Business Journal 20161201

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BUSINESS JOURNAL BIZBUZZ.DJOURNAL.COM

THEPOSITIVEPOWEROFSOCIALMEDIA, pg. 3

DECEMBER

TIPS: With the holidays right around the corner, freshen up on your tax knowledge with these year-end tax tips.

page 2 COLUMN: Ty Robison discusses online resources and tools to make business and life easier.

page 9 FEATURE: How do Toyota Mississippi and BancorpSouth encourage volunteerism? The area companies see benefits from employee volunteering.

page 4 CONNECT WITH US

SERVING HOPE Tybor goes all in with Eight Days of Hope BY DENNIS SEID PHOTO BY ADAM ROBISON

I

n January, Steve Tybor is leaving his corporate job behind to focus on what has been his passion for more than a decade: serving and helping others. Tybor, the president and one of the founders of Eight Days of Hope, is stepping down from his successful career to continue the work of the organization as it assembles a small full-time staff. TURN TO HOPE, 5

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THE NORTHEAST MISSISSIPPI


DECEMBER 2016

YEAR-END TAX TIPS

A

few small changes can make a big difference in your total income and tax liability for the year. Once the year is up, you may lose the ability to claim certain deductions or benefits. Here are a few tax preparation steps you can take in order to close out the year financially and take advantage of additional deductions:

1. Review your reports. How was your

year financially? This info is vital for your goal setting process and to ensure your books are up-to-date and accurate. Have your bookkeeper or accountant run all of the reports that are relevant for your business and schedule a time to walk through them together if you need more explanation on the numbers and specific breakdowns.

2. Defer income. Any income received

by Dec.31 counts as income for the current year. Shifting income to after Jan. 1 delays it from being counted as income until the following year, and this can save you a significant amount of money, depending where you income levels are each year.

31 to reduce your income for this year. Now is the time to max out your contributions. If you haven’t yet set up a retirement account, talk to a financial advisor to determine which plan is best for your business.

5. Make a donation. Not only is mak-

3. Make purchases. Now is the time to ing a charitable contribution from

spend money on items your business needs so you can maximize deductions. Does your equipment need to be upgraded? Can you stock up on office supplies? Are there vendor payments you can make in advance? Make a list of purchases you can make now to get the most out of your deductions.

4. Start or contribute to a retirement plan. Make payments to your retire-

ment plan or set one up before Dec.

your small business a great thing to do during the holiday season, but it can also be a good idea for your business finances. And you don’t have to donate money. You can also donate items such as clothing, toys and other goods, and claim a deduction for the fair market value. Be sure to get proper documentation and a receipt for your records.

6. Save on health insurance premiums. Although you might not have the

luxury of employer-provided health insurance, you can buy in the Health Insurance Marketplace or the state marketplace during open enrollment and you may find that you are eligible for and advance premium tax credit. Also, you can deduct premiums paid as a business expense.

7. Organize and start preparing for next year. Remember the slight panic that set in when you started thinking about closing out your books, digging for the data your accountant or bookkeeper asked for and through about your business finances as a whole? Get a jump on next year now by outlining a system you can use to make the process even smoother next year. Source: TurboTax, The Balance

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Post, like, share Tupelo barber uses social media to promote charitable events, positivity BY ZACK ORSBORN BUSINESS JOURNAL

TUPELO – When Aaron Washington, owner of A Plus Barbershop in Tupelo, isn’t cutting hair, he’s usually scrolling and posting on Facebook or Instagram to promote the several charities he’s attached to. Social media took him out of a brick-and-mortar building and put him into the cyber world where he’s garnered over 10,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram combined. Washington heavily promotes Barbershop Talk, a partnership with North Mississippi Medical Center in which he talks to clients in the barber seat about colon cancer screenings. The Barbershop Talk program has been trying to put out a car tag to promote colon cancer screenings, and since sharing about it on Facebook, Washington has seen several people come in to sign up for one. People tell him all the time they’ve gone to get screened after seeing his posts on Facebook.

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Aaron Washington, owner of A Plus Barbershop, uses Facebook and Instagram to promote charities he's involved with. Before school starts, Washington shares his back-to-school event on social media to let people know about free haircuts and snacks for the kids in the community. “Social media gives me a chance to show and tell people somewhat of who I am and what I’m about,” Washington said. “Most people walk through the day

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Six months ago, the barber started using Facebook Live to host his radio show, Shop Talk. He said he regrets not using Facebook Live earlier because of the instant results he’s been receiving from using the platform. “I can go live and get 1,500 views in less than 30 minutes,” he said. “You instantly see who’s watching, and you

can also see what they are saying. It’s another way to build a relationship. You can go back and say, ‘Hey, what would you like for me to talk about next week?’” On one show, he hosted a representative from Second Chance Mississippi, a GED program that’s given people a chance to continue education in Mississippi to close the economic gap.

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He asks questions on Facebook Live like, “How does his help or hurt you? What can be done to make this better? What do you think about Tupelo?” To build his followers, Washington believes in creating positive content while also sharing others’ positive content. He tries to reach out to one person at a time, like he does when a client sits in his barber seat. It’s become easier since nearly 80 percent of social media time is spent on mobile devices, according to comScore’s 2016 U.S Cross-Platform Future in Focus study. “Sometimes, it’s not what I do. It’s supporting other people in what they are doing,” he said. “In order to win friends, you have to show yourself as friendly. When I see my clients, and when I see people doing other positive things that lines up with what I like, I share it or inbox them. If you want support, you’ve got to give support.” zack.orsborn@journalinc.com Twitter: @thedaily_zack

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2016


DECEMBER 2016

Area companies encourage volunteerism BY ZACK ORSBORN BUSINESS JOURNAL

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 62.6 million people volunteered through an organization at least once between September 2014 and September 2015. But what happens when companies like Toyota Mississippi and BancorpSouth encourage volunteerism? Derric Morrison, team member engagement specialist in general affairs for Toyota Mississippi, coordinators volunteering opportunities in the community. “We try to make it a thing where we advertise in the plant,” he said. “We try to make it as conveniently possible for them to be able to participate and helping them to sign up.” Throughout the year, Toyota advertises seven volunteering opportunities. Out of those seven, the company gathers hundreds of volunteers. “We have a company

goal to support over 6,000 volunteer hours each year,” Morrison said. “We track it closely. We have team members that may have different events themselves they are engaged in, and we encourage them to share it.” Morrison said encouraging volunteerism enhances work motivation in the plant. They hold the mindset, “We don’t just build cars. We build communities.” What really motivates the employees to volunteer is support from lead executives, who often volunteer themselves. Depending on the volunteer activity, Toyota allows employees to take time off. “It may not be considered volunteer work, but it could be considered community impact,” Morrison said. “It would be some things on work time like a blood drive. We’ll have other things like United Way Day of Caring where we allow team

members to go over and participate on the clock.” Toyota teamed up with North Mississippi Habitat for Humanity, providing 25 people a day for six hours during an eight-to-12-week construction period. So far, they’ve helped with building two Habitat homes. “It’s part of Toyota’s commitment of making a community impact,” Morrison said. “In the end, it really is a reward for us as well. The stronger the community, the stronger the workforce, the stronger our company.”

BANKING IN

In 2015, BancorpSouth employees contributed over 60,000 hours of volunteer time to community support projects throughout the company’s eightstate market area. Employees have volunteered on local nonprofit boards and committees, financial education and home ownership program participation, volun-

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tary income tax assistance, United Way, Salvation Army and emergency relief. When employees participate in hands-on activities, a sense of teamwork is established. “This engagement can result in finding more meaningful ways to serve, not only the financial needs in our community, but to provide better ways to support overall community development and quality of life,” said Randy Burchfield, senior vice president of BancorpSouth. Managers, at all levels of the company, are encouraged to support their employees’ community outreach. As part of the BancorpSouth’s efforts to promote and track community service, the company uses an online e-form procedure where employees report their participation in community service activities. TURN TO VOLUNTEER, 5

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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HOPE: Tybor switches gears, forms new leadership team Eight Days of Hope got its start in 2005, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. “Katrina wreaked havoc on the coast, and my dad, who lives in Buffalo, New York, has always used his hands,” Tybor said. “He called me on the phone and said, ‘Let’s go to the Gulf Coast and help anybody we can because a lot of people need help.” His dad asked Steve to grab a friend of two – and in no time at all, within a week, nearly 700 people had volunteered to go as word spread on several mediums, including the American Family Association. “We provide all the food and lodging, and we had planned for 400 or 450, but they kept coming,” Tybor said. The damage was so devastating that Tybor began weeping. “Even though I was excited to hope, there was so

much more that needed to be done,” he said. Eight Days became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and its work has affected thousands of people in the wake of natural disasters. Since 2005, the group has gathered more than 22,000 volunteers from across the country who have contributed more than 730,000 volunteer hours to build more than 1,800 homes. Nearly 250 homes were rebuilt in Tupelo after the April 2014 tornado that ripped through parts of the city. Eight Days’ work since 2005 has totaled more than $25 million – all free and done by volunteers. The group also launched a rapid response division – Hope Reigns – in the wake of the Tupelo tornado. More than 2,500 volunteers have completed more than $1.3 million worth of hope on 14 trips since then. This year

alone, the rapid response team has responded to four floods and a tornado. But the group’s leaders think it can do more.

REORGANIZATION

The governance of Eight Days of Hope won’t change come January, but it’s organizational structure will in order to make it more effective. “While I’m president and a co-founder, I’ve been a volunteer for 11 years and never received a penny,” Tybor said. “But the board and the leaders of this ministry believe its time to take the next step.” Chris Chiles, who has headed Hope Reigns, will join Tybor and a handful of other longtime volunteers to form the core leadership team at Eight Days. “We hope over the next two or three years to have 10-15 full-time staff,” Tybor said. “Some will them, including Chris and

myself, will be raising some of our own support. But we really believe God is expanding this ministry. We’re now national, and we get calls for any natural disaster ... we’ve been to Illinois, Texas, New York, South Carolina, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Louisiana ... the need is great, and the body of Christ is looking to respond. We’re the conduit. It’s not because of us, but because of our father in heaven who’s allowed us to help this ministry explode.” Tybor said each trip to a disaster area results in a miracle unfolding before their eyes as volunteers and communities come together to rebuild and renew. “It’s priceless – you can’t even make some of these things up that we’ve seen happen,” he said. Eight Days of Hope, while headquartered in Tupelo, also has a presence across the country. It

has some 60 leaders in 25 states, comprised of business leaders, soccer moms, IT experts and a diverse group of volunteers. The grassroots involvement is what has powered the organization’s reach, and Tybor’s new role is to deepen that involvement. Also as part of the move in January, Hope Reigns will be folded under the Eight Days of Hope name. Branding is important, Tybor said, and keeping it all under the Eight Days name helps to avoid any confusion. “Hope Reigns has been the arm of the ministry that’s responded within 72 hours, while Eight Days does the rebuilding,” Tybor said. “We see the ministry expanding beyond those two elements and so we went back to our original name of Eight Days of Hope. The rapid response division and other divisions also will

fall under the Eight Days umbrella.” Stepping full time into Eight Days means Tybor will be leaving a successful 30-year corporate career, including the past 20 as an executive with ProVia, a national vinyl siding company. He’s been with the company’s Booneville location, but decided it was time to devote his full attention to Eight Days. “I’ll be one of the first two employees of the skeleton staff we’re assembling on Jan. 1,” Tybor said. “It’s a huge step, but Chris is a testimony in taking a true step in faith. He moved from Virginia with his family to Mississippi two years ago to do this full time and trusting God will provide. I’m just following his lead and the passion of the leadership of Eight Days of Hope that the best is yet to come.” dennis.seid@journalinc.com Twitter: @dennisseid

VOLUNTEER: Toyota, BancorpSouth tracks employee volunteer hours Burchfield said a bank is only as good as the community it serves.

“Our teammates are the heart of the communities in which they live

and work,” he said. “They volunteer and serve the community through

non-profits, mentoring young people, supporting community celebrations

and helping to raise awareness for multiple causes.”

zack.orsborn@journalinc.com Twitter: @thedaily_zack

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2016


DECEMBER 2016

BUSINESS REWIND Furniture Market moves spring, fall dates TUPELO – The Tupelo Furniture Market recently announced it was moving its spring and fall shows to earlier dates: Instead of February, the former spring show will take place Jan. 8-11 and be renamed the winter market. The fall show, which was hosted in August, has moved up to June 8-11. TFM President Seddon said feedback has been “overwhelmingly positive” about the date change.

“We spoke to hundreds of vendors and buyers and asked them about several dates we were looking at, and these dates we picked resonated well with them,” he said. BancorpSouth’s Prater retiring as CFO TUPELO – William L. “Bill” Prater is retiring early from his post as senior executive vice president, treasurer and chief financial officer at BancorpSouth Inc. The parent company of BancorpSouth Bank said Prater’s decision

is effective March 10, 2017. He’s held the posts for nearly eight years and will stay on board in a consulting role at BancorpSouth as it seeks his replacement. He also will serve in his current roles through the completion of BancorpSouth’s 2016 audit. The bank said Prater’s post-retirement consultant agreement allows him “to perform certain limited services in order to affect an orderly transition of his duties to his successor.” His early retirement does not reflect any

dispute or disagreement with BancorpSouth or its management, the company said. Prater was named the company’s CFO in July 2009 following the retirement of Nash Allen Jr., who spent 40 years with the bank.

will begin his duties Jan. 1. He has spent the past nine years as a lobbyist for Capitol Resources, specializing in economic development, health care, manufacturing and education, the release adds. He represented Fortune 100 compaThe Alliance names nies including several Stanley new president of Mississippi’s larger employers. CORINTH – A new Before joining Cappresident has been se- itol Resources Stanlected to lead Corinth ley was president of and Alcorn County’s Gateway Corporation, economic developoverseeing importing, ment organization, The manufacturing, sales Alliance. and distribution across Clayton Stanley, 37, the United States and

internationally. Fulton chamber names Boggs director FULTON – After a five-month search, the Fulton Chamber of Commerce has found its new executive director. Itawamba Community College public speaking instructor Mary Sue Boggs has been named the organization’s new leader. A 25-year employee at ICC, Boggs is set to begin her job as the public face of the chamber in January after retiring later this year.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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A credit-free Christmas relieves stress, debt A

National Retail Federation poll conducted by Prosper Insights shows that the average consumer plans to spend $935.58 during the Christmas shopping season this year. If any of that spending is done with credit cards, it can complicate the holidays in a hurry. Since using plastic doesn’t hurt as much as spending cash, you’ll probably purchase more stuff than you planned. That $935.58 could easily turn into turn into $1,200 or more before you know it. And it’s tough to enjoy looking at holiday lights around the neighborhood, or watching Charlie Brown direct the Christmas play, with a voice in your head warning you about bills that are piling up. Why not leave your cards out in the cold this year, and commit to a credit-free Christmas? Check out how Christmas without credit will put a Santa-sized

smile on your face:

1. LESS HOLIDAY STRESS

Anxiety melts away when you opt for cash instead of cards because you know to stop spending when the money runs out. Even if you can’t buy everything you want, you’ll hardly notice. You’ll be too busy feeling relieved about not having to make a payment next month.

2. NO INTEREST PAID

Nada. Zilch. Zip. That’s how much money you pay in interest and fees when you stay away from credit cards. You don’t have to worry about that $40 sweater you bought for your best friend costing $55 come January.

3. HACK PREVENTION

Target, TJ Maxx, Home Depot – there’s a shopping list of stores whose databases have been breached by hackers. The thieves steal

credit and debit card numbers and do a little Christmas shopping of their own. Use cash and don’t make yourself ... a target.

holidays seems weird, doesn’t it? But once you see how much easier it is to enjoy the festivities without credit,

you’ll probably want to see how it will make January and February easier – then before you know it, your next

Christmas. Courtesy of DaveRamsey.com

4. NO SURPRISES

You may want to keep a gift for your spouse secret until Christmas morning. After all, that’s why we use wrapping paper! But it’s too easy for them to check the credit card website and see where you did your shopping. Stick with cash, and keep a good poker face until Dec. 25.

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It’s a bummer to carry a balance on your card for that American Girl doll or stuffed Minion gift while you’re clothes shopping for the new school year. So, nix your credit cards. Your budget will thank you for it. Switching from credit cards to cash for the

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2016


DECEMBER 5: Starting a Business First Steps, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Are you interested in starting your own business, but don’t know where to begin? This seminar outlines the basic steps to start a business. Topics include: regulations such as licenses and permits; legal forms of business ownership; basic marketing concepts to help analyze the revenue potential; lending terminology; outline for a

DECEMBER 2016

UPCOMING EVENTS business plan and other resources to assist in starting a business. Location: UMSBDC, Marshall County Library, Marshall County (Holly Springs). To register, call 1-800-725-7232. 6: Starting a Business First Steps, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Location: UMSBDC Business Assistance Center-Tupelo, Renasant Center for IDEAs. To register, call 1-800725-7232. 7: Starting a Business – First Steps, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Location: UMSBDC, Lafayette County, Oxford. To register, call 1-800-725-7232. 9: How to Develop a Business Plan – Business Basics, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. This seminar is designed to assist in preparing a business plan. The parts of the business plan are explained, i.e., industry research, description of company products and services, identifying target customer groups and a marketing plan. Financial components discussed are startup costs and preparation of a projected cash flow state-

ment. Location: MSU Business Incubator Building, Thad Cochran Research, Technology & Economic Development Park, Starkville 13: How to Develop a Business Plan – Business Basics, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Location: Renasant Center for IDEAs, Tupelo. To register, call 1-800-725-7232. 19: How To Develop A Business Plan – Business Basics, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Location: UMSBDC, Marshall County Library, Holly Springs. To register, call 1-800-725-7232.

JANUARY 11: Starting a Business First Steps, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Location: SU Business Incubator Building, Thad Cochran Research, Technology & Economic Development Park, Starkville. 18: How to Develop a Business Plan, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Location: SU Business Incubator Building, Thad Cochran Research, Technology & Economic Development Park, Starkville. To register, call 1-800-725-7232.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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9

Using tools to check your resources always helps

I

was listening to a recent marketing podcast that referenced Encyclopedia Brittanica. I haven’t thought about a traditional encyclopedia in a long time. My parents still have the World Book set that I used in high school. With easy access to the internet, finding information is usually a few keystrokes or finger taps away, so I turn to it more readily than I do the printed material I’ve collected. Comedian Lewis Black commented in one of his albums that the greatest thing about his generation was the ability to hang out and how they could wax philosophical on any subject for hours. When a member of a younger generation is asked

a question, that person will pull out a cellphone and look TY ROBINSON up the answer. He remarked, “Hanging out just became research.” With all the avenues available online to find data, are they all reliable? Some sources I trust more than others. Regardless, I like to check several sources when doing research. One of my favorite reliable sources, the “Associated Press Stylebook,” gives a suggestion of references for material not covered by the stylebook. These references include “Webster’s New

World College Dictionary,” “IHS Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft,” “IHS Jane’s Fighting Ships,” “Lloyd’s Register of Ships,” “Official Railway Guide – Freight Service Edition,” “Congressional Directory,” “Political Handbook of the World,” “Handbook of Denominations,” “World Christian Encyclopedia” and “Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches.” Other than the dictionary, I’ve had no need of the other references, although it is nice to know they exist if I ever do need them. I’m also fortunate to be within walking distance of the Lee County Library if I’d like a hard copy reference to hold. Why buy when I can borrow? I’ve been asked a few

times about Wikipedia which has an entry for itself that reads, “Wikipedia is a free online encyclopedia that, by default, allows its users to edit any article.” Wikipedia has over 126,000 active users and 1,276 administrators. While I’ve heard “I don’t trust Wikipedia because anyone can edit it,” I’ve also heard that it is trustworthy for reason that if someone sees something incorrect, the issue can be submitted or amended quickly. Here’s how I use it. Scroll to the bottom of the entry. That’s where the links to the references are located. The sources of the information can be checked. To me, this makes that particular entry more reliable. Wikipe-

dia can be a reference to other reference points. Since I am a member of a Mississippi company working with other Mississippi companies, the data I need is about Mississippi. Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann was in Tupelo recently and passed out information about the new Y’all Business website. The website – www.yallbusiness.sos.ms.gov – includes a map with its data and is has many layers that can either be added or removed. It also comes with a video introduction. It also has a section of facts to assist in making the case of why a company should do business in Mis-

state. I also find great Mississippi information from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security’s website. Found at www.mdes. ms.gov/information-center/labor-market-information/, I have found the Labor Market Information department information very helpful in working with my clients in discussing the work environment in Mississippi. Why is research important? I look to a quote from Neal Armstrong: “Research is creating new knowledge.”

TY ROBINSON is president and

sissippi. It’s always great to COO of Robinson and Associates, a see positive news about our marketing agency in Tupelo.

VALUES. RESPECT. RELATIONSHIPS.

In a season of giving, it has been our privilege to give to North Mississippi for over 60 years. By respecting others and nurturing all of our relationships, we continue to strive to put these values into action.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2016


BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2016

Barnes Crossing Volkswagen

Barnes Crossing Volkswagen celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting. Offering a large selection of new and used cars from its 13,000-square-foot showroom, Barnes Crossing Volkswagen is located at 3973 N. Gloster St. in Tupelo, and can be contacted at (662) 340-CARS or online at bcvolkswagen.com.

Cinnabon

Cinnabon celebrated the grand opening of its kiosk inside the Mall at Barnes Crossing with a ribbon cutting. Offering a variety of baked treats including its famous cinnamon rolls and flavored coffees, Cinnabon creates a one-of-a-kind experience you can smell and taste. For more information, visit cinnabonbarnescrossing.com or call (662) 213-9419.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Cornerstone Church

Cornerstone Church celebrated the opening of its Tupelo campus at 1921 Briar Ridge Road with a ribbon cutting. Cornerstone’s vision is to build a healthy, diverse family of spirit-empowered believers that loves God, connects with each other and impacts their world through relevant ministry. For more information about Cornerstone Church, visit cornerstonetupelo.org or call (662) 205-4317.

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TONY HOUSTON SALES & LEASING REPRESENTATIVE DOSSETT BIG 4

A member of the MassMutual Financial Group

Craig Gaines Agent • John Floyd Agent www.fmbms.com/cornerstone.asp

112 North Third Street Baldwyn (662) 365-1277

1108 North Second Street Booneville (662) 728-4477

107 South Fulton Street Iuka (662) 423-5921

DOSSETTBIG4.COM

Cell (662) 231-2256

Fax (662) 842-0080 tonyhouston55@gmail.com

W. Scott Collins, AAMS® Financial Advisor

106 E. Main Street • Suite A (662) 840-3018 Tupelo, MS 38804 www.edwardjones.com

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DECEMBER 2016


DECEMBER 2016

Dress the South

Dress the South celebrated its grand opening at 1008 Commonwealth Blvd. in Tupelo with a ribbon cutting. A specialty boutique offering unique styles for women and men, Dress the South can be contacted at (662) 687-0409 or on Facebook.

Dynasty Furniture USA

Renew Dental

Dynasty Furniture USA celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting. Located at 401 N. Front St. in Tupelo, Dynasty Furniture USA offers affordable payment options on name brands including Ashley, Simmons, Serta, Kenmore, GE and others. For more information, contact Dynasty Furniture USA at (662) 841-8844.

Renew Dental celebrated the grand opening of its new office, located at 1013 W. Jackson St. in Tupelo. From general dentistry and orthodontics to sleep apnea and cosmetic dentistry services, Renew Dental has options to help all members of your family. For more information, visit renewdentaltupelo.com or call (662) 269-0840.

Six Sisters Treasures

In celebration of its grand opening at 1601 W Main St. in Tupelo, Six Sisters Treasures held a ribbon cutting. A charming boutique offering new, and gently worn, top-quality apparel, footwear, jewelry and an assortment of trendy home accessories, Six Sisters Treasures can be contacted at (662) 260-5222.

The White Experience

Nicke Street Boutique presents The White Experience, a bridal consignment shop offering complete service to the bride-to-be for her perfect style and fit for her special day. The White Experience is located at 807 Varsity Drive. and can be contacted at (662) 205-6289 or online at nickestreet.com.

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Business Directory A PAR TMENTS

BANK

AUTOMOTIVE COMMERCIAL VEHICLES

Apartment Homes 1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms

MILITARY, LAW ENFORCEMENT, & FIREFIGHTER DISCOUNT Ask about our Military & Law Enforcement Discount

Call 662-891-5000

Call Robin Barnett today! 662-841-8743 rbarnett@trustmark.com

Whether you’re hauling or delivering...Call

DWAYNE BLACKMON CHEVROLET for your commercial vehicle needs!

3260 Hwy 145 N. • Tupelo, MS 38804

1410 SOUTH GLOSTER / TUPELO / 842-3611

BANK

BANK

B ATH R EMODELING Bath Remodeling Shower Remodeling Tub-To-Shower Conversion Bathroom Accessories Handicap Accessible

Bank Of Okolona Okolona

P.O. Box 306 • Okolona, Mississippi 38860

(662) 447-5403 Bank of Mantee

54 1st Street • Mantee, Mississippi

(662) 456-5341

Houston Banking Center

321 W. Madison St. • Houston, Mississippi

(662) 456-3347

Calhoun Banking Center

200 S. Pontotoc Rd. • Bruce, Mississippi

(662) 983-3700

www.bankofokolona.com

“The Sign of Service” Baldwyn • Booneville • Marietta Mantachie • Mooreville • Tupelo

Your Financial Cornerstone.

BLINDS

Give Us One Day… We’ll Give You A Beautiful New Bathroom!

662-350-3175

www.fmbms.com

BUILDING SUPPLIES

BUILDING SUPPLIES

Ph: (662) 365-7021

(662) 365-8902 N H A R Fax: Y D W L D SUPPL&Y, INC. W A R E A B

• Electrical • Glass • Valspar Paints • Welding Supplies • Portable Carports

• Full Service • Hardware • Building Supplies • Plumbing • Hydraulic Hoses

Lumbe ville e n o o r B Company Full Line of Lumber, Hardware, Plumbing and Electrical Supplies 2300 E. Chambers Dr. • Booneville • 728-0094

Booneville Hardware & Supply 403 Church St. • Booneville • 728-0032 "For all your hardware needs"

1187 North 4th St. • Baldwyn, MS 38824

JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY

JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY

TERESA MCDONALD

PHILLIP WILBURN

PRINT

Robbie Parker - Owner & Director 6 Weeks - 12 Years After School Program Available

2541 McCullough Blvd. • Tupelo, MS 38801

620-9062

Licensed And Insured

2015 McCullough Blvd. • Tupelo, MS 38801

Rex & Diannah Coggins, Owners

CHILD CARE

FREE IN HOME ESTIMATE

www.bathfitter.com

ONLINE

INTERACTIVE

PRINT

ONLINE

INTERACTIVE

Multimedia/Inside Sales Consultant

Multimedia/Inside Sales Consultant

teresa.mcdonald@journalinc.com

phillip.wilburn@journalinc.com

PO Box 909 Tupelo, MS | 38802-0909 1242 South Green Street Tupelo, MS | 38804

Phone 662.678.1531 or 1.800.270.2614 ext.530 Fax 662.620.8301

PO Box 909 Tupelo, MS | 38802-0909 1242 South Green Street Tupelo, MS | 38804

Phone 662.678.1530 or 1.800.270.2614 ext.530 Fax 662.620.8301

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

DECEMBER 2016


DECEMBER 2016

Business Directory C O L L I S I O N R E PA I R

COMMERCIAL CLEANING SERVICES

C OMMERCIAL P LUMBING

RH PLUMBING, INC. 24 Hour Wrecker Service

u Junior Burns - Cell 662-728-0524 u David Denson - Cell 662-416-5591 100 W. Veterans Drive • Booneville, MS 38829

224 Starlyn Ave. New Albany, MS 38652

662-534-4448

Phone 662-728-4459 • Fax (662) 728-4150

C ONTRACTORS

C ONCRETE

Commercial Plumbing, Gas & Industrial Piping RICHARD HANLON (662) 447-3213

Thank you for choosing RH Plumbing. We appreciate your business

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Poor Man

PLUMBING

589 N. Coley Rd. Tupelo, MS

PLUMBING & GAS | LICENSED & BONDED

401 Elizabeth St. • Tupelo 662-842-7305

Residential & Light Commercial New Construction, Remodeling & Repair

(662) 507-0054

www.careers.asurion.com Great Employment Opportunities

G IFTS

GLASS & OVERHEAD DOORS

FURNITURE

Serving Tupelo for 3 Generations

formerly Okolona Drug Co.

Everything

24 Hour Emergency Service

for 903 Varsity Dr. Tupelo, MS

Fishing

Mon.-Fri. 9am - 5pm

Mostly New Sat. 7-11

Fine Furniture, Fabric, & Flooring

104 St. Andrews Rd • Okolona, MS • (662)447-3711

I N S U L AT I O N

INSURANCE

Hancock Insurance Agency INSURANCE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES Member of the QCN Network. Saving You Money And Making You More Comfortable For Over 38 Years Residential & Commercial Insulation, Installation Blown-In Attic Insulation - Blown-in Wall Insulation - Batting www.nsul8or@att.net www.nsul8or.com

662-844-1306

P.O. BOX 417 Okolona, MS 38860

3166 West Jackson, Tupelo, MS

ATV • Life • Health Annuities • RV • Automobile Motorcycle • Home Mobile Home Medicare Supplements

Scott Hancock

Allen Hancock

Monthly Rates Available

662-534-2661 720 W. Bankhead St. New Albany

Store Fronts • Mirrors Shower Doors • Garage Doors Commercial Doors Hollow Metal Doors

662-844-4540

“Serving Tupelo for 3 Generations”

711 ROBERT E. LEE DR. • TUPELO, MS

“Experience Is The Difference”

FAX:662-620-7754

JOURNAL PUBLISHING COMPANY PRINT

ONLINE

INTERACTIVE

VERONICA BENCH

Multimedia/Inside Sales Consultant veronica.bench@journalinc.com PO Box 909 Tupelo, MS | 38802-0909 1242 South Green Street Tupelo, MS | 38804

Phone 662.678.1556 or 1.800.270.2614 ext.530 Fax 662.620.8301

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BUSINESS JOURNAL

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Business Directory KENNELS

L OCKSMITH

PRINTING

MILLER’S SAFE & LOCK SERVICE, INC.

arber Printing, Inc.

NEW & USED SAFES

• Safes Serviced & Installed • Locks Installed • Locksets • Combinations Changed • Locks Rekeyed • Lost Keys Replaced • Master Key Systems • High Security Keys AUTO RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL

(662) 842-7720

1219 ⁄2 NELLE STREET • TUPELO 1

R E A L E S TAT E

PRINTING • GRAPHIC DESIGN • SIGNS BANNERS • BLACK & WHITE/COLOR COPIES 811 A Varsity Dr. • Tupelo, MS • 662.841.1584 8am - 4:30pm • goodimpressions@barberprinting.com

R E S TA U R A N T

R E S TA U R A N T

Party Trays for all Occasions!

Thinking of Selling Your Home or Property? We Have Six Full-Time Agents Pontotoc Ridge Realty, Ltd. Who Call MOSSY OAK PROPERTIES OFFICE Pontotoc Home. ISEACH INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Call Us Today 662-489-2848 R E S TA U R A N T

1101 W. Main • Tupelo 842-3774

R E TA I L

Alternatives to Cigarettes

• Pizza Spaghetti • Salad Bar • Sandwich • Pasta Special Every Thursday

Ecigs, Mechanical Mods, Vapor Smokes, Tanks/Cartomizers, Ejuice, Blu, V2, Century 21 Ecigs

365-7059

ROOFING

W

HE

EL

ER

RO

INC.

OF

ING

“A Family Business Since 1946”

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial FREE Estimates LICENSED & INSURED

709 S 4th St. • Baldwyn, MS

411 CLARK ST. ❖ TUPELO ❖ 844-4481

Mon.-Thurs. 11-10 • Fri.-Sat. 11-11 • Sun. 12-10

TECHNOLOGY

499 Gloster Creek Village, Tupelo, MS 38801 Phone: (662) 844-4888 Fax: (662) 844-3006

TREE SERVICES

T RUCKING

Achieve greater network per for mance with less. It's time to get more performance from your network with far less. As in less bandwidth utilization, fewer resources, and less cost.

CIRCADENCE R&D FACILITY

CDF BUILDING • 398 EAST MAIN ST., 2ND FLOOR • TUPELO, MS 38804 662-821-2500 • www.circadence.com

Trimming • Removal • Stump Grinding Hazardous Tree Removal Experts Free Estimates / Insured 24-HOUR SERVICE

3637 PEPPERTOWN ROAD FULTON, MS 38834 (662) 862-6497

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15

Business Directory KENNELS

L OCKSMITH

PRINTING

MILLER’S SAFE & LOCK SERVICE, INC.

arber Printing, Inc.

NEW & USED SAFES

• Safes Serviced & Installed • Locks Installed • Locksets • Combinations Changed • Locks Rekeyed • Lost Keys Replaced • Master Key Systems • High Security Keys AUTO RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL

(662) 842-7720

1219 ⁄2 NELLE STREET • TUPELO 1

R E A L E S TAT E

PRINTING • GRAPHIC DESIGN • SIGNS BANNERS • BLACK & WHITE/COLOR COPIES 811 A Varsity Dr. • Tupelo, MS • 662.841.1584 8am - 4:30pm • goodimpressions@barberprinting.com

R E S TA U R A N T

R E S TA U R A N T

Party Trays for all Occasions!

Thinking of Selling Your Home or Property? We Have Six Full-Time Agents Pontotoc Ridge Realty, Ltd. Who Call MOSSY OAK PROPERTIES OFFICE Pontotoc Home. ISEACH INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED

Call Us Today 662-489-2848 R E S TA U R A N T

1101 W. Main • Tupelo 842-3774

R E TA I L

Alternatives to Cigarettes

• Pizza Spaghetti • Salad Bar • Sandwich • Pasta Special Every Thursday

Ecigs, Mechanical Mods, Vapor Smokes, Tanks/Cartomizers, Ejuice, Blu, V2, Century 21 Ecigs

365-7059

ROOFING

W

HE

EL

ER

RO

INC.

OF

ING

“A Family Business Since 1946”

• Residential • Commercial • Industrial FREE Estimates LICENSED & INSURED

709 S 4th St. • Baldwyn, MS

411 CLARK ST. ❖ TUPELO ❖ 844-4481

Mon.-Thurs. 11-10 • Fri.-Sat. 11-11 • Sun. 12-10

TECHNOLOGY

499 Gloster Creek Village, Tupelo, MS 38801 Phone: (662) 844-4888 Fax: (662) 844-3006

TREE SERVICES

T RUCKING

Achieve greater network per for mance with less. It's time to get more performance from your network with far less. As in less bandwidth utilization, fewer resources, and less cost.

CIRCADENCE R&D FACILITY

CDF BUILDING • 398 EAST MAIN ST., 2ND FLOOR • TUPELO, MS 38804 662-821-2500 • www.circadence.com

Trimming • Removal • Stump Grinding Hazardous Tree Removal Experts Free Estimates / Insured 24-HOUR SERVICE

3637 PEPPERTOWN ROAD FULTON, MS 38834 (662) 862-6497

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DECEMBER 2016


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