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May 17, 2013 • Vol. 35, No. 20 • $2 • 36 pages

FERVOR GROWS

Mississippi’s Tuscaloosa Marine Shale showing promise as a Texas wannabe MBJ FOCUS: Banking & Finance

Bank vaults have changed with the times, but they’re still tough

Page 20

2 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013 ECONOMICS

R&D

RESEARCHERS PREPARING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SMART ACT

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

Money-grubbers or tree-huggers? » Environmental economists work middle ground

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

At first glance, the term “environmental economist” looks oxymoronic. Is this a treehugging, crusading environmentalist or a money-grubbing, pragmatic economist?

Dan Petrolia, associate professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Mississippi State University, laughs when asked that question.

“I guess it depends on who you ask,” Petrolia said. “I think some environmentalists as well as elements of the business community are unsure what an environmental economist is and what we do.”

Most of that uncertainty is attributable to the relative recent emergence of the field of study. Mississippi State is the only state institution of higher learning offering it as a major, and the land grant university just graduated its first environmental economist last May. Basically, environmental economics studies the balance between the demand for natural resources and the need to protect and nurture the environment. It looks to quantify the cost of development — essentially putting a value on nature and comparing it to the price tag for development.

A recent study by Petrolia is a textbook example of an environmental economist’s work.

Petrolia, a native of New Orleans, looked at Louisiana’s ever-shrinking wetlands and in particular restoration efforts in the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary.

He wanted to know how much people were willing to spend, reflecting how much they value the benefits provided by the restoration projects. This figure was then compared to the cost of the project to determine if the project is worth executing.

(Note: The survey found that respondents were willing to pay between $909 and $1,751 per household for coastal restoration projects. Added up, that could generate between $105 billion and $201 billion for the Louisiana coast, more than the state’s $50

billion master plan for coastal restoration.)

Other studies follow similar lines. For instance, a group of MSU researchers that included Petrolia looked at coastal homeowners at risk of flooding and why some choose not to purchase flood insurance.

A current study underway looks at perceptions of Gulf of Mexico oysters and marketing outside of the region. In some areas of the country, including the Northeast, Gulf oysters are seen as inferior in

ence in environmental economics and management curriculum takes a problemsolving approach to preparing students to evaluate natural resource management questions from an economic perspective. A number of career paths are open to graduates, including positions with environmental and economic consulting firms, various management and analysis positions with business, and public sector employment with federal and state agencies.

Students will also are well positioned to enter graduate school to pursue careers in research.

Basically, environmental economics studies the balance between the demand for natural resources and the need to protect and nurture the environment. quality and taste. Researchers are looking at the issue, trying to determine if there is a market for these Gulf oysters if they are branded and given a “boutique” status.

Petrolia that study is yielding answers about the ongoing cost of the 2010 BP oil spill. Rather than offering respondents a leading question about the spill, the survey asks what factors played into respondent s answer about the quality of Gulf oysters.

“We didn’t want to come right out and ask about the spill; didn’t put it in the questionnaire,” Petrolia said. “If we put it in we were concerned that everyone would say, ‘Oh, yeah, that was horrible.’

Instead, we subtly asked. I have very, very, very preliminary numbers, but it appears that the oil spill is still on the minds of many people.”

Mississippi State is hoping its graduates go on to similar work. Its bachelor of sci-

A sampling of major coursework includes natural resources economics; environmental law; applied welfare & environmental economics; and, environmental policy.

The program currently contains approximately 20 students. It is also offered as a minor.

“We have students from all over who are interested in numerous fields,” said Petrolia, who earned his Ph.D. in agricultural and applied economics, with a concentration in environmental and resource economics, from the University of Minnesota. “One of our best students is interested in the fashion industry. We just want to produce graduates who have their feet on the ground and can think critically. If we do that, we’ll be successful.”

For more on Mississippi State’s environmental economics program, visit www.agecon.msstate.edu/academics/environmental/.

One of the centerpieces of Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann’s legislative agenda passed in the last session, and university researchers are getting ready to take advantage of it.

The Strengthening Mississippi Academic Research Through (SMART) Business Act provides a 25 percent rebate to Mississippi companies that contract with Mississippi public universities and colleges for qualified research. The legislation caps the rebate at $1 million per company, and $5 million overall per fiscal year.

Similar legislation, when the incentive was a tax credit and not a direct rebate, died the past two sessions.

“There was some concern last year about how much this was going to cost, so this addresses that,” Hosemann said in January.

Gerald Nelson, director of Mississippi State University’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology, said his office started getting the word out about the bill late in the session, when it became evident that the bill was most likely going to pass.

“We had already started to talk about it with our industry partners and corporate research people that do engineering research or scientific research of any kind. We emailed it out to a number of our contacts and will continue to advertise it as something they should consider to enhance their reasons to conduct this kind of research.”

Nelson said the responses have been generally positive.

No company has contracted for research for after July 1, when the bill becomes law, but Nelson there are “three or four that are prominent in Mississippi that are doing some licensing of technology having to do with alternative energy” that are strong possibilities.

“These licensees are talking to people in the state of Mississippi so either them or the company that’s licensing the technology would be able to take advantage of the credit aspect of the plan. Particularly now that it’s signed into law and is about to take effect, on a regular basis we’ll be notifying our constituents that it has passed and is available to them and they should consider it a plus.”

Nelson expects the new law to have an impact on private research, which dipped some during the recession, partly due to companies tightening or eliminating research budgets and the moratorium on congressional earmarks that funded public research that often led to additional private research. “Although that loss of earmarks will impact all research universities, it shouldn’t hinder the type of research mentioned in the bill because this is private research,” Nelson said. “In fact, (the bill) couldn’t come at a better time for companies to take advantage of the federal

See

SMART, Page 12

May 17, 2013

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Mississippi Business Journal

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SOUTHERN GAMING SUMMIT

Social media marketing allows casinos to give, take

BY FRANK BROWN I STAFF WRITER frank.brown@msbusiness.com BILOXI — You can be sure the casino industry knows a good bet when it sees one. And perhaps the most valuable tool to help revive a sluggish gaming industry in Mississippi is marketing through social media.

“We look at social media, and there are a lot of different ways to approach it,” Brian Best, corporate president of ecommerce at Boyd Gaming, said last week at the Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi. “It is a marketing tool, and it is a marketing and branding tool to engage customers, but it’s also a customer service tool. And another thing that’s really growing is in industry is loyalty, especially using social media platforms.”

Facebook has about 600 million monthly active users, and twitter has about 200 million. Then there’s Instagram and Vine rising up the list. Don’t forget Google+.

But the marketing tools both ways. Casinos encourage customers to engage their social media and Internet sites by offers of free points, free tickets and meals. In return, casinos are able to harvest personal information — a valuable tool in direct marketing.

Boyd Gaming, which operates IP-Biloxi and Tunica’s Sam’s Town, has been using B-Connected and B-Mobile, its loyalty programs in all of its casinos. It has now added B-Social, a program that interacts with social media, which best calls a huge value to the company.

“We wanted to add online and gaming component to social media. Gaming is very social activity,” said Best. “Behind the scenes is opportunity to capture customer information.”

B-Social allows customers to compete at games and earn social points and win points, prizes and badge, much like other games on Facebook. “We also reward them for certain online activities, such as booking room on line or sharing online content,” said Best, “The average Facebook user has 234 friends, so if you have a following of 10,000 customers.

That is a wide net to getting your message out there.”

Reaching that customer and connecting with their information is important in almost any business that requires marketing.

“With this world of online oversaturation, no business can wait to be found,” said Joe Stradinger, founder a Leadify, a social branding service in Jackson that he calls “a find engine.”

“We want to find people and influence their decisions or influence them to make new decision. The best way to do that is through media conversation.”

“Next time you do a contest or promotion, read that fine print,” said Best, “because they’re probably accessing some of your information.”

One drawback to exposing your company on social media is the negative experience.

“You sometime get detractors,” said Vincent Lentini, senior vice president of marketing at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Biloxi. “You have to react very tactfully.”

“If you let negative comments go, they fester and multiply and the reach can be substantial,” said Best. “People will wait to see how you handle it. We try to respond to negative comments with in 24 hours. It really does make a difference.

Sometimes it can turn into a positive thing.”

“There’s no turning your back on social media,” said Ryan Leeds, vice president of strategy at Masterminds. “If you don’t have an account, people are still talking about you.”

CHEATERS Casinos on the watch for thieves, cheats and scams

BY LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR lamontibsl@me.com BILOXI — The side of a casino operation familiar to most people is the one that aims to keep customers playing, entertained and well fed. On the other, less visible side is a full out effort to protect the casino’s bottom line by catching cheaters and fighting against fraud.

Panelists at last week’s Southern Gaming Summit session titled “Thieves, cheats and scams” detailed just a few of the ways criminals and crooked employees siphon off a casino’s profits.

Darrin Hoke, director of surveillance at L’Auberge Casino Resort in Lake Charles, La., warned attendees about a group based in New York City who have been running their bold scam since 2003.

“Any state that has roulette with a dealer has been hit,” Hoke said, including his own casino.

Here’s how the scam works: A player buys a $60 stack of non-value chips at $1 a piece, pockets some and then hands them off to an accomplice. Back at the table, the accomplice buys chips that are the same color but valued at $25 each and slips the $1 ones into the mix.

The scammer then cashes out what looks like a stack of $25 chips. The initial $60 buy in is now worth $1,500 or more, Hoke said. And the scam is often repeated three or four times during the visit.

“It’s a pretty prolific operation,” Hoke said.

“They’re out there still doing it.”

He said the gang members arrested on felony charges at his casino were deported to

the Dominican Republic.

“At the end of the day, I’m happy making their life miserable for trying to cheat the casino.”

But in reality, he said, “For every one caught, there are three times as many.”

It’s not just crooks coming into the casino, it’s sometimes bad employees who steal.

Panelist Andy Davis, director of surveillance for Treasure Bay Casino and Hotel, talked about the internal misuse of coupons, comps and hotel discount vouchers.

What Davis called “a fairly simple ploy” was uncovered when an audit team caught discrepancies in paperwork.

He described the scam this way: A guest pays cash for a hotel stay and the transaction is closed

out. An employee familiar with the customer database identifies a player who seldom if ever uses comps and edits the paperwork to make it look like that player stayed for free at the hotel. The employee then makes off with the cash that the actual guest paid.

A combination of auditing and surveillance at the hotel helped to stop the theft, Davis said.

Panelist Ben Koff, Southern regional director of marketing for Caesars Entertainment, talked about “exploitable gaps” around casino marketing, from the monthly mailers sent to gamblers to huge promotions such as a $1 million a day giveaway. To

See

CHEATS, Page 19

4 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013 REAL ESTATE / SHOPPING

District at Eastover construction to start later this year

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

A mixed-use development on the site of Jackson’s Old Blind School has confirmed tenants a few months before construction begins.

The District at Eastover will sit on Interstate 55 and be bordered by the Eastover and Fondren neighborhoods.

So far, a Residence Inn by Marriott, Community Trust Bank, Cantina Laredo restaurant, a movie theater, a main office building and 190 residential lofts will form the project’s perimeter.

Ted Duckworth and Breck Hines, principals of The District Land Development Co., bought the 23-acre parcel from the state last year. The project got a boost from Jackson officials this week when the city council approved a $7 million TIF package.

Construction, which will include demolishing an old house that once served as the Blind School’s director’s residence, is scheduled to start in about 90 days or so, Hines said. “We’ve always said that if we’re pushing dirt by late summer or early fall, we’ll be happy.”

Construction of Phase I – which will include the hotel, the restaurants, office building, bank, the lofts and possibly one or two other pieces — will take 12-15 months.

The rest of the project’s timetable will depend on finding the right tenants for the

Courtesy of Duckworth Realty and Nelson Partners

The District at Eastover will sit on Interstate 55 and be bordered by the Eastover and Fondren neighborhoods.

space. “And I don’t think we’ll have to wait long,” Hines said. “I think it’ll come together pretty much at the same time.”

The 585,000 square-foot project will include retail, office and residential space.

The project’s design was gleaned from similar developments in cities like Houston, Nashville and Dallas. “We’ve learned a lot from other successful projects, learned why they’re successful,” Hines said. “These

are restaurant concepts here that we think will be new to Jackson. Food has kind of gotten cool over the last 10 years. Chefs are See

EASTOVER, Page 29

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MBJPERSPECTIVE May 17, 2013 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 5

OUR VIEW

Online gaming in Mississippi a losing proposition

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Mississippi college freshman sits in his fraternity house room, locked into his laptop computer. It doesn’t matter which school. But what does matter is he has a credit card and Internet access. Only he knows, but he’s playing online poker from an illegal offshore site.

Nationwide, casino gambling is growing. A recent report from the American Gaming Association shows three straight years of growth have brought gross revenues nationwide almost back to pre-recession levels.

Of course, there are more casinos in areas that did not have casinos in 2007, so much of that growth can be attributed to the industry

casting a larger net. Now, that net is poised to explode to the Internet. Nevada has taken its gaming online. New Jersey and Delaware are likely next.

But much like the offshore casinos, what’s the regulation? Where are the laws that will keep Junior from gambling from his dorm room?

So what is the benefit of online gaming?

First, even if it reduced traffic at the brickand-mortar casinos, it would likely increase gross gaming revenue. Second, a regulated online casino would likely be more attractive to online gamblers than an overseas or illegal gaming site, thus, keeping Mississippi’s gaming

dollars in Mississippi.

During the recent Southern Gaming Summit in Biloxi, state lawmakers agreed that it’s difficult to pass legislation on “sin” issues. It’s just not going to happen in Mississippi, said one lawmaker.

States that enact online gaming will be allowed only to offer gaming with its borders.

But one state has suggested offering access if you visit their brick-and-mortar facility – then you could gamble back in your home, even if you’re in another state. Imagine the black market for those access codes.

See VIEW, Page 7

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» CHUCK MCINTOSH

» PERCOLATING

Taint of tyranny infecting our Medicaid standoff?

MELISSA KILLINGSWORTH Sr. Account Executive

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he dictionary defines tyranny as oppressive power exerted by government.

Founder Thomas Jefferson warned, “Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.”

Is a taint of tyranny infecting our Medicaid standoff?

Compare the Senate’s actions with those of the House and the governor.

Medicaid must be reauthorized this year. A bill to do so was introduced in the Senate. It included a section that could be amended to allow Medicaid expansion as envisioned by Obamacare. Sen. John Horhn’s amendment to expand Medicaid was defeated in committee. The full Senate passed the reauthorization bill 50 to 0. Lt. Gov. Tate Bill Crawford Reeves sent the bill to the House for consideration. No big deal.

A Medicaid reauthorization bill was introduced in the House. It did not include the section that could allow Medicaid expansion. When Speaker Philip Gunn stifled debate on expansion, House Democrats blocked reauthorization.

The Senate bill that included the amendable section arrived at the House. Gunn killed it along with the last chance to reauthorize Medicaid.

Denied the right to even debate Medicaid expansion, House Democrats then derailed funding for Medicaid. As a result, the Legislature adjourned without reauthorizing or funding Medicaid. The program will end June 30 unless Gov. Phil Bryant calls a special legislative session and something gets passed.

Now comes the governor saying he will not call a special session unless Democrats agree in advance to reauthorize See CRAWFORD, Page 7

PERSPECTIVE

6 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013 » RICKY NOBILE

» MIND OVER MONEY

Who’s laughing now?

Shopping in Pearl has a whole new meaning

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»FINANCIAL TIMES

Social security claiming strategies

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oday almost half of those filing for Social Security benefits do so at age 62, the earliest age to which the law makes eligible. Some choose to delay benefits and postpone using their retirement savings as an income source. Others apply out of necessity; their financial situation leaves them little choice.

Weighing everything involved, what are your thoughts to this matter? If you wait a few years to apply for Social Security, how much more income might you realize?

Could you wait until age 66? The Social Security Administration has made 66 the “full” retirement age for people born during 1943-1954. If you were born in this period and you apply for Social Security at age 62, you will reduce your retirement benefit by 25 percent and your spouse’s by 30 percent.

That alone might convince you to wait. But there are additional claiming strategies that may bring spouses much greater cumulative lifetime Social Security income.

It’s called a file & suspend strategy: This tactic positions a married couple to receive maximum Social Security benefits at age 70, with one spouse being able to claim some benefits at age 66.

Let’s use an example: Terry was born in 1947 and Teresa was born in 1951, so full retirement age is 66 for both of them. Terry files his claim for Social Security benefits at age 66, but then he elects to suspend his $2,000 monthly retirement benefit. Doing that clears the way for Teresa to get a $1,000 monthly spousal benefit when she reaches 66; she can do this by filing a restricted claim for spousal benefits only at that time.

So while some spousal benefits are rolling in, Terry and

Teresa have both elected to put off receiving their own Social Security benefits until age 70. That allows each of them to rack up delayed retirement credits (8 percent annually) between 66-70. So when Terry turns 70, he is eligible to collect an enhanced benefit: $2,640 per month instead of the $2,000 per month he would have reIke Trotter ceived at age 66. At 70, Teresa can switch from receiving the $1,000 monthly spousal benefit to collecting her enhanced benefits.

There are variations on a file and suspend strategy: For example, 66-year-old Terry could initially apply for Teresa’s spousal benefits as Teresa applies for her own benefits at 62.

Terry thereby gets $800 a month while Teresa receives her own reduced benefit of $1,200 a month. At 70, Terry foregoes getting the spousal benefit and switches to receiving his own enhanced benefit ($2,640 a month thanks to those delayed retirement credits). If Terry lives to age 83 and Teresa lives to age 90, their total lifetime Social Security benefits will be $1,043,520 under this strategy, as opposed to $840,600 if they each apply for benefits when they turn 62.

Widows can also use a variant on the file-and-suspend approach. As an example, Fran is set to receive $1,400 monthly from Social Security at age 66. Her husband dies when she is 60. She can get a widow’s benefit of $1,430 at 60, but instead she claims her own reduced benefit of $1,050 at age 62, then switches to a widow's benefit of $2,000 at 66 (her husband See TROTTER, Page 7

earl used to be the red-headed stepchild of the Jackson area. It had a stretch of Highway 80 littered with halfempty strip malls and fast food restaurants. In many cases, the neighborhoods were old and rundown.

We laughed when the town was mentioned. Puuhhrrrl? We always stretched out the one syllable and put on our best redneck accent when we said the name. When it came to the competition among the outlying towns, Pearl always Nancy Anderson seemed to be the one in last place.

No longer.

Pearl got a world-class baseball park a few years ago. They got a state-of-the-art movie theater. Now, they are breaking ground on an outlet mall. By Christmas, we’ll all be driving to Pearl to buy upscale Coach handbags.

Pearl is a lesson in the “turnaround.” A turnaround happens when a down-and-out contender beats expectations. It happens when someone with the will and the managerial skill steps in and makes something new out of the old sow’s ear. It happens when someone ignores popular opinion and just keeps turning around and going in another direction.

In business, turnarounds make great stories. A couple years ago, Netflix botched it with their customers and were threatened with extinction. This year, they are the darlings of Wall Street. Now, J.C. Penney is the dog.

Will they die a slow death or will they turn it around? Stay tuned. Turnarounds are contrarian plays. They are lessons in the danger of allowing old ideas and perceptions to turn into cement in our psyche.

Pearl has turned a corner, and we have stopped laughing. At the groundbreaking for the outlet mall, the mayor said, “Y’all see this smile? It’s hard for me to wipe it off my face.”

Puuhl. I’m practicing my best British accent when I say that now. The name has taken on a whole new meaning.

Pearl has turned a corner, and we have stopped laughing. At the groundbreaking for the outlet mall, the mayor said, “Y’all see this smile? It’s hard for me to wipe it off my face.”

Nancy Lottridge Anderson, Ph.D., CFA, is president of New Perspectives Inc. in Ridgeland — (601) 991-3158. She is also an assistant professor of finance at Mississippi College.

Her e-mail address is nanderson@newper.com, and her website is www.newper.com.

PERSPECTIVE

May 17, 2013 I Mississippi Business Journal

»VIEW FROM THE STENNIS INSTITUTE

CRAWFORD

Municipalities: Beachheads of opportunity

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n a recent Tuesday the streets of many of our municipalities were lined with fellow citizens and supporters of mayoral, aldermanic and council candidates waving signs and banners in behalf of their favorites. It was gratifying to see such an outpouring because in many of these towns the stakes are perhaps higher than they have ever been before.

As an observer of government in a democratic society it is always invigorating to watch local government elections unfold. If my memory serves me correctly it was French philosopher and student of all things American, Alexis de Tocqueville, who called this nation’s many small towns “tiny fountainheads of democracy.”

Reasons for being able to make this claim have appeared in this space recently. The over decade-long loss of population in rural areas has been clearly documented by census data. There is an unmistakable and growing trend of a population shift from rural areas to urban and suburban centers where higher paying jobs and a varied and higher quality of life are proving to be the draw. Now comes the good news that the departure of manufacturing beyond America’s shores is clearly reversing itself. Although a manufacturing renaissance is underway, the jobs that are returning are decidedly different from the jobs that departed.

The new industrialization is being driven by those who have skills in science, technology, engineering, math and the other highly technical disciplines.

What do these sets of circumstances have to do with the plight of Mississippi’s municipalities? Mississippi municipalities have it within them to act as beachheads of innovation – as counterweights to the current magnetism of urban centers. As such they can put the brakes on the rural brain drain.

Examples are growing in number. There is the modern Nissan manufacturing facility adjacent to the City of Madison and its award-winning residential and business environment. Similarly, the Toyota manufacturing plant is located in close proximity to Tupelo, New Albany and the University of Mississippi and its research units. Then there is continuing development on numerous fronts in the Golden Triangle with Mississippi State University as its anchor along with Starkville, Columbus and West Point. Hattiesburg is at the center of the dynamic growth in the Pine Belt region of South Mississippi.

Little, if any, of this growth and similar development in other areas of the state would have happened in the absence of, at times, tough decision-making by innovative local leadership. It has been demonstrated time and again that the biggest draws for business and industry are an exceptional quality of life, an increasingly high tech and highly trained workforce and access to the best of the best in communication and transportation.

Our university towns are given a leg up by being blessed with exceptional educational infrastructure. It is left for them to create

TROTTER

Continued from Page 6

would have received $2,000 monthly at age 66). By doing this, she positions herself to collect $112,000 more in lifetime benefits.

Postponement can also be used to enlarge survivor benefits. Let’s go back to Terry and Teresa: if they each start getting Social Security at 62, Teresa is looking at a $1,650 monthly survivor benefit if Bob passes away. But if Terry waits until 66 to claim his benefits, Teresa’s monthly survivor benefit would be $2,640.

the type of overall living environment that will enable these cities to compete in behalf of the state with the growing magnetism of urban life beyond the borders of Mississippi. It is these towns that attract the sons and daughters – the best and the brightest – from all of Mississippi’s 82 counties. It is up to these venues of knowledge to make the most of this critiMarty Wiseman cal mass of talent, and if they do so it will redound to the benefits of all those seeking employment and indeed to all Mississippians.

A number of other Mississippi municipalities have discovered their own “place based” solutions to grasping the future. The City of Madison has been in increasing demand for three decades.

The one largely responsible for nurturing that highly desirable city to its current position, Mayor Mary Hawkins-Butler, has just been re-elected to an unprecedented ninth term. A number of cities in Desoto County are competing in the quality of life sweepstakes with economic growth and increased property values as two of the prizes. Policymaker decisions focusing on health-related amenities such as bike paths, sidewalks, recreation facilities and the general appearance of these cities are setting them apart, and in so doing they collectively give Mississippi a chance to succeed where research says the growing urban and suburban areas have the upper hand.

Unfortunately, there are those towns which lack the resources, or in some cases, the will to answer the challenge. It will be up to them to redouble their efforts to seek the most innovative leadership possible. For these towns the stakes may be as great as survival itself.

With Mississippi being one of the most rural states in the country the challenge is clear. Decisions made within her engines of creativity and economic development – her cities and towns – will determine whether or not we succeed where the people are.

Just as there is a great deal of truth in the old Tip O’Neal saying that “all politics is local,” there is also wisdom in the comment that, in this rapidly changing age, “just being good enough is no longer good enough.”

Mayors, alderpersons, and council members have greater challenges before them than ever before. Those challenges are to advance the quality of life in your cities in every category of living. The competition is stiff and the best and brightest are mobile. They have many options from which to choose in living out their lives.

Dr. William Martin Wiseman is director of the John C. Stennis Institute of Government and professor of political science at Mississippi State University. Contact him at marty@sig.msstate.edu.

Details to note. The file-and-suspend strategy is only allowable if one spouse has reached full retirement age. In order for you to claim a spousal benefit, your husband or wife has to be getting Social Security benefits. Applying for Social Security before full retirement age with the idea that your spouse can collect spousal benefits at 62 has a drawback: you are reducing both of your lifetime retirement benefits.

Interestingly, only 29 percent of respondents in a 2012 AARP survey knew that waiting until age 70 to apply for Social Security would bring them their maximum monthly benefit. If you knew that, pat yourself on the back for being

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and fund Medicaid as he wants it.

Instead, he told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, he will personally take over the agency and run it without a legislative reauthorization or appropriation of matching funds.

“As head of the Governor’s Division of Medicaid, I will do all I can to continue to provide Medicaid to the citizens who qualify in the state of Mississippi,” said Bryant. “That is my legal argument. If someone wants to challenge me in court, what is their argument?”

There has been no indication that either the House or Senate has votes enough to pass Medicaid expansion if given the chance. Neither body could overturn a certain gubernatorial veto.

Why, then, the heavy hand oppressing House Democrats’ desire to debate the issue and the governor’s overt threat to takeover Medicaid?

Earlier the governor single-handedly killed the state insurance exchange developed by Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney that would have helped the uninsured gain coverage. Former Gov. Haley Barbour thought state controlled exchanges were good government.

Resistance to Medicaid expansion and Obamacare is one thing. Power plays that oppress free and open debate and good government are quite another, and display a taint liberty resists.

Founder Ben Franklin told us, “Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” Bill Crawford(crawfolk@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.

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The alternative to that would be federal legislation, which is what many states would like to see.

But Congress also does not seem interested in passing legislation, preferring to leave the issue up to the states.

So, as lawmakers continue to stick their heads in the beach sand, the gaming industry will continue to evolve online into some form of life.

Is online gaming good for Mississippi? Probably not. The state population base may not be big enough to generate enough revenue to offset monies it would lose in tourism at the 30 casinos around the state.

However, until someone establishes the rules of the game, it might be too dangerous not to legalize online gaming.

Either way, it could be a losing bet.

in that group, and consider the long-range financial merits of claiming your benefits years after age 62.6 It can very well put a lot more money in your pocket down the road.

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.

8 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013 March 2013 sales tax receipts/year to date, July 1 MISSISSIPPI STATE TAX COMMISSION Here are cities’ earnings through sales tax collections. Sales tax has a three-month cycle. Month 1 — Tax is collected by the retailer. Month 2 — Tax is reported/paid to the Tax Commission by the retailer.

Month 3 — Sales tax diversion is paid by the Tax Commission to the cities. This report is based on the month the tax is collected at the Tax Commission (Month 2).

March March Year to date YTD CITY 2012 2012 2013 2012 ABBEVILLE $4,214.28 $9,635.93 $39,035.32 $62,444.34 ABERDEEN 64,024.55 70,637.06 606,687.69 619,957.39 ACKERMAN 24,203.00 22,196.62 207,948.81 204,566.92 ALCORN STATE U 880.97 1,350.32 7,177.46 12,395.39 ALGOMA 2,179.98 1,897.55 17,922.51 56,757.30 ALLIGATOR 581.22 578.67 6,119.74 6,202.48 AMORY 152,795.01 157,460.18 1,375,200.18 1,395,011.20 ANGUILLA 2,383.24 3,987.05 26,053.56 30,831.70 ARCOLA 1,371.20 1,784.11 13,752.25 16,476.80 ARTESIA 750.12 865.46 7,833.38 9,996.56 ASHLAND 10,958.77 12,177.77 104,467.38 115,266.19 BALDWYN 45,268.04 43,920.62 408,515.55 405,385.65 BASSFIELD 11,536.08 11,383.52 108,640.53 111,867.81 BATESVILLE 311,419.46 317,709.82 2,867,529.82 2,833,285.96 BAY SPRINGS 46,512.73 50,342.49 450,188.14 446,612.45 BAY ST LOUIS 97,933.82 84,289.98 944,304.70 805,988.58 BEAUMONT 5,757.84 6,364.93 54,710.56 60,472.45 BEAUREGARD 269.23 187.13 2,161.18 1,847.75 BELMONT 22,939.51 21,374.07 201,907.80 195,497.91 BELZONI 41,581.93 47,665.43 409,729.70 392,168.11 BENOIT 7,139.25 6,429.75 58,189.88 61,207.80 BENTONIA 18,183.57 30,931.38 201,667.43 239,452.89 BEULAH 396.98 262.68 3,442.23 3,332.85 BIG CREEK 479.47 344.35 3,473.60 4,248.48 BILOXI 882,262.38 836,191.64 8,039,325.07 7,649,015.79 BLUE MOUNTAIN 8,307.69 9,958.45 79,146.52 82,826.29 BLUE SPRINGS 2,702.08 1,868.24 23,620.71 22,494.22 BOLTON 9,037.56 8,509.11 89,697.54 81,360.38 BOONEVILLE 150,927.62 151,374.81 1,330,405.30 1,306,751.89 BOYLE 10,586.38 12,740.37 126,001.32 118,409.65 BRANDON 375,580.74 384,009.67 3,724,297.74 3,598,452.52 BRAXTON 1,206.79 394.38 10,468.06 8,730.66 BROOKHAVEN 404,754.30 415,468.14 3,829,029.18 3,737,785.34 BROOKSVILLE 7,777.10 8,971.33 77,258.74 80,668.80 BRUCE 37,679.08 38,293.98 360,243.81 350,044.82 BUDE 9,587.34 8,670.79 91,634.48 86,047.84 BURNSVILLE 11,525.21 12,163.48 106,112.50 110,682.72 BYHALIA 58,029.41 60,610.80 524,233.79 526,217.00 BYRAM 140,864.11 138,608.19 1,389,548.54 1,244,371.27 CALEDONIA 10,122.17 10,050.74 100,570.02 98,993.30 CALHOUN CITY 27,305.19 26,341.96 218,348.13 221,682.55 CANTON 190,736.38 182,063.54 1,787,446.84 1,616,181.73 CARROLLTON 5,614.80 5,108.39 53,128.82 48,284.17 CARTHAGE 130,525.35 133,135.85 1,159,874.21 1,134,061.59 CARY 1,159.24 1,197.40 13,108.26 13,144.49 CENTREVILLE 18,715.26 17,847.00 166,628.56 169,000.53 CHARLESTON 27,056.33 29,221.41 253,651.27 252,651.75 CHUNKY 503.54 623.06 4,895.31 5,223.63 CLARKSDALE 254,567.61 266,268.81 2,091,981.35 2,087,960.00 CLEVELAND 288,213.91 325,578.53 2,548,405.21 2,675,167.04 CLINTON 371,169.82 355,481.56 3,309,542.36 3,103,779.05 COAHOMA 723.47 309.09 4,305.88 3,791.40 COAHOMA COLLEGE 313.02 2,095.68 2,327.67 COFFEEVILLE 10,859.08 10,174.29 94,310.54 103,559.50 COLDWATER 15,522.39 20,663.43 152,081.66 155,715.52 COLLINS 109,429.30 110,861.14 975,954.28 977,726.66 COLUMBIA 263,255.95 275,784.60 2,440,721.27 2,397,865.48 COLUMBUS 698,385.72 735,788.97 6,373,983.27 6,556,532.98 COMO 14,295.10 11,371.27 127,791.21 117,746.65 CORINTH 445,209.18 450,513.34 4,067,021.33 4,026,521.61 COURTLAND 1,156.04 1,426.36 11,740.66 12,389.38 CRAWFORD 1,020.47 1,161.84 11,206.36 9,838.99 CRENSHAW 4,388.99 5,113.13 43,759.85 45,235.47 CROSBY 792.52 1,267.67 8,932.84 10,406.88 CROWDER 1,442.39 1,995.96 15,677.20 17,430.38 CRUGER 829.49 509.19 5,350.45 5,867.72 CRYSTAL SPRINGS 50,930.35 52,259.71 462,437.75 467,889.39 D LO 2,804.62 2,902.65 27,317.99 27,982.85 D'IBERVILLE 474,174.23 475,756.51 4,397,489.80 4,239,144.56 DECATUR 12,898.08 12,555.22 106,310.21 111,743.84 DEKALB 20,451.97 20,041.91 179,265.90 186,256.25 DERMA 3,886.05 4,989.06 42,948.36 44,656.94 DIAMONDHEAD 35,126.07 34,571.51 348,624.84 34,571.51 DODDSVILLE 363.71 357.24 4,891.54 2,833.56 DREW 9,809.82 11,379.65 85,891.88 105,523.58 DUCK HILL 3,403.32 3,707.14 33,791.18 34,236.33 DUMAS 1,493.57 911.31 9,423.26 8,988.89 DUNCAN 1,804.33 941.68 10,686.18 5,521.92 DURANT 23,381.24 25,650.37 215,258.97 217,229.00 EAST MS COLLEGE 45.51 64.38 2,882.32 3,361.09 ECRU 11,534.35 11,388.90 99,594.53 97,372.31 EDEN 61.42 43.66 478.82 440.68 EDWARDS 5,622.04 4,910.49 52,636.70 47,400.36 ELLISVILLE 88,642.26 68,491.32 780,940.28 649,311.42 ENTERPRISE 5,222.10 4,616.19 45,803.65 45,511.77 ETHEL 1,248.94 588.80 10,206.56 12,194.91 EUPORA 31,112.77 34,731.35 311,084.79 333,139.99 FALCON 25.35 32.01 488.82 464.00 FARMINGTON 3,520.27 4,518.25 39,289.64 37,697.39 FAULKNER 3,546.97 2,371.45 30,956.92 30,564.45 FAYETTE 15,988.24 15,932.59 147,669.32 145,964.16 FLORA 23,829.76 25,077.57 245,256.71 234,215.71 FLORENCE 64,031.09 57,826.04 535,137.44 505,726.59 FLOWOOD 768,659.67 805,279.43 7,692,803.57 7,540,283.81 FOREST 192,657.12 188,474.61 1,548,476.51 1,553,995.83 FRENCH CAMP 1,033.42 1,456.91 8,441.26 14,917.26 FRIARS POINT 2,438.02 2,906.42 21,560.96 21,817.62

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

115,184.49 124.69 180,006.95 3,336.78 1,709.97 269.32 11,082.00 4,138.03 3,436.14 539,419.08 391,067.52 349,043.89 1,538,572.45 900.77 14,680.46 407.48 1,715,904.62 103,171.22 36,190.60 214,081.55 3,683.27 5,849.87 685.98 13,880.33 97,292.48 310,169.43 8,770.84 80,264.82 163,536.28 8,910.59 1,316.77 12,258.29 59,313.22 2,572,741.41 3,772.45 675.44 5,637.59 171,400.48 3,057.33 5,680.92 4,257.93 783,821.11 23,801.42 440.42 35,220.58 1,765.48 35,696.05 17,967.50 121,496.38 2,368.39 873.66 141,611.41 166,026.88 3,376.61 14,190.14 5,638.06 5,943.84 47,931.60 455,718.28 160,177.50 34,193.86 14,674.73 2,441.58 3,950.04 16,911.30 19,537.57 14,759.58 671.18 458,656.11 428.83 5,786.93 11,201.48 45,468.09 1,183,631.91 6,616.74 1,191.53 15,314.32 36,439.34 167.39 9,382.32 572.55 40,149.63 130,999.33 5,403.39 775.53 21,262.56 348.17 8,072.88 4,025.19 453,681.78 21,171.96 228,471.04 14,401.21 6,910.73 84,400.06 2,717.86 8,572.81 5,766.76 355,014.41 24,918.02 590,436.23 4,418.69 547,808.59 580.84 1,791.06 147.08

118,983.66 92.32 171,087.39 3,375.81 1,403.29 198.57 10,061.83 4,383.75 3,465.56 563,684.74 413,372.90 339,010.31 1,547,989.08 545.85 14,663.75 866.78 1,758,180.34 105,298.98 35,931.79 211,939.69 4,066.67 5,160.27 513.38 14,918.44 97,344.11 311,782.51 10,174.04 95,502.48 176,418.79 7,584.77 1,187.11 12,473.26 61,722.72 2,689,340.33 3,646.20 1,070.20 4,721.77 175,988.09 3,674.93 6,272.63 3,297.87 747,531.68 21,409.58 600.07 37,957.38 1,414.35 37,410.60 16,659.14 103,076.71 2,013.97 1,075.46 137,366.43 152,152.77 3,480.55 14,604.28 2,421.75 6,343.04 47,685.68 439,533.07 172,876.35 33,714.92 13,935.22 2,440.74 4,275.12 14,663.22 20,588.25 14,316.43 450.82 456,798.65 645.45 5,701.73 9,482.72 42,402.96 1,200,674.79 7,045.08 1,093.55 9,795.09 37,627.28 169.57 9,764.57 562.46 39,409.46 118,754.17 3,654.05 347.06 33,502.70 684.87 8,421.35 3,130.97 440,182.32 21,761.73 225,507.82 14,494.09 6,032.77 84,862.45 2,774.13 8,099.61 6,182.23 354,566.81 24,231.08 574,274.00 5,936.99 535,092.74 531.87 1,612.35 130.06

1,057,158.62 1,150.09 1,640,332.53 31,907.25 14,756.38 3,027.28 99,888.87 38,722.89 31,469.56 4,710,393.67 3,279,219.51 2,990,845.85 14,307,057.64 6,849.19 135,565.22 4,971.88 15,651,182.46 936,393.37 309,967.23 2,102,147.95 35,314.67 52,756.44 6,180.30 128,186.14 879,841.13 2,887,909.58 72,635.38 741,255.09 1,375,186.14 53,391.77 15,205.86 105,555.48 585,231.39 23,475,387.82 33,999.02 7,247.85 52,492.28 1,488,140.61 33,318.15 60,620.43 30,691.55 6,791,139.86 209,421.04 4,039.51 382,947.84 14,977.92 329,660.18 169,812.93 990,480.74 21,291.68 8,995.69 1,288,085.33 1,437,064.72 29,555.25 129,908.72 52,492.16 56,682.65 440,979.46 4,445,240.46 1,457,205.74 309,414.07 145,033.12 24,998.88 41,878.30 144,940.59 175,732.87 136,719.75 5,168.08 3,953,048.68 4,586.22 51,897.44 92,932.70 433,699.77 10,678,734.99 62,065.49 9,980.62 110,253.15 340,247.74 4,058.79 80,459.18 5,378.77 346,104.58 1,179,362.87 42,770.82 5,360.41 221,829.57 6,925.49 73,278.12 34,040.71 3,958,303.11 207,597.11 2,069,488.42 136,646.00 64,864.74 764,866.99 26,168.33 83,250.01 51,728.41 3,339,221.40 219,217.45 5,548,649.17 48,796.79 5,130,330.06 5,108.52 16,328.60 1,420.64

1,049,344.19 1,203.68 1,623,580.76 31,595.54 14,648.75 3,601.21 104,352.90 42,063.57 34,400.30 4,627,603.99 3,290,592.53 2,949,130.45 14,049,765.82 6,428.98 136,974.76 9,195.74 15,191,513.92 920,855.79 329,751.36 1,968,030.89 36,475.68 52,603.71 6,491.86 135,970.63 854,170.53 2,861,896.40 77,884.22 755,344.97 1,428,737.00 55,869.29 19,897.65 101,625.73 553,961.25 23,415,232.88 35,886.33 7,897.00 50,043.27 1,467,921.54 33,276.02 58,057.06 26,461.09 6,597,316.56 202,587.91 6,298.99 327,669.99 14,641.50 332,151.43 167,076.11 953,600.72 30,930.00 11,109.38 1,253,595.43 1,371,007.86 27,336.07 208,436.70 27,290.18 59,635.75 443,550.99 4,024,040.35 1,452,332.42 300,522.95 138,737.30 22,529.78 43,543.20 136,791.94 178,592.28 143,384.03 4,754.35 3,859,231.17 5,944.83 53,110.63 91,460.07 423,180.25 10,363,151.15 60,567.36 10,593.32 127,213.18 342,642.44 5,470.22 78,093.94 5,667.51 350,137.29 1,186,470.65 36,158.80 4,049.84 241,058.67 9,027.29 81,721.22 32,145.01 3,869,678.29 212,956.88 1,978,694.13 134,525.24 61,768.84 747,600.60 27,725.86 76,293.44 52,966.90 3,176,581.24 211,621.41 5,260,009.96 51,980.47 4,892,265.86 5,683.11 15,400.99 1,317.22

PASCAGOULA 452,686.70 442,607.88 3,953,462.48 3,844,686.53 PASS CHRISTIAN 87,471.20 86,661.18 816,475.47 788,518.84 PAULDING 120.07 91.13 1,004.91 1,423.43 PEARL 662,188.70 667,579.47 6,080,161.16 5,969,033.14 PELAHATCHIE 22,886.61 21,134.44 231,913.60 216,811.93 PETAL 176,775.64 183,186.73 1,600,758.44 1,575,392.34 PHILADELPHIA 322,364.06 320,677.15 2,823,870.96 2,801,451.83 PICAYUNE 332,571.11 323,118.81 3,044,139.74 2,965,105.94 PICKENS 6,818.06 7,471.37 69,606.83 74,453.33 PITTSBORO 345.40 250.86 3,944.41 3,857.45 PLANTERSVILLE 3,798.75 3,513.09 32,844.18 35,692.04 POLKVILLE 498.51 206.85 3,542.72 3,953.88 PONTOTOC 180,062.58 183,722.72 1,618,423.53 1,619,181.97 POPE 3,582.27 3,161.76 34,212.64 32,017.88 POPLARVILLE 50,790.98 45,995.20 455,559.25 452,512.93 PORT GIBSON 19,873.91 20,023.11 177,365.72 181,727.73 POTTS CAMP 7,132.19 7,354.14 75,991.64 72,478.52 PRENTISS 39,486.89 34,028.97 315,506.60 309,616.93 PUCKETT 9,821.54 8,046.98 78,173.32 69,702.37 PURVIS 54,817.19 55,992.17 505,771.87 461,060.43 QUITMAN 42,193.73 45,033.99 386,604.58 388,468.55 RALEIGH 15,898.66 17,425.37 145,879.96 161,255.56 RAYMOND 15,215.63 14,800.56 144,272.16 148,563.28 RENOVA 3,052.85 2,690.39 24,536.38 24,805.79 RICHLAND 341,917.43 326,351.04 3,371,276.27 3,107,876.16 RICHTON 24,364.55 23,456.21 232,076.93 210,554.33 RIDGELAND 1,026,785.25 937,021.93 8,988,650.06 8,561,594.68 RIENZI 2,575.35 2,098.23 23,180.56 25,025.93 RIPLEY 97,024.01 102,972.42 901,588.90 862,943.06 ROLLING FORK 32,889.41 28,018.91 310,879.40 272,260.96 ROSEDALE 10,420.34 9,718.23 90,653.51 88,619.15 ROXIE 1,726.20 1,094.16 12,942.25 12,627.14 RULEVILLE 19,363.02 17,710.81 169,217.68 160,127.51 SALLIS 2,212.05 2,012.99 19,965.63 17,833.85 SALTILLO 48,337.25 51,962.91 534,030.34 482,045.70 SANDERSVILLE 58,380.45 81,068.56 585,776.24 476,916.83 SARDIS 25,053.25 25,949.78 218,484.39 245,269.75 SATARTIA 431.79 293.97 3,758.12 3,159.09 SCHLATER 837.92 697.47 8,542.07 7,978.36 SCOOBA 5,350.06 5,362.42 57,043.19 52,766.65 SEBASTAPOL 18,249.16 13,911.35 136,084.75 125,986.41 SEMINARY 10,327.28 9,839.68 97,710.30 101,244.26 SENATOBIA 162,579.55 160,232.02 1,380,233.95 1,361,129.18 SHANNON 11,552.11 12,943.66 126,560.26 119,016.69 SHAW 6,288.96 5,519.10 56,027.45 59,443.44 SHELBY 9,532.06 8,566.29 88,022.10 88,734.50 SHERMAN 13,584.46 9,495.84 101,737.96 97,569.05 SHUBUTA 3,370.70 3,105.61 31,380.38 31,841.21 SHUQUALAK 1,989.25 1,442.16 16,680.36 17,423.67 SIDON 881.95 679.22 7,141.80 6,990.32 SILVER CITY 483.40 342.26 3,540.82 3,341.54 SILVER CREEK 2,838.87 2,450.08 25,907.78 26,388.42 SLATE SPRINGS 247.01 300.99 2,843.35 3,256.36 SLEDGE 1,589.93 1,288.88 13,768.84 14,249.76 SMITHVILLE 5,248.84 4,921.47 49,293.35 40,532.84 SNOWLAKESHORES 116.74 133.20 1,137.06 1,256.00 SOSO 11,609.52 9,552.99 124,243.06 103,244.51 SOUTHAVEN 1,014,502.61 1,049,778.93 9,321,020.37 9,231,508.56 SOUTHWEST COMM 28.12 371.11 1,591.21 3,405.86 STARKVILLE 475,222.71 479,482.34 4,242,418.79 4,149,012.27 STATE LINE 9,936.10 7,796.13 77,724.69 75,520.37 STONEWALL 6,903.05 5,434.14 59,047.14 50,243.08 STURGIS 2,175.76 2,179.35 34,269.63 24,825.33 SUMMIT 27,160.67 24,948.79 268,953.55 265,205.92 SUMNER 7,321.24 2,634.00 38,734.18 33,558.14 SUMRALL 36,774.93 31,022.56 314,538.99 301,596.61 SUNFLOWER 1,295.54 2,095.35 17,751.11 19,470.94 SYLVARENA 206.65 257.52 2,686.23 2,686.50 TAYLOR 1,908.65 1,793.76 16,804.51 17,931.70 TAYLORSVILLE 23,394.69 21,831.11 219,771.84 217,295.32 TCHULA 6,412.69 7,112.38 62,721.38 58,808.52 TERRY 24,874.62 20,009.83 217,132.89 217,953.78 THAXTON 2,862.51 2,365.85 26,312.33 25,791.00 TISHOMINGO 7,606.84 7,999.48 73,067.47 74,956.71 TOCCOPOLA 550.78 395.03 5,069.94 4,531.94 TOWN OF WALLS 2,244.07 1,934.06 28,482.27 26,710.59 TREMONT 1,700.19 1,210.44 15,262.49 13,412.04 TUNICA 45,359.05 44,288.50 368,384.31 370,859.05 TUPELO 1,411,617.91 1,513,494.57 13,338,056.48 13,220,314.90 TUTWILER 3,551.42 3,522.97 34,152.37 46,721.75 TYLERTOWN 50,797.96 50,965.32 477,409.94 481,001.88 UNION 28,850.67 29,125.21 258,739.01 274,057.20 UNIV OF MISS 17,306.58 28,570.02 327,422.10 305,549.09 UTICA 10,389.40 11,022.82 104,496.35 104,009.49 VAIDEN 8,404.58 8,629.47 92,146.29 96,578.21 VARDAMAN 9,008.65 7,663.23 93,355.63 81,740.24 VERONA 21,517.11 17,682.73 176,658.70 160,603.68 VICKSBURG 644,379.59 714,054.36 5,640,610.98 5,635,602.20 WALNUT 15,572.40 15,123.90 146,892.44 182,941.86 WALNUT GROVE 6,633.77 5,903.88 59,397.07 53,319.10 WALTHALL 1,571.50 2,041.05 16,274.24 17,857.50 WATER VALLEY 36,562.92 36,782.75 351,190.97 351,351.69 WAVELAND 167,862.50 166,776.27 1,580,561.55 1,537,024.19 WAYNESBORO 170,191.33 171,510.37 1,523,360.98 1,501,025.32 WEBB 7,015.73 6,964.37 69,292.43 76,472.73 WEIR 2,232.27 1,935.43 20,998.12 21,438.33 WESSON 16,731.69 12,815.54 130,093.42 129,545.15 WEST 1,253.76 1,555.18 13,514.65 15,056.15 WEST POINT 169,383.36 179,398.75 1,571,984.00 1,551,666.77 WIGGINS 133,818.51 138,712.39 1,241,414.87 1,205,399.80 WINONA 82,503.43 85,999.58 776,970.35 763,243.45 WINSTONVILLE 830.97 719.34 3,423.99 5,809.53 WOODLAND 6,632.06 4,809.73 50,008.38 48,182.08 WOODVILLE 25,558.45 22,012.86 234,431.10 228,291.96 YAZOO CITY 140,451.97 154,819.90 1,320,485.24 1,289,937.70 TOTAL $32,319,209.93 $32,646,694.06 $295,074,154.73 $288,330,193.04

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10 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013

ENERGY

Mississippi’s Tuscaloosa Marine Shale showing promise as a Texas wannabe Look for economic transformation » Drillers’ enthusiasm grows as production costs and state taxes drop

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

Mississippi’s leaders expect a parade of oil drillers to converge on the southwest corner of the state and are happy to cover the cost of striking up the marching music.

When a potential to fill seven billion barrels awaits, let’s get cracking, they say.

So far, state officials are getting the answer they wanted when they extended a lucrative tax break to energy production companies prepared to drill horizontal wells more than 10,000 feet below ground to reach what is known as the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS). The expectation is to extract Texas-size amounts of oil and liquid natural gas drillers have known about for decades but only in recent years EDITOR’S NOTE have perfected a cost-effective hy» Read next week’s Missis- draulic fracturing technique that frees the oil and gas from the sippi Business Journal for a look at water-use issues sur- shale deposits in which it has been rounding development of the trapped for eons.

Houston’s Goodrich PetroTuscaloosa Marine Shale and leum is as close to fully commitfor an examination of how ting to the TMS play as a the TMS may change life in company gets without an outright Southwest Mississippi. declaration. “In all, it is shaping up to be a busy and exciting time in the TMS during the summer and into the fall of 2013,” said Walter ‘Gil’ Goodrich, company CEO and vice chairman, in a first quarter earnings report last month.

“We have recently spud [started] our next operated TMS well, the Smith 5-29-1, and plan to drill at least three additional operated wells in 2013,” Goodrich said.

Mississippi legislators revved up the enthusiasm of Goodrich Petroleum and counterparts such as Canadabased Encana in this year’s session with a severance tax cut that drops the levy on oil and gas extractions by 80 percent.

Goodrich Petroleum says the drop in tax payments on oil and liquid gas extracted from its wells will further enhance a bottom line that has been helped by the company’s progress in lowering the per-well cost to around $13 million.

Walter Goodrich called the severance tax reduction from 6 percent to 1.3 percent for the next five years “a very significant improvement in the economics of the earlytime wells.”

In the earnings a report, Goodrich emphasized to investors that Mississippi “is very much focused on the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale, very much hoping and expecting it to become a full-fledged play with lots of activity that can bring business in and, in particular, jobs back to the state of Mississippi.”

Encana estimates the 80 percent state tax cut will save it $700,000 to $800,000 “of additional cash flow” for each well it puts into operation after July 1. Encana has six deep ground horizontal wells in the TMS and plans two more in the current quarter, though presumably the company would delay the new wells in order to qualify for the reduction in severance taxes.

“This five-year program supports the pursuit of commerciality by positively impacting Encana’s economics for the emerging Tuscaloosa Marine Shale play,” said the com-

to set in once TMS profitability questions answered

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

90-degree turn, rock fractures key to successful fracking Eric Smith has a pair of simple answers to why hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is held in such favor today by an energy industry that has known of the technique for capturing a wider swath of oil for decades, including periods of severe worldwide petroleum shortages.

One is that drillers have figured out how to do fracking without it costing the moon. Second, says Smith, associate director of the Tulane University Energy Institute: “With $100 oil you can do it all day and make money.”

So how, exactly, do you do it?

Think of an oil well as a vertical bore hole, Smith says. This way you’re done once you’ve drilled and exhausted whatever is at the bottom of the bore, he says.

“But if I can make a 90-degree turn and drill out to shale for a mile, instead of 100 feet exposed to shale (oil bearing rock) I have 500 feet.”

The problem is that the oil is trapped in the shale. To extract it, Smith says, “You use high pressure water (as well as sand and chemicals) that is forced into the well bore. It creates tiny fractures.”

As drillers reduce pressure, the oil (and in some instances liquefied natural gas) seeps out.

Put simply, Smith explains, “Instead of looking for the oil that has managed to seep up and somehow get caught in the sandstone traps, we’re now drilling into the source rock.”

– By Ted Carter pany created through the merger of PanCanadian Energy Corp. and Alberta Energy Co. Ltd. in 2002.

Encana and Goodrich are among a handful of companies already working the deep horizontal wells in the 2.7 million acre TMS. Also active in the region are Devon Energy Corp. of Oklahoma City, Denbury Resources of Plano, Texas; Indgo Minerals and EOG Resources, both of Houston.

See

SHALE, Page 11

Always alert to the pitfalls of overstatement, economic development executives resist the term “transformative.”

They reserve the adjective for developments that have already achieved momentous economic importance or ones that are about to.

You can put the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale play into the “about to” column, according to Manning McPhillips, chief administrative officer for the Mississippi Development Authority, who said if drilling in the counties of Amite, Wilkinson and Pike follows the pattern set by the multi-county Eagle Ford shale oil trend in Southeast Texas, Southwest Mississippi could see a several billion-dollar annual impact and creation of tens of thousands of jobs in support of the drilling.

“We feel it will be really transformative for Southwest Mississippi,” McPhllips said in an interview this week. “It doesn’t appear that way in Mississippi because it is not there yet.”

Don’t look for an official timeframe, says Jack Moody, a former oil field geologist and now program director of the MDA’s Office of Mineral Leasing.

“Each company is kind of conducting its own experiments,” he said.

The companies compete in the market “but are pretty good about sharing their drilling and completion techniques,” Moody added. “Everybody knows they aren’t there yet. They are after the common goal. The all want to crack this nut.”

Transformation has indeed come to the small towns and rural areas around the country where the nut has been cracked — essentially advancing to the point of profitable extraction of oil and gas through hydraulic fracturing.

“What we have seen in other plays around the United States — whether it is North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Ohio or Texas — is an enormous impact,” the MDA’s McPhillips said.

The Eagle Ford shale region takes in 14 counties near the Gulf of Mexico west of Houston. The economic transformation happening there is occurring across a vastly larger stage and some differences exist in the characteristics of the Texas and Mississippi shale regions, says Karen Bishop of the MDA’s Energy and Natural Resources Division.

Eagle Ford’s development is also much further along.

Nonetheless, Bishop said many professionals familiar with both regions have noted that of active shale plays, “The Eagle Ford is probably the best comparison to what we could expect from the TMS.” That would be enormous, according to an economic impact study of Eagle Ford completed in 2012 by the University of Texas-San Antonio’s Center for Business and Community Research. Based on a scenario that reflects only “moderate” changes in the number of oil fields and rigs and changes in productivity, the study projects that by 2021 the Eagle Ford region should see a $62 billion impact, 82,645 new jobs and See

TMS, Page 11

May 17, 2013

SHALE

Continued from Page 10

Drilling of each deep well so far has run from $11 million to $20 million.

Encana — which led the pack with 290,000 acres leased in Mississippi midway through 2012 — has decreased its drilling costs from around $20 million to $17 million a well, said spokesman Doug Hock. That cost is expected to go even lower, he added.

“We’re budgeting an average cost of approximately $15 million per well for the year,” he said. “This is related to technical changes and gaining an understanding of how to most efficiently access the resource.”

Encana is “gaining confidence in the potential of the play as it nears commerciality,” the company said in its first quarter earnings report.

The state tax cut applies to oil and gas extracted from horizontally drilled wells for a period of 30 months or until the payout of the well, a term used to mean that the oil and gas drilled by the well equals the cost of the well. The legislation applies to all qualified horizontally drilled wells between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2018 Just how much the lowered taxes will cost Mississippi in revenues is unclear. Much would depend on the level and pace of new horizontal drilling. The money the drillers pay at the 1.3 percent rate will go to the counties in which the drillings is done.

Mississippi takes in around $80 million annually in oil and gas severance taxes, with the oil severance tax accounting for the bulk of the tax revenue at about $67.5 million.

Oil and gas experts say the TMS situated in Southwest Mississippi and Southeast Louisiana is at depths of 11,000 to 15,000 feet but modern drilling techniques make the extraction more affordable and effective than in the past. The quantity of oil and gas that can be removed from the TMS is uncertain but energy companies are betting it is substantial, with industry estimates putting daily production for each well at 1,000 barrels.

Goodrich, for example, last year announced test results for the Encana Anderson 17H-1 well (in which it owns a 5 percent working interest), in Amite County, of 1,082 barrels of crude oil equivalent per day, said Charlotte Batson of shale oil industry consulting firm Batson & Co. in a study done last June on behalf of Amite, Wilkinson and Pike counties.

“Enhancing its attractiveness to the industry is the fact that the hydrocarbons present are of good quality (called “sweet”) that are likely to obtain a premium price at market,” Charlotte Batson said.

Batson’s conclusion: Shale oil plays such as the TMS will be the global epicenter of the oil industry for years to come.

State officials are wagering that Batson is correct, chief among them Gov. Phil Bryant, who predicted in a press statement last week the Tuscaloosa development will be one of the “most active shale plays in the United States.”

In the meantime, Bryant is letting the oil and gas sector know Mississippi expects to be among the “most competitive states in the nation when it comes to attracting companies that explore and develop shale plays.”

The prospect of an economic bonanza led Bryant to make the cut in the severance tax part of his Energy Works: Mississippi’s Energy Roadmap plan.

While the so-called “sweet spot” of the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale play is said to be in the Mississippi counties of Amite, Wilkinson and a speck of Pike, Bryant and legislative leaders designed the measure to stay competitive with neighboring Louisiana, which is home to a portion of the TMS that lies across the Mississippi River and in the parishes below the Mississippi counties.

Louisiana has designed a severance tax on horizontal drilling wells that does not kick in until the company recoups its cost of drilling the well or for a period of 24 months, whichever comes first. After the two years or recouping of production costs, the tax on horizontal drilling extractions reverts to the state’s standard 12.5 percent.

While Louisiana gave up $125.3 million through the tax break in 2010, it gained $367.7 million, according to a study by Louisiana State University economist Loren Scott. The study concluded that for every dollar the state sacrificed through the tax incentive, it received $2.49 in revenue.

State Rep. Bobby Moak, a veteran legislator who represents Southwest Mississippi, said he views the tax break as a worthwhile trade off to bring prosperity to a region largely devoid of other industries. “Where do the drillers go? Louisiana or Mississippi? I think that was one of the reasons for the legislation,” he said in an interview this week.

He said he doesn’t think anyone knows for sure whether the resources deep below ground can be profitably mined. “This is one of those things — do you take a shot at it? Is it going to work out economically in the best interest of the counties? I think that remains a little to be seen.”

Mississippi Development Authority geologist and oil industry veteran Jack Moody is not entirely exaggerating when he talks of the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale region having Texas-size potential. He cites geological similarities between the multi-billion-dollar South Texas Eagle Ford play and the TMS, noting nature deposited the oil and gas in both locations about the same time and both are in regions close to the Gulf of Mexico.

The theory is that there could be a continuous band of shale oil and gas running from the Eagle Ford east to the TMS. “Wells are being drilled to test that hypothesis,” said Moody, program director of the MDA’s Office of Mineral Leasing.

The University of Texas-San Antonio Center for Community and Business Research put the 2011 economic impact of the 14-county Eagle Ford drilling operations at $25 billion and 47,079 jobs supported.

“The formations in Eagle Ford are a bonafide proven up-and-running shale play,” Moody said. “The Tuscaloosa is a wannabe.

“And it’s doing well in its efforts to become. When it grows up it would like to be Eagle Ford and the progress we’ve seen makes you hopeful they can do it.”

For Energy companies such as Goodrich, Encana and Devon, the play involves more than just finding oil, Moody noted. “The idea is not to find oil. The idea is to make money finding oil. In this game there is a very big difference.

“We’re on the verge of getting there.”

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

11

Figure 11. Oil and Gas Permits to Drill by Year 2009-2011 County Amite Pike Wilkinson Region Total

2009 1 1 13 15

2010 7 4 15 26

2011 7 6 19 32

2012 (1st Qtr.) 9 3 10 22

Total 24 14 57 95

Source: Mississippi Oil and Gas Board

TMS

Continued from Page 10

revenues of $890,000 to local governments and $1.6 billion to state government.

Supply-chain in place, opportunities ahead Like many parts of Texas, Southwest Mississippi has a history in the oil and gas businesses. Over the decades, the region has built up a supply-chain infrastructure that should serve it well as shale oil and gas production ramps up, energy sector experts say.

“One of the advantages Mississippi and Louisiana have is a fair amount of infrastructure. It’s all over the place,” said Eric Smith, associate director of the Tulane Energy Institute.

Smith calls it “a gathering system,” such as pipelines, refining capacities and people who have worked rigs — assets you would not find in shale plays in, say, New York state.

Charlotte Batson, principal of New Orleans energy sector consulting firm Batson & Co., has divided the opportunities ahead for Southwest Mississippi’s into “Upstream, Midstream and Downstream.”

Upstream takes in the supply-chain that supplies the exploration and drilling activity and includes a variety of items, from heavy equipment to instrumentation to chemicals, said Batson.

Batson detailed the three categories as part of a study of infrastructure needs and economic opportunities the TMS development could create for Amite, Wilkinson and Pike counties.

Upstream, she said, also includes “opportunities for local businesses.” For this, she listed everything from drilling equipment, mud and cement to restaurants, RV parks, grocery stores, dry cleaning services and movie theaters.

Midstream, she said, takes in the part of the supply chain used for the processing and gathering of the gas and oil and transportation network used to get the products to market. The transport is from the wellhead to downstream processing facilities and end users, according to Batson.

“Southwest Mississippi is located at the confluence of the largest pipeline networks in the country, with access to all petrochemical and refining facilities, export terminals, rail, the Mississippi River, the Port of Natchez (which recently announced an expansion to handle increasing cargoes of frac sand), and other important infrastructure,” Batson said in her 400plus page report titled “Best Practices in Shale Oil and Gas Development.”

The abundance of natural gas in the North and Midwest has led to a flipping of pipeline directions,

causing increased volumes of oil and gas to be moved south to Gulf coast terminals. “Increasingly, capacity is available in northbound pipelines, creating an opportunity for the right company,” Batson said.

The downstream part of the supply chain includes the processing of oil or gas into gasoline, chemicals, liquefied natural gas (LNG), polymers, or plastics, Batson said, predicting the United States is positioned to become a low-cost leader in chemical manufacturing, especially for products in which natural gas is a feedstock.

“Southwest Mississippi’s location in the middle of one of the largest transportation corridors in the U.S. is a critical factor for petrochemical facilities, nearly all of which are located on or very near these lines,” she said.

Waiting for the light to change You can already see signs around McComb and other parts of Southwest Mississippi that the status quo is about to get knocked for a loop. J. Britt Herrin, director of the Pike County Economic Development District, has been watching it unfold for some time now.

“We’re already seeing pretty much our hotel rooms are full,” he said. “I had a prospect come in and I had trouble getting him a room during the week. The restaurants are slap full.

“Everyday if I go by the WalMart lot or Applebees, I see a different truck with ‘XYZ Energy’ or something like that on it.

Speaking of trucks — drivers for them are probably going to be the most in demand once the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale region goes into development, Herrin said.

“Everything has got to be moved – sometimes thousands of barrels a day,” he said.

“Studies show it takes 2,500 truck movements to get a deep ground hydraulic fracturing well up and running and 1,000 movements of trucks a week to support the operations of the well once it is going.”

New jobs across all occupations on both the Mississippi and Louisiana sides of the TMS play could number anywhere from 30,000 to 90,000, according to reports Herrin says he has received from the oil and gas companies. “One is the low number and one is the high number,” he said. “The jobs will be spread from Alexandria, La., to Tylertown, Miss.”

Herrin figures for now the energy companies are weighing their bottom lines and asking just where and how they can be sure of making money. “They are going to know the answers. And when that happens, all hell is going to break loose.”

But it will break loose in a good way, he adds.

12 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013

CONSTRUCTION

Storm of complaints » Offensive launched against bogus contractors

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

JACKSON — A new anti-contractor fraud campaign is underway with a two-fold goal — educate Mississippi consumers on the best practices when choosing a contractor, particularly in the wake of a natural disaster, and give would-be bogus contractors a stern warning that preying on vulnerable homeowners will not be tolerated.

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, our phones just lit up. We were swamped with complaints,” said Stephanie Sills Lee, executive director of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors (MSBOC). “This campaign is aimed at being proactive; to stop bogus activity before it occurs.”

Lee and Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood recently made public the new awareness program. The fact the announcement came as the state recovers from some recent natural disasters is no coincidence, according to Hood.

“Mississippi has been hit hard by storms in 2013, everything from tornadoes to hailstorms, causing an increase in out-of-state contractors moving to the state looking for work,” Hood said. “Many of these contractors are unlicensed or fraudulent.”

Lee said the MSBOC has yet to receive many complaints from storm events in early 2013 such as the tornados in South Mississippi, metro Jackson hailstorm in April and coastal flooding this month. But, she expects it.

“We’re still in the honeymoon phase with these events,” Lee said, explaining that construction work, by and large, has not yet in full swing in the storm-hit areas. “As the process moves forward — when contractors begin work or are expected to begin work — that’s when I expect to see complaints pick up.”

The new push represents a frontal assault against fraudulent building activity.

The MSBOC has regulatory oversight of contractors, while the Attorney General’s

SMART

Office serves as the law enforcement arm with authority to press charges.

“That’s why we are joining forces with the Board of Contractors to send the message that we are united in our fight against crooked contractors,” said Hood.

A conviction for home repair fraud could result in up to 10 years in prison. In a joint release, the Attorney General’s Office and the MSBOC said they “intend to prosecute, to the fullest extent of the law, anyone caught committing home repair fraud.”

Historically, the building scams have taken many forms, and consumers and officials are reporting much the same this year. For instance, residents in areas of greater Jackson that saw hailstones up to softball size in March report a steady stream of roofers knocking on their door.

They are also receiving cold calls from companies who say they have had trucks in their neighborhood and saw that the home needs a new roof.

This activity is not a definitive sign that a contractor is fraudulent, but it is a reason to think twice, Lee said. She added that other activity could be a dead giveaway that the contractor is not legit.

“The other day, we had an elderly woman call,” Lee said. “She had agreed to have her home repaired with a contractor, but before any work even started the contractor wanted $5,000 up front. When the woman refused, he threatened to put a lien on her home.”

The MSBOC advised the woman that, since no work had actually begun, there could be no lien, and that she should have no more dealings with the builder.

“If you have a contractor knocking on your door or calling your home, that’s a red flag,” Lee said. “If a contractor wants money up front, be aware. These are the ways bogus contractors operate.”

A few tips for combating bogus builders are: » Hire only licensed and bonded contractors. Ask to see the license and verify the bond.

Continued from Page 2

WALLY NORTHWAY / The Mississippi Business Journal

Stephanie Mills Lee, executive director of the Mississippi State Board of Contractors, said the new initiative launched with Attorney General Jim Hood is a direct result of lessons learned after Hurricane Katrina.

“If a contractor wants money up front, be aware.

These are the ways bogus contractors operate.”

Stephanie Sills Lee Mississippi State Board of Contractors executive director

» Use Mississippi contractors if you can.

Verify the contractor’s license by checking online at the MSBOC’s website at www.msboc.us.

» Be wary of supposed contractors who come to your home soliciting business.

Most reputable contractors will be busy and won’t need to solicit business. » Always get more than one estimate.

Three bids are recommended. » Request references and talk with those references. » Put all your terms in writing. A copy of a “model contract” can be found at the Attorney General Office’s website at www.agjimhood.com. » As a backup, videotape the discussion with the contractor concerning the terms of the transaction/contract.

“There are a lot of honest contractors out there, but a disaster really brings out the crooks trying to take advantage of those already in a vulnerable position,” said Attorney General Hood.

“Following recent storms, we have had our disaster response teams out pushing information and following up on complaints,” said Lee. “We hope by joining forces with the Attorney General’s Office that we can keep some storm-damaged residents from being victimized by an unscrupulous contractor.”

“I think that if this program is continued, and it needs to be, that it could have a large impact.”

— Gerald Nelson, director of Mississippi State University’s Office of Entrepreneurship and Technology

research that’s already been done.

“It’s not enough money that it will cover tens of thousands of businesses, but I think we’ll find select parties who will take advantage of it, and probably would not have taken advantage of it had the bill not been available,” Nelson continued.

“We definitely think it’s going to be a catalyst to some of these companies actually moving forward to get some research done so they can take these technologies out and commercialize them. This particular piece of legislation will

find that smaller piece of research that it takes to commercialize that technology.

In many cases, we see that, where the technology is done. It’s useful and applicable but it needs a little bit more tweaking to take it to the commercial level, and that’ something this bill provides.”

The law as passed by Gov. Phil Bryant does not have a repealer, which could boost its long-term impact, Nelson said.

“I think that if this program is continued, and it needs to be, that it could

have a large impact,” Nelson said. “It has to become part of the landscape in the state of Mississippi, that private research has this credit to being to think in terms of private research being done at a public university. A one- or twoyear stretch would not really build it into the culture. If you want to incorporate this into the culture, it has to be permanent, at least 10 years. It takes a while for something like this to get ingrained in a corporate entity’s thought process.”

Jan MILLER

TEN YEARS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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14 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013 TECHNOLOGY

Phone-tography » Small business owners take picture perfect advantages with Instagram

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

Instagram, a smartphone application that allows users to shoot, edit and publish photos online, was bought last spring

by Facebook for $1 billion, and its no small wonder the social media giant was eager to gobble up the technology startup and its dozen employees.

Founded by Stanford University alums Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, the California entrepreneurs injected experience into the startup from stints at such tech luminaries as Google, Microsoft Powerpoint and another startup named Odeo that would spawn the popular microblog Twitter.

Inc. Magazine says that by the time Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called them up, Instagram had grown to more than 30 million followers including celebrities like Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian and Barack Obama.

Available through the iTunes App Store and Google Play, Instagram can be downloaded for free to any smartphone with a functional camera. From there you just log into your account, point, shoot and let the app take over.

The technology has become a boon to small business owners in Mississippi looking for free and alternative ways to advertise their products and services.

“Its like Twitter but is all based around photography,” says Thimblepress owner Kristen Ley. The Jackson letterpress printer posts many of her new cards and designs on Instagram.

“I’m a visual person and learner so it appealed to me,” Ley says. “I can actually show my product or the process and it gives the customer or buyer a glimpse into my personal life, as well.”

Using Instagram, amateur “phone-tographers” can use Instagram to scale or crop a photo, add captions and apply retro effects and filter settings like Sierra, Willow and Low-Fi. The photo is then published to a public feed similar to Facebook’s News Feed.

“It’s our favorite social media platform,” says Adam Myrick, co-owner of the Click Boutique in Hattiesburg. “Its a great medium for us more so than Facebook and Twitter.”

Anne-Lauren Fratesi, a social media expert with the Ramey Agency advertising firm in Jackson, has an Instagram profile that allows her to post personal pictures and follow the accounts of brands or peo-

Courtesy of Kristen Ley

Jackson letterpress printer and graphic designer Kristen Ley takes pictures of her newest stationery line and of her 1925 Chandler & Price letterpress.

Courtesy of Lady Bugg Bakery

LadyBugg Bakery in Hernando gets lot of feedback from Instagram customers in the Greater Memphis-area. Manager Chelsea Bugg says the photo-sharing app is a great, free advertising tool for their “awesome and eccentric” cakes.

ple that interest her.

“It’s a great way to tell a story for your brand or give consumers VIP access to your brand,” Fratesi says. “I love photography so I’m interested in seeing and discovering new photos.” The Ramey Agency operates Instagram accounts for a few clients including the Women’s Fund and their new sexual health campaign “Fact Not Fiction.”

The best way to promote Instagram pictures is through its hashtag system. Similar to Twitter, pictures that are posted can include #Mississippi, #landscapes, or #weddings depending on the type of photo and

how it should be categorized.

“I’ve actually had a couple of retailers pick me up because they looked at the letterpress hashtag and found me through that,” Ley says.

April Bullock, owner of Eve Marie’s in Hattiesburg and Ivy Boutique in D’Iberville, takes pictures of all of her new clothing lines.

“We have a lot of customers that search the hashtags and we ship to them,” she says.

Bullock says Instagram is perfect for two reasons: it is a great way to showcase bold and colorful outfits that can be targeted to a younger demographic and audience that matches her customer base.

Posting pictures on Instagram even attracts customers that may not actually be in your immediate area.

Hernando pharmaceutical researcherturned-photographer Melissa Vincent recently was contacted through Instagram by someone wanting to license some of her pictures to big box retailers such as Target and Bed Bath & Beyond.

It’s a way for the stay-at-home mother to finally profit from a hobby after some of her art-house inspired pictures were featured in Time Magazine and National Geographic photo collages.

“I do all my work on my iPhone,” Vincent says. “I don’t have any background in photography but am self-taught.”

While she may not use an SLR camera or PhotoShop, Vincent is very familiar with many photo editing apps that work with Instagram like Image Blender and SnapFeed and often beta tests photo editing mobile apps for developers.

Vincent was recently a top finalist for the Mobile Photographer Award and has a series of pictures from William Faulkner’s Rowan Oak home showing in San Francisco.

“That’s my goal as an artist to give everybody a view of Mississippi that is nice and beautiful and interesting,” she says. Her more than 200,000 followers can’t wait for what’s next.

Courtesy of Melissa Vincent

Hernando photographer Melissa Vincent’s Instagram work has been featured in special issues of Time and National Geographic magazines.

NEWSMAKERS

May 17, 2013

Profiles of growing young professionals in Mississippi

Keeping our eye on... ELIZABETH HARRIS LaurelnativeElizabethHarris-knowntoherfriendsas“Biz”- says she always wanted to be an attorney until she worked for a public defender in Washington D.C. and realized she wanted to fight for one of the biggest issues facing the defendants: education.

“I’m committed to helping all Mississippi schools become the best in the world,” Harris says. “I know that education matters and that, although some kids are excelling in our systems, not all students are getting what they need.”

After high school, Harris studied political science and public policy at Washington & Lee University then earned a master of divinity with a focus on education from Emory University.

“I focused on experiential learningand communitydevelopment and the role communities of faith play in those arenas,” she says.

Harris’primaryresponsibilityatTeachforAmericaistoinsurethat

teachers who have completed their two-year rotation in the nonprofit teacher corps stay in Mississippi and become leaders in their communities.

“First and foremost as teachers,” she says “But then also as principals, district leaders, elected officials, policy leaders, and civically engaged advocates.”

From working as a teacher in Marks to serving as a school chaplain in Atlanta, Harris knows that education is a complex issue with many different viewpoints and says she advocates making sure all voices are heard and given chances to make a difference.

Today, Harris calls Leland home and serves on the Chamber of Commerce and Leland Frog Fest committee. She is also active with the Young Professionals of Greenville and has served on the board of the Emmett Till Commission in Sumner.

Scientists issued patent

White takes home award

MDMR brings in Lucas

Joint research by the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Research, Development & Engineering Center (Natick) has developed a family of new cloth-type structural components named “Hydrostatically Enabled Structural Elements,” or HESEs. U.S. Patent 8,209,911 was issued to Dr. Charles Welch, Dr. Kevin Abraham and Dr. Robert Ebeling of ERDC, along with Karen Buehler and Claudia Quigley of Natick, for the invention. Welch and Dr. Charles Cornwell co-published articles in 2011 and 2012 that provide the design basis for carbon nanotube fibers that would have tensile strengths of up to 8.6 million psi. Another group of the Advanced Materials Initiative team, led by Dr. Charlie Marsh and including Ben Ulmen and Erik Wotring, is attempting to synthesize such super strong fibers.

William Carey University and the Area Development Partnership recently honored Tom White, owner of 206 Front and Bianchi’s Pizzeria in downtown Hattiesburg, with the 2013 Small Business Leadership Award.

White came to Hattiesburg as a freshman at the University of Southern Mississippi and has spent 22 of the last 26 years in Hattiesburg with stops in Nashville and Atlanta working as a chef. Returning in 1998, he dreamed of opening his own restaurant. Inspired by the architecture of downtown and his immigrant Italian ancestry, 206 Front opened in July 2002 followed five years later by Bianchi’s Pizzeria.

White is president of the Hattiesburg Downtown Association, chair of the Mississippi Children’s Museum and a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church community. He is a fan and supporter of the athletic and arts programs at USM and WCU, and in the past 11 years has employed many students from both schools and featured musicians and visual art by students at 206 Front.

White and his wife Julie have two sons, Townes and Dom, and a daughter, Ella.

Kelly Lucas, Ph.D., has joined the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (MDMR) as chief scientific officer. Lucas is a Mississippi Gulf Coast native and holds a doctorate degree in coastal science from the University of Southern Mississippi, a MBA from University of Alabama Birmingham and a bachelor of science degree in microbiology from Mississippi Lucas State University. She has most recently worked as deputy director of the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Geospatial Center at Stennis Space Center.

Lucas has written and co-authored numerous scientific publications and presentations and has been instrumental in securing grant funding for regional geospatial modeling.

Fletcher joins firm John F. Fletcher, a tax attorney at General Electric, has joined Jones Walker LLP as a partner in the Tax and Estates Practice Group and as a member of the firm's State and Local Tax (SALT) team. With more than 20 years' experience in the legal, corporate, and accounting arenas, John's practice focuses on state tax controversies and incentives, which encompass multi-state income, franchise, sales, use, and local ad valorem taxes. He will work primarily on multi-state SALT matters involving legislative and administrative issues, planning, and dispute resolution.

Fletcher, who will be resident in the firm's Jackson office, also will work with other practice groups and teams on economic development and business incentive projects.

Fletcher comes to the firm from General Electric, where he was state tax counsel and oversaw many of GE's state income and franchise tax audits and appeals across the country. Earlier in his career, he was a member of KPMG's state and local tax practice in New York City while pursuing an LL.M. in taxation at New York University. Fletcher earned his bachelor of business administration in accounting from Delta State University, where he currently serves on the Alumni Association board of directors, and his juris doctor degree at the University of Mississippi School of Law. He is also a certified public accountant (inactive) in Tennessee, a member of the American Bar Association's State and Local Tax Subcommittee and a member of the Council on State Taxation.

Corps picks Shaw The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg District recently appointed Tom Shaw as the new chief of Flood Control and Hydropower Section in the Project Resource Management Branch.

Shaw will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of over 1,400 miles of levees and multiple flood control projects on the Mississippi River levee system in Arkansas, Louisiana Shaw and Mississippi. His section is also responsible for the operation and maintenance of flood control projects on the Red River system, Ouachita River system, Yazoo River basin and Beauf-Tensas River basin. Shaw's previous position was a project manager in the Planning, Programs and Projects Management division.

He received his bachelors and masters degrees in mechanical engineering from Mississippi State University. He is a registered professional engineer and holds a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation and is project management professional (PMP) certified.

He is a native of Lucedale and is married to the former Becky Emerson of Vicksburg. They have two daughters and reside in Clinton.

Bank welcomes DeRusso Ouachita Independent Bank has added Steve DeRusso as senior vice president/market manager in its Madison Loan Production Office. DeRusso brings experience from two previous banking positions as well as non-banking administration experience. He also served as a captain in the U.S. Air Force.

He received a MBA from William Carey University and a bachelor of science in manage- DeRusso ment from Iowa State University. He is a native Iowan but has called Mississippi home for the past twelve years. He is involved with organizations such as the Mississippi Economic Council, Make-a-Wish, and Junior Achievement.

DeRusso and his wife, Candi, have four children.

DSU honors Morgan Delta Council executive vice president Chip Morgan was bestowed with one of Delta State University’s highest honors — an honorary doctor of public service degree. A native of Oxford, Morgan graduated from Oxford High School in 1969 and earned a B.A. in public administration from University of Mississippi in 1974. Morgan was named executive vice president of Delta Council in 1982 and is one of only two individu-

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Age: 30 Director, District & Alumni Partnerships, Teach For America — By Stephen McDill

Favorite hangout spots: Vince’s in Leland, Yazoo Pass in Clarksdale Favorite Mississippi food: Catfish and hushpuppies First job ever: Gift wrapper and clerk at a gift shop in Laurel Favorite TV show: “The Good Wife” Favorite movie: “Best in Show” Favorite music: Anything Southern and/or twangy including bluegrass, folk rock, classic country and gospel.

Twitter handle: @BizHarris Read the full biography at www.msbusiness.com als to have served as the chief executive of the 65year-old organization. Prior to this position, Morgan served for seven years as director of the Industrial and Community Department of Delta Council.

Morgan resides in Leland. He is married to the former Connie Rodgers of Belzoni and they have two children and three grandchildren.

Hospital recognizes Posey Terri Posey was recently named South Mississippi State Hospital’s first quarter Employee of the Quarter.

She began working at SMSH as an active treatment technician in September 2004. Posey is a native of Covington County. She completed the Pearl River Community College occupational therapy assistance program and worked in that field prior to her employment at SMSH. Away from work, she enjoys Posey spending time with her family, working in her yard and watching the “Golden Girls” on television.

Puryear earns ‘Black Belt’ Analyst Steve Puryear of Mississippi State University's Canton-based Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems Extension recently was certified as a full Innovation Engineering Black Belt. In addition to being a first for the state, the achievement makes him one of only 50 in the nation to hold the highly sought designation.

According to www.InnovationEngineering.org, Black Belt candidates must lead a series of Puryear field projects and pass a multipart examination. The platform is designed to transform innovation from a random event to a reliable and scientific system that companies may deploy for profitable growth.

NEWSMAKERS

16 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013

Two more make club The Floor Trader recently awarded two employees into the Floor Trader Million Dollar Club. Employees who reach a million dollars in sales receive a diamond ring, and each million sold beyond that receives an additional diamond to add to their ring. Gulfport salesperson Bill Gay was awarded for reaching $4 million in sales, and Ken Brandenburg of the Gautier Floor Trader was awarded his first ring and diamond for his $1 million in sales. They join Ed Hibbard of the Gautier location, who has also been recognized for $3+ million in sales.

Astronautics. A member of the American Society for Engineering Education, he additionally holds the U.S. Air Force John W. Lincoln Aircraft Structural Integrity Medal and a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Fatigue Damage of Structural Materials organization.

Cadence makes promotions

ASPA elects Miller Brandenburg Lewis

Gay

Adams joins firm Mississippi attorney Steven Blake Adams has joined Phelps Dunbar’s Tupelo office as an associate within the firm’s health care practice, representing hospitals, physicians, managed care organizations and other health care providers in Mississippi and throughout the Southeast. With other health care attorneys in Phelps Dunbar’s Tupelo and Jackson offices, Adams provides Adams counsel on corporate, tax, and regulatory matters, including Medicare and Medicaid payment issues, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) requirements and other employee benefit matters, business formation and acquisition, contractual arrangements, tax exemptions and more.

Adams comes to Phelps Dunbar after holding two high-profile clerkships in Mississippi courts. He served as a law clerk to U.S. District Court Judge Sharion Aycock of the Northern District of Mississippi until joining Phelps Dunbar and served as a law clerk to Justice Jess Dickinson of the Supreme Court of Mississippi after completing law school in 2009. Adams received his J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2009. He attended Mississippi State University for his undergraduate studies, and received his B.B.A., summa cum laude, in business information systems in 2005.

Shoemake earns promotion Martin Shoemake has been named president/CEO and director of OmniBank. With 34 years in the banking industry, Shoemake has been employed with OmniBank for 25 years. He has managed the Bay Springs and Heidelberg branches of OmniBank for the past 20 years.

Shoemake has served the Jasper County community in many capacities. He is an active member of the Bay Springs Ro- Shoemake tary Club and has served multiple terms on the board of the Bay Springs Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he has served as chair for Jasper County Friends of Scouting, co-chair for the

Toney

Cadence Bank has promoted Jerry Toney, Ferrish Williams, Billy Williams and Tracy Lewis at its Starkville Banking and Operations Center. Toney, senior investment advisor for Cadence Investment Services, a division of Cadence Bank, has been promoted to senior vice president.

Toney joined Cadence in 1997 and is a leading financial consultant at Cadence and the top-performer in the Mississippi market. He currently is a member of the Mississippi State University’s Master Planning Committee and serves on the advisory boards of the Athletic Council and Department of Finance and Economics, and is the immediate past president of the Mississippi State University Alumni Association’s national board of directors. He also presently serves on several civic, economic and professional boards, including the Greater Starkville Development Partnership, Golden Triangle Development Link and Northeast Mississippi Council of Financial Planning Association. A native of Grenada, Toney is actively engaged with his alma mater, Mississippi State University, where he received his degree in real estate and mortgage finance in 1996. He has his Series 7 license and is a certified financial planner.

He also holds a life insurance license in several states and is a graduate of the Cannon Financial Institute – Personal Trust Sales School. He and his wife, Christan, and their two children, Leala and Parker, currently reside in Starkville.

Ferrish Williams, data processing division manager, has been promoted to senior vice president.

Williams joined Cadence in 1992 and has worked extensively in information technology and data processing throughout his career. He earned his Jasper County Pine Belt United Way funds drive and as a board member of the Mississippi Economic Council. Shoemake also has assisted the Salvation Army as an advisory director and as a coordinator for the Jasper County bell ringing campaign.

Shoemake is married to the former Mechelle Howell of Laurel. They have one son, Bryce.

Newman wins more recognition James C. Newman Jr., a Mississippi State University aerospace engineering professor and researcher specializing in the structural safety of aircraft, is among selections for a 2013 Southeastern Conference Faculty Achievement Award. At the university, Newman holds the rank of Giles Distinguished Professor, the institution's highest faculty rank, and the Richard H. Johnson Chair of Aerospace Engineering Newman in the James Worth Bagley College of Engineering. A principal investigator whose

B. Williams

F. Williams

bachelor’s degree from Mississippi State University in 1989, majoring in industrial technology. A native of Cleveland, Williams is a former board member of Starkville Foundation for Public Education and the Starkville Baseball Association. He is actively involved with the Columbus Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., and Rising Star Masonic Lodge Number 31. He and his wife, Carla, and son, Jared, live in Starkville and attend Austin Church of Christ.

Billy Williams, support services manager, has been promoted to vice president of application support. Williams joined Cadence in 1999 and has held several positions during his career within the Technology Division, including electronic funds transfer services manager, retail electronic funds transfer services manager, Internet banking manager and electronic banking specialist. He is a native of Brooksville, and is a graduate of Mississippi State University where he received his degree in business administration. Williams and his wife, Catherine, currently reside in Starkville and have two daughters, Ali Grace and Audrey Caroline.

Lewis, who serves as regional human resources manager, has been promoted to vice president. A native of Starkville, she joined Cadence in 2006 as a human resources specialist. Throughout her career, she has gained valuable experience in numerous areas of human resources, including benefits administration, payroll management, recruitment/hiring, new employee orientation and human resources information system management and reporting. Lewis currently resides in Starkville with her husband, Greg, and two sons, Garrett and Brayden. research grants currently total more than $3.6 million, he is a specialist in fatigue and fracture mechanics of materials and aircraft structures.

Chosen by a selection committee of provosts at the 14 conference institutions, the SEC Faculty Achievement Award is part of non-athletically related activities the organization has undertaken through its academic initiative to encourage academic leadership and collaboration within the membership. Each of the 14 winners receives a $5,000 honorarium and becomes their school's nominee for the SEC Professor of the Year Award. Both awards first were presented last year.

Newman is a Memphis, Tenn., native who holds a doctorate in engineering mechanics from Virginia Tech University. After spending nearly 40 years as a senior scientist at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., he returned to the Mid-South in 2001 to join MSU's aerospace engineering department.

Newman also recently was named Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He earlier was honored as a Fellow of the American Society for Testing and Materials and Associate Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and

Chad R. Miller, University of Southern Mississippi assistant professor of economic development, was voted chair-elect of the American Society for Public Administration's (ASPA) Transportation Policy & Administration section. Miller was elected at the recent national ASPA conference in New Orleans.

Dupont makes top 10 Attorney Jessica Dupont has been named a Top Ten Business Leader Under 40 by The Sun Herald and The Journal of South Mississippi Business. Dupont is now listed in the Roland Weeks’ Leadership Hall of Fame and has been described by the publications as being “a strong, up-and-coming young business leader” on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Dupont is president-elect of the Mississippi Women Lawyers’ Association and has held several leadership positions with the Mississippi Bar. Gov. Haley Barbour appointed Dupont to represent her congressional district on the Mississippi College Savings Plan board of directors, and, along with firm shareholder Jimmy Heidelberg, Dupont oversees over $100 million in Community Development Block Grants received by the Jackson County Utility Authority following Hurricane Katrina.

Dupont is an associate with Heidelberg, Steinberger, Colmer & Burrow, P.A in Pascagoula where she practices in the areas of general defense litigation, insurance, governmental law and public utilities.

Banks wins award Fred L. Banks Jr., senior partner at Phelps Dunbar and former presiding justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, was recently honored with the American Inns of Court Professionalism Award at the 2013 Judicial Conference of the Fifth Circuit in Fort Worth, Texas. Banks has practiced in the areas of commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution, legislative and governmental relations, and appellate law at Banks Phelps Dunbar’s Jackson office since retiring from the Mississippi Supreme Court in 2001. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court, he served as a circuit judge in Hinds and Yazoo counties and in the Mississippi House of Representatives, where he was chair of the Ethics Committee and a member of the House Judiciary Committee “B” as well as the Legislative Black Caucus.

Banks is a member of a number of bar associations, including the Mississippi Bar Association, Magnolia Bar Association, National Bar Association, the American Bar Association and District of Columbia Bar Association. In addition, he is a member of the national board of directors of the NAACP, Charles Clark Inn of Court and American Law Institute. He has also served on a number of boards of directors for community improvement activities.

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

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18 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013 RETAIL SHOPPING AND CONSTRUCTION

Flowood Belk getting $9 million facelift FLOWOOD – A major expansion and remodeling is underway at Belk’s flagship store at Dogwood Festival in Flowood, representing a $9-million investment by the company. The project will increase the store’s size by 40,000 square feet – 20,000 square feet on each level — allowing it to expand fashion brands and merchandise assortments throughout the store.

The expanded and renovated store, with a total of 210,000 square feet of space, will feature a modern new decor with the latest display fixtures, porcelain tile aisles, energy-efficient lighting, and remodeled fitting rooms and customer convenience areas.

Space is being added at the rear of the store on both levels. Construction started on the expansion phase in January, and the current store space will be completely renovated beginning this summer. The project will be complete in late September prior to the store’s grand re-opening on Oct. 16.

The expansion and renovation will result in many improvements designed to enhance customer convenience and satisfaction. For example, store’s cosmetics department is adding Bobbi Brown, and will have new display bays and fixtures featuring a new “open sell/assisted sell” concept for Clinique, Estée Lauder and Lancôme designed to make shopping easier.

New premium brands in women’s sportswear will include Lilly Pulitzer, Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Vince Camuto, Eileen Fisher, Jones New York Signature, and Lauren Polo Ralph Lauren. Ladies shoe brands being added include Dolce Vita, Flogg, Steven, Adrienne Vittadini, Caparros, and G by Guess/Marc Fisher, and new shoe brands for men will include Calvin Klein, and Frye. A Coach handbags and accessories shop is being added, along with designer handbags by Baxter Designs and accessories by Brighton.

Belk of Dogwood Festival completed major expansions of its ladies shoes, handbags and jewelry departments in 2010, and will be expanding these areas even more. Other departments being expanded include women’s better, contemporary and designer sportswear; accessories; cosmetics; men’s shoes, sportswear, and big and tall; children’s; and home fashions.

“We’re creating an exciting new décor and shopping experience for our customers and offering more of the brands and assortments they want,” said Tim O’Dougherty, store manager.

“The improvements we’re making demonstrate our ongoing commitment to serving this community.

We want to satisfy the Southern lifestyle needs of our customers like no one else and deliver the fashion they desire and the value they deserve.”

The store originally opened as McRae’s at Dogwood Festival in 2002. It was acquired by Belk in 2005, and was expanded and remodeled in 2006.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

BANKING AND FINANCE

Hancock Bank to close up to 45 branches, only 1 from Mississippi

BY TED CARTER I STAFF WRITER ted.carter@msbusiness.com Hancock Holding Co. has confirmed that the $20-billion regional bank plans to close up to 45 branch offices by the end of the year, but has targeted only one branch in Mississippi for closing.

Closings in Louisiana will be few, as well, with just two branches to be shut down in the New Orleans market.

In most instances, the branches that will close will be in localities in which Hancock and recently acquired Whitney Bank do not have strong market share, said John Hairston, co-CEO and executive vice president, in an interview. “To adequately pursue retail banking you need to have considerable market share,” he noted.

Some of the closings will be offset by the opening of new centers for private banking and business banking, two areas in which the bank has

had strong growth in many of its markets, Hairston said. “We’re having wonderful success in private banking and business banking in every market.”

Employees laid off in the branch closings will have first dibs at jobs in the new centers, according to Hairston.

Hancock essentially is repositioning expenses from one line of business into others in the same market, he said.

The closings are part of an initiative to trim $50 million from non-interest expenses. Gulfport-based Hancock, which recently completed an acquisition of the slightly larger New Orleans-based Whitney Bank, reported net income of $18.5 million in the first quarter. But it emphasized at the time that “headwinds impacting overall revenue” will cause near term earnings to remain flat or slightly down from current levels.

Management expects the pressure and headwinds will continue into the foreseeable future. As a result, Hancock has determined that certain areas of the

U.S. Senate bill seeks to lower craft brewery excise tax CLAY CHANDLER I STAFF WRITER clay.chandler@msbusiness.com American Craft Beer Week has gotten a congressional boost.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is one of 18 bipartisan sponsors of legislation that would reduce the excise tax on brewers that make up to 6 million barrels of beer per year to $3.50 on the first 60,000 barrels and $16 on additional barrels under two million annually.

Small brewers, defined as those that brew fewer than two million barrels per year, pay $7 in excise taxes per barrel for the first 60,000 barrels annually.

Collins filed the bill last week. Sponsors were not listed on the congressional website.

It could have an impact in Mississippi. Since the alcohol content in beer made and sold in the state was raised last year, a handful of breweries have started operation that would qualify for tax under the Small BREW Act. An economic impact study by Dr. John Friedman at Harvard found the bill would generate $153 million in economic activity in the first year and almost $865 million over five years. It would create nearly 4,400 jobs in the first year.

A similar bill has been introduced in the House.

The small brewer threshold and tax rate were established in 1976 and have not been updated. Since then, according to figures Collins supplied in a press release, the annual production of America’s largest brewery increased from 45 million barrels to 105 million barrels.

American Craft Beer Week, observed May 1319, is designed to celebrate and bring awareness to America’s small and independent craft brewers and their contributions to America’s communities and our economy.

company needed to be right-sized or retooled.”

Co-cEO Carl Chaney, in the earnings report, said Hancock expects to achieve 50 percent of its targeted reduction by the end of the first quarter of 2014 and the remainder by the close of 2014.

Half of the $50 million in cost-cutting will come from the branch closings, according to Hairston.

Severance, professional fees and lease buyouts will bring one-time expenses but the scale of these costs “cannot currently be estimated with certainty,” Hancock said in the earnings report.

Hancock operates nearly 300 full-service branches in five states and employs around 5,000 workers. Louisiana and Texas branches continue to hold the Whitney Bank name.

ENERGY

Grand Gulf Nuclear emits smoke from transformer PORT GIBSON — Officials say a transformer at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Power Plant near Port Gibson emitted smoke last week but the reactor was not in danger.

Entergy Nuclear spokesman Mike Bowling says the incident was reported shortly before 5:45 p.m. It was resolved about 90 minutes later. No injuries were reported.

Grand Gulf officials termed it an “unusual event,” the lowest of the four emergency classifications.

Bowling says the transformer provided power to temporary buildings and offices, and that the power plant wasn’t affected.

He says the transformer was installed during a recent power upgrade.

Bowling says the event was reported as required to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

Grand Gulf has operated since 1985. Entergy Nuclear jointly owns the plant with Entergy’s Arkansas, Louisiana and New Orleans subsidiaries.

MANUFACTURING

Enerfab unveils $11M expansion, adding jobs NATCHEZ — Enerfab is expanding operations at its Natchez location, which is known as Enersteel, to accommodate an increase in tank head production, according to the Mississippi Development Authority.

The project represents a corporate investment of more than $11 million and will create 20 new jobs, bringing the total number employed at the facility to 110.

At its Natchez location, Enersteel specializes in fabricated steel plate products that include storage tanks and pressure vessels for industrial process markets.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

May 17, 2013

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HEALTH CARE

UMMC, Center for Justice form partnership to benefit those with HIV/AIDS CLAY CHANDLER I STAFF WRITER clay.chandler@msbusiness.com JACKSON — The University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Mississippi Center for Justice, both in Jackson, are forming a partnership aimed at providing free civil legal services for people living with HIV and AIDS. The collaboration includes the Mississippi State Department of Health’s Crossroads Clinics Central and the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation.

It’s the state’s first medical-legal partnership.

The Center for Justice, a nonprofit public interest law firm, will offer onsite legal assistance at the Crossroads Clinics. The assistance will focus

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Feds claim MDA has documented only handful of port workers GULFPORT — The federal government says the Mississippi Development Authority has documented only 50 of the 1,286 direct, full-time jobs it claims at the state port, and insists MDA provide records to show all the jobs exist.

The Sun Herald obtained a copy of a letter sent April 22 to the MDA from Stanley Gimont, director of block grant compliance in community development and planning for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

MDA must supply documentation on the jobs by early June, an enclosed report says. If the jobs are not documented, the report warns, the state could face repayment of Community Development Block Grant money HUD redirected from post-Hurricane Katrina housing assistance to economic development at the port.

Port workers and community advocates monitoring the project have long questioned the number of jobs the port claims now, and the 1,200 jobs it promises to create with the $580 million in federal funding. The project requires 51 percent of port jobs go to low- to moderate-income residents.

The port is spending the money on restoration, expansion and upgrades that will not be completed until 2017.

Daron Wilson, director of MDA’s disaster-recovery division, said port jobs in place before expansion, called “retained” jobs, were never meant to be counted as part of MDA’s compliance with HUD regulations.

“This project is about job creation,” Wilson said.

“The only reason that we track job retention is so that we know how to measure job creation.”

CHEATS

primarily on HIV-related housing and employment discrimination.

Marni von Wilpert Skadden, legal fellow at the Center for Justice, said in a press release that those with HIV and AIDS “often lack access to legal resources. This program will help ensure they are treated fairly so they can lead productive, fulfilling lives.”

UMMC was involved in finding earlier this year what researchers called a “functional cure” for HIV, when a toddler born to a mother with the virus showed no signs of it after going several months between treatments.

“While we have made significant medical advances in managing HIV/AIDS, the ultimate success in improving these peoples’ lives is getting them back into society as full productive members,” said Dr. Claude Brunson, UMMC professor of anesthesiology and senior advisor

to the vice chancellor for external affairs. “This partnership aims to achieve that goal.”

Demand should be heavy.

The city of Jackson has the fourth highest HIV infection rate of all U.S. metropolitan areas that report HIV infection information, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Mississippi’s AfricanAmerican population accounts for 78 percent of new infections, according to a recent MSDH study. Mississippi ranks 49th in funding civil legal services, according to the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission.

There are 97 medical-legal partnerships in the U.S. that serve 54,000 patients a year at more than 275 healthcare institutions.

HEALTH CARE

EDUCATION

Budget writer: Medicaid takes away from education

IHL launches effort to aid minority businesses

JACKSON — Funding for education is falling short because Medicaid is devouring a larger share of state money than it did a few years ago, a top Mississippi budget writer says in a letter to teachers and school administrators.

House Appropriations Committee chairman Herb Frierson, R-Poplarville, wrote that expanding Medicaid would create more uncertainty about funding for all levels of education, from kindergarten through universities.

“Do you think we should expand the Medicaid program knowing how it may cost the educational community?” Frierson wrote. “Can the educational institutions afford not to take a position But a Democrat who used to be a budget writer disputes the premise of Frierson’s letter. Rep. Cecil Brown, of Jackson, says money for education has fallen short because of many financial choices, including giving tax breaks to corporations and setting aside money to rebuild the state’s financial reserves.

“Education hasn’t been funded because there hasn’t been a willingness to fund it,” Brown said.

JACKSON — The board of trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning has unveiled an initiative to assist minority businesses and facilitate the procurement process between universities and minority businesses.

The Mississippi Public University Minority Economic Opportunity Initiative is aimed at giving both universities and minority businesses the tools they need to ensure that more minority businesses will have opportunities to be included in the bidding process.

“The board of trustees has asked all of Mississippi’s eight public universities to focus on diversity efforts,” said trustee Bob Owens, president of the board. “In addition to increasing diversity among students, faculty and staff, we have also asked universities to seek ways to include more minority businesses in the bidding process when they request quotes and bids on goods and services.”

The board has contracted with Where2Go411.com, a web-based platform that connects vendors to buyers through its quote feature. Minority enterprises will post information about their businesses and the goods and services they provide. Universities will send and receive quotes, proposals and subcontracting opportunities through the online system. This allows minority businesses to be aware of the opportunities and be able to respond to them using the easy-to-use method provided by the website.

While any business can be listed on the site, minority businesses are recruited for inclusion in the featured listing section, which provides them access to the QRSO (Quote, RFP, Subcontracting Opportunity) solicitations.

The procurement officers on each university campus will receive training on how to post opportunities to the site and how to use the site to retrieve quotes and information from the vendors.

Mississippi Public Universities utilize a number of tools to reach out to minority businesses, including holding minority vendor fairs on campus. This website will provide another tool and allow for a connection and interaction to occur long after the vendor fair concludes.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Shipbuilder to hold ceremony for cutter PASCAGOULA — Ingalls Shipbuilding will hold a keel authentication Friday in Pascagoula for its fifth U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter James (WMSL 754).

Ingalls President Irwin F. Edenzon and David Blackburn, director of the USCG Project Resident Office Gulf Coast, are scheduled to speak at the 10 a.m. event at the shipyard.

The security cutter is named for Joshua James, who is credited with saving more than 600 lives along the New England coastline during a nearly 60-year career in the 1800s with the U.S. Life

Continued from Page 3

protect against fraud, he said, “Surveillance is a marketer’s best friend.” So is constant communication among all parts of the casino operation to prevent complicity and “giving away the store,” Koff said.

Opportunities for fraud abound in a casino, where those working in

Saving Service.

Charlene Benoit, James’ great-great-niece, is the ship’s sponsor and will authenticate the keel has been “truly and fairly laid.” Her name will be welded onto a steel plate that will be part of the ship.

AGRICULTURE / POLITICS

Federation president praises Farm Bill effort JACKSON — The Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation (MFBF) leadership is commending U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss) and his staff for their work to reach a compromise on the recent Senate

marketing give away money or the cash equivalent. “No other industry does that,” he said.

Koff gave an example of employees who sold coupons for around $80,000 rather than giving them away. They were discovered and charged with fraud, he said.

After a marketing promotion is over, he told the audience, it’s time to review the financials and the entire process to make the next promotion work better.

Farm Bill package.

The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry passed a piece of farm legislation that garnered a 15-5 vote.

MFBF president Randy Knight said, “We want to express our gratitude to Sen. Cochran and his leadership team for working with Chairwoman (Debbie) Stabenow (D-Mich.) to bridge the gap across party and regional lines to develop a bill that is sound for Mississippi farmers and ranchers.

“While we have several more steps in the legislative process, this strong vote will certainly be a big jumpstart to the process.”

— from staff and MBJ wire services

“Get as deep down into the details as you can to have a fuller picture of what’s going on,” he said.

Searching the database for redeemed coupons and dollars played might turn up “10 people living at a P.O. box in the middle of nowhere.”

Casinos should create a work environment that encourages employees to ask questions if suspect something doesn’t look right to them, Koff advised. “If it’s nothing, then it becomes a coaching opportunity,” he said.

May 17, 2013 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS:

BANKING & FINANCE

Courtesy of Hancock Bank

After Hurricane Katrina, only the vault of the teagarden Road branch of Hancock Bank in Gulfport remained. Only a few inches of storm surge seeped into the vault.

CASH OUT?

» Bank vaults have changed with the times, but they’re still tough

By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

T

HE OLD Hollywood stereotype of a bank vault filled with stacks of cash protected behind a massive door is mostly going by the wayside.

Instead of keeping large cash inventories in one place, banks spread the money around to branches or wherever else customers need it. That reduces risk and the cost of maintaining a cash inventory, giving the bank one more competitive edge.

“People want things faster, and the market has changed,” said Hancock Bank’s Jay Ockman, vice president of the Cash Solutions Group, which oversees the network that circulates cash through Hancock’s system. “Instead of keeping tons of money in vault locations, it’s parceled out in

different locations.”

Hancock Holding Co., Gulfportbased parent of Hancock Bank and Whitney Bank, has $20 billion in assets and operates 250 branches from Texas to Florida.

The so-called virtual vaults are outsourced to armed car companies that handle deposits and other bank functions.

“It allows us to expand our markets or to have currency in areas more accessible to branches without a brick and mortar safe, which are expensive to build, maintain and staff,” Ockman said.

“It makes our distribution network more nimble getting the working cash into the hands and locations a lot quicker than shipping it from larger vaults.”

Besides the virtual offsite vaults, there are so-called smart safes main-

tained for Hancock’s top tier customer locations including casinos.

“They have a heavy cash volume but don’t necessarily want an armed car coming to their locations,” Ockman said. “The product technology is supported by the bank.”

The smart vaults are monitored, alarmed and bolted into place. “It’s a reverse ATM, basically,” Ockman said.

So what else is in a vault? Sometimes it’s bonds or certificates that a bank is required to hold temporarily as collateral. “Never anything glamorous,” Ockman said.

Among the commercial money received in a bank’s central vault might be money taken in drug busts or cash confiscated from prisoners.

And of course there are safe deposit boxes. “But we don’t know what’s in them,” Ockman said.

Early in his career, Ockman was

part of a crew who counted the money stored in the main vault every night. It contained all of the bank’s cash that was supplied to branches and commercial customers.

“We counted, bagged and banded the money and several layers of people signed off on the physical count.

The time was noted on the door. The crew shared a portion of the combination so not one person could open the safe,” he recalled.

Such procedures are part of a bank’s standard operations, for obvious reasons.

“There is a tremendous risk in cash,” Ockman said. “Once it is stolen it is not easily replaced. It may never be recovered.”

Details of the bank’s vault conSee

VAULT, Page 26

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ESTATE PLANNING

May 17, 2013

I

Mississippi Business Journal

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BANKING & FINANCE

May 17, 2013

I

Mississippi Business Journal

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ESTATE PLANNING

Invest at the level of your worth » Not everyone needs extensive estate planning; many can benefit from a modest plan

By BECKY GILLETTE I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

While only the wealthiest individuals need to invest in “Cadillac” estate planning for the purpose of minimizing estate taxes, many others can benefit from estate planning more on an economy car level.

People who need estate planning that might include complicated trusts are those with assets in excess of $5.25 million for an individual or $10.5 million for a married couple.

“If net worth is less than that, estate planning for taxes isn’t necessary,” said Ronald Morton, LL.M., Morton CELA, Morton Law Firm, Clinton. “There are a lot of people who are concerned about estate taxes who don’t have to be anymore. That is not to say that you won’t need estate planning. The major thrust of planning is very seldom taxes; it hasn’t been for many years. The bigger issues stem around, ‘How do I protect my loved ones when I am gone?’”

That can include protecting a surviving spouse from gold diggers, safeguarding of assets if a spouse goes into a nursing home and shielding assets from creditors such as those stemming from a lawsuit.

“With good planning, you can protect against those things,” Morton said.

To plan for the time period after the death of the second spouse, trusts might be considered for children, not to keep the money from the children, but to keep it from their spouses after a divorce. The current 50 percent divorce rate means that if someone has two children, one is likely to divorce.

“So we will frequently put an inheritance into a family access trust where it is totally available to the children, but not available to their spouse and their creditors,” Morton said.

He also recommends long-term care insurance as a good way to protect assets. Statistically, half of people 65 and over will end up in a nursing home.

“The cost of that is catastrophic,” Morton said. “It is $75,000 to $80,000 per year on average. Most people are not able to pay for that. Think of insuring for longterm care just as you would insure your house or car, which has much lower odds of catastrophic loss. That being said, longterm care insurance is very expensive, and many people can’t afford it or may not qualify medically. Those individuals have to do other types of planning to protect assets

for the well spouse, or pass on a legacy to the next generation.”

The government’s spousal impoverishment provision means that in order for

Medicaid to pay for nursing home care, the well spouse can have a home, a car and less than $115,000 in savings.

Medicaid looks back 60 months for gifts

such as uncompensated transfers to children, See

PLANNING, Page 26

BANKING & FINANCE

26 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013

PLANNING

Continued from Page 25

and will penalize individuals one month of eligibility for each $5,700 transferred. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be a millionaire on Monday, give money to the kids on Tuesday and qualify for Medicaid on Wednesday,â&#x20AC;? Morton said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For people who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afford long-term care insurance, you look at other avenues to protect assets like a Medicaid asset protection trust. Other things business people need to consider in their planning is protection of their assets from third parties like lawsuits. Certain types of asset protection

trusts can be used to make those assets unavailable to third parties.â&#x20AC;?

One important issue is who to trust for doing your estate planning. Eddie Carlisle, CFP, financial advisor with Medley and Brown, LLC, Jackson, recommends first checking to Carlisle see if there is good communication, especially after an initial meeting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you have questions and arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t comfortable with the answers, keep looking or get another opinion,â&#x20AC;? Carlisle said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And,

sometimes people will go to some length getting an estate plan done and wills in place, and then not follow up and make changes in a title and update information on bank accounts listing beneficiaries. I would recommend people coordinate more between their estate planner and financial advisor watching investments. People should avoid making the mistake of not telling one what the other is doing.â&#x20AC;?

Estate planning, especially for business people, isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t something that can be done at the age of 50 and then forgotten about.

Carlisle recommends reviewing the estate plan, especially if something changes like

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losing a business partner or family changes.

Be aware of general changes in the law, and have the estate plan reviewed periodically.

While certain tax rates have gone up this year, especially capital gains taxes, Carlisle said a lot of proposed changes regarding estate taxes didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen as some people feared. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There was a lot of worry towards the end of the year that estate tax provisions would not get extended, but that turned out to not be as terrible as everyone was concerned it could be,â&#x20AC;? Carlisle said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That said, who knows what will happen throughout the year? Action in Congress is something people always need to stay aware of.â&#x20AC;?

VAULT

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tents is a tightly held secret but Ockman said it is â&#x20AC;&#x153;considerable.â&#x20AC;?

Hence the surveillance cameras, guards and the rest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The risk is there and the safeguards are all in place to ensure minimal risk,â&#x20AC;? he said.

But, he had to admit, before 2005, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We never thought about flooding.â&#x20AC;?

At one point after Hurricane Katrina, the bank bought a washer and dryer to clean the muck off the cash. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We washed, dried and ironed it,â&#x20AC;? said Hancock spokesman Paul Maxwell.

The Wall Street Journal featured photos of bank employees â&#x20AC;&#x153;laundering money,â&#x20AC;? said Dave Marshall, the bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s construction manager. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We closed off a portion of the parking lot and hosed down the coins,â&#x20AC;? Ockman said.

Marshall has been involved with building a number of Hancock Bankâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vaults. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The older style vaults were massive in the sense they had thick concrete walls and lots of reinforced bars and usually massive doors.

Newer vaults are much less expensive. Basically they come in a series of panels and you build it as big as you need it,â&#x20AC;? Marshall said.

The panels of the new vaults are filled with scrap metal shavings that quickly dull drill bits. And forget about going after the money from underneath a new vault. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The slab tends to be 12 inches thick and loaded with reinforced bars,â&#x20AC;? Marshall said.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in addition to the electronic sensing equipment to detect vibration that goes into them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If anybody is messing with it, you get an alarm to alert some sort of problem.â&#x20AC;?

Marshallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience with vaults includes hacking into them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On three occasions we had to break into our own vault,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The vault in Pass Christian had a problem with the door and Marshall and his crew took turns with the jack hammer. The most slender of the group finally squeezed through the opening, fell to the floor and was able to fix the problem and walk out.

He said it was â&#x20AC;&#x153;an extremely lengthy processâ&#x20AC;? that couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be done secretly. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was in the 1990s and most of the town of Pass Christian knew on that particular day Hancock Bank was breaking into their own vault.â&#x20AC;?

May 17, 2013

OUTDOORS WITH DR. JOHN WOODS

Time to put gloves on for handgrabbing If you like to get bitten by the mouth that feeds you, it may be time to take up the sport of catfish handgrabbing. The season officially opened on May 1st and runs through the 15th of July. That is more than enough time to get up the nerve to stick your hand into the mouth of a giant river or reservoir catfish to wrestle it to the surface.

Better have some good gripper gloves though or that rough textured catfish mouth can take the skin off your handgrabbing hand.

Call it handgrabbing, grabbing or noodling, the ever-more popular fishing sport has really been gaining ground the past few years. Now even teams of grabbers are forming to grasp heavy loads of catfish from local rivers simply for the thrill of the experience, but also obviously to yield considerable catfish meat for some big fish fries.

Teams are also forming to enter competitive grabbing events. This is big time stuff.

Special to the Mississippi Business Journal

It might not be for everybody, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no doubt that handgrabbing can produce some lunkers.

jump into the water. They use their feet or poles to poke around until they find the box, Moore and Masters of Handgrabbing as it could have moved due to the swift curIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve known Gerald Moore of Madison rent of the river. Sometimes the boxes are for a long time. But you never really get to lost altogether. Once the box is located, a know a guy until youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve gone handgrabbing diver goes under putting his hand and arm with them. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an experience like none up into the box to see if a catfish is home. other. His â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mastersâ&#x20AC;? team consists of himIf there is one in the box, then you know self, Michael Willoughby and Stephen it immediately, even sitting up in the boat.

Bowden. They have gotten so good at this As the â&#x20AC;&#x153;catgrabberâ&#x20AC;? slowly slips his hand sport that they have produced their action into the mouth of the catfish, the fish video, and have appeared as contestants in clamps down automatically. When the the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Catfish Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s World Seriesâ&#x20AC;? on the grabber starts to pull the huge cat out of Animal Planet television program. Like I the box the fish starts banging his tail said, this is big time stuff. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I thought my bud, John, would enjoy tag- against the sides of the wooden crate I assume in protest. It sounds like a bass drum ging along on a handgrabbing trip, but we never could coax him into the river,â&#x20AC;? says being beat and was easily audible from my Moore. He was right about that. It was a seat in the boat. thrill from the get go, but I never mustered The diver may try to slip a nylon cord enough bravery to climb out of the boat into fish stringer through the catâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mouth and the swift moving Big Black River west of out the gills, but others just arm wrestle the Canton on the Madison-Yazoo county line. big fish out of the box and to the surface.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d easily be the first to admit that this Sometimes this may take several tries espesport not only takes some natural talent, cially if the fish is not oriented in the box swimming skills and experience that can with its mouth facing the opening. Then it only be learned first-handed as it were, but has to be turned around inside the box. it takes a huge dose of â&#x20AC;&#x153;man-up,â&#x20AC;? as well.

Occasionally a fish will escape during the Kind of like taking that first jump off a process, but Geraldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s team catching record bridge tied to a bungee cord. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to do that, either. Interestingly enough, the is pretty darn good. They donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose many.

On the trip I participated in as the obsport has also attracted a number of female server-photographer, Gerald and his team grabbers, too. Ya gotta love the South. grabbed about 15 catfish in weights from 15 The Moore team had pre-set a number to 60 pounds. Several species of cats where of catfish boxes along the river at designated places known only to them. A catfish caught including blues, channel cats and flathead catfish. The whole trip took about box is a sort of wooden coffin or crate three-four hours with several breaks along shaped box fashioned with just one end open. Once submerged in the river mud, the river. It is a tiring sport to say the least. the catfish quickly take up residence inside the box.

Other Approaches When the boats approach the spot where Some handgrabbers just take to the a box has been sunken, the team members river searching for natural catfish hiding

places. Most rivers will offer a variety of possible catfish nesting options. These can include old beaver holes in the river bank, hollow logs submerged in the water, or other river structures.

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Everybody always asks, â&#x20AC;&#x153;What about the snakesâ&#x20AC;?? Turns out, if and that is a big and must be confirmed IF, the box, hollow tree or hole is completely under the John Woods water a snake will not get into these submerged places. That is a good thing.

Handgrabbing requires a valid sport fishing license by each person directly participating in the actual grabbing. Also, the fish can only be grabbed by hand or with the aid of a rope or fish stringer as mentioned. Grabbers cannot use hooks, mechanical clamps, grips or gaffs.

Who would have ever thought that the idea of putting your hand into the mouth of a mammoth catfish and hoisting them out of the depths of a river or lake would become a sport? Truth is folks that really enjoy outdoor recreation will think of nearly anything being outside soaking up all that nature has to offer. So, how does that grab you?

John J. Woods, Ph.D.,isvicepresidentinchargeofeconomicdevelopmentandtraining,EagleRidgeConference andTrainingCenter,theWorkforceDevelopmentCenter andcontracttrainingservicesatHindsCommunityCollege inRaymond.

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28 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013 SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Click Boutique & Gallery

Photos by Andrew Willoughby

LEFT: The America Building across the street from Click Boutique is being developed by Hattiesburg businessmen Adam Myrick and Jason LeViere into a gym and hair salon beginning later this year. RIGHT: LeViere and Myrick want to infuse Front Street with New York City and New Orleans influences.

BOTTOM: Click Boutique sells the latest fashions for college students and career women.

They recently launched a fullyshoppable website that ships across the country.

Sharp dressed men » Hattiesburg fashionistos revive Front Street retail district

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

I

f anyone was at Click Boutique on April 27, 2011, they would have thought they were on the set of the popular AMC series “Mad Men.” The show is based on a 1960s New York City advertising agency and the mod fashion of the time is a definite source of inspiration for the Hattiesburg women’s clothing store that hosted the masquerade theme party, complete with mock cigarettes, beehive hair and cocktails.

Co-owners Adam Myrick and Jason LeViere are the dynamic duo behind the popular store which has become a success story in Hattiesburg.

Click shoppers can find the latest seasonal fashion from both the East and West Coast including dresses, skirts and blouses as well as jewelry, shoes and even Hattiesburgthemed T-shirts.

“We found in Hattiesburg that the more our business grew, the more impact we had on our small community,” Myrick says. “Community ties became the biggest part of our business.”

With its central location between Jackson and the Gulf Coast and its annual influx of 20,000 William Carey and Southern Miss students, the so-called Hub City has been reinventing its downtown area as a shopping and dining destination that in the past has been overlooked or dismissed.

“I love being downtown and it’s definitely something that’s up and coming and is a movement that you can’t ignore,” LaViere says. “You can definitely feel it.”

Both Myrick and LaViere’s biographies compliment each other and enhance their perspectives as business owners in South Mississippi.

Pittsburgh-born LaViere admits he had never visited Mississippi or anywhere else in the South before moving to Hattiesburg. He earned a public relations and marketing

CLICK BOUTIQUE & GALLERY Address: 138 East Front Street, Hattiesburg Founded: 2011 Owners: Adam Myrick and Jason LeViere Phone: (601) 336-7046 Website: popintotheshop.com, whatsnextdowntown.com Twitter: @clickdowntown degree from Point Park University and worked in fashion merchandising in New York City for seven years prior to moving south.

“Its been a growing experience for me,” he says. “I could only go by what I saw in movies. (I had) lots of misconceptions about the South that were not really negative necessarily — just not true.”

Myrick grew up in Hattiesburg and earned a theater degree from the University of Southern Mississippi before moving to New York City to work in visual merchandising and corporate training for H&M and Restoration Hardware.

“Coming back here there’s generational opportunity,” Myrick says. “There’s a huge void between young people who are in school and a more mature audience. There’s a great opportunity for a generation of young professionals to be stakeholders in the state.”

Opening up a funky clothing boutique that hosts scavenger hunts and block parties wasn’t easy in the early days, Myrick says. Click got crossed up several times with local community groups that didn’t grasp their vision.

“We cannot succeed as an individual business if our whole block or downtown doesn’t move forward,” Myrick says. “We presented things in a very new way that was out of the box and there was some pushback and friction.”

LeViere says just being a small shop owner in a recovering economy is a challenge.

“I’d love to see things start to turn around,” LeViere says.

Inventory taxes on things like furniture and computers make it hard for small businesses to be successful and profitable, according to LeViere.

“In the big scheme of things that tax discourages me

from reinvesting in my building,” he says. “It doesn’t encourage business when you have something like that looming above.”

Myrick compares running his store to playing with a Rubic’s cube. “You’re always problem-solving and figuring out the next thing,” he says. “Its such an amazing challenge See

CLICK BOUTIQUE, Page 29

SALES MOVES

May 17, 2013

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» JEFFREY GITOMER

People don't know what they have. It’s better than money I'm sure you've heard the expression “count your blessings.” I wonder how you interpret that. I wonder how you count them. I wonder how you take advantage of them. My biggest wonder is how grateful are you for your blessings.

HERE’S AN IDEA: Re-look at your blessings from a different perspective. Are they blessings or are they assets? Are they blessings or are they attributes? Are they blessings or are they gifts that you can share with others?

GOOD NEWS: There are no right answers to those questions.

BETTER NEWS: You have to determine the answers for yourself.

BEST NEWS: Once you determine what those blessings, or assets, or attributes, or gifts are you can begin to build them, add to them, enjoy them and turn them into a happier, better you.

HERE’S HOW TO DO IT: Sit down at your laptop and write your eulogy. Write down what you would want your children or your significant other to say about your life. How you lived it, how you achieved in it, and what your best qualities were. What kind of a person were you? What kind of a father or mother were you? What kind of a

EASTOVER

son or daughter were you? What kind of a friend were you?

Those are the questions that will reveal all of the assets, all of the attributes and all of the gifts that you have.

In my opinion, the one blessing or attribute that will define you better than any of the others is what you gave. I don't mean how much money you gave away. Rather, I mean what you gave of yourself. Did you volunteer? Did you participate in a charity? Did you help your kids with their homework? Did you help an elderly person across the street? Were you a giver or a taker?

Giving defines your person.

Me? I give smiles. And I give them on purpose, every day.

I have a daily goal. Make 10 people smile every day. That may not sound like much, but it’s amazing what happens when you can make someone you hardly know smile at you based on your interaction with them. It means that you have been kind, or humorous, or thought provoking or just a good guy or gal. Sometime it involves a bigger tip than you might normally give. Sometimes it's just a matter of holding a door. Whatever it is, when

you make someone smile it changes their whole physiology. They walk away feeling better than they did because they encountered you.

My daily goal also includes one other element: Performing a random act Jeffrey Gitomer of kindness.

Random acts of kindness are easily defined as proactive politeness, proactive helping, or proactive giving. No one asked for anything. You just decided to get up and do it.

I wonder if you ever think about random acts of kindness. I wonder if you regularly perform random acts of kindness. I wonder if you understand who feels best after the random act of kindness is been performed.

If you perform them like I do, then you know who feels best. You do.

Oh, the recipient feels great because you helped them or honored them. But you feel greater. Random acts of kindness have a double

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.

CLICK BOUTIQUE

Continued from Page 4

like rock stars now. You’re got an opportunity to drive the entertainment value. Look at Nashville. It’s become the new Charleston the last 12 months. And here, there are some real culinary tie-ins with our agrarian heritage.”

The theater will include food-service in the lobby, with the screens and main lobby area separated by escalators “so there’s no hanging out or loitering or anything like that,” Hines said. “We’ve modeled it after a concept at Highland Park Village in Dallas. It’s a small concept, with four screens, two of which are bigger screens and two that more skybox-inspired that can be used for meetings and parties or other events.

It’s not a theater like folks in Mississippi are used to.”

Said Duckworth: “We’re chasing folks that aren’t here. We want to bring new stuff to Jackson, and this exposure on the highway should demand that.”

Duckworth and Hines said that the perimeter of the development is basically set, with the hotel, restaurants, general office space, theater, bank and the lofts. The middle portion remains flexible, depending on what tenants locate there.

A sign recently erected on the edge of the property has not gone unnoticed, Duckworth said. “We’re getting phone calls from all across the state. We recently got one from somebody wanting to do a juice bar. She’d been looking in Fondren because that’s the health-conscious urban crowd.

But there’s not a lot of available space there. Within a five-minute drive time of

win. And the feeling lasts a long time.

I challenge you to make ten people smile and perform one random act of kindness a day. I challenge you to do it for the right reasons: for yourself.

When you make people smile, you smile. The power of that transfers immediately to all your other thoughts and you become happier. In fact, you look for ways to make other people smile because of the feeling that gives you.

And that’s a self-imposed blessing you can take to the grave.

From http://districtateastover.com/

In the center of a bustling trade area that includes four major medical centers, The District is easily accessible

by Interstate 55, resulting in a locale with an average household income of nearly $115,000, a daytime population of 100,000 and a daily traffic count in excess of 130,000 automobiles. The District at Eastover truly is Jackson’s City Center..

that area is the highest daytime population in the state of Mississippi. So that’s why Fondren and Highland Village are so successful. Regardless of anything else, you have 100,000 people within a five-minute

drive time. Compared to somebody in Madison, we’ve got three times more customers during the day within a five-minute drive time. I think that’s why the market is so tight in those places.”

Continued from Page 28

that takes a lot of energy and drive.

There’s nobody over your shoulder telling you what to do.”

What brought the two men together and keeps Click going is their love for fashion and a passion and allegiance to what they call “The Click Girl.”

Most of their customers range from high school and college-aged girls to young professional or young mothers.

“One of Click’s strengths is classic dressing and being true to who you are,” Myrick says. “Dress like you mean it, not to be showy or over the top but just comfortable and expressive.”

The future for Myrick and LeViere will indeed be full of expression. Already they have opened an accessories store called Twelve Oaks and are planning a hair salon and 24-hour fitness club.

“It just takes small businesses to create needs for people to have experiences,” Myrick says.

“What I really like about having a business is its like a family,” LeViere says, adding that he compares a future Front Street to Magazine Street in New Orleans.

“We’re a close-knit community. Downtown isn’t a place. Its an experience.”

“For so many years we admired the buildings and remember the stories of our parents that ate downtown and lived downtown,” Myrick says. “It’s about making downtown Hattiesburg current and accessible.”

INCORPORATIONS

30 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013 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 Jackson to Yazoo City. 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.

Jackson 1032 Westhaven, LLC LLC 1/29/13 3975 I-55 N 1742 Gibraltar, LLC LLC 1/29/13 3975 I-55 N 19 Eastparke LLC LLC 1/8/13 3023 West Northside Drive 2468 Fabrics-Columbus LLC LLC 10 Canebrake Blvd., Ste 200 Flowood 39232 1/24/13 3G Design Solutions LLC LLC 1/8/13 300 West South St 436 Highway 61 North Holdings, LLC

LLC

1/14/13 506 South President Street 452 Dunlap, LLC LLC 1/29/13 3975 I-55 N A Special Occasion LLC LLC 1/22/13 4444 North State St A Special Occasion Party Rental LLC 1/25/13 4444 North State St A.R.M. Solutions, Inc. BUS 1/28/13 506 South President Street AC Remedies LLC LLC 1/9/13 2084 Dunbarton Dr Ste a Accel Networks, LLC LLC 1/14/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Accelerated Care Plus Leasing, Inc.LLC 1/16/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Adams Spectrum LLC LLC 1/7/13 3861 Main St. Advanced Retail Merchandising Inc

BUS

1/2/13 506 South President Street Air Charter Services, Inc. BUS 1/16/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St All Clean Pressure Washing, LLC LLC 1/3/13 506 South President Street Allen Transport LLC LLC 1/25/13 506 South President Street Alliance Express DBA LLC 1/17/13 248 East Capitol Street, Suite 840 Angels of the Overseer FoundationNP 1/22/13 6607 Franklin Roosevelt Dr, Jackson, Ms. 39213 Angels on a Mission NP 1/17/13 506 South President Street Anorak LLC LLC 1/23/13 304 N Congress St Antonio Gibbs DBA OTH 1/16/13 5115 Old Canton Rd., Apt J6 Area 4044 LLC LLC 1/22/13 2915 North State Street ARM Energy Management LLC LLC 1/28/13 405 Briarwood Dr Ste 103 A Armon’s LLC LLC 1/28/13 544 Cedar Hurt Rd Ascension Benefits & Insurance Solutions DBA BUS 1/22/13401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building Ascension Benefits & Insurance Solutions DBA BUS 1/22/13401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building Ascension Insurance Inc. BUS 1/22/13401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building Balmoral Holdings Inc BUS 1/17/13 1220 Northside Drive Suite 200 BDR Group LLC LLC 1/14/13 260 Beechcrest Dr Benefit Services Association NP 1/25/13 506 South President Street Best Wok Inc BUS 1/7/13 225 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 600 Bethany House DBA LLC 1/16/13 506 South President Street Bill Post Inc BUS 1/9/13 318†S.†State†Street Blackston L.L.C. LLC 1/16/13 959 Briarfield Rd Blackston L.L.C. 1/15/13 959 Briarfield Rd Boho Water Sports LLC LLC 1/29/13 1211 Quinn St Boutique Medical Tourism LLC LLC 1/4/13 4266 I-55 North, Suite 106 Bracken Equipment Holdings, LLC LLC 1/24/13 100 Peach Pl Brumfield Brothers, LLC LLC 1/29/13 190 E. Capitol Street, Suite 100 Burst Adversting Agency, LLC LLC 1/17/13 795 West County Line Rd

BWM Services LLC LLC 1/2/13 4780 I-55 North C & B Towing LLC LLC 1/28/13 769 Neering Trail C. C. McCary, Inc BUS 1/15/13 5448 I-55 North Suite A C&C Transportation, LLC LLC 1/8/13 506 South President Street Caddo Communications Company Inc

BUS

1/14/13 2156 Stable Lane Canon Solutions America Inc. BUS 1/9/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Carmody Consulting LLC LLC 1/25/13 190 E. Capitol St., Suite 100 Cash Flow Corporation BUS 1/11/13 5163 South Dr Central National-Gottesman Inc BUS 1/29/13401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building CF Industries Nitrogen, LLC LLC 1/3/13 506 South President Street CF Industries Sales LLC LLC 1/3/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Chad Mars, L.L.C. LLC 1/2/13 721 N. State St. 5C Changing Your World Fitness LLC LLC 1/14/13 1119 Short Davis St Cheapest in the Land Auto Sales LLC

LLC

1/11/13 5425 Clinton Blvd Bldg. Sk7 Chula Acres, LLC LLC 1/3/13 190 E Capitol Street, Suite 100 (39201) Cobra Detective and Protective Services LLC LLC 1/7/13 1015 Adkins Boulevard ColFin JIH AHI Opco, LLC LLC 1/3/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Conkrete LLC LLC 1/8/13 111 East Capitol Street, Ste. 460 Consilium Capital Fund, LP LP 1/15/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Consilium Capital, LLC LLC 1/15/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Cook Transportation, LLC LLC 1/7/13 726 Alveredo St. Cooke Brothers Land and Timber Company LLC LLC 1/11/13 405 Tombigee St. Cornerstone Agency Services LLC LLC 1/4/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Covenant Mission Asia NP 1/28/13 5422 Clinton Blvd. #B14 Craft Operating Company XL, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102 Craft Operating Company XXXI, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102 Craft Operating Company XXXII, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102 Craft Operating Company XXXIII, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102 Craft Operating Company XXXIV, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102 Craft Operating Company XXXIX, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102 Craft Operating Company XXXV, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102 Craft Operating Company XXXVI, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102 Craft Operating Company XXXVII, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102 Craft Operating Company XXXVIII, LLC LLC 1/30/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 102

CW Acquisition Parent, LLC LLC 1/17/13 190 E. Capitol Street, Suite 100 Dapper Denim Designs Inc BUS 1/4/13 2258 Hickory Dr Denver Commercial Builders, Inc. BUS 1/18/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Digital Intelligence Systems, LLC LLC 1/22/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Donan Claim Services, LLC LLC 1/22/13 506 South President Street Drake Enterprises Ltd BUS 1/7/13 506 South President Street DUOCOR Inc BUS 1/23/13 103 Colony Sq Earthly Artistry LLC LLC 1/11/13 117 Claiborne Avenue Easy Ice LLC LLC 1/22/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St ECRF Hybrid, LLC LLC 1/2/13 5444 I-55 North Frontage Road Eldon Development, LLC LLC 1/22/13 2915 North State Street Electric Cowboy II, LLC LLC 1/28/13 125 S Congress Street Suite 1240 Electrostim Medical Services, Inc.BUS 1/14/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Emile Picarella, M.D., P.A. PA 1/22/13 971 Lakeland Drive, Suite 315 Ephesus Community Church NP 1/7/13 108 S President St

Exactech U.S., Inc. BUS 1/11/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Executive Auto Emporium Inc. BUS 1/16/13 6145 Amblewood Drive Express Ventures LLC LLC 1/22/13 4450 Old Canton Road, Suite 200 FAAC Incorporated BUS 1/18/13 506 South President Street Filtrona Plastics, LLC LLC 1/17/13 248 East Capitol Street, Suite 840 Finch Renting & Leasing Inc BUS 1/8/13 114 Horseshoe Circle Floyd’s LLC LLC 1/30/13 1723 Bailey Ave Former Sheriffs Associates of Mississippi NP 1/9/13 125 South Congress Street, Suite 1336 Forte Management Group LLC LLC 1/4/13 125 S Congress Street Suite 1240 FP33 LLC LLC 1/23/13 2761 Old Canton Road FRA LLC LLC 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St 1/9/13

January Transport Inc BUS 1/24/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Jerry Ralle & Associates LLC LLC 1/29/13 1510 Eastover Dr JMBB, LLC LLC 1/4/13 4450 Old Canton Rd, Ste 200, Jackson, Ms 39211 Jones Electrical Supply, LLC LLC 1/4/13 4450 Old Canton Rd, Ste 200, Jackson, Ms 39211 Kaget Enterprises LLC LLC 1/8/13 5811 N Dale St

Fred’s Lawn and Mobile Detailing Inc

Legacy Title and Land Services, LLC

BUS

1/28/13 2609 Ruthledge Avenue Garland Plantation, LLC LLC 1/28/13 120 North Congress Street, Suite 600 GEO Investments LLC LLC 1/14/13 4450 Old Canton Road, Suite 111 Gina’s Boutique LLC LLC 1/11/13 1408 Ellis Ave. #3, Jackson Ms 39204 Global Treatment Clinic, LLC LLC 1/11/13 2460 Terry Road, Suite 900 Glory G Transport, LLC LLC 1/11/13 1501 Jacksonian Pl Grace and Mercy Personal Care and Respite Services LLC LLC 1/28/13 102 Sandra Cove Gram’s Hideaway, LLC LLC 1/17/13 5335 Balmoral Dr Grayfeet Trucking LLC LLC 1/25/13 330 North Plaza Suite 12 (39206) Green Map Properties LLC LLC 1/15/13609 Muirwood Cir Ridgeland 39157 GRT Freight Brokers LLC LLC 1/11/13 843 Arbor Vista Blvd Hattiesburg Tea Party LLC LLC 1/30/13 506 South President Street Hays Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/10/13 4107 Northview Drive Suite D-1 HBG & Associates Inc BUS 1/24/13 805 East River Place 39202 Health Plan Intermediaries Holdings, LLCLLC 1/25/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St

Hicks Landscaping LLC LLC 1/9/13 488 Westhill Hood River Distillers, Inc BUS 1/24/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Hospice Advantage, LLC LLC 1/16/13 506 South President Street Hospice Angels Foundation, Inc NP 1/28/13 506 South President Street House of Prayer Church NP 1/4/13 521 Campbell St Howard Plumbing LLC LLC 1/25/13 707 Evergreen St Hull Historical, Inc. BUS 1/23/13 405 Briarwood Dr Ste 103 A Hypercolor Automotive Reconditioning, LLP LLP 1/15/13 113A Briarwood Dr I Back Jack Foundation Inc NP 1/28/13 405 Briarwood Dr Ste 103 A Icon Construction Group, LLC LLC 1/11/13 248 E. Capitol St, 840 Trustmark Building Incyte Corporation BUS 1/16/13 506 South President Street Infinity Roofing & Siding, Inc. BUS 1/28/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Instructure, Inc BUS 1/10/13 840 Trustmark Building Insurance Professionals of Mississippi, LLC LLC 1/11/13 1704 Linden Pl. Integrity Computer Solutions LLC LLC 1/30/13 5140 Parkway Drive Interstate Cleaning Corporation BUS 1/7/13 506 South President Street Interstate Recovery Service Inc BUS 1/16/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Iron Mountain Incorporated 1/18/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST J, S & R, LLC LLC 1/4/13361 Valley Street, Jackson, Ms 39209 J5 Auto Sales, Inc. BUS 1/17/13 2210 Scanlon Drive 39204 Jabarco, LLC LLC 1/7/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St January Environmental Services Inc BUS 1/24/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St

Kids Stride Limited Liability Company LLC 1/14/13 1001 Reserve Dr. Clinton Ms. 39056

KLL, LLC 1/22/13

LLC 2915 North State Street

KLLM Equipment Sales & Leasing, LLC

LLC

1/16/13 134 Riverview Drive Knowledge Institute New Generation Scholars Leadership Institute NP 1/8/13 931 Hwy 80 W Suite 228/229 L and B, LLC LLC 1/8/13 3457 Shannon Dale Dr Lassiter Development, LLC LLC 1/4/13 401 East Capitol Street LLC

1/11/13 5309 Fairway St Lenny’s Franchise Systems, LLC LLC 1/3/13 506 South President Street Lloyd’s Register Drilling Integrity Services, Inc BUS 1/14/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Local Staff, LLC LLC 1/2/13 506 South President Street LRB Products Inc BUS 1/16/13 506 South President Street LTC Financial Partners LLC LLC 1/7/13 840 Trustmark Building LTC Financial, LLC LLC 1/7/13 840 Trustmark Building M. W. Rogers Construction, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St M. W. Rogers Construction, Inc. of TexasBUS

1/25/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St M&W Main Events LLC LLC 1/22/13 2912 Lakewood Drive MADdesign LLC LLC 1/28/13 1730 Brecon Drive Main Street Rentals, LLC LLC 1/29/13 318 South State Street Maley Land and Energy Inc BUS 1/2/13 3815 Dogwood Dr Mar Dev Investments LLC LLC 1/15/13 223 Millsaps Avenue Maregade Rx, LLC LLC 1/3/13 190 East Capitol St., Suite 100 (39201) Maregaderx LLC LLC 1/3/13 190 East Capitol St., Suite 100 (39201) Marion Holdings LLC LLC 1/2/13 Suite 200, 814 N President St, Jackson, Ms 39202 Mason’s Properties, LLC LLC 1/25/13 6385 Woodstock Dr McPhail Construction, Inc BUS 1/31/13 5368 I-55 South Medical Mall Health Connect Mississippi LLC LLC 1/10/13 4268 I-55 North Meridian Abstract and Title, LLC LLC 1/10/13 566 Warrior Trail Michael W Koury, PA PA 1/18/13 4450 Old Canton Rd, Ste 200, Jackson, MS 39211 Mississippi (MS) Move LLC LLC 1/11/13 2803 Duane St. Mississippi Association of Licensed Childcare Providers NP 1/16/13 5462 Watkins Dr Mississippi Disability Megaconference NP

1/18/13 210 E Capitol St Suite 600 Molar Realty LLC LLC 1/24/13 466 W. Northside Dr Moody National Management, L.P. LP 1/4/13 506 South President Street MS Onshore LLC LLC 1/8/13 1368 Old Fannin Road, Suite 300 MSBB Simmons Giles Plantations LLC

LLC

1/9/13 4450 Old Canton Road Suite 200 MSOSI Security Group, LLC LLC 1/29/13 4744 I-55 N. Murriel’s Imports LLC LLC 1/8/13 4434 West Northside Drive MV Air, LLC LLC 1/22/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St National Insurance Marketing Brokers, LLC LLC 1/10/13 4268 I-55 North Nav Carr Inc BUS 1/23/13 1201D Ellis Ave naviHealth, Inc BUS 1/14/13 506 South President Street NGCP, LLC LLC 1/22/13 904 Morningside Drive North Mill Equipment Finance LLC LLC 1/22/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St

Northside Texaco LLC LLC 1/22/13 123 W. Northside Drive Northwind Engineering, LLC LLC 1/28/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Northwind Solutions, LLC LLC 1/28/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Noyes Fiber Systems, LLC LLC 1/7/13 840 Trustmark Building Nubox Services of MS, LLC LLC 1/9/13 2618 Southerland St Oakley Excavation LLC LLC 1/22/13 405 Briarwood Dr Ste 103 A Omnitracs, Inc. 1/2/13 506 South President Street One Potato, LLC LLC 1/25/13 119 S President St ORIGIO Inc. BUS 1/31/13 506 South President Street Outdoor Property Solutions, LLC LLC 1/9/13 5691 Beechwood Drive (39206) Park Place Technologies, LLC LLC 1/14/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Parkmed, Inc. BUS 1/2/13 2500 N. State Street Peachtree Columbus II Manager, Inc

BUS

1/16/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Pearls Southern Cooking Inc BUS 1/3/13 3505 Terry Road, Ste. 199 Peck LLC LLC 1/29/13 1647 Lakeland Dr Pentaverate Properties LLC LLC 1/9/13 1521 Howard Street Personal Defensive Firearm Training, LLCLLC

1/2/13 506 South President Street Petrodome Pineville, LLC LLC 1/31/13 840 Trustmark Building Phones, PC’s & More LLC LLC 1/16/13 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave #200A Pointe1 Tax Services-Jackson LLC LLC 1/7/13 1520 Ellis Avenue (39204) Precision Lawn Care, LLC LLC 1/8/13 506 South President Street Premier Service Solutions, LLC LLC 1/11/13 931 Hwy 80 W Prissy Paintbrush Foundation NP 1/18/13 2501 River Oaks Blvd. Apt. 71 Production Services Management Inc BUS 1/28/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Psychological Care Services of MS LLC LLC 1/2/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St

Quality Imports, LLC LLC 1/15/13 5448 I-55 North Suite A Quick Auto Sales LLC LLC 1/3/13 110 Winthrop Court Raymond Road GP, LLC LLC 1/22/13 506 South President Street Reconn Construction Services DBA BUS 1/18/13840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St

Remack Computer Consultants LLCLLC 1/24/13 324 Cedar Hurst Dr Renet Chere, LLC LLC 1/22/13 6607 Franklin Roosevelt Dr Jackson, Ms. 39213 Rich Timber, LLC LLC 1/15/13300 Concourse Blvd., Suite 300 ( Ridgeland 39157) Ridgewood Jackson MS LLC LLC 1/17/13 506 South President Street Roberts Residential Services LLC LLC 1/25/13 405 Briarwood Dr Ste 103 A S & R Construction LLC LLC 1/15/13 3995 Terry Rd S&K Check Cashing & More, LLC LLC 1/14/13 506 South President Street S3 Investments, LLC LLC 1/4/13 506 South President Street Senior-Living.com Inc BUS 1/2/13 401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building SGN, LLC LLC 1/30/13 2039 Petit Bois Silver Airways Corp BUS 1/11/13 506 South President Street Siney, LLC LLC 1/3/13 501 Marshall Street, Suite 406 SiteMaster, Inc. BUS 1/16/13 840 Trustmark Building Solutionstar Realty Services LLC LLC 1/11/13 506 South President Street Sorrento II Management, LLC LLC 1/16/13 1227 East Fortification Street Southeast Boiler & Rigging LLC LLC 1/4/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Southern Anesthesia & Surgical, Inc

BUS

1/3/13 506 South President Street Southern Smoke Grill LLC LLC 1/28/13 435 Merigold Dr Southwest Annuities Marketing LLC LLC 1/23/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St

Spectrum Tide, LLC LLC 1/17/13 781 Larson Street Spevco, Inc. BUS 1/28/13 506 South President Street

Spire Hospitality, LLC LLC 1/8/13 401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building Spotless Commercial Cleaning DBA

1/16/13

OTH

5115 Old Canton Rd., Apt J6

Sta-Home Health Agency of Carthage LLCLLC

1/7/13 406 Briarwood Drive, Suite 200 Sta-Home Health Agency of Greenwood LLC LLC 1/7/13 406 Briarwood Drive, Suite 200 Sta-Home Health Agency of Jackson LLC LLC

1/7/13

406 Briarwood Drive, Suite 200

Starkville Hotel Group I Manager, Inc

1/28/13

BUS

506 South President Street

Starkville Hotel Group II Manager, Inc. BUS

1/29/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Steelhead Run Properties, LLC LLC 1/3/13 190 E Capitol Street, Suite 100 (39201) STW Brothers LLC LLC 1/2/13 405 Briarwood Dr. Ste 103A Style Energy (US) Ltd BUS 1/18/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Sunil’s Home DBA NP 1/28/13 506 South President Street Super Food Services, Inc BUS 1/23/13 506 South President Street Supercell Inc. BUS 1/30/13 1166 Greymont Ave Supercell Mobile, Inc BUS 1/4/13 1166 Greymont Ave Superclean Service Company, Inc BUS 1/25/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St SweetIndulgenceByKay LLC LLC 1/18/13 449 Pine Ridge Rd Talonnax Spectrum Holdings, LLC LLC 1/29/13 1400 Meadowbrook Road, Suite 100 Tau South, LLC LLC 1/23/13 506 South President Street The 4-Famaliez, LLC LLC 1/2/13 506 South President Street The Hope Center in Jackson NP 1/4/13 929 Valley Park The Intuitive Biomedical Solution Inc

BUS

1/24/13 405 Briarwood Dr Ste 103 A The March Group LLC LLC 1/10/13 5150 Keele St The Pines at Barnes Crossing II LLCLLC 1/23/13 400 East Capitol Street The Rutland Company LLC LLC 1/25/13 1485 Livingston Lane TK Group II, LLC LLC 1/15/13 6059 Old Camton Rd Tokyo Express MS LLC LLC 1/16/13 5050 I 55 N Ste D Tom Levy Auto LLC LLC 1/16/13 2632 Bailey Ave Top Prospect, LLC LLC 1/9/13300 Concourse Blvd., Suite 200 (Ridgeland 39157) Touch of Glory Enterprise LLC LLC 1/4/13 4907 Westwood Dr. Tri-State Occupational Medicine, Inc. BUS 1/14/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St

Tri-State Physicians, P.C. PA 1/28/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Tri-State Physicians, P.S.C. PA 1/28/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St Trotter and Associates Inc BUS 1/25/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St TUGAW Properties Inc BUS 1/25/13 307 Myer Ave Union Home Mortgage Corp.

BUS 1/2/13 506 South President Street Union Tank Car Company, Inc. BUS 1/16/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Unipec America, Inc. BUS 1/22/13 840 Trustmark Building Van Forest Products, LLC LLC 1/31/13 190 East Capitol Street, Suite 100 Vascular Access Team, LLC LLC 1/16/13 156 Ramada Circle VAT DBA LLC 1/16/13 156 Ramada Circle Vaughan Goodman Fine Art & Interiors, LLC LLC 1/18/13 3970 Lakeland Lane, Jackson, MS 39216 VB Taxes Co. BUS 1/3/13 440 Bounds St. Venture Capital Investments LLC LLC 1/2/13 1437 Old Square Road Suite 202 Vitran Mississippi LLC LLC 1/2/13840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St VLOAN DBA BUS 1/2/13 506 South President Street VLoan Mortgage DBA BUS 1/2/13 506 South President Street von Drehle Natchez, LLC LLC 1/16/13 840 Trustmark Bldg 248 E Capitol St VSP Labs, Inc BUS 1/22/13 506 South President Street Vu Digital, LLC 1/29/13 190 E. Capitol Street, Suite 100

Vu Digital, LLC LLC 1/30/13 190 E. Capitol Street, Suite 100 W. K. Kellogg Foundation NP 1/9/13 506 South President Street Walter L Clark & Associates Inc BUS 1/22/13401 East Capitol 100-M Heritage Building Water Lake, LLC LLC 1/25/13 400 East Capitol Street (39201) Watkins Acy Strunk Design, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 1602 SW Linda Dr., Clinton 39056 We Make It Better Foundation, Inc NP 1/15/13 1400 Meadowbrook Rd Ste 100 Where Are You Headed? LLC LLC 1/7/13 508 Clubview Drive Wilder McClain Construction LLC LLC 1/18/13 506 South President Street Wilson Plumbing & Construction, LLC

LLC

1/22/13 3114 Burch Street Wood Group Mustang, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 506 South President Street WWEEM Enterprises LLC LLC 1/25/13 351 Edgewood Terrace Xerox Education Services, LLC LLC 1/16/13 506 SOUTH PRESIDENT ST Yates Save-A-Seed Foundation NP 1/31/13 3736 Newman Ave Youth Athletic Association NP 1/30/13 5185 Harrow Dr

Jonestown St Paul Initiative for Reconstructive Identify & Teaching NP 1/7/13 200 Main St

Kiln RCG and GG Veterinary Consultants PLLC PLLC 1/31/13 6027 Pontiac Dr

Kokomo Jason Rockco Farms LLC LLC 1/28/13 264 Watts Dunaway Road Thomas Pough Licensed Professional Therapist LLC LLC 1/28/13 39 Bethany Lane

Kosciusko B & K Rentals LLC LLC 1/3/13 2141 Highway 43 South J.D. Cheek Properties, LLC LLC 1/24/13 2296 Attala Road 1007

Lake Cormorant C & M Flooring LLC LLC 1/14/13 8300 Flicker Ridge

Lauderdale Landmark of Mississippi LLC LLC 1/25/13 9093 East Parkway North

Laurel B Clean Transportation, Inc. BUS 1/28/13 321 Lower Myrick Road B’nai Isreal Congregation NP 1/29/13 3241 Fant Drive 39440 Daniel Ivey Store.com LLC LLC 1/25/13 320 Church Dr Fotoshoebox LLC LLC 1/24/13 415 N Magnolia Street Lorrie’s Furniture, LLC LLC 1/15/13 5297 Hwy 84 West Mimi’s Bridal & Formal Wear, LLC LLC 1/22/13 515 North 16th Avenue R & B Farms, LLC LLC 1/8/13 64 Wooten Dean Rd Saul Hotshot, LLC LLC 1/11/13 881 Shady Grove-Moss Rd Xtra Innings LLC LLC 1/31/13 2909 Wheeler Dr Your 24/7 Fitness Center & Tanning

1/10/13

OTH

159 Lower Myrick Rd

Leland Mammy Grudge Mud Pottery, Inc.BUS 1/15/13 260 Geneill Rd Weilenman Farms LLC LLC 1/14/13 501 Northwest Deer Creek Drive Wills & Wills Metal Works, LLC LLC 1/25/13 4065 Hwy 82 East

Lena Bell Livestock Inc BUS 1/2/13 1141 Highway 500 GracEm Construction Company LLCLLC 1/15/13 1195 Midway Rd

INCORPORATIONS J & J Outdoor Specialist LLC LLC 1/16/13 592 Utah Road Quik Change Oil & Lube LLC LLC 1/30/13 1230 Piggstown Road

Madison

Liberty

1/15/13

D & M Woodworks, LLC LLC 1/18/13 5210 Coleman Road J Mchale 1961 LLC LLC 1/31/13 293 W Blalock Cr

1/15/13 116 One Madison Plaza, Suite 2100 (39110) Artis-Bingham Enterprise, Inc. BUS 1/30/13 242 Hickory Glen Ball Mechanical Inc BUS 1/30/13 123 Fieldcrest Drive Biggs Fryant, LLC LLC 1/17/13 130 Langdon Drive Biggs Ventures, LLC LLC 1/16/13 130 Langdon Drive BMKM Properties, LLC LLC 1/23/13 115 Homestead Drive Broadway Partners III, L.P. LP 1/4/13 124 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1500 BTS Ventures, LLC LLC 1/18/13 124 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1500 C&Y Holdings, LLC LLC 1/4/13 340 Dover Lane

Beth Arnold Realty, LLC LLC 1/16/13 826 East Railroad Street Between the Sight DBA LLC 1/3/13 125 Jeff Davis Avenue Bill Spence LLC LLC 1/15/13 113 E. Second Street Calm Water Capital DBA OTH 1/18/13 5003 Oak Court Consolidated Electrical Distributors DBAOTH

1/22/13 2 Woodward Circle Crosswalk Faith Based Counseling & Community Outreach Inc NP 1/4/13 528 North Klondyke Ste H Daniel David Thurtell DBA OTH 1/18/13 5003 Oak Court Gulf Contracting LLC LLC 1/2/13 199 East Od Pass Rd Gulf South Insurance Agency Inc BUS 1/9/13 304 E Railroad St Legendary Turf Management Inc BUS 1/23/13 113 E Second Street Long Beach Truck Sales & Salvage LLC

LLC

1/2/13 9255 County Farm Road M.E. Ellis Construction LLC LLC 1/17/13 605 Lynn Avenue Suite C Timothy D. Ringgold DBA OTH 1/22/13 2 Woodward Circle Urgent Care of Long Beach, LLC LLC 1/28/13 200 West Rr St WMC Enterprises LLC LLC 1/3/13 125 Jeff Davis Avenue

Louise Belita Daycare and Learning CenterNP 1/11/13 55 Melvin Reed Jr Circle

Louisville Aberdeen Refinery Plant, Inc BUS 1/8/13 3462 Enon Rd Brown Eyed Girl Designs LLC LLC 1/15/13 112 Woods Street Heritage Place Apartments, L.P. LP 1/17/13 1659 Highway 15 South Bypass Heritage Place GP, LLC LLC 1/15/13 1659 Highway 15 South Bypass Northside Drive Apartments, L.P. LP 1/17/13 1659 Highway 15 South Bypass Northside Drive GP, LLC LLC 1/24/13 1659 Highway 15 South Bypass R and B Management and Leasing Inc BUS

590 East Main Street

C & W Precision Construction DBA

OTH

1/18/13 230 W. Wilkerson Ferry Road CTM Real Estate LLC LLC 1/30/13 134 Ashton Dr DK Adjusting Services, Inc. BUS 1/8/13 2270 Twin Creek Rd Great Southern Sports LLC LLC 1/1/13 123 Hickory Lane Kirkland & Kirkland, LLC LLC 1/2/13 6850 Pine Top Rd Whitetail Properties of Mississippi LLC LLC

1/31/13 196 Day Rd William Graham DBA OTH 1/18/13 230 W. Wilkerson Ferry Road

Lumberton LLC 293 E Main Ave

Whisling Dixie Farms & Kennels LLC

1/23/13

LLC

1825 Springhill Rd

Maben Norwood Parts & Accessories, Inc.BUS 1/30/13 4539 MS Hwy 15

Macon C Boy Inc. 1/25/13

116 One Madison Plaza, Suite 2100 (39110)

Capital Emergency Physicians PLLC

BUS 202 S Wayne St

PLLC

1/28/13 520 Florence Drive Chestnut Creek, LLC LLC 1/14/13 116 Oakmont Dr Dhunna Brothers LLC LLC 1/3/13 468 Fairfield Dr Dynamic Consulting and Workshop Services LLC LLC 1/30/13 542 Spring Hill Dr East Market Street GP, LLC LLC 1/4/13 124 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1500 Embellished Events & Interiors LLCLLC 1/14/13 124 Aspen Drive Extreme Design, LLC LLC 1/25/13 115 Homestead Drive Extreme Holdings LLC LLC 1/25/13 115 Homestead Drive Faithful Hearts Ministries, LLC LLC 1/25/13 160 Crosscreek Drive Flippin Partners, L.P. LP 1/4/13 124 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1500 Foundation Academy LLC LLC 1/11/13 134 Palin Drive G. Turner Ventures, LLC LLC 1/11/13 115 Homestead Dr Grove Learning Center Inc BUS 1/29/13 1300 Hwy 51 Gutters for Less, LLC LLC 1/22/13 114 Bristol Way Havana Club LLC LLC 1/10/132662 Hwy 80 W ( Jackson, 39204) Highland Prepatory Academy NP 1/3/13 1888 Main Street, Suite C #257 Hillside Park GP, LLC LLC 1/4/13 124 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1500 Innovative Logistics, LLC LLC 1/30/13 105 Willowood Cove JE Watson Snap On Tools, LLC LLC 1/15/13831 Rice Road Apt 1131 ( Ridgeland 39157) Jewels by Jen LLC LLC 1/29/13 184 Traceland Dr Just Visiting Jail LLC LLC 1/24/13 150 Fountains Blvd., Suite B Kennedy Investment Consultants LLC

Lucedale

China Wok LLC 1/11/13

Apartment Construction Specialist, LLC LLC Apartment Development Specialist, LLC LLC

Long Beach

1/17/13

A Clean Sweep Janitorial, LLC LLC 1/15/13 105 Bristol Dr

LLC

1/3/13 217 Hoy Road Suite a KMBM Properties, LLC LLC 1/23/13 115 Homestead Drive Kruger, LLC LLC 1/23/13 141 Fenwick Circle Kylan Properties, LLC LLC 1/23/13 115 Homestead Drive LAGB, LLC LLC 1/9/13 456 Annandale Parkway LaMoon LLC LLC 1/23/13 456 Annandale Parkway Little Miss Social LLC LLC 1/29/13 123 Glenwood Bend Little Rock Landscape, Inc. BUS 1/14/13 131 Ashbrooke Trail Live Oaks Mississippi LLC LLC 1/4/13 165 Reunion Boulevard Lucille McHenry Litchfield LLC LLC 1/8/13 320 Kingsbridge Rd Luketavious Aviation LLC LLC 1/8/13 103 Essex Court M310 LLC LLC 1/25/13 243 Caroline Blvd.

Madison Growers LLC LLC 1/16/13 618 Magnolia McCabe Properties, LLC LLC 1/22/13 136 Moss Lane McCabe Realty, LLC LLC 1/22/13 136 Moss Lane Metz Exploration LLC LLC 1/4/13 130 Grayhawk Drive MGBC Jaques, Inc. BUS 1/14/13 347 Long Cove Drive

May 17, 2013

Mississippi Information & Technology Schools NP 1/18/13 614 Huntington Dr MV Holdings LLC dba MediVation LLC 1/30/13 115 Homestead Dr Park Plaza GP III, LLC LLC 1/4/13 124 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1500 Park Plaza III GP, LLC LLC 1/4/13 124 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1500 Professional Nurse Consulting and Advocacy Group, Inc BUS 1/11/13 108 Springwater Cove Rebel Rental Properties LLC LLC 1/2/13 127 Foxchase Dr. Reed B Ingram, CPA PLLC PLLC 1/18/13 812 Beaumont Drive Reliance Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/25/13 106 Whisper Lake Blvd RTB Investments LLC LLC 1/22/13 112 Belle Pointe Searcy Partners, L.P. LP 1/4/13 124 One Madison Plaza, Suite 1500 ShipShape Commercial Cleaners LLC

LLC

1/29/13 132 Wind Dance Drive Southern Print Company DBA LLC 1/17/13 130 Langdon Drive STS Holdings, LLC LLC 1/3/13 455 Pebble Creek Drive Sunset Bay LLC LLC 1/7/13 142 Beaufort Circle T B Investments, LLC LLC 1/24/13 111 Chenal Court Tanks for all the Fishes Aquarium maintenance and Cleaning Services, LLC LLC

1/14/13 240 Trace Harbor Rd The Elkin Group, LLC LLC 1/31/13 103 Lakeview Court Tikes 2 Tots Family Childcare LLC LLC 1/2/13 133 Derby Drive W. Walters, LLC LLC 1/24/13 104 Sycamore Ridge Wayne Consulting, LLC LLC 1/25/13 115 Homestead Drive Yowell Consulting, LLC LLC 1/8/13 164 Trace Cove Drive

Magnolia Complex Tech Solutions, LLC LLC 1/14/13 215 East Bay Street South Miniature Horse Confederation

NP

1/29/13 2107 Union Church Rd Travis and Graham Country Acres, LLC LLC 1/25/13 2183 Terry’s Creek Rd

Mantachie WesTech Ms LLC 1/28/13

LLC 258 Tishtontee Dr

Bama Crawfish, LLC LLC 1/24/13 1724A 23rd Avenue Brewer Road, LLC LLC 1/30/13 100 49Th Avenue Brighter Day Outreach Center Inc NP 1/31/13 2405 51St Ave Cole Properties of Mississippi, L.L.C.

LLC

1/14/13 2103 5Th Street Easy Flow Plumbing LLC LLC 1/23/13 3507 20Th St. Grey cloud L.L.C. LLC 1/18/13 5418 Valley St Growe Industries, LLC LLC 1/16/13 2331 34Th Street Hair & Beyond, LLC LLC 1/18/13 9 Luther Walker Road JOJ Alys Beach LLC LLC 1/9/13 1724A 23rd Avenue King’s Quality Auto LLC LLC 1/23/13 3507 20Th St. McDavis, LLC LLC 1/30/13 505 Constitution Avenue Mr. I mmaculute LLC LLC 1/4/13 4015 37Th St Myers Masonry, LLC LLC 1/11/13 8452 Highway 45 North OTR Enterprises, Inc. BUS 1/2/13 1702 Highway 39n Ste 4 Parables Church NP 1/7/13 6302 Cherry Street Professional Lawn Care Services Inc

BUS

1/14/13 9301 Allen Swamp Rd SCH-Meridian, Inc. BUS 1/23/13 2701 S Frontage Road I-55

Johnson Creek Timber Company Inc

BUS

12609 Ms Hwy 15

Mathiston

Mize ARRT Investments, LLC LLC 1/17/13 1365 SCR 64 Outlaw Guns LLC LLC 1/31/13 657 S C R 26 Pesado Energy Services, LLC LLC 1/31/13 318 North Oak St.

Buddy French Fishing Inc. BUS 1/23/13 39 Bobby Carroll Dr Peyton Enterprises Inc BUS 1/10/13 131 Green St

4 AB Properties LLC LLC 1/8/13 109 Sunny Meadows Lane Affordable Transportation, LLC LLC 1/24/13 1630 Cr 1589

Mendenhall Down South Mississippi LLC LLC 1/30/13 3339 Suite a Simpson Hwy 49

Nettleton

New Albany

Crawdads, LLC LLC 1/14/13 102 Park Street Earl’s Concrete, LLC LLC 1/25/13 118 Brukner/Kiker Road Lex Davis Land & Timber LLC LLC 1/24/13 446 Pemble Rd RM Construction of Merigold LLC LLC 1/9/13 125 Hannah Road

McComb

Okhissa Lake Tackle LLC LLC 1/31/13 652 Low Water Bridge Rd

Ages, LLC LLC 1/17/13 4689 Big Horn Dr South H2A Complete II, Inc. 1/17/13 4930 Horn Lake Rd H2A Complete II, Inc. BUS 1/18/13 4930 Horn Lake Rd Hwy 51 Mart, Inc BUS 1/29/13 3001 Hwy 51 N Ste A Triad Properties LLC LLC 1/8/13 2170 Manning Circle East

Merigold

Mooreville

Meadville

Nesbit

1/24/13 8325A Poplar Springs Dr Z Bridge, LLC LLC 1/16/13 1724 A 23rd Avenue

Southern Mobile Home and R V Park, LLCLLC

GTO East Properties, LLC LLC 1/22/13 17783 US Hwy 82

D.D.S. LLC LLC 1/4/13 5161 Hwy 48 W D.D.S. Properties LLC LLC 1/4/13 5161 Hwy 48 W Ginny’s Christian Bookstore LLC LLC 1/1/13 102 Laurel Street Suite A Integrated Strategies, LLC LLC 1/25/13 112 Commerce Street LeeAnn Slipher, Attorney, LLC LLC 1/8/13 101 Main Street Resolution Solutions LLC LLC 1/28/13 2042 Cole Thomas Rd Smith Termite & Pest Control LLC LLC 1/1/13 4128 Fernwood Rd Superior Drywall Systems, LLC LLC 1/25/13 1412 Delaware Ave 315 Trinity Three LLC LLC 1/9/13 102 Laurel Street Suite A V.J. Express, Inc. BUS 1/29/13 102 Laurel Street Suite A

Framing The Red LLC LLC 1/2/13 283C John R. Junkin Drive Joe Meng Attorney at Law PC PA 1/7/13 205 S Broadway St M R P Earthworks LLC LLC 1/8/13 6 Gloucester Heights Milliken Eye Care, LLC LLC 1/30/13 239 John R. Junkin Drive Naff’s AVA LLC LLC 1/4/13 23 Melanie Road Off Call Productions, LLC LLC 1/10/13 322 Main Street Sanders Law Firm PLLC PLLC 1/9/13 133 South Commerce Street, Suite 103 Troy Toy’s LLC Software LLC 1/14/13 53 Lost Creek Rd Ziegler Investments LLC LLC 1/25/13 106 South Wall Street, 2nd Floor

Life Changing Mentor Developement Program LLC LLC 1/3/13 30009 Lloyd Trail Life Changing Mentor Developement Program LLC 1/3/13 30009 Lloyd Trail

Monticello

Mantee 1/14/13

Meridian

Morton New Liberty Baptist Church Cemetery IncNP

1/17/13

6087 Highway 481 N

Moselle TJC Farm, LLC 1/8/13

LLC 30 Tranquility Lane

Moss Point Dee’s Auto Repair, L.L.C. LLC 1/24/13 8304 Highway 614 Nabhasa Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/22/13 6821 Hwy 613

Natchez Asher Oil and Gas Exploration LLC LLC 1/18/13 517 South Canal St. Beauty Town, Inc BUS 1/28/13 261 Deveraux Dr Birnamwood Properties LLC LLC 1/11/13 1322 Martin Luther King Jr Rd Boyd Island Pipeline LLC LLC 1/31/13 280 Highland Blvd.

Carthage Point Planting Company LLC

1/1/13

LLC

176 McGehee Rd

CEC Properties LLC LLC 1/7/13 1112 Wesson Tate Drive H Mccurry Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/29/13 413 North St The Weathered Cottage LLC LLC 1/25/13 1119 Bratton Road, Apt. 402

Newton Splash Pools, LLC LLC 1/10/13 251 Northside Dr. Unc & Newphew BBQ Sports Grill OTH 1/2/13 204 East Dr.

Oak Vale Society Hill Baptist Church Inc NP 1/18/13 3881 Highway 13

Ocean Springs 3005 Shell Landing, LLC LLC 1/9/13 2750 Bienville Blvd Asian American Action Network NP 1/3/13 2903 Katy Lane Board No More DBA OTH 1/14/13 202 Troon Cir BYO Brush, LLC LLC 1/18/13 1204 Bienville Blvd Contract Paralegals LLC LLC 1/15/13 2016 Bienville Blvd.

Cooley Mobile Development LLC LLC 1/10/13 710 General Pershing Ave Cruz Masonry Construction Inc. BUS 1/30/13 9220 Persimmon Ave Esscence’s Boutique, LLC LLC 1/10/13 3011 Village Circle Eyedok, Inc. BUS 1/18/13 2510 Bienville Boulevard Frontier Gulf Coast, LLC LLC 1/9/13 433 East Beach Drive Go Quest, LLC LLC 1/29/13 1000 Government St Ste E Gulf Coast Connection, LLC LLC 1/10/13 10600 Derry Lane ISR Ideas: Poss and Associates, LLC

LLC

1/4/13 3611 Perryman Road ISSI Contractors, LLC LLC 1/17/13 1048 Thorn Avenue J & R Rentals LLC LLC 1/28/13 3410 Hermitage Court J Laurie Shoe Boutique LLC LLC 1/28/13 14213 El Camino Real Road Land and Sea Adventures LLC LLC 1/15/13 8201 Clamshell Ave LG Appraisal Services LLC LLC 1/7/13 6108 Moreton Place Live Oak on the Bay Owner’s Association Inc NP 1/18/13 3925 Highway 57

I

Mississippi Business Journal

Lynn McAlister-Baker DBA OTH 1/14/13 202 Troon Cir Magnolia Springs Owner’s Association Inc NP 1/18/13 3925 Highway 57 Mayhone Elder Law, PLLC PLLC 1/11/13 2112 Bienville Blvd., Suite H-2 New Direction Ventures LLC LLC 1/18/13 912 Robinson Avenue Our Lost Horizon, LLC LLC 1/14/13 1406 Bienville Blvd., Suite 101 Paws Most Wanted Inc NP 1/17/13 14012 Glendale Rd Unit C Quality Home Health Care of the Gulf Coast, Inc. BUS 1/29/13 3818 Bergerac Lane Ram Heritage LLC LLC 1/31/13 6209 Silverleaf Dr. W. Smart Design Properties, LLC LLC 1/23/13 6324 Langland Dr (39564) Smart Design Properties, LLC 1/23/13 6324 Langland Dr (39564) Staci L Newman LLC LLC 1/30/13 10703 Serene Cove The Gardens Pharmacy, LLC LLC 1/18/13 996 N. Halstead Road The Toner People LLC LLC 1/23/13 103 Rouselle Place Ste C V & J LLC LLC 1/14/13 14085 Oakview Circle Voodoo Cantina, LLC LLC 1/11/13 100 Doswell Ct Zen Salon and Spa LLC LLC 1/23/13 9124 Oyster Shell Ave

Olive Branch A Worthy Affair, LLC LLC 1/25/13 13080 Brayborne Cross BB&T Auto Sales LLC LLC 1/7/13 5260 Hacks Cross Road Chemical Brokers Inc BUS 1/23/13 9265 Laurel Hill South Clearview Home Improvements Inc

BUS

1/17/13 8611 Saddle Creek Drive Davis Import Automotice LLC LLC 1/2/13 6658 White Hawk Land Decanter Tours LLC LLC 1/29/13 8830 Parkview Oaks Circle DeSoto County Chiropractic, Inc. BUS 1/23/13 4611 Robinson Loop E Highway78 Inc. BUS 1/30/13 9086 Pigeon Roost Rd. #103 J&H Marketing Group Inc. BUS 1/7/13 7155 Kerr Pl NEXCEL Properties LLC LLC 1/8/13 13191 Arbor Dr Novus Day Enterprise LLC 1/28/136615 Goodman Road Suite 4 #254 Pine Tar Acres LLC LLC 1/7/13 6494 Shenandoah Ln Sierra Engineering LLC LLC 1/9/13 5745 Stone Street Small Change Trucking Corp BUS 1/14/13 6151 Ivy Cover Cove SPS Services LLC LLC 1/9/13 5745 Stone Street SSCB LLC LLC 1/29/13 12821 Whispering Pines Drive Stevenson Enterprises LLC LLC 1/15/13 8052 Christian Court Vixen Entertainment LLC LLC 1/16/13 6041 Asbury Place

Osyka Tanner Welding LLC LLC 1/14/13 1133 Centerville Road Varnado Brothers LLC LLC 1/31/13 4033 State Line Rd

Ovett Pickering Angus Ranch LLC LLC 1/4/13 398 George Boutwell Road

Oxford Billedeaux Hearing Center, L.L.C. LLC 1/25/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C CCL Ag, LLC LLC 1/25/13 1357 Hwy 6 East CDCK Holdings, LLC LLC 1/30/13 801 Pecan Cove Cellar Door Properties LLC LLC 1/3/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Clandestime LLC LLC 1/23/13 156 Cypress Cir Day Dreamin’ Properties, LLC LLC 1/14/13 812 Park Drive Exhale Oxford, LLC LLC 1/14/13 1103-A Jackson Ave W

I

31

Fleet Building Company LLC LLC 1/8/13 3839 Majestic Oaks Drive Greer Gardens on the Go LLC LLC 1/15/13 705 Long Meadow Dr Harold Wilson & Associates, Inc. BUS 1/24/13 204 The Globe Loop-The Hamlet I Mortgage Services, LLC LLC 1/14/13 405 Galleria Lane Suite C Jimmy Mart LLC LLC 1/2/13 1625 Hwy 30 KOD Accounting Clean-up Services, LLC LLC

1/25/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Lafayette Lower Elementary PTO NP 1/9/13 150 Commodore Drive Lafayette Upper Elementary PTO NP 1/18/13 120 Commodore Drive Lake Store LLC LLC 1/25/13 1625 Hwy 30 Laura Martin Consulting LLC LLC 1/23/13 115 Westbury Circle Mil-Spec Consulting Group LLC LLC 1/24/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Money First Entertainment LLC LLC 1/30/13 103A Courthouse Square Nationwide Security Solutions, Inc.

BUS

1/25/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Nelco Properties LLC LLC 1/23/13 299 South 9th Street Suite 101 Online Reading Club Inc BUS 1/23/13 814 Jackson Ave Outfuse, LLC LLC 1/14/13 11 County Road 154 Oxford Commercial Cleaners “LLC”LLC 1/2/13 281 Cr 105 Oxford Custom Garage Doors, LLC LLC 1/22/13 25 County Road 287 Oxford Taxi, LLC LLC 1/29/13 110 Victory Hill Lane Pelley Construction, Inc. BUS 1/28/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Post Oak Properties of Oxford, LLCLLC 1/15/13 672 Highway 30 E Psychological Services(A Professional Psychology Corporation) PA 1/28/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Redefined Designs LLC LLC 1/24/13 463 CR 430 Ritter Consulting Engineers Ltd BUS 1/23/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C RMC Development, LLC LLC 1/22/13 1420 North Lamar Blvd.

RWS Construction, Inc. BUS 1/11/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Southern Lawn Care of Oxford LLCLLC 1/7/13 14 Private Road 4049 Southern Photography by Dave, LLC LLC 1/10/13 76 County Rd 1061 Oxford, MS 38655 Stream Lake and Wetland Solutions, LLC LLC

1/31/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Taffy Pippin Consulting LLC LLC 1/30/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Take 4, LLC LLC 1/14/13 1417 Jackson Ave W The Jackson Property Company, LLC

LLC

1/3/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Tri-Lakes Aviation LLC LLC 1/14/13 658 Hwy 7 South U.S. Pizza Team LLC LLC 1/2/13 612 Mclarty Rd. Votacall Inc. BUS 1/18/13 405 Galleria Lane, Suite C Wheels To Go, LLC LLC 1/14/13 2653 West Oxford Loop Suite 108 Wynne Land and Development, LLC

LLC

1/25/13 2084 Old Taylor Road, Suite 106

Pascagoula Advance Alabama Media LLC LLC 1/15/13 906 Convent Ave BugOut Properties, LLC LLC 1/10/13 2306 Jefferson St David Reeves LLC LLC 1/29/13 3510 Oakland St Edgewater Construction, LLC LLC 1/8/13 645 Delmas Ave. HTL Marine Services LLC LLC 1/18/13 3803 14Th St. Indian Oaks LLC LLC 1/15/13 1711 PROSPECT AVENUE Ja-Makin Me Tan Salon & Spa LLC LLC 1/11/13 1818 Denny Ave JDT Enterprises LLC LLC 1/31/13 1218 Market St. New Direction Global Missions Center of Hope and Restoration NP 1/31/13 4136 Mimosa Dr. Moss Point, Ms. 39562 P & S Rub Inc BUS 1/3/13 1109 Lake Ave Patient Benefit Group, LLC LLC 1/14/13 734 Delmas Avenue

INCORPORATIONS

32 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013 Safe Haulin, LLC LLC 1/31/13 3103 Pascagoula Street Taste of Goula LLC LLC 1/31/13 1511 Pawnee St The Consulting Group LLC LLC 1/2/13 3108 Canty Street

Pass Christian Oyster Pirate LLC LLC 1/30/13 107 Baywood Drive PEI Engineering, Inc. BUS 1/15/13 236 Pinewood Drive PRIME Engineering, Inc BUS 1/15/13 236 Pinewood Drive Rock N’ Tan LLC LLC 1/29/13 17078 Magnolia Cove Dr Wellness Physical Therapy of Diamondhead, LLC LLC 1/10/13 1057 Tina Ladner VIC Faye Rd Wolf Creek Missionary Baptist Church of Hancock County NP 1/17/13 29280 Deschamp Road

Pearl ASM Holdings, LLC LLC 1/11/13 121 Climate Drive Bootstrap, LLC LLC 1/23/13 247 Bruin Ave Cadiere Enterprises L.L.C. LLC 1/4/13 4644 Twilight Cove Diesel & Automotive Specialists, LLC

LLC

1/28/13 2552 Highway 468 (39208) El Paisa Auto Sale LLC LLC 1/7/13 67 Palmer St GLOW Tan & Salon II, LLC LLC 1/3/13 136 South Pearson Road, Suite E M & W Auto Sale LLC LLC 1/7/13 1008 Riverwood Cove Mississippi EyeCare Associates of Pearl, PLLC PLLC 1/24/13 404 Riverwind Dr Mobile Pro Fleet Washers LLC LLC 1/10/13 935 S. Pearson Rd. (39208) Pool Works LLC LLC 1/23/13 116 Beechwood Circle Precision Pro-Tech, Inc BUS 1/11/13 525 Marilyn Drive Richard E Risler Properties 2 LLC LLC 1/7/13 509 Herman St Sebren’s Renovations LLC LLC 1/4/13 3314 East Lisa Drive Source Manufacturing LLC LLC 1/15/13 515B Beirdeman Road Zuf Acquisitions I LLC LLC 1/7/13 2215 Hwy 80 East

Pelahatchie Adams Poultry, LLC LLC 1/18/13 2133 Old Highway 80 Forest, Ms. 39074 Visionary Electrical Services LLC LLC 1/24/13 902 Second St

Perkinston Beckham Concrete Cutting LLC LLC 1/7/13 13 Copeland Rd Derek Fayard Logging LLC LLC 1/10/13 2176 East McHenry Road Ray Ladner Agency LLC LLC 1/8/13 28291 Highway 603

Petal CEB Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/29/13 36 Edgeware CLUB H20 Bar & Grill LLC LLC 1/8/13 23 Pirates Cove Cutting it Close Lawn Care LLC LLC 1/15/13 122 John Evans Rd Dr. Allen’s Heating and Air Service LLC LLC

1/23/13 9251 Hwy 42 H.K.N. Tobacco LLC LLC 1/16/13 1229 Highway 42 Suite 150 Home Maintenance Specialist LLC LLC 1/3/13 1027 Lynn Ray Rd Home Maintenance Specialist LLC 1/3/13 1027 Lynn Ray Rd Inner Seeds of Wisdom iSow LLC LLC 1/8/13 2097 Shivers Rd Shivers, Ms 39149 Petal Homes LLC LLC 1/9/13 203 Old Richton Rd Tri-State Environmental, LLC LLC 1/23/13 4901 Hwy 29 Tyler Ellis Agency, LLC LLC 1/17/13 203 Old Richton Road W D Millwork LLC LLC 1/17/13 9257 Hensarling Rd

Philadelphia

Prairie

415 Columbus LLC LLC 1/10/13 203 W Beacon St BLG Properties LLC LLC 1/9/13 12347 Road 505 Commer Trucking, LLC LLC 1/9/13 12960 Road 397 Rashida N. Smith DBA OTH 1/8/13 455 Evergreen Ave N. Tresses Of Elegance DBA OTH 1/8/13 455 Evergreen Ave N. Westside Rental LLC LLC 1/16/13 11071 Road 387

LRMC Enterprises LLC 1/9/13

Picayune Advanced Automation Development LLCLLC

1/8/13 46 Longbow Dr Animal House Kennels, LLC LLC 1/8/13 3789 Hwy 43 N C Wells Trucking, LLC LLC 1/17/13 23005 Wells Rd Carlton Rentals LLC LLC 1/2/13 521 West Canal Street CCL Farms, LLC LLC 1/3/13 203 Wise Landing Road Citizens on Patrol NP 1/7/13 901 E. Sycamore Rd Cochran Concessions LLC LLC 1/23/13 276 McSsween Road Doctors Medical Center of Southern Mississippi LLC LLC 1/30/13 2202 East Canal Street Finish Line Transport Service, LLC LLC 1/4/13 25311 Karly Dr HJH Affiliate Marketing Services, LLC

1/2/13

LLC

4 E Robin Lane

HJH Afiliate Marketing Services LLC

LLC

1/2/13 4 E Robin Lane HL&C - Westfork, LLC LLC 1/23/13 2001 Hwy 11 North Marcan Properties LLC LLC 1/17/13 28060 Road 215 Marcan Property LLC LLC 1/17/13 28060 Road 215 Picayune Drug Co. North, LLC LLC 1/30/13 3310 Highway 11 North Sho Nuff BBQ and Catering Incorporated BUS 1/11/13 2604 Nina Dr Steel Horse Transportation, L.L.C. LLC 1/18/13 25 Hunt Rd

Pontotoc Boylston Corp BUS 1/14/13 2971 Hwy 346 Countyline Barbershop LLC LLC 1/28/13 2776 Hwy 336 JB’s Mart LLC LLC 1/30/13 226 Shady Lane MT Body Contouring LLC LLC 1/11/13 9135 Hwy 6 East Pontotoc Mini Mart Inc BUS 1/15/13 152 Highway 15 South SCH Land Services LLC LLC 1/31/13 82 Fontaine Cv

Poplarville DST Kustoms & Kollisions, LLC LLC 1/30/13 244 Cowart Holliday Rd JSE Real Estate Holdings LLC LLC 1/4/13 1718 South Main Street Pine Springs Plantation, L.L.C. LLC 1/2/13 9015 Highway 43 Poplarville SDA Company NP 1/2/13 237 Bamacker Dr Sharp & Company, Certified Public Accountants, A Professional Accounting Corporation PA 1/22/13 54 Sharp Lane SMS Management I LLC LLC 1/4/13 1718 South Main Street

Port Gibson Loads of Fun Laundromat, LLC LLC 1/18/13 111 Whitney Drive Oakland Collegiate School Inc NP 1/31/13 124 McComb Avenue Pecos Land Holdings, LLC LLC 1/10/13 702 Market Street

Potts Camp Big John and Sons LLC LLC 1/2/13 353 Lakeshore Drive

LLC 180 Cr 188

Pulaski Double P Farms, Incorporated BUS 1/30/13 139 SCR 502 Wilkerson-Clark NP 1/30/13 9505 Hwy 481 South

Purvis Hominy Names LLC LLC 1/30/13 106 Sexth St Molsbee Plumbing LLC LLC 1/31/13 40 Deep South Lane Riverbirch 9532, LLC LLC 1/25/13 40 Deep South Lane Royce Farms, LLC LLC 1/16/13 45 Godfrey Road Steven Kelly Insurance LLC LLC 1/30/13 117 Front St

Quitman Bdm IT Services (US), Inc. BUS 1/28/13 142 County Road 159 Rumble Development CorporationBUS 1/28/13 1286 Countyroad 511

Randolph Randolph Fish & Steak LLC LLC 1/25/13 1993 Topsy Rd

Raymond Guidance for Counselors LLC LLC 1/31/13 205 Stewart Drive Holistic Health Awareness & Transformation LLC LLC 1/8/13 3693 North Midway Rd Jones and Son Trucking Inc BUS 1/25/13 1778 Thigpen Road Mississippi Dirt Farmers LLC LLC 1/22/13 1865 Suzanna Dr Rita B Farmer LLC LLC 1/8/13 5140 Springridge Rd.

Richland Equipment Solutions LLC LLC 1/24/13 134 Riverview Drive

Richton Drill Safe Inc 1/30/13

BUS 7 Jammy Byrd Rd

Ridgeland

Centre, Suite 300

Blind Dog LLC LLC 1/15/13 311 Brookwoods Dr Cassandra Williams Agency Inc BUS 1/8/13 356 Highway 51 Ste G Chism Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/8/13 221 Westfield Rd Gallery 906 LLC LLC 1/23/13 906 Montrose Drive Heritage Doors LLC LLC 1/15/13 218 N Wheatley St (39157) Hunan Wok Restaurant Inc BUS 1/25/13 6556 Old Canton Road Jackson Fish and Coral DBA LLC 1/23/13 894 Avery Blvd JC Ventures, LLC LLC 1/28/13 600 Crescent Blvd Ste B KRS Properties of MS LLC LLC 1/15/13 992 Northpark Drive, Ste A Krystal Investments, LLC LLC 1/16/13 419A Northpark Drive LBI LLC LLC 1/23/13 894 Avery Blvd Mike Delamater Studios, LLC LLC 1/2/13 202 Harvest Dr Mississippi Seed Fund Equity LLC LLC 1/25/13 134 Marketridge Dr N.K. Davis, Inc. BUS 1/3/13 1062 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 222 LLC

1/11/13 270 Trace Colony Park P & P Beaver Control LLC LLC 1/15/13 1076 Highland Colony Parkway, 600 Concourse, Suite 100

Global MGMT of MS, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 104 Northwest Plaza Dr Owens Transport LLC LLC 1/18/13 694 Lyles Rd Pens for Charity LLC LLC 1/15/13 108 Highland Dr

Ripley

CLUB MAGIC BAR AND GRILL LLC LLC 1/24/13 176St 1st Ave

Chata Isuba Association NP 1/23/13 1102 North Main St FDIS Regional Inc BUS 1/11/13 300 CR 423 Ripley Eye Care, LLC LLC 1/2/13 1010-B City Avenue North

Robinsonville

Shannon Northeast MS Prayers 1/23/13

NP 1357 North St

Shaw B & D Ag, LLC 1/10/13

LLC 72 Muzzi Road

Smitherman Osborn Property LLC LLC 1/4/13 105 Turnberry Lane Solid Trust Rentals, LLC LLC 1/24/13 339 Curtis Chapel Rd Southern Safety & Rescue Associates LLCLLC

1/30/13 535 Lincoln Drive Southern Sales Solutions, LLC LLC 1/25/13 1025 Hwy 45 Alternate North Mayhew

Steens

Sherman Sledge Grain Meadow Farms LLC LLC 1/30/13 1443 Tibbs Road Green River Farms LLC 1/30/13 1359 Tibbs Rd

First Executive Security Agency, LLC

LLC

1/7/13 1881 Lone Oak Rd Hall Nursing Services LLC LLC 1/25/13 1065 Lone Oak Rd Travis Jones Trucking Demolition & Construction Company LLC LLC 1/31/13 1076 Harrison Rd

Sturgis

Champion Tactical LLC LLC 1/11/13 60470 Hatley Detroit Road

James & Katherine Tankson Farms, Inc. BUS

Southaven

Summit

1/18/13

A. B. C. Properties Investments L.L.C.

Rolling Fork 98 Washington Circle

Saltillo Ahuja & Miller Holdings LLC LLC 1/16/13 127 Wilsong Village Trail B-Driven Consulting, LLC LLC 1/25/13 326 Old Payne Place Deep Roots Landscape Management, LLCLLC

1/29/13 1943 Birmingham Ridge Road Evolution Fitness LLC LLC 1/8/13 2675 Hwy 145 S Fairview Banner LLC LLC 1/3/13 175 Woodbridge Dr Harrelson Investment Group LLC LLC 1/3/13 101 Horseshoe Lake Rd Imitators, LLC LLC 1/17/13 265 Little Harpe Trail JRJP, Inc BUS 1/3/13 143 McGraph Cove Mudcreek Archery, LLC LLC 1/8/13 164 Mound Springs Rd. Rafat Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/16/13 123 Westbrier Road 1/28/13 200 Knight Drive The Bow Club, LLC LLC 1/8/13 164 Mound Springs Rd. Tinsley Law & Consulting, PLLC PLLC 1/23/13 111-D Town Creek Dr Wakeboard Boats, LLC LLC 1/14/13 114 Water Front Drive

Sarah KM Apex Sports LLC LLC 1/9/13 1532 Highway 4 West

Saucier Aaron’s Etching DBA OTH 1/18/13 18440 Longwood Dr Angele Franklin Photography LLC LLC 1/15/13 8105 Bethel Rd Barber Tactical & Firearms, LLC LLC 1/23/13 18108 Sherwood Court Cheval Farm, LLC LLC 1/24/13 18623 Diamond Road J&S Heating & Air, LLC LLC 1/17/13 20435 Lennis Cuevas Rd OJIBWE SONS LLC LLC 1/22/13 19207 Briar Road On-Site Computer LLC LLC 1/2/13 19167 Paler Creek Dr Premier Blends, LLC LLC 1/17/13 26606 Highway 53 Thomas Aaron McGill Jr DBA OTH 1/18/13 18440 Longwood Dr

Seminary J A Davis Consulting Services, LLC LLC 1/9/13 1039 Seminary-Sumrall Road

Senatobia 155 Orange Drive, LLC LLC 1/10/13 214 S. Ward Street

Smithville

LLC

1/14/13 8889 Cat Tail Cove American Testing, LLC LLC 1/22/13 5293 Getwell Road Boss Wings Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/23/13 182 Goodman Road West Boss Wings V LLC LLC 1/23/13 182 Goodman Road West Brown Resources Unlimited LLC LLC 1/30/13 7204 Prestwick Cv. CD Snacks, Inc. BUS 1/2/13 8786 N Creek Rd Connell Health Services LLC LLC 1/11/13 1455 Fox Chase CV Corner Express Market Inc BUS 1/17/13 187 Stateline Rd Ste 4 Corporate Protective Solutions L.L.C.

Alpha Wulf Capital LLC LLC 1/31/13 4575 Barron Road Fred Smith Trucking, LLC LLC 1/17/13 2053 Stewart Mill Rd PAD Construction, LLC LLC 1/10/13 2044 Stewart Mill Road Pelham Evariste LLC LLC 1/16/13 7510 Moak Rd Pisgah Potters OTH 1/14/13 1030 Woodland Lane JKG, LLC LLC 1/29/13 4667 Highway 589 Rock-It Endeavors LLC LLC 1/31/13 22 Forbes Lane Shady Acres Villages LLC LLC 1/1/13 12 Megan Circle

LLC

1/7/13 7926 Sharmil Cove Ste 4 Cowley’s Pic’s “N” Things LP LP 1/25/13 3531 Nail Road D&L Transport, LLC LLC 1/25/13 1046 Church Rd Education Support Services, Inc BUS 1/3/13 3857 Cherry Lake Cove InkWear LLC 1/17/13 5877 Keebler Dr West Mosley Mortuary Transportation Service, LLC LLC 1/10/13 8375 Olivia Lane Olive Branch Cinema 12 DBA LLC 1/24/13 384 Goodman Road East, Suite #207 Olive Branch Cinema DBA LLC 1/24/13 384 Goodman Road East, Suite #207 Reeves Property Management LLCLLC 1/30/13 910 E Goodman Rd Ste E Southern Image, LLC LLC 1/14/13 3575 Swinnea Road TinselTown Cinema LLC LLC 1/24/13 384 Goodman Road East, Suite #207 Vintage Church NP 1/18/13 7321 Fox Trace Cove Willow and James Boutique LLC LLC 1/11/13 3237 East Hartland

Star John lee and Associates LLC LLC 1/23/13 368 Scaebough St

Starkville Angie Properties LLC LLC 1/2/13 114 Roberts Cove Bulldog Mobility, LLC LLC 1/14/13 2602 Redbud Drive Bulldog Pitas Inc BUS 1/23/13 104 West Main Street C&G Tax Services LLC LLC 1/7/13 793 Blocker Rd East Mississippi Lawns, LLC LLC 1/17/13 2701 Maple Dr M.B. Starkville, LLC LLC 1/7/13 101 North Douglas conner Mississippi Brawl Stars NP 1/16/13 109 Josey Ave Rescue Earth, L.L.C. LLC 1/24/13 300 Greenboro St

Davis Farms, LLC LLC 1/11/13 1245 Main Street Paydirt LLC LLC 1/23/13 1261 Hickory Lane Ryals Law Firm, P.A. PA 1/25/13 1185 Main Street Sanders Crop Insurance Agency, Inc

1/2/13

BUS

1245 Main Street

MS 39753

The Elegant Fashion Boutique, LLCLLC 1/7/13 793 Blocker Rd Threshold Vintage, LLC LLC 1/23/13 155 Morrill Road Tree Huggers LLC LLC 1/30/13 535 Lincoln Drive

Hubbard Construction LLC LLC 1/23/13 61 Edwards St Project Chance NP 1/22/13 155 Oglesby Rd

Delta Planting Co. LLC LLC 1/16/13 8940 Arkabutla Dam Rd

Saltillo Homeplace Assisted Living, Inc. BUS

705 Woodland Management, LLC LLC 1/4/13 1030 Northpark Drive Suite B American Log Handlers LLC LLC 1/3/13 119 Hawthorne Vale Asset Management Partners, Inc. BUS 1/25/13 587 Highland Colony Parkway Better Education for Mississippi NP 1/18/13 578 Highland Colony Parkway, Paragon

Oconee Development Company, LLC

PMI, LLC LLC 1/9/13 145 Overlook Pointe Drive Private Golf Tees LLC LLC 1/8/13 274 Commerce Park Drive RCG NP 1/22/13 105 Overlook Pointe Circle Right of Way LLC LLC 1/25/13 719 Versailles Dr SDI of Nettleton, LLC LLC 1/3/13 425 Christine Drive The Boujie Brand, LLC LLC 1/24/13 1620 E. County Line Rd 8H Tinnin Ag Investments, LLC LLC 1/10/131052 Highland Colony Parkway, Suite 204 Woodlands Management, LLC LLC 1/4/13 1030 Northpark Drive Suite B

Taylorsville Debbie Gentry Photography, LLC LLC 1/31/13 9147 SCR 19 Fort Family Foundation NP 1/23/13 873 Scr 4

Tchula Brown’s Trucks & Trailers Sales, LLC

1/28/13

LLC

2702 Milestone Road

Romeo Delta Planting Company, LLC

1/18/13

LLC

336 Lakeview Dr

Terry Apple Security LLC LLC 1/25/13 18349 Midway Road DWM, Inc. BUS 1/28/13 18349 Midway Road Ember Acquisitions, LLC LLC 1/22/13 18349 Midway Road Geek Teck Inc. BUS 1/9/13 304 Midway Heights GOTECH, Inc BUS 1/18/13 18349 Midway Road Guckenheimer Services, LLC LLC 1/14/13 18349 Midway Road Monte Horn Quarter Horses Inc BUS 1/8/13 1955 Stubbs Rd Promise Hospital of Vicksburg, IncBUS 1/28/13 18349 Midway Road Satyam Technologies Inc BUS 1/9/13 18349 Midway Road

Tishomingo Whistle Clean Car Wash, LLC LLC 1/28/13 1261 Main Street

3C Holdings, LLC LLC 1/8/13 333 W. Franklin Street Abeni Books & Consultation Services LLCLLC

1/4/13 1105 Terry Rd Baxter Real Estate LLC LLC 1/23/13 9770 Highway 6 West Bounds Financial Services LLC LLC 1/4/13 336 N. Green Street Burroughs Manufacturing Inc BUS 1/7/13 1244 1/2 W Jackson St Circle C Machinery, LLC LLC 1/10/13 336 N. Green Street (38804) Circle C Rentals, LLC LLC 1/10/13 336 N. Green Street Corner Flower & Gifts LLC LLC 1/23/13 336 B North Green Street Downtown Auto Rentals LLC LLC 1/22/13 105 S. Front Street Dynamic Horticulture, LLC LLC 1/8/134239 Westside Dr Tupelo, Ms. 38801 Euclatubba Utilities Inc BUS 1/18/13 1264 North Veterans Blvd FrontLine Therapy LLC LLC 1/31/13 209 North Madison Street Gumtree Walkers NP 1/25/13 123 Oak St Saltillo, Ms 38866 J Edward Design Company, LLC LLC 1/15/13 109 N Spring Street Koinonia Church, Inc NP 1/11/13 301 West Main Street Liquidation Made Easy Inc BUS 1/10/13 213 Lumpkin Ave McCord Farms, LLC LLC 1/18/13 467 Cr 183 Melissa R. Nolan, PLLC PLLC 1/11/13 322 Jefferson Street (38804) PINO Collectibles LLC LLC 1/31/13 2213 West Jackson St. Prestige Furniture, LLC LLC 1/24/13 312 N. Green Street Primus Bicycles LLC LLC 1/11/13 119 Timberlane Dr Rickman Enterprises, LLC LLC 1/22/13 2619 Mahogany Drive Shoulder to Shoulder, LLC LLC 1/25/13 2206 Van St Southern Diesel Service, LLC LLC 1/28/13 2221 Jaggers Rd Surviving Allison LLC LLC 1/29/13 2213 Holly Hill Drive Swimco LLC LLC 1/17/13 1215 Nelle St Thornehill LLC LLC 1/24/13 624 S. Church St. Apt. 5 W Cavett Otis LLC LLC 1/25/13 630 W. Jefferson St. Wright Family Tree Farms, LLC LLC 1/22/13 105 South Front Street

Tylertown Bad Company Cattle LLC LLC 1/23/13 105 Ed Taylor Rd Bar Bohne ARG LLC LLC 1/23/13 105 Ed Taylor Rd Richmond Rental LLC LLC 1/14/13 714 Second St

Union Dream Riders Biking for Children Chapter G NP 1/15/13 261 Melvin Leach Rd NM LLC LLC 1/8/13 144 Gordon Rd Perfect Turf Lawn Solutions Inc 1/30/13 107 Woodhaven Dr Perfect Turf Lawn Solutions Inc BUS 1/30/13 107 Woodhaven Dr

Union Church

Tremont Bull Mountain BBQ, LLC LLC 1/9/13 50 Old Cotton Gin Rd Renegade Farms LLC LLC 1/8/13 1028 Evans Dr SE

Tunica A Bridge of Hope 1/7/13

Tupelo

NP 1035 U Street

Fantasy Limousine Inc BUS 1/30/13 16260 Hwy 28

Utica Associates of Business, LLC LLC 1/28/13 1081 Torrey Road Enkentrol Music LLC LLC 1/28/13 218 Mixon St Off The Hook Photography, LLC LLC 1/15/13 1800 Griffin Road

May 17, 2013

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

DeSoto 6.4

33 Tunica 16.8

MISSISSIPPI’S MARCH UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURES

Tate 8.9

Feb ’13 1,320,600 130,900 9.6 9.9 1,189,700

Mar ’12 1,320,700 116,400 9.0 8.8 1,204,300

’12 Avg. 1,333,100 122,100 xxx 9.2 1,211,000

Coahoma 13.2

Yalobusha 9.0

Mar ‘13 154,512,000 11,815,000 7.6 7.6 142,698,000

STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Unemployment Insurance Data •• Initial UI Claims Continued Claims Benefits Paid Weeks Paid First Payments Final Payments Average Weekly Benefit

Feb ’13 154,727,000 12,500,000 7.7 8.1 142,228,000

Mar 2013 9,488 102,861 $13,626,717 71,631 4,074 1,886 $190.23

Mar ’12 154,316,000 12,904,000 8.2 8.4 141,412,000

Feb 2013 8,323 101,832 $14,387,099 75,614 4,502 2,076 $190.27

’12 Avg. 154,975,000 12,506,000 xxx 8.1 142,469,000

Leflore 12.9

Carroll 8.7

Montgomery 12.3

Humphreys 15.4

Holmes 17.0

Vancleave 2717Fitness LLC LLC 1/17/13 14324 Old River Rd 5 Star Nails LLC LLC 1/30/13 14085 Oakview Circle CrossFit Warped DBA LLC 1/17/13 14324 Old River Rd

Verona Verona Volunteer Fire Dept.

NP 1/24/13 195 Main Street

Vicksburg Alveyteen Transportation, LLC LLC 1/29/13 2460 Old Highway 27 Lot 8A BNM Holdings LLC LLC 1/28/13 108 Fairview Drive Grass Man Inc BUS 1/8/13 1990 S Frontage Rd Ste D Gullett & Taylor Builders, LLC LLC 1/17/13 300 Madison Ridge Road H. R. Services LLC LLC 1/15/13 5101 Edinburg Road James Marine V, LLC LLC 1/14/13 101 Lee Street My Little Lollipop OTH 1/14/13 1370 Culkin Road Panoplee LLC LLC 1/25/13 1990 S Frontage Road Ste D River Land Enterprises of Mississippi LLCLLC

1/28/13 1007 Walnut Street School Supply Group LLC LLC 1/3/13 125 Hilda Dr SLK Properties, LLC LLC 1/9/13 1816 Cherry Street The Beah Richards Institute for the Performing Arts and Cultural Preservation NP 1/9/13 1205 China Street, Apt A-3 Totally Tan of Vicksburg LLC LLC 1/30/13 106 Holt Collier Dr

West Express, LLC LLC 1/18/13 1217 Cherry St Williams Barber Services LLC LLC 1/18/13 1211 Mulvihill St

Walls American Homes LLC LLC 1/11/13 6651 Scenic Hollow

Walnut Grove TL Moore Consulting LLC 1/4/13

Cece S Fuel Stop LLC LLC 1/7/13 1350 W Hufman Road Increase One, Inc. NP 1/18/13 811 Mosley Dr Kitchen Outfitters, LLC LLC 1/15/13 715 Airport Rd Limestone Cattle, LLC LLC 1/16/13 605 Jones Circle Memphis - Old Waverly Properties LLC LLC

LLC 51 Zion Rd

Washington The Heartsong Company, LLC LLC 215 Oakland Drive ( Natchez 39120) 1/11/13

Water Valley Pizza Getti LLC 1/24/13

West Point

LLC 136 County Rd 484

Waynesboro B&K Trucking Inc BUS 1/23/13 913 Hudson Lane Douglas -Waddell Properties, L.P. LP 1/17/13 78 Sybil Martin Drive Longbeard Consultants Inc BUS 1/9/13 7811 Hwy 84 East Yamato Sushi Steak House of Waynesboro Inc BUS 1/2/13 1525 Azalea Drive

Wesson Broom Construction LLC LLC 1/25/13 1006 Stapleton Lane C & F Cabinets & Custom Millworks LLC LLC

1/24/13 2122 Furrs Mill Dr Mississippi Off Road Cycling SeriesNP 1/24/13 885 Mt. Zion Rd. NW

1/7/13 103 E Broad Old Waverly Properties, LLC LLC 1/7/13 103 E Broad TCF Brangus, LLC LLC 1/18/13 113-B Commerce Street The Tasty Spoon LLC LLC 1/16/13 3894 Jim griffin Rd

Wiggins CornerStone Florist, LP LP 1/30/13 1110 Oil Well Road Luke’s Tire & Service, LLC LLC 1/17/13 424 S Magnolia Dr

Winona Swine Ops LLC LLC 1/7/13 609 North Applegate Street

Woodville Hester Place Minerals, LLC LLC 1/14/13 5315 Hwy 61 South Hester Place Timberlands, LLC LLC 1/14/13 5315 Hwy 61 South Lagrange Plantation, LP LP 1/23/13 611 1St South Street Southern Innovative Kreations or S. I. K. LLC LLC 1/3/13 1113 Hwy 24 West Wallace Forrest Hill Minerals, LLC LLC 1/14/13 5315 Hwy 61 South

Wallace Wyoming Minerals, LLC LLC 1/14/13 5315 Hwy 61 South

Yazoo City Belle Prairie I, LLC LLC 1/9/13 4042 Highway 16 West Kenneth & Laura, LLC LLC 1/18/13 562 Waller Rd. LC Parking, LLC LLC 1/18/13 192 Castle Chapel Road R K Hygiene, LLC LLC 1/9/13 599 Dogwood Dr Sanctuary Farm LLC LLC 1/23/13 117 East Jefferson Street Washington Family LP LP 1/10/13 389 Woodland Drive

Lowndes 9.6

Oktibbeha 8.4

Winston 11.7

Leake 9.7

Neshoba 7.0

Scott 6.7

Newton 7.6

Noxubee 14.2

Kemper 12.3

Madison 6.2 Warren 10.2 Rankin 5.1

Hinds 8.0

Claiborne 15.1

Adams 8.7

Wilkinson 10.5

Copiah 9.7

Franklin 9.1

Lincoln 8.5

Amite 9.3

Pike 10.1

5.1 - 6.4 6.5 - 9.5 9.6 - 15.3 15.4 - 18.2

Jasper 9.3

Smith 7.7

Simpson 7.7

Covington Jones 7.5 6.4

Walthall 10.8

Marion 9.8

Lamar 6.3

Pearl River 8.2

Hancock 8.1

Lauderdale 9.0

Clarke 10.2

Wayne 10.6

Lawrence Jeff Davis 8.9 10.9

Unemployment Rates ates

— Mississippi Department of Employment Security

INCORPORATIONS

Yazoo 11.0

Issaquena 15.5

Monroe 11.3

Clay 18.2

Choctaw 9.4

Attala 10.4

Jefferson 15.3

** Average for most recent twelve months, including current month •• Unemployment Insurance amounts presented in this section only represent regular UI benefits, federal program amounts are not included.

Labor force amounts are produced in cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Note: Unless indicated state and county data presented are not seasonally adjusted.

Tishomingo 9.6

Itawamba 8.8

Chickasaw 10.8

Webster 12.4

Washington 13.8

Moving Avg.** 155,151,000 12,307,000 xxx 7.9 142,844,000

Mar 2012 10,073 102,540 $14,335,826 76,665 3,823 2,087 $186.99

Calhoun 9.6

Grenada 9.3

Sunflower 13.9

Lee 7.9

Pontotoc 7.8

Quitman 13.1

Bolivar 10.0

Moving Avg.** 1,331,500 123,000 xxx 9.2 1,208,500

Lafayette 6.7

Sharkey 11.3

UNITED STATES Labor Force Data Civilian Labor Force Unemployed Unemployment Rate (Adjusted) Unemployment Rate (Unadjusted) Employed

Alcorn 7.8

Tippah 10.6 Union 7.3

Tallahatchie 11.7

Mar ‘13 1,309,500 113,900 9.4 8.7 1,195,600

Benton 11.2

Prentiss 9.1

Panola 11.6

Labor force and employment security data STATE OF MISSISSIPPI Labor Force Data Civilian Labor Force Unemployed Unemployment Rate (Adjusted) Unemployment Rate (Unadjusted) Employed

Marshall 9.9

Forrest 8.1

Perry 9.0

Stone 7.6

Harrison 8.2

Greene 9.9

George 9.2

Jackson 9.5

Source: Labor Market Data Publication March 2013 Design: Labor Market Information Department, MDES

Panel rejects appeal in global warming/Katrina lawsuit MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST — A federal appeals panel has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a group of Mississippi Gulf Coast residents and landowners who alleged that emissions by energy companies contributed to global warming, which intensified Hurricane Katrina, which, in turn, damaged their property.

In the lawsuit, the landowners sought compensatory and punitive damages against 32 companies and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The companies had argued that global warming was not attributable only to them but resulted from the emissions of greenhouse gases from millions of sources dating back to the Industrial Revolution.

The case has taken a circuitous route through the federal courts before winding up yesterday before a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

The landowners sued in September of 2005, about a month after Katrina. U.S. District Judge Louis Guirola Jr. in Gulfport dismissed the lawsuit in 2007 with prejudice, meaning it could not be filed again.

A 5th Circuit panel in October of 2009 reinstated part of the lawsuit. The companies appealed and 5th Circuit agreed to a hearing before the full court. Before a hearing could be held, the 5th Circuit found it didn’t have a quorum — or majority — of judges available to hear the companies’ appeal after many of them recused themselves.

The 5th Circuit dismissed the appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case shortly thereafter.

The same group of Gulf Coast residents and property owners filed in May of 2011 what they conceded in court records were essentially several of the same arguments against many of the same energy companies in the same Mississippi district court. The district court in March of 2012 ruled that, among other things, that the doctrine of res judicata barred their claims.

The doctrine of res judicata prevents the same parties from re-litigating the same issue after a final court decision.

The three-judge upheld the Mississippi judge’s decision. The panel said it would not let landowners renew an appeal in what was the same case.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

34 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 17, 2013

—Interview by Clay Chandler

JOHN DAMON, CEO, Mississippi Children’s Home Services

Finding a home Damon leads nonprofit’s efforts to help kids thrive

D

r. John D. Damon is the CEO of Mississippi Children’s Home Services in Jackson. Damon has been with MCHS for 20 years. He received his bachelor of science degree in psychology from Mississippi College, his master of arts in marriage and family therapy from Reformed Theological Seminary, his doctor of philosophy in clinical psychology from Jackson State University and completed his residency in Child psychology at University of Mississippi Medical Center

Q — What’s the mission of Mississippi Children’s Home Services?

A — We help children thrive. We do this by providing a statewide continuum of behavioral health and social services. We believe every child deserves a forever home and we partner with families and children toward that end.

Q — How has that mission changed and/or expanded over the years?

A — In 1912, we began as an adoption agency to find permanent, loving homes for children. One hundred and one years later, we are still about the work of finding permanent, loving homes and helping children thrive. As society has grown more complex over the last century, so have we. In just the past 30 years, we have grown from a staff of 20 to a staff of 450, serving all 82 counties in our great state. While the scope and size of our agency has expanded to meet the changing needs of Mississippi’s children and families, our mission remains unchanged.

More on Damon: Must have Mississippi food: The Red Fish Anna from Walker’s Drive-In is a must-have. Unfortunately, due to lateonset shellfish allergies, I have to pass on the lump crabmeat.

Favorite movie: Although it was passed over in all the Oscar Awards, Chevy Chase’s Funny Farm wins the day.

Last book read: Patrick Lencioni’s The Advantage is an absolute must read that has resulted in MCHS working with his consulting firm, The Table Group, to help our organization move with intentionality to be not only “smart” but “healthy.”

Q — When did the home move to its new Lakeland Drive location? What necessitated the move?

A — We operate three distinct, yet complimentary service divisions: a campus-based division (where the emotional and behavioral needs of the child require that they have a temporary 24-hour care on one of our campusbased programs); a community-based division (where we serve the child and family in their own home, school and community); and, an education division (which provides special education and autism services within our campus and community-based divisions).

The management of the organization exists to serve these three service divisions. These support functions could be located anywhere in the state. Therefore, when our community-based division needed more office space, we moved the administrative office from our West Street location to what used to be the Barksdale Bonding building on Lakeland Drive. This consolidated our operations in Jackson, along the fist three blocks on West Street from Woodrow Wilson, and placed the administrative offices in a centralized location on Lakeland drive. We have remodeled the east end of the building to include a state-of-theart board and training facility.

As we provide best-practice training in our field, this location will be easily accessible to our staff and the community. Also, consistent with our strategic goal to become a more visible leader in the state and in the nation for children and families, this office location will provide a higher profile for MCHS.

Q — Tell us about the open house coming up at the new facility. What’s the goal of the event?

A — Tuesday, May 21, from 5-7 p.m., we will host an Open House for the public to come and see our new office location and our state-of-the-art conference and training center. Furthermore, consistent with our mantra, “never one thing for one purpose,” our board of directors wanted to use this event as a reception to introduce me as the agency’s seventh leader in our 101-year history. This will be a wonderful time for the public to tour our offices, meet our amazing board of directors and staff, and of course, hear about the wonderful work we are doing to help children thrive all across the state.

Q — Moving forward, what’s MCHS’ biggest challenge?

A — The Affordable Healthcare Act and the many healthcare changes it will bring will require a highly adaptive, nimble and highly trained workforce. While adequate funding is always a challenge, I am reminded of Jim Collin’s council – “First who, then what.” Making sure we have “the right people on the bus” (first who) will assure that we continue to rise to whatever the challenge may be (then what) in our second century of service.

Q — What do you hope is the future for MCHS? A — As we step into our second century of service, our future success will be anchored on three important tenants: First, we will stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. The collective wisdom of our board and staff (past and present) is a very real asset in our future success. Second, we will route each organizational decision through the strategic anchors of our 4 core values – (1) the voice of our children and families always comes first, (2) relationships matter, (3) we take great joy in our service to others, and (4) our families and our communities deserve our very best. Finally, the future of MCHS will be successful because of the strength of our community partners.

From our Board of Directors and Woman’s Auxiliary, to our public and private partners, to amazing individuals, such as our First Lady Deborah Bryant who has joined forces with us, the future for children and families (and MCHS) is bright and we will most certainly help children thrive in our second century just as we did in our first. Our past success has been built through strong partnerships with the business community. We will continue to look to the business community to help us transform lives in the century to come.

>> See the complete unabridged interview with Damon at www.msbusiness.com/blog/category/q-a/

May 17, 2013

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

35

» MISSISSIPPI LEADERS by Martin Willoughby

Back to school Davis feels SchoolStatus is making a difference in Mississippi

A

s a kid, I remember seeing people with metal detectors scouring the beach looking for “treasure.” I sometimes feel like those treasure hunters as I keep my eyes open for rising entrepreneurs in this state. In the late 1990s, I spent some time in Silicon Valley during the boom times. I really enjoyed the energy and big dreams that people had for changing the world. Since then, I have kept my look out for fast-growth companies and visionary entrepreneurs who are making a difference. I recently visited with Russ Davis, who is one of those passionate entrepreneurs on the path to success.

A native of Poplarville, Davis grew up in a family of educators. Early in his career, he went to work for the Department of Education. He left there and gained sales experience working with Howard Industries before returning for a second tour of duty with the Department of Education where he served as director of accountability systems. However, his entrepreneurial drive and vision led him to form his own consult-

Up Close With ... Russ Davis Title: Founder & CEO, SchoolStatus, LLC Favorite Books: Art of the Start and Rules for Revolutionaries (Guy Kawasaki); Lean Startup (Eric Ries) First Job: “In junior high, I had a computer consulting company and worked with school districts.”

Hobbies/Interests: Reading, flying and golf

ing company — Blue Consulting Group.

Davis’ background gave him considerable insights into the needs of schools and school districts. Soon after offering consulting services to the private sector, he began to receive calls from school districts wanting help in creating data analytic tools to help them operate more efficiently. This work led Davis to form his company SchoolStatus in 2012.

SchoolStatus licenses proprietary software to school districts to help them make effective use of the massive amount of data at their disposal. The company’s cloudbased software provides customers the ability to analyze this data and perform

statistical analysis. Davis shared, “Our software allows everyone from the administrator to the teacher in the classroom to better utilize data.”

The company has grown rapidly and over half the school districts in the state now use one of Davis’ products. Earlier in his career, Davis had the opportunity to create another start-up in the education industry, but they were beaten to the market by a categorykiller large competitor. Determined to avoid that circumstance this time, Davis is rapidly scaling his company with plans to expand throughout the Southeast.

Davis’ launch and growth of SchoolStatus

“Retaining and recruiting the very best talent is a core challenge.”

Russ Davis SchoolStatus, LLC

is a great example of the lean startup model that has been very popular in the last few years. He shared, “We took a very laser sharp focus to our market and studied the competitive landscape be- Martin Willoughby fore we launched.”

Davis has kept the company’s overhead very low. He emphasized, “Recruiting and retaining the very best talent is a core challenge.” They look for people who have excellent skills AND a passion for education. Davis knows that the very best people in the marketplace are going to work for companies who have a higher purpose.

The guiding principles of his organization are the following: (1) Do good work (create highly valuable and elegant products that solve real problem); (2) Know what matters (look out for the customer); and (3) change the world (make bold moves that change old thinking and truly improve education in meaningful ways).

Davis shared, “I am excited that we are helping to make a difference here in Mississippi.” The company is currently building out their leadership team and preparing for scale. Davis’ business is in a high growth sector of data analytics in K-12 education. The life of an entrepreneur is not for everyone.

However, it is encouraging to me to see young leaders like Davis who have the courage and passion to step out and take the road less traveled to try to accomplish something great. I am sure we will be seeing and hearing more about Davis and his company in the years to come.

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.

This book is calling all readers who love Tuscany

I

» Queen Bee of Tuscany: The Redoubtable Janet Ross

By Ben Downing Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux $28 hardcover

f, like many people, you're enamored with Tuscany, you'll want to read this book when it's released in mid-June. It's a biography of an amazing woman who lived in Italy from the time of the unification of the Italian states in the 19th century (Risorgimento) to the rise of fascism. We feature a lot of fiction in Book Biz, but this week we're shining the spotlight on a work of non-fiction that is begging to be read.

Janet Ross was born into a distinguished intellectual family and raised among luminaries such as Dickens and Thackeray. She was spirited, erudite and supremely well-connected and was one of the most dynamic women of her day. Her life offers a fascinating window on fascinating times.

Ross married at age 18 and went to live in Egypt where for six years she wrote for the London Times, hobnobbed with the developer of the Suez Canal and humiliated pashas in

horse races. In 1867 she moved to Florence, Italy, where she spent the remaining 60 years of her life. She wrote a series of books and hosted a colorful miscellany of friends and neighbors, from Mark Twain to Bernard Berenson, at Poggio Gherardo, her castle outside town.

Eventually she became the acknowledged doyenne of the Anglo-Florentines — as they were known. She also immersed herself in the rural life of Tuscany. As an avid agriculturalist,

Janet Ross was raised among luminaries.

she closely supervised the farms on her estate and the sharecroppers who worked them, often pitching in on grape and olive harvests. Encompassing all this rich history, Queen Bee of Tuscany promises to be a panoramic portrait of an age, a family and our evolving love affair with Tuscany.

Ben Downing has credentials as a literary scholar. He has taught literary workshops and written many essays, articles and reviews for the Paris Review and the New Criterion to name a few. He has also published a book of poetry, The Calligraphy Shop, and is co-editor of Parnassus in New York City.

Queen Bee of Tuscany is 352 pages with eight pages of black and white illustrations.

— Lynn Lofton, mbj@msbusiness.com

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