MBJ_Mar30_2018

INSIDE — Phase 2 of Renaissance gets go-ahead in Ridgeland — Page 2 DINING REVIEW

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March 30, 2018 • Vo. 40 No. 13 • 24 pages

GOVERNMENT/POLITICS

Dave’s Triple B brings ‘comfort food’ in a big way

Leland Speed speaks in support of Senate Bill 3045 Tuesday at the state Capitol.

— Page 2

MBJ DOUBLE FOCUS

JACK WEATHERLY/MBJ

TOURISM {Section begins P9}

» Romantic getaways » Day trip to the Delta » Hattiesburg the third most visited city in Mississippi » Laurel the new hip place in Mississippi

Women & Minorities in Business {Section begins P17}

» Karovan: Creating a big event » Dependable Source places Mississippians in good jobs

{The List P20-23} » Women-owned businesses » Minority-owned businesses

Community improvement district supporters rally for legislation

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com Supporters of a bill that would create community improvement districts in cities across Mississippi rallied at the state Capitol Tuesday to urge Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves to reconsider the measure.

Senate Bill 3045 died in the Senate Finance Committee because it was not called up for a vote.

Reeves, who is president of the Senate, could have make that happen, proponents say, but for the fourth time Reeves did not.

Leland Speed, longtime business and civic leader, spoke on the Capitol steps, saying he was confounded by Reeves’ response to the pro-

posed legislation.

He said that he had “begged” Reeves to support it, but that Reeves never said no nor gave a reason.

Reeves sent word to the Mississippi Business Journal via email from his communications director, Laura Hipp, as follows: “The Lieutenant Governor personally knows people who are living on a fixed income and can’t afford to pay 6 more mills because they already live in one of the highest-taxed jurisdictions in Mississippi. Some rich people may be fine paying more taxes, but they have the ability to voluntarily contribute to their homeowners’ association right now.

“Most conservative Republicans in the Senate oppose raising people’s taxes and turning

over tax dollars to unelected representatives.

He applauds those who contribute to homeowners’ associations to make their community a better place.

“Also, the bill did not die in committee last year. It died on the calendar because no one from the Jackson delegation would come to the podium to defend it.”

Twenty-four representatives of neighborhood associations signed a letter to Reeves dated March 8.

The letter was signed by Ben Allen, president of Jackson Downtown Partners, a business improvement district, and Speed, listed as chairman emeritus of the group.

“There are hundreds of [CIDs], allowing

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See LEGISLATION, Page 5

2 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q March 30, 2018 DINING REVIEW

Dave’s Triple B brings ‘comfort food’ in a big way

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

The restaurant has had a soft opening since March 21.

A week later, a sign still isn’t up.

Some passersby might think it’s the return of Chimneyville Smokehouse, which occupied the train terminal-style building at 970 High St. from 1989 till last November.

But the inviting front-end deck and the refurbished, brightened and refurnished interior tell you that something has changed.

And the menu confirms it.

I had chicken and dumplings at Dave’s Triple B, which was thick, creamy and filling. A house-made biscuit rode in the center.

It was the Thursday special menu item, for $10, including drink and tax.

This is the second phase of David Raines’ evolving business plan.

First day, with no advertising of any sort, drew about 100 customers; the next day more than doubled that, he said.

Raines is a devotee of beef. But not just any beef. He is totally committed to wagyu beef from cattle that are raised in a strict Japanese style and are known for intense marbling and thus juiciness, and high prices.

Raines eliminates several costly steps in his beef chain because of his vertically integrated enterprise.

His father operates a wagyu ranch in Louisiana between Monroe and Vicksburg, which provides meat to Raines’ Flora Butcher Shop, which opened Aug. 1, 2016.

And Dave’s Triple B (the butcher, the baker and the barbecue maker) offers pork, catfish and vegetables from local producers.

The menu includes beef and pork barbecue.

Raines studied the in-house menu and marveled at the price of his wagyu burger at $11, served on a house-made bun (one of six breads made on the premises).

Waiting in the wings to make its debut on the menu is Big Rhonda. At three pounds and costing $60, it is a huge chicken-fried steak. The Big Rhonda Challenge, at $80, is the same size, but with two pounds of french fires, six biscuits and salad. If the challenger is successful in eating the whole meal, it’s free. A T-shirt goes to the challenger, whether he or she is successful or not. A food network has already contacted Raines about the meal.

“We don’t do anything skimpy,” said Raines, who, at 6 foot 5 inches and about 275 pounds, looks like he would have no trouble manhandling a side of beef.

For purposes of this review, Raines provided a “sampler” of the menu – beef and pork barbecue, brisket, andouille, meat loaf, pot roast, spaghetti and meatballs, mac and cheese, roasted vegetables, braised greens and cornbread and Texas toast.

His Triple B menu is “comfort food,” he says. Catering and special delivery are two outreaches. About 100 meals were sent out to offices the first day.

Raines doesn’t see an end to his journey in which he traveled the world learning his art and craft.

He joined the Army right out of high school in Monroe, La., and he was stationed primarily in Mannheim, Germany. He completed his three-year tour and took a degree in history at LSU. His first idea was to get into international trade, so he learned Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan. That didn’t last long, as he found the business “too shady.”

So he took up international cuisine.

One stop was in Italy, where he discovered the poetry of

JACK WEATHERLY/MBJ

David Raines has opened his second venture.

Mario Luzi, one of whose poems contains the line “endlessly I become what I am,” which became Raines’ motto.

Raines interprets that as a motivation never to rest on his laurels.

Now that he sees catching a breath, does he think he might become comfortable?

No. He sees another restaurant in the next year and one-half, this one for fine dining, in which he earned his chef’s stripes working for such American notables as Emril Lagasse and John Folse in New Orleans.

When Folse and Rick Tramonto opened Seafood R’Evolution in Ridgeland in 2014, they brought on Raines as chef de cuisine.

Then Raines opened his butchery in Flora.

Meantime, a road sign is supposed to go up at the new restaurant and maybe the hours (10:30 a.m. till 2:30 p.m.

Monday through Saturday) will be put on the entry.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Phase 2 of Renaissance gets go-ahead in Ridgeland

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

In simple counting, 2 comes before 3.

But in a Ridgeland commercial development, it appeared for a while that the reverse was in order.

Phase 3 of the Renaissance at Colony Park was proposed in 2015.

Phase 2 didn’t go before the Ridgeland Board of Aldermen till last Tuesday, and it was approved.

What scrambled the sequence of numbers in the Renaissance development was a lawsuit filed in 2015.

Nine homeowners in upscale neighborhoods along Highland Colony Parkway sued Colony Park LLC – contending that the city gave preferential consideration to accommodate Costco. Madison County Judge John Emfinger ruled in favor of the city against the development group led by

Andrew Mattiace.

But the homeowners appealed. Oral arguments on the stalled Phase 3 of Renaissance were heard Feb. 5 by a three-justice panel of the state Supreme Court, which has not delivered an opinion yet.

Mayor Gene McGee said this week that he is hopeful that the Costco plan will move forward. He said the wholesaler has some options, such as not putting in gasoline pumps, as it usually does. Costco headquarters said that its “policy is not to comment on future warehouses.”

The plaintiffs claim the Costco Wholesale Store will create too much traffic and will change the nature of the immediate area and devalue their homes.

The board approved the site plan for Phase 2 by a vote of 6-0, with one absence, in an overlay district approved in November.

The overlay district uses allow a bou-

Courtesy of Dean and Dean Associates/For the MBJ

The second phase of the Renaissance at Colony Park will be horseshoe-shaped and include a boutique movie house.

tique movie house with up to six screens, serving alcohol on the premises.

Another business can sell its craft beer in cups for consumption within the boundaries of the shopping 55-acre center during

festival events.

Otherwise, the district will allow several drive-through businesses—banks, a fastfood restaurant, a coffee house, a fast-casual restaurant, and a pharmacy.

March 30, 2018

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Brad Gatlin named Madison County President

GULF COAST

Brad Gatlin Madison County President 1010 Highland Colony Parkway Ridgeland, MS 39157 601-607-8008 BradGatlin@BankPlus.net

Courtesy of Relativity/MBJ

An Aeon 1 engine undergoes test at a Stennis Space Center test stand.

Rocket startup signs agreement with Stennis Space Center

By LISA MONTI mbj@msbusiness.com

The first-ever Commercial Space Launch Act (CSLA) agreement between NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock County and a privately funded company has been announced by Tim Ellis, CEO and co-founder of Relativity Space, an orbital launch company.

The Los Angeles-based Relativity has created the world’s largest metal 3D printer to print their own rockets, and launch satellites into space. Mark Cuban is among the company’s investors.

The long-term agreement with NASA grants Relativity exclusive use of the E4 test complex at Stennis to conduct engine testing around-the-clock, develop multiple vertical engine test stands, along with a second and first stage hold-down test stand. Relativity estimates the agreement will save the company up to $30 million in infrastructure costs. Lease payment amount was not available.

“Our partnership with Stennis is an important milestone for Relativity,” said Ellis. “We are an emerging leader in America’s commercial space industry and, as the company moves into its next phase of growth, this agreement, gives us the certainty and flexibility we need to develop our vehicle in the most efficient way

possible. Our team and the path-breaking technology they have developed are reimagining the way rockets are built and flown and this partnership will help us make our vision a reality.”

Richard Gilbrech, Stennis Space Center director, said, “Signing of our first CSLA agreement with Relativity Space opens yet another avenue for commercial customers to perform cost-efficient engine testing at Stennis.”

The agreement is for 10 years with a 10-year extension option. The 25-acre E4 complex was originally developed

by NASA with multiple test cells to test engines up to several hundred thousand pounds of thrust but is currently unused.

Relativity plans to use E4 initially to qualify and acceptance test more than 36 vehicles and 360 engines per year.

Last month, Ellis was selected to serve on the National Space Council’s Users’ Advisory Group, which consists of private, public and non-governmental members involved in space enterprises. The company said Relativity is the only early-stage commercial space company represented on the UAG and that the 27-year-old Ellis is its youngest member.

BankPlus is pleased to announce Brad Gatlin has been promoted to Madison County President.

Gatlin has been a part of the BankPlus team for more than nine years, and has been an integral part of the bank’s growth in the Jackson Metro. Gatlin has been in the banking industry for more than 18 years, and holds both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Mississippi State University.

In the community, Gatlin serves on the Board of Trustees of Madison-Ridgeland Academy and on the Mississippi Kidney Foundation Board.

Gatlin is married to Kelley Gatlin and they have two children, Mary Crisler and Frances. They attend Madison United Methodist Church and currently reside in Ridgeland.

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Newsmakers

4 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q March 30, 2018

Skills Foundation announces Board & Officers

The Skills Foundation of Mississippi, Inc. recently announced that Amy Tate, Government Affairs Director for the Tennessee Valley Authority has been elected to Chair the organization for 2018, succeeding former Hancock Bank CEO & former Mayor of Gulfport George Schloegel. The Skills Foundation of Mississippi is a Mississippi based non-profit focused on growing the quantity of in-demand skilled labor across the state.

The inaugural Board of Directors was elected and Curnis Upkins, Vice President of Human Resources & Workforce Development for Mississippi Hospital Association Solutions, Inc., was elected Vice Chairman for The Skills Foundation.

Other directors and officers are: » Christa Bishop - Senior Vice President Communications - Cooperative Energy » Carol Burger - President/CEO - United Way of the Capitol Area » Ashley Edwards - President/CEO - Gulf Coast Business Council » Ed Gardner - Director of Business & Economic Development - Entergy Mississippi » Jennifer Johnson - Policy Director - Southern Bancorp Community Partners » Jay Moon - President/CEO - Mississippi Manufacturers Association » George Schloegel (Chairman Emeritus)- Former Mayor of Gulfport, Former Director State Workforce Investment Board, Retired CEO of Hancock Bank » Amy Tate - Government Relations Manager Tennessee Valley Authority » Curnis Upkins - Vice President, Human Resources & Workforce Development - Mississippi Hospital Association Solutions, Inc. » Brian Useforge - Economic Development Director - Mississippi Power Company » Amy Walker - Area Sales Manager – Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions

Yowell joins clinic David R. Yowell, PhD, recently joined Hattiesburg Clinic Psychology & Counseling.

Yowell offers counseling for individuals, couples and families and psychological evaluation and testing for adolescents and adults. He also specializes in Eye Movement Desensitization and Yowell Reprocessing (EMDR) trauma therapy.

Yowell received his Doctorate in Psychology and a Master of Arts from The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. He completed an internship at the University of South Florida Counseling Center in Tampa. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Mississippi Psychological Association.

Butler Snow honored by Benchmark Litigation Butler Snow has been named Product Liability Firm of the Year by Benchmark Litigation. The awards honor firms that emerged as leaders in their particular areas of law over the past 12 months. Winners are chosen based on interviews with litigators across the

Dr. FJ Eicke receives high honor

service careers.

Markham is receiving a $1,000 stipend, meal stipend, housing accommodations and round-trip airfare.

As part of the fellowship experience, he will engage in discussions with other emerging leaders from around the country who are driven to make a difference through service to their communities.

Markham transferred last fall to MSU from Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

Airport "eputy "irector chosen for forum

Courtesy Photo by Rick Dillard/ Courtesy of MWF

The Mississippi Wildlife Federation recently recognized Dr. FJ Eicke of Ocean Springs as MWF’s 2017 Fisheries Conservationist of the Year for his commitment to the fisheries resources of Mississippi. He is active in the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) at the state and national levels. Eicke has been a member of CCA since the late 1980’s. He has served CCA as President, Chairman, and continues on the Executive Board. He serves CCA at the national level on the Government Relations Committee and Board of Directors.

He has served as Chair of the CCA Mississippi Government Relations Committee since 2008, as well as on three Gulf Council Advisory panels.Pictured with Eicke are Demery Grubbs (left), MWF President, and Irene Reaves, MWF President-elect.

country and their clients.

In addition to winning Product Liability Firm of the Year, Butler Snow was shortlisted for Mississippi Firm of the Year and Tennessee Firm of the Year, while attorney Christy D. Jones was shortlisted for Product Liability Attorney of the Year. Seven Butler Snow attorneys are listed individually as 2018 Benchmark Litigation Stars – William M. Gage, John C. Henegan, Christy D. Jones, Gayle Malone, Jr., Orlando R. Richmond, Sr., E. Barney Robinson III, Kari L. Sutherland, and Robert J. Walker

Toczyl joins clinic Gregory R. Toczyl, MD, FAANS, recently joined Hattiesburg Clinic Neurological Surgery.

He provides surgical treatment for diseases and disorders affecting the brain, spine and related areas. His special practice interests include deep brain stimulation for movement disorders, Toczyl complex spine cases and brain tumors.

Toczyl received his medical degree from Memorial University of Newfoundland in Newfoundland, Canada. He completed an internship and a residency in neurological surgery at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He also completed a fellowship in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery from Mayfield Clinic in Cincinnati.

Toczyl is board certified in neurological surgery by the American Board of Neurological Surgery. He is a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and The Congress of Neurological Surgeons.

Phillips-Gaines ranked in Forbes Best in State Lynn Phillips-Gaines, CFP at Phillips Financial and financial advisor with Raymond James, was named to Forbes 2018 BestIn-State Wealth Advisors List.

The list spotlights top-performing advisors across the United States who were nominated by their firms- and then researched, interviewed, and ranked in their Phillips-Gaines respective states.

In 2017, she was also ranked among Forbes Top 200 Women Wealth Advisors.

MSU engineering student receives fellowship Senior Khalil N. Markham of Biloxi, a computer engineering student in Mississippi State University’s Judy and Bobby Shackouls Honors College, has been selected for a fellowship at the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs’ Junior Summer Institute in Public Policy and International Markham Affairs. The seven-week academic and experiential learning program is designed to equip undergraduate students with the knowledge and skills to thrive in graduate programs and public

Matt Dowell, Deputy Director at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, was recently selected by the Air Force to attend the 65th Annual National Security Forum at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Ala. The Air Force’s Air War College annually hosts approximately 150 civilian distinguished visitors Dowell for the NSF. The purpose of the forum is to share perspectives between key civic leaders, senior military officers, and highly experienced government civilians on current and future topics pertaining to strategic leadership, strategy, national security, and other key areas.

Dowell was nominated by the leadership at the Columbus Air Force Base and selected based on his background and the role he plays in the local community.

Jackson’s Aldridge receives Iron Eyes Cody Award

Jackson’s Ron Aldridge was recently honored

by Keep America Beautiful with the Iron Eyes Cody Award in recognition of his decades of community serviced devoted to advancing Mississippi as a cleaner and greener state.

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s community improvement nonprofit organization for 65 years, presented its top volunteer award to Aldridge at its National Awards Ceremony in Dallas. Aldridge was nominated for the award by Keep Mississippi Beautiful (KMB).

The Iron Eyes Cody Award was created in honor of Keep America Beautiful’s landmark public awareness campaign of the 1970s Aldridge, is the executive vice president of the Mississippi Beverage Association, has served on the KMB board of directors since 1992 and as a past chairman. His maintains a close working relationship with Mississippi legislators and with the Mississippi Department of Transportation. Every year, he supports KMB’s Great American Cleanup State Kickoff.

He was honored with the KMB’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2016, which then renamed the award in his honor.

He was one of three original organizers of the Mississippi Recycling Coalition and has served on its board of directors since 1997. Aldridge was on Keep Jackson Beautiful’s board of directors, former Gov. Haley Barbour’s environmental task force, the Mississippi Scenic Byways Advisory Committee, as a member of the Mississippi Environmental Educators Association, and the State Recycling Task Force. Keep Mississippi Beautiful also selected Aldridge in 2003 for its highest honor, the Louise Godwin Award.

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THE SPIN CYCLE

Facebook finally responded to Cambridge Analytica crisis T

he media, communications pros, lawmakers and investors – along with the rest of the world – continuously asked: where is Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the wake of the spiraling Cambridge Analytica private data crisis.

Zuckerberg and Facebook faced significant media criticism for not addressing reports that Cambridge Analytica obtained the private data of tens of millions of the platform’s users.

After four days of silence – an eternity in a global crisis – communications experts challenged the Facebook leader to step forward.

“This is the same Mark Zuckerberg that had time to tour the country and go around small towns when people were wondering if he was running for office. Suddenly, he’s absent,” Rose Tantraphol, adjunct instructor in the Advertising + Public Relations Department in Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences told PRWeek. “With every hour he doesn’t step into his leadership role, he’s worsening that leadership vacuum everyone is watching right now.”

Facebook’s latest turn in media scrutiny broke on Saturday, March 17, when The New York Times and The Guardian revealed that Cambridge Analytica harvested information on 50 million users. Cambridge then used the data to power its ad-targeting campaign for Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Facebook is facing significant headwinds in other parts of the world. In Europe, the General Data Protection Act is set to take effect in May across all 28 E.U. states, forcing tech companies that rely on data collection to disclose an unprecedented amount of information, according to PRWeek.

Facebook should be especially careful in communicating with advertisers, experts say. A report by Pivotal Research Group indicates that Facebook may restrict what data it shares, “frustrating many of their commercial partners.”

Maybe Facebook executives have learned, too slowly, that a trust breach is profoundly more damaging than a data breach. The elegantly simple remedies for the former are spelled out in the Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Code of Ethics – as detailed in a plea from PRSA National Chair Anthony D’Angelo during this latest crisis.

Implementing them can require extraordinary courage, a thick skin and hard, sustained work. Not implementing them will lead to further erosion of trust and market capitalization, and a commensurate increase in government hearings and industry regulation.

Zuckerberg, after a glacial delay, finally responded to the public outcry for information via “Anderson Cooper 360” and various other statements in a media tour. An apology is an important start, but it’s reactive.

Here are applicable values and principles from the PRSA Code of Ethics that Facebook should advance: Honesty and fairness. This is essential for informed decision-making in a democratic society. In short, come clean and play fair. If there is unpleasant news about what has happened, Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg, share it completely and quickly for Facebook’s benefit as well as the public’s. You do not want it to come from other sources, as has been happening since 2015 with this matter.

Free flow of information, which trusted organizations consistently advance. Don’t deflect, obfuscate or dissemble. Don’t have attorneys take over communications, which inherently sends a suspicious message.

Act promptly to correct erroneous communications. Crises can have huge magnitude as one-time events, or they can have protracted, steady-drip effects. Facebook’s Cambridge Analytica scandal has both.

Zuckerberg finally answered the urgent question, “Where are you on this?” Therefore, he and other Facebook leaders must spell out what they’re doing to fix every as-

LEGISLATION

ber, approved several dozen local sales tax increases, including one in Vaiden, which is on Interstate 55 and benefits from travelers.

The CID bill also sailed through the committee, he said. The major difference between a CID levy and a sales tax would be that a property tax or fee is imposed only on those who live in the district formed by residents, he said.

Downtown Jackson Partners, a business improvement district, was proposed in 1993, but it took three years to get legislation for that approved, Allen said.

“Today, the downtown business improvement district is statistically the safest area in the state of Mississippi,” he said.

In 1996, 72 percent of downtown property owners voted for creation of the district, Allen said.

The latest renewal of the district, in 2016, got a 96.5 percent vote to continue the assessment, with a 10 percent increase, he said.

Continued from, Page 1

neighborhoods and communities within a city to voluntarily assess themselves with a ‘fee’ for the sole purpose of improving the quality of life, protect property values and generally improve neighborhoods,” the letter stated.

Speed said he is “very confident” that there are votes in the associations to muster a 60 percent approval, or whatever the “super-majority” may be.

Ward 7 Councilwoman Virgi Lindsay, who attended the press conference, said afterward that the legislation is a “vehicle for empowering neighborhoods to help themselves.”

The bill was sponsored by all senators in the metro Jackson area.

Michel told the Journal that the Local and Private Committee, of which he is a mem-

pect of every relevant problem and report steadily on progress.

Disclosure of information, to build trust with the public by revealing all information needed for responsible decision-making.

After reports this past weekend by The New York Times and the Observer of London, the deputy general counsel at Facebook said, “Everyone involved gave their consent.” Can informed consent happen when millions of Facebook users are seemingly expected, for their own protection, to turn off app settings that they aren’t aware exist?

Reveal the sponsors for causes and interests represented. The information consumer has a right to know whether a message is sponsored and who is sponsoring it.

Safeguarding confidences, to provide appropriate protection of confidential and private information. It is not unethical to keep proprietary information confidential; any company must do so to protect intellectual property and strategies to compete in a robust business environment. However, that information cannot be safeguarded if it harms the interests of the nation or society.

Conflicts of interest must be avoided or ended to ensure one’s professional or personal interests are not in conflict with society’s interests. This requires transparency, and transparency requires speed and consistency to enable trust.

So we challenge Facebook executives to continue to address the Cambridge Analytica crises by engaging PR pros – either on staff or through an external agency – that know PRSA’s Code of Ethics, and can steer the social media ship out of troubled waters.

Crashed Mic | United Airlines continues PR tailspin To say that United Airlines reputation has been dogged is a massive understatement!

Just days after the airlines accidentally shipped a dog to Japan instead to Kansas City with its family, who are from Wichita, the carrier hit more turbulence when a small dog died during a flight from Hous-

ton to New York. This happened after a flight attendant insisted its owner place the dog in an overhead bin.

The owner found the black French bulldog dead at the conclusion of the 3-1/2 hour flight.

Todd Smith Putting animals in the overhead compartment is against the airline’s policies, which say pets are required to travel in carriers that “must fit completely under the seat in front of the customer and remain there at all times.” United has launched and investigation into why an attendant did this.

The dog death was just the latest in a string of controversies for the airline – which has been struggling to regain passenger confidence since last April, when a traveler was forcibly removed from a jet at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

The incident, involving passenger David Dao had lawmakers calling for a hearing on the airline industry’s treatment of passengers and put CEO Oscar Munoz in the hot seat for his handling of what become a PR nightmare.

And just last August, a Houston family blamed United for the death of their 5-year-old King Charles spaniel. The dog was in the cargo hold of a flight that was held on the tarmac for two hours before taking off for San Francisco.

This dog tale won’t go away, and United’s reputation remains, well, in the doghouse.

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

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

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» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Key GOP legislators must be fake Republicans

H

ey, all you Mississippi legislators who switched from Democrat to Republican. Yes, all y’all who vote the conservative party line and give Republicans supermajorities in the House and Senate.

Are y’all really fake Republicans?

That seems to be the message coming from your colleague Sen. Chris McDaniel regarding another former legislator who switched from Democrat to Republican.

“Before Commissioner Hyde-Smith was elected to lead the Department of Agriculture, her only legislative experience was that of a Democrat,” exclaimed McDaniel, after Gov. Phil Bryant selected her and not him to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran.

“She ran as a Democrat. She served as a Democrat. She voted like a Democrat.

Although her reputation in Jackson was that of a moderate Democrat, the last thing the state of Mississippi needs in Washington is another moderate Democrat.”

Yes, guys, when Cindy Hyde-Smith was elected to the Mississippi Senate in 2000, like y’all, she was a Democrat. In 2010 she switched to the Republican Party. In 2011 she ran for Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce as a Republican and won. In 2015 she ran unopposed in the Republican primary and was handily re-elected in the General Election.

Hey, Senators Terry Burton, President Pro Tempore and Rules Commit-

tee Chairman (2002), Videt Bill Crawford Carmichael, Insurance Committee Chairman (2002), Tommy Gollott, Ports and Marine Resources Committee Chairman (2007), Gray Tollison, Education Committee Chairman (2011), and Nicky Browing, Forestry Committee Chairman (2013), y’all switched and helped give the GOP a conservative super-majority (over 60 percent) in the Senate in 2013. Are y’all really fake Republicans as your colleague suggests?

Hey, Representatives Nolan Mettetal, Universities and Colleges Committee Chairman, Jeff Smith, Ways and Means Committee Chairman (2011), and Donnie Bell, Workforce Development Committee Chairman (2011), y’all helped give Republicans a majority in the House in 2012. And, hey, Representatives Jason White, Rules Committee Chairman (2012), Randall Patterson, Investigate State Offices Committee Chairman (2014), and Jody Steverson, Public Utilities Committee Vice-Chairman (2015), y’all switched and helped give Republicans a conservative super-majority in the House in 2016. Are y’all really fake Republicans too?

Golly Gomer! How in the world could so many fake Republicans get to hold such powerful positions in the Republican controlled Legislature?

See CRAWFORD, Page 7

he ink had barely dried on the qualifying papers late last month when the campaign for U.S. Senate went negative.

From day one, Sen. Roger Wicker and state Sen. Chris McDaniel swiped at one another with Twitter memes, ads and personal appearances all but devoid of discussions of policy and issues. They even argued over whose disparaging words were the most disparaging.

Then McDaniel jumped out of that race and into the race for the seat left open by the impending retirement of Sen. Thad Cochran. And, we quickly learned there is an even lower road on the campaign trail.

McDaniel made a commendable call for unity. But he couched it in terms that sound more like unite — or else.

"By announcing early, we are asking Mississippi Republicans to unite around my candidacy and avoid another contentious contest among GOP members that would only improve the Democrats' chances of winning the open seat," he wrote in the statement on his switch.

McDaniel, though, could choose not to be contentious. But he won't.

And there's a good reason not to. It's the reason that any candidate goes negative. It's the reason candidates spend so much time talking about what is wrong with the opponents.

It works.

People respond. They talk about those negative ads and memes.

They share them back and forth, usually with the caveat that they are sick of them. It would be a fool's errand for a newspaper to appeal to politicians to stop.

And now, even Gov. Phil Bryant has taken the bait, giving McDaniel a verbal flogging via the Clarion-Ledger. The leader of the state and its Republican Party should have chosen his words more wisely, more in tune with the dignity of his office.

Here's why.

McDaniel asks voters to Remember Mississippi, alluding to the 2014 race he says he would have won if not for dirty tricks by the Cochran campaign.

We remember the Mississippi of 2014, too. It would be hard to forget because the state bears the scars of that bruising campaign. No doubt the rest of the country remembers as well. And that's an image we would prefer they'd forget.

We would prefer Mississippi be remembered for its natural beauty, its artists and writers, its generosity. But reading great literature or appreciating art is difficult. Laughing at the foibles of a bunch of mudslinging politicians is easy.

We foresee the image Mississippi will wear.

Unless we — that includes you, your friends and neighbors who love this state — have had enough.

Every time a politician of either party goes negative, we have to act.

We have to talk, not just with our friends and neighbors, but with the mudslingers themselves.

We must call, write, email, search them out on social media and tell them to knock it off. Pick a policy that's near and dear and ask them where they stand on that issue.

Act. Or brace yourselves for more headlines like: "A Quick Guide to Mississippi's Insane, Senate Race-Changing Scandal" — Slate.com, May 2014.

You say they'll never listen? If they don't, it's just because they have not heard from enough of us.

Yet. Get louder. Find more fed up people and invite them to the party.

— The Sun Herald

PERSPECTIVE

March 30, 2018 I Mississippi Business Journal

» RICKY NOBILE

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Surely people who switch from Democrat to Republican can never be trusted conservatives?

Or is it someone else’s rhetoric that can’t be trusted?

Perhaps the Democratic past of Hyde-Smith is no more relevant than the similar past of two ex-Democrats who became Republican Presidents – Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump. And no more relevant than the past of all the above ex-Democrat legislators who now serve as prominent Republicans in the House and Senate.

Maybe the relevant questions about Hyde-Smith should be has she shown herself over the past eight years as a statewide Republican elected official to be Republican and conservative enough to be the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate.

Hmmm.

Obviously, longtime Republican and conservative Gov. Bryant thinks Hyde-Smith is Republican and conservative enough, as do many other state conservative leaders who point to Hyde-Smith’s campaigning for Trump and serving as co-chair of the his campaign’s agriculture advisory committee We’ll find out what Mississippi voters think in November.

Bill Crawford can be reached at crawfolk@gmail.com.

»FROM THE GROUND UP WITH PHIL HARDWICK

Time to sell a house; might try St. Joseph for a little help

S

pring is the best time of year to sell a house. But what if the house still isn’t selling after springtime? The seller could lower the price, increase marketing efforts or maybe call on St. Joseph.

Does planting an upside down statuette in your front yard increase the odds that your house will sell sooner than later? If it is a statuette of St. Joseph the answer is “yes,” according to quite a few people.

The dream of just about every seller of real estate is to sell the property for the listed price within twenty-four hours of it being listed. Every seller wants to get top dollar for his real estate. After that desire comes the wish to sell the property fast. Some markets are so hot that listing agents have prospective buyers already signed up before the agents even get certain listings. Then there are markets where properties are on the market for months at a time. Sellers in such situations may want to investigate the possibility of turning to St. Joseph, patron saint of home life.

What is a patron saint? And anyway, who is St. Joseph?

This inquiring mind went straight to the catholic.org web site to learn more. According the web site, patron saints are chosen as special protectors or guardians over areas of life.

These areas can include occupations, illnesses, churches, countries, causes — anything that is important to people. Although, popes have named patron saints, patrons can be chosen by other individuals or groups as well. Usually, patron saints are chosen by individuals because an interest, talent, or event in their lives aligns with the special area. For example, many people who travel often wear a St. Christopher medal because he is the patron saint of travelers. For those really interested in the subject of patron saints, there is a web site

that lists patron saints by topic and by name. It is online at http://www.catholic-saints.info/patron-saints/list-of-patron-saints-patronage.htm Why is St. Joseph the patron saint of real estate? Well, the reasoning goes that because St. Joseph was a carpenter, he was also a homebuilder, i.e. he worked on homes. He also taught his son Jesus the carpentering trade. He was also noted for his willingness to do what God told him.

He also was noted for acting fast, such as when he was told to immediately flee to Egypt. As one might imagine, Joseph is the patron saint of a lot of things, from fathers to the diocese of Biloxi, Mississippi. Yes, many cities and states have patron saints. Mary is the patron saint of Mississippi.

There is even a book, ST. JOSEPH, MY REAL ESTATE AGENT — Why the Patron Saint of Home Life Is the Patron Saint of Home-Selling by Stephen J. Binz (Servant Books), that discusses the use of St. Joseph to sell one’s home. “Hundreds of thousands of people, including the author, have sold their homes under the patronage of St. Joseph, whose intercession they sought after burying his statue in their yard,” according to the promotional material.

So,ard really work? Far be it from me to say for certain.

Several years ago when I wrote a column on this subject I received several letters from people who swear by the practice.

One woman told me that her house had been on the market for months with no results. The day after she buried a St.

Phil Hardwick

Joseph statuette, she received an offer. I also received a letter from another woman who said that it was the silliest thing she had ever heard, and she told her husband what he could do with the statuette when he suggested that they try using it to sell their house. The Internet is filled with testimonials

St. Joseph was a carpenter, he was also a homebuilder, i.e. he worked on homes. and articles pro and con on the practice. Another Internet resource is https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/propertyrites/ which lists this subject. Interestingly, it does not confirm or debunk this “urban legend,” but offers anecdotal stories and opinions. Like all matters of faith, it about belief and prayer. One source said that the praying is more important than the use of the statuette.

Whatever one might believe regarding this practice it probably would not hurt to follow the advice of most real estate agents when they recommend that it is also a good idea to price your property competitively, market it properly and keep it ready for prospective buyers to inspect it on a moment’s notice. » Phil Hardwick is a regular Mississippi Business Journal columnist His email is phil@philhardwick. com and he’s on the web at www.philhardwick.com.

March 30, 2018 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS: TOURISM

Beacon of Tourism

» Hattiesburg the third most visited city in Mississippi

By JULIA MILLER mbj@msbusiness.com

When it comes to becoming a beacon of tourism, a lot of factors have to mix just right. Marlo Dorsey, who took over the reins at VisitHATTIESBURG last fall, said all those elements have come together in the Hub City to create the fastest growing tourism market in the state.

“We have a good mix of indoor and outdoor activities,” she said. “It’s a fun loving community.”

From family-friendly activities to prospective students to adults, Hattiesburg has met the call to appeal to people in all stages of life.

“There’s live music and antique shops,” she said. “There’s that innovative vibe of artists and musicians because we are a university town.”

One unique aspect is the ability to take in a symphony at one of the universities one night, hit a jazz club the next, and then hear a bluegrass musician.

“At any given point, you can step in and see that live music,” she said.

Dorsey said some of the most recent changes have come in the downtown area.

They recently passed a Go Cup ordinance which allows people to walk within the designated district with adult beverages.

It allows people to take in the sights and sounds. With more al fresco dining and a new system of string lights, that area is seeing a new atmosphere take shape.

“We have a lot of new elements to enhance our local culture,” Dorsey said.

“What we’ve seen is a renaissance of music.”

Dorsey also credited the entrepreneurial spirit of the community for the growth the city has seen.

“Robert St. John owns several restaurants in the area; he could live anywhere,” she said. “It’s known as Hub City for a reason. It’s a natural meeting place.”

Dorsey said Hattiesburg is halfway between Houston and Atlanta, a 17-hour trip one way, and halfway between Dallas and Destin, an 11-hour trip.

“It’s a natural overnight stay,” she said.

“We’re not just a stop; we’re a significant stop.”

One of the big changes with the tourism office has been an updated website. It creates an integrated platform for locals

Courtesy of City of Hattiesburg

Hattiesburg Downtown ArtWalk.

and visitors. Whether you’re looking for events this weekend or planning a getaway a month from now, the website allows everything to be found easily. Suggested themed itineraries have been added.

“We wanted to present Hattiesburg in a new, fresh way,” she said. “We’ve turned the website into a virtual visitor welcome

center.”

Dorsey sees her job as an opportunity to tell Hattiesburg’s story and to show they are a welcoming community.

“We celebrate our artists, and we love our visitors,” she said.

As for her own path, Dorsey moved to Mississippi in 1995 fresh from college.

She previously worked at the Mississippi Development Authority where she led tourism at the state level through Visit Mississippi. Before being chosen as Executive Director, she worked as director of marketing and communications at VisitHATTIESBURG and Hattiesburg Convention Commission.

Dorsey first moved to Hattiesburg as a graduate student at the University of Southern Mississippi.

“You get integrated in the community,” she said. “It definitely made it a place I wanted to stay. We love Mississippi. We love Hattiesburg. Our family wanted to stay put.”

Dorsey started Oct. 1 after long-time Executive Director Rick Taylor stepped aside in June.

Hattiesburg is the third most visited city in Mississippi with 1.8 visitors in 2016. More than a third of those visitors each year are from out of state. Tourism in 2016 added $278 million to the local economy.

Hattiesburg boasts more than 200 locally owned restaurants, a zoo that has more than 100 species, the Longleaf Trace, top-quality youth sports facilities and a choice of museums and galleries.

Hattiesburg is expected to have more than 3,000 hotel rooms by the end of 2018, and the tourism industry provides more than 4,000 jobs.

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Day trip to the Delta

Courtesy of Grammy Museum Mississippi

Left: Main entrance at Grammy Museum Mississippi. Above: Interactive exhibit inside the museum.

By NASH NUNNERY mbj@msbusiness.com Travel through the heart of the Mississippi Delta and one thing becomes fairly obvious. Hint: It’s not that the terrain is flat as a dime or that there are millions of acres devoted solely to agriculture.

People wave.

Be it on a lonely stretch of narrow two-lane ribbon or across the street in a town, everybody waves. If Mississippi is the Hospitality State, the Delta is the gracious gateway.

A day in the Delta is like coming home and no community on the Flatlands is more attuned to family than Cleveland. The city’s downtown district, better known as Cotton Row, overflows with small boutiques and diverse dining opportunities. Who wouldn’t want to check out businesses with names like H-squared, Delta Meat Market, Heidi’s, Punkin’ Patch, Hey Joe’s and Mosquito Burrito?

Residents downplay the emergence of Cleveland as a rising destination. Snarky “Keep Cleveland Boring” tT-shirts are in abundance but the quaint town has an arts-and-culture vibe not found in many larger locales. Home to Delta State University, the Delta Music Institute, 18 blues

trail markers, and more recently the Grammy Museum Mississippi, Cleveland is anything but boring. »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» The announcement stunned the entertainment world in 2011. “And the Grammy (Museum) goes to Cleveland.” Cleveland, Mississippi, that is.

The second and only official Grammy Museum outside of Los Angeles, Grammy Museum Mississippi opened two years ago. Organizers chose Cleveland because the Mississippi Delta is considered the bedrock of American music.

It also didn’t hurt that the state claims the most Grammy winners per capita in the world.

The 28,000-square-foot museum is a smaller but updated version of the California museum and features high-definition touchscreens and interactive technology that chronicle American music history from before the Grammy Awards in 1959 to the present.

The $20 million facility was designed with the Delta’s rich history in mind. Corrugated metal and glass are utilized extensively. The entrance to the museum, located next door to the DSU campus, looks like a big front porch.

Inside, visitors are greeted by a gift shop and all five iterations evolutions of the trademark gramophone given to Grammy winners. Grammy Museum Mississippi features a diverse collection of treasures, including the acoustic guitar Elvis Presley played during his famous Sun Records sessions to the multi-colored costume Cee-LoGreen wore at the 2011 Grammys.

A life-sized screen over a multi-colored dance floor teaches visitors dance moves. For the brave, one can record and produce a song with bluesman Keb’ Mo’, and trace how Mississippians such as Ike Turner influenced musicians along a 12-person, interactive touchscreen table with a timeline that looks like the Mississippi River.

Until September, patrons can enjoy a special exhibit, “Celebrating The Supremes.” On display are several gowns the trio wore during performances and the famous “White De Mink” outfits worn on the ABC-TV series “The Hollywood Palace” in 1966. Rare photographs of the group are featured from the personal collection of The Supremes co-founder Mary Wilson.

Tickets to the museum are $12. Grammy Museum Mississippi marketing manager Nacherrie Cooper said visitors often explore for a few hours, See DELTA, Page 11

Tourism

DELTA Continued from, Page 10

grab lunch and return for the afternoon, all for one price.

“We want our visitors to know Mississippi is the birthplace of American music,” she said. »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» After a morning of meandering around the museum, visitors often find themselves at The Warehouse, a former grocery warehouse circa 1900s transformed into a sandwich emporium. Its delicious creations, some named for former and current Delta State coaches, are made with gluten-free Boar’s Head meats and fresh homemade bread.

Also on the menu are tasty salads, pizzas, soups and homemade cakes like your grandmother used to make.

The restaurant’s rustic wood interior is decorated with vintage signs, a real traffic light and old movie posters on the wall.

Located just north of Cotton Row on Sharpe St., The Warehouse offers large portions and is reasonably priced. »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Thirty minutes south of Cleveland as the crow flies is Indianola, hometown of the late, great “King of the Blues”, B.B. King. Bluesmen like King and

Robert Johnson influenced nearly every style of popular music including rock ‘n roll, jazz and even hip-hop.

But they don’t call B.B. the king for nothing.

That’s because one of Mississippi’s favorite son’s museum draws visitors from all corners of the globe.

The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center averages around 30,000 patrons annually since opening in 2008. With the appeal of the blues strong in Europe, Indianola and the museum entertain many visitors from overseas eager to learn more about the genre.

The museum was built on the site of a cotton gin where King labored before becoming the world’s most famous blues master. Artifacts of King’s life are scattered throughout the facility, including various versions of his beloved “Lucille,” King’s pet name for his guitar. Also, visitors can find a re-creation of his home studio and a frayed quilt his mother made for him.

Photos showing a crowded Front Street in Indianola detail how King used to play on the corner for nickels and dimes. Another harkens back to his Memphis days on Beale Street in the 1940s. The story goes King left Indianola abruptly after breaking the smokestack on his employer’s tractor, later returning to pay for the damages. His rise to fame in the 1950s is documented with a salute to the civil rights movement and the Motown sound.

King’s museum also features memorabilia of other artists, including handwritten lyrics from the late 60s rocker Janis Joplin, a friend of King’s. Other

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photos and artifacts depicting life in the Mississippi Delta during the 1920s and ‘30s are on display, as well.

Located inside is Lucille’s Gift Shop, offering everything from B.B. King guitar picks to coffee mugs emblazoned with his image.

Located at 400 2nd St. in downtown Indianola, admission to the museum is $15 for adults and $10 for students. »»»»»»»»»»»»»»»» Though a bit off the Highway 61 beaten path, Lake Washington near Glen Allan is a ‘must-see’ while traveling in the Delta. An oxbow lake of the Mississippi River, Lake Washington is approximately 13 miles long with lots of cypress-kneed trees and beautiful home lots. And the crappie fishing is par excellence.

Roy’s Store, located on the north shore of the lake, is a welcome oasis to a weary traveler. The store dates back to the early 1900s, and offers everything from jigs to minnows to plate lunches to wheel cheese to cabin rentals. Its clientele includes farmers, soccer moms, out-of-state fishermen and retired ‘regulars’, who sip coffee and swap fish stories.

An orange Fanta and a Stage Plank cookie from Roy’s is always a sweet conclusion to a day in the Delta.

FILE/MBJ

Clockwise: BB King Museum, The Warehouse in Cleveland, Hey Joe’s in Cleveland.

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Biloxi

Oxf

Courtesy of Mary Mahoney’s

Mary Mahoney’s

The Graduate

Mississippi abounds with great choices for romantic getaways

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Choctaw

ford

Courtesy of The Graduate, Oxford

Courtesy of Dancing Rabbit

Dancing Rabbit

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com Spring is in the air. The cold weather is over, and what better time than spring to enjoy a romantic getaway by staying at one of Mississippi’s many resorts and enjoying a truly exceptional meal?

While there are many good choices, we look at three great places in Mississippi for a romantic getaway, Biloxi, Oxford and Choctaw.

The White House Hotel in Biloxi has the elegant charm of historic building that was a boarding house back in the 1920s combined with all the modern conveniences inside. And prices for a room booked online can be surprisingly reasonable, with recent listings of $129.

The White House garners a 75 percent “excellent” rating on TripAdvisor, with a recent reviewer stating, “This iconic hotel does not disappoint! Incredible blend of old and new.

Relax in a setting that will transport you back in time. The staff are amazing, impeccable service. Perfect location to enjoy all that the Mississippi Gulf Coast has to offer, but without the frenetic environment of the casinos. Highly recommend.”

The hotel is located on Highway 90 next to the beach within close proximity to casinos, other entertainment options and many dining options. One of those is Mary Mahoney’s Old French House, 110 Rue Magnolia, Biloxi.

After great tasting food, the number one thing most people look for when dining out is

atmosphere, and Mary Mahoney’s Old French House is draped in it. Part of the restaurant is located in the oldest home in Biloxi with a courtyard and grounds graced with ancient live oak trees covered with Spanish moss.

“We’re the place to come if you are looking for someplace unique or different,” said Bobby Mahoney, owner of Mary Mahoney’s, which has been in business for 54 years. “We have little cubbyholes all over the place. You can dine in the main house or in a sunroom.”

Mahoney, known for lively interactions with his guests, said you shouldn’t come to the Coast without eating Mississippi Gulf Coast seafood.

“See that pretty blue water in Florida?” he said. “There’s nothing in it but seaweed. See that old muddy water we have here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast? That is where you find crabs, oysters and all kinds of fish. The moral of the story is there is lot of loving going on in the mud.”

Mahoney’s recommendation for the lady would be a half pound of broiled crab claws to begin with followed by the shrimp and lump crabmeat Melba, which is angel hair pasta covered with broiled shrimp, melted cheese and topped with lump crabmeat. For the gentleman, he would probably recommend the snapper stuffed with shrimp and crabmeat au gratin with a side dish of crawfish étouffée.

“That is a lot of food but you could probably split a bread pudding for dessert,” he said.

Courtesy of Dancing Rabbit

Inside of Dancing Rabbit cabin.

Courtesy of Mary Mahoney’s

See GETAWAYS, Page 16

One of the dining areas within Mary Mahoney’s.

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Laurel the new hip place in Mississippi

Laurel Mercantile at 414 Front St. in Laurel, sets the bar high for products.

Courtesy of Laurel Mercantile

By CALLIE DANIELS BRYANT mbj@msbusiness.com Imagine South Mississippi, and it’s easy to envision the casinos, glamorous hotels and a New Orleans vibe. But imagine a small town with beautifully restored houses, restaurants offering homemade Southern cuisine with seafood right out of Gulf of Mexico, and the site of HGTV’s Home Town.

That town is Laurel.

Founded in 1882 as a lumber town, Laurel was named after laurel thickets surrounding it. It became known as “The Town that Timber Built,” evident in its oak-lined avenues and historic craftsman homes built in 1920s and 1930s.

As the town grew over a century it garnered recognition for a few things, namely being the site of Mississippi’s oldest art museum, the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, which opened in 1923.

It is also the hometown of musician Lance Bass, actress Mary Elizabeth Ellis, the Christian rock band David and Giants, and NFL football player Jason Campbell, to name a few of its famous residents.

Laurel is on the national stage thanks to HGTV’s Home Town, starring Ben and Erin Napier who lovingly restore historical houses for its residents and

newcomers.

“The best place to catch a glimpse of the stars of HGTV is at the Laurel Mercantile at 414 Front Street. Filming takes place throughout the summer with 13 new episodes on order for 2019,” said Anicia Hill, public relations director for the city of Laurel.

While the city is on national television the small town vibe hasn’t gone away.

Hill says that Downtown Thursday, held every Thursday in June, is the “highlight of the year” with Farmers Market on the city’s main street along with Downtown Movie Night where hundreds of Laurelites will watch family movies for free.

“It is small town living at its finest,” Hill said.

And the dining matches that hometown feel. Lee’s Coffee & Tea, named after late “Aunt Lee” Barnett, is a place where “everybody knows your name and you’re always glad you came,” said Hill who added the restaurant is where you can pick up a classic pimiento-and-cheese sandwich with a pourover coffee. Be sure to come early to meet a local named George who can tell you about the town’s history.

And then there’s Estelle’s Southern Cuisine which is Laurel’s original soul food restaurant and a favorite go-to

See LAUREL, Page 15

Dear Visitor, There’s a magical time each day when the sun sets over the Tombigbee River.

The soft light dances on the water, inviting anyone who’s strolling along the beautiful Riverwalk that begins in Columbus’ historic downtown to pause and savor the moment.

In fact, savoring the moment is what we do best here in Columbus. This is a place where slowing down is rewarded with a cold mint julep or an architectural tour of centuries-old homes. Our revitalized downtown area is alive with charming shops and Southern food hotspots. Catfish Alley harks back to an African-American hub at the turn of the 20th century, while Mississippi University for Women has been an important destination for education since 1884. And right here at the Riverwalk, we love to celebrate with special events from races to festivals to concerts. Nope, there’s no need to rush through Columbus—unless, of course, you’re aboard one of the supersonic jet trainers at Columbus Air Force Base, in which case, you might be moving at more than 800 miles per hour!

We invite you to explore this place we call home, to savor your own special moments and make some new memories with us. VisitColumbusMS.org for a complete list of attractions and events, and we hope to see you soon!

Sincerely, Nancy Carpenter , CEO Visit Columbus

Tourism

LAUREL Continued from Page 14

place for fried chicken and catfish blue plate special.

For fine dining, the Loft on Central Avenue is a standout.

“They are known amongst locals for their amazing steaks and red royal shrimps,” Hill said. “The Loft is one of only a few dine-in restaurants in Downtown Laurel. They have a full bar and a great atmosphere with outdoor dining open year-round.”

For those with a sweet tooth and an itch for authentic cuisine can visit Julia’s Bakery where they can eat carne asada tacos and then pick up a homemade cake! If you just want a good Southern barbecue then stop by Hog Heaven, proclaimed by Hill as “best BBQ hands down” with its pork ribs, smoked brisket, turkey legs and all the trimmings to chow down.

To walk off the calories, the city has plenty of shopping from antiques to malls. HGTV’s Napiers have a store with close friends called Laurel Mercantile Co. where you can find vintage tees, cast-iron skillets, Delta grits, casserole totes and furniture and more!

You can go antique-hunting at Southern Antiques, The Cotton Boll and The Rusty Chandelier.

To get a feel of the town’s culture, visit its boutiques and gift shops like The Laurel Leaf, The Boutique on Central and Loblolly Boutique and Jack & Jill’s children boutique and Goodness Gracious.

And that’s just off top of the list. Take a drive around to find one-of-a-kind shopping destinations, especially in downtown Laurel.

Downtown is an undeniable hub of history, culture, and style. There, you can find its historic Guild & Gentry’s, a fine men’s fashion store named after the Gentry family who moved to Laurel from Iowa to invest in and expand the city.

The century-old Lott Furniture resides there with hand-picked furniture and a painting store within called HAND+made by Clairmont & Co. for those who want to decorate with original art and crafts. For more home goods visit Adam Trest Home which offers nearly everything from stationery to nursery décor to house portraits.

The stores, restaurants, and a national television show along with national features in Southern Living and The Voice, may all make Laurel sound like a booming city, but take a drive there and bask in the charm of a Southern town.

For more information, visit laurelms. com and laurelmainstreet.com.

CRAFT YOUR OWN ADVENTURE HATTIESBURG’S WELCOMING, INNOVATIVE VIBE MAKES IT THE PERFECT VISITOR DESTINATION. Home to two thriving universities, thousands of hotel rooms, more than 200 local restaurants, award-winning tourist attractions, and meeting facilities, HBURG is Mississippi’s third most visited city.

Come play and stay awhile.

We’ll see you soon in HBURG!

Get all the latest details in HBURG’s Meeting Planners Guide, located online.

VISITHBURG.ORG

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The Future Looks Vibrant Introducing The Westin Jackson, where revitalizing amenities and an energizing atmosphere ensure that you leave feeling better than when you arrived.

Go to www.westinjackson.com or call us at 601.968.8200

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GETAWAYS Continued from, Page 11

The Graduate Oxford has a prime location on the Square just a mile from the Ole Miss campus. Annie King, marketing coordinator, said their location is ideally located in walking distance to all the popular restaurant and bars.

“Our décor is really unique and different,” King said. “We have a great rooftop bar which is a great place to hang out and have a cocktail. The outside patio has amazing views of the Square. It is a great place to just sit out and relax. We have live music Sundays from 3 to 5 p.m. and Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m.”

King said their spacious lobby attracts not just guests staying at the hotel, but local students.

“We have a lot of people who come here to hang out,” King said. “We have a lot of lounge furniture. Students come here to study. It is a really big lobby so there are a lot of areas where you can sit.”

Also popular is their Cabin 82 Coffee Shop that is a good place to get coffee or breakfast. You can sit inside or enjoy the outdoor seating area.

King said one thing the Graduate focuses on for all their properties include things about the town and university.

“We are not associated with university but have artwork and photographs that relate to Ole Miss,” she said. “We have a great mural of the Grove, done by artist

Courtesy of The Graduate, Oxford

The Graduate guest room.

Charles Buckley, and photographs of football players who have played at Ole Miss.”

For an evening to remember dining out, try Saint Leo located at 1101 Jackson Avenue East Oxford. Owner Emily Blount was raised in Northern California and spent more than ten years in New York City before coming to Oxford where she combines her love of big city style with smalltown hospitality.

“We are committed to sustainability, local purveyors, and the pleasure of eating delicious food in good company,” Blount said. “At Saint Leo we believe that nothing

is better for community than eating locally, from scratch, and in tune with the seasons.”

Blount said Saint Leo is great for a romantic getaway because the atmosphere is intimate, but lively.

“We have great craft cocktails and a very unique wine list,” Blount said. “Our food is designed to be shared - from salads, to pastas, to our wood fired pizzas. All of our desserts are made fresh daily in house.

We are right off of the Oxford Square, so it’s fun to come in for dinner. Our Italian wood fired oven is a part of the dining

room and after you can stroll around the Square.”

Erica Clemons Moore, director of public relations for Pearl River Resort, says a perfect romantic getaway is to travel to Choctaw to stay at the Dancing Rabbit Golf Club.

“Not only is this beautiful property home to golf enthusiasts from across the country, but also is great for couples looking for a private romantic getaway,” Clemons said. “The Clubhouse at Dancing Rabbit boasts eight beautifully appointed king suites on the second floor that include a whirlpool, veranda, common area outfitted with cozy furniture and a fireplace. Dancing Rabbit also features two championship courses, delicious dining, a retail shop, and a personal executive cart for resort transportation.”

For dining options, she recommends enjoying a delicious brunch on the terrace at the Clubhouse restaurant located on the first level floor of Dancing Rabbit.

“And for a romantic night out, the Silver Star Casino is conveniently located only one mile away where you can dine at the award winning Phillip M’s fine dining restaurant,” Moore said. “Enjoy delicious entrees like prime grade steaks and fresh seafood paired with an exquisite wine selection. You are sure to have an experience to remember.”

March 30, 2018 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS: WOMEN & MINORITIES IN BUSINESS

Creating a big event » Evans’ Karovan provides the atmosphere

By JULIA MILLER mbj@msbusiness.com When Karey Evans found out her third son was getting married two years ago, she knew she wanted to do something fun for the rehearsal dinner. So, Evans did what any modern woman would do.

She took to the Internet to look for inspiration.

“I really wanted to do something different,” she said. “I found these mobile bars, and I did some research. I fell in love with the concept.”

She originally looked into buying an old one from the 1950s or ‘60s. She learned that sometimes when you take it apart to renovate, it falls apart. Instead, they chose to adapt a few plans and construct The Karovan out of oak.

The mobile bar was a success, and the bride even utilized it again for the reception. Evans and her cousin, Leslie Carpenter, decided this could be a great new business in Mississippi.

“It creates an atmosphere for your event,” she said. “It’s getting more popular. People definitely want it if we can fit their budget.”

Since the idea is new to Mississippi, Evans has found some people are eager to jump on board while others can be hesitant.

“There are certain people that just love it, and some people don’t want to go out of the box,” she said. “It’s like any trend. The more people see it, the more they want it.

The Karovan doesn’t have a liquor license, so those who rent it are responsible for purchasing their own alcohol or renting out a bar service. They do have wine and champagne glasses available.

“It’s like the food trucks,” she said. “People show up because it’s something different.”

Aside from the fun atmosphere the mobile bar creates, Evans said it also has a practical aspect for those outdoor events when weather can be unpredictable.

“In the afternoon, it started to rain,” she said about their first event. “Everything was in the trailer. They just had to close the window.”

It also is easy for brides on their big day with little fuss or attention needed on their part.

“We go set up. We have lights. We have banners,” she said. “They just know we’re going to do a good job. It’s really been pretty easy.”

The Karovan is not just for alcohol though. Evans said they have had a church rent it to serve pizza. They also have used it at a kids’ event as an ice cream stand.

“You can do anything that fits your event,” she said.

This is not Evans’ first foray into business. Evans had a cookie company previously, and she works with another friend to create Christmas corporate gifts. She also makes hospitality gifts for hotels during special events.

“I’ve always done something. I guess business is in my blood,” she said. “But this was totally different.”

For more information about the Karovan, visit the website thekarovanbar.com or their instagram page @thekarovanbar. Although they are located in Jackson, they travel frequently around the state and have done several events in New Orleans.

Courtesy of Karovan

The Karovan grew out of a idea for a mobile bar for a wedding.

18 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q March 30, 2018

Women & Minorities in Business

Dependable Source places Mississippians in good jobs in trucking and home health care

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

Dependable Source Corp. of Mississippi is a staffing firm owned by Willie Jones specializes in two diverse occupations commercial truck drivers and home health workers.

“Although they are two different services, what they have in common is putting Mississippians to work,” Jones said.

“We place a majority of men in trucking and a majority of personal care Jones assistants are females.

These are both opportunities to make sure Mississippians can work in continuing careers they can be proud of.”

Jones started staffing for the trucking industry in 1995. It is currently a very tight market with great demand for truck drivers.

“Back in 2008 when the economy tanked, a large number of drivers nationally were laid off,” Jones said. “It took a few years before the economy started coming back. By then many truck drivers had moved on to other careers or retired.

That has left a huge void in truck drivers.

Truck driving is a good opportunity for men and women who are looking for great careers and pay.”

The Department of Labor has determined non-traditional jobs for women can help increase their salaries. The DOL states that for a woman to get out of poverty, she needs to be making $35,000 per year.

“Truck driving pays that and more,” Jones said. “So, it is a good career. And there are training opportunities for women. I’m constantly talking to women about looking outside of their box at the opportunities out there. There is a lot of money women are leaving on the table by not considering these non-traditional jobs.”

Jones said she talks to women all the time about taking advantage of jobs that are available in the transportation industry. And those are not just behind wheel.

There is also a need for logistic managers, recruiters, dispatchers, warehouse managers, and transportation brokers.

“There are many opportunities in the transportation industry for women,” Jones said. “Right now, the market for truck drivers is tight and we need both males and females to fill those positions.

The main thing is to make sure Mississippi keeps moving.”

Although you hear about the possibility of driverless trucks reducing the need for truck drivers in the future, Jones said it will be a long time—if ever—before it gets to the point that no truck drivers are needed.

“Every single thing we touch has to be on a truck at some time,” she said. “Truck driving isn’t going to go away, no matter how technologies change. Truck driving is one of the most effective and economical ways of transporting goods.”

Jones, who started Dependable Source Corp. Home Health in 2010, also sees a growing demand for home care workers to assist seniors and disabled people.

With the aging baby boomer population, demand for these types of services con-

• GIFTS! • CHILDREN & LADIES APPAREL • BRIDAL REGISTRY

tinues to grow.

Job candidates are carefully vetted.

“We do extensive background checks, and we have in-depth interviews,” Jones said. “We have a comprehensive training program we do up front. We hire qualified individuals who have had previous experience and then provide training for any gaps. What is really required is to have sensitive, caring individuals who have a passion for what they do.”

Jones said she got into the home health worker staffing business because there was a big void in good quality providers in the industry. She said their objective is not only to care for the seniors, but to be an advocate for seniors in general.

“How can we improve the life of our seniors, not just those we serve but those in the community?” she asked. “It has allowed us reach out to not only our clients, but other seniors in our community to connect to various resources and help improve their quality of life by providing not only in-home care, but other opportunities they might not be able to access on their own.”

Jones said they look at seniors not just as aged people with limitations, but as individuals with a wealth of life experience. They appreciate what people have accomplished earlier in their life, as well as what they are today.

“When it comes to us as a society as a whole, we don’t value our seniors as much as we need to,” Jones said. “We have some incredible individuals including retired doctors and retired educators. The benefits, resources and opportunities for seniors are nowhere near where they need to be. We really need to be spending

more time and giving more voice to the policies around seniors. How effectively are we using the dollars that are being administered on an annual basis? Are we really doing a good job of making sure those funds are maximized for seniors?

No.” Jones said seniors can face challenges no matter their economic situation.

“Even those with the resources still find it a challenge to find the caregivers to make sure their loved ones have the care that they need,” she said. “Black or white, rich or poor, the desire to provide the best quality of care for our seniors is something we all have in common.”

Today, more older Americans prefer to stay at home as they age. This means families are directly involved their loved ones’ care. So, it is more important than ever for families to be involved in the planning stage together.

“We partner with families,” Jones said.

“It takes working together to determine the most appropriate choices for a loved one’s personal care. Careful consideration is needed. Seniors are at a vulnerable stage of life. They may face a variety of health concerns and loss of physical and cognitive function. Seniors often have difficulty expressing their needs, desires and preferences, so they need someone to communicate their concerns.”

Senior care can range from a few hours a week of personal or companionship care by an in-home care provider, to fulltime, in-home care, and personal care or companionship in a nursing home or hospice facility.

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(02/18)

20 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q March 30, 2018

Women & Minorities in Business

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Women & Minorities in Business

March 30, 2018

Q

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22 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q March 30, 2018

Women & Minorities in Business

WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES

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Women & Minorities in Business

March 30, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

23

MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES

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