Mississippi Business Journal September 24th Issue

MSBUSINESS.COM | SEPTEMBER 2021 ISSUE

VOLUME 50 • NO. 19 | 56 PAGES

Real Estate and Construction Page 9

Economic Development Page 13

Trucking, Transportation/ Energy, Gas and Utilities Page 16

Law and Accounting Page 19

Pages 12, 18, 20

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Vertex acquires Raytheon Technologies’ defense training, business lines

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ertex Aerospace has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Raytheon Technologies Corporation’s Defense Training, Professional Services, Mission Critical Solutions, and Modernization and Sustainment business lines (“Defense Training and Mission Critical Solutions”). The Defense Training and Mission Critical Solutions business is a leading provider of training and sustainment services and products to the defense and commercial aerospace industries.

The acquisition adds scale and diversity to the Vertex portfolio and expands the company’s service and product offerings with defense and government agencies and commercial customers, both domestic and international.

“I look forward to welcoming over two thousand talented, dedicated and highly skilled employees to our

fessional Services), Mission Critical Solutions and Modernization & Sustainment, generating approximately $1 billion of sales in 2020.

The transaction will close following the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals.

Vertex, acquired by American Industrial Partners in 2018, is headquartered in Madison, Mississippi and employs approximately 3,500 employees, nearly 60 percent of which are Armed Forces veterans.

The company operates in over 100 team,” said Vertex President and tions to our customers globally.” locations worldwide, providing afterThe acquired business lines making market aerospace services for more Chief Executive Officer, Ed Boyington. “I am certain that our combined up the Defense Training and Mission than 2,400 fixed and rotary wing competencies will create the most ca- Critical Solutions business currentairframes. Vertex’s agility, rapid depable and accomplished team in the ly fall into four segments: Defense ployment and customer optimization industry. This important acquisition Training Solutions, Commercial capabilities have distinguished it from significantly enhances our capabilities Training Solutions (Raytheon Procompetitors for over 45 years. for new and existing customers and accelerates our strategy to deliver a more comprehensive suite of solu-

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Fleurty Girl takes temp operations to Bay store, then back to NOLA and other merchandise that celebrates Mardi Gras, Saints football and food. leurty Girl founder Lauren The day after Hurricane Ida made Haydel isn’t one to take long landfall Aug. 29 in Louisiana, Haydel to make a decision involving set a 24-hour deadline for herself to her New Orleans-based come up with a plan to keep the busiThe temporary location of Fleurty Girl in Bay retail business that is known for its St. Louis. ness operating.

New Orleans-themed clothing, gifts From Birmingham, where she had

BY LISA MONTI

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evacuated with her family, Haydel decided to reopen the shop in Bay St. Louis on Aug. 31. She reasoned that the Bay fared well in the storm and power and Internet were in tact.

While she was in Birmingham, she found a local printer to print the popular, topical shirts her store is known for and ship them to the Bay until her printer in New Orleans reopens.

T-shirts with local expressions and references were the foundation of Fleurty Girl when Haydel opened it as a mail order business. One new shirt has the word “Resiliencity,” a nod to the city’s ability come back from storms. Some shirts carry pandemic messages such as “6 Feet Y’all” and “They All Masked For You.” Haydel headed to Bay St. Louis on Sept. 1 to set up the online operations in the back of the retail shop in hopes that by Oct. 1 her Louisiana stores could reopen after power is restored.

She set up an employee fund from orders during the 30-day hiatus to pay her 47 employees as well as pay their company health insurance and match their 401(k). Orders poured in and the fund was quickly solvent. The amount of orders grew so fast Haydel had to adjust her plan.

After Entergy announced on Friday its schedule to restore power to New Orleans next week she headed back to New Orleans to set up operations again. “We were able to secure a generator to be able to power up our warehouse in New Orleans,” she said en route to her home base. “We’ve been so inundated with orders that logistically to drive to New Orleans and pick up products from our warehouse and bring it back (to Bay St. Louis) was just not realistic.” She called the wave of orders “a good problem to have.”

Haydel said she was “looking forward” to setting up the business in Bay St. Louis but she’s now focused on filling all those online orders that are coming in. “We’re still going to keep our timeline while we try this out,” she said.

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PERSPECTIVE

September 2021 Issue • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

If we plug them in will they power up? across Texas for days. Extreme heat

BY BILL CRAWFORD and raging fires continue to disrupt any autopower across California. Ida and winmakers have ter storms disrupted power in Missisdetailed plans sippi too. Then there are tornadoes, to electrify floods, and other weather events that large portions of their fleets shutdown power in many over the next decade, with states. some announcing goals for What does this portend fully electrified lineups within for a future where more five years,” reports Consumer and more Americans will Reports. need persistent power for “We’re committed to putelectric vehicles?“Redunting every driver in an electric BILL CRAWFORD dancy and resiliency when it vehicle on a scale previously comes to power is something unseen and bringing the world to an we have long understood will be an all-electric future,” General Motors issue,” Austin, Texas, Capitol Metro says on its web site.But if we plug spokeswoman Jenna Maxfield told them in will they power up?

Reuters, after outages left electric Hmmm. buses inoperable for days. “Reliability Extreme weather conditions that keeps you awake,” California Energy caused power outages and shortages Commission member Siva Gunda in Louisiana, Texas, and California told Reuters. have exposed major weaknesses in Having power generation capacthe nation’s power grid. Hurricane ity is one thing. Having continuous Ida has disrupted power in south access to power is another. As more Louisiana for days – some were still and more extreme weather events without power last week. Early this impact communities, concerns about year extreme cold disrupted power access are growing.

“M

“Among 638 transmission outage events reported from 2014 to 2018, severe weather was cited as the predominant cause,” states the ACSE 2021 Infrastructure Report Card.

“Additionally, distribution infrastructure struggles with reliability, with 92% of all outages occurring along these segments.”

Following hurricane damage in the McComb area, Enterprise-Journal Editor Jack Ryan wrote, “The widespread destruction of utility lines during Hurricane Ida is only the latest in decades worth of such damage…. But as the nation has become more dependent on electricity, it’s likely that the discussion of greater protection of the grid will increase.”

Replacing legacy systems with more resilient power lines, substations, and transformers, building more back-up power stations, and hardening grids and power plants would cost billions if not trillions of dollars nationwide.

Then there is the growing need for physical and cyber security.

TURN TO CAR, 11F

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September 2021 Issue | Volume 50 , Number 19

TAMI JONES Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1011 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 MARCIA THOMPSON Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1044 FRANK BROWN List Researcher frank.brown@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1022 LYNN LOFTON Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 TED CARTER Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 BECKY GILLETTE Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 NASH NUNNERY Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES (601) 364-1000 subscriptions@msbusiness.com Mississippi Business Journal (USPS 000-222) is published

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THE SPIN CYCLE – FanDuel bets big on NFL marketing

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ports betting and daily fantasy brands have spent millions on TV and digital ads over the past few

years.

But FanDuel is trying to change the game even more with a new higher-level branding approach that aims to emulate marketing from sports lifestyle brands such as ESPN, Nike and Under Armour.

To do so, FanDuel has hired Wieden+Kennedy New York as its lead creative agency, while unleashing a new campaign that will get heavy play during the NFL season, according to AdAge. The media buy takes advantage of the newly loosened rules from the league that will allow sportsbook ads during games for the first time.

Ads from W+K use the tagline “Make Every Moment More,” while selling the concept that sports ranging from football and soccer to golf and baseball are inherently more enjoyable when FanDuel users have a stake in the outcome. The ad includes pro golfer Jordan Spieth, with whom FanDuel just inked a multiyear endorsement deal. The campaign includes three national ads and five regional spots that plug FanDuel’s sportsbook in states where it is legal. All the spots will run during NFL games.

“The overall vision for this is really helping FanDuel become the next iconic sports brand in America,” FanDuel Chief Marketing Officer Mike Raffensperger told AdAge. While FanDuel already has high awareness, “we want to take that next step of being a beloved brand in sports,” he adds, citing brands such as ESPN, Nike and Under Armour.

The tagline is a not-so-subtle nod to the ability of gamblers or fantasy players to win money on specific occurrences within a game–such as

ers dead.

In announcing the award for Cuomo, International Academy President & CEO Bruce L. Paisner said his briefings “worked so well because he effectively created television shows, with characters, plot lines, and stories of success and failure.”

Walmart Engages TikTok in Back-tohow many assists a basketball player that seemed inevitable after a report School Initiative

might dish out–rather than simply by independent investigators – overseen by state Attorney General on the game’s outcome.

Letitia James – concluded Wieden won the business he had sexually harassed 11 after an informal review that women, according to AP. included outreach to a handThe report marked a ful of other agencies. It marks stunning downfall for Cuothe agency’s first sports mo, whose leadership during betting client, FanDuel for years has knocked heads with TODD SMITH the COVID-19 crisis drew widespread praise and accoits chief rival, DraftKings.

Both started as daily fantasy sports lades, including from the television academy, and led to a book deal operators but have moved into the worth at least $5 million. sports betting market in the wake The International Academy of of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn a federal ban on sports Television Arts & Sciences, whose members include media and enterbetting in 2018. Sports betting is tainment figures from more than now live and legal in 22 states and 60 countries and 500 companies, Washington, D.C. presented its Founders Award to Cuomo’s Emmy Revoked Amid Scandal Cuomo during a live-streamed ceremony last November.

Hours after leaving office, scanIn 2017, the academy reversed dal-tainted former New York Gov. its decision to give the Founders Andrew Cuomo suffered another Award to actor Kevin Spacey after defeat, losing the special Emmy he was accused of sexual misconAward he received last year for duct. Other recipients of the award his daily, televised briefings on the over the years have included former coronavirus pandemic.

Vice President Al Gore, TV icon The International Academy of Oprah Winfrey, and director Steven Television Arts & Sciences said in Spielberg. a statement that given Cuomo’s Cuomo used his more than 100 resignation amid a torrent of sexual harassment allegations it was taking PowerPoint-driven slideshows and his sometimes emotional, someaway the prize and removing any times acerbic style to provide daily reference to him in its official maupdates and detail his administerials.

Cuomo left office two weeks after tration’s efforts to guide the state he announced he would resign rath- through the pandemic, which has er than face an impeachment battle left tens of thousands of New York-

Walmart has launched a new TikTok challenge and is hosting three free concerts as teachers and students head back to school.

Walmart’s #MyTeacherWins challenge asks users to submit a TikTok video explaining why their favorite teacher deserves recognition.

Walmart will select 100 teachers to receive a $5,000 Walmart gift card.

Nominators received school supplies-filled backpacks and entrants must follow Walmart’s TikTok account.

Walmart is also presenting a homecoming concert series featuring free virtual and outdoor performances in performers’ hometowns.

Imagine Dragons kicked off the shows on Aug. 27 in Las Vegas, followed by Chance the Rapper on Aug. 30 in Chicago and Kane Brown on Sept. 7 in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.

Shakin’ Mic: Walker Hayes’ Song Inspires Applebee’s to Bring Back Famous Milkshake

Country Singer Walker Hayes’ No. 1 hit “Fancy Like,” that has gone viral encouraged Applebee’s to bring back its famous dessert – the Oreo Cookie Shake.

‘We fancy like Applebee’s on a date night, got that Bourbon Street steak with the Oreo shake,” Hayes TURN TO SPIN CYCLE, 11

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Burns Cooley Dennis have helped document state’s engineering history

BY NASH NUNNERY

B

urns Cooley Dennis, Inc. didn’t write the book on geo-technical engineering in Mississippi but not many can dispute the firm hasn’t penned a few

chapters.

The Ridgeland-based geotechnical and materials consulting company is the largest in the state and was founded in 1985 by Cecil Burns, Larry Cooley and David Dennis. Prior to forming BCD, the trio worked in various capacities with the Vicksburg district of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).

Cooley served as the branch director of the CoE’s Geotechnical division for several years.

“They wanted to see what they could do in the private sector and initially formed Burns Engineering before the name was changed to BCD,” said current BCD vice-president Tommy Dunlap. “Though Mr. Burns has passed away, both Mr. Cooley and Mr. Dennis remain in emeritus roles with the firm and work occasionally on a contract basis.”

Geotechnical engineering, you ask? Well, you can thank a geo-tech engineer for certifying the supports on the state’s bridges you cross every day, not to mention the numerous earthen dams and levees in Mississippi that store drinking water and prevent flooding.

It’s all in a day’s work at Burns Cooley Dennis, Inc. – monitoring, testing, analyzing and designing the soil that supports the foundations of buildings, bridges, dams, pavements and civil works.

However, the firm also specializes in construction testing, which entails testing soils, concrete and steel that go into large projects such as highways, bridges and large manufacturing plants, among others. Revenue for BCD is approximately $8 million annually.

Two of BCD’s most notable projects have become iconic landmarks in the state.

“We performed all the geo-tech work for construction of the Nissan plant in Canton, as well as the Hwy. 90 Bay Bridge that connects Biloxi and Ocean Springs on the coast,” said Dunlap. “Our work is split about 50/50 between geotechnical and construction testing “We’re a small firm but we’re able to compete with national companies that may have 2-4,000 employees. BCD is big enough to handle the

largest of projects.”

With offices in Ridgeland, Hernando, Hattiesburg and Starkville, BCD employs 61 full-time workers, including 15 engineers – three of whom hold PhDs. Expansive soils, those comprised of clay with a high degree of volu- TOMMY DUNLAP metric change as its soil moisture content changes, are prevalent in Mississippi. It’s estimated that there are over 5.4 million acres containing some type of expansive soil in the state.

A large portion of BCD’s billable hours are attributable to those destructive soils, said Dunlap.

“Expansive clays exist all over the state – Ripley, Kosciusko and central Mississippi, and the Delta to name a few,” he said. “There is a built-in cost for construction in areas with expansive clay.

“You have to dig out the bad stuff and put in the good stuff.”

Yazoo clay is probably the most infamous and problematic of the state’s expansive soils. The formation is said to run entirely or partially beneath cities such as Jackson, Flowood, Madison, Clinton, Yazoo City, Forest and Morton.

“Yazoo clay is very microscopic – it’s very fine with a lot of surface area and so miniscule you can’t see it with the naked eye,” Dunlap said. “It’s

a marine deposit from thousands of years ago. In comparison, the Mississippi Delta is comprised of what we call ‘gumbo’. It’s a fresh water deposit but not as expansive as Yazoo clay, which is the worst clay-type.”

In early 2021, BCD acquired SoilTech Consultants, a former affiliate of Neel-Schaffer. BCD and Neel-Shaffer share a long history of collaboration and have teamed together on nearly 30 projects in the past five years.

Dunlap said the acquisition is a win-win for both companies.

“Acquiring SoilTech has allowed us to geographically expand our presence in the Memphis and Golden Triangle region of the state, as well as the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” he said.

“We’ve always enjoyed a great relationship with (Neel-Schaffer) and the purchase is in the best interest of both firms.”

Asked about further expansion of BCD, Dunlap said if the opportunity presented itself, the company would welcome the chance to expand outside the state.

“However, expansion is not something we dwell on,” he said. “We’ve been approached by numerous larger companies with offers to purchase the firm but they’ve been rejected.

“We have more than enough work right here in Mississippi and BCD will continue to offer the best in geotechnical engineering services.”

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Real Estate and Construction

Builder material prices challenge contractors and customers

BY LISA MONTI

» THE JAW-DROPPING COST OF OSB IS AN ESPECIALLY HOT TOPIC IN THE INDUSTRY

T

he high cost and availability of some building materials aren’t far from the minds of home

builders in Mississippi. “It’s the first thing we talk about and have been talking about for over a year,” said Pat Nelson, executive vice president of the Home Builders Association of Mississippi.

In April, the National Association of Home Builders estimated that rising lumber prices over the last 12 months had added $35,872

to the price of an average new single-family home, and $12,966 to the market value of an average new multifamily home.

Nelson called the availability and price of building materials “the biggest challenge since the market crash of 2008” facing his trade association members and anyone involved in the home building

industry.

The jaw-dropping cost of OSB is an especially hot topic in the industry. Oriented Strand Board is made with wood chips and glue and used like plywood in framing houses. “We talk more about OSB than anything else because it is a big component in housing,” Nelson TURN TO BUILDER, 11

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September 2021 Issue

Popularity of steel products increasing for construction tial home builders looked at seriously for the first time,” said Patrick » HERRINGTON: IF YOU Nelson, executive vice president CAN’T MAKE A LIVING NOW, of Home Builders Association of YOU’RE NOT TRYING.” Mississippi. “But steel components were also rising in price, so few home n the construction industry the builders took that giant leap toward demand for steel is growing as using anything other than wood. In some conventional building the past three months, lumber prices materials have increased in have dropped substantially, and even price and become harder to obtain. though they are still much higher Mississippi steel companies say the than 18 months ago, they are the increased use of their products is preferred component for residential not necessarily tied to costs because construction.” lumber and steel are close in price at “Steel prices are twice as much this time. as they were last year and it takes “As lumber prices rose expolonger to get it,” says Brandon Hernentially during the past eighteen rington of ADCO Steel in Gulfport. months, steel building components “It depends on how you use steel as became an option that most residen- to it being cheaper.”

BY LYNN LOFTON

I

Herrington and others in the business say calls for steel are booming. “If you can’t make a living now, you’re not trying,” he said.

James Hawkins of Metal Builders Supply in Pearl said a typical day is 60 phone calls on the business line and 20 on his cell phone. “The availability and price of lumber does have something to do with it, but I can’t explain it. I’m getting a calls for metal studs a lot lately and I get them shipped directly to customers.”

In Hattiesburg, American Steel Line Building Supply has found a constant strong demand for steel.

“Pricing is up 100 percent,” Robert Herklotz said. “We mostly sell steel components, and our customer base is half residential and half commercial. We’re selling a lot of metal roofing for houses.”

A new product that two of the steel businesses are seeing is the barn and house combination. “You can build the barn, which goes up quick-

ly, first and live in it until you get the house completed,” Herklotz said.

Herrington said, “In addition to commercial and residential roofs, we’re seeing steel used for backyard shops and commercial buildings.

There are lots of applications for it now.”

Hawkins says it takes six to eight weeks to get awnings and 54 weeks to get metal building kits. “I think it’s because of the labor shortage from fabrication of the product all the way up to trucking it.”

It may take longer, but steel components are readily available, according to Nelson. “And if the price becomes more comparable to wood, it will be more of an option for residential home builders,” he said. “Wood is still by far the most common component for new homes.

Steel components for commercial buildings are much more common, with steel being used in a majority of commercial construction.”

September 2021 Issue

Car FROM 6

Central District Public Service Commissioner Brent Bailey wrote in his August 25 newsletter, “The big questions are can grid infrastructure keep up as it ages and what are the costs to ensure the system can adequately deliver during times of stress?”

A Commission ordered comprehensive utility infrastructure review is underway.

Bloomberg projects over $1 trillion needed to fix America’s “aging dinosaur” power grid. The pending (doomed?) infrastructure bill in Congress would provide $73 billion toward improvements. Consumers would have to bear the rest through rate increases, forcing Bailey and his colleagues to balance need versus cost in Mississippi.

Note: Blessings to all utility workers who toil so relentlessly to restore power after disruptions.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” – Philippians 4:6. » BILL CRAWFORD is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

Spin Cycle FROM 7

sings in the song.

The dessert in the song shook up social media, going viral on TikTok and other platforms, leading the restaurant to seize the day by bringing back the sumptuous shake.

Like many other restaurants, Applebee’s cut many menu items in the wake of the pandemic, including milkshakes.

But the blockbuster – and wildly humorous – hit has brought them back big time.

Applebee’s posted a video of workers dancing to the hit song and bringing out a steak and the $2.99 Oreo shake on TikTok. Applebee’s CMO Joel Yashinsky said Hayes’ song came on the restaurant’s radar within a week or two of the release.

Shortly after, they decided to bring it back after seeing customers and fans react to

that song.

“Date night at Applebee’s is something that has been around since the 1980s, but when the song came out and Walker’s viral TikTok with his daughter, we saw an uptick,” he told USA TODAY. Yashinsky said the process of training employees to make the shake and making sure the locations were ready for the launch date took roughly six weeks.

“It’s going to be on our menu for the foreseeable future and doesn’t have an end date,” he said. “Walker is very happy to bring the shake back with his song, and our goal is to keep it around for a very long time.”

Hayes and his wife still go to Applebee’s, and one of his first dates with her was at a location in Mobile, Ala. He had no idea that adding the dessert to the lyrics of “Fancy Like” would go viral.

“I think it’s going to be pretty funny and cute when I take my

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grandson or granddaughter to Applebee’s and can tell them I brought the Oreo shake back,” Hayes said. ”Applebee’s is a restaurant I care about and a part of my love story.”

You could say it’s the apple of his eye!

Each week, The Spin Cycle will bestow a Golden Mic Award to the person, group or company in the court of public opinion that best exemplifies the tenets of solid PR, marketing and advertising – and those who don’t. Stay tuned – and step-up to the mic! And remember … Amplify Your Brand! » TODD SMITH is co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Deane | Smith, a full-service branding, PR, marketing and advertising firm with offices in Jackson. The firm – based in Nashville, Tenn. – is also affiliated with Mad Genius.

Contact him at todd@deanesmith.agency, follow him @spinsurgeon on Twitter and like the ageny on Facebook at https://www. facebook.com/deanesmithpartners, and join us on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin. com/company/deane-smith-&-partners.

vice, it looked like “a perfect storm” swirling sippi’s economy. According to MSU, it is among the top three most valuable agricultural crops in up from a combination of low interest rates, 65 to 70 counties out of the 82 counties in the pent-up demand for new homes, supply side FROM 9F disruptions and COVID temporarily shutstate. said. OSB pricing went from $8 a sheet to $66 Nelson said he sees signs of home building ting down some lumber mill production. Also in a four-month period last spring. “That was a people working at home during the pandemic activity starting to pick up, helped in large part very critical time,” Nelson said. ”It almost shut wanted to remodel and many moved to a new by low interest rates. “With record low interest down homebuilding during that time.” rates and falling lumber prices, there’s place. “Demand for product just The national home builders group soared when production was never been a better time to buy or build a reported that the OSB-led changes in softnew home,” he said. being mothballed. Supply and wood lumber prices between April 2020 Prices have stabilized to the point where demand was completely out of and July 2021 added $29,833 to the price of people want to sign contracts to lock in whack,” Tanger said. an average new single-family home those prices. And after coming out from But there are some bright spots SHAUN PAT NELSON Nelson said OSB prices have since starting to emerge, Tanger and months of COVID lockdown, homedropped to $33 a sheet “but that’s still four TANGER owners want to remodel or build a new Nelson said. times what it cost 18 months ago.”

Lumber mill activity in Mississippi is ramping home.

Other challenges for home builders are “Right now is a very busy time for home back up, Tanger said, though timberland owners finding enough workers to build houses, espebuilders,” he said. “Many home builders are haven’t seen their prices rise the way construccially unskilled laborers, and a scarcity of home tion costs have. booked out to 2022 for custom homes.” And appliances such as cooktops and air conditionthat is good for the overall economy of the state In 2020, producers reported about 1 million ers equipped with semiconductor chips. “That more tons of wood were harvested than the year and nation. Nelson said there are almost four seems to be easing up,” he said of the chip million jobs in residential construction, or just before, according to the MSU Extension Sershortage. vice. under three percent of the nation’s total jobs.

The last couple of years have had no short“When home building slows, it slows the entire “We’re producing as much lumber as before age of challenges for home builders and the recession,” Tanger said, but even with more economy because so many jobs depend on the buyers. To Shaun Tanger, assistant professor industry,” he said, “and when home building production “it will still be some time before and a forestry economics specialist with the picks back up, many new jobs are created as a prices start to move upward.”

Mississippi State University Extension SerTimber holds an important place in Missisresult.”

Builder

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Mississippi Business Journal

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September 2021 Issue

Commercial Developers

Commercial Developers Rank

Company

Phone

Website

Top officer

Founded

Mississippi employees 120

1

Desai Hotel Group, 105 W. Washington St., Suite A2 Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-313-9307

desaihotelgroup.com

Sunny Desai

2009

2

EastGroup Properties, 400 W Parkway Place Suite 100 Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-354-3555

eastgroup.net

Marshall A Loeb

1969

85

3

Fusion Hospitality, 1020 N Gloster St; No.110 Tupelo, MS 38804

662-205-4031

fusion-hospitality.com

Bruce R Patel

2010

48

4

StateStreet Group, LLC, P.O. Box 13925 Jackson, MS 39236-3925

601-981-4445

statestreetgroup.com

John K. Ditto III

1971

45

5

Storage Park Development Inc., 40 Northtown Dr. Jackson, MS 39211

601-977-0733

stomax.com

Robert L Lloyd

1992

40

6

Mattiace Companies, 125 S. Congress St., Ste. 1800 Jackson, MS 39201

601-352-1818

mattiace.com

Andrew Mattiace

1979

30

7

Kerioth Corporation, 361 Township Ave, Ste 200 Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-368-9950

kerioth.com

Clinton G. Herring Jr.

1983

26

8

York Developments, 112 Sheffield Loop, Suite D Hattiesburg, MS 39402

601-264-0403

yorkdevelopments.com

Bennett V York Ted Duckworth, Breck Hines Gary Cress

1990

20

9

Duckworth Realty/Concord Capital, 308 E. Pearl St. Jackson, MS 39201

601-914-0800

duckworthrealty.com

10

The Cress Group, LLC, 661 Sunnybrook Rd, Suite 120 Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-707-1300

cresscre.com

London & Stetelman Commercial Realtors, 3906 Hardy St., #20 Hattiesburg, MS 39402

601-268-8770

londonandstetelman.com

Andy Stetelman

1933

12

12

H.C. Bailey Co./Colony Properties, 1022 Highland Colony, #300 Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-853-8000

colonypark.org

H.C. (Buster) Bailey Jr.

1952

11

15

19 20

23

1989

13

1992

12

Randall Commercial Group, LLC, 850 Insight Park Ave. University, MS 38677

662-234-4044

randallcommercialgroup.com

Elizabeth J Randall

2009

11

Speed Commercial Real Estate, 805 S. Wheatley St, Suite 190 Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-987-0202

speedcres.com

2009

11

Southeast Commercial of MS, LLC, 2310 19th St. Gulfport, MS 39501

228-276-2700

southeastcre.com

2009

8

601-981-6800

ucrproperties.com

Jeff Speed Tim Carlson, Monte Luffey, Scott Delano Tom Underwood, Micah McCullough

1948

8

NAI UCR Properties & Underwood Companies, 660 Katherine Dr, #304 Jackson, MS 39232 The Estes Group, Inc., 613 Crescent Circle, Ste. 102 Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-362-9633

estesgroup.net

Brian E Estes

2004

8

Cook Commercial Properties, LLC, 1501 Lakeland Drive Jackson, MS 39216

601-260 0753

cookcommproperties.com

William G Cook Jr.

1995

8

TRI Inc. Commercial Realtors, 324 Troy St Tupelo, MS 38804

662-842-8283

trirealestate.net

Clay Short Breck Hines, Ted Duckworth Nancy M Lane

1952

6

The District Land Development Co., 308 E. Pearl St., Suite 200 Jackson, MS 39201

601-914-0800

thedistrictateastover.com

Lane-Harkins Commercial Real Estate, LLC, 12 River Bend Place Flowood, MS 39232

601-932-4664

laneharkins.com

2012

5

2015

5

Kennedy & Company Real Estate, Inc., 120 W. Jackson St., 2C Ridgeland, MS 39157

601 898 2999

kennedy-realestate.com

Steve Kennedy

1989

5

Seaway Development Company, LLC, 14231 Seaway Rd, Ste 7001 Gulfport, MS 39503

228-575-7731

seawaybusinesspark.com

Steve Goldin

1997

4

J. Walter Michel Agency Inc., 2660 Ridgewood Rd. Suite 101 Jackson, MS 39216

601-352-0757

WalterMichel.com

Henry R. Michel

1927

4

T.L. Brown Properties, 1991 Lakeland Dr., Ste. J Jackson, MS 39216

601-981-1170

tlbrownproperties.com

Tim Brown

1979

4

COMVEST Properties, LLC, 286 Beauvoir Rd., Suite. 200 Biloxi, MS 39531 228-594-3400 comvest.net D. Brooks Holstein Utley Properties, P.O. 866 Olive Branch, MS 38654 662-895-0099 utleyproperties.com Mark D. Utley Sr. Information provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Direct questions to Frank Brown at frank.brown@msbusiness.com

2003

4

1965

4

September 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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13

Economic Development

Census shows population growth in MSAs, declines in rural areas now, you are not growing,” said Ross Tucker, president and CEO of the Jones County Economic » OXFORD AND LAFAYDevelopment Authority. “It is ETTE COUNTIES HAVE unfortunate, but seems to be a BEEN GROWING IN POPUtrend.”

LATION FOR MORE THAN Tucker said it is a concern that 30 YEARS Jones County lost 0.5 percent of its population. ississippi was one of “Just like many other communionly three states in ties in the state, we are trying to the U.S. to lose popdesperately to retain our people in ulation in the 2020 and around all parts of the councensus. The loss was only 0.2 ty,” Tucker said. “The only way percent of the state’s population to do that is have something for of nearly 3 million, representing about 6,000 people. But the losses the next generation to come back were not evenly spread across the to. HGTV Hometown based in Laurel is in its sixth season. That state. has an impact on perception and “If you are not tied to a Metropride. The show has bought in a politan Statistical Area (MSA)

BY BECKY GILLETTE

M

ton of commercial opportunities.

If you look at new investment in the county, we have grown tremendously.”

Tucker said one advantage going for Jones County is the lower cost of living. It is estimated 80 cents will go as far as a dollar in other parts of the country.

The largely rural Delta continues to see population loss. For example, the population of Coahoma County in 2010 was 26,151. By 2020, the population declined by 4,761, to 21,390. Those census figures represent about a 2.4 percent decline year-over-year between 2010 and 2020, or about 476 people per year.

Jon Levingston, executive direc-

tor, Crossroads Economic Partnership in Clarksdale, said the largest population decline occurred in 2010 and 1990, when the county lost approximately 17.56 percent and 14.23 percent respectively.

He said the current decline is not nearly as severe as in years past and the case may be made that, as a result of recent economic development projects during the past four years, the trend may soon reverse.

Levingston said during the past four years, they have had five economic development announcements, two plant expansions of existing industries, two new industries locating in Clarksdale, and TURN TO CENSUS, 15

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September 2021 Issue

September 2021 Issue

One of the biggest population gainers was Harrison County, which was up about 7 percent. Bill Lavers, executive director of the FROM 13 Harrison County Development Commission (HCDC), attributes the growth to job opportunities, a diversity of entertainment and one collaboration between a local industry and recreation offerings, and businesses and people seeking a lower cost of living. a global giant.

HCDC has a Coastal Partnership program “We will soon announce our sixth project: with 60 ambassadors who are available to talk a new industry that will be located in the to business people, retirees or others who are Leonard Pharr Industrial Park in Clarksdale, interested in relocating. creating 60 new jobs,” he said. “Additional“In the end, it is people who make the relaly, our reputation as a significant music and entertainment venue continues to attract new tionships that are so important,” Lavers said.

“If you want to get down here, we want to help residents. And in 2021, a new motion picture was filmed in Clarksdale starring two Academy you. People love the friendly reception they get, the food, the entertainment and how much Award winning actors, Morgan Freeman and Juliette Binoche. Continued activity in the en- farther their money is going to go in Mississiptertainment industry, whether music or motion pi.”

The marine environment also helps. Recentpicture, has continued to stimulate financial growth in addition to the more traditional ac- ly it was announced that Ocean Aero, a manufacturer and service provider of ocean-going quisition of jobs through new industries.”

He is encouraged by all their recent econom- autonomous underwater and surface vehicles, ic activity, most especially during the pandem- is relocating its manufacturing operations and headquarters from San Diego to Gulfport. ic. “We have weathered through with great courage and sustenance from our leaders and I Lavers said the project is a $4.65 million corporate investment expected to create 45 jobs. am optimistic that the population trends will Another growth spot in the state is Madireverse due to our increased economic develson and Rankin counties which gained about opment efforts,” Levingston said.

30,000 people, said Madison County EconomFrom 2010 to 2020, Washington County ic Development Authority Executive Director decreased in population by 12.2 percent.

“That said, in regards to economic develop- Joey Deason.

“It is not the narrative you see for the mament, we still know we are just as, if not more, jority of the rest of Mississippi,” Deason said. competitive than other rural communities,” “You need three things to move forward in said Will Coppage, executive director, Washington County Economic Alliance. “Site selec- economic development: product, people and projects. Once you develop your product–land, tors are looking for a capable workforce and workforce training programs from community water, sewer, gas, roads–then you need people.

Without people it is very difficult to get new colleges. We are a leader in the ACT Work Ready Communities initiative and Mississippi projects in. It is relevant in the activity we are Delta Community College has provided stellar seeing today. Currently we are chasing about 16 training opportunities for our community and economic development projects worth about $6.5 billion and a little over 4,000 jobs.” industrial partners.”

The census showed population losses in some Due to Covid-19, more folks are moving rural parts of Madison County. One problem away from large cities. is the lack of high-speed internet. He said their “Now that a virtual office can be anywhere, rural communities are the next great place for goal is to get fiber and encourage affordable homebuilding. innovation,” Coppage said.

Census

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The Hattiesburg MSA grew up 6 percent over the past decade.

“It was also ranked second in the nation last year for percentage of job growth during one of the worst economic downturns in recent memory,” said Todd Jackson, executive vice president, Area Development Partnership, Hattiesburg. “One of the top site selection factors in economic development is always workforce availability, and population is a good macro indicator of a region’s ability to provide a quality workforce. The Greater Hattiesburg region is fortunate to have resilient economic drivers like the healthcare industry, education sector, and military installations that lead to stable economic opportunities, which in turn drive population growth.”

Oxford, and Lafayette County have been growing in population for over 30 years with population growth estimated at about two percent per year.

“Lafayette County places a high value on quality of place,” said Jon C. Maynard, president and CEO, Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation. “We work hard to create the kind of place that we want for ourselves.

Incidentally, others seem to want that too, and they move here for that very reason. Our population numbers and our economic strength reflect the benefits that enhanced quality of place can bring.”

Maynard said people are the economy–every person gained or lost represents a direct gain or loss in the economy.

“The trends statewide have been consistently negative for population growth,” Maynard said.

“That is a major problem for our economy.”

Joe Max Higgins, CEO of the Golden Triangle Development LINK, said two of their counties lost population, and one community increased slightly.

“Obviously, it would be better if we were growing as a region and as a state,” Higgins said. “Now more than ever, talent is at a premium. Retailers and industrial prospects will evaluate population growth because they’re making investments for 50 years of more.”

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September 2021 Issue

Trucking, Transportation/ Energy, Gas and Utilities

Mississippi utilities prepared for weather extremes said, “The western part of our territory experienced subzero tempera» STATE’S INFRASTRUCtures and precipitation,” but not TURE HAS PERFORMED the rolling blackouts other states BETTER THAN MANY experienced.

STATES THIS YEAR He said TVA has the advantage of being a public power utility with a hen the fierce podiversified generating portfolio and lar vortex brought a commitment to serve its customdangerously bitter ers. “We focus every day on providconditions to the ing reliable low cost power,” he said. south central states in February, Henrich said TVA plans for and utilities particularly in Texas suflearns from extreme weather events, fered power outages that affected from scorching summers to the subsome 10 million people and resulted freezing temperatures brought by a in 151 deaths and economic losses in polar vortex. In less than 12 months the billions of dollars. Such superthe Mississippi service area saw a storms, which are becoming more 100-degree temperature swing. frequent, revealed weaknesses in “This summer we crossed the some power infrastructures, most threshold of 30,000 megawatts of notably in Texas, but in Mississippi, energy demand five different days,” utilities performed better by comhe said. parison.

“We plan both the transmission Greg Henrich vice president of and generation assets in order to Transmission and Power Supply meet those high demand periods. for the Tennessee Valley Authority, And we’re learning from those

BY LISA MONTI

W

events. For the most recent polar vortex, we were we were prepared.”

TVA which serves customers in central Mississippi is the nation’s second-largest transmission system and third-largest electricity generator. It has a diverse generating portfolio of nuclear energy, hydro, natural gas, coal and renewable energy, primarily solar. The system has 69 interconnections with neighboring electric systems and supplies energy using 16,300 miles of line, enough to span the United States six times over. Officials say TVA’s transmission system has delivered energy to its customers “with 99.999 percent power reliability since 2000.”

Looking to the future needs of its customers, TVA is investing more than $2 billion in transmission system improvements across the service area between 2021 and 2025 to build “the energy grid of the future so the region continues to have clean, low-cost, reliable power for

years to come.”

Henrich compared dealing with extremes such as a polar vortex and a record-breaking Mississippi summer to playing in the Super Bowl or competing in Olympic games.

“We’re looking to get gold medals in all of those events, whether it’s keeping the lights on through our emergency feed or managing the transfer of power across our transmission system. This is what we’re here for. It’s our time to shine and it’s our pleasure to do it.”

Another utility, Entergy Mississippi, belongs to a regional transmission organization known as MISO, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which directs the flow of power over transmission lines that it manages.

MISO’s footprint stretches from Canada down to Mexico.

“Belonging to MISO gives us TURN TO WEATHER, 17

September 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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17

Trucking companies feel pinch of rising fuel prices

BY LYNN LOFTON

» FUEL AND DRIVER PAY ARE THE TWO LARGEST EXPENSES IN TRUCKING

I

f Americans didn’t realize how essential the trucking industry is to daily life, they have become clearly aware of it during the pandemic. As trucks crisscross the country every day transporting everything from raw materials to finished products, how are rising fuel prices affecting this necessary industry and its customers?

Hal Miller, president of the Mississippi Trucking Association, says, “Fuel and driver pay are the two largest expenses in trucking, so increased fuel prices certainly have a big impact on total cost of transportation. Most trucking companies have a negotiated fuel price index in their contracts known as a fuel surcharge so as fuel prices go up, so do the rates they charge to move freight.”

“Fuel prices took a pretty dramatic upturn starting with the pandemic and we’re seeing hikes,” Trey Waterloo of Capital City Trucking in Jackson said. “We have the fuel surcharge and that affects customers with a 16-to-17-cents-per-gallon charge.”

Most of the increased cost of fuel is passed on to customers, according to Waterloo, but with a 20-centper-mile increase for trucking companies, the surcharge does not offset rising costs. “There are pockets of the country where the spread is 40 cents and that’s a lot in weekly

Weather FROM 16

access to power from all of MISO’s utility members, not just

dollars,” he said. “We can’t control where the spikes are as we serve our customers all over – up the East and West coasts, midwest and regional.

We’re touching 88 percent of the country in any given week.”

Brax Clark of Rocking C Truck Lines in Gulfport points out that mother nature also has an effect on fuel prices, and his company sees rising costs nationwide. “We fuel all over the country and are seeing a gradual increase, not a spike,” he said. “It’s a trickle down effect. Most customers have a set contract with a surcharge for a fuel index of so many cents a gallon. We don’t make the chart, and our customers know going in, but yeah, they’re feeling it, and we’re feeling it too.”

Clark is especially mindful of

manufacturing customers who feel the pain twice with the delivery of raw materials and again with the shipping of finished products.

Miller agrees that it’s a yes and no situation as to the effect on customers. “Some of the fuel price increase is passed along but fuel indexes are not necessarily designed to capture the whole cost as most contracts only address the running of the truck while it’s loaded. Once empty, the truck is generally not being fully compensated for the empty miles so the fuel surcharge doesn’t play as big a role in compensating the trucking company,” he said.

He says the association’s members have not had a significant amount of difficulty finding fuel. “Right after Hurricane Ida there were some

issues with fuel availability in South Louisiana and South Mississippi, but from what I’m hearing, most trucking companies have worked around those shortages now,” he added.

The demand for drivers is an issue that all say they’re feeling. “Finding drivers is a challenge,” Clark said.

“Drivers are more regulated than pilots and finding drivers with all the qualifications is an ongoing challenge.”

Waterloo said, “We have a problem getting drivers and keeping them. We focus on having a high retention rate as we take the approach that this is a wonderful career and they make well ahead of a competitive pay with all the benefits.

We would offer pet insurance if we could!”

from our own power plants, and that benefits customers anytime there is extreme demand on our system,” said spokeswoman Mara Hartmann.

She said that Entergy Mississippi

“is constantly working to strengthen and modernize the grid. Hardening our infrastructure against storms and utilizing new technologies helps us improve service reliability. We envision a world where electricity

flows like a river, uninterrupted by anything that may attempt to block its way. That’s what we always keep in mind as we repair, replace or upgrade any part of our electrical grid.”

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September 2021 Issue

Electric Power Associations

Electric Power Associations

Founded

Employees

Meters Served

Jeff Bowman

1941

477

432,000

coastepa.com

Ron Barnes

1937

250

85,011

singingriver.com

Brian Hughey

1938

190

76,358

601-785-6511

southernpine.coop

Chris Rhodes

1938

224

68,825

Pearl River Valley EPA, 1422 Hwy. 13 N., Columbia, MS 39429

601-736-2666

prvepa.com

Matthew Ware

1938

127

51,008

4-County EPA, 5265 S. Frontage Rd., Columbus, MS 39701

662-327-8900

4county.org

Brian Clark

1936

143

49,360

7

Tombigbee EPA, 1346 Auburn Road, Tupelo, MS 38804

662-842-7635

tombigbeeelectric.com

Scott Hendrix

1934

142

44,544

8

Dixie Electric Power Association, 1863 Hwy. 184 , Laurel, MS 39443

601-425-2535

dixieepa.com

Randy Smith

1938

99

39,857

9

East Mississippi EPA, 2211 A-Street, Meridian, MS 39301

601-581-8600

emepa.com

Randy Carroll

1938

127

37,203

10

Central EPA, 107 E. Main St., Carthage, MS 39051

601-267-5671

centralepa.com

Brian Long

1937

104

37,143

11

Northcentral EPA, 4600 Northcentral Way, Olive Branch, MS 38654

800-325-8925

northcentralelectric.com

Kevin Doddridge

1950

97

32,811

12

Magnolia Electric Power, 3027 U.S. 98 W., Summit, MS 39666

601-684-4011

mepcoop.com

Darrell Smith

1938

93

32,424

13

Delta EPA, 1700 Hwy. 82 W., Greenwood, MS 38930

662-453-6352

deltaepa.com

David O'Bryan

1938

80

28,457

14

Tallahatchie Valley EPA, 250 Power Dr., Batesville, MS 38606

662-563-4742

tvepa.com

Brad Robison

1937

116

27,626

15

North East Mississippi EPA, 10 PR 2050, Oxford, MS 38655

662-234-6331

nemepa.org

Keith Hayward

1936

69

27,555

16

Southwest Electric, 18671 Hwy. 61, Lorman, MS 39096

800-287-8564

southwestelectric.coop

Kevin Bonds

1937

90

25,563

17

Pontotoc EPA, 12 S. Main St., Pontotoc, MS 38863

662-489-3211

pepa.com

Frankie Moorman

1934

79

19,764

18

Alcorn County EPA, 1909 S. Tate St., Corinth, MS 38834

662-287-4402

ace-power.com

Eddie Howard

1934

68

18,871

19

Natchez Trace EPA, 555 E. Madison St., Houston, MS 38851

662-456-3037

ntepa.com

Shawn Edmonson

1939

65

15,963

20

Prentiss County EPA, 302 W. Church St., Booneville, MS 38829

662-728-4433

pcepa.com

Ronny Rowland

1935

36

13,914

21

Tippah EPA, 109 E. Cooper St., Ripley, MS 38663

662-837-8139

tippahepa.com

Tim Smith

1938

50

13,899

22

Tishomingo County EPA, 205 Constitution Dr., Iuka, MS 38852

662-423-3646

tcepa.com

Tim Wigginton

1936

55

13,548

23

Monroe County EPA, 50408 Greenbriar Road, Amory, MS 38821

662-256-2962

monroecountyelectric.com

Barry Rowland

1936

37

12,663

24

Twin County EPA, 900 East Ave. N., Hollandale, MS 38748

662-827-2262

twincoepa.com

Tim Perkins

1938

64

12,007

25

Yazoo Valley EPA, 2255 Gordon Ave., Yazoo City, MS 39194

662-746-4251

yazoovalley.com

Ronald White

1937

55

10,329

26

Coahoma EPA, 340 Hopson St., Lyon, MS 38645

662-624-8321

coahomaepa.com

Keith Hurt

1937

44

7,975

Rank

Association / Address

Telephone

Website

GM / President

1

Cooperative Energy, 7037 U.S. 49, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

601-268-2083

cooperativeenergy.com

2

Coast EPA, 18020 Hwy. 603, Kiln, MS 39556

228-363-7351

3

Singing River Electric, 11187 Old 63 S., Lucedale, MS 39452

601-947-4211

4

Southern Pine Electric, 13491 Highway 28, Taylorsville, MS 39168

5 6

Information provided by the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi and ranked by meters served. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS: PRINT & ONLINE - 1 YEAR FOR $109; 2 YEARS FOR $168; 3 YEARS FOR $214 | ONLINE ONLY - 1 YEAR FOR $73

msbusiness.com | (601) 364-1011

September 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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Law and Accounting

IRS delays causing major headaches for taxpayers

BY BECKY GILLETTE

» THE IRS SAYS IT IS HAVING TO CORRECT SIGNIFICANTLY MORE ERRORS

I

t may take an act of Congress--or at least contacting your U.S. Senator or Representative–to break through on IRS tax return delays that are frustrating millions

of taxpayers. There can be delays even with what should be a simple process, such as the IRS ID verify program to prevent identity theft that has had website problems and major difficulties with people reaching the 1-800 number to verify their identity after filing tax returns.

The IRS has had to take on an unprecedented amount of work during the pandemic including handling stimulus checks to hundreds of millions of people, and dealing with pandemic assistance program responsibilities.

The IRS says it is having to correct significantly more errors on tax returns than in previous years.

“The IRS has reduced the number of returns requiring special handling from an historical high of 9.8 million on May 1 to the current level of 1.3 million individual returns as of August 27,” an IRS spokesperson said.

“We’re working hard to get through the backlog. Please don’t file a second tax return or contact the IRS about the status of your return. The IRS is opening mail within normal timeframes and all paper and electronic individual returns received prior to April have been processed if the return had no errors or did not require further review. As of August 27, we had 9.2 million unprocessed individual returns.”

The IRS said their telephone support is open, both for taxpayers and tax professionals, but they’re experiencing extremely long wait times due to limited staffing and extraordinarily high call volumes. To get help faster, the IRS recommends trying one of the following options: IRS.gov is the best way to find answers to questions about tax law or check on your refund, tax payment, Economic Impact Payment, or Advanced Child Tax Credit.

Check “Where’s My Refund?” for personalized refund status and review Tax Season Refund Frequently Asked Questions. See Let Us Help You for answers to most questions and to find general information.

Get updates on Economic Impact Payments and other COVID-19-related issues at IRS.gov/coronavirus.

Chris Gallegos, spokesperson for Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, said their staff reports that IRS backlogged cases remain a persistent problem even after the delegation asked for assistance this past spring. HydeSmith joined with Sen. Roger Wicker, Rep. Bennie Thompson, Rep. Steven Palazzo, Rep. Trent Kelly and Rep. Michael Guest to request the IRS clear a large backlog of 2019 tax returns before the 2020 tax return TURN TO DELAYS, 20

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have been reports that about 260,000 notices of failure to file, or CP59s, were mistakenly sent by the IRS to U.S. taxpayers, many of FROM 19 whom paid their returns on time and whose payments were deposdeadline. The delegation said the ited and withdrawn from their letter followed a surge in calls and accounts. But those payments were correspondence with constituents not matched to their returns. in Mississippi who have had issues The letter said that many taxpayfiling their 2020 taxes and receivers had difficulties filing their 2020 ing the refunds owed to them from taxes because the PIN required to 2019 and 2020. fill out the majority of online filings, “We recognize the IRS is taking which should have been provided in on additional responsibilities during their 2019 return, was not unavailthis time, including processing the able. latest round of Economic Impact “Our offices have received a numPayments and other COVID-19 ber of calls and inquiries regarding relief measures,” the Congressional the state of their returns,” members representatives said in a letter to the of the Mississippi Congressional IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig. Delegation wrote in the letter. “The “However, taxpayers continue to Taxpayer Advocate Service, however, face financial uncertainty from the is unable to handle the requests for pandemic, and this should not be inquiry because the returns have not compounded by the federal govbeen processed in any way by the ernment’s inability to return money IRS.” lawfully owed to them.”

Recently Hyde-Smith encourThe letter to Rettig said there aged the IRS to end its practice of

Delays

diverting tax enforcement funding to other agency programs at the same time it is seeking significantly more money to enforce the federal tax code.

In her first hearing as Ranking Member of the Senate Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, Hyde-Smith sought assurances that the increased funding sought by the IRS to improve customer service and code enforcement would be used wisely.

“While more money always seems to be the proposed solution in Washington, I remain concerned that funding increases marketed as the solution to the tax gap will instead be diverted away from enforcement and squandered on IT projects that have a checkered history of success,” Hyde-Smith said. “Unfortunately, we have seen the IRS repeatedly call attention to the tax gap, and then divert funds elsewhere.”

President Joe Biden is expected

to request a budget increase for the IRS of more than $1.2 billion to $13.2 billion in FY2022. The administration has also recommended additional funding for the IRS through various other legislative proposals.

Hyde-Smith is cautious about approving increased funding based on the IRS having transferred $1 billion away from tax enforcement since 2013 to support operations and IT needs.

“In fact, the agency plans on transferring another $208 million this summer from supplemental funding provided by Congress last year specifically for enforcement,” HydeSmith said. “I hope the Commissioner will reconsider this practice and instead today focus on exploring common ground on how to increase compliance with our tax laws and to increase services for taxpayers.”

Hyde-Smith also raised concerns that it is estimated that less than 14 percent of taxpayer calls were answered this year.

Tax Preparers

Tax Preparers Rank

Company / Address

Phone

Website

Top Officer

HORNE, 661 Sunnybrook Road, Ste. 100, Ridgeland MS 39157 601-326-1000 hornellp.com Neil Forbes GranthamPoole PLLC, 1062 Highland Colony Pky, #201, Ridgeland MS 39157 601-499-2400 granthampoole.com Robert Cunningham TMH, 2 Southern Pointe Pkwy., Ste. 100, Hattiesburg MS 39401 601-264-3519 tmhcpas.com Emily Paige Johnson May & Company, LLP, 110 Monument Pl., Vicksburg MS 39180 601-636-4762 maycpa.com H. Riley Nelson Haddox Reid Eubank Betts, 188 E. Capitol St., #500, Jackson MS 39201 601-948-2924 HaddoxReid.com Greg King T.E. Lott & Company, 221 N. 7th St., Columbus MS 39701 662-328-5387 telott.com Stewart R Greene Silas Simmons, LLP, 209 N. Commerce St., Natchez MS 39120 601-442-7411 silassimmons.com Nail McKinney P.A., 110 N. Madison St., Tupelo MS 38804 8 662-842-6475 nmcpa.com Richard D Bullock Alexander,Van Loon,Sloan,Levens & Favre, 9490 Three Rivers Rd., Gulfport MS 39503 9 228-863-0411 avlcpa.com Cindy Sloan Carr, Riggs & Ingram, 400 W. Parkway Pl., #300, Ridgeland MS 39157 10 601-853-7050 cricpa.com Elton Sims Piltz Williams LaRosa & Co., 1077 Tommy Munro Dr., Biloxi MS 39532 228-374-4141 pwlcpa.com David C Neumann Matthews Cutrer & Lindsay CPAs, 599C Steed Rd., Ridgeland MS 39157 12 601-898-8875 mclcpa.net Matt E. Freeland BFMW Group, PLLC, 115 W. Market St., Greenwood MS 38930 13 662-453-3235 BFMWgroup.com N. Craig Brewer III BKD CPAs & Advisors, 1400 Meadowbrook Rd, Suite 300, Jackson MS 39211 14 601-948-6700 bkd.com Andrew Williams Harper, Rains, Knight & Co, 1052 Highland Colony, #100, Ridgeland MS 39157 15 601-605-0722 hrkcpa.com Cecil Harper Byrne Zizzi CPA, PLLC, 111 E. Washington Street, Houston MS 38851 16 662-456-5757 byrnezizzi.com Thomas A Byrne Jr, Emily Zizzi Taylor, Powell, Wilson & Hartford, 1705 U.S. 82 W., Greenwood MS 38930 662-453-6432 tpwh.com Howard Raymond Davis Jr. Rea, Shaw, Giffin & Stuart, 2415 9th St., Meridian MS 39301 18 601-693-2841 rsgscpa.com O Keith Evans Williams, Pitts and Beard, 2042 McIngvale Rd., Ste. A, Hernando MS 38632 662-429-4436 wpbcpa.net Jerry Pitts Jackson, Braswell, Mullins, & Bailey, 3513 Hwy 8 W., Cleveland MS 38732 20 662-843-1555 Chris Braswell Williams, Weiss, Hester & Co., 4785 Old Canton Rd., Jackson MS 39211 21 601-981-7571 wwhcpa.com Doug Hester JE Vance & Co., P.A., 825 W. Jefferson St., Tupelo MS 38804 22 662-842-2123 jevance.com James E. Vance Collins, Barr & Hembree, 130 Fountains Blvd. #100, Madison MS 39110 23 601-707-7536 cbhcpas.com Wallace B. Collins The Burgess Group, P.A., 2506 Lakeland Dr., Ste. 401, Flowood MS 39232 601-939-7116 burgessgroup.net Beth B. Burgess Orsborn, Sutphen & O'Neal, P.A., 208 George St., Greenwood MS 38930 662-453-4175 osocpa.com F. Marshall Sutphen Sr. Holt & Associates, PLLC, 2815 Highway 15 N, Laurel MS 39440 601-649-3000 holtaccounting.com Julie Uher, Kari Blackledge Huffman & Company, CPA, 497 Keywood Cir. Ste A, Flowood MS 39232 27 601-933-1986 huffmanandcompanycpa.com Tony Huffman Edmondson, Burchfield, Hardy & Assocates, PA, 217 North Pearman Ave, Cleveland 28 662-846-6631 Carlton W Edmondson Jr MS 38732 BZ Tax & Accounting, LLC, 107 Millcreek Corners, Suite F, Brandon MS 39047 29 601-941-7904 bztaxandaccounting.com Jason S. Condon AcuTax LLC, 406 N. Bierdeman Road, Pearl MS 39208 30 601-201-0489 Ron Morgan Ed Sollinger, CPA, PO Box 330, Olive Branch MS 38654 662-874-6637 Edsollngercpa.com Ed Sollinger Information provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Firms are ranked by tax preparers. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

1 2 3 4 5

Founded

Preparers

1962 1977 1977 1922 1958 1926 1932 1951 1967 1997 1962 1988 1999 2008 1952 1961 1917 1935 1983 1995 1988 1989 1976 2001 1951 1945 1991

144 55 42 30 26 26 26 23 22 20 20 19 18 17 16 14 14 12 12 11 8 7 6 6 6 6 5

1957

3

2011 2013 1982

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September 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

FOR SALE

“NORTH MISSISSIPPI’S COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE COMPANY” CLAY SHORT

(662) 231-4262

cshort@trirealestate.net

BARRY REPLOGLE

(662) 321-1201

breplogle@trirealestate.net

CHRIS WINDERS

(662) 255-4404

chris@trirealestate.net

TRI INC. COMMERCIAL | WWW.TRIREALESTATE.NET | 662-842-8283

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September 2021 Issue

Sponsored by

The Mississippi Economic Council is proud to congratulate the 2021 50 Leading Business Women

Thank you for being an inspiration to us and the rest of Mississippi.

The contributions made by women who are leaders within the business community throughout Mississippi have brought about positive change in our state’s economic competitiveness, educational achievement and quality of life.

Your involvement helps ensure a brighter future for Mississippi.

www.mec.ms

MEC … a proud sponsor of “Top 50 Women in Business” for nearly two decades.

P.O. Box 23276 • Jackson, MS 39225-3276 (601) 969-0022 • 1-800-748-7626 • Fax: (601) 353-0247 or 1-888-717-2809

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September 2021 Issue

JACLYN M. ADAMS Citizens National Bank

J

aclyn Adams exemplifies what Citizens National Bank is all about. She’s a relationship builder and someone who has an incredible heart for serving her community.

So, it’s no surprise that she has such a strong following of customers.

With so many professional successes to her credit over her 14 years in banking, Jaclyn continues to be very humble, and we love that! For example, Adams says her greatest personal accomplishment isn’t about something she has done herself.

Instead, it is being part of a dedicated group of individuals who helped open Kids Hub

Advocacy Center in Hattiesburg.

Her love for the community also shines in her service to the Hattiesburg Rotary Club, where she recently held the title of Club President, and the United Way of Southeast Mississippi where she serves as a member of their Executive Board and was recognized as their Volunteer of the Year for their fiscal year of 2017-2018. She is the past President of Kids Hub CAC and is a member of the finance committee for The University of Southern Mississippi Alumni Association. Adams attends Venture Baptist Church.

BRENDA BARRON

Professional Staffing Group

B

renda Baron has been in the staffing industry for over twenty-one years of which twelve years she lived in Atlanta where she oversaw business development, recruiting and compliance for a national organization. Brenda traveled extensively from coast to coast supporting the operation. Prior to relocating to Atlanta, Brenda began her career in Jackson, managing multiple markets throughout central and northern Mississippi.

In 2017 she and her husband Adrian decided to relocate back to Mississippi to be close to family, including three beautiful

grandchildren. Baron continued to work for the national organization until January of 2019 when Jane Sanders, the owner of PSG contacted her about a role she could not refuse. Baron was excited about being a part of an independently owned staffing firm. Jane and Baron worked toward a plan in which Baron acquired Professional Staffing Group in June of 2019.

Baron and her husband Adrian live in Brandon where they enjoy spending time with friends and family on their farm.

Baron and Adrian attend Fannin First Baptist Church.

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ANITRA BENDER

Amazoning with Anitra, Inc.

A

nitra Benderlaunched a group to help others and save money in 2018, but now it’s evolved to so much more.

Now the CEO of Amazoning with Anitra, Bender has gained so national attention and popularity.

“Amazon affiliates are people that sign up to post deals and codes from Amazon, and they get a percentage off of each item that is sold or purchased,” Bender said in an interview with

WJTV. “It grew and grew and grew and got to 10,000 people and one of the members said I think you should change it to amazoning with Anitra.”

It’s a happy place Anitra Bender has created for the 15,000 plus members to share deals, advice, and even keep each other company in the pandemic.

Also, AmazoningWithAnitraInc. donated $10,000 to Lanier High School on July 9.

KATIE JONES BENNETT

Southern Bone & Joint

K

atie Bennett is the Human Resources Director for Southern Bone and Jone.

In the role, Bennett identifes the need for new and revised compensation and fringe benefit programs. She studies and develops plans, project and evaluates the costs, impacts and relevancy to changing employee needs. She negotiates

insurance and retirement contracts and implements program changes and communicates these changes to employees.

Bennett has earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from The University of Southern Mississippi.

In her spare time she enjoys cooking and trying new recipes. She has tried her hand at gardening, and loves it.

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September 2021 Issue

ELIZABETH BOONE Bradley

E

lizabeth Boone advises clients on business transactions and compliance matters domestically and internationally, including contract negotiation, establishment and maintenance of legal entities and real estate transactions. She also has assisted with private entity mergers, acquisitions and divestitures in various industries with purchase prices in varying ranges, including a deal valued at approximately $200 million.

Boone previously functioned as general counsel for a privately held petroleum products company during its expansion internationally, helping to expand the footprint of the business into Asia, Europe, South America and Africa and assisting in the establishment of foreign

entities or foreign branches of domestic entities in Belgium, Indonesia, Singapore and Mexico.

She also assists businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by providing guidance relating to the Paycheck Protection Program, Economic Injury Disaster Loans and the Main Street Lending Program.

Boone was recently elected to the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and is serving as Vice Chairman of the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.

She is serving on the Strategic Planning team for St. Andrew’s Episcopal School as the Communications Committee Chair.

Her background includes working in finance and as a chemist prior to law school.

GAYLE CANAGA BROWN

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

G

ayle Brown is Workforce and Special Projects Developer for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College.

She coordinates Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program Sponsor responsibilities for MGCCC, which include identifying employers for Apprenticeship programs, completing all Departmenof Labor documents, setting up classes, hiring instructors, registering students, training

mentors, and working with students.

Previously, Brown was director of 21st Century Community Learning Center in Monticello, Arkansas.

Brown earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University as well as a Master of Education and Counseling from MSU. She is also a running enthusiast, having complete the St. Jude Half Marathon as well as the full marathon.

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KIMBERLY GLADDEN BURKE Meredith College

K

imberly Gladden Burke, who recently accepted a position at Meredith College in North Carolina was previously the Dean of the Else School of Management and a Professor of Accounting at Millsaps College. She started her career in Dallas, Texas where she initially worked as an auditor with Price Waterhouse and then became a director of internal auditing for Unigate Restaurants.

Burke had been at Millsaps since 1995 moving through the faculty ranks. In 2017, Burke launched the Executive Education

program at Millsaps College. In 2020, she launched the online Data Analytics Certificate program.

Burke served on the boards of the Womens’ Foundation of Mississippi where she had been Chair of the Board, Magnolia Speech School where she has been Secretary and Treasurer, and the Fondren Renaissance Foundation.

A native of Texas, Burke is a graduate of Texas Tech and Oklahoma State University. Burke is married to Rick Burke, and they are the very proud parents of their daughter, Kelsey.

GRETCHEN BUTLER BancorpSouth

G

retchen Butler is the First Vice President at BancorpSouth, having been there since 2015.

She has been in the banking industry for 14 years and currently serves as the Market Retail Manager for Mid Mississippi. Brown is responsible for over 130 employees in the Mid Mississippi division that consists of 23 branch locations.

Her favorite part of her job is being able to work with employees in their career development and seeing them advance within the company and in their personal

goals. She is actively involved in relationship development within the Jackson and surrounding communities.

Brown actively serves on the advisory board of the Salvation Army as well as the board of StewPot Community Services of Jackson. She lives in Madison with her husband and our three children Brown earned her Bachelor degree in Biology in 2005 from Belhaven University and has a graduate degree with my Masters in Business Education in 2017 from Mississippi College.

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September 2021 Issue

MARCEE CARTY EMC Insurance

M

arcee Carty is the Branch Human Resource Business Partner Manager for EMC Insurance Companies in

Jackson.

Carty specializes in consultative support, coaching and partnership to the leaders and team members in the Jackson Branch to drive talent initiatives and associated business results. She leads activities and ensures successful achievement of objectives related to recruiting, onboarding, team member engagement and workforce planning.

Carty graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Risk Management, Insurance and Financial Planning. She is an alumna of the Phi Delta Chapter of Chi Omega at Mississippi State.

Currently Carty is an active member of the Junior League of Jackson. Outside of the office, Carty loves to cheer on her Bulldogs at Mississippi State sporting events, playing tennis through the USTA in Jackson and planning for travel both locally and internationally, and spending time with friends and family.

PAM CHATMAN

Boss Lady Workforce Transportation

P

am Chatman is the CEO of Boss Lady Workforce Transportation.

Chatman is also the National/ Global Streaming Tv Network owner of the PChatman Network, which is currently being watched by 25 regions globally and can be reached in 250 million homes.

She was honored by the Governor and State Lawmakers in 2019 for creating Workforce and Transportation in the Delta, creating more than 500 plus jobs with FedEx within a year for Delta residents in at least 8 counties.

Chatman has been recognized for be-

ing a a Top Minority Business Leader by the Delta Business Journal. She was also honored in Jackson for being one of the Top 25 most influential African American in people in the state of Mississippi

by Our Mississippi Magazine.

She is the CEO/Founder of P. Chatman Mentoring, Consultant and Training Organization and Boss Lady PChat Business Coaching Outreach, which fosters teaching to women and young girls to love themselves first.

Chatman was the for black news director of a TV station in Mississippi.

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DR. SONDIA J. CHRISTIAN

Ingalls Shipbuilding

D

r. Sondia J. Christian is the Director of Talent Management at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula. In this role she is responsible for executing human capital management strategies that support organizational business goals in the areas of talent sourcing and recruiting, new employee onboarding.

Christian joined Ingalls in 2006 and has held various leadership roles for the past 13 years. She is also a pastor at Twin Beech AME Zion Church in Fairhope, Alabama.

She received her Bachelor of Science

degree in Business Administration from Texas College, in Tyler, Texas. She received her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from Southern Christian University, Montgomery, Alabama. She has an earned Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida in Education with emphasis on Organizational Leadership & Adult Education.

Christian is married to Rev. James H. Christian, Sr. and is the proud mother of four children and five grandchildren. She and her family currently reside in Ocean Springs.

TONI L. CONDON EMC Insurance

T

oni Condon is married to her high school sweet heart Jason for 18 years, and they have two children – Blake who is 16 years old and Zoe who is 11 years old.

She is currently a marketing representative for EMC Insurance Companies.

Condon has an Associates Degree in Business with minor in Accounting from Holmes Community College. She holds Bachelors in Business Administration from Belhaven University.

She is an active member of Insurance Professionals of Jackson PJ for 9 years now, serving on and chairing many committees.

Condon has four insurance designations CPCU,AINS, AU-M and CIIP. She is an active church member at Lakeside Presbyterian Church. In her free time, she loves to go bowling, eat crawfish, hang out by my pool, and hang out with my friends and my family.

She and her family are big Mississippi State fans.

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September 2021 Issue

MAVIS A. CREAGH

Mavis A. Creagh Consulting

M

avis A. Creagh is a best-selling author, speaker, consultant, women’s advocate, entrepreneurial strategist, columnist, and online show host. She currently serves as the Executive Director of R3SM, Inc. (Recover, Rebuild, and Restore Southeast MS) a nonprofit founded following Hurricane Katrina.

Recently she established Mavis A. Creagh Consulting, LLC and We Women Ministries, Inc. She has an extensive knowledge of recovery following natural disasters with a foundation in revitaliza-

tion of communities, philanthropy, and economic development.

Over the past four years, Creagh provided oversight of 30 new constructions and 100-plus repair projects. Through her leadership, R3SM, Inc. now owns and operates the fully renovated historic 10,000 sq. ft. Volunteer House in Hattiesburg.

The Historic Volunteer House is a true community asset that offers administrative offices, a small event venue, training space, temporary and transitional housing, seasonal University lodging, and accommodations for up to 60 volunteers.

DEA DEAN

Dea Dean LPC, PLLC

D

ea Dean is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist running Dea Dean LPC, a Counseling private practice she formed in 2015.

Her practice employs three other counselors. Dean graduated from Belhaven University with a Bachelors of Science in 2010, before attending Reformed Theological Seminary, in Jackson.

She graduated in 2013 with a Masters degree and received the “Marriage and Family Therapy Counseling Award”.

Dean opened Counseling Collective, a professional office space leasing company for independent mental heath practitioners.

Dean is enjoying connecting and networking with the tenants who share her profession and her space, and she looks forward to continuing to train counselors at Dea Dean LPC before deploying them into self- employment, to run their own private practices. Dean resides in Madison with her husband Jack, son Everett, and daughter Emmett.

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PAM DOLLAR

Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities

P

am Dollar, a 1986 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, she is the mother of a 29 year old son with autism. After her son’s diagnosis, Dollar immersed herself in all things autism, including related laws, rules and regulations, so as to best advocate for her son’s needs and rights. What started as a personal quest on behalf of Pam’s son quickly turned into a passionate calling for all people with disabilities.

Dollar is a passionate disabilities-rights advocate for children and adults alike and she works tirelessly to help facilitate a

culture of respect and success for people with disabilities.

Dollar has been affiliated with the Coalition for more than 25 years. She joined the Coalition staff as the director of a statewide federal grant creating Mississippi’s only Parent Training and Information Center. Through the PTI, she has impacted thousands of families and worked with schools throughout Mississippi, improving educational outcomes for children with disabilities and helping parents and their children become self-advocates.

ANGELA CROSSLEY FERRAEZ Mississippi Public Broadcasting Foundation

A

ngela Crossley Ferraez is the Executive Director of the Mississippi Public Broadcasting Foundation. She is a born and reared Mississippian from Columbus.

Angela graduated summa cum laude from Mississippi University for Women with a Bachelor of Science in Business. She has worked in several industries throughout her career, including Director of Development for Mississippi University for Women, Founder and President of ABC Insurance Company, Sales and Marketing Director for the computer and software companies BESCO and BTM Solutions.

Ferraez previously served on the LINK’s Small Business Committee and on the board of the Mississippi Red Cross.

She has also served as Director of the Women’s Ministries and on the Finance Committee at First Baptist Church in Columbus. Angela currently serves as treasurer of the MFMC District Music Festiva.

Ferraez has been married to Steve Ferraez for almost thirty-six years, and they have four grown sons, including one set of identical twins. They also have six granddaughters, including one set of identical twins.

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September 2021 Issue

AMANDA FOWLER Northwest Mississippi Association of Realtors

A

manda Fowler is the CEO of the Northwest Mississippi Association of Realtors.

She was born and raised in DeSoto County and considers herself more of a country girl myself, but enjoy having the amenities of a big city right down the road. Fowler says she has always known that she wanted to go into business and she’s thankful that she stumbled into real estate administration at age 15.

When Fowler worked for the REALTOR Association in high school, the CEO challenged her to try new tasks and trained her to understand her position.

It was then that she wanted to become a REALTOR Association AE/CEO. Within 10 years, that dream came true.

Fowler thoroughly enjoys working for the association because it’s always changing.

Fowler is a 2012 graduate of of Belhaven University and recently celebrated her one-year anniversary to her husband.

RITA GREEN Geaux Fig Co.

R

ita Green is CEO and founder of Geaux Fig Co., a digital marketing and project management firm. Already a well-respected member of the business society and a proud native of Biloxi, Green is often celebrated for her organic contribution to the business and economic developments of the Mississippi Gulf Coast by supporting startup companies and creating areas of opportunity for their entertainment scene.

Her 15-year mark on the southeast business sector has proven to be quintessential as Green’s expertise in both consumer and business hospitality has done wonders for its various hotels and casino resorts. All

of this makes her transition to personal mogul-ship a seamless execution.

Green attended both the University of Southern Mississippi and the University of New Orleans, focusing on both, Business and Psychology.

She currently serves on the Mississippi Center for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities and Mississippi Heroes, a nonprofit organization that highlights caregivers. Green continues to inspire those in need. When she is not out helping new businesses thrive, she is a cherished member of her local community, a loving wife, and mother of four amazing children.

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JILL GORDON Enrich Mississippi

J

ill Gordon has more than 22 years of professional experience in the banking and finance industry as well as several years as a Marketing professional. Gordon has a tremendous passion for helping others and she prides herself in helping her clients achieve their dreams while maximizing their earnings and savings. Her passion is helping others. Period.

Gordon has been recognized as a Top 10 Business Woman in Mississippi and Top Entrepreneur from the Mississippi State Business Journal. Her most recent

award is the 2020 Parent of the Year for Northwest Rankin Middle School.

Gordon founded and runs a successful nonprofit for youth enrichment for Mississippi children named Enrich MS. Enrich MS works towards the enrichment of the youth in our state through free community education and resources for vaping prevention in children and mental health awareness in teens. She is married to Justin Gordon, Project manager for Thrash Construction, and they have one teenager.

LAURA HEARN

W.G. Yates and Sons

L

aura Hearn, second in command of the marketing department for Yates, a $2.4 billion company, ranked the No. 1 contractor in Mississippi and the 29th largest contractor in the nation.

In this role, she is responsible for corporate branding, digital strategy and presence, and management of pursuit- specific activities working with both internal and external teams. She also leads a team of four regional marketing managers/coordinators, is responsible for internal and external communications, advertising and brochure development, copywriting and

design, assist the Vice President of Marketing with strategic business planning, trade show and event planning and attendance, and photography and videography.

She is married to Daniel for almost 11 years, with two children, Garrett (8) and Katherine (6).

Hearn spends most of her recreational time doing CrossFit and playing tennis.

She also enjoys watching Opera Mississippi and the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and viewing exhibitions at the Mississippi Museum of Art.

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September 2021 Issue

LEIA AGNEW HILL Meridian Community College

L

eia Agnew Hill is the Vice President for Institutional Advancement and the Executive Director of the MCC Foundation and serves on the President’s cabinet at Meridian Community College. She has a bachelor’s degree in communication from Mississippi University for Women, a graduate certificate in social media marketing from the University of Florida, a master’s degree in educational leadership from the University of Mississippi, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in educational leadership from the University

of Southern Mississippi.

Hill has participated in many state and local leadership programs, including Meridian’s Leadership Lauderdale, the State Executive Development Institute (SEDI), and the Mississippi Community College Leadership Academy (MCCLA). She serves her community as a board member for the United Way of East Mississippi, the Boys and Girls Club of East Mississippi, and as a tourism commissioner for the Lauderdale County Tourism Commission.

MICHELLE HOFFMAN TeleSouth Media

M

ichelle Hoffman is an account executive for for TeleSouth Media, having been in that position since 2018.

Previous to that, Hoffman served in a similar capacity at the Clarion Ledger for five years.

Hoffman graduated with a degree in marketing from Belhaven University, She is involved in the community with

her church as well as the Metro Jackson Chamber.

In her spare time, Hoffman enjoys staying healthy through exercise, riding her bike, walking and going to the gym with her husband. She enjoys gardening and re-purposing furniture with her husband and fellowshipping with friends and family while they enjoy her husbands’ gourmet meals.

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SHELLY WITHERS JANOUS

Century 21 David Stevens, Inc.

S

helly Winters Janous is a broker for Century 21 David Stevens, Inc. in Clinton.

A native of Tupelo, Janous has a bachelors of Business Administration with an emphasis on marketing from Mississippi State University.

She says becoming a successful and motivational sales manager at such a young age, truly set the tone for her adult life.

Since being with Century 21, she has

been recognized as one of the Top 3 Teams in the state of MS, First quarter, 2020, Century 21 Top 20 real estate agents in the state of MS and has been selected to Mississippi Association of Realtor’s 2020 Leadership Class-14 Realtors across the state each year are selected to participate in LMAR. In her spare time, Janous enjoys traveling, watching and attending Mississippi State University sporting events as well as snorkeling, ziplining and kayaking.

KIA MONIQUE JONES For Brown Girls Inc.

K

ia Jones is the Founder/Chief Executive Officer of For Brown Girls, Inc. in Jackson. It is a 501©3 nonprofit organization and state tax-exempt organization in Mississippi. Its mission is to uplift, motivate, and cultivate the minds of women of color in Jackson and surrounding areas.

Empowering them to fulfill their dreams and promote positive change in their communities by displaying leadership to our disadvantaged youth. It also provides philanthropy and community service efforts in the Jackson Metropolitan Area.

The main focus is strengthening marginalized communities.

Jones Graduated from Jackson State

University in pre-med in 2012 and then earned her Master’s of Public Administration from Belhaven University in 2015. She is currently working toward a doctorate of public health in epidemiology at Jackson State.

She certified in psychological first aid mental health, HIPAA compliance and is a certified Phlebotomist.

Jones is a member Leadership Greater Jackson, Pi Alpha Alpha Honor Society, American Public Health Association, Mississippi Public Health Association, Society for Public Health Education and the Golden Key National Honor Society, among many more.

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September 2021 Issue

SHARI JONES RiverHills Bank

S

hari Jones is a banker, entrepreneur, public speaker, and a community service initiator. She is the Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of RiverHills Bank in Madison.

Jones has served in many capacities in various organizations: she is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Rho Lambda Omega Chapter, an executive board member and Past President for Madison the City Chamber of Commerce, President of the Capital Area Sunset Rotary Club, a member of Madison

County Young Professionals, a member of the Leadership Greater Jackson and was one of the top 10 under 40 young professionals in Madison.

Jones is a graduate of Murrah High School, University of Southern Mississippi, and Delta State University.

Her favorite things to do are spending time with her mother and best friend, Carolyn Upkins, learning new things from her dad, Reginald Jones, attending sporting events, being creative, fellowshipping with family and friends, reading, cycling, and traveling.

CARLA KIRKLAND The Kirkland Group

C

arla Kirkland is founder and CEO of The Kirkland Group.

Having been in education almost 30 years, she provides professional development, technical assistance, and standardized test preparation to school districts. A champion for comprehensive student support, Mrs. Kirkland holds membership in both educational and service groups, and is actively involved in organizations like the Education Industry

Association, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and The Links, Inc. This lifelong educator has served as a teacher, curriculum specialist, and mentor.

Mrs. Kirkland is co-author of Praxis Core for Dummies, 1001 Praxis Core Questions for Dummies and Praxis Elementary Education for Dummies. She facilitates mathematics workshops around the country and resides in Mississippi with her husband.

September 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

Bank Of Okolona Okolona P.O. Box 306 • Okolona, Mississippi 38860 (662) 447-5403

JAMIE SUSSEMS LEE JLee Enterprises

B

orn July 4,1976 in Franklin, La., Lee actually grew up in Greenwood and Grenada.

She started work at the age of 14 in a snow cone stand and worked there until her junior year of highs chool and then started working in retail. In 1999 she was offered a position in the finance business and decided to make a career change.

It was then that Lee learned that

finance business was her passion. In 2007, she offered to buy into the company that she was district manager for.

Currently, she owns 2 payday lending stores which she operate on a daily basis.

In 2014 Lee was given the opportunity to own a salon. She became owner of 255 & Co. and has Mae it profitable.

Lee resides in Tillatoba, near Grenada with my her boys Preston (14) and Paxton (7).

Bank of Mantee 54 1st Street • Mantee, Mississippi 39751 (662) 456-5341 Houston Banking Center 321 W. Madison St. • Houston, Mississippi (662) 456-3347 Calhoun Banking Center 122 S. Pontotoc Rd. • Bruce, Mississippi (662) 983-3700

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September 2021 Issue

CARLA LEWIS C Spire

C

Spire CIO Carla Lewis, a longtime company executive, manages the firm’s sprawling information technology division.

She oversees all aspects of software development, including systems for sales and service, product delivery and billing – all with a laser-focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience. She also leads all aspects of the enterprise data center, database, network operations, support and quality assurance.

Lewis plays a central role in virtually every technology decision inside the company,

especially since the lines between traditional IT and network have blurred in recent years with the advent of software-defined network solutions.

Under her leadership, the company has been named a top technology innovator and the top-ranked telecommunications provider in the U.S. by Information Week for three straight years.

As part of the company’s comprehensive technology movement initiative, Lewis is leading efforts to inspire and encourage students to pursue degrees and careers in information technology and computer science.

DR. ANTIONETTE LILES Mint Dental

C

EO of a Mint Dental, a stateof-the- art environment where her zeal, skills, knowledge of the business of dentistry, and attention to details will are employed, Dr. Antionette Liles gives her patients an aesthetic look that suits their chief complaint.

Liles maintaines a level head and momentum, delivering long-lasting restorations even in a fast paced, high patient volume practice.

Liles holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry from Jackson State University. She earned her Doctorate of Dental Medicine from The University of Mississippi Medical Center’s School of Dentistry and is a board-certified, practicing dentist in the state of Mississippi.

When not serving her patients, Dr. Liles can be found leading a yoga class as a RYT-200 yoga instructor, traveling the world, or loving on her miniature schnauzer named Fitzgerald.

September 2021 Issue

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PAIGE MANNING

Mississippi Department of Agriculture

P

aige Manning currently serves as the Director of Market Development and Public Relations for the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.

Manning joined the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce in 2005 and was named as the Director of Market Development and Public Relations in 2012. The Market Development Division administers various programs that provide domestic and international marketing opportunities for producers and agribusinesses, operates the Missis-

sippi Farmers Market, and publishes the Mississippi Market Bulletin. In 2018, the Market Development Division rolled out the state’s new branding program, Genuine MS®, designed to promote and bring attention to the diverse products.

Manning is involved with the Junior League of Jackson, having served on the Board of Directors.

Manning and her husband, Ron, have one son and currently reside in Madison, Mississippi. They are active members of First Baptist Church in Flora.

SHARON JOHNSON MARKHAM 1-800-JUNKPRO

A

n, entrepreneur, Sharon is the co-owner of 1-800-JUNKPRO, a residential and commercial dumpster rental franchise. She manages the day to day operations to make sure that each and every customer receives “The Best Customer Service on the Planet”. 1-800-JUNKPRO territory extends for about 30 miles around Jackson.

Born and raised in Hinds County, Sharon Markham is a wife, mother, entrepreneur, and a community outreach coordinator. She is married to her best friend

Christopher Markham and they have 5 sons – Christopher Jr., Darius, Christon, Devin, and Ashton.

Described by others as a strong, loving, and dedicated, mother and wife, a leader and mentor in the community, Sharon loves to meet new people and assist with planning outreach events. Sharon serves on several boards and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She is a member of The Order of Eastern Star and a member of Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church.

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September 2021 Issue

REBECCA LUCKEY MARTIN Prudential Advisors

R

ebecca Martinhas been in financial services for 26 years and began her career with Prudential in 2012. She has held a variety of positions within the company, including Manager of Financial Services and Financial Planner. She is passionate about collaborating with clients and serving as a trusted resource to help them navigate their financial challenges.

Martinholds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern Mississippi.She is a member of Go Red for Women supporting the American Heart Association.

Martin and her husband, Trey, live in Madison with their four children and four dogs. She enjoys spending time with her family and helping her clients achieve their financial goals.

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September 2021 Issue

LINDSAY MARTIN-NEZ BadgePass, Inc.

L

indsay, Martin-Nez is the Executive Vice President of Sale and marketing for BadgePass, Inc. in Ridgeland.

BadgePass, Inc. is an identification and security solutions software company with operations across 14 states and a nationwide dealer channel spanning the US. BadgePass develops cutting edge software solutions for credential management including ID badging, access control, visitor tracking, campus card solutions, driver’s license scanning, time management and point of sale for a variety of vertical markets including college and university, K-12, healthcare, corporate, state government

and casino and hospitality.

At BadgePass, Martin-New is responsible for the development and growth of the BadgePass national sales and distribution channel, as well as direct sales and inside sales. She collaborates with the CEO and VP of Software Development to develop innovative software features and solutions to drive further penetration in key market verticals.

She also recruits, trains and leads the direct sales team to drive top line revenue and margin expansion.

Martin-New has one daughter and in her spare time, she love reading, traveling, golf and event planning.

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BancorpSouth congratulates

Gretchen Butler for being named one of Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Business Women of 2021

©2021 BancorpSouth Bank. All rights reserved. Member FDIC.

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September 2021 Issue

CAROLYN McLEMORE Trustmark Bank

C

arolyn McLemore joined Trustmark Bank in July 2001. In December 2015, Carolyn was recognized as one of Bank Investment Consultant’stop 100 bank advisors in the nation. Her passion is helping families work toward the accumulation of wealth while managing risks that could potentially derail a retirement income plan. She came to Trustmark from a regional banking system where she also was a Financial Consultant. Before that she spent many years with a local planning group where she specialized in investments and finan-

cial/estate/business succession planning.

She has served as a Benefits Specialist with a national benefits company.

McLemore attended Oklahoma State University followed by Mississippi State University where she graduated magna cum laude holding a Bachelor of Professional Accountancy degree. She has a General Securities Registration (Series 7).

McLemore is married with three children: Bryan (42), Carissa (38), and Ben (33), and grandchildren Thomas (6), Kelsey (5), Silvija (4), and Milou (2).

September 2021 Issue

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ALISON O’NEAL McMINN

Forman Watkins & Krutz

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lison McMinn is a partner at the law firm of Forman Watkins & Krutz LLP, where she serves as chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee.

McMinn is Martindale-Hubbell® Preeminent AVTM Peer Review Rated. In 2017, McMinn was selected by the Mississippi Business Journal as a Top 50 Under 40 Business Leader, and for their 2018 Leadership in Law class.

She is involved in a number of community service organizations. She previously served on the Central Mississippi MSU

Alumni Board, Mississippi Children’s Home Auxiliary, and is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson, Class of 20132014.

McMinn has continued her involvement with her sorority, Delta Gamma, well beyond her college years. She and her husband, Rod, are foster parents and in August of 2019 adopted a sibling set of three children who they had fostered for almost three years. Joe, Lexi, and Shannon are now ages 9, 8, and 5, and have brought untold joy.

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September 2021 Issue

SHAN MONTGOMERY Mississippi Board of Nursing

S

han Montgomery serves as Chief Financial Officer and Chief of Staff for the Mississippi Board of Nursing. With dual roles, she has an active job leading, training, and coordinating. Her first obligation is to ensure that the Board of Nursing maintains a strong financial position.

Montgomery earned her Bachelors of Science in Finance and MBA from Delta State University and a Masters of Public Policy from Belhaven University.

Currently, she is serving as the Board of Nursing liaison to the ESF8 – Pub-

lic Health Advisory Committee. This Healthcare Coalition works in conjunction with Emergency Management, providing a system- wide healthcare approach to the COVID 19 Pandemic.

She is currently serving on the executive committee of the Mississippi Council on Economic Education’s Board (MCEE).

She continues to support the American Heart Association’s mission by serving on the Executive Committee for Go Red. She’s the proud mother of Ms. Kennedy Montgomery, a third-year pre-med student at The University of Mississippi.

WE PROUDLY CONGRATULATE

ALISON MCMINN

Congratulations

SELECTED AS A 2021 LEADING BUSINESS WOMAN

Mollie Kidder Spencer on being chosen as one of the 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi from The Mississippi Business Journal!

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NEW JERSEY

NEW ORLEANS

September 2021 Issue

ERICA CLEMONS MOORE Pearl River Resort

E

rica Clemons Moore holds a degree in Public Relations from Mississippi State University and a Master’s degree in Communication from the University of Southern Mississippi.

She currently serves as the Director of Public Relations, Guest Services, Internal Communication and Special Projects for Pearl River Resort. Erica serves as board member for the Neshoba Youth Coalition

and the Emergency Food and Shelter Program for Neshoba County.

At age 30, she was named by Mississippi Business Journal as Top 50 under 40.

She is the proud wife of Captain Jonathan Moore with the Philadelphia Fire Department. She is the mother of 2 daughters, Eriane Aaliyah and Brooklyn Olivia and bonus mom to Jontrell Moore.

Her parents are Leroy and Stephanie Clemons.

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September 2021 Issue

TONYA MOORE MooreNow LLC

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s executive director of leadership and workforce development at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Dr. Tonya Moore is responsible for directing the institutional workforce and leadership development program for faculty, staff and students in collaboration with the chief academic officer, chief faculty affairs officer and chief human resources officer.

Moore earned an associate degree in nursing from Alcorn State University, a bachelor and masters in Nursing from the University of Mississippi, and a doctor of

philosophy degree in Nursing Research from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Moore was also recognized as a 2011 Up and Comer, one of 12 people in the USA chosen by Modern Healthcare magazine. Active in a number of professional organizations, Moore currently serves as President of the Mississippi Nurses’ Association Board of Directors, the first African American elected to this office.

Moore is the proud mother to Naval Officer, Ensign Ralph J. Moore, USN and a recent graduate of the United States Naval Academy.

Congratulations TONYA MOORE for being chosen as a 2021 50 LEADING BUSINESS WOMEN

Mississippi Nurse’s Association, the voice of all Mississippi Registered Nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses across all nursing roles!

Advocating for Mississippi’s nurses since 1911.

31 Woodgreen Place | Madison, MS 601.898.0670 | www.msnurses.org

September 2021 Issue

YOLANDA MORRIS

Morris Tax and Bookkeeping

Y

olanda Morris and her husband of 14 years, Kenneth Morris with their two beautiful children, Kenya and Kendrick have made Hattiesburg their home. Since moving to Hattiesburg to study Business and Accounting at Southern Miss in 2003, Morris has made her stamp in the local business community beginning with a stellar career in government with the State of Mississippi where she performed the duties of auditor with the Department of Revenue.

Her 13-year career with the agency

allowed her to lead revenue gaining audits. Morris also utilizes her skills in Project management working as an independent contractor with local accounting firms. In 2020, Morris went to work for Revenue Recover Group (RRG) as an auditor tasked with budget analysis, compliance review, controls, and general accounting.

A self-proclaimed Hattiesburger, Morris’s love for her local community transcends work and business. She is a proud alum of William Carey University (MBA In Business Administration 2013).

Congratulations

SHAN MONTGOMERY on being selected as a

2021 50 Leading Business Women Mississippi Board of Nursing

713 S Pear Orchard Rd #300 | Ridgeland, MS 39157 601-957-6300

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September 2021 Issue

DR. ROBIN PARKER

Central Mississippi Planning and Development District

R

obin Parker serves as the Workforce Coordinator at Central Mississippi Planning and Development District. Prior leadership experience includes service as the Dean of Community and Economic Development at Hinds Community College, the Director of Curriculum, Assessment and Instruction at the Mississippi Community College Board, and Manager of Curric-

ulum, Instruction and Assessment at the Research and Curriculum Unit at Mississippi State University.

Parker has a doctorate of education in Leadership, Masters of Science in Technology Education, and bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, all from Mississippi State University.

Parker and her family reside in Brandon.

Congratulations to

ANGELA CROSSLEY FERRAEZ

Congratulations

SHARI JONES

on being chosen as one of the

50 Leading Business Women in 2021

2021 Fifty Leading Business Women For Mississippi

from Mississippi Public Broadcasting and the MPB Foundation

100 Fountains Blvd. | Madison, MS 39110

September 2021 Issue

DR. KADY B. PIETZ Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

D

r. Kady Pietz is the Dean of Enrollment and Registrar at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. She holds a Master of Science in Political Science with an emphasis in Public Administration and a Ph.D. in Human Capital Development, both from the University of Southern Mississippi.

She previously served as the Dean of Business Services for MGCCC’s Jefferson Davis Campus, Director of Operations and Outreach at the University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Park Campus, and Executive Director

of Hancock County CASA. Pietz is active in the community and has previously held executive officer positions for National CASA Rural Advisory Board, Coast Young Professionals, CASA Mississippi, Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, and Long Beach GridIron. She is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Gulf Coast and currently serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce.

An avid golfer and a New Orleans Saints season ticket holde, Pietz spends most of her personal time outdoors.

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September 2021 Issue

VICTORIA PROWANT

Southern Homes Real Estate

I

n 2006, Victoria Prowant arrived in the United States from Moldova and was working at Wendy’s.

In 2012, she earned her Real Estate License.

These days, Prowant is the managing broker for Southern Homes real Estate.

As the Managing Broker at Southern Homes Real Estate she supervises the office flow and all of the real estate agents activity. Prowant ensures the performance

and legal compliance of the team.

She also handles the training of all new agents, onboarding, hiring and interviewing, holding monthly team meetings and contract classes for the entire group.

Continuously growing the brokerage and training classes that helps the agents provide excellent services to their clients is key.

Prowant and her husband have two children.

Congratulations

SHAN MONTGOMERY on being selected as

2021 50 Leading Business Women

www.thoughtspantech.com

September 2021 Issue

KIMBERLY L. RUSSELL

Mississippi Family First / Mississippi Supreme Court

A

s MDT Enhancement Coordinator, Kimberly Russell provides policy and legal expertise to the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Mississippi as well as training for CACM’s member centers. CACM is a non-profit that supports, funds, and guides all child advocacy centers in the state.

CACs manage Mississippi’s mandated multidisciplinary team response to felony level child abuse and neglect allegations.

Additionally, Russell manages the Children’s Justice Act Task Force for the entire

state of Mississippi as staff coordinator.

This is a federally mandated, governor-appointed group that helps guide the future of child welfare in Mississippi across state agencies. Prior to joining CACM, Russell helped establish a child welfare initiative in the Mississippi Supreme Court’s Administrative Office of Courts.

Russell graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law in 2019. Russell graduated Brandon High School and earned her Bachelor of Science in Communication from Oral Roberts University.

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September 2021 Issue

DR. JASMINE MARTIN SMITH

Healing Hands Rehabilitation Services

J

asmine Martin Smith, PT, DPT was born and raised in Jackson.

She is a Physical Therapist and Co-Owner of Healing Hands Rehabilitation Services, LLC, where she strives to rehabilitate and restore function and quality of life to patients.

Smith received a BS in Biological Sciences/Pre-Physical Therapy with a Minor in Clinical Exercise Physiology from Mississippi State University in 2004 and her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from the University of Mississippi Medical

Center in 2009.

Smith’s honors include having received Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 545 from the Mississippi State Legislature, 2017 Young Professional on the Rise-Young, Gifted & Empowered Awards.

Smith resides in Madison with her husband, Robert III and two children, Robert IV (RJ) and Rylee. She attends New Hope Baptist Church. Smith is a member of the Jackson Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the MSU Alumni Association.

Congratulations

BRENDA BARRON on being selected as one of the

2021 50 Leading Business Women

601.981.1658

prostaffgroup.com

September 2021 Issue

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DEIDRA J. SNELL DMD Ridgewood Smile Dentistry

D

r. Deidra J. Snell is a native of Port Gibson, She attended Alcorn State University where she participated in numerous organizations such as Alcorn State University Marching and Concert Bands playing saxophone, Alpha Kappa Mu Honor Society, Student Government Association, and a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Snell also participated in research programs at Andhra University in Visakaputnam, India, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, MD, and interned at

Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in the Chemistry Department. She graduated with dual Bachelors of Science degrees in Chemistry and Biology in 2004 from Alcorn.

Snell then attended University of Mississippi Medical Center – School of Dentistry, in which she voyaged to Mexico on three different occasions for dental mission trips while a student there. She graduated with a Doctorate in Dental Medicine (D.M.D) in 2008 and completed a General Practice Residency (GPR) Program at the University of MS Medical Center in 2009.

MOLLIE KIDDER SPENCER

Community Pharmacy

M

ollie Spencer grew up in Senatobia and graduated from Magnolia Heights School in 2003.

She then went on to get her Bachelor of Science from the University of Mississippi in 2008 and received her Doctor of Pharmacy from UMMC in 2011.

She managed a Walgreens in Madison, before moving home to Senatobia where she bought Community Discount Pharmacy in 2018. Spencer is married to

John Spencer, who is Vice President of the Senatobia branch of Guaranty Bank.

They have two sons Charlie (5) and Mac (4) with a little sister on the way. The Spencers reside in Senatobia.

They are active members of the First United Methodist Church of Senatobia. Spencer is also an active member of the Rotary Club, Cosmopolitan Club, Senatobia Mainstreet Board of Directors, and Junior Auxiliary of Tate and Panola Counties.

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September 2021 Issue

JENNIFER A. SUTTON Gulf Coast Veterinary Services

J

ennifer Sutton, DVM, MBA is a wife, mother, veterinarian and successful entrepreneur. In the face of personal tragedy; she felt compelled to a life of volunteer service primarily as an advocate for marginalized people and animal populations. Her experiences have been motivational, rewarding and fulfilling in ways that her traditional career was not.

As a volunteer servant to others, she applied these same principles within her businesses and transformed into a servant leader. The results have been extraordinary.

Through implementation of servant leader ideals like empathy, compassion, awareness

and stewardship; she has created a generative and successful culture. Among her accomplishments are numerous community accolades, inclusion in the Inc. 5000 business list and being named the Mississippi Small Business Association’s Businessperson of the Year. She is currently developing her skills and knowledge to be able to assist others in becoming the servant leaders that they were meant to be.

In addition, Gulf Coast Veterinary Emergency Hospital was named to the 2021 Inc. 5000 list. Sutton was also named as the 2021 Power Up Summit’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

JACQUELINE A. TURNER

Mississippi Department of Employment Security

J

acqueline “Jackie” A. Turner is the Chief Operating Officer of the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES). She will replace Mark Henry, who has accepted an appointment to the Workers’ Compensation Commission. Currently, Turner serves as the Deputy Executive Director of MDES. Previously, Turner has served as the Deputy Executive Director of MDES. In this role, she is responsible for the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration workforce programs including: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), Unem-

ployment Insurance, Mississippi Works job match, and Labor Market information.

Prior to her Deputy Executive Director position, Turner was the Director of the Office of Comptroller from 2008-2013 at MDES. In 2004, she accepted a position as a comptroller at MDES where she worked until 2008. Turner managed the Business Management Department there from 1998-2004.

She holds a Bachelor of Professional Accountancy from Mississippi State University. Turner and her husband, Tim, are the parents of three children and live in Sallis.

They attend Sallis Baptist Church.

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DANA WILSON

Mississippi Interactive

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web design class in undergrad sparked Dana Wilson’s interest in web technology and design. That passion led her to become the subsidiary president and general manager of Mississippi Interactive LLC (MSI), the State of Mississippi’s private partner for eGovernment services.

Now with more than twelve years of eGovernment experience she leads the team that has helped the State of Mississippi deliver over 260 online, mobile, and IoT solutions, providing citizens an efficient and secure way to engage agencies,

departments, local, and state government.

Wilson received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Northwestern State University in 2005 and in 2006 earned her MBA from Louisiana Tech University.

A native of Louisiana, Wilson has called Jackson home since 2010. She is an active member in the Junior League of Jackson, having served on the Mistletoe Marketplace Steering Committee and two consecutive years on the Board of Directors. She and her husband Scott have two daughters.

ANNA HAYS ZACHARY

Omega Group Advertising Agency

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nna Hays Zachary is Chief Operating Officer with the Omega Group Advertising Agency, a full-service marketing firm in Ridgeland. Zachary graduated Magna Cum Laude from Mississippi College in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design. While at Mississippi College, she received numerous awards including Graphic Design Major of the Year. Hays worked with Ergon Inc. as a Graphic Designer before joining the Omega Group Advertising in 2011.

Zachary has developed national brands

and marketing strategies for businesses.

Her work consists of designing and developing creative services including print, website design, commercial production, digital mediums and photography.

Zachary speaks to university and high school classes and has been a keynote speaker for marketing and social media seminars. Hays serves on the Mississippi College Graphic Design Advisory Board, and has also served as a DECA Judge with the Mississippi Department of Education. She is active at First Baptist Church of Jackson and with local and international charities.

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September 2021 Issue

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