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Mississippi Business Journal
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NEWSMAKERS
October 2020 Issue
Webb named loan officer John McRae Recognized for Community Bank by Barron’s Magazine Jimmie Webb has recently been named Loan Officer. A native of Pelahatchie, Webb recently served as Management Trainee and has been in banking for one year. In his new role, Webb will focus on managing and growing a portfolio of loans and deposits. Webb is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor in Economics and Finance. Active in his community, Webb serves as a member of Webb Rotary Club of Tupelo, member of Tupelo Young Professionals and Ambassador for Tupelo Community Development Foundation. He and his wife, Laken, currently reside in Saltillo.
Pizzimenti named to Internal Medicine Board
David Pizzimenti, D.O., has been appointed to a three-year term on the Board of Trustees of the American Board of Internal Medicine. As North Mississippi Medical Center’s Associate Medical Officer of Acute Care, Dr. Pizzimenti directs the hospitalist program as well as the new Internal Medicine Residency Program. He completed his Pizzimenti undergraduate studies at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He earned his medical degree from Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, followed by an internal medicine internship and residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida. A board-certified internal medicine physician, Dr. Pizzimenti was inducted into the American College of Osteopathic Internist College of Fellows in 2009. In addition, he is a certified wound care specialist.
HOPE named winner of inaugural Beacon Award
The Lipman Family Prize has announced Hope Enterprise Corporation (HOPE) as one of two winners of the Beacon Award. Managed by The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Lipman Family Prize recognizes change-makers who “bring innovative ideas to new places and problems around the world” and “celebrates leadership and innovation in the social sector with an emphasis on impact and [the] transferability of practices.” Previous Lipman Prize honorees were eligible for the Beacon Award. HOPE and fellow awardee CareMessage will receive $250,000 in unrestricted funds. A 2016 Lipman honoree, key factors in HOPE’s selection were its effectiveness in delivering financial services to disenfranchised communities, and influencing policies and practices that increase economic mobility in one of the most impoverished regions in the United States.
John McRae, Senior Financial Advisor for Raymond James Financial Services in Citizens National Bank’s Wealth Management Division, has been recognized as one of the top financial advisors in Mississippi. Barron’s Magazine recently named their 2020 Top Financial Advisors in each state, and the publication ranked McRae in second place for Mississippi. Factors included in the McRae rankings are assets under management, regulatory record, quality of practice, revenue produced and philanthropic work. Barron’s is an American weekly magazine/newspaper published by Dow Jones & Company. Founded in 1921, Barron’s is a sister publication to The Wall Street Journal. Citizens National Bank is an independent, Mississippi-owned community bank which has 27 bank locations throughout the state of Mississippi. The Bank currently has assets in excess of $1.5 billion and manages an additional $1.5 billion through its Wealth Management Division. Raymond James and Citizens National Bank have been working together to provide investment services to the CNB footprint for over 25 years.
Farlow named CEO for Healthcare Providers
The Healthcare Providers Insurance Company (HPIC) Board of Directors recently announced that Rick Farlow has been named President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Farlow‘s employment with HPIC began on July 6. Mr. Farlow has more than 30 years of experience in the Healthcare Professional Liability Insurance arena. Prior to joining HPIC, Mr. Farlow served in a dual role for a large, national insurance carrier. As a Managing Director, he was responsible for client Farlow services, managing broker relationships and worked closely with a multi-disciplinary team of Claims, Clinical Risk Management, Performance Analytics and Underwriting. A native Mississippian, Mr. Farlow holds a B.S. in Business Administration from William Carey University.
Woods tapped as chief of staff at Auditor’s Office
Shad White recently announced that Charles Woods has been appointed as his Chief of Staff at the Mississippi Office of the State Auditor. Woods joins the Auditor’s office from Washington, DC. He has served his home state from Mississippi’s First Congressional District office in various positions since 2015, most recently as Deputy Chief of Staff to Mississippi Congressman Trent Kelly. Woods has also served as a commissioned officer in the Mississippi Army National Guard since obtaining an undergraduate degree in Public Policy Leadership from the Sally McDonnell-Barksdale Honors College at the
University of Mississippi. Woods is a Captain with the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team and serves as the Brigade Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander. He has commanded an infantry company on deployments to Kuwait, Oman, Syria, and Jordan in support of Operation Spartan Shield. Woods is a graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School and Air Assault School. Former Chief of Staff William “Bill” Pope will continue his tenure at the office part-time as Senior Advisor to the Auditor.
Hattiesburg Clinic selects new CEO Hattiesburg Clinic has announced Bryan N. Batson, MD, as the new chief executive officer (CEO). Batson, a Hattiesburg Clinic internal medicine physician for 17 years, has served on the Hattiesburg Clinic board of directors for the past 12 years, and he currently serves as the clinic’s chief medical informatics officer. Under his direction, the clinic’s Epic electronic medical record installation is considered in the top 5% of Epic’s clients worldwide. Batson Batson follows Tommy G. Thornton, FACMPE, as the Hattiesburg Clinic chief executive officer. Thornton has served at Hattiesburg Clinic for the last 50 years.
Blackbourn steps down as MSU dean of Education
Mississippi State’s Richard Blackbourn, who has led the university’s College of Education for 15 years, is stepping back to the faculty and returning to the classroom effective Jan.1, 2021. The announcement was made today [July 1] by MSU Provost and Executive Vice President David R. Shaw who commended the longtime dean for his leadership of the college and for his work in preparing highly qualified professionals in the education field. One of Blackbourn’s major successes has been his involvement in the establishment of the Mississippi Excellence in Teaching Program in 2012. He was a co-principal investigator on the $42 million proposal that established the METP, a joint project with the University of Mississippi that today provides academic and Blakbourn scholarship opportunities to bright students pursuing teacher degrees.
Starks named presidentelect of NAHU
Eugene Starks, a Jackson-based insurance agent, was recently appointed president-elect of the National Association of Health Underwriters’ Board of Trustees. Starks has spent over a decade as a partner with Benefit Administration Services Ltd., an employee benefits TPA, consulting and brokerage firm in Ridgeland. He is also a partner and founding member of
Acuity Group, a leading-edge agency that integrates innovative technologies across the HR and employee benefit spectrum. Starks holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi and is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute of Organization Management.
Southern AgCredit promotes Pam Vitteck
Southern AgCredit recently promoted Pam Vitteck to senior loan closer. Vitteck holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi and a Master of Business Management from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She is also a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy. Vitteck joined Southern AgCredit in 2013 as a loan administrator. “Pam has done an excellent job serving local customers at our Gulfport office,” said PhilVitteck lip Morgan, the rural lending cooperative’s chief executive officer. “In her new role, she’ll also assist customers all across our territory.”
Nowlin joins Fairview Inn as Events Manager
Stephanie Nowlin has joined the Fairview Inn team as the new events manager. Previously, she served as the Catering Sales Manager at La Brioche in Fondren, where she managed all corporate and social events. Stephanie also has marketing experience through her time at Medicomp Physical Therapy and Capital Orthopaedic. Nowlin lives in Brandon with her husband, Damon, and is a mother to Jameson, Nowlin Waylon, and Mamie as well as a bonus mom to J.D., Claire, and Carsyn. She enjoys traveling, reading anything by Paulo Coelho, and spending time with her family.
BancorpSouth to open a new branch in Jackson
BancorpSouth Bank (NYSE: BXS) is expanding its services in Jackson, Mississippi, by opening a new full-service banking branch in the market. Construction of the office, located between Ellis Avenue and Robinson Road near the Westland Plaza area, is scheduled for completion during the fourth quarter of 2020. The branch will provide a full suite of products and services for checking, savings, credit cards, commercial services, mortgages, consumer loans and business loans to help residents and business owners reach their financial goals. BancorpSouth is the fourth largest bank by deposits in the Jackson, Mississippi metropolitan area, with nearly 10 percent of the market share and 18 branch locations in the area.