MBJ_Nov14_2014

35 YEARS

1979

www.msbusiness.com

2014

November 14, 2014 • Vol. 36, No. 46 • $1 • 28 pages

A PGA WINNER Taylor not the only Sanderson Farms winner — Story, pictures, Page 14-15

MBJ DOUBLE FOCUS CONSTRUCTION

{Section begins P 9}

BIOFUEL BANKRUPTCY

KiOR intends to find buyer for plant The Columbus biofuels facility (left) of KiOR Inc. was left out of a bankruptcy filing on Sunday, giving rise to hopes that a buyer may be found for it. KiOR said in its Chapter 11 filing Sunday night in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware that it does intend to find a buyer for the plant.

» Hospital services will continue during long Keesler Medical Center project » Project owners depend heavily on timely completion

REAL ESTATE

FILE

{Section begins P 16} » Agents face changing policies as they learn how to protect themselves as they show houses » Foreclosures down, sales prices going up

The List {P 20} » Real Estate Associations

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

KiOR Inc., a biofuels manufacturer, is seeking bankruptcy reorganization, though its Columbus facility was left out of the filing, giving rise to hopes that a buyer may be found for it.

KiOR said in its Chapter 11 filing Sunday night in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware that it does intend to find a buyer for the plant.

Joe Max Higgins, director of Columbus-

based Golden Triangle Development, said that after the company’s financial problems surfaced this year, there were quite a number of inquiries and some visits by prospective buyers but that interest has cooled in the past 30 days.

There’s “still a chance the Columbus facility could be sold,” Higgins said.

Glitches in the production of the biofuel, which was to be made by heating wood chips and chemical catalysts, were

TRANSPORTATION

Highway 6’s bad bridges getting ‘short-term’ fix Mississippi Department of Transportation crews have made temporary repairs to several Mississippi Highway 6 bridges between Batesville and Clarksdale.

MDOT has raised posted weight limits on the bridges after replacing and constructing additional shoring of numerous timber pilings which support the bridge, the Associated Press reports.

Commercial vehicles, such as empty agriculture trucks and school buses, to travel across Tagert these bridges, the AP reports.

“While this repair increases postings to at least 11 tons, it is a short-term fix allowing more agriculture and school traffic to move along Highway 6,” said Transportation Commissioner Mike Tagert. “MDOT is working with the Mississippi Legislature to identify new funding possibilities to replace critical needs bridges along Highways 6, 18, 32 and 309, but the price tag for completion is approximately $110 million.”

Money for permanent repairs is unlikely to come from the 2015 legislative session, according to Sen. Willie Simmons, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee.

See

See

KIOR, Page 27

BRIDGES, Page 24

http://msbusiness.com/events/50-women-nomination-form/

2 I Mississippi Business Journal I November 14, 2014 ENTREPRENEUR

Free from apron strings… » Brush with disaster leads Monroe Jackson to build a better apron

From staff reports

By TED CARTER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

Monroe Jackson wants a business with no strings attached.

The Jackson doughnut entrepreneur and survivor of a near-fatal workplace accident has added “innovator” to his life accomplishments. Next up is a marketing role for the inventor and winner of a design patent for a stringfree apron he says will make working around machinery far less dangerous.

It all started with the strings of his baker’s apron catching on the twirling paddles of a 32-quart mixer as he worked alone in his bakery about 2 one morning in early 2011. The force of the blades on which the apron strings had snagged began to slam Jackson backward “until I realized what was happening and broke the string,” he said.

“After I calmed down – and I really think I could have lost my life – I got to thinking I need a better apron,” said the Delta native, who has grown Monroe’s Donuts to four Metro Jackson stores since opening his first one in 1995.

He began tossing around the idea of using elastic instead of string to close the back of the apron. A zipper could close the front, Jackson decided.

“My main motivation was to stay away from the string. But you still need an apron over your clothes. I kept thinking about it and thinking about it. Then ‘elastic’ came to me.”

With a design that completely enclosed the apron and left no parts dangling, Jackson set out to obtain a patent for his stringless apron. The lawyer he hired did an incomplete application, leaving him wondering whether he could ever market his invention.

His break came with a visit from a software salesman who formerly worked for Innovate Mississippi, a Jackson-based non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen and foster innovation in Mississippi.

Innovate Mississippi assigned Jackson a mentor and put him in touch with Baker Donelson attorney Anne Turner.

She and a colleague in her Jackson firm got the patent process back on track. The apron’s design patent became official Sept. 16.

“Monroe has a pretty good position at this time,” Turner said, and noted he is awaiting word on an application for a “utility” patent that would give Jackson exclusive use of the combination of features of the apron, not just its design.

For now, though, neither Chinese copy cats nor anyone else can clone Jackson’s apron, according to Turner.

From here, Jackson and his Innovate Mississippi partners will search out the most receptive market, said Tasha Bibb, Innovate Mississippi’s entrepreneurial development manager.

The path forward, Bibb said, is determining “which market you can get into the easiest. Who has the most immediate need for the product?”

They’ll get the marketing prospects to use the aprons and

WEATHERLY JOINS MBJ, WILL COVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AMONG OTHER THINGS

Photos courtesy of Monroe’s Donuts

Monroe Jackson, a Jackson doughnut entrepreneur and survivor of a near-fatal workplace accident, has added “innovator” to his life accomplishments.

give their thoughts on how the apron can be improved for use in their particular type of business, according to Bibb.

“We’ll put some aprons out there and get some feedback,” she said.

Jackson said he sees a ready market among all sorts of prepared food sellers, including McDonald’s, Wendy’s, KFC, Popeye’s and the like.

The first product pitches likely will be to local restaurateurs and food retailers.

In the meantime, Jackson and his Innovate Mississippi partners are looking for investors.

With Innovate Mississippi’s help, Jackson has lined up Mississippi Prison Industries, which can provide more than 100 seamstresses from among inmates at Parchman.

A first batch of aprons is expected next week. Workers at his doughnut shops will be the first to get them, Jackson said.

“He is ready to sell in the next 30 days,” said Alan Crancer, Jackson’s mentor from Innovate Mississippi.

Jackson said he thinks his string-free aprons merit a prime time spot on the QVC Shopping Network. But what he really wants, he said, “is to see Martha Stewart wearing one.”

(Details: Monroedonuts.com)

Who says you can’t come home again?

Jack Weatherly is doing just that this week as the veteran journalist has become the newest reporter for the Mississippi Business Journal.

Weatherly — who has been cited for excellence in writing everywhere he has ever been including a nomination for a Pulitzer Prize — has worked for newspapers across the South over the last 40 years, from small to the very biggest. Nearly half of his career has been involved in business journalism, including reporting and editing. Most recently, he was JACK WEATHERLY senior business writer and business editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock.

A native of Mississippi (Attala County) and a graduate of the University of Memphis, Weatherly was also the business editor in the late 1990s at The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson.

“We are very lucky to have someone as talented and experienced as Jack come to the Mississippi Business Journal,” MBJ editor Ross Reily said. “This gives us another great reporter in our newsroom to cover our state’s business community. He not only brings a wealth of journalism experience, he also has a significant background in business publications.”

Weatherly will be covering a multitude of subjects at the MBJ but he will be concentrating on economic development, technology and health care and energy.

“I hope to help the Mississippi Business Journal to continue to tell the story of what is happening in the state in all facets of the private sector, as well as the public sector when relevant. Journalism has been called ‘the rough first draft of history,’ ” Weatherly, a fifth-generation Mississippian, said.

“I love getting scoops and getting it right. That’s still what this business is all about, or should be.”

Upon graduation from Memphis in 1973, Weatherly’s first job in journalism was as a general assignments reporter at the Blytheville, Ark. Courier-News.

Along the way, Weatherly served as the Copy Desk Chief at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where he supervised the editing of award-winning staff-produced state and local news, including government, politics, communities and science.

From there, he came back to Mississippi and eventually the Clarion-Ledger before landing at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette, where he worked until this week.

“It feels good to be home again,” Weatherly said.

4 I Mississippi Business Journal I November 14, 2014

TECHNOLOGY

C Spire flips the switch 1 gig Internet speeds available in Quitman, Starkville, Ridgeland

By TED CARTER ted.carter@msbusiness.com

Quitman is tiny in population but huge in terms of the technological advance it took on Tuesday as the first Mississippi community to activate C Spire’s ultra-high speed 1 Gbps (Gigabit per second) broadband Internet network.

The Clarke County town of 2,300 people was joined on Wednesday by Starkville and Ridgeland in turning on the one gig Fiber to the Home service, said C Spire.

C Spire, a Ridgeland diversified telecommunications and technology services company, said initiation of the service gives Quitman a boost after its struggle in recent years with job losses, plant closings and population shifts to bigger cities.

Quitman is now among only a handful of cities in the United States with access to fiber-based broadband Internet that is 100 times faster than the national average along with super HD TV and related home phone services from C Spire, the company said in a press statement Tuesday.

“The implications of a robust, widely available and ultra-fast Internet infrastructure are potentially huge for local, regional and state economic advances and technology investment,” said Tony Jeff, chief executive officer of Innovate Mississippi, a non-profit organization that seeks to strengthen and grow a culture of innovation in the Magnolia State.

Quitman Mayor Eddie Fulton was a major force behind the town’s efforts to secure and build the next-generation Internet service. “We see a bright future for our town with widespread availability of high speed Internet,” Fulton said. “Thanks to C Spire’s investment, we have a once-in-alifetime opportunity to move the needle in a different direction.”

Local government, business and community leaders joined C Spire executives to celebrate the historic step for the town at a news conference Monday outside the home of Quitman residents Roger and Karen Kennedy, who are among the first gigabit Internet customers in the town.

Roger Kennedy said residents are excited about getting improved services and for the prospect of helping the city become a hub for technology investment, economic expansion and a better quality of life. “For Quitman, it’s all there in front of us now,” he said.

The city was one of the first to qualify for the next-generation services earlier this

Photos courtesy of CSpire

Roger and Karen Kennedy, left, explain C Spire's Fiber to the Home to Quitman Mayor Eddie Fulton, Monday, Nov. 10, 2014. The Kennedy's were among the first in Quitman to receive C Spire's gigabit Internet to the home service.

year along with areas in the cities of Starkville and Ridgeland.

One key ingredient to success is the need to educate and advise consumers about the capabilities of the infrastructure for individuals as well as the broader community, said Roberto Gallardo, director of the Mississippi State University Center for Technology Outreach. Gallardo recently forged an agreement with the New York-based Intelligent Community Foundation to start an Intelligent Community Institute in Mississippi that will help cities better understand how to use the 21st century infrastructure.

C Spire is on a mission to move Quitman and other Mississippi cities from worst to first in national rankings for average Internet speeds and consumer access to super-fast broadband services, according to Suzy Hays, senior vice president of consumer markets.

“Fiber to the Home can be a transformative technology for communities, serving as a platform for innovation and a host of new Internet applications and experiences yet to be imagined,” Hays said.

“We’re determined to show the world that Quitman and these other cities are ready to be a catalyst for technology investment, economic growth and job creation.”

Homeowner pre-registration in the cities began in December. Since that time, local government, community and business leaders have rallied residents in Quitman, Ridgeland and Starkville to sign up at levels that qualified multiple areas in each city for the service. Construction started in May in the first neighborhoods.

Hays said the strong support and engagement of cities is the primary reason for the fast-moving initiative’s success thus far.

Since announcing the cities last November, C Spire has moved from vision to reality in 12 months. In contrast, Google, one of the largest technology companies in the world, took nearly three years before it selected and began offering Gigabit fiber services in Kansas City, Kansas.

“Our initiative is a great example of what can be accomplished when cities, communities and business leaders work together to move Mississippi forward,” she said.

For C Spire customers, the 1 Gbps In-

ternet access is available for $70 a month, $90 a month for combined Internet and home phone, $130 for Internet and HD digital TV and $150 a month for the entire package of all three services. Non customers must to pay an additional $10 a month on all packages.

The Ridgeland telecom company used its extensive wireless network as the foundation for the Fiber to the Home project.

Meanwhile, Comcast plans to begin offering residential ultra-fast Internet speed sometime in 2015. However, the national cable television and telecommunications company has not announced the initial markets for its “DOCSIS 3.1” system it says will be capable of delivering 1gigabit to 10 gigabit speed. “This has the potential to benefit millions of homes, as opposed to select areas,” said Comcast spokesman Alex Horwitz in an email.

“DOCSIS 3.1 will be the primary way we'll deliver gigabit speeds at scale to the vast majority of our residential customers locally and nationally,” Horwitz added.

November 14, 2014

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

John Doar, ex-DOJ civil rights lawyer, dies at 92

HEALTHCARE

WASHINGTON — John Doar, who as a top Justice Department civil rights lawyer in the 1960s fought to protect the rights of black voters and worked against segregation in the South, died Tuesday at age 92.

The cause was congestive heart failure in New York.

Doar was a Justice Department civil rights lawyer from 1960 to 1967, serving in the final months of the Eisenhower administration and then staying on during the presidencies of President John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. He rose to the position of assistant attorney general, or top lawyer, in charge of the department's Civil Rights Division and challenged discriminatory policies in Southern states that curtailed minority access to the voting booth and state universities.

He who worked for the federal government at the height of the civil

PASCAGOULA — After meeting with officials with Singing River Health System this week, Jackson County supervisors are still unclear about financial and pension funding problems.

With $138 million in assets and $285 million in obligations, board president Troy Ross admits the retirement plan is not in the best shape. “The hospital is a huge part of Jackson County. It is critical we do this right,� Ross said. — from staff and MBJ wire services

Supes unclear on Singing River

rights movement, playing an important role.

In 1962, for instance, Doar escorted James Meredith onto the campus of the University of Mississippi, even as then-Gov. Ross Barnett and angry crowds sought to keep the school segregated. He helped Meredith settle into his dormitory on a campus roiled by violent riots that left two dead.

He later was the lead prosecutor in the federal trial arising from the deaths of three civil rights workers — Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner — who were killed in 1964 while in Mississippi to help blacks register to vote. A federal jury returned guilty verdicts against some defendants, including a deputy county sheriff, but acquitted others.

Those killings inspired the 1988 film "Mississippi Burning." — from staff and MBJ wire services

AGRICULTURE

Molpus Woodlands buys Virginia acreage The Molpus Woodlands Group, LLC, a timberland investment management organization headquartered in Jackson, announced Tuesday the purchase of 36,283 acres in Virginia.

Located in 23 counties surrounding Richmond, the primarily southern pine plantation property has been in production for decades and is located in a stable timber market and a growing bioenergy market area, the company said in a news release.

The property also offers recreational opportunities, said Ken Sewell, chief operating officer of Molpus Timberlands Management.

Molpus has 1.6 million acres under management, valued at more than $1.5 billion. A timberland investment management organization, or TIMO, helps institutional investors manage their timberland investments.

ENERGY

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ENTERGY to build $23M operations center Entergy Mississippi announced Tuesday it will build a $23 million, 24,775-square-foot transmission operations center in Jackson to monitor the transmissions system and coordinate outage repairs. It is a twin to one announced this week in Little Rock, Arkansas, for Entergy Corp.’s four-state service area.

There had been five such facilities, but the two new centers will “improve operations and mitigate weather risks,� Rick Riley, Entergy vice president of transmission, said in a news release.

One of the current facilities is near the Gulf of Mexico and is more susceptible to storms and hurricanes. Moving those functions farther from the Gulf allows transmission to reduce risks from such events. The new centers will withstand F5 tornadoes. The Jackson facility is expected to be completed by the summer of 2016.

Jackson serves as Entergy’s transmission center, and the northern portion of the four-state territory is becoming a regional center for transmission operations. Entergy Mississippi provides electricity to approximately 441,000 customers in 45 counties in Mississippi. It is a subsidiary of New Orleansbased Entergy Corp. whose service area also includes Louisiana and Texas.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

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5

A member of the Mississippi Press Association www.mspress.org

200 North Congress, Suite 400 Jackson, MS 39201-1902 Main: (601) 364-1000 Faxes: Advertising (601) 364-1007; Circulation (601) 364-1035 E-mails: mbj@msbusiness.com, ads@msbusiness.com, photos@msbusiness.com, research@msbusiness.com, events@msbusiness.com

Website: www.msbusiness.com November 14, 2014 Volume 36, Number 46

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 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018

MBJPERSPECTIVE November 14, 2014 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

OTHER VIEWS

V

Veterans health reforms continue with new order

eterans Day observances this week across the United States coincided with many other events in Canada (as Remembrance Day) and the nations of northern Europe which honored Nov. 11 as Armistice Day or by other names — the date, month and hour in 1918 when the guns of World War I went silent on the Western Front.

In the U.S., Armistice Day evolved into Veterans Day, honoring the service of all men and women who have served in all branches of the military, in peace as well as in war.

The live events this week included some veterans who bear the literal physical scars of

their service, and some carry with them emotional and mental issues related to service.

The level and quality of care provided by our nation for all who have served continues as a controversial topic of discussion and debate at the highest levels.

Issues involving inadequate quality of medical care led to the abrupt resignation of the Veterans Affairs secretary earlier this year, and the new chief, Secretary Robert McDonald, is reaching out to veterans, local veterans service organizations and other partners to improve the overall situation.

McDonald, in fact, on Monday said the VA has taken “disciplinary action” against 5,600

employees in the last year, and he said more firings will soon follow.

“This is going to be the largest reorganization of the Department of Veterans Affairs since its establishment,” McDonald told CNN. McDonald said in an interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes” that aired Sunday that he plans to hire about 28,000 medical professionals to join the agency’s hospitals and clinics around the country, including about 2,500 mental health professionals.

See VIEWS, Page 7

BOBBY HARRISON Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 TAMI JONES Advertising Director tami.jones@msbusiness.com • 364-1011

» THE OUTSIDE WORLD

» PERCOLATIN’ WITH BILL

Governor will help shape next year’s elections

MELISSA KILLINGSWORTH Sr. Account Executive

melissa.harrison@msbusiness.com • 364-1030 VIRGINIA HODGES Account Executive virginia.hodges@msbusiness.com • 364-1012

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No material in this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent. Editorial and advertising material contained in this publication is derived from sources considered to be reliable, but the publication cannot guarantee their accuracy. Nothing contained herein should be construed as a solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities.

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Entire contents copyrighted © 2014 by Journal Inc. All rights reserved.

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

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

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

If you see inaccuracies in Mississippi Business Journal news stories, please report the mistake via email at editor@msbusiness.com.

ow that Senate race shenanigans have ended, the state’s political focus turns to next year’s statewide elections.

Will Gov. Phil Bryant be challenged? By a fellow Republican or a strong Democrat?

Will Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves be challenged? Or Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann? Or State Treasurer Lynn Fitch? Or State Auditor Stacey Pickering?

Or Agriculture Commissioner Cindy Hyde-Smith?

Or Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney?

Or Attorney General Jim Hood, the only Democrat among the group?

Will the tea party and/or Chris McDaniel allies bring out strong candidates to challenge incumbents? Will Democrats come up Bill Crawford with viable candidates in this Republican dominated state?

The next months will be filled with rumors, hints of interest and political maneuvering.

Already rumors abound that Hosemann is being encouraged by tea party members and friends of the governor to run against Reeves. Lynn Fitch is said to want to run for another office. Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley, a Democrat, may be considering a run for governor.

Amidst all this speculation, party leaders have a key role to play. With seven of eight statewide offices in hand, the Republican Party focus is to maintain.

Nasty primaries like the Cochran/McDaniel battle could open a door for Democrats. (Democratic turnout during statewide elections far exceeds turnout during off-year federal elections.) The Democratic Party focus is to keep the Attorney General See CRAWFORD, Page 7

PERSPECTIVE

November 14, 2014 I Mississippi Business Journal

VIEWS

» RICKY NOBILE

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7

Continued from Page 6

In the past two months, he said in the summer, the Veterans Administration has made more than 791,000 referrals for care in the private sector.

“We are building a more robust, continuous system for measuring patient satisfaction, to provide real-time, site-specific information on patient satisfaction,” he said.

“Finally, we are improving communication between the field and the central office, between employees and leadership, and with DAV and other veterans service organizations and stakeholders.”

McDonald is a former top-tier private-sector executive at Proctor & Gamble, and he says he has brought lessons learned in that job to the VA. Veterans administration health care is the largest public program of its kind in the U.S. The United States will continue providing a large stream of eligible veterans needed care, and it should be on the same level as the best of the private sector.

— Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

»INSIDE POLITICS

Hillary? Don’t even think about it, Democrats

H

illary Clinton likely will be the Democratic nominee for president in 2016.

And they’re off! How far off is yet to be determined. The next two years of Obama Impeachment Hearings will likely take a back seat to the Republican Race for the White House in 2016.

The Republican field is wide open and has the potential to offer up some really good candidates, John Kasich of Ohio, Mitch Daniels from Indiana, Ben Carson of Fox News, and Condolezza Rice of the College Football Playoff Committee.

None of these folks will get the nomination, of course.

There’s also the GOP Presidential Entertainment Package with the likes of Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Rick Perry, Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin and Mississippi’s own Haley Barbour. Although Haley might want to curl up with a bottle of scotch and his Book of Uncle Remus Tales and just sit this one out.

Then there are the front runners: Marco Rubio, Rand Paul, Jeb Bush. The smart money is on New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who could chew up half the field and swallow a few in the process. But enough about the Republicans, the White House is theirs to lose in 2016. The real story is what the opposing party has to offer in the way of a nominee.

As Democrats try to recover from the Red State Thrashing they received in last week’s mid-term elections, it’s safe to say that they are looking to the “Hill” for what they hope is their strength. Yes, that “Hill.”

Avert your eyes, Democrats. Back away. Sure Hillary Clinton looks good, sounds great, possesses a brilliant political mind and is not afraid to take on the opposition no matter how frivolous or high-stakes the fight.

Democrats get nostalgic over the embattled wife of the 1992 Democratic Presidential nominee who defeated George Herbert Walker Bush. They were confident that the Southern Boy with the big ole heart had a real fine Yankee gal behind

David Dallas

him, despite her early dismissal of Tammy Wynette’s “Stand

by Your Man.” Aware of her husband’s philandering ways, Hillary and the rest of the Party just repeated the refrain “Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow.”

The truth is Hillary and Bill’s tomorrow came and went yesterdays ago. Beyond a variety of scandals throughout her political career that she has managed admirably, if not beautifully, Hillary’s chosen to “Stand by Her Man” after the entire nation learned of his affair with an intern.

It was nobody’s business but their own. Still the tremendous waste of time and political energy associated with Bubba’s dawdling led to the further ruination of the political climate in our country. If only Bubba could have kept it in his pants, he may have been as popular as both the Gipper and FDR and Hillary more than likely would have already completed her 8year Presidency.

Hillary and Bill must have an amazing relationship and who can blame them for staying together whether for the sake of their political careers or their family. But after Bubba’s pizza dates with Monica, Hillary should have left her sorry husband while he was still President.

Hillary could have announced her candidacy and easily taken the Democratic nomination in 2000 from an already defeated Al Gore, who had no stomach for Presidential politics. Hers would have been a magical, fascinating, and more productive Presidency than her adulterous mate’s, Bush the younger’s, or Obama’s.

Yet, why was she so easily defeated as a nominee in 2008 by Barrack Obama, a man the American people knew next to nothing about?

Hillary will never be as big-hearted as her horny husband.

See DALLAS, Page 8

(Gov. Phil) Bryant’s actions over the next months will do much to shape the political agenda for Republicans and Democrats.

CRAWFORD

Continued from Page 6

position and try to pick off one or more additional positions. The parties will also be focusing on down ticket races, particularly legislative races.

Hood is the top elected official for Democrats but does not appear to play a large role in party affairs.

Party chairman Ricky Cole plays that role. His main job appears to be to get Hood to run again. Geoff Pender wrote in the Clarion-Ledger that Hood would be more likely to run if Presley runs for governor, “giving him some Democratic help at the top of the ticket.”

This focus would change if Hosemann gives up his Secretary of State position to challenge Reeves or Fitch runs for another office.

The titular head of the Republican Party is Governor Phil Bryant. He played a strong party role in supporting Cochran. Will Bryant provide similar strong party leadership and work to maintain the status quo next year, or will he encourage primary challenges to incumbent Republicans? Pundits write about his lack of fondness for Reeves, some saying he is quietly coaxing Hosemann to challenge Reeves. Then there is his affinity to some of the McDaniel team. Bryant’s actions over the next months will do much to shape the political agenda for Republicans and Democrats.

Also influencing races will be the money people.

Their appetite for more, tough primaries will be a factor.

The nature of next year’s politics, bitter or sweet, is now in play.

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

8 I Mississippi Business Journal I November 14, 2014

THERE’S A REVOLUTION BREWING Chefs John Folse and Rick Tramato gave a sneak preview of their Seafood Revolution restaurant in Ridgeland this week. You can see more photos of delicious dishes at msbusiness.com.

At left, Folse and Tramato introduce the restaurant in front of the bar, near the main entrance, as the final touches are being added. » Below left: The raw oysters are ready and are amazing. » Below bottom: The Seafood Revolution mixologist Michael Wagner shows off his own creation “The Rougarou” named for the mythical Swamp Monster from Louisiana. » Below top: The raw bar is ready for visitors. » Below right: A worker at the raw bar shows off a raw octopus.

— photos by Sarah Reily

DALLAS

Continued from Page 7

More guarded than empathetic, her speeches lack the love and passion of a genuine public servant. Her inability to reach out to the regular folk is problematic. Currently receiving over $200,000 per speaking engagement and possessing nearly as much money as the Bush family, she will never be able to connect with Joe Six-Pack, Joe the Plumber, or Joe Blow.

Her Thatcher-esque support for sending troops to Iraq raised warning flags among Dovish Democrats, particularly after everyone learned Dick Cheney had expanded the the

War on Terror in Iraq through outright deception.

As the front-runner in 2008 democratic primary, she took for granted the African-American community and they quickly abandoned her for Obama. More importantly, however, Obama represented a change from 20 years of Bubba and the Bushes.

Americans may have sent most of the same people back to D.C. last Tuesday, but let’s hope we haven’t given up on a brighter future for our families and communities? After Obama, we remain stuck in a rut, plagued by partisan politics and an inability to build a unifying political discourse.

Democrats know full well how polarizing Hillary is and that is perhaps her biggest problem. It’s crunch time in

America. Both parties need their leadership to exude a willingness and demonstrate an ability to work with the opposition to find real solutions to save our system of education, our environment and our dying middle class.

It’s a shame when you think about the good Hillary might have done had she been President in 2000 or 2008. As 2016 looms, Democrats have to consider Hillary because she may be the only potential winner they have to offer. Could she be the leader the nation needs? Possibly.

Should she be given the Democratic nomination? Absolutely not. » David Dallas is a political writer. He worked for former U.S. Sen. John Stennis and authored Barking Dawgs and A Gentleman from Mississippi.

November 14, 2014 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS:

CONSTRUCTION

A PATIENT RENOVATION

THE PENALTY PHASE » Project owners depend heavily on timely completion

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

N Courtesy of Keesler Medical Center

Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi is about to undergo a $74 million renovation that will last until 2017. A conceptional drawing of the completed project is below..

» Hospital services will continue during long Keesler Medical Center project

By LYNN LOFTON mbj@msbusiness.com

K

EESLER MEDICAL CENTER is getting an extensive facelift. The $74 million renovation project will begin soon and is expected to be completed in mid-2017.

Officials expect the project to enhance the overall patient experience by providing worldclass healthcare facilities for the Keesler community. Maintaining all patient services throughout construction is part of the reason for the long construction time frame.

“Not only is the project large in scope, but it must be approached in a stepwise fashion to allow ongoing health care,” said Col. Tom Harrell, M.D., commander of Keesler Medical Center.

“The renovation project will involve aesthetic changes, upgrades, and also new construction in areas to allow for co-location of similar or com-

bined services to make it easier for our patients to access care.”

It’s a matter of balancing construction with services, says Kary Dickey, facilities operations specialist. “It’s a multi-story building and almost a million square feet. We will renovate various sections and floors but must keep all things going; nothing will be closed. We’re trying to do it with minimal disruption and will not relocate anything more than once.”

Harrell added, “The need to relocate clinical services areas more than once has been minimized. There are a few support function and administrative offices that will need to be moved more than once over the several year process.”

A major part of the project is a new hybrid operating room capable of accommodating all types of surgery, including the latest technology in minimally-invasive surgery and cardiology

EARLY EVERY LARGE construction project is planned and financed based on a specified completion date. While many things can disrupt that plan ranging from bad weather to supply or labor shortages, failing to meet the deadline can result in significant penalties.

“Owners of projects, especially in the private sector, depend upon timely completion so use of the facility can generate revenue needed to repay the building loan, recoup funds invested in construction, and to conduct the owner’s business,” said Chris Solop, a partner with Biggs, Ingram & Solop, PLLC, Jackson who has been the legal counsel for Associated General Contractors of Mississippi for more than 10 years. ”The exact amount of damages caused by late completion are very real, but can be difficult to determine in advance.”

“Liquidated damages” are included in a contract so that at the outset both parties know the cost risk of late completion. In a general sense, liquidated damages are a substitute for actual damages. But as a matter of law, liquidated damages cannot serve as a penalty.

“The parties agree in advance that an owner will be Chris Solop entitled to recover an agreed Biggs, Ingram & Solop, PLLC daily rate of damages if the contractor is at fault for late completion,” Solop said. “If the liquidated damages are called a penalty or are so high as to constitute a penalty, they would generally not be enforceable in a construction contract. Liquidated damages are used where the damages are difficult to calculate and are intended to be a reasonable approximation of the damages an owner might incur if the project is not timely completed.”

Solop said while liquidated damages may be viewed as a “penalty,” they are a tool for risk assessment and, in many cases, likely less than an owner’s actual damages. A liquidated

”The exact amount of damages caused by late completion are very real, but can be difficult to determine in advance.”

See See KEESLER, Page 10

PENALTIES, Page 12

10 I MBJ I Nov. 14, 2014

KEESLER

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CONSTRUCTION Continued from Page 9

procedures. Two new state-of-the-art operating rooms will be added to match the other operating rooms built postHurricane Katrina.

Another major aspect of the new design incorporates the entire dental clinic within the walls of the hospital and creates a complete state-of-the-art dental service within the confines of the medical building.

A facilities management team with members from the contractor, J.E. Dunn Construction Company, and Keesler’s Health Facilities Office will keep staff, patients and visitors informed of the logistics. “They will be actively changing signage and major moves will be advertised via all available avenues at our disposal,� Harrell said. “If it becomes necessary, we are prepared to position escorts in the initial stages of clinical moves to make certain our patients can find their way properly to their appointments.�

Dickey says the project was being discussed when she arrived at Keesler in 2010. Congress funded it on May 8, 2013, and the project was awarded to the Dunn Company on July 19, 2013.

“The project was undertaken to improve the 1950s hospital chassis,� Harrell said. “Not only will the work make the main building more aesthetically pleasing for our patients in line with the in-patient tower opened in late 2012, but it will also drive co-location of key service areas to make it easier for our patient to access services.�

The co-location of services that work together will also provide increased efficiencies for hospital operations and reduce costs in the long run.

The facility changes align with the Keesler Medical Center’s strategic vision to partner with the Veteran Administration and other military treatment facilities along the Gulf Coast from the panhandle of Florida to Louisiana to deliver safe and effective healthcare to federal beneficiaries while being good stewards of the federal healthcare budget, Harrell added. “In addition, we are actively partnering with our local civilian hospital partners to leverage our capabilities to maintain medical currency and develop training opportunities in a reciprocal manner,� he said. “The Keesler Medical Center remains committed to insuring medically ready Airmen when called upon.�

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12 I MBJ I Nov. 14, 2014

PENALTIES

CONSTRUCTION Continued from Page 9

damage provision assists both the contractor and the owner in quantifying the damages assessed in the event the project completion is delayed due to the fault of the contractor. Liquidated damages can be passed down to a subcontractor if that subcontractor is the cause of the delay in the completion of the project as part of the contractor’s damage against a subcontractor.

Where completion by a specific date is an absolute requirement in a contract, its possible that the contract will not include a time extension for a weather-caused delay of any kind. “This type of contract would put the entire risk of any type of weather delay on a contractor, and that risk would be reflected in their cost,� he said. “However, generally there are provisions in a contract that grant the contractor a right to an extension of time for weather-related delays.�

When requesting an extension of time for a weather-related delay it is recommended that a contractor or subcontractor submit official weather data and daily reports to support a request for a weather-related extension of time.

While it can be difficult to estimate the date of competing a job, competent, expe-

rienced contractors and subcontractors typically are able to estimate the time required to complete a project. Solop said they rely upon historical data and the experience of their estimators, project managers and project superintendents.

There also are a number of scheduling software programs that are used to schedule the duration of various tasks and sequences of work (logic) to ensure that the project is completed within the time specified in the contract documents.

What contractors cannot estimate is the time impact of changes to the project by owners and architects, site conditions that differ from what was shown on the plans or that differ from what is expected in that geographic location, design errors, and other unforeseeable difficulties.

Solop said often the most difficult date to determine is not the initial scheduled completion date but the completion date after one or more delays occurs.

In the current economy, competition for work is fierce and profit margins are generally narrow. “There is little room for error on a construction project,� said Solop’s partner, Lynn Thompson said. “If the daily rate for liquidated damages is substantial, profit margins can evaporate rather See

PROJECTS, Page 13

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CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

Continued from Page 12

quickly. This is why it is critical for a contractor to carefully monitor the progress of the project and the job costs at least a weekly. If there is any slippage in the schedule or overrun in the project job costs, it needs to be examined carefully and addressed to avoid erosion of any profit the contractor or subcontractor has in the project.”

An owner may recover damages in the form of liquidated damages or actual damages if a project is not completed on time. But Thompson said you do not typically see damages other than financial associated with the breach of a construction contract.

“Certainly relationships can sour between owners and contractors and a contractor once favored for doing repeat construction say, for example, a regional or national retail owner will likely lose that market,” Thompson said. “Public owners usually reserve the right not to make a new contract award to a contractor on a project if that contractor is already behind in its schedule for an existing project or is having difficulty completion a project.

Sureties may limit or refuse to issue bonds for new projects where a contractor’s current projects are so late that they prevent risk of default—and therefore a bond

Nov. 14, 2014

I

MBJ

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13

claim — against the surety.

Thompson said while access to bonding or being refused an award due to existing status of a project are not “financial penalties” per se, they are the very real and practical consequences that spring from a contractor’s not being able to complete a project at the schedule completion time and within the contractor’s estimated costs.

“Much depends on the contractor’s overall financial well-being and its ability to demonstrate that it can successful manage other projects,” she said.

It can get complicated and expensive if one contractor is waiting for a subcontractor to finish before being able to complete the job. Sometimes schedules can be re-arranged and certain portions of work can be accomplished ahead of others. It does not take long, however, to see the ripple effect of a delay by a subcontractor whose work begins early in the project, such as a plumber, a framing subcontractor or an electrician, impact other trades.

“Contractors have to be vigilant about monitoring the schedule and have the authority in their contracts to require changes to the scheduling of all work so that the impact of a delay can be minimized,” Thompsons said.

Thompson and Solop have a construction blog at www.constructionlawtoolbox.com.

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AN MBJ SPECIAL: SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONS

MAKING NOIS AT NEW HOM

John Daly was out of contention Sunday as he putted out on the 17th hole, but still commanded one of the larger galleries on the Country Club of Jackson course during the ďŹ nal round of the Sanderson Farms Championship PGA Tour ev

Sanderson Farms was in its second year of the PGA tour event at Country Club of Jackson.

Nick Taylor tees off on No. 14, one the his three consecutive birdie holes on the back nine that propelled him to a two-shot victory on Sunday.

November 14, 2014 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

ONSHIP

OISE ME

GA Tour event.

ive shot

Taylor, Blair E. Batson are event’s big winners

By FRANK BROWN frank.brown@msbusiness.com

After winning his first PGA Tour tournament Sunday at the Sanderson Farms Championship at the Country Club of Jackson, Nick Taylor called his wife, who was working a 12-hour shift at a hospital in his hometown of Abbotsford, British Colombia.

She cried.

Tears of joy.

“It might be her last double shift for a while,” said Taylor, whose final-round 66 earned him a two-stroke win over Boo Weekley and Jason Bohn, a $720,000 paycheck, a three-year tour exemption and a bronze rooster trophy.

But how fitting it was that Andi Taylor was working at a hospital while her husband of seven months claimed victory. Because the real winner of this event may be the Friends of Children’s Hospital and Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson, the primary beneficiary of the tournament’s profits.

While the financial numbers won’t be final for a few weeks, Sanderson Farms CEO Joe Sanderson hinted at the success of this year’s tournament, which this year played at a new course and on a new date.

“Revenue more than doubled what they have been in the past,” said Sanderson. “So I would anticipate that our charitable contribution will double to Batson. Last year we doSee

SANDERSON, Page 19

The Golf Channel provided national afternoon coverage of all four rounds, and their cameras had an abundance of sunshine to work with.

Johnny Lang of Century Club Charities, tournament winner Nick Taylor, and Sanderson Farms CEO Joe Sanderson answer questions in the media room after Sunday’s final round.

Photos by Frank Brown / MBJ

November 14, 2014 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS:

REAL ESTATE

PROCEEDING WITH CAUTION » Real Estate agents face changing policies as they learn how to protect themselves as they show houses

By LISA MONTI mbj@msbusiness.com

The murder in October of Arkansas real estate agent Beverly Carter brought attention once again to the need for real estate professionals to learn how to protect themselves.

The National Association of Realtors, which designates September as Realtor Safety Month, has devoted a special section of its website to safety with videos, webinars and other resources for its members.

Kathy Whitfield, marketing and communications director for the Mississippi Realtors and instructor with the Mississippi Realtor Institute, helped put together a course on Realtor safety for state professionals. Whitfield was a real estate agent and broker for about 20 years.

“The course mainly is about changing the way Realtors do business and making good decisions and being proactive to help keep these things from happening,” she said.

There are two main points stressed in the training. “No. 1, we are advising agents not to meet clients, especially those they don’t know, at a house or property without meeting at the

office or a public place first,” she said.

“We promote the idea that they interview clients first and don’t just get in a car and meet someone without any type of verification as to who they are.” NAR provides a registration form to gather Whitfield information including a client’s name, address, phone number and email. “A lot of agents are also choosing to make a copy of the client’s ID and making it part of the file,” she said.

Safety concerns for real estate professionals have caused the old practice of hosting an open house to fade.

“It’s not only a risk for them but for sellers as well, with strangers coming into their house.”

Whitfield said the four-hour course for Mississippi agents includes many basic safety tips like having enough gas in the car and a fully charged cellphone.

“It’s simple things we practiced many years ago but we’ve gotten a little relaxed. This tragedy forced us to put an additional empha-

sis on safety. There have been other similar situations and it will continue to happen. We have to rethink the way we do business.”

Whitfield said the course is taught on request around the state.

“Interest has picked up,” she said.

Some agents also take extra precautions to protect themselves.

“Some have chosen to take self defense courses and some carry mace. Some have even elected to be trained to carry a firearm.”

Whitfield said she’s noticed more conversation on social media among agents about their safety concerns and precautions. “They are taking it seriously and being proactive making sure they do not become a victim.”

And it’s not just female agents, she said.

“Men are not immune to the risks. About a quarter to a third of those in her classes are men, she said.

Agents are retooling the way they work with longtime clients, too, explaining why they are asking them to fill out forms, show identification or take separate cars.

“They say, ‘I’m making changes as part of our policy based on safety training.’ They don’t want their buyers to be offended.”

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REAL ESTATE

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18 I MBJ I Nov. 14, 2014

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Foreclosures down, sales prices going up

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There’s good news for various residential real estate markets around the state, presidents of three regional professional organizations report. Home foreclosures are down and the number of sales and average sales prices of homes have increased throughout Mississippi. “Our market is holding steady with a slight increase,� said Sandy Richardson, president of the Northwest Mississippi Association of Realtors. “We were not hit as hard when the housing market waned.�

In 2013, Northwest Mississippi had 383 home foreclosures. That compares to 145 to date this year. The average sales price of a home in 2013 was $141,450, and this year it’s $148,753. New home starts are up in the area too. With a membership of 839, the association’s roster has also increased. “At any given time we have about 30 foreclosures on the market,� Richardson said. “I think education is a key factor to

reducing that number. Also, with the tighter financing guidelines people have saved money for down payments. Lenders have been good about getting the word out to realtors about programs to help people get into homes.�

One of those programs is Smart Solutions, a program of the Mississippi Home Corps, that helps home buyers with down payments. Interest rates are good and borrowers can re-pay it over time. “It’s a state program that works well with a federal program because borrowers get a mortgage credit certificate up to $2,000 on their income tax,� Richardson said. “Most of our lenders are on board and closing on homes with that.�

Stephanie Nix, president of the Central Mississippi Association of Realtors, sees a healthy residential market overall. “But, we continue to have a slow recovery,� she said, “and there are always pockets of the See

FORECLOSURES, Page 19

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REAL ESTATE FORECLOSURES

Continued from Page 18

market that are not good. First time home buyers are making a comeback.�

Foreclosures are down in central Mississippi too. In October of 2013, there were 500 and this October there are less than

SANDERSON

Continued from Page 15

nated $500,000, and that was with private donations added in. We got about $300,000 from the tournament. I’m expecting just from the tournament to maybe get close to a million dollars. “The efforts that were put into this match with the needs of that hospital, and that’s the very least we should be doing. You would think that around the metro area of Jackson it would be easy to raise a million dollars. But we’ve had great corporate response from people who were not participating in the past, and I’m pleased about that.� “Once Sanderson Farms got behind this project (last year), our goal was to stay ahead of Joe,� said Johnny Lang, president of Centry Club Charities, which helps promote charities through golf. “We hope to present a big Christmas check to Batson. “But this is just another step. This isn’t the top. We have our first full-time team in place, and they love being here. I can’t wait to see where this goes in the this tournament over the next several years.�

This comes after Sanderson said the tournament took a risk by moving the tournament from Annandale to the Country Club of Jackson and changing the tour date from mid-summer to early November. “The accommodations were outstanding, the service was outstanding and the golf course held its own,� said Sanderson. “As you know, when we made this decision to move the location, in my mind that was the largest risk. “I knew November was the right time, but I was not as familiar with this course as I was Annandale.� “It ended up the course held its own very well, and the scores indicate that. And the weather ended up better than it was in July.

On both counts, we made a good decision.�

The course gave up a winning total of 17under-par over 72 holes, which was a more competitive score than many expected.

And the weather was comfortably cool with brilliant sunshine every day. “If you put the pins in the middle of the greens and play from the front tees, the members love this course,� said Lang, but if you move the tees back and put the pins on the corners, it can be tough.�

As for the unusual bronze rooster trophy, indicative of the main sponsor’s product, Nick Taylor has no problems with it after posting his first victory in seven professional starts. “I love it. It’s my first one!� said the former University of Washington golfer. “I like roosters now. It’s my favorite animal!�

November 14, 2014

300 on the market. “People don’t realize we had a huge number of foreclosures,� Nix said. “The majority of that was due to sub prime and adjustable rate mortgages. Home buyers qualified for loans, but as rates went up they couldn’t afford their mortgages. We have fewer of those out there now, and we expect to see that number continue to fall.�

The average sales price of a home has increased about five percent and currently stands at $173,563 in central Mississippi. “All markets are different,� Nix said. “We don’t have the up tick with the national economy, but we don’t have the quick fall ei-

ther. We are seeing a slow, steady increase.�

The three coastal counties of Harrison, Hancock and Jackson are experiencing a healthy growth pattern with increased sales and sales prices, according to Stephanie Shaw, president of the Gulf Coast Association of Realtors. “With regard to single family homes in the first three quarters of 2013, we had 2609 homes close with an average price of $130,505.00,� she said. “For the first three quarters of 2014, we have had 2741 homes close with an average price of $135,162.00.

The data supports a healthy increase rather

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than huge gains, but that’s what we want — a nice steady improvement.�

Shaw says the foreclosure market has decreased along the Coast too. In 2013 there were 666 sales in the three coastal counties during the first three quarters. In 2014 the area had 460 sales with the average sales price for these homes up slightly from $72,664.00 to $75,164.00. “The number of days on the market are neck in neck in both categories,� she said. “These trends indicate the economy is recovering and buyers are taking advantage of the historically low interest rates.�

I

REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATIONS

20 I Mississippi Business Journal I November 14, 2014 Association/Top Officer

Address/Area Served

Phone

Biloxi Ocean Springs Association of REALTORS Andrea McClain

1518-B Bienville Blvd., Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Cities of Ocean Springs & Biloxi

228-875-0779

Central Mississippi REALTORS Jo Usry

620 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39202 Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Scott, Copiah, Simpson & Yazoo counties

601-948-1332

Clarksdale Board of REALTORS

P.O. Box 1354, Clarksdale, MS 38614 Coahoma & Quitman counties

662-624-6017

Cleveland Board of REALTORS Kim Buehring

P.O. Box 178, Cleveland, MS 38732 Bolivar & North Sunflower counties

662-846-1425

Four County Board of REALTORS Virginia Killough

206 CR 305, Corinth, MS 38834 Tippah, Alcorn, Prentiss & Tishomingo counties

662-284-9544

Golden Triangle Association of REALTORS Lois Laird

501 7th St. N., Ste. 6, Columbus, MS 39703 Lowndes, Oktibbeha, Clay & Noxubee counties

662-328-7800

Greenville Area Board of REALTORS Susie Colburn

1427 S. Main St., Ste. 143, Greenville, MS 38701 Washington, Humphries, Sharkey, Issaquena & part of Sunflower counties

662-332-9442

Greenwood Area Board of REALTORS Debbie Smith

217 W. Market St., Greenwood, MS 38930 Leflore, Carroll & Tallahatchie counties

662-455-1343

Grenada Board of REALTORS Kim Hill

P.O. Box 944, Grenada, MS 38902 Grenada County

662-226-4454

Gulf Coast Association of REALTORS Rogers Joe

141 Debuys Rd., Ste. A, Gulfport, MS 39507 Hancock, Greene, George & parts of Harrison, Stone & Jackson counties

228-896-3122

Hattiesburg Area Association of REALTORS Trudy Bounds

411 Classic Dr., Hattiesburg, MS 39402 Lamar, Forrest, Marion, Perry & Stone counties

601-582-0099

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REAL ESTATE ASSOCIATIONS Association/Top Officer

November 14, 2014

I

Mississippi Business Journal

Address/Area Served

I

21

Phone

Laurel Board of REALTORS Cheryl Jordan

P.O. Box 2654, Laurel, MS 39442-2654 Jones, Jasper, Wayne & Smith counties

Meridian Board of REALTORS Betty Gast

4927 Hwy. 493, Meridian, MS 39305 Lauderdale, Clark, Kemper, Neshoba & Newton counties

601-485-7113

Mississippi Commercial Association of REALTORS Jackie Stacy

P.O. Box 321000, Jackson, MS 39232 Statewide commercial practitioners

601-932-5241

Natchez Board of REALTORS Mary Ann Fields

1201 Hwy. 61 S., Natchez, MS 39120 Adams, Jefferson, Wilkinson, Franklin & Claiborne counties

601-597-4261

North Central Mississippi REALTORS Linda Allgood

1903 University Ave., Ste. 5, Oxford, MS 38655 Lafayette, Yalobusha, Panola & parts of Calhoun, Pontotoc, Union & Marshall counties

662-281-1360

Northeast Mississippi Board of REALTORS Jeanette Spearman

84 Clarke Blvd., Tupelo, MS 38804 Lee, Pontotoc, Union, Prentiss, Itawamba, Monroe & Chickasaw counties

662-842-6450

Northwest Mississippi Association of REALTORS Amanda Woods

2795 Hwy. 51 N., Nesbit, MS 38651 DeSoto, Panola, Tate & Tunica counties

662-449-3553

Pearl River County Board of REALTORS Inc. Tracy McKay

112 E. Canal St., Picayune, MS 39466 Pearl River & parts of South Lamar & West Hancock counties

601-749-0650

Southwest Board of REALTORS Brenda Rollinson

P.O. Box 424, McComb, MS 39649 Lincoln, Pike, Walthall, Lawrence & Amite counties

601-567-9616

Vicksburg Warren County Board of REALTORS Jillean Bishop

1204 Mission Park Dr., Vicksburg, MS 39180 Warren County

601-638-6667

601-498-7593

Source: Mississippi Association of REALTORS. Please direct questions and comments to Wally Northway at research@msbusiness.com.

http://www.msbusiness.com

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

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

INTERNET SERVICES Q Comcast Business .......................................................................................... www.comcast.com Q TEC ..................................................................................................................................www.TEC.com

LAW FIRMS Q Victor W. Carmody, Jr. P.A. .............................................................. www.mississippidui.com

PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES Q Delta State University................................................................................... www.deltastate.edu

REAL ESTATE Q State Street Group........................................................................www.statestreetgroup.com

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS Q Synergetics DCS, Inc. ...................................................................... www.synergeticsdcs.com

TELECOMMUNICATIONS Q AT&T................................................................................................................................... www.att.com Q Comcast Business .......................................................................................... www.comcast.com Q MegaGate Broadband................................................................................ www.megagate.com Q Nextiva.................................................................................................................... www.nextiva.com Q TEC ..................................................................................................................................www.TEC.com

WEBSITE DESIGNERS Q U.S. NEXT....................................................................................................................... www.usnx.com

Have your business listed here! Contact your advertising representative at 601.364.1000

COOK COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES welcomes

JOSEPH TUBB, a native of Jackson, to its commercial real estate team.

Joseph will be serving clients in the Jackson and south MS areas.

Give him a call at 601-606-1900, to assist you with sales or leasing needs.

601-981-1500 1501 LAKELAND DRIVE, SUITE 340 • JACKSON, MS 39216

www.cookcommproperties.com

NEWSMAKERS

22 I Mississippi Business Journal I November 14, 2014

Gray joins staff

Hessell no longer interim

McGuire wins election

Trace recognizes Scott

David J. Gray, MD, recently joined Hattiesburg Clinic Plastic Surgery. Gray received his medical degree from University of Arkansas College of Medicine in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he also served a general surgery internship and residency. He served a plastic surgery fellowship at Saint Louis University in Saint Louis, Missouri.

Gray is board certified in plastic surgery by the American Gray Board of Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society.

Bill Hessell has dropped the interim tag from his job with the Harrison County Development Commission. Hessell started at the HCDC in 2004 as interim director and became interim director again when Larry Barnett left for a job in Texas.

Hessell has a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and completed graduate work in public policy at Mississippi State University.

He has owned and operated an urban planning/real estate consultant firm and is a licensed real estate broker. He worked in Gulfport as planning director and urban development director.

Dr. Robert A. McGuire Jr., University of Mississippi Medical Center M. Beckett Howorth Professor and Chair of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, associate professor of neurosurgery and director of the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program, has been elected president-elect of AO North America by the organization’s board of directors.McGuire will serve as president-elect through July 1, 2015, when he will begin a three-year term as president of AO America.

He will succeed Dr. Michael Baumgaertner, whose term as president will end on July 1, 2015.

A veteran armed forces health professional of the U.S. Navy, McGuire has been a leader and advocate within the AO since 1985. He has had various leadership roles in AOSpine North America. An AOSpine faculty member since 1993, he has served as chairman of AOSpine from 2006-09 and is a member of the AOSpine International Board, the AOSpine TK Executive Board and chairman of AOSpine TK.

The Natchez Trace Parkway has awarded the annual Steve Ritter Volunteer of the Year Award to Tupelo-area volunteer Shirley Scott. Scott was one of over 60 individual Volunteers-In-Parks personnel honored at the Natchez Trace Parkway’s annual volunteer appreciation banquet.

The Volunteer of the Year award is named after the late Steve Ritter, a dedicated member of the Tombigbee Pioneer Association.

Scott received the award in appreciation for over 12 years and almost 3,000 hours of dedicated volunteer service to the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Kelly earns certification Sarah D. Kelly, nurse practitioner with Dermatology Clinic of Hattiesburg, a service of Hattiesburg Clinic, recently earned national certification as a dermatology certified nurse practitioner. At Dermatology Clinic of Hattiesburg, Kelly treats adults and children for numerous dermatologic conditions and also performs minor procedures including mole and cyst removal, biopsies and Kelly cryosurgery. She has been working as a nurse practitioner in dermatology for five years.

SACSCOC chooses Rankins Alcorn State University President Dr. Alfred Rankins Jr. has been selected to serve as a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Board of Trustees, Class of 2016. Rankins will be part of a 77member body that represents more than 800 institutions with responsibility for determining Commission policy, reviewing and making decisions regarding the accreditation of institutions, conducting the initial review for any proposed dues changes or any modifications to the standards of the Commission, and serving as a liaison between the membership and Commission staff.

Meyers joins clinic Adam D. Meyers, CNP, recently joined Hattiesburg Clinic Spine Center as a nurse practitioner. He earned his bachelor of science in nursing through Chamberlain College of Nursing in Downers Grove, Illinois, and his master of science in nursing from University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Meyers is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. He is a certified adult Meyers gerontology acute care nurse practitioner.

Farm Bureau honors Cochran The Mississippi Farm Bureau has presented its Friend of Farm Bureau Award to Sen. Thad Cochran (R–Miss.) for his work in the 113th Congress. This is the 10th consecutive time that Mississippi Farm Bureau has honored Cochran for his commitment to the farmers of Mississippi.

Cochran serves as the ranking member on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee.

He also serves on the Rules and Administration Committee and on the Appropriations Committee. He was cited for his support for the passage of the 2014 Farm Bill. He also supported Sen. John Thune’s amendment and the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013.

In 1972, Cochran was elected congressman for the Fourth District. He served three terms in the U. S. House of Representative before being elected to the U.S. Senate in 1978, becoming the first Republican in more than 100 years to win a statewide election in Mississippi. He has since been re-elected five times and is currently serving his sixth term in office.

Mississippi Farm Bureau honored Cochran in 1990 with its highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award.

Perez-Hernandez earns award Dr. Maria Perez-Hernandez, a Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine veterinary resident, has received a national award for neurological research.

The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine recently honored Perez-Hernandez with the ACVIM Knecht Resident Award. The Knecht award, named in memory of veterinary neurologist Dr. Charles Knecht, is given in recognition Perez-Hernanadez of outstanding research that advances veterinary neurology. Perez-Hernandez was awarded for the design, development and testing of an intracranial pressure bolt for use in veterinary patients.

Perez-Hernandez earned her doctor of veterinary medicine degree in 2007 at the Faculty Veterinary Medicine at the University of Murcia, Spain. After dedicating five years to small animal rehabilitation, she started a neurology/neurosurgery internship in 2012 and a neurology/neurosurgery residency at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine in 2013. She is certified in small animal physical therapy and animal chiropractic. She has authored a book in Spanish on small animal rehabilitation.

Dealership adds Richardson, Waggoner Mercedes-Benz of Jackson has added Jill Richardson as customer relations manager and Noel Waggoner as receptionist. Prior to joining MercedesBenz of Jackson, Richardson spent 10 years working for Gannett Media Group. She attended the University of WisconsinPlatteville, where she earned a bachelor of arts in communications with an emphasis in photography and graphic imaging.

She also earned a minor in vocal music. Outside of work, Richardson enjoys traveling, photography and spending time with family and friends.

Waggoner is married with four children. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her boys and shopping.

Richardson

Scott-Bracey earns award Pamela Scott-Bracey, a College of Education assistant professor at Mississippi State University, is the 2014 Mississippi Business Education Association's University Educator of the Year. In years prior to this award, when she was pursuing her undergraduate degree at the University of Southern Mississippi, she received the Future Business Teacher of the Year award from Future Business Leaders of Scott-Bracey America-Phi Beta Lambda.

In addition to her classroom role, Scott-Bracey is faculty adviser for the MSU chapter of Pi Omega Pi, a business-education honor society. Thanks to her leadership, the organization recently inducted its first distance education students who take classes exclusively online.

Phan presenting papers

Waggoner

Norris named to board Nancy Norris, Hattiesburg Clinic licensed practical nurse and manager of Endocrinology’s Glucose Sensor Clinic, was recently appointed to the Mississippi State Board of Nursing. Norris is the first Hattiesburg Clinic employee to be appointed to the board.

During her nursing career of 27 years, Norris has held various nursing and clinical leadership positions, 19 of those years Norris being with Hattiesburg Clinic.

She holds a list of accreditations. These include being the only certified insulin pump trainer/educator at Hattiesburg Clinic.

She is a member of the National Federation of Licensed Practical Nurses, Endocrine Nurses Society and the American Diabetes Association.

Dr. Ngoc Phan, assistant professor of political science in the College of Arts and Letters at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach, has been selected to present two papers at the 86th Annual Southern Political Science Association (SPSA) Conference in New Orleans in January 2015. Phan will present “Hearing The Angry Roar: Are there gender differences in the strategic use of anger?” and “Let’s talk about Diversity: The impact of diversity cues on political representation, redistributive policies and racial threat” at the upcoming conference. In addition to presenting two papers, Phan will also serve as a speaker on a panel on Political Methodology at the January meeting.

Phan is a social scientist whose research combines a multidisciplinary approach to studying political questions, where she builds upon the research in political science, social psychology, behavioral economics and experimental methods. She is the founding director of the Behavioral Research Lab at Southern Miss. She earned a PhD from Rice University in May 2012 and joined the faculty at The University of Southern Mississippi in Fall 2012.

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

November 14, 2014

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FOOD SERVICE

FEEDING SUCCESS » Four Seasons Produce finds growing customers across the Gulf Coast

By TAMMY LEYTHAM mbj@msbusiness.com

MOSS POINT — Customers who shop at Four Seasons Produce are greeted by colorful rows of tomatoes, oranges, grapes, corn, squash, pears and avocados.

The refrigerated aisle holds sliced sweet potatoes, fresh greens and cut rutabagas.

There’s a row of nuts — all types — almonds, walnuts, Brazil, peanuts and shelled pecans in plastic bags.

John McCollough started an open air produce market in 1995, just up the street from the current location at 4507 Main St. in Moss Point. He had worked more than 20 years as a farmer in Grand Bay, Ala., and saw what grocery stores charged for his produce. He decided to cut out the middle man.

“He wanted to make it more affordable for the customer,” said daughter Vicki Stagner, who along with her sister, Teresa McCollough, spouses, adult children and in-laws continue to run the family business.

In 2000, McCollough got the contract to provide produce for the Moss Point School District, and “saw there was a growing need.”

It outgrew the open air location and even after that site was enclosed, “it was nowhere near big enough to do the work we were doing,” Stagner said.

They moved to the current location, and business continues to grow.

TAMMY LEYTHAM / The Mississippi Business Journal

TOP: Sweet potatoes, nuts and assorted vegetables fill bins at Four Seasons Produce in Moss Point.

LEFT: Customers browse the aisles of Four Seasons Produce on Main Street in Moss Point.

McCollough is still at the store everyday, Stagner said, six days a week. It is closed on Saturdays.

The business buys local when local produce is available, Stagner said. Other produce comes from wherever it’s being grown depending on the season, lettuce from California, for example.

The company has five to six trucks bringing in deliveries each day — about 600 cases of apples a week, for example.

And the company is now moving into its busy season.

“Thanksgiving is the biggest holiday we have,” Stagner said. That’s followed by Christmas. Specialty-cut sweet potatoes, fresh veggies, nuts and fruit baskets are all in big demand.

Coming on the heels of Christmas is New Year’s, when customers are looking for their greens and black-eyed peas.

And a head’s up. Expect those pecans to be a little more expensive this season due to

In addition to providing produce for school meals, Four Seasons also prepares 30,000 to 40,000 containers over a three-day span for elementary schools that qualify for a government program to provide additional snacks for students.

Four Seasons sells to restaurants, casinos, hotels and even produce stands across the Gulf Coast. The family business also services school districts in the six coastal Mississippi counties and several counties in southwest Alabama.

In addition to providing produce for school meals, Four Seasons also prepares 30,000 to 40,000 containers over a threeday span for elementary schools that qual-

ify for a government program to provide additional snacks for students. Those containers are filled with various salads, fruit combinations and vegetables — whatever school officials order — all hand-cut and packaged at the Four Seasons facility.

The business now has about 35 employees, some making deliveries, others washing or cutting produce in the back. And John

a smaller crop. Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center forecasts the state’s pecan crop to be at 1 million pounds. The state produced 5 million pounds last year, and Mississippi’s average pecan harvest is 2-3 million pounds.

In addition, more pecans have been sold to China in recent years, which also drives the price up, according to the MSU ag department.

24 I Mississippi Business Journal I November 14, 2014

NONPROFITS

Raising the Walls » Community Support is the Heart of Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area

O

n a crisp Saturday morning in October, Father Mike O’ Brien of St. Richard Catholic Church stood with a group of Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area volunteers to bless Catholic Build 2014 – the future home of Carolyn Madlock and her son.

“On this morning, I would like to share with you scripture, about the early community of Christians and what they were like.

From Acts, Chapter 4: 'The community of believers were of one heart and one mind...

Nor was there anyone needy among them.

From time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and lay it at the feet of the apostles to be distributed to everyone according to need.’"

Father O'Brien said the passage was appropriate because “This (Habitat build) is our version of that today — the community coming together, to make sacrifices, to work together, to give of their time and gifts and talents to build a house together for Carolyn and her family."

Volunteers and community are at the heart of Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area (HFHMCA). We would not be able to work to fulfill our mission of eliminating substandard housing without the help and support of the community.

BRIDGES

We partner with area churches, companies, civic clubs, schools, groups and individuals as well as our partner families to build decent affordable housing with families in need of housing help in the metro Jackson community. We depend on the community for donations of money and materials and volunteer labor.

The Catholic Build is a great example of the community coming together. The Catholic Build is the longest stand- Griffin ing Covenant sponsorship among our many corporate and faith-based partners. This year 10 Catholic churches, along with the St. Dominic Health Services Foundation, are providing the volunteer labor and funds for the 29th Catholic Build.

“I agree with Habitat’s mission that everyone deserves decent housing,” said Ibby Joseph, a volunteer from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church working on her 12th Catholic Build house.

Also volunteering that day was HFHMCA homeowner Marion Coleman, who works at St. Dominic Health Services.

“Why am I here today?” she asked. “Carolyn Madlock is a co-worker, a fellow Christian, and a sister. I want to pay it forward and help a family because other families helped me. Plus, I love the work at a Habitat build site.”

“I felt like I needed to do something for my community,” said David Ruhl of St.

Photo courtesy of Habitat for Humanity

Catholic Build volunteers frame the walls of the new house.

Joseph Catholic Church. "Volunteering at Catholic Build helps me feel good and someone else feel good.”

Jim Jeter, chief development officer at St. Dominic Health Services, shared his perspective as a volunteer and a HFHMCA board member. “I am proud to serve on a board that truly helps individuals by giving a hand up, not hand out,” he said.

HFHMCA is not a giveaway program.

In addition to a down payment and monthly mortgage payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor or sweat equity into building their HFHMCA house and houses of others.

The homeowners’ payments of the 30-year interest free mortgages are channeled into the work of the organization and the construction of more Habitat homes for other families. HFHMCA is especially proud of the fact that ninety-one cents of every dollar raised goes towards building safe, de-

“because they are more than 50 years old and deteriorating,” said Butch Scipper, farmer and vice chair of the Delta Council’s Transportation Committee, in the Delta Farm Press report.

Simmons in 2013 led a transportation task force of legislators and Simmons, however, will seek funding to tackle some of the more serious representatives of transportation-reliant business sectors. They found an problems among the hundreds of deficient bridges across Mississippi. Many of bridges in the worst shape are in the Delta, and 80 percent of the total are urgent need for the state to begin whittling a road and bridge maintenance backlog of more than $1 billion. north of Interstate 20, said Simmons, a Cleveland Democrat.

Business leaders, through the Mississippi Economic Council, which serves Simmons will be joined in his request by the Delta Council, a longstanding as the state’s chamber of commerce, say they need another year to study the organization of the region’s business and agricultural leaders. entirety of the state’s transportation system and expect to make Delta Council’s Transportation Committee in September passed a comprehensive recommendations to the Legislature in 2016, including resolution urging Mississippi’s congressional delegation, Legislature and governor to help secure around $50 million in funding for emergency repairs proposals for funding the maintenance.

Joe Sanderson, CEO & chairman of Sanderson Farms and chair of the MEC on bridges along Mississippi Highway 6 between Batesville and Clarksdale.

The approximately 40-mile stretch has nine to 10 deficient bridges, according transportation study committee, said he would “certainly support” putting money into bridge repairs in 2015, provided the legislative leadership deems to Walter Gresham, Delta Council president and chair of the council’s state finances are sound enough. transportation committee.

While the MEC panel has done only preliminary examinations of “It’s very urgent that something needs to be done,” said Gresham, and funding sources, it likely will propose increases in the motor fuels tax, noted the road is a major corridor for grain. Hundreds of truckloads of grain car tags and drivers licenses, according to Sanderson. “I don’t know if have been detoured from Highway 6 even though they are hauling a legally there will be additional ones, but those are the primary sources,” he said permitted weight load, the Delta Farm Press reported in September.

The bridges are posted for weights far below the allowed 84,000 pounds in an October interview.

Here are the locations of the Highway 6 bridges with the new postings: Continued from Page 1

cent, affordable housing.

The community through HFHMCA has now built almost 600 homes in the metro area of Hinds, Rankin and Madison counties. Nearly 4,000 volunteers put their “love in action” each year to build homes with families who need a decent place to live.

As Father O’Brien said, Habitat is "the community coming together" to give to help others. Thanks to donors and volunteers like YOU, we are truly making a difference in this community.

If you are interested in donating or becoming a volunteer, we would love to hear from you. Please give us a call at Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area — 601-353-6060.

Cindy Griffin is the Executive Director of the Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area.

» Bridge #37.8 (14167) — SR 6/ US 278 over Bobo Bayou, Quitman County 6.1 miles east of Marks; » Bridge #36.8 (14159) — SR 6/ US 278 over Ash Log Bayou, Quitman County 5.1 miles east of Marks; » Bridge #35.6 (14158) — SR 6/ US 278 over unnamed canal, Quitman County 3.9 miles east of Marks; » Bridge #35.0 (14155) — SR 6/ US 278 over One Mile Bayou, Quitman County 3.3 miles east of Marks; » Bridge #29.7 (14156) — SR 6/ US 278 over Buck Bayou, Quitman County 8.4 miles east of Coahoma/Quitman county line; » Bridge #27.9 (14161) — SR 6/ US 278 over unnamed canal, Quitman County 6.7 miles east of Coahoma/Quitman county line; » Bridge #23.5 (14160) — SR 6/ US 278 over unnamed canal, Quitman County 2.4 miles east of Coahoma/Quitman county line; » Bridge #22.5 (14153) — SR 6/ US 278 over Cassidy Oxbow Bayou, Quitman County 1.4 miles east of Coahoma/Quitman county line; » Bridge #22.3 (14152) — SR 6/ US 278 over Cassidy Oxbow Bayou, Quitman County 1.2 miles east of Coahoma/Quitman county line.

— MBJ staff and wire reports

November 14, 2014

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Mississippi Business Journal

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» MISSISSIPPI LEADERS by Martin Willoughby

Developing leadership Combs carves out career in economic development

A

s regular readers of this column know, one of the things I like to do is spotlight up and coming leaders from around the state. These are the men and women who are on the fast track to success and are actively building Mississippi’s future. This week I had the opportunity to interview one of those leaders, Garrick Combs, who serves as executive director of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development Foundation. The foundation serves over 300 members and includes six distinct organizations including the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Economic Development Alliance and the Brookhaven Tourism Council.

Combs, a Roxie native, received his undergraduate degree in history from USM as well as a master’s in economic development.

He began his career by serving as director of the Economic Development Department and Chamber of Commerce in Franklin County from 2002 to 2006. He then moved on to hold several positions at the Mississippi Development Authority including manger of the Southwest Regional Office and project manager in both the Global Business and Existing Industry divisions.

Combs has served as the local developer or lead project manager of new locations and expansions that have announced over $500

Up Close With ... Garrick Combs Title: Executive director of the Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce and Industrial Development Foundation.

Favorite Books: “I enjoy almost anything written by Natchez native Greg Iles.”

First Job: “I worked in a video rental store in Natchez.”

Proudest Moment as a Leader: ”My first major manufacturing expansion that I served as Project Manager for the Mississippi Development Authority was United Chair in Bruce, MS. The project was announced to the press in 2008 in the Governor’s ceremonial office at the Capitol.”

Hobbies/Interests: Avid follower of college football and the NFL. “The time I used to spend golfing or hunting is now mostly spent with my son and daughter — ages 4 and 2.”

million in new capital and 2500 new jobs.

Among the Lincoln County companies Garrick has worked with includes Rex Lumber, Delphi and American Railcar.

Combs shared that his father was a big influence on his leadership style. He explained, “My father never felt the need to overpower a room or demand attention.

He tended to facilitate and make sure that each person had the opportunity to voice opinions if they chose to do so. But, he had the ability to distill the discussion into key items at the appropriate time and make sure the group came away with specific

tasks that they could work together on to accomplish a common goal.” Combs later noted these same traits in Jimmy Jones, the former chancery clerk of Franklin County.

Combs shared, “Jimmy had numerous employees but when key issues needed to be addressed, instead of dictating a solution he was able to seek input and allow his employees to learn from the discussion and decision making process.Instead of having an employee blindly follow direction, he made his employees better — and thus a better local government — by allowing them input into the process.”

“My father never felt the need to overpower a room...”

One of the key traits of leaders that Combs has incorporated into his leadership style is adaptability. He said, “No matter what the task, leaders should be prepared to accom- Martin Willoughby plish the task at hand, changing course if needed, and be able to do what is required that day in order to ensure that the long term goals are met. I’ve learned that the ability to adapt and respond to the unexpected in the short term allows a leader to achieve long term goals.” Combs also strives to elevate those around him to reach their full potential. He noted, “I believe that leadership is defined by the ability to create an upward pull. Being a leader isn’t the same as being a boss or commanding a room. It’s about the ability to create a shared sense of what needs to be accomplished and creating a shared sense of accomplishment when goals are achieved.”

Combs’ early influences have helped him develop into a strong leader who is actively partnering with local and state leaders to drive economic development in his area of the state. I was inspired by his passion for elevating others and making a difference.

He understands that great leaders aren’t tyrants barking orders, but people who inspire others to be their best and align to accomplish great things. I believe leaders like Combs will be key to Mississippi’s future.

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.

A compelling debut novel from a Mississippi native

I

» The Last Days of California

By Mary Miller Published by Liveright $14.95 softback

t’s no secret that Mississippi has produced a number of literary luminaries, whether we’re talking about William Faulkner or Eudora Welty or Larry Brown. Our rich literary history isn’t just history, though — new voices abound, which is both encouraging and exciting. For avid readers, discovering these new writers and being able to follow their careers is such a gift.

Mary Miller is one shining example of these new voices.

She’s a Jackson, Mississippi native, and is currently the John and Renee Grisham Writer-in-Residence at Ole Miss, following her time as a Michener Fellow in fiction at the University of Texas.

In 2009, Miller published a collection of short stories called Big World, which I read and loved. I found her writing dark, funny and insightful. So, it was with great anticipation that I awaited the publication of her debut novel this past year. Luckily for readers everywhere, she didn’t disappoint.

Narrated by a 15-year-old girl named Jess, The Last Days of

California is about a family vacation, a road trip across the country from Montgomery, Alabama, to California. In many ways, it’s exactly like the vacations many of us have taken in our lives, complete with the annoyances and frustrations most families feel when in the car together for days. The key difference, though, is that Jess’s evangelical father believes that the rapture is imminent, and so is taking his family to the West Coast to both witness it and to proselytize to people along the way. Jess’s big sister Elise, a couple of years older, looms large as everything Jess feels she’ll never be: beautiful, self-assured, outspoken, and rebellious. Jess’s mother is also along for the

ride, quietly skeptical and a bit removed, but supportive of her husband nonetheless.

Miller’s writing here is incredibly detailed, capturing perfectly the landscape of the South as seen during a road trip, from the changing landscape as they move across Texas to the various snack foods Jess and her sister buy at each stop along the way. In Jess’s voice, Miller has created a character any of us could relate to, no matter how far removed from our teenage selves we are. She’s searching for answers, both big and small.

She bounces easily from concerns about her religion and what she really believes to worries about her family’s stability to more usual 15-year-old thoughts about her weight and whether a boy will ever like her.

Poignant, relatable, and often funny, The Last Days of California is a standout book that I enjoyed reading. I’m already looking forward to what Miller does next.

— LouAnn Lofton, mbj@msbusiness.com

26 I Mississippi Business Journal I November 14, 2014 THE SPIN CYCLE

5 top social media campaigns of 2014 recognized at mashies uccessful social media campaigns tap into emotions, persuade action and inspire behavior – whether that’s happiness, hope, fear or yearning.

Mashable, a leading digital news and social media company, recently held its annual Mashies Awards in New York, which revealed the year’s most outstanding examples of digital media from categories including Best Real-Time Marketing, Best Branded App and many more.

Here are five of the most successful social media campaigns of 2014, each of which was able to tap into genuine emotion to make a lasting impact on consumers.

S

Tombstone’s Twitter and Facebook profiles in order to increase their reach. And it worked –- the campaign went viral and helped consumers cement the association between Tombstone and Halloween.

4. Chevy and the American Cancer Society “Paint Social Media Purple”

Chevy’s emotional “Purple Your Profile” campaign paid homage to cancer survivors, kicking off with a moving 60-second spot during the 2014 Super Bowl entitled “Life.”

The brand gave people the opportunity to “purple” their Facebook profile, and pledged to donate $1 to the American Cancer Society for each person that participated. The 1. Burger King’s “Motel King” campaign When Burger King came out with its new program was massively popular, with leadChicken Tendercrisp burger, it had to con- ing consumer brands like Energizer and vince people to “cheat” on the Whopper. Lowe’s joining the movement and the story being covered across major networks like The solution? It creFox and ABC. Most importantly, it raised $1 ated the official million for cancer charities and gave surBurger King Motel, vivors the chance to come together to decomplete with Burger liver a message of hope.

King-branded toiletries, robes and towels. Consumers could check into the hotel through social media, and were encouraged to share their experience using the hashtag #motelBK. The result was a massively viral campaign that included a flood of user-generated content across nearly all major social media platforms.

2. AT&T’s “@SummerBreak” campaign If there are three things that teenagers love, it’s reality TV, social media and their cellphones. AT&T combined the three in its social media reality series @SummerBreak, which followed eight friends during their last summer together before college. Fans were able to interact with the cast through their mobile devices over social channels like Instagram and YouTube, and racked up millions of YouTube views across the 51episode series. The show was so successful that AT&T decided to launch a second season, which aired its final episode in September 2014.

3. Tombstone’s “Bites of Fright” campaign When you think of Halloween, what comes to mind? In 2014, Tombstone began a campaign to associate itself with the holiday by creating a series of spooky yet funny Vines named “Bites of Fright.” The Vines, which were posted every day during the month of October, were also housed on

media. Since I’m a recovering journalist – and served for years as a daily reporter – it always wakes up the newsman in me when I see other PR peeps pedaling poor pitches.

Todd Smith PR Newser and Mashable recently compiled a best/worst practices list in media relations. Here are some good recommendations about pitches to avoid:

sored by an industry group, the CEO is probably not going to get a thousand-word profile, with or without a full-length photo – so maybe he/she needs to temper those expectations a bit.

This is especially true if you’re proposing an in-person meeting. Unless the client is either an Apple insider or someone with an exclusive on the real Beyoncé release (not the fake one), the journalists are going to have to say no.

Stories with no angles

This is a pretty basic one, but I hear it all the time: email pitches that inspire “what’s the angle here?” responses. Assume that the question “What does this client have to give our readers?” precedes the interaction and be aware that the answer will in most cases be different for every contact.

Reporters aren’t dumb, but they’re not always geniuses, either. A little push in the direction of a larger story is almost always appreciated – unless you cross the line and tell them how to cover something, a fatal Pitching a story that has already been cov- PR blunder.

ered

People work together on accounts, lines get crossed, etc. We get it. But the team has definitely received multiple pitches for things we already covered both from different agencies and from within the same agency.

As we laid out in our friendly note to production studios on AgencySp, this sometimes happens several weeks after the 5. Nestle Coffee-mate’s “Stirring up Love original post went live (usually in order to get a second round of media attention for a ‘Outside the Cup’” campaign Sometimes expressing how you feel — es- client). There’s no clearer sign that somepecially on Valentine's Day — can be a little one isn’t paying attention. daunting. Nestle's Coffee-mate stepped in, tasking a team of professional artists to turn Transparently self-interested attempts at users’ declarations of love into shareable, flattery one-of-a-kind valentines. Using the hashtag A fellow writer tells us that she often re#CMValentine, users submitted love notes ceives pitches that read something like “Reon Twitter and Facebook, which were ally liked your piece on X, so thought you turned into handcrafted Valentines for their might be interested in posting on something loved ones. By thinking “outside the cup,” completely unrelated!”

Nestle turned everyday expressions of love We see what you did there, but why not into miniature works of art, increasing their just be upfront about it? channel engagement and adding new consumers to its social media communities.

Randomly mentioning someone on social This is a very effective way to get a given person’s attention, but it’s usually kind of weird. In a particular instance, a rep gave one of our colleagues an “h/t” on a post unrelated to the client they wanted her to cover.

(And she still ignored the next pitch.)

Dignified Mic | Brittany Maynard Was Face of Right-to-Death Movement Brittany Maynard, the 29-year-old face of the controversial right-to-death movement, recently legally ended her life peacefully after suffering increasingly frequent seizures from a stage 4 malignant brain tumor. She moved with her family from California to Oregon, where she could legally die with medication prescribed under the Oregon Death With Dignity Act. Maynard captivated millions via social media with her public decision to end her life. Her death brought a new element to the movement in the age of social media because the conversation has included younger people. These kinds of fatal diseases are so hard to swallow, especially with someone like Maynard who lived life to the fullest in her short time in this world. What she did will live on as an inspiration to those that have such terminal illnesses. She has paved a way through dignity and grace. For that she get’s The Golden Mic. Each week, The Spin Cycle will bestow a Golden Mic Award to the person, group or company in the court of public opinion that best exemplifies the tenets of solid PR, marketing and advertising – and those who don’t. Stay tuned – and step-up to the mic!

And remember … Amplify Your Brand!

and chief communiRequests that we “jump on a call” with the Todd Smith is president of Deane, Smith & Partners, a fullcations officer client’s CEO Envelope, please! And the winner is – Burger King’s “Motel King” campaign.

Things Journalists Think PR Peeps Should Stop Doing Right Now The Spin Cycle is always collecting pearls about what not to do in pitching stories about our clients and their brands to the

Most journalists already know what the CEO is going to say — he/she is going to talk about how his/her company’s new ad tracking/content management/influencer ranking software is going to change the industry after giving us a 45-minute demo.

In most cases, though, these pitches don’t address the “why,” which is really the most important part of the equation. Unless you’re contacting a trade publication spon-

service branding, PR, marketing and advertising firm with offices in Jackson. The firm — based in Nashville, Tenn. — is also affiliated with Mad Genius. Contact him at todd@deanesmithpartners.com, and follow him @spinsurgeon.

SALES MOVES

November 14, 2014

I

Mississippi Business Journal

I

27

» JEFFREY GITOMER

There are lots of excuses for no success, but very few reasons IF I only knew how . . .

IF everybody didn't oppose me . . .

IF I didn't have so many worries . . .

IF I could marry the right person . . .

IF people weren't so dumb . . .

IF my family were not so extravagant . . .

IF I were sure of myself ...

IF luck were not against me . . .

IF I had not been born under the wrong star . . .

IF it were not true that "what is to be will be" . . .

IF I did not have to work so hard . . .

IF I hadn't lost my money . . .

IF I lived in a different neighborhood . . .

IF I didn't have a "past" . . .

IF I only had a business of my own . . .

IF other people would only listen to me . . .

IF * * * and this is the greatest of them all * * * I had the courage to see myself as I really am, I would find out what is wrong with me, and correct it, then I might have a chance to profit by my mistakes and learn something from the experience of others.

For I know that there is something WRONG with me, or I would now be where I WOULD HAVE BEEN IF I had spent more time analyzing my weaknesses, and less time building alibis to cover them.

This piece was written in 1937 by Napoleon Hill in his immortal book, “Think and Grow Rich.” This

eople who do not succeed have one distinguishing trait in common. They know all the reasons for failure, and have what they believe to be air-tight alibis to explain away their own lack of achievement.

Some of these alibis are clever, and a few of them are justifiable by the facts. But alibis cannot be used for money. The world wants to know only one thing — HAVE YOU ACHIEVED SUCCESS? A character analyst compiled a list of the most commonly used alibis.

As you read the list, examine yourself carefully, and determine how many of these alibis, if any, are your own property. Remember, too, the philosophy presented in this book makes every one of these alibis obsolete.

IF I didn't have a wife and family . . .

IF I had enough "pull" . . .

IF I had money . . .

IF I had a good education . . .

IF I could get a job . . .

IF I had good health . . .

IF I only had time . . .

IF times were better . . .

IF other people understood me . . .

IF conditions around me were only different . . .

IF I could live my life over again . . .

IF I did not fear what "THEY" would say . . .

IF I had been given a chance . . .

IF I now had a chance . . .

IF other people didn't "have it in for me" . . .

IF nothing happens to stop me . . .

IF I were only younger . . .

IF I could only do what I want . . .

IF I had been born rich . . .

IF I could meet "the right people" . . .

IF I had the talent that some people have . . .

IF I dared assert myself . . .

IF I only had embraced past opportunities . . .

IF people didn't get on my nerves . . .

IF I didn't have to keep house and look after the children . . .

IF I could save some money . . .

IF the boss only appreciated me . . .

IF I only had somebody to help me . . .

IF my family understood me . . .

IF I lived in a big city . . .

IF I could just get started . . .

IF I were only free . . .

IF I had the personality of some people . . .

IF I were not so fat . . .

IF my talents were known …

IF I could just get a "break" . . .

IF I could only get out of debt . . .

IF I hadn't failed . . .

KIOR

“Despite the small-scale success of biofuel production at KiOR’s test facility in Pasadena, Texas, the Columbus plant and company failures reveal the technical and economic complications clean-tech companies have faced...”

P

Continued from Page 1

another problem.

The Mississippi Development Authority said in a release Monday: “Despite the small-scale success of biofuel production at KiOR’s test facility in Pasadena, Texas, the Columbus plant and company failures reveal the technical and economic complications clean-tech companies have faced when attempting to scale fuel production to meet commercial market demands.”

The authority noted that Vinod Khosla, cofounder of Sun Microsystems, has led three biofuel companies — including KiOR in the summer of 2011 — to public stock offerings.

The Nasdaq stock market subsequently delisted KiOR, whose over-thecounter shares were selling for 3 cents apiece on Monday.

According to public reports, KiOR is named in two pending class action lawsuits based on allegations that it misled investors, and the Securities Exchange Commission has an outstanding investigation against the company.

The Pasadena, Texas-based company missed its $1.8 million semi-annual pay-

— Mississippi Development Authority ment on Wednesday, a date established when the Mississippi Development Authority gave it a 120-day forbearance on the payment.

The Legislature approved a $75 million interest free loan for KiOR Columbus LLC in August 2010 and production started in November 2012, with 62 employees and 37 contract workers.

The balance owed on the loan is $69.4 million, but interest pushes the debt to $78.6 million.

The loan was intended to assist with the funding and opening of three biofuel plant locations in the state within the next five years.

KiOR said it planned to invest $500 million and create 1,000 jobs in the three facilities. Only the Columbus plant was built.

KiOR listed in its bankruptcy filing companywide debt of $261.3 million and assets of $58.3 million as of June 30, according to Bloomberg News.

KiOR said in an August regulatory filing that it wouldn’t be able to continue operations past September without additional money, Bloomberg reported.

could have been written yesterday and been almost as current. The word “alibi” has been replaced by the word “excuse” but the meanings remain the same.

What’s your excuse for not achieving more, and how can you turn that excuse into positive action?

Just a thought.

Jeffrey Gitomer

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.

Its losses since it was founded in 2007 total $629.3 million, with total revenue of $2.25 million since inception, according to Bloomberg.

“My office has been working closely with the Attorney General and State Auditor’s offices on this matter, and we are going to exercise every legal action possible to recover the money owed to the Mississippi taxpayers,” Gov. Phil Bryant said in a prepared statement.

The Legislature approved the funding for KiOR during Haley Barbour’s second and last term as governor.

“MDA … will remain vigilant throughout the KiOR legal process and will take every step necessary to protect the taxpayers of Mississippi,” the agency stated.

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