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Proud of our leaders who make life better. Congratulations, Kristy Daniels, on being named a Top 50 Under 40 honoree. Regions is pleased to recognize Kristy Daniels on being named among the Top 50 Under 40 by the Mississippi Business Journal. Kristy has been with Regions for 11 years and has served as the Steed Road branch manager in Ridgeland since 2013. Her previous positions with Regions have included Financial Services Specialist and Assistant Branch Manager. Kristy is active with the Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce and Madison Young Professionals. She also serves as president of Ridgeland Strength Behind the Blue and as co-director of the Mississippi Run to Remember. Kristy earned a bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in management and marketing from Delta State University. Congratulations, Kristy, on your honorable achievement.

ÂŠ 2017 Regions Bank. Regions and the Regions logo are registered trademarks of Regions Bank. The LifeGreen color is a trademark of Regions Bank.

Slideshow available online at http://msbusiness.com/events/top-40-under-40/top-40-event-slideshow/

ABUMERE F. AKINWALE, M.D., Southern Eye Center ................................... 11

ALAN P. MCCORMICK, Ballew Wealth Management ................................... 32

JASON BAILEY, Summit Management Services. LLC .................................. 6-7

ALISON O’NEAL MCMINN, Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP............................ 33

CARLOS BELL, Mississippi State Port Authority of Gulfport .......................... 11

KENT MORTIMER, Bank of Kilmichael ........................................................ 34

CHASE BLANKENSHIP, The First, A National Banking Association ...............12

AMY OLIVER, Love AO Jewelry ................................................................... 34

KELLY A. BOUTWELL, Mississippi Economic Council....................................12

JOHN W. RIDGEWAY JR., Ridgeway Homes | J.W. Ridgeway Contractors, LLC ............35

CHRISTY B. BRIDGES, American Heart Association ......................................13

SCOTT RIVES, Ballew Wealth Management ................................................. 36

JASON M. BROWN, Ingalls Shipbuilding .....................................................14

CHRIS ROBERTS, BankPlus ........................................................................ 36

TODD BUTLER, Phelps Dunbar ....................................................................14

CARL SANDBERG, 3S Homes ..................................................................... 37

ASHLEY ELEY CANNADY, Balch & Bingham LLP..........................................15

DR. MITCHELL M. SHEARS, Hinds Community College, Utica Campus .......38

AMANDA CARRAWAY, Flowood Chamber of Commerce ...............................16

ANNE MARIE SMITH, 4Top Catering ...........................................................38

CHRIS CHAMPION, Cornerstone Government Affairs ...................................16

LUCIEN SMITH, Balch & Bingham LLP ........................................................ 39

WILLIAM LUSK COPPAGE, Washington County Economic Alliance ...............17

STEPHEN DANIEL SMITH, Ellisville State School.........................................40

KRISTY M. DANIELS, Regions ......................................................................18

ANGIE STALLINGS, CraftCroswell ................................................................40

JERRY B. DEFATTA JR., Southern Mississippi Alumni Association .................18

SELENA LAJEAN STANDIFER, Mississippi Department of Transportation .....41

LIZ HOGUE DENSMORE, LEC Inc. ...............................................................19

SARA ELIZABETH STOCKTON, Magnolia Regional Health Center ................42

LINDSAY THOMAS DOWDLE, Jones Walker LLP ........................................20

LAURA BETH STRICKLAND, Vicksburg Convention & Visitor Bureau ...........42

GREG L. DURRELL, Durrell Design Group, PLLC...........................................20

SCOTT TOLLISON, Mississippi University for Women.................................. 43

DR. LEE GARY, The Winning Smile Dental Group .........................................21

JONATHAN VARNEY, Security Card Services ...............................................44

CHRISTIN GRISSOM, Phi Theta Kappa ........................................................ 22

ROBERT F. WALKER, Baker Donelson .........................................................44

MEGAN HALL, ERA Real Estate Professionals ............................................. 22

PAMELA P. WARE, Metropolitan Bank.........................................................45

MARK F. HINTON, Community Bank, North Mississippi............................... 23

BRYAN WILLIAMS, Huntington Ingalls Industries ........................................46

RYAN A. HOLMES, Dungan Engineering P.A. ...............................................28

LAFARRA YOUNG-GAYLOR, M.D., King’s Daughters Medical Center ...........46

AA’KEELA L. S. HUDNALL, Mississippi Center for Legal Services .................28

EVENT PHOTOS ................................................................................... 24-27

BRADLEY W. JOYNER, CMB, Mississippi Home Corporation........................29

PAST WINNERS...................................................................................... 9-10

JHAI’OBES C. KEETON, Imperium Resource Group......................................30 SHENIKA KELLY-MOORE, Kelly Family Denistry .........................................30

ALAN TURNER Publisher alan.turner@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1021

JACK WEATHERLY Staff Writer jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1016

DR. WENDY LEWIS, The Winning Smile Dental Group ................................31

TAMI JONES Associate Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1011

VIRGINIA HODGES Account Executive virginia.hodges@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1012

ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1018

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FRANK BROWN Staff Writer/Special Projects frank.brown@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1022

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TED CARTER Staff Writer ted.carter@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1017

MARCIA THOMPSON-KELLY Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1044

JUSTIN JAVARUS MATHIS, The Mathis Foundation ..................................... 32

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Business

TOP 10 FINALISTS

Jason Brown

Todd Butler

Gary Lee

Mark Hinton

Ryan Holmes

Ingalls Shipbuilding

Phelps Dunbar

Winning Smile Dental

Community Bank

Dungan Engineering

6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017 Top 50 Under 40

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Person of the Year Jason Bailey Summit Management Services

ASON BAILEY, the Mississippi Business Journal’s Under 40 Business Person of the Year, has been owner and CEO of Summit Mangement Services, a property management service in Oxford, since 2009. He is responsible for day-to-day operations of 40 condominium and homeowner associations and more than 700 long-term rental properties. Baily is also in his ﬁfth year as Ward 6 city alderman in Oxford, where he has been a life-long resident. He previously worked for Bailey Management Co., Sun South Development, Grand Oak Realty, Guest Realty and Land Co., and Campus Crusade for Christ. He earned his Bachelors of Business Administraton in Insurance and Risk Management is at the University of Mississippi in 2002. Bailey was a member of the 2006 class of Leadership Lafayette, and was a Rotary Club Paul Harris fellow in 2015. He and his wife have two sons.

Wendy Lewis

John Ridgeway

Michael Shears

Pam Ware

Bryan Williams

Winning Smile Dental

Ridgeway Homes

Hinds CC, Utica campus

Metropolitan Bank

Huntington Ingalls

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 7

CONGRATULATIONS DR. WENDY HAWKINS LEWIS

CONGRATULATIONS DR. LEE GARY

Top 10 Finalist

MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL’S

BRANDON | FLOWOOD | EXTENDED HOURS 7 AM - 7 PM

SAME DAY DENTISTRY | 601-936-0025

WWW.THEWINNINGSMILE.COM

8 – 2017 Top 50 Under 40

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PAST WINNERS

2016

2015

Amanda Green Alexander..............................................................................Alexander Law PA

Mandi Arinder ............................................................... Rankin County Chamber of Commerce

Anna H. Bell ..............................................................................The Summit Health and Rehab

Gwendolyn Ballard ..........................................................................................................CSpire

Blake E. Bell ...........................................................................................Capitol Resources, LLC

Lilli Evans Bass ....................................................................Currie Johnson Griffin & Myers, PA

Danny J. Bolaños...........................................................................................................Regions

Michael Warren Boerner...................................................................... Wier Boerner Allin PLLC

Dewitt Lamar Bolton III ...............................................................................................FNC, Inc.

H. Barber Boone...............................................................................................Forman Watkins

Talamieka Brice .......................................................................................................Brice Media

Quentin A. Brewer...............................................................................................BancorpSouth

Jared Robert Burns...............................................................................Consulate Management

Madeleine Brown ..................................................................... Fisher Brown Bottrell Insurance

Hollie Caldwell..............................................................................................ngalls Shipbuilding

Carter Burns ..............................................................Mississippi Department of Transportation

Ralph V. Clark, II ........................................................................................................ Trustmark

Jennifer M. Childs.........................................................................Huntington Ingalls Industries

Tanny Crawford .......................................................................................... Performance Rehab

Brax K. Clark............................................................................................ Rocking C Truck Lines

Jennie Bradford Curlee ..................................................Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau

Beau Cole .........................................................................................................Forman Watkins

Gretchen David............................................................................Gretchen David Design Studio

Jason S. Condon........................................................................Cooper’s Country Meat Packers

Josh Davis ................................................................................................ Delta Health Alliance

William B. Dickson Jr. ........................................................ Jackson Municipal Airport Authority

Doug Davis ..........................................................................................Secretary of State Office

Jeremiah Dumas..............................................................................Mississippi State University

Rodney C. Deese II ................................................................................ United States Air Force

Marshall J. Eleuterius......................................................................................Community Bank

Emanual E. Edmond............................................................................Delta Regional Authority

Brandi Kennedy Garrett ........................................................GI Associates & Endoscopy Center

Aaron R. Edwards.................................................................................Strategic M&A Advisors

Mason Greene ................................................................................. Hotel & Restaurant Supply

Kendall Poole Ellis ...................................................................................Inspiration Mississippi

Julie Jarrell Gresham.....................................................................Huntington Ingalls Industries

Kathryn L. Fuller...............................................................................................................Cspire

Stephen Griner ................................................................................................ Raymond James

Jill Gordon ......................................................................................................Community Bank

Tonyatta T. Hairston ......................................................................................EnVision Eye Care

Jennifer Gregory .....................................................Greater Starkville Development Partnership

Jamie Higdon ............................................................................................................TempStaff

Jennifer G. Hall ........................................Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

Kodi D. Hobbs ............................................................................................... The Hobbs Group

Katie Hoggatt ..........................................................................Haddox Reid Eubank Betts PLLC

Foley Holditch ................................................................................................................ Thyme

Ryan Kelly ................................................................................... Horizon Professional Services

Laura P. Johns .................................................................................................Broadband Voice

Craig D. Kittrell ..................................................................................Mississippi State Hospital

Monica Davis Joiner............................................................................................City of Jackson

Davetta Cooke Lee............................................................................................................ PERS

Farrah Graham Kennedy ...........................................................................EastGroup Properties

Dr. Michael S. Lorence .................................................................................Generational Equity

Aaron Lacey ................................................................................................................BankPlus

Megan Sumrall Lott, OD ..............................................................................Lexington Eye Care

Preston H. Lee III, DDS.............................................................................. Lee Family Dentistry

Duvalier J. Malone ......................................................................... Duvalier Malone Enterprises

Bridget M. Lowery .......................................................................................................BankPlus

Joel T. May Jr. ...................................................................................................The First, ANBA

Jason Manley..................................................................................................Mississippi Power

Jason C. McNeel ....................................................................................................CraftCroswell

James W. McIngvale ............................................................................The McIngvale CPA Firm

Mary Clay Morgan ................................................................................................Bradley Arant

Mauricka DeVon McKenzie Sr. ......................................................................Neel-Schaffer, Inc.

Kaytie M. Pickett ............................................................................................Jones Walker LLP

Shane McLendon ..................................................................................... Home Remedies LLC

John B. Pope III .................................................................................... Collins Fire Department

Hosea L. Minnieweather Jr................................................................ Norvartis Pharmaceuticals

Robert Ridgway ...................................................................... W.G. Yates & Sons Construction

Erica Moore ................................................................................................... Pearl River Resort

Clare Rush.....................................................................Maron Marvel Bradley & Anderson LLC

Kimberly Nastasi .................................................................. Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce

Randall R. Saxton .......................................................................................... Saxton Law, PLLC

Marc Petro......................................................................................................Community Bank

Benjamin Scott........................................................................... Scott Memorial Funeral Home

Marlena Powell Pickering...................................................................................Baker Donelson

Jason L. Shelton ...................................................................................................City of Tupelo

Alex Purvis ...........................................................................................................Bradley Arant

Melissa Willrich Siebert ................................................................................ Dow AgroSciences

Nicki Johnson Reeves .......................................................Mississippi Department of Education

Bridget Confait Smith........................................................................................................Axiall

Matthew Edward Renick ........................................................................... Blacklidge Emulsions

Joseph D. Songy .............................................................................................Office of the Gov.

Justin Rhodes......................................................................Mississippi Baptist Health Systems

Matthew A. Summers ..................................................... Spectrum Capital/Yates Construction

Harry Dewitt Ruffin III ............................................................................................... Trustmark

Blakeley Ward..............................................................................South Delta Hunting Club, Inc

Scott Spivey ...............................................................................Mississippi Home Corporation

Steven M. Warren............................................................................................... Warren Paving

Abby Thompson....................................................................................Camgian Microsystems

Ashley N. Wicks .....................................................................................................Butler Snow

Bridget Young Townsend ....................................................................................City of Jackson

James Richmon Wier Jr. ................................................. Wier Boerner Allin Architecture, PLLC

Trent Townsend ............................................................................................... Next Step Group

Sarah Beth Wilson.......................................................................Copeland Cook Taylor & Bush

Justin M. Turner ............................................................................................... TurnerCare, LLC

Greg Word ............................................................................................Greater Jackson Alliance

Alison Tyler ..........................................................................................................HORNE CPAs

Matt Wyatt................................................................................................................Super Talk

Nathan Wells.............................................................................Chief of Staff, Rep. Philip Gunn Johannah B. Williams ........................................................................Hinds Community College

Previous winners are listed by where they worked at the time of their selection.

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 9

2014

2013

Joseph B. Babb.........................................................................................Eaton, Babb & Smith Jason Wilton Bailey ...............................................................................................Jones Walker Michael Bentley..................................................................Bradley Arant Boult and Cummings Elizabeth Mills Boone ....................................................................................Watson and Jones Kylie B. Boring...............................................................Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau Katrina S. Brown ....................................................................Currie Johnson Griffin and Myers David B. Burt............................................................................................Newton County Bank Chara J. Clancy .........................................................................Huntington Ingalls Shipbuilding Jason Cook ................................................................................................Cook Medical Supply Steve DeRusso ...............................................................................Ouachita Independent Bank Mitchell O. Driskell III..............................................................................................Daniel Coker Daniel C. Elliott....................................................................................................BancorpSouth Edgar A. Flores ......................................................................................Baptist Health Systems Breck R. Hines................................................................................................Duckworth Realty LaKeysha Greer Isaac....................................................................... Cosmic Simmons & Brown Alyson Bustamante Jones ......................................................................................Butler Snow Kenneth L. Jones..........................................................................................................LapCorp Robert D. King Jr.....................................................................................The Koerber Company Kimberla M. Little...................................................................................Regions Financial Corp Josh Mabus ................................................................................................. The Mabus Agency Chris Madison ...................................................................................................... HORNE, LLP Brandon D. Meeks ...............................................................................................Meeks Agency Nathan Moore .................................................................................Mississippi State University Austin Morgan .............................................................................T.L. Wallace Construction Co. Anna M. Neel ......................................................................................................Neel-Schaffer Jamie D. Osbirn ............................................................................First American National Bank Tianna H. Raby.....................................................................................................Forman Perry Ryan Revere ................................................................Smith, Phillips, Mitchell, Scott & Nowak Gerold Smith ..........................................................................................Titan Broadcasting Co. Ryan P. Steiner .............................................................................................................Terracon John Stolarski....................................................................................Allred Architectural Group Micajah P. Sturdivant IV..................................................................................MMI Hotel Group Dana C. Terry.........................................................................Mississippi College School of Law Katy Tillman................................................................................................ Southern Ag Credit Jerry L. Toney ....................................................................................... Cadence Financial Corp. James Russell Turley.......................................................................................Community Bank Vince Vavrunek..........................................................................................................SERVPRO Chad Wallace.............................................................................................. Belhaven University Sara Harrison White ........................................................................... Trustmark National Bank Liz Young .......................................................................................American Heart Association

Shane Aguire.......................................................................................Montgomery Enterprises James Armstrong .....................................................................................May & Company, LLP Dr. RoSusan Bartee ..............................................................................University of Mississippi Heather Farris Bennett .................................................................................Yates Construction Christina M. Berry .......................................................................................... City of Columbus Roy Brittany Blacklidge......................................................................Blacklidge Emulsions, Inc. Rachel Bolanos...............................................................................Hilton Garden Inn, Madison Jennifer Boydston................................................................Law Office of Richard C. Roberts III Arnetrieus Branson-Reed ................................................. Jackson Municipal Airport Authority Adam Breerwood ......................................................................Pearl River Community College Vaiden A. Clark................................................................................. Merchant & Farmers Bank Nicholas Coughlin.......................................................................................Innovate Mississippi Kyle Curran..........................................................................................................BancorpSouth Scott D. Elliott .................................................................One Life America Insurance Company S. Trent Favre ........................................................................................................Jones Walker William R. Flatt ............................................................................................... Oxbow Ventures Christopher R. Fontan ...................................................... Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes Brandi Granderson .................................................................................Graffti Glan Revolution Tray Hairston ..............................................................................Office of Governor Phil Bryant Shawn Hanks .................................................................... Jackson Municipal Airport Authority Corey D. Hinshaw ............................................................................................ Watkins & Eager Andrea Jones-Davis ......................................................................................Toot, Teach & Roll Justin Martin ..................................................................................................Community Bank Lindsay Martin-Nez ............................................................................Sports Center-Vicksburg Chance McDavid..............................................................................Mississippi State University Charles Ford Moore ........................................................................................Community Bank Tonya Moore .................................................................... University of Mississippi Health Care Ira Murray..................................................................................United Way of the Capital Area Lee Nations ...............................................................................Associated General Contractors Nikki Nissen ..............................................................................................St. Dominic Hospital Troy Odom ...........................................................................................Blair & Bondurant, P. A. Scott Pedigo ......................................................................................................Baker Donelson Ryan Roper .........................................................................................................BancorpSouth Alton Shaw...................................................................................................... Town of Wesson Jason Siegfried ..........................................................Southern Power Electric Pine Association Ken Sones ...............................................................................................Oxbow-Ventures, LLC Scott Stinson.....................................................................................................Trustmark Bank Michael C. Todaro.................................................................................University of Mississippi Elizabeth Perry Upchurch ............................................................................................Fresh Ink Pamela Weaver................................................................Mississippi Secretary of Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office

Previous winners are listed by where they worked at the time of their selection.

PAST WINNERS

Congratulations to our own Christy Bridges Delta Irrigation & Supply

Proudly Congratulates

WILL COPPAGE

10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017 Top 50 Under 40

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Abumere Akinwale Southern Eye Center

r. Abumere Akinwale, Hattiesburg retina surgeon, is a board certiﬁed, fellowship-trained Ophthalmologist at Southern Eye Center in Hattiesburg. She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Mississippi College before attending the University of Mississippi Medical School. She was a recipient of the merit-based Fred McDonnell, M.D., Scholarship which provides full tuition and board for the duration of medical school. She also was elected to the Alpha

Omega Alpha Honorary Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Akinwale completed an Internal Medicine internship at Harvard Medical School, and her Ophthalmology Residency at Boston University. She subsequently completed a vitreo-retinal fellowship at Harvard Medical School with an emphasis on diabetic eye diseases and an additional surgical retina fellowship at Southern Eye Center. Akinwale is an active member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Retina Specialists.

Carlos Bell Mississippi State Port Authority of Gulfport

arlos Bell, Director of Public Engagement at the State Port Authority in Gulfport since 2014, says his most signifcant professional accomplishment was being a part of the Army’s advance tactical team during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon invasion, his mission was to inﬁltrate Baghdad and take over the airport. Then his team moved on to bigger missions, such as capturing members of the notorious “Deck of Cards” and securing Baghdad University. When he returned home, there

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was no welcome party — just his wife and kids. As he describes: “Kissing the ground and hugging my newborn son for the ﬁrst time.” Bell previously worked for Waggoner Engineering, where he was technical lead for the GoCoast 2020 project, which was designed to restore the ecosystem of the Gulf Coast. Bell earned an Associates Degree in Logistics at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and a Bachelors Degree in Education at William Carey. He earned his Masters in Project Management at Colorado Tech University.

2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 11

Chase Blankenship The First, A National Banking Association

tephen “Chase” Blankenship is Assistant Vice President and Commercial Lender at The First in Hattiesburg. As a commercial lender, he manages a portfolio of more than 215 loans and helps customers with business decisions on expansion and growth. The 2006 Mississippi State graduate was previously area manager for Ain’t Life Grand Investment. In 2011, he returned to his Hattiesburg hometown and entered the banking and ﬁnance business, then

earned an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2014. Blankenship was a member of the Leadership Pine Belt class of 2014, and took ﬁrst place in money raised at a celebrity waiter event for the 2014 Relay for Life. He is a member of the United Way of Southeast Mississippi and Sertoma Club of Hattiesburg. He is also a member of the USM Business Advisory Council, the Greater Hattiesburg Home Builder Association, the Mississippi Young Bankers Association and the Pine Belt Young Professionals.

Kelly Boutwell Mississippi Economic Council

elly Boutwell is the Vice President of Marketing and Director of Membership & Communications at the Mississippi Economic Council. Previously, she was Senior Marketing Specialist at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She began her career as Service Manager at Bravo! Italian Restaurant where she discovered a passion for wine. She became the state’s youngest Certiﬁed Sommelier at age 23 through The Court of Master

12 – 2017 Top 50 Under 40

Sommeliers — an international wine guild. She then took over the wine program and managed its wine list and program for the remainder of her management tenure. Kelly is on the steering committee of Sante South — the largest food and wine festival in the state, beneﬁtting the Alzheimer’s Association. She is a member of the Mississippi Economic Development Council and the Association of State Chamber Professionals. A native of Forest, she earned her Bachelors Degree in Sociology and Master of Business Degree at Millsaps College.

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Christy Bridges American Heart Association

hristy Bridges is the Go Red for Women director with the American Heart Association in Jackson. In 2016, her ﬁrst year in the role, she was recognized with an American Heart Association Benchmark Holder honor by placing sixth in the nation in new individual dollars raised. Previously, she was Marketing and Development Specialist with the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi, Marketing Manager with The Clarion-Ledger, and Finance Manager at

MCI WorldCom. Honors in 2016 include American Heart Association Heart and Torch Award, AHA Volunteer Chair Recruitment Award, Award of Merit and 10 Years of Service with Cub Scout Pack 85, and Florence Fest Board Member Achievement Award. Bridges enjoys traveling with her family, genealogy, photography, painting, sewing, camping and scouting. She is a retired competitive equestrian, and says she misses it every day.

Mississippi Home Corporation

Congratulates Executive Vice President Brad Joyner

For Being Selected MS Business Journal’s “Top 50 Under 40” www.msbusiness.com

2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 13

TO P 10 FI I AL

Jason Brown

Ingalls Shipbuilding

ason Brown is director of Information Technology at Ingalls Shipbuilding, says relocating from Virginia to Pascagoula 13 years ago was one of the best decisions he has ever made. Since leaving the Newport News division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, he has seen his career ﬂourish and his life come together. He and his wife Caroline have two children and live in Ocean Springs. He is responsible for the delivery of all IT services to Ingalls Shipbuilding and all IT infrastructure services to AMSEC, a subsidiary of Huntington Ingalls Industries.

The combined user base is about 14,000 people, who are stationed at 20 locations in 10 states, Japan and Australia. He has worked for Huntington Ingalls Industries since graduating with his undergraduate degree from Old Dominion University 17 years ago. Brown earned his MBA from Southern Mississippi, and also completed the Mason School of Business Executive Leadership Program at the College of William and Mary He and his family can frequently be found on weekends boating and ﬁshing the barrier islands just off the coast of Jackson County.

ing agreements. Butler is an adjunct professor at Mississippi College School of Law, where he earned his J.D. in 2008, and is Chairman of the Mississippi Bar’s Appellate Practice Committee. He is a member of the Federalist Society and a past editor-in-chief of the Mississippi Defense Lawyers’ Association’s quarterly magazine. Butler was a member of the MBJ’s 2013 Leadership in Law class, a Mississippi Bar Young Lawyers Fellow award in 2007, and has been recognized as an AV Preeminent Peer Review rated by Martin-Hubbell and has been a Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star.

T IS

14 – 2017 Top 50 Under 40

odd Butler is a partner at the Jackson law ﬁrm Phelps Dunbar. He represents clients in matters involving employment, civil rights and appellate issues. In particular, Butler defends clients in litigation relating to constitutional law, employment discrimination, wage and hour, wrongful termination and harassment. A portion of his practice is dedicated to traditional labor matters, such as defending unfair-labor-practice complaints before the NLRB and arbitrating cases concerning the interpretation of collective-bargain-

Phelps Dunbar

Todd Butler

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Ashley Cannady Balch & Bingham

shley Cannady is a partner at the Jackson law ﬁrm of Balch & Bingham. She is responsible for managing and coordinating litigation for clients in the labor and employment ﬁeld and related business litigation. Cannady counsels these clients to ensure that they remain compliant with the ever changing laws and regulations that apply to employers of all sizes. Previously, she worked at Watkins & Eager; Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart; and Heidelberg,

Steinberger, Colmer & Burrow. Cannady earned her Bachelor’s in Political Science from The University of Mississippi, then stayed at Ole Miss to earn her law degree. She has been a Mid-South Super Lawyers Rising Star since 2010, and is AV rated by Martindale Hubbell. Professionally, she is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, the Capital Area Bar Association and the Mississippi Women Lawyers Association. She has served in several roles with the Junior League of Jackson, including co-chair for Mistletoe Marketplace.

CONGRATULATIONS! to Carlos Bell, Director of Community Engagement at the Port of Gulfport for being recognized as one of Mississippi Business Journal's Top 50 Under 40

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 15

Amanda Carraway Flowood Chamber of Commerce

manda Carraway is Marketing and Events Coordinator for the Flowood Chamber of Commerce, but she wears manys hats, including website development, social media, obtaining sponsors and selling tickets. And while doing all of that, she has been working to obtain her marketing degree from Mississippi College. She is a graduate of Leadership Rankin, and was recognized as

Flowood Young Professional of the Year. She also has received a scholarship from the Mississippi Economic Development Council to add attend the four-year Institute for Organizational Management program beginning in July. Carraway is a volunteer with The Mustard Seed, Distinguished Young Women-Rankin County and Southside Baptist Church. She also volunteered for Flowood’s First Responder Picnic and the Shelby 5K.

Chris Champion Cornerstone Government Affairs

hris Champion, a native of Greenwood, is a vice-president with Cornerstone Government Affairs in Jackson. He previously held the position of policy director for Gov. Phil Bryant, where he oversaw the Governor’s legislative agenda and advised him on state and federal issues. Before becoming the policy director, Champion’s advised the governor on energy, transportation, agriculture, environment, marine resources, and ﬁsh and wildlife issues. Champion was the Governor’s designee to the Tennessee Valley Authority Region-

16 – 2017 Top 50 Under 40

al Energy Resource Council, Delta Regional Authority, Appalachian Regional Commission, and the Southern States Energy Board. Before joining Bryant’s staff in 2012, Champion was a special assistant to U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker in Washington, D.C. A graduate of the University of Mississippi, Champion worked for Cobbs, Allen and Hall in Birmingham before joining Wicker’s staff. An Eagle Scout, Chris is the past-president of the Washington, D.C. Ole Miss Alumni Association. Chris and his wife, Olivia, live in Jackson, with their children Amelia and Worth.

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William Coppage Washington County Economic Alliance

illiam Coppage, a Greenville native, joined the The Washington County Economic Alliance as project manager in 2015 with 15 years of experience, including an emphasis on revitalization and economic sustainability. He also has experience in writing and communications, plus a familiarity with local, state, and regional development partners. As the Project Manager, Coppage

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assists on various economic development projects including business retention and attraction, as well as being responsible for online communications, and ongoing data collection. He previously was executive assistant to the Mayor of Greenville and, before that, a writer with the Delta Democrat Times in Greenville. Coppage graduated from the University of North Carolina in Wilmington with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and has a Master of Fine Arts and Arts from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA.

2017 Top 50 Under 40 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17

Kristy Daniels Regions

risty Daniels is Branch Manager and Assistant Vice President at Regions Bank in Ridgeland, where she manages employees, hires, conducts performance reviews and provides counseling as needed. As a wife and daughter of a law enforcement officers, Kristy Daniels, is an advocate for the law enforcement profession and the risks every officer takes when on the job. In 2012, she worked with her sister to create the Mississippi Run to Remember 5K run, a statewide race

that honors law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, and to celebrate the lives of those who serve. The ﬁrst two races were in Ridgeland the last one was in Hattiesburg. Daniels earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management at Delta State University, and previously has worked with CSpire Wireless and Bethesda Resources. Recent honors include Ridgeland Chamber 2013 Volunteer of the Year, 2014 Diplomat of the Year, and 201415 Diplomat Co-Captain. She is a 2013 Graduate of Regions Emerging Leaders Program.

Jerry DeFatta University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association

n 2010, Jerry DeFatta became only the fourth Executive Director of the Alumni Association at The University of Southern Mississippi in the past 57 years. Previously, DeFatta served the organization as Associate Director for External Affairs for nearly ﬁve years. Prior to working at USM, he worked for Clintas Corporation, an Ohio-based uniform and facility service company, where he held various positions. As Executive Director, has daily responsibility for all services provided through the association including

18 – 2017 Top 50 Under 40

membership development, communications, ﬁeld operations, program development, ﬁnancial stewardship, administration and communication. He earned both his Bachelors in Business Administration and his Masters in Public Relations from USM. In the community, DeFatta is a member of the Petal School Board, Petal School District Shared Decision Making Council, Petal Excel by Five Coalition, Macedonia Baptist Church, Partners for the Arts, USM Foundation, Southern Miss Eagle Club, and Hattiesburg Civic Association.

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Liz Hogue Densmore LEC, Inc

iz Hogue Densmore, Director of Marketing and Human Resources at LEC, Inc., has more than 16 years of communications-related experience. She is responsible for all aspects of external and internal communications and human resource-related activities at LEC. She previously held positions as a television news reporter and anchor, media representative at the Mississippi State Department of Health, and Director of Public Relations and Marketing at the USA International Ballet Competition. Densmore is a graduate of the

University of Mississippi, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism with an Emphasis in Public Relations and Minors in English and Theatre. She was selected as one of Mississippi’s 50 Leading Business Women for 2015 by the Mississippi Business Journal. She was recently named “Public Relations Practitioner of the Year” by the Public Relations Association of Mississippi’s Central Chapter. Densmore is Vice President of Membership for PRAM Central, is a Rankin County Chamber Ambassador and a member of the Junior League of Jackson.

Congratulations to our own Mark Hinton for being selected as one of Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40.

• Mark has been with Community Bank for 9 years, and has over 14 years of commercial lending experience. • As Senior Vice President in our North Misssissippi Division, Mark is dedicated to treating his customer’s needs uniquely and professionally. • His character is a true reﬂection of Community Bank values.

• COMMUNITYBANK.NET • MEMBER FDIC

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 19

Lindsay Dowdle Jones Walker LLP

indsay Dowdle is a partner in Jones Walker’s Labor & Employment Practice Group in the Jackson office. Dowdle has defended employers in litigation of employment claims in federal and state courts. She also works with employers to develop workplace policies and procedures. Dowdle is published in the American Bar Association, Employment & Labor Relations Law newsletter. She joined the Jackson Young Lawyers Association after admission to the bar, and has been President, Treasurer, co-chair of the Social Committee and a member of the

Pro-Bono Committee. She is Director for Hinds Post VI of the Young Lawyers Division of The Mississippi Bar. Dowdle volunteers as a Book Buddy with Power APAC School and as a volunteer attorney for the Stewpot Community Services Legal Clinic. She is a 2008 magna cum laude graduate of the Mississippi College School of Law, where she was Articles Editor for the Mississippi Law Review and a member of the moot court board. She also earned a Masters in Counseling Education from the University of Mississippi and a Bachelors in Psychology, summa cum laude, from Appalachian State University.

Greg Durrell Durrell Design Group, PLLC

reg L. Durrell is principal of Durrell Design Group, a technology-forward architecture ﬁrm in Clinton. Durrell, a native of Vicksburg, is a graduate of Mississippi State University. He has over 10 years of diversiﬁed experience with new project design, construction and renovation. He is owner and project architect,

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a role in which he is responsible for ensuring coordination of all design disciplines from the initial phase of the project to completion. He has a background of experience with educational design ranging from K-12 to higher education. Durrell says: “My goal in life has always been to be a good steward of the talents that God has given. Architecture is indeed a way I can leave my mark on this world.”

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Lee Gary

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The Winning Smile Dental Group

native of Yazoo City, Dr. Lee Gary is owner of the Winning Smile Dental Group in Flowood and Bran-

don. He received his degree from Mississippi College and his Doctorate in Dental Medicine from The University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry. Gary is dedicated not only to cosmetic transformations, but to the overall health and well-being of every patient he sees. “Beauty and health are intertwined. Great smiles

come not only from the work and expertise we provide, but are also showcased through the health of the patient” he says. Gary characterizes himself as a perfectionist who aims to display his skills in every patient he sees. Gary is a member of the American Dental Association, the Mississippi Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and the Jackson Dental Society. Gary participated in the American Cancer Society’s 2016 Real Men Wear Pink project and was a dentist on his church’s mission to Mexico.

CONGRATULATIONS ALAN AND SCOTT! FOR BEING RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF MISSISSIPPI’S

ALAN MCCORMICK

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SCOTT RIVES

2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 21

Christin B. Grissom Phi Theta Kappa

hristin Grissom is Director of Scholarship Operations & College Relations for the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in Jackson, overseeing five employees and a $1.7 million-dollar budget. Grissom manages 20 scholarship programs, oversees the identification, selection and notification of scholarship disbursements to over 500 students, totaling more than $800,000 in scholarship funding. The sales arm of her team generates over $700,000 in annual sales revenue. She coordinates marketing to bolster participation and drive sales.

She has held various titles with Phi Theta Kappa since joining the organization in 2007 as a scholarship programs assistant. Grissom earned her Bachelor’s of Business Administration with emphisis in marketing at the University of Mississippi in 2009, and her MBA from Mississippi College in 2012. Grissom is secretary of the Jacks Crossing Subdivision Homeowners Association, a member of the Program Review Committee of the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, teacher and volunteer at Pinelake Church Little Lakers Children’s Ministry, and a volunteer with the Education Services Foundation.

Megan Courtney Hall ERA Real Estate Professionals

hen Megan Hall became a Real Estate Agent, she was 20 years old and had never bought a house. Ten years in later in 2015, she became President of the Central Mississippi Realtors Association. Hall, a Realtor with ERA Real Estate Professionals in Ridgeland, didn’t stop there. She also owns a small online social boutique called Polished Apparel, which began when she lost 50 pounds and had to rebuild her wardrobe. From her experience, she

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felt she could offer an less-expensive alternative to women who still want that ﬂawless, polished look. Hall also is Ward 4 alderman for the town of Pelahatchie, and is running for mayor. In 2016, she was selected to be part of the Mississipi Association of Realtors’ Presidents in Partnership program, a nationwide leadership program. She also is co-founder and president of the Pelahatchie Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary and a member of the Mississippi Fireﬁghters Auxiliary. Hall earned her Bachelor’s in Management at Belhaven University, graduating magna cum laude in 2011.

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THE AWARDS LUNCHEON

More than 350 attended the Top 50 Under 40 luncheon April 20 at the Old Capitol Inn in downtown Jackson.

The Mississippi Business Journal’s annual Top 50 Under 40 luncheon is one of the highlights of the state’s business community. This year, more than 350 business people and their families, friends and co-workers gathered at the Old Capitol Inn in downtown Jackson to celebrate the best and brightest young people and leaders of the state.

Raphel Semmes and his band provided entertainment at the Top 50 Under 40 luncheon.

Photos by Stegall Imagery

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THE AWARDS LUNCHEON

Jason Bailey of Summit Management Services, 2017 Under 40 Business Person of the Year (standing, second from right) and his guests

Honoree Megan Hall (standing, second from right) of ERA Real Estate and her guests

24 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017 Top 50 Under 40

Honoree LaFar Medical Center

Honoree Sarah Elizabeth Stockton (seated, s Center and her guests

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oung-Gaylor (center) of Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Daughters Brookhaven and her guests.

nd from right) of Magnolia Regional Health

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Outgoing Mississippi Economic Council director Blake Wilson was in attendance in support of co-worker Kelly Boutwell.

Honoree Jeffy DeFatta (seated center) of the University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association and his guests

2017 Top 50 Under 40 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 25

THE AWARDS LUNCHEON

Honorees (seated from left) Alan McCormick of Ballew Wealth Management, Jhai Keeton of Imperium Resource Group and Shenika Kelly-Moore of Kelly Family Dentistry and guests

Honoree William Coppage (seated center) of the Washington County Economic Alliance and his guests

Ashley Cannady (seated right) of Balch and Bingham and her guests

Honoree Christy Bridges (standing, second from right) of the American Heart Association and guests

Todd Butler (right) of Phelps Dunbar was one of the 10 ďŹ nalists.

26 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2017 Top 50 Under 40

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Mark Hinton

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s Senior Vice President for Commercial Lending at Community Bank of North Mississippi, Mark Hinton is responsible for generating new customers and day-to-day operations for the Tupelo market. He manages a $25 million loan portfolio and works as bankruptcy officer. Before joining Community in 2008, he worked for Renasant Bank and Amsouth Bank. Hinton earned a Bachelor in Business Administration and Management from Faulkner University in 2002, and graduated from the

Community Bank, North Mississippi Mississippi School of Banking at Ole Miss in 2009. From 2011-12 he attended the Southeastern School of Commercial Lending and Advanced Commercial Lending at Vanderbilt. He earned his degree at the LSU Graduate School of Banking in 2015. He attended the Jim Ingram Leadership Institute and been recognized with the Bank Simulator Award by LSU, the Citizenship Award by the Tupelo Children’s Mansion, The Star Leadership Award by Amsouth, and he was an Eagle Scout. Hinton assists the United Way, Junior Achievement, Boy Scouts of America, Rotary Club and teaches with the Mississippi Bankers Association.

CONGRATULATIONS TO

COMMITMENT TO

Community

CHRIS ROBERTS ON BEING NAMED

TOP50 UNDER40 As a Vice President and loan officer at BankPlus, Chris is one of our finest. So we’re proud, but not surprised, that he has been chosen for this honor. Chris’ service to the community has been recognized by many. We take our hats off to Chris.

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 27

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yan Holmes grew up wanting to be a dentist, but after a summer internship at Dungan Engineering, the Columbia native realized he wanted to follow his father and become a civil engineering. University of Mississippi graduate landed a job as a branch manager of Dungan’s Brookhaven office in 2007. Several promotions later, he is a principal engineer and vice president for the ﬁrm. He previously worked for Williams Engineering in Oxford and W.L. Bur-

Dungan Engineering

Ryan Holmes le Engineering in Greenville. Holmes has been recognized with a Small Business of the Month award by the Brookhaven Chamber of Commerce; First place, Class Project, 2015 Leadership Mississippi Class; and Daily Leader Top 40 under 40 for Brookhaven 2016. He is a member of he Mississippi Association of County Engineers, American Council of Engineering Companies, National Association of County Engineers, Mississippi Municipal League, Mississippi Airport Association and Servitium Club of Brookhaven.

Aa’Keela Hudnall Mississippi Center for Legal Services

a’Keela Hudnall is Staff Attorney for Mississippi Center for Legal Services in Meridian, where she provides legal representation in civil matters to people of low income in Lauderdale, Kemper, Clarke, Neshoba, Newton, Scott, Noxubee, Smith, and Leake counties. She is a member of the Mississippi Bar and licensed to practice law in Mississippi and in the 5th District of Federal Court.

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Previously, in her ﬁrst job after graduating from the Mississippi College School of Law in 2011, she was a runner at Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP in Jackson, serving subpoenas, delivering packages, drafting memoranda, performing legal research for attorneys, hosting social events, and managing office supplies. She received her Bachelors of Science in Entertainment Industry with an emphasis in music production from the University of Southern Mississippi in May of 2008.

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Bradley Joyner Mississippi Home Corporation

radley Joyner is Executive Vice President of Program Operations of Mississippi Home Corporation, which works to increase the quality and affordability of the housing stock available to low and moderate income Mississippians. Joyner also is Board President of the Opportunity Pool with the Financial Institution of Housing. He is the fourth person in Mississippi only one of 1,000 national to complete the seven-year process to earn the Commercial Certiﬁed

Mortgage Banker designaton with the Mortgage Bankers Association. It is the highest mortgage banking accreditation achievable. Joyner earned his Bachelors of Business Administration in Real Estate and Mortgage Finance from Mississippi State University in 2003. He was a Staff Sergeant in the 186th Air Refueling Win in Meridian, and served eight years in the Mississippi Air National Guard with deployments supporting Operation Enduring Freedome and Operation Southern Watch.

CONGRATULATIONS

2017 TOP 50 UNDER 40 | ARTICLE REPRINTS

RYAN HOLMES

Call 601-364-1044 or submit request online at http://msbusiness.com/mbj-article-request/

j G j Gi G } Gw GMGj Gs G G { Gm G G G GG G G G G G G H

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for being selected for MS Business Journal’s 2017

G 2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 29

Jhai Keeton Imperium Resource Group

2003 graduate of Moss Point High School, Jhai Keeton has established himself as an “experienced professional” in what he has coined as, “Entertainment Entrepreneurship.” After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Jackson State University in 2007, Keeton moved to Washington, D.C., where he spent ﬁve years as a Federal Contractor with one of the country’s top minority-owned accounting ﬁrms. Keeton’s most notable clients were USAID in Kiev, Ukraine; The FDIC in Coral Gables, Florida; and Bank

of New York Mellon where he led a team of six, all older than him. He worked through age, language and cultural barriers. Keaton was responsible for handling the reporting of national bank ﬁles for the Department of Treasury under the Small Business Lending Fund, which disbursed more than $15 billion to smaller institutions. In 2012, Keeton left the corporate world to pursue his entrepreneurial ventures on a full-time basis. Through his travels, collegiate and corporate experiences, he has formed a network, which has enabled him to establish and grow his entrepreneurial portfolio.

Shenika Kelly-Moore Kelly Family Denistry

r. Shenika Kelly-Moore is a native of Jackson. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Alcorn State University. She attended the University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Dentistry where she obtained a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. Kelly-Moore completed a one-year general practice residency at Louisiana State University. Kelly-Moore always knew she wanted to be in the health professional ﬁeld, even at a young age. She

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has a passion for people and loves to provide the best care to her patients. She looks forward to the journey that lies ahead with her career. Kelly-Moore is married to Davie Moore, and they have three daughters Chaightlin, Christina and Chloe. She is the daughter of Christine Kelly-Travis and Bobby Weathersby. Dr. Kelly-Moore enjoys spending time with family in her spare time and also traveling. She strives everyday improving herself and the world around her. She believes you can do whatever you put your mind to and that there’s nothing impossible with God.

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Wendy Lewis

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The Winning Smile Dental Group

rom an early age, Wendy Hawkins Lewis, D.M.D., knew she wanted to become a dentist. The Puckett native even insisted that all her dolls have teeth. “My pediatric dentist, Dr. Heber Simmons, Jr., of Jackson was the largest inﬂuence on me,” she said. “From the time I was 16 months old until I became an adult, I spent a lot of time with him.” Simmons documented in his records that Lewis – while in third grade – said she wanted to be a dentist. When she was accepted into dental school, he sent her a copy.

Another inﬂuence and mentor was Mark Stevens, D.M.D., now her partner in The Winning Smile Dental Group of Brandon. She shadowed him for a high school senior project and worked in the clinic part time while in college. A practicing dentist since 2008, Lewis sees patients of all ages and enjoys the relationships she establishes with them. “Getting to know them is the part I like best,” she said, “and doing cosmetic work because I had bad teeth and can identify with that. When adults think they are stuck with the teeth they have and are not smiling, I am so pleased to be able to help them.”

The Mississippi Economic Council is proud to congratulate Kelly Boutwell on being named as one of the Eakkakkahha :mkaf]kk BgmjfYd k Top 50 Under 40! Your tireless efforts and dedication have helped attain some of the best growth and retention rates in the chamber world – and have been recognized on the national level for the great job you and your team have done.

CONGRATS, DR. A! WE WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE DR. ABUMERE AKINWALE ON BEING RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF

Congrats on this well-deserved honor!

Congratulations to the Top 50 Under 40! Your accomplishments serve as an inspiration to us and the rest of Mississippi. Your leadership helps create a brighter future for our state.

www.mec.ms

P.O. Box 23276 • Jackson, MS 39225-3276 (601) 969-0022 • 1-800-748-7626

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 31

Justin J. Mathis The Mathis Foundation

ustin Mathis is the founder of the non-proﬁt organization, The Mathis Foundation, which prepares low income and potential ﬁrst generation 6-12 grade students in the Jackson metropolitan area to succeed in college. Mathis’ organization provides academic and social support that focuses on providing a more rigorous curriculum to high school students to give them a glimpse of what college requires. The 2011 and 2015 Alcorn State University graduate and Clinton res-

ident also is Southern University’s new assistant director for Recruitment. Mathis is responsible for developing relationships with high school guidance counselors, college transfer counselors, and corporate and community organizations. His new position will include supervising and assisting the recruiters in generating inquiries from prospective students and training the recruitment staff in organizing and implementing information from prospective students. Previously, Mathis was coordinator of Admissions, Recruitment and Outreach at Alcorn State.

Alan McCormick Ballew Wealth Management

lan McCormick, a Partner with Ballew Wealth Management, enjoys helping clients evaluate their financial goals and objectives. He works to bring all the pieces of his client’s financial life together, and advises them on a plan to achieve and obtain what is important to their family. Alan also works with business owners on retirement benefits for their employees. A graduate of The University of Mississippi, McCormick received his Bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance in 2003 and a Masters of Business Administration in 2004.

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He has 13 years of ﬁnancial experience, including gaining his CFP in 2013. He also holds his Series 66, Series 7, and Insurance licenses. He is in the 2017 Leadership Greater Jackson Class, a mentor to students at Operation Shoestring, and coaches youth sports. He is President of the Central Mississippi Ole Miss Rebel Club, President of the Financial Planners Association of Mississippi, past Finance Chair at Galloway United Methodist Church, and past board member of the Tri-County Community Tennis Association. The Gulf Coast native now resides in Flowood with Kimsey, his wife of 12 years. They have two children.

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Alison O’Neal McMinn Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP

lison McMinn is a partner at the law ﬁrm of Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP, where she is chair of its Pro Bono Committee. She practices in mass tort defense and general litigation. She was named to Mid-South Rising Stars in 2011 and 2012, and is Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent AV Peer Review Rated. Previously, she was a Special Assistant at the Mississippi Attorney General’s Office. McMinn previously served on the Central Mississippi MSU Alumni Board, Mississippi Children’s Home Auxiliary, and is a 2013-14 graduate

of Leadership Greater Jackson. Her international mission work took her to The Hard Places Community, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2011. She is in her second year on the Junior League of Jackson Board of Directors. McMinn has been a member of the Jackson Area Delta Gamma Alumnae Board for 12 years, and was president in 2013-2015. She has been on the MSU Delta Gamma House Corporation Board since 2014, and in 2015 was awarded the Jackson Area Panhellenic Association Service to Sorority Award. She and her husband, Rod, are foster parents of sisters, ages 2 and 5.

Congratulations

Dr. Mitchell Shears on bbeing i namedd a T Top 10 Fi F Finalist i lili in Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40 n compliance p with the following: g Title VI of the Civil Rights g Act of 1964, Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972 of the Higher g Education Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and other applicable pp Federal and State Acts, Hinds Communityy College g offers equal q education and employment p y opportunities pp and does not discriminate on the basis of race color national origin religion sex age disability or veteran status in its educational programs and activities The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 33

Kent Mortimer Bank of Kilmichael

ent Mortimer is Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Ofﬁcer for the Bank of Kilmichael. He performs credit administration of the bank’s loan portfolio and risk management for the entire bank. He manages the bank’s investment portfolio. He also assists with implementing new bank policies and maintaining current policies. Supporting new branch construction and renovation in new markets has become another responsibility that he says he enjoys. Providing customer service in as many ways possible is a main goal for the Bank of Kilmichael.

A bank bucking the trend is the Bank of Kilmichael, formed in 1904 by Bertram Spivey Kent and eight others with a total investment of $16,744.18. The bank has been in the hands of the same family for four generations, and is the kind of Southern hospitality bank where employees know their customers by name. Accordingly, he says his parent Rodney and Ethlyn Mortimer, have always been his greatest role models. “They taught me how to treat people and more importantly how to be a good Christian. My parents taught me to ‘never judge people’ which is important in business and life.

Amy Oliver Love AO | Oliver and Co.

s the owner of two small businesses, Amy Oliver runs the day to day management of all ordering for both the jewelry line and for the storefront, ﬁlling orders, booking markets, prepping for shows, scheduling, travel itineraries, representing LoveAO in both Americasmart Atlanta and Dallas Market Center as well as managing employees. Oliver graduated from Mississippi State University in 2008 with two degrees and multiple job offers. She began as a Retirement Sales Coordinator and helped guide business

34 – 2017 Top 50 Under 40

owners in Mississippi and Alabama as they setup and managed retirement investment accounts. But she wanted something for her own. She started small and worked toward a goal. In July of 2012, she took a leap of faith and left her full time job to build a business with LoveAO. Oliver says it was the best decision she ever made. “The days aren’t always fun or easy but I thoroughly enjoy what I do,” she says. “I love that I get to travel and meet new people daily. The best part of this “job” is that I get to make women feel great about themselves by adding that personal touch of style to their daily wardrobes.”

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ohn Ridgeway, a Laurel native, currently serves as Vice President of Operations at Ridgeway Homes and Ridgeway Contractors to ensure the implementation of strategic growth and development plans by setting operational and ﬁnancial goals for the company to maximize client satisfaction. Ridgeway’s duties on a day to day basis include company development, project management, contract estimation, purchasing and evaluating potential investments and ﬁnancing

Ridgeway Homes | J.W. Ridgeway Contractors

John Ridgeway strategies. Ridgeway is a 2012 graduate of the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor of Business Administration with a dual major in Managerial Finance and Real Estate. After his days at Ole Miss, he found his way back to Laurel to work in the family business and to be a part of the resurgence of his home town. He is also a general contractor, certiﬁed by the National Association of Homebuilders.

Mississippi Home Corporation

Congratulates Balch & Bingham LLP Partner William Lucien Smith Jr.

For Being Selected MS Business Journal’s “Top 50 Under 40” www.msbusiness.com

2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 35

Scott Rives Ballew Wealth Management

cott Rives has been serving as a shareholder and client adviser at Ballew Wealth Management since 2006. He manages a substantial list of individual clients, focusing on ﬁnancial planning, investment management and retirement accounts. In addition, he helps his business clients manage 401(k) and other retirement plans, providing investment advisory services at the plan level. In 2001, Rives received his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Mississippi State University. Rives holds a Series 7 and 66 securities licenses, and he earned the

Chartered Retirement Plans Specialist, CRPS, designation from the College of Financial Planning. Scott is a board member with Southern Christian Services for Children and Youth and the Mississippi Sporting Clays Association. He is a member of the Financial Planning Association and volunteers with the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. After business hours, Scott enjoys the outdoors, competing in sporting clay tournaments, helping coach youth sports, and teaching his children’s Sunday school. Scott and his wife, Lyndi, have two children and attend Pinelake Church.

Chris Roberts BankPlus

hris Roberts is an Assistant Vice President with BankPlus in Ridgeland and is responsible for the production of consumer and small business loans. Roberts began his banking career in 2005 with Merchants and Farmers Bank in Canton. He is a native of Benton and a Graduate of Mississippi State University. He is enrolled in the Graduate School of Banking at LSU and expects to be a 2017 graduate. Roberts serves as Chairman of the Finance Committee at Galloway United Methodist Church as well as

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member of the Steering and Legacy Team Committee of the church. He is a graduate of both Leadership Greater Jackson and Leadership Madison County. Other community involvement includes: Member the of the Mississippi Young Bankers Association (MYB), MYB County Chairman, Participant of MYB – Banker in Every Classroom, currently a member, as well as Past President of the Canton Rotary Club, Member of the Jackson Metro Cyclist, and Mentor at Sunnybrook Children’s Home, among many more. Roberts and his wife, Lisa, live in Madison County and have two children; Lucy and Hugh Roberts.

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Carl Sandberg 3S Homes

arl Sandberg is owner of two residential home building companies and is responsible for the construction of 20-30 speculative and custom built homes per year. He is directly responsible for every aspect of each project, including lot purchases, subcontractor hiring and scheduling and design choices. However, Sandberg began his career in the banking business after graduating from Mississippi College

with a B.A. in 2000, followed by receiving his MBA from MC in 2005. He worked with Trustmark until 2012, but began 3S homes in 2009. He also is serving as the 2017 President of the Home Builders Association of Jackson. He serves as Chair for the Executive Committee which is made up of the Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s officers, including Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Builder Vice President, Associate Vice President and Immediate Vice President.

TheVicksburg Convention andVisitors Bureau &

theCityof Vicksburg would like to congratulate

LauraBethStrickland on being named to the Mississippi Business Journal Top 50 Under 40 Class of 2017! Scan this QR to visit our mobile site and get your keys to Vicksburg.

/VisitVicksburg

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 37

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itchell Sherars is the Executive Director of Title III & Sponsored Grants at Hinds Community College’s Utica Campus. His primary administrative responsibilities include developing a comprehensive proposal and plan for the Utica Campus according to speciﬁed federal guidelines (Title III and the United State Department of Education), for the overall accomplishment of Title III activities, and for the personnel associated with the activities. Additionally, he oversees and manages the grants funded under the

Hinds Community College, Utica Campus

Mitchell Shears Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act — Health and Wellness Program. All activities relate to improving academic instruction on the campus and all construction and remodeling of facilities projects. He also is responsible for writing, submitting and managing personnel in campus-wide grants. At Alcorn State University, Shears received his bachelor’s degree in mass communications in 1999 and received his master’s degree in elementary education in 2001. At Mississippi College, he received the Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S.) in Educational Leadership in 2004 and the Education Doctorate Degree (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership in 2012.

Anne Marie Smith 4Top Catering

nne Marie Smith is Senior Sales Manage for 4Top Catering, which includes America, CHAR, Sombra, Anjou and Saltine. She executes sales, events, and growth in the Jackson Sales Market and manages the Sales Division. She strives for quality over quantity and maintains guest relationships and builds new ones. She was previously the Director of Sales for Seafood Revolution as well as Service Manager for America previous to that. Smith says sales is her most prized

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area of expertise. “The sales industry is all about building and maintaining relationships, which is one of the most enjoyable aspects of my job,” she says. Her role model is her mother. “She was a single mother at a young age and worked relentlessly to provide for my sisters and start an optometrist office for one doctor. Over the years she had several personal mountains to climb and demons to conquer, but that didn’t stop her from building the business she worked for. Never once did she give up during hard times, or list excuses as to why things couldn’t be done.”

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Lucien Smith Balch & Bingham

ucien Smith advises clients in a broad range of industries — including insurance, healthcare, regulated utilities and interstate pipelines — on legislative, executive and regulatory issues. He works with clients to craft public policy solutions to their problems and ﬁnd opportunities for government to be a partner. Previously, Smith served as Chief of Staff to Gov. Phil Bryant, as the Governor’s principal adviser on public policy, public ﬁnance, and legislative strategy. He oversaw multiple executive agency operations, including those of the Mississippi

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Department of Finance and Administration and Mississippi Development Authority. Smith graduated from Harvard in 2003 and received is JD from the University of Virginia in 2008. He also has a Master of Global Business Law from the University of Paris. He says his proudest accomplishment is the development and passage of the Education Works Act in 2013. Over the following 12 months, he oversaw the development and passage of a package of legislation that was recently awarded the Frank Newman Award for State Innovation by the Education Commission of the States.

2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 39

Stephen Smith Ellisville State School

tephen Smith has oversight of the Personnel and Campus Police Departments, which comprise the division of Human Resources at Ellisville State School. It is responsible for ensuring the workplace is safe, free from discrimination, employees are compensated appropriately, employee relations, workers compensation and recruitment. Ellisville State School serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is one of the leading employers in Jones County and the second largest employer in the Mississippi Department of Mental Health with more

than 1,300 employees. Smith received a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource management from Southern Mississippi in 2009 and earned his MBA from William Carey University in 2011. He says one of his role models is John Adams, second president of the United States. When Adams lost to George Washington, for ﬁrst president, second prize in those days was Vice President. However, he did not undermine Washington because he lost. He instead tried to learn from Washington and eventually became our second President. This took a great deal of courage and integrity, which he hopes to emulate.

Angie Stallings CraftCroswell

ngie Stallings’ career began at Mississippi’s Treasury Department where she developed marketing strategies and new business development plans for the Mississippi Prepaid Affordable College Tuition Program. She went on to the sales and project management roles where she sharpen her skills in speciﬁc markets. Her areas of expertise during this time were Pain Care Management and EPA, OSHA, and DOT regulations. She has always taken an interest in

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developing employees on an administrative level, which led her to CraftCroswell. Over the two years at CraftCroswell, now as Chief Administrative Officer, she has learned a great deal about Commercial and Residential Flooring and business at an administrative level. She is a graduate of Mississippi State in Communications and also has a Master of Public Policy from MSU. Stallings is on the Pinelake Deacon Screening committee and is a member of the Jackson Junior League.

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Selena Standifer Mississippi Department of Transportation

elena Standifer serves as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Mississippi Department of Transportation. She received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Mississippi. Standifer has 14 years of experience in communications, public relations and marketing having worked in tourism, health care, non-proﬁt and state government. A couple of her key career accomplishments include marketing a new $20 million Women’s Center and

serving as a spokesperson on The Weather Channel for the American Red Cross. She has won awards for her work from the Southern Public Relations Federation, Public Relations Association of Mississippi and the Mississippi Hospital Association. Standifer is a member of the Southern Public Relations Federation, Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Young Professionals Alzheimer’s Advocates and United Way. She loves to travel, spend time with her family and friends and try daredevil activities.

We Proudly Congratulate

Alison O’Neal McMinn Selected as a

Jason Bailey

www.formanwatkins.com Detroit | Houston | Jackson | New Jersey | New Orleans

www.msbusiness.com

We would like to congratulate Jason on being named the Top 50 Under 40 Business Person of the Year. We thank him for his leadership and friendship, and love working with him.

Summit Management Crew

2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 41

Sara Beth Stockton Magnolia Regional Health Center

ara Beth Stockton is Physician Recruiter at Magnolia Regional Health Center in Corinth, and also serves as president of the Main Street Corinth Board of Directors. On working in a job she loves, Stockton says: “Being the key individual who hires the providers who make our hospital so successful and beneﬁts our community, brings me great joy!” She previously was a Human Resources Representative for Entergy Corp. in Jackson, and was a recruiter and staffing supervisor for TempStaff in Jackson.

Stockton earned her Bachelor’s in Communications and Public Relations from Mississippi State University in 2003, and this year is completing her Masters in Organizational Leadership from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Ala. Stockton stays active through volunteering and participating in events in Corinth. She is active in the Corinth Junior Auxiliary, the Main Street Association, and Corinth Alliance. Stockton’s 3 year old son, Harrison, is her daily encourager and motivator.

Laura Beth Strickland Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau

aura Beth Strickland is communications manager at the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she received the Member of the Year Award from the Mississippi Tourism Association at the Governor’s Conference on Tourism. Strickland, who has worked at the Bureau for seven years, received the award for “her years of service to (the tourism association) and the tourism

42 – 2017 Top 50 Under 40

industry as a whole,” according to a Mississippi Tourism Association press release. Strickland is a 2008 graduate of the University of Mississippi with a double major in English and Journalism. In her work in Vicksburg, she manages content and event listings for tourism websites coordinates a yearly strategic marketing plan which includes print, broadcast, digital and outdoor advertising.

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Scott Tollison Mississippi University for Women

cott Tollison is a professor in Management Information Systems and Dean of the College of Business and professional studies at Mississippi University for Women. Previously at East Mississippi Community College, he was an Instructor of Local Area Network Technology from 2003 to 2004. In 2002, he was an Adjunct Instructor of Local Area Network Technology. Tollison has a B.B.A. in Business Information Systems from Mississippi State University, an M.S. in Information Systems from Missis-

sippi State University, and a Ph.D. in Instructional Systems and Workforce Development. Tollison’s research interests include network computing, open source software, computer programming, and distance education. His work on the effects of information technology on ﬁnancial markets has been featured at the International Academy of Business and Public Administration Disciplines. He says he believes his most valuable personal skills are four qualities that have assisted him in serving the College of Business and Professional Studies: collaborative spirit, vigilance, enthusiasm, and persistence.

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 43

Jonathan Varney Security Card Services

onathan Varney is Manager of Bank Relations at Security Card Services in Oxford. He helps train new sales representatives and identiﬁes and setup of merchant services opportunities with prospective clients and expand the regional pretense of Security Card Services. Varney previously worked at University of Mississippi Department of Financial Aid as well as the School

of Business Administration at Ole Miss. He received his BBA from Ole Miss in 2009 and then his MBA there in 2010. He is a graduate of Leadership Madison County in 2016 and a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy in 2015. As role models, Varney credits his parents for showing him what it means to have perseverance in life.

Robert Walker Baker Donelson

obert Walker is a shareholder in the Product Liability & Mass Tort Practice Group at Baker Donelson He concentrates his practice in the areas of products liability, tort and commercial litigation and has handled civil suits in both state and federal courts in these areas through trial and resolution. As part of his practice, Walker defends automobile manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and motor carriers in personal injury litigation and serves as one of the Mississippi contacts for the Firm’s

44 – 2017 Top 50 Under 40

24-Hour Motor Carrier Response Team — a role in which he is available to trucking company clients 24 hours a day to assist with accident investigation, accident reconstruction and driver management. Walker graduated with a B.A. in Business from Millsaps College in 1999 and received his juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi in 2002. He says his role models in life are his parents. “Through their love and support, my parents taught me how to be a better person, spouse, parent and friend.” Walker has been married for 15 years and has a son and daughter.

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TO P 10

Pamela Ware

FI I AL

N ST

Metropolitan Bank

braham Lincoln once said: “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” This is a philosophy that Pamela Ware focuses on daily to ensure that she takes a proactive approach to life, while empowering others to reach their potential and be accountable. As Chief Operations Officer for Metropolitan Bank, Ware focuses on leading the Bank in deposit operations, loan operations and information technology. Her responsibilities also include compliance, vendor management, security, and product development while focusing on the overall client experience.

She began her banking career with Union Planters Bank after graduating magna cum laude from Mississippi State. Ware is a Board member for Southern Financial Exchange, March of Dimes, and Junior Auxiliary of Madison County. She is also on the Executive Leadership team for the American Heart Association’s Circle of Red. In April, she served as the Chair for the March for Babies annual walk. She was also a 2015 Top 10 Finalist for MBJ’s 50 Leading Business Women. Ware enjoys being a mother to her 6-year-old daughter, Holly (fondly known as Hollywood). She also enjoys spending time with family, traveling, driving classic cars, and riding horses.

The Bank of Kilmichael congratulates

K E N T M O RT I M E R for being chosen as one of Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 under 40.

We don’t just practice in this community

WE’RE A PART OF IT

Jones Walker LLP proudly salutes our partner Lindsay T. Dowdle on receiving the 2017 Mississippi Business Journal “Top 50 under 40” award. We congratulate Lindsay and all of the honorees for their achievements and contributions across the state. Jeffrey R. Barber 190 E Capitol St | Suite 800 601.949.4765 Jackson, MS 39201 jbarber@joneswalker.com www.joneswalker.com ALABAMA | ARIZONA | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | FLORIDA GEORGIA | LOUISIANA | MISSISSIPPI | NEW YORK | OHIO | TEXAS

Attorney Advertising. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other attorneys.

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2017 Top 50 Under 40 – 45

Bryan Williams

P 10 FI I AL

s Director of Ship/ Program Management at Huntington Ingalls Industries in Pascagoula, Bryan Williams is responsible for all safety, quality, proﬁt & loss, schedule, and performance of all DDG Class destroyers prior to launch. His responsibilities include material, labor and support cost control, risk management, and execution. This includes coordination of all support organizations from material, engineering, planning and quality assurance. He currently have three ships under construction with a total contract value of greater than

Huntington Ingalls Industries $2 billion and over 1,400 employees building or supporting construction. He worked his way through college running a tree planting and lawn business. He also worked with the Industrial Engineering Co-op for Southwire in Starkville. He started with Ingalls Shipbuilding in 2001 as an Industrial Engineer. In 2012, he moved into Programs Management as Integration Director for Large Deck Amphibs and supported the design, planning, and construction of the USS America. Williams is married with four children and in his free time enjoys camping, scuba diving and snow skiing.

LaFarra Young-Gaylor King’s Daughters Medical Center

s a pathologist, LaFarra Young-Gaylor works predominantly in Anatomic Pathology, but a smaller portion of her job responsibilities consist of Clinical Pathology. Her duties are performed as a full-time equivalent at King’s Daughters Medical Center in Brookhaven and at various locations throughout the year at hospitals across the state. Previously, she worked predominantly in Anatomic Pathology as a full time faculty member for Surgical Pathology and also performed most

46 – 2017 Top 50 Under 40

pediatric and infant autopsies at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Touagloo College in 2000. She received her MD with honors from Boston University of Medicine in 2004. She became the ﬁrst African American Assistant Professor in Pathology with a dual appointment in Pathology and Pediatrics at UMMC. Young-Gaylor enjoys cooking healthy meals as well as getting ideas for interior design and real estate rehabbing. She also enjoys playing sports with her sons.

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Twenty-fifth Annual

Tell Us Who

STANDS OUT

Outstanding Mississippi Business Leaders Under 40 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, 2016. • Involved in more than business activities.

I Nominate: Birthdate: (Must be after December 1, 1976) Company: Position: Business Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Zip: Fax:

Email:

In Business and the Community Nominated by: Company: Address: City:

State:

Phone:

Zip: Fax:

Email: Your relationship to nominee:

We accept Top 50 Under 40 Nominations throughout the year. You will receive...the entry requirements as soon as your nomination is entered. Final and complete entry packages must be received by MBJ no later than January 8, 2017.

Please return to:

Fax: 601-364-1007 • Online: www.msbusiness.com Mail: Top 50, MBJ, 200 N. Congress St., Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201 More info: 601-364-1000 or events@msbusiness.com

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.

CLASS of 2017 Back row, from left: Greg L. Durrell, Carl Sandberg, Kent Mortimer, Chris Champion, Scott Tollison, Amanda Carraway, Stephen David Smith, Kelly A. Boutwell, Bradley W. Joyner, Selena LaJean Standifer, Todd Butler, Mark Hinton, Jonathan Varney, John W. Ridgeway Jr. and Amy Oliver Middle row: Carlos Bell, Dr. Mitchell M. Shears, Ryan H. Holmes, Megan Hall, Pamela P. Ware, Jason M. Brown, Bryan Williams, Chase Blankenship, Jerry B. DeFatta Jr., William Lusk Coppage, Robert F. Walker, Dr. Wendy Lewis, Dr. Lee Gary, Christin Grissom, Jhai ‘Obes C. Keeton, Anne Marie Smith and Alan P. McCormick. Front row: Chris Roberts, LaFarra Young-Gaylor, Justin Jevarus Mathis, Abumere F. Akinwale, Aa‘Keela L. S. Hundall, Christy B. Bridges, Liz Hogue Densmore, Laura Beth Strickland, Kristy M. Daniels, Ashley Eley Cannady, Jason Bailey, Allison O’Neal McMinn, Angie Stallings and Sara Elizabeth Stockton. Not pictured: Lucien Smith, Shenika Kelly-Moore, Lindsay Dowdle and Scott Rives.

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