MBJ_Oct26_2018

INSIDE — MDA puts ‘smokestack chasing’ in back seat — Page 5

2018

www.msbusiness.com

2018 HEALTH CARE HEROES — Page 19

MBJ FOCUS

October 26, 2018 • Vo. 40 No. 43 • 32 pages

Natchez: balloons down, but town not gone with the wind

Health Care {Section begins P13}

» Inflammatory breast cancer hides until it reaches Stage 3 level » Katrina B. Myricks celebrates being cancer free for five years » Metastatic breast cancer survival rates increasing

{The List P15} » Women’s Medical Centers

» Magazine reports Seraphim shutdown; bigger things in works, solar panel maker says

{P4}

JACK WEATHERLY/MBJ

One of many houses for sale in Natchez.

http://msbusiness.com/ceo-awards-of-mississippi/

2 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018 REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

Natchez: balloons down, but town not gone with the wind

T

he 33rd annual Great Mississippi River Balloon Race at Natchez disappeared with the wind this year.

Turbulence canceled all but the preliminary “hare and hounds” race on Friday.

The town has endured winds of change – at times catastrophic – since it was founded 300 years ago. It was spared the torch by U.S. Grant, who had a bigger prize in his sights – Vicksburg.

And more than survived, as Faulkner said, it has prevailed, as, pound for pound, the preeminent showcase for antebellum homes.

That includes the biggies of Charleston, Savannah and New Orleans.

Here’s a major difference: Much of its history is for sale.

And at a right good price, as Scarlett O’Hara’s uppity former plantation overseer told her before she threw red Georgia dirt in his face.

The town is shrinking, not unheard of in a state that is doing the same.

But it is doing so with grace.

Natchez is brimming with historic houses for sale, many of them in quite good shape.

We did not visit the town for the balloon race, though we did see them firing up and inflating on the lawn in front the Grand Hotel, where we stayed, on the bluff overlooking the river.

That’s entertaining in itself.

Natchez is a two-hour drive from our

house in northeast Jackson. We take the Natchez Trace Parkway, whose predecessor route dates to time immemorial, when migrating animals created it, then Indians, and Jack Weatherly later Europeans followed it.

The 445-mile national parkway does a pretty good job of skirting time as it meanders northeasterly, like the path of a tornado, to its terminus in Nashville.

The roadway cuts a narrow swath through old forests with towering oaks and pines draped with Spanish moss hanging from their limbs like great Druidic beards.

How could there not be romantic tales with this kind of setting.

And how could there not be sorrow to make the romance believable.

The great beauty of the mansions belies the great sorrows that surround them.

In a word, slavery.

Out tour guide on the Hop On Hop Off double-decker bus informed us in an otherwise wholly entertaining monologue, that 2,000 people were sold in Natchez slave markets.

At one point, The Forks of the Road was the location of the market. Our guide, a jolly black lady, pointed out rusty iron rings sunk into a patch of concrete where the slaves’ shackles were attached.

JACK WEATHERLY/MBJ

Balloonists fire up Friday evening, hoping for good conditions.

Natchez benefited from the confluence of factors that led it to become a major and wealthy city on the lower Mississippi. Cotton, British textile demand Eli Whitney’s fabled gin, and, of course slave labor.

The irony is that while it is most assuredly on the nation’s dominant transportation route – the River, not the Trace – it not

connected to major highways and airports.

Thus it is spared the onslaught of change, at a price.

» Contact Mississippi Business Journal staff writer Jack Weatherly at jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com or (601) 364-1016.

TRANSPORTATION

POLITICS

Mississippi to open last leg of $600M-plus I-269

Lawsuit: Utility to blame for damage to voting machines

Mississippi’s newest interstate highway will open on Friday afternoon.

The Mississippi Department of Transportation says officials will gather that morning to cut the ribbon on the final stretch of Interstate 269 in DeSoto County.

The last leg of a beltway around Memphis, the 9-mile (14.5-kilometer) section stretches from Mississippi 305 to Interstate 55.

It allows drivers to move between Interstates 55, 22 and 40 without going through Memphis.

Interstate 269 is Mississippi’s largest current highway construction project, costing more than $600 million. A section from Mississippi 305 in Lewisburg to Interstate 40 in Tennessee is already open.

The corridor is becoming a magnet for development, attracting large industrial and warehousing developments that straddle the state line. DeSoto County officials have also said they expect more commercial and residential development.

A southwest Mississippi county is suing an electrical utility and its own insurer, seeking more than $500,000 for damage to voting machines caused by a 2016 power outage.

The Enterprise-Journal reports Pike County earlier this month sued Entergy Corp. and the administrator of the Mississippi Association of Supervisors Insurance Trust.

The county claims a poorly maintained power line caused a short circuit on the election night of March 8, 2016. Officials in the county building in Magnolia used a generator and extension cords to nearby buildings while counting votes by flashlight.

The county says the machines and peripheral attachments are permanently damaged.

Entergy spokeswoman Mara Hartmann says it appears the lawsuit is the first time the county made a claim against the utility for damages. She says Entergy is investigating.

— MBJ Staff & Wire Reports

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4 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018 FROM THE PUBLISHER’S DESK

INDUSTRY

The value of urban forestry

Magazine reports Seraphim shutdown; bigger things in works, solar panel maker says

A

s Executive Director of the Mississippi Urban Forestry Council, Donna Yowell is a true cheerleader for the virtues and benefits of urban forestry.

The MUFC is a non-profit organization working closely with communities all over Mississippi, Alan Turner providing assistance in planning and implementation for urban forestry programs, storm water management, park planning, and horticulture therapy.

“A well managed program will have great benefits for communities of all sizes,” she said in a recent discussion. “It’s vital to the economic health of communities, because it helps improve home values, attract visitors and new businesses, and definitely, improves the quality of life for all residents.”

For those who may not know about the MUFC, it is not a politically oriented organization. It’s a volunteer based nonprofit organization formed in 1991 by the US Farm Bill to provide educational and assistance in community and urban forestry.

“A lot of our work is helping to restore and revitalize blighted areas in communities throuout Mississippi,” she said. “And our goal is to help regardless of a community’s resources, so that those communities that may not have the financial resources can still benefit from our assistance.”

Currently, they have 8 different community educational sites that work with a variety of programs and communities.

“We all know the importance of water and water quality”, she told me. “For instance, we help districts to establish green areas around sewage treatment facilities, thus contributing to cleaner and more efficient operations of those facilities.”

Much of the work the MUFC does is in partnership with state and local government agencies, such as the MDEQ. Donna believes their work definitely contributes to the quality of life in Mississippi’s communities, and among other benefits she pointed to is that a green infrastructure also helps in flood mitigation.

One surprising thing I learned from my discussion with Donna is that large swaths of Mississippi are considered “food deserts”, meaning that those areas don’t actually produce much in the way of staple food crops.

“That’s true of the belt running from Meridian to Vicksburg,” she said. “One of our goals is to help restore the region and make it more of an active food-producing area.”

Among other things, the MUFC works to help attract “pollinators” to swaths of land, that is, insects that help to pollinate plants and thus, contribute to a sound horticultural environment. Donna also likes to talk about the importance of “canopy” in urban areas.

“Forest canopy is especially importance in a state such as Mississippi, where we have long, hot summers. It really helps to provide a cooler and more pleasant environment,” she said.

Donna believes that businesses are more likely to locate in areas that have good horticultural and forestry management in their urban areas.

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

Donna Yowell

“Among other things, companies look for areas that are attractive, both to them and their prospective employees,” she suggested.

Donna has served as Executive Director of the MUFC for the past 23 years. I asked her how she came to the job.

“I majored in horticulture at Mississippi State,” she said. “After college, I wound up owning a flower shop, then I got involved in community and economic development. And those connections all worked for me, and I wound up with the MUFC. I really love what I do, because I know that we can and do make a difference in our state and communities.”

Among its membership, the MUFC includes municipalities, corporations, smaller businesses, and individuals, and Donna suggests there are great opportunities for those who would like to volunteer their time and effort to help make Mississippi a better place to live and work.

They will be holding their annual conference on NOv. 1 and 2 at the Mississippi Craft Center, and all are welcome to attend and learn much more about the benefits of urban forestry. For further information, visit their website at MSUrbanForest.com.

Contact Mississippi Business Journal publisher Alan Turner at alan. turner@msbusiness.com or (601) 364-1021.

Pv magazine reported that earlier this month Seraphim Solar Manufacturing USA shut down its PV module factory in Jackson, “leading some to conclude that the company is going out of business.”

However, according to Seraphim USA officials with whom pv magazine spoke, the opposite is happening. The company did indeed stop operations and lay off some employees, but is doing so in preparation for a massive increase in manufacturing capacities.

“Company spokesperson Ryan Irwin told pv magazine that the company is installing new tools to more than triple its manufacturing capacity to 500 MW annually.

Irwin expects manufacturing to resume in December, and for the company to ramp through the first quarter of 2019, according to the magazine.

He did not reveal the impact on employment at the plant.

Seraphim and the city of Jackson jointly announced in July 2015 a $50 million, 250-job project at 3111 Lawson St. in an abandoned warehouse. Production began in February 2016. Employment stood at about 30 a year later.

Seraphim USA finds itself in choppy waters. The company’s CEO left a month and a half ago, and the chief financial officer took a leave due to personal matters, leading to speculation that the U.S. project was falling apart.

Additionally there have been rumors that suppliers had not been paid, which Irwin was not able to fully dispel, noting that there were interruptions in the company’s operations due to management changes.

However, Irwin says that Seraphim USA is coming back with new equipment and better products, the magazine says.

The latest development would make Seraphim the second-largest crystalline silicon manufacturer in the United States and the third-largest overall, at least for a time, according to the magazine.

Additionally there have been rumors that suppliers had not been paid, which Irwin was not able to fully dispel, noting that there were interruptions in the company’s operations due to management changes.

However, Irwin says that Seraphim USA is coming back with new equipment and better products.

Seraphim Solar USA Manufacturing is a distinct company from Jiangsu Seraphim Solar System, the Chinese PV module maker, although Jiangsu Seraphim was an initial investor in Seraphim Solar USA.

JACK WEATHERLY/MBJ

Seraphim Solar is located in a former warehouse in west Jackson.

October 26, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

5

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

MDA puts ‘smokestack chasing’ in back seat

By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

Mississippi’s economic development agency is taking a more measured strategy for promoting industrial growth in the state.

“This year, more than 80 percent of state-assisted economic development announcements have been expansions of our existing corporate citizens,” Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough Jr, said in a news release last McCullough month.

McCullough declined to discuss the current trend, though he emailed a statement that said: “The percentage of businesses increasing their capacity in Mississippi is a strong indicator the economy continues to gain momentum, as demand for Mississippi-made products increases in numerous sectors.”

Still the caution exhibited by the MDA, which is answerable to Gov. Phil Bryant, reflects a sentiment that has established itself at least for now.

Then-Auditor Stacey Pickering said in a release in April that losses from 11 failed state-supported projects starting in 2010 stand to cost Mississippi taxpayers $186 million.

“Economic development projects have been good for Mississippi,” Pickering said in the news release. “Overall, we have all benefited from industry being recruited to our

TRANSPORTATION Computer switch tied to delays for some Mississippi car tags Some Mississippi drivers say they are frustrated by delays in getting license plates.

Lee County resident Norma Kolarik told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that she and her husband bought a car in May in Alcorn County. She said they couldn’t get a tag until September, and even then it took help from a state lawmaker.

“The citizens of Mississippi deserve better service from the state and its employees,” Norma Kolarik in a letter to the newspaper.

County tax collectors are attributing problems to a change in a state computer system.

The Mississippi Department of Revenue switched systems in October 2017. The department’s associate commissioner, Kathy Waterbury, said there was “a big learning curve” at first.

Waterbury said there are no current reports of unusual backlogs in processing vehicle titles.

However, Alcorn County tax collector Larry Ross said he is nearly halfway through backlog of 400 titles. Most are title transfers from Tennessee that are being flagged in Mississippi’s new system.

“We’re having to go and find each individual title,” Ross said. “It’s tedious, but we’re getting there.”

state by economic incentives. However, we must remain vigilant in ensuring public dollars are only spent on industry with a track record of success instead of risky startup technology.”

In other words, at least for the time being, “smokestack chasing” in Mississippi is taking a back seat.

A breakdown of fiscal 2018 figures are not yet available.

In fiscal 2017, corporations spent $197 million for expansion, accounting for 1,250 new jobs and 1,571 retained jobs, according to the MDA. Meantime, 28 existing businesses received 62.2 percent of state grants, for a total of $17.4 million, compared with $224.7 million in private investment and accounting for 2,111 jobs created or retained.

Which is not to say that the state’s taxpayers are not ponying up serious money to recruit industry.

Grants in fiscal 2017 for startups totaled $6.9 million, or 37.8 percent of all grants, to complement $2.69 billion in corporate money, accounting for 3,681 new jobs in 17 projects.

Most of those positions, 2,500, were attributable to the Continental AG tire plant under construction in Hinds County with a $1.45 billion private investment.

“Smokestack chasing” is what historically has made headlines in Mississippi and across the United States.

That phrase simply means that a state is trying to land an industry through enticements.

Lee County Tax Collector Leroy Belk said there are lingering issues with processing car titles and registrations.

“Tax collectors throughout Mississippi are not happy, and it’s not because we haven’t tried to be a team player,” Belk told Lee County supervisors early this month.

Waterbury said some vehicle titles can be delayed if car dealers don’t send in all the documents. Most titles are processed in three to four weeks, she said.

“We can’t do anything until we have all the documents,” Waterbury said. “If there’s a problem, the car dealers should be talking to us.”

At the Dossett Big 4 auto dealership in Tupelo, executives said they’ve seen title wait times improve with the new state computer system. The dealership started filing electronically into the system in January, said Rudy Dossett III. “Before that, it would take forever,” Dossett said.

“Now I’m not hearing any complaints. If anything was wrong, I would.”

Bill Goff at Victory Auto Sales in Mooreville said he continues to have problems. He has been waiting on titles for a batch of five he submitted Aug. 24.

He said delays worry customers and can cause trouble with financing companies. Goff said: “It’s really frustrating.”

— MBJ Staff & Wire Reports

Those headlines are usually big because taxpayer money is on the line.

Mississippi joined the hunt with the creation of the Balance Agriculture with Industry (BAWI) program promoted by Gov. Hugh White and enacted by the Legislature in 1936 as a variation on President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, the program designed to pull the country out of the Great Depression.

BAWI was terminated four years later. Nevertheless under the program Ingalls Shipbuilding was founded and with 11,500 workers remains the largest private employer in the state.

There have been major successes in the past two decades. Automaking made its way with the arrival of Nissan at Canton in 2003.

Toyota followed in Blue Springs (Union County) in 2011.

Between them they have created more than 8,000 direct jobs at a taxpayer cost of $378 million for the Nissan plant and $324 million for the Toyota facility.

Perhaps those heady successes led to a bolder approach.

During the two four-year terms, from 2004 through 2012, of Gov. Haley Barbour, the state made a stake in some ambitious, but ultimately failed start-ups.

The Toyota plant was approved during the year before Barbour’s tenure.

The biggest losses were from Stion Corp. and KiOR. KiOR received a $75 million loan from the Legislature in a 2010 special session called by Barbour to open a $500 million plant that was to employ 1,000 in Columbus to convert wood chips into biocrude.

The company went bankrupt and the issue of the lost state revenue – $76.3 million is tied up in litigation.

Stion received $74.8 million from MDA during the Barbour administration to invest $400 million and hire 1,000 at a solar panel plant in Hattiesburg. The company closed and the state is currently trying to recoup funds.

A “clean coal” project in Kemper County swelled to a cost of $7.5 billion from the initial estimate of $2.9 billion. Early in the case with its numerous hearings and 450,000 pages of testimony there had been some speculation was that the plant could lead to double-digit increases for ratepayers.

Mississippi Power and its parent, the Southern Co., will absorb $6.4 billion in losses. Southern Co. will write off $3.4 billion on its books and “recapitalize” its operating company based in Gulfport.

6 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018 THE SPIN CYCLE

More than 1,300 communities have lost news coverage

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t’s no secret that traditional news organizations have gone the way of the dinosaur in many cities across the nation.

That has been reinforced by a comprehensive new study from the University of North Carolina’s School of Media and Journalism showing that far more U.S. communities have totally lost news coverage — more than 1,300 — than previously known.

Top findings in the report: » About 20 percent of all metro and community newspapers in the United States – nearly 1,800 – have shuttered or merged since 2004, when about 9,000 were published. » Hundreds more have scaled back coverage so much that they’ve become what the researchers call “ghost newspapers.”

Almost all other newspapers still publishing have also scaled back, just less drastically. » Online news sites, business news weeklies – like the Mississippi Business Journal – as well as some TV newsrooms and cable access channels, are working hard to keep local reporting alive, but these are growing slower than newspapers are dying. Hence the 1,300 communities that have lost all local coverage.

Startling Stats UNC’s startling statistics arise from a comprehensive new database created by its researchers. With their report, “The Expanding News Desert,” the database became available to the public search, down to the county level, at usnewsdeserts.com.

The 14-member research team composed of four full-time researchers and 10 graduate and undergraduate students, first melded data in differing formats from almost 60 national, state and regional newspaper organizations as well as from the Local Independent Online News Publishers, or LION. They infused the result with demographic, political and economic data from government sources.

A preliminary analysis in May showed that at least 900 communities had lost all news coverage since 2004. Penelope Muse Abernathy, the Knight Chair in Journalism and Digital Media Economics at UNC who directed the yearlong study, said that no work she had ever undertaken had spurred so much response as the earlier finding.

Her team used Internet research and interviews to resolve conflicts and ambiguities in the data, some out of date and some was ambiguous because different sources kept data in different ways. This led the findings of more than 1,300 news desert communities, supplemented with stories of many publications and communities that reinforce the trend.

Researchers will continue to update the database as long as funding is available.

The Knight Foundation and UNC jointly funded the effort, the latest in an avalanche of academic efforts to understand and overcome the withering of community news coverage.

About 70 percent of the newspapers that have fallen since 2004 were in the suburbs of metropolitan areas that historically offered many news choices, the researchers say, but counties with no coverage at all tip toward rural communities.

State and regional papers have also scaled back dramatically, a tough one-two punch to residents in rural counties and suburbs outside metropolitan cities.

Most emerging online news sites are clustered in affluent metro areas, and only two are in counties that have no newspaper.

In addition, according to the study, those who live in news desert communities tend to be poorer, older and less educated than the average American – often its most vulnerable citizens.

When the UNC researchers finished their database, it showed that of the 3,143 counties in the United States, more than 2,000 now have no daily newspaper, 1,449

have but one newspaper of any kind, and 171 counties, with 3.2 million residents in aggregate, have no newspaper at all.

As print publishing continues to wither, the researchers predict, many zoned editions will become ads-only shoppers or specialty publications, or be eliminated entirely.

Researchers identify two common ways newspapers become ghosts: 1. A larger paper buys a smaller one in a nearby community and the smaller one slowly fades away as the titles merge their coverage efforts. Think the old Jackson Daily News or the Nashville Banner. The researchers discovered that almost 600 once-standalone newspapers – or one third of the 1,800 papers that the country has lost – had became advertising supplements, free distribution shoppers or lifestyle specialty publications. “In its final stages of life,” the report says, “there is no breaking news or public service journalism.”

2. Owners cut their news staffs so drastically that a newspaper can’t adequately cover its community. The researchers say this tends to happen at dailies and larger weeklies and estimate that 1,000 to 1,500 of the 7,100 newspapers still publishing have cut more than half of their newsroom staffs since 2004.

The ghosts include metro papers such as The Denver Post and state and regional dailies such as The Wichita Eagle; both have cut staffs and pulled back their coverage dramatically, according to the report.

The researchers tip their hats to news entrepreneurs who have started online journalism efforts, often laid-off journalists who are driven to continue coverage of their communities, and to resourceful TV news departments and public access cable channels.

LION, the association of online publishers, estimates that there are 525 local digital sites across the United States, some for-profit and others nonprofit. About two-thirds, the UNC researchers say, offer coverage of government, politics, business, sports and lifestyle features, similar to community newspaper coverage. The others cover state and regional issues or focus on single niche topics.

The media landscape is changing drastically – and the way we consume news is coursing faster than a newspaper printing press toward a largely digital future.

High Tech Mic | Paul Allen Was a Bold Brand Builder!

Paul Allen was a bold brand builder!

Not only did he revolutionize the computer industry when he founded Microsoft with Bill Gates. As owner as the Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazers, he took

these iconic pro sports franchises to exciting new levels, not to mention championships.

Not only did he use his fortunes in the computer, corporate and sports arena, but he made lives better Todd Smith through the countless charitable contributions – from tracking climate change to solving some of the world’s biggest challenges.

Allen died recently at age 65 after the return of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Throughout his life, he gave more than $2 billion to efforts aimed at improving education, science, technology, conservation and communities.

Allen had many passions – he played guitar, built a pop culture museum in his hometown of Seattle and funded underwater expeditions that made important shipwreck discoveries, including a U.S. aircraft carrier sunk during World War II. Allen remained intrigued with technology after he left Microsoft, especially in the emerging field of artificial intelligence, fueled as a teen after reading “I, Robot,” a science fiction book by Isaac Asimov.

In the 1980s, Allen founded Vulcan with his sister, Jody Allen, which oversees his business and philanthropic efforts. He founded the Allen Institute for Brain Science and the aerospace firm Stratolaunch, which has built a colossal airplane designed to launch satellites into orbit. He has also backed research into nuclear-fusion power and scores of technology startups.

Allen also funded maverick aerospace designer Burt Rutan’s SpaceShipOne, which in 2004 became the first privately developed manned spacecraft to reach space.

He will always be remembered as a remarkable, innovative pioneer who revolutionized today’s technology and made the world a better place.

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!

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

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

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

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MBJPERSPECTIVE October 26 2018 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 7

OTHER VIEWS

#THE OUTSIDE WORLD

MISSISSIPPI POLITICAL PARTIES NEED TO BE BETTER

Website: www.msbusiness.com October 26, 2018 Volume 40, Number 43

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E

» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Unseemly politics belies Christian seeming Mississippi

I

n 2017 Gallup reported Mississippi had retained its spot as the most religious state in the U.S., with 59 percent of residents calling themselves “very religious” and another 29 percent “moderately religious.”

A Pew Research Center report published in 2015 counted 83 percent of adult Mississippians as Christian. That would approximate 1.9 million adults.

Making up most of the 83 percent were 79 percent associated with religious denominations; the other 4 percent were nondenominational Christians. The breakout by denomination showed 48 percent Baptist, 7 percent Methodist, 6 percent Pentecostal, 4 percent Catholic, 2 percent Presbyterian, 2 percent Church of Christ, less than 2 percent Episcopalian, less than 2 percent Lutheran, 1 percent Free Methodist and other Holiness Family Churches, and about 6 percent other denominations.

Pew reported 49% of adults attend religious services at least once a week.

This suggests at least 1.1 million Christians attend church weekly in Mississippi.

They attend at least 4,465 Christian churches —the number may be significantly higher since all Missionary Baptist Churches are not enumerated. A Clarion-Ledger story in 2017 counted 2,132 churches in the Mississippi Baptist Convention, 987 United Methodist Churches, 364 Church of Christ congregations, at least 300

Bill Crawford

churches in the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of Mississippi, 191 Pentecostal Churches, 122 parishes in the Jackson and Biloxi Dioceses of the Catholic Church, 89 Episcopal Churches, and 80 Seventh-day Adventist Churches. The article did not include Presbyterian Churches of which there are over 200.

That’s lots of Mississippians attending lots of Christian churches, all studying the same Scripture, all bound by the same New Testament commandments – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

All this makes Mississippi a truly Christian seeming state.

Hmmm.

The same Pew report showed 44 percent of Mississippi adults considered themselves Republicans, 42 percent Democrats, and 14% leaned toward neither. Logically, that means the vast majority of Republicans and Democrats must be Christians, and should love each other.

Yet our politics belies that – the partisan voices hurling hate and vitriol and stirring up discord, the forces pitting Christian Republicans against Christian Democrats.

Surely those engaged in such unseemly politics cannot be among the faithful multitudes who are invested with the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, See CRAWFORD, Page 8

lection fatigue may well be in full swing in Northeast Mississippi.

With commercials, yard signs and mud-slinging well underway, the mad dash to the Nov. 6 elections has seemingly become a slow crawl to the finish line in light of bi-partisan bickering.

And all either side cares about is being the first one there.

It’s instructive to remember that political pendulums tend to swing in long, slow arcs in terms of change. Pietro S. Nivola, writing for the Brookings Institution, said: “The Democratic and Republican parties today are each more cemented in their ideologies and more distinct than they were a generation ago. In Congress, party lines used to be blurred by the existence of so-called liberal Republicans and truly conservative Democrats. Now those factions are dwindling species. Why they are dying out is a long story that has been the object of an extensive study ... For present purposes, suffice it to recognize that the disputes between Republicans and Democrats are about more than ‘petty grievances’ ... the party differences run deep and fundamentally reflect differing convictions held by large blocs of voters, not just their elected representatives.”

He says further, “Americans of the Baby Boom generation are not accustomed to seeing this high degree of party unity. They remember the old days when the main way to do business on Capitol Hill was to cobble together ad-hoc coalitions. Want a civil rights bill? Get northern Democrats and Republican moderates on your side, and hope that you have enough votes to overpower the conservative phalanx of southern Democrats and states’-rights Republicans.”

In Mississippi, one of the big efforts in the post-war years was establishing for the sake of diversity and patriotic argument a real two-party system.

For all practical purposes, Mississippi had been a one-party Democratic state since the end of the Civil War. The ruling Democrats, conservative and comfortable, did pretty much as they pleased.

There was no real balance of competing ideas. The Daily Journal and some other newspapers, as well as some civic leaders, encouraged a two-party system to stimulate conversations and debate about good governance.

The need to have two strong parties debating the ideas to shape new generations continues, as sound now as 50 to 60 years ago.

Any lively democracy needs a strong, competitive partisan balance.

Democrats must reshape their own party to strengthen it, and one way is to become more inclusive of people who differ with its left-ofcenter majority. Likewise, Republicans must not always feel they need to tow the company line of Washington D.C. or share the same platform as the president.

Both sides should return to a more civil and standard utilization of partnership, principals and politicking.

Governing from the center, by coalition and compromise, has proven effective and resistant to gridlock from the left and right.

— Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

PERSPECTIVE

8 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 26 2018 » RICKY NOBILE

CRAWFORD

Continued from Page 7

peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control?

Implausibly, we even see some who wear the mantle of religion serving as political hacks and using hateful and disingenuous rhetoric to divide Christians.

Strong faith should be a bulwark against such invective, for the faithful know “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation,” as Jesus said, “and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matthew 12:22-28).

How do you tell whom to believe? The test is simple.

The faithful (think Billy Graham) pull believers together and build hope. The pretenders divide and destroy.

“Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness” – the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Living in the light of eternity changes your priorities” – Pastor Rick Warren.

Imagine the good works over one million Christian adults standing in the light, indivisible in love and peace, could perform in Mississippi.

Pray for leaders who will stand in the light to guide us.

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

»INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Analysis: First achievement for special district? Get going

A

strong Mississippi was supposed to have a special district for troubled schools operating by now. But when, or if, the achievement school district will actually start is anyone’s guess. A year after a search for a superintendent stalled out, the Mississippi Department of Education has yet to start looking again.

The achievement school district law, which is another in a series of attempts by state lawmakers to improve the academic performance of long-struggling schools, was passed in 2016. Schools or districts that have been rated F by the state for two straight years, or rated F for two out of three years, are eligible to be absorbed into the district. A school would remain under state control at least until it scores a C rating or better for five years.

A committee decided last year that the district should only absorb whole districts, not individual schools, fearing trying to separate a school from a district would be an administrative nightmare. The group also agreed that the state should prioritize districts where half or more of all schools are rated F. That committee even recommended that the new district should begin its work by taking over the Humphreys County and Noxubee County school districts.

But that’s where things stopped after the state Board of Education said it didn’t want to designate districts to be included until a superintendent was hired. An earlier superintendent search failed after evaluators concluded there was no one they felt was qualified.

Spokeswoman Patrice Guilfoyle said Thursday that the department still plans to restart the search. It’s unclear,

though, even if a superintendent were to be hired in early 2019 if the district would begin operating next fall.

“I’m frustrated that we’re not using it,” said Rep. Charles Busby, a Pascagoula Republican who was the prime author of the law.

The state already ended up taking over Noxubee County through a separate process after the district announced it was having financial difficulties. But Humphreys County is still eligible for a takeover, as are Greenville, Holmes County, Jackson, Sunflower County and Wilkinson County.

Jackson, of course, avoided a school takeover after Gov. Phil Bryant refused to sign a state of emergency declaration and then sought an alternative improvement process involving city leaders and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation that’s still playing out. Some supporters of the achievement school district tried to place Jackson on the list of districts recommended for inclusion, which doesn’t require the governor’s approval. But the Board of Education quickly rejected it under political pressure from Bryant and others.

In some ways, the Noxubee takeover resembles the scenario envisioned for the achievement district, with the state Board of Education hiring an interim superintendent whose qualifications included a heavy dose of school takeover expe-

Emily Pettus

rience. Older takeover practices aimed to remedy accrediting violations and return a district to local control as quickly as possible. State law now calls for districts taken over in emergency situations to also remain under state control until they

A committee decided last year that the district should only absorb whole districts, not individual schools, fearing trying to separate a school from a district would be an administrative nightmare. attain a rating of C or higher for five years, or until the state Board of Education decides to return them to local control.

State Superintendent Carey Wright has also touted the academic improvements made by the Tunica County and Leflore County districts, which are under state control. Both districts improved to a C in the 2017-18 school year, with Tunica rising from a D and Leflore County rising from an F. Busby though, says he still believes that the state should put the achievement school district into action, saying he believes its structure offers a chance at greater improvement.

“It looks like we created something for nothing.”.

Emily Wagster Pettus covers Capitol matters for the Mississippi Associated Press in Jackson.

PERSPECTIVE

October 26, 2018 I Mississippi Business Journal

I

9

»FROM THE GROUND UP

Watching your property taxes and what it means

D

id you lose your property because of a tax sale?

Did you buy property at a tax sale in August?

Did your mortgage company pay your real estate taxes?

There are two times during any given calendar year that the subject of unpaid property taxes is certain to make the news. The first is FebruaryMarch, when the list of properties and their owners is made public. The second is August, when said properties are sold at auction to pay back taxes.

This year there is no shortage of news stories about unpaid property taxes and their owners. Public officials in particular have come under the journalistic microscope of scrutiny from their local media. After all, what better news item than the discovery in the public records that an elected official has not paid property taxes? Most will proffer some excuse, pay the taxes and move on. Others, including some not-so-public owners, will lose their properties. Therefore, it behooves us to understand the process of how a parcel of real estate can be forfeited to the state at a tax sale.

At real estate closings, a common phrase heard is “Insurance is paid in advance and property taxes are paid in arrears.” That simply means that the property insurance premium is paid BEFORE coverage begins, and that property taxes are not paid to the tax collector until AFTER the year has ended. In Mississippi, that means that property taxes for calendar year 2017 are due for payment in January 31 of 2018. What is confusing to many homeowners is that they pay their monthly payment to a mortgage company that collects the property taxes from the monthly payment and

then pays them on behalf of the owner in January of the following year. They assume that just because they made the payment to the mortgage company that it was paid to the county tax collector. It almost always is paid, however errors can occur, and it is the property owner’s responsibility to make certain that payment was made. If and when those property taxes are not paid, a chain of events goes into effect.

On February 1, interest will begin to accrue on the unpaid taxes at the rate of one percent per month. If the taxes are not paid by August, then publication of the delinquency will be made in the local newspaper to give notice that the property will be sold to pay for the taxes. It is at this point that things can really become interesting.

No doubt you have seen television commercials or print ads for information and courses about how to buy property at a tax sale. According to these commercials, there can be big money made in the game of tax sales. Here is what one company says on its Web site: » Earn fantastic rates of return on your investment. » Use the power of compounding to build your wealth. » Acquire deeds to real estate at unbelievable low prices. » Buy Low – Sell High. » Houses for less than $5,000. » Residential lots for less than $500. » Earn 18% to 36% annualized yields investing in government issued tax lien certificates. » Learn how to acquired properties before the tax sale from delinquent property owners for pennies on the dollar. » Learn how to research and acquired properties at tax forfeited land auctions.

Phil Hardwick

» Learn how to research tax lien certificates before investing. Avoid the pitfalls.

After reading those claims, who could resist wanting to go out and buy property at the tax sale. While it is true that all of the above claims could and have happened, it is noted that those are the exceptions and not the rule.

For example, Mississippi is a state that allows for redemption of property. That means that a property can go to the tax collector and “redeem” his or her property by paying the back taxes and interest. When that happens, the investor who bought the property at the tax sale will receive his or her money back, plus interest. But if the property owner does not redeem his property, the investor may get a worthless property with a small chance of ever getting good enough title to resell the property. In short, buying property for investment at a tax sale is not for the faint of heart or those short of capital to lose.

For more information about real property tax procedures and tax sales contact your local tax collector. You may also want to check out the tax collector’s website in your county.

Some are very good, while others are rather embarrassing.

One of the better ones is that of the Jackson County Tax Collector. It’s online address is https://www.co.jackson.ms.us/officials/tax-collector/real-estate.php.

A final question: Do you know if your real estate taxes were paid for 2017?

PHIL HARDWICK is a regular Mississippi Business Journal columnist. His e-mail address is phil@philhardwick.com.

Mississippi is a state that allows for redemption of property. That means that a property can go to the tax collector and “redeem” his or her property by paying the back taxes and interest.

Newsmakers

10 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. names Max Bowman CFO Cal-Maine Foods, Inc. announced that Max P. Bowman has been named vice president and chief financial officer, effective October 5, 2018. Bowman was also elected to the Company’s Board of Directors at the annual meeting of shareholders held today in Jackson.

Bowman will replace Tim Dawson, whose planned retirement from the Company was effective today.

Commenting on the announcement, Dolph Baker, chairman and chief executive officer of Cal-Maine Foods, said, “Max Bowman is well qualified to assume these important roles with our senior management team and Board of Directors. Having joined the Company in June, he has worked closely with Tim Dawson to ensure a smooth transition. He brings significant expertise in accounting, finance, acquisitions and business development, as well as valuable experience in financial management of a public company. We also look forward to working with Max in the important work of our Board of Directors as we continue to execute our growth strategy.

“We want to thank Tim Dawson for his many years of dedicated service to Cal-Maine Foods. Since he joined the Company in 2005, we have experienced impressive growth and success under his capable financial leadership. Tim will be missed by everyone at Cal-Maine Foods, but we wish him all the best in his retirement,” added Baker.

Hairston listed in The Bond Buyer’s Rising Stars Butler Snow announced that Tray Hairston has been selected for inclusion in The Bond Buyer’s 2018 Rising Stars.

The Bond Buyer’s Rising Stars program honors 28 municipal finance professionals throughout the country under the age of 40 whose leadership, collaborative spirit and innovative work with issuers has positively impacted their communities.

Hairston is a member of Butler Snow’s public finance, tax incentives and credit markets group. Prior to joining the firm, he was counsel and economic development policy advisor to Gov. Phil Bryant. Prior to beginning his legal career, Hairston was also a member of the Global Business Division at the Mississippi Development Authority.

Hairston has been recognized by Super Lawyers® as a Mid-South Super Lawyer for his work in government finance. He has also been named a Top 40 Under 40 by the Mississippi Business Journal, a Top Forty Under Forty in Tougaloo College’s inaugural leadership class and Young Lawyer of the Year by Mississippi College School of Law. Hairston is also a 2018 graduate of the Delta Leadership Institute Executive Academy, a premier year-long leadership training program that brings together public, private and nonprofit-sector leaders from the eight states served by the Delta Regional Authority.

Hairston is a member of the National Association of Bond Lawyers, the Mississippi Economic Development Council, the Mississippi Bar Association and the American Bar Association, and currently serves on the board of directors for Mississippi Today, Tougaloo College Research and Development Foundation and Mississippi Main Street Association. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Mississippi College School of Law. Hairston received his undergraduate degree from Tougaloo College, his MBA from Belhaven College and his Juris Doctor from Mississippi College School of Law.

Whitley named health care social worker of the year

Courtesy of C Spire

Christy Whitley, LMSW, has been named Health Care Social Worker of the Year for 2018 by the Mississippi Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care.

Whitley has served as perinatal social worker for North Mississippi Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 11 years. The 34-bed intensive care nursery treats patients born at the NMMC Women’s Hospital as well as those transferred in from other area hospitals by CareExpress neonatal transport ambulance.

Approximately 400 infants are admitted to the NICU annually, and more than one-fourth of them are transported to Tupelo from area hospitals.

Whitley was named as NMMC’s Employee of the Month in 2008 and as March of Dimes Volunteer of the Year in 2012. She currently serves as vice president for the Mississippi Society for Social Work Leadership in Health Care, vice president of Wheeler Parent/Teacher Organization and Union University Field Liaison for students pursuing a master’s degree in social work.

A 1997 graduate of Oxford High School, Whitley received bachelor’s degrees in psychology and physical education from Blue Mountain College in 2001. She earned her master’s degree in social work from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2007.

She resides in Booneville with her husband, Chris, and daughter, Caitlynn. In Christy’s spare time, she can be found cheering on the Ole Miss Rebels or volunteering at her daughter’s school.

Former MDMH bureau chief joins treatment center Jerri Avery, Ph.D., a longtime regional leader in behavioral healthcare has joined Oxford Treatment Center as clinical director.

Avery arrived on the Etta campus this fall.

Avery has more than 20 years experience in behavioral healthcare, including as director Avery at the Mississippi Department of Mental Health’s Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Services.

She was most recently clinic director for Acadia Healthcare’s Jackson Comprehensive Treatment Center.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master of education degree in community counseling, and a Ph.D. in public policy and administration. She is an adjunct professor at Belhaven University, teaching graduate-level courses in management research, public policy, management ethics and organizational behavior. She also regularly presents at state, regional and national conferences.

She has previously served as a member of the National Prevention Network, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Directors, and the Mississippi Council on Compulsive Gambling’s Advisory Council.

She is a former director of the Southeastern School

of Addiction Studies and the Mississippi School for Addiction Professionals.

Origin Bank hires Emily Benedict Origin Bank has announced that Emily Benedict has joined the company as a commercial loan assistant.

Benedict has 10 years of banking experience, specializing in commercial and consumer lending, real estate lending and shareholder relations. In her po- Benedict sition with Origin, she will focus primarily on assisting lenders and banking center managers with commercial and retail client relationships.

Benedict has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Mississippi. She is a member of and volunteer vocalist for North Oxford Baptist Church, and a frequent volunteer for her children’s schools. She is married to Luke Benedict and together they have three children.

She will maintain an office at Origin’s Oxford Banking Center.

Merit Health Woman’s Hospital recognized by Baby-Friendly USA Baby-Friendly USA, recently announced that Merit Health Woman’s Hospital has received international recognition as a Designated as a Baby-Friendly birth facility.

Baby-Friendly USA, Inc is the U.S. authority for the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (“BFHI”), a global program sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). The initiative encourages and recognizes hospitals and birthing centers that offer an optimal level of care for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. Based on the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding, this prestigious international award recognizes birth facilities that offer breastfeeding mothers the information, confidence, and skills needed to successfully initiate and continue breastfeeding their babies.

There are more than 20,000 designated Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers worldwide.

Currently there are 539 active Baby-Friendly hospitals and birth centers in the United States.

Newsmakers Castilla named among Mississippi’s Most Influential African Americans Butler Snow announced that Alveno N. Castilla has been named among Mississippi’s Most Influential African Americans by ourMississippi magazine.

Castilla is a member of Butler Snow’s business services group. He focuses his practice on federal, state and local tax and business transactional matters, including public finance matters, tax credits, taxation of businesses, tax exempt organizations and tax controversy. Castilla is also a licensed CPA in Mississippi and Tennessee.

Castilla has been recognized by Best Lawyers® for corporate law, litigation and controversy, tax law and was named Lawyer of the Year in Jackson for Litigation and Controversy – Tax in 2013 and 2019. Castilla has also been recognized by Super Lawyers® as a Mid-South Super Lawyer for tax and is AV-Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell®.

Castilla is a member of the American, Mississippi and Capital Area Bar Associations, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants. He serves on the board of trustees for Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation, as chairman of the Jackson State University eCenter Foundation and the Center for Education Innovation and the board of directors for the Jackson State University Development Foundation, the Medgar & Myrlie Evers Institute, the Mississippi Economic Council and MINACT, Inc. Castilla received his undergraduate degree and MBA from Millsaps College and his Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law.

U.S. News & World Report recognizes Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Memorial Hospital at Gulfport has been recognized as High Performing in Heart Failure for 2018-19 by U.S. News & World Report.

A hospital’s heart failure score is based on multiple data categories, including patient survival, volume, and more. Hospitals received one of three ratings -high performing, average or below average. Hospitals that earned a high performing rating were significantly better than the national average.

For the 2018-19 rankings, U.S. News evaluated more than 4,500 medical centers nationwide in 25 specialties, procedures, and conditions.

Kenneth J. Koval, MD, joins Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Physician Clinics recently welcomed Kenneth J. Koval, MD, in the practice of Orthopedic Surgery at Memorial Physician Clinics, Orthopedic Trauma, in Gulfport.

Koval earned his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine. He completed his surgical internship at Koval Beth Israel Medical Center New York and residency at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute New York. He was fellowship trained at University of South Florida Tampa General

October 26, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

11

Madison County Youth Leadership Class announced

Courtesy of C Spire

The Madison County Business League & Foundation announces the 2018-19 Madison County Youth Leadership Class. These 24 juniors represent 12 of our Madison County and Canton public, private and parochial high schools plus Jackson Academy and Jackson Prep. They are all Madison County residents and are the future leadership of our County!

Back Row: Kallen Mitchell, St. Andrews Episcopal High School; Brooks Stewart, Madison Central High School; Hunter Newell, St. Andrew’s Episcopal High School; Lane Martin, Canton Academy; Jacques Ratliff, Jr., Canton High School; Steven Chustz, Jackson Academy; Stephen Shelton, St. Joseph Catholic High School; Claire Applegate, Germantown High School.

Middle Row: Kennedi Miller, Velma Jackson High School; Bethany Biggers, Canton Academy; Arrington Robinson, Germantown High School; Maggie Rutledge, Jackson Prep; Charity Brock, Ridgeland High School; Benjamin Johnson, Jackson Prep; Logan Dorsey, St. Joseph Catholic High School; Reese Anderson, Jackson Academy; Christian Johnson, Velma Jackson High School; Alyssa Nelson, Canton High School.

Front Row: Joseph Crum, Madison Ridgeland Academy; Emory Ware, Madison Ridgeland Academy; Joseph Jones, Tri County Academy; Anna Cate Strong, Madison Central High School; Cade Shepherd, Tri County Academy.

Not Pictured: Reginald Washington, Ridgeland High School

Hospital Orthopaedic Trauma Service.

Koval has authored more than 15 textbooks and 300 research articles on all aspects of orthopedic surgery. He is board certified in orthopedic surgery.

BankPlus hires Weems BankPlus recently hired Ross Weems as First Vice President in the bank’s Private Client Group. He has been in the banking industry for over 8 years. Weems will be responsible for cultivating personal and business banking relationships and assisting clients with their various financial needs. Weems A native of West Point, Weems holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Mississippi State University, both in business administration. He is also a graduate of the Southeastern School of Commercial Lending.

Weems has served his community through organizations such as Leadership Greater Jackson; the Phoenix Club of Jackson, currently serving as president; the Mississippi Children’s Museum Partners Board of Directors, previously serving as Neon Night Co-Chairman; the American Cancer Society’s Best Dressed Jackson; Youth Villages of Mississippi

Event Committee; Greater Jackson Chamber Ambassadors; Team JXN; the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi; the Mississippi Food Network; and the Mississippi Young Bankers.

Weems resides in Jackson and attends Fondren Church.

Connor McColloch joins Neel-Schaffer Neel-Schaffer, Inc., announced that Connor McColloch, PE, CFM, has joined the firm and will serve as a Senior Project Manager specializing in Water Resources for the firm’s Houston office.

McColloch has more than eight years of experience in providing hydrologic and hydraulic McColloch studies for transportation and civil engineering projects, with extensive experience in drainage modeling and using advanced water modeling software.

In addition to holding a Texas Professional Engineer license, McColloch is a Certified Floodplain Manager, one of eight CFMs in the 500-employee firm. As disaster losses mount, floodplain managers are becoming more valuable for their ability to analyze and

then mitigate and alleviate the cycle of damage-rebuild-damage.

Neel-Schaffer will look to Connor to spearhead its H&H services throughout Texas. He has an array of indepth project experience that provides tools to ensure deliverables of the highest quality as well as highly valuable insight into local conditions.

“We are excited to have Connor joining the Neel-Schaffer family,” said Sonny Smoak, PE, Vice President for the firm’s Houston office. “Connor brings to us a track record of success at the highest level with a variety of clients that includes TxDOT, the City of Houston, and Harris County. His attention to detail and firm grasp of clients’ expectations in the region allow us to significantly expand on the services we offer here in Texas.”

McColloch holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and a Masters of Engineering in Civil Engineering/Water Resources Engineering from Texas A&M.

Newsmakers

12 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

Belhaven University appoints Provost, reorganizes leadership Belhaven President Dr. Roger Parrott has appointed Dr. Bradford Smith to be new provost and vice president of academic affairs.

Smith was Belhaven’s Dean of Arts and Sciences and School of Fine Arts. He obtained a B.S. in engineering at Tufts University and then a M.Div. from Smith Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He earned two doctorate degrees, one in clinical psychology from University of Massachusetts - Boston and the other in education from Claremont Graduate University.

Parrott has also reorganized Belhaven’s academic leadership.

Dr. Audrey Kelleher will now undertake the role of vice president for online academic affairs. For a decade Dr. Kelleher has lead Belhaven’s Enrollment and Student Services for its regional campuses. Kelleher has a B.S. in management and M.Ed. in educational leadership from the University of Central Florida. She earned her Ph.D. in leadership and education from Barry University.

Dr. Vicki Wolfe will manage the role of associate vice president for academic support. She previously was provost of Southeastern Bible College. Much of Wolfe’s work is focused on Belhaven’s traditional students, and her leadership encompasses every aspect of academic support.

Journal, Inc., promotes Wolfe, King in Circulation Charlotte Wolfe has been promoted to Circulation Director of Journal, Inc., in Tupelo Joining her in Circulation will be Michael King as Circulation Distribution Manager.

Wolfe has 33 years experience with Journal, Inc., and previously was Associate Publisher/Community Newspapers with oversight of The Itawamba County Times, Monroe Journal and Chickasaw Journal. She has worked in numerous capacities in the company including copy desk chief, Managing Editor and Associate Publisher/Human Resources.

King has 20 years previous experience with the Journal and most recently was Circulation Manager. He also was a carrier for 10 years before joining the staff.

Journal, Inc., owns the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal in Tupelo and several weekly newspapers, including the Mississippi Business Journal.

Richmond named among Benchmark Litigation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers Butler Snow announced Orlando R. Richmond, Sr. has been named to Benchmark Litigation’s 2019 Top 100 Trial Lawyers. Richmond has also been ranked a Local Litigation Star and Litigation Star by the publication.

Richmond has nearly 30 years of experience and served as lead counsel or co-counsel in numerous jury trials in state, federal and military venues. He has tried at least 60 cases to verdict, and his trial practice over

the past several years has primarily focused on mass tort litigation involving pharmaceutical products, toxic torts and environmental issues. Richmond is typically called upon to prepare and try cases in challenging venues with significant amounts in controversy. The breadth of his litigation practice includes municipal law, cases involving serious personal injuries and commercial disputes. He has built a commendable reputation for his courtroom presence and oral advocacy skills.

Richmond is consistently recognized as one of the country’s leading trial attorneys. AmLaw’s The Litigation Daily profiled him as its Litigator of the Week, May 11, 2018 for his recent defense verdict in a bellwether product liability trial and Law360 featured him as one of its 2016 Trial Pros. He has been recognized by a variety of other industry publications, including Chambers USA (Product Liability & Mass Torts - Nationwide), Best Lawyers in America® (Product Liability Litigation – Defendants), Super Lawyers® (Mid-South Super Lawyers, Personal Injury – Products: Defense), Who’s Who Legal: Product Liability Defense and Martindale-Hubbell® (AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rating).

Richmond is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the International Academy of Trial Lawyers and the Mississippi Bar Foundation, and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Bar Association of the Fifth Federal Circuit, the Mississippi Bar Association, the Magnolia Bar Association, the International Association of Defense Counsel and the Capital Area Bar Association. He received his undergraduate degree from Jackson State University and his Juris Doctor from Georgetown University.

Richmond is a member of Butler Snow’s pharmaceutical, medical device and health care litigation group, which was recognized as Benchmark Litigation’s 2018 Product Liability Law Firm of the Year.

Additional 2018 nationwide rankings for the practice include The Legal 500: US for Product Liability, Mass Tort and Class Action: Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices – Defense and Chambers USA for Product Liability & Mass Torts.

Benchmark Litigation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers were chosen through several phases of research. The extensive process, which encompasses six months of analysis into the attorneys’ professional activities, as well as intensive peer and client reviews, has culminated in the selection of the nation’s most elite trial strategists in their respective fields.

Founded in 2007, Benchmark Litigation strives to provide the most accurate and comprehensive coverage of the U.S. and Canadian litigation markets, and is the only publication in the market to focus exclusively on litigation in the U.S.

Baptist Golden Triangle welcomes physicians Baptist Memorial Hospital – Golden Triangle welcomes new husband and wife physicians Dr. Ciro Rincon and Dr. Rosana Henriquez. Rincon specializes in pulmonology and critical care medicine. He is in practice at Golden Triangle Pulmonology and Sleep at 255 Baptist Blvd., Rincon Suite 402. The phone number is 662-244-2550. Henriquez is an internist and has joined the hospital’s team of hospitalists, or hospital-based physicians. Both joined the staff in July 2018.

Rincon is a graduate if the Universidad del Zulia Medical School in Maracaibo, Venezuela in 2008 and completed his residency in internal medicine at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ in 2015. Rincon also competed a fellowship in pulmonary disease and critical care at Hahnemann Henriquez University Hospital in Philadelphia in 2018.

Rincon received the Outstanding Resident Award for both his second and third years of residency in the Department of Medicine, Atlantic Health Systems, Morristown Medical Center. He is board certified in both internal medicine and pulmonary medicine.

Henriquez is also a graduate of the Universidad del Zulia, Medical School in Maracaibo, Venezuela.

She completed her residency in internal medicine at Morristown Medical Center in Morristown, NJ. She is board certified in internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

The couple live in Columbus and enjoy spending time with their dog Salsa. They are looking forward to the birth of their twin boys later this fall.

MEDC announces new 2018-2019 Officers and Board of Directors Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC) announced Officers and Board of Directors for the 2018-2019 year.

MEDC is a professional association of economic development, chambers and associated stakeholders who work together to advance the profession and to advance economic development efforts in Mississippi through advocacy, collaboration, education and by providing resources to its members. MEDC is the voice of the economic development profession in the state.

The MEDC 2018-2019 Officers are William Scaggs of West Point with North Mississippi Industrial Development Association as President; Chandler Russ of Natchez with Natchez, Inc. as President-Elect; Guy Johnson of Bay St. Louis with Coast Electric Power Association as Secretary/ Treasurer; and Cary Karlson of Greenville with the Washington County Economic Alliance as Immediate Past-President. The Vice Presidents are Valencia Williamson of Hattiesburg with Area Development Partnership as Vice President of Chamber Development; Allison Beasley of Gulfport with Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District as Vice President of Community Development; Mitch Stringer of Jackson with Cooperative Energy as Vice President of Economic Development; and Hunter Aycock of Tupelo with the Community Development Foundation as Vice President of Emerging Leaders.

The 2018-2019 Board Members are: Jim Flanagan of Hernando with DeSoto County Economic Development Foundation representing District 1; Clayton Stanley of Corinth with The Alliance representing District 2; Angela Curry of Greenwood with Greenwood Leflore Carroll Economic Development Foundation representing District 3; Craig Hitt of DeKalb with Kemper County Economic Development Authority representing District 4; Taurus Wright of Jackson with Entergy Mississippi, Inc. representing District 5; Garrick Combs of Brookhaven with Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber and IDF representing District 6; Lori Watts of Columbia with Marion County Development Partnership representing District 7; and Christine Pate of Pascagoula with Jackson County Economic

Development Foundation. Brian Useforge of Gulfport with Mississippi Power Company and Brenda Lathan of Columbus with the Golden Triangle Development LINK are Members At-Large. Glenn McCullough, Jr. of Jackson with the Mississippi Development Authority as Ex-Officio Member.

The Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) Mississippi representative on the MEDC Board is Jon Maynard of Oxford with Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation and Chamber of Commerce. The SEDC Alternate Director is Tom Troxler of Brandon with Rankin First Economic Development Authority. Chance McDavid of Jackson with the Mississippi Development Authority will serve as the committee chairman for the scholarships and Community Economic Development Awards.

Southern AgCredit hires Madeline Twilbeck Southern AgCredit, ACA, a rural lending cooperative, recently hired Madeline Twilbeck as the executive administrative officer in its Ridgeland administrative office.

Twilbeck joins Southern AgCredit with six years of experience at the Mississippi Secretary of State’s office. She holds a bach- Twilbeck elor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations from Mississippi State University. Originally from Ridgeland, Twilbeck now resides in Clinton with her husband, Travis.

Matthews, Cutrer & Lindsay CPAs among IPA Top 400 Firms Inside Public Accounting (IPA) recently named the Ridgeland-based accounting firm of Matthews, Cutrer & Lindsay, P.A. (No. 391) among its inaugural ranking of the nation’s largest 400 accounting firms.

For close to 30 years, IPA compiled the annual IPA 100, 200 and 300 largest accounting firms in the nation, but this is the first year of naming the Top 400 firms. The IPA 400 list was developed by gathering information from firms that completed IPA’s Survey and Analysis of Firms. The IPA 400 firms’ revenue ranges from $4.55 million to $9.9 million and they generally employ 20 to 80 staff members.

Matthews, Cutrer and Lindsay, P.A., has offices in Ridgeland and Yazoo City.

BioScrip name Jackson’s Smith a Star Performer BioScrip Infusion Services, Inc., formerly CarePoint Partners, recently recognized Jena Smith, pharmacy manager in Jackson as a South Region Star Performer.

A Star Performer represents an employee who is a team player, keeps the patient at the forefront of everything he or she does, consistently meets goals Smith and has a great attitude. Each award recipient exemplifies BioScrip’s reputation for excellence and patient care.

October 26, 2018 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS: Health Care

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

Inflammatory breast cancer hides until it reaches Stage 3 level » UMMC breast surgeon urges more awareness among primary care providers

By TED CARTER mbj@msbusiness.com Cancers don’t fight fair. They can conceal themselves and strike with a suddenness that often leaves physicians in an uphill struggle to save their patients.

This is especially so with inflammatory breast cancer, an exceptionally rare and aggressive disease in which cancer cells block lymph vessels in the skin of the breast. By the time the cancer reveals itself through the swelling and reddening of the victim’s breast, the disease has reached Stage 3 and is poised to spread.

Statistics from the McKinney Mississippi Cancer Registry show just how rare instances of inflammatory breast cancer are. In 2015, the last year for which figures are confirmed, 2,593 Mississippi women received a breast cancer diagnosis. Of those cases, 39 were diagnosed as inflammatory carcinoma.

The Stage 3 designation signifies that the cancer is large and has grown into nearby tissues or lymph nodes. The survival challenge is often worsened by primary care physicians who mistake what they’ve seen for a skin infection, says Dr. Shawn McKinney, a breast surgeon and member of the Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Team at the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Cancer Institute.

This is why inflammatory breast cancer should be on the radar of every OB-GYN physician, McKinney says. “The issue is there can be a big delay” in starting treatment of a patient with a very aggressive type of breast cancer, she adds.

A lot of women will be checked for a breast rash the size and color of an orange peel. They get antibiotics and may start to get better, according to McKinney. With that, she says, “the doctor may not do the imaging and make sure what is going on.”

The severity of such an oversight should not be underestimated, McKinney adds.

“If not corrected,” she says, “it tends

to be an aggressive type of breast cancer.

You want to obtain a diagnosis and start treatment as quickly as you can.”

Even if detected timely, the cancer can be inoperable in some instances, according to McKinney. In these cases, the tumor is actually a subtype made different by the makeup of the breast cancer cell. The worst and most aggressive of these is the Triple Negative, McKinney says.

“We have made only minimal strides treating it. It can be hard to find medicine that can be effective in these patients.”

The critical task, she says, is determining “exactly what we can target to get a response.”

A tumor that won’t respond to pre-operative chemotherapy makes surgery to remove it problematic, notes McKinney.

“You want to give chemo an opportunity to attack the cancer cells so I am able to cut across good skin.”

Otherwise, the surgeon must cut through the tumor, thus increasing the likelihood of its return, says McKinney, an associate professor of surgery at University of Mississippi Medical Center.

The standard operation for inflammatory breast cancer, or IBC, is a modified radical mastectomy, where the entire breast and the lymph nodes under the

arm are removed, the American Cancer Society says.

Because IBC affects so much of the breast and skin, breast-conserving surgery (partial mastectomy or lumpectomy) and skin-sparing mastectomy are not options, according to the Cancer Society.

McKinney says IBC typically requires removing only the tumorous breast.

“It usually does not spread to the other breast,” she says. “The biggest concern with breast cancer is it gets into the lymphatic channels and spreads to the other organs.”

If breast radiation isn’t given before surgery, it is given after surgery, even if no cancer is thought to remain, according to the Cancer Society.

“It lowers the chance that the cancer will come back,” the Society says.

Radiation for post-op patients might be delayed until further chemo is administered, depending on how much tumor was found in the breast after surgery.

Chances the IBC tumor will return increase if it is an aggressive subtype. “We keep a very close eye on these patients,” McKinney says.

As a member of the UMMC Cancer Institute’s Interdisciplinary Breast Cancer Team, McKinney has worked with a

multitude of patients including many with rare or unusual breast cancers. She rarely encounters inflammatory breast cancer cases, though the Cancer Institute is treating three or four IBC patients at the moment.

Nationally the disease makes up only 2 percent of breast cancer diagnoses. Women diagnosed with IBC, in general, do not survive as long as women diagnosed with other types of breast cancer, the Cancer Society says.

The disease is not hereditary and is not specific to any age groups, McKinney says. “We have young people who present” symptoms of IBC, she adds, citing ages ranges from the 30s through the 60s.

Certain factors – heredity, obesity, nutrition, menstrual history -- increase risks for breast cancers of all types, according to McKinney.

“I think identifying whether you are a high-risk breast cancer patient is important,” she says, and suggests close monitoring by medical professionals if you are.

Whether high risk or not, women should have a suspicious nature about breast cancer, McKinney advises. “If there’s a change in your breast, it is always best to get it checked out.”

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Health Care

Æ›Æ&#x; Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

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Left to right: Dr. LouAnn Woodward, UMMC Vice Chancellor; Dr. Amol V. Janorkar, Professor and Graduate Program Director, Biomedical Materials Science, School of Dentistry; Alon Bee, Metro Jackson Regions Board Chairman.

Expect more admiration.

Congratulations to Dr. Amol V. Janorkar, Associate Professor of biomedical materials science at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) for being awarded the Regions Bank TEACH Prize. This award recognizes a faculty member who best exemplifies the values of student engagement, intellectual challenge and dedication to the craft of education that drive UMMCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational mission.

As a proud corporate citizen, Regions is always excited to support those in our community who work so tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of others. To Dr. Janorkar and everyone striving to improve our communities, we offer our thanks, our assistance and our commitment to making life better.

Š 2018 Regions Bank. Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

Health Care

16 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

Katrina B. Myricks c being cancer free fo

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com Five years ago, a diagnosis of breast cancer for Katrina B. Myricks of Madison, a professor in the business department of Holmes Community College, came from out of the blue.

“I did not have any idea I had breast cancer,” Myricks said. “I never felt a lump. It was the mammogram that caught it. I had a mammogram in December of 2012. They called me in January 2013 to come back to get another test done that confirmed I had breast cancer. I was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer that primarily affects African Americans, and I had a lumpectomy.”

A lumpectomy, also known as breast-conserving surgery, involves removing the tumor and other abnormal tissue. Myricks’ physician felt her cancer could be treated effectively with a lumpectomy, as opposed to a mastectomy that would have removed the entire breast.

“There was no need for me to have a mastectomy, so I don’t have to worry about the cosmetic effects,” Myricks said.

After the surgery, she went through eight rounds of chemotherapy, had eight injections to help improve her immune system, and had 36 rounds of radiation. Myricks was able to tolerate the treatments well.

“I was weak, but I didn’t feel nauseated,” she said.

“I slept a lot. I worked after a certain period of time.

I went through my treatments for about six weeks and then I worked as my body would allow me to, which was part-time for a while.”

A vital part of her recovery, Myricks said, has been the emotional support from family, friends, church members and co-workers.

“It is important for any cancer patient to have emotional support from other individuals,” she said.

“There needs to be a community of people to support you. When you go through something like this, your family also goes through the process with you.

I’m lucky to have had great support from my family.”

Her family includes her husband of 31 years, Ken Myricks, and their 17-year old daughter, Kaitlin Myricks.

Her daughter, only 12 at the time her was diagnosed, had put a pink boa around her mother’s neck

Katrina Myricks wears the pink boa that her daughter gave her when her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

and told her that everything was going to be okay.

“She said God told her I was going to be okay,” Myricks said. “There is a Bible scripture about ‘from the mouths of babes,’ so that was my confirmation.”

Myricks still prizes that pink boa.

Myricks also credits her faith in God as being key to her recovery. She attends New Hope Baptist Church on Watkins Drive in Jackson. Before even telling her family after being diagnosed, she went to the church altar to pray.

“I turned it over to God at that point because of my faith,” she said.

Myricks received her treatments in a private room at St. Dominic Memorial Hospital in Jackson. That allowed her to often work while she was getting treatment. She had a laptop and would check students’ grades and assignments. She said cancer treatments affect people differently, and not everyone can work while receiving treatments.

“What I was able to do, some other people might

not be is going what is differen the dise Myri family. primar other r the dise

Health Care

October 26, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

celebrates or five years “I view myself as part of an elite club called cancer survivors. And all of our journeys were different for how we got there. What is not different is the fight we had to go through to be survivors.”

Katrina Myrick22

Photo by Ken Gordon

able to do,” she said. “Everyone’s treatment g to be different based on their bodies and s going on with them. My treatments could be nt than the next person who comes along with ease.” icks had no history of breast cancer in the And while triple-negative breast cancer ily affects African Americans, it can also affect races. She has two white friends who have had ease.

For the first three years after treatment, Myricks went back twice a year for mammograms. Now she goes back once a year for a mammogram.

“Hitting year three was a milestone for someone with triple-negative breast cancer,” she said. “To reach year five is a tremendous testament.”

Myricks has high praise for her surgeon, Dr. Reginald Martin, and her oncologist, Dr. Guangzhi Qu. She strongly recommends that anyone diagnosed with breast cancer listen to her physicians instead of trying to second guess them with online research.

“Internet sources of information may not always be reliable or pertinent to your condition,” she said.

“Follow the instructions of your physicians. Don’t compare yourself to other people because each person is different.”

She said the best advice she received from a former cancer patient was about losing her hair because of the treatments.

“She said, ‘Remember when you lose your hair, the hair does not make the person’,” said Myricks, who wore a wig while going through the treatments. “The hair will grow back.”

It is also important to keep a positive attitude.

“When you hear the word ‘cancer’, that is not associated with death anymore,” Myricks said. “I view myself as part of an elite club called cancer survivors.

And all of our journeys were different for how we got there. What is not different is the fight we had to go through to be survivors.”

Q

17

Health Care

18 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

Metastatic breast cancer survival rates increasing

By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

It the past, the average survival rates for a woman diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer used to be two to three years.

“Now we have added a year or two to the median survival rates for metastatic breast cancer,” said Dr. Shou-Ching Tang, associate director of Clinical and Translational Research and professor of Medicine and Pharmacology /Toxicology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). “Some patients are living longer. That is because of all the wonderful drugs we have that are more efficacious.

And many of them are less toxic than in the past. A lot of drugs in the past were very toxic to the patient. We have fewer complications with the newer drugs. As a result, women are living longer.”

The goal now is converting metastatic disease into a chronic disease. Like AIDs, metastatic breast cancer used to be a death sentence.

“Now people are living with AIDs comfortably,” Tang said. “We are hoping to do that with metastatic breast cancer so the patient can live with quality of life and with dignity.”

Survival rates for someone with metastatic breast cancer really depend on the type of breast cancer, said Dr. John (Bo) S. Hrom, F.A.C.P, hematologist/oncologist at Hattiesburg Clinic and Clinical Trial Director at Forrest Hrom General Hospital.

“People who have positive estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor breast cancer, which is sometimes referred to as hormone receptor positive (HR positive) breast cancer, generally have a better prognosis due to newer Tang targeted therapies such as CDK 4/6 and anti-hormonal therapies,” Hrom said. “Patients who have HER-2/neu positive breast cancer also can have a longer survival due to newer innovative drugs that block HER2/neu including Herceptin, Perjeta, and Kadcyla.”

However, Hrom said metastatic triple-negative breast cancer continues to

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be a challenging disease with a poor prognosis due to limited therapies other than standard cytotoxic chemotherapy. Newer therapies such as PARP inhibitors may improve survival in this area, as well.

“Areas of research are going into all types of metastatic breast cancer currently with new discoveries being made frequently,” Hrom said. “The five-year survival for all metastatic breast cancer patients is around 27 percent as compared to those with localized or regional breast cancer with an over 90 percent survival rate at five years.

The death rate from breast cancer has continued to decline over the last 20 years.”

There are many variables that influence the types of treatment used. Hrom said the stage of the disease is probably the most important factor.

“Patient preference is certainly a priority, as well,” Hrom said. “Certainly, the patient’s support system can influence their treatment plan. Age as well as overall physical health and comorbidities play a role.

We use something called a performance status that help us determine the patient’s ability to tolerate therapy.”

Tang said in terms of research, they have learned a lot from studying the biology of metastatic breast cancer by looking at the genes that turns a cell into cancer and make the cancer spread.

“The new area of research is to identify driver mutations, the key mutations, so we can treat them with targeted therapy,” Tang said. “With whole genome sequencing, we are discovering new genes that are druggable mutations--mutations that respond to drugs--and allow us to identify biomarkers that can tell us which patient will respond to what particular therapy or drug leading to so-called personalized precision medicine.”

The technology is moving fast. In the past, it took several decades and millions of dollars to sequence one genome. Tang said now a couple thousand genomes can be sequenced in a couple of weeks.

“You can sequence a patient’s entire genome,” Tang said. “And the price is continuing to drop. Also, another area that is hot with metastatic breast cancer is immunotherapy. There are many drugs discovered which can wake up the suppressed immune system. And several drugs have been discovered that play an important role in triple-negative breast cancer, including the so-called checkpoint inhibitors.

“Also, we are actually starting to use a new class of drug—PARP inhibitors--for patients who have DNA repair defect, certain mutations like BRCA mutations.

And for hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer, in addition to novel hormonal therapy we have, there is a new generation of targeted therapy on the mar-

ket, cyclin inhibitors and others, that will help reduce the resistance to hormonal therapy.”

There is also active research ongoing to identify biomarkers that will help physicians select specific chemotherapy for a particular patient’s subtype, which will help to improve efficacy and reduce toxicity. Tang said this can be likened to different size shoes for different people rather than one pair of shoes for everyone, which is what has been done in the past.

UMMC is doing active breast cancer research. For metastatic breast cancer, they are studying novel PARP inhibitors in patients with BRCA mutations and anti-heregulin antibodies in patients with hormone positive metastatic breast cancer.

Tang said it is exciting that UMMC has started a phase one research program to offer breast cancer patients cutting-edge clinical trials with novel drugs that have not been on the market before to patients in Mississippi.

“So, they don’t have to go to out-of-state hospitals to get these types of drugs,” Tang said. “And, as of early October, we started our first trial using a novel monoclonal antibody as immunotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. We are also doing similar phase one trials on other novel drugs developed in Mississippi in Oxford at the National Center for Natural Products Research (NCNPR) using a natural product to boost the immune system in breast cancer.”

Tang calls the drugs being developed at NCNPR at Ole Miss “a goldmine.”

“They have several homegrown drugs ready to be tested in clinical trials,” he said.

2018

Special event and section of the Mississippi Business Journal

Health Care Heroes

20 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2018 CLASS Kanidra J. Austin................................................................................23 Dr. Courtney A. Bennett ..................................................................23 Chad Blalack .......................................................................................24 Michael L. Bookhardt, M.D. ............................................................24 Elizabeth Carr, RDH, DHA, MAADH ..............................................24 Dr. Amanda B. Comer .......................................................................24 Richard D. deShazo, M.D. ................................................................25 Patrice L. Donald ...............................................................................25 William M. Grantham, M.D. ...........................................................26 Edward Y. Holman III, MBA, RT (R) (N) .......................................26 Brien B. Hubbard ...............................................................................26 Rona K. Huey, MSN, FND-C.............................................................26 Shaletha Johnson ..............................................................................27 Dr. Melissa H. King, DNP, FNP, ENP ...............................................27

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Rance McClain, DO ...........................................................................28 Dinetia M. Newman ..........................................................................28 Ian Nygren ..........................................................................................28 R. David Roberts, III..........................................................................28 Jolanta Roszkowska, M.D. ...............................................................29 Robert Smith, M.D. ...........................................................................29 Marilyn Sumerford............................................................................29 Millie Swan .........................................................................................29 Mary B. Taylor ................................................................................... 30 Courtney Tullos................................................................................. 30 John P.F.H. Vanderloo, M.D............................................................. 30 Jolynn White, FNP-BC ..................................................................... 30 Kristen Williams ................................................................................31 Mary L. Williams, RN-MSN ..............................................................31

22 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

Health Care Heroes

Photos by Stegall Imagery

Health Care Heroes

October 26, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Q

Kanidra J. Austin

Dr. Courtney A. Bennett

TurnerCare

East Mississippi State Hospital

K

anidra Austin is a healthcare provider with TurnerCare LLC. In being nominated, it was noted Austin has been an instrumental force in the growth of TurnerCare. “Being here for over a year now, her level of professionalism, compassion, and dedication to her craft has led to a very solid relationship with not just the patients but her peers as well.

Her growth has been parallel with our clinic in providing stability at a time when turnover is high amongst medical assistants and nurses. Patients look forward to her smile and warm persona as they often come in in need of not just help with physical ailments but also emotional and mental neglect.”

Austin is a 2016 graduate of Delta Technical College.

C

ourtney Bennett of Meridian, psychiatric nurse practitioner at East Mississippi State Hospital was recently appointed to a term on the Commission on Accreditation with the America Nurses Credentialing Center.

During the last nearly nine years, Bennett acquired significant experience as a clinical registered nurse. She worked for four years as an orthopedic medical-surgical nurse, two years as a rehabilitation nurse, four years as a mental health nurse practitioner and three years as an adjunct clinical nursing instructor.

She earned her associates degree in nursing from the Mississippi University for Women, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctorate in nursing from the University of Southern Mississippi.

Bennett is actively involved in her community, serving her church through the music ministry and outreach. She is married to Calvin Bennett who is also a registered nurse.

2018 Health Care Heroes MISSISSIPPI PHYSICIANS

Michael L. Bookhardt, MD

Jolanta Roszkowska, MD

Richard D. DeShazo, MD

Robert Smith, MD

William M. Grantham, MD

Mary B. Taylor, MD

Rance McClain, DO

John P.F.H. Vanderloo, MD R. David Roberts, III MSMA GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

23

24 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

Health Care Heroes

Chad Blalack

Michael L. Bookhardt, M.D.

Kare-In-Home Health

Merit Health Central

C

had Blalack is the President of Kare-In-Home. In this role he is responsible for all KareIn-Home service lines which include home health, hospice, private care and medical equipment. Kare-In-Home is a family owned organization that has been serving Mississippi for over 41 years.

Chad has been with Kare-In-Home since 2013 where he served as the Chief Operating Officer before moving into his new role in 2017. He is a member of the National Association of Healthcare and of the Young Presidents Organization.

Chad received a Bachelors and Master’s Degree from Delta State University and then went on the receive his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi. Chad is a native of Gulfport and prior to working at Kare-In-Home he was a healthcare attorney with Copeland, Cook, Taylor and Bush, PA. He is married to Virginia “Ginny” Blalack, MD and has two children Warner (4) and Collins (2).

Elizabeth Carr,

RDH, DHA, MAADH

UMMC

A

fter discovering that the Lanier High School girls basketball team did not have adequate funding to provide mouthguards, Elizabeth Carr created the event “Shooting for Smiles” which allowed the entire team to receive free preventive dental care, have a mouth guard created and learn about dental hygiene as a career path.

Carr is an assistant professor of central hygiene at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and has been there nearly 15 years and is a past president of the Mississippi Dental Hygienists’ Association.

She has degrees from Delta State University, University of Mississippi Medical Center and the University of Tennessee-Health Science Center.

M

ichael Bookhardt is a practicing Family Practitioner in Jackson. Dr. Bookhardt graduated from University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 2013 and has been in practice for five years.

He completed a residency at Lakeland Family Medical Center. He currently practices at Merrit Health Central and is affiliated with Regency Hospital of Jackson, Rush Foundation Hospital, the Spine Clinic, and St Dominic Jackson Memorial Hospital.

Bookhardt was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. He has chosen Mississippi as his home and is dedicated to service in the Metro Jackson area. Michael enjoys music, church, and caring for others.

Dr. Amanda B. Comer Magnolia Regional Health Center

A

manda Comer received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice degree from Augusta University in Georgia following a Master of Science in Nursing from Vanderbilt University’s emergency nurse practitioner program. Comer is board certified as a family, acute care and emergency nurse practitioner.

Comer has nearly twenty years of experience in the emergency setting including pulmonary/critical care medicine, emergency, trauma and urgent care. Comer is the Founder and Director of the State of Mississippi’s first Emergency Nurse Practitioner Fellowship.

Comer has a passion for emergency nurse practitioner competencies and serves on the Mississippi Board of Nursing emergency scope and practice standards committee. Her volunteer services include Camp Nurse with Victory Junction Gang Children’s Camp in North Carolina, Junior Auxiliary of Corinth, Vanderbilt’s Commodore Recruitment Program, and Daughters of the American Revolution.

In her spare time, Comer enjoys traveling, cooking and playing superheroes with her two sons Daniel (4) and Thomas (2). Amanda and her husband Paul live in Corinth.

Health Care Heroes

October 26, 2018

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Mississippi Business Journal

Richard D. deShazo, M.D.

Patrice L. Donald

UMMC

UMMC

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n 2018, Dr. Richard deShazo became Professor Emeritus at UMMC. He and his wife moved to their childhood home of Birmingham. His book, The Racial Divide in American Medicine, was published by University Press of Mississippi and he began a series of new interactions with UAB and Alabama Public Broadcasting.

This after a distinguished career in medicine. deShazo grew up in Alabama where he received Optimist and Civitan Club academic scholarships. While working toward an MD from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, he was awarded a Caduceus Club Scholarship for study at St. George’s Hospital in London. After an internship in pediatrics at Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, he completed a residency in internal medicine and later training in rheumatology and geriatrics at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is board certified in these specialties. He served on the faculty of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and completed eight years of active duty.

The deShazos are active in the United Methodist Church where they have been longtime church musicians and teachers. They enjoy spending family time with their three children, their spouses, and six grandchildren in Mobile, Birmingham, and Nashville.

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atrice Donald is a member of the Mississippi Nurses Association, Hinds Community College Alumni Association, UMMC-Nurse Retention Council, UMMC-Advance Directives Task Force, UMMC-Accreditation Compliance Team, UMMC-Nurses Week and Hospital Week committees. She also continues to serve as a nurse preceptor as she feels it is important that very early in a nurses career - they understand the power of giving. Patrice also formerly held a NASD Series 6 and 63 license during her tenure in the insurance industry.

Donald has a passion for equipping people with the tools they need to succeed and loves team-building. In her spare time she enjoys shopping and traveling. Her personal motto is “Treat people the way you want to be treated”.

Donald earned a BS (Health Care Administration) from Jackson State University in 2000, an ADN in Applied Science (Nursing) from Hinds Community College in 2011, a BSN (Nursing) from the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2013, and will be a candidate for the MSN degree (Nursing – Nursing and Health Care Administration) in 2019.

Congratulations Dr. Melissa King on being selected as a

2018 Healthcare Hero

Bradley congratulates Dinetia Newman on being named a 2018 Health Care Hero

At Bradley, our attorneys understand that legal matters are more than contests of critical thought; they have real-world implications, which is why we prioritize integrity. It is this integrity that inspires all of us to go above and beyond our clients’ expectations by providing innovative solutions, dependable responsiveness and a deep commitment to success.

Mississippi Board of Nursing 713 S Pear Orchard Rd #300 | Ridgeland, Ms 39157 | 601-957-6300

bradley.com No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Contact: Margaret Oertling Cupples, Esq., 601.592.9914, mcupples@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 188 E. Capitol Street, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201. © 2018

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26 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

William M. Grantham, M.D. Mississippi State Medical Association

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r. William M. Grantham, Medical Director of MEA Medical Clinic in Clinton, is the president of the Mississippi State Medical Association.

A family practice physician and native of Hattiesburg, Grantham has maintained an active family medicine practice while also advocating for a healthier Mississippi. He spoke to physician groups and hospitals around the state and provided updates on changes in medicine affecting physicians and their patients. Grantham led the charge to ask the Mississippi legislature to raise the tax on cigarettes, which would have reduced youth smoking, prevented many children from ever becoming smokers and help many adult smokers quit. Grantham also successfully fought to support our state’s strong vaccination laws which helps Mississippi maintain the nation’s best vaccination rate. His tireless advocacy ensures that school-aged children won’t be exposed to vaccine-preventable diseases.

Grantham attended medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical School in Jackson, and interned and served his residency at the University of South Alabama in Mobile. Dr. Grantham has been licensed to practice in Mississippi and Alabama since 1989.

He lives in Madison and is a member of the Madison United Methodist Church.

Health Care Heroes Edward Y. Holman III, MBA, RT (R) (N) UMMC

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ddie Holman is the imaging manager for the University of Mississippi Medical Center and oversees the operational and capital Radiology annual budget of two million dollars.

Holman directs activities related to radiological services and patient care throughout Holmes County and monitors quality outcomes. He evaluates the need for radiological specialty services in Holmes County.

Holman fosters implementation of Accredited Computed Tomography and Mammography services with the American College of Radiology in order to avoid reduction in reimbursement for these services.

Holman has earned degrees from Delta State University, the University of Louisiana-Monroe and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He was named the Rotarian of the Year in 2016.

He has twin 13-year-old daughters, Halle and Edda.

Brien B. Hubbard

Rona K. Huey, MSN, FND-C

Advance Healthcare Management

Quality Family Care

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rien Hubbard is the managing director of Advanced Healthcare Management in Magee.

Hubbard is young professional who is very involved in the health-care needs of this state. His company owns, leases or manages 10 nursing homes that care for the sick and elderly. With his leadership, each of these homes provides excellent clinical care and their outcomes show it. He is extremely passionate about healthcare and providing the best overall experience to the residents and this too is demonstrated when you enter any of the facilities which his company oversees. These nursing homes are a vital party of the healthcare in the communities which they are located.

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ona Huey is the Chief Executive Officer at Quality Family Healthcare in Indianola.

She is a qualified, board certified nurse practitioner with more than 12 years of nursing experience. Huey has a background in acute care, long term care, obstetrics, primary, pediatric and gerontology nursing.

She earned a bachelor in nursing from Delta State University in 2012, followed by a Master’s in nursing from Walden University in 2015 and a Post Masters from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2018.

Prior to Quality Family healthcare, Huey was a family nurse practitioner at Shaw Family Medical and still serves as a family nurse practitioner at University Medical Center.

Health Care Heroes

October 26, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Shaletha Johnson

Dr. Melissa H. King,

Specialty Hospice

DNP, FNP, ENP

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haletha Johnson is a native of Lorman and is currently a Charge Nurse on the Medical-Surgical and Telemetry floor at Merit Health River Region in Vicksburg. Her passion is ignited through empowering patients to make lifestyle changes by promoting wellness to help them achieve the healthcare goals.

Johnson’s clinical experience is in the areas of Med-Surg, telemetry, ortho, hospice, and post-partum care.

In addition to her extensive clinical experience, Johnson graduated from Alcorn State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with an English concentration in 2006 and a Master of Arts in Teaching in 2011. She earned a Bachelor of Nursing degree in 2018 at University of Mississippi Medical Center. Currently, she is pursuing a degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner.

Shaletha is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and the Mississippi Nurses’ Association. In her spare time, she enjoys music and the arts, traveling, and spending time with family, and her two beautiful daughters, Jadyn Elysse and Zoe Noelle.

Mississippi Dental Hygiene Association would like to congratulate their very own ELIZABETH CARR for being selected as a 2018 healthcare hero by the Mississippi Business Journal. Elizabeth is an outstanding woman who has influenced the lives of so many with her vivacious personality and her love to help others. Elizabeth’s commitment to improving healthcare in our community has granted her this honor of being a health care hero.

Mississippi Board of Nursing

M

elissa King is a Certified Family and Emergency Nurse Practitioner with more than 20 years of experience in emergency care across the nation including involvement in several disaster responses. King is currently the Chief Clinical Officer for eMD Telehealth Solutions.

King serves on several state, regional and national boards or committees representing Telehealth and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses including serving as President of the Mississippi Board of Nursing and the American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners’ Southeast Regional Director.

She has received several awards and appointments including 2016 Nurse Innovator and Researcher of the Year and 2015 Advanced Practice Provider of the Year. Additionally, Dr. King has served as editor for publications related to critical care medicine and pharmacology.

King received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Mississippi Medical Center and her Master’s degree in nursing from the Mississippi University for Women.

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28 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q October 26, 2018

Health Care Heroes

Rance McClain, DO

Dinetia M. Newman

William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP

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r. Rance McClain, a 1991 graduate of Pittsburg State University (Pittsburg, Kan.) with duel degrees of Bachelors of Science in Biology and Psychology and a 1996 graduate of Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree.

He completed his family medicine residency at the Medical Center of Independence in 2000, and currently serves as a Professor and Associate Dean of Clinical Sciences at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has served as the medical director for national championship competitions in cyclocross, triathlon, and volleyball and has been a lead ringside physician for mixed martial arts for more than 15 years.

He serves the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners on test review committees and as an Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment rater for the COMLEX - Physical Exam section of Level II. He was named as an Associate Editor of the Journal of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in 2016. His practice motto is “Everyone is an athlete, only some of us are in training and some are not.”

inetia Newman is Counsel in the firm’s Jackson office and a member of the Healthcare practice group. A past president of the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA), she has spent her career representing hospitals and health systems, physicians, and ancillary service providers on regulatory, operational, and transactional matters including Medicare and Medicaid payment, Anti-kickback Act, Stark Law, EMTALA, HIPAA privacy and security compliance, state law licensure and Certificate of Need issues.

Newman is a past president of the Health Law Section of the Mississippi Bar, past-president of the Mississippi Chapter of HFMA, and past chair and co-chair of AHLA’s Regulation, Accreditation and Payment practice group. She is an author and a frequent speaker both nationally and locally and has taught as an adjunct professor in health law at the University of Mississippi School of Law.

Ian Nygren

R. David Roberts, III

Ochsner Health Systems

Mississippi State Medical Association

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an Nygren has over 24 years’ experience across multiple healthcare settings and has participated in several disaster responses, including Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Harvey, Irma, and Maria, as well as the Baton Rouge flood. Nygren’s leadership roles include serving as the Director of Flight and Trauma Services, Assistant Vice President of Critical Care, and Director of Emergency Services for Ochsner Health Systems. Prior to these roles he served as the Director of Emergency Services at Infirmary Health System, Tulane University Hospital and Clinics, and Universal Health Services.

Nygren serves on several state committees representing emergency services and nursing. He has made numerous presentations, both regionally and nationally, regarding emergency care and LEAN processes pertaining to quality care and time management.

Nygren received his Masters of Science of Nursing from the Loyola University in New Orleans, Bachelors of Science in Nursing from William Carey, and Paramedicine Certification from the University of Iowa.

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avid Roberts is Director of Government Affairs for the Mississippi State Medical Association. An experienced, veteran lobbyist, David advocates strongly for physicians in the realm of public policy in the state legislature and beyond.

He serves physicians across the entire state in lobbying, strategic planning and vision.

Roberts leads the effort with the Doctor of the Day program at the Capitol where physicians volunteer their time to provide medical care to legislators, capitol staff and visitors.

He often delivers results of hearings and reports to physicians and community leaders. He ensures Mississippi physicians are strongly represented at the Capitol.

Roberts’ efforts help Mississippi physicians improve the health of all Mississippians. Roberts completed his undergraduate degree at Mississippi College and his graduate studies at MSU in public policy and administration. David and his wife, Mindy, live in Madison with their 3 children.

Health Care Heroes

October 26, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Jolanta Roszkowska, M.D.

Robert Smith, M.D

Department of Veterans Affairs

Central Mississippi Health Service

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olanta Roszkowska is a Geriatrician and Hospice/Palliative Medicine Specialist with the Department of Veterans Affairs.

According to her nomination, she is one of the most service oriented physicians. Roszkowska takes a very personal approach to her patients and their families. Although most of her patients will inevitably die in the near future, her number one concern remains to make their time as comfortable and fear free as possible. Despite working what most of us would consider an extremely depressing medical field, she remains optimistic, loves her patients, and continues to believe in miracles. While many of today’s physicians lose the human approach because of shorter doctor visits and abundant computerization, Roszkowska not only remains humble and personable but takes the time to communicate with both the patients and their families to address their concerns and put them at ease.

She received her medical degree from Medical University of Warsaw and has been in practice for more than 20 years. She is one of 2 doctors at G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center who specialize in Geriatric Medicine.

visionary trailblazer in the field of family medicine, Dr. Robert Smith is responsible for not only revolutionizing quality family healthcare in the African-American community but he is also responsible for increasing the number of African-American doctors in Mississippi. Smith has been president and CEO at Central Mississippi Health Services since its foundation in 1963.

He was Charter Medical Director of Child Development Group of Mississippi, the first large Head Start program in 1964 and a co-founder of the Mississippi Primary Health Care Association.

Smith, a Jackson native, received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Tougaloo College in 1957 and his medical degree from the Howard University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., in 1961.

He completed his clinical training at the West Side Medical Clinic of Cook County Hospital in Chicago.

After returning to Jackson in 1962, Smith became the first volunteer southern medical field director for the Medical Committee for Human Rights, which served as the medical arm of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement.

Over the course of his career, Smith has practiced medicine at St. Dominic Hospital, Baptist Medical Center and Merit Health Centers.

Marilyn Sumerford

Millie Swan

Access Family Health Services

Forrest General Hospital

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or the past 40 years, Marilyn Sumerford has worked in the health care field in acute, long-term, and ambulatory care. She received a Master of Science in Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Mississippi University for Women.

After a 16-year career at Gilmore Memorial Hospital in Amory, Sumerford returned to her hometown of Smithville in 1995 to serve as Executive Director of ACCESS Family Health Services, a federally qualified health center providing comprehensive medical, dental, and mental health services at 13 sites in five northeast Mississippi counties.

In 2011, under Sumerford’s leadership, ACCESS and the Smithville Community embarked upon a journey of recovery after their main site was destroyed by an EF-5 tornado, and the dental clinic sustained significant damage. Three years later the clinic moved from temporary facilities into a new 12,348 facility with in-house X-ray, laboratory, and pharmacy without any debt.

She has served on the board of Itawamba Community College for almost thirty years, and in various board positions including Board Chair. In 2013, Sumerford was named Itawamba Community College’s Alumnus of the Year.

She is married to Kenneth Sumerford, and she is the mother of Ben, Will, and Bethany, and the grandmother of 3-year-old twins.

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illie Swan is the Vice President and responsible for Marketing and Medical Staff Services for Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg. Swan, who previously served as director of marketing and medical staff services.

Swan oversees the medical staff services and marketing and communication areas for the hospital along with the Heart and Vascular Service line, Oncology Service Line, Food and Nutrition, Guest and Pastoral Services and FGH On Call. Through her caring attitude, she is helping to define the health-care experience by providing world class care.

Prior to her health-care career, Swan was a television anchor and reporter. With over 25 years in health-care, Millie has received the Dr. Phillip Rogers’ Leadership Award and was chosen as the Senior Professional of the Year by the Mississippi Hospital Association Public Relations and Marketing Society. She is also a past recipient of the Top 40 Under 40 Award from the Mississippi Business Journal.

In the state, the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center, Distinguished Young Woman Program, AIDS Coalition Services, and Salvation Army all depend on her input and expertise.

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Health Care Heroes

Mary B. Taylor

Courtney Tullos

UMMC

AMR

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r. Mary Taylor is the first female, first Mississippi native and first UMMC graduate to chair the Division of Pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Taylor received her undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University prior to earning her M.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine in 1991. Also holding a master of science in clinical investigation from Vanderbilt, Taylor completed residency training in pediatrics and fellowship training in cardiology and critical care at Vanderbilt and was a senior clinical fellow at the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit of Boston Children’s Hospital before helping create the pediatric cardiac critical care unit at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. She was on faculty at Vanderbilt for a decade before moving back to Mississippi, her home state, and UMMC in 2011.

ourtney Tullos, a 22-year-old Hinds County woman, pulled a paraplegic man from a burning van, likely saving his life.

Tullos is an American Medical Response EMT. That day in January, Tullos noticed a van had run off the Natchez Trace Parkway, hit a tree and caught fire.

According to the account by the Clarion Ledger, she was on her way to work, ran to the burning van and quickly realized the man in the driver’s seat was struggling to get out.

She opened the door and dragged James Clayton about 20 yards to safety. Tullos then returned to the van to retrieve Clayton’s wheelchair. He had been trying to reach it as the fire began to spread.

Shortly afterward, the van’s tires exploded sending a blast wave that shook the dashcamera and windshield of a county EMS vehicle.

“She’s always saying that she was just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” AMR Central Mississippi Public Relations Manager Jim Pollard said. “I disagree. She was the right person at the right time.”

John P.F.H. Vanderloo, MD

Jolynn White, FNP-BC

NewCare MD

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ohn Vanderloo is a board-certified family physician at NewCare MD. He was elected to the board of directors of the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians and is also the treasurer of the MAEFP. Vanderloo joined the staff at NewCare MD in 2016. Prior to becoming part of the direct primary care movement, Dr. Vanderloo was an assistant professor at UMMC’s Department of Family Medicine from 2013-2016. Dr. Vanderloo received his BA from the University of Mississippi in 2002 and earned his MD at UMMC in 2010. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at the Medical Center and served as Chief Resident from 2012-2013.

Vanderloo is a member of the American Academy of Family Practice, the Mississippi State Medical Association, and the Mississippi Academy of Family Practice where he has served as a resident board member. He was recently elected as Treasurer of the Mississippi Academy of Family Practice Foundation.

UMMC

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olynn White has been a family nurse practitioner for 22 years in rural Holmes County. She could have left Holmes for more prestigious and higher paying positions, instead she opted to serving the local community. Her patients love her and see her as their primary caregiver.

She earned a BSN from University of Mississippi School of Nursing in 1994, followed by a MSN from there in 1996.

White is a member of the Mississippi Nurses Association and the American Nurses Association.

Health Care Heroes

October 26, 2018

Q

Mississippi Business Journal

Kristen Williams

Mary L. Williams, RN-MSN

Thresholds Counseling and Consulting

Sonny Montogomery VA Homeless Program and Perrls of Wellness

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risten Williams is a psychotherapist in Jackson who incorporates both spiritual and common-sense approach to cognitive behavioral therapy. She is also owner of Thresholds Counseling and Consulting in Jackson.

She specializes in personal and relationship issues, coping with changes, and seasons of depression and anxiety.

Williams also teaches better communication skills, conflict resolution, and how to have a “good fight.” She helps people improve their coping skills and make needed changes, whether in one’s circumstances, perception, or behavior, in order to create greater happiness and satisfaction with one’s life and relationships.

Williams welcomes a variety of issues, individual diversity, and all kinds of couples therapy.

She has been in practice for 13 years and has degrees from the University of Southern Mississippi, Duke University and The University of Mississippi.

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ary L. Williams is a transformational speaker, Co-Author and Professional Health & Wellness Coach who believes you have to first change your mental state, before you can change your physical state. She is the founder and CEO of Perrls of Wellness, LLC “Real wisdom for Real women” and Ladies Living Well.

She has trained extensively in Whole Health Coaching through the Veteran’s Health Administration and the University of Wisconsin in Integrative Health. As, well as, the National Society of Health Coaches. She is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor of Science in nursing from the University of South Carolina and a Master of Science in nursing from the University of Hawaii. She has over 25 years in the healthcare field and works as a RN-Case Manager with the GV Sonny Montgomery VA Homeless Program.

She recently chartered the Metro-Jackson Chapter of Black Nurses Rock where she serves as President.

PAST WINNERS

2017 Sheila Valiant Adams ....................................Mississippi University for Women David G. Baytos ............................................. Methodist Olive Branch Hospital Ginny Boydston .............................................. Methodist Rehabilitaiton Center Jasmin Owens Chapman ....................... Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health David A. Felton, D.D.S, M.S. .................................................................. UMMC Holly Franks ........................................................... Pinnacle Medical Solutions Lisa N. Frascogna ........................................ Mississippi Baptist Health System Walter J. Grace ................................ Baptist Memorial Hospital-Union County Ashley Gray ................................................... North Mississippi Medical Center Malone Gregory, M.S., CCC-SLP........................... Greenwood Leflore Hospital Phyllis A.M. Hollenbeck MD, FAAFP.............. Sonny Montgomery VA Hospital Commander Herman L. Horton................................................. City of Jackson Zakiyo Jackson ................................... Shelby Health and Rehabilitation Center Joey Jamison ........................................................... Hinds Community College Lee Jenkins............................................................... Brain Injury of Mississippi Alan E. Jones, MD ................................................................................. UMMC Carlos A. Jones.......................................................... Jackson Fire Department

Mary Kitchens .......................................................................... Camp Rainbow Neely Carlton Lyons ...................................................................... Butler Snow Michele McClain ............................................ Ameripride Home Care/Humana Jimmy Miller............................................................... AMR Central Mississippi Thomas P. Mills, M.D...................................... Digestive Healthcare Clinic/St D Susan B. Presley......................................... Plastic & Hand Surgery Associates Regina QaDan, FNP-BC ................... Baston Children Hospital - Palliative Care Alton Shaw................................................. Baptist Lifeflight /Town of Wesson Heber Simmons Jr. ................................... Simmons Young Pediatric Dentistry Lyndsay Summers, VMD .................................................. All Creatures Animal Richard L. Summers, MD FACEP ........................................................... UMMC Megan Sumrall Lott, OD ...................................... Belle Vue Specialty Eye Care Greg Tisdale, BSN, RN ........................................................ Hospice Ministries Sherry Turner, DO. MPH, FACOEP.................................... Merit Health Wesley Blakeley Ward ....................................................................................... UMMC Dr. Terrance Ware ............................................... Terrance Ware Family Medical

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M I S S I S S I P P I

www.mhpartners.com

Is there a locally owned and managed healthcare company commited to the needs of my employees and their families?

Absolutely.

For 25 years, Mississippi Health Partners has met the healthcare needs of Mississippians through a network of the most respected doctors and hospitals that you know and trust. Mississippi owned and managed, Mississippi Health Partners is comprised of nearly 700 physicians and 13 hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center and St. Dominic Hospital. Our reputation is built on providing the highest quality healthcare for your business and employees. We are your hometown healthcare network.

We are Mississippi Health Partners.

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