MBJ_Top40-Mag_2014

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Tell Us Who STANDS OUT

2015

<_bb ekj WdZ cW_b _d eh ]e edb_d[ je ikXc_j oekh dec_dWj_ed http://msbusiness.com/events/top-40-40-nomination-form/ I Nominate: Birthdate:

(Must be after December 1, 1974)

Company:

Outstanding Mississippi Business Leaders Under 40

Position: Business Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Zip:

Fax:

Email: Nominated by: Company: Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Zip:

Nominees Must Be: » Employed and have lived and worked in Mississippi for at least two years. » Under 40 years of age as of December 1, 2014. » Involved in more than business activities. Civic Involvement will be strongly considered. Nominees who hold political office will not be considered solely on the basis of political achievements. Nominees do not necessarily have to be business owners. Professionals in the non-profit business sector are eligible. Individuals are also encouraged to nominate themselves.

Fax:

Email: Your relationship to nominee:

We accept Top 40 Under 40 Nominations throughout the year. Deadline for nominations is December 31, 2014. Oek m_bb h[Y[_l[ j^[ [djho h[gk_h[c[dji Wi ieed Wi oekh dec_dWj_ed _i [dj[h[Z$ <_dWb WdZ Yecfb[j[ [djho fWYa# ages must be received by MBJ no later than January 17, 2015.

Online: http://msbusiness.com/events/top-40-40-nomination-form/ CW_b0 Jef *&" C8@" (&& D$ 9ed]h[ii Ij$" Ik_j[ *&&" @WYaied" CI )/(&' <Wn0 ,&'#),*#'&&More info: 601-364-1000 or events@msbusiness.com

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4 << 2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40

DANIEL COKER HORTON & BELL CONGRATULATES MITCHELL DRISKELL ON BEING NAMED TO MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL’S 2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 CLASS. Recognizing Mississippi’s up-andcoming business leaders for their contributions to the state’s overall economic progress, MBJ’s Top 40 Under 40 is a well-deserved accolade for Mitchell Driskell. A shareholder in DCH&B’s Oxford office, he focuses his law practice in the areas of Insurance Bad Faith and Coverage, Public Entity/Governmental Liability and Transportation Law.

Mississippi Business Journal

The 2014 Class Class member

Profile page

Joseph B. Babb, Eaton, Babb & Smith ......................................................6 Jason Wilton Bailey, Jones Walker..............................................................7 Michael Bentley, Bradley Arant Boult and Cummings ........................8 Elizabeth Mills Boone, Watson and Jones ..............................................8 Kylie B. Boring, Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau ....................9 Katrina S. Brown, Currie Johnson Griffin and Myers ..........................10 David B. Burt, Newton County Bank ........................................................10 Chara J. Clancy, Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding ..................................11 Jason Cook, Cook Medical Supply ..............................................................12 Steve DeRusso, Ouachita Independent Bank ........................................13 Mitchell O. Driskell III, Daniel Coker ........................................................14 Daniel C. Elliott, BancorpSouth ..................................................................14 Edgar A. Flores, Baptist Health Systems..................................................15 Breck R. Hines, Duckworth Realty..............................................................16 LaKeysha Greer Isaac, Cosmic Simmons & Brown ............................17 Alyson Bustamante Jones, Butler Snow................................................18 Kenneth L. Jones, LapCorp ..........................................................................18 Robert D. King Jr., The Koerber Company..............................................19 Kimberla M. Little, Regions Financial Corp ..........................................24 Josh Mabus, The Mabus Agency................................................................25 Chris Madison, HORNE, LLP ........................................................................26 Brandon D. Meeks, Meeks Agency ..........................................................26 Nathan Moore, Mississippi State University..........................................27 Profiles written by MBJ contributor Nash Nunnery

MBJ STAFF ALAN TURNER Publisher alan.turner@msbusiness.com (601) 364-1021 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com (601) 364-1018 WALLY NORTHWAY Senior Writer wally.northway@msbusiness.com (601) 364-1016 FRANK BROWN Staff Writer/Special Projects frank.brown@msbusiness.com (601) 364-1022

G U L F P O RT : 228-864-8117 J A C K S O N : 601-969-7607 O X F O R D : 662-232-8979 W W W .D A N I E L C O K E R . C O M *Free Background Information Available Upon Request. Š 2014 Daniel Coker Horton & Bell, P.A. All rights reserved.

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Mississippi Business Journal

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 5

nt More eve photos, Pages 20-23

Southern AgCredit Congratulates Katy Tillman for her selection in MBJ’s Top 40 Under 40

Deryll Stegall / Stegall Imagery

Austin Morgan, T.L. Wallace Construction Co. ....................................28 Anna M. Neel, Neel-Schaffer........................................................................28 Jamie D. Osbirn, First American National Bank....................................29 Tianna H. Raby, Forman Perry ....................................................................30 Ryan Revere, Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott & Nowak......................30 Gerold Smith, Titan Broadcasting Co.........................................................31 Ryan P. Steiner, Terracon ..............................................................................32 John Stolarski, Allred Architectural Group..............................................32 Micajah P. Sturdivant IV, MMI Hotel Group ........................................33 Dana C. Terry, Mississippi College School of Law ..............................34 Katy Tillman, Southern Ag Credit ............................................................34 Jerry L. Toney, Cadence Financial Corp. ..................................................35 James Russell Turley, Community Bank ................................................36 Vince Vavrunek, SERVPRO ..........................................................................36 Chad Wallace, Belhaven University............................................................37 Sara Harrison White, Trustmark National Bank ..................................38 Liz Young, American Heart Association ..................................................38

We appreciate all that you contribute to the association, staff and stockholders of Southern AgCredit.

Congratulates

ALYSON BUSTAMANTE JONES

Financial Solutions for Agriculture

for being selected as one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40. RIDGELAND OFFICE A L | C O | GA | LA | MS | NY | P A | TN | UK

SouthernAgCredit.com • (800) 449-5742

butlersnow.com

LAW ELEVATED

Member of the Farm Credit System

6 << 2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40

Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

Joseph B. Babb Eaton, Babb & Smith

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OE BABB is a shareholder with Tupelo accounting firm Eaton, Babb & Smith. He specializes in business and individual income tax, business valuations, litigation support, commercial audits and audits of nonprofit organizations. A self-professed “armchair historian,� Babb firmly believes Abraham Lincoln was America’s greatest president. The Dyersburg, Tenn., native also believes in the value of Mississippi’s

small businesses and their contributions to a strong economy. Active in the community, the Mississippi State University graduate serves on the Tupelo Public School District Board of Trustees and as Treasurer for the Kiwanis Club of Tupelo. Married to the former Lauren McGee, Babb and his family are members of First United Methodist Church. In his spare time, Babb enjoys reading and college football and baseball.

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Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 7

Jason Wilton Bailey Jones Walker ASON BAILEY doesn’t know the word “quit.� While working for a Vicksburg CPA firm, the Winona native made the decision to apply for law school but soon suffered the tragic loss of his dad. Bailey operated his late father’s coffee company during the same time he was studying for his law degree at Ole Miss. Today, Bailey is an associate attorney with Jones Walker law firm in Olive Branch. A member of the firm’s real

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estate practice group, he primarily focuses on land transactions. A 2007 University of Mississippi Law School graduate, Bailey serves as president of the DeSoto County Rebel Club and presides over all the organization’s club and board meetings. He believes communication is the most important characteristic in any business endeavor, particularly the law profession. When he has time, Bailey enjoys watching Ole Miss sports, hunting, fishing and running.

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www.msbusiness.com

Michael Bentley Bradley Arant Boult and Cummings N ASSOCIATE WITH the Vicksburg law office of Bradley Arant Boult and Cummings, Michael Bentley focuses his law practice on appellate and commercial litigation. Bentley graduated summa cum laude from the Mississippi College School of Law and was named the 2011 “Young Lawyer of the Year� by the MC School of Law Alumni Association. He helped establish and now serves as chair of the Appellate Practice Section of the

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Mississippi Bar Association, and is president of the Mississippi Association of Partners in Education. Bentley says he owes his respect for the law and justice to his grandfather, a Meridian attorney who was one of the first Mississippi lawyers to represent African-American clients. Bentley and his wife, Sarah, are the parents of a son, and are active in the Vicksburg community. In his leisure time, Bentley enjoys reading about history, golf and watching movies with his wife.

Elizabeth Mills Boone Watson and Jones

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EFORE BECOMING an attorney, Elizabeth Boone had a plethora of work experience, having served as a lead lab chemist, saleswoman and financial management associate before entering the University of Mississippi Law School. Upon graduation, Boone began working at Jackson law firm Watson and Jones, where she became a partner in early 2013. Her areas of practice include general business law, mergers and acquisitions, real estate and municipal law.

Additionally, Boone works regularly on product sales contracts and previously represented a municipality in the Jackson metro area. She considers her work experience in diversified professional fields as being a significant advantage in her law practice. Boone is an active member of St. James Episcopal Church and the Junior League of Jackson. The mother of two sons, Boone relishes sampling exotic foods and traveling to various locales around the United States.

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 9

Kylie B. Boring Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau SKED TO DESCRIBE herself in one word, Kylie Boring selected “passionate.� Born in the Philippines, Boring displays passion no matter the situation, including her job as director of marketing for the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau. She is responsible for promoting and building greater brand awareness by implementing marketing campaigns that inspire visitors to explore Tupelo. Boring, who earned her degree in pub-

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lic relations from the University of Southern Mississippi, considers Scene, an entertainment supplement she helped develop for the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, as her most significant professional accomplishment. Adopted as an infant, Boring is her mother’s greatest fan and admires her faith, conviction and determination in persevering as a single parent. Among Boring’s other passions is spending time with her son, Van, and having a true appreciation for cooking and the culinary arts.

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www.msbusiness.com

Katrina S. Brown Currie Johnson Griffin and Myers OLLEAGUES DESCRIBE Katrina Brown as a team player who eagerly takes on the responsibility of improving her community. The Jackson native is an attorney for Flowood law firm Currie Johnson Griffin and Myers, and concentrates her practice on medical malpractice, premises liability and general liability. Brown is active in numerous professional organizations, including the Metro Black Women Lawyers Association,

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Magnolia Bar Association and Toastmasters International. A member of Leadership Greater Jackson Class of 201314, Brown also volunteers at the Stewpot, Habitat for Humanity, and serves as a big sister with Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Jackson. In addition, she annually assists with a Thanksgiving food drive and Toys for Tots. Brown earned her law degree from the University of Mississippi Law School. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, attending sporting and concert events and mentoring young people.

David B. Burt Newton County Bank

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HOUGH DAVID BURT has risen to become vice president of Newton County Bank, the Meridian native still works hard to give back to his community. Two of his Mississippi Young Bankers programs, “A Banker in Every Classroom” and “Teach Children to Save,” provide financial literacy information to children and adults alike to help them achieve their financial goals. As vice president, Burt calculates and prepares mortgage loan rates and

coordinates Newton County Bank’s advertising and marketing activities. Selected the 2013 “Man of the Year” by the Newton Chamber of Commerce, Burt received his master’s in business administration from Mississippi State University in 2007. Active in the Newton County community, he is a member of the Newton Lions Club, United Givers Fund, Chamber of Commerce and the ClarkeVenable Baptist Church. Married with two sons, Burt enjoys playing golf and running.

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

Chara J. Clancy Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding S A FINANCIAL analyst with Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Chara Clancy evaluates and reviews the cost and profit elements of proposals in the billions of dollars. Currently, she is working towards her certified public accountant license and plans to start sitting for the four part exam after completing her master of accountancy program. A Pascagoula native, Clancy earned the

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Technology Rising Star Award at the 2013 Women of Color STEM Conference, which fueled her aspiration to be a positive role model for all women regardless of ethnicity or social status. She credits her parents for giving her the core foundation to develop selfmotivation and ambition. Active in the community, Clancy launched the Johnnie Mae & Wilma Christine Scholarship for local high school seniors in December 2013. Her hobbies include traveling, volunteering, exercising and reading.

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 11

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www.msbusiness.com

Mississippi Business Journal

Jason Cook Cook Medical Supply

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OBODY COULD ever accuse Jason Cook of being lazy. After all, the Jackson native serves as treasurer for Cook Medical Supply and A-plus Mini Storage in Morton and co-owns Southern Accents, a Ridgeland gift boutique. One of only 42 certified assistive technology professionals in Mississippi, Cook provides patients with custom rehab equipment to help with a multitude of diagnosis. A University of Mississippi gradu-

Top 40 under 40

2014

ate, Cook volunteers with Morton “Day in the Park,” Keep Morton Beautiful, Miss Morton Pageant and the Christmas Parade. He also serves on the Compliance Review Board of the Clark Medical Clinic in Scott County. According to Cook, “no” is not in his vocabulary, as he doesn’t believe in “paying someone to do something you can do for yourself.” An avid water sports enthusiast, Cook enjoys deep sea fishing, water skiing and traveling in his leisure time.

Congratulations on being selected for the Top 40 under 40 award!

Brandon D. Meeks 992 Northpark Dr., Ste. B Ridgeland, MS 601-977-0002

ShelterInsurance.com 1-800-SHELTER (743-5837)

Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 13

Steve DeRusso Ouachita Independent Bank

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HE MARKET MANAGER for the Madison branch of Ouachita Independent Bank, Steve DeRusso is a former section commander for the 33rd Maintenance Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base. With Quachita, the former Iowa resident’s role is to generate new business opportunities and represent the bank in the Mississippi market. A graduate of Iowa State University,

DeRusso earned his master’s degree from William Carey University while still on active duty with the Air Force. A firm believer in giving back to the community, DeRusso is involved in the Madison County Business League, the Big Blue Booster Club and the Homebuilder’s Association of Jackson. He and his wife, Candi, are parents to four children. In his spare time, DeRusso enjoys working out, watching Alabama football, running and playing golf.

to

Austin Morgan

808 Hwy 98 Bypass / Columbia, MS 39429 / 601.736.4525

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www.msbusiness.com

Mitchell O. Driskell III Daniel Coker

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FORMER EAGLE Scout, Mitchell Driskell III is now primed to achieve his long-term goals in the legal profession. Driskell is a partner with Oxford law firm Daniel Coker and concentrates his practice mainly on civil litigation and family law matters. His contributions to the practice of law are numerous, including serving as chairman of the Mississippi Bar Association Summer School for Lawyers from 2010 to 2013.

On a local level, the Georgia-born Driskell has served on all leadership capacities of the Lafayette County Bar Association and is now on the board of directors of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association. A Baylor University graduate, Driskell earned his law degree from the University of Mississippi Law School, graduating cum laude in 2000. Married with two children, Driskell enjoys activities centered around his sons, including playing in the yard and building Lego forts.

Daniel C. Elliott BancorpSouth T BANCORPSOUTH, Daniel Elliott is considered by his superiors to be the bank’s “go-to” guy in the South Jackson Division. The Meridian native began his BancorpSouth career as a teller and worked his way up to vice president/senior lender. In addition to his core responsibilities, Elliott works closely with junior lenders to help them understand how to properly document and analyze credits. Before receiving a degree from the prestigious LSU Graduate School of

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Banking, Elliott earned his master’s in business adminstration from Mississippi College. A member of the faculty at Belhaven University, Elliott teaches in the school’s Adult Studies program and relishes teaching educational and leadership skills to his students. He is an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church and volunteers his time with the Little Light House and the Rankin County Chamber of Commerce. Elliott enjoys hunting in his spare time.

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 15

www.msbusiness.com

Edgar A. Flores Baptist Health Systems NATIVE OF COSTA RICA, Edgar Flores relocated to the Deep South in 2010 when he was named business operations coordinator for Baptist Health Systems in Jackson. Before joining the hospital, Flores earned his doctorate from the Universidad Latina de Costa Rica. At Baptist Health Systems, Flores directs and administers all business operations programs, including outpatient services, patient accounts, main

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admissions and the Women’s Center. He also manages a pilot program at Baptist-operated Healthcare Financial Services regarding collections and financial advice for both English- and Spanish-speaking patients. A former GE Financial employee, Flores was selected by the company for the “Bright Lights Community Award” in 2003. An avid runner, Flores also enjoys cooking, entertaining, indoor and outdoor sports and gym boot camp activities.

TRUSTMARK SALUTES THE TOP 40 UNDER 40 BUSINESS LEADERS.

HORNE LLP CONGRATULATES

CHRIS MADISON FOR BEING NAMED TO THE MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL’S

TOP 40 UNDER 40. People you trust. Advice that works. Member FDIC

trustmark.com

16 << 2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40

Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

Breck R. Hines Duckworth Realty/Hines Investments

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S A MEMBER of the Class of 1997 at Jackson Academy, Breck Hines was chosen as Most Likely to Succeed. Needless to say, his JA classmates were spot-on with their vote. Today, Hines is executive vice president of Duckworth Realty. The University of Mississippi graduate also co-owns and operates an ice manufacturing and sales company in Oxford. As a principal at Duckworth Realty, Hines’ responsibilities include managing

acquisitions and the development arms of the business. As a licensed real estate broker, he also represents select landlords and tenants, and has closed over $200 million in transactions in the last decade. Hines attributes much of his success to his wife and their three children, who he says believed and trusted in him. An active member of Christ United Methodist Church, Hines holds a thirdclass private pilot’s license and basks in the intellectual satisfaction that comes with flying.

The Attorneys and Staff of Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott & Nowak, LLP would like to congratulate

Congratulations to Anna on her selection to the Top 40 Under 40 for 2014

Ryan Revere

Anna Masteers-Neeel

of our firm on being selected

2014 Top 40 Under 40

695 Shamrock Drive / Batesville, MS 38606 (662) 563-4613 • www.smithphillips.com

Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 17

LaKeysha Greer Isaac Cosmich Simmons & Brown S A SIXTH-GRADE student in Magnolia, LaKeysha Greer Isaac had never met an attorney, but became inspired by the story of Constance Baker Motley, one of America’s pioneering civil rights lawyers. Today, Isaac is a partner with Jackson law firm Cosmich Simmons & Brown and following the lead of her hero. Her practice focuses on complex toxic torts, products liability and general/commercial matters.

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In 2013, Isaac was named as a Fellow of the Young Lawyers Division of the Mississippi Bar Association. The Emory University School of Law graduate is president of the Ebony Pearls Foundation, which recently awarded over $10,000 in scholarships to college-bound AfricanAmerican high school seniors. In 2013, as chair of the Junior League of Jackson’s ACT Prep Workshops, Isaac spearheaded the project to prepare high school students for the ACT test. In her leisure time, she enjoy reading and creative writing.

Congratulations, Katy! You Always Go the Extra Mile! Katy Tillman Even as a child, you were a marketing whiz kid with your personal shoe shopping service. Now, as Team Leader, you put on your running shoes to arrange, manage, and market events for Southern AgCredit like their Fit for Agriculture race events.

Baptist congratulates

Edgar A. Flores for being selected as one of Mississippi’s

Top 40 Under 40 Thank you for your leadership and service to our organization and the community.

Your employer describes you as "the model for what Southern AgCredit looks for in a representative for our company." And we believe it. "There is a saying in our office that 'good things happen to those who hustle.' Katy Tillman hustles, and makes things happen." And he’s right. That's why you are Top 40 Under 40. For a great future in both your personal and professional life, all of us at Amacker Inc. send congratulations and much love! We are so proud of you!

www.mbhs.org 601-948-6262

18 << 2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40

www.msbusiness.com

Alyson Bustamante Jones Butler Snow NATIVE OF MIAMI, Alyson Jones joined Ridgeland law firm Butler Snow in 2004 and became a partner in 2012. The only female Hispanic partner at the firm, Jones is a member of Butler Snow’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Device litigation group and the firm’s Recruiting Committee. In the community, she serves on the board of Friends of Children’s Hospital and is active with Mission First, which

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provides free legal services to individuals whose primary language is Spanish. Jones also is active in Madison Heights Church, a new church plant in Mississippi. She graduated from the University of Tennessee Law School after completing her bachelor of arts degree at the University of Mississippi. At Ole Miss, Jones was on a scholarship to play soccer for the Lady Rebels. In her spare time, she enjoys running, attending Ole Miss football games and spending time with family and friends.

Kenneth L. Jones LapCorp

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OR KENNETH JONES, communication is the key to building relationships in the professional arena. The Yazoo City native is the senior marketing executive for LabCorp and is responsible for implementation of marketing and communication strategies. Before going to LabCorp, Jones worked for Apria Healthcare and was the company’s top Gulf States sales representative for six consecutive years. He also was inducted into Apria’s Eagles

Club, only the fifth employee ever to garner the honor. A graduate of Mississippi College, Jones was working towards completing his masters of health services administration in late 2013. One of his greatest personal accomplishments was mentoring a Yazoo City High School student, who is currently a student a Holmes Community College. An avowed “gym rat,” Jones enjoys working out, biking and hanging out with friends.

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 19

www.msbusiness.com

Robert D. King Jr. The Koerber Company SIDE FROM HIS JOB, Robert D. King Jr. considers family to be his number one life priority. He and wife Julianne are the proud parents of a 1-year-old son, and King proclaims that being married and becoming a father is his most significant personal accomplishment. The New Albany native is a shareholder with The Koerber Company, a Hattiesburg-based accounting firm. In addition to assisting the firm’s president with various projects, King is

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responsible for preparing business valuation reports for compliance with the IRS, marital dissolutions and for purchases and sales of businesses. In 2011, he obtained the certified valuation analyst credential through the American Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and is currently pursuing the certified in financial forensics credential. In his leisure time, King enjoys outdoor grilling, spending time with his family and playing fetch with his dogs, Lucy and Harper.

Mississippi College School of Law proudly congratulates

Dana C. Terry

Director of Communications & Public Relations

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Michael Bentley ’07 Ryan Revere ’10 Sara Harrison White ’08 "

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FOR BEING CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE TOP 40 UNDER 40

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www.msbusiness.com

Mississippi Business Journal

Hundreds filled the banquet room at the Hilton Hotel on County Line Road on April 4 for the 2014 Top 40 Under 40 luncheon.

The Luncheon The Mississippi Business Journal’s annual Top 40 Under 40 luncheon is one of the highlights of the state’s business community. This year, nearly 500 business people and their families, friends and coworkers gathered at the Hilton Hotel on County Line Road in Jackson to celebrate the best and brightest young people and leaders of the state. For a slides show of photos, visit http://msbusiness.com/ events/top-40-event-slideshow/.

Honoree LaKeysha Greer Isaac of Cosmic Simmons & Brown

All luncheon photos by Dery

Mississippi Business Journal

Honoree Liz Young of the American Heart Association

yll Stegall of Stegall Imagery

www.msbusiness.com

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 21

Honoree Gerold Smith of Titan Broadcasting Co.

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www.msbusiness.com

Mississippi Business Journal

Honoree Anna M. Neel (center) of Neel-Schaffer

Honoree Nathan Moore (left) of Mississippi State University

Andrew Hart of sponsor Comcast Business offers opening remarks

Edgar Flores of Baptist Health Systems

MBJ publisher Alan Turner listens as Jan Collins of the Madison Business League prepares to give the invocation

Stephanie Maxwell of WAPT helped tell the honorees’ stories

Mississippi Business Journal

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 23

www.msbusiness.com

Honoree Jason Wilton Bailey of Jones Walker

LaRose Hunter of Regions leads the Pledge of Allegiance

Honoree Robert King of The Koerber Co.

Honoree Sara Harrison White (right) of Trustmark checks in for the luncheon

“This dynamic group of young professionals embodies strength, dedication and dependability, all virtues that LUBA shares. We're proud to serve once again as sponsors of this celebration of Mississippi’s next generation of business leaders.” — Trent Bondy,, Assistant Vice Preident of Sales, LUBA Honoree Jason Cook of Cook Medical Supply

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Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

Kimberla M. Little Regions Financial Corp.

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IMBERLA LITTLE is assistant vice president for human resources with Regions Financial Corporation. She has direct oversight for over 500 Regions employees in the bank’s south Mississippi geographical area. A Jackson native, Little’s corporate responsibilities include all aspects of the human resources function, with a direct emphasis on recruiting, employee relations, performance management, employee development and compensa-

tion. Before joining Regions, the Jackson State University graduate worked as a senior recruiter for Maxim Healthcare, and as corporate sales manager for the Jackson Marriott Hotel. In 2012, Little completed requirements for her master of science in leadership at Belhaven University. She has earned numerous professional honors, including Employee of the Year with the Cabot Lodge and Regions’ Discretionary Merit Award. Little enjoys traveling in her spare time.

Congratulations Micajah Sturdivant from all of your friends at MMI Hotel Group for being named one of Mississippi Business Journal’s

Top 40 Under 40

Mississippi Business Journal

2014 TOP 40 UNDER 40 >> 25

www.msbusiness.com

Josh Mabus The Mabus Agency

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HE VALUE OF strategy in the context of creativity drives Josh Mabus as the owner of The Mabus Agency, an award-winning, full-service marketing and advertising boutique in Tupelo. Possessing a “creative class gene,” Mabus strives to raise the bar for creativity in Mississippi and the Southeast. A native of Pontotoc, Mabus has earned nine Telly Awards for television commercials since 2011 and boasts clients such as Renasant Bank,

Mississippi State University, Eat With Us restaurant group and Mississippi Public Broadcasting. Keeping with his “creative” personality, Mabus built a hovercraft prototype last year and takes his beloved rescue dog Elsa to the office on a daily basis. An avid camper, he and his wife drove to the Grand Canyon for their honeymoon and camped along the way in New Mexico and Utah. In his leisure time, Mabus enjoys cooking and traveling around the country to explore national landmarks.

Congratulations Jamie Osbirn, VP Tupelo Branch

Well deserved....Thank you for your dedicated community & youth leadership We Congratulate Michael Bentley on being named one of the Mississippi Business Journal’s “Top 40 Under 40.”

Top 40 Under 40

AMONG THE NATION’S BEST LAWYERS

babc.com ALABAMA | DISTRIC T OF COLUMBIA | MISSISSIPPI | NORTH CAROLINA | TENNESSEE No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Contact: Margaret Oertling Cupples, Esq., One Jackson Place, 188 E. Capitol Street, Suite 400, Jackson, Missisppi 39201.

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Chris Madison HORNE, LLP

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OR CHRIS MADISON, relationships are important in building trust and producing results. The Waynesboro native is a senior manager for HORNE LLP, a Ridgelandbased accounting firm. Madison works closely with state and local governments providing analysis, design and implementation of best practice solutions for federal grant compliance. In 2006, Madison served as a technical adviser for HORNE’s Hurricane Katrina response team. He has more

than five years of experience consulting on grant compliance regulations and requirements, including the Stafford Act. Madison holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accountancy from Mississippi State University and is a certified fraud examiner specializing in forensic accounting. In 2010, he was featured in the Mississippi Business Journal’s popular column “Keeping Our Eye On.” Active with Children’s International, Madison also is a fan of Mississippi State University athletics.

Brandon D. Meeks Meeks Agency SK BRANDON MEEKS about his role model and he’ll answer with his father, Gary Meeks. Living in Arizona, the Meeks family moved to Mississippi so that Brandon and his brother could “become more than a number.” Today, Meeks is the owner and principal agent of the Meeks Agency, a fullservice Shelter Insurance franchise that provides insurance to over 700 families in the metro Jackson region. Meeks also is the owner of WAM

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Properties, a business that focuses solely on rehabbing foreclosed houses. Actively involved in Christ United Methodist Church, Meeks is chairman of the board of trustees, and serves as youth discipleship group leader. Additionally, he is a member of Business 2 Business of Jackson and a board member of Young Business Leaders of Jackson. In his leisure time, Meeks enjoys hunting, salt water fishing and coaching his son’s youth league baseball team

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

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Nathan Moore Mississippi State University OME MIGHT SAY Nathan Moore is wrapped in maroon and white. Moore is the director of development for the College of Architecture, Art & Design at Mississippi State University. His duties include soliciting major gifts on behalf of the college, the state’s only school of architecture and largest construction management program. Under Moore’s leadership, the MSU Foundation has raised funds for the construction management and architec-

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ture programs. A native of Decatur, Ga., Moore received his undergraduate and a master’s degree in public policy and administration at MSU, graduating summa cum laude. Active in the Starkville community, Moore is a member of the Rotary Club, Greater Starkville Development Partnership and Mississippi Economic Council. In his spare time, Moore enjoys challenging himself physically by running marathons and triathlons.

Congratulates Partner

Va l u a t i o n & L i t i g a t i o n S e r v i c e s ! & ' "" ! # ' $$$ %

Tianna Raby

Selected as one of Mississippi’s Business Journal’s 2014

Top 40 Under 40 www.fpwkt.com

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Austin Morgan T. L. Wallace Construction Co.

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WO YEARS AGO, Austin Morgan was named COO and secretary/treasurer of T.L. Wallace Construction Company, a Columbiabased construction firm with nearly 300 employees. However, the University of Southern Mississippi graduate was hardly intimidated by his new responsibilities. In 2013, T.L. Wallace Construction was recognized by the Mississippi Business Journal as one of the Top 100

privately owned businesses in the state. The company boasts seven divisions, including commercial, heavy civil, disaster response, asphalt, industrial, utilities and professional services. Morgan, 33, says the key to success is keeping an open mind and possessing the ability to task outside of your job description. If he had to describe himself in one word, Morgan would say, “determined.” Morgan enjoys home improvement projects and spending time with family.

Anna M. Neel Neel-Schaffer NE LOOK AT public relations professional Anna M. Neel and you’d never guess that she skates in the roller derby. The Atlanta native is a member of the Magnolia Roller Vixens when she’s not performing her duties as director of public relations for NeelSchaffer Inc. At the engineering firm, Neel is responsible for the creation of all branding, marketing and communication materials produced for clients on vari-

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ous projects. Before joining the firm, she did public relations for Yamaha Marine Group and Habitat for Humanity International. Neel began her communications career at CNN after graduating from the University of West Georgia. While at the cable news network, she played a pivotal role in the production of numerous news stories, including the 2004 Presidential Election and the war in Iraq. Married with two children, she also teaches aqua aerobics at the YMCA.

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

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Jamie D. Osbirn First American National Bank AMIE OSBIRN had an idea in 2010 to launch a new start-up bank in Tupelo. He approached the First American National Bank leadership team and was given the green light to execute his plan. One year later, the Tupelo location opened its doors and Osbirn is now vice president of the city’s newest bank. The Amory native has been honored by his employer on numerous occasions, including receiving First American’s 2013 Star Employee Award and the 2012 Impact

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Award for outstanding loan growth. Before joining First American, Osbirn worked for nearly four years in a similar capacity with M&F Bank. In addition to his father Johnny, the Mississippi State University graduate admires Thomas Mize, a former boss who taught Osbirn what a “good” banker should be. A member of the Mississippi Young Bankers Association, Osbirn is married and the father of two children. In his leisure time, he enjoys fishing and playing golf.

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Tianna H. Raby Forman Perry

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HEN SHE’S NOT handling complex legal cases for Jackson law firm Forman Perry, Tianna Hill Raby takes solace in her culinary skills. Having perfected Thai cuisine, the Meridian-born Raby is currently working on Cajun and Creole dishes. As a partner at Forman Perry, Raby represents clients in all phases of litigation, from filing answers to complaints to handling appeals. She also has served on the firm’s recruiting committee for

over a decade and is co-chair of its diversity committee. Employed by Forman Perry since she graduated from Vanderbilt University Law School, Raby performs as a general civil defense litigator in the areas of employment, professional malpractice and premises and products liability. Raby considers being guardian to her sister during the youngster’s teen years as her most significant personal accomplishment. Raby enjoys spending time with her husband, Malcolm, and their 2-year-old daughter, Ava, and traveling to see friends around the country.

Ryan Revere Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott & Nowak ITH A STRONG business background, a master’s in business administration and work experience with Regions Bank, Ryan Revere now uses his career journey in the courtroom. An attorney with Batesville law firm Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott & Nowak, Revere handles all aspects of litigation and transactional law for multiple businesses. Additionally, the Jackson native assists individuals on estate planning matters.

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Active civically in the Batesville and Panola County communities, Revere works to promote economic development through the Panola Partnership and Batesville Main Street. He also serves on the finance committee of his church and is a member of the local Rotary Club. Appointed to serve on the Bank Attorneys Committee for the Mississippi Bankers Association, Revere also was selected to participate in the 2014 Mississippi Bar Association Leadership Forum. In his spare time, Revere enjoys hunting and fishing.

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

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Gerold Smith Titan Broadcasting Co.

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N MISSISSIPPI broadcasting circles, Gerold Smith is known as the state’s youngest radio station owner. Ever since the Jackson native can remember, he’s had an affinity for music, and radio became the vehicle to fuel his passion. Now CEO of Titan Broadcasting Company, Smith, 36, began his radio career at WJSU-FM, Jackson State University’s campus station. It was there that he learned how to program, perfect

voiceovers and nurture his on-air skills. In 2012, the former Nissan factory line worker realized his broadcasting ownership dreams with the purchase of radio stations BDAY 99.1FM and 970AM in Brandon. With his radio stations, Smith feels his contributions to helping small businesses grow are offering affordable advertising rates to reach their targeted audiences. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling, flying model airplanes and organizing his vast comic book collection.

Watson & Jones, P.A. congratulates

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On her selection as one of

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for being chosen as one of

MISSISSIPPI’S TOP 40 UNDER 40!

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Ryan P. Steiner Terracon

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ITH PROJECTS ranging from subsurface explorations to various testing services, Ryan Steiner is the Geotechnical Department manager for Terracon’s Ridgeland office. He oversees all geotechnical projects throughout Mississippi and manages projects to ensure clients receive highquality service. Additionally, Steiner has provided construction quality assurance technical and project management serv-

ices for multiple solid waste projects in the Southeast. A University of Tennessee Chattanooga graduate, Steiner’s list of projects includes MEMA, Kemper County Drilling Program, Ocean Springs Hospital and several Canadian National Railroad bridge replacements throughout Mississippi. Before his current position with Terracon, Steiner worked as a staff engineer for six years and managed multiple projects for large and small clients in the state.

John Stolarski Allred Architectural Group

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HEN JOHN Stolarski was just 12 years old, he decided a job in architecture was his future. Today, Stolarski is a principal with Allred Architectural Group in Ocean Springs. He was previously the senior project manager with Biloxi-based Eley Guild Harry Architects, where he had oversight over several multi-million dollar projects simultaneously. Additionally,

Stolarski helped the firm complete numerous public recovery projects in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Active in the Coast Young Professionals organization, the Baltimore, Md., native strives to develop programs that create professional opportunities for his peers. A member of the American Institute of Architects, he and wife, Meggan, are the proud parents of two children. When he’s not working, Stolarski enjoys going to the beach with his family.

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

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Micajah P. Sturdivant IV MMI Hotel Group ERVING THE interests of others is a pledge that Micajah Sturdivant IV lives by every day as president of MMI Hotel Group. Despite the cyclical nature of the hospitality industry, the Greenwood native makes sure he stays firmly committed to his more than 500 team members and the guests that frequent MMI’s hotels. Since joining his family’s 57-year-old company in 2006, Sturdivant has applied the principles of his MBA from the Harvard Business School.

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When he moved to the Jackson area, Sturdivant founded the Phoenix Club, an organization dedicated to instilling a civic focus in the Capital City’s up-andcoming professional leaders while raising funds for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi. Active civically, Sturdivant is the president of the Fondren Renaissance Foundation, is on the University of Mississippi Alumni board of directors and is a Leadership Jackson graduate. In his spare time, Sturdivant enjoys tea time with his two girls and wife, Grace Gore Sturdivant.

Congratulates

LAKEYSHA GREER ISAAC on her recognition of

MISSISSIPPI’S TOP 40 UNDER 40 cs-law.com

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Dana C. Terry Mississippi College School of Law ACKSON NATIVE Dana Terry is the director of communications and public relations for the Mississippi College School of Law. A graduate of Dillard University in New Orleans, Terry received a master's degree in communication from Mississippi College. Terry previously served as an outreach specialist at the Education Services Foundation in Jackson. She lists her most significant personal accomplishment as being nominated

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and accepted to the Leadership Greater Jackson program. The program ignited a sense of urgency within Terry to become more proactive in helping rebuild the morale of the people in the City of Jackson. As a life-long Jacksonian, Terry believes making the decision to commit to helping make her hometown a better place was a huge sense of accomplishment. A member of the Junior League of Jackson, Terry loves dance and has served as a choreographer for several local church productions.

Katy Tillman Southern Ag Credit

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EFORE KATY TILLMAN turned 10 years old, she was already a business owner. It seems the Edwards native figured out a way to order shoes and sell them to friends, family and neighbors. Today, Tillman utilizes her considerable marketing skills as the marketing manager and loan administrator for Ridgeland-based Southern Ag Credit. In her role, Tillman coordinates company-wide customer appreciation events and serves as the public rela-

tions liaison to promote Southern Ag’s community presence. Tillman’s career path reflects her desire to serve others, whether through event-related marketing or helping them find a home. Planning a birthday party for one of her two sons or helping with “4 Miles for Missions” at her church, Tillman’s approach to the task is to be creative. An avowed “foodie,” the Mississippi State University graduate won a cooking contest in 2007 and was chosen to appear on The Food Network.

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

Jerry L. Toney Cadence Financial Corp. ERRY TONEY is a senior vice president and senior financial consultant for Cadence Financial Corporation in Starkville. The Grenada native also serves as a lecturer with Mississippi State University’s Department of Finance and Economics. As an officer with Cadence, Toney is responsible for not only managing client assets, but coordinating community and economic development activities within the Golden Triangle region and the state. He has been accorded several honors over the years, including being named one of the “Top 10 Most Influential

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Men in the Golden Triangle” by Town and Gown Magazine and multiple Outstanding Alumnus awards by the Oktibbeha County Chapter of the MSU Alumni Association. He is a past national board president of the MSU Alumni Association. Active in the civic arena, Toney serves on the boards of the MSU Athletic Council, MSU Master Planning Committee, MSU Department of Finance and Economics advisory board, Greater Starkville Development Partnership and the Golden Triangle Development Link. In his spare time, Toney enjoys spending time with his family and traveling.

Congratulations to

SARA HARRISON WHITE

on being named to the Mississippi Business Journal’s

We are proud of you!! Mom and Dad

Congratulations to

KYLIE BORING

on being named to Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40!

Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau 399 E. Main St • Tupelo

800-533-0611 • tupelo.net

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James Russell Turley Community Bank USSELL TURLEY has always acted older than his age while gifted with the ability to walk into any social situation with confidence. That unique trait has helped Turley ascend the corporate ladder rather quickly – the Birmingham, Ala., native was promoted to vice president of Community Bank of Mississippi before his 30th birthday. At Community Bank, Turley is responsible for the growth and management of a $13-million portfolio consisting of consumer, small business and

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commercial loans. Additionally, the Millsaps College graduate manages the day-to-day operations of the bank’s Lakeland Drive location. Before joining Community Bank, Turley was at Regions Bank, where he earned the Chairman’s Club Award in 2009. His advice to those who want to make a difference in the world is to stay positive and take action. A member of the Greater Jackson Chamber and Rotary Club of North Jackson, Turley enjoys tennis, golf and running.

Vince Vavrunek SERVPRO

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S BOTH A business owner and resident, Vince Vavrunek heartily supports all things Mississippi. Vavrunek owns Brandon’s SERVPRO franchise, a business that has grown 125 percent since the New Orleans native opened his doors in 2008. Starting with one SERVPRO truck and two employees, Vavrunek now has nine trucks and 11 employees operating in the Jackson metropolitan market. He makes sure that his company gives

back to the community by supporting the Rankin County School District and local chambers of commerce. Active in several professional organizations, Vavrunek is a member of the Building Owners and Managers Association and the Mississippi Claims Association. A University of Mississippi graduate, Vavrunek married his high school sweetheart, Melissa, and the couple has three children. When he has time, Vavrunek enjoys playing golf, guitar and spending quality moments with his family.

Mississippi Business Journal

Mississippi Business Journal

www.msbusiness.com

Chad Wallace Belhaven University HAD WALLACE is the digital communications specialist for Belhaven University. Responsible for the overall digital marketing efforts for the university, he also assists with various technology, marketing and public relations initiatives that have helped spur Belhaven to record enrollments. Since Wallace joined the staff, Belhaven has won multiple awards from the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi.

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Before going to Belhaven, the Brandon resident worked as a new media specialist for the Rankin County School District and as a web marketing/public relations specialist for Cellular South. While with the Rankin County School District, Wallace directed Web 2.0 integration, launching one of the first school district blogs in the state. A Mississippi State University graduate, Wallace was named to the Dean’s List and worked for the Office of Athletic Media Relations.

Peoples Construction Congratulates

BRECK HINES as being chosen one of

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Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40!

Congratulates

KATRINA S. BROWN

for being named to the Mississippi Business Journal’s

Top 40 Under 40 2014

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Sara Harrison White Trustmark National Bank

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ARA HARRISON WHITE is an assistant vice president and trust officer in the Trustmark Wealth Management Personal Trust department. White received her B.A. from the University of Southern Mississippi where she was a member of the NCAA Women’s Tennis Team and was awarded Academic Excellence Among College Athletes. She received her J.D. from Mississippi College School of Law, and studied Criminal Law and Intellectual Property

in Prague, Czech Republic, through a program offered by South Texas School of Law. White is licensed to practice law in Tennessee and Mississippi. She joined the Trustmark Wealth Management team in June of 2011. Before this transition, she practiced law with the Willoughby Law Group, PLLC. Her principal areas of practice were estate planning, real estate, and business formation and transactions. In her leisure time, White enjoys walking along the Natchez Trace Trail and reading.

Liz Young American Heart Association

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HOUGH SHE GREW UP in Texas, Liz Young came to Mississippi to attend the University of Mississippi. She fell in love with the state and decided to make it

her home. Today, Young is the youth market director for the Mississippi chapter of the American Heart Association, and feels that it is her job to be an ambassador for her adopted state. In her role, Young works with more than 900 Mississippi schools to help provide wellness resources and imple-

ment fit-friendly activities for faculty and students. Honored on several occasions, Young was the first-ever recipient of the American Heart Association’s “Staff Advocate Award” in 2013 for her efforts to make CPR a mandatory graduation requirement. She and her team also received the AHA’s 2013 “Cass Wheeler Collaborative Award.” A devoted Ole Miss and Germantown High School sports fan, Young enjoys biking, swimming and party planning in her spare time.

Mississippi Business Journal

Kimberla Little

Congratulations to Kimberla Little. Regions Bank is pleased to congratulate Kimberla Little on being named among Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40. Kimberla has been with Regions for nine years and is currently Assistant Vice President of Human Resources. She received her bachelor’s degree in childcare and family education from Jackson State University in 2005, and in 2012 she received a master’s degree in leadership from Belhaven University. Kimberla is a member of Leadership Greater Jackson’s class of 2012-2013, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and serves on the board of directors for Mississippi Faith-Based Coalition, Jobs for Mississippi Graduates, Dress for Success Metro Jackson, and Destination Jackson. She also serves as a volunteer with Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure to help fight breast cancer. In addition to her philanthropic work, Kimberla is an online adjunct instructor in the banking and finance department of Hinds Community College, Jackson Campus. She has also served her community as a volunteer with Young Leaders in Philanthropy and as an advisory board member for business and office technology programs at Hinds Community College. Recently, Kimberla accepted an invitation to join the Junior League of Jackson.

1.800.regions | regions.com

© 2014 Regions Bank.

Class of 2014 Front row, from left: Kimberla M. Little, Dana C. Terry, Alyson Bustamante Jones, Sara Harrison White, Tianna H. Raby, Elizabeth Mills Boone, Anna M. Neel, Katrina S. Brown, Katy Tillman, Kylie B. Boring, Chara J. Clancy. LaKeysha Greer Issac, Liz Young. Middle row: David B. Burt, Gerold Smith, Jason Wilton Bailey, Breck R. Hines, Ryan Revere, Kenneth L. Jones, Vince Vavrunek, Brandon Meeks, Jamie D. Osbirn, Edgar A. Flores, Daniel C. Elliott. Back row: Chad Wallace, Steve DeRusso, Micajah P. Sturdivant IV, James Russell Turley, Chris Madison, Josh Mabus, Robert D. King Jr., Jerry L. Toney, Jason Cook, Mitchell O. Driskell III, Nathan Moore, Austin Morgan. Not pictured: Joseph B. Babb, Michael Bentley, Ryan P. Steiner, John Stolarski.

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