Bagley said. “We don't know and they don't know. But based on past history, I think banks have a reason to be scared.”

RULES

BLUES

Continued from Page 2

Eric Clapton.

“When President LaForge arrived on campus in April 2013, he expressed his desire to host a blues conference at Delta State. That vision expanded when Dr. McAdams arrived on campus as provost the following December. We're hoping for an overall total attendance of 500, for all of the conference sessions,” said Don Allan Mitchell, associate professor of English at DSU and conference co-chair.

For more on the International Conference on the Blues, visit www.deltastate.edu/president/international-blues-conference.

The project’s second prong, a blues-focused curriculum at DSU, is under development.

Dr. Charles McAdams, DSU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, said, “The curriculum will no doubt encompass several disciplines including music, literature, history, sociology and economics to name a few. There may be several ‘tracks’ or ‘concentrations’ in the program to allow the student to receive

both a broad understanding as well as some specificity in a particular area of the blues or blues culture.”

Work on curriculum development began this fall, and courses could be offered as early as next spring, McAdams added.

The goal is to eventually offer a blues-related degree. However, DSU will start with a minor in the blues and then based on enrollment demand, move to a bachelor’s degree. Graduate degrees and certificates are possible in the future based on interest.

McAdams said, “Our goal is to be thought of as the ‘university of choice’ for students who want to study the blues. Graduate degrees and certificates are possible in the future based on interest. We are in the perfect place to assume this stature because of our location, our history of embracing and celebrating the Delta culture, the opening of the GRAMMY Museum, our current curriculum and activity in the Delta Music Institute, and the success of the Delta Center for Culture and Learning on campus.”

The third leg of the International Delta Blues Project is the Blues Leadership Incubator. It will offer community outreach through

CDFI and Other Protections Community Bancshares of Mississippi, which has a half dozen separately chartered community banks in Metro Jackson, can continue making non-conventional loans by virtue of its Treasury Department designation as a Community Development Financial Institution, or CDFIs. CDFI-designated banks must do a least 60 percent of their lending in under-served, low-and-moderate income areas. In addition to providing banks low-cost capital, the designation frees banks from qualified mortgage rules, a circumstance Bagley says he expects will lead other Mississippi banks to seek CDFI status.

Bagley said he also expects that Mississippi's community banks will at some point resume making non-conforming loans, “because that is our market.”

In the short-term, small banks and savings & loans in 34 of Mississippi's counties can continue making the balloon mortgages without fearing the legal liabilities that are faced by their counterparts across the state. The lenders have received a special exemption the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau granted counties designated as “rural” or “undeserved.” They can continue making the non-conforming loans through Jan. 10, 2016, provided they keep the loans in their portfolios for three years.

The exemption applies to banks with assets below $2 billion and mandates they make no more than 500 firstlien mortgages a year.

For the two-year transition period, regulators will give the balloons “qualified” loan status. After that, banks will issue them without the legal protections that accompany the qualified loan designation.

In Washington, the Independent Community Bankers Association is working to broaden qualified loan eligibility to lending done by banks of $10 billion in assets and under, said Ron Haynie, the association's senior VP of mortgage finance policy.

“Any home mortgage loan granted by a community bank should be a qualified mortgage loan with safe harbor,” Haynie said in an interview Monday.

As Haynie sees it, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau “is protecting the consumer out of being able to get a home loan.”

The solution, he said, “is to let community banks do the lending they have always done, and performed well.”

workshops and presentations aimed at boosting blues-related entrepreneurship and economic development.

The effort is spurred by the GRAMMY Museum, which is slated to open next year and will be only the second GRAMMY Museum in the world outside of Los Angeles. DSU aims to ensure local businesses are prepared to take advantage of the museum’s arrival.

“With the opening of GRAMMY Museum Mississippi in 2015, and the anticipated tourism that will accompany this opening, it is imperative that Delta State provides opportunities for local business owners to gain insight and knowledge on how best to promote and portray the blues and to be able to communicate its rich tradition,” LaForge said.

LaForge added that the incubator will be conducted in partnership with the Missis-

sippi Development Authority and Mississippi Blues Trail “to bring experts to the region to engage local businesses and entrepreneurs in promoting and providing positive Delta-centric tourism experiences.”

Mitchell said Delta State will be hiring a director of the International Blues Project, and one of the key components of that job is “incubating the incubator.”

June 27 2014

TMS

Continued from Page 4

tional infrastructure.”

Weber noted the terminal project is still in its very early stages.

Floyd C. Wilson, Halcón chairman and CEO, said his company is off to a solid start in the TMS. “The capital from our partnership with Apollo will help to accelerate activity,” Wilson said in a company press statement.

“The TMS is quickly evolving into a world-class oil play.”

Halcón is not alone in accelerating its work in the TMS, according to oil and gas consultant Charlotte Batson, principal of South Mississippi-based Batson Co. All of the companies but Encana, which has shifted more of its interest to plays in Canada and elsewhere, have increased their drilling, Batson said in a recent interview.

“All of the operators have moved new rigs into the area.

They have plans laid out for 2014 that are bigger than in any previous year.”

While well-drilling costs are important, Halcón and the others are more interested in gaining “repeatability” of the production, she noted, and explained repeatability will provide confidence in the cost and yields of the wells they plan.

You want a high degree of confidence and a low-level of risk, she said.

To achieve repeatability, the companies will focus on concentrated geographic areas in Wilkinson and Amite counties, according to Batson.

“It makes operations more efficient when you have these” centrally located pockets and you don't have to move equipment, she said.

1. TMS represents one of the most attractive emerging crude oil resource plays in North America 2. Large, concentrated, highly operated position with favorable lease terms provide for efficient development 3. Halcón is uniquely suited to successfully develop the TMS, with one of the largest acreage positions and operational experience in analogous shale plays 4. Entered into financial partnership with Apollo for up to $400 million; No change to announced 2014 D&C capex budget 5. ~241,000 net acres in the Eastern core of activity represents a land position that is not replicable given consolidation of the play 6. ~73,000 net acres in the Western portion provides meaningful upside opportunities as the play continues to develop and expand 7. Recent well results demonstrate the underlying technical merits and compelling economics of the play 8. Favorable operating environment with pro-oil and gas community and access to LLS market

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

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

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Mississippi Business Journal

I

9

At the same time, they want production test results from a variety of locations within the TMS, Baton said.

Thus, areas selected for the clustered operations are spread apart.

“They are spreading out this testing and seeing what kind of production rates they can get in areas farther and farther apart. At the same time, they are starting to be more efficient in their operations with these clusters they have.”

Batson said projections are that drillers will spend about $600 million this year in the TMS – the most ever.

Apollo Global's investment of $150,000 now with up to $250 million to follow is one of the largest single outside equity investments yet in the TMS, according to Batson.

“It shows a very high degree of confidence,” she said.

Batson attributed a good degree of the investment momentum to Mississippi's July 2013 lowering of its severance tax.

As of July 1 of last year, Mississippi severance tax on hydraulically fractured oil wells dropped from 6 percent to 1.25 percent for first 30 months of well production.

Under the law, a county in which a horizontal oil well is located would get all the tax proceeds rather than sharing them with the state.

The law gives the tax break on a specific well for up to 30 months or until the well’s costs have been recovered, whichever comes first. The law also gives a five-year tax break for oil exploration efforts.

Halcón's Weber said the cut in taxes levied on oil and gas extractions “has definitely had an effect on the willingness to invest for our company and others like us.”

TMS Conclusions — The Oil is There!

http://www.msbusiness.com

I

From Halcon Resources company presentation

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AN MBJ FOCUS:

HEALTHCARE

When disaster strikes

Courtesy UMMC

When tornadoes hit Louisville April 28, the UMMC mobile ER set up in the Wal-Mart parking lot after the only hospital in Winston County was damaged.

UMMC’s mobile ER was quickly on the scene after tornado damaged Louisville’s hospital

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

W

HEN TORNADOES hit Louisville on April 28, hundreds of people were injured and the only hospital in the county had to be shut down because of damage. But the state had prepared for just this type of emergency. As soon as the roads were safe for travel, the Mobile Emergency Treatment and Training System was deployed to serve as temporary emergency room.

METTS, which has eight beds inside an 18-wheel trailer, is part of the state medical response system that is a partnership between the Mississippi State Department of Health and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The state medical response system is outlined in the governor’s plans for how disasters are handled by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

Jonathon Wilson, director of emergency services, UMMC, said the $500,000 METTS was received in the fall of 2012.

“We took METTS up to Louisville as soon as the weather allowed,” Wilson said.

“We had to wait for it to be safe before putting it on the road. At the same time triage

“We took METTS up to Louisville as soon as the weather allowed.

We had to wait for it to be safe before putting it on the road ... We kept it there for almost a week.”

Jonathon Wilson UMMC director of emergency services

teams were moving patients from the damaged hospital and a nearby nursing home, they had the mobile emergency room set up in the parking lot of Wal-Mart. We had a state trooper posted at the hospital if anyone came there for care, and directed everyone to come to the METTS. We kept it

there for almost a week.”

Wilson said METTS and other components of the state’s disaster response plans are an outgrowth of the lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and other subsequent disasters in the state. One of the lessons from Katrina applied to the tornado disaster was that the state recognized that not only was the Winston Medical Center the only hospital in the county, but also its largest employer.

“It was important to get them back operating as soon as possible, not just for health care, but economically, as well,” Wilson said. “We kept the METTS trailer in place as MSDH started visiting with physicians and hospital administrators about how to get services back in Louisville. We found out it would be quite some time before the brick-and-mortar hospital back was in operation. We needed a better temporary solution than continuing to use our medical personnel to staff METTS.” Initially the METTS staff included one 18-member team coming from all over the state and another team from Oxford.

See

METTS,, Page 12

HEALTHCARE

12 I Mississippi Business Journal I June 27, 2014

Health incentive plans may have a future in state

By LYNN LOFTON mbj@msbusiness.com

There’s a trend across the country for employers and employees to put more emphasis on wellness as a way of preventing illness and thus curb rising health care costs. Some employers are offering wellness programs and incentives to motivate employees to adopt healthy behaviors. Incentives may include lower insurance premiums, store discounts and gift cards.

In Mississippi, which leads the nation in obesity rates and several health problems, the incentives trend does not seem to be widespread. Two of the state’s largest hospitals and others contacted by the Mississippi Business Journal have no such program for employees. “We’re not seeing much of that (incentives) although a lot of companies have wellness programs,” said Clinton Graham, executive director of the Mississippi AssociaVaughn-Furlow tion of Independent Insurance Agents.

A spokeswoman for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi said the insurance company’s Healthy Workplace program works with a number of businesses to support them in making wellness part of daily work life for their employees and Gollott has some success stories posted on their website.

“Incentives come in many forms, and most businesses we work with offer them,” Meredith Virden Bailess, manager of corporate communications, said. “Time at work to participate in wellness activities, such as exercising or attending a cooking demonstration, can be an excellent incentive on its own.

Many groups do offer tangible incentives, but the ultimate benefit/incentive really is the gift of good health.”

For their own employees, Blue Cross & Blue Shield rewards wellness at every level with wellness integrated into all they do.

“By participating in our Health & Wellness Benefit Plan, the company pays for the employee premium. This benefit plan option provides employees the opportunity to develop personal health goals,” Bailess said.

“We help them accomplish these goals through individual wellness coaching supported by a team of fitness instructors, clinical dieticians and a clinical nurse.”

See

INCENTIVES, Page 19

Courtesy UMMC

METTS does not have CT scanners, but it does have telehealth capabilities.

METTS

Continued from Page 11

Then, by working with the hospital administration, the hospital was able to let their employees come back to work using the state’s equipment.

“Hospital employees worked sideby-side with state teams, and the county never missed a beat having emergency care available,” Wilson said.

“METTS doesn’t have things like CT scanners, but it does have telehealth capabilities. We were also able to coordinate with helicopters to back up ground ambulances if they were needed. The hospitals in surrounding counties also helped.”

Wilson said it is important to stress that their mission is to support the local response.

“We don’t want to step on toes, just support the city or county in what they need,” he said. “We told the leadership of Winston County, ‘We are here to help you, but we don’t want to interfere or stay longer than we are needed.’

That worked really well in this response. The other thing I want to express is what a great job the employees of Winston Medical Center are doing taking care of citizens. They were doing a great job, state and federal teams were able to help in the interim, and now the hospital employees are back to providing care every day. That is a great win for the citizens.”

The METTS was used for about three weeks before it was replaced by a unique mobile disaster hospital from North Carolina that remain in use until the Winston Medical Center is repaired.

“We have worked with the State of North Carolina ever since Katrina when they came to Hancock County to help develop disaster response plans and do training on ways to support one another in a disaster,” Wilson said.

“After the Louisville tornado, we received a mobile disaster hospital that is assigned by FEMA to North Carolina.

It is not just an 18-wheeler. It is actually a modular building consisting of con-

tainer boxes bolted to concrete slabs that are much more substantial than the tents we had. The mobile disaster hospital from North Carolina takes longer to get in place. But once you get it, it is more substantial and can hold up well.

That meets the need better. It is the only thing like it in the country.”

In the three weeks following the storm, about 300 patients were treated at the emergency medical facilities.

Wilson said when they put the proposal together for METTS, they had multiple missions in mind. In addition to providing emergency care in a disaster, a second use is as a mobile training platform. The inside is designed like a hospital intensive care unit, which allows them to go around the state to do training in mobile classrooms to provide disaster training for paramedics, nurses and physicians.

A third use is medical mitigation.

The METTS can be set up at a large public gathering where there might be concerns about fast ingress and egress for ambulances.

Left to right: Alon Bee, City President of Regions Bank Metro Jackson; Dr. LouAnn Woodward, Associate Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs; Dr. James E. Keeton, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs; and Dr. Ian Paul, School of Medicine Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior

Expect more admiration.

Congratulations to Dr. Ian Paul, School of Medicine Professor of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), for being awarded the Regions Bank TEACH Prize. This award recognizes a faculty member who best exempliďŹ es the values of student engagement, intellectual challenge and dedication to the craft of education that drive UMMCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational mission. As a proud corporate citizen, Regions is always excited to support those in our community who work so tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of others. To Dr. Paul and everyone striving to improve our communities, we offer our thanks, our assistance and our commitment to making life better.

VISION CENTERS

14 I Mississippi Business Journal I June 27, 2014 Center Aberdeen Eye Clinic, PA Batesville Vision Clinic Newman Eye Clinic Bellipanni Eye Clinic Tri-County Eye Clinic Vision Care Center Byram Eye Clinic Carthage Eye Clinic, PA Elite Optical Essential Eyecare Southern Eye Care of Clinton Coldwater Vision Center Brooks Eye Center Curtis Optometry Clinic Corinth Eye Clinic Dodd Eye Clinic Garrett Eye Clinic, PLLC Shappley Eye Clinic Dogwood Vision Care Total Eye Care, PC Family Eye Care Greenville Eye Clinic The Eye Station 2020 Eye Care Belk Eye Clinic Hogan Eye Clinic Marshall Eye Clinic Eye Examiners Lagniappe Eye Care Vision Center at Wal-Mart Delta Eye Center EnVision Eye Care Healthy Eyes Family Vision Center, LLC Odoms Eye Care Patton Family Optometry Inc. Tharp Family Eye Care Routt Eye Clinic and Optical Boutique Thomas Vision Eye Care Associates Laurel Eye Clinic, PC Louisville Eye Care The Vision Center of Louisville Ragan Family Eye Care, LLC Family Vision Clinic Kebert Eye Clinic Phillips Eye Care Primary Eyecare & Optical Tomsik Optical Doherty Vision Clinic Whitaker Eye Center New Albany Vision Clinic Quint Eye Clinic & Optical Olive Branch Eyecare Oxford Eye Clinic

Address 114 N. Hickory St., Aberdeen, MS 39730 365 Hwy. 51 N., Batesville, MS 38606 299 Hwy. 90, Bay St Louis, MS 39520 206 Church St., Belzoni, MS 39038 431 Bertucci Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39531 2318 Pass Rd., Biloxi, MS 39531 6745 S. Siwell Rd., Ste. 106, Byram, MS 39272 201 Hwy. 16 E., Carthage, MS 39051 45 Lakeview Dr., Clinton, MS 39056 950 Hwy. 80 E., Clinton, MS 39056 929 Hwy. 80 E., Clinton, MS 39056 412 Central Ave., Coldwater, MS 38618 3545 Bluecutt Rd., Columbus, MS 39705 1823 N. 5th St., Columbus, MS 39705 3201 Gaines Rd., Corinth, MS 38834 609 N. Fillmore St., Corinth, MS 38834 1804 E. Shiloh Rd., Corinth, MS 38834 804 Childs St., Corinth, MS 38834 120 Promenade Blvd., Flowood, MS 39232 1310 E. Walker St., Fulton, MS 38843 411 Fairview Ave., Greenville, MS 38701 239 S. Washington Ave., Greenville, MS 38701 814 W. Park Ave., Greenwood, MS 38930 600 Old Hickory Rd., Grenada, MS 38901 12199 Hwy. 49, Ste. 100, Gulfport, MS 39503 351 Cowan Rd., Gulfport, MS 39507 450 E. Pass Rd., Ste. 9, Gulfport, MS 39507 6117 Hwy. 98, Ste. 20, Hattiesburg, MS 39402 6152 Hwy. 98, Ste. 30, Hattiesburg, MS 39402 2600 McIngvale Rd., Hernando, MS 38632 224 Virginia St., Indianola, MS 38751 1316 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39202 4253 Robinson St., Ste. 105, Jackson, MS 39209 1461 Canton Mart Rd., Jackson, MS 39211 4500 I-55 N., Ste. 143, Jackson, MS 39211 6351 I-55 N., Ste. 115B, Jackson, MS 39213 107 S. Natchez St., Kosciusko, MS 39090 59 Veterans Memorial Dr., Kosciusko, MS 39090 1431 W. 10th St., Ste. 5, Laurel, MS 39440 1620 Hwy. 15 N., Ste. A-1, Laurel, MS 39440 500 N. Church Ave., Louisville, MS 39339 200 S. College St., Louisville, MS 39339 127 Grandview Blvd., Madison, MS 39110 450 5th Ave. S.W., Magee, MS 39111 1307 Aston Ave., McComb, MS 39648 1733 2nd St. S., Meridian, MS 39301 4721 26th Ave., Meridian, MS 39305 3433 Main St., Moss Point, MS 39563 609 Franklin St., Natchez, MS 39120 239 John R Junkin Dr., Natchez, MS 39120 484 W. Bankhead St., New Albany, MS 38652 2510 Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs, MS 39564 6947 Crumpler Blvd., Ste. 100, Olive Branch, MS 38654 2167 S Lamar Blvd., Oxford, MS 38655

Phone (662) 369-2444 (662) 563-9880 (228) 467-1020 (662) 247-0518 (228) 385-2020 (601) 388-1115 (601) 373-0354 (601) 267-9004 (601) 925-2020 (601) 924-7882 (601) 924-7274 (662) 622-5173 (662) 327-2020 (601) 328-5225 (662) 286-8860 (601) 286-5671 (662) 212-9001 (662) 286-6171 (601) 992-1010 (662) 862-6727 (662) 332-7229 (662) 332-0163 (601) 453-5400 (662) 307-2016 (228) 832-1832 (228) 896-1120 (228) 896-8619 (601) 264-2006 (601) 336-8062 (662) 429-7099 (662) 887-3671 (601) 987-3937 (601) 922-9272 (601) 977-0272 (601) 398-4662 (601) 991-9723 (662) 289-4131 (662) 289-1067 (601) 649-1437 (601) 649-2151 (662) 773-3494 (662) 773-5027 (601) 853-7640 (601) 849-5004 (601) 684-8118 (601) 693-0176 (601) 485-2020 (228) 475-8641 (601) 445-9197 (601) 443-9876 (601) 534-0101 (228) 875-3318 (662) 893-3300 (662) 234-6683

Website

www.aberdeeneye.com www.visionsource-batesvillevisionclinic.com/ NA www.bellipannieyeclinic.com www.tcecms.com www.visioncarecntr.com NA www.carthageeyeclinic.net www.eliteopticalms.com NA www.visionsource-secclinton.com www.coldwatervision.com www.brookseye.com www.visionsource-curtisoptometry.com NA www.garretteyeclinic.com www.drrobertshappley.com www.dogwoodvisioncare.com www.totaleyecarepc.com www.familyeyecaregreenvillems.com www.greenvilleeyeclinic.com NA www.2020eyecaregrenada.com www.visionsource-belkeyeclinic.com NA www.marshalleyeclinic.com www.eyeexaminers.com www.lagniappeeyecare.com NA www.deltaeyecenter.com www.987eyes.com NA NA www.pattonoptometry.com NA www.routteyeclinic.com www.visionsource-thomasvision.com www.eyecarelaurel.com www.visionsource-louisvilleeyecare.com NA www.raganfamilyeyecare.com www.familyvisionclinic.net www.keberteyeclinic.com NA NA NA www.dohertyvision.com NA www.visionsource-newalbany.com NA www.olivebrancheyecare.com www.visionsource-oxfordeyeclinic.com

VISION CENTERS Center Premier Eye Clinic Coast Eyecare, PLLC 20/20 Vision Care Picayune Eye Clinic Visual Eyes Clinic Poplarville Eye Clinic Eye Clinic Optical 2000 Crawford Eye Care Lenscrafters Professional Eye Care Associates Ridgeland Eyecare Center Inc. Ripley Eye Care, LLC The Eye Care Center DeSoto Eyecare O'Brien Vision Center DeSoto Family Vision Center Madison Vision Center Crigler Family Vision Ford Vision Clinic Barnes Crossing Vision Center Spectacular Specs / Kea Eye Center Tupelo Eye Clinic Wesson & Mothershed Eye Center Acute Vision Collins Eye Clinic & Optical Boutique Rankin Eye Professionals Riverbend Eyecare Eye Clinic Of West Point Inc. The Vision Center, PA Lucas Eye Clinic

June 27, 2014

Address 4505 Hospital St., Pascagoula, MS 39581 205 E. Second St., Pass Christian, MS 39571 100 Airport Rd. S., Pearl, MS 39208 908 Sixth Ave., Picayune, MS 39466 235 Frontage Rd., Picayune, MS 39466 1249 S. Main St., Poplarville, MS 39470 303 S Archusa Ave., Quitman, MS 39355 655 Hwy. 49, Richland, MS 39218 301 Northlake Ave., Ste. 101, Ridgeland, MS 39157 1200 E. County Line Rd., Ridgeland, MS 39157 6704 Old Canton Rd., Ridgeland, MS 39157 8 Professional Pkwy., Ridgeland, MS 39157 1010B City Ave., Ripley, MS 38663 119 S Main St., Sardis, MS 38666 726 Goodman Rd. E., Ste. B, Southaven, MS 38671 1890 Goodman Rd. E., Southaven, MS 38671 1228 Goodman Rd. E., Southaven, MS 38671 6823 Elmore Rd., Southaven, MS 38671 6 Professional Plaza, Starkville, MS 39759 706 Hwy. 12 W., Starkville, MS 39759 3929 N. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS 38804 3437 Tupelo Commons, Ste. 101, Tupelo, MS 38804 610 Brunson Dr., Tupelo, MS 38801 3353 N. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS 38804 2152 Iowa Blvd., Vicksburg, MS 39180 1206 Mission 66, Vicksburg, MS 39183 120 Holt Collier Dr., Vicksburg, MS 39183 3505 Pemberton Square Blvd., Ste. 45, Vicksburg, MS 39180 223 W. Main St., West Point, MS 39773-2758 1113 Central Ave. E., Wiggins, MS 39577 639 Middleton Rd., Winona, MS 38967

Phone (228) 762-1525 (228) 452-0830 (601) 939-3753 (601) 798-4182 (601) 798-0103 (601) 795-0137 (601) 776-6988 (601) 932-3727 (601) 707-5255 (601) 957-6556 (601) 957-9292 (601) 957-8444 (662) 512-0019 (662) 487-1316 (662) 349-1959 (662) 772-5882 (601) 349-8838 (662) 536-3680 (662) 323-3330 (662) 323-0571 (662) 840-4624 (662) 842-2000 (662) 844-7211 (662) 844-3555 (601) 636-6353 (601) 638-2081 (601) 883-9898 (601) 630-9199 (662) 494-2020 (601) 928-3914 (662) 283-1781

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Website NA www.coasteyecare.com www.2020visioncareonline.com NA NA NA NA www.optical-2000.com www.crawfordeyecare.com www.lenscrafters.com www.optical2000.com www.visionsource-dampod.com NA www.drsallyesscott.com www.desotoeye.com www.obrienvision.com www.visionsource-dfvc.com NA www.criglervision.com www.fordvisionclinic.com www.bcvc2020.com www.spectacularspecs.com www.tupeloeye.com www.wandmeyes.com NA www.collinseye.com www.rankineye.com www.eyeclinicofwestpoint.com NA NA

Source: American Optometric Association, individual vision centers and other reliable sources. Centers arranged by city. Please direct questions and comments to Wally Northway at research@msbusiness.com.

SPORTS MEDICINE CLINICS Clinic Specialties/Services

Address

Phone

Website

Capital Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center 290 E. Layfair Dr., Ste. A, Flowood, MS 39232* Hip; knee; elbow; shoulder; hand; foot/ankle; sports medicine; adult reconstruction of hips/knees

(601) 987-8200

www.capitalorthosports.com

KDMC Sports medicine and Orthopaedic Clinic Muscle/ligament injury; rehabilitation; sports medicine

(601) 833-5725

www.kdmc.org

Mississippi Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Clinic 1325 E. FortiďŹ cation St., Jackson, MS 39202* (601) 354-4488 Shoulder; elbow; arm; hand/wrist; knee; foot/ankle; hip; leg; fractures; arthritis/joint replacement; physical therapy; sports medicine

www.msmoc.com

1014 D.A. Biglane Dr., Brookhaven, MS 39601

North Mississippi Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Clinic, LLC 4381 S. Eason Blvd., Tupelo, MS 38801 Hand/wrist; sports medicine; fractures; upper extremity; surgery; arthritis/joint replacement; foot/ankle; childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s services

(662) 840-5747

www.northmssportsmedicine.com

Oxford Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, PLLC 497 Azalea Dr., Ste. 102, Oxford, MS 38655* Sports medicine; hip/knee replacement; surgery; foot/ankle; fractures/trauma

(662) 513-2000

www.oxfordortho.org

Weatherly Sports Medicine Family Orthopaedic Clinic 1801 Crane Ridge, Jackson, MS 39216* Knee; hip; surgery; shoulder; foot/ankle; Achilles tendon; back; fractures; rotator cuff; hand/wrist; sports medicine

(601) 981-5633

www.weatherlyortho.com

* Capital Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Center also has locations in Madison and Vicksburg. Mississippi Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Clinic also has locations in Madison, Flowood, Brookhaven, Cleveland, Magee, Koscuisko, Carthage and Yazoo City. Weatherly Sports Medicine Family Orthopaedic Clinic also has a location in Brookhaven. Oxford Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, PLLC also has locations in Grenada and Batesville. Please direct questions and comments to Wally Northway at research@msbusiness.com.

NEWSMAKERS

16 I Mississippi Business Journal I June 27, 2014 Dubose approved as police chief

Stennis employees honored

The Meridian City Council has approved Benny Dubose as police chief. Dubose retired from the Meridian Police Department in 2009 after 28 years with the city including seven years as chief.

Assistant chief Buck Roberts had served as interim chief. Roberts took over as interim after chief James Lee was fired on May 6.

Five of NASA’s Stennis Space Center employees have won Silver Snoopy awards. The Silver Snoopy is the astronauts’ personal award and is presented to less than 1 percent of the total NASA workforce annually. Ron Snyder of Long Beach is a construction manager with the Jacobs Technology Facility Operating Services Contract Group at Stennis. He was recognized for leadership and dedication to the construction activities of the B-2 Test Stand Restoration Buildout Project in support of the core stage testing for NASA’s Space Launch System.

Mike Fincke served as science officer and flight engineer on the Expedition 9 mission in 2004, spending six months aboard the International Space Station. He served as commander of Expedition 18, which spanned a six-month period in 2008-9. Fincke was a mission specialist on STS-134 in 2011, the final flight of shuttle Endeavour.

Bob Pair, a native of Biloxi and resident of Picayune, is an instrumentation technician with Aerojet Rocketdyne at Stennis. He was recognized for 15 years of support to NASA. His efforts have played a key role in successful accomplishment of the center’s propulsion testing activities.

Stan Hogue of Long Beach is a mechanical technician with Aerojet Rocketdyne at Stennis. He was recognized for more than 20 years of dedication and service in support of space shuttle main engine and J2X testing projects.

Gerald Norris of Gulfport is the Program Management Support Division chief for the NASA Office of Procurement at Stennis. He was recognized for his dedication, leadership and contracting expertise in support of multiple NASA and commercial propulsion testing activities that play an instrumental role in the successful accomplishments of the agency’s mission.

Paul Foerman, a native of Nahunta, Ga., and resident of Ocean Springs, is the public affairs lead for the NASA Office of Communications. He was recognized for outstanding contributions and efforts in sharing the journey of space exploration with the public and inspiring the next generation of explorers.

Rice chosen as chief M. Vance Rice, a veteran law enforcement professional with nearly 25 years at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, is the new chief of police at Mississippi State University. Rice's appointment is pending formal approval by the Board of Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning. University officials said Rice is expected to begin work July 16.

Rice has served in the police Rice department at the Fayetteville institution since becoming a law officer in 1989. He was promoted over the years to patrol sergeant, training and career development lieutenant, criminal investigation department lieutenant, and patrol and criminal investigation department lieutenant. Since last year, he has served as police services captain, with responsibilities for all patrol and criminal investigations within the UA system.

Rice holds two UA degrees, including a bachelor's in human resource development and master's in operations management. In addition to academic degrees, Rice graduated in 2004 from the FBI National Academy and in 2008 from the Arkansas School of Law Enforcement Supervision. He also completed the Arkansas Leader, Criminal Justice Institute in 2012.

In April, Mississippi State officials announced that the assistant police chief at Purdue University was accepting the university's offer to become the next police chief. A short time later, Tim Potts notified the institution he would be unable to follow through on the commitment "for personal reasons."

JYL honors Dollarhide Butler Snow attorney John H. Dollarhide has been awarded the Outstanding Service Award by the Jackson Young Lawyers Association (JYL). Dollarhide has worked with the organization’s signature athletic and fundraising events, particularly the JYL Legal Beagle 5k Run/Walk, which raised more than $20,000 for the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.

Dollarhide is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group. He focuses his practice on business and commercial disputes, pharmaceutical and medical devices, general litigation, insurance coverage and e-discovery. He is a member of the American Bar Association, Mississippi Bar Association, Defense Research Institute and Capital Area Bar Association.

Dollarhide received his undergraduate degree in psychology at Mississippi State University where he graduated magna cum laude, and his J.D. from Mississippi College where he graduated summa cum laude.

ABA selects Ellard Wendy H. Ellard of Baker Donelson has been appointed to serve as the vice director of the Disaster Legal Services Team for the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association (ABA). She will serve a one-year term beginning in August 2014. Ellard, an associate in Baker Donelson's Jackson office, primarily practices in the areas of disaster recovery and state public policy. She has extensive experience with legal and regulatory compliance issues under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Recovery and Emergency Assistance Act and assisted public and provide nonprofit entities in navigation of the complex federal and state regulatory frameworks following Hurricane Katrina. Ellard has unique knowledge of previous policy applications and interpretations of FEMA's Public Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Programs, and she provides clients with support and guidance regarding eligibility criteria and regulatory requirements so that are able to more effectively navigate the federal grant process.

A 2007 cum laude graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, Ellard is a member of the Capital Area, Mississippi and American Bar Associations. She is also an active member of the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association and is a member of the National Emergency Management Association.

Pickering adds Brown, Hunt Joshua Brown has joined Pickering Firm Inc.’s Flowood office as a senior natural resources scientist. Brown received his bachelor of science degree in fisheries science and aquaculture from Mississippi State University.

Also, Phil Hunt has joined the firm’s Pearl office as a senior construction inspector. Hunt is a native of Pearl and received his bach- Brown elor degree in building construction and architectural construction technology from the University of Southern Mississippi. He recently retired as the Operations and Maintenance Division director at Pearl River Valley Water Supply District and has over 30 Hunt years of public service experience with the state of Mississippi, including the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

Munton named manager Hattiesburg native and resident Owen H. Munton is the new Hancock Bank mortgage production manager for Mississippi. With 12 years’ previous mortgage lending experience, he is based at Hancock’s new Oak Grove branch in Hattiesburg. Munton earned a bachelor of business administration degree from Mississippi State University and is currently enrolled in the Graduate School Munton of Banking at Louisiana State University. He is a member of the Mortgage Bankers Association, Mississippi Bankers Association, Mississippi Mortgage Bankers Association, Hattiesburg Area Association of Realtors and the Greater Hattiesburg Homebuilders Association.

Munton also serves on the Hattiesburg YMCA Board of Directors and as a Hattiesburg Youth Soccer Association commissioner.

Mortgage Originator magazine listed Munton as Top Rookie originator, ranked him 22nd nationally among all rookie originators and featured him as Rookie Superstar of the Month. Additionally, in 2010, Origination News listed him among the top 150 mortgage loan originators, and National Mortgage Professional magazine featured him in the Top 40 under 40.

MDOT workers earn certification MSU staff members graduate Three Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) employees have received the designation of certified public manager (CPM) while one employee received a certificate of supervisory management (CSM). The recipients are Bradley G. Williams (CPM), Christy Berry (CPM), Jeffrey K. Ely (CSM) and Perry Calhoun (CPM).

Weinauer replacing Davies After 20 years of service as an English professor at the University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. Ellen Weinauer has been named the next dean of the University’s Honors College. She will assume her new duties on July 1. Weinauer came to Southern Miss in 1994 as an assistant professor in the English Department. An active scholar in the field of 19th-Century American literature, Weinauer also has directed the Women’s Studies Program and the Graduate Program in English. For the past two years she has served as the director of the Interdisciplinary Studies Program.

Weinauer has also taught numerous honors world literature courses and has mentored many students through the honors thesis process.

A Minnesota native, Weinauer received her bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Wisconsin, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the Honors Program in 1985. She earned her Master’s Degree (1987) and doctorate (1993) in English from Indiana University.

In 1999 Weinauer became an associate professor of English at Southern Miss. While at Southern Miss she has twice won the Excellence in Teaching Award, in 2001 and 2012. In 2006 she received the Mississippi Humanities Council Teaching Award.

Weinauer takes over for Dr. David R. Davies, who is stepping down from the position he held for the past seven years to focus on his role as director of the British Studies Program and the Chateau Program (formerly the Abbey Program). He also plans to spend more time as a classroom instructor.

Eighteen Mississippi State University staff members are graduates of an annual professional development program offered by the university's Office of Sponsored Programs Administration. This year's edition of the Departmental Administrator Working Group, also known as DAWG, involved a nine-month curriculum designed to develop participants' sponsored-project administration skills and foster networking opportunities with campus peers.

The 2014 graduates include: Criss Bell, Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems; Christy Bischoff and Hannah Burnett, Sponsored Programs Administration; Mary Dikes, Coast Research and Extension Center; Nicole Ivancic, computer science and engineering department; Davern Jones, Center for Safety and Health; Paula Jones, sociology department; Karin Lee, International Institute; Jo McKenzie, Raspet Flight Research Laboratory; Roslyn Miller, Research and Curriculum Unit; Shlynn Morris, Graduate School; Toni Roberson, College of Veterinary Medicine's basic science department; Teresa Stewart, electrical and computer engineering department; Janie Taylor, Truck Crops Branch Experiment Station; Tan Tsai, International Institute; Heather Wainwright, plant and soil sciences department; Casey Watts, School of Human Sciences; and Lorie White, College of Education dean's office.

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

June 27, 2014

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» MISSISSIPPI LEADERS by Martin Willoughby

Learning to serve Gilliland leads The Rotary Club of Jackson

P

rior to moving to Memphis, I was a member for a number of years of The Rotary Club of Jackson, which is the State of Mississippi’s largest service club. Most readers are probably familiar with Rotary, but for those who aren’t, it is an international service organization formed in 1905 with over 1.2 million members worldwide. On July 12, The Rotary Club of Jackson will be celebrating its 100th anniversary with a special event and will have Rotary International President Gary C.K. Huang from Taiwan as a guest.

This will be a historic occasion to have a sitting RI president visit a local Mississippi Rotary club. One of the things I like about Rotary are its mottoes: “Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best.”

My interviewee this week, Scherry Gilliland, embodies these mottoes. She has been a member of The Rotary Club of Jackson since 1998 and as of Jan. 1, 2014, she is serving as executive director of the club.

Scherry grew up in Brookhaven and graduated from Copiah-Lincoln Community College and Belhaven College. She shared, “I loved learning . . . and still do. Growing up, there were many opportunities to get involved in service activities. I was fortunate to serve in a number of different leadership roles throughout these years.” Scherry had

an early interest in music and learned piano from her grandmother. She has shared her love of music for many years as a piano teacher and choir pianist. She also noted, “Raising my sons was the greatest leadership experience I have ever had. It was the lengthiest and the most important. During the years when I was preparing them for life, I didn’t realize that I was being prepared for my own future.”

In 1998, Scherry found her next passion, non-profit public relations and development. She has been a certified fund raising executive since 1998 and has worked with numerous organizations including Mississippi Children’s Home Services, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi, Junior Achievement and Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi. In 2010, she was contracted to set up a 501(c)(3) organization that drills water wells in Malawi, Africa. I know for many, the thought of fundraising is overwhelming. I asked Scherry how she has been so effective and seemed to enjoy it so much.

She emphasized that she loves to learn people’s stories and see the real joy that comes from giving. Scherry, like other effective leaders, is a change agent and enjoys serving where positive change is needed.

A person of deep faith, Scherry said, “My faith guides every day of my life. My daily opportunities are God’s gift to me. What I do with those opportunities is my gift to

“Growing up, there were many opportunities to get involved in service activities.”

Scherry Gilliland Executive director, The Rotary Club of Jackson

Him.” She also shared that her advice for future leaders is to remember that every experience in leadership is preparation for your next opportunity.

Don’t be afraid to take the opportunity that Martin Willoughby is offered to you…It is YOURS! If you don’t take it, someone else will.” Scherry’s passion is contagious. Her current role as executive director of The Rotary Club of Jackson allows her to share her passion with other service oriented leaders. In addition to other service activities, the club’s signature philanthropic project provides college scholarships for at least four high school seniors annually. I have seen first-hand how philanthropic activities like these can impact lives. My sister, Meg Willoughby Swayze, was a beneficiary of the club’s generosity years ago when she was able to earn a master’s degree as a Rotary scholar. I am thankful for leaders like Scherry who are on the front lines of making a difference in the lives of our communities.

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

Bookstore owner's first novel opens old family secrets

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» Flying Shoes

By Lisa Howorth Published by Bloomsbury USA $26.00 hardback

n the spirit of supporting Mississippi writers and Mississippi independent bookstores, we're doing both this week by shining the spotlight on Flying Shoes by Lisa Howorth, co-owner of Square Books in Oxford. It's her first novel and is receiving high praise from reviewers across the country. Although not a native Mississippian, Howorth moved to Oxford in the early 1970s because of her devotion to William Faulkner. She met Richard Howorth and the two were married, reared three children, and in 1979 opened Square Books.

Howorth's book is a work of fiction, but the murder is based on the still-unsolved case of her step brother who was nine years old when he was murdered. It was a front page story in the Washington Post. Howorth was born and reared in the Washington area where her family had lived for generations.

In the book, Mary Byrd Thornton could understand how a reporter couldn’t resist the story: a nine-year-old boy sexually molested and killed on Mother's Day, 1966. A suspect to whom

nothing would stick. A neighborhood riddled with secrets. No one, especially the bungling or complicit authorities, had been able to solve the crime. Now, thirty years later, the reporter’s call will reel a reluctant Mary Byrd from Mississippi back to Virginia where she must confront her family — and, once again, the murder’s irremovable stain of tragedy.

Yet the book is not a crime novel. It's an honest and luminous story of a particular time and place in the South, where even calamitous weather can be a character, everyone has a

story, and all are inextricably entwined. With a flamboyant cast, splendid dark humor, a potent sense of history, and a shocking true story at its heart, Flying Shoes is a rich and candid novel from a fresh new voice about family and memory and one woman’s flight from a wounded past.

Bobbie Ann Mason, author of In Country and The Girl in the Blue Beret, says of Flying Shoes, “Lisa Howorth's dazzling verbal wit almost stops you in your tracks while you are flying along in this delicious prose. It is a scream — also heartbreaking, saucy, sassy, poignant, and triumphant. Mary Byrd is a bold, kooky, quirky character I won't forget. It has been a long time since I read a novel with such charm, generosity, humor, daring, and brilliance. It is just splendid.”

An Associated Press reviewer says, “Howorth writes with real flair . . . A memorable mosaic of a place, a time and a goodhearted woman at midlife, facing crises old and new.”

— Lynn Lofton, mbj@msbusiness.com

18 I Mississippi Business Journal I June 27 2014 THE SPIN CYCLE

O.J.’s wild ride 20 years ago ushered in new era of journalism t’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since our world was transfixed by an astonishing, slow-motion car chase – O.J. Simpson in that white Bronco, pal Al Cowlings at the wheel, more than a dozen police cars in pursuit, TV helicopters looming overhead.

Simpson's former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, had been murdered, and the former football star had been named a suspect. Simpson had a gun in the iconic Bronco, and authorities feared he might commit suicide. After 90 minutes, the chase along the freeways of L.A. ended uneventfully in Simpson's driveway — with a staggering 95 million Americans watching on television. Face it, all of us can remember where we were and how we were entranced!

Thus began an extraordinary 15½month obsession with O.J., culminating in the "not guilty" verdict at his murder trial that bitterly divided the nation. But The Chase wasn't just the beginning of Simpsonmania. The national preoccupation with O.J. Simpson ushered in an entirely new media world.

So many of the trends that now engulf us had their roots in The Chase and the Trial of the Century: saturation coverage of a single story; celebrity journalism; reality TV; the fascination with criminal trials, the more lurid the better.

CNN took a lot of heat earlier this year for its single-minded focus on the saga of the missing plane. That phenomenon started with O.J., when the cable news pioneer devoted 900 hours of airtime to the subject. During one week, the networks turned over a total of 84 minutes of their nightly newscasts to the Simpson saga.

Reality TV has been a staple for quite awhile. But the notion that an actual story with real people rather than a produced drama could rivet the nation became abundantly clear with Simpson – and continues to shape the news today.

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Instagram Followers Give Mississippi Mom A Job The insatiable desire of advertisers to follow potential customers wherever they're headed means that for some people, doing what they love — if they do it well — can result in a pretty awesome career.

Melissa Vincent, 37, a stay-at-home mom from Hernando, Miss., never in her wildest dreams thought that snapping a photo of a bug in her tent on the Okavango Delta in Botswana would launch her Instagram career.

Vincent started out just exchanging photos with her sister back in 2011. But Instagram allowed her to tap into a creative side that she hadn't been able to give voice to before. She fell in love with the possibilities and honed her craft until she had 390,000 followers who loved the photos she posted

as "misvincent."

That in turn caused companies like National Geographic and Dos Equis to come calling, asking her to tag along on trips and post photos of what she saw.

An entire ecosystem has come into being around people like Vincent, who have mega-followings on social media. Companies realize that hiring social-networking stars on Instagram, Pinterest or Twitter is a crucial way to reach customers.

With a plugged-in younger generation turning away from traditional ad spaces such as newspapers, broadcast television and magazines in droves, ads need to go

1. Go mobile first – Having a website optimized for mobile devices will provide more SEO value than ever. Google gives added value to websites that are mobilefriendly. This means companies that aren’t optimized for mobile put themselves at a great disadvantage – not only in terms of their website’s user experience but also in terms of SEO. By making a business’s online presence more powerful and increasing their website’s SEO value, good “responsive design” can help it stay ahead of its competitors.

2. Content is still king — Good content will always provide decent SEO value for a

During one week, the networks turned over a total of 84 minutes of their nightly newscasts to the Simpson saga. where the eyeballs are.

Agencies are springing up to bring the two together. One example is the Mobile Media Lab, created by friends who started posting on Instagram soon after it launched. These social platforms are launching the careers of moms – and dads – across the world.

5 Emerging SEO trends In our rapidly changing Search Engine Optimized world, it’s imperative that businesses keep up with the latest SEO best practices to continue to build their brand online and in the digital domain.

Search-engine optimization tactics change over time — some would say every time a Google exec sneezes. Midway through 2014, it’s a perfect opportunity to review how SEO has changed this year and to evaluate whether your business is staying current. Some aspects of SEO have changed dramatically, while other guiding principles have remained tried and true.

With that in mind, here is a list of five new SEO trends from Digiday that will keep your SEO strategies top of mind:

business. Although many people hear content and automatically think of blog posts or whitepapers, there are other components such as videos and infographics that can be used effectively to share information while earning high levels of engagement and adding SEO value.

3. Don’t forget to be a good neighbor – Although obtaining quality inbound links has always been a focus point for SEO professionals, the practice has sometimes hurt the company’s branding efforts. Remember that both link building and effective branding need to complement one another in order to maximize their respective benefits. Reaching out – using tried and tested forms of PR to raise awareness of your website – is an important part of strengthening a business’ SEO presence, while letting it maintain control of brand image.

4. Social media is more important than ever – While the popularity of your business’s content on social media will not directly affect overall rankings, having positive social signals does help SEO. This is particularly true on Google Plus, where your content is more likely to be higher in an individual’s

search result if they are in your circle on Google Plus. In order to fully leverage this, it is important that a website include social sharing modules so that content can be Todd Smith quickly and easily shared by the most users possible.

5. That’s right, Google Plus — Google Plus offers more value than just helping your content rank higher in search-engine results for the people who have you in their circles.

This is particularly true if your business puts out a lot of interesting content on a regular basis. Correct implementation of Google Authorship adds a nice author visual that Google pulls from Google Plus — dramatically increasing click-through rate for content that features the image.

Frappe Mic | Starbucks Adds Luster To Brand With Scholarship Program Starbucks will provide a free online college education to thousands of its workers, without requiring that they remain with the company, through an unusual arrangement recently launched with Arizona State University.

The program is open to any of the company’s 135,000 United States employees, provided they work at least 20 hours a week and have the grades and test scores to gain admission to Arizona State. For a barista with at least two years of college credit, the company will pay full tuition; for those with fewer credits it will pay part of the cost, but even for many of them, courses will be free, with government and university aid.

In a low-wage service industry, Starbucks has for decades been unusual, doing things such as providing health insurance, even for part-timers, and giving its employees stock options. These innovative programs continue to make Starbucks one of the most valuable brands – and workplaces – in the land. For this new scholarship program, Starbucks takes a frappe-influenced Golden 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 fullservice branding, PR, marketing and advertising firm with offices in Jackson. The firm — based in Nashville, Tenn. — is also affiliated with Mad Genius. Contact him at todd@deanesmithpartners.com, and follow him @spinsurgeon.

SALES MOVES

June 27, 2014

I

Mississippi Business Journal

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19

» JEFFREY GITOMER

The old way or the new way? It’s really not a choice anymore.

M

y sales perspective flies in the face of traditional selling. And it’s not just a disruption – it’s the new way of sales.

What’s your perspective?

Last week (in part one) I discussed the worthlessness of the old way of selling – everything from cold calling and finding the pain to overcoming objections and closing the sale. I referred to “the old ways” as manipulative, insincere, and aggressive and cautioned that customers and prospects are not only against it, they’re insulted by it! Ouch.

Me? I prefer being assertive. And there is a huge difference between assertive and aggressive. Here are the four majors: • Aggressive salespeople tell. Assertive salespeople ask.

• Aggressive salespeople try to “close.” Assertive salespeople use testimonial proof.

• Aggressive salespeople go for the sale. Assertive salespeople go for the customer.

• Aggressive salespeople think “quota.” Assertive salespeople think “relationship.”

Which one are you? It's the difference between the old way and the new way.

Here's my list of what's happening NOW in sales.

The New Way. UPDATE: Sales will be happening the new way for the foreseeable future: • Value attraction. A marketing approach that tells me how I win, not who you are.

• Social attraction. A social presence that’s value-message based. Social messages that your prospective customer can find. NOTE: It's time to rethink and revamp the so-called "law of attraction." If you're looking to identify and attract willing buyers, value attraction and social attraction are the new laws. Value attraction and social attraction are

INCENTIVES

Continued from Page 12

Trustmark Bank offers its associates a wellness credit toward their health insurance premium by completing a health risk assessment and wellness exam at a physician’s office or at the onsite CareHere medical clinic. “Associates who participate in any of the wellness challenges that are offered throughout the year have the opportunity to win gift cards, sports gear and other tangible items,” said Becky Vaughn-Furlow, executive vice president for human resources.

“A large percentage of Trustmark associates have taken advantage of these programs, and it is apparent the incentives have definitely encouraged a major portion of associates to participate.”

In May 2010, Trustmark implemented the Healthy Workplace initiative, including a work site tour to identify opportunities to make the workplace healthier and risk assessments to evaluate individual health as well as lifestyle coaching from dietitians and fitness professionals.

the new way of selling.

• Find the pleasure. Things you both know about and like will make the sale easier and faster than painful things (that are likely none of your business) that make the prospect uncomfortable.

• Ask emotionally engaging questions. Ask questions about them (the prospect or customer), that make them respond in terms of you. Uncover their experience, their wisdom, and their knowledge.

• Discover the customer’s motive to buy.

Why people buy his one billion times more powerful than how to sell.

• Give perceived value beyond price. As a customer, I don't need justification to make a purchase. I need a perception that the value you offer me in exchange for my money is greater than the price you’re charging. I need to know how I win, produce, and profit as a result of purchase. I already know what it is, I already know what it does, I already know how it works. I don't need you to tell me you're the greatest. I just need you to tell me how I win after I take ownership.

• Confirm the urgency of your offer. Once you understand the customer's motive to buy, their urgency becomes apparent. If you haven't uncovered their motive, you will never know when they intend to purchase.

• Provide “voice-of-customer” proof. Video testimonials are the new black. When you say it about yourself, it's bragging. When a customer says it about you, it's proof. Take advantage of your best salespeople – your loyal customers! Testimonial videos can be offered as sales proof during a presentation and can also be posted on every form of your social media outreach. One of the most interesting aspects of testimonials is they also reinforce the belief of salespeople in their own product.

• Be both available and easy to do business with. 24.7.365 is the new 9-5. I want a friendly, intelligent, live human being to answer the phone when I call, and so does EVERY HUMAN BEING ON THE PLANET. Jeffrey Gitomer • Give “after the sale” value. Once I purchase, show me more and tell me more about how I can use, produce more, and profit more from what I own. Give me a weekly value message, not another sales message. Serve me, WOW me, and surprise me.

• Earn customer loyalty. Loyalty is earned slowly over time. (Just like trust.) Loyalty is gained with quality of product, ease of doing business, availability of people, online alternatives to both purchasing and service, speed of response, and value received. Loyal customers purchase time and time again without regard to price. Loyalty is defined in two parts: Part one: Will the customer do business with you again? Part two: Will the customer refer you? If they do both, that’s loyalty. Any other measurement is bogus.

• Earn referrals. Asking for referrals has been replaced by earning referrals and giving referrals.

Think about the last time you GAVE a referral. Oh wait, maybe you never have! That's because giving referrals requires work. I didn't say the new way of selling was easy, I just said it was a new way. Ask before you tell. Give before you get. Earn before you ask.

• Build online and word-of-mouth reputation. What are you known as? What are you known for? What is your image? What is your

“Additional programs include training for managers to help educate associates on the workplace wellness program and an annual health fair offers associates health screenings and fitness evaluations,” Vaughn-Furlow said.

“The Healthy Workplace initiative also provides results for data analysis and reporting tools to measure the number of associates utilizing health and wellness benefits as well as support from a dedicated team of health and wellness professionals to offer associates diet, nutrition and lifestyle programs.”

Reduced insurance premiums and lower co-pays are offered as incentives to employees of Singing River Health System, according to Robyn Gollott. R.N., program specialist for wellness. “One large incentive for our employees and their families who participate in our health benefit plan is if they are tobacco free and complete an annual wellness visit and health risk assessment, they are eligible for this incentive,” she said. “This incentive is helpful and financially healthy for every-

one's pocketbooks these days. We have a 95 percent success rate for participation in this incentive program.”

To encourage healthy behaviors among their employees, Singing River Health System — which operates hospitals in Pascagoula and Ocean Springs — offers a number of wellness programs. These opportunities include tobacco treatment; exercise and physical activity; meal planning, weight management and nutrition counseling; Weight Watchers at Work; bariatrics; and annual wellness visits.

In December 2013, Trustmark partnered with CareHere, an onsite medical clinic and wellness facility that provides convenient health care services to its associates located mainly in the Jackson Metro area. “The incentive plan design for the clinic is no out-of-pocket cost for their copayment for exams, lab work and any medications distributed from the dispensary, free health coaching, a dietitian and 24/7 nurse by phone for emergencies,” VaughnFurlow said.

At Blue Cross & Blue Shield, another im-

Google image? What is your social image? These five elements comprise your reputation. No asset is more valuable.

• Build relationships. Everyone talks about being relationship oriented. But my findings show just the opposite. A quick review of the elements above will let you see exactly where you are on the “solid relationship” scale. I don't want you to be relationship oriented, I want you to be relationship building. Every day.

Review this list and rate yourself between 1 and 10. Anywhere you score less than a seven in is telling you you're not near the new way yet. Work at it!

The new way will pay.

FREE GITBIT. I'll be writing more about the new way of selling, but for now if you would like to get both part one and part two that I've written, go to Gitomer.com and enter the words NEW WAY in the GitBit box.

Jeffrey Gitomer is the author of “The Sales Bible”, “Customer Satisfaction is Worthless” “Customer Loyalty is Priceless”, “The Little Red Book of Selling”, “The Little Red Book of Sales Answers”, “The Little Black Book of Connections”, “The Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude”, “The Little Green Book of Getting Your Way”, “The Little Platinum Book of ChaChing”, “The Little Teal Book of Trust”, “The Little Book of Leadership”, and “Social BOOM!” His website, www.gitomer.com, will lead you to more information about training and seminars, or email him personally at salesman@gitomer.com.

portant part of their employee program is the opportunity to attend a variety of group exercise classes on a daily basis. “We also provide health management programs to help support employees who may need additional expertise,” Bailess said. “These programs include our Color Me Healthy!

Program, which focuses on providing support to those with high cholesterol, diabetes, or glucose.

“We also offer a Healthy Lifestyle program, which helps individuals focus on achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, as well as asthma management, Well Mother, and tobacco cessation programs to our employees. An Employee Assistance Program and Nurse Advise Line are also offered to employees at no cost.”

The company provides a healthy working environment with its smoke-free campus; cafeteria that serves healthy, nutritious meals and snack options; indoor and outdoor walking tracks; and indoor fitness facility. Employees have the opportunity to use these facilities to be active throughout the workday.

Caring FOR YOU...

...WHEREVER

life

LEADS

The best healthcare should always have the fewest obstacles.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why Mississippi Health Partners introduced MHPConnect, our online link between patients and doctors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; anytime and from virtually anywhere. Now, renewing prescriptions, scheduling appointments and even viewing test results is easier than ever.

By pushing back the boundaries of healthcare, Mississippi Health Partners is forging stronger relationships with the hundreds of businesses we serve, and their employees.

We are a Mississippi-owned managed care company comprised of nearly 800 dedicated physicians and fourteen respected hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center and St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Building healthier lives is our way forward.

We are Mississippi Health Partners.

www.mhpartners.com