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May 10, 2013 • Vol. 35, No. 19 • $2 • 28 pages

LAST CALL? Unease sets in as Hal & Mal’s owner contemplates life under new landlord — Page 4

TACY RAYBURN / MBJ

MBJ FOCUS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

State’s creative economy employs 64,000 people

Page 17

2 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013

MILESTONE

Celebrating family and success » Southern Pipe turns 75

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

MERIDIAN — Southern Pipe and Supply is throwing a two-month-long party that includes open houses at its nearly 100 locations, noted author Jim Collins and University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban.

After all, it’s not every day a family-owned company — or any company, for that matter — can celebrate its 75th anniversary.

“Ram Charan, a renowned business consultant, once told me that ‘success is defined as a company’s ability to endure over time,’” said Jay Davidson, president of Southern Pipe and Supply, representing the fourth generation of Davidsons to lead the company. “By this definition, Southern Pipe and Supply is extremely successful. Simply, there are not many companies in any industry that have survived over 75 years.“ The milestone is even more noteworthy considering that the business literally started from scrap at an unplanned-for site.

In 1901, Louis Davidson left Russia at the age of 20 to pursue opportunities in America. He wanted to sail into New York

harbor, but the only boat he could hail was headed for Mobile, Ala. After landing on the Coast, he went as far north as his money would allow. And it was this way that Louis Davidson found himself a brand new resident of Meridian.

After trying his hand at numerous enterprises, he founded the St. Louis Junk Company, a scrap metal business, in 1918.

His sons, Meyer and Sammie, joined their father in the business in 1930, and the company almost immediately set a new course. It sold its first carload of steel pipe in 1938, changed its focus to plumbing supplies within the year and was renamed Southern Pipe and Supply.

Meyer’s son and Jay’s father, Marty Davidson, current company chairman, literally grew up in the business, stocking shelves at the tender age of five.

Jay said Louis, Meyer, Sammie, and Marty Davidson’s leadership has been critical to the company’s success. “These guys were visionaries and their strategic direction for our company has been remarkable,” he added.

Today, the company operates 96 locations in seven states (Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Arkansas, Florida and Tennessee), making it one of the largest privately owned wholesalers in its industry.

It offers plumbing, heating, air-condition-

ing (HVAC), industrial, mechanical and water/sewer supplies.

In addition, its Southern Bath and Kitchen division offers consulting, fixtures, appliances and cabinetry.

While the company is remembering its past, it has embraced technology and new philosophies to stay relevant and competitive. For instance, its high-tech Central Distribution Center supports the branches with a constantly turning multi-milliondollar inventory through an interactive computer. Though it averages 70,000 transactions per month, the CDC boasts an error rate of less than 1 percent on orders shipped to the branches.

Southern Pipe and Supply has worked with its customers to designate more than 900 items as critical-service items — essential products and equipment that customers need every day. On orders for these crucial items, the Central Distribution Center has achieved a fill rate of 99.7 percent.

“We have to continue to be agile, live our core values and eliminate hubris,” Jay said.

“I know it sounds strange but it feels like we are a part of a young, start-up company.

We work hard to create passion and enthusiasm in our jobs every day. We are 75 years young.”

Still, the longevity and success calls for a

Quick-growth environment » FC&E becomes national player in less than decade

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

BRANDON — It has been a quick trip for Ken Faulkner, P.E., from his kitchen table to leading a full-service environmental engineering firm with clients all over the U.S. “It has all happened so fast,” said Faulkner, founder and principal engineer at FC&E Engineering, LLC. “And, we’re still growing. Did I envision this when I started out back in 2004?

No. The firm has exceeded all expectations.”

A pleasant surprise maybe, but Faulkner’s career leading up to FC&E’s opening put him on good footing to be a successful entrepreneur/environmental engineer.

A native of tiny Montpelier in Northeast Mississippi, he grew up on his family’s farm.

“I knew I wanted to be outside, and I was originally interested in the surveying side of the industry,” Faulkner remembered. He added with a wry smile, “I quickly found out that meant slashing through vegetation with a machete, mosquitoes, snakes. I don’t mind hard work, but I changed my focus to other aspects of civil engineering.”

Faulkner would go on to Mississippi State University, earning his undergraduate degree in civil engineering in 1986.

He was offered jobs with two state agencies upon graduation, and chose the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. The work with the state agency would prove invaluable when he eventually went out on his own, Faulkner said. And, he also earned his master’s degree in environmental engineering (1992) from State while MDEQ. In 1994, Faulkner left public work for a regional environmental consulting firm. After five years, he took a corporate environmental position with Mississippi Chemical.

“So, I gained experience in public/governmental work, private consulting and corporate America,” Faulkner said. “It was all progress toward opening FC&E.” Mississippi Chemical would eventually file bankruptcy in 2003. Fortunately, Faulkner had some clients that wanted to retain him, so he set up shop in his home and FC&E was born.

major celebration. Southern Pipe and Supply kicked off the party April 15 with an open house. It will hold an open house at all of its nearly 100 locations, wrapping them up June 15.

The company also brought in University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban to speak to executives, branch managers and sales staff.

On May 4, Southern Pipe and Supply held its 75th Anniversary Company Picnic at Bonita Lakes in Meridian, open to all of its employees and their families.

On May 15, Southern Pipe and Supply will hold the 75th Celebration Dinner at the Mississippi State University Riley Center in Meridian. The keynote speaker will be Jim Collins, author of such noted books as “Good to Great” and “Built to Last.”

While Louis Davidson is deceased, his family believes he would be proud of what his little scrap company has become.

“Louis Davidson was just trying to survive,” Jay said. “He was an immigrant and stranger to a new land. Yet he is the epitome of the American Dream. He started with nothing and built a business to provide for his family. The values he instilled in 1938 are still a part of our fabric. He would be happy to see his small company reach new heights. But he would be the most proud to see how the values he instilled in 1938 have remained a SPS staple during every stage of our evolution.”

For more on Southern Pipe and Supply, visit www.southernpipe.com/.

Faulkner was a one-man gang in 2004 when he started.

Nine years later, the firm has 10 employees, including eight engineers.

And, FC&E continues to grow. It recently added Kim Evans, who brings emergency response, hazardous materials, grantwriting and other knowledge.

Russell Lyons, P.E., another ex-MDEQ staffer, has 26 years of experience in areas such as wastewater and training.

Bruce Ferguson, P.E., has brought a new specialty to FC&E — air dispersion modeling — and also has a background in hazardous waste and other specialties.

“I think our key to success is our diversity,” Faulkner said.

FC&E currently offers 10 different service areas, from air permitting and compliance to stormwater pollution prevention. The firm’s experience includes project management, engineering design and construction management. It counts clients all over the U.S., some as far afield as New Mexico and Ohio. Those clients include major manufacturers, oil and gas companies, aerospace firms, municipalities and more.

In the biofuels industry alone, FC&E has worked on projects encompassing a poultry litter-fueled, combined 20-million gallon per year biodiesel production facility; a 20-million gallon per year soybean oil-derived biodiesel production facility; and, a waste to fuels second generation biofuels plant.

“Opening offices in other states is probably the next step, but I’m in no hurry. I want smart growth,” the unassuming Faulkner said. When asked if he had big plans for the firm’s 10th anniversary next year, he smiled and said, “I haven’t even thought about it. Guess we have to do something, huh?”

For more on FC&E, visit www.fce-engineering.com.

May 10, 2013

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LOCAL POLITICS

Oxford mayor Pat Patterson calls Todd Wade's conflict-of-interest challenge 'political malarkey'

BY CLAY CHANDLER I STAFF WRITER clay.chandler@msbusiness.com

Former Ole Miss football player and current Oxford mayoral candidate Todd Wade stopped just short this week of accusing his opponent of having conflict of interest issues.

Wade, who’s running as an independent, said in a campaign press release that he would not participate in any private real estate transactions if he’s elected, and said Democratic incumbent George “Pat” Patterson’s real estate holdings could violate the public’s trust.

“I encourage my opponent to join me in this pledge to restore the public’s confidence,” Waid said in the release.

Patterson said in an interview last Wednesday afternoon that he owns one piece of commercial property in Oxford that houses the James Food Center near the Square.

That contradicts Wade’s assertion that Patterson owns “a vast portfolio of student housing and business property” in Oxford.

“It’s total political malarkey,” Patterson said. “What pieces of property is he referring to? I only have one. It’s complete B.S.” Until Tuesday’s primary ended, the most common issues in Oxford’s mayoral debate had centered on parking and public transit. Patterson said he intended to keep it that way. “I’m not going to spend a lot of

time on this,” he said.

Patterson served as head of the Oxford Tourism Council and as alderman before being elected mayor in 2009. Wade was an

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Tupelo furniture market date moved, exhibitors could be lost

— from staff and MBJ wire services

2008. He has spent his post-NFL career in Oxford.

Wade and Patterson will face each in the general election June 4.

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MANUFACTURING

TUPELO — The spring Tupelo Furniture Market, originally scheduled for mid-February, will now be held Jan. 16-19.

The fall market will be Aug. 15-18 as planned.

TFM president Kevin Seddon says the move means the Tupelo date also will be bracketed by the Atlanta International Gift and Home Furnishings Market (Jan. 815) and the Dallas Total Home and Gift Market (Jan. 15-21).

Exhibitors will have to decide which to attend.

Seddon said he expects to lose exhibitors.

“There’s really no time between Atlanta and Dallas, and we had to be comfortable with some potential losses,” Seddon said. “But we felt because of tax season, we had to get out in front of it to benefit as many exhibitors and buyers as possible.”

It’s not the first time Tupelo has tried January dates.

In 2009, the renamed winter market was held in late January with a Saturday-Wednesday run.

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4 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013

DOWNTOWN JACKSON

Full Spectrum scales back to focus on Old Capitol Green ‘one block at a time’ » Developer sets sights on 2.74acre retail-and-residential project just south of Pascagoula Street

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

TACY RAYBURN / The Mississippi Business Journal

Hal & Mal’s has been a fixture in Downtown Jackson for more than 30 years.

Unease sets in as Hal & Mal’s owner contemplates life under new landlord » Malcolm White says he wants the business to ‘stay and continue to be the cultural

center of the redevelopment of downtown but insists: ‘We want our lease back.’

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

Malcolm White says he always hoped to own the train depot that he and his late brother Hal restored and made the home of downtown Jackson food and entertainment destination Hal & Mal’s.

Those hopes, he says, have turned to anguish in the months since the state turned his building over to Full Spectrum South, a development company that has struggled the last several years to gets its ambitious Old Capitol Green master development off the ground.

Losing the state as a landlord after 32 years has created an uncertain future for the Commerce Street venue whose French Quarter ambience and musical entertainment have made it a gathering place for three generations of Jacksonians. White, in an interview late last week, said he wants the business to “stay and continue to be the cultural center of the redevelopment of downtown” but insisted: “We want our lease back.”

White, who lost brother Hal to a fatal brain aneurysm in late March, has been operating under a month-to-month arrangement with Full Spectrum South

for the past several months.

It’s an arrangement White said he wants no part of and believes the State of Mississippi put him in a very uncomfortable position by taking away his lease to the circa 1923 train depot he has occupied since 1981 and invested around threequarter of a million dollars in upgrades and maintenance.

White said he and his late brother kept the business going more “as a labor of love” than anything else and he wants to continue to do so. But as managing partner, Hal White, took care of most of the business responsibilities, said White, who works full time as Mississippi’s director of tourism.

White said his troubles started when the Legislature directed the Mississippi Department of Finance & Administration (DFA) to give the lease to Full Spectrum South, a real estate development company that has been working to redevelop the area of Commerce and Jefferson streets for a half dozen years with no actual progress to show.

Full Spectrum South’s Malcolm Shepherd said he wants Hal And Mal’s to be a lynchpin for his “sustainable urban” development and that is why he persuaded lawmakers in 2010 to transfer the lease to him.

But White said he learned of the lease transfer only after he received notice several months ago from the state he had a new landlord for the train depot at 200 Commerce St. White said he had been month-to-month with the state the past six years but before that he held a series of long-term leases with the DFA. “We were comfortable spending money and investing, knowing we had a shot at recouping that investment” he said. “Now we don’t have that comfort.”

White said the state never offered him and his late brother the opportunity to buy the building. But he said he was assured he would get that opportunity through a plan Full Spectrum promised to initiate.

As part of the master plan for Full Spectrum’s Old Capitol Green mixed-use project, Full Spectrum would buy the train depot and sell it to the Whites. However, a “lease” or “purchase” were options included in legislation passed in 2006 to authorize a master developer for the state property and again in 2010 that designated full Spectrum South as the master developer.

With Full Spectrum unable to secure financing for any part of its Old Capitol See

HAL & MALS, Page 27

A once far-reaching plan to redevelop nine city blocks below Mississippi’s Old Capitol has been scaled back to a single mixed-use building on 2.74 acres just south of Pascagoula Street.

Branded by developer Full Spectrum South as 1822 Square at Old Capitol Green to commemorate the founding of Jackson, the project is now envisioned as a six-story building with retail and fitness spa on the ground floor and 129 residential apartments on the floors above. A plaza that opens from Commerce Street will lead to the multi-story building. To the left will be a separate single-floor building Shepherd to accommodate 31,000 square feet of additional retail, said Malcolm Shepherd, Full Spectrum South’s development director.

About half of the 2.74 acres is designated as flood prone and thus will be devoted to a surface parking lot instead of residential units, Shepherd said.

Full Spectrum took possession of the site through a 15-year lease with the state, which owns the parcel bounded by Pascagoula Street on the north, Jefferson Street on the east, Tombigbee Street on the south and Commerce Street to the west.

Full Spectrum South’s Old Capitol Green master planned development started life as a multi-phased $1.1-billion project that would cover 50 acres on the eastern edge of the Central Business District. It ultimately would give downtown Jackson a sustainable urban community, developers said The project, however, would require a healthy dose of public and private funding that has not materialized over the half dozen years since Old Capitol Green’s inception. The effort sustained a severe blow in July when Hinds County supervisors rejected a deal to request a $17 million Mississippi Development Authority bond for a 450-space covered parking garage that was to be erected within the 1822 Square at Old Capitol Green. The garage was to principally accommodate office workers who would occupy a 10-floor office building component of the project.

Supervisors said they felt uneasy about going ahead with the bond without knowing the number of pre-leases Full Spectrum South had for the office component. “We are very uncomfortable moving See

OLD CAPITOL GREEN, Page 27

May 10, 2013

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Q&A WITH FLOWOOD MAYOR GARY RHOADES

Law & Order

By STEPHEN McDILL I STAFF WRITER stephen.mcdill@msbusiness.com Mayor Gary Rhoades opens up about early career, Flowood and his thoughts on leadership A police officer at 20 and a mayor at 36, Rhoades has been in public service in Rankin County for more than thirty years. He was first elected mayor of Flowood in 1989 after spending 16 years in law enforcement, including eight as the Flowood chief of police.

Born and raised in Pearl and educated at Hinds Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi, Rhoades was tapped as the successor to retiring Mayor Chastain Flynt even after admitting to the mayor that he “despised politics.”

Under Rhoades’ administration, Flowood’s population skyrocketed, Lakeland Drive flourished and outdoor malls such as Dogwood Festival Marketplace replaced what was once merely cow pastures.

Rhoades’ most recent accomplishments include the passage of controversial liquor licensing that opened the doors for more upscale restaurants, the opening of a parkway and future medical corridor for Metro Jackson and the construction of an access road connecting a gridlocked Lakeland Drive to nearby Brandon.

From playing wide receiver on the football field to busting in doors as a police officer, Rhoades told MBJ he learned the principles of teamwork, respect and sticking to your guns.

Q: You mentioned your first years as being aggressive. Was that partly because Flowood was a new city and you were really trying to ramp up in those early years? Were there any challenges?

A: I remember back then I was scared to death. I thought mayors went around and kissed babies on the head and played golf all the time. So I dug in and learned what it was to promote and build a city.

The first meeting I had, the Woodrow Wilson bridge going into Jackson broke in half and shut down. The first meeting I conducted, I raised the millage, threeand-a-half mills. The first meeting I raised taxes and I said, “Guys, I don’t know how long I’m gonna be here

I remember back then I was scared to death. I thought mayors went around and kissed babies on the head and played golf all the time.

So I dug in and learned what it was to promote and build a city.

son Prep and Blue Cross Blue Shield... Flowood used to be an industrial town and the industry — you know manufacturing kinda went away in the United States — but Mayor Flynt was smart enough to use the city’s financial capacity because Flowood has always been financially sound.

My job was, “How else can we diversify this city.”

Next thing you know McRae’s says we wanna be right there and there’s nothing but cattle out there, you know, grazing. We kept working and then when Dogwood (Festival Marketplace) came and the sales were tremendous they optioned the land on Promenade.

Belk is sitting out there doing 50,000 square feet and expanding. That’s their number two store in the nation.

It’s just a tremendous amount of expendable income.

Q: Based off of your personal experience in law enforcement, how has it developed and grown in Flowood?

A: You got to feel pretty much safe to want to put your business somewhere and wanna live, work and play. I’m very proud of both of our police and fire.

We’ve spent millions on our fire department. We have a Class 4 fire rating, there’s not but four cities in the state of Mississippi that’s got a Class 4. That’s just another tool for economic development because its gonna cost (businesses) less insurance premiums. So you got low taxes, low fire rating, low crime — that’s the elements it takes to make economic development happen. In the nighttime population I think we got 7,800 people that live here. During the daytime its unbelievable but its our job to take care of both. Being

Q: Tell us how the East Metro access road and other projects are doing.

A: We started that years ago in 1990 with the first transportation bill and we got the road program. It opens about 2,000 acres of airport property land. (We are) trying to help the airport and get funds together to bring some type aviation in here. You get a Boeing or Airbus in here that’s like bringing a Nissan. Highpaying jobs. Smart kids that come in and filter into your school system.

We got us a logjam on Lakeland Drive. Its the Department of Transportation’s responsibility. I met with them just the other day. Had the executive director and the chief engineers in here saying, “What can we do to expedite Lakeland Drive being widened.”

I’ll go to the next level and the next, I’ll just keep on climbing because it ain’t gone happen if you just sit there, you got to keep pushing. What you got is just like that hourglass, you got six lanes filtered down to four. When Old Fannin — that’s the county — when they widen like we are in the city it’ll free up a lot of movement of traffic. The problem is we’re growing so fast we can’t keep up with the infrastructure.

See

GARY RHOADES, Page 12

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— Gary Rhoades but this is the last meeting I’ll ever have like this.” We went and got grants from Washington, made it wider, went through the Mississippi historical people and got that thing opened up.

The biggest part of the job I’ve enjoyed has been economic development. I remember when we landed the first McDonald’s up here. Man, we thought we’d hit a homerun. There wasn’t anything out here but Jack-

broke into ain’t gonna happen ‘cause we’ll go down to shoot so quick it’ll make your head swim. If a lady gets pushed and her purse snatched you’d probably think the FBI and the National Guard was coming in.

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MBJPERSPECTIVE May 10, 2013 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

OTHER VIEWS

Each state agency should be more accountable

Website: www.msbusiness.com May 10, 2013 Volume 35, Number 19

ALAN TURNER Publisher alan.turner@msbusiness.com • 364-1021 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 WALLY NORTHWAY Senior Writer wally.northway@msbusiness.com • 364-1016 FRANK BROWN Staff Writer/Special Projects frank.brown@msbusiness.com • 364-1022 TED CARTER Staff Writer ted.carter@msbusiness.com • 364-1017 CLAY CHANDLER Staff Writer clay.chandler@msbusiness.com • 364-1015

Daryl Purpera. must pay for an annual audit out of its here is no comfort in learning that Yet in Mississippi, Newsom reports, more own revenue. neighboring states are as lax as Misthan half of the state's 120 agencies, boards and So why not require each state agency to do sissippi in holding public officials commissions go for years without being held the same? accountable for the spending of financially accountable. And public funds.

Annual audits would dissuade or discover waste, fraud and abuse. one state program, the MisIn Alabama and Louisiana sissippi Prepaid Affordable and Tennessee, as in MissisCollege Tuition Plan, has just been audited for Annual audits would dissuade or discover sippi, the excuse is the same. Lack of funding. the first time since it was created in 1996. waste, fraud and abuse. They would also That excuse is, frankly, lame.

Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering identify areas where money could be better Every government agency and program in and Gov. Phil Bryant should move more agspent or saved. every state ought to be required to use a porgressively to ensure every dollar of taxpayers' “I believe the audit process pays for itself tion of its own budget to pay for an indemoney is well spent. in efficiencies and the effectiveness of the pendent audit of its finances.

— The (Biloxi) Sun Herald programs,” said Louisiana legislative auditor In Mississippi, each city and county

T

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» CHUCK MCINTOSH

» EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

New DSU president has prolific agenda

MELISSA KILLINGSWORTH Sr. Account Executive

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

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

» CORRECTIONS The Mississippi Business Journal takes seriously its responsibility to provide accurate information, and will correct or clarify articles produced by the editorial department if we have made an error or published misleading information. The correction will be placed in the perspective section.

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ew Delta State University president Bill LaForge says his first three weeks on the job at the Cleveland school have been like “drinking out of a fire hose.”

The Cleveland native and DSU graduate has taken part in student forums, faculty forums as well as meeting with the State Institutions of Higher Learning in Jackson.

“It has been a great opportunity,” LaForge said. “To be a part of all of that and to immerse myself before the summer… I’m gearing up and I am ready to go.”

LaForge, in a meeting at the Mississippi Business Journal last week, says he has two major challenges… » Budget — He says the school is going in with a zero-based budget and everyone will have to live Ross Reily within their means. » Student recruitment — Finding more and better students for the university is a priority.

He also is making some very serious personnel choices, which LaForge says will be made public as early as “the next few days.” Positions being replaced are… » Provost » Chief financial officer » Athletic director » Dean of arts and sciences As for initiatives, LaForge wants to push through, his agenda does not lack for excitement.

First is an international blues conference that would bring in people to present papers and lectures as part of an academic center LaForge describes as “kind of like the Falkner program at See REILY, Page 8

PERSPECTIVE

May 10, 2013 I Mississippi Business Journal

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» RICKY NOBILE

» PERCOLATING

Reshoring output requires STEM input

R

»FINANCIAL TIMES

Estate and financial planning fundamentals

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or this article, we will discuss those areas of estate and financial planning for the age group I will refer as “age 50 and older.” Obviously, we’re dealing with a wide age span for people in this group that pairs those of the World War II generation along with the Baby Boomer generation that followed behind. And, it is an interesting financial contrast: for with the WW2 age group, we have the greatest savings group of any generation in American history, while Baby Boomers represent the greatest spenders of any age group. But, in my opinion, the common thread that binds these two factions together deals with two primary issues: asset conservation and building economic wellbeing.

With this, we come face to face with a fundamental question and that is; where are the areas of financial risk in our lives? What steps need to be taken to offset a financial calamity? And, more to the point, how much money will be needed in the future to retire comfortably, and for how long will it be needed. In no particular order, here are a few areas to make sure that the basics are covered: » Financial and personal assets are in order: By that I mean these matters are arranged and organized. It also means they are made known to those, such as children or loved ones to whom you wish to pass them on. In far too many situations, leaving matters to children and survivors to hunt or “scrounge” through one’s home and/or bank lock box is no way to have one’s life organized. » Legal Arrangements are in place and communicated to loved ones: The importance of making sure that legal arrangements are in place cannot be overemphasized. Certainly, for people in this age group, it is critically important that plans are in

Ike Trotter

place, current with existing tax laws and made known to those people in charge of carrying out your wishes. » Review your debt load: Most probably, 20 to 25 years ago, I wouldn’t be making note of this. However, an unfortunate statistic today is the fastest growing debtor group in our country is the retired and elderly. With more and more deciding to refinance, relocate or purchase a new home, it makes good sense, in taking on that kind of mortgage debt, not to spread it out beyond the age of 65 to 70. » Adequate healthcare: These are really two issues pertaining to this: Number one is making sure that adequate medical care is in place and secure. For those under age 65, there is no greater need. This is especially true now days with so many dependent on employers for health care coverage. For those 65 and over, it is important, in my opinion, to carry additional “MediGap” coverage to pick up the many additional expenses not covered by basic Medicare. However, this only covers one side of health care protection. The other part points to the additional expenses of extended care or long-term care. Unfortunately, far too many continue to bury their heads in the sand rather than face the reality of this situation. And, it affects the entire family – not only emotionally, but financially, as well. » Liability Protection: As discussed last month, we live in a more litigious society than 25-50 years back. Due to this, it is extremely important that our assets are protected as well as those situations where an accident or event could put us at personal fault.

See TROTTER, Page 8

eshoring is the catchy name used to describe efforts to bring manufacturing jobs back to America. It includes the return of jobs “off-shored” or “out-sourced” by U.S. companies as well as jobs brought to America by direct foreign investment.

While General Electric, Caterpillar and Ford have brought jobs back to the U.S., we see more direct foreign investment jobs. The just announced Japanese Yokohama Tire project in West Point joins Russian Severstal, Israeli Stark Aerospace and European Eurocopter as examples in East Mississippi, Toyota in Bill Crawford Northeast Mississippi, European Airbus and German ThyssenKrupp near Mobile, and Chinese Golden Dragon near Thomasville, Ala. WhyarethesemanufacturingjobscomingtoorbacktoAmerica?

Rising shipping costs matter, but a narrowing wage gap as foreign wages go up and U.S. wages go down may matter more.

Boston Consulting Group found that “the United States is on pace to have lower manufacturing costs than Europe and Japan by 2015,” reported the Washington Post.

President Barack Obama wants to reshore one million jobs by the end of his Presidency. Federal agencies support this initiative by offering competitive grants. The most recent is a multi-agency grant entitled the Make It In America Challenge.

The Make it in America Challenge will provide $40 million through the Department of Commerce, the Department of Labor and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to support the development and implementation of regionally driven economic development strategies “that accelerate job creation by encouraging re-shoring of productive activity by U.S. firms, fostering increased Foreign Direct Investment, encouraging U.S. companies to keep or expand their businesses — and jobs — in the United States, and training local workers to meet the needs of those businesses.”

“Training local workers” is a vital part of the reshoring formula.

You see, many high-tech manufacturing companies located in the U.S. import skilled foreign workers to fill high-tech positions.

They do this through the H-1B Visa program. The Make It In America Challenge requires the training of American workers for jobs now being filled by H-1B foreign workers.

Through reshoring, we want more high-tech manufacturing jobs — for Americans.

TheseH-1Bmanufacturingjobsincludemechanical,chemical,and electronicsengineersandadvancedtechniciansinthesamefields.

Here lies the challenge for many parts of America and Mississippi. Too many of our K-12 students fare poorly in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs that produce engineers and advanced technicians. Our global STEM rankings have been on the decline.

We expect our universities to output engineers and our community colleges to output credentialed advanced manufacturing technicians. But to do so, they have to input students with STEM competencies and interests.

Mississippi and America can reshore only so many high-tech jobs with a weak STEM educational system.

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

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8 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013

PERSPECTIVE

»FROM THE GROUND UP BY PHIL HARDWICK

» OTHER VIEWS

Economic growth in Mississippi: It’s past, present and future

Prepaid college costs rising

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conomic development, which is generally defined as the process of creating wealth in a community, continues to evolve. In this column we will discuss a bit of Mississippi economic development history, where it stands now and what the future might hold.

PAST — The genesis of Mississippi’s formal economic development effort as we know it today can be traced to the 1930’s when industrialist and mayor of Columbia Hugh L. White convinced Reliance Manufacturing Company to open a facility in Marion County by offering incentives to do so. The project was so successful that White made industrial recruitment a campaign theme in his successful run for governor in 1935. His campaign theme was to “Balance Agriculture with Industry.” After assuming office he established a state agency to recruit nationally for industrial prospects and to offer incentives as necessary. Among his successful industrial recruitment efforts was Ingalls Shipbuilding to Pascagoula.

PRESENT — The name changes of the state’s lead economic development agency over the years reflect the transformation of the evolution of economic development in the state. From the Mississippi Industrial Commission to Mississippi Agricultural and Industrial (A&I) Board to Mississippi Department of Economic Development to Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development to the current Mississippi Development Authority, the agency’s name illustrates the ever-changing aspects of economic development. The sole focus on industrial recruitment has evolved into a wide range of activities that not only increase the wealth of communities, but serve to improve the quality of life, as well. Community development has been added to the mix of services and activities provided by the state’s lead economic development agency Local agencies have also changed from their original missions of simply recruiting industry. Many are now what is known as “umbrella” organizations, meaning that local economic and community development activities are under the purview of a controlling or lead organization. Activities such as chamber of commerce, tourism, convention and visitors bureau and community development may have their own employees or even boards, but are aligned under the purview or control of a lead organization. Examples include The Alliance in Corinth, the Area Development Partnership (ADP) in Hattiesburg, the Community Development Foundation (CDF) in Tupelo and the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation (EMBDC) in Meridian. Regional economic development is on the rise. For example, the Golden Triangle Development LINK provides economic development services to several counties.

For the most part, local economic and community development organizations are public/private entities, although a number of counties and municipalities have their own organizations or agencies that are part of the local government. Several cities have community development agencies that function as housing, zoning, planning and economic development organizations.

A glance at the membership roster of the Mississippi Eco-

TROTTER

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» Review housing arrangements: For many elderly and retired, maintaining an older house can be quite a financial drain. This becomes even more apparent in situations where children are located far from home with little chance of returning to live in the family home. » Income planning issues: There are two key issues at work here. They are: No. 1 — Making sure there is enough income for retirement and, of critical importance, seeing this income can last as

Phil Hardwick

nomic Development Council (MEDC), the association of economic development and chamber of commerce professionals, reveals that its members represent the full gamut of economic and community development activities.

FUTURE — Up to now, economic development has been very place-based and jobs-based. It has been about improving a place through creation, attraction or retention of jobs or improving the quality of life of the community through various activities. When considering the nature of work, technology and the demographics of America it appears that economic development as we know it is in for another round of modification.

In a recent column titled “It’s a 401(k) World,” New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman addressed this subject in a very thought-provoking piece. He said that in the last decade we have gone from a connected to a hyper-connected world, and that “…What’s exciting is that this platform empowers individuals to access learning, retrain, engage in commerce, seek or advertise a job, invent, invest and crowd source — all online.” It also means that more is placed on the individual worker.

Note that he said that individuals may engage in commerce, invent and invest. Technology, in other words, may be changing everything. Perhaps not to the extent that large employers or manufacturers or big companies are going to go away. Yet change will come to the way we approach economic and community development. There may not be as many big companies to support the current model of community activities. Consider Kodak, which employed 140,000 people in its heyday, and its social impact on Rochester, N.Y. Now consider Instagram when it was purchased by Facebook in April 2012. It had 13 employees. Check out “How Silicon Valley is Hollowing Out the Economy (And Stealing From You To Boot),” at the Time Magazine website on ways that technology is disrupting business models.

This does not mean that economic and community development will go away, of course. It means that it will just be different.

We are also entering an era when education is converging with economic development and community development activities. No longer does the business community sit back and trust that the schools will deliver trainable workers. Instead, businesses, through economic and community development organizations, are getting more involved in local schools.

A glimpse of the future can be found in whom economic development organizations are recruiting these days. Although large employers are still a target, there is increasing emphasis on recruiting people as well as jobs; i.e., tourism, retirement communities, lifestyle destinations, etc. Health care will also be a growing focus of economic and community development activities.

No matter what the future holds, there will always be economic development organizations finding ways to increase the wealth of their communities and improve the quality of life.

Phil Hardwick is coordinator of capacity development at the John C. Stennis Institute of Government. Pease contact Hardwick at phil@philhardwick.com.

long as needed.

No. 2 — Securing, in the event of death, not only that expenses are paid for the deceased, but also that an income stream continues for the survivor. This provides financial “peace of mind” for a survivor not to experience too large of an income loss. And understand, if the survivor would live for 10-15 more years, that could require a great deal of income.

There are, obviously, many areas at work in providing for economic security. The overriding message at work here is this; Life offers NO GUARANTEES and the plans that we make for ourselves and our loved ones today are the key tools

State Treasurer Lynn Fitch, who encouraged the shutdown of Mississippi's prepaid college tuition program last year, wants to open it to new participants, probably in 2014.

Parents and grandparents should be forewarned: Those who set aside money for college in the coming years will not get as good a deal as people already in the program.

Blame that on the five-year-old economic slump. The program's investments are supposed to return almost 8 percent a year, which exceeds the anticipated college tuition increase of 6 percent a year.

But recent returns have been about 1 percent, which has increased the size of the program's unfunded obligations.

Actuaries this week told the board that runs the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program that it should reduce its investment goal to 7 percent a year. In this climate, that still seems high. Even worse, the lower the projected return, the higher the unfunded obligation.

If the predictions are accurate, the cost for future participants to lock in four years of college tuition would rise to $30,000 to $31,000, compared to the most recent price of $26,000.

That's still a good bargain, especially if college tuition continues to increase at the rate it has over the past two decades — which is probable.

The state needs to build safeguards into the program when it reopens. It does this by reducing its anticipated investment returns. However, that means the cost of participation may need to be even higher than officials have discussed so far.

Mississippi taxpayers are presently on the hook to pay for any inability of the program to meet its future obligations. College is a fine investment, but not one that should require state assistance for prepaid tuition.

—The Greenwood Commonwealth

REILY

Continued from Page 6

Ole Miss.”

Second is a racial reconciliation conference in which there have already been marquee visitors lined up, which likely will be slated for some time next year.

Third is an international exchange for faculty and students. LaForge is already working on this as the university is likely to announce in the near future agreements with universities in Poland and Russia.

Contact Mississippi Business Journal editor Ross Reily at ross.reily@msbusiness.com or (601) 364-1018.

to securing financial “peace of mind”. Always remember — there is no better feeling in life than in knowing that plans are in place — for the days in front of you...

Ike S. Trotter, CLU, ChFC, is a financial advisor in Greenville. Securities and investment advisory services provided through Woodbury Financial Services Inc., Member: FINRA, SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor, P.O. Box 64284, St. Paul, MN 55164. Tel: 800.800-2638.

IKE TROTTER AGENCY, LLC, and Woodbury Financial Services are not affiliated entities. Information and opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of Woodbury Financial Services Inc.

May 10, 2013

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» MISSISSIPPI LEADERS by Martin Willoughby

Engineering success Neel grows Neel-Schaffer Inc. into one of largest engineering firms in the U.S.

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he dictionary defines a wake as “A track, course, or condition left behind something that has passed.” Like a boat on the water, our lives leave a wake, as well. The question is whether we are intentional about the ripple effect of our lives. I enjoy studying the lives of leaders who have not just “talked the talked, but have walked the walk” over a long period of time. The wake of their lives demonstrates a legacy of leadership and service. Anyone can have brief periods of excellence; however, my greatest respect is for those who have demonstrated effectiveness over a lifetime.

W. Hibbett Neel, co-founder and CEO of Neel Schaffer, Inc., is one of those leaders who has made a real difference through a lifetime of leadership. A native of Smyrna, Tenn., he graduated from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor of engineering and earned his master of science in civil engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. He served in the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers as a company commander and rose to the rank of captain.

After his military service, he served as assistant state traffic engineer for the Tennessee State Highway Department. He went on to work with Hensley Schmidt Inc. where he served in a number of leadership roles. In 1983, Neel co-founded Neel Schaffer Inc., a multi-disciplinary engineering firm, with Gorman Schaffer and a total of 20 employees. They formed the

Up Close With... Hibbett Neel Title: Co-founder & CEO, Neel Schaffer Inc. Favorite Books: John Grisham novels First Job: “In second grade I bagged groceries all day on Saturdays for $.75. In fifth grade to 11th grade I delivered the newspaper before school at 5 a.m. and after school. ” Proudest Moment as a Leader: The 30th anniversary of NeelSchaffer Hobbies/Interests: Grandkids, gardening and traveling

firm with four guiding principles: Serve the community in which we live and work, provide multi-disciplined services of the highest quality, give back to the community and pledge to be employee-owned. They have stuck true to their principles and the firm recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. Today, the firm has over 400 employees and has regional offices in nine states from South Carolina to Texas.

Neel learned the value of hard work and discipline early on. He had a paper route from the 5th-11th grade and is an Eagle Scout. He was in the ROTC while at Van-

derbilt, and he shared that his time in the military taught him the value of discipline.

As a business leader, he believes, “It’s not about the money – it is about giving employees an opportunity to become better leaders themselves.” Neel follows the philosophy of Sir Winston Churchill who said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”He shared, “Your leadership is all about leaving a legacy.”

He encourages business leaders to have a core set of values to live by, and “encourage others to live by that set of values as well.”

Neel noted that, “People and societies

“It’s not about the money — it’s about giving employees an opportunity to become better leaders themselves.“

are constantly changing.” He is a champion of the entrepreneurial spirit, and encourages others to “find where opportunities are and develop vision, an action plan, and persist- Martin Willoughby ence.” He places a strong emphasis on execution. Neel shared the quote, “Having vision only, without action, is just a daydream. Having action only, without vision, is just spinning wheels.

Having vision, alongside action, is you can accomplish anything.”

One of Neel’s most significant accomplishments is his legacy of leadership in his community and profession. He has committed significant time to community organizations such the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, Jackson 2000, Catholic Charities, Mississippi Economic Council and Mississippi Blood Services. A strong believer in diversity, Neel created scholarships for disadvantaged minorities at various universities and began a mentoring program for upcoming minority firms at Neel-Schaffer. Neel is also president-elect of the Institute of Transportation Engineers, an international educational and scientific association of transportation professionals with over 17,000 members.

Neel’s early career caused him to move around a great deal. After moving seven times in six years, he and his wife planted their roots in Jackson. Our community and state have been a beneficiary of that decision ever since.

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.

Intrigue, code breaking, mystery at No. 10 Downing Street

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r. Churchill’s Secretary is a work of fiction, but there are enough historical figures and facts to make it authentic. It’s a blend of fact and fiction. The author researched many sources, including journals and other accounts written by real people who worked on Winston Churchill’s staff during the turbulent days of World War II. This book is Susan MacNeal’s first novel and leads off the Maggie Hope mystery series. I didn’t think of Mr. Churchill’s Secretary as a mystery but rather as a war tale full of history, intrigue, Nazi spies, IRA operatives and much more. However, now I’m eager to get her second book, Princess Elizabeth’s Spy. But, back to Mr. Churchill’s Secretary where we’re introduced to Margaret Hope, a brilliant young college graduate who excels in mathematics. She was born in London but » Mr. Churchill’s Secretary

By Susan Elia MacNeal Published by Bantam Books $15.00 paperback

reared in America by an aunt after an accident takes the lives of her parents. She returns to London to settle her grandmother’s estate and decides to stay on in the large old Victorian house she’s inherited.

Even though she has the skills of the finest minds in British intelligence, her gender only qualifies her for a job as a typist at No. 10 Downing Street. Her indefatigable spirit and remark-

This book is Susan MacNeal’s first novel.

able gift for code breaking rivals the highest men in government. Always thinking analytically, Hope breaks a code and after much wrangling persuades those higher in the echelon to take her seriously. Because of her, lives are saved along with the venerable St. Paul’s Cathedral. The code, embedded Morse code in drawings of models wearing the latest fashions in newspaper advertisements, was actually used by Nazi agents in England — a fact only discovered in 2006.

Because of her work for Churchill, Maggie Hope gains a level of clearance that makes her a target of violence, espionage and betrayal by someone she trusts. She also encounters more opportunity than she could have imagined and learns the truth about her parents.

MacNeal’s first book was nominated for a Barry Award and a 2013 Edgar Award for Best First Novel by the Mystery Writers of America, and it won the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association’s 2013 Dilys Award

— Lynn Lofton, mbj@msbusiness.com

10 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013 BANKING AND FINANCE

Federal White Paper sets stage for payday lending deposit curbs » Mississippi Department of Banking & Finance expects cooling off period, caps on number of loans

Borrower income reported at application

the first month of a 12-month period and then tracked usage across this timeframe.

“We limit our analysis to this subset of consumers because one focus of our analysis is sustained use, and consumers that we initially observe later in the data can only be followed for a more limited time,” the bureau said.

Two-thirds of payday borrowers in the sample had seven or more loans in a year.

“Most of the transactions conducted by consumers with seven or more loans were taken within 14 days of a previous loan being paid back — frequently, the same day as a previous loan was repaid,” the bureau said.

“Similarly, over half of deposit advance users in our sample took out advances totaling over $3,000. This group of deposit advance users tended to be indebted for over 40 percent of the year, with a median break between advance balance episodes of 12 days or less.”

In its regulation setting and rule making,

prevent a Mississippi borrower from havMean $26,167 ing loans out with more than one lending 25th percentile $14,172 operation. “Nothing prevents you from Media $22,476 An analysis of payday lending by the U.S. paying one off and getting another one Consumer Financial Protection Bureau immediately,” Brady said. “That’s what the 75th percentile $33,876 may be a prelude to establishing a “cooling cooling off period is all about.”

White Papers of Payday Loans and Deposit Advance Products – Brady said her department estimates off ” period between loans taken out by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau nearly four million payday loan transchronic borrowers.

The move could have a huge impact in actions occurred in Mississippi in 2012, Mississippi, where approximately 1,000 advancing $1 billion in loans.

The timeouts on borrowing Figure 5: Distribution of loan use, volume, and fees payday lending outlets do $1 billion in lending to a working population that often would be aimed at slowing the 45% 43% 43% struggles to meet expenses between pay- frequency of loans taken out by checks. While the lenders give distressed the type of borrowers the analy40% borrowers an outlet, the costs to the con- sis found receive a new loan the 34% 33% sumer are high — nearly $75 in interest on same day they pay off an old one.

35% 32% As a consequence, says the bua $320 loan the worker must repay by his 30% next payday. The loan float is usually a reau, many consumers are unspan of no more than two weeks, though able to repay their loan and still 25% Mississippi‘s 2012 renewal of the law ex- meet their other expenses.

Share of Borrowers 20% 19% “Thus, they continually re-bortended the repayment period to 28 days.

20% Share of Fees The Mississippi Department of Bank- row and incur significant ex15% 15% 14% 13% 15% penses to repeatedly carry this ing & Finance says it appears the analysis Share of Dollars Advanced sets the stage for new regulations from the debt from payday to payday,“ 9% 10% 8% bureau created as a consumer watchdog said the bureau in a recently released white paper titled “Payday under the 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street 5% 2% 2% Reform and Consumer Protection Act. Loans and Deposit Advance 0% “The study indicates they have some con- Products.”

The study concluded payday 1-2 3-6 7 - 10 11 - 19 20+ cerns,” said deputy banking commissioner Theresa Brady. “We should all expect to loans secured in storefront shops Number of transactions per borrower over 12 months see some changes — maybe a cooling off and deposit advances provided by period and a cap on the number of loans.” some of the nation’s largest banks White Papers of Payday Loans and Deposit Advance Products – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Mississippi’s payday lending law, first are a necessary resource for borenacted in 1998 and recently renewed rowers who have an immediate without an expiration date, forbids expense that needs met or have a rollover loans. However, that does not significant enough influx of cash by the next payday to retire the debt. the bureau says it evaluate the prospective But beyond those loan circumstances, the effectiveness of “limitations such as coolborrower takes on a far more risky and ing off periods, in curbing sustained use problematic profile, according to the bureau. and other harms.”

Figure 3: Source of income reported at application The cost of a payday loan is a fee that is A separate analysis is underway on con3% typically based on the amount advanced, sumers using online payday loans. The dif4% and does not vary with the duration of the ficulty of regulating online loans was raised loan. The cost is usually expressed as a dol- to support the need for having storefront lar fee per $100 borrowed. Fees at storepayday outlets in Mississippi that can be front payday lenders generally range from regulated. Among those supporters who 18% Employment $10 to $20 per $100, though loans with cited concerns over increased Internet payhigher fees are possible, the bureau said in Public Assistance/Benefits day lending, especially by offshore operaits report.

Retirement At that rate, a typical 14-day loan would tors, was former Mississippi banking yield an APR of 391 percent on a typical commissioner John Allison.

Other 75% For now, the Consumer Finance Protec14-day loan, the bureau. Payday lenders nation Bureau is serving notice it intends to tionally and in Mississippi have called the APR comparison invalid because payday enact new rules and limits. “The potential loans are extended between paychecks and consumer harm and the data gathered to an annual percentage rate would not apply. date are persuasive that further attention The bureau’s sample for analysis consisted is warranted to protect consumers,” the White Papers of Payday Loans and Deposit Advance Products – Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of consumers who had a loan in its dataset bureau said in concluding its report.

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

May 10, 2013

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SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Delta Dairy Frozen Yogurt

Froyo Y’all » Couple brings “simply delicious” dessert to Delta

By STEPHEN McDILL I STAFF WRITER stephen.mcdill@msbusiness.com

The next time you’re on Cotton Row in Cleveland look for the two teachers serving frozen yogurt.

Suzette Matthews and her fiancée Matty Bengloff decided to open up Delta Dairy Frozen Yogurt in April to introduce the region to a dessert that’s easily found in other college towns in Mississippi.

“I dream of yogurt every night,” says coowner Matthews.

“I never thought I’d be making yogurt in small-town Mississippi,” Bengloff says.

The New York City native graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas with a finance degree and began working for Teach for America (TFA) a national teacher corps for public schools in low-income communities.

After teaching math in Arkansas, Bengloff moved to Mississippi to work on staff for the organization as director of district/alumni partnerships.

Matthews grew up in Jackson and also began working for TFA first as a teacher then as a development director after earning a psychology degree from Texas Tech University.

Matthews says one of their favorite places to visit on the weekends was YaYa’s Frozen Yogurt on Court House Square in Oxford after a long day of tailgating and football at the University of Mississippi.

“Matty would make us go there two or three times a day,” Matthews says. Somewhere in between spoonfuls they decided to open a frozen yogurt place of their own.

“We’re doing our own thing,” Bengloff says. “We wanted to make it specific and thought it would be fun for Cleveland.” It will also bring hiring opportunities for many local high school and Delta State University students.

Delta Dairy’s home is on the ground floor of the historic five-story Grover Hotel, which sat vacant for decades until its recent transformation into a condo residential space by area developer Raymond Huerta. Matthews and Bengloff painted the exterior and added a neon sign. The dining area consists of exposed brick walls and wood floors.

“We went to so many places to do research, very delicious research,” Bengloff says, adding that he’s always wanted own his own business. “It’s been really neat how many people we’ve only known a few years

LOVE AND YOGURT Delta Dairy Frozen Yogurt opened in April at the Old Grover Hotel on Sharpe Avenue in Cleveland. Owners Suzette Matthews and Matty Bengloff met while working for Teach for America and fell in love with each other and the small Delta college town.

Yogurt isn’t just for women, Bengloff and have walked us through the legal and marMatthews say. They see many male cusketing side of things.” tomers cautiously trying Bengloff says the the dessert along with city of Cleveland has their wives or girlfriends. been very supportive “Most of what we of the new business serve is low fat or no and Delta Dairy wants fat,” Matthews says. to give back by doing Peach Medley Aside from being low in fundraisers for local fat, yogurt has half the churches, public Peach Tart calories of a serving of schools, and after California Tart ice cream. Delta Dairy school events. Bengloff Birthday Cake also includes fresh fruit said the mayor and at their topping bar. For other local businessStrawberry Shortcake the less health-conmen helped him walk Strawberry scious customer they through the planning Vanilla also have Cheetos. stages step by step.

“We are definitely still Delta Dairy offers Dreamsicle learning,” Bengloff says. more than 12 seasonal Orange Sorbet “We’re working really flavors from vanilla to Sea Salt Caramel Pretzel hard to create a welcomsea salt caramel pretzel Chocolate Covered Pretzel ing environment and we and more than 35 topwant a really good prodpings including colorTriple Chocolate uct. Even if we have to themed options for take a hit we want someCleveland High * Delta Dairy also offers sugar free, thing that tastes great School, Delta State and gluten free, and dairy free options. Flavors are seasonal and rotated weekly. and makes people want other area schools. to come back.”

Customers range Delta Dairy is open from young families to seven days a week from 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.

DSU students on a study break to retired during the week and noon to 8 p.m. on Deltans eager to embrace the fad food.

Sundays. To find out more visit the Delta “We’re able to sit and visit with them Dairy Frozen Yogurt page on Facebook. and hear all the old Bolivar County stories,” Bengloff says. “Families say its really nice to go out on a Sunday afternoon or after dinner.”

DELTA DAIRY’S DELICIOUS DOZEN

BETTER FOR YOU? Livestrong.com reports that there are between five and seven grams of fat in a single serving of ice cream compared with zero grams of fat in a serving of sugarfree frozen yogurt. One serving of ice cream has approximately 130 calories while a serving of fat-free, sugar-free frozen yogurt has 80.

12 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013 DEPTARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

Communities with closing centers scramble to fill void

By CLAY CHANDLER I STAFF WRITER clay.chandler@msbusiness.com

Come July, four Mississippi communities will lose almost $18 million in free labor.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections announced in late April that it was closing four of its community work centers – in Yazoo City, Cleveland, Lucedale and Fayette – to cut costs.

Corrections commissioner Chris Epps said the closured would save his agency $2.3 million. The centers will officially cease operation July 15. Inmates will be transferred to other facilities. Employees will be offered positions elsewhere within the MDOC system. Each center includes a commander, a correctional supervisor, a case manager and a handful of officers.

A budget shortfall and fewer non-violent inmates who are eligible for housing in the work centers spurred the decision to close them, Epps said in a press release.

MDOC will continue to operate 14 other work centers across the state.

"Tough times make you make tough decisions," he said.

Times will be tough in the affected communities, too.

Yazoo City mayor McArthur Straughter said he and his board of aldermen are already discussing ways to pick up the slack the inmates will leave. Mostly, he said, they help with the city’s public works departments, doing street work and general maintenance.

Where they will be missed most, Straughter said, is in the city’s trash pickup. Each of the city’s four garbage collection trucks have two inmates assigned to it.

They will have to be replaced.

“And with our tight budget, some of the things they do will fall on our existing employees,” Straugher said. “We’re definitely going to have to tighten up. Even with our

GARY RHOADES

current budget situation, we’re going to have to hire at least a few more employees.

We have no other option. We have to minimize the loss.”

About a dozen inmates total performed work for the city, Straughter said. Extrapolating that with total employee salary and benefits, and the loss will reach “into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. The dollar figure is just huge, especially relative to our budget.”

MDOC’s decision blindsided Yazoo City, Straughter said. “We had absolutely no idea that this was coming down the pike. What our citizens will have to understand is it’s going to take a little longer for us to get around and pick up the trash.

But we’ll make it work because we have no other choice.”

Cleveland mayor Billy Nowell said his city used about a dozen inmates per day, to help with any number of things. Two did general maintenance and clean-up at the police station; the rest performed public works functions.

“They really are excellent workers,” Nowell said. “They did a lot of things for us.”

Filling the void won’t be easy, he said.

Some services will inevitably slow down because there isn’t room in Cleveland’s budget to hire enough employees to replace every lost inmate. “There’s no way we can do anything close to that,” Nowell said.

“Our budget just won’t allow it.”

According to MDOC figures, inmate labor at the 18 work centers across Mississippi contributed $17.7 million in labor in fiscal year 2012, which ended last July and is the latest year for which data is available.

Work was done for local, county, state and non-profit organizations.

“It’s going to be heard to close those gaps,” Nowell said. “But we’ll find a way because we have to. We can’t just shut down.”

Continued from Page 5

Q: You got some resistance on the liquor licensing in 2009.

A: I’ve been a diabetic all my life. I don’t promote drinking, it’d kill me. I married a Baptist preacher’s daughter and at the time I was a deacon in what was probably the largest Baptist church in Rankin County. I went through that Bible back and forth and met with several Baptist preachers and told them what I was gonna do. I met with Speaker of the House Billy McCoy. I said “Let’s talk about this. First miracle Jesus ever did was change the water to wine at a wedding. You cannot legislate morality.”

I took a lot of flack but I stayed in my belief and told each of them, “Preacher, you show me in this Bible where it’s wrong and I’ll drop it today.”

The people voted, it passed by more than 80 percent. We have less DUIs now then we did back then. They can say what they want to but we regu-

TRANSPORTATION

PORT OF PASCAGOULA’S WOOD PELLET FACILITY GETS FINAL FUNDING PIECE

By CLAY CHANDLER I STAFF WRITER clay.chandler@msbusiness.com

The Port of Pascagoula has gotten the last funding piece in place for its wood pellet facility.

The $196 million bond bill approved during the legislative session that ended in April includes $10 million that will round out the money needed for the $30 million project. The facility will be built along two terminals on the port’s Bayou Casotte.

Port director Mark McAndrews said work should start on the facility by the end of this year, with construction expected to take about 12 months. The plan, he said, is for the facility to start shipping wood pellets by the end of 2014.

To go with the $10 million in bond money, the port is contributing $15 million. Existing terminal operators are contributing $5 million for the wood pellet facility.

Wood pellets are seen as holding significant economic potential for southeastern Mississippi’s timber industry, which has slowed due to the recession’s hit on new housing starts. The pellets are in high demand overseas for use in heating utilities. A handful of wood pellet facilities have started operation in the Pine Belt region within the last couple years. Gulf Coast Renewable Energy announced earlier this year plans for wood pellet facilities in Copiah and George counties, but will use an Alabama port to ship their products.

That illustrates the problem that has plagued the region’s timber industry, McAndrews said.

There is plenty to produce and ship, but no dependably cheap way to do so.

The Port of Pascagoula could potentially serve as a primary way to get those wood pellets to market, McAndrews said.

“We’ve been looking at wood pellets as an opportunity for the port for about four or five years. This particular project has been in the works about 18 months,” he said in an interview this week.

The facility will have a similar look to a grain elevator, and will primarily be served by truck.

That could change, McAndrews said, if a project to restore continuous rail service along the East Mississippi border is completed. The Rail Authority of East Mississippi received $1 million bonds to advance pre-construction work to restore 56 miles of track that has been closed since the early 1980s.

If the rail project is completed, it would offer wood pellet manufacturers direct rail access to the port. Currently, the rail runs through Mobile before heading west to Pascagoula. The port chipped in funding for an initial feasibility project. The project is geared toward offering cheap transportation for south Mississippi’s wood pellet industry. The $1 million in bond money will pay for an environmental impact analysis and other pre-construction steps, said Geoffrey Clark, RAEM’s executive director. Clark said if the analysis finds no negative impact, the project be eligible for a low-interest construction loan through the Federal Railroad Administration.

The port currently ships lumber, paper products, petroleum products, newsprint and poultry.

Most everything it ships are Mississippi-originated products, McAndrews said.

“We’re going to build this wood pellet facility and we think it will be a great benefit to a lot of people in Mississippi,” he said.

late it. I don’t want no honky tonks. I’ve been in them, had to drag people out of them, fighting, cutting and shooting. What I wanted was the nice restaurants. Table 100 is one of the nicest restaurants you’ll come across.

I’m not having a bunch of drinking holes out here.

Q: Do you see yourself as a competitor or a cooperator with Jackson and the surrounding counties?

A: (As a lawman) when you bust that door down you’re not going in by yourself — you got five, 10 people behind you. It’s always been about team with me. It’s the cop mentality — everybody is treated equal. I was always pushing for what was best for the whole city. In today’s world if you don’t keep pushing and standing up for what’s right you fall in the same compromising crowd as everyone else. What was good for Flowood was good for all of Rankin County. If it floods on this side of the river it floods on the other side of the river. If water gets in my homes it gets in (Jackson Mayor

Harvey Johnson’s) homes.

There’s been a lot things that we’ve been blessed with. I can’t bless nobody, only the good Lord can do that, but it’s been amazing to drive these streets as a police officer and see the change. When I was police chief, Lakeland was a two-lane highway. I worked an accident that there was four children that got killed. Four young kids, been out drinking and there was a head-on. I got called — it was like at one o’clock in the morning — and threw my boots on and blue jeans and went to the scene and actually had to take pictures of two of the kids laying on the pavement and closed their eyelids.

I’ve gotta great wife, been married 40 years. My wife says I need to slow down sometimes. That accident was way more stress, of dealing with life and death than this job’s ever been. Every politician should have been on the police department before. Then you learn what’s right and what’s wrong. They ain’t any grey area. Things would be a lot simpler.

SOUTHERN GAMING SUMMIT

May 10, 2013

ON THE WEB

Online gaming inevitable, experts say, but will Mississippi see it?

By FRANK BROWN I STAFF WRITER frank.brown@msbusiness.com

BILOXI — Online gaming is coming.

All the experts say it’s inevitable – but they just can’t say when it will happen.

In one of the hottest debates since gaming was legalized, the pros and cons of Internet gaming was a key topic of discussion at the Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi.

The 20th-annual summit is the largest gathering of casino executives, officials, experts and venders outside of Las Vegas, and they all wanted to know the same thing — when will Internet gaming happen. And Mississippi interests wanted to know when it will happen in the Magnolia State.

“I’d be surprised if Mississippi ever legalizes online game,” said Dan McDaniel Jr. of the law firm Baker Donelson.

“From the perspective of the state, I don’t know if it’s going to be good or not,” he said. “If it lowers employment or causes casinos to close, that could be good for companies, but not for the state.”

In the last few days, Nevada started online gaming within its states lines. New Jersey and Delaware have passed legislation to begin online gaming. Delaware’s gaming will be part of its lottery enforcement and will be operated by the state.

Each state would operate gaming inside its borders, unless it works in unison with other states through an interstate compact, which is an issue within itself.

“The current leadership — the gover-

nor, lieutenant governor and the speaker of the House — are not for expanding gaming,” said state Rep. Richard Bennett, chairman of the House gaming committee. “It would be a hard sell, regardless of what my committee wants to do. I think you’d have to see a change in leadership before it will pass.”

But Rep. Bobby Moak of Bogue Chitto, who has introduced online gaming legislation in each of the last two sessions, feels this is an opportunity for Mississippi.

“I think Mississippi is missing the boat,” said Moak. “This is one of those things we can’t miss out on in our state.

“But it takes political courage and political will, and that will be difficult to do.

When you’re moving any ‘sin’ issue through the Legislature, it’s always tough to do.

“Sometimes it is a hard road to get the Legislature to pass things. Next year will be the third year of the term, and people are getting itchy about what they pass because they are only one year away from the elections.”

A similar scenario applies to Congress, which has chosen not to act on the issue ever since Justice Department ruled in 2011 that online gaming does not violate the Wire Act of 1961, which prohibits sports betting over wires of communication.

“They’ve been talking about it in Congress for years, but I don’t think they have the will to do anything,” said Moak If Congress does ever take up and pass the online gaming issue, it’s believed that it would come with an option where

states could opt-out of the law. For Moak, the issue would be if it required states to opt-in, which would essentially be another vote on state legalization.

“I’m not for the opt-in clause,” said Moak. “The bottom line is that it would be difficult to opt-in” Rep. Peter King of New York recently tried to push through legislation legalize online gaming, but limit it to poker. The bill was defeated.

“It’s not going to be easy,” said Larry Lavender, director of government relations with the law firm Jones Walker. “Folks in the gaming industry will have to work together to put together their platform.”

And what about a lottery?

Here’s what state Rep. Richard Bennett, chairman of the House gaming committee says about the state’s stance on lotteries: “A lot of people don’t realize that in 1992, there was a referendum for a lottery in Mississippi and it passed, and they amended the constitution. So it’s legal to have a lottery.

We’re the only state with an amended constitution but without a lottery.

“What happened was the Baptists came out and said that if you broke down the vote, the referendum failed by two districts, and they wanted legislators to vote on the lottery like their constituents voted.

“It never came up in the Legislature.

Ironically, that same year, the Legislature came back and legalized casinos.

“We have a lottery; it’s just never been enacted.”

GAMING REGULATION

Mississippi takes action after the ‘glory days’

By FRANK BROWN I STAFF WRITER frank.brown@msbusiness.com

BILOXI — “The glory days are over, and we have to deal with that.”

That’s how Larry Gregory of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association assessed the state of gaming in Mississippi during Wednesday’s Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi.

Mississippi’s casinos have been on a rough ride in recent years — both financially and physically — but Mississippi lawmakers, officials and casino operators are taking steps to smooth the landscape — or will their moves only add to the turbulence.

Earlier this year, the Mississippi Gaming Commission amended the casino application system, upgrading the requirements for a new casino, but more importantly, extending the message that operators and owners must bring more to the table to get that license.

“I think it’ll have a positive effect,” Allen Godfrey, executive director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. “I think it will encourage existing properties to re-invest.”

“We just want a fair playing field,” said Larry Gregory of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association. “We don’t want newcomers coming in and cannibalizing the market, but on the flip side, we do encourage the competition. We’re not running from that. We want good projects that are going to bring more people to this market.”

“I don’t think it will have a negative effect,” said Dan McDaniel, a gaming lawyer with the law firm Baker Donelson. “I thing it hinges on how the rule interrupted by the gaming commission. I think the commission has to be really carefully on where it sets the standard for a new casino. Every dollar you put into the non-gaming themes makes it hard to finance the property.”

“I think market will dictate the response we’re going to get,” said Gregory. “There are so many economic challenges. I think it’s the status quo until we see the direction the Gulf Coast or Tunica market is going to take as a result of this tourism bill. We recognize we have to change our business model in our state.”

The tourism bill was passed during the recent legislative session and combined Harrison, Hancock and Jackson counties into a Gulf Coast tourism board.

See

GLORY DAYS, Page 14x

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COMPETITION

Casino ads were fun, not anti-Mississippi, says Southland executive

By FRANK BROWN I STAFF WRITER frank.brown@msbusiness.com

BILOXI — The advertising, in a word, was taken personally by gaming officials in Mississippi.

Southland Park Gaming and Racing’s recent marketing campaign in the Arkansas, Tennessee, north Mississippi area have been often-discussed in Mississippi gaming circles.

The television ads for the West Memphis, Ark., racetrack and casino incorporated negative Mississippi stereotypes. The ads advise viewers “Don’t Risk the Road Trip.” They depict dangers such as a traveler being chased by a chainsaw killer after suffering a flat tire, and a traveler being assaulted by inmates after being tossed in jail for speeding in on Mississippi roads.

“They’re not anti-Mississippi ads,” Bobbi Jones, senior director of marketing at Southland, said Thursday at the Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi.

“I live in Mississippi!

WANT TO CHECK OUT THE ADS? » View the TV ads of this campaign online at http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/05/09/casino-ads-were-funnot-anti-mississippi-says-southland-executive/

“We like to make sure we handle our advertising where it’s getting people’s attention.

“We’ve wanted to make sure we did something that was fun and got people’s attention and had a good time. That’s how we’ve been advertising since 2007. We’ve always been on the edge a little bit.

Her counterpart on the the Marketing Roundtable panel discussion would differ.

“There’s a line,” said LuAnn Pappas, regional vice president of marketing for Caesars Entertainment, which owns Harrah’s in Tunica. “We all want something creative and compelling, but that crossed the line.”

Larry Gregory, executive director of the Mississippi Casino Operators Association, who considered the ads offensive, said in remarks Wednesday that Mississippi is fighting back.

“We’re trying to tackle that with, not a tit-for-tat approach, but with more positive ads about Mississippi,” said Gregory. “Plus, Tunica casinos are giving away $1 million every weekend.

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SOUTHERN GAMING SUMMIT

GAMING’S FUTURE

Caesars’ CEO addresses casino concerns at Biloxi summit

By FRANK BROWN I STAFF WRITER frank.brown@msbusiness.com

BILOXI — With Mississippi gaming issues at the heart of his presentation, Gary Loveman, president and CEO of Caesars Entertainment, used his keynote address Wednesday at the Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi to address problems — both current and in the future — of gaming in the United States.

In his address titled “Did Dinosaurs Know They Were Dinosaurs,” Loveman said the model that lifted the casino industry to its place in American society could end up being the model that brings it down.

Mississippi was once the second-largest gaming area in the country, but the recession of 2008 and an increase of competition as more states legalize gaming has contributed to a downturn in gross gaming revenues. Mississippi River floods in 2011 and Hurricane Katrina left their marks on the industry in the state.

But Mississippi is not alone. Atlantic City is in even worse shape, with revenues dropping 36 percent from its peak in 2007.

“Building more casinos strikes me as a very bad idea,” said Loveman, who was the driving force behind Caesars worldwide expansion since 1998. “The model now is very different.

“We have to face the fact that we’re in a different situation.”

Loveman proposed a three-step plan to stabilize the industry.

First, instead of building more casinos in the destination and rural areas, bring barebones casinos into major urban areas, and develop business partners around it.

As an example, he cited Harrah’s casino in downtown New Orleans. The casino opened with just gaming and a small buffet. With little else, it depended on its downtown-area partners to grow.

He noted that other cities such as De-

GLORY DAYS

Continued from Page 13

“We’re proud that happened,” said Gregory. “I think the magic bullet is knowing that visitors are going to have to come back. Tourism is the name of the game.

The gaming has been good to us, but visitors are expecting more and wanting more.”

One of the harder hit areas has been the Tunica area, which has seen a drop in gross gaming revenues because of new competition, economic downturn and — most recently — the 2011 Mississippi River floods.

Taking advantage of the bad luck has been Southland Park in West Memphis, Ark., which is attracting former Mississippi customers with television ads depicting

troit, Cleveland and Cincinnati are following a similar strategy. The larger casinos can then use their new-found databases to develop customers for sister properties on the Coast.

“Destination markets need new customers,” said Loveman Loveman.

Second, since destinations need new customers, increase the hospitality experiences at the locations, Loveman said.

He noted that the Las Vegas visitor is changing. While the total revenues have increased since 1991, the gaming dollars are flat. Dollars spent on spas, shows and lodging have seen big increases.

Loveman cited amenities such as entertainers, celebrity chefs, nightlife, shops, hotels and golf as things that attract visitors.

“We don’t have enough people coming to the Gulf Coast,” Loveman said. “We have to give them reasons and make it easier for them to get here.”

Loveman pointed out that the trip-planning online sites such as Expedia and Kayak are driving forces in where out-ofstate visitors go, and Coast casinos have to find a way to get people here.

Third, Loveman addressed the “multichannel engagement,” which includes all aspect of the Internet and social media, not just online gaming.

“Casinos can not be a single-channel institution — or we will become dinosaurs.

We have to offer our goods online,” he said.

He was referring to more than online gaming. His company has refocused its website to stress amenities. It also is embracing social media and the Interent. “We need to be able to provide all our services online.”

Caesars Entertainments owns the Horseshoe, Harrah’s and Roadhouse in Tunica and the Grand in Biloxi.

negative Mississippi stereotypes, such as crooked cops and chainsaw killers.

Now, the state is fighting back with its own ads.

“We’re trying to tackle that with, not a tit-for-tat approach, but with more positive ads about Mississippi,” said Gregory, who considers the negative ads insulting and sickening. “Plus, Tunica casinos are giving away $1 million every weekend.

“The word is getting out, and people are already crossing the line. Hopefully we can turn it around in the next quarter.”

But McDaniel sees another storm on the horizon, as the state government fights a growing tribal gaming industry and illegal bingo machines parlors in Alabama.

“I think they’re getting ready to have another push to legalize gaming in Alabama.”

Tribal gaming growing in the South

By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

BILOXI — Tribal gaming is expanding in the Southern region of the U.S. with the addition of gaming space, hotels and amenities such as spas, to keep gamblers longer and the casinos profitable for tribe members.

Session attendees heard regional reports from Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina and Oklahoma Wednesday at the Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi.

Holly Gagnon, president and CEO of Pearl River Resorts in Mississippi, was one of the panelists.

The resort, owned by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, includes the Silver Star and Golden Moon casinos and hotels plus The Dancing Rabbit Golf Cub with two championships courses and a water theme park. “Pearl River Resort is the second largest employer in the state,” she said.

The Choctaw’s most recent addition, opened in November 2010, is the Bok Homa Casino in Jones County. It is their first venture outside the Choctaw land in Neshoba County. The new 27,000 square foot facility has more than 750 slot machines and a quick serve restaurant.

At the time of its opening, officials said market studies showed the demand for the Bok Homa Casino project.

Gagnon said the challenge now is marketing both the established resort and the new casino.

“It’s more about the property keeping service consistent, employees engaged and leveraging our core competencies,” she said. “We’re getting better every day coordinating these two properties.”

The addition of amenties does serve to keep the core customers longer, she said.

“It’s more about the length of stay.”

Conrad Granito, general manager of Coushatta Casino Resort in Louisiana, said said the state’s four tribes are adding spas, family entertainment centers with bowling and movies, and hotels.

“There are lots of things going on in the tribal markets,” he said.

Brent Pinkston of PCI Gaming, the gaming authority of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in Atmore, Ala., said,

“We’ve been growing steadily for the last five years.”

Poarch Creek Indian Gaming manages three gaming facilities in Alabama: the Wind Creek Casino & Hotel in Atmore; Creek Casino Wetumpka; and Creek Casino Montgomery.

“The tribes have been very successful in meeting increased competition” through diversification, he said.

Pinkston said, “When you add amenities you give gamblers more value for their dollar. We’re not seeing a lot of revenue coming out of our entertainment options.

It’s just a more competitive option.”

The goal, he said, is to create and enhance wealth for the tribe.

Pinkston said he believes service in the industry “has gone to the wayside” and that PCI is aiming to offer the highest level the customer service they can by emphasizing Southern hospitality. Employees who excel get rewarded.

“We are very guest-focused,” he said.

“We continue to fine tune our customer service. It’s not just a transaction. Our high performers make more money. “ Tom Hoskens, a principal with Cuningham Group Architecture Inc., traced the development of Harrah’s Cherokee Casino, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ $650 million mountain resort in North Carolina. What started as a $175 million casino in 1997 has been expanding over the years. Ground was broken in 2008 for the latest expansion of the resort, which is attracting 3.6 million visitors a year and has an annual economic impact of $300 million. Unemployment in the area is “at historic lows.” Adding amenities is “a way to keep people longer and gambling more,” Hoskens said.

Sheila Morago, executive director of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Association, said the state’s gaming industry began with bingo halls and today 33 of the 39 tribes have compacts with the state. There are 116 operations now open with more to come, she said.

“Oklahoma is growing,” she said. “It doesn’t look like it’s stopping any time soon.”

The market, which she described as maturing, is now looking to add more amenities such as hotel rooms and event centers.

“It’s expanding like crazy,” she said.

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AGRICULTURE

LAW AND COURTS

Randolph blasts DOJ in Manning execution dissent

BY CLAY CHANDLER I STAFF WRITER clay.chandler@msbusiness.com The Mississippi Supreme Court this week stayed the execution of Willie Jerome Manning, who was scheduled to die last Tuesday night at 6 at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman.

Manning was convicted in 1994 of killing two Mississippi State students in front of the campus’ Sigma Chi fraternity house.

Justices voted 8-1 to issue the stay. Justice Michael Randolph, of Hattiesburg, dissented.

Randolph was critical of the court’s decision, writing that Manning had failed to comply with the statutory requirements attached to his claim that DNA testing on a hair found in one of the victim’s cars could possibly exonerate him. Randolph took particular issue with letters submitted with the hair analysis from the U.S. Department of Justice that were unsigned.

“The letters challenge not only former FBI experts in hair, but also ballistics. Our established law and justice require more,” Randolph wrote in his opinion.

Randolph also pointed out what he felt were discrepancies in one of the DOJ letters, which said mitochondrial DNA testing became routine in 2000.

Randolph cited an article published by the DOJ in 1999 that said the testing became routine in 1992, and would have been available for Manning’s 1994 trial, if he had asked that it be done.

The DOJ’s controversial “Fast and Furious” gunrunning program also made an appearance in Randolph’s dissent. The program was initiated in 2009 to track Mexican drug cartel leadership, but the DOJ lost track of almost 2,000 weapons, one of which was used to kill a border agent in 2010.

Congressional GOP leaders have complained since that pinpointing exactly who is responsible for the botched operation has been difficult due to DOJ stonewalling.

Randolph compares that to the FBI’s recently asking anti-death penalty group the Innocence Project to assist with the Manning hair analysis process due to his execution date being close.

“Although the connectivity and expediency by which this review was accomplished is mind boggling, I should not be surprised, given that the families of victims of the clandestine ‘Fast and Furious’ gun running operation can’t get the Department of Justice to identify the decision makers (whose actions resulted in the death of a border agent and many others) after years of inquiry, and that this is the same Department of Justice that grants and enforces Miranda warnings to foreign enemy combatants,” Randolph wrote.

Attorney General Jim Hood, who had pushed for Manning’s execution, said he had filed last Monday evening with the supreme court a report that there was no DNA present on a rape kit or fingernail scrapings that a test could identify.

See DOJ, Page 16

For the Mississippi Business Journal

Delta row crops endured temperatures below 40 degrees late last week.

Rain, cold cause crop plantings to lag far behind » The ground Mississippi farmers plant has 52 percent more moisture than it needs

BY TED CARTER I STAFF WRITER ted.carter@msbusiness.com Weather weirdness has become the new normal for Mississippi farmers this spring as they watch for forecasts of warm, dry days they would routinely expect in most years.

Even before temperatures in the low 40s or even lower combined with the near daily rainfall, planting averages were falling far below last year’s levels and levels based on 5-year averages.

U.S. Department of Agriculture planting reports for the week ending April 28 show a widening gap between plantings completed in previous years compared to this year. Last year at the end of April, for instance, growers had planted 98 percent of their corn crop. This year they’ve achieved a planting percentage of just 84 percent.

An even wider gap is shown in planted corn that has emerged. This year only 56 percent of corn has emerged, a circumstance the USDA report attributes to cooler ground temperatures slowing germination. Last year, 94 percent had emerged by the end of April. A five-year average puts emerged corn at 87 percent.

None of the corn is looking good for the end of April, one Leflore County grower reported to the USDA. “In general, no one is happy with their corn

stand or its color.”

A Prentiss County farmer who reported his equipment sitting idle for the last week of April, strived to find a bright side in his USDA report: “If April showers bring May flowers, Prentiss County will have a bumper crop.”

The rain and cold have caused specialty growers — those who produce vegetables, fruit and herbs and spices — to endure uncertainties as well, said John Michael Riley, agriculture economist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “I was just down in South Mississippi this week. The largest specialty crop grower in the state was pretty

For weeks, rainouts have limited growers to one or two days in their fields. much underwater.”

Reported one DeSoto County specialty crop farmer to the USDA: “Last week’s frost damaged vegetable crops and blueberries.”

Rice growers are similarly behind in their plantings. As April ended, they had planted 13 percent of their acreage. By comparison, by the end of April last year they had 93 percent of their crop in the ground, according to USDA reports, which put the five-year average at 68 percent.

Rice plantings have been slow to emerge as well, the USDA reports. April ended with 7 percent of the plantings having emerged. The agency put the

emergence percentage at 75 for the same period last year. The five-year average for rice emergence is 68 percent.

The ground Mississippi farmers plant has 52 percent more moisture than it needs, says the USDA, emphasizing “dryer weather is desperately needed at this time.”

And “some wind to dry the ground out,” MSU’s Riley would add.

For weeks, rainouts have limited growers to one or two days in their fields. And over the last weekend and into this week temperatures fell to levels rarely seen this time of year, including recordings as low as 38 degrees in the Delta along with reports of scattered frost.

Tim Walker, a rice specialist with the MSU Extension Service in Stoneville, has hardly any historical data to look at in assessing what soggy cold days in May mean for the state’s rice growers. For now, he says he is relying on a hunch: “Personally, I feel like everything is going to be OK. We will put all this behind us.”

Walker is hedging some, however. “With frostdamaged rice, not many people have seen that,” he said. “To an extent, we are sort of feeling our way through it.”

While this year may be troublesome for rice growers, its unusual nature could make it valuable from a scientific standpoint, especially as the weather relates to harvest yields, Walker said.

“We’re going to learn a lot this year.”

In years past the most consistent yields from year See CROPS, Page 16

16 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013 OKTIBBEHA COUNTY FUNDING

Supes want borrow money for future needs STARKVILLE — Oktibbeha County supervisors have passed a resolution to let the public know it will borrow $5 million when needed to support an economic development opportunity.

Supervisors took the action this week at the urging of the Golden Triangle Development LINK, a local economic development group. The county would borrow the money by issuing bonds.

CROPS

Local residents will have until 10 a.m. June 3 to submit petitions calling for an election on the issue.

Officials said the county is more likely to attract major developments if spending authority is in place as an incentive for a large company to locate in Oktibbeha County.

Joey Deason, Oktibbeha County’s representative with the LINK, said the city of Starkville will be asked

Continued from Page 15

to year have been from rice planted in late March and early April, according to Walker.

Plantings as late as late May have brought both some of the worst and some of the best yields, he said. What has not been present is consistency, he added.

The key to yield levels is likely to rest with how hot the dog days of August get. “If we can get planted by the 20th of May, most of our pollination will occur in August,” Walker said.

As pollination gets underway, favorable August temperatures will be needed. “We really need night temperatures to be 75 or below,” he said. “When we see night temperatures approaching 80 or above we expect problems.”

Like humans, rice must rest at night. “When it is that hot you usually mess up respiration for the plant,” he noted. To respond to the stress of excessive heat, the plant respiration system uses up a lot its carbohydrates — or fuel — it needs later on, especially for a grain fill, Walker added.

The problem worsens when the night’s heat transitions to fast rising temperatures in the morning daylight, according to Walker. Rice typically pollinates between 10 a.m. and noon. “Once it gets above 93 degrees, the pollen can become sterile,” he said.

With the late rice plantings, Mississippi is certain to need August night

to make a similar commitment.

The money will be used to acquire land, update infrastructure and construct facilities.

“This puts us on the same playing field and gets us in line with the other counties that are part of the push tri-county economic development. We’ve been waiting for years to get into the game, and I think this does it,” said Supervisor John Montgomery. “It’s definitely priming the pump and getting things moving toward getting jobs for our county.”

Deason said such incentives came to play in Clay County’s recruitment of a tire manufacturer.

temperatures more in line with the state’s normal temperatures for that time of year.

“In 2010 we had 17 nights in August with temperatures 75 degrees or above. That’s not good,” Walker said.

Walker said he has witnessed profitable rice crops planted as late as the first of June. But he is unsure how many rice growers will want to bet they can make that happen.

They may turn to soybeans, he said. Soybean futures are running strong right now and irrigated soybean fields can perform well when planted in late May, Walker added.

Mississippi soybean growers have to hope Walker is correct. At the end of April, they had planted only 11 percent of their acreage, while by the same time last year they had 56 percent planted.

Regardless of the crop, 2013 success will rest with Mississippi weather establishing more typical and predictable patterns. There’s been no sign yet of that happening, however.

“I spoke with a longtime rice farmer who is on his 37th crop,” Walker noted. “He told me he has never experienced a weather pattern like he has experienced this year.”

On the upside, some time is still on the clock, said Riley, the agriculture economist.

“We’re sitting here today and there is so much of the growing season left.”

“Whenever the state level sees you want to put skin into the game, they’re willing to assist in a greater way.

I think in today’s economic development market, you have to be creative. This gives us major flexing power for infrastructure and other elements needed to attract game-changing developments.

“This shows a buyer (a county) is ready and you have all the tools required. These economic bonds put us in the position so we can be creative and allow us to put our name on the marquee and say we’re open for business,” he said.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

DOJ

Continued from Page 15

“After having an opportunity to consider this new evidence, the senior attorneys in this office believe our Court will dissolve the stay and the sentence will be carried out,” Hood said in a statement.“If, however, our Court orders that these items be retested, then we will carry out that order.”

Hood said he was working with the FBI and DOJ to determine where the letters Randolph cited originated.

“After conversing with expert witnesses at our Crime Lab, it is clear that FBI experts and experts in all states used more conclusive language in their testimony up until around the time the 2009 National Academy of Science report was issued on forensics,” Hood’s statement read. “Since then the policy of many experts has been to qualify their testimony by using the magic words ‘to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty.’

The FBI agents in this case were simply following the standards used in their fields at the time.”

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AN MBJ FOCUS:

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ARTS & THE ECONOMY

State’s creative economy employs 64,000 people  Officials looking to add to sector

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By LYNN LOFTON I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

Although creativity has abounded in Mississippi as long as anyone can remember, the concept of treating that creative force as part of the state’s economic development has been around only a few years. Discussions began in 2009 between the Mississippi Development Authority and the Mississippi Arts Commission. The two state agencies partnered for a study in 2010 and announced findings to the public in August 2011. In less than two years since the creative economy was rolled out, the concept has been embraced across the state. “Philosophically, the thinking was that Mississippi has produced so many creative people, products and communities in an organic climate, that we wanted to take a snapshot and see what the inventory and volume was and if we could succeed in growing the sector,� says Malcolm White, director of MDA’s Tourism Division and former director of the Mississippi Arts Commission. “We were surprised and delighted to find that 3.5 percent of our economy was attributed to this sector and 64,000 existing workers or jobs could be tied to this body of work.�

The study found that the Creative Economy employs people in job sectors ranging from design to culinary arts to museums and heritage. Towns, cities, counties, universities, community colleges, businesses and attractions have seen the potential and signed on to the concept.

One such business is the Maris West & Baker advertising agency in Jackson. “We made a decision to be a Mississippi agency and part of the state’s creative economy,� agency president Peter Marks said. “We think our state and all we have to offer has been a well-kept secret. We have a lot of good agencies in the state, and there’s good work being created that’s cutting edge with less costs.�

The city of Ocean Springs has been especially successful with the creative economy. “Creative economy is about inspiring locals to become entrepreneurs of their dreams.

Whether it be the love of painting, playing a musical instrument, dancing or creating a culinary masterpiece, it all stimulates our economy,� said Margaret Miller, director of

Photo courtesy of Mississippi Development Authority

Work from Shearwater Pottery in Ocean Springs

the town’s Chamber of Commerce – Main Street – Tourism Bureau.

The Jackson County town is known for festivals, the largest being the Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival, which has been held for 35 years each November. “Vendors, artists, crafters, musicians, shoppers, diners and vacationers come from all over to be part of this event, bringing in a $23-million economic impact to Ocean Springs and Jackson County per a Mississippi State University study,� Miller said.

In addition to Ocean Springs, Malcolm White says Oxford, Clarksdale, Fondren and Midtown communities in Jackson, Rolling Fork, Pelahatchie, Water Valley and Meridian – and many more – are among the successful examples of endorsing the creative economy. “Every community has creative resources and assets, some are more aware of these components than others,� White said. “MDA Asset Development Division incorporates the cultural and creative strategies as a methodology to helping communities realize this advantage. “The creative economy is a holistic approach to economic development and is the sum of all wealth generated by the state’s cultural and creative enterprises, institutions, people and places. It adds value to traditional economic sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, service and tourism, while influencing where people choose to travel, live, work and learn.�

Another measure of the concept’s success is the conversation around the creative economy and the placement of state employees managing the language, programs and grants at MDA and MAC. This body of work was incorporated into Blue Print Mississippi, the state’s strategic economic

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“Creative Economy is about inspiring locals to become entrepreneurs of their dreams. Whether it be the love of painting, playing a musical instrument, dancing or creating a culinary masterpiece, it all stimulates our economy.�

Margaret Miller director of Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce

Photo courtest of Ocean Springs Chamber

The Peter Anderson Arts & Crafts Festival is just one of the arts-focused events that draws large crowds.

plan, in 2012 and has full-time staff at MDA and MAC. “We have begun several pilot programs around the state to implement strategies and best practices to advance and foster the growth and vitality of Mississippi’s creative economy,� White said. “We are in production of a companion document of Mississippi’s cultural inventory to be released in July 2013. The success of the program will be determined by statewide community buy-in and individual community strategies implemented both with state assistance and with their own resources.�

Looking to the future, White hopes the strategies and language of the creative econ-

omy will be incorporated into community life to help every Mississippi city, county and crossroad increase its creative capacity, grow its economy and build civic pride. “We intend to continue to include this tool in the toolkit of every policy maker, elected official, educator, faith-based leader and community volunteer across all 82 counties and to all 2.9 million people in Mississippi,� he said.

Additional economic figures, successful examples and helpful information, including Ten Steps Your Community can take towards a more creative economy are on the website www.mscreativeeconomy.com.

18 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

PROFILE

AGRICULTURE

Waller makes MEC go

Ag Department offering farmers help with safe produce certification

» Former journalist carves out new, successful career at the MEC

By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

M

aking the career transition from journalism to economic development turned out to be not that much of a stretch, says Scott Waller, senior vice president of public affairs for the Mississippi Economic Council, the state chamber of commerce.

It’s all about building relationships, he said.

Waller, a graduate of Mississippi State University, left The Clarion-Ledger after four years as business editor to join MEC in May 2006.

The Shubuta native worked previously as the paper’s sports copy editor and focus editor starting in 1993.

He also owned the Madison County Journal, Scott Waller worked as news copy editor at The ClarionLedger, was sports writer and then sports editor at the Commercial Dispatch in Columbus and did a stint at The Island Packet in Hilton Head, S.C. Waller also was co-owner of a residential construction company that built homes in Jackson, Ridgeland and Madison.

“When you run a business, you understand what it takes to stay in business and to write checks at the end of the week to pay your employees. It’s been very helpful to have that experience and relate to what’s going on,” he said.

He is active in Boy Scouts, Leadership Madison County, Rotary of Downtown Jackson and St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church.

Blake Wilson, MEC’s president and CEO, said Waller came to MEC with years of experience as a keen observer.

“His work as a business editor provided the solid understanding of the workings of business and have made all the difference in his rapid ramp up to serving the needs of the business community,” Wilson said.

Working now in government relations, Waller said, “is a lot like working in the newspaper industry, building relationships with sources and making sure you’re covering all the right stories.”

Now he’s focused on “building relationships with statewide leaders, the Legislature and others throughout the state to make sure we know what’s important to our members and working with our legislative leaders to get things done to improve the business climate in the state.” That covers the broad areas of economic development, education and workforce development, he said.

“It’s a different type of role,” Waller said. “Going from being in the back row listening to moving to the front row and advo-

cating positions.”

At a committee hearing during the last Legislative session, Waller found himself being asked by lawmakers why a piece of legislation was important for passage. “It still comes down to relationships and that’s one of the things you learn being a native. We’re a small state with a lot of wonderful people and that’s what makes the job so fun.”

Wilson said that Waller is well respected by legislative leaders “as a person who is an absolute straight shooter as well as a valuable resource for research and information.”

Wilson said because Waller handles MEC’s communications and highly respected scientific and anecdotal polling, “he is a real authority when it comes to checking the pulse of the business community on key issues.

“Scott chooses his words carefully and when he speaks for MEC, he speaks with great knowledge, authority and integrity - key qualities in helping build on MEC's rock solid history of service and leadership,” Wilson said.

Although MEC is not involved in the industry recruitment process like the Mississippi Development Authority is, Waller said, the staff makes sure the climate is right for economic development.

“Our role is to promote economic development and a good business climate,” he said.

“It has been fun to move over to this side of the equation and work on some of those things.”

A prime example of how well Mississippi approaches economic development, Waller said, is the recent announcement of the Yokohama Tire Corp.’s plan to build a plant in Clay County following a one-day special legislative session to approve a $130 million incentives package.

The fast action by the Legislature and governor to bring Yokohama to Mississippi “is a great example of what puts Mis-

“When you see those things come together, it makes you feel good about where we are in Mississippi because there are so many opportunities.”

Scott Waller sissippi in the forefront and how our leaders understand what it means to attract a company that makes a $400 million investment and creates 500 jobs. It’s why economic development is so important.”

It took everyone working together to get the plant in Mississippi, he said.

“When you see those things come together, it makes you feel good about where we are in Mississippi because there are so many opportunities,” Waller said.

Shipbuilding, agriculture and timber continue to be mainstays in the state’s economy and Waller says thanks in large part to Nissan and Toyota plants, automotive and aerospace are “the true growth industries.” Their success “shows the world that a lot of great things can happen in this state,” he said.

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

Mississippi vegetable and fruit growers who want to reap the benefits of the nation’s growing appetite for fresh produce need to show they use safe and sanitary harvesting and crop handling practices.

The industry standard is U.S. Department of Agriculture certification through Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Good Handling Practices (GHP) audits. The testing certifies safe and sanitary practices throughout the production and supply chain. Specifically, the audit ensures that fruits and vegetables are produced, packed, handled, and stored in the safest way possible to minimize risks of microbial food safety hazards.

Getting certified can be a financial burden that growers would rather not take on. That’s where the Mississippi Ag Department can help.

Through USDA grant, the department is offering to cover 75 percent of the costs of the food safety audit, up to $500, said Paige Manning, marketing director.

The department will even provide the inspector, she said. . The department’s Kevin Riggin is USDA certified to do the inspections. Because his travel time to a farm is part of the certification cost, Rigging tries to schedule as many inspections as he can in the same areas.

Specialty crops falling under the certification program are fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and horticulture and floriculture items.

The cost is set by the USDA at $92 an hour, though the time needed for an inspection varies, Manning said.

Certification is good for one year, though unannounced follow-up inspections are made, according to Manning.

So far, only 20 to 24 growers in the state have received USDA safe handling certification. Manning said she hopes the financial help the state is providing will significantly increase the certification numbers. “We just got everything completed about two weeks ago,” she said in an interview last week.

The idea is to open new markets for small growers. “If you have a distributor who is going to be handling your product they want to be sure your product is going to have that certification. It’s not a requirement but there are some retailers that require farmers to have it if they are going to sell to them,” she said.

“We’re trying to open up some doors.”

America’s consumers are eager to but they need to have confidence the fresh produce has been handled safely, said Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi’s secretary of agriculture and commerce.

“Consumers are more interested than ever in where their food comes from,” she said. “They are just really fascinated with food-to-table. Anything we can do to enhance that is my goal.”

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

May 10, 2013

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

19

RETIREES

Certified Retirement Communities program has big impact on economy and social fabric of the state

By BECKY GILLETTE I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

Marcia A. Crawford and her recently retired husband moved from Nevada to the Mississippi Gulf Coast 10 months prior to Hurricane Katrina after conducting an extensive search for a home for their retirement. The couple has been very pleased with the small, streamside cottage on an acre of wooded land they purchased, and Crawford now works to tell others about the advantages of retirement in the area.

“The Certified Retirement Program provides Harrison County with a tremendous marketing tool and grants validity to our relocation program, the Retiree Partnership,” said Crawford, who is director of information and retiree attraction for the Harrison County Development Commission. “The prestigious designation allows us to promote this area as one of only 20 certified retirement communities in Mississippi and gives us a decided advantage when touting our quality of life. Being a part of the Certified Retirement Program adds value to the Retiree Partnership’s mission and provides us with state support in terms of networking, mentoring and advertising opportunities.”

Clark and Phyllis Feiser were living near Gettsyburg, Pa., when they took a cruise in 1991 on the Mississippi Queen, got off the boat in Natchez and fell in love with the town. They bought some land in 2002, built a house in 2005, and then moved to the area.

“What brought us to Natchez is that you don't need a snow shovel,” Feiser said.

“Phyllis and I are involved in the city and the volunteer opportunities. If you can't find something to do and volunteer for as a retiree, you are not looking very hard.”

The Feisers have been active reaching out to other relocating retirees. The Certified Retirement Program has helped attract 254 households of retirees to the area since 1996 when Natchez became a certified community.

Feiser said attracting retirees has many advantages. “Of course, retirees put many volunteer hours into the community, spend money and pay taxes, but don't overtax the school system,” Feiser said.

The economic value of retirees relocating in Mississippi is huge, said Diana O’Toole, program manager, Hometown Mississippi Retirement (HMR) Program. An estimated 6,627 identified retiree households relocated to HMR cities since the program was instituted in the mid 1990s, representing an estimated economic impact of nearly $194 million, The target market, retiring baby boomers, is one of the fastest growing and wealthiest

“What brought us to Natchez is you don’t need a snow shovel.”

Clark Feiser Former Pennsylvanian

economic market sectors in America with 12,000 people turning 50 daily. Each retiree household relocating has a median annual income of $33,000, and brings an average of $320,000 in liquid assets.

“When you think of retirees, you might think of your grandparents and the silent generation,” O’Toole said. “This baby boomer generation is a totally different type of retiree. They are healthier, and they are more active. Our certified retirement communities must have an institution of higher educational because retirees today are very interested in education benefits.

Lots of colleges have reduced or no cost classes you can take. Oxford is clearly one city that gets the importance of retirees.

Oxford was recently featured on ‘NBC Nightly News.’”

O’Toole said Mississippi is attractive to many retirees because of a low cost of living, a temperate climate, excellent medical care, a rich history, extraordinary culture, and outstanding cuisine. One of the biggest pluses is the state not taxing retirement income, and low property taxes.

“Our property taxes in Mississippi are significantly lower than in most other parts of the country,” O’Toole said. “One couple from Chicago, Ill., said that their property taxes there were nearly $11,000 per year.”

In some states like Florida that are top heavy with retirees, the strategy of attracting retirees as an economic development effort has come under criticism for creating primarily low-paying service sector jobs as opposed, for example, to higher paying manufacturing jobs. But O’Toole said in addition to creating jobs for waitresses, maids and lawn care operators, retirees relocating are good for real estate, construction, health care and financial institutions.

“Retirees typically spend 80 to 90 percent of their income locally,” she said. “In addition, once they relocate to Mississippi, friends and family will visit them and they

will spend money visiting tourist locations. Some may even decide to relocate here themselves.”

O’Toole said the state and local communities also benefit from the “brain power” these retirees bring in terms of Crawford their job and life experience. Many of the baby boomer retirees will seek second careers teaching in schools and institutions of higher learning, consulting with businesses and industries, and possibly even becoming entrepreneurs opening their own businesses Feiser once they relocate.

To become a certified retirement community and receive state funding, official support is required from the city governing authority, and an official entity has to be designated as a sponsor. Examples of sponsoring organizations O’Toole are chambers of commerce, economic development authorities, tourism development organizations and cities. The sponsor must be an official entity in order to be eligible for state funding, and must commit a minimum of $20,000 per year for the local program.

Other requirements are to have adequate medical services including a hospital within a 30-minute drive of the community and, preferably, closer. The community must have an adequate supply of both resale housing and rental housing, good availability of goods and services, recreational opportunities for retirees, cultural opportunities, a

crime rate comparable to the national average and civic/community pride.

O’Toole said also important are appearance or “curb appeal” of the entrances into and out of the downtown area, environmental quality, economic equity and vitality, culture and heritage.

The success of this program depends, to a large degree, on the support of churches, clubs, businesses, and local media. O’Toole said marketing tools include a plan to focus on the type of retiree the community desires and how their program expects to achieve its goals.

“The plan should detail the mission, the target market, the competition, and analysis of your community’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, and the strategies your program will employ to attain its goals,” she said. “While most cities will have some type of newcomers package, it is important that information sent to prospective retirees be relevant to their needs. Within 90 days of certification, the city must submit a complete retiree attraction package to the state office for approval which should include brochure, map, amenity brochures, available housing, and other as requested by potential retiree.”

Perhaps even more important than what is on paper is the connectors/ambassadors for the program who put a welcoming face on the program. Ambassadors return phone calls, give tours of the community to potential retirees, and help newcomers connect with local organizations and services.

Certified retirement communities include Aberdeen, Booneville, Brandon, Brookhaven, Clinton, Corinth, Columbus, Gulf Coast, Hattiesburg, Laurel, Madison, McComb, Natchez, Oxford, Picayune, Southaven, Starkville, Tupelo, Vicksburg and West Point.

CERTIFIED RETIREMENT CITIES

20 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013 City

Address

Phone

Email

Website

Aberdeen

204 E. Commerce St., Aberdeen, MS 39730

(662) 369-9440

retirement@aberdeenms.org

www.aberdeenms.org

Booneville

203 N. Main St., Booneville, MS 38829

(662) 728-5601

adonald@booneville-ms.gov

N/A

Brandon

1000 Municipal Dr., Brandon, MS 39043

(601) 824-7095

retire@ci.brandon.ms.us

Brookhaven

230 S. Whitworth Ave., Brookhaven, MS 39602

(601) 833-1411

info@brookhavenchamber.com

Clinton

100 E. Leake St., Clinton, MS 39060

(601) 924-5912

info@clintonchamber.org

Columbus

P.O. Box 1328, Columbus, MS 39703

(662) 328-8369

mwhitaker@cldlink.org

Corinth

810 Tate St., Corinth, MS 38835

(662) 287-5269 andrea@corinthalliance.com/retirement@corinthalliance.com

Hattiesburg

One Convention Center Plaza, Hattiesburg, MS 39403

(601) 296-7500

adp@theadp.com

Laurel

715 N. 10th Ave., Laurel, MS 39440

(601) 428-6142

comevisitus@laurelms.com

Madison

2168 Mai9n St., Madison, MS 39130

(601) 856-7060

tonab@madisonthecitychamber.com

McComb

112 N. Railroad Ave., McComb, MS 39649

(601) 684-2291

pcedd@pikeinfo.com

www.pikeinfo.com

Mississippi Gulf Coast

P.O. Box 7157, Gulfport, MS 39506

(866) 672-6278

retire@mscoast.org

www.gulfcoastretirement.org

Natchez

211 Main St., Ste. B, Natchez, MS 39121

(601) 445-0288

retirenatchez@bellsouth.net

www.natchezretirement.net

Oxford

299 W. Jackson, Ave., Oxford, MS 38655

(662) 234-4651

retire@oxfordms.com

www.oxfordms.com

Picayune

200 Hwy. 11 S., Picayune, MS 39466

(601) 798-9079

picretdev@bellsouth.net

www.picayune.ms.us

Southaven

3335 Pine Tar Alley, Southaven, MS 38672

(662) 895-1138

sdmiller@southaven.org

www.southaven.org

Starkville

400 Lynn Ln., Starkville, MS 39759

(662) 323-2294

mrye@starkvilleparks.com

www.starkvilleparks.com

Tupelo

71 E. Troy St., Tupelo, MS 38802

(662) 841-6553

ora.baldwin@tupeloms.gov

www.tupeloms.gov

Vicksburg

2020 Mission 66, Vicksburg, MS 39180

(601) 636-1012

ckilroy@vicksburgchamber.com

West Point

510 E. Broad St., Columbus, MS 39773

(662) 494-5121

cwilson@westpointms.org

www.cityofbrandon.net www.brookhavenchamber.com www.clintonchamber.org www.cldlink.org www.corinthalliance.com www.theadp.com www.laurelretirement.com www.madisonthecitychamber.com

www.vicksburgchamber.com www.westpointms.org

Source: Mississippi Development Authority, Division of Tourism

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NEWSMAKERS

May 10, 2013

Profiles of growing young professionals in Mississippi

gree from Columbia Southern University. She says her niche is in recruiting, a skill she developed while working for TempStaff in Jackson and Entergy Mississippi’s Northeast Nuclear Division.

“Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a secondrate version of somebody else,” she advises young professionals, borrowing a quote from actress Judy Garland.

Green is active in a number of local community groups including Corinth Alliance, Corinth Downtown Main Street Association, Junior Auxiliary, Mississippi State Hospital Association and Mississippi Young Professionals. In her spare time she enjoys reading, painting, and going to MSU football games or the lake cabin with her husband.

— By Stephen McDill

Mississippi Business Journal

I

21

Age: 31 Government & Provider Relations Liaison, Magnolia Regional Health Center

Keeping our eye on... SARA BETH GREEN Corinth native Sara Beth Green says her professional passion is to help others, form strong relationships and make a difference.

“A title is only words if it is not actually portrayed,” says Sara Beth Green.

Green started out as a physician recruiter for MRHC and now promotes the company’s many services, clinics, personnel and programs and works on referrals, physician recruiting and securing new business.

“I am a huge people person and have a passion for seeing others happy whether its in work or just life in general,” Green says.

“It takes all of these unique qualities to be a successful and wellrespected leader in any organization.”

Green graduated from Mississippi State University with a public relations degree and is in the process of finishing a graduate de-

I

Best thing about Mississippi: Southern hospitality, SEC fans and great weather Best Mississippi event: Celebrate Corinth, Slugburger and Hog Wild Festivals Favorite Mississippi food: BLT sandwiches Childhood dream job: “I wanted to be a garbage driver because I thought it would be cool to ride on the back of a truck.”

Favorite TV Show: “Big Brother” Favorite Music: Law of Nature, The Band, Son Volt and Chris LeDoux Twitter: @sbeths1 Read the full biography at www.msbusiness.com

Teachers awarded grants

Taylor chosen as director

Two named VP/GM

Beckett appointed chairman

Nine Mississippi teachers recently earned high marks for creative educational excellence as winners of the Leo W. Seal Innovative Teacher Grants. Honored during an awards luncheon in Gulfport, 2013 Seal award recipients are: Jean Adkison of East Central Upper Elementary School in Vancleave; Stephanie Beauchamp of North Woolmarket Elementary and Middle School in Biloxi; Penny Dearman of East Central Middle School in Hurley; Marsha Gaines of Jeff Davis Elementary School in Biloxi; Julie Hadley of West Harrison High School in Gulfport; Jeanelle Hardwick of Biloxi High School in Biloxi; Gerald Huffman of Gulfport High School in Gulfport; Kristi Lindsey of Hancock Middle School in Kiln; and, Daniel Zwerg of St. Stanislaus College in Bay St. Louis.

Steve Taylor is the new executive director of Mississippi State's Center for Distance Education. For more than 25 years, Taylor has been a part of the faculty and administration at the university, a place he planned to work for just a few years.

A Virginia Tech University doctoral graduate, Taylor came to the MSU campus as an assistant professor of management before he later became an administrator.

Foundation Gaming Group, LLC has appointed Eddie Llambias as vice president and general manager of Bally’s Casino and Tony Scudiero as vice president and general manger of Resorts Casino, both located in Tunica. Llambias has more than 25 years of experience in the casino and hospitality industry, most recently as the general manager of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, N.J. He has held senior management positions at several Isle of Capri, Harrah’s and International Casino Club operated casinos. Llambias was born and educated in England and began his career in the gaming industry as a croupier.

Scudiero has over 25 years experience in the gaming industry, and most recently was the vice president and general manager of the Isle of Capri Casino, located in Natchez. Scudiero held senior management positions at several Isle of Capri locations, IP Casino and St. Jo Frontier Casino. He began his career in the gaming industry as a poker dealer.

Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC attorney Ryan Beckett has been appointed by Gov. Phil Bryant and confirmed by the Mississippi Senate as chairman of the Mississippi Tort Claims Board. Beckett is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group and Energy Industry Team, focusing on several realms of litigation, including energy, elections and governmental, antitrust, consumer protection, Beckett banking and consumer lending and more.

Beckett has been named a Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star in the area of business litigation, one of the “Top 40 under 40” by the Mississippi Business Journal, and is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell, among other distinctions. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Millsaps College and a J.D. from the University of Mississippi.

Hui awarded grant Mississippi State University assistant history professor Alexandra Hui has been awarded the first major National Science Foundation grant ever presented to a humanities department at the university.

Hui won a year-long $155,000 grant to study how the perception of sound has changed over time.

Hui plans to study a new type of listening that has developed with the technology and culture of background music. With an interest in the role culture plays in the practice and perpetuation of science, Hui studies how musical tastes influenced German scientists' experiments on sound sensation.

Agency expands Regions Insurance, an affiliate of Regions Bank, has expanded its employee benefits practice in Jackson.

Mickey Watkins, owner of Employee Benefit Resource Group, along with associates Susan Rayborn and Ashley Williams, has joined Regions Insurance Group.

Watkins began his insurance career with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Mississippi as manager and then director of the Rating and Underwriting Department before transitioning to the broker side of the industry.

Originally from Meridian, he and his family have lived in Jackson since 1979. Watkins graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in banking and finance.

Grebner co-authors book Mississippi State University professor Donald Grebner is the lead author on a new forestry and natural resources textbook. “Introduction to Forestry and Natural Resources” provides a general overview of the forestry and natural resources profession, as well as the history of forestry, landowner objectives, forest disturbances, ecosystem services and urban forestry.

Grebner, professor in MSU’s Col- Grebner lege of Forest Resources, spent three years writing the 508-page book, in collaboration with University of Georgia colleagues Pete Bettinger and Jacek Siry.

Grebner has worked at MSU for 14 years and currently teaches courses in forest resource management and international forestry. He obtained his bachelor’s in forestry from the University of Maine, a master’s in forestry from Yale University, a master’s in economics from Virginia Tech and a doctorate in forest economics from Virginia Tech. His areas of research include bio-energy, carbon sequestration and forest protection.

Clinic chooses Williams Hattiesburg Clinic recently selected Jesse Williams, PC technician for IS, as the PRIDE of Hattiesburg Clinic Employee of the Quarter for the first quarter of 2013. He was selected from over 250 nominations this quarter. Williams has been a Hattiesburg Clinic employee since October 2010. He started as a PC technician I and became a PC technician II in July 2012. Williams has served in this position since and has been recognized many times over the past years for providing extraordinary service.

Hospital names STARs Memorial Hospital at Gulfport has named the recipients of the first quarter 2013 Star awards, Memorial’s highest honor. STAR (Service, Teamwork, Attitude and Respect) recognizes outstanding customer service. The recipients are: Phyllis Fears, Senior psych tech, Memorial Behavioral Health; Al Pittman, RN, ICU; Dr. Fred Pakron, Physician Clinics, pulmonology; Connie Keel, director, medical staff services; Gloria McGee, team leader, environmental services; Glyn Gilbert, security officer, security; and Maureen Sheets, RN, cardiac catheterization lab.

Three complete program

Miller garners honor

Casino presents awards

Michael P. Miller, senior environmental protection specialist, Regulatory Branch, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Vicksburg District, was recently presented the Larry N. Harper Regulator of the Year Award for his outstanding service and support. The award recognizes the regulator who exemplifies the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.

Miller is a native of Wappapello Lake, Mo., and began his career with the Vicksburg District in the Engineering Services Branch in 1988. He transferred in 1998 to the Regulatory Branch's Permit Section as a permit evaluator.

Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel has honored its top crewmembers for the first quarter of 2013. Susan Varnes, chief operating officer, presented the Crewmember of the Quarter award to Caroline Jacobs and the Manager of the Quarter award to Trevor Miller.

Jacobs, a casino clerk, has been with Treasure Bay for six years. Miller is the sous chef in the buffet and has been with the company five years.

Rotary Club of Edgewater members Keith Rhodes, Joy Goundas and Lori Davis have completed Rotary Internationals Leadership Training Program. The extensive four week program highlighted leadership and in depth training on all aspects of what Rotary does throughout the world.

Graduation certificates were received during Rotary District 6840’s convention at the Hollywood Casino in Bay St Louis.

NEWSMAKERS

22 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013

Dodson

Griffin

Halford

Hegi

C Spire makes staff moves C Spire Wireless has made numerous staff news. These include Frank “Beau” York, manager, brand programs; Cody Mahaffey, manager, financial planning and analysis; Donna Morgan, manager, brand products; Amanda Long, market manager, retail, Philadelphia; John Hegi, manager, network accounting; Tammy Taylor, client account executive, Central Mississippi; Gary Dodson, client account executive, Central Mississippi; J.C. Simmons, client account executive, Central Mississippi; Nick Trentmen, client account executive; Rachel Halford, client account executive; and, Paige Griffin, client account executive.

York has worked in a variety of management and non-management positions, including product specialist, marketing manager and sales representative since joining C Spire in 2006. A native of Jackson, York is a Mississippi College graduate with a bachelor’s degree in marketing.

Long brings over 13 years of experience to her new position. She previously served as a floating market manager and as a technology professional in the company’s Starkville market. Long spent 10 years working in a variety of sales positions for Alltel Wireless before joining C Spire. A graduate of East Central Community College and Mississippi State University with a degree in marketing, Long worked 10 years in a variety of sales jobs for Alltel Wireless before joining C Spire. A native of Louisville, Long is a member of the Community De-

Gibson made chief Anthony Gibson is the new chief of police in Shaw. The former police chief of Rosedale and Drew he has been involved with law enforcement since 1994 and graduated from Delta State University in 2005 with a criminal justice degree. He also studied grant writing at Jackson State University.

Blaylock named CEO Dwayne Blaylock is the new CEO for River Oaks Hospital in Flowood. Blaylock moves from his position as the CEO at Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center in Amory, where he has been since 2008. He is returning to River Oaks Hospital where he served as COO from 2002 through 2004.

Blaylock received his bachelor of business administration from the University of Mississippi and Blaylock a master of health administration degree from Saint Louis University. He has over 16 years of leadership experience in the healthcare industry working with hospitals and physician practices.

Judges, lawyers named Fellows Mississippi Court of Appeals Judge Virginia Carlton, Chancery Judge Carter O. Bise and Circuit Judges Kathy King Jackson and Jannie M. Lewis have been named Fellows of the Mississippi Bar Foundation. Fifteen Bar Fellows were inducted during a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Mis-

Long

Mahaffey

Morgan

Simmons

velopment Partnership in Philadelphia.

Hegi, a certified public accountant, previously worked as a senior auditor for Horne LLP, a Ridgeland-based tax and accounting firm, for five years before joining C Spire in 2011. He previously served as manager of financial analysis and planning. A native of Madison, Hegi is a University of Mississippi graduate with a bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Dodson previously served as a data and IP account executive and a major accounts manager for AT&T and a senior account executive for Time Warner Telecom. A native of Hialeah, Fla., Dodson is a graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a bachelor’s degree. He has received certification in Cisco Sales essentials and Burton sales skills.

Simmons previously served as a property and casualty agent for Twitty Insurance Agency Inc. A native of New Albany, Simmons is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in risk management, insurance and financial and real estate-mortgage financing. He is a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and is a member of the MSU Alumni Board committee.

Since joining C Spire in 2008, Mahaffey has worked as a financial analyst. A native of Jonesboro, La., Mahaffey is a Millsaps College graduate with a master’s degree in business administration. He is a member of the Beta Gama Business Honor Society and the Financial Management Association.

Morgan has over 17 years of telecommunications experience, including 13 years in a variety of management roles at Chicago-based

sissippi Bar Foundation.

Carlton, a native of Columbia and resident of Jackson, has served on the Mississippi Court of Appeals since January 2007. She served in the Mississippi House of Representatives 2004-2006. She previously served as a public defender and an assistant district attorney in the 15th Judicial District. She also worked with the Southwest Mississippi Children’s Advocacy Center as a staff attorney and instructor.

Carlton, who holds the rank of colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, has served as a JAG officer in the Army for 23 years. She is now assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve judiciary as a Reserve judge. She served on active duty in the U.S. Army 1990-1998.

Bise, of Gulfport, has served as a chancellor of the 8th Chancery Court since January 2002.

Jackson, of Pascagoula, has served as circuit judge of the 19th Circuit District since 1991.

Lewis, of Lexington, has served as circuit judge of the 21st Circuit District since 1995. She created the 21st District Drug Court in 2006.

Attorneys inducted as Bar Fellows for 2013 are: U.S. attorney Felicia C. Adams, Oxford; Michael S. Adelman, Hattiesburg; E. Barry Bridgforth, Yazoo City; Edward F. Donovan, Biloxi; Henderson S. Hall Jr., Jackson; Catherine V. Kilgore, Oxford; Terry R. Levy, Jackson; Floyd M. Melton III, Greenwood; J. Mack Varner, Vicksburg; William E. Whitfield III, Gulfport; and E. Stephen Williams, Jackson.

Attorney Michael S. Carr of Cleveland received the Bar Foundation’s Law-Related Public Education Award.

Attorney John G. Corlew of Jackson was honored with the Bar Foundation’s Professionalism Award.

Taylor

Trentmen

York

U.S. Cellular. Prior to her latest job, Morgan was manager of C Spire’s Advance Pay program. A native of Miami, Fla.,, Morgan graduated from DeVry University in Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in technical management and networking.

Taylor previously served as a business account executive for Comcast Cable in Jackson. Before that, she was a business account executive for Xfone Inc. A native of Jackson, Taylor is participating in Belhaven University’s Aspire program and working towards a bachelor’s degree in business management. She is a member of Woman in the Channel.

Griffin previously served as a telecommunications specialist for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, one of the world’s leading centers for pediatric cancer treatment. A Memphis native, Griffin is a University of Memphis graduate.

Trentman previously served as a business account executive for Comcast Business Services and as a regional account manager for IVR Controls, a Memphis-based software company that develops, distributes and deploys intelligent video security and surveillance platforms.

A Memphis native, Trentman graduated from the University of Memphis with a bachelor’s degree in sports marketing and management and volunteers as the head coach of an eighth-grade boys basketball team at St. Georges Independent School in Collierville, Tenn.

A Memphis native, Halford previously served as an office equipment sales professional for R.J. Young.

Covington made partner Andrew Covington has been made partner at Eco-Systems, an environmental consulting and engineering firm headquartered in Jackson. Covington manages the firm’s Meridian office where his primary areas of expertise are manufacturing, wood products, chemical and oil and gas. His 30-year career has focused on environmental permitting and compliance in Title V air, hazardous waste management, Covington wastewater, stormwater and petroleum spill prevention. He is a registered professional engineer in Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.

Covington has a B.A. in interdisciplinary science from the University of Mississippi as well as a B.S. from Mississippi State University in petroleum engineering. He went on to receive an M.S. from the University of Mississippi in environmental engineering.

He is a resident of Meridian with his wife, Diana, and kids — Callie, Julie and Richard.

Four honored for spirit Four Pine Belt residents were honored for their commitment to caring for the community as winners of the Spirit in Action Awards, presented at the annual Spirit of Women Spring Event. Lynn Gammill has dedicated her entire life to helping make Mississippi and Hattiesburg a better place to live. Just a few examples of her work toward this goal include serving on the small committee responsible for maintain-

ing and preserving George Washington’s Mt. Vernon, as a founder and active board member of the Crosby Arboretum and as a board member for the Hattiesburg Public Library, HCLO, the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Larry Doleac has spent most of his adult life trying to help others, from building centers to teach parenting skills for at-risk families to helping in situations of domestic abuse and violence. He raised millions of dollars to build the community youth baseball complex that bears his name, which serves more than 700 young baseball players each season.

Mike Lopinto is a guiding force for events featuring classical and popular celebrities in the Pine Belt and currently serves as the public relations, marketing and event coordinator for the Southern Miss School of Music. Recently, Lopinto directed the Southern Miss production of “Sweeney Todd,” overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to make sure the show truly did go on after the sets were destroyed in the February tornado.

Lillie Willis is the go-to person in the Pine Belt for patients and their families needing information or guidance when facing cancer. As the American Cancer Society’s health representative, Willis initiates programs to increase community awareness and works to provide grants for patients to support them during cancer treatment, among many other beneficial contributions.

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

May 10, 2013

OUTDOORS WITH DR. JOHN WOODS

I

Mississippi Business Journal

W

Gist of the Research Waterfowl research work underway by professor Brian Davis and graduate student Joseph Lancaster of the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture is examining how mallard ducks utilize the South Delta landscape and how that landscape ultimately affects the survival of the ducks. “Ultimately, we want to know how mallard survival is influenced by its use of several habitats of the Delta,� stated Dr. Davis. “Survival of birds in relation to hunting seasons is also important.� Davis’ work reports that the ducks’ movements, habitat use and survival reflect landscape quality.

As is the normal case of graduate study, a lead professor directs a graduate masters or doctoral student through a research project.

In this case most of the actual work on the ground in the Delta is being done by Joe Lancaster. Joseph is working on his masters of science degree in wildlife.

His thesis study titled “Home Range, Habitat Selection, and Survival of Radiomarked Mallards on Hunted and Refuge Wetlands in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley� is a long research proposal title to simply say he is studying how mallard ducks move about the Delta, selecting and using different habitat types. The hopeful outcome is to determine what types of waterfowl habitats best contribute to duck survival rates.

Davis and his team captured and affixed a sampling of 126 female mallards with backpack-style very high frequency radio transmitters. This was done to track the birds’ locations each day and also to take note of duck mortalities. “In order to track the ducks we drove around in trucks and chartered a fixedwing airplane, each fitted with special antennae,� Lancaster noted. “The problem is that you have to be very close to where the ducks are to pick up the signals. That is two miles distance or less.� This is what is called grassroots wildlife research.

Outcomes and Impacts This research continues to be on-going

Special to The Mississippi Business Journal

The duck research is crucial to all, including hunters.

and collected data is still being analyzed.

Lancaster has already committed to stay on through a Ph.D. program to move the research forward to examine other issues.

With the foundation he has already established, further results are likely to be even more revealing.

Thus far his research has indicated an overall mallard winter survival rate of 76 percent. The highest survival rates came on habitats that consist of seasonally-flooded wetlands, or commonly called moist soil wetlands. Examples of these habitats are shallow flooded wetlands that when drained in the spring and summer will grow up with annual grasses and weeds such as millets and panic grasses. Thus, providing feed for migrating and wintering waterfowl in winter. Other habitats where mallards survived well were agricultural farmlands, forest habitats, and flooded bottomland hardwood forests. Mallards survived least in permanent water habitats.

Curiously enough, hunting impacted mallard survival but not as much as they anticipated. According to Lancaster, “We saw a higher percentage of non-hunting mortalities than hunting mortalities.� It may seem elementary, but this factor seems to indicate that ducks are far more vulnerable to dying from more natural causes than by being shot by duck hunters. Of course, we need high duck survival rates to encourage more hunters to duck hunt thereby spending increased tourism dollars. “The data being produced might indicate where conservation programs should be focused,� says Davis. “For private landowners we can help them with specific habitat management tools that could enhance mallard duck attraction to their lands.�

Research Summary At the heart of this research is an attempt to determine which habitat types seem to lend themselves to greater survival of female mallards during winter. Ideal habitats increase mallard survivability. It is recog-

23

grounds. The Mississippi Alluvial Valley extends south along the Mississippi River from the Southeastern “Bootheel� section of Missouri down through the eastern parts of Louisiana and each year supports roughly 40 percent of the entire Mississippi flyway mallard population. nized though that the This reinforces Mississippi as being a habitat landscapes critical region for provision of waterfowl change over time, habitats and in perpetuating our duck thus another reason hunting traditions. Waterfowl hunter parwhy MSU wildlife ticipation results in over $140 million in researchers are conrevenue to local communities and busiducting this study. nesses each year in Mississippi.

As farming Moreover, private landowners are critichanges, cropland use John Woods cal to waterfowl and other wildlife revaries thereby potensources because they control so much of tially altering the profile of the available waterfowl habitats. This the landscape needed by waterfowl. Thus, scientists conducting this research at MSU can impact duck survival rates. Davis indiare very grateful to Delta landowners and cated, “Survival rates may be different in hunters that cooperated with this study by subsequent eras, as farming and conservaproviding access to their lands and offering tion practices change. When government programs such as reforestation incentives for moral support.

Thanks to the wildlife researchers and landowners come and go or when soybeans grad students at MSU for delivering practicome and go, it modifies the landscape.� cal research that can result in economic deThis could result in fluctuations in survival velopment, tourism, and dollars being spent rates which can impact economic issues rein the state for recreational hunting pursuits. lated to attracting and retaining interested returning duck hunters each season.

JohnJ.Woods,Ph.D.,isvicepresidentinchargeofecoHow extensive is the duck flight in the nomicdevelopmentandtraining,EagleRidgeConference Mississippi Delta? From mid-October andTrainingCenter,theWorkforceDevelopmentCenter through the opening of turkey hunting in andcontracttrainingservicesatHindsCommunityCollege March, mallards and other waterfowl inRaymond. species call our Delta their seasonal home

MSU’s waterfowl research revealing aterfowl research being conducted by Mississippi State University professors and graduate students could have important impacts on habitat conservation and duck hunting in the Delta region of Mississippi. Specifically one recent piece of work being conducted and continues deals with a study of mallard duck survival in relation to habitat use. Ultimately a better understanding of these factors could improve waterfowl management and enhance the economic impact of duck hunting in the state.

I

7KH +RQRUDEOH 'DYLG : +RXVWRQ ,,, -RLQV 0LWFKHOO 0F1XWW 6DPV Former United States Bankruptcy Judge David Houston RI $EHUGHHQ KDV MRLQHG WKH 7XSHOR RIĂ€FH RI 0LWFKHOO McNutt & Sams. Judge Houston is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and its School of Law. He was appointed U.S. Bankruptcy Judge in 1983 and served in this position for 30 years. He retired from the bench earlier this year. Houston served as president of the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges and on the board of directors of the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Columbus Corinth Oxford Tupelo, Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee mitchellmcnutt.com

For 15 years he was a member of the Judicial Conference of the United States Budget Committee.

David W. Houston

INCORPORATIONS

24 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013

Abbeville

Bay Arts Center LLC LLC 1/11/13 833 Hwy 90 Suite 9 Built of Barnwood, LLC LLC 1/10/13 120 Bayview Court Liquor Cabinet LLC LLC 1/24/13 500 John Baptiste Street Little Big Mark’s Auction, LLC LLC 1/8/13 701 Dunbar Ave Nereus Inc BUS 1/23/13 8057 Harrison St Security Zone, Inc. BUS 1/30/13 4054 Victoria St Stieffel Real Estate, LLC LLC 1/11/13 705 N Second Street

Joslyn Consulting LLC LLC 1/25/13 110 Ridge Cove

Belzoni

January 2013 Incorporations This is the January 2013 list of the state’s newly incorporated businesses from the Secretary of State’s Office. Listed are towns from Abbeville to Iuka. Listings include business name, type, date formed and location.

Addresses reflect legal entity for service of process, not necessarily the new business entities’ operating address.

Amory AAA Lawn Care LLC LLC 1/3/13 1009 Walnut Street All Decked Out Inc BUS 1/15/13 202 Hwy 6 West Amory Cinema, LLC LLC 1/25/13 107 Highway 6 Amory Foundations Inc BUS 1/15/13 201 3Rd Ave N Gurley Enterprises Inc BUS 1/2/13 1407 Highland Circle Knight Timber Service, LLC LLC 1/24/13 60070 Fowlkes Road KP Trucking LLC LLC 1/29/13 60035 Kuykendall Rd Medical Group of America, LLC 1/17/13 60060 Hatley Rd Medical Group of America, LLC LLC 1/18/13 60060 Hatley Rd Medlinx LLC LLC 1/15/13 407 Front St Mississippi Animal Behavior Clinic PLLC PLLC 1/11/13 1203 Cowden Drive Monroe Tractor, LLC LLC 1/18/13 103 4Th Avenue North Twins Trucking, LLC LLC 1/24/13 60070 Fowlkes Road

Baldwyn Baldwyn Volunteer Fire Department

NP

1/2/13 210 South Second Street DIxie Electrical Controls & Automation Inc BUS 1/23/13 715 CR 5011

Central Insurers Mohamed Inc BUS 1/18/13 120 W Jackson St Lady Bird Logistics, LLC LLC 1/25/13 605 Pine Street

Benoit Verified Credentials, IncorporatedBUS 1/16/13 203 Walnut

Benton M&M Lawn & Home Works, LLC LLC 1/25/13 123 Harper Lane Ext One Hour Cleaners LLC LLC 1/28/13 75 Ingram Loop

Beulah Grower’s Air Service LLC LLC 1/18/13 954 Mound City Road

Biloxi Bailey Media Company LLC LLC 1/18/13 190 Gateway Dr Apt 4308 Batter’s Box Training Academy, LLC

1/22/13 145 Main Street BLX, LLC LLC 1/2/13 2646 Bay Pointe Drive Boles LLC LLC 1/7/13 2194 Harmanson Vue BOOPY’S LLC LLC 1/17/13 2493 Provence Place CAC Consulting LLC LLC 1/11/13 14880 East Shadow Creek Dr Clarke Real Estate Co BUS 1/23/13 2355 Pass Road Clarke Real Estate Investments, LLC

Basking Ridge TT Government Solutions, Inc 1/24/13 150 Mount Airy Road

Bassfield Courtney’s Farm Depot, LLC LLC 1/29/13 347 Robert E Blount Dr. S4, LLC LLC 1/2/13 132 F McNease Rd

Batesville Davis Springs Management LLC LLC 1/2/13 102 Graves Street English II Consulting, LLC LLC 1/22/13 175 Highway 35 South H.O.U.R.L.Y. NP 1/28/13 710 Walls Road L & B Construction LLC LLC 1/30/13 259 Pollard St Start 2 Finish Inc BUS 1/28/13 5996 Curtis Rd The Institute for Advancement of Science and Knowledge NP 1/3/13 23194 Hwy 6 E The Quitman County Democrat LLCLLC 1/31/13 104 Roseleigh Cove

Bay Springs Big Dog Trucking, LLC LLC 1/28/13 3491 CR 23 Louis, Ms 39338 Joe Mack Curry Construction Company LLC LLC 1/25/13 70 Cr 1717 Southern Tactical Arms LLC LLC 1/29/13 639 Hwy 528 The Flowerbox Florist & Gifts, LLC LLC 1/25/13 98 Cr 23330

Bay St Louis Air Ease Plus LLC LLC 1/4/13 129 Railroad Avenue Baskets by Design LLC LLC 1/3/13 6100 Scott Street

LLC

LLC

1/23/13 2355 Pass Road Coleman Consulting Services LLC LLC 1/14/13 2285 Club Moss Circle DB Properties LLC LLC 1/11/13 1667 Irish Hill Dr Apt 144 DriverHired LLC LLC 1/23/13 1986 Greater Avenue Even Moore Plumbing LLC LLC 1/17/13 350 Debuys Rd #35 Gulfport Apartments Inc BUS 1/4/13 141 Hopkins Blvd Holley Homes LLC LLC 1/23/13 4039 Brandon James Drive JL Brashier LP LP 1/2/13 1302 Beach Blvd Joe’s Lawn Services LLC LLC 1/23/13 17283 Coventry Estates Blvd KHOURI Properties, L.L.C. LLC 1/31/13 193 Rodenburg Kids Quest Academy Inc. BUS 1/23/13 615 Howard Ave Leslie H. Lang, Attorney at Law, PLLC PLLC

1/3/13 1955 Popps Ferry Rd #1139DD Listen Look & Love LLC LLC 1/23/13 338 Fayard St Rosetti’s Cafe, LLC LLC 1/28/13 895 Division Street SBD Properties, LLC LLC 1/4/13 13408 Damon Court Superior Energy Solutions LLC LLC 1/31/13 280 Rue Petit Bois Townsend Rehab Management Group, LLC LLC 1/25/13 124 Rue Magnolia War Tribe Media, LLC LLC 1/30/13 12724 Village Ave W XOA, LLC LLC 1/30/13 7264 Horace Rushing Rd

Blue Springs Roberts Family Holdings LLC LLC 1/9/13 2115 Highway 348

Bogue Chitto CMCFMC, LLC 1/25/13

LLC 3071 Pricedale Dr. SE

FMCCMC, LLC LLC 1/25/13 3071 Pricedale Dr. SE J-Con Builders, LLC LLC 1/9/13 1989 McCullough Rd SE

Bolton Busyspinningthread LLC LLC 1/28/13 1635A North Davis Rd. Taste of Raymond LLC LLC 1/29/13 1240 Harvey Circle

Booneville B&F Farms LLC LLC 1/30/13 439 Cty Rd 5051 BCR Wrecker Service Inc BUS 1/23/13 100 W Veterans Dr Jak Farms LLC LLC 1/30/13 439 Cty Rd 5051 Joshua Tree Properties LLC LLC 1/9/13 104 Kenzington Way R&J Transport LLC LLC 1/23/13 133 C R 5011

Boyle Barth Crocker Transportation LLC LLC 1/28/13 389 Evans Rd. Elite Water and Coffee Service of Mississippi LLC LLC 1/10/13 1851 Highway 446 Management Specialists Inc BUS 1/2/13 41 Oakridge Rd Salley’s, Inc. BUS 1/7/13 2368 Highway 61

Brandon A Little Hope Charity NP 1/31/13 1290 West Government St J69 A-1 Construction Services Inc BUS 1/30/13 239 SCR 131B Morton 39117 Action Firearms Training LLC LLC 1/15/13 1000 Lake Village Circle ADT Plumbing, LLC LLC 1/18/13 85 Golden Estates Dr AF Enterprises, Inc. BUS 1/30/13 403 Port Arbor Alford Logistics, LLC LLC 1/25/13 348 Woodlands Dr Amy Daniel Designs, LLC LLC 1/28/13 130 Pinnacle Circle Aru Investments, LP LP 1/11/13 20 Eastgate Drive, Suite D Better Brandon Now NP 1/11/13 118 E Sunset Drive Bret’s Mini-Farm, LLC LLC 1/11/13 124 Pine Ridge Circle C & C Affordable Housing LLC LLC 1/24/13 111 Lakeshore Dr Apt H403 Cinco de Mayo Mississippi LLC LLC 1/16/13 4710 Brookwood Place ( Jackson 39272) Clear Creek Cattle LLC LLC 1/17/13 6393 Hwy 18 Coe Law Firm, P.C. PA 1/24/13 20 Eastgate Drive Ste C Coe Law Firm, P.C. 1/10/13 20 Eastgate Drive Ste C Cozy Life, LLC LLC 1/30/13 5 Charleston Cir Cozy Outfitters DBA LLC 1/30/13 5 Charleston Cir CWI Mississippi, LLC LLC 1/9/13 1368 Old Fannin Road, Suite 300 DNA Child Care Inc BUS 1/24/13 125 Plum Tree Road Double Take Photography and Designs LLC LLC 1/2/13 225 Dublin Ct. Five Points Benefits Solutions LLC LLC 1/22/13 2738 Highway 471 Highway 468 Motors LLC LLC 1/30/13 636 Tara Road I Think I Am, LLC LLC 1/7/13 109 Plantation Blvd Jones Floorcovering, LLC LLC 1/23/13 258 Cornerstone Dr Judy James Consulting LLC LLC 1/28/13 107 Poplar Ridge Drive Kaizen Web Apps, LLC LLC 1/16/13 309 Greenbriar St Kennon, LLC LLC 1/15/13 117 Beatrice Lane Legacy Point Leasing LLC LLC 1/11/13 206 Legacy Dr M & S Farms LLC LLC 1/25/13 110 Thornton Rd Mak Construction, LLC LLC 1/25/13 1052 Foxwood Marcus E. Martin, PLLC PLLC 1/2/13 104 Louis Wilson Dr., Brandon, Ms 39042

Mobile Moto Service LLC LLC 1/22/13 102 Oakbrook Ct MSE Properties, LLC LLC 1/24/13 115 Paradise Pt. Dr. Nash Distributing LLC LLC 1/31/13 1000 Lake Village Circle Oscar’s Catering Service LLC LLC 1/29/13 102 Oak Hill Place Patrick’s Produce LLC LLC 1/15/13 6234 Highway 18 Patriot Lawn Care, Inc. BUS 1/9/13 103 Hollybush Place Penton Insurance Agency, LLC LLC 1/22/13 277 Lighthouse Ln Philawnthropy, LLC LLC 1/7/13 409 Asbury Lane Drive Polles Consulting, LLC LLC 1/8/13 139 Bridlewood Dr Polles Minerals, LLC LLC 1/8/13 139 Bridlewood Drive Precious Cargo Pet Transit, LLC LLC 1/28/13 143B Cumberland Rd. Promote American Energy Inc BUS 1/18/13 105 Village Row Pearl 39208 Rankin Shooter Supply LLC LLC 1/4/13 24 Pine Crest Pl Rebecca’s Barn and Arena LLC LLC 1/23/13 120 Raygon Lane Rivers Lawn Care, LLC LLC 1/22/13 201 Appleblossom Circle Sheppard Properties LLC LLC 1/28/13 186 Rankin Road Simply Smitten LLC LLC 1/28/13 2013 Red Oak Dr SmithWorks Auto Repair LLC LLC 1/9/13 120 Raygon Lane Tenx Technical Solutions L.L.C. LLC 1/16/13 906 Tetbury Place The Cottage Door, LLC LLC 1/23/13 106 Hickory Hill Place Together for West Africa NP 1/8/13 551 Shiloh Rd Trendy Saver, LLC LLC 1/4/13 54 Terrapin Drive Turbo Investments, LLC LLC 1/17/13 111 Hanover Drive

Brookhaven Aquaprint, LLC LLC 1/9/13 805 Brookway Blvd Efficient Results Fitness and Nutrition, LLC LLC 1/10/13 104 E Monticello St J C Douglas & Associates, Inc. BUS 1/9/13 984 Hwy 84 Jeannie Pyeatt Cpa PLLC PLLC 1/28/13 225 South Church St Sassy but Sweet LLC LLC 1/23/13 101 Hwy 51 North Ste 48 Security First Warranty Corporation

BUS

1/7/13 890 Brookway Boulevard Woodlawn Management, LLC LLC 1/24/13 136 East Chippewa Street

Alpha Cognetics Communications, LLC LLC

1/2/13 220 Strong Road Alpha Cognetics Mag, LLC LLC 1/2/13 220 Strong Road Bessie Haven LLC LLC 1/3/13 321 Hwy 51 Ridgeland, Ms 39157 Cleo Iris LLC LLC 1/3/13 321 Hwy 51 Ridgeland, Ms 39157 Conner LLC LLC 1/14/13 103 Cedar Green Cove Conner LLC 1/7/13 103 Cedar Green Cove Emma Jean Still LLC LLC 1/3/13 321 Hwy 51 Ridgeland, Ms 39157 Ethel Washington LLC LLC 1/3/13 321 Hwy 51 Ridgeland, Ms 39157 Faith Bridge Services LLC LLC 1/3/13 321 Hwy 51 Ridgeland, Ms 39157 Fashion City LLC LLC 1/28/13 625 East Academy St First Step Community Care LLC LLC 1/25/13 147 Links Dr Apt 36-C H. F. Young Transportation, Inc. BUS 1/24/13 242 West North St High Tech Welding, LLC LLC 1/8/13 151 W. Peace Street JPS Land Sales, LLC LLC 1/8/13 151 W. Peace Street Kolbrite Farms LLC LLC 1/30/13 1332 Way Rd Lane Chair Studio LLC LLC 1/15/13 108 Laurel Ridge Lessie Walcott LLC LLC 1/3/13 321 Hwy 51 Ridgeland, Ms 39157 M.S. Interiors LLC LLC 1/7/13 129 Wells Court Madison Contracting Group, LLC LLC 1/4/13 151 W. Peace Street Mississippi Enjoy Breastfeeding Shalom Resource Center NP 1/11/13 1273 S. Hwy 43 MPTS, Inc BUS 1/22/13 425 North Union Extension Progressive Healthcare Services LLC

LLC

1/8/13 109 Wells Court R&C Golf, LLC LLC 1/30/13 151 W. Peace Street Red Rock, LLC LLC 1/9/13 276 Nissan Parkway F100 Rosie Brook LLC LLC 1/3/13 321 Hwy 51 Ridgeland, Ms 39157 Tyrone West LLC LLC 1/3/13 321 Hwy 51 Ridgeland, Ms 39157

Carriere A-1 Plus Inc BUS 1/18/13 32554 Old Bouie Rd The Real Estate Company, LLC LLC 1/22/13 6607 Highway 11

Carrollton Lu’s Warehouse Bulk Food LLC LLC 1/7/13 6706 Ms Hwy 17

Brooklyn Ready to Live Ministries NP 1/22/13 44 O’Banner Loop

Brooksville Fianna Systems LLC LLC 1/15/13 980 Hines Road The Trading Post DBA LLC 1/15/13 980 Hines Road

Bruce Big Guy Snacks, LLC LLC 1/8/13 213 Pilgreen Road H & B Management, LLC LLC 1/23/13 237 Cr 151

Byram AED Security Services DBA OTH 1/14/13 55 Lee Cove Anthony E Dykes DBA OTH 1/14/13 55 Lee Cove Christ’s Kingdom Ministry NP 1/3/13 4959 Brookwood Place Gossip Hair & Tan, LLC LLC 1/15/13 136 Byram Business Center Richard E Risler Properties 1 LLC LLC 1/7/13 2117 Meagan Drive

Caledonia BoBrook, LLC. 1/11/13

Canton

LLC 66 Academy Street

Calhoun City Bruce Bait Shop, LLC LLC 1/14/13 208 W Taylor Ave.

Carthage Al-Free Properties LLC LLC 1/23/13 272 Lacey Road BROKE BOY GEAR DBA OTH 1/22/13 52 Cager Rd Danny Martin Trucking, LLC LLC 1/4/13 4568 Ebenezer Rd Hear By Heart Inc BUS 1/16/13 403 East Franklin St Maurice F. Moore DBA OTH 1/22/13 52 Cager Rd

Cascilla Brazil Brokers LLC LLC 1/23/13 1110 Leverette Lane

Charleston Denman Properties, L.P. LP 1/9/13 1280 South Creek Road J W Evans Farm LLC LLC 1/15/13 409 West Cypress M & W Farms, LLC LLC 1/11/13 409 W Main St The Snack Bar LLC LLC 1/24/13 409 West Cypress Street

Clarksdale C N J Auto Sales, Inc BUS 1/14/13 820 1/2 Martin Luther King Blvd Catfish Enterprises L.L.C. LLC 1/4/13 4847 Palmer Rd

Delta Kids Foundation NP 1/15/13 1405 Park Lane Ellis Arms Apartments, LLC LLC 1/8/13 143 Yazoo Avenue KBC LLC LLC 1/23/13 2 Third St Limitless Success Inc BUS 1/3/13 318 Oakhurst Avenue Marshall Properties LLC LLC 1/8/13 1124 Brooks Dr. Moon Lake Enterprises LLC LLC 1/31/13 200 Porter Dr Y & P Custom Applications LLC LLC 1/23/13 358 Cottonwood Cove

Cleveland Armstrong Appraisal Services, LLCLLC 1/30/13 103 South Court Ste 101 C3 Investments, LLC LLC 1/29/13 200 S. Pearman Avenue Campbell Apprisal Services LLC LLC 1/18/13 103 South Court St Crosby Road Land Co LLC LLC 1/31/13 766 Crosby Road Delta Casual, LLC LLC 1/10/13 24 Lexie Drive DLG Investment Properties, LLC LLC 1/24/13 1709 Deering Street Gainspoletti & Associates CPA LLCLLC 1/2/13 805 West Sunflower Road Goshen Salon & Boutique, LLC LLC 1/25/13 102 Turntable Crossing Hooper Family LLC LLC 1/16/13 221 North Third Ave Jones Liquid Transportation Inc BUS 1/15/13 541 Hillcrest Circle Oscar Gladden Family Farm LLC LLC 1/8/13 1709 Deering St

Clinton Bennett’s Carpets, Inc. BUS 1/22/13 710 E Northside Dr Eastside Elementary PTO NP 1/31/13 108 Bent Oak Cove Family Unity Now NP 1/11/13 1239 Lorance Dr Glo Tan & Boutique, LLC LLC 1/17/13 113 Highway 80 E Grateful Gilberts LLC LLC 1/29/13 340 Fortner Cove Mike George Consultants LLC LLC 1/14/13 612 Merganser Trail Mississippi Elevator, LLC LLC 1/17/13 127 Pinehaven Place Morgan’s Rental House LLC LLC 1/29/13 1383 Lancelot Lane My-Homecare, LLC LLC 1/17/13 110 Apache Court Nebco - Hattiesburg, LLC LLC 1/23/13 98 Cotton Acres Dr. (39056) Nebco - Southaven LLC LLC 1/23/13 98 Cotton Acres Dr Clinton, Ms 39056 Nova, LLC LLC 1/8/13 114 Dunleith Way Precision 1 Land Resources LLC LLC 1/1/13 118 Trace Ridge Southern Social, LLC LLC 1/17/13 1400 Arlington Street The Donderker Group LLC LLC 1/23/13 1735 Clinton Raymond Rd TLJ Transports LLC LLC 1/17/13 801 E. Northside Dr

Coldwater B and T Properties LLC LLC 1/2/13 3215 Palestine Rd MAR Distributing LLC LLC 1/14/13 4467 Stage Road Mullins Maintenance LLC LLC 1/14/13 4467 Stage Rd

Collins Airship 67 LLC LLC 1/23/13 1167 McDonald Chapel Road Keys Farm, LLC LLC 1/17/13 33 Audrey Keys Dr LSZ, LLC LLC 1/2/13 65 Mt. Pleasant Rd. Montana Sky LLC LLC 1/4/13 600 Seminary Williamsbury Road RBM Farms LLC LLC 1/29/13 304 Cameron Bryant Road Ultimate Tanning Salon LLC LLC 1/9/13 406 N Fir Ave

Columbia GPI Investments LLC LLC 1/9/13 947 Prospres Ridge Road

Hobby Lots, LLC LLC 1/8/13 16 Stonewood Dr JMW^2 Tree Farm LLC LLC 1/3/13 97 Watts Loop Judah LLC LLC 1/31/13 107 Walter Payton Drive #285 Speech Language Reading Services LLC LLC

1/8/13 16 Stonewood Dr Wives Behind The Badge, Inc NP 1/22/13 82 Cemetery Road

Columbus American Lanes OTH 1/28/13 122 S McCrary Rd Carolyn’s Boutique LLC LLC 1/10/13 502 Redwood Street Classic Apts., LLC LLC 1/18/13 2411 Highway 45 North, Ste 1 Columbus Mobilehome Broker, IncBUS 1/11/13 7421 Hwy 45 North Dorgan Castle, LLC LLC 1/25/13 410 Main Street (39701) Dutch Health Services, Inc BUS 1/11/13 730 Alabama Street Dutch Medical Clinics, Inc. BUS 1/14/13 730 Alabama Street East Coast Baseball Organization, Inc

BUS

1/28/13 200 Park Creek Drive Ellis Cattle Company, LLC LLC 1/9/13 555 Talley Road Eureka 42 LLC LLC 1/10/13 93 Elm Cove Forencia 601 LLC LLC 1/8/13 958 Greenbriar Dr. H&H Columbus, LLC LLC 1/2/13 2219 5Th Street North Little Dooey Properties, LLC LLC 1/28/13 710 Main Street Northwood 5 LLC LLC 1/29/13 460 Spivey Rd RMJ, LLC LLC 1/10/13 710 Main Street, 3rd Floor Rub’s Pub LLC LLC 1/24/13 301 Tuscaloosa Rd Columbus, Ms 39702 RW Investments, LLC LLC 1/2/13 2219 5Th Street North Shelton Insurance, LLC LLC 1/23/13 617 - 18Th Avenue North SK Management LLC LLC 1/18/13 1200 Highway 45 N Terra Care Landscaping L.L.C. LLC 1/4/13 1255 Ridge Road, Columbus, Ms 39705 The Pitman Group LLC LLC 1/2/13 706 20Th Avenue North

Como FSG Southaven LLC LLC 1/2/13 1930 Holeston Road Parlor of Oxford LLC LLC 1/23/13 3107 Parks Place Rd Storage Plus, LLC LLC 1/7/13 25475 Highway 51

Corinth American Conveyor Group, Inc. BUS 1/24/13 120 County Road 177 Bill Phillips Sand and Gravel, LLC LLC 1/22/13 508 Waldron Street Blue Sky Logistics Inc 1/15/13 1407A Harper Rd Blue Sky Logistics Inc BUS 1/15/13 1407A Harper Rd Forever Unending Eternal Love, Inc.NP 1/28/13 109 County Rd 533 G. Holliday Inc BUS 1/23/13 1407A Harper Rd Gary’s Industries, Inc. BUS 1/14/13 306 Lilac Street (38834) Genesis Realty Services Inc BUS 1/18/13 1407A Harper Rd George’s Diner LLC LLC 1/31/13 4128A Cr 200 IME, Inc BUS 1/14/13 102 N. Madison (38834) J & J Lawn Maintenance LLC LLC 1/25/13 1407A Harper Rd J. R’s Wine & Spirits Inc BUS 1/14/13 40 Cr 238 Junearick Medical & Field of Dreams Adult Daycare LLC LLC 1/8/13 1407A Harper Rd Medisend Specialty Pharmacy, Inc.

BUS

1/8/13 127 Pratt Drive Mid-South Real Estate Sales & Auctions LLC LLC 1/23/13 110 Highway 72 East Nickels Properties LLC LLC 1/31/13 511 Franklin Street R & J Truck Repair Inc BUS 1/28/13 45 Cr 647

INCORPORATIONS The Hole Dozen, LLC 1/9/13

LLC 2233 Oak Lane

Crawford Reliable Construction LLC LLC 1/30/13 185 Barclay

Westmoreland Oilfield Services, LLC

Crenshaw Kinfolks Trucking, Inc BUS 1/14/13 4674 Pleasant Grove

Lewis Planting Company Inc BUS 1/2/13 11700 Silent Shade Rd

Daleville Kountry Kettle Corn Inc BUS 1/8/138773 Pine Springs Rd Meridian, Ms. 39305

Decatur LLC 117 West Broad St

Dekalb Pea Ridge Timber Harvesting, LLC LLC 1/7/13 6316 Highway 16 West Reliable Yard Maintenance LLC LLC 1/29/13 166 Odom Rd

Diamondhead Acacia Industries, LLC LLC 1/25/13 9559 Kolo Way Aradia’s Collection LLC LLC 1/23/13 7820 Koko Pl Gulf Coast Abstracting, LLC LLC 1/23/13 233 Highpoint Dr. Mental Health Services LLC LLC 1/30/13 5401-B indian hill blvd Rockin Nutrition, LLC LLC 1/29/13 4363-C Leisure Time Dr The French Knot LLC 1/25/13 4406 Leisure Time Dr The French Knot LLC LLC 1/25/13 4406 Leisure Time Dr

D’Iberville A K Real Estate, LLC LLC 1/18/13 10216 3Rd Avenue, Suite D All Nations Services, LLC LLC 1/17/13 10438 Diberville Blvd Better Existence L.L.C. LLC 1/15/13 11059 Lamey Bridge Rd Apt 322 Better Existence L.L.C. 1/11/13 11059 Lamey Bridge Rd Apt 322 JD Care, LLC LLC 1/15/13 14220 Lemoyne Blvd Maurice Car Wash LLC LLC 1/28/13 4266 Popps Ferry Rd My - Tram Seymour DBA OTH 1/7/13 673 Cypress Drive My Seymour Photography DBA OTH 1/7/13 673 Cypress Drive

Duck Hill Windam Willows, LLC LLC 1/15/13 282 Rose Hill Rd

Dumas Chapman Farms LLC 1/31/13 H C Properties LLC 1/30/13

LLC 2981 Cr 600 LLC 2981 Cr 600

Ben Baxley Contruction LLC LLC 1/17/13 480 Hwy 11 Christian Roy Graphics OTH 1/7/13 1942 Cr 372

Europa Once Was New Too LLC LLC 1/30/13 124 N Dunn St

Fayette Consul Petroleum Energy Corporation BUS

1/9/13 3682 McNair Road EnVision2020 Christian Learning Institute, LLC LLC 1/16/13 763 Highway 553 West EnVision2020 Christian Tutorial Institute, LLC LLC 1/16/13 763 Highway 553 West EnVision2020 Christian Tutorial Institute, LLC LLC 1/16/13 763 Highway 553 West

Flora Perigee Properties, LLC LLC 1/10/13 124 Meadowview Lane Rachel’s Heart NP 1/7/13 5184 Highway 22 The Corner Market LLC LLC 1/23/13 1090 Hwy 49

Florence Alstyle Kreations LLC LLC 1/11/13 421 Foster Rd AMS Preservation LLC LLC 1/18/13 547 White Oak Rd Fox’s Pizza Den of Kosciusko, MS, LLC

LLC

1/25/13 120 Magnolia Springs Gast Financial Services L.P. LP 1/22/13 414 Byrd Rd Glass Family Limited Partnership LP 1/9/13 125 E Main Street J C Dickson, Inc. BUS 1/28/13 125 E Main Street KB Enterprises LLC LLC 1/18/13 649 Falcon Lane M & L Expedite, LLC LLC 1/11/13 160 Ridgeview Dr Plain View Assisted Living, Inc. BUS 1/15/13 125 E Main Street Plainview Assisted Living, Inc. BUS 1/15/13 125 E Main Street Portrait EFX by Real Life Photography, LLC LLC 1/28/13 121 Old Mill Trail Presto Pizza LLC LLC 1/25/13 245 Shadow Creek Dr The Frame House LLC LLC 1/3/13 125 E Main Street Thornton Lawn & Landscape LLC LLC 1/8/13 105 Stigler Rosa Dr

Flowood ABD Insurance and Financial Services, Inc BUS

Ecru

1/14/13

Iron Effects, LLC LLC 1/8/13 803 Spain Rd Silver Dollar Rental Fence Inc BUS 1/28/13 74 North Rd

Edwards American Logistics International, Inc. BUS

1/28/13 NHI Oxford, LLC 1/17/13

LLC

1/10/13 960 Paulding Road WJR Enterprises LLC LLC 1/9/13 152 New Hope Rd

Enterprise

Cruger

LMG Growers LLC 1/10/13

1/15/13 801 Royal St T & G Equipment, LLC LLC 1/22/13 1465 Tuckers Crossing Road Tisdale Cattle Farm, LLC LLC 1/17/13 54 G. W. Tisdale Road Touchstone Financial LLC LLC 1/28/13 15 Bimaka Drive

1109 Gaddis Road LLC 1200 Oak Alley

Ellisville A 1 Conductor & Rathole, LLC LLC 1/15/13 1465 Tuckers Crossing Road Custom Maintenance Solutions LLCLLC 1/7/13 129 J P Geddie Road Fine Cut Lawn Care, LLC LLC 1/18/13 826 Ovett Moselle Rd LC Cleaning Services LLC LLC

645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101

Accuity Asset Verification Services Inc BUS

1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Activate Financial LLC LLC 1/22/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Adventist Risk Management Inc NP 1/18/13645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Alabama Steel Components, Inc BUS 1/16/13645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Alcorn Emergency Group, LLC LLC 1/25/13645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 American National Administrators, Inc. BUS

1/23/13645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC LLC 1/7/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Apex Clearing Corporation BUS 1/15/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Applied Resources Inc BUS 1/18/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Axiom Re, LP LP 1/9/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 BC RoofTech & Remodeling Inc BUS

May 10, 2013

1/17/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Bgagents Insurance Services Inc BUS 1/10/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 BHH Affiliates LLC LLC 1/25/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Big Apple Investments, LLC LLC 1/2/13 320 Sherborne Place Big Daddy Foods Inc BUS 1/10/13 2950 Layfair Drive, Suite 101 Big Stumbo’s Consulting Inc BUS 1/24/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Bob Evans Farms, LLC LLC 1/3/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Bonded Builders Home Warranty Association of South Carolina, Inc.BUS 1/22/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Bondedge Solutions LLC LLC 1/22/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 BRB Service Partners, LLC LLC 1/15/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 BRB Service, LLC LLC 1/15/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Brown & Brown of Indiana, LLC LLC 1/17/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Brown & Brown of Louisiana, LLC LLC 1/9/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Brown & Brown of Ohio, LLC LLC 1/10/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Bullock, Logan and Associates., Inc.

BUS

1/25/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Butler Plumbing DBA OTH 1/4/13 25 Old Hwy 49 Carter Brothers Security Services LLC

LLC

1/3/13 232 Market Street CBIZ M&S Consulting Services, LLCLLC 1/14/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 CCS Chemicals LLC LLC 1/30/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Cetera Advisor Networks LLC LLC 1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Cetera Advisors LLC LLC 1/15/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Cetera Investment Advisers LLC LLC 1/11/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Charles D. Butler DBA OTH 1/4/13 25 Old Hwy 49 Christopher J Kneip MD PA PA 1/24/13 290 East Layfair Drive Suite A Clemco Industries Corp BUS 1/29/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Cogburn Bros., Inc. BUS 1/30/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Collierville385Motors, LLC LLC 1/10/13 4200 Lakeland Drive Colormatch 114, LLC LLC 1/2/13 10 Canebrake Blvd #200 Complete Roofing Systems Inc BUS 1/31/13 645 Lakeland East Drive Suite 101 Compounding Pharmacies of Louisiana, Inc. BUS 1/28/13 645 Lakeland E. Dr. Ste. 101 Consolidated Mill Supply, Inc. BUS 1/7/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Correctional Services Corporation, LLC LLC

1/10/13 232 Market Street Correctional Services, LLC LLC 1/10/13 232 Market Street Cost Containment Group, Inc. BUS 1/17/13 232 Market Street Cotton Valley Distributing Inc BUS 1/4/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 David Franklin and Sherri Franklin LLC BUS

1/11/13 2489 Lakeland Dr Developmental Studies Center NP 1/11/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Elevate Recoveries LLC LLC 1/15/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Elmtree Creative LLC LLC 1/24/13 5 Little Creek Road Fickling Management Services LLCLLC 1/4/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Fidelity Mortgage, LLC LLC 1/31/13 436 Katherine Drive Suite 300 Fluid Dynamics Holdings, LLC LLC 1/10/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Foliot Furniture Pacific Inc BUS 1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Forbix Financial LLC LLC 1/15/13 232 Market St., Suite 202 Freshway Distributors, LLC LLC 1/10/13 645 Lakeland East Drive Ste 101 GE Capital Commercial of Utah LLCLLC 1/22/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 GE Equipment MidTicket LLC, Series 2012-1 LLC 1/24/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Good Measure Enterprises, Inc. BUS 1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 Grants Ferry Family Dentistry, Inc BUS 1/11/13 3738 Flowood Drive Gregory Funding LLC LLC

1/7/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 GRS BACARO CORP BUS 1/23/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Intec Communications, LLC LLC 1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Intel Media, Inc. BUS 1/2/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 International Consumer Consulting Inc BUS

1/25/13 232 Market St Ste 215 Interstate Heating & Cooling, Inc BUS 1/18/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 IPR Industrial LLC LLC 1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, Inc BUS 1/15/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 K & A Builders Inc BUS 1/11/13 232 Market Street Kiesling Associates LLP LLP 1/24/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 L Keeley Construction Co BUS 1/24/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Lindsay Vallas Photography LLC LLC 1/3/13 924 Baytree Drive Lockhart, Morris & Montgomery, Inc.

BUS

1/25/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Luckett Transport LLC LLC 1/31/13 662 Caseys Lane McElroy Aviation, LLC LLC 1/15/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 MDU Enterprises Inc BUS 1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Drive, Suite 101 MDVIP, Inc BUS 1/30/13 232 Market Street Methode Electronics Connectivity Technologies, Inc. BUS 1/23/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Mick White Renovations LLC LLC 1/22/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Mid South Vending, Inc BUS 1/17/13645 LAKELAND EAST DRIVE, Suite 101 MIG Construction Services, LLC LLC 1/17/13645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 MileStone Healthcare, LLC LLC 1/10/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Mobile Pipe & Welding, Inc BUS 1/29/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Myles Hydraulics LLC LLC 1/17/13 232 Market Street.

Ole Dawg Charters, LLC LLC 1/24/13 229 Katherine Drive Optimized Process Designs, LLC LLC 1/23/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 OWTW Enterprises, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 10 Canebrake Boulevard Suite 200 Pelican Coast Conservancy LLC LLC 1/3/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 PNK Development 32, Inc. BUS 1/10/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 PNK Holdings Inc BUS 1/10/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Primos Properties, LLC LLC 1/18/13 2950 Layfair Drive Suite 103 Pro Accurate Tax Service LLC LLC 1/29/13 460 Azalea Cove (Byram, MS 39272) Professional Bull Riders, Inc BUS 1/14/13645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 REACM Rose of Jackson, LLC LLC 1/16/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Red with Bread Distributing LLC LLC 1/11/13 232 Market Street.

Regency Homebuilders, LLC LLC 1/14/13 645 Lakeland East Drive Ste 101 Renpetco II, LLC LLC 1/31/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 RREF RB SBL-MS GCB, LLC LLC 1/25/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Ruby Fund, LLC LLC 1/14/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Running for Lily NP 1/10/13 620 Summer Place S & S Engineering, Inc. BUS 1/22/13 10 Canebrake Blvd #200 SG Gaming North America, Inc. BUS 1/10/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Societe Generale Energy LLC LLC 1/18/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Southland Log Homes Realty LLC LLC 1/30/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Spacelabs Healthcare, L.L.C. LLC 1/31/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 SRS Distribution Inc. BUS 1/24/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Stonehenge Capital Fund Mississippi Holdings, LLC LLC 1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Sunrise Pool & Spa Service LLC LLC 1/17/13 232 Market Street.

SVENNA LLC LLC 1/29/13 4701 Lakeland Dr. #17C Terra Contracting Services, LLC LLC

1/9/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 The BondAmerica Corporation BUS 1/22/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 The Jarie LLLP LLP 1/25/13 10 Canebrake Blvd, Suite 200 Thomas-Grace Construction Inc BUS 1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Timpco LLC LLC 1/17/13 645 LAKELAND EAST DRIVE, Suite 101 TOTAL Specialties USA Inc BUS 1/22/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Transaction Network Services, Inc.BUS 1/23/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 TXL Mortgage Corporation BUS 1/22/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Upton Tires - Brandon, LLC LLC 1/22/13 5312 Lakeland Drive Upton Tires - Flowood, LLC LLC 1/22/13 5312 Lakeland Drive Upton Tires - Madison, LLC LLC 1/22/13 5312 Lakeland Drive Upton Tires - North Jackson, LLC LLC 1/22/13 5312 Lakeland Drive Valet Waste Holdings, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Viva Railings, LLC LLC 1/14/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 W.H. Shepherd Companies, Inc BUS 1/11/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 WBP LEASING, LLC LLC 1/31/13 232 Market Street WEC Equipment & Machining Solutions, LLC LLC 1/11/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 WHD - Silver Slipper LLC LLC 1/16/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 Wine Country Commerce LLC LLC 1/22/13 232 Market Street WJB Mortgage Services, LLC LLC 1/29/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 WLBT License Subsidiary, LLC LLC 1/28/13 645 Lakeland East Dr., Suite 101 YRe Financial LLC LLC 1/30/13 579 Lakeland East Dr., Suite A

I

Mississippi Business Journal

Greenville AMA Property, LLC LLC 1/31/13 2501 Stonebridge Rd Anointed Oasis Outreach Center NP 1/10/13 949 Patton Dt Baker Trucking LLC LLC 1/18/13 1756 Debra Dr Bluewater Heart Investments LLC LLC 1/31/13 630 Cypress Lane C.W. Walker III LLC LLC 1/4/13 1653 Cypress Ridge Corner Liquor, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 2309 Highway 1 South Ste B Epsilon Eta Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi House Corporation NP 1/28/13 241 Main St Greenville Reflection and Youth Development Museum NP 1/24/13 836 Johnson St GWHS Booster Club, Inc. NP 1/15/13 424 Washington Avenue Jamie Hardin Photofraphy DBA OTH 1/10/13 538 South Washington Avenue Jamie Nicole Hardin DBA OTH 1/10/13 538 South Washington Avenue JDC, Inc. BUS 1/29/13 143 North Edison Street Little Shoe, LLC LLC 1/11/13 1214 Hospital St. Main Street Auto Repair Inc BUS 1/15/13 1643 South Main Street Nightclub Dynamix LLC LLC 1/11/13 1417 Trailwood Drive, Ste A Sweet Pilgrim Outreach Center NP 1/31/13 859 South Washington Ave Tanks and Tees Company LLC LLC 1/22/13 661 E Alexander St The Promise Christian Dance Academy, Broadway NP 1/28/13 3531 Forest Drive

Greenwood

Foxworth

FM Aircraft, LLC LLC 1/16/13 701 Parsons Street Holmes County Community Service Center NP 1/24/13 311 Cotton St Jordan Construction Services, LLC LLC 1/23/13 602 2Nd Avenue North Oxford Arizona Properties LLC LLC 1/23/13 105 West President Avenue Son & Dunn, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 1201 Riverbend Drive Wildwood Grain Company, LLC LLC 1/14/13 1005 River Birch Cove

Brumfield Consulting, LLC LLC 1/7/13 15 Mt. Sinai Road

Grenada

Forest Bay Point Development, LLC LLC 1/10/13 125 West Main Hello Jonsie, Ltd BUS 1/11/13 539 Scr 504 Master Heat & Air Inc BUS 1/22/13 2131 Tallabouge Road W&W Safety Consulting, LLC LLC 1/11/13 205 Azalea Dr

Fulton Hood Family Logistics Inc BUS 1/15/13 863 Greenwood Hopewell Rd MCGEE Rentals LLC LLC 1/11/13 112 Francis Dr Predator Pest Inc BUS 1/10/13 1105 South Adams Spigner Holdings, LLC LLC 1/10/13 783 Frances Lane The O.C. Cullins Scholarship Foundation NP 1/30/13 112 East Kennedy Street

Gautier Handy Guys Moving Service LLC LLC 1/9/13 4051 Gautier Vancleave Road Handy Lock Cottages LLC LLC 1/29/13 4051 Gautier Vancleave Road LAO Transportation LLC LLC 1/4/13 3234 Stone Gate Circle Logan Consulting Inc BUS 1/18/13 3220 Willis St Snapper Landing Sports Bar Inc. BUS 1/4/13 3308 Oak St Surgical First LLC LLC 1/15/13 4955 Huntington Dr

Glen Steve Little Properties II, LLC LLC 1/7/13 73 County Road 248 Steve Little Properties III, LLC LLC 1/7/13 73 County Road 248 Steve Little Properties IV, LLC LLC 1/7/13 73 County Road 248

Gloster Webb/Winfield Funeral Home LLC LLC 1/2/13 2493 S Georgia Pacific Rd # 2

Engagements Bridal & Formal Wear, LLC LLC

1/2/13 355 W Monroe St Marascalco Investments, LLC LLC 1/22/13 475 Highland Hills Rd St. James Christ Ministry Church NP 1/23/13 150 Harvey St

Gulfport 26 Safety, LLC LLC 1/24/13 2218 18Th Street Acme Concrete Paving, Inc. BUS 1/9/13 12435 Plunkett Road All About Car Care and Repair LLC LLC 1/14/13 13503 Three Rivers Rd Allen Law, PLLC PLLC 1/10/13 1529 Magnolia Street, No. 15 AmeriFirst Home Improvement Finance Co. BUS 1/14/13 12435 Plunkett Road Beavers Construction LLC LLC 1/4/13 17061 Hwy 53 Believers Leading Our Community Kids NP 1/31/13 2218 18Th Street Big River Ventures, LLC LLC 1/17/13 2218 18Th Street Blankets NP 1/9/13 1131A Century Oak Dr Ste A Blue Falcon Productions LLC LLC 1/2/13 2230 Beach Drive Brandan Enterprises, Inc. BUS 1/3/13 12435 Plunkett Road (39503) Carlock Express Transportation, LLC

LLC

1/24/13 121 Cherry Court Chatman Properties LLC LLC 1/8/13 12233 Breezeway Cir. Crusaders for Veterans Inc NP 1/17/13 2218 18Th Street Cutler Couture, LLC LLC 1/17/13 200 N. Wilson Blvd.

DAS Holdings, LLC LLC

I

25

1/11/13 9366 Stone Road David James Arts, LLC LLC 1/11/13 936 Savannah Pl Delta Geotechnical LLC LLC 1/8/13 2218 18Th Street Discreet Security Alarms, LLC LLC 1/11/13 2218 18Th Street Diso Albury and Wolfsburg LLC LLC 1/28/13 614 Commerce St. Douglas McBride MD LLC LLC 1/2/13 282 Southern Circle Dsharp Films LLC LLC 1/3/13 2218 18Th Street Earth Grace Artisan Jewelry LLC LLC 1/8/13 2218 18Th Street Easy Living Redesign Services DBA

OTH

1/3/13 1728 21St St. FatBoy Firearms LLC LLC 1/3/13 2218 18Th Street Fifty’s Cafe LLC LLC 1/30/13 2218 18Th Street Fitness Wave Gulf Coast DBA LLC 1/24/13 12237 Five Oaks Dr Forcot Southaven LLC LLC 1/24/13 12435 Plunkett Road Frontline Services LLC LLC 1/15/13 1899 28Th St Genesis Geospatial & Design LLC LLC 1/14/13 10480 Klein Rd. #27 Golden Ticket Transportation LLC LLC 1/17/13 2218 18Th Street Grace Healthcare Internet Sales, Inc.

BUS

1/2/13 1120 Broad Ave Gulf Coast Movers, Inc. BUS 1/17/13 12435 Plunkett Road Gulf Stream Homes of MS, LLC LLC 1/23/13 1617 25Th Avenue Harris & Harris Services LLC LLC 1/8/13 2218 18Th Street Hartsough-Hedrick LLC LLC 1/28/13 2218 18Th Street Hilborn Family Dentistry, LLC LLC 1/15/13 431 Security Square HomeCare Unlimited of MS DBA LLC 1/4/13 11346 Camelot Estate Dr Hometown Quitman Treasures & More LLC LLC 1/22/13 2218 18Th Street Intermedix Staffing, Inc BUS 1/11/13 12435 Plunkett Road Isabella Bean Adventures, Inc. BUS 1/8/13 2218 18Th Street J & C Motor Express LLC LLC 1/10/13 804 Wildwood Dr J&D Floor Care LLC LLC 1/29/13 2501 Demaret Dr JKMBINH, LLC LLC 1/15/13 1310 25Th Avenue JNC Construction, LLC LLC 1/22/13 2218 18Th Street JNT Properties LLC LLC 1/8/13 12262 Breezeway Cir. Jus’ A Taste Memphis LLC LLC 1/7/13 2218 18Th Street Kickin’ It, LLC LLC 1/30/13 2218 18Th Street Krazy Heart Studios, LLC LLC 1/30/13 2218 18Th Street LA Ash Products and Services, LLCLLC 1/28/13 1310 Twenty Fifth Ave Ledora Foundation NP 1/30/13 14005 Dundee Cove Log Cabin Smokehouse Inc BUS 1/28/13 2218 18Th Street Los Palmas Mexican Resturant LLCLLC 1/7/13 1317 B 24th Avenue Lovitt Consultants LLC LLC 1/22/13 2218 18Th Street Maid to Order LLC LLC 1/24/13 2218 18Th Street MIMS Industries LLC LLC 1/25/13 2218 18Th Street Mississippi Brewing Company LLC LLC 1/8/13 2027 19Th St Mississippi Brewing Company LLC 1/7/13 2027 19Th St Mississippi Energy Services LLC LLC 1/25/13 2218 18Th Street Mississippi Pianos, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 111 Pass Road Mizim LLC LLC 1/24/13 12237 Five Oaks Dr N2URI NYWELE INC BUS 1/7/13 4725 Cardinal Dr Nationwide Property & Appraisal Services LLC LLC 1/8/13 12435 Plunkett Road New Hope Road Hunting Club, LLC LLC 1/18/13 1200 East Pass Road (39507) Nursing Solutions of LA., LLC LLC 1/4/13 11346 Camelot Estate Dr

INCORPORATIONS

26 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 10, 2013

B u fr Bu sin om n e d s $ 80 les s /m o.

Pass Restaurant Group LLC LLC 1/24/13 1918 21St Ave Patriot Supply Company, LLC LLC 1/18/13 15138B Mills Road Perkins Preventive Medicine and Dentistry, P.L.L.C. PLLC 1/30/13 2218 18Th Street Pooky lee Creations LLC LLC 1/7/13 2218 18Th Street Precision Fiber LLC LLC 1/17/13 2218 18Th Street Pretty TableTop Designs LLC LLC 1/8/13 2218 18Th Street PWL Acquisition, LLC LLC 1/8/13 1317 26Th Ave Ste 320 Rip Current Interactive LLC LLC 1/30/13 5105 O’Bryan Ave Rivercity Taxes LLC LLC 1/8/13 2218 18Th Street Ro Rodgers Air Conditioning & Heating LLC LLC 1/28/13 2218 18Th Street S & L Investments LLC LLC 1/30/13 2218 18Th Street Secure Property Solutions LLC LLC 1/24/13 2218 18Th Street Seniors Living Well, LLC LLC 1/14/13 12206 Hwy 49 Service Plus of Meridian, LLC LLC 1/7/13 2218 18Th Street Simply “I Do”, LLC LLC 1/3/13 2218 18Th Street Siren City Productions LLC LLC 1/22/13 2218 18Th Street Sisters and Brothers of Substance NP 1/16/13 10503 Steeplechase Dr Southern Specialties on Main, LLC LLC 1/31/13 2218 18Th Street Sports South Indoor, LLC LLC 1/24/13 6015 Vista Circle Squids Mobile Electronics LLC LLC 1/8/13 10747 Plummer Circle Strawn Enterprise, LLC LLC 1/11/13 2218 18Th Street Susan Dixie Nichols DBA OTH 1/3/13 1728 21St St. Tasha Spa LLC LLC 1/14/13 11381 Jessica Dr

The Calling of the Christians NP 1/8/13 2218 18Th Street Transmission Network & Infrastructure Services LLC LLC 1/3/13 2218 18Th Street Traveling Angels Tours LLC LLC 1/22/13 14108 Seaway Rd Vestica Healthcare, LLC LLC 1/3/13 12435 Plunkett Road Warr Properties LLC LLC 1/10/13 1804 Beach Dr Williams Construction & Design LLC

1/30/13

LLC

2218 18Th Street

Guntown Specialty Health Solutions LLC LLC 1/3/13 151 Road 331

Hamilton Calder & Sons, LLC LLC 1/11/13 40521 Old Hwy 45 South Calder & Sons, LLC 1/10/13 40521 Old Hwy 45 South

Hattiesburg Adonai DEC, LLC LLC 1/10/13 110 Sheffield Loop Albert & McCleskey Associates Architects, PLLC PLLC 1/22/13 105 Patton Avenue BRANDY Physician Investments LLC

LLC

1/7/13 65 Tidewater Road.

Brothers In Arms LLC LLC 1/4/13 8 Presley Dr Capitol Enterprises LLC LLC 1/9/13 3999 Morningside Dr., #3 China Garden of Harttiesburg LLC LLC 1/3/13 5912 U S Hwy 49 FC3 CJC Jones Property Management LLC

LLC

1/17/13 103 Candlewick Road Cliff Burgess Phorography LLC LLC 1/29/13 58 Ellzey Lane Crimson Portfolio, LLC LLC 1/18/13 525 Main St Crosby-Mississippi Resources, Ltd. LP 1/11/13 3702 Hardy Street

Debra Lee Carr, MA, JD, LPC, LMFT Counseling and Consulting LLC LLC 1/23/13 119 Mayfair Road Ste 2 Debra Lee Carr, MA, JD, LPC, LMFT Counseling and Consulting LLC 1/9/13 119 Mayfair Road Ste 2 DG Bogue Chitto, LLC LLC 1/23/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road DG Hurley, LLC LLC 1/23/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road DG Kosciusko, LLC LLC 1/23/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road DG Quitman LLC LLC 1/23/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road DG Sandersville, LLC LLC 1/23/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road DG Summit, LLC LLC 1/23/13 2603 - A Oak Grove Road Diam Divaz LLC LLC 1/14/13 2304 West 7th St. Apt 709 DWWW LLC LLC 1/28/13 5 Willow Bend Dr Eagle Food Mart, LLC LLC 1/17/13 1011 Hardy Street EP3 Consulting LLC LLC 1/7/13 70 Cinnamon Fern Circle Faith Counseling Service, LLC LLC 1/11/13 2455 Old Highway 24 Family First Homes LLC LLC 1/28/13 112 Scotland Cir. G&B Contracting, LLC LLC 1/4/13 163 Ralston Rd Headlines Salon, LLC LLC 1/4/13 6232 US hwy 49 N Hub City Millworks LLC LLC 1/11/13 601 Court St. Suite 104 Independent Living & Special Needs Consulting LLC LLC 1/9/13 64 Creedmoor Inmate Supply LLC LLC 1/29/13 8 J M TATUM INDUSTRIAL DR L Seven Corp BUS 1/18/13 9 Plaza Dr Lowry Designs, LLC LLC 1/2/13 1011 Hardy Street Mississippi Oil Spill Claims, PLLC PLLC 1/7/13 25 Town Center Square Mounts Alive, LLC LLC 1/16/13 217 Dover Trace

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White Willows, LLC LLC 1/25/13 100 Walnut Circle Ste 100 World Reach Ministries Inc NP 1/11/13 103 N 19th Avenue

MTS Impact LLC LLC 1/23/13 1202 S 34th Ave Parente’s LLC LLC 1/31/13 251 AJ Bond Rd Columbia, Ms. 39429 Preble- Rish Mississippi, LLC LLC 1/9/13 525 N. Main St., 3rd Floor Premier Commissary Group, LLC LLC 1/2/13 10 Professional Parkway Primetime Billing Services, LLC LLC 1/3/13 216 Westover Drive Apt 6A R & F Discount Grocery LLC LLC 1/17/13 718 Bartur St Rainey Millworks LLC LLC 1/16/13 1909 Old Country Club Rd Red Bowl Asian Bistro Inc BUS 1/2/13 5295 Old Highway 11, Suite 7 Redbone Properties, LLC LLC 1/4/13 372 Jackson Rd. SCD Properties, LLC LLC 1/3/13 3 Summertree Place Scott M. Tomlinson, DMD, PLLC PLLC 1/18/13 6643 Highway 98 Secret Gallery Marketplace LLC LLC 1/15/13 6555 Highway 898 West Ste 7 Southeastern Builders, LLC LLC 1/11/13 20 Hegwood Rd.

Hazlehurst Gilbert Trucking Company LLC LLC 1/2/13 247 E Whitworth St. Joe Gustavis Masonry Contractor, LLC

Hernando Coldwater Holdings, LLC LLC 1/14/13 1074 Greers Landing Como Farms LLC LLC 1/15/13 880 Tara Drive CW’s HVAC Service Solutions LLC LLC 1/2/13 2446 Caffey Street, Ste 1 A Lake Sissy LLC LLC 1/18/13 2430 Caffey Street Mussecunney Plantation Historical Events LLC LLC 1/25/13 5000 Robertson Gin Road The Laundry Ladies OTH 1/28/13 1637 Keeland Drive

Southern Heritage Landscape & Pool, LLCLLC

1/18/13

6364 Old Hwy 42

Southern Jewels and Accessories LLC

LLC

1/29/13 1027 Goza - Stegall Road Newman Land & Timber Management, LLC LLC 1/2/13 322 West Gallatin Street Shannon Construction, LLC LLC 1/3/13 9182 Hwy 472 T & P Joint Ventures, LLC LLC 1/2/13 247 Caldwell Drive The Mangold Agency of Copiah County Inc BUS 1/15/13 131 Market Place

LLC

1/11/13 263 Steele Rd Starbrite, LLC LLC 1/11/13 6524 US Highway 98 Terramark Management LLC LLC 1/4/13 525 Main Building The Bargain Center of South Mississippi, LLC LLC 1/22/13 47 Cinnamon Fern Lane The Lucky Rabbit LLC LLC 1/24/13 212 S 12th Ave The Wreck, LLC LLC 1/18/13 4960 Hardy Street Train like A Pro, LLC LLC 1/24/13 114 Bridgewater Drive Turtle Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/10/13 246 T Smith Rd Vatican Capital LLC LLC 1/14/13 700 Beverly Hills Road 716 W. A. Powe Aquatics, LLC LLC 1/30/13 104 Heatherwood Drive

Hickory Central Pipeline Supply LLC LLC 1/31/13 198 Mobile Home Dr. Decatur Tire and Auto LLC LLC 1/8/13 294 Caldwell Rd

Hollandale Durst Rentals LLC 1/15/13

BUSINESS INTERNET

LLC 107 East Ave S

BUSINESS PHONE

F & B Harvesting LLC LLC 1/24/13 312 Bailey Dr Franklin Property Preservation LLCLLC 1/23/13 28 James Rd. Mt. Zion United Coalition NP 1/25/13 1615 Josephine St New Beginning Child Care Center NP 1/25/13 1615 Josephine St

Holly Bluff COJAK LLC 1/14/13

LLC Hwy 16 West

Holly Springs C & J Thomas Family LLC LLC 1/9/13 126 North Spring Street Hall Rental Properties LLC LLC 1/7/13 119 Smart Road Lost and Found Pets of the Midsouth Incorporated NP 1/23/13 345 W Chulahoma Ave Saddle Creek Associates Limited Liability Company LLC 1/23/13 111 North Market Street VK WANG INC BUS 1/8/13 1710 Cresent Meadow Dr

Horn Lake BABrown Clock Repair LLC LLC 1/10/13 2110 Tall Tree Dr Carol’s Day Care LLC LLC 1/22/13 4621 Spike Lane Etowah River Works Inc BUS 1/15/13 3010 Goodman Rd W Ste A HLHS MCJROTC Booster Club NP 1/10/13 2802 Normandy Dr Jireh, LLC LLC 1/23/13 3005 Normandy Dr New Beginning Missionary Baptist Church of Southaven, MS NP 1/4/13 3832 Conrail Cir North Mississippi Project Management Company (NMPM) BUS 1/10/13 4848 Sherry Drive Shane’s Home Delivery LLC LLC 1/8/13 6765 Northwood Cove

United Scale-Weigh, L.L.C. LLC 1/8/13 6917 Wrenwood Drive

Houlka Austin-Young Consulting LLC LLC 1/23/13 929 Hwy. 32 West GSV Care Medical Clinic LLC LLC 1/28/13 381 Hwy 341 North

Houston EDL Investments LLC LLC 1/29/13 111 East Washington Street Hotty Toddy Enterprises LLC LLC 1/15/13 111 East Washington Street Houston Deli Mart, Inc. BUS 1/15/13 943 North Jackson St Pontotoc Saddle Club NP 1/15/13 111 East Washington Street

Indianola Drain Transport LLC 1/28/13 Pro-Haulers, Inc. 1/23/13

LLC 205 Forrest St BUS 17 Highway 448

Inverness Poe Chiropractic, LLC LLC 1/23/13 1205 Montgomery St STS of Florida, LLC LLC 1/2/13 802 Third Street

Iuka 1st Call Bond & Pawn DBA LLC 1/10/13 408 Battleground Dr Chris Dilworth Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/10/13 408 Battleground Dr Esprit Therapeutic Massage LLC LLC 1/25/13 1440 E Quitman Street Rocket Inspection Services, LLC LLC 1/17/13 1849 North Pearl St Snapp Technologies Group LLC LLC 1/7/13 278 Cr 231

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SALES MOVES

May 10, 2013

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

27

» JEFFREY GITOMER

What do you do EVERY DAY to build attraction and brand?

PERSONAL REALITY: You wake up, shower, shave (M), put on makeup (F), brush your teeth, and comb/fix your hair (if you have any). Every day like clockwork.

Those are personal habits. Rarely (if ever) missed.

What about business habits? Personal, business habits?

BUSINESS REALITY: Do you have the same consistency in your daily business habits? And I wonder how many of your daily habits take the long-term view. Or are you just trying to make sales to make quota? Big mistake.

I want to talk about one element of your personal business habits: Your personal outreach, your daily outreach, that builds attraction, personal brand, authority, known expertise, recognition, position in your industry, Google rank, social media presence, top of mind awareness, and reputation. Oh, that.

Sounds like a LOT of work. But actually it takes LESS time than your morning bathroom routine once you’re set up and rolling. And these are habits that create attraction. Real attraction.

The cool part is it costs (almost) nothing. All you have to do is allocate the time, and (most important) commit to DAILY OUTREACH. Here’s the master list of available resources that you must employ and deploy: » LinkedIn. Your prime professional outlet for finding, attracting, building, and staying in touch with business connections. OUTREACH: Be personal and creative. Don’t use the lines and messages provided by LinkedIn — use your own

HAL & MAL’S

Continued from Page 4

Green project, the purchase of the depot never occurred. Thus White’s opportunity to buy the building from Full Spectrum never came.

Instead Hal & Mal’s has a new landlord, no lease and an uncertain future, White said.

“We are not happy. We have no interest in leasing from Full Spectrum,” he said.

“We are interested only in doing what we have been doing for 30 years, which is running Hal & Mal’s.”

Added White: “We just want them to go and develop whatever they are going to develop and leave Hal & Mal’s out of it.”

Shepherd, meanwhile, says he wants to see White show an increased willingness to negotiate. “He is the one who has been delaying his future,” Shepherd said, and claimed Hal and Mal’s “has not kept up with” required tenant improvements.

Shepherd said he plans to “reposition” the building to increase the number of apartments from three to 10 and add a second floor artist workshop.

“We need more mixed use in the building” he said, while emphasizing he had no plans to convert any of the space now used by Hal & Mal’s.

words. Post something of value, and ask your connections to share it with THEIR connections. » Facebook. A place to create one-on-one dialog with customers — especially by responding to their praise and concerns. OUTREACH: Post positive service stories and videos. Respond to issues within two hours. » Twitter. 140 characters that put your character on public display. Make every character count. Have something profound to say that your followers would be compelled to send to THEIR followers. OUTREACH: Tweet a value message at least twice a day. One that your followers would find interesting enough to re-tweet to THEIR followers. The object of Twitter is to be re-tweeted by your followers, thereby exposing you to new people (customers). » Blog or personal website. A starting place, a landing place, and a jumping off place for stories, ideas, opinions, photos, videos, training, and anything else your customers or followers would find BOTH interesting and valuable. On a blog you can mix business and personal, as long as it’s not offensive. Your posts can be subscribed to and delivered by email. OUTREACH: Blog with a minimum of a weekly, if not daily, post. You have unlimited space for text, photos, and videos. Your blog is an opportunity for people to realize both your intellect and your passion. » YouTube. Video is the new black. This is a chance to convey messages, training, subject matter expertise, testimonials, and offers of value.

Your viewers can subscribe, and your posts can be The legislation conveyed the lease with a “non-recourse” provision, meaning any disputes over the lease must be worked out between Full Spectrum and Hal & Mal’s.

Under terms of the lease, Full Spectrum would have to give Hal & Mal’s six months notice for an eviction.

The lease transfer authorized by the state requires that Full Spectrum initiate improvements on the train depot building within five years from July 2012. Otherwise, control of the lease reverts to the state.

Full Spectrum has been on time with its lease payments to the state, the DFA says.

The legislation transferring the lease occurred without the participation of two Jackson legislators, Sen. David Blount and Rep. Cecil Brown. Both said they hope the developer and White can work out their differences, noting they see Hal & Mal’s as a cultural fixture of downtown Jackson.

“Obviously, it’s a great part of the city,” Brown said, adding he “honestly” did not know the lease transfer had occurred.

Likewise, Blount said he was unaware of the transfer. “The state needs to be supportive” of Hal & Mal’s, Blount said. “It’s a great cultural institution in Jackson.”

cross-pollinated on your blog, your Facebook page, and your LinkedIn profile.

All for the low, low price of: FREE. » E-zine. A weekly, informational piece that can contain SOME promotional material, but Jeffrey Gitomer MUST have mostly helpful information. If you need an inexpensive template and delivery platform, go to www.aceofsales.com. » Group text messaging. A newer form of communicating to customers and prospects that hasn’t quite found its way. But like all forms of connection, branding, and selling, it will soon emerge as a powerful method of “instant offer” and “instant information” that, unlike other forms of outreach, commands instant viewing.

I’m offering myself an example of what to do.

Everything in this outreach formula is based on what I do personally. Study me. Emulate me. My outreach is based on value. My outreach is working.

MY PERSONAL EXAMPLES: On twitter I am @gitomer. On Facebook I am Facebook.com/jeffreygitomer. My blog is salesblog.com. My youtube channel is youtube.com/buygitomer. On LinkedIn search my name: Jeffrey Gitomer. My ezine is published on salescaffeine.com. My website is gitomer.com.

JUST DO IT: You’d think that with all these career building, low-cost or free opportunities, bene-

OLD CAPITOL GREEN

Continued from Page 4

forward,” Hinds County Economic Development Authority executive director Blake Wallace said in an Associated Press report. “There has been ample time to provide the submittals. The only thing we have on file are projections.”

Full Spectrum South claimed the action by Hinds supervisors cost the project $52 million of investment committed by the firm’s investors.

In total, Full Spectrum had put its financial commitment to the multi-phase project at $123 million, with other developers and investors taking the project to its projected total cost of $1.1 billion.

From here, the project will ease ahead “one block at a time,” Full Spectrum’s Shepherd said.

“I can’t tell you when the financial people are going to release the money,” he said in addressing funding for the 2.74-acre mixed use project.

While Full Spectrum South has a 15-year lease with the state for the site, the development firm is hoping it can eventually acquire full ownership, according o Shepherd. “We think if we can move forward on the development, the state would approve us purchasing the land from them.”

The foundation for progress, he said, is the master zoning given the multi-block area designated for Old Capitol Green.

The ordinance allows multiple uses in individual buildings; for instance, retail on a first floor, office on a second floor and residential on the building’s remaining floors. “Sustainability demands that you have a mixture of items there in order to maintain the development on an on-going basis,” Shepherd said, and pointed that such flexibility allows changes of uses

fits, and life building assets, that every salesperson on the planet would be the MASTER of these outlets — and you would be wrong — drastically wrong — and most likely, PERSONALLY wrong.

MOTHER GOOGLE: All of your “outreach” builds your Google search-ability, ranking, and visibility. The foundation and fulcrum point of your reputation rests on Google. Most of the time Mother Google is the perfect platform and reference point, UNLESS you try to fool her by manipulating your status.

NOTE WELL: Outreach is a lifetime process.

When done well, it builds every aspect of your brand and reputation. And over time it creates the real law of attraction – a law based on value offerings, in spite of what you may have read or heard elsewhere.

Yes, my friend, there is also a face-to-face aspect of outreach. That will be covered next week!

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.

“Let’s give them something they can’t get at home.”

— Malcolm Shepherd as markets change. So with a hot retail market, office space can be switched to that use and vice versa, he added.

“You can convert if income from one segment drops off.”

Behind Full Spectrum South’s refusal to give up after it set backs, Shepherd said, is a belief that downtown Jackson is crying out for more residential and more retail space. “We have 29,000 people drive to work in downtown Jackson every day,” he said. “The disposable income of those people is through the roof. The challenge now is: ‘How can you get the people who come to downtown Jackson every day to spend some of their money here.’”

The answer?

“Let’s give them something they can’t get at home,” Shepherd said.

Together We deliver responsibly

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