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INSIDE — If Raytheon gets jet contract, Meridian gets assembly plant — Page 9 GOLF

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October 28, 2016 • Vol. 38, No. 44 • $1 • 32 pages

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Sanderson tourney is run like a business ‘with a heart’ — Page 8

MISSISSIPPI DELTA

» The Lofts at 517 giving people reasons to come to downtown Greenville {P 2} BANKING

» BancorpSouth net income for third quarter up {P 2} HEALTH CARE

» ER nurse gets patent for product {P 3}

State economists lower growth forecast for rest of year

2016

MISSISSIPPI

100 THE STATE’S TOP PRIVATELY OWNED COMPANIES

» FEATURE: Staplcotn benefits from more acreage, better yield, 16 » FEATURE: Southern Farm Bureau a powerhouse in life, casualty insurance, 18 » FEATURE: KLLM is growing while investing in Mississippi, 18 » The complete Mississippi 100 list, 21-25

Cuba opportunities, pitfalls dominate MDA trade summit BY JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

The Republic of Cuba was depicted as a land of opportunity for Mississippi businesses, though with a heightened sense of risk. About 150 people attended the “Doing Business in Cuba Summit” on Oct. 20 at the South Warehouse in Jackson. Speakers at the Mississippi Development Authority event told of a country struggling to emerge from more than a half-century of the U.S. embargo and communist rule. Those who attended to get information on the Cuban economy, and society, too, will get an opportunity in February to visit the island nation, one in the MDA’s continuing program of trade missions. And the pitch that was made is that there is potentially a lot of money to be made in the country of 11 million people 90 miles from Key West, Fla. President Barack Obama reopened the U.S. Embassy in Havana and eased travel restrictions in that nation. “We are calling on Cuba to unleash the potential of 11 million Cubans by ending unnecessary restrictions on their political, social, and economic activities,” Obama said in a speech on Dec. 17, 2014. “In that spirit, we should not allow U.S. sanctions to add to the burden of Cuban citizens that we seek to

{P 4}

See CUBA, Page 4

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

2 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016

DELTA

The Lofts at 517 giving people reasons to come to downtown Greenville By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

GREENVILLE—In recent years Delta communities have been losing population as many young people move elsewhere for employment opportunities. A new development in downtown Greenville, The Lofts at 517, is being designed to create a synergy to bring back not just the downtown, but former residents. That is what is happening with Allen and Erin Sanders, who grew up in Greenville and after operating the popular Delta Steak Company in Oxford, have decided to come home to open a new restaurant called the Downtown Grille at The Lofts at 517. Recently the Sanderses were announced as the tenants for the new full-service restaurant in one of four buildings being renovated downtown by businessman Bill Boykin. The Downtown Grille will be located in the same building as the Delta’s first microbrewery, the Mighty Miss Brewing Co.. The historic Sears building nearby is being renovating into multiple uses, including two retail spaces, 12 condominiums, a boutique hotel with 16 suites and covered parking. A third building will be used as a co-work space for young entrepreneurs. It will be an affiliate of Launchpad New Orleans. Boykin is excited about the Sanderses’ plans to open the Downtown Grille. “It is going to be really appealing,” Boykin said. “Allen has a lot of experience and is a great chef. He got a lot of chef training at Ole Miss and worked at the Inn of Ole Miss before he opened up on his own. He has been recognized in numerous magazines for his accomplishments. It is great we have someone like him and his wife who want to come back to be involved in the downtown. They already have a following with people who know their restaurant in Oxford, and with other people their age who have come back home. We’ve got a good base of young people like the Sanders who have started to move back for opportunities.” Allen Sanders said he finds it amazing that the whole downtown area has been untouched for so long. “You can’t recreate the character of these historic buildings in downtown Greenville,” he said. “My wife and I choose to open the restaurant here because it was an opportunity to be part of something more than just opening up a new restaurant. We will be part of revitalizing downtown, which is the town where I grew up. It is huge for me.” Boykin said if Greenville is going to come back, it will take young people coming back and trying to do things to improve the overall health of the community.

Special to the MBJ

The Lofts at 517 will be the home for a recently announced restaurant, the Downtown Grille.

“It is an important thing to me,” he said. “I want to see my hometown do well again.” The $9.1-million downtown redevelopment project has been underway now for five years. Boykin said it is rewarding to now be at the phase where the restoration inside has advanced to the Sheetrock stage. The project is being credited for stimulating more downtown properties being sold. “Since we started in January, nine other pieces of property on Washington Ave. have sold,” Boykin said. “That is awesome. The interesting thing about it is people are not just buying, but reinvesting. That’s what we wanted.” Boykin, a mechanical contractor, said work on the facade of the Sears building has shown the promise of what is to come. “Everything has changed,” he said. “It is a beautiful property, and will give a lot of credence for revitalization of downtown. It is a fun project.”

The Mighty Miss Brewing Co. will be the first microbrewery in the Delta. “It is a big deal for the community to see the microbrewery going in,” Boykin said. “It means things are changing.” Jon Alverson, publisher of Delta Democrat-Times and president of Mighty Miss Brewing, said Greenville is ripe for a microbrewery. “We’re just happy he included us in his plans,” Alverson said. “This is the start of something we hope will be big one day. We’ve done our research. The beer business is a growth industry, and we are the first to market in this area. And the product won’t just be in the Delta, but all over the state and hope to reach across the state lines. We hope to see it online as soon as possible.” Will The Lofts be the tipping point for downtown? Alverson said while an apartment and hotel complex itself can’t save the city, it paves the way to start attracting the kind of development to grow the city. Boykin said the projects will be destination points for people, including tourists from the three river cruise boats that are now stopping in Greenville. Greenville is also part of the designated Blues Trail, which also attracts visitors. Some cynics have questioned whether the project can really make a difference. “People thought I was crazy in the beginning, but somebody had to do it,” Boykin said. “Every community has to stand up and take a chance. I love the community. It is where I was born and raised. I want to do what I can to give back.” Boykin said the project couldn’t have happened without the support of Guaranty Bank and Trust, new market tax credits and historical tax credits. “Mississippi has a fantastic historical tax credit program,” he said. After Sheetrock is installed in the Sears building, painting is expected to begin in mid-to-late December. The hotel and loft apartments are expected to open sometime in March or April 2017. When 20,000 people recently were in Greenville for the Hot Tamale Festival, a lot of people got their first exposure to the restoration. Some visitors have already asked about booking a hotel room for the Hot Tamale Festival in 2017. “The project has been positive for our community,” Boykin said. “We have needed something to let us know we are better than we think we are. That is the main thing about it. Our downtown is safe and quiet. It’s a jewel. We just have to get everyone to come back down here after they get off in the evening and see what it is.”

BANKING

BancorpSouth net income for third quarter up BY JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

BancorpSouth Inc. reported net income of $37.8 million, or 40 cents per share, for the third quarter, compared with net income of $34.3 million, or 36 cents per share a year earlier. Net operating income was $36.7 million, or 39 cents a share, one cent lower than

the consensus reported by Zacks. Net operating income for the year-earlier period was $37.6 million, or 39 cents per share. In a release issued this week, Dan Rollins, chairman and chief executive, reassured shareholders again that the latest development in the protracted effort to acquire two banks is “a positive step.” The Tupelo-based lender and the two banks it seeks to buy, Central Community

Corp. of Temple, Texas and Ouachita Bancshares Corp. of West Monroe, La., agreed to extend their efforts to Dec. 31, 2017. It was the third extension of the agreement reached in 2014. The deal has been blocked by federal regulators. BancorpSouth reached a $10.6 million settlement with the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in June over alleged “redlin-

ing,” though the bank admitted to no wrongdoing. BancorpSouth has $14.6 billion assets and operates 236 full-service branches in eight states. Wall Street does not seem to be concerned with the bank’s regulatory problems. When BancorpSouth announced on Oct. 14 the delay of the mergers, its stock closed at $22.66 on the New York Stock Exchange. It closed at $23.15 a week later at $23.15, though down 30 cents from the previous day’s trading.

October 28, 2016

Mississippi Business Journal

HEALTH CARE

ER nurse gets patent for product By LISA MONTI mbj@msbusiness.com

Special to the MBJ

While some of her registered nurse colleagues were back to school to become nurse practitioners, Rebecca Capps decided to invest instead in a patent. She came up with the idea for her product - the StatSupport Belt - years ago, during a bout of insomnia. She saw her belt as a way to organize the tools that acute-care health professionals need on the job. “People were wearing fanny packs to work and digging their hands through the bag looking for stuff. That’s not really hygienic,” she said. The patent process was two years long but her attorney said, even at that length of time, “it was one of the quickest ones he had ever done because there’s nothing on the market to compare it to,” Capps said. A native of Nebraska, Capps has worked as an emergency room nurse for 25 years, her entire career. She joined the U.S. Army after nursing school and was assigned to one of the last MASH units that supported the 101st Airborne during the Iraq invasion in 1990.

The StatSupport Belt holds several key items used in emergency room situations.

She was a traveling nurse for a year and a half prior before returning to the ER at Hancock Medical Center in Bay St. Louis. The belt Capps designed holds a stethoscope on the hip instead of around the neck in a more comfortable fashion and it also has a holster for trauma shears to remove clothing from a patient and a place for items like an ink pen, smart phone and an ID badge.

Also, the belt is made of stretchy material for comfort and has memory foam that supports the back. All the material in the belt is antimicrobial, giving the wearer another layer of protection from bacteria. “The belts are very durable and you can wash them and they still retain their antimicrobial properties. They should last as long as work shoes,” she said.

She test marketed the belt by wearing a working prototype on a travel assignments to a 100-bed Level 1 ER in Miami. “Everybody flipped out over it and asked me, ‘Where did you get that? I want one.’” Capps didn’t reveal that she was the patent holder because, she said, “I wanted an honest opinion.” The response was all favorable. For all of its functionality, Capps said the most noteworthy thing about the belt is that all three components are made in the U.S. “The actual belt is made in South Carolina, the clips are made in Laurel, Miss., by an old family business - Richard Plastics - and the memory foam comes from a company in Hickory, N.C.” Capps said she wanted to make her product in the U.S. “even if it means less in profit. It’s that important.” Without any advertising, Capps said she has received her first order from a travel nurse company in Omaha. Production of the belts will gear up shortly after the new year. They will sell for around $40 and will be available online and through nursing catalogs. The South Carolina company that is making them also makes supply cases and backpacks. “They are very capable of rolling out with lots of them quickly,” Capps said.

www.bcbsms.com Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, A Mutual Insurance Company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an Association of Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

4 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016

STATE ECONOMISTS LOWER GROWTH FORECAST FOR REST OF YEAR » Private sector job growth predicted to help offset losses in government employment By TED CARTER mbj@msbusiness.com

CUBA

Continued from Page 1

help.” Several pieces of legislation pending in Congress would largely determine any change in trade relations with Cuba. One approach would allow only business with the fledgling private sector and another would lift the embargo entirely. One speaker, Dr. Jose Oro, a CubanAmerican and president of Oromax LLC, did not mince words about the trade restrictions. “I am totally against the embargo,” he said. Generally speaking, U.S. exports that are allowed can only be paid in cash in advance or must be financed by third country financial institutions. Fidel Castro, who is still living, turned over the reins of government to his brother, Raul, in 2008. In the wake of the 1959 revolution, the elder Castro seized U.S. property estimated to be worth $7 billion in today’s dollars. The stand-off between the two countries hardened after the revolution when the U.S. and the Soviet Union had a showdown over nuclear missiles the USSR had placed on Cuban soil. The lion’s share of the confiscated property was sugar factories, mines, oil refineries, and other business operations belonging to American corporations, among them the Coca-Cola Co., and Exxon, as ExxonMobil was called then, according to the Boston Globe. The Cuban outlook on America has changed, beginning with the collapse of the Soviet Union in December 1991. The Soviets had supported their communist ally with very favorable trade deals. Oro said Thursday: “We need $2.5 billion annually in foreign investment.” The nation needs industrial investments of $40 billion between now and 2030, $9 million in new construction between 2017

and 2025, including 900,000 houses and another 500,000 that “need to be seriously repaired,” Oro said. The housing need caught the attention of Bill Martin, director of the Franklin Furniture Institute at Mississippi State University. Houses need furniture and “that seems like an opportunity,” Martin said. Mississippi is a leading furniture maker. Like others in attendance, Martin said the summit was a starting point to gather information. Tourism, which has led the way in opening the door to Cuba, thus far is restricted to the “cultural” approach and person-to-person contact. Yet a luxury Starwood hotel has been opened in Havana and Western Union is offering a way to get money to tourists. Two of the speakers repeated the longheld position that the United States must return Guantanamo Naval Base, a 45-square-mile area on the southern end of the island leased by the U.S. since 1903, after the Spanish-American War. It was initially used to refuel with coal U.S. warships. Since a much more recent war, with Afghanistan, the area is also a holding facility for unlawful combatants. “It could easily be converted to tourism,” Oro said. He acknowledged that some of the power plants on the island are run on refined heavy crude oil, which is pollutive, but added that the country is making strides in alternative energy sources such as wind, primarily from the Trade Winds, and solar, which benefits from 292 days of sunshine per year. Wind power has “one of the biggest potentials for investment,” he said. The country is in need of commercial fertilizer, he said, adding that most of it “trickles in” from North Africa and Russia and has high transportation costs. Thus fertilizer has an “enormous” potential for investment. Of agriculture, he said, “The country needs to have food. Period.” Likewise, the agriculture is in dire need of assets to take advantage of its crop potential.

The work force is disincentivized because of the low pay, Oro said. Thus, modernizing the industry would allow the country to realize its potential, he said. Rice production in Cuba averages two tons per hectare (2.5 acres), he said, while rice growers in Mississippi and Louisiana produce seven tons. Asked if tractor and fertilizer dealerships might provide a valuable element to the economy, Oro replied that they would, because “the distribution system in Cuba is very weak.” Asked by an attendee about wages in the country, Ruben Ramos Arietta, head of the Economic and Trade Office for the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C., said the government sets them. He offered no examples of what he meant. Ramos did note progress that has been made in agreements with Sprint, AT&T and other telecoms. Enrique Lopez, a consultant who lives in Miami, said that “if it communicates, it’s allowed.” And Lopez said, anecdotally, the government does not monitor or restrict communications, unlike China. Ramos acknowledged that the country has a problem with its currency, which could pose a problem for those contemplating investing in or building in Cuba. Cuba has two currencies – the peso and the convertible peso. Both are legal on the island, though neither is exchangeable in foreign markets. The convertible peso is pegged to the dollar and is worth 25 times as much as the peso. Most Cubans are paid in pesos, but nearly all consumer goods are priced in convertible pesos. Yet with all the nation’s problems, Lopez said that “the train has left the station” and that neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump, vying to lead the American government, can stop it.

Mississippi’s state economists have pulled back on an already-weak economic forecast for the rest of 2016, projecting that the state’s economy will grow only 1.5 percent instead of the 1.6 percent previously predicted. The new report from state economists includes at least some good news on jobs, forecasting a 1 percent increase in payroll employment for the remainder of the year. If this occurs, it would be only the second annual increase in employment in Mississippi of 1 percent or more since 1999. Last year showed a 1.2 percent increase. State economists forecast 3.2 percent growth in Professional and Business Services in 2017 but predict the sector will lose 2,700 jobs by the end of the year. The sector is seen rebounding with 2,300 additional jobs in 2017 and topping increases in all employment categories in 2018 with an employment rise of 3.1 percent. Unsurprisingly in a state government that last fiscal year drew tens of millions of dollars from its rainy day fund to make ends meet, government employment for the rest of the year is projected to contract a half percent. Economists say this number is significant because government spending represents the largest portion of the state’s real GDP. “We do think that growth is going to be more in the private sector,” Darrin Webb, state economist, said in an interview last week. For Mississippi’s overall economy, “We’re forecasting modest growth the next several years,” he said, putting the state’s “real” GDP growth through 2018 at 1.5 percent. Real GDP is a measure of the value of goods and services output adjusted for price changes. While the “Mississippi Economic Outlook” from the University Research Center of the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning trims the state’s economic growth by .01 percent for the rest of the year, the 1.5 percent growth it predicts would be the first increases in real GDP in Mississippi in consecutive years since 2008. Mississippi officially climbed out of recession last year by capping 2015 with a growth in real GDP of 0.7 percent, the first increase since 2012. See ECONOMY, Page 8

MBJPERSPECTIVE

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October 28, 2016 • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

OTHER VIEWS

» THE OUTSIDE WORLD

State’s ballot security ensures an honest vote

Website: www.msbusiness.com October 28, 2016 Volume 38, Number 44

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JACK WEATHERLY Staff Writer jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com • 364-1016 TED CARTER Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 BECKY GILLETTE Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 NASH NUNNERY Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 364-1018

» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

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Taxpayers should be wary of tax reform schemes

Mississippi Business Journal (USPS 000-222) is published weekly with one annual issue by MSBJ 200 N. Congress St., Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201. Periodicals postage paid at Jackson, MS. Subscription rates: 1 year $109; 2 years $168; and 3 years $214. To place orders, temporarily stop service, change your address or inquire about billing: Phone: (601) 364-1000, Fax: (601) 364-1035, Email: charina.rhodes@msbusiness.com, Mail: MS Business Journal Subscription Services, 200 N.Congress Street, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Business Journal, Circulation Manager, 200 North Congress Street, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201 To submit subscription payments: Mail: MS Business Journal Subscriptions Services, 200 North Congress Street, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201. No material in this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent. Editorial and advertising material contained in this publication is derived from sources considered to be reliable, but the publication cannot guarantee their accuracy. Nothing contained herein should be construed as a solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities. It is the policy of this newspaper to employ people on the basis of their qualifications and with assurance of equal opportunity and treatment regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or handicap. The Mississippi Business Journal, is an affiliate of Journal Publishing Company (JPC), Inc.: Clay Foster, president and chief executive officer. Entire contents copyrighted © 2016 by Journal Inc. All rights reserved.

egislative leaders brought in an outside expert from the Tax Foundation to push the theory that Mississippi needs to make its business taxes more competitive. She argues lower business taxes, offset by higher user fees, property taxes and expanded sales taxes, will make Mississippi more competitive for business and jobs. While this approach may make the state more business tax competitive, there is no evidence it will result in more business growth and jobs. Taxes are just one of the many factors businesses consider when looking to expand or open new locations. Market size, wealth, competition and growth prospects; work-force size, skills, wage levels, and future availability; transportation and utilities access and costs; quality of schools and other lifestyle amenities; incentives; and other factors are equally if not more important than business taxes. Mississippi is already more competitive with its business taxes than it is in many of these other areas. The reality is our market size is small and wealth level is low. Our work force availability is limited, our overall skill levels low,

Bill Crawford

and our pipeline of future qualified workers from our schools needs improvement. Our transportation infrastructure is in crisis. Indeed, Mississippi will end up worse off if overdone business tax cuts result in less money for work force, schools, and transportation. They need more funding, not less, if Mississippi is to become truly competitive. Individual taxpayers should be especially wary. After all, who else will bear the tax load shifted off businesses? While individual taxpayers would be losers from the tax expert’s recommended schemes, out-of-state corporations, not surprisingly, would be winners. While touting itself as an independent voice for prudent tax policy, the Tax Foundation’s annual report displays its increasing bias toward business. “Businesses Need Tax Reform” it proclaims, then touts its annual “State Business Tax Climate Index” and efforts to spur pro-business tax reform around the country. Individual tax equity is not touted. Note, Mississippi’s corporate taxes See CRAWFORD, Page 7

epublican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s claims that the election is in danger of being stolen or “rigged” won’t find much wiggle room in Mississippi because our state’s ballot security is as airtight as a system can be. Trump’s claim that someone is ready to rig the Nov. 8 general election in which he faces Democrat Hillary Clinton has stirred the waters in some quarters, but one of Trump’s fellow Republicans, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann has expended huge volumes of political, legislative and personal energy to ensure ballot integrity in Mississippi. Hosemann, a well-known attorney before he was elected secretary of state, has offered repeated assurances that the Mississippi election process is secure and that efforts are ongoing to keep it that way. Hosemann has said specifically that database information about Mississippi’s registered voters also is secure and that the system has not been hacked. In a news release, Hosemann said Thursday the Statewide Electronic Management System, which contains the information on Mississippi voters, is continuously monitored by state officials and various steps are taken to ensure the database remains secure. On Wednesday, during an interview with the Daily Journal, Hosemann said the Nov. 8 presidential elections would be run fairly and free of fraud in Mississippi. It is significant that part of the reason Hosemann can offer reassurances about integrity and security is that Mississippi has gotten rid of weak links in its election laws, and the state’s procedures long ago stopped relying on old methods and practices more likely to fall to intentional human error. In recent months, officials say there have been 4,000-5,000 unsuccessful efforts to hack into the Mississippi voter database. Birthdays, partial Social Security numbers and other information can be found on the statewide voter database. The state’s nearly 7,000 voting machines are not connected on the Internet, and the machine totals are backed up by a paper trail of ballot copies securely held “The only way to steal Mississippians’ votes is by physically accessing each of the machines,” Hosemann said. “With the way polling places are organized and staffed, and the way our machines tabulate votes, it is implausible that any individual or group could ever change the outcome of an election.” Many politicians of varying political stripes have talked during the years of deceased people and tapping prospective voters with offers of cash, liquor or other favors, but widespread voter fraud or vote-buying is rare. Voters can virtually ensure their individual ballot’s integrity by following the process, including holding voter identity documentation. — The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

PERSPECTIVE » RICKY NOBILE

October 28, 2016 I Mississippi Business Journal

CRAWFORD

Continued from Page 6

already rank highly competitive on the business climate index at 12th. As legislators struggle to cope with persistent revenue shortfalls and what to do about pending business tax cuts, they rummage anxiously for spending cuts. Interestingly, the day after Mississippi Today reported legislators may take away the $9.4 million the Department of Health spends on tobacco control programs, the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s monthly Pediatric Update expressed alarm about tobacco’s impact on children. “68,000 children living in our state may ultimately die prematurely from smoking and related health risks,” said the update. “The annual number of kids who become new daily smokers in Mississippi is nearly 4.5 times higher when compared to annual numbers for the United States as a whole. Data like this reinforces the need for interventions focused on prevention.” Prevention is the primary goal of the Department of Health’s program. Shortsighted cuts can have long-term consequences, as this one would have for children and children’s Medicaid, overdone business tax cuts would have for Mississippi’s overall competitiveness, and over-taxed individuals would have for future elections. Bill Crawford (crawfolk@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.

»FROM THE GROUND UP

Business Communication 101: The latest thing

he message that is sent is never the message that is received. Two things about the history of communication are clear: The methods of communicating have evolved and the rate of change has accelerated. The methods have run the gamut from grunts and hand signals to email and texting. In modern times the rate of change is so great that Myspace is already a memory, the fax machine is gathering dust and emojis might represent one’s feelings better than words. And just when one thinks they are up to speed, another new way to communicate comes along. While writing this column I received an email inviting me, an Amazon Prime member, to get my Amazon Dash Button today. A what? I had to watch the video to learn how to use this yet another form of communication. The “button” is a device that is about the size of a thumb drive with a button-looking circle on it that one places near a product that is reordered often. Laundry detergent, coffee, pet food, even potato chips. When running low on the product the user/customer merely pushes the button to reorder the item. The button communicates with the customer’s smartphone, which immediately communicates with Amazon to order the product. Amazon’s computer then sends an email to the smartphone confirming the order. How’s that for another form of communication? By the way, there are over 200 dash buttons for your favorite products so far. And to think that the little gizmos cost only $4.99 each for Amazon Prime members. Technology and the Internet thus continue to modify and create our methods of communication. With over half of the inhabitants of the planet now having access to the Internet, who knows what’s next? According to Internet World Stats News, the Internet has just reached another record figure in the world. That organization’s database shows there are 3,675,824.813 Internet users in the world. The Internet penetration rate, equivalent to the percentage of the world population that has access to the Internet, is now 50.1 percent. Although technology is changing ways to communicate, it

should be remembered that all communication is situational. The Vatican still uses smoke to communicate a certain message, intelligence agencies still use coded messages and parents still use discipline to send a message. So what’s a business to do when it comes to communication? Especially communication in the legal world and in situations where there needs to be no misunderstanding about the message that is sent and the message that is received. Recently, my class was honored to have two of Mississippi leading attorneys, Jim Warren with the Carroll Warren & Parker law firm, and Tommy Shepherd, with the Jones Walker law firm. Each attorney has years of experience and has dealt with many types of clients, adversaries and situations. They presented their perspectives on the best to least desirable communications methods, which are presented below in order. The best form of communication is the face-to-face meeting. It reveals nonverbal communication, which is sometimes louder than what the other person is saying. It involves instant resolution in case there is miscommunication. Nonverbal communication, for example, may be a shrug, a folding of the arms or a look away from the other person. Next is the telephone call. It reveals tone of voice and inflections. Like the face to face meeting it is also a quick way to clarify the message and instantly resolve any miscommunication. The letter is next on the list of desirable forms of communication. Both attorneys stressed the significance of the lost art of the handwritten note, which can be a powerful form of communication. The fax is still around in many business environments and

is appropriate in many situations. Email is ubiquitous and used now my most people. One point made about Phil Hardwick email was that every email should be answered promptly, even it is to acknowledge receipt of the email. Email threads show the back and forth electronic conversation and provide a record of what was conveyed. Another point well-taken, was that if the email is “bad” or makes the receiver angry, the receiver should wait until he calms down before sending an email

And just when one thinks they are up to speed, another new way to communicate comes along. While writing this column I received an email inviting me, an Amazon Prime member, to get my Amazon Dash Button today. A what? I had to watch the video to learn how to use this yet another form of communication. they might later regret. Texting is last on the list, but it may sometimes be the most important. For example, if it’s 9 a.m. and someone is sending a customer a reminder about a business lunch meeting it may be better to send a text instead of an email because they may not read the email until it’s too late. Finally, both attorneys stressed that it is important to ask the other person which form of communication they prefer because these are general recommendations for most cases. » Phil Hardwick is a regular Mississippi Business Journal columnist and owner of Hardwick & Associates, LLC, which provides strategic planning facilitation and leadership training services. His email is phil@philhardwick. com and he’s on the web at www.philhardwick.com.

8 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016

GOLF

Sanderson tourney is run like a business ‘with a heart’ BY JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com

The Sanderson Farms Championship pumps about $23 million a year into the economy of the Jackson area and the rest of Mississippi. In professional golf and business, those things don’t just happen. Such results take a lot of planning and execution. “It is truly full-time, year-round,” said Steve Jent, tournament executive director who has a five-person staff. The commitment to establish a staff came after Sanderson Farms became the title sponsor in 2013, a signal from the Laurelbased poultry giant that it wanted a professional operation from the get-go. This year’s tourney started Monday and is scheduled to end Sunday. “We work 51 weeks a year to make sure this one week gets carried out,” he said. In fact, the team started working two months ago on the 2017 tournament, he said. “The PGA tour is a little bit of the circus comes to town. We put up tents and then we tear it all down.” This is the third year Jent has directed the Jackson tourney. He came from the Wyndham Championship, formerly the Greensboro (N.C.) Open, where he was director of sales. “We are a small business, a 501c3 putting on an event for charity.” The Blair Batson Children’s Hospital is the primary recipient of proceeds from the event, through the Friends of Children’s Hospital, which has received $11 million and other charities since 1994. Last year, Friends received $1.15 million. The Sanderson Championship is the same week as the World Golf Championship in China, which grabs the top 50

ECONOMY

JACK WEATHERLY / MBJ

Steve Jent (above) directs the year-round effort with his staff. Joe Sanderson, chief executive of the poultry producer, checks things out on the 18th green.

players in the world. “We’re a small market, but our goal is still to be the best,” Jent said. The winner of the Sanderson will get $756,000 of the $4.2 million purse and a two-year exemption from qualifying for a PGA event, Jent said. The Mississippi stop on the tour might’ve disappeared after Viking Range pulled its sponsorship following the 2011 championship. “That would have been a black eye for Mississippi,” said Joe Sanderson, chief executive officer and chairman of the board. The 2012 tourney was patched together under the name True South Classic. Gov. Phil Bryant called Sanderson in January 2013 and asked if the company would consider taking the lead. “I immediately thought: ‘Our target audience is women 25 to 65. Golf Channel and women 25 to 65 makes no sense.’” The CEO told the board of the publicly traded company in January that the proposition had been made, though he was not ready to make a proposal.

Over the next month, he pondered the request long and hard. Then it occurred to him that Sanderson Farms had never done any public relations or corporate profile ads. “We’d never done anything PR-wise. We’d done a lot of consumer advertising.” He also pondered the loss of proceeds from the tournament to the Children’s Hospital. Sanderson recommended it to his board the next month, and the nation’s thirdlargest poultry producer took it on. “We told the governor and Century Clubs Charities we’d try it on a one-year basis to see if it fit.” “We had to be ready by July,” he said Monday in the company’s white-tent “chalet” attached to one of the grandstands on the 18th green, one of a number of such corporately-sponsored tents that have sprouted along the fairways of the 7,421yard course. “We tried it and it felt good. So we made a deal. . . that we would take it on for three years and move it to the fall. We’d rather compete against football than we had

Figure 3. Five-year average growth in real GDP

Continued from Page 4 2.5%

2.2%

For 2017, state economists project real GDP in Mississippi to grow at an annual rate of 1.6 percent, a slight a slight increase over 2016. The latest forecast for growth in the U.S. economy in 2016 stands at 1.4 percent, a reduction of a half percentage point from the previous forecast, the state’s fall forecast reports. Improvement is expected in real GDP nationally in 2017 and 2018, with growth of 2.2 percent forecast for each year. Meanwhile, Mississippians are forecast to see income increases of 3.3 percent in 2016 based on stronger income growth the ﬁrst two quarters of the year. “If the forecast of 3.3 percent growth for 2016 is realized, it will represent the largest increase in personal income in Mississippi since 2012, when personal income grew 3.9 percent,” the “Mississippi Economic Outlook” reports. The report says Mississippians can expect income increases to continue in 2017 and 2018 with growth forecast to reach 3.8 percent for 2017 and 4.8 percent in 2018.

2.1%

2.0%

1.8%

1.5% 1.0% 0.5%

0.5%

0.0%

2011-2015

2016-2020† Mississippi

U.S.

†Projected. Sources: Bureau of Economic Analysis; URC University Research Center

The 4.8 percent growth in income forecast for 2018 would be the largest increase in personal income in Mississippi since 2008, when personal income in the state grew 5.2 percent, the fall report says. The income forecasts for Mississippi are in line with forecasts for U.S. personal income in 2018, when incomes nationally are projected to rise 4.9 percent. For 2017, incomes nationally are expected to outpace Mississippi’s

against 100-degree temperatures and thunderstorms.” The poultry producer found that its customers – those who buy its chicken on the commercial scale – enjoy participating in the tournament. And they show it. For instance, John Soules Foods of Tyler, Texas, a leading producer of fajitas, sponsored the Monday proam. Allen Exploration of Dallas, Texas, sponsored the Wednesday pro-am for the second time. Allen had been a vendor for Sysco, the world’s largest food services firm, which is a major customer for Sanderson. In both cases, the companies have “a heart for the hospital,” Sanderson said. As do Trustmark and BankPlus, also major sponsors, he added. Sanderson put its heart and money where its mouth is and committed in 2014 to a 10year extension at the Jackson Country Club after this year’s tournament. Allen followed that example, anouncing Wednesday that it would extend its sponsorship through 2026,

projected 3.8 percent growth by increasing a full percentage point to 4.4 percent, according to the fall report. Look for job Mississippi’s growth to total 0.9 percent through 2020, the fall report says. Though below a full percent, the average job growth is an improvement over the 0.08 percent Mississippi saw from 2011 to 2015, state economists say. The Leisure and Hospitality sector is projected to bring the largest employment gains for the remainder of this year, adding 3,600 jobs. By percentage, the Transportation and Utilities sector is expected to generate the largest increase in employment in 2016 of 3.1 percent. The largest drop is projected to be in Natural Resources and Mining is projected, with an employment decline of 9.5 percent. Webb, the state economist, said signs are that Mississippi’s manufacturing will be growing the next few years. Construction is also seen rebounding, he said. “We think construction will be coming back. That has been kind of a drag for us.” The fall report predicts a 2.4 percent increase in construction spending in 2017. Health care, a mainstay of metro Jackson’s economy, is also projected to continue its growth, according to Webb.

October 28, 2016

MISSISSIPPI GOVERNMENT

Lawmakers examine agencies’ travel expenses Mississippi legislators are combing through state agencies’ travel reports to try to cut costs on events such as out-of-state conferences. Members of House and Senate budget groups met Monday with several officials, including Medicaid director David Dzielak and Corrections Commissioner Marshall Fisher. Many agencies require multiple levels of supervisors to approve travel expenses. Dzielak said he signs off on employees’ out-of-state conferences. Fisher said trips to conferences have been reduced since he became head of the state prison system in January 2015. The Department of Corrections spent $495,604 on travel during the year that ended June 30, 2016. That was down from $752,110 the previous year, when Fisher inherited a budget midway through the fiscal year. Records show the biggest reduction was for out-of-state trips. The Division of Medicaid spent $512,913 on travel during the year that ended June 30, 2012, and is budgeted $716,083 during the current year, records show. The agency has 1,034 employees, and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves said more than 80 of them traveled out of state for work last year.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

Mississippi Business Journal

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

If Raytheon gets jet contract, Meridian gets assembly plant Raytheon Co . says that if it gets an Air Force contract to build 350 training jets, its assembly plant will be in Mississippi. The Waltham, Mass.-based company announced Monday that it has a shovel-ready site in Meridian. “We anticipate the Meridian facility will create hundreds of new jobs,” spokesman B.J. Boling said in an email. A Raytheon radar factory in Forest, Miss. has about 800 employees, according to a news release from Mississippi’s congressional delegation. Three other international partnerships are competing: Northrop Grumman Corp. and BAE Systems; Boeing and Saab AB; and Lockheed Martin and Korean Aerospace Industries Ltd. Raytheon’s principal partners are Leonardo-Finmeccanica, CAE USA and Honeywell Aerospace. The Air Force has said it expects to award contracts next fall. It is expected to formally ask for proposals in December, Boling wrote. Boeing and Northrop Grumman say they have built all-new planes for the competition. Lockheed Martin and Raytheon say their entries are upgrades of existing planes. The Air Force released requirements for what it calls the T-X trainer project in March. The current trainer, Northrop Grumman’s T-38, was first built in 1961. It

can be used to teach only six of 18 advanced pilot training tasks, and fewer than 75 percent of the 431 planes are usable, the Air Force said. “New, cutting-edge training aircraft are critical to our national security, and I am confident that Mississippi workers can help provide those planes,” U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran, a Republican and chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and its defense subcommittee, said in the delegation’s news release. “I look forward to this competition and I am excited that Meridian may play an expanded role in defense of our nation.” Other members of Mississippi’s delegation were equally enthusiastic. “Mississippi’s talent base is as skilled and prepared for high-tech manufacturing jobs as any in the nation and this is further proof of that,” said Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, a Democrat.

— from staff and MBJ wire services

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10 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016 September 2016 sales tax receipts/year to date, July 1 MISSISSIPPI STATE TAX COMMISSION Here are cities’ earnings through sales tax collections. Sales tax has a three-month cycle. Month 1 — Tax is collected by the retailer. Month 2 — Tax is reported/paid to the Tax Commission by the retailer. Month 3 — Sales tax diversion is paid by the Tax Commission to the cities. This report is based on the month the tax is collected at the Tax Commission (Month 2). September September Year to date YTD CITY 2016 2015 2016 2015 ABBEVILLE $4,487.69 $5,235.52 $14,427.43 $15,696.16 ABERDEEN 70,913.89 64,438.93 205,697.59 190,871.47 ACKERMAN 22,308.57 22,861.91 68,194.99 69,182.86 ALCORN STATE U 228.48 89.22 493.60 800.44 ALGOMA 2,625.42 2,110.53 7,513.04 8,306.95 ALLIGATOR 433.44 491.23 1,379.76 1,743.36 AMORY 169,017.78 154,266.96 502,435.01 485,558.36 ANGUILLA 2,645.92 2,922.59 8,274.07 9,945.47 ARCOLA 1,297.85 1,503.01 4,084.95 4,498.67 ARTESIA 1,139.16 897.65 2,548.55 2,790.27 ASHLAND 14,136.58 13,154.06 39,065.72 38,178.27 BALDWYN 45,069.75 42,271.11 132,526.92 127,855.18 BASSFIELD 11,399.68 11,514.87 34,747.04 37,109.37 BATESVILLE 360,282.78 371,102.38 1,109,209.42 1,078,905.51 BAY SPRINGS 57,849.25 55,367.54 165,394.71 171,103.05 BAY ST LOUIS 122,011.77 136,556.55 397,401.17 402,177.69 BEAUMONT 7,737.29 6,034.33 25,443.94 18,097.22 BEAUREGARD 223.42 269.59 644.97 778.74 BELMONT 27,319.88 26,922.50 79,673.94 84,116.35 BELZONI 37,656.63 40,345.52 118,840.66 124,739.10 BENOIT 2,444.43 6,246.04 10,901.24 19,020.72 BENTONIA 10,065.28 15,199.44 36,788.77 49,930.56 BEULAH 306.14 370.48 916.64 1,112.85 BIG CREEK 250.29 278.42 796.04 999.36 BILOXI 970,705.91 972,939.81 3,287,123.69 3,167,583.61 BLUE MOUNTAIN 10,850.33 11,231.66 33,992.08 32,068.03 BLUE SPRINGS 2,561.67 2,430.95 7,455.45 7,517.31 BOLTON 13,244.54 12,642.87 39,584.33 34,671.55 BOONEVILLE 162,821.42 159,766.26 473,073.08 462,532.42 BOYLE 20,176.77 12,709.31 58,699.15 44,293.16 BRANDON 486,375.33 467,405.76 1,457,624.32 1,370,256.53 BRAXTON 1,651.40 1,469.66 4,251.18 4,125.16 BROOKHAVEN 471,437.49 500,236.61 1,426,711.95 1,437,416.46 BROOKSVILLE 9,664.08 10,045.16 30,743.91 31,890.60 BRUCE 43,924.29 39,859.39 126,474.04 130,653.45 BUDE 10,362.40 11,154.51 33,788.32 34,547.32 BURNSVILLE 14,571.22 20,893.20 44,672.62 48,817.03 BYHALIA 69,522.53 61,685.74 186,792.83 182,832.77 BYRAM 229,097.42 214,676.68 658,232.73 531,007.43 CALEDONIA 13,913.30 13,667.71 41,219.76 42,103.07 CALHOUN CITY 28,121.79 24,045.55 81,050.65 76,537.41 CANTON 238,099.40 234,059.06 721,651.73 710,610.07 CARROLLTON 5,825.08 6,851.23 19,134.46 20,229.55 CARTHAGE 147,948.81 143,591.52 438,915.78 427,201.82 CARY 1,219.16 1,151.55 3,793.67 3,431.38 CENTREVILLE 18,548.95 19,428.46 56,475.53 60,553.88 CHARLESTON 25,713.48 28,455.30 83,140.62 83,499.38 CHUNKY 689.36 636.96 2,224.73 2,657.04 CLARKSDALE 223,630.29 219,380.79 651,301.40 655,751.01 CLEVELAND 297,265.53 297,892.24 883,236.64 914,707.07 CLINTON 373,811.01 376,998.17 1,132,042.05 1,133,252.00 COAHOMA 567.52 540.88 1,693.65 2,673.42 COAHOMA COLLEGE 1,003.61 1,096.63 1,060.25 1,141.04 COFFEEVILLE 10,204.08 10,346.07 31,937.15 33,132.95 COLDWATER 18,234.27 18,984.42 54,390.18 58,187.55 COLLINS 125,455.24 129,413.56 396,729.52 401,104.20 COLUMBIA 264,957.66 241,289.77 777,796.59 777,820.03 COLUMBUS 794,276.80 793,973.50 2,424,265.24 2,348,987.83 COMO 14,774.02 14,410.17 43,882.24 41,478.83 CORINTH 506,876.63 499,762.75 1,548,107.14 1,548,728.67 COURTLAND 1,550.18 1,723.93 4,911.64 5,017.24 CRAWFORD 1,559.74 1,408.49 4,588.36 4,548.53 CRENSHAW 4,695.15 5,129.30 15,408.11 15,617.47 CROSBY 582.38 749.04 1,999.00 3,717.35 CROWDER 2,224.69 2,070.05 6,801.62 5,720.08 CRUGER 373.51 587.92 1,278.74 1,405.33 CRYSTAL SPRINGS 56,762.19 61,359.49 182,701.60 186,082.49 D LO 2,413.03 2,899.73 7,259.92 8,778.05 D’IBERVILLE 570,449.45 578,446.02 1,796,432.46 1,710,748.54 DECATUR 13,947.53 14,494.25 36,521.50 39,552.21 DEKALB 20,756.87 17,291.00 51,798.33 55,887.98 DERMA 5,984.06 10,626.27 20,120.44 30,795.97 DIAMONDHEAD 44,462.95 45,144.76 140,843.73 142,035.68 DODDSVILLE 736.08 923.29 1,657.05 2,927.65 DREW 7,211.21 10,676.68 25,820.27 32,006.16 DUCK HILL 3,653.71 4,207.41 12,334.08 12,919.43 DUMAS 1,245.90 1,370.93 3,777.48 6,483.74 DUNCAN 587.24 601.81 1,578.05 1,573.33 DURANT 37,991.66 26,296.82 152,835.66 81,464.05 EAST MS COLLEGE 1,118.82 735.25 1,180.32 926.68 ECRU 11,387.05 22,220.19 52,618.00 75,442.05 EDEN 85.53 75.94 145.76 232.36 EDWARDS 5,691.20 5,752.62 17,902.10 19,751.19 ELLISVILLE 79,063.44 76,075.84 251,532.36 229,871.64 ENTERPRISE 5,567.12 6,122.70 17,246.12 18,099.99 ETHEL 2,177.20 996.24 6,361.08 5,107.47 EUPORA 32,176.84 34,783.40 103,677.90 108,701.57 FALCON 135.45 113.47 330.91 367.66 FALKNER 4,941.59 4,849.52 16,543.56 15,487.87 FARMINGTON 2,276.59 1,983.91 7,787.14 9,025.64 FAYETTE 17,538.36 18,540.70 51,911.70 52,565.28 FLORA 30,847.90 26,139.31 86,596.72 83,062.08 FLORENCE 73,336.35 81,810.13 227,231.55 231,016.37 FLOWOOD 938,612.40 942,283.34 2,826,597.20 2,811,752.35 FOREST 187,313.64 191,380.95 572,526.45 569,783.21 FRENCH CAMP 891.13 1,003.64 4,084.18 3,088.28 FRIARS POINT 2,491.64 1,846.32 7,245.80 5,889.69

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

136,373.61 109.09 178,043.91 3,028.12 2,314.29 289.82 12,654.58 5,339.72 3,514.84 475,256.44 379,875.08 365,085.54 1,678,860.63 808.17 17,425.43 318.30 1,785,577.90 104,506.12 18,652.52 270,598.03 4,467.48 6,167.35 827.28 12,991.25 110,375.72 376,785.92 8,101.18 91,243.24 159,497.07 5,367.51 2,285.09 11,737.07 70,589.48 2,483,262.01 1,954.24 376.30 5,212.78 172,095.85 3,102.34 7,559.37 2,627.09 730,199.57 25,581.20 766.21 49,251.99 1,742.39 32,375.49 21,774.35 123,264.93 2,377.14 1,544.04 157,017.97 176,497.16 2,988.48 13,776.75 2,927.91 7,553.66 49,571.24 651,228.21 168,795.96 32,676.71 17,214.67 2,102.30 4,511.16 18,507.33 16,764.79 15,294.67 784.81 461,500.16 1,376.66 4,350.18 12,012.36 50,783.96 1,177,168.35 6,718.05 1,011.43 7,823.77 39,911.87 172.17 7,543.78 542.66 46,024.21 160,769.36 4,031.05 1,118.98 34,206.29 927.86 10,040.25 4,806.95 435,969.39 27,715.31 268,981.78 12,645.14 6,264.38 83,269.16 3,329.28 8,898.56 5,811.00 405,883.65 23,759.15 815,124.43 5,133.78 800,164.92 487.55 1,808.47 76.24

127,807.03 137.21 186,110.54 3,821.38 2,129.91 425.13 12,066.15 5,229.54 3,557.62 648,048.94 360,514.99 357,499.49 1,674,235.08 848.93 16,722.61 352.32 1,884,727.08 109,176.94 21,157.45 268,319.86 4,492.93 5,175.07 1,060.66 14,001.78 118,998.62 337,421.91 7,666.94 85,460.66 160,440.93 3,980.97 3,010.61 11,778.15 66,366.74 2,622,792.12 2,878.22 1,833.35 6,885.20 167,000.75 3,235.75 5,915.84 1,829.20 710,311.39 24,449.75 792.78 46,143.86 1,899.98 34,683.09 21,400.50 114,452.99 2,539.89 1,585.65 164,700.15 176,587.12 2,855.62 13,251.23 2,300.93 7,587.60 46,505.48 621,517.53 171,785.28 32,572.86 20,396.80 2,886.78 4,340.36 16,101.66 22,858.80 13,008.26 1,140.33 462,033.96 1,811.36 5,975.30 11,938.41 53,405.66 1,242,658.53 6,606.37 1,124.21 11,170.03 39,442.51 411.04 8,276.76 559.58 41,213.03 165,790.70 3,949.73 1,028.17 33,509.21 769.97 9,619.54 4,761.62 446,916.04 27,175.86 257,206.11 14,610.58 6,971.26 81,324.24 3,393.98 7,329.68 6,262.59 452,852.62 23,719.54 786,156.65 5,193.63 722,966.85 589.71 1,877.30 74.51

392,660.40 300.57 558,687.41 9,919.64 5,857.04 806.21 38,684.39 15,411.59 9,916.59 1,479,958.00 1,076,714.46 1,116,388.51 5,276,598.06 2,381.90 52,836.20 908.81 5,380,224.85 317,564.59 57,591.25 819,950.75 16,585.22 18,500.37 2,438.06 44,447.67 342,656.36 1,163,477.58 24,188.89 270,508.59 478,368.41 15,761.35 6,886.90 34,948.08 216,213.00 7,448,249.15 6,707.36 1,246.88 16,477.80 512,043.24 9,399.92 22,660.18 7,731.47 2,146,025.40 73,913.69 2,043.94 143,611.40 5,351.61 101,884.65 64,507.69 357,976.04 7,585.43 3,985.60 468,620.01 534,738.69 8,529.97 41,709.91 6,867.57 22,301.00 151,958.09 1,964,030.02 516,459.87 100,848.24 52,333.43 7,280.36 13,672.60 59,023.72 52,612.50 46,557.73 2,463.77 1,374,998.80 5,964.77 14,757.78 34,945.18 153,982.76 3,540,252.64 19,530.93 2,835.20 21,844.33 116,404.53 447.93 23,264.80 1,583.47 127,954.53 470,763.85 11,440.19 1,299.11 71,590.38 1,283.65 30,530.88 14,646.65 1,296,292.14 84,995.16 813,007.64 38,340.10 20,333.33 252,442.50 10,782.33 26,280.05 19,274.20 1,219,477.84 72,754.05 2,460,803.58 15,865.67 2,170,654.89 1,495.52 5,468.62 210.78

370,501.70 436.75 567,399.57 11,420.66 6,497.92 1,620.65 37,235.97 15,401.71 10,250.77 1,705,013.92 1,084,731.32 1,056,272.47 5,239,248.71 2,657.31 49,999.83 1,140.04 5,549,670.21 331,892.18 64,786.31 821,380.08 14,818.30 16,498.65 2,496.79 44,754.85 344,977.09 1,035,236.41 24,010.46 260,330.83 482,312.16 14,844.16 9,287.38 35,263.36 204,472.93 7,831,441.84 8,845.55 3,104.58 18,096.57 506,901.45 11,775.96 18,421.82 5,260.90 2,176,385.71 74,114.56 2,239.07 159,443.87 5,472.18 109,318.36 64,441.94 351,704.60 7,666.68 4,359.11 503,852.91 537,250.13 8,915.07 42,247.12 7,051.57 23,294.23 153,270.80 1,702,605.66 531,578.32 98,969.50 60,710.17 8,710.58 13,797.97 56,355.18 61,718.54 44,370.69 3,291.62 1,417,677.64 4,668.32 17,381.42 36,721.61 160,312.01 3,711,956.37 21,179.91 3,610.92 30,258.27 123,442.31 1,396.90 24,379.20 1,879.29 127,538.03 483,677.36 12,084.44 1,276.01 67,969.39 1,229.02 29,466.60 14,996.01 1,343,680.57 89,902.76 790,059.14 43,585.56 22,597.61 249,611.93 10,439.57 24,068.92 20,119.41 1,266,149.02 70,302.33 2,355,297.10 16,135.17 1,990,791.03 1,750.60 5,698.56 209.11

PASCAGOULA PASS CHRISTIAN PAULDING PEARL PELAHATCHIE PETAL PHILADELPHIA PICAYUNE PICKENS PITTSBORO PLANTERSVILLE POLKVILLE PONTOTOC POPE POPLARVILLE PORT GIBSON POTTS CAMP PRENTISS PUCKETT PURVIS QUITMAN RALEIGH RAYMOND RENOVA RICHLAND RICHTON RIDGELAND RIENZI RIPLEY ROLLING FORK ROSEDALE ROXIE RULEVILLE SALLIS SALTILLO SANDERSVILLE SARDIS SATARTIA SCHLATER SCOOBA SEBASTOPOL SEMINARY SENATOBIA SHANNON SHAW SHELBY SHERMAN SHUBUTA SHUQUALAK SIDON SILVER CITY SILVER CREEK SLATE SPRINGS SLEDGE SMITHVILLE SNOWLAKESHORES SOSO SOUTHAVEN SOUTHWEST COMM STARKVILLE STATE LINE STONEWALL STURGIS SUMMIT SUMNER SUMRALL SUNFLOWER SYLVARENA TAYLOR TAYLORSVILLE TCHULA TERRY THAXTON TISHOMINGO TOCCOPOLA TOWN OF WALLS TREMONT TUNICA TUPELO TUTWILER TYLERTOWN UNION UNIV OF MISS UTICA VAIDEN VARDAMAN VERONA VICKSBURG WALNUT WALNUT GROVE WALTHALL WATER VALLEY WAVELAND WAYNESBORO WEBB WEIR WESSON WEST WEST POINT WIGGINS WINONA WINSTONVILLE WOODLAND WOODVILLE YAZOO CITY TOTAL

438,446.39 107,187.04 180.79 823,366.41 33,978.43 204,235.35 323,925.84 398,669.25 5,063.42 1,607.59 3,980.00 1,019.05 201,210.05 3,287.79 66,089.02 27,980.84 7,768.23 34,330.76 11,336.74 89,585.53 42,170.89 15,082.34 23,297.99 1,888.36 519,686.77 27,488.67 1,109,693.68 4,270.32 117,583.36 28,909.08 10,040.97 1,650.86 19,949.45 1,757.19 80,715.28 20,280.39 22,883.69 401.59 1,042.48 8,392.47 15,091.03 12,363.36 182,300.80 12,366.68 7,032.79 8,760.00 30,148.10 3,798.15 3,513.32 560.00 433.54 2,875.72 129.50 1,397.06 5,538.67 117.18 11,019.30 1,212,879.33 135.36 596,316.48 12,426.47 5,930.05 2,685.06 36,872.80 4,347.23 43,879.86 3,127.28 385.75 3,254.84 28,139.80 6,590.35 31,331.95 3,384.83 11,008.95 281.87 7,391.75 1,456.65 29,014.63 1,663,582.24 3,740.86 58,031.10 38,621.97 9,399.46 6,825.23 8,923.43 10,815.09 19,018.67 632,067.52 18,650.19 6,415.87 1,449.23 46,201.78 190,715.44 166,352.25 6,821.17 3,091.33 12,701.03 1,091.08 209,669.94 157,387.72 85,459.16 306.90 6,530.87 29,358.91 132,317.32 $35,717,571.93

437,020.37 108,463.16 180.39 845,415.48 34,324.05 203,425.10 338,887.87 378,668.08 6,566.65 1,042.22 4,994.33 568.25 204,295.05 3,520.10 68,384.66 17,099.59 6,825.66 36,844.13 7,581.40 71,581.03 44,460.67 16,545.35 22,644.04 2,604.17 510,523.02 27,469.99 1,076,576.21 4,478.77 103,511.52 33,970.52 9,901.49 1,574.40 18,453.29 1,814.58 71,817.64 16,864.23 28,075.59 167.90 946.97 7,343.23 16,787.41 13,312.73 189,862.82 11,341.44 6,642.99 9,304.02 20,102.45 4,021.35 2,023.94 668.09 494.59 3,166.90 177.25 1,619.43 2,553.13 438.43 11,370.30 1,136,192.26 240.89 581,451.55 11,442.95 5,482.22 3,011.21 37,173.17 3,448.48 44,118.55 2,745.66 342.90 1,520.72 27,699.02 7,137.68 25,618.66 3,470.97 10,150.76 293.32 8,808.95 1,425.90 23,069.30 1,567,758.49 4,467.44 57,342.98 30,532.19 10,920.43 9,069.47 10,934.77 9,743.90 17,859.46 664,501.32 23,724.39 5,703.12 2,316.33 43,183.54 191,962.93 167,021.52 7,996.66 1,383.23 14,464.11 1,299.80 204,331.76 153,891.14 76,923.12 241.09 5,855.93 30,641.24 143,887.52 $35,764,864.43

1,308,728.87 1,345,377.93 362,654.74 323,257.83 558.52 572.20 2,477,035.21 2,543,974.35 105,530.51 105,748.55 613,549.52 616,365.96 1,041,255.15 1,072,200.86 1,177,570.17 1,159,597.94 16,746.17 20,014.26 4,924.79 3,880.83 13,797.04 13,515.64 3,335.22 2,012.65 591,334.92 608,126.12 9,780.52 10,308.78 199,540.90 196,521.02 85,016.54 57,020.71 23,640.88 21,854.65 103,567.72 112,596.78 26,728.46 27,436.28 248,172.35 212,038.54 130,669.29 136,568.35 44,493.64 50,194.89 58,072.13 58,164.77 6,109.86 7,557.30 1,395,380.83 1,456,040.18 85,952.52 84,673.35 3,305,370.42 4,947,673.55 13,510.47 14,563.48 333,727.81 316,331.74 94,366.65 100,971.95 29,868.82 31,431.82 4,857.83 4,780.51 57,850.01 56,038.05 5,410.53 5,404.07 247,512.99 227,955.03 63,201.20 54,891.31 76,171.44 87,204.60 1,034.34 584.06 2,810.72 2,861.47 22,858.93 20,780.94 49,161.84 51,569.12 39,338.27 40,773.70 548,064.92 559,217.72 37,947.73 35,712.21 21,002.14 37,985.62 28,123.65 28,919.52 92,092.93 62,750.41 11,394.47 12,353.89 7,867.82 6,283.27 1,607.51 2,023.68 1,300.17 1,472.62 8,014.52 9,708.26 480.64 840.42 4,078.41 4,804.59 17,137.50 18,769.84 385.36 1,408.82 36,849.66 39,828.30 3,702,588.16 3,406,370.68 244.95 351.36 1,716,148.66 1,610,576.80 36,192.78 34,064.06 17,952.05 17,727.01 8,826.33 8,836.76 118,443.74 111,373.14 11,278.22 11,101.97 133,259.22 127,202.32 10,236.38 8,543.83 845.71 1,007.31 7,410.29 5,467.02 84,804.09 83,094.48 21,553.77 22,405.52 91,541.95 76,543.24 11,308.40 11,803.90 32,252.32 30,790.50 889.86 823.14 25,738.64 28,945.89 4,123.99 4,580.97 90,983.20 107,503.23 5,081,272.96 4,753,270.59 12,551.20 13,154.13 165,617.49 166,885.96 101,980.08 90,994.17 22,079.50 32,104.55 24,017.93 28,011.53 26,621.75 31,232.17 30,716.79 29,622.65 57,264.37 57,103.34 1,944,569.80 1,997,253.24 57,681.88 69,931.40 17,874.71 17,589.30 4,175.63 5,917.15 132,968.01 131,169.47 607,201.21 608,177.84 514,861.71 515,717.27 22,759.42 24,776.34 6,410.45 6,729.81 37,375.95 39,690.36 3,783.86 4,444.48 607,466.63 586,930.31 474,901.46 475,021.56 263,440.16 246,552.86 711.22 800.20 16,453.05 16,027.93 91,866.55 93,975.20 417,876.34 424,710.60 $107,898,076.10 $108,830,740.18

DOWNTOWN JACKSON

OFFICES AVAILABLE

Near Capitol Private offices Reception Conference room Storage Kitchen FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Alan Turner, alan.turner@msbusiness.com 601-364-1021

12 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016

Phi Kappa Phi taps Hopper Missy Hopper, an associate professor in Mississippi State University’s Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education, was recently elected president-elect of Phi Kappa Phi’s national Board of Directors. Her election represents a sixyear commitment of service to Hopper Phi Kappa Phi that will include terms as president-elect, president and past-president. Hopper has been active within Phi Kappa Phi for the last decade at the local, regional and national levels. In addition to a stint as president of the Mississippi State Phi Kappa Phi chapter, Hopper most recently served a two-year term as the national honor society’s vice president for chapter development. In her role at MSU, Hopper teaches in the university’s College of Education and her research interests include reading, literacy, and technology in secondary content area classrooms. She received a bachelor’s degree from MSU in 1977 and a doctorate in holistic teaching and learning from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville in 1997.

LEC takes Rankin honor LEC was recently named "Industrial Business of the Year" by the Rankin County Chamber at the 57th Annual Rankin County Chamber Awards Banquet in Pearl. The Chamber's Awards Selection Committee selects the recipient of this designation based on business growth, level of establishment, leadership and community involvement.

Changes at Hancock port The Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission has hired Bo Ethridge as director of Port Bienville Industrial Park and Ronnie Wade Robertson as chief administrative officer. Ethridge is a Certified Port Executive with a master’s degree in International TransEthridge portation Management from the Maritime College State University of New York. He also has U.S. Merchant Marine Credentials as a 50-Ton Master and an undergraduate degree in marketing from Southeastern Louisiana University. For the last four years, Ethridge worked at the Port of New Orleans as the real estate Robertson and business development manager as well as director of Foreign Trade Zone No. 2. Ethridge lives in Biloxi with his wife, Leah, and their three boys: Kai, Nate and Christian. Robertson will lead the Commission’s administrative team as chief administrative officer. Robertson earned a bachelor’s degree in biological engineering from Mississippi State University and a law degree from the University of Mississippi, where he received the Dean Robert J. Farley Award for the highest GPA in his graduating class. He spent six years as an associate with Balch and Bingham before

For announcements in Newsmakers, contact Frank Brown at 601-364-1022 or frank.brown@msbusiness.com

NEWS MAKERS

Leadership Jackson County

Courtesy of Leadership Jackson County

The 2016 graduates of Leadership Jackson County are, alphabetically, Pamela Alexander, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; Dwain Bradley (Brad) Alford, Ingalls Shipbuilding; Jaclyn Anderson, The Mississippi Press/Alabama Media Group; N. Michelle Anglada, Jackson County Board of Supervisors; Nicholas J. (Nick) Bosco, Merchants & Marine Bank; Julius Bosco, III, Charter Bank; Megan Michelle Boston, City of Ocean Springs; Justin E. Bouler, Jackson County Board of Supervisors; Cedric A. Bradley, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College; Corey D. Christy, Walter Anderson Museum of Art, Inc.; Geoffrey F. Clemens, Compton Engineering, Inc.; Jennifer Cochran, Mississippi Security Police, Inc.; Renae L. Codella, Piltz, Williams, LaRosa & Company; Karen Conner, Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast; Warren Davis, Hilton Garden Inn Pascagoula; Dawn M. Davis, Singing River Health System; Joshua H. (Josh) Duncan III, Navigator Credit Union; Nicholas A. (Nick) Elmore, Jackson County Tax Assessor; Darrin S. Ely, Chevron; Jason O. Ferguson, USM - Gulf Coast Research Laboratory; Kimberly S. Henderson, Singing River Health System; Robert O. Jones, City of Gautier - Fire Department; John Ledbetter, Jackson County Sheriff's Department; Beth I. Meyer, City of Pascagoula - Community and Economic Development; Carlos A. Moulds, Ingalls Shipbuilding; Charles Oakes, Cable One; Kimberly Cox Rasmussen, Bacot/ McCarty Foundation; Erica Schrock, Bienville Orthopaedic Specialists LLC; S. Terry Scott, Jr., City of Pascagoula - Police Department; Chadwick L. (Chad) Smith, City of Moss Point - Park & Recreation; David S. Tadlock, City of Pascagoula - Ward 3; Paul D. Tristani, Jackson County Information System GIS Division; Lance M. Waltman, Community Bank; Kimberly L. Washington, Mississippi Power Company.

being named as senior staff attorney at South Mississippi Electric Power Association since 2013. Robertson lives in Gulfport with his wife, Aimee, and their sons, Wade and Woods.

Moon receives award Mary Ann Moon, CEcD, received Fellow Member status from the International Economic Development Council. Fellow Member status is conferred upon active IEDC members who have attained unusual stature in the field of economic development and closely related disciplines. Moon is Vice President of Economic Development and Marketing for Tice Engineering, Inc. She is also an Economic Development, Business and Transportation Advocate for AECOM, the world's largest engineering firm. She is a member of the IEDC board of Directors and serves on the Diversity Committee and the Planning and Business Development Committee. Moon previously served on the Membership Development Advisory Committee and External Member/Relations Committee. She was an IEDC Team Member for the Southeast North Carolina Assessment project and was an instructor for IEDC/Delta Regional Authority's Leadership Program. Moon is Assistant Dean for the University of Oklahoma's Economic Development Institute. She previously served as Director of Mentoring and Curriculum Chairman and is currently an Instructor, Mentor and teaches the CEcD Exam Prep Course. Moon developed the "Introduction to Transportation and Logistics" curriculum and serves as course instructor. She teaches at the Louisiana and Mississippi Economic Development Basic Courses and is an IEDC instructor for Ethics and Introduction to the CEcD Exam.

Robert S. MacKenzie, a Private Wealth Advisor with MacKenzie & Associates in Kosciusko has been awarded a professional designation in the field of long-term care, Certified in Long-Term Care. The program is independent of the insurance industry and is designed to provide financial service professionals with expertise and tools to address long-term care planning with their clients.

bilities in Turkey and Greece. In 1987 he was stationed at Incerlink Air Base, Turkey, where he developed a safety program for Corps units located throughout Turkey; Alaska in 1989, where he oversaw the transfer of the Army base from Anchorage to Fairbanks; his last overseas tour was to Kuwait in 1991 where he served as Safety Officer for the recovery efforts there. He and his wife Virginia, also a District retiree, are the parents of a son and a daughter.

Corps offical retires

Hinds names Web specialist

Donny Weaver, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District’s Chief of the Safety and Occupational Health Office recently retired after 47 years with the federal government. Weaver spent 43 of those years at the Vicksburg District. His career began in the plant branch at the Vicksburg Harbor Weaver in 1973, where he built mud boxes (temporary levee extensions). He rose through the ranks and ended his Corps tenure as Chief of Safety and Occupational Health (SOH) for six years. While serving as motor vehicle and heavy equipment licensing agent from 1974 to1977, he recognized a need for the hearing impaired and took the initiative to implement the first Hearing Conservation Program at the District. Weaver’s job also afforded him travel abroad. His first overseas tour was with the 8th Infantry Division (Mechanical) as the Safety Manager at Bad Kreznach, FRG in Western Germany (1983-1985). He then traveled to Vicenza, Italy, where he served one year as Chief of SETAF/5th SupCom, which included responsi-

Daniel Hawthorne of Brandon has begun work at Hinds Community College as Web Media Specialist. He manages, monitors and contributes daily to the college’s social media platforms and maintains a presence in real time. That includes Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, Hawthorne LinkedIn, staff blogs and other outlets. He joined Hinds from the Mississippi State Department of Health, where he worked closely with the state health agency’s communications team. Overall, he has more than a decade of experience in media and public relations, including print and broadcast communications and nonprofit organizations. He attended East Mississippi Community College, where he played soccer. Both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from Delta State University, in journalism and health, physical education and recreation, respectively.

MacKenzie certified

NEWS MAKERS Davis earns highest tribute Mississippi State faculty member James E. “Ed” Davis of Starkville has been recognized with the Rural Community College Alliance’s selection for the 2016 George Autry Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest tribute of a professional organization representing more than 600 U.S. com- Davis munity colleges. An associate professor with three degrees from the university, Davis is interim head of the College of Education’s educational leadership department. In addition to an MSU career, the Clay County native has held positions as academic recruiting director and vice president during separate periods in the 1990s at East Mississippi Community College in Scooba. After receiving an associate’s degree at EMCC, he went on to earn bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees at MSU in 1978, 1984 and 1992, respectively. Davis has been associated with Mississippi education for nearly 40 years. He taught for several years at rural state high schools before returning to EMCC as a member of the academic faculty and basketball coaching staff. In 1988, he came back to MSU as an assistant men’s basketball coach. Davis also serves as a Senior Fellow at the University of Alabama’s Education Policy Center and has helped develop the multi-state Mississippi and Alabama Community College Policy Fellows program, a collaborative partnership sponsored by MSU and UA. The George Autry Lifetime Achievement Award is a memorial to the long-serving president of MDC Inc., a nonprofit North Carolina think tank.

Anderson recognized Anderson Regional Medical Center in Meridian has been recognized by the Mississippi State Department of Health as one of the top facilities in the state for newborn genetic screening. Newborn screening tests help identify congenital disorders within days of birth. Life-threatening health problems, mental retardation, and serious lifelong disabilities can be avoided or minimized if a condition is quickly identified and treated.

Cook named Nurse Leader Sherry Cook, chief nursing executive at Merit Health River Oaks, was recently named the 2016 Nurse Leader of the Year by the Mississippi Hospital Association’s Organization of Nurse Executives, an affiliate of the American Organization of Nurse Executives. Cook is active in several other Cook professional healthcare organizations, including the American College of Healthcare Executives. She is also a charter member and past president of the Flowood Rotary Club. The Mississippi Business Journal selected Cook as one of the 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi in 2006. She is also a graduate of the Leadership Rankin class of 2005. Sherry and her husband, Bobby, reside in the Brandon area.

For announcements in Newsmakers, contact Frank Brown at 601-364-1022 or frank.brown@msbusiness.com

October 28, 2016

Mississippi Business Journal

TEC taps Mistal, Spence

Ambassadors of the month

Kathy Mistal and Hannah Spence have been appointed Operations Analysts at TEC Corporate in Jackson. In this role, Mistal will be responsible for compiling and analyzing financial data as well as supporting the Revenue Assurance Department. Mistal received a Bachelor’s Degree and Master Degree in Accounting at Mississippi College. Mistal lives in Flowood and has three children, Matthew, Jayme and Katie. Spence received an Associate Degree of Liberal Arts from East Central Community College and a Bachelor’s Degree of Accounting from Mississippi State University. Spence resides in Brandon with her husband, Gavin.

Mistal

Spence

Courtesy of EMBDC

The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recently presented its September Ambassadors of the Month awards. Winners are, from left, Mary Atterberry, Rush Health Systems, second place; Fannie Johnson, LOVE’s Kitchen, ﬁrst place; Casey Hendricks, The Montgomery Foundation, third place; and Heather Woodall with MSU Career Center, red ticket drawing winner.

Royals joins Purvis clinic Katie O’Neal Royals, MD, recently joined Hattiesburg Clinic Purvis Family Practice Clinic. Royals received her medical degree from University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where she also completed her residency and internship in family medicine. She is board certified in family Royals medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine. She holds professional memberships with the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians. Royals is a third generation physician within her family to practice at Hattiesburg Clinic. She is the daughter of Michael O'Neal, MD, at Purvis Family Practice Clinic and the granddaughter of the late Ramsay O'Neal, MD, who was one of the original founding physicians of Hattiesburg Clinic. Her uncle, Kelly O'Neal, MD, is a retired OB-GYN physician at Hattiesburg Clinic.

First Bank hires Stewart First Bank has hired Daniel Stewart as a commercial lender ain the Hattiesburg area. Stewart and his family are relocating to Hattiesburg from Meridian, where he was a Financial Advisor with Summit Wealth Group. Prior to working with Summit, Stewart worked with One Life Stewart America insurance agency and was securities registered with Woodbury Financial where he served as Investment Advisor and Director of Annuities. Prior to that, Stewart was Vice-President of Wealth Management at BancorpSouth, covering 22 branches in central Mississippi. He holds a Master’s of Science degree from the

Baker Donelson expands

University of Southern Mississippi. He is married to the former Laurie Fulton and they have two girls, Maddie and Mary Taylor. Stewart looks forward to becoming active in church and community affairs in the Hattiesburg area, much like he was in Meridian, serving as president and board member for the Downtown Optimist Club and treasurer for The Wesley House of Meridian.

Baker Donelson has expanded its telecommunications practice with the addition of a group of 12 attorneys in South Carolina who focus on the representation of wireless carriers. The attorneys, six paralegals and two staffers were previously with the Pennington Law Firm. Christopher Olds, Lisa Smith and Nicholas Steinhaus join Baker Donelson as shareholders, while Kelli Cantey and Roger Hall join as of counsel. Also joining as attorneys are Cara Cochran, Jacob Fling, Laura Goode, Alanna Herman, Rachel Hutchens, Tara Schmidt and Brandon White.

Purvis to lead CASA

Trapani appointed to CMR

Mary Purvis has been named Executive Director of CASA Mississippi. She is a 2001 graduate of Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Millsaps College in 1998. She is a lifelong resident of Mississippi Purvis and lives in Jackson with her husband, Alex, and their two children. Local CASA programs in Mississippi serve Adams, Clay, Hancock, Harrison, Hinds, Jackson and Warren Counties. These programs recruit, train and support volunteers who ensure that children who have been removed from their parents’ care receive appropriate services and have a voice in determining their futures.

Gov. Phil Bryant has appointed Jolynne Trapani to the Commission of Marine Resources. Trapani will fill the unexpired term of the late Commissioner Ernie Zimmerman. Her appointment will expire on June 30, 2018. She has been the co-owner of Trapani’s Eatery in Bay St. Louis for Trapani 21 years. The CMR is composed of five members appointed by the governor for four-year terms to represent the following areas: commercial seafood processors, nonprofit environmental organizations, charter boat operators, recreational fishermen and commercial fishermen. Trapani has been appointed to the seat representing nonprofit environmental organizations. Trapani is a member of the Coastal Conservation Association—Bay Chapter and also a member of the Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain. She was a founding member of Bay Area Recovery Team, responsible for bringing the Bay St. Louis Harbor into existence. She also has served as a commissioner on the Historic Preservation Commission, chairing a number of events. Trapani is involved in the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce and was awarded the Business of the Year for 2011. Trapani received her Bachelor’s Degree in Business from William Carey College and lives with her family in Bay St. Louis.

Bradley adds office, lawyers Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP has added nine construction and energy lawyers as part of the firm’s new Houston office, its first in the Southwest. The office will be led by partners Ian P. Faria and James A. Collura, Jr. Also joining the firm’s Houston office are partners Jared B. Caplan and Jon Paul Hoelscher, and associates Christian S. Dewhurst, Ryan T. Kinder, Justin T. Scott and Andrew R. Stubblefield. Each attorney previously practiced at Coats Rose. Nathan V. Graham also joins the Houston office as a partner after serving as chief corporate officer at Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.

14 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016

For announcements in New Businesses, contact Frank Brown at 601-364-1022 or frank.brown@msbusiness.com

NEW BUSINESSES GI ASSOCIATES: The Chamber of Flowood recently held a ribbon cutting for the new ofďŹ ces of GI Associates, 2510 Lakeland Dr. in Flowood.

Courtesy of The Chamber of Flowood

Courtesy of EMBDC

ANDERSON REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER CAFETERIA: The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recently held a ribbon cutting for Anderson Regional Medical Center newly renovated cafeteria.

Courtesy of Greater Starkville Development Partners

GET OUT STARKVILLE: The Greater Starkville Development Partnership recently held a ribbon cutting for Get Out Starkville at 1085 Stark Road, Suite I.

PRISSY PISTOLS BOUTIQUE: Prissy Pistols Boutique celebrated the grand opening of its second location at 2139 McCullough Blvd. in Tupelo with a ribbon cutting.

Courtesy of Community Development Foundation

NEW BUSINESSES

For announcements in New Businesses, contact Frank Brown at 601-364-1022 or frank.brown@msbusiness.com

October 28, 2016

Mississippi Business Journal

Courtesy of Community Development Foundation

PAPPI’S GARAGE: Pappi’s Garage, a classic car emporium, celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting at 209 Commerce St. in Tupelo. Courtesy of Community Development Foundation

TUPELO PLASTIC SURGERY CLINIC: In celebration of its new location at 499 Gloster Creek Village., Suite. D4, in Tupelo, Tupelo Plastic Surgery Clinic held a ribbon cutting.

Courtesy of Pearl Chamber of Commerce

JIM’S FRESH GULF SHRIMP & SEAFOOD: The Pearl Chamber of Commerce recently held a grand opening and ribbon cutting at Jim’s Fresh Gulf Shrimp & Seafood, at the corner of Hwy 80 and Cross Park Drive in Pearl.

Courtesy of The Alliance

ELEGANCI CENTRAL: The Alliance and Eleganci Central held a ribbon cutting recently at the women’s clothing boutique at 1607 N. Harper Road in Corinth. Owners Megan and Luis Silva cut the ribbon.

CARDIOVASCULAR INSTITUTE OF THE SOUTH: The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation recently held a ribbon cutting for Cardiovascular Institute of the South to celebrate the opening of CIS in Meridian at 1102 Constitution Ave. on Anderson Regional Medical Center’s South Campus.

Courtesy of East Mississippi Business Development Corporation

AN MBJ FOCUS: LEADING PRIVATE CO

2016

Putting state S S I S businesses S I M in perspective ERE ARE A FEW things you can do with lists: 1. Read a list 2. Make a list. 3. Gather research for a list. 4. Share a list. 5. Learn from a list. 6. Purchase items ... well, you get the idea. They’ve been around since the Ten Commandments were handed down, and lists seemed destined to stay. They are easy to read and can convey information quickly. With the rise of social media, they also are perfect as click-bait. Beginning on page 23, there’s a list you’ll be challenged to find anywhere else — our Missisippi 100, the list of the top 100 privately owned companies with headquarters in Mississippi. Frank Brown This is the 28th year the Mississippi Business Journal has published the Mississippi 100. We publish this list for a couple of reasons. It’s data that put Mississippi businesses in perspective, and it’s information that is hard to find in one source. The best reason for doing this list is the oft-told story of former researcher Wally Northway, who compiled the list for 20 years before retiring a couple of years ago. He visited the Jackson library in the mid’90s to look for ways to improve his research. When he asked for advice, they handed him a copy of the previous year’s Mississippi 100. We use annual revenue as the list criteria because we feel it illustrates company activity better than profit and loss. Information is more readily available today, but finding accurate information is more difficult. Some businesses cooperate and some see our Mississippi

Next year’s list? Companies interested in being included on the 2017 Mississippi 100 list — or any of the weekly lists published by the MBJ — can submit a survey by contacting Frank Brown at research@msbusiness.com. 100 list as prestigious. Others would rather protect their data, citing competition and security concerns. This year, about half the Mississippi 100 openly provided information about their company. The other half did not return requests for information for various reasons — some technical, some forgetful, and some who just didn’t participate. At that point, we turned to firms like Dun & Bradstreet, Forbes and Bloomberg, as well as company web pages and published articles, for help in determining estimates. Is every estimate correct? We wish, but probably not. But the real wish for this list is that it represents firms that belong in the Mississippi 100, even if their actually revenue is off a few dollars (or a few million dollars). Companies on the list also change. In the last few of years, companies purchased by out-ofstate equity firms where removed, but upon further review, those companies still have Mississippi headquarters and still meet the criteria. Part of the spirit of the list is to keep Mississippi companies. So, for a list that paints an image of the Mississippi economy, check out the Mississippi 100 in this edition. Frank Brown, a staff writer and projects coordinator, compliled the Mississippi 100 list.

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THE STAT N W O Y L E PRIVAT

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October 28, 2016 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

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State’s entrepreneurs have had success, but mistakes may await By TED CARTER mbj@msbusiness.com

ISSISSIPPI HAS a lengthy history of growing small private businesses into huge ones, a track record economic development professional Robert Ingram attributes to a combination of risk-takers, nurturers and possibly “something in the water.” “Mississippi has done a tremendous job of creating entrepreneurs and growing them into major players in the field,” says Ingram, a semi-retired economic development professional who spent most of his 40-year career in Mississippi. But the future won’t leave much room for error on the part of entrepreneurs, warns Peter Walley, who studies Mississippi’s economic future as director of the Economic Development Planning Bureau at the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning. Walley says his worry is that many of Mississippi’s homegrown businesses lack an in-depth understanding of their markets and what awaits them when they begin competing outside of The Magnolia State. “It really is all about understanding markets. Our big guys understand markets. But where we are hurting is in the small businesses and entrepreneurs. I think we’re still wrestling with access to markets, not knowing markets enough to grow that business outside of Mississippi.” Business founders “come up with some great ideas, maybe even implement some,” Walley says. “We’ve had some success stories. Look at Bomgar (a company providing remote network support Mississippi tech entrepreneur Joel Bomgar created and sold 11 years later to Boston equity investment firm TA Associates). When he got it to a certain level someone

“It really is all about understanding markets. Our big guys understand markets. But where we are hurting is in the small businesses and entrepreneurs. I think we’re still wrestling with access to markets, not knowing markets enough to grow that business outside of Mississippi.” Peter Walley Director, Economic Development Planning Bureau at IHL

comes in and offers to buy it.” Social media network Twitter is a good example of an idea that seems to have met a dead end in terms of market, according to Walley. “They were early to market,” he says. “Now, the growth of Twitter has kind of peaked, and it hasn’t been able to adapt. Yet you go to some of these new social media aps that really took off because they know what their consumers want. “Twitter has arose, thrived and leveled out in seven years,” Walley says. For all innovation-based companies, he adds. “The treadmill now is running a lot harder and a lot quicker.” For Bomgar Remote Support, getting to the ownership-exit point marked a significant achievement, considering the failure rate of other homegrown companies, Walley notes. “I am not indicting anyone. The relationship between birth and death of private companies has been skewered toward death.” See

PRIVATE, Page 21

LEADING PRIVATE COMPANIES

18 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016

Working in high cotton » Staplcotn revenue benefiting from combination of more acerage and better yield By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

Greenwood’s Staple Cotton Cooperative Association (Staplcotn), the oldest and one of the largest cotton marketing cooperatives in the U.S., has gone up from the seventh largest private company in 2015 to fourth largest in 2016 in the Mississippi Business Journal list of the top 100 private companies based in Mississippi. Revenue jumped from $844 million to $967 million. Because of the timing of Staplcotn’s fiscal year, the figures are actually for the 2014 crop year compared to the 2013 crop year, said Staplcotn’s Executive Vice President Hank Reichle. He said the rise in revenues for fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2015 — the most recent figures submitted to Mississippi Business Journal — over the prior year are primarily attributed to more acreage and better yield. “In several cases, Southeastern states set all-time records in terms of yield,” Reichle said. “In 2014, Mississippi, for example,

produced 1,232 pounds per acre. That eclipsed the previous record of 1,203 pounds per acre set in 2013. The 2014 crop year was really a good one.” Of course, cotton is a cyclical business and things can change quickly. Reichle Reichle said the revenues for the 2015 year (fiscal year ending Aug. 31, 2016) are off from the 2014 crop year due to a combination of lower prices, lower acreage, average yields and adverse harvest weather in some of their producer areas, which all led to lower revenues. “When you turn attention to the 2016 crop (the one being harvested now), we expect revenues will increase again,” he said. “However, those revenues will not be available for reporting until the fall of 2017.” Reichle said the 2016 growing season started off wet, but quickly turned dry in May and June. Fortunately, July, which is a

critical period during fruiting, was good. “Too many consecutive days of rain and cloudy weather in August were not exactly what we wanted, but rarely does the weather act just right,” he said. “Had we not had too much rain in August, we believe we would have once again seen a record in Mississippi. Unfortunately, some areas such as the Carolinas and across the region in Louisiana have received too much rain during the harvest season, so yields in those states will be less than farmers were hoping to attain.” So far, 2016 harvest yields are better on balance than 2015. “When you look at the situation as a whole, yields for the Memphis/Eastern region are average or slightly better than average,” Reichle said. “As you recall, we had a lot of rainfall and cloudy days in August that had a negative impact on yield potential. Plants shed some of their fruit or bolls at the bottom which were lost due to rot or hard lock. However, as Mother Nature often does, things changed quickly. Just be-

fore it became catastrophic for most farmers, the weather turned and improved into one of the most remarkable harvest seasons on record. High temperatures, lower humidity and sunny days helped aid the harvest get back some of that lost yield potential in August. Also, the great harvest weather has helped improve the quality and thereby the premiums growers will receive for their crop.” Cotton acreage rebounded in 2016, which was mainly attributable to alternative crops’ returns not being as attractive in previous years. Reichle said growers who have not grown cotton in recent years are hearing that cotton yields have improved and they want to diversify back into cotton. “It is early, but we expect you could see more cotton acreage in the Memphis/Eastern territory next year,” he said. “Some areas in our trade territory might not See

STAPLCOTN, Page 22

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LEADING PRIVATE COMPANIES

October 28, 2016

Mississippi Business Journal

A double powerhouse » Southern Farm Bureau: One name, but separate companies for life, casualty insurance By LISA MONTI mbj@msbusiness.com

Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. is ranked third and Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. holds the sixth place on the top Mississippi 100 list. The companies are two separate entities. Southern Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co., a Mississippi corporation domiciled in Ridgeland, has 1,500 employees, $856 million in sales and was established in 1947. It operates in Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and South Carolina. Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Co. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty and operates exclusively in Mississippi. Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty insures approximately 309,000 cars and issues 178,000 property policies. “We have sales offices that sell Farm Bureau insurance in every county,” said Jack Williams, president and CEO of Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty. “In some

“All the bells and whistles in today’s automobiles, while they do help with safety, cost a lot more to repair for cars damaged in an accident versus a few years ago.” Jack Williams President & CEO, Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty

counties we have more than one office. Also, we have claim centers strategically placed around the state where local claims people can get to just about any part of the state quickly.” The casualty insurance operation includes both home and auto policies, in addition to other lines of insurance such as farm policies and flood insurance. “We are responsible for the property and casualty operation in the state,” Williams said. He said he expects to see continued slow growth in the casualty insurance business of 1 to 1.5 percent per year. “That would be ideal,” he said. “In this business

800-226-3224 www.fcci-group.com

CUSTOMER FOCUS. PERSONAL SERVICE. “At FCCI, we are here for our agents and our insureds for the long term, and we live by our values: loyalty, integrity, vision, excellence and service. I’m proud to work for a company that believes in ‘doing what we say we’ll do’ and I strive to do that for my agents and their clients.” Babs Fowler Underwriting Specialist FCCI Insurance Group Gulf Coast Region Ridgeland, Miss.

you don’t want to grow too fast because that can create challenges for you.” One challenge the auto insurance industry is currently facing is skyrocketing repair costs, Williams said. “All the bells and whistles in today’s automobiles, while they do help with safety, cost a lot more to repair for cars damaged in an accident versus a few years ago,” he said. In order to buy a property and casualty insurance policy from Mississippi Farm Bureau Casualty, an applicant must first be a member of a local county Farm Bureau. These county Farm Bureaus are members of the Mississippi Farm Bureau Federa-

tion,. which, located in Jackson. It is a membership organization and a stockholder of Southern Farm Bureau Casualty. In addition to the ability to apply for property and casualty insurance, there are several other benefits to being a county Farm Bureau member, Williams said, including discounts on some hotel rooms, child safety seats and certain types of vehicles, as well as discounts for the Mississippi Children’s Museum and the Mississippi Ag Museum. Williams said that the membership fee is minimal and with the discounts that are available, “it’s a really great value.” Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co., established in 1946, has $1.5 billion in total revenue and 650 employees at the home office in Jackson. The company serves 11 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia.

FARM BUREAU, Page 22

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20 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016

LEADING PRIVATE COMPANIES

Courtesy of The Taylor Group

KLLM President Jim Richards began his career with the company in 1986. He served in a number of roles before assuming the top position in 2008.

KLLM: Growing while investing in Mississippi By NASH NUNNERY mbj@msbusiness.com

The assassination of President John F.

Kennedy, Martin Luther King’s epic “I Have a Dream” speech and the launch of Beatlemania made the year 1963 one of the 20th century’s most memorable.

DECIDEDLY DIFFERENT.

That same year, Mississippians Tom Kobuke, W.J. Liles, B.C. Lee and Henry Moudy decided to form their own trucking company. Dubbed KLLM Transport Services, the name utilized the first initial of the last name of each of the founders. Fifty three years later, KLLM still calls Richland home and has evolved into the nation’s third-largest cold cargo trucking company. Now owned by Mississippibased Duff Brothers Capital, KLLM features over 4,000 power units and 7,500 trailers. The company’s “promise on performance” ensures a 98 percent on-time delivery rate for client’s goods and perishables. Make no mistake, the odds are pretty good that KLLM had a hand in hauling any number of items currently in your household, from chicken to ice cream to pharmaceuticals. KLLM president Jim Richards began his career with the company in 1986. He served in a number of roles before assuming the top position in 2008. A “company man,” Richards says the key to KLLM’s success is simple – great customer service, and then some. With 80 percent of its customer base among the nation’s top 20 companies, KLLM has maintained long-standing working relationships with numerous mega-corporations, including Tyson, Con Agra and Hershey. “Our company culture has been extremely service oriented since the beginnings of KLLM in the early 1960s,” Richards said. “Customer service is a premium and what we’re known for in the industry. KLLM’s rates are not the cheapest but our ‘blue chip’ customers feel it’s worth

the price.” Richards also credits parent company Duff Brothers Group’s acquisition of KLLM in 2008 as a tonic to the company’s financial woes. “With the Duffs (Tommy and Jim) behind us, it’s worked out to be very profitable,” he said. “They’ve been very instrumental in providing the financial means necessary to turn the company around.” In 2013, KLLM acquired Dallas-based Frozen Food Express, enabling the company to extend its footprint in the refrigerated market and accelerate growth. Both companies fall under Richards’ purview. “FFE brings a totally different service to the game,” he said. “Unlike the KLLM model, Frozen Food Express ships by the pallet. In other words, instead of one truck-trailer filled with one type of commodity like KLLM, Frozen Food Express might have 20 different types of products on-board — a pallet of this, a pallet of that over there.” The nation’s first temperature-controlled carrier to utilize satellite communications fleet-wide, KLLM has continued to be ahead of the technology curve. Recently, the company installed a digital locking mechanism on all its trailers. For instance, a driver hauling pharmaceuticals in California must contact the Mississippi dispatcher to unlock the door. “Security is a must with some of the goods we carry,” said Richards. “Our main priority is to protect our customer’s product, and this technology allows us to do it See

KLLM, Page 22

FOCUS PRIVATE

October 28, 2016

Continued from Page 17

Walley further worries that “secular stagnation is the new normal.” He puts a measure of the fault on the mixed success Mississippi and other states have had in leveraging productivity gains from the digital economy. “In the U.S. and globally we have had almost no productivity growth. There is something structurally going on in the economy that effects all businesses.” Mississippi could counter some of this through development of a work force better able to fill jobs requiring “cognitive” or decision-making tasks, Walley says. Still, Mississippi has an enviable track record of private sector success, argues Ingram, who teaches economic development at the University of Southern Mississippi. “I can name company after company,” says Ingram, citing such major enterprises as Viking Range, Sanderson Farms, Peavey Electronics, Howard Industries and a handful of telecommunications companies, including Cspire. “Most people wouldn’t expect that out of a small state, especially a poor state,” he says. “I don’t know if it is the water or what, but we seem to have the ability to nurture the enterprise.” Plus, Ingram adds, “We have risk takers

MBJ

willing to step out.” Ingram attributes some of the success to the help incubators and accelerators run by the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University and other universities across the state. An independent spirit has also helped to propel entrepreneurial growth, he says, adding that same free spiritedness can “be a blessing at times and other times less than a blessing.” By less-than-a-blessing, Ingram cites an unwillingness to recognize changes in the economy and – in a point of agreement with Walley – new market opportunities. Ingram and Walley find further agreement on the education front. “Challenges for me are things like public schools. So many underfunded, understaffed,” says Ingram, a McComb native and former mayor of his hometown. “Teachers don’t have the resources,” he says. And many of the state’s youth who come from poverty lack educational support at home, he adds. With automation becoming increasingly advanced and able to move goods from point A to point B, manual labor jobs in truck driving and warehousing may get scarce, Walley says. “A great chunk of our people are not preparing themselves,” he says, bemoaning an absence of flexibility and adaptability.

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KLLM

Continued from Page 20

better.” To solve a shortage of qualified truck drivers, KLLM partnered with Hinds Community College four years ago and began offering free training to students enrolled in the college’s commercial truck driving program. The driving scholarships are valued at $4,000, with students committing to one year employment with KLLM. The nine-week program benefits both

LEADING PRIVATE COMPANIES

the company and the rookie drivers, said Richards. “I worked closely with (HCC president) Dr. (Clyde) Muse and we built the training facility,” said Richards. “We offer people that have no experience an opportunity to learn to drive a commercial truck and earn a good living, and in return, we have a steady stream of capable drivers. “We’re very loyal to our people and they are loyal to us.” A Vicksburg native, Richards takes pride in promoting his home state. For several years, KLLM tractor-trailers have become

rolling billboards proudly displaying the cursive “Mississippi” brand in 48 states and Mexico. “I’ve lived here all of my life, and the (branding) is a gesture of goodwill,” Richards said. “We love to promote Mississippi, and we’d like to change the focus of people to a more positive image of our state. When they see our trucks, they know who we are. “KLLM is all about: integrity. Our (unofficial) motto is ‘Either do it right or don’t do it all.’”

STAPLCOTN

change much, but we are likely to see an increase in cotton acres in the Mid-South.” Reichle said Staplcotn continues to be positioned very well to compete in the worldwide cotton markets. “We have an excellent membership who is loyal to the cooperative concept,” he said. “It is also a membership that is looking to add back some cotton acres in the face of better yield prospects in cotton and lower returns on competing crops. At the same time, we are seeing good demand from both U.S. textile mills and mills abroad. So, we have good homes for the larger crop this year and prospects look good going forward with China growing much less cotton than they are consuming. Once the Chinese stockpile is worked down to a less burdensome level, we believe China’s importance as a major customer of U.S. cotton will be restored.” Reichle said it is already starting to see a healthier Chinese cotton industry and more demand from China. U.S. cotton exports are projected to increase by nearly one third more than this past year and exports to China will certainly increase. “Staplcotn will be participating in those increased sales to the export market,” he said. “The excellent quality of cotton produced this year will be attractive to buyers globally.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects that the world cotton stockpile will decline about 10 percent in 2017 from 2016. The USDA says global cotton stocks could drop to their lowest level since 201112 as China continues to reduce its surplus supplies.

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Continued from Page 16

Continued from Page 18

The success of the insurance companies and the main benefit to policyholders is the local claim service provided by the network of agents across those 11 states, according to officials. Today’s consumers are looking for good service as part of doing business with a company and that’s what Southern Farm Bureau offers. “It’s one of the things we value and stress to our employees. We make sure we provide exceptional service,” said Emily Fletcher, manager of the policy service department for Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Co. in Mississippi. The local agents are available for immediate service. “If something happens, we’ve got a person there so if something happens, a tornado or a flood, they are dealing with the same things our customers are dealing with,” said spokesman Matt Ginn.

MISSISSIPPI 100 2016 Ranking

2015 Ranking

2014 Ranking

Company Corporate Address

Phone/Website Products/Services

Top Officer Founded

2)0/ /%

601-933-3000 /ergon.com

Leslie Lampton Sr.

P.O. Box 1639, Jackson, MS 39215

Petroleum refiner; electronics

1954

*' "#4'3 0.1#/+'3 /%

601-656-5411/yatescompanies.com

W. G. (Bill) Yates Jr.

P.O Box 385, Philadelphia, MS 39350

Construction services

1963

054*'2/ #2. 52'#5 +(' /352#/%' 0

601-981-7422/sfbli.com

Randy Johns

1401 Livingston Lane, Jackson, MS 39213

Life insurance

1946

4#1-%04/

662-453-6231/www.staplcotn.com

Meredith B. Allen

214 W. Market St., Greenwood, MS 38930

Cotton marketing & warehousing

1921

2#/31024 '26+%'3

601-932-8616/www.kllm.com

James Richards Jr.

135 Riverview Dr., Richland, MS 39218

Temperature-controlled carrier

1963

054*'2/ #2. 52'#5 #35#-48 /352#/%' 6

October 28, 2016

601-957-3200/sfbcic.com Casualty Insurance

1947

Mississippi Business Journal

Employees

Annual Revenue

2,200

$4,300,000,0001

$1,678,000,000

600

$1,486,063,115

152

$967,008,601

4,500

$910,000,000

1,500

$855,800,000

430

$841,987,000

2,200

$840,000,000

3,500

$800,000,000

882

$784,160,0001

1,350

$749,060,0001

810

$725,000,000

1,450

$682,000,0001

110

$655,905,980

1,418

$645,000,000

300

$580,000,000

2,000

$432,770,0001

1,030

$405,405,057

2,375

$364,778,000

295

$361,209,538

1,331

$303,990,0001

645

$261,167,1372

1,200

$258,990,0001

400

$258,094,3862

1800 County Line, Ridgeland, MS 39157 054* +33+33+11+ -'%42+% 07'2 7

330%+#4+0/

601-268-2083/smepa.coop

James Compton

Generation & Transmission of Wholesale Electricity

1941

7037 U.S. 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

Thomas M. Duff

054*'2/ +2' #24

(601) 424-3200/www.stmtires.com

529 Industrial Park Rd., Columbia, MS 39429

Commercial tire sales & service

07#2& /&5342+'3 /%

601-425-3151/howard-ind.com

Billy W. Howard Sr.

3225 Pendorff Rd., Laurel, MS 39440

Transformers; computers; lighting; transportation

1968

2$8

(601) 969-1811/www.irby.com

Michael C. Wigton

815 Irby Dr., Jackson, MS 39201

Electrical distributor

1926

00& 0.1#/+'3 /%

601-264-2962/www.hoodindustries.com

Warren Hood

PO Box 17317, Hattiesburg, MS 39404

Hood Industries, Packing & Container,Atlas Roofing

1999

'2%*#/43 00&3'26+%'

601-584-4046/merchantsfoodservice.com

Andrew B. Mercier

1100 Edwards St., Hattiesburg, MS 39401

Foodservice distributor

1904

1+2'

855-277-4732/cspire.com

Hu Meena

1018 Highland Colony Pky., Ridgeland, MS 39157

Mobile, fixed data, voice, Internet, cloud service

1988

#2.'23 2#+/ '2.+/#- /%

(662) 332-0987/www.fgtcoop.com

Steven F. Nail

P.O. Box 1796, Greenville, MS 38702

Grain marketing & storage

1968

5/-#1 8-' 0 /%

(662) 563-1143/www.dktire.com

Robert H. Dunlap

280 Eureka St., Batesville, MS 38606

Tires; tubes

1956

08 /&'230/ 021

228-896-4000/rac.com

Roy Anderson III

11400 Reichold Rd., Gulfport, MS 39503

General Contracting/Design-Build/Management

1955

/+4'& 52/+452' /&5342+'3

Jim Duff 2003

662-447-4000/unitedfurnitureindustries.com

David Belford

431 Highway 41 East, Verona, MS 38801

Furniture manufacturing

2000

#8-02 2051 /%

662-773-3421/www.thetaylorgroupofcompanies.com

W. A. Taylor III

650 N. Church Ave., Louisville, MS 39339

Manufacturing

1927

#44+'3$52) -+/+%

601-264-6000/hattiesburgclinic.com

Tommy Thornton

415 S. 28th Ave., Hattiesburg, MS 39401

Health care

1963

'22+/ '#2 540.04+6' 2051

(601) 354-3882/www.herringear.com

Jack T. Herrin

1685 High St., Jackson, MS 39205

Automobile dealership

1968

3-#/& !+'7 #3+/0 '3024

877-774-8439/islandviewcasino.com

Lindsey Inman

3300 W. Beach Blvd, Gulfport, MS 39501

Gaming, Entertainment, Restaurants, Hotel

2006

054*'2/ +1' 511-8

601-693-2911/southernpipe.com

Jay Davidson

4330 Hwy. 39 North, Meridian, MS 39301

Plumbing, HVAC, industrial, mechanical

1938

2#/,-+/ 02102#4+0/

662-456-4286/www.franklincorp.com

Hassell H. Franklin

600 Franklin Dr., Houston, MS 38851

Upholstered furniture

1970

0043 .+4* +-9'-& '26+%'3

601-649-1220/bootssmith.net

James Smith

2501 Airport Dr., Laurel, MS 39440

Construction, drilling, and equipment rental serv

1954

*' +33+33+11+ # -+34 0( -'#&+/) +33+33+11+ $#3'& 12+6#4' %0.1#/+'3 +3 %0.1+-'& $8 4*' +33+33+11+ 53+/'33 052/#- (20. &#4# 35$.+44'& $8 %0.1#/+'3 #/& 2'3'#2%* +2.3 #2' 2#/,'& $8 2'6'/5' (20. 4*' -#4'34 93%#- 8'#2 0.' +/(02.#4+0/ +3 '34+.#4'& #/& .#8 $' $#3'& 0/ .#2,'4 %#-%5-#4+0/3 #/& +/&53428 #/#-83+3 +/%-5&+/) 006'23 %0. # 5/ 2#&342''4 %0.1#/8 02$'3 #/& -00.$'2) 5$.+4 %0..'/43 40 2#/, 207/ #4 2'3'#2%* .3$53+/'33 %0. /04 2#/,'& +/&53428 '34+.#4' 5/ 2#&342''4 /%

MISSISSIPPI 100

24 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016 2016 Ranking

2015 Ranking

2014 Ranking

Company Corporate Address

Phone/Website Products/Services

Top Officer Founded

)*)-' !-'%

662-455-1200/www.vikingrange.com

Jane Moss

111 Front Street, Greenwood, MS 38930

Consumer & commercial appliances

1987

- )2% 3%+ %04)#% -#

601-353-4142/www.onsitefuelservice.com

Greg Nethery

1089-A Old Fannin Rd., Brandon, MS 39047

Mobile re-rueling-DEF distributor

1996

()2% .-1203#2).- .,/!-7

601-898-5180/whiteconst.com

Guy H. White

613 Crescent Cir., Ste. 100, Ridgeland, MS 39157

Construction; Management; Design Build

1971

)11)11)//) ' .

662-746-6208

441 Haley Barbour Pkwy, Yazoo City, MS 39194

Used tractors, combines, pickers, implements

)6)% !2 !-$ !0$5..$ .

601-876-2427/dixiemat.com

Brett Jones

216 Herring Road, Sandy Hook, MS 39478

Hardwood Mat Supplier

1978

%!4%7 +%#20.-)#1 .0/

601-483-5365/www.peavey.com

5022 Hartley Peavey Dr., Meridian, MS 39305

Sound equipment; musical instruments

%!0+ )4%0 %1.02

866-447-3275/pearlriverresort.com

William Sonny Johnson

Hwy. 16 W., Choctaw, MS 39530

Gaming; hospitality

1994

3+& .!12 ()/7!0$ 0.3/

228-276-1000/www.gulfcoastshipyardgroup.com

John Dane III

13085 Seaway Road, Gulfport, MS 39503

Shipbuilding

1988

%-230% %#(-.+.')%1

601-978-6161/ventech.com

Gerard Gibert

860 Centre' St., Ridgeland, MS 39157

IT Premise, Collaboration, VT Cloud, Safety First

1986

)88!

(228) 832-4000/www.rpmpizza.com

Glenn Mueller

15384 5th St., Gulfport, MS 39503

Pizza carryout & delivery

1981

(!--%+ .-20.+ %0#(!-21

(601) 268-7555/www.ccmllc.com

Rob Roberts

6892 U.S. Highway 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39042

Dirt Cheap, Hudson Salvage, Treasure Hunt stores

1991

!0.2(%01 .-1203#2).- -#

662-513-8820/carothersconstruction.com

Ben Logan

31 Hwy. 328, Oxford, MS 38655

Construction

1956

601-948-5711/butlersnow.com

Donald Clark Jr.

Law firm

1954

4%7 %#(!-)#!+ .,/!-7

662-289-3646/iveymechanical.com

Larry Terrell

134 W. Washington St., Kosciusko, MS 39090

Ivey is a full service mechanical contractor

1947

3#*%22 !#()-%07 .,/!-7

(601) 969-6000/www.puckettmachinery.com

100 Caterpillar Drive, Flowood, MS 39232

Caterpillar equipment, rental, & engine dealer

.32(%0- .-)#1 -#

662-494-3055/southernionics.com

Milton Sundbeck

201 Commerce St., West Point, MS 39773

Manufacturer of specialty inorganic chemicals.

1980

601-736-4525/tlwallace.com

Austin Morgan

808 Hwy. 98 Bypass, Columbia, MS 39429

Construction

1975

!-# +31 .0/ !-* +31

601-898-8300 /BankPlus.net

William A. Ray

1068 Highland Colony Pky., Ridgeland, MS 39157

Personal & business banking; wealth management

1909

.,,3-)27 +$%0#!0% %04)#%1

662-680-3148

Douglas Wright Jr.

2844 Traceland Dr., Tupelo, MS 38801

Assisted living, skilled nursing, rehab care, ther

2000

.,,3-)27 !-*

601-825-4323/communitybank.net

Charles Nicholson Jr.

1255 W. Government St., Brandon, MS 39402

Banking & financial services

1905

601-853-8550/thinkvss.com

David L. Traxler

382 Galleria Parkway, Ste 400, Madison, MS 39110

Systems, web services, risk management

1990

32!5 .-1203#2).- . -#

601-855-7474/eutawconstruction.com

Robert T. Elmore

167 Orchard Lane, Madison, MS 39110

Highway & heavy civil construction

1980

%%/5%++ -%0'7 %04)#%1

601-736-4525/www.dwservices.com

Douglas Blackwell

4025 Hwy 35 North, Columbia, MS 39429

Oilfield services

2014

.-1.+)$!2%$ !291( 0.$3#%01

(662) 962-3101/www.countryselect.com

Richard Stevens

299 South St., Isola, MS 38754

Catfish processing & sales

1967

32+%0 -.5 37

1020 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 1400, Ridgeland, MS 39157

!++!#% .-1203#2).- -#

Kyle Fulcher

Employees

Annual Revenue

805

$249,090,0001

$238,000,0001

120

$200,000,000

240

$198,000,0001

100

$180,000,0001

277

$177,360,0001

2,100

$170,100,0001

851

$165,000,0002

205

$163,238,000

3,500

$162,050,0001

1,000

$160,680,0001

125

$160,000,0001

653

$159,000,000

1,000

$152,300,000

430

$150,550,0001

293

$150,380,0001

360

$146,500,0001

174

$142,490,0001

1,750

$135,000,0001

672

$126,750,000

100

$125,660,0001

412

$125,000,000

500

$125,000,000

412

$123,150,0001

Hartley Peavey Mary Peavey 1965

Richard H. Puckett Hastings Puckett 1982

MISSISSIPPI 100

26 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016 2016 Ranking

2015 Ranking

2014 Ranking

Company Corporate Address

Phone/Website Products/Services

Top Officer Founded

#+(,(01/ 1-/0

601-956-2028/morganwhite.com

Jason Peets

6040 I-55 North, Jackson, MS 39211

Insurance sales & administration

1987

-/(,1'( , ,"

662-287-7835/www.corinthianfurn.com

Mark Coombs

2676 S. Harper Rd., Corinth, MS 38834

Furniture

1995

(662) 328-1575/www.waterstruck.com

Raymond Mike Waters III

Truck and Trailer Dealerships, Wrecker Services

1938

*! ,6 ,#201/($0

662-534-9800/albanyindustries.com

Richie McLarty

504 N. Glenfield Rd, New Albany, MS 38652

Furniture upholstery maker

1995

21"' 201 *$1 21-.*$5

(228) 863-5525/www.butchoustalet.com

A.J. Oustalet III

9274 U.S. 49, Gulfport, MS 39503

Automobile Sales

1984

6*$ (* -+. ,6

800-844-8120/sayleoil.com

Ike Sayle

410 W. Main St., Charleston, MS 38921

Gas stations, oil products

1947

' ,,-, 2+!$/ /-2.

662-393-3765/jtshannon.com

2200 Cole Rd, Horn Lake, MS 38637

Lumber wholesalers, machinery

/ ,$ -,0 ,"

662-862-2172/flcrane.com

Chip Crane

508 S. Spring St., Fulton, MS 38843

Interior & exterior specialty contractor

1947

-*#$, ,2% "12/(,&

662-454-3428

James Fennell

125 Highway 366, Golden, MS 38847

Military uniforms

1978

$4+ , 2+!$/ -

228-832-1899/newmanlumber.com

Doug Newman

11367 Reichold Rd., Gulfport, MS 39503

Specialty lumber

1947

-21'$/, -1(-, ,"

662-488-4007/www.southernmotion.com

Roger Bland

298 Henry Southern Drive, Pontotoc, MS 38863

Reclining furniture

1996

")0-, $4$** .$/ -+. ,($0

(601) 360-9620/www.jacksonpaper.com

Tommy Galyean

4400 Magnum Dr., Flowood, MS 39232

Industrial paper & printing

1921

/ ,0"/(.1 ' /+ "6 ,"

(866) 420-4041/www.transcriptpharmacy.com

Cliff Osbon R.Ph.

2506 Lakeland Dr., Ste. 201, Jackson, MS 39232

Specialty medications & patient support services

2003

**$, 21-+-1(3$ ,"

228-896-8220/allenautomotive.com

Jonathan Allen

11397 Helen Richards Dr., Gulfport, MS 39503

Toyota Scion Hyundai Dealerships Pre-Owned

1971

(**$/ / ,0.-/1$/0 ,"

601-922-8331/www.millert.com

Lee D. Miller

5500 U.S. 80 W., Jackson, MS 39209

Common carrier; bulk trucking

1942

*-00+ , -+. ,($0

228-875-2261/blossmangas.com

Stuart Weidie

406 Hanshaw Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39566

Propane Gas and Appliances

1951

$1'-#(01 $' !(*(1 1(-, $,1$/

601-981-2611/www.methodistonline.org

Mark Adams

1350 E. Woodrow Wilson Dr., Jackson, MS 39216

Health care, rehabilitation

1975

$,12/6 -,01/2"1(-, ,# $ *(16

662-844-3331/centurycr.com

Colin Maloney

705 Robert E. Lee Dr., Tupelo, MS 38802

General contractor; civil; demolition; real estate

1997

(** /-1'$/0 -,01/2"1(-, - ,"

662-837-3041/hbconst.com

Kenneth W. Hill

20831 Hwy. 15 N., Falkner, MS 38629

General construction

1978

-1 * / ,0.-/1 1(-, -% (00(00(..(

601-936-2104/www.totalms.com

John Stomps

125 Riverview Dr., Richland, MS 39218

Trucking company

1990

-1$* $01 2/ ,1 2..*6

601-482-7127/www.hnrsupply.com

Jerry Greene

5020 Arundel Rd, Meridian, MS 39307

commercial/industrial food service equipment

1953

$*1 ,#201/($0 ,"

601-354-3801/delta-ind.com

David Robison

100 W. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Jackson, MS 39213

Ready Mix Concrete

1945

601-326-1000/hornellp.com

Joey D. Havens

CPA; business advisory services

1962

1/2"12/ * 1$$* $/3("$0

601-483-5381/www.sssvc-inc.com

Tommy E. Dulaney

6210 Saint Louis St., Meridian, MS 39307

Fabricated structural metal

1975

-* " -/.

601-764-4121/www.hol-mac.com

Charles Holder

P.O. Box 349, Bay Springs, MS 39422

Steel fabrication

1963

1$/0 /2") ,# / "1-/ 1$/0 51

,1$/, 1(-, * /2")0

Employees

Annual Revenue

$122,572,218

334

$120,000,0001

264

$119,888,916

414

$119,860,0001

128

$118,000,000

300

$116,200,0001

270

$115,830,0001

600

$115,000,000

400

$114,770,0001

800

$111,740,0001

1,300

$107,921,0001

195

$107,820,0001

$105,754,676

133

$104,210,000

560

$104,129,670

512

$97,970,0001

567

$95,915,859

275

$92,834,000

500

$92,070,0001

575

$86,870,0001

223

$82,667,057

320

$82,650,0001

500

$80,300,000

236

$79,337,032

575

$75,290,0001

96 E. Plymouth Rd., Columbus, MS 39705 52

1020 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 400, Ridgeland, MS 39157 72

Jack Shannon

YOUR BUSINESS IS DRIVEN BY INNOVATION.

THE SAME SHOULD BE SAID FOR YOUR LAW FIRM.

If progressive thinking is crucial to gaining real competitive advantages in the global marketplace, then why accept conventional thinking from your legal team? At Butler Snow, experienced teams meet each issue with innovative and collaborative approaches. You can’t base tomorrow’s success on yesterday’s solutions - neither will we.

LAW ELEVATED

butlersnow.com TEAMWORK

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VALUE

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This ad authorized by Donald Clark, Jr., Chairman, FREE BACKGROUND INFORMATION AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. P.O. Box 6010, Ridgeland, MS 39158-6010.

MISSISSIPPI 100

28 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016 2016 Ranking

2015 Ranking

2014 Ranking

Company Corporate Address

Phone/Website Products/Services

Top Officer Founded

-" .0-" 3 .&*+ +/"(

800-747-2839/treasurebay.com

Susan Varnes

1980 Beach Blvd., Biloxi, MS 39535

Gaming, hotel, dining

1993

/.+* 0 (&/3 +-! *

(601) 956-7000/www.watsonquality.com

Robert H. Watson

6130 I-55 N., Jackson, MS 39211

Automobile sales & service

1982

601-898-4000/www.mmcmaterials.com

Rodney Grogan

Ready Mix Concrete and Limestone Distribution

1927

+)$ - +-,+- /&+*

601-519-0123/bomgar.com

Matt Dircks

578 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ridgeland, MS 39157

Software-remote technical support technology

2003

""( % ##"- *

601-948.3071/neel-schaffer.com

W. Hibbett Neel Jr.

125 S. Congress St., Ste. 1100, Jackson, MS 39201

Engineering; planning; geotechnical; surveying;

1983

+0*$ &((& ). %&(! 0,,+-/ "-1& ".

(601) 948-6100/www.ywcss.com

Robert L. Wells

P.O. Box 23458, Jackson, MS 39201

Child support & related services

1994

""!4. "/ (. *

601-823-6516/www.reedsmetals.com

Bernie T. Reed

19 E Lincoln Rd. NE, Brookhaven, MS 39601

Metal Roofing, Metal Buildings, Pole Barns

1998

0** + ! 0&(!"-.

601-649-4111/dunnroadbuilders.com

Clifton L. Beckman Jr.

411 W. Oak St., Laurel, MS 39441

Heavy highway construction

1878

& '"-.+* +2"* *

601-833-4291/dickersonandbowen.com

Lester Williams

669 Industrial Park Rd. NE, Brookhaven, MS 39601

Highway construction; asphalt paving

1947

662-236-2020/fncinc.com

1214 Office Park Dr., Oxford, MS 38655

Analytics software for the real estate industry

"+,(" " ."

601-987-3025/www.peoplelease.com

Larry L. Lewis

689 Towne Center Blvd., Ridgeland, MS 39157

Payroll; benefits; human resources

1984

""(3 ( ./& .

601-926-1000/www.mcneelyplastics.com

Greg McNeely

1111 Industrial Park Dr., Clinton, MS 39056

Plastic packaging for food and non-food products

1983

/"-& (. 1052 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 201, Ridgeland, MS 39157 77

1996

Employees

Annual Revenue

578

$71,156,0001

140

$70,266,839

473

$70,190,0001

200

$67,900,0002

500

$66,300,000

850

$65,930,0001

116

$65,205,000

163

$65,000,000

175

$64,320,0001

203

$63,300,0001

$60,000,000

140

$58,750,000

MISSISSIPPI 100

30 I Mississippi Business Journal I October 28, 2016 2016 Ranking

2015 Ranking

2014 Ranking

Company Corporate Address ) "! +), *&".

576 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 300, Ridgeland, MS 39157

100

Phone/Website Products/Services

Top Officer Founded

601-853-4949/www.amfed.com

Billy Roberts

Insurance

1993

601-353-9118/tec.com

700 S. West St., Jackson, MS 39201

Joseph D. Fail 1923

'&"4. */"-* /&+* (

(601) 855-0146/www.jackiesinternational.com

S.L. Sethi

1554 W. Peace St., Canton, MS 39046

Restaurants; hotels; c-stores; construction

1973

/ /" *' -0./ +), *3

662.453.6811/statebank1898.com

John B. Neville

916 Highway 82 Bypass, Greenwood, MS 38930

Financial services

1898

+-"./ -+!0 /. - *.,+-/.

(601) 736-3344

Chuck Philipps

202 Industrial Park Rd., Columbia, MS 39429

Trucking-wood products

1980

-'.! (" !&((

(888) 264-5969/www.barksdalecadillac.com

Ted Enstrom

700 Adcock Dr., Ridgeland, MS 39157

Cadillac sales & service

2007

+0*/ &* +*./-0 /&+*

601-373-4162/fountainconstruction.com

Brad Fountain

5655 Hwy. 18 W., Jackson, MS 39209

Commercial/industrial construction & maintenance

1959

"2'4. /"-3

(601) 982-1160/www.Newks.com

Chris Newcomb

2680 Crane Ridge Drive, Jackson, MS 39216

Food & Beverage

2004

"/-+,+(&/ * * $-+0,

601-853-0000/metropolitan.bank

1069 Highland Colony Pkwy, Ridgeland, MS 39157

Commercial and personal loan and deposit accounts

0(# + ./ "./ 0- */ -+0,

228-701-0361/halfshelloysterhouse.com

Bob Taylor

12068 Intraplex Parkway, Gulfport, MS 39503

Half Shell Oyster House and food distributors

2006

0.&*".. +))0*& /&+*. *

800-748-6317/bcianswers.com

442 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ridgeland, MS 39157

Information technology; Cloud services

+0/%"-* &1"-.&5"! " %*+(+$&". *

601-823-9440/www.sdt-1.com

Charlie L. Smith

130 N. Second St., Brookhaven, MS 39602

Telecommunications & utility infrastructure

1993

$*+(& +-"./ -+!0 /. *

601-878-2581/www.magnoliaforest.com

Dennis Berry

13252 I-55, Terry, MS 39170

Wholesale lumber, plywood & OSB

1976

(("* ..+ & /".

662-513-4194/rjallenandassociates.com

David Blackburn

2088 Old Taylor Road, Oxford, MS 38655

General construction and management

1984

%+) ..+* +), *3

601-656-6000/thomassoncompany.com

Pat Thomasson

1007 St Francis Dr., Philadelphia, MS 39350

Utility poles

1972

Employees

Annual Revenue

$55,790,0001

300

$54,450,0001

1,200

$50,820,0001

121

$47,140,0001

200

$42,000,000

$40,880,0001

130

$40,600,0001

987

$40,403,603

162

$39,023,000

700

$39,000,000

185

$37,780,0001

200

$36,000,000

$35,500,0001

$33,800,0002

$33,700,0001

Curt Gabardi Bill Barron 2008

Tony Bailey Greg Latour 1993

%" &..&..&,,& (&./ +# (" !&*$ &..&..&,,& ."! ,-&1 /" +), *&". &. +),&("! 3 /%" &..&..&,,& 0.&*".. +0-* ( #-+) ! / .0 )&//"! 3 +), *&". *! -"." - % &-). -" - *'"! 3 -"1"*0" #-+) /%" ( /"./ 5. ( 3" - +)" &*#+-) /&+* &. "./&) /"! *! ) 3 " ."! +* ) -'"/ ( 0( /&+*. *! &*!0./-3 * (3.&. &* (0!&*$ ++1"-. +) 0* - !./-""/ +), *3 +- ". *! (++) "-$ 0 )&/ +))"*/. /+ - *' -+2* / -"." - % ). 0.&*".. +) *+/ - *'"! &*!0./-3 "./&) /" 0* - !./-""/ *

Get it online An electronic version of the 2016 Mississippi 100 is available for purchase at msbusiness.com/lists.

Upcoming lists People Lease handles it all - from time-consuming new employee paperwork to the dreaded year end reporting. Need your own personal Payroll and HR Department? Get all that and more with People Lease!

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Nov. 4: Third-party administrators Nov. 11: Local Real Estate associations Nov. 18: Oldest Accounting firms Nov. 25: SBA Approved Lenders

Get it online To be a part of any of our lists, visit msbusiness.com, click â&#x20AC;&#x153;lists,â&#x20AC;? then â&#x20AC;&#x153;add data,â&#x20AC;? or contact Frank Brown at 601-364-1022 or frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

October 28, 2016

Mississippi Business Journal

THE SPIN CYCLE

Google News launches fact check feature I

the midst of a highly charged presidential election, where fact and fiction have frequently become confused, Google News has introduced a new fact check feature in search results for news stories. Fact check will now appear as a label among news search results, alongside other established labels such as opinion, local source and highly cited. Google News algorithmically connects fact-checking articles with live news stories partly based on an established process called Claim Review. Google says sites meeting the definition of a fact-checking service can apply to have their service included. In a blog post promoting the new feature, Google said: “We’re excited to see the growth of the Fact Check community and to shine a light on its efforts to divine fact from fiction, wisdom from spin.” Facebook, despite its increasingly critical role in the distribution of news, has yet to deploy any fact-checking feature. Research by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism in June 2016 found that Facebook was the primary source of news for 18to 24-year-olds. After sacking its trending topics news team, the social media site was at the center of a storm when its algorithm started promoting fake news. In Google News, fact check labels are visible in the expanded story box on the Google News site, on both the iOS and Android apps, and roll out for users in the US and UK first. The timing of the new label is significant, contributing to an unprecedented presidential election where both sides have been accused of misrepresenting facts. Some commentators have used the term “posttruth” to describe the current state of political discussion.

Ad buyers tap into Twitter’s Instagram-like carousel ads Some marketers are enticed by Twitter’s new Instagram-like carousel ad unit. GroupM has run carousel ads for NBC Universal, Pandora jewelry, Nestlé’s Lean Cuisine, AB InBev’s Stella Artois, Unilever’s Hellmann’s and Panera Bread, according to Kieley Taylor, GroupM head of paid social. Carousel ads featuring the NBC Universal film “The Secret Life of Pets” were clicked on 22 percent more often than Twitter ads for other entertainment companies were clicked on, on average. And the “cost per engagement was 6 percent lower than the industry benchmark,” she said. Omnicom confirmed that it has run carousel ads. “We like the ability to promote brand-created, influencer-created or consumer tweets within a single experience to tell a better story,” said Kerry Perse, U.S. director of Omnicom subsidiary OMD

Word. The ads allow brands to aggregate multiple tweets into a carousel format that users can swipe through. Advertisers have been excited about the ads since news of their development broke in January. And in June, Twitter officially announced it was testing them out. But a few agencies reported that it wasn’t clear to them if the ads were still in pilot or if they had been opened up to all advertisers. While several agencies were under the impression that the ads were open for business to all advertisers, the ads are still in testing and only available to a limited number of partners, according to Twitter. A few agencies said they don’t plan to run the ads regardless of their availability, according to Digiday. However, others were intrigued, and media-buying giants Omnicom and GroupM have already run carousel ads that elicited encouraging engagement.

Pinterest exploring sections for publishers, brands Pinterest is building a new media channel for publishers and brands to create videos and multimedia posts, according to advertisers familiar with the plans. The Pinterest media section is similar in concept to how publishers work closely with Snapchat, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, the advertising sources said speaking on condition of anonymity. The design and content would be uniquely Pinterest but it gives publishers and brands a more structured playground to share to the site. There will be places for advertisers to buy into media sections, for now at least. A person familiar with Pinterest’s plans said the new channel’s ad offering will be pushed out initially as a test. Where the company takes it from there remains unclear. The new section could be called “Explore,” according to a social-media agency executive. That would be the same name Instagram calls its page where it curates content from across the platform, and personalizes it for people. Snapchat calls its publishing section “Discover.” Another agency executive said that this is not quite a Snapchat Discover clone. Pinterest has had some success with advertisers including Target, Wendy’s and Burberry. Many brands have shown faith in its nascent ad platform, but Pinterest has been criticized for moving too slowly to build its ad technology and innovate. Still, the platform has made moves to acquire talent in this space, recently snagging a Snapchat exec to lead its measurement efforts. Pinterest president Tim Kendall told Ad Age recently that including top tier publi-

cations and media companies with Pinter- its retail life insurance est will be especially important to the com- business to focus more on its workplace pany’s future efforts in video. clients. Snoopy and the Facebook Live ad campaign debuts In a new push to get Facebook users to gang began appearing stream live video, the giant social network is in MetLife commerrolling out an advertising campaign on tele- cials in the 1980s as a Todd Smith vision as well as on billboards and buses in means of grafting a familiar face on the inthe U.S. and the U.K. Facebook’s in-house ad studio called The surance giant. But that warmth is less important now Factory created the ad campaign that kicks off Sunday in the U.K. and in the U.S. on that MetLife caters to business-side cusMonday and runs through January. Face- tomers. The 148-year-old brand said the book would not say how much the campaign decision was informed by market research conducted on more than 55,000 people will cost. The ad campaign, a rarity for Facebook, around the world. Most respondents were comes as Facebook focuses on its new indifferent. The use of the Charles Schulz-penned “video-first” strategy. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the comic strip characters in ad campaigns was next content wave is hitting Facebook. In made possible through a multimillion-dollar the beginning on Facebook, there was text. licensing deal with the company that owns Then images spread throughout the News their rights. MetLife will also no longer contract Feed. Now Facebook says video will soon consume the lion’s share of attention of its blimps for aerial coverage of big live events, 1.71 billion users. And it’s making aggressive and plans for future sponsorships are unmoves to get people to make and view more clear. Time will only tell if this move will video, whether from friends and family or crash the company’s brand identity. It may from professionals. Facebook Live, the pop- be time to visit Lucy’s psychiatric stand for ular new app that makes it easy to shoot some quick grief counseling. Each week, The Spin Cycle will bestow a streaming video on mobile devices, is a big Golden Mic Award to the person, group or step in that direction. company in the court of public opinion that best exemplifies the tenets of solid PR, marComic Mic | MetLife punts Snoopy, strikes keting and advertising – and those who more serious note After three decades of selling insurance, don’t. Stay tuned – and step-up to the mic! Charlie Brown’s famous dog Snoopy, and his And remember … Amplify Your Brand! Peanuts cohorts are hitting the unemployTodd Smith is president and chief communiment line. MetLife has announced it’s ending the cations officer of Deane, Smith & Partners, a fulllongstanding association as it relaunches its service branding, PR, marketing and advertising firm with offices in Jackson. The firm — based in Nashville, brand for a more corporate audience. The shakeup comes after the company Tenn. — is also affiliated with Mad Genius. Contact him announced earlier this year it would spin off at todd@deanesmithpartners.com, and follow him @spinsurgeon.

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