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Jason Agostinelli
20 Luke Sippel
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Martha Allen
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Matt Perkins
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Dr. Contance BarnesWoods
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Lateshia Pearson
Dale Partners Architects, P.A. Extra Table
UMMC 6
Ryshonda Beechem
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Benjamin Barnett
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Brad Beattie
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Stacey Moore Buchanan
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Janel Carothers
HBG & Associates / Town of Pelahatchie Ingalls
MS Baptist Medical Center Jones Walker LLP
Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission
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Terry Dale Cruse
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Cori Carraway
Mississippi State University-Meridian U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
10 Ja’Mes Johnson
Money Power Advertising, LLC
10 Delana Harris
MS Gulf Coast Community College
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Aleesha Hudson
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Laura Howell
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Candace Harper
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Katherine McCoy
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Rachael Potts
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Brett Killingsworth
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Phelton “Cortez” Moss
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John Northam
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Dr. Matthew Murray
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Hannah Nail
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Mavis Creagh
Enbridge
Bologna Performing Arts Center Pearl River Community College Bank of Anguilla
Gum Tree Mortgage
Tri State Chlorination
Tougaloo College / All Means All Consulting Citizens National Bank
Ascension Medical Group Curtis Optometry Group R3SM, Inc.
20 Katherine Pannel, DO
Right Track Medical
20 Atesa McKinney
Jackson Medical Mall Foundation
Lake and Land Studio Perkins Law Group, PLLC Women Brunch MS
22 Casey Smith
Reunion Gold & Country Club
22 Deidra J. Snell, DMD
Ridgewood Smiles Dentistry, LLC
A member of the Mississippi Press Association www.mspress.org
132 Riverview Drive, Suite E Flowood, MS 39232 Main: (601) 364-1000 Faxes: Advertising (601) 364-1007 E-mails: mbj@msbusiness.com, ads@msbusiness.com, photos@msbusiness.com, research@msbusiness.com, events@msbusiness.com
23 La’Toyia J. Slay
Website: www.msbusiness.com 2020 Top 50 Under 40
23 Emily Pote
TAMI JONES Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1011
24 Kurtis R. Vande Streek
ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018
Butler Snow
Pote Management Trustmark Financial Services
24 Dwanna Stanley
The Agency
25 Slates Veazey
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP
26 Jennifer Welch
Belhaven Residential
26 Matt Wilson
BancorpSouth
26 Ryan Whittington
Univ. of MS
27 Julia Wise
Entergy
29 Mary Clift Abdalla
Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP
29 Dr. John-Mark Cain
Lauderdale County School District
30 Ashley Casey
Smiles To Go
30 Nakimuli O. Davis-Primer
Baker Donelson
31
Dianna Genton
31
Gavin Hatcher
Ingalls
Hol-Mac Corp
32 Christy Holifield
Sanderson Farms, Inc.
32 Roy Johns
Goodwill Industries of MS
33 dr. Lori Hill Marshall
Premier Pain Care
33 Luke Yeatman
BankFirst
35 Dr. Brian Pugh
Stennis Center for Public Service
MARK MOORE Production Manager mark.moore@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-2244 MARCIA THOMPSON Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1044 FRANK BROWN List Researcher frank.brown@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1022 JACK WEATHERLY Staff Writer jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1016 SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES (601) 364-1000 subscriptions@msbusiness.com Mississippi Business Journal (USPS 000-222) is published monthly with one annual issue by MSBJ 132 Riverview Drive, Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232. 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) 364-1007, Email: marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com, Mail: MS Business Journal Subscription Services, 132 Riverview Drive, Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Business Journal, Circulation Manager, 132 Riverview Drive, Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232. To submit subscription payments: Mail: Mississippi Business Journal Subscriptions Services, 132 Riverview Drive, Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232. 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. Entire contents copyrighted © 2020 by Journal Inc. All rights reserved.
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Jason Agostinelli
Martha Allen
Dale Partners Architects, P.A. Partner
Extra Table Executive Director
Jason Agostinelli, AIA, NCARB, joined Dale Partners through the merger with Michael Barranco’s firm in 2010 and became a partner in 2016. He has been involved in a variety of projects including the GRAMMY Museum MISSISSIPPI and multiple projects for the Poarch Creek Indians. Agostinelli and his wife are proud parents of two young daughters. Agostinelli has a Bachelor of Architecture degree from Mississippi State University and is a registered architect in of Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas. Agostinelli is a member of the American Institute of Architects, was a board member of the American Institute of Architects, Mississippi Chapter, and is a member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.
Martha Allen of West Point is the executive director of Extra Table. Allen was selected from a pool of qualified nonprofit and business development executive candidates based on a national search conducted by The PACE Group. She brings a wealth of experience in strategic growth planning, community and media relations, fundraising and developing organizational partnerships for The Growth Alliance of West Point and Region 7 Mental Health-The Pines and Cady Hill Recovery Center in Columbus. In her role, Allen represents the agency, focuses on the implementation of Extra Table’s mission, establishes and maintains partnerships, and also fundraises. Currently, Extra Table has a presence in 32 Mississippi counties, and Allen looks to expand access to programs statewide. Allen has a Bachelor of Arts degree in interior design from the University of Alabama and a Master of Science degree in architecture from Mississippi State University. Allen has served as a board member for Mississippi State University’s Collegiate Recovery Community, Girl Scouts and Make A Wish, to name a few. She is active in the Public Relations Association of Mississippi, area children’s charities and in her church. Allen is a past member of Junior Auxiliary and the Rotary Club of West Point.
Dr. Constance Barnes-Woods UMMC Chief Resident and Asst. Prof. of Pediatrics
Dr. Constance P. Barnes-Woods is a pediatrician, serving as Chief Resident and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). Her current interests include general pediatrics and developmental and behavioral pediatrics. Of the many attributes that she possesses, her passion to serve stands out the most. After graduating magna cum laude as a W.E.B. Dubois Honors College graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Jackson State University in 2009, Dr. Barnes-Woods completed a post-baccalaureate program at Meharry Medical College in 2011 and earned a certificate in Health Sciences. In May 2016, she received a Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) School of Medicine, becoming the first physician in her family. While in medical school, she was founder and president of the UMMC chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA). She also volunteered at the Jackson Free Clinic, a non-profit corporation operated by the medical students that provides high-quality health services to individuals in Jackson who have inadequate access to medical care. Barnes-Woods has exemplified her passion to serve through her medical missions work in Haiti. In addition to these endeavors, she has conducted research in clinical genetics (University of Mississippi Medical Center), cancer research (Purdue University), molecular physiology and biophysics (Baylor College of Medicine), and molecular toxicology (Jackson State University). Her ultimate goal is to provide optimal healthcare services to pediatric patients while educating parents, making a difference in the lives of children both locally and globally. In addition to her work in healthcare, Barnes-Woods serves as Co-Chair for the Antwon & Constance Woods Family Foundation. She is also a proud member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Beta Delta Omega Chapter). Barnes-Woods is married to Dr. Antwon D. Woods, who is a 2018 MBJ Top 50 under 40 honoree, and she is the proud mother of their daughter, Bella Elizabeth. 5
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Ryshonda Beechem
Benjamin Barnett
HBG & Associates - CEO Town of Pelahatchie - Mayor
Ingalls Shipbuilding Director and Ship Program Manager
Ryshonda Beecham is the first African American mayor of Pelahatchie and the first African American mayor in Rankin County. She is a long-time resident of Pelahatchie, receiving her education from Pelahatchie High School, before moving on the Jackson State University, where she earned a degree in accounting. Beecham is married to Roderick Beecham and they have a daughter, Ramsey Beecham. She has shown her leadership ability by organizing the Town of Pelahatchie’s first-ever Mayor Youth Council. Beecham is continuing efforts to provide young people an opportunity to learn good sportsmanship and how to be a leader. Together, Ryshonda and Roderick own HBG and Associates, where they provide payroll, prepare taxes, bookkeeping and IRS debt services to individuals and businesses. They also own StaTuned Media, a company that provides videography and photography as well as commercials for businesses and individuals.
Ben Barnett is the Director and Ship Program Manager for DDG 51 class ships prior to launch at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. Barnett assumed this leadership position in 2018 and is responsible for all program execution of DDG 51 class ships prior to launch, including profit and loss, safety, quality, cost, schedule, and risk management. In this role, Barnett is also the primary liaison between Ingalls and the US Navy on production matters. Barnett began his career at Ingalls Shipbuilding in 2013 as an Industrial Engineer. He was initially responsible for measuring performance and implementing process improvements to reduce cost and schedule on ships in production. He transitioned into a waterfront support position within Industrial Engineering, which enabled him to be direct support to the Ship Program Manager. This experience allowed Barnett to transition into a leadership role within Program Management in 2017 within the DDG program management waterfront team. Barnett assumed his current role in 2018, where he currently is overseeing the execution of 5 ships that are under contract, 3 of which are currently in production. DDG 123 is the last Ingalls-built Flight IIA ship and is on track to launch and christen in the first quarter of 2020. DDG 125 is the first Flight III ship and achieved the Lay Keel milestone in the 4th quarter of 2019 ahead of schedule, and DDG 128 has started pre-fab work in the shops. Barnett was born and raised in Madison. He attended Jackson Academy and later went on to the University of Mississippi, where he received his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Business Administration. He worked for Memphis Light, Gas, and Water in Memphis for a short period before moving to the Mississippi coast and Ingalls Shipbuilding. Barnett has been married to his wife, Amanda, for 7 years and they have a 3 year old son, Nolan.
Congratulations Kurt Vande Streek on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
Congratulations Cortez Moss on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
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Brad Beattie
Stacey Moore Buchanan
MS Baptist Medical Center Chief Operating Officer
Jones Walker LLP Associate Attorney
Brad A. Beattie is the Chief Operating Officer at Mississippi Baptist Medical Center. In this role, Beattie is responsible for operations of ambulatory services and multiple clinical and support areas throughout the medical center, including the Emergency Department, Surgery, Radiology, Inpatient Rehab, Laboratory and Pharmacy. Previously, Beattie served as Executive Director of Clinic Operations for Baptist Medical Group Jackson and was integral in expanding the physician network, achieving numerous operational improvements, and development of the management team to accommodate growth. Prior to joining Baptist in 2014, Beattie was COO for a large cardiology physicians group where he led operations during a period of expansion. He has been in a healthcare leadership position in the Jackson market for 15 years holding leadership positions that include hospital operations, clinic operations, revenue cycle responsibility, and medical group management. Beattie is a member of the Medical Group Management Association and the American College of Healthcare Executives. He also serves on the board of the Madison County Property Owners Association. Beattie is a graduate of Belhaven College, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration and his Masters in Management. He and his wife Sarah live in Madison and have four children.
Stacey Moore Buchanan is an associate in the Litigation Practice Group at Jones Walker, where she focuses on commercial dispute resolution and arbitration, as well as bankruptcy and creditors’ rights. Buchanan represents clients in a broad range of commercial litigation, civil litigation, and bankruptcy proceedings. She was recently appointed to the Lawyer Advisory Committee by the Bankruptcy Judges of the Northern District of Mississippi to provide input regarding matters of bankruptcy administration throughout the district. Prior to entering private practice, Buchanan served as law clerk to the Honorable Henry T. Wingate of the US District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi. Following her clerkship, she practiced in the New York City office of an international law firm. Stacey’s experience also includes working at the office of a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee for the Southern District of Mississippi and working at a Jackson area law firm focusing on creditors’ rights. Buchanan is a graduate of the University of Maryland and Harvard Law School.
Congratulations Dr. Constance Barnes-Woods on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree UMMC.EDU
Congratulations
John Northam on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 www.yourcnb.com
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Janel Carothers Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission Chief Development Officer As Chief Development Officer of the Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission, Janel Carothers is responsible for industrial recruitment, site development, existing industry expansion assistance, and marketing and recruitment outreach to prospective companies and consultants. Carothers came to Hancock County after serving for five years as the Director of Industrial Development for the Harrison County Development Commission. While at HCDC, Janel managed business and industry recruitment and expansion activities for the county, serving as the liaison with organizations involved in business and economic development, including site selection consultants, the Mississippi Development Authority, real estate developers and utilities. Carothers is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where she completed the nationally-recognized Economic and Workforce Development Master’s program. She is a member of the Mississippi Economic Development Council, where she served as the 2012 Communications Chair, and an active participant in the Southern Economic Development Council. Janel has spoken at several economic development courses for both the International Economic Development Council and the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as at the 2011 Mississippi Economic Development Council. She received scholarships from both Mississippi Economic Development Council and Southern Economic Development Council to pursue Certified Economic Developer designation. She also served on the Board of Directors for the Coast Young Professionals. In 2020, Carothers was recognized by the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce’s One Coast Awards as a winner of the prestigious Top 10 Under 40 award.
Congratulations Julia Wise on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree entergy.com
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Terry Dale Cruse Mississippi State University-Meridian Associate VP and Head of Campus
Terry Dale Cruse is Associate Vice President and Head of Campus at Mississippi State University-Meridian. In this role he leads both the College Park and Riley Campuses, and oversees the Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts. MSU-Meridian is the only regional campus of the state’s leading research university. A seasoned enrollment manager, Cruse led MSU-Meridian in reversing a six-year decline in headcount, developing a new Partnership Pathway initiative with four local community colleges, establishing a new advisement and career services model, launching the Bachelor of Applied Technology Program, and securing approval from the Mississippi Board on Institutions of Higher Learning to launch the first Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program at a state university. Additionally, the campus is completing a $33 million fundraising campaign, opened a new health sciences building, and was named one of three sites nationally as a 2016 recipient of the Kennedy Center’s prestigious Ensuring Arts for Any Given Child Grant. Cruse holds a doctorate in Higher Education Leadership from St. Louis University.
Congratulations Mavis Creagh on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree 301 Bushman St. • Hattiesburg, MS 601-544-5115 • r3sm.org
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Cori Carraway U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Permit Section Chief Cori Carraway joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in March 2010, and is currently serving as the Permit Section Chief for the Vicksburg District Regulatory Branch. Carraway is responsible for planning, coordinating, and supervising the accomplishment of the section. She is responsible for supporting execution of the Regulatory Program within the 68,000-squaremile Vicksburg District (AR, LA, MS) to protect the nation’s aquatic resources and navigable capacity, while allowing economic development through fair and balanced decisions. Her duties include analyzing workload distribution and regulatory permit approval among seven subordinates, engaging in workforce strategic planning and budgetary execution of a 3.8 million dollar annual budget. Her role also includes facilitating engagement with the regulated public and resource agencies on a daily basis and striving to maintain the high standards of public service. Carraway graduated from Mississippi State University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Science with an emphasis in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). She has completed multiple leadership trainings including the Regulatory Leadership Development Seminar, the Vicksburg District’s Leadership Development Program, as well as leadership courses through the Army’s Civilian Education System. She has served on the boards for the Rotary Club of Vicksburg, Junior Auxiliary of Vicksburg, Vicksburg Young Professionals, and local Homeowners Association. Cori received the Commander’s Award for Excellence in Public Service in 2012, Volunteer Leadership Award in 2015, Department of the Army Certificate of Appreciation in 2016, and the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service in 2017. Carraway is a native of Vicksburg and active in her community. She attends First Presbyterian Church and is married to her husband, Bert, and they have one child, Darrington (4), and a beloved chocolate lab named Annie. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, reading, being outdoors, volunteering, working out and spending time with her family.
Congratulations Roy Johns on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 Top 10 Finalist
CongratulationsJennifer Welch on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree 730 N. Jefferson St. Jackson, MS 601-948-3460 belhavenresidential.com
Goodwill Industries of MS goodwillms.org
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Ja’Mes Johnson Money Power Advertising, LLC Owner Ja’mes Johnson has been selling for more than 25 years, yet he is only 32 years old. His journey started 25 years ago in a small town at a church on a church bench. As a child, she started selling “Army Men” and Indians, which were very popular with kids. Johnson has a passion for helping women, young men, and college graduates overcome adversity in the world of business. He is currently working on PhD, because he loves teaching. “I will not even mention the hard-earned awards I have earned over the years,” Johnson said. “I currently run a successful online home decor business and online fried chicken batter business. I am also a successful marketing consultant and graphic designer.” Johnson is a graduate of Mississippi Valley State University and received an MBA from Capella University. Johnson is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and Delta Mu Delta International Business Honor Society. “I’m currently working on a PhD, because I love teaching, and to be specific, I love teaching how to create knowledge,” he said. “Creation of knowledge is what the world is all about these days.” He is married and has two daughters.
Delana Harris MS Gulf Coast Community College Dean of Enrollment Delana Harris is the Dean of Enrollment at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. At MGCCC, she oversees the college’s recruitment and enrollment efforts. Harris and her team are responsible for collecting and analyzing local, state, and national data that will impact enrollment and implementing strategies for success. Prior to working at MGCCC, Harris was the Director of Marketing and Communications at Pearl River Community College and the Director of Recruitment and Engagement. During her time at PRCC she was able to create a successful enrollment strategy plan that led to the college experiencing four consecutive years of growth. Under her leadership in recruitment, PRCC earned the title of the fastest growing two-year educational institution in the state. Harris earned her undergraduate degree in Marketing and Merchandising from the University of Southern Mississippi and her Masters from William Carey University. Delana plans to begin a doctoral program this summer. Harris and her husband, Jared, reside in Wiggins and they have two sons, Cooper 10 and Grant 6.
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Congratulations Kit McCoy on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
bankofanguilla.com
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Aleesha Hudson Enbridge Region Analyst IV Aleesha Moses Hudson is a 2002 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science graduate of Jackson State University. She is also a 2006 Master of Science in Management graduate of Belhaven University. Hudson is currently employed as a Region Analyst IV with Enbridge, where she manages administrative activities for over 9 natural gas compressor stations covering 3 states and an operations budget that exceeds 14 million annually. Hudson has extensive community service and volunteer work, which includes membership in the Jackson State University National Alumni Association, where she is a life member, national board assistant secretary and treasurer for the Byram-Terry Chapter. Hudson currently serves as an Emerging Leaders program participant, former Internal Controls Chair and 2019 Mistletoe Marketplace Finance Office Manager with the Junior League of Jackson. In addition, Hudson has previous experience as the treasurer and financial secretary of Rho Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and treasurer and member of the Board of Directors for Ebony Pearls Foundation, Incorporated. Hudson has served as committee chairman in various organizations with an emphasis on scholarship, fundraising and budgeting. Hudson was named a 2018 Young Influential by BOOM Jackson Magazine and the Jackson Free Press media company and a Visionary Pearl by the Rho Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Hudson grew up in Raymond and currently resides there with her husband, Darrin, and two children, Brandon and Alyson.
Laura Howell Bologna Performing Arts Center Executive Director Laura Howell is the Executive Director of the Bologna Performing Arts Center at Delta State University, a multi-disciplinary venue with 2 performances spaces: a 1,183 seat main hall and a 145-seat recital hall. Her responsibilities include curating an annual season of performances, including concerts, national Broadway tours, family-friendly and school performances; directing the annual fundraising and major gifts for the center; as well as overseeing all aspects of daily operations. Previously, Howell served as the Arts Education Coordinator at the Bologna Center. Howell earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a Masters in Elementary Education from Delta State University, and is currently a candidate for the Doctor of Education degree with a focus on Higher Education at Delta State University. She serves on the executive board of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce as the Vice President of Tourism and also on the board of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters. She lives in Leland with her husband Frank and two sons and is a communicant at St. John’s Episcopal Church.
CONGRATULATIONS MATT PERKINS ON BEING SELECTED AS A 2020 TOP 50 UNDER 40 HONOREE
PERKINS LAW GROUP • 4836 MAIN ST. SUITE 102 MOSS POINT, MS • PERKLAWGROUP.COM
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Candace Harper Pearl River Community College Associate VP Marketing and Communications Candace Harper is an Associate Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Pearl River Community College. She currently oversees the marketing and advertising efforts for the institution as well as her role as Director of Bookstore Services. Her duties include maintaining the brand for PRCC, promoting the institution, and the operations of the two Wildcat Den bookstores and gift shops. She serves the institution as an adjunct instructor, teaching courses in the Business Marketing program. She is a proud member of the Pearl River Community College team. PRCC has four locations, serving six counties and over 5,000 students. Candace has worked with PRCC since 2004 where she started as a recruiter and cheerleading coach. She has created strong relationships with the business community and leaders. Harper was born in Picayune and has lived in Carriere her entire life. She is married to Andy Harper and they have three children, Parker, Preston and Piper. Harper attends New Palestine Baptist Church and is active in her community. She enjoys traveling with her family, attending her children’s extracurricular events, and reading. Harper enjoys following the trends of the real estate industry and considers her involvement as a real estate broker more of a hobby than a job. She is passionate about being a good role model and creating positive relationships with those around her. Harper attended Pearl River Central High School where she graduated in 2000. She then attended Pearl River Community College on a cheerleading and academic scholarship where she earned her Associates Degree in Marketing. Harper transferred to USM for her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and later graduated from Troy University with her MBA. Harper completed 15 hours on her PhD in Human Capital Development at USM before changing career directions. She is an avid learner, creator, innovator, and keeps up with modern technology and multimedia advances through learning new tools weekly.
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Katherine McCoy
Rachael Potts
Bank of Anguilla Assistant Vice President
Gum Tree Mortgage Sales Manager
Kit McCoy is assistant Vice President for the Bank of Anguilla, where she has served in many capacities since 2015. Prior to her arrival in Anguilla, McCoy spent 14 years as a loan officer at Guaranty Bank and Trust in Greenville. She is a 2003 graduate of Delta State University and has graduated from the Mississippi School of Banking and the Louisiana State University School of Banking. McCoy is currently the Bank of Anguilla’s chief compliance officer and senior mortgage lender. She is the first female to serve as the secretary for the Bank of Anguilla’s Board of Directors. She enjoys serving on several boards in her community. McCoy is a trustee for the Sharkey-Issaquena Medical Foundation Board, and a trustee and secretary for the Board of Directors for Sharkey-Issaquena Academy. She also serves as a member of the Mississippi State University Extension Advisory Committee for Sharkey and Issaquena Counties and is a part of the Rotary Club.
Originally from Chickasaw County, Rachel Potts, is an alumnus of Mississippi State University, and graduated from the Mississippi School of Banking. She is married to Parrish Potts, a native of Corinth and her hobbies include traveling, reading, golfing, gardening, cooking and all things related to Mississippi State athletics. Potts, a mortgage 1 and brace manager for Gumtree Mortgage, serves on the Board of the Starkville Area Arts Council, is an advisor to Delta Gamma Fraternity, member of BNI GT Business Connections, affiliate member of the Golden Triangle Realtor Association and is a member of the Starkville Country Club. She is a member of the Starkville Rotary Club and was a member of the Natchez Trace Ladies Golf Association.
Congratulations to Slates Veazey for being named to the Top 50 Under 40 for 2020 At Bradley, our attorneys understand that legal matters are more than contests of critical thought; they have real-world implications, which is why we prioritize integrity. It is this integrity that inspires us to go above and beyond our clients’ expectations by providing innovative solutions, dependable responsiveness and a deep commitment to success.
bradley.com No representation is made that the quality of the legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. Contact: Margaret Oertling Cupples, Esq., 601.592.9914, mcupples@bradley.com, Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP, 188 E. Capitol Street, Suite 1000, Jackson, MS 39201. © 2020
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CONGRATULATIONS, Christy Holifield, on being named one of the Top 10 of Mississippi's Top 50 Under 40 by the Mississippi Business Journal for 2020.
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Brett Killingsworth Tri State Chlorination Owner When Brett Killingsworth took his first job in the industry, he didn’t know a thing about water chlorination. In fact, he had no idea how cities purified their drinking water. More than a decade later, Brett not only knows about chlorination. He owns one of the most successful suppliers of water purification equipment in the Southeast and has earned top honors from industry manufacturers. In 2016, Killingsworth founded Tri-State Chlorination in Brandon. The firm serves cities and rural water associations across Mississippi, Louisiana and northwest Alabama. Clients include the cities of Starkville and Columbus in north Mississippi, Pearl, Brandon, Flowood and Canton in central Mississippi and, Hattiesburg and Biloxi in south Mississippi. Among honors, Brett has been named a master distributor by Hydro Instruments. The Pennsylvania-based company bestows the distinction on industry officials based on sales, product knowledge, reputation and other factors. He credits his success not his own business acumen, but rather to the good people who work for him. Killingsworth graduated from Mississippi State University in 2003 with a degree in business administration. Killingsworth lives in Madison with his wife, Melissa, and two boys. He hopes to one day welcome his sons into his business.
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Phelton “Cortez” Moss Tougaloo College - Assistant Professor of Education All Means All Consulting - CEO Phelton Cortez Moss is a native of Calhoun City, where he began his education journey. From elementary school onward, Moss has always been committed to excellence in education. Upon graduation from Calhoun City High School with honors and in the top 10, Moss attended the historic University of Mississippi in Oxford. Moss has held several roles in local and state government. He served as a Staff Assistant in the Office of the Honorable Congressman Travis W. Childers. In addition, he served as a Policy Intern at Mississippi First, a non-partisan public policy think tank where he worked on Charter School Reform and Sex Education. At Ole Miss, he was actively involved in various aspects of campus involvement earning a seat in the University of Mississippi Student Hall of Fame. Most recently, he led the Division of Educator Talent Acquisition and Effectiveness at the Mississippi Department of Education. He over-saw the design and launch of the nation’s first state-run Teacher Residency Performance-Based Licensure Program to address the state’s teacher shortage utilizing a $4.5 Million grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Currently, he is Assistant Professor of Education at Tougaloo College, and CEO of All Means All Consulting. Moss attended Arkansas State University for graduate studies in Educational Leadership and Supervision. Moss has participated in the inaugural class of the Barksdale Reading Institute Principal Impact Fellowship and the MS Preps CEO Principals Academy. He is a doctoral candidate for a PhD in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi. Moss is currently a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Mississippi School of Education. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
Mississippi Baptist Medical Center Congratulates Brad A. Beattie, FACHE for being selected as one of Mississippi’s Top 50 Under 40 Thank you for your leadership and service to our organization and community.
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John Northam
Matthew Murray
Citizens National Bank Relationship Banker
Ascension Medical Group Physician
John Northam is a Relationship Banker at Citizens National Bank in Meridian. With more than 11 years of banking experience, Northam joined the bank in December 2009 as an Accounting Specialist, and was first promoted to the position of a Finance Specialist in February 2011. In June 2012, he was promoted to the position of Bank Officer and Credit Analyst Supervisor in the Bank’s Credit Administration Department, and in June 2014 he was promoted to the position of Credit Analyst Manager. Northam is a 2002 Magna Cum Laude graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Business Finance, and received his MBA degree from Mississippi State University in 2009. Active in the community, he enjoys his involvement in the Young Professionals of Meridian and the American Cancer Society. Northam and his wife, Jenn, live in Meridian, where she is employed as a Relay for Life Community Manager for Lauderdale and Newton counties.
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Matthew Murray is a full-time family and sports medicine physician in Moss Point. He sees patients 4 days a week, averaging more than 30 patients per day. He also takes calls from home one night a week and one weekend in every five. Murray graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2006 and received his Doctor of Medicine from University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2012. He worked in sports medicine and family medicine in Daytona Beach Fla., and Palm Coast Florida before coming back to Mississippi. He also worked as an ophthalmic technician at Hattiesburg Eye Clinic prior to medical school. Murray, married and with four children, is active in the community as a youth sports coach and he enjoys playing the guitar, reading and water sports.
Congratulations to Matt Wilson! Congratulations to MATT WILSON for being named to the Mississippi Business Journal Top 50 Under 40 list. Matt represents the BancorpSouth values of honesty, family, integrity, teamwork and dedication to his clients. Matt Wilson Mortgage Loan Officer NMLS# 642317 1049 Highland Colony Pkwy Ridgeland, MS 39157
Congratulations Dr. John-Mark Cain on being selected as a Top 10 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
Connect with us. 18
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Mavis Creagh R3SM, Inc. Executive Director
Curtis Optometry Group Partner Hannah Nail is a 2013 graduate of Southern College of Optometry in Memphis where she was named an Outstanding Clinician in her final year. Prior to joining the practice, Nail completed a residency training program at the VA Hospital in Memphis, making her one of only a handful of residency-trained optometrists in the state of Mississippi. Nail was active in the student chapter of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity and has gone on mission trips to Central America to provide eye care to underserved areas. She is currently involved with the Mississippi Optometric Association as co-chair of the Education Committee. Nail is a member of Rotary International in the Columbus chapter and has been selected as a provisional member to the Junior Auxiliary of Columbus. She is also the treasurer and a founding member of her chapter of the Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO). Nail was a graduate of the 2016-2017 class of Golden Triangle Leadership. Nail is a native of Waukesha, Wisc., and attended the University of Wisconsin, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Nail and her husband, John, make their home in historic downtown Columbus, and they are members of Main Street Presbyterian Church.
Mavis Creagh is an advocate, inspirational leader, mentor and author. She currently serves as the Executive Director of R3SM Inc. (Recover, Rebuild, Restore Southeast Mississippi) in Hattiesburg, which covers 10 counties in South Mississippi and assists with long term recovery following disasters as well as other community needs. Creagh joined the agency as a case manager 12 years ago. Over the last three years, the agency has constructed almost 30 new houses and repaired more than 70. This equates to a value of more than $5 million in economic development for the Pine Belt Community. She recently completed her first book, Women’s Devotional, that allows others to learn from her personal journey of perseverance and faith. Creagh is actively involved with various volunteer organizations and serves on multiple boards. Creagh is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. She is a proud mother of a teenage son. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, exercising, cooking, writing, gardening and encouraging others.
Congratulations Nakimuli Davis-Primer on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 Top 10 Finalist
Congratulations Jason Agostinelli on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40
dalepartners.com
Dr. Constance Barnes-Woods on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
Love, David & Irma Barnes
bakerdonelson.com
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Katherine Pannel, DO
Atesa McKinney
Right Track Medical CMO
Jackson Medical Mall Foundation Regional Mobility Manager
Dr. Katherine Pannel is Medical Director of Right Track Medical Group. A native of Inverness, Miss., she has been a practicing psychiatrist in North Mississippi since 2010. She is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. “Our goal is to address a real need in North Mississippi,” says Pannell, who is a graduate of Delta State University and Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. “In our area, people who need medication for mental health issues often have to wait weeks and drive out of town to see a psychiatrist. Now these patients can get access to the care they need quickly and close to home.” The clinic provides outpatient mental health services for people ages 18 and up. Services include group coping skills therapy, one-on-one counseling, family counseling and medication management. When not working, Pannel enjoys running, paddle boarding and playing with her kids. She is the mother of three children, Annabelle, Charlotte and Beckham.
Luke Sippel Lake and Land Studio Partner Luke Sippel, partner and designer for Lake and Land Studio, studied architectural engineering technology at the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated in 2011. He formed Lake and Land Studio with Bill Holloway in January 2015. Prior to that, Sippel worked as a residential designer from 2011-2014 at a private lake community in rural Mississippi. He grew up in Washington, D.C., before moving to Hattiesburg to attend college and start his career. He is married to Julia Sippel, has a daughter Bailey Sippel, and has a “son” named Barney, who is a 75 pound black Lab.
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Atesa McKinney, a Mississippi native is a Mobility Manager with the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation. Her duties include providing trip information to regional transportation passengers and providers. Additionally, she serves as the Call Center Manager at the Jackson Medical Mall. Her team is tasked with coordinating senior transportation options in the City of Jackson and the surrounding areas. During the onset of the call center, McKinney and her team coordinated over 30,000 passenger trips during the 2016-2017 program year. She and her team have continued to surpass their numbers every year. This coordinated effort synchronizes transportation services between Bolivar County Council on Aging, Hinds County Human Resource Agency South Central Community Action Agency and Inspire Transportation. McKinney was chosen out of hundreds across the United States of America to participate in the Community Transportation Association of America’s Emerging Leaders Academy. McKinney successful completed the Emerging Leaders Academy program in June 2019 in Palm Springs, Calif., where she was a part of the second graduating class. Among her achievements, she has been recognized by the Jackson Medical Mall Foundation for her diligence in service Community Service Award, Manager of the Year (2015), Inspirational Leader (2016), and Emerging Young Leader Award (2017). She has also been recognized by the Mississippi Public Transit Association for her dedication and service in transportation with the Outstanding Staff Member Award (2018), Humanitarian Award (2018), and an Appreciation Award (2019). McKinney has been selected to serve on the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s Community Advisory Board (CAB) for Clinical and Population Health Research. McKinney is the proud mother of one daughter, A’zuri.
Congratulations Hannah Nail on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree Curtis Optometry Group PLLC 1823 N. 5th St. Columbus, MS visionsource-curtisoptometry.com
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Matt Perkins Perkins Law Group, PLLC Attorney/Owner Attorney Matt Perkins estate planning and elder law practice focuses on helping families enhance their lives and secure their futures. He excels in guiding his clients through the often-confusing maze of financial and legal decisions to create plans that ensure the well-being of their families and the accomplishment of cherished family goals. Perkins considerable legal expertise includes family protection, wealth preservation, and values-based planning, as well as planning strategies for unmarried couples and divorced individuals. Perkins graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law and has a degree in Banking and Finance from Ole Miss. He lives in Pascagoula and is a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, WealthCounsel and ElderCounsel. He is Past President of the Jackson–George County Ole Miss Alumni Association and Past President of the Kiwanis Club of Pascagoula and remains an active member of both. When he is not practicing law, he is exercising, cooking or traveling with his family. Most important, Perkins is married to Sarah and the proud dad to June, Matthew and William.
Lateshia Pearson
Dr. Brian Pugh on being selected as 2020 Top 50 Under 40 Business Person of the Year stennis.gov
Congratulations Cori Carraway on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
Women Brunch MS CEO/Founder Lateshia Pearson is the executive director of the Women’s Brunch Organization of Mississippi. She is responsible for creating and overseeing fundraising plans to enable the organization to fulfill its mission. Pearson helps cure locations to host women entrepreneurial empowerment and financial literacy events. Prior to Women’s Brunch, Pearson worked with Shapiro and Massey Law Firm for nine years. “I enjoy helping others become the best version of themselves and to assist them in creating the healthy lifestyle that they have enjoyed,” Pearson says. “I know exactly what it feels like when you are simply existing and not living and the frustration of wanting more and not sure how to obtain it.” A native of Pelahatchie, Pearson is a graduate of Hinds Community College and Belhaven University.
Congratulations Gavin Hatcher on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree P.O. Box 349 Bay Springs, MS • hol-mac.com
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Casey Smith
Deidra J. Snell, DMD
Reunion Gold & Country Club General Manager
Ridgewood Smiles Dentistry, LLC Dentist/Owner
Casey Smith is a Mississippi native and grew up in Tupelo. He is a graduate of the Professional Golf Management program at Mississippi State University. Upon graduation, he was employed by Honours Golf and brings 10 years of club experience with him. Prior to starting at Reunion, Smith was the Director of Golf/Assistant General Manager at NorthRiver Yacht Club in Tuscaloosa. While at NorthRiver, he was responsible for all club operations including 2 Clubhouses (fine dining, casual dining, and banquets), 11 Tennis Courts, 18 Hole Championship Golf Course, Fitness Center, 2 pools(one being Olympic Size), and a 77-boat slip Marina. Smith has received numerous awards from the PGA and has achieved the highest award being named the Golf Professional of the Year in 2013 while at NorthRiver. Smith was recently awarded the Bill Strausbaugh award for mentoring other professionals and for his involvement in charitable and community organizations. Smith and his wife, Mandy, are excited to be back home in Mississippi. They also have two daughters, Addie Grace and Lexie Rose, who will be in the Madison school district.
Congratulations
Matthew Murray on being selected as 2020 Top 50 Under 40
5907 Hwy. 90 Moss Point, MS providencemedical.org
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Dr. Deidra J. Snell is a native of Port Gibson. She attended Alcorn State University, where she participated in numerous organizations such as Alcorn State University Marching and Concert Bands playing saxophone, Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Student Government Association, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Snell also participated in research programs at Andhra University in Visakaputnam, India, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Md., and interned at Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in the Chemistry Department. She graduated with Bachelors of Science degrees in Chemistry and Biology in 2004 from Alcorn. Snell then attended University of Mississippi Medical Center – School of Dentistry, in which she voyaged to Mexico on three different occasions for dental mission trips while a student there. She graduated with a Doctorate in Dental Medicine (D.M.D) in 2008 and completed a General Practice Residency (GPR) Program at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2009. Snell has been a mentor with Big Brothers, Big Sisters, volunteered with Stewpot Ministries of Jackson, Habitat for Humanity, and volunteered with dental and medical mission trips in Mississippi, Guatemala, Bolivia, and Peru in addition to numerous participations in community health fairs.
Congratulations Mayor Ryshonda Beecham on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
Providence Medical Group
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Town of Pelahatchie
705 Second St. Pelahatchie, MS | pelahatchie.org
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La’Toyia J. Slay
Emily Pote
Butler Snow Attorney
Pote Management Owner & Director
La’Toyia Slay is a member of Butler Snow’s litigation department and the firm’s Commercial Litigation Group. She concentrates her practice in drug and device litigation, product liability litigation and insurance. Slay is an adjunct writing professor for the Mississippi College School of Law. She completed her undergraduate education at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee and earned her Juris Doctorate, summa cum laude, from Mississippi College, where she served as editor-in-chief of the Law Review. She is a member of the Federal Bar Association, National Association of Women Lawyers, Jackson Young Lawyers, Magnolia Bar Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Leadership Greater Jackson.
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Emily Pote has been working with non-profits and entrepreneurs for more than five years. From chairing the 2016 Alzheimer’s Mississippi Central Mississippi Walk to End Alzheimer’s to helping grow the Jackson Symphony League as the Vice President of Fundraising, Emily prides herself on not only her professional work, but also her philanthropic work. After a year as the Programs Coordinator for the 2017 Mississippi Book Festival, she went on to form Pote Management and continues to grow the business beyond expectations. Pote earned her undergraduate degree from Mississippi College and then her MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2017. She is affiliated with the Jackson Symphony Ball, Junior League of Jackson, Mississippi Society of Association Executives and University Press Bookfriends.
Dwanna Stanley on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree The Agency Real Estate Services 350 Arbor Dr. Ridgeland, MS 601.665.4869 (o) theagencyrealestateservices.com 23
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Kurtis R. Vande Streek
Dwanna Stanley
Trustmark Financial Services Financial Consultant
The Agency Broker
Kurtis Vande Streek is a Financial Consultant for Trustmark Financial Services and serves the Jackson, metro area. Vande Streek has been with Trustmark Financial Services for three years and has more than 11 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is a graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Bachelors of Science degree in Business Administration and an MBA from Samford University. Kurt has obtained FINRA securities registrations 7, 24, 63, and 65, which are held though LPL Financial.
Dwanna Stanley, founder of The Agency! Real Estate Services in Ridgeland, is a 6-year Real Estate industry leader serving residential and commercial properties in Central Mississippi. A native of Greenwood, Stanley has built a solid foundation of clients through her free home buyer assistance seminars, credit repair services and budget workshops. After serving communities for 11 years in property management, the transition to real estate was a fit. The Mississippi College Graduate used skills she learned to build a seminar catered specifically to consumers who just didn’t know where to start. Leveraging her own experience as a small-business owner, Stanley works hard to maintain high standards.
Congratulations to Ashley Casey on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 Top 10 Finalist
Congratulations Rachael Potts on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
gumtreemortgage.com
Smiles 2 Go
Congratulations Luke Sippel on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
1620 East Main St. Liberty, MS smiles2go.net
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16 Bellegrass Blvd. Hattiesburg, MS • lakeandlandstudio.com
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Slates Veazey Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Partner Slates Veazey represents clients in all types of litigation, with a particular emphasis on construction and insurance coverage disputes. Veazey’s construction practice involves representing owners and general contractors in a variety of issues and projects, both public and private. Slates, who is licensed in both Texas and Mississippi, has experience managing construction disputes across the United States, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas. This experience includes prosecuting and defending delay, extra work, impact, and inefficiency claims on public and private jobs, as well as defending general contractors in multi-party disputes arising from the construction of condominium and/or other multi-family residential buildings. Veazey also has significant experience pursuing insurance coverage for contractor clients when their insurers deny them coverage. Veazey is a native of Senatobia who began his legal career in Dallas, Texas, where he practiced law with a large Texas firm for five years. He and his wife, Whitney, have a son, Slates, Jr., and daughter, Sadie, and live in Madison. In his spare time, Veazey enjoys hunting, cooking, reading, and music. He also has a black belt in Taekwondo.
Congratulations Brett Killingsworth on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
Congratulations Luke Yeatman on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
Love, Melissa, Camden & Cole
Congratulations Delana Harris on being selected as a 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree BANKFIRSTFS.COM mgccc.edu 25
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Jennifer Welch
Matt Wilson
Belhaven Residential Owner
BancorpSouth Mortgage Loan Officer
Jennifer Welch is owner of Belhaven Residential, a leasing and property management business, where she has 15 employees. Her company manages more than 450 houses and apartments in Mississippi. Welch enjoys purchasing C class multifamily properties and renovating units and qualifying applicants so that eventually a property becomes B class asset. She has a Master of Business Administration degree from Millsaps College. Welch is also a part of the The Greater Belhaven Foundation and the Belhaven Heights Community Association where the aim is to improve its neighborhoods via code enforcement, small beautification projects using volunteer labor, and long-range and larger beautification projects designed to enhance quality of life. In her spare time, she enjoys time in nature, having hiked the Amazon Jungle in Peru, Glacier National Park in Montana and parts of the Appalachian Trail. She also enjoys birdwatching, kayaking, and water coloring. Welch has a 10-year-old son.
Matt Wilson is a mortgage loan officer for BancorpSouth Mortgage in Ridgeland. He solicits business from potential and existing customers (outside and inside business location), interviews loan applicants and processes loan applications for both purchase and refinance transactions. Wilson also counsels borrowers about various loan programs and helps them to select the program that best fits their financial goals and needs. He is a graduate of Jones Junior College and the University of Southern Mississippi and has worked as a mortgage loan officer for Iberia Bank, Origin Bank, Metropolitan Bank and M&F Bank. Wilson is a graduate of Leadership Mississippi as well as Leadership Madison County and is on the board of the Mississippi Mortgage Bankers Association. He is married and enjoys playing golf as well as spending time with his three rescue dogs.
Ryan Whittington University of Mississippi Marketing & Brand Strategy Director As a member of the leadership team for the office of Marketing and Communications at the University of Mississippi, Ryan Whittington leads a growing team of photographers, videographers, and marketing practitioners. Whittington’s unit, Marketing and Brand Strategy, is responsible for cultivating authentic brand experiences that support institutional initiatives. His responsibilities include identifying opportunities to engage each and every audience that our institution reaches as well as driving the development of traditional and non-traditional campaigns and promotional materials. He works closely with faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the university to develop and deliver creative marketing plans and strategies while ensuring that the brand is applied consistently across all materials. Prior to this position, Whittington served as Assistant Director of Public Relations for Social Media Strategy at the University of Mississippi for approximately four and a half years. He has a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the University of Mississippi. 26
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Congratulations Dr. John-Mark Cain on being selected as a Top 10 2020 Top 50 Under 40 honoree
Lauderdale County School District www.lauderdale.k12.ms.us
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Julia Wise Entergy Communications Specialist Julia Wise is a communications specialist with Entergy. A member of the corporate communications team, she supports the transmission organization as well as providing support for storm response. Wise joined Entergy in October 2016 as a communications specialist, supporting nuclear where she focused on strategy planning. Prior to joining Entergy, she worked for the Office of the Mississippi State Treasurer where she served as Communications Director and a Marketing Specialist. Wise started her career in Washington, D.C. working in media relations for the Association of American Railroads and served as a Staff Assistant and Press Assistant for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and Committee on Natural Resources. Wise serves as the Secretary of The Junior League of Jackson Board of Directors. As a transfer member from The Junior League of Washington, she has been an active member of the League for eight years. She is active in the Jackson Metro-Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi, serves of the board of the Millsaps Arts and Lecture Series, and on her class roll call committee for Episcopal High School of Alexandria, Va. Wise received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communications from the University of Georgia and later earned her Master of Business Administration from Millsaps College. Julia and her husband, Clarke are active members in the Madison United Methodist Church where they serve as greeters. They reside in Madison with their English lab, Woody.
CongratuLations dwanna stanLey on being seLeCted as a 2020 top 50 under 40 honoree WWW.MSSTATE.EDU
Congratulations to Mississippi State University’s Terry Dale Cruse Associate Vice President and Head of Campus MSU-Meridian
Named to the Mississippi Business Journal “Top 50 Under 40”
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Mary Clift Abdalla Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP Partner Going straight into law school from undergraduate school, Mary Clift Abdalla was determined to immediately exercise her love for reading and writing, as well as her intense work ethic. Now, as an attorney and a mother, each day is an opportunity for her to do both. Creative and hard-working, Abdalla is driven by the daily challenges that come with practicing law. To her, work is an opportunity to learn, each day offering her a chance to work harder and be better. As an avid football fan, Abdalla understands the importance of strategy and approaches her cases with innovative concepts and solutions. When working with Abdalla, a client can expect to receive exceptional effort from a lawyer who counts every day as a blessing and takes great delight in working hard for her family and her clients.
Dr. John-Mark Cain Lauderdale County School District Superintendent of Education John-Mark Cain is the Superintendent of the Lauderdale County School District. A native of Natchez who grew up in Holmes County, Dr. Cain is married to Denae Rone Cain of Kosciusko and they have two daughters, Kinley (15) and Breelyn (13). Cain earned his Ph. D. in Educational Leadership from the University of Mississippi in 2017, while his other degrees were from Mississippi State University. He has served as a teacher, coach, assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent prior to being selected as Lauderdale County’s first appointed Superintendent of Education. He is currently reading Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss and other books, periodicals, and journals related to leadership. Cain enjoys relaxing watching televised college athletics and coaching fast pitch travel softball.
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Ashley Casey Smiles To Go LLC CEO/Owner Smiles to Go was founded by Ashley Casey, a registered nurse with a heart for public health, and her husband, Dr. Lee Casey, a dentist serving Liberty, Mississippi: two different career paths with one common dream. Over the years in their dental practice, they discovered the lack of oral care in Mississippi. They engage with underprivileged communities and realized lack of insurance was a huge roadblock for children to be seen by a local dentist, as well as the lack of transportation to get to a local practice was a difficulty. Ashley has excelled in her academic pursuits earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from University of Mississippi Medical Center. Their mission is to serve the underprivileged and underserved within the state by providing exceptional, preventative dental care.
Nakimuli O. Davis-Primer Baker Donelson Shareholder Nakimuli Davis-Primer is a Shareholder at Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. She is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment and Commercial Litigation practice groups. At Baker Donelson, she also serves as Editor of the Diversity Newsletter, member of the Firm’s nominating committee which selects board members for the firm, and on various other initiatives. Prior to joining Baker Donelson, she was a law clerk to the Honorable Leslie H. Southwick of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Nakimuli is a graduate of Mississippi State University where she received her B.S. degree in Computer Science and Engineering, magna cum laude, in May, 2005; she is also a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate degree, magna cum laude, in May, 2009. Davis-Primer is a native of Canton and is the ninth of ten children. She is the first in her immediate family to receive an undergraduate degree. Nakimuli is married to Yuric Primer; they have one daughter, Zari, who is 17 months old. 30
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Dianna Genton Ingalls Shipbuilding Superintendent Hull
Dianna Genton is a hull superintendent who works with engineers, managers, and skilled mechanics to safely and efficiently implement technological innovations into shipbuilding processes. She channels her passion for design and building into not only delivering amazing warships that protect our country, but also into being part of a company that is a vital partner in the community and state. Genton has managed more than $1 million in research and development projects. Working with NASA, she served as the manufacturing lead for the Max Launch Abort System program. In 2015, Genton was selected as the lead integrator for a $65 million panel line improvement project. Genton is active in the United Way, Ronald McDonald House and many other groups. She has also served as president of the Shipbuilding Women Engineers organization from 2015-2017 and remains an active member. Genton has a BS in Ocean Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology and an MBA and masters from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Gavin Hatcher Hol-Mac Corp VP of Manufacturing
Gavin Hatcher grew up in a small, rural Alabama town called Vernon, the youngest of three children with his oldest sister being thirteen years his elder. He had an active childhood which consisted of playing peewee football, baseball, fishing, riding bikes, and attending the children’s ministries program at my church. After graduating from Mississippi State University, his interests in machining and metal were still very vivid. He accepted a job offer from Hol-Mac Corporation in Bay Springs as a management trainee. During his 15-year tenure, he has progressed through the ranks to the current position of Vice President of Manufacturing. Since being at Hal-Mac, Hatcher has gotten married, constructed a new home and has had two children. He and his wife, Lydia, have been married for 15 years. They are active members of Laurel First United Methodist Church.
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Christy Holifield Sanderson Farms, Inc. Corporate Cash Management Manager Christy Holifield is the Corporate Cash Management Manager of Sanderson Farms, Inc. headquartered in Laurel. She graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor’s of Science Business Administration degree with a major of Accounting in 2002. Holifield began her career with Sanderson’s after graduation, starting out in the Management Trainee Program. During her 18-year career with Sanderson Farms, she has held the titles Feed Mill Accountant, Internal Auditor and Corporate Cash Management Accountant. Over the past three years, she has become a Certified Treasury Professional (CTP) and has obtained a Juris Master degree with concentration in Financial Regulation and Business Compliance from Florida State University College of Law. She has been married for nearly 20 years to Dusty Holifield and they have 3 children, Evan, 15, and Jaycee, 12, and the late Maelyn Holifield.
Roy Johns Goodwill Industries of MS VP of Donated Goods Retail/E-Commerce Roy Johns is the Vice President of Donated Goods Retail for Goodwill Industries of Mississippi, Inc., and is a summa cum laude graduate of Texas Tech University. He oversees all retail store personnel and manages the expenses and revenue for this department. Before relocating back to his birthplace of Mississippi, Johns was the Director of Retail Sales for Goodwill Industries of Dallas, Inc. Additionally, he spent 13 years in the for-profit business sector as a District Manager for Abercrombie & Fitch, managing markets in Chicago, Illinois, Atlanta, Georgia, and Dallas, Texas. Acting as the sole caretaker of his mother, Johns has a passion for the care and protection of our senior citizen population. Additionally, Johns finds joy in working with individuals who have disabilities or barriers to employment and has discovered that the greatest reward is seeing others flourish after being given the training and development needed to be successful.
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Dr. Lori Hill Marshall Premier Pain Care President Dr. Lori Hill Marshall maintains a pain management practice with Jackson’s Premier Pain Care. Her special areas of interest include cancer pain, oral and maxillofacial pain, and complex regional pain syndrome. Marshall is a member of the American Board of Anesthesiology and is Board Certified in both Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. Prior to joining Premier, Hill-Marshall served as assistant professor for the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She received her M.D. from the University of Mississippi School of Medicine after earning her undergraduate degree with honors from the University of Southern Mississippi. An active member of the Junior League of Jackson, Hill-Marshall also is a member of Saint Richard Catholic Church and Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, playing tennis, reading and playing the harp.
Luke Yeatman BankFirst CFO A native of Columbus, Luke Yeatman, is considered by his co-workers and industry associates a talent that far exceeds his age. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Mississippi State University in 2006 and beginning a position at Shearer, Taylor & Co. (now BKD, LLP) in 2007 where he served as Financial Institutions Auditor for more than five years and, during that time marrying the love of his life, Laura, in 2008. Yeatman was handpicked by BankFirst as an Accounting and Credit Officer in 2012. Yeatman was promoted three more times, then, in 2016, he, Laura Catherine, their daughter, Julia, and their newborn son, Hudson, moved from their home in Madison, returning to Columbus, after he was promoted to Senior Financial Officer, Senior Vice President of BankFirst. In 2017, Luke was named CFO, Senior VP of BankFirst making him one of the youngest CFOs of any regional financial institution in Mississippi. Luke, a dedicated husband and father values character, hard work, honesty, and respect. 33
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Dr. Brian Pugh Stennis Center for Public Service Executive Director
Dr. Brian Pugh is the executive director of the Stennis Center for Public Service. Dr. Pugh previously served as deputy executive director of the Mississippi Department of Finance and Administration, as fiscal policy advisor and director of finance for the Office of the Governor, and as a legislative budget analyst for the Legislative Budget Office. He worked for the Stennis Center as a student at Mississippi State University and briefly after graduation before beginning his career in state government. Pugh received an undergraduate degree in Political Science with a minor in Philosophy and a Master’s degree in Public Policy and Public Administration from MSU and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Jackson State University, where he also taught as a public finance adjunct professor in the Department of Public Policy and Administration for the College of Public Service. Pugh is currently teaching a course on Public Service and Civic Engagement for the Shackouls Honors College at MSU. Pugh’s research interests include Public Budgeting & Finance, Public Administration, and Fiscal Policy. He was nominated by Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and confirmed by the Mississippi Senate to serve on the board of the Mississippi Home Corporation, which is a state- chartered authority established to help meet affordable housing needs. He also serves as a member of the Association for Budgeting & Financial Management and the American Society for Public Administration. Pugh is the author of the upcoming book, “Chaos and Compromise: The Evolution of the Mississippi Budgeting Process,” which will be published by the University Press of Mississippi. Pugh and his wife, Dominique, are parents of two daughters: Robin, age 8, and Mae, age 2.
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