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May 31, 2013 • Vol. 35, No. 22 • $2 • 36 pages

BILOXI BOUND

New ball park will bring Double-A baseball, more attractions to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi — Page 4

MBJ FOCUS: Construction & Real Estate

Where will you go?

Protection from storms Page 18

2 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013

TRANSPORTATION

Internet retail sales tax seen as options panel set for road, bridge maintenance Special to being exploring

» Deficient roads and bridges need dedicated funding source to ensure upkeep, House transportation chairman says

At some time in the not-too-distant future, that book you buy from Amazon.com may help to provide the estimated $1 billion Mississippi needs to maintain its roads and bridges.

Rep. Robert Johnson III, a 20-year state legislator and chairman of the House Transportation Committee, said he wants a sales tax on Internet purchases to be among the options lawmakers consider for funding a growing backlog of road and bridge maintenance needs. He said his first preference is to replace the fixed 18 centsa-gallon tax on motor fuels with a rate tied to either the price per gallon of motor fuel or to inflation. Outside of that, he is ready to pursue a cyber charge, he said.

Johnson said 40 percent of Mississippi’s major roads and 28 percent of its highways are in poor or mediocre condition. He also says 25 percent of bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete. Estimates are the state would have t pay $500,000 to bring its highways and roads up to standard and a near equal amount to repair bridges to meet safety standards.

Johnson concedes the political difficulties he could encounter in a bid to alter the 18 cents rate that has been in place since 1987 under a tax structure intended to raise money for a greatly expanded highway system but not the upkeep of the system. “That is why we have a more than half a billion dollars in repairs needed for bridges and why our highways are full of ruts,” he said.

The long-standing tax rate has given Mississippi the distinction of having the 44th lowest gas tax in the nation, behind only Missouri (17.3 cents); Oklahoma (17 cents); South Carolina (16.8 cents); New Jersey (14.5 cents); Wyoming (14 cents); and Alaska (8 cents), the Mississippi Department of Transportation reports.

In the quarter century since enactment of the 18 cents a gallon tax, traffic volume on Mississippi roads has increased along with the weight of many vehicles and the

21%

25% 16%

33%

27% 4.3%

12%

26%

23%

1.3%

7.7% 22%

13%

33%

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

14%

20%

4.8%

13% 3.8%

22%

7.9%

4.5%

20%

31%

35%

36%

14%

3.9%

25%

11%

11%

33%

20% 24%

13%

5%

11%

26% 27%

9.7%

6.7%

7.5%

4.4%

16%

12%

23%

29%

12%

8.8%

11%

6.2%

11% 9.3% 15% 3.6%

14%

1.6%

16%

32% 22%

31%

23%

14% 10% 12%

35%

37%

24% 20%

7.2% 3.8%

18%

4.8% 9.3%

Percent structurally deficient

13%

0% - 7% 7% - 12%

10% 3.6%

3.3% 11%

12% - 17% 17% - 22% 22% - 25% 25% + County Has No Bridges Courtesy of Transportation for America Mississippi Report

loads carried by tractor-trailers, Johnson noted. At the same time, fuel efficient vehicles have cut into the volume of gasoline sold and federal dollars for transportation have become scarcer, he added.

He said he expects principal opposition to any change in the motor fuels tax would come from Gov. Phil Bryant and Lt. Gov.

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

11% 13%

5.6%

revenue sources for road, bridge maintenance

Tate Reeves. “I understand their reasoning” in resisting a move to force Mississippi motorists to pay more at the pump, he said.

But motorists are the ones using the roads and thus the fairest way is to have them pay, he added. “It’s the most equiSee

BRIDGES, Page 3

A Senate study committee made up lawmakers and citizen representatives will convene June 12-13 in Jackson to look at ways to fund upkeep of the state’s roads and bridges.

Sen. Willie Simmons, a Cleveland Democrat who chairs the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, will lead the panel. It will continue to meet through the summer and prepare recommendations for legislators to consider in the 2014 session.

Members will include chairs of key Senate committees such as finance and economic development, representatives of state departments and agencies, a representative designated by the Mississippi Economic Council (the state’s Chamber of Commerce), and representatives of industries ranging from agriculture and manufacturing to trucking and petroleum marketing.

The Mississippi Truckers Association does not dispute the need to raise more money for road and bridge maintenance but insists any new assessments “must involve all highway users,” said David Roberts, association president.

“While our membership recognizes that our state's highway system needs to be maintained, any considerations of a funding increase to maintain Mississippi's four lane highway system should involve all highway users,” Roberts said in an email statement.

Simmons said he hopes the panel will See

PANEL, Page 3

May 31, 2013

PANEL

Continued from Page 2

give special emphasis to deficiencies in the system of road and bridges that move goods to market. “We know that if you have a good transportation system you are more likely to bring industry into the area,” he said.

Failing to put maintenance dollars into the 1987 highway legislation “has caught up with us,” Simmons said.

The panel will spend five months looking at what lawmakers did right in the 1987 legislation, what they did wrong and how to correct any oversights, Simmons said.

Mississippi Department of Transportation commissioners Mike Tagert, Dick Hall and Tom King are glad to see lawmakers are inclined to take a serious look at creating a dedicated source for funding road and bridge maintenance.

King, Southern District commissioner, said addressing maintenance deficiencies and how to pay for them is imperative for both public safety and economic development. “I would hope the business community would take the lead with a funding mechanism, as was done in the 1987 highway program,” King said.

Tagert, Northern District commissioner, said he is encouraged that municipalities and counties are included in the discussion, noting they are struggling to pay for maintaining their roads and bridges.

Tagert said MDOT’s role will be to provide the study committee any data, reports or documents it needs. “I hope the deficient bridge report will be a focus of the committee,” said the commissioner, referring to an August 2012 MDOT report that deemed 221 of the state’s 5,724 bridges structurally deficient.

Another 785 state bridges have been designated functionally obsolete in that their design and structure no longer meet today’s transportation needs.

Of the 221 structurally deficient bridges, 145 of them are in Tagert’s district. The Central District has 49 and the Southern District 27.

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Mississippi Business Journal

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“If people are not inclined to raise that tax (on motor fuel), we have to look at the Internet. The bottom line is the we are 25 years overdue in making a change in the way we fund our highway system.”

Robert Johnson Chairman, House Trasportation Committee

BRIDGES

Continued from Page 2

table” compared to taxing someone who buys an item on the Internet.

The opposition of Mississippi’s leadership to a change in the fuel tax formula “flies in the face of being for economic development and improving the environment in which you want to attract business,” said Johnson, a Natchez Democrat who acknowledges he has often bucked the House Republican leadership but insists he has an effective working relationship with the likes of Speaker Philip Gunn and other GOP leaders.

Should politics block that fuel-tax route, Johnson said he will push the Internet sales tax option. “We can’t move forward unless we’re willing to invest in our future,” he said.

“If people are not inclined to raise that tax (on motor fuel), we have to look at the Internet,” he said.

“The bottom line is the we are 25 years overdue in making a change in the way we fund our highway system.”

Johnson said he would fashion legislation to allocate money from the cyber sales tax to road and bridge maintenance. He would be willing to sunset the legislation after 10 years to free the sales tax money for general fund use.

An attempt to initiate an Internet sale tax is likely to draw objections from Bryant, who has vowed to fight any new tax on Mississippians, even though the state’s bricksand-mortar retailers say taxing cyber sales is the only way to create a fair and competitive marketplace.

Johnson failed in a late-session effort this year to raise the 18 cents motor fuels tax. The bill would have tacked on an amount equal to 6 percent of the wholesale price of gasoline, starting next January. The measure called for the increase above the 18 cents per gallon to be recalculated every six months.

Johnson’s bill died in the House Ways and Means Committee.

Also dying in committee was a measure authored by Sen. Joey Fillingane that would have tied taxes on casino payouts to the highway fund.

Table 2: Mississippi’s Structurally Deficient Bridges with Highest Traffic Volumes Rank

County

Crosses Feature

Bridge Facility

Proximity to

Average annual daily traffic

1

Warren County

I 20

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

MISS/LA STATE LINE

29,400

2

Covington County

US 49

UNNAMED STREAM

0.7 MI N SR 35

21,000

3

Tate County

I 55

SR 306

I 55 OVER SR 306

14,000

4

Hinds County

MONUMENT ST

TOWN CREEK

SEC 4 T 5N R 1E

14,000

5

Pontotoc County

SR 15

LAPATUBBY CREEK

1.2 MI N SR 76

11,000

6

Coahoma County

SECOND STREET

SUNFLOWER RIVER

SEC 23 T27N R 4W

11,000

7

Pearl River County

US 11

HOBOLOCHIT TO CREEK

0.3 MI S SR 43 NORTH

10,000

8

Harrison County

KLONDIKE ROAD

CANAL NO 1

SEC 12 T 8S R12W

10,000

9

Hinds County

BEASLEY ROAD

SEC 2 T 6N R 1E

9,700

10

Pontotoc County

US 278

2.7 MI W LEE CL

9,600

BRANCH HANGING MOSS CK MUBBY CREEK

Courtesy of Transportation for America Mississippi Report

A look at the Top 10 bridges in Mississippi that are need of repair. No. 1 on the list is the Mississippi River Bridge which crosses into Arkansas from Vicksburg. Nearly 30,000 vehicles cross that bridge every day.

Mississippi’s three transportation commissioners – Mike Tagert, Dick Hall and Tom King – agree new transportation maintenance funding is needed, especially for the one out of four state bridges that have been designated structurally deficient.

Hall, a state legislator for many years before becoming Central District commissioner, has been the highest profile proponent of new maintenance money. Rep. Johnson sees him as a principal partner in the revenue raising effort.

“Dick Hall and myself have been like the lone voices in the wilderness on this issue,” Johnson said.

Hall said his hard push this past session for a change in gas tax policy gained some traction as shown by the Senate’s agreement to appoint an ad hoc committee to study possible road maintenance revenue sources. Sen.

» See related stories on bridges and transportation in Mississippi, beginning on Page 15

Willie Simmons, a Cleveland Democrat who chairs the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, will head the committee that will be made up of stakeholders such as local government officials and representatives of the state’s manufacturing, trucking and agricultural sectors.

It’s critical, said Hall, that something besides a set of recommendations that languish in the Legislature come out of the committee’s work.

“We’re losing ground,” he said.

Roberts said he thinks the study panel will recommend a statewide vote on increasing the gas tax, a move he would deem disappointing.

“That’s the easy way out,” he said.

Roberts said he declined an invitation to serve on the committee. “I don’t believe in studying the questions that you already know the answers to,” he said.

4 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013

TOURISM / SPORTS BUSINESS

A computerized model of the view from the northeast of what a minor leage baseball stadium may look like in Biloxi, across from the Beau Rivage Casino. The 7,000-seat stadium is expected to be home to a Double-A baseball franchise in the Southern League.

Courtesy of Dale Partners

BILOXI BOUND » New ball park will bring Double-A baseball, more attractions to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi

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

BILOXI — Minor League Baseball is a step closer to being in Biloxi.

Gov. Phil Bryant, Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway and local officials on Thursday announced plans to build a $36 million Minor League Baseball stadium in downtown Biloxi.

The plans call for the stadium to be ready for the start of the 2014 Southern League season in April, but no team was announced.

It is highly expected the only team that would make a direct move would be Huntsville, Ala., but there are other scenarios in acquiring a team.

Bryant unveiled preliminary architectural designs for the stadium, which will be built on what is now an employee parking lot for the Beau Rivage casino, directly across from the casino’s parking garage on U.S. 90.

The 7,000-seat stadium will be built by Dale Partners architects, which has offices in Jackson and Biloxi. Plans call for it to eventually include a parking garage, entertainment area and hotel overlooking the playing field.

On May 14, the Biloxi City Council announced its intent to issue up to $21 million in bonds to construct a new baseball stadium on the site. Barring any significant opposition, the council is expected to finalize

the bond decision at its June 18 meeting.

The remaining $15 million will come from BP oil spill settlement as a tourism investment.

“The oil spill of 2010 had a significant impact in Mississippi, especially to our coastal tourism," Gov. Bryant said. "This stadium will be a major regional asset for South Mississippi and will be an exciting new attraction for our residents and tourists of Mississippi’s Gulf Coast.”

In 2012, Bryant began working with a baseball ownership group, led by team owner Ken Young, to identify a suitable site and potential financing for a stadium development. Young, a former minor league executive of the year and owner of four minor league baseball franchises, is in the process of purchasing an existing minor league team and relocating the team to Biloxi.

“I believe Biloxi will be an excellent location for minor league baseball,” Young said. “The community will immensely enjoy the sports and entertainment. The venue will be one of the best in baseball, and the region will take great pride in it.”

The Gulf Coast Business Council’s research foundation estimates the stadium development will spur an additional $10 million annually in visitor spending on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Tim Bennett of Overtime Sports — the catalyst in enticing the Atlanta Braves to

move their Double-A team to Mississippi in 2004 — has been trying to bring baseball to the Gulf Coast for the last nine years.

Since he delivered the Mississippi Braves to Pearl, Bennett made four unsuccessful attempts to put a Southern League team on the Gulf Coast — whether it be on the Back Bay, the Gulf side or the Port of Gulfport.

“When I finished the Braves deal in 2004, the mayor down there said let’s give it a shot,” said Bennett. “Little did we know that we would have the worst natural disaster (Hurricane Katrina) and the worst manmade disaster (BP oil spill) and then a recession.”

But the big difference this year is the Beau Rivage.

“Without them, none of this would happen,” said Bennett. “It has taken the cooperation of city and county and state and the Beau Rivage collectively with me and my partners to relocate a team.”

The connection between professional baseball and the casino does not violate any problems, Bennett said.

“There can’t be any ownership, of which there won’t be,” said Bennett.

“Beau Rivage is essentially giving the land to the city, and their hands are pretty much off the deal. We don’t have any relationships with them other than the fact they’ll be doing some advertising and sponsorships, as will the other casinos. We expect a healthy relationship with the casinos.”

“There is no problem as far as leasing from the casino,” said Steve Densa, executive director of communications with Minor League Baseball.

“We’re pushing for 2014,” Bennett said before the announcement. “We are in very forward discussions right now for 2014.”

Playing in the 10-team Southern League would put Biloxi in the same league with the Mississippi Braves, and close to rivals on the Gulf Coast in Mobile and Pensacola.

The Huntsville Stars, an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, seem to be the most logical team to relocate. They are playing in the league’s oldest stadium, built in 1985, and have been last in the league in attendance for four consectuive years. In past years, Milwaukee officials have expressed concern about the stadium and its ability to provide adequate player development.

The Milwaukee Brewers affiliate signed a two-year lease in 2012. The lease is a key factor in relocating a team.

“The league won’t allow a team to break a lease and walk away from the stadium,” said Bennett. “That’s part of the trick, because the difficulty is having a city ready to build at the right time, and a team in another city ready to get out of its lease.”

This year, Huntsville’s average attendance is 2,007, slightly ahead of Jackson, Tenn., which is averaging 1,724. Birmingham with its new $64 million stadium leads the league in attendance with 5,460.

Another possibility is a move by either Birmingham or Jacksonville, Fla., and replacing one of those teams with a Triple-A squad. Both cities are lobbying to step up to Triple-A baseball, which is one step from the Major Leagues.

When contacted about the plans for Biloxi, Southern League president Lori Webb would not comment, saying she was aware of the developments, but would not discuss or speculate on any hypothetical situations.

But first, the stadium must be built.

It will be built in the city block bounded

by Interstate 110, U.S. 90, Howard Avenue and Caillavet Street.

It’s a small area for a stadium, and some wonder how it’s going to fit it in that space.

“That’s the first question I had,” Bennett said. “It’s going to be a tight fit, but it’s like See

BASEBALL, Page 5

May 31, 2013

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Mississippi Business Journal

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TYLER RAYBURN / The MBJ

St. Andrew’s middle schooler Charley Hutchison has been notified him that he had been awarded one of 150 scholarships Apple gives to student developers across the world. That guarantees his attendance at the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference in San Francisco, which starts June 10.

St. Andrew’s student, young app developer wins Apple scholarship » Charley Hutchison set to attend developer conference in San Francisco

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

St. Andrew’s middle schooler Charley Hutchison had planned to buy one of 5,000 available tickets to the Apple Worldwide Developer Conference, which starts June 10.

Charley, a 13-year-old who will enter the 8th grade this fall and who last year became one of the youngest app developers in Apple history, had saved enough money to pay for the ticket himself, and had his browser pointed to the purchase page when they went on sale. He also commissioned his dad to do the same on his office computer.

It wasn’t enough. The tickets, which are issued only to those who have developed an app for Apple devices, were gone in fewer than two minutes. “I’ve heard estimates that they were gone as quickly as 45 seconds,” Charley said.

Turns out he won’t need a ticket.

Charley received an email May 16 notifying him that he had been awarded one of 150 scholarships Apple gives to student developers across the world. That guarantees his attendance at the conference in San Francisco.

“We thought it was a shot in the dark,” Melissa Hutchison, Charley’s mom, said in an interview Wednesday morning. “We were really surprised, because we told him it would be a good experience but we didn’t really expect him to get it. So now we have a week and a half to get plane tickets to San Francisco.”

Said Charley: “I was very surprised because I don’t know how many (applied for the scholarship) but since it was international I’m guessing a lot of people entered.”

About 50 of Charley’s fellow winners – students from the U.S., Singapore, Australia, Germany, Malaysia and the Netherlands -- formed a Facebook group, and are planning a picnic in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge before the conference starts. Winners range in age from 13 to 28, the oldest being a doctoral student. “That’s really going to be good for him, to be around kids from all over the world who are interested in the same things

BASEBALL

he is,” Hutchison said.

The WWDC gives developers an upclose experience with Apple’s latest operating systems, and offers hands-on training from Apple engineers. The conference runs from June 10-14 at San Francisco’s Moscone West convention center. Tickets are $1,600 apiece. Last year, Apple lowered the minimum age for developers in attendance from 18 to 13.

Charley had to develop an app to apply for the student developer scholarship. The app had to showcase his previous development projects, his educational and professional background, technical ability and his interests. Applicants had five days to put the app together.

Charley developed a game app set up to where every time the user got a point, a fact about Charley was revealed. “I knew I wanted to develop a game app, so I had to move pretty quickly because of the 5day window,” he said.

Last spring, Charley developed FriendsforFlickr, an app that that allows users to connect their contacts with their photos from Flickr, a photo-sharing app. It was Charley’s second app, and his first for Apple

Continued from Page 4

other stadiums in an urban setting, most of them fit right into a block. And we don’t have to do any major adjustments to the outfield fence like they did in someplace like Boston.

“The field dimensions will be much like Trustmark Park.”

“We plan to have a bowling alley and entertainment center similar to a Dave & Buster’s restaurant concept with something for kids and family. It’ll have a sports

devices. He was 12 at the time, making him one of the youngest developers to have an app make it through Apple’s rigorous approval process and onto the shelves of the company’s App Store.

At the conference, Charley will attend technical sessions designed to educate developers about whatever systems update Apple will reveal. Industry speculation has said that it’s not likely a new product will be unveiled at the conference, though it’s not out of the realm of possibility.

Security will be tight. Charley and other attendees will have to sign non-disclosure agreements and will not be allowed to bring cameras or other photo or video recording devices inside the convention center.

“I’ll be learning to use stuff that’s brand new,” Charley said.

Charley will have several projects to keep his summer full once he returns from the conference. They’re all in the early stages.

Charley said he’s still working on some of the codes and figuring out if he’ll have to outsource some of the work for them.

“There’s nothing that’s close enough to completion that I can have a firm date as far as a timeline,” he said. “Once I get farther along, I’ll have a better idea when they’ll be ready.”

bar, bowling alley, restaurant and a theater — a small theater, not a big theater.”

And he thinks it can be ready in a year.

“El Paso imploded its old city hall and just finished cleaning it up, and they’re building a Triple-A stadium for 2104,” said Bennett.

“We have a Double-A stadium, and we don’t have to blow anything up.

By comparison, ground was broken at Trustmark Park in Pearl on May 11, 2004, and it war ready for the start of the 2005 season the next April.

“We have a lot of advantages, and we have a lot of hurdles.”

» See related column on new baseball stadium in Biloxi on Page 6

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Website: www.msbusiness.com May 31, 2013 Volume 35, Number 22

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

MBJPERSPECTIVE May 31, 2013 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

OTHER VIEWS

P

We should proceed cautiously on drilling

lans for a natural gas terminal at Pascagoula to start exporting rather than importing reflect the changing outlook for energy in this country and also call into question the immediate, if not long-term, emphasis by the Obama administration on alternative fuels, including corn ethanol.

The current abundance of natural gas also underscores criticism leveled at Mississippi Power Company’s low grade coal-fired plant under construction in Kemper County. The biggest criticism of that project is that it doesn’t make sense to build an expensive coal-fired plant, using untested technology,

when a gas-fired plant with proven technology would be far cheaper at a time when there’s plenty of natural gas.

Karen Nelson of the Sun Herald newspaper reports that the owners of a liquefied natural gas terminal in Jackson County want to start exporting rather than importing their product.

“It would be quite the turnaround for the $1.1 billion terminal built more than two years ago to import the super-chilled gas from tankers, store it, then warm and distribute it throughout the U.S. upon demand,” Nelson wrote. “It was the demand that never came. The market changed as U.S.

gas production jumped in recent years and there has been no need for imports. Now the profit is in exporting.

“In this case, the terminal never received a shipment of liquefied natural gas after the first deliveries, used to christen it and acclimate the tanks to the product.

“So Gulf LNG, now as Gulf LNG Liquefaction Co., acquired approval in 2012 from the U.S. Department of Energy to export 11.5 million tons of LNG a year,” according to Nelson’s article.

See VIEW, Page 8

STEPHEN MCDILL Staff Writer stephen.mcdill@msbusiness.com • 364-1041 TAMI JONES Advertising Director tami.jones@msbusiness.com • 364-1011

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» EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

Lyons should be given his due at new stadium

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hen all of the dignitaries line for the first pitch at the new minor league baseball stadium in Biloxi next April they should be doing it on a field named for Barry Lyons.

Sure, there will be naming rights for the stadium just like in Pearl at Trustmark Park where the Mississippi Braves play. However, there should be a special effort made to name the playing surface after the Biloxi native, who has spent a good portion of his life trying to bring minor league baseball to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

A lot of the gratitude in a lot of the speeches will go to Tim Bennett, who turned out to be the promoter that made things happen both in Pearl and in Biloxi.

But, make no mistake, this was Lyons’ vision.

And it has been a long, strange Ross Reily trip for the Lyons, the former AllAmerica catcher for Delta State.

After a couple of trips to the College World Series with the Statesmen, Lyons was drafted by the New York Mets and ended up spending a couple of years playing for the Double-A Jackson Mets during the glory years of Minor League Baseball in the Capital City and metro area.

He went on to play for the Mets and was a part of the 1986 World Series winners against the Boston Red Sox. After also playing for the Dodgers, California Angels and Chicago White Sox, Lyons retired in 1995.

His retirement was two years after his first meeting with Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway in which Lyons suggested the city make a run at bringing a minor league baseball team to Biloxi.

Since that meeting, Lyons has done everything he could to bring minor league baseball to the MissisSee REILY, Page 8

PERSPECTIVE

May 31, 2013 I Mississippi Business Journal

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» RICKY NOBILE » MIND OVER MONEY

Lumumba has a lot to learn about economics of running a city

I

»PERCOLATING

Move cautiously on virtual training

M

ore and more parents choose to home school their children. National statistics show the number of home schooled children grows about seven percent each year.

Likewise the number of students in charter schools continues to increase, growing about 12 percent each year.

A growing number of states, 31 at last count, allow virtual public schools where students go to school full-time online.

Many if not most of these alternative schools rely more and more on the Internet for teaching.

More than 64 percent of homeschooling parents have said that they use technology on a daily basis when teaching their children. “The Internet is exploding with innovative new ways to help our kids learn,” says an Illinois proponent of virtual charter schools.

So, while traditional public schools muddle around with Common Core transitions, teacher quality issues, etc., is online learning the way to go?

Khan Academy is one of the more popular Internet education sites, reaching about 50 million students in 216 countries. It was initially created by Sal Khan as a math tutoring program.

“I’ve used Khan Academy with my kids, and I’m amazed at the breadth of Sal’s subject expertise and his ability to make complicated topics understandable,” Microsoft founder Bill Gates wrote in tribute to Khan being named one of Time’s 100 most influential people of 2012.

Khan says his mission is a simple one — a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.

With regard to traditional education Khan says, “The real

problem is that the process is broken.”

That’s what the proponents of home schools, charter schools, and virtual Bill Crawford schools argue. And, they like what the Internet provides them.

But critics of Khan Academy and other Internet programs say they are insufficient substitutes for classroom teaching and don’t teach higher level thinking skills.

“The Internet and virtual classrooms are great resources, but children cannot learn with technology alone,” says a Florida tutoring program. “Part of the brain’s learning process involves the interaction with other people and hands-on learning activities to help it grasp the information.”

“Khan Academy is not a substitute for an actual course of study in mathematics,” says math teach Robert Talbert, an education blogger for the Chronicle of Higher Education. “It is not a substitute for a live teacher. And it is not a coherent curriculum of study that engages students at all the cognitive levels at which they need to be engaged.”

Even Khan sounds cautious about moving totally to virtual teaching.

“Teachers are super-duper important,” Khan said recently.

He said the classroom is vital because teachers need to be on hand to see which students have mastered the material and can move on, and which students need more help.

Hmmm.

Give our Legislature kudos for not authorizing virtual charter schools this year.

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

don't live in Jackson, but neither do most of the folks on my Facebook feed. That didn't stop them from ranting about the outcome of the Jackson mayoral primary. The Facebook equivalent of "run for your lives" filled my screen. Shocked posters declared the election had been rigged.

With only about 37,000 votes cast in a city with its set of demographics, I didn't find the outcome hard to believe.

I don't live in Jackson, so I hadn't Nancy Anderson been paying much attention to the election and to the candidates, but now I was curious about this would-be mayor, Chokwe Lumumba. Living in the Jackson Metro area means I have a vested interest in the capitol city. I want it to thrive. Its health affects each of the outlying communities.

Two items grabbed my attention. They were not rumors or innuendo. They were straight from Mr. Lumumba's lips to my ears, via the internet.

Bert Case of WLBT-TV asked Lumumba how he would pay for the transformation of Jackson. His response was that he would receive loans from companies in the range of $300 to $400 million.

I've never heard of a company loaning money to a city. Public companies, surely, would not do such a thing under the watchful eye of their shareholders. Private companies, surely, would have more sense.

Cities get funding from tax revenue, i.e. sales tax, property tax, license fees. They can also secure funding from higher-up government sources, i.e. the State of Mississippi, the federal government.

Private grants may be awarded to cities for particular projects but not on the order of $300 to $400 million. What COULD he be talking about?

The second item to cross my screen came from a Jackson Free Press interview. The question was about his views on capitalism.

His short reply was scathing. I know the system has its faults, but there was not ONE kind word for the economic system in which the City of Jackson must operate. And he wants to attract business back to Jackson?

As I read more about Mr. Lumumba, I learned about the Republic of New Africa and his plans to rewrite history, all the things that were lighting up my Facebook feed, exhorting us all to be afraid, be very afraid. Those things seem like side issues when I contemplate my two items, because it appears that the citizens of Jackson have just elected a mayor who hasn't a clue how to run any city, much less one that is the capitol of this state.

I hope I'm wrong. Because I don't live in Jackson, it's not up to me. My only option is to stand and wait and wish Mr. Lumumba well. But I'm afraid.

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.

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8 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013

PERSPECTIVE

»VIEW FROM THE STENNIS INSTITUTE

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Taking a Memorial Day break

Be quick and decisive

S

adly, it appears that all of the divisiveness and disdain for one another that has become a part of our daily routine is here to stay. Our opinions on all manner of social and political issues are no longer regarded as simply the ideas of thoughtful and well meaning individuals who may simply differ from us. Instead, these personal positions have become labels that signify “whose side we are on” and indeed, in a growing number of cases, markers as to how we should treat one another.

May we, during this week of Memorial Day, take a break from all of the appraisal of each other’s differences? Can we simply pause and think about those who are no longer among us who gritted their teeth, picked up a knapsack and headed to the other side of the world to make the case that our freedom is big enough to protect every person’s ideas? And, while we are at it, may we give thanks to those who made the trip abroad in the name of freedom and who were blessed to return home?

On days like this, like so many of you, I cannot help but think of my late father and his service to his country. And like so many of your relatives my father was reluctant to talk about his experiences leaving it to me to dig a little out of him and the rest out of long ago latched footlockers.

Like so many Mississippians he was a “big ole country boy.” My father’s hometown was hardly a hometown but a fork in the road called Cotton Plant on the Tippah/Union County line. The tenth of eleven children, Daddy spent time in the Ashland, Mississippi camp of the Civilian Conservation Corps doing his part to put a little food on his family’s table during the waning days of the Great Depression.

Like his brothers and sisters before him, he was pushed out of the nest at age 18 and found his way to Mississippi State College (now MSU). There he worked his way through college in the school’s cafeteria and still had time to form a political machine that resulted in his becoming Mayor of Old Main Dormitory’s famous or infamous, Pole Cat Alley.

All of the revelry of his college days came to an abrupt end when my father graduated in the class of 1941 and swapped his mandatory ROTC uniform for the real thing and headed down a trail that lead him through Ireland and into France immediately following the Normandy invasion. It was there in France at the Battle of Brest, a battle that World War II historian David Ambrose called the most useless battle of World War II, that one of the last German sniper bullets fired found my fathers hip.

One of his 1941 classmates ribbed my father for years that he couldn’t have been going but one direction to take a bullet there.

He made it home with a Silver Star, a Purple Heart, and a rolling gate that many misMarty Wiseman took for cockiness when he walked. In 1944, so the story goes, my father went AWOL from a New York Army hospital in order to get back to Mississippi for the Mississippi State/Ole Miss football game. He chose to bide his time at his beloved State College while he looked for a job and regained his robust strength and vitality at the Dairy Products snack bar (“The DP”), and he no doubt resumed his pre-war pass time of “holding court” at the soon to be revived bull ring.

I have often wondered what it must be like to be a product of our most rural Mississippi places and to hear the call and feel the urge to forego the future in order go to parts unknown to pay the ultimate sacrifice if necessary.

Hundreds of thousands of Mississippians and millions of Americans have made that choice.

The World War II heroes are rapidly departing this life. They have been and are being joined by so many more. Scarcely had some World War II survivors unpacked their gear than they were off again to Korea and its intense weather and warfare.

Many never returned.

The bravest of my generation plunged head long into the unknown, as they were commanded to do, in a country and a war called Viet Nam. Over 56,000 died, and many more were scarred for life, both mentally and physically, in an effort for which the survivors were never properly thanked by those of us who benefitted most.

Then there have been the American commitments to establishing peace in the Balkans and stopping terrorism in the Middle East at its point of origin.

After all is said and done, millions upon millions of us owe a debt of gratitude to those who sacrificed. In many cases these conflicts have left us with the comforts of the good life and they have left widows, widowers, children, and scars that will last lifetimes for those who served in our behalf. So here at home let there be a truce in our war of words for at least a few hours while we remember those who fought and died for our right to vigorously disagree with each other.

I have often wondered what it must be like to be a product of our most rural Mississippi places and to hear the call and feel the urge to forego the future in order go to parts unknown to pay the ultimate sacrifice if necessary.

REILY

Continued from Page 6

sippi Gulf Coast. He has met with teams and investors over the years, time and again believing that one day his dream would come true.

Then, he met Tim Bennett. The two forged a friendship.

Lyons, who will be 53 next week, shared his hopes and dreams with Bennett and introduced him to all of the people of the Coast that could make life easier for an investor wanting to sink money into a baseball stadium and into Lyons’ dream.

Well, here we are 20 years after Lyons’ first meeting with Biloxi officials, and Gov. Phil Bryant and lots of dignitaries have just completed a formal announcement that there will, indeed, be a minor league baseball stadium built in Biloxi.

It will be built directly across the street from the Beau Rivage Casino in the city block bounded by Interstate 110, U.S. 90, Howard Avenue and Caillavet Street.

A franchise will be brought in to play against the Missis-

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.

The recent tornado that ripped through Moore, Okla., is a sobering reminder of a threat that looms over Mississippi nearly year-round.

Though Mississippi is past the peak of tornado season — typically March and April — its geographic location in "Tornado Alley" should have all residents aware of the dangers because they can happen at any time. In February, a storm ripped apart parts of Hattiesburg, including the University of Southern Mississippi. As proved then, the violent storms can arise, destroy neighborhoods and disappear in minutes.

Much like it did here almost 60 years ago. In 1953, a tornado ripped through downtown Vicksburg, destroying buildings, knocking down power lines and killing 38 people. It remains the fourth-deadliest tornado to hit the state in more than 60 years. Since 1950, three of 41 F5 tornadoes nationwide have hit Mississippi, all beginning near the central part of the Mississippi River. An F5 tornado is the highest-rated twister.

What makes tornadoes one of the most dangerous weather events is the inability to predict where and when the twisters will form until minutes before.

Since the advent of early-warning systems, deaths from tornadoes have dropped dramatically. When a violent storm — such as the one that carved a swath through Moore just days ago or Birmingham and Tuscaloosa in Alabama in 2011 — hits, know what to do and act quickly and decisively.

— Vicksburg Post

VIEW

Continued from Page 6

It is apparent that the demise of fossil fuels predicted in recent years was vastly exaggerated. New discoveries and techniques used to capture oil and gas are resulting in more domestic production than many thought possible a few years back; and this in spite of fairly stringent environmental rules.

That doesn’t mean we should forget alternative sources of energy, such as solar, wind and biofuels.

But the benefits should be measured against the costs, which hasn’t always been the case in either Washington or Mississippi.

—McComb Enterprise Journal

Bennett, the new team, the Beau Rivage and all of the city leaders of Biloxi should do the right thing and make sure that when those first pitches are made next April they are being done so on Barry Lyons Field at Caillavet Park or Beau Rivage Park or whatever major donor wants to pay to have its name on the front of the stadium. sippi Braves on a regular basis in the same Southern League that Lyons played in, beginning 30 years ago.

Bennett, the new team, the Beau Rivage and all of the city leaders of Biloxi should do the right thing and make sure that when those first pitches are made next April they are being done so on Barry Lyons Field at Caillavet Park or Beau Rivage Park or whatever major donor wants to pay to have its name on the front of the stadium.

But leave the playing surface name for Lyons, for that it where he has left his blood, sweat and tears over the course of a lifetime in the name of baseball in Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Congratulations Barry, your vision is becoming a reality.

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

May 31, 2013

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Mississippi Business Journal

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MANUFACTURING

Pickering: Nissan has met obligations to state

By CLAY CHANDLER I STAFF WRITER clay.chandler@msbusiness.com State auditor Stacey Pickering disputed this week a union-funded study that said Nissan had not met its obligations to Mississippi.

Washington, D.C.-based Good Jobs First recently released the results of a study, paid for by the United Auto Workers, that said Nissan had violated the terms attached to its state incentives by denying workers the right to decide to unionize and by hiring large numbers of temporary workers. The study also claimed that Nissan’s incentives surpassed $1.3 billion, more than three times the reported figure when the plant opened in2003. Nissan and the Mississippi Development Authority disputed the study’s findings.

Pickering, in a column published Sunday in the Clarion-Ledger, said the state auditor’s office has verified Nissan’s job-count figures since the Canton plant opened, and found that they met and in most cases exceeded the threshold attached to the incentives.

“According to the law and the Memorandum of Understandings between Nissan and the state of

Mississippi, Nissan was required to maintain 3,000 new direct jobs at the project site until 2021,” Pickering wrote. “As of our last audit in December, 2011, Nissan employed over 4,100 employees, far exceeding the mandated requirements.”

Mississippi Alliance for Fairness at Nissan, a group of clergy and elected officials, has led the efforts to unionize Canton workers. The organization claims

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POLITICS

Diamondhead attorney wins vacant house seat DIAMONDHEAD — Gulf Coast attorney Patricia Willis has won the state House of Representatives District 95 special election.

Complete, but unofficial, returns show Willis received 52.4 percent of the vote in yesterday’s election to defeat three other candidates.

The 60-year-old Willis, from Diamondhead, is an attorney and Waveland city prosecutor.

House District 95 includes parts of Harrison and Hancock counties.

Others on the ballot were Grant Bower, Tommy Ballard and Sherri Carr Bevis.

Willis succeeds the late Rep. Jessica Upshaw.

Upshaw was found dead March 24 of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound at a home in Mendenhall.

Jackson attorneys with Memberships in American Colleges (Professional organizations devoted to improving the standards of practice and levels of professional responsibility)

Number of offices located across the Southeast and in D.C.

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COPIAH COUNTY — Federal and local investigators are trying to determine the cause of an accident in which two workers fell to their deaths from a cellphone tower in Copiah County.

The accident happened Tuesday afternoon at a tower on Mississippi Highway 27.

The Copiah County coroner says the men were climbing up the 300-foot tower and were about halfway up when they fell.

Randle Drane, of the Copiah County Emergency Management Agency, said the men worked for a Louisiana company.

Copiah Sheriff Harold Jones said the men were trying to put new antennas on the tower when the accident happened.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

Jackson attorneys ranked in 2013 in The Best Lawyers in America ®

statute that allows oversight from the state auditor’s office. Pickering unsuccessfully pushed for legislation the last session that would have extended auditor oversight to all state-assisted economic development initiatives.

The legislation failed. Pickering told the Mississippi Business Journal in April he plans to push the legislation again in 2014.

Pickering

Who is Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP? We are a full-service firm representing local, regional, and national companies in litigation and business transactions.

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COPIAH COUNTY

Investigators looking into cause of fall of two men

Nissan has threatened to fire workers for doing so, which would violate federal labor laws.

Nissan has repeatedly denied the accusations.

The Nissan facility was created under the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Act, the

Jackson attorneys ranked in the 2012 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business

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Top-ranked for third year in U.S. News and World Report

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10 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013 POULTRY

MISSISSIPPI

Sanderson Farms 2Q profit gains on stronger demand

Alligator infestation suit reinstated

LAUREL — Sanderson Farms Inc. said Thursday that its fiscal second-quarter net income rose 2 percent thanks to higher demand for poultry products.

Its performance topped Wall Street's view. Shares climbed in premarket trading.

The Laurel company earned $24.4 million, or $1.06 per share, for the three months ended April 30.

That's up from $23.9 million, or $1.04 per share, in the prior-year period.

This easily beat the average 71 cents per share prediction from analysts surveyed by FactSet. Sanderson Farms' stock gained $1.01 to $67 before the market open. The stock has traded between $36.11 and $67.77 in the past 52 weeks, and is up about 39 percent since the start of the year.

Revenue increased 4 percent to $621.2 million from $595 million, topping Wall Street's forecast of $613.3 million.

Boneless breast meat prices rose 14.2 percent.

But Chairman and CEO Joe F. Sanderson Jr. said in a statement that feed costs continue to be high, and the company anticipates grain prices will stay high due to the tight supply of corn and soybeans.

Prices paid for corn rose 15.9 percent, while prices paid for soybean meal increased 37.2 percent.

Tom Christmas and his wife argue that they didn't discover the 84-plus alligators on land next to their homestead until four years after they bought the property in southwest Mississippi.

ExxonMobil Corporation counters that the Christmases' real estate agent told them about the alligators as far back as 2003. Exxon says the couple waited too long to file a lawsuit claiming the 'gators robbed them of enjoyment of their land, and the statute of limitations has passed.

On Tuesday, the state Court of Appeals ordered a Wilkinson County judge to sort the whole thing out.

ExxonMobilspokesmanToddSpiltersaidthecompany willasktheAppealsCourttoreconsideritsdecision.

"Whether ExxonMobil appeals to the (Mississippi) Supreme Court depends on the outcome of the motion for rehearing," Spitler said in a statement.

The Christmases sued Exxon in August 2008, seeking damages for permanent depreciation of their land. Circuit Judge Lillie Sanders threw out the

lawsuit in 2011.

In oral arguments before the Appeals Court in February, ExxonMobil attorney Jeff Reynolds told the court that the Christmases should have investigated the alligator issue when they first saw one in 2003.

"I don't think the law is they get to sit around until they know how many alligators there are. Once you see alligators you've got to start looking into it," Reynolds said.

Attorney Wayne Dowdy, representing the Christmases, told the court that determining whether the alligators were a nuisance was an issue for a jury.

He said the Christmases "did not know what was across the fence until they cleared the property and moved out there in 2007."

The Christmases bought 35 acres between Centreville and Woodville in December 2003. Next door to the Christmases' property was a refinery

CONVENTIONS

MANUFACTURING

Firefighters gather in Natchez for conference

United Furniture expanding Nettleton operations

GAMING

Greenville, schools at odds over casino revenue Greenville Mayor John Cox is suggesting that a portion of casino revenue diverted to the city schools should be directed instead to parks and recreations programs.

The Delta Democrat Times reports that Cox's comments came after a meeting Tuesday between the school board and the city council. No action was taken.

The city currently gives the school system 14.2 percent — or $170,000 a year — of casino tax collections. The diversion has been going on for 16 years.

Previously, cities had to be authorized by state law to dispense city funds to a school district. The law was changed effective July 1, 2012, and now says municipalities can only give money to a school district to "assist the voluntary character development or public service programs of the school."

INFRASTRUCTURE

Forrest County launching $5M local road project HATTIESBURG — Forrest County will get started this summer on a $5 million to repave about 65 miles of potholes and pitted roads.

The county will spend $3 million of its own money to pave about 40 miles. Another $2 million from the State Aid Road Fund will resurface 25 miles of roads.

State Aid Road Funds are administered by the Office of State Aid Road Construction to assist counties with maintenance and construction of secondary roads and bridges not owned by the state.

Board of Supervisors President David Hogan the county has saved for more than four years for the project.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

Firefighters from around Mississippi are meeting this week in Natchez The Natchez Fire Department and Adams County Fire Services are hosting the 76th annual Mississippi Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Conference.

The conference at the Natchez Convention Center runs through Sunday. The Natchez Democrat says the meeting will feature presentations from state and local officials, training seminars and a fun run to benefit the Mississippi Burn Camp Foundation.

VOTING

Meridian hopeful, party seek election monitoring MERIDIAN — A candidate for mayor in Meridian has joined with the Lauderdale County Democratic Party in asking the U.S. Department of Justice to monitor the June 4 Meridian election.

A party spokesman and mayoral candidate Percy Bland both told the Meridian Star they had made the request.

Bland said he wants to make sure voters are not turned away or intimidated.

On Wednesday a Justice Department official said the department never announces its intent to monitor an election until the day before the election.

VOTING

Strong to preside in Hub City election dispute Mississippi's Supreme Court has appointed Circuit Judge David H. Strong of McComb to preside over a lawsuit challenging the qualifications of three city council candidates and seeking to halt the June 4 election in Hattiesburg.

waste disposal site owned and maintained by ExxonMobil. The company had shipped refinery waste to the site from Louisiana beginning in 1980.

The site stopped taking waste in the 1990s. Exxon bought the property in July 2001.

The Christmases said they were unaware of the nature of the site next door when they purchased their property.

Court documents show the property had 19 rainwater retention ponds, totaling about 85 surface acres of water. Alligators were allegedly introduced to the site from Louisiana as early as 1984 as "canaries" to warn of hazardous contamination in the retention ponds. Exactly who put the reptiles there is a matter of dispute.

Court records say state wildlife officials conducted an alligator census of its property in 2007 and counted about 84 alligators but officials said not all may have been counted.

— from MBJ wire services

Officials from United Furniture Industries have announced the company is expanding operations at its manufacturing facility in Nettleton. The project represents a company investment of $277,000 and will create a minimum of 100 new jobs. The company currently has 400 employees at the Nettleton facility.

United Furniture is a manufacturer of upholstered furniture including chairs, recliners, sofas and loveseats, sectionals and more. The company also has two manufacturing facilities in Okolona, Miss., and one manufacturing facility and one distribution center in Amory, Miss. Currently, the company employs 1,800 in the state.

“Job creation is crucial to economic development, and I appreciate United Furniture Industries for continuing to invest in its Mississippi operations and for creating these new jobs for the residents of Nettleton,” Governor Phil Bryant said. “United Furniture is a valued business partner to the State of Mississippi, and I am proud we have the business infrastructure in place that allows our existing businesses to grow and succeed here.”

The Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance in support of the project for infrastructure improvements.

“United Furniture’s commitment to Mississippi and our workforce is greatly appreciated, and MDA is honored to have been able to provide assistance for this project,” said MDA Executive Director Brent Christensen.

“We thank the Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, the Monroe County Board of Supervisors and our partners at Three Rivers Planning and Development for working to make this expansion possible and create these new jobs for the area’s workers.”

United Furniture Industries is the exclusive U.S. manufacturer of Simmons Upholstery. The company offers a large range of styles and designs that include stationary sofas, Beautyrest upholstery, reclining sofas, recliners, sectionals and Hide-A-Bed sleepers.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

The Hattiesburg American reports that Strong was appointed after another judge removed himself from the case.

Last week, Ward 1 Democratic candidate J.C. Herrington filed an injunction to halt the Hattiesburg election and remove independent candidates Derrick Ware, Petra Arnold Wingo, and Kavaji S. Beverly from the general election ballot.

Herrington's suit alleges the city election commission negligently or intentionally qualified the three despite an opinion from Attorney General Jim Hood's office stating the candidates did not get enough signatures on their qualifying petitions from within their wards.

MUSIC

Jesse Rodgers gets marker on music trail WAYNESBORO — Jesse Rodgers, the cousin of the Father of Country Music Jimmie Rodgers, will be honored Thursday with a marker on the Mississippi Country Music Trail.

The marker unveiling is scheduled for 1 p.m. along Mississippi Highway 63 and Buckatunna-ChicoraClara Road in Waynesboro, Miss.

— staff and MBJ wire services

May 31, 2013

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BANKING AND REAL ESTATE

Foreclosure rates in Jackson decrease Foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans was 1.89 percent for the month of March Foreclosure rates in Jackson decreased for the month of March over the same period last year, according to newly released data from CoreLogic.

The CoreLogic data reveals that the rate of Jackson area foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans was 1.89 percent for the month of March 2013, a decrease of 0.63 percentage points compared to March of 2012 when the rate was 2.52 percent. Foreclosure activity in Jackson was lower than the national foreclosure rate, which was 2.84 percent for March 2013.

Also in Jackson, the mortgage delinquency rate decreased. According to CoreLogic data for March 2013, 6.55 percent of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent compared to 7.14 percent for the same period last year, representing a decrease of 0.59 percentage points.

— staff and MBJ wire services

LAND MANAGEMENT

ENERGY

Local resistance stops drilling for oil in Natchez NATCHEZ — Mayor Butch Brown says a drilling company has changed its mind about drilling for oil on a historic site at Natchez.

The Natchez Democrat reports Brown told the Board of Aldermen that Mike Biglane of RMB Exploration has decided not to drill on the historic Arlington property.

Brown said he has learned that the project will be moved to more secluded property away from Arlington.

Biglane encountered significant resistance to the oil well from residents and the city when he first proposed it last year.

ENERGY

USDA awards loans, grants to 3 power groups AROUND MISSISSIPPI — Loans and grant funds will be provided to applicants in 11 states to support businesses, improve the quality of medical care, and create or save hundreds of jobs through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program.

Three electric power associations in Mississippi are receiving loans and/or grants.

Awardees are: » East Mississippi Electric Power Association — Receiving a $1 million loan and $300,000 grant to construct and equip a 10,860-squarefoot workforce education building. » Singing River Electric Power Association — Receiving a $1 million loan to purchase 89 acres of real estate and cover infrastructure-related costs. » Southern Pine Electric Power Association — Receiving a $375,000 loan to help construct a 5,000-square-foot educational classroom to expand educational facilities for Simpson County Academy.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

MSU professor develops national land use index

By CLAY CHANDLER I STAFF WRITER clay.chandler@msbusiness.com A Mississippi State professor of sociology is leading an online project that will serve as one-stop shopping for those searching for land development options across the U.S. The Land Developability Index is now online at www.landdevelopability.org. It provides researchers, elected officials and developers an index that will help them identify land available for conversion and/or development. It allows anyone concerned about land use to determine what percentage could be developed at county and state levels. The research that led to the website was done by MSU’s Social Science Research Center and the College of Arts and Sciences’ department of sociology.

Guangqing Chi, the MSU professor spearheading the project, said it was initially designed for researchers, but could benefit transportations planners, community developers and forestry and natural resource officials.

“The unique thing about this index is that it is just one number representing the overall characteristics and status of land use and development,” Chi said in a

TECHNOLOGY

Telecom adding workers on heels of Project VIP PEARL — AT&T is hiring.

That was the telecommunication company’s message at Gov. Phil Bryant ‘s Job Fair Network. It is currently looking to fill more than 250 job openings in Mississippi, including more than 225 new jobs.

The majority of new jobs are in the Network and Call Center organizations.

Many of the new positions are the result of AT&T’s recently announced Project Velocity IP (Project VIP), a three-year, multi-billion dollar investment plan to expand and enhance its national wireless and wired IP broadband networks.

HEALTHCARE

Report: State’s seniors most unhealthy in US ACROSS MISSISSIPPI — Seniors who live in Mississippi are the nation’s unhealthiest, according

school news release. “For people who are interested in land use and development, they can just go online and use it. There are other projects that share a similar methodology, but they are for different purposes.”

Chi and his team, which includes professors from the University of WisconsinMadison, the University of Minnesota and other MSU professors, generated the land maps using spatial overlay methods to identify undeveloped lands. Examples include wetlands, steep slopes, surface water, built-up lands and Native American reservations to go with state- or federal-owned land. The index is compatible with Microsoft’s Excel spreadsheet software.

“It takes lots of effort to get all those components together in one data set, one platform,” Chi said. “Users may skip these intermediate steps and simply use the final product of the Land Developability Index.”

The index has been in the works for a decade. During his doctoral studies, Chi developed a similar index for Wisconsin to help that state improve its population forecasting.

Chi’s next step is to refine his latest index into categories separated by metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas, municipalities, census tracts, block groups and ZIP codes. His overall goal is to produce an index that covers the planet. That will require additional funding from external sources, Chi said.

to the inaugural edition of United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Senior Report: A Call to Action for Individuals and Their Communities.

United Health Foundation commissioned the America’s Health Rankings Senior Report to examine the health of today’s seniors and to encourage the

nation, local communities and families to take action to improve senior health.

This report builds on the annual America’s Health Rankings report which, for 23 years, has offered an analysis of national health on a state-by-state basis.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

12 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013 BOOKS

“A Chain of Thunder” » Civil War novelist marks 150th anniversary of the historic Campaign of Vicksburg that summer of 1863 that most historians say marked the beginning of the end of the Confederacy.

After holding out for months, the starvBest-selling Civil War novelist Jeff Shaara says the audience he wants to reach ing, beseiged city of Vicksburg under the the most are the ones that come to him command of John C. Pemberton finally often after reading his books saying, “I did- surrendered to overwhelming Union forces led by future president U.S. Grant n’t know that.”

With its railroads and location on the and William T. Sherman. The surrender bluffs of the Mississippi River, the town of came on July 4, a day that Vicksburg resiVicksburg, Mississippi was a vitally impor- dents wouldn’t formally celebrate again tant fortress city for the Confederate Army until the 1940s.

“What Grant accomplishes at Vicksburg at the height of the American Civil War in is one of the great military feats in history, 1863.

As the community marks the 150th an- not just in this country but the world,” niversary of its often overlooked involve- Shaara says. “It’s studied by military acadment in the bloody conflict, Jeff Shaara’s emies all over the world including of course newest novel “A Chain of Thunder” ex- West Point.”

It’s Shaara’s fourth trip to the Civil War plains why the occupation of the region was compared by one Union general to as a novelist. His first works “Gods and Generals” and “The Last Full Measure” “the capture of forty Richmonds.”

The newly released book is already completed a trilogy begun in 1975 by his faranked eighth on the Barnes & Nobles ther Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer Prize-winBestsellers List and the award-winning ning novel “The Killer Angels.”

“Typically historical fiction is Shaara hopes it will raise awareness about about a real place with fictitious characters,” the younger Shaara says. Getting into the heads of the real people who rose up at strategic moments of the conflict was a trend started by Michael Shaara who introduced readers to Civil War generals Robert E. Lee, Joshua Chamberlain and James Longstreet.

After spending more than a decade writing about the Mexican War, the American Revolution and the two World Wars, Jeff Shaara says he was prompted by letters from readers to take another look at the Civil War, this time at the western theater and battles in Tennessee and Mississippi. His last book “A Blaze of Glory” introduced characters present at the Battle of Shiloh.

Shaara takes it one step further in “Chain of Thunder” tracing the steps of real-life characters like Wisconsin soldier Fritz Bauer and Vicksburg resident Lucy Spence.

“It’s more important for me to follow that kid, that kid out in Union general William T. Sherman said he would “slay milfront with the musket in his lions” to capture Vicksburg and secure navigation of the Missishands who’s terrified out of his sippi River for the Union Army. Sherman is just one of the colorful mind,” Shaara says. “It’s easy for a general to go tell his men to do characters brought to life in Civil War novelist Jeff Shaara’s something it’s a much different newest work “A Chain of Thunder.”.

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

Slade Downs / Special to the MBJ

Shaara has won two American Library Association awards for historical fiction for his Civil War novel “Gods and Generals” and his World War I novel “To the Last Man.” He says he’s also interested in writing about the battles of the Texas War of Independence and the Korean War.

It’s Shaara’s fourth trip to the Civil War as a novelist. His first works “Gods and Generals” and “The Last Full Measure” completed a trilogy begun in 1975 by his father Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel “The Killer Angels.” situation for the guys who have to go and do it.”

Shaara says generals Grant and Sherman were as different as night and day but worked together as a team to achieve victory.

“Grant is the administrator. He’s in charge. He’s got the whole army to look after and he learns how to handle different personalities and adapt to the situation.”

Shaara says. “Sherman is the firebrand.

He’s the guy that wants to get the job done now come hell or high water.”

Shaara’s research for the characters al-

ways centers on original diaries, memoirs or collections of letters written during the conflict. For “Chain of Thunder” he talked with the U.S. Grant Presidential Libraries at Mississippi State University as well as battlefield park historians.

While most of the media and tourism attention this summer will be centered around the 150th anniversary of the equally important battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, awareness of the Vicksburg campaign is starting to spark especially among See

THUNDER, Page 13

May 31, 2013

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Mississippi Business Journal

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13

DOWNTOWN JACKSON

Waiting continues for Walthall buyer after auction » Taylor Real Estate Auction in talks with prospective buyers of downtown Jackson hotel

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

Hopes for injecting more life into downtown Jackson’s Capitol Street through a renovation and possible conversion of the vacant Edison-Walthall sustained a setback when the hotel did not get an acceptable bid at auction.

For now, the circa 1927 lodging landmark will remain with the Landmark Center office building a block away as once-major properties on downtown’s main thoroughfare awaiting occupants.

Ben Allen, president of Downtown Jackson Partners, a public-private entity that promotes investment in downtown, said he expects the eight-floor hotel will be converted to a mixed-use building at some point. But for now investors are finding “it hard to get their arms around the rehab costs,” he said.

Taylor Real Estate Auction’s Benny Taylor is continuing to lead tours of prospective buyers through the 205-room hotel at 225 E. Capitol St. after a May 22 Internet auction failed to generate an acceptable bid.

Taylor, whose business is based in Grenada, said he received a couple of bids at but neither met the minimum set for the hotel appraised in tax records at $3.79 million.

Taylor said he is negotiating with the bidders as well as other potential buyers.

The sale would include the property’s 200-

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Continued from Page 12

the military community.

Shaara recently met a Mississippi general who takes his soldiers to Vicksburg each year. “(He said) thank you for this book because now we can take these soldiers to Vicksburg and show them something that will have more meaning to them,” he says.

Writing is not the only way that Shaara seeks to preserve America’s history of conflict. For years the author has been involved with the Civil War Preservation Trust, a national organization that protects endangered battlefields.

“They’ll lobby local politicians or approach private landowners,” Shaara says.

“Some of the property is fairly expensive.”

space covered garage and all furnishings within the hotel.

“We’re trying to get the best deal” for bond holders, said Taylor, referring to investors who are owed about $7.5 million.

The Roberts Group, owners of Jackson TV station CW34 and radio station 97.7FM WRBJ, bought the hotel in 2008 with plans to invest $10 million in upgrades.

The Roberts put about $7.5 million into renovations of some of the top floors, before the water damaged forced them to shut down the hotel more than three years ago.

Taylor expects the Walthall’s next incarnation will be as a condominium or residential apartment building. “It’s going to need a complete restoration,” he said.

Malcolm Shepherd, COO of Jackson real estate investment firm Full Spectrum South, said travel snags prevented his firm from placing a bid May 22. But Full Spectrum is still in talks on buying the hotel, he said.

“We are one the groups they are talking to,” he said.

Shepherd said Full Spectrum envisions the hotel as a mixed-use development with about 80 hotels rooms, some office space and retail and about 100 rental apartments.

David Watkins, who successfully restored Jackson’s King Edward Hotel after it had been closed for many years, said in an interview in early May that “a lot of remediation must take place.”

All the material would have to be stripped out of the water-damaged upper floors, he said. “Once you do that, you might as well strip it all out.”

But for an investor willing to do a thorough rehab, the property has potential as an extended stay hotel, Watkins said.

TED CARTER / The Mississippi Business Journal

Front desk and entry hallway inside the Walthall hotel.

Office Space For Rent In Downtown Jackson Approximately 1800 sq. ft., includes 2 private offices

Ideal for: Wilson’s Creek, Pea Ridge, Brandy Station and portions of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia are just some of the forgotten battlefields that the trust is involved in.

“We just bought 500 acres at Shiloh last year, one of the last pieces of private ground that wasn’t owned by the battlefield,” Shaara says.

As far as bringing one of his novels to the big screen, Shaara doesn’t wait by the phone for studios to call. Movie adaptations of “The Killer Angels” and “Gods and Generals” have been made in the past but he says the subject matter lends itself more to the cable TV mini-series format. “(Movie studios) want catalogs. They don’t just want a one shot film,” he says.

“One thing I’ve learned about Hollywood is there’s a lot of talk. I know better than to get excited about it.”

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14 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Fondren Public filling a void

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

Later this summer, Fondren’s newest locally owned business will open, and it will be something the neighborhood does not already have.

Marty Clapton and his partners are opening a pub next to Cups coffee shop.

Plans for Fondren Public, which Clapton hopes will serve as a gathering place for locals, were first formulated more than two years ago, shortly after he moved to Jackson from Ocean Springs and opened his commercial realty office adjacent to the space that will house the bar.

“The more I thought about it, and knowing how much people enjoy being outside, the patio space there being second to none, it made a lot of sense,” he said.

More than $200,000 worth of renovations started in February, shortly after Clapton and his partners had control of the property. The space has been remade using a lot of repurposed materials. The actual bar is built out of old Delta and Meridian pine. Walls that aren’t exposed brick are covered in barn wood that came from a hunting camp.

The pub’s shuffleboard table was custom-built using some of the same materials. A lot of the pub’s features are ideas culled from investors’ trips to bars in Austin, Texas, Charleston, Boston and Portland, Ore. “We’ve tried to take a little out of all those places,” Clapton said. “With all the wood inside, it makes me think of some of the bars and taverns in Boston that I used to work in.”

The bar’s guts have been replaced, including new plumbing lines and concrete. “We demoed it down to the studs,” Clapton said. The main bar area will have a couple TVs. The spacious outdoor area, portions of which will be covered, will feature a Bocce ball court and pews reclaimed from a Jackson church.

Inside, 25 copper-backed beer taps are already installed, and will be craft-beer heavy when they begin to pour. Clapton said Fondren Public will carry beers made in the Southeastern U.S., including from new Mississippi breweries Lucky Town Brewing Co. and Crooked Letter Brewing Co. Clapton said the pub’s name was one of two finalists –

Photos by STEPHEN MCDILL / MBJ

Top of page: 25 copper-backed beer taps are already installed, and will be craft-beer heavy when they begin to pour. Above: The spacious outdoor area, portions of which will be covered, will feature a Bocce ball court and pews reclaimed from a Jackson church.

the other being Local Tap – that he and his partners considered. “We had a pretty intense discussion about the name,” he said. “My wife came up with Fondren Public.

We all considered something local. We thought it was key to have Fondren in the name to establish our location and public was just a play on the old English pub word. There was a lot of public house bars around the country that we looked at. The more we surveyed around with our friends, Fondren Public seemed to be the favorite.”

Fondren Public’s target audience will be the young professionals who have flooded the Fondren neighborhood the last decade or so, Clapton said. “They can come here and have that happy hour drink or make this their outdoor weekend spot. Everyone certainly enjoys Hal and Mal’s and

Fenian’s, but this is a different part of town and I think Fondren needed this.” The bar’s target date for opening is in late June or early July.

Rick Cleveland, executive director of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, lives in Fondren and thinks one of the few things the area lacks is a spot that serves as a resident-driven watering hole and nothing else.

“When I moved to Jackson in 1979 and lived in Fondren, there was the Recovery Room, where Lenny’s (sub shop) is now,” Cleveland said. “It was just a neighborhood gathering place kind of like Cheers. You could go in and people knew each other. Even better, you could walk home.

It was great. Fondren has been crying out for another place like that.”

May 31, 2013

TRANSPORTATION

Riding in the median » Roadbuilders conflicted by study committee

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

Late in the last legislative session, state lawmakers approved a resolution to form a study committee to look into the issue of funding for road and bridge work. It seemed that Mississippi’s struggling roadbuilders had finally caught a break.

But now local roadbuilders are wondering if the study is a positive step or not after learning they will not have a seat at the table.

Mike Pepper, executive director of the Mississippi Road Builders Association, chose his words carefully.

“Is it good that we’re at least talking about funding road and bridge projects in this state — absolutely,” he said. “Any, dialogue, any debate, is a good thing at this point. But, the roadbuilders aren’t on the committee. We have been advocating for a new funding mechanism for years now,

and we’re not invited to participate. I find that funny.”

He did not laugh.

“I understood we would be on the committee,” Pepper added. “Obviously, that’s not going to happen, and I don’t know why. I understand the committee is going to meet next month, but I have not received anything officially.”

For the struggling roadbuilders, this is a bitter development considering the committee is the result of all their efforts during the last session of the Legislature.

The session started with promise in the House, with House Transportation Committee chairman Rep. Robert Johnson introducing a funding proposal built on a flat tax on fuel early in the session. After being double referred, it failed in the House Ways and Means Committee.

There was little transportation-related activity in the Senate other than a plan to take casino payouts to fund road and bridge projects, which was never debated.

It was in the last days of the session that the study committee resolution was introduced and adopted. It called for a 19member body drawn from private entities,

“Is it good that we’re at least talking about funding road and bridge projects in this state — absolutely.”

Mike Pepper Mississippi Roadbuilders Association

state agencies and state senators. Its findings will be presented to the entire Legislature next session.

Pepper pointed to allied groups that are on the committee, such as the Mississippi Economic Council, which he feels gives the MRBA at least indirect representation.

“We’ll still be on the committee,” he said.

Just as roadbuilders are riding in the See

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Mississippi Business Journal

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LITTLE MONEY, LITTLE WORK

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

A proposed road project in a small Mississippi town is a good example of what is keeping the state’s roadbuilders up at night — and idled during the day.

Residents of Smithville were told not to worry over the prospect that a Mississippi Highway 25 bypass would negatively affect the town’s Central Business District. At least Pepper not for a couple more decades, said Bill Jamison, Northern District engineer for the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT).

Federal and state money is unlikely to be available for realigning and widening the highway in Monroe County, he said.

Mike Pepper, executive director of the Mississippi Road Builders Association, maintains

MEDIAN, Page 16

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LITTLE, Page 17

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INCORPORATIONS

16 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013 Roof Enterprise, LLC 2/12/13

February 2013 Incorporations This is the February 2013 list of the state’s newly incorporated businesses from the Secretary of State’s Office. Listed are towns from Saucier 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.

LLC 30 Lawson Rd

Shelby Demarcus Smith DBA 2/19/13 MSmith Solutions DBA 2/19/13

OTH 804 Hay St OTH 804 Hay St

Groop Marketing Concepts, LLC LLC 2/22/13 351 Evergreen Road

Shuqualak

L & K Investments LLC LLC 2/4/13 18408 Dogwood Lane Makynli Homes LLC LLC 2/26/13 20050 Red Oak Rd North American Roofing Sales LLC LLC 2/26/13 21355 Highway 49

Blackbelt Seining LLC LLC 2/7/13 2577 Running Water Road

Sebastopol

Southaven

LLC 193 North St

Seminary Jeremy P. Wade, LLC LLC 2/4/13 136 Walter Lott Rd MC Foods, LLC LLC 2/5/13 1393 Seminary Mike Conner Road Mississippi Mud Gallery & Gifts LLC

2/21/13

LLC

481 Herbert Trigg Rd

Senatobia 159 Orange LLC LLC 2/20/13 214 S. Ward Street 205 East Gilmore llc LLC 2/20/13 214 S. Ward Street 208 Bowden LLC LLC 2/20/13 214 S. Ward Street 212 Baker LLC LLC 2/20/13 214 S. Ward Street DeSoto Produce LLC LLC 2/27/13 2505 Homeplace Road E A McGuire & Co LLC LLC 2/19/13 616 Highway 305 N Goat Rancher LLC LLC 2/1/13 1450 N. Crockett Road Goat Rancher LLC LLC 2/1/13 1450 N. Crockett Road Goat Rancher LLC LLC 2/1/13 1450 N. Crockett Road Goat Rancher LLC LLC 2/1/13 1450 N. Crockett Road ICARE LLC LLC 2/14/13 2525 Country Club S & D Trucking, LLC LLC 2/14/13 988 Billingsley Drive

Shannon Chris Black Trucking, LLC LLC 2/14/13 1201 North Hwy. 245 Alt Okolona Ms 38860

Shaw

Sledge NORFLEET, LLC 2/20/13

LLC 249 2Nd Ave

1255 Goodman Rd Inc BUS 2/13/13 187 E Stateline Rd #4 150 West Stateline Road, LLC LLC 2/1/13 150 W. Stateline Road Agape Home Improvements, LLC LLC 2/14/13 6165 Bradford Cir E #183 Bay County Investments, LLC LLC 2/12/13 6928 Cobblestone Drive, Ste 100 CMH Services, LLC LLC 2/25/13 5293 Getwell Road Dameems LLC LLC 2/6/13 8539 Chesterfield Dr Davis Home & Lawn Care, LLC LLC 2/11/13 3675 Swinnea Rd DUI Solutions, LLC LLC 2/15/13 8829 Centre Street Essex Technology Group, Inc. BUS 2/1/13 5812 Alexandria Lane FEE Management LLC LLC 2/26/13 9180 Whirworth St For The People Insurance Group, LLC

2/28/13 InkWear LLC 2/20/13

LLC

5293 Getwell Road LLC 5877 Keebler Dr West

Integrity Mechanical Solutions, LLC

LLC

2/8/13 1176 Berretta Cove K & R Investments, LLC LLC 2/11/13 1655 Nottingham Dr Kreunen Roofing, LLC LLC 2/22/13 3675 College Road Labovitz and Associates LLC LLC 2/22/13 1625 Main Street LifeLinc Premier Corporation BUS 2/22/13 5293 Getwell Road Lightman Desoto Co. LLC LLC 2/20/13 5779 Getwell Rd Lowery Enterprises, LLC LLC 2/8/13 877 Long Street LRP Reachout NP 2/7/13 7843 Richland Dr Northern Delta Chapter of Bikers Against Child Abuse NP 2/22/13 5865 Eureka Rd Courtland, Ms 38620 Scout Delivery, LLC LLC 2/11/13 5779 Getwell Road, Suite C-1

Interstate Baptist Church NP 2/21/13 948 Sandpit Rd

MEDIAN

Starkville Agincourt Solutions, LLC LLC 2/22/13 1401 Lewis Lane

Shubuta

Saucier

5M Enterprises, LLC 2/7/13

SES PTO NP 2/7/13 7843 Richland Dr Steele Commodities LLC LLC 2/6/13 4413 Evelyn Land Zisa Inc BUS 2/6/13 3198 Vandalay Cove

Continued from Page 15

median on the study committee, they also face conflict in several key areas of their public/governmental relations efforts. They are: » Getting the message out that maintaining roads and bridges is less expensive than waiting until they are beyond repair and building new ones. While Mississippi’s transportation infrastructure currently ranks well compared to other states, funding is needed now to keep it operating efficiently. » Getting the message out that Mississippi roadbuilders are important not only to their communities, but also are more vital to the overall construction industry than in other states. Numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show roadbuilding

ASIAN SPA AND BODYWORK INCBUS 2/20/13 101-C GT Thames Dr Belaire RV Park, LLC LLC 2/6/13 50 Sears Dr. Chase Life L.L.C. LLC 2/19/13 1301 Louisville Street Apt. 30 Commode Bob’s LLC LLC 2/14/13 104 1/2 Maxwell St Commodore Bob’s LLC LLC 2/14/13 104 1/2 Maxwell St Enoch Goods & Services LLC LLC 2/22/13 401 Evergreen St Favian-Obed LLC LLC 2/22/13 401 Evergreen St Fulgham-Brooks Properties, LLC LLC 2/8/13 1193 P.D. Fulgham Road Hot Box Customs OTH 2/27/13 515 Kirk Cauldy Drive JKL Greenhouse Consulting LLC LLC 2/27/13 535 Lincoln Drive McBride & Co Real Estate LLC LLC 2/26/13 100 Iris Lane Montgomery Realty LLC LLC 2/25/13 109 East Main Street Ninetwentynine, LLC LLC 2/28/13 106 East Main Street Parker Properties, LLC LLC 2/13/13 13746 MS Hwy 12 W Redeemer Church NP 2/5/13 1173 Goldfinch Ln TCC Facilities Management, Inc. BUS 2/1/13 221 North Montgomery Street Wilson Armory, LLC LLC 2/8/13 1691 Wilson Road

Summit

Taylorsville Okatoma Civitan Club 2/4/13

NP 2875 Hwy 532

Terry AAF - Lakeside Villas Limited Partnership LP 2/28/13 18349 Midway Road Gentiva Health Services (USA) LLCLLC 2/12/13 18349 Midway Road Hiller Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Company, Inc BUS 2/27/13 18349 Midway Road Roeder’s Plumbing Service “LLC” LLC 2/27/13 18349 Midway Road Visioneering Envision.Design.Build, Inc BUS

2/11/13

18349 Midway Road

Thaxton Pontotoc Equipment Rental LLC LLC 2/26/13 1275 Thaxton Rd

Tunica Aswan Properties, LLC LLC 2/15/13 6400 Prichard Road Luster Car Rentals LLC LLC 2/8/13 209 S. Airport Blvd

Tupelo 2 Funky Friends, LLC LLC 2/26/13 120 Rd 1850 4AMR LLC LLC 2/1/13 1019 Martin Street Anna Whittington Interior Design LLC

JB & JB Enterprises LLC LLC 2/19/13 1055 Meadville St Shaken LLC 2/15/13 1099 C D Rayborn Rd. Shaken LLC LLC 2/22/13 1099 C D Rayborn Rd.

Sumner JGMB Properties LLC LLC 2/26/13 412 East Court Street TCC, LLC LLC 2/8/13 412 East Court Street

Sumrall Advantage Marketing Professionals LLC LLC

2/14/13

Dog-Gone Country Grooming LLC LLC 2/25/13 361 Epley Road JBW Construction LLC LLC 2/15/13 183 Newman Camp Rd Kiehn Enterprises LLC LLC 2/22/13 466 Knight Road LPS Creations LLC LLC 2/25/13 161 Oral Church Rd Sixteen O’Five, Inc. BUS 2/26/13 280 Hickory Grove Church Rd

140 Clyde Loftin Rd

Breeland’s underground and Septic LLC LLC

2/27/13 83 W M Johnson Rd Darwin Broome Logging, LLC LLC 2/14/13 501 Faithway Road

2/13/13

LLC

North Mississippi Periodontics & Implant Dentistry, PLLC PLLC 2/20/13 103 Parkgate Extended Outdoor Adventure Enterprises, LLC

LLC

2/8/13 130 Herdtown Lane RDM3, LLC LLC 2/26/13 431 W. Main St. Suite 108 RKH Developer, LLC LLC 2/11/13 210 East Main St Savvy Gourmand Inc BUS 2/12/13 161 County Rd 33 Second Chanz, LLC LLC 2/15/13 105 South Front Street Sidco Automotive LLC LLC 2/7/13 1781 Summerlake Dr. SJJ & Associates, LLC LLC 2/11/13 338 North Spring Street, Suite 2 Spencer Law MS, LLC LLC 2/11/13 117 N Broadway St. Steeplechase Homeowner’s Association Inc NP 2/7/13 105 S. Front Street (38804) The Pines Apartments at Barnes Crossing in Tupelo, LLC LLC 2/22/13 4100 North Gloster St The Writeologist, LLC LLC 2/8/13 2348 N Clawood Pl Tupelo Gold Buyers LLC LLC 2/4/13 2306 West Main Ste H White Real Properties, LLC LLC 2/20/13 732 Senter St. Wollam Farms, LLC LLC 2/25/13 336 N. Green Street (38804) Writeology, LLC LLC 2/8/13 2348 N Clawood Pl

Tutwiler Tri-County Arts Programs NP 2/19/13 54 Turner Rd

440 Robins St

Assurance Automotive Sales & Repair, LLCLLC

2/8/13 720 Day Brite Drive Circle C Real Estate, LLC LLC 2/11/13 336 N. Green Street (38804) Classic Finishes, Inc. BUS 2/4/13 359 North Broadway Street Econo Signs of Tupelo, LLC LLC 2/8/13 322 Jefferson Street (38804) Firmstead LLC LLC 2/14/13 2006 Van St G.S. FITZ Innovations LLC LLC 2/12/13 4549 Meadow Lake Dr. Harden’s Food Affairs, Inc. BUS 2/6/13 2722 Kirkwood Rd Hawkins Ice Company, LLC LLC 2/8/13 2490 Graham Dr J Springs, LLC LLC 2/14/13 1943 Bordeaux Lane Lakeshire Properties, LLC LLC 2/21/13 209 North Madison Street (38804)

represents 12.6 percent of the state’s total construction activity, compared to the national average of 6.7 percent. » Getting the message out that part of the roadbuilders’ mission is public safety, and that there is nothing wrong with lobbying for transportation funding.

“When there is public education funding issues in the Legislature, who is in the balcony (at the Capitol)? School superintendents,” Pepper said. “When there is higher education legislation being debated, who is in the balcony? University presidents. Why is it okay for them to lobby and not us? We have a public-good mission, as well.

“We have to do a better job at PR.” Pepper said Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall’s recent speaking engagements illustrate the

Marketfest Inc BUS 2/12/13 161 County Rd 33 Mid South Powder Coating, LLC LLC 2/6/13 336 N. Green Street (38804) Mineral Springs Health Care, P.A. PA 2/11/13 322 Jefferson Street (38804) Morgan Real Properties, LLC LLC 2/8/13 333 W. Franklin Street

Tylertown Chalet Rentals, LLC LLC 2/15/13 40 Mesa Road Credit Solutions, Inc. BUS 2/11/13 50 Hospital Drive Greenstone, Inc. BUS 2/11/13 50 Hospital Drive Grubbs Family Properties, LLC LLC 2/4/13 35 Odell Smith Road Loch Ross, LLC LLC 2/6/13 150 Jayess Rd M & M Scrap, LLC LLC 2/11/13 109 Old State Line Road Old Row Records, LLC LLC 2/6/13 101 Ostrover Drive Rafferty Pearce, LLC LLC 2/6/13 101 Ostrover Drive Twisted Spear Farm LLC LLC 2/13/13 1092 Coffey Rd

Union Eric Kennedy, LLC LLC 2/8/13 2087 Melvin Leach Rd Exo Moore Logging, LLC LLC 2/4/13 10650 Road 327

Dickerson Litigation Group, LLC LLC 2/8/13 705 Chickasawhay Street Elli Mae’s Boutique Inc. BUS 2/7/13 222 Ceamon Pittman Rd

Wesson Fit Bottom Girls Fitness and Nutrition LLCLLC

Utica

2/21/13

T.F. Sanders Trucking Inc. BUS 2/21/13 1255 Lebedon Presbyterian Church Rd

West Point

Vaiden Interstate Sales LLC 2/13/13

LLC 33876 Hwy 35

Vancleave Dunnaway Fence LLC LLC 2/5/13 8708 Shetland Dr J & J Endeavors, LLC LLC 2/6/13 13700 Mount Pleasant Rd

Vicksburg Crews Grady PLLC PLLC 2/28/13 913 Crawford St, Vicksburg, Ms 39183 Deeb Source of McComb Inc BUS 2/13/13 1905 A Mission 66 Ste 2 Exploration Resources International Geophysics, LLC LLC 2/15/13 110 Woodstick Drive Hattiesburg LQIS Lodging LLC LLC 2/13/13 1003 Mission Park Dr Little Caesars DBA LLC 2/7/13 9 Jil Marie Cir Newburn, Harris, Croft LLC LLC 2/7/13 9 Jil Marie Cir River City Taxes of Vicksburg LLC LLC 2/22/13 2829 East Main Street Strick Farms LLC LLC 2/11/13 395 Chapel Hills Dr Taylor Brothers Construction LLC LLC 2/7/13 121 Jones Alley Upper Coldwater Mitigation, LLC LLC 2/14/13 110 Monument Place Warrior Bonfire Project NP 2/13/13 1798 Highway 27 South Yogi Jackson, Inc BUS 2/27/13 1110 Jackson St

2134 Hwy 51

Cynthia Mathews DBA OTH 2/12/13 326 Kilburn Street D & K Holdings LLC LLC 2/15/13 227 Commerce St. JHK Beauty Corporation BUS 2/20/13 631 West Main St Judson Land, LLC LLC 2/13/13 103 East Broad Street Matt Boys Cleaning Service DBA OTH 2/12/13 326 Kilburn Street

Wiggins Brown Box Computer Services LLC LLC 2/20/13 9 Border Avenue - Bond L H Drury Trucking Inc BUS 2/13/13 1403A Highway 29 Unclaimed Treasure, LLC LLC 2/21/13 234 Magnolia Dr North

Winona ADVANCE CASH LLC LLC 2/4/13 215A North Applegate BBL Properties, LLC LLC 2/28/13 108 S. Front St. Channel Innovations Corporation BUS 2/4/13 806 S Applegate Oxford Brewing Company LLC LLC 2/19/13 500 Bell St

Woodville S M Patel LLC 2/22/13

LLC 1488 Hwy 61 S.

Yazoo City Action Haleyville LLC LLC 2/15/13 110 N. Jerry Clower Blvd. suite W Afterburner Aerospace Corporation

BUS

Walls

2/11/13

1530 Gaywood Ave

Vineyard Media, LLC LLC 2/26/13 6236 Liberty Estates Drive

2/5/13 823 Calhoun Ave MJ Cabins, LLC LLC 2/26/13 168 Lakeside Drive Nationwide East, LLC LLC 2/8/13 600 Old Tchula Road Titanic Minimart, Inc BUS 2/1/13 1201 Grady Avenue Yazoo City Blues Society NP 2/7/13 524 Highland Dr

First Choice Home Care and Hospice, LLC LLC

Water Valley Angel Cleaning LLC 2/27/13

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Waveland Hawk-A-Maniac Fitness LLC LLC 2/20/13 610 Morris St Hearing Health Fellowship NP 2/27/13 310 Davis St.

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conflict. He begins by talking about how good Mississippi’s transportation infrastructure is — principally due to the 1987 highway program — and ends by saying the system is in trouble and needs funding.

The root of the issue is the 1987 highway program’s myopic funding mechanism, based on an 18-cent fuel tax. As gasoline prices have risen and vehicle fuel mileage has improved, the state has been left with relatively less and less money for road and bridge work.

The roadbuilders refuse to buy that taxconservative Republicans in control of most of state government preclude any solutions to highway funding. Pepper has kept a running tally of states, many controlled by the GOP, which have at least debated road/bridge funding.

Still, highway funding has been a tough

sell as the state’s economy struggles to recovery and the price tag on work rises. Pepper points out a 1-cent fuel tax increase would generate $200-$220 million. However, that would barely cover the cost of two highway construction projects currently underway in Central Mississippi, each ringing in at roughly $90 million apiece.

Roadbuilders are concerned that nothing will be done until there is a tragedy such as the deadly Interstate 35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis in 2007 or the Interstate 5 bridge collapse in Seattle last week.

“I hope that’s not the way it happens,” said Pepper in an interview before the I-5 collapse happened. “Let’s hope it doesn’t take a tragedy to realize we have a serious problem with our roads and bridges, and they need work now.”

May 31, 2013

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

17

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Port restoration in key $55.8 million wharf phase

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

GULFPORT —Work is set to begin June 6 on building a new wharf face for the west pier of the Port of Gulfport, a project that marks a key phase in restoring the port nearly destroyed almost a decade ago by hurricane Katrina.

The Mississippi State Port Authority awarded Hattiesburg-based L&A Contracting a $55.8 million contract May 23 to upgrade the west pier wharf to allow for the placement of rail mounted gantry cranes. The contract also calls for utility upgrades to support the electric cranes which replace the port’s two diesel operated cranes.

Under the 910-day contract, the contract will be required to drive about 690 pilings and provide a new wharf face for the entire west pier.

Before installing the new pilings, L$A will demolish portions of the current 3,000 feet pier, said Cory Bielstein, company spokesman.

“The harbor side of it has got a timber fender system in it. All that is going to disappear,” he said. “The face is going to be removed,” he added, explaining the pier will no longer have portions that jut out but will be aligned flush from end to end.

Ultimately, the electric gantries that will replace the port’s diesel cranes will move along rails set on both the water side and land side of the pier, according to Bielstein.

Work is planned in three phases, with crews numbering from 20 workers in the beginning and growing to 40 to 50 later on, he said. The phasing of the work is necessary to prevent interfering with the port’s daily operations.

Many of the workers will be hired through the area’s WIN job centers. Most of the hires will be for labor rather than skilled work, Bielstein said.

Workers completed a project in 2011 to raise the 39-acre wharf to an elevation range of 12 feet to 14 feet, a height decided on after state and port officials wrangled over earlier plans to raise the pier to about 25 feet. Gov. Phil Bryant and other state leaders insisted the project be scaled back as a way to return the port to full operation as soon as possible.

Warehouses, a road and a rail line are to go onto the newly elevated wharf.

L & A Contracting submitted the low bidder from among some half dozen firms

submitting competitive bids for the wharf work. The firm plans to use other local contractors in carrying out the project.

Jim Simpson, president of the port authority board of commissioners, called the award “a major step forward in the realization of a restored port.”

This construction contract is one of several representing an estimated $130 million to 180 million scheduled for award this year as part of the Port’s $570 million restoration program.

“We’re getting into the actual phase of construction as opposed to the earth

work,” said Denton Gibbes, spokesman for the port authority board.

“Now we are building the foundation upon which the port will be built,” he added.

Port officials hope to ultimately deepen the port’s channel from 36 to 45 feet.

AN MBJ FOCUS: CONSTRUCTION

Where will you g tornadoes appro

Courtesy of Storm Ready Shelters

Since the Moore, Okla., tornado, the storm shelter business has gotten busy.

ou go when proach?

May 31, 2013 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

» Oklahoma storms have increased interest in home storm shelters

By BECKY GILLETTE I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

Seeing images of the almost unimaginable destruction from the tornado in Moore, Okla., has prompted a lot of people to make inquiries into building a storm shelter in their home. While there isn’t currently any money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help pay for storm shelters in Mississippi, Mississippi Emergency Management Agency Director Robert Latham advises state residents to consider investing in protection.

“We encourage citizens to install a storm shelter because nothing is more important than your family,” Latham said. “Unfortunately, FEMA can only provide funding for safe rooms after a disaster. Obviously, people would like to be able to have funding

available to help them. But if you think it is important enough to have one, you shouldn’t let the fact there are not federal funds available stop you. Ultimately, what you want to do is provide a safe and secure place for your family.”

If building a new home, Latham encourages people to include a safe room either underground or by reinforcing one room in the house like a bathroom. For existing homes, a good option is a steel unit that either buried in the ground or freestanding.

Latham recommends putting it in the garage or, if outside, somewhere close to the house. Some people might place the underground safe room 30 to 50 yards form the house.

See

SHELTERS, Page 21

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20 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013

Singing River Mall going open air » Aging enclosed shopping center in Gautier to get new look in multi-million dollar project

By LYNN LOFTON I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

Change is coming to Singing River Mall in Gautier. Elements are being put in place to turn the aging traditional enclosed mall into an open air lifestyle shopping center in this city of 19,000 which draws shoppers from surrounding Jackson County.

No construction start date has been named for the multi-million-dollar project.

“There’s no definite date at this time because we’re in negotiations with our anchor tenants,” said Mall Manager Angela Bishop.

“The concept of open air shopping centers is the latest thing and will suit our lifestyle here very well.”

Bishop confirmed that the remake calls for the demolition of approximately 250,000 square feet of existing space and is a first step in the project that will encompass 350,000 square feet of mixed-use space. This mixed-use space will include anchor stores, junior anchors, smaller commercial businesses, office space, restaurants

“My hope for the mall remake is that it will rejuvenate the whole shopping experience for Jackson County.”

Angela Bishop, mall manager and parking space. A junior anchor is a store with about 25,000 square feet of space.

“I can’t give specific business names of new tenants, but we’ve been at conventions and talking to restaurants, businesses and possible office tenants and have had a lot of good feedback,” Bishop said. “With the new Wal-Mart locating adjacent to the mall, we’ll bring a lot of people together.”

An agreement has been reached with the city to locate the world’s largest retailer to

connect with Singing River Mall and the new City Center. Bishop says a splash pad on mall property is near where the City Center’s large sculpture and round about are located. There’s also a walking trail and amphitheatre on the city’s property.

Gautier Mayor Tommy Fortenberry says he’s always thought “that mall could be the hub of Jackson County if we could ever breathe life back into it.” The city has invested $6.2 million of grant funds in beautification projects to aid economic development. Agreements have been forged between the city, Wal-Mart Real Estate Trust and developers SR LLC and SM Properties Gautier LLC to revitalize the area.

“I look forward to beginning the demolition process and completing the mall project,” Bishop said. “I’m excited about it.

My hope for the mall remake is that it will rejuvenate the whole shopping experience for Jackson County.”

According to Mayor Fortenberry, this project is one of the largest redevelopment

projects the city has seen in years and will help ignite more growth. “Enthusiasm is high in Gautier with the mall’s makeover, the new City Center and new Wal-Mart all tied together,” he said. “This has been longawaited news and I know there are other great things coming with it.”

In recent years Singing River Mall has lost tenants. After Hurricane Katrina, some of the mall’s unused space was used

by Ingalls Shipbuilding to operate administrative offices, but Ingalls stopped using the space in 2011.

On the website deadmalls.com, Michael J. Dixon wrote last October that the Gautier mall was a dying mall. “Once it was a thriving economic force on the Coast.

However, Singing River Mall has fallen into economic turmoil in the past ten to fifteen years. I have fond memories of this mall growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.”

He, mall officials and city leaders hope for a turn around and bright future for this mall that’s located on busy Highway 90.

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May 31, 2013

Continued from Page 19

“If severe weather is threatening and you have to go that far, you may get killed going there,� Latham said. “Don’t use it for storage so it is full when you need it. Also register the location of your safe room with local emergency officials so they know where to look for you after a disaster.�

With the MEMA program A Safe Place to Go, FEMA paid for 75 percent of the cost of installing safe rooms in counties that had experienced a disaster. About 6,900 safe rooms across the state have been installed under that program. “We have been able to validate that since 2001, that program has saved lives,� Latham said. “We’ve also undertaken several other initiatives with safe rooms including building safe rooms that are part of or near schools, and safe rooms for first responders.

We have also built a total of 72 FEMA shelters across the state that have a total capacity of 52,000 people.

High water tables or shifting soils can make the in ground type of tornado shelter impractical. David Tullos, owner of Tornado Shelters of Jackson, said shifting soils can be a problem in areas where there is red clay.

Tullos considers a safe room a good investment. “Our smallest safe room, 4 x 6 metal unit, costs $4,999, installed,� Tullos said. “Is your

Courtesy of Storm Ready Shelters

Storm shelters also have underground options for a driveay or garage.

life worth $5,000? If you are buying a house and it is $100,000 for a house without a safe room and $105,000 for one with a safe room, in my opinion you will buy the house with a safe room. It is a cheap investment

for a life. Even if you never use it, the peace of mind is worth it, in my opinion.�

Tullos recommends consumers make sure the shelter dealer has been in business more than five years. And be leery of outof-state contractors who claim you don’t have to Latham pay sales taxes on the purchase. “If you get caught, you have to pay taxes plus a penalty,� Tullos said. “The state is trying to buckle down on out-of-state sales taxes. If you buy from out-of-state dealers, you have to pay Mississippi sales tax.�

He also recommends getting a written quote because some out-of-state contractors have reportedly billed people an extra $500 to $600 for mileage.

Make sure that the product purchased meets all FEMA guidelines for a F5 tornado. “You don’t want a F3 room, and there are some out there are like that,� Tullos said. “All our rooms exceed the F5 rating.�

Patrick Allen, owner of Storm Ready Shelters, Meridian, said big storms like the one in Oklahoma can spawn a lot of people trying to get into the shelter business to turn a quick profit. “They aren’t worried about protecting you,� Allen said. “It is just about money. So be careful. Deal with someone who is a

I

Mississippi Business Journal

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member of the Better Business Bureau, who has a reputation and gives you referrals, and who has tested their shelters at Texas Tech University where all the shelters are tested. If they haven’t been tested there, you don’t want it. And a big thing is to make sure it is manufactured by a member of the National Storm Shelter Association. That association sets guidelines and makes sure these things are built in the proper way to get the best protection.�

Allen said it has been extremely busy since the tornado. “It definitely opened people’s eyes,� Allen said. “The sad thing is it typically takes a big, deadly tornado for people to buy. Then the phone starts ringing. For the same amount of money people spend on a riding lawnmower or four wheelers, this is something that will protect you and your family.�

Allen said they have an above ground all steel safe room that has been tested at over 700 mile per hour winds. The rooms can be installed in a garage, patio or porch. “They are a nice finished product,� he said. “They are not an eyesore. We can custom paint them if needed. Our sizes range from 4 x 4 feet to 6 x 12 feet. An average is a 5 x 8. The average price is $7,600. They start out less and a larger one is more. People find other uses for them as well. With special theft proof locks, they can be used for safes used to store firearms, jewelry or any kind of collectibles.�

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22 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013

LITTLE

coating, which preserves the life of the structure. The project is scheduled for completion in July 2014. » MDOT began the initial stages of a planned widening of U.S. Highway 90 to six lanes from Ocean Springs to Gautier. MDOT the issue is the current funding mechanism under the state’s 1987 engineer Kelly Castleberry said crews had begun surveying the roughly highway plan.

“Who else in Mississippi is operating under a funding mechanism set 11-mile stretch of U.S. 90 — the only area of U.S. 90 not already six lanes. Castleberry said there was no time frame as yet for when the in 1987?” asks Pepper. “My guess is none.”

A review of major roadwork either proposed or let in 2013 found not project would begin and the cost of the project will be determined by the plan that is ultimately selected. Once begun, Castleberry estimates one project in January or February. the project would take 18-24 months to complete, although he noted Here are the handful of road and bridge projects so far this year: that the project would be done in sections.

March April » Work began on a Jones County interchange improvement » State transportation officials said they expect to spend about project at the Interstate 59-16th Avenue/Exit 95 interchange. The $1.18-million project was awarded to Dunn Roadbuilders of Laurel. $2 million on improvements to Mississippi Highway 182 in East The project includes the installation of a traffic signal and redesign Mississippi. The work would include overlaying the road’s surface of traffic flow at the interchange. When the project is completed, within city limits, developing landscape islands, improving sidewalk access and re-pouring driveways. City engineer Edward the merge condition will be eliminated on northbound I-59. The Kemp said bid advertisements are expected to begin in June and project is scheduled for completion this summer. construction could start shortly after work contracts are signed » Work began on the rehabilitation of the Interstate 110 with MDOT. Until then, officials will continue hammering out the Drawbridge in Biloxi, The $8.2-million project, awarded to PCL Civil Constructors of Tampa, Fla., is the second and final phase of design and details associated with the rehabilitation, Kemp said. » Work began in Warren County to shore up the hillsides along the renovation project. In 2011, MDOT completed a $4.1-million project involving the replacement of the steel grid decking of the parts of U.S. Highway 80 that eroded during January's heavy rain.

State transportation officials said the earthen bluffs at U.S. 80 and bridge. Phase two construction was scheduled to begin in April, Rancho Road were set back farther to limit the impact of further and will be a complete renovation of the mechanical, electrical mudslides. MDOT engineer Kevin Magee said Warren County Road and interior components of the bridge. In addition, the steel Department crews and equipment were working on washouts on portions of the bridge will be covered by layers of protective Continued from Page 15

Culkin Road. County officials said rebuilding supporting soil beneath U.S. 80 in Bovina in an area that overlooks a hollow more than 100 feet deep would start in April, weather permitting, May » The reconstruction and widening of I-55 from Byram to McDowell Road in Hinds County got underway. Once work is complete, the Mississippi Department of Transportation said the public can expect a brand new six-lane highway from Byram to the I-20 split, just north of McDowell Road. Other work is the placing of retaining walls, interstate lighting, new signage and minor bridge work located at Elton Road and McDowell Road.

Upon completion, the frontage roads, local roads and interstate ramps in the area will be overlaid. The project was awarded to James Construction Group of Baton Rouge, La., at a total cost of $93.5 million and is expected to be complete by November 2015. » DeSoto County unveiled a plan to team with Olive Branch on a $600,000 project to replace an old timber-supported bridge on State Line Road over Johns Creek. A consulting engineer working on the project said the bridge is one of DeSoto County's last remaining timber bridges. The DeSoto County Board of Supervisors approved the arrangement but held off on any work pending the city's approval of joint action and cost-splitting.

County road manager Andy Swims, noting municipal elections in both May and June, said the city also was waiting for the new administration to consider the matter. Available to the county for the project are federal Surface Transportation Program funds funneled through the state.

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AN MBJ FOCUS:

REAL ESTATE HOUSING MARKET

Home sales rising in parts of state » One agent attributes boost to an increase in consumer confidence

By BECKY GILLETTE I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

People in the real estate business aren’t exactly doing cartwheels, but in some areas of the state homes sales have picked up at an encouraging pace.

“I will tell you from conversations with individuals around the state that things are looking up,” said Ken Austin,

a Mississippi Coast Realty real estate agent who is president of the Mississippi Association of Realtors.

“Volume is up and prices are starting to rise a little bit. The overall market is improving. New home construction is improving about equally with what we are seeing with resales. I would imagine that is the case statewide. On the Coast, it is the opposite. There is not a tremendous amount of new construction being sold. It is mostly resale.”

Sue Golmon, a real estate agent with Tommy Morgan Realty, Tupelo, and president of Northeast Mississippi Board of Realtors, reports both more listings and

more sales.

“We have been very busy, much busier than usual especially early in the year,” Golmon said. “We’re delighted. We were busy in February and usually January and February are very slow. This year was very different. The first of Thompson the year we started getting springtime busy. We got busy earlier this year and it has continued to increase.”

Golmon attributes the upsurge to higher consumer confidence. “I think people have been wanting to buy for a long time and just didn’t feel comfortable,” she said. “It has to do with a confidence problem. I

think that is a lot of it.”

Golmon said most of the home sales activity in their area is sales of existing homes, as not a lot of new homes have been built.

New home construction has started to pick up, but right now it is mostly existing homes that are being sold.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index recently showed that home prices in 20 major metropolitan areas increased at the strongest level since before the housing bubble burst.

“At long last, major national indices are telling the story that local Multiple Listing Service data users have known for months See

HOMES, Page 29

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26 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FIRMS

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27

REAL ESTATE

28 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013

PROFILE: MICAH McCULLOUGH

Young professional sees bright future Âť Division of Underwood Properties provides third-party real estate services

By LYNN LOFTON I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com

At age 28, Micah McCullough likes what heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doing and sees a bright future in it. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vice president and broker associate of Jackson-based UCR Properties, a division of the Underwood Companies. He helped start UCR Properties in 2009 to provide third party real estate services. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My day-to-day responsibility is overseeing our third party and company owned commercial real estate portfolio consisting of approximately 400,000 square feet of office and retail properties with an estimated market value of $30 million,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Specifically, I handle acquisitions, brokerage, leasing and asset management.â&#x20AC;?

McCullough was born in Covington, La., but spent most of his growing-up days in Byram when his dad retired from the ministry. His mother is a first grade teacher with the Jackson Public Schools. After graduation

from Terry High School, he earned a degree in real estate with minors in managerial finance and management at Ole Miss.

As far back as elementary school McCullough was business minded. He remembers buying candy in bulk and selling it for a McCullough healthy profit by undercutting vending machines. In middle school he says he essentially had a baseball card shop in his back pack to buy, sell and trade cards during class breaks and after school.

Things changed in high school when he became intrigued by real estate and started paying attention to the architecture and design of existing real estate and developments. â&#x20AC;&#x153;One of my friendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s father was a residential builder and I did some odd-andend manual jobs and was exposed to that side of thee business, which quickly made

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me realize I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t like the construction side of real estate,â&#x20AC;? he said.

After paying his way through college, McCullough was ready to go to work in residential real estate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Luckily the economy changed my career path for the better as I definitely enjoy the commercial side of the business,â&#x20AC;? he says.

However, the commercial side of real estate is not without challenges. With Jackson a small market compared to places such as Atlanta and Houston, he must do a little bit of everything to thrive â&#x20AC;&#x201C; versus being able to specialize in a specific property service or sector. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This ultimately translates into having to be an expert on almost all property sectors and the services needed to make commercial real estate tick,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our firm is relatively small so for me personally, delegation and spreading the work around is one of my most difficult challenges, which translates into taking on too many assignments and long work days and weeks.â&#x20AC;?

McCullough also finds managing and leasing the same properties can be tough; that is playing good guy/bad guy, mediator and sometimes family counselor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You name it,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do business with our customers at their best and their worst times and become friends with many of the tenants at the properties we manage. But at the end of the day, my best interest has to be the overall performance of the property, and working for property owners you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always be the tenantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; best friend.â&#x20AC;?

A large part of what he does is fee based.

Therefore he finds it difficult to work on deals for weeks and months to have them fall apart because of something out of his control. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s part of the profession, but it can really deflate your sails when you think youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re flying high,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But, every day is different. Commercial real estate is a very See

MCCULLOUGH, Page 29

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REAL ESTATE MCCULLOUGH

Continued from Page 28

dynamic industry and I learn something new every day. Those are the things I most enjoy about what I do.”

This young professional also likes the people he meets and the connections he makes in all spectrums of the business community. “People in commercial real estate are some of the funniest people you’ll ever meet,” he says.

“Since Jackson is a small market, I get to connect with these professionals on a regular basis. I consider them all friends, ranging from guys in their early 20s to 80-year-old men, and I can learn something from all of them.”

Looking ahead, McCullough hopes to drive UCR Properties to be an industry leader and trend setter in Mississippi. “I think there will be a lot of opportunities for growth in the near future,” he said.

“I would like to get more into the development side of commercial real estate as the market hopefully continues to improve and also acquire properties on my own behalf.”

There’s no wife in his life but he likes to spend down time on the golf course, watching sporting events with friends and traveling. He also admits to a somewhat unhealthy obsession for exotic European cars and dreams of owning one.

May 31, 2013

HOMES

Continued from Page 25

or even years,” said Dorothy S. Thompson, Broker, DST Realty, Inc., president, Jackson Association of Realtors. “Yes, the housing market is recovering. The recovery varies by geography and market segment, but things are certainly better than they have been and are showing no signs of letting up.”

Listings in the Jackson region increased 5.9 percent to 777, according to the MLS of Jackson MS., Inc. April Market Report, which also reported pending sales were up 10.4 percent to 458. Inventory levels shrank 8.2 percent to 3,488 units. The MLS showed that the median sales price increased 5.4 percent to $147,500, and days on market was down 4.0 percent to 100 days. Absorption rates improved as months supply of inventory was down 10.2 percent to 8.9 months.

“The prickliest thorns in our collective side are still lack of inventory and subdued listing activity,” Thompson said. “In some neighborhoods, consumers have 50 or 60 percent fewer options from which to choose than they did a few years ago.

That's causing bidding wars in popular areas. Despite the competitive landscape for buyers, housing remains one of the brightest lights in an otherwise subdued economic recovery.”

“The prickliest thorns in our collective side are still lack of inventory and subdued listing activity.”

Dorothy S. Thompson President Jackson Association of Realtors

Golden Triangle Association of Realtors Board President Kris Davis, a real estate agent with ReMax Partners, said they are very optimistic about the housing recovery especially with the new Yokohama tire plant that has been announced for West Point. “That will be positively impacting our market,” Davis said. “We are also fortunate to have Mississippi State University, as well as the Mississippi University for Women, within our footprint that benefit from the second-home market with loyal fans and alumni seeking properties to take advantage of sports activities and the campus experience.”

Davis said the Golden Triangle has been very fortunate to avoid the dramatically inflated homes prices that other areas of

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

29

the country experienced in the early 2000s. This has allowed the area to maintain stable and steady growth.

Many homebuilders in the state got out of the business after the housing crash.

“We have lost a lot of homebuilder capacity in the past five years,” said Marty Milstead, executive vice president, Home Builders Association of Mississippi.

“There have been a lot of folks who have shut their doors and moved into the other areas, or retired and got out of the business. We are currently seeing some slight improvement in home building. It’s creeping up. Interest rates are still good. The first-time home buying market is by far the strongest market.

“There is still plenty of room for improvement. I think the big indicator for us that we really need to see change is jobs.

We need some significant job growth to really get back to some really stable, strong numbers.”

Milstead said certain pockets of Jackson are improving for sure while building activity on the Mississippi Coast is still fairly flat. He said building is starting to grow back in northwest Mississippi in the Southaven area.

“There is nothing much going on in the Delta, but the university towns —Hattiesburg, Oxford and Starkville--are starting to see a little more production,” Milstead said.

NEWSMAKERS

30 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013

Age: 33 Deputy Executive Director, Contracts and Support Services, Mississippi Public Broadcasting

Profiles of growing young professionals in Mississippi

Keeping our eye on... RYANNE SAUCIER Ryanne Saucier’s first days in the Hospitality State were pretty hospitable.

After moving to Mississippi from Alabama eight years ago without knowing anyone, Saucier says she quickly got plenty of recommendations for the best plumber, roofer and painter from people she would meet.

“I quickly learned all I had to do was ask and someone was willing to offer a suggestion or put me in touch with the right people,” she says.

Saucier studied literature and marketing at Birmingham-Southern College before earning a J.D. from the Mississippi College School of Law. Her knowledge and interest in intellectual property and copyrights has helped in her position at Mississippi Public Broadcasting.

Most of Saucier’s work includes drafting talent contracts, licensing rights and working with producers on show ideas. She also helps

clear music rights for episodes and comes up with names for upcoming radio and television shows.

“I usually get to work pretty early,” she says. “If the producers are working on a project, it is not unusual for me to have calls after-hours or on the weekends. I always try to be available to help. I guess you can say that media is in my blood.”

“I don’t believe that a book, song or movie can change the world, but I do believe that each has the ability to change the way a person sees the world,” Saucier says. “That can make all the difference.”

Saucier advises young professionals to work really hard and double check everything in their early careers. “None of us are special me included and brains can only get you so far,” she says. “Make friends. Friends, more than acquaintances, can get you over most any professional hurdle.”

— By Stephen McDill

Childhood dream job: Movie director First job ever: Radio station staffer Best thing about Mississippi: “If you want to attend a music event, you can probably find one almost every weekend of the year.”

Favorite Mississippi food: Walker’s Drive-In in Fondren Favorite TV Show: “Smash” Favorite movie: “E.T.” Favorite music: Elton John Heroes or mentors: Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg because both dreamed big and created material that truly entertains.

Favorite hangout spots: Babalu, Char or Pelican Cove.

Read the full biography at www.msbusiness.com

Hospital recognizes service Barnes gets new assignment DSU thanks faculty, staff

KFCU board seated

Mississippi State Hospital recently honored employees with May anniversary dates for their years of service to the hospital. Service Awards are given to employees in the month of their date of hire, beginning with one year, followed by every fifth anniversary year.

Recipients include: Portia Simon of Morton, one year; Emma Jones of Jackson, one year; Janice McDonald of Jackson, 20 years; Jacinda Charmaine Knight of Clinton, one year; Carolyn Pack of Brandon, 10 years; Lisa Cunningham of Jackson, one year; Elizabeth Bain of Clinton, one year; Ceasar Hamilton of Jackson, 20 years; Bart Uharriet of Pearl, one year; and, Jody Donald, 15 years.

Keesler Federal Credit Union’s has re-elected Jaime Perronne and Jon Rivera to the 2013-2014 board of directors. The board now consists of: James Hollingsworth, chairman; Jerry Caldwell, vice chairman; Adrien Augustine, treasurer; Perronne, secretary; Cynthia Payne Childers, member; Richard Moss, member, Rivera, member; and; Josie King, associate member The board also appointed the following members to the Supervisory Committee: Bobby Landry, chairman; Mike Ladner; Allan L. Micksch; King; and, Gregory Todd.

McTeer tapped by alma mater Longtime Greenville resident Victor McTeer, a retired trial lawyer and one of the first African-American graduates of the college, has been named to the McDaniel College board of trustees. A native of Baltimore, he became a prominent civil rights lawyer in Mississippi after graduating from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel) and the Rutgers School of Law. At age 25, he was the first black Mississippi lawyer McTeer since the Reconstruction period to argue a case before the United States Supreme Court. (McTeer won the case.)

Miller handed new role Dr. Amy Chasteen Miller, associate professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology and Sociology, is taking on the role of associate dean for academic affairs in the University of Southern Mississippi’s College of Arts and Letters. Miller earned her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Alabama, master of arts from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville and Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Michigan. She also earned a graduate certificate in women’s studies from the University of Michigan.

Miller began her career at Southern Miss in 1997 and has served on the Luckyday Citizenship Scholars Program advisory board and on Faculty Senate. She also served as director of Honors College Forum and was the founding associate director of the Center for Black Studies.

The Mississippi Department of Public Safety has named Highway Patrol Maj. Rusty Barnes as the new director for its Office of Homeland Security. He succeeds Jay Ledbetter, who retired about a month ago after more than 30 years of state service.

The 48-year-old Barnes has been with the Highway Patrol for more than 25 years. He’s a Corinth native and now lives in Rankin County. Barnes’ most recent assignments have been as central region commander of the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the statewide coordinator of emergency operations coordinator.

Colson trimming duties Marsha Colson, executive director of Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, is stepping down from her role of running day-to-day operations at the company. Colson will remain CEO at NPT and represent the company in contract negotiations and other projects. She told The Natchez Democrat she loves what she is doing but she wants more freedom to focus on personal obligations and other business.

Colson is also president of the Pilgrimage Garden Club.

Papania named chief Gulfport’s interim police chief Leonard Papania has been named chief of police. Papania has been a Gulfport police officer since 1994 and has served as deputy chief since 2009. He has been acting chief since Alan Weatherford retired in February. The 46year-old Papania has a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Southern Mississippi.

In all there were 65 applicants for police chief.

McDonnell wins Peavey Award Archie McDonnell, president and CEO of Citizens National Bank, recently received the 2013 Hartley D. Peavey Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence. This award is presented annually by the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation (EMBDC) to a local businessperson who has developed his or her entrepreneurial skills and business expertise into a thriving business or businesses.

Hartley Peavey, founder and CEO of Peavey Electronics Corporation, made the presentation to McDonnell during a special reception held at Bonita Lakes Mall in Meridian. Hartley commented that he was extremely proud to present this award to McDonnell due to his long-time history as a customer of the bank.

Delta State University recently honored retiring employees and awarded service pins to others at the 2013 Retirement Service Award Ceremony. Retirees honored were: Front, Irene Johnson, custodial services; Lestine Rogers, Center for Community and Economic Development; Kathy Givens, Office of Procurement Services; Sarah Boyles, continuing education and graduate studies; Renee Foster, management, marketing and business administration; Barbara McKnight, student business services; Elaine Lambert, teacher education; Carlysle Meek, biological and physical sciences; Duncan Baird, Art Department; John Elliott, Registrar’s Office; Aulene Brumfield, management, marketing and business administration; Greg Redlin, Finance and Administration; president emeritus Dr. John M. Hilpert; and, Rosie Pippins, custodial services.

The service honorees were: Barbara McKnight, student business services (40 years); Georgene Clark, languages and literature (35 years); Lee Curry, carpentry (30 years); Dr. Cooper Johnson, College of Business (30 years); Barry Bays, Delta Music Institute (25 years); William (Bill) Marchant, health, physical education and recreation (25 years); Sheryl Stump, library services (25 years); Dr. Mark Butler, Music Department (25 years); Aulene Brumfield, management, marketing and business administration; Kathy Givens, Office of Procurement Services (20 years); Dr. Vicki Bingham, School of Nursing (20 years); Dr. Jan Haynes, family and consumer sciences (20 years); Darwaun Hayes, custodial services (20 years); Moorlin Evans, custodial services (20 years); Dr. Joe Bentley, biological and physical sciences (20 years); Cheryl Oleis, alumni (20 years); Chip Cooper, commercial aviation (20 years); Mike Kinnison, baseball (20 years); and, Helen White, counseling and student health services (20 years).

DSU also recently announced its 2013 outstanding staff and faculty award winners. The H. L. Nowell Outstanding Staff award was presented to Sarah Boyles, coordinator of graduate studies admissions.

Nursing Instructor Debra Allen was the recipient of the S.E. Kossman Outstanding Faculty Award.

Whitfield made Fellow Bill Whitfield, an attorney with Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, has been inducted as a Fellow in the Mississippi Bar Foundation, the Foundation’s highest honor. Whitfield works in the firm’s Gulf Coast office. He received his law degree from Mississippi College School of Law, and his primary practice areas include insurance coverage, medical malpractice and litigation.

Whitfield

Retirees recognized The Clinton Public School District recently honored its retiring employees. The 2012-13 retirees are: Charlotte Denson, bus driver, Transportation Department; Barbara Ferguson, teacher, CHS Career Complex; Jackie Franklin, librarian, Eastside Elementary; Ann Kyzar, teacher, Clinton High School; Richard Lieding, speech teacher, Eastside Elementary; Janet Madden, bus driver, Transportation Department; Dalma Moore, teacher, Clinton Alternative School; Jane Perry, teacher, Eastside Elementary; Laura Purdie, director, Special Education department; Lynne Waterbury, teacher, Clinton Junior High; Vera Watson, teacher, Clinton Junior High.

NEWSMAKERS

May 31, 2013

I

Mississippi Business Journal

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COMVEST adds Gilmore

DSU staff honored

Anderson lands top honor

Chataginer retiring

COMVEST Properties has tapped Tim Gilmore, CCIM, SCLS, to fill the firm’s new position of director of leasing and retailer relations. He was formerly director of leasing at General Growth Properties.

Gilmore earned his bachelor of science in general agriculture at Mississippi State University. His designations include certified commercial investment member and senior certified leasing specialist. He also holds a Mississippi real estate broker’s license.

From Diamondhead, Gilmore and his wife, Jo, are “Boomers” — participants who assisted KaBoom! in their monumental achievement of bringing people along the Gulf Coast together after Hurricane Katrina by building over 120 playgrounds in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. He describes himself as a “master shrimp boiler” and a “wanna-be Duck Commander” noting that he “is a pretty good bird hunter, thanks to three German shorthaired pointers.”

Delta State University has recognized staff members for their years of service to the university. Employees serving the university for five, 10 and 15 years received recognition for their dedication to Delta State.

Recipients of the 15-year service award were Polly Cameron, Lizabeth Carlson, Leslie Griffin, Melissa Marshall, Christy Riddle, Rosetta Scott, Sammy Wilson, James Bowen, Craig Clemons, Richard Houston and Paula Laws.

Those receiving 10-year service awards were Gerald Jordan, Beverly Lindsey, Lestine Rogers and Lee Rowland.

Employees awarded five years of service certificates included Cynthia Beardsley, Casey Charles, Lola Dixon, Michael Gann, Johnny Glorioso, Towanda Grant, Johnny Grose, Phaciealeethas Hemmingway, Leigh Korb, Bevin Lamb, LaShanta Lewis, Michael Lipford, Ann Lotven, David Martinez, Gerald McClure, Robert McDaniel, Justin Montgomery, Suzanne Simpson and Stephen Waggener.

Choctaw Tribal Chief Phyliss J. Anderson was recently honored by the Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women with the Woman of the Year award in the Political/State and Local Government category. Former state senator and Mississippi Commission on the Status of Women chair Gloria Williamson presented Anderson with her award.

Four other distinguished Mississippi women were in the Political/State and Local Government category: State Rep. Angela Cockerham; State Senate secretary Liz Welch; Sen. Deborah Dawkins; and, Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler.

Marine patrol chief Walter Chataginer has retired from the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, taking with him more than 34 years of law enforcement experience. Chataginer started his career in September 1979 with the Biloxi Police Department. In 1988, he joined the Bureau of Marine Resources.

USM chooses Schoemann Thomas Schoemann has been selected as the Center for Logistics, Trade and Transportation’s operations manager at the University of Southern Mississippi. Schoemann is a retired Air Force veteran and spent the last eight and a half years with Rapiscan Systems as the U.S. operations manager for cargo and people screening.

A resident of Ocean Springs, he is married to Terri Schoemann, a teacher in the Ocean Springs School District, and has four children. He earned his MBA and undergraduate degree from William Carey University. He has an associates of applied science in instructor of technical and military science and electronic systems technology.

Bruce draws new assignment Lori Mann Bruce is the new associate vice president for academic affairs and graduate school dean at Mississippi State University.

Bruce, associate dean of the university’s Bagley College of Engineering since 2008, succeeds the retiring Louis D’Abramo.

Like D’Abramo, she is a William L. Giles Distinguished Professor, MSU’s highest faculty rank.

The appointment is pending formal approval by the Board of Bruce Trustees, State Institutions of Higher Learning. She will be the first woman to lead MSU’s graduate school.

Bruce is a University of Alabama in Huntsville doctoral graduate in electrical and computer engineering.

She also holds a UAH bachelor’s degree in electrical and computer engineering, as well as a master’s in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Prior to coming to MSU, she was an assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

Over her academic career, she has received several teaching awards and National Science Foundation research fellowships.

Johnson wins award Karen Johnson, vice president of print production at GodwinGroup, was recently honored with the Bolton-MacVicar Award by the District 7 American Advertising Federation (AAF). The award is presented annually to an advertising professional within the district who has dedicated special efforts to working with advertising students at area schools and universities. Johnson has been involved with AAF Johnson since 1987, serving on the board, as president and as the student liaison. Johnson is actively involved in AAF’s Student ADDY competition, a national awards program designed for college students. For the past 10 years, she has coordinated the annual Capital Gains Student Leadership Conference, which she also served as chairman for 2013. She has also helped establish as well as served as advisor for student AAF chapters at several local colleges and universities.

A resident of Ridgeland, Johnson joined GodwinGroup in 1996. She is a graduate of Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., where she earned a bachelor of science in business with minors in computer programming and accounting.

Hudson joins staff Jim Hudson, MD, has joined Memorial Physician Clinics in the practice of orthopedic surgery. Hudson received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and attended medical school at University of Tennessee, Memphis. He completed his internship at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, and completed his residency in surgery at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, and residency Hudson in orthopedics at Campbell Foundation, University of Tennessee, Memphis.

Sumrall named ‘Top Cop’ Carrie Sumrall, a special agent with the State Auditor’s Office, was a recipient of the “Top Cop” award, which is sponsored by the Mississippi Center for Police and Sheriffs. Sumrall is a resident of Biloxi, and has served the State Auditor’s Office since 2004. She has a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is a graduate of the Harrison County Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy. Throughout her career, Sumrall has played an instrumental role in the identification and prosecution of those who have betrayed the public trust and in the recovery of thousands of taxpayer dollars.

Board taps Pearce The board of trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning named veteran staff member John Pearce as interim associate commissioner for finance and administration. He has served as director of university budgets for the Institutions of Higher Learning since 2008. A certified public accountant, Pearce has extensive experience in providing budget oversight of MissisPearce sippi’s eight public four-year institutions of higher learning, including the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Agricultural Programs and Subsidiary Programs.

He has served as the liaison between the IHL Board Office and the CFOs at the universities and communicated with them regarding board budget policy and legislative instructions. In addition to serving as a liaison with the universities and their staff members, Pearce has also served as the budget liaison between the board and the Legislative Budget Office and the Department of Finance and Administration.

Prior to joining IHL, Pearce served as a senior accountant for The Koerber Company, P.A. and as a performance evaluation auditor for the Joint Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review of the Mississippi Legislature (PEER Committee).

Pearce holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mississippi College, and a master’s of business administration, with an emphasis in finance, from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has completed coursework toward a doctorate at Delta State University. Pearce is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants.

An active member of Calvary Baptist Church in Brandon, he serves as church treasurer.

Hood named president Dr. Ashley Hood, an OB/GYN, has been named the president of the Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association (MOMA). Hood, whose practice is located in the Suites of River Oaks Hospital, began his twoyear term with the association at the end of May.

Hood

Case-Price to lead center Sarah Case-Price began her affiliation with The Children’s Center for Communication and Development at The University of Southern Mississippi more than a dozen years ago as a student worker. On July 1, she will take over the reins as director. Case-Price has served in several capacities at the center since becoming a full-time staff member in 2006, most recently as assistant director. She takes over for acting Director Cindy Bivins, who will continue to help with the center as a volunteer.

Case-Price is married to Hattiesburg area Realtor Chris Price. The couple has one daughter — Josie, age 2.

Williamson made publisher Kevin Williamson has been named publisher of The Chronicle newspaper in Laurel. Williamson succeeds Skippy Haik in June. Haik had served as interim publisher for The Chronicle since its inception in Jones County in April 2012. Haik will remain with The Chronicle as office manager/bookkeeper.

Williamson has worked in print media nearly 17 years, including jobs as reporter, editor, circulation supervisor and advertising sales manager. He was general manager of the Laurel Impact from 2006-2011, before taking on those same responsibilities at the Hattiesburg Impact two years ago.

Williamson graduated in 1991 from the University of Southern Mississippi. He and his wife, Rhonda, have a daughter, Katelyn.

Firm welcomes Hedglin Seth Hedglin has joined the Ross & Yerger Insurance Inc. future partner group sales team. Hedglin, who graduated from the Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, came to Ross & Yerger with a number of years as a successful sales representative with a couple of different national sales organizations.

He is married to Katy Apostle Hedglin, and they have a daughter, Hattie.

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

SALES MOVES

32 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013 » JEFFREY GITOMER

The world is going mobile. Are you moving or standing?

W

hen The Who recorded the song Going Mobile in 1971, they had no idea what the future held, nor that they were the predictors of it.

They thought going mobile was all about being on the road, and maybe flying on an airplane. But today, going mobile means a whole lot more.

Any business today that isn’t going mobile is going backwards.

Any business today that isn’t going mobile is losing to a competitor that is.

Any business today that isn’t going mobile is admitting their failure to see the PRESENT. » How good is your mobile app? Does it serve the customer, or just you? Where’s the value? Can I easily get what I want? Can I pay easily? Can I schedule a service appointment? Make a comment?

Can I also call you and get right to a human? » Is all of your training and product instruction/information downloadable? Your manuals? » How easy is it for people to read your message? What’s the format? Is it made-for-mobile, or just a poor adaptation of your blog or website? » Size matters. (The size of type, that is.) Why not subscribe to your own posts and see. If I need to adjust the size, tell me how to view it in mobile format. » Is everything you sell downloadable? Can I click, buy, download, and listen or watch in a minute or two? (Like iTunes or Kindle.) Think about it –

more than 100 billion downloads can’t be wrong.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Instagram completely ignored the computer in favor of smartphones and tablets. How are they doing? HINT: Facebook didn’t buy Instagram as an investment – they bought out of fear.

NOTE WELL: Every major company has a mobile app so you can easily access their stuff. Every social media channel has a mobile app reliant on smartphone and tablet use for as much as 50 percent of their traffic.

Social media is there at the forefront of mobile app development – whether you’re there or not. Social media is the PERFECT place for your customers to share their message and their praise, and voice their concerns.

Going mobile is not an option.

REALITY: Mobile apps are now accessed more than the Internet. Mobile apps are an imperative, not an option, or an added service. They are the future. Your future. If you don’t have one, you are a jackapp. ;-) BIGGER REALITY: The iPad is the new laptop.

The smartphone is the NOW communication device, growing by millions weekly.

BIGGEST REALITY: The easier it is for people to access what you have, the more they will buy from you.

CONFESSION: WE ARE IN THE SAME PREDICAMENT. That’s why I’m writing this. To put myself on

notice that my own offerings need to be ahead of the market and ahead of my competition.

Here’s my present situation and what I’m going to be doing to ensure my leadership position for the next decade: » I have an app. Unfortunately it’s only available for the iPhone. BUT, we’re adding an additional cross-platform mobile application that will allow easier access to my website and all of my existing books and CDs. This app will be easier to use, easier to navigate, and easier for customers to purchase and pay. » All of my products will be available as downloads. » We will be providing an on-demand subscription service to all of my training offerings and all of my books on laptop, tablet, and smartphone – oh yes, even for desktop.

CAUTION: Don’t just think about how business is being done today. Think of how “mobile” has progressed it, making it faster and easier to conduct and how online, tablet, and smartphones have transformed the e-commerce economy to the mobile economy. It’s here, and it’s not going away.

Look around and take notice of the non-traditional changes taking place: » Coffee shop offices. Any Starbucks will reveal people running their business from their iPad and their app. » Mobile accessibility both for the purpose to

connect and to purchase is becoming dominant among retailers. » In sales calls and presentations, iPad (tablet) mobile brochures are replacing print, and iPad (tablet) presentations, and GoToMeeting appointments are replacing traditional sales presentations.

TODAY’S CUSTOMER: Be where they are, when they are – on demand. It’s not just smart business – it’s smartphone business.

TOMORROW’S CUSTOMER: When our 4-year-old daughter hands me my iPad and says, “Papa, download this,” you know what the next generation will be doing and buying (sooner than you think).

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.

May 31, 2013

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Mississippi Business Journal

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33

» MISSISSIPPI LEADERS by Martin Willoughby

A great team player Lorence helps lead by proving he is part of the team environment

A

s I talk with organizational leaders, one of the recurring themes I hear is the need to find great people for the team. Finding “A” players is something that most everyone wants, but few achieve.

Brad Smart addresses this problem in his book, Topgrading, which has become a bestseller and “go to” manual for companies wanting to have the best talent available.

His methodical system helps companies “make certain that they have the very best opportunity to add 'A Players' to the team and avoid the staggering cost of mistakes.”

I recently interviewed Mike Lorence, a Director at L3 Vertex Aerospace, about the important issue of having the best people on your team.

Lorence is a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader. He is currently working on a Ph.D. at Georgia State focusing on Topgrading. Lorence is one of those people who seems to defy the bounds of the 24-hour day because of what he is able to accomplish. In addition to his busy job and doctoral studies, he is also an adjunct professor at Millsaps College and family man with young children. As I often do, I like to start at the beginning with my interviewees to figure out the secrets of their success. Lorence grew up on a family farm in Pennsylvania with his grandparents. He learned the value of hard work as he watched his grandfather rise at 3:00 a.m. every day to start the grueling schedule of a dairy farmer. He went on to

Up Close With ... Mike Lorence Title: Director of Repair Station, L-3 Vertex Favorite Books: Topgrading (Brad Smart); Ultimate Sales Machine (Chet Homes); Critical Chain (Eliyahu Goldratt); The Balanced Scorecard (Kaplan & Norton); The Experience Economy (Gilmore and Pine); and See You at Top (Zig Ziglar) First Job: “Working on my grandfather’s dairy farm. ” Hobbies/Interests: “Reading, family time, fitness .”

Virginia Military Institute where he was on a ROTC scholarship and did military training with the Marines in the summer.

After college, Lorence began his military career with the Marines in Japan where he was a Platoon Commander and later a Company Commander. Lorence shared that his military career taught him many things including the importance of goal setting and incentivizing behaviors to accomplish great results. Lorence also acquired

great habits of physical fitness, personal discipline, and a thirst for learning while in the military. He shared, “I have observed that the most successful people are those who are very aggressive in their self-study.” After completing a second tour of duty as a staff officer in Hawaii, Lorence and his wife Erica (who is from Jackson) decided they wanted to return stateside.

He ended up earning a M.B.A. at the University of Virginia’s prestigious Darden

Lorence’s energy and zest for life are contagious. He will be one of tomorrow’s leaders in this state as his passion for excellence and entrepreneurial spirit impact those around him.

School of Business. It was during his studies at Virginia that he launched his first business to help students find grant money for school and his second business, Bath Buy Me, which provided Martin Willoughby personalized skin care products. His business Bath Buy Me was birthed as a part of winning a business plan competition at Darden.

Lorence began working with L-3 Vertex while in school, and upon graduation moved to Jackson to join full time. Because of his expertise in sales and marketing, Lorence frequently had requests for consulting so he created the company Small Business Blackbelt which he grew and eventually sold like his prior companies.

Lorence is pursuing his Ph.D. around Topgrading because he believes that “there is no substitute for talent.” He believes that the last frontier of true value creation is people. He noted, “Systems run the business, and people run the systems.” His military and business training taught him the value of systems. The Topgrading approach is a systematic way to hire and promote people within an organization. I have personally observed that companies that execute on the Topgrading methodology achieve better success in their talent recruitment and retention. Lorence’s energy and zest for life are contagious. He will be one of tomorrow’s leaders in this state as his passion for excellence and entrepreneurial spirit impact those around him.

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.

An interesting tale of the abdication as you’ve never read it before

M » Abdication

By Juliet Nicolson Published by Washington Square Press $15.00 paperback

any words have been written about England’s King Edward VIII giving up the throne for the woman he loved, American divorcee Wallis Simpson. Abdication lays out the facts of their courtship and the swirling, chaotic times surrounding it, but adds an element of fictional characters who were close to them. The story ends with the abdication, but this is not the abdication as you’ve read it before.

It’s a good read by an acclaimed British historian who has heretofore written non fiction. Writing runs in her family. She’s the daughter of writer and politician Nigel Nicolson and the granddaughter of novelist and poet Vita Sackville-West.

The year is 1936 with the world on the brink of war. Rumors, plots and scary tales are spewing forth from Germany and a beloved English king is dead. His charismatic eldest son is de-

clared king – the son who’s a partying bachelor. The new king’s affair with the still-married Mrs. Simpson complicates matters.

The story is told from the viewpoint of two fictional women who have complicities and upheaval of their own. May Thomas arrives in England from her home in Barbados and gets a position as a secretary and driver for a high ranking member of parliament. The other woman is Evangeline Nettlefold, an American school chum of Wallis Simpson, who

The story is told from the viewpoint of two fictional women

struggles to find her place in the uppermost social circles.

The two women’s path cross frequently as Nettlefold is the god child of Lady Joan Blunt and Thomas works for Lord Philip Blunt. There are lords and ladies aplenty along with hangers on and all manner of characters, including Nazi sympathizers and the infamous Black Shirts. Kirkus Reviews writes, “Nicolson writes knowledgeably of weekends in the country, swank parties and the ironic supercilious posture of the British upper class. The novel rings with authenticity.”

I liked Nicolson’s details of the time period, but I’m hooked on the era of the 1930s and ‘40s. It’s interesting to absorb historical events played out from the viewpoint of two disparate women and how these events touched their lives. It’s not a stretch of the imagination to think that while these women are fictional, there were real people who were witnesses to history and played roles in the lives of King Edward and Simpson.

— Lynn Lofton, mbj@msbusiness.com

34 I Mississippi Business Journal I May 31, 2013

—Interview by Clay Chandler

BRAD FULLER, Founder, YeHive

Sharing with all Fuller making events available to anyone who wants it

B

rad Fuller is a 2004 Mississippi State agribusiness graduate who left Washington to found YeHive, a start-up whose social media app and website launched last year. Blending features from several social media outlets, YeHive takes photos and videos from an event and deposits them in a central location.

Q — What is YeHive?

A — YeHive is an event-centered social media site that allows you to create events and share the experience with others. The event can be anything — a birthday party, wedding, concert or football game — the list goes on and on. Imagine having everyone at your child’s birthday party posting pictures, videos and comments to one central location. Your child’s grandmother that lives 800 miles away can experience the birthday party in real-time by logging into the event on YeHive to feel like she’s there.

Q — What separates it from other social media platforms?

A — YeHive is not built around the updates of an individual or short-form conversation; it is focused on the collective experience of what is happening around you. By grouping photos, videos, comments and documents around a particular event, it creates a total, real-time event experience that’s organized and unified in a way other social media platforms fail to address.

Q — How long have you been working on the concept?

A — I’ve been working on YeHive since brainstorming the idea in the early summer of 2012 with co-founder Gary Butler. Gary is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Camgian Microsystems Corporation.

Q — What’s the timetable for completing the last capital raise and launching the app?

A — We closed our first round of funding in October of 2012. We raised $300,000 in that round and are currently well on our way to completing our second round of funding, which has a target of $700,000. The apps and website have been launched, although we continue to make improvements daily.

Q — On what platforms will it be available?

A — YeHive is currently available on the web and is a mobile app for iPhones and Androids. We are currently working on an app for Windows Phones.

More on Fuller: Must have Mississippi food: The blue plate lunch at Restaurant Tyler in Starkville. Fried chicken smothered with crawfish sauce, cheese grits and sweet potato fries.

Favorite movie: A tie between Braveheart and Almost Famous.

Last book read: Proof of Heaven by Dr. Eben Alexander

Q — Are there similar projects planned moving forward?

A — We are adding new features to further enhance the user experience. Most notable are a Windows Phone app, which will enable more people to participate in events through YeHive, and push notifications for all of the apps. Push notification allows users to be alerted when new content in a particular event is available.

Also, we will continue to adapt to what our users want in order to enhance YeHive’s core experience.

There are some ways our users have utilized the app that we didn’t initially envision. For instance, we have encountered deployed soldiers who use YeHive as a running online scrapbook to keep up with family and friends back home.

More commonly, users have created password-protected YeHive events in order to form mini social networks of very specific groups, such as close friends. We initially designed password protection with personal events in mind—such as family gatherings—but users tell us they also use them to post daily content meant only for a handpicked group of friends or family.

We’re excited that YeHive’s core functionality has proven to be so useful and compelling to people that they come back to it again and again to put it to work in new ways.

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