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LOOKING BACK

Felicia Gavin

2016 Woman of the Year CANDIDATES: Meet the 2016 class vying for next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top business honor

The Mississippi Economic Council is proud to congratulate the “Top 50 Women in Business!”

Special Congratulations to All of the “Top 50 Women in Business” for 2016! 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.

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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

Felicia Gavin

2016 Business Woman of the Year

INSIDE LOOKING BACK: 2016 Business Woman of the Year – Felicia Gavin ...................................4-5 PHOTO PAGES: Announcement celebration ......................................................................8-12 ALUMNI: Past 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi .............................................50-54 SPONSORS

Special event of the

LOOKING BACK

n Felicia Gavithe Year 2016 Woman of

CANDIDATES: Meet

the 2016 class vying for

next year’s top business

Photo by Stegall

honor

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MBJ Staff ALAN TURNER Publisher alan.turner@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1021 TAMI JONES Assocate Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1011 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1018 FRANK BROWN Staff Writer/Special Projects frank.brown@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1022 TED CARTER Staff Writer ted.carter@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1017 JACK WEATHERLY Staff Writer jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1015 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1018 MELISSA KILLINGSWORTH Sr. Account Executive melissa.harrison@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1030 VIRGINIA HODGES Account Executive virginia.hodges@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1012 TACY RAYBURN Production Manager tacy.rayburn@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1019 CHARINA RHODES Circulation Manager charina.rhodes@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1045 MARCIA THOMPSON-KELLY Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • 601-364-1044 Subscription Services 601-364-1000 charina.rhodes@msbusiness.com

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CONTENTS

ON THE COVER

2016 CLASS SAMANTHA D. ABELL City of Gulf Breeze .........................................................14 LILLI EVANS BASS Brown Bass & Jeter, PLLC .............................................. 15 NATALIE BEMENT EMI Staffing ..................................................................16 HOPE BLANKENSHIP To The Rescue Bookkeeping, LLC ................................... 17 NATELLA G. BOULTON Merrill Lynch .................................................................18 MADELEINE HALL BROWN Fisher Brown Bottrell .....................................................19 TALIAH R. BROWN-MCCOY McCoy Bakery............................................................... 20 JORDAN H. BRYAN Ross & Yerger ................................................................ 21 NANCY LUKE CARPENTER Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau .........................22 KIM CONDON Boondocks Firearm Training Academy.............................23 STEPHANIE CUMMINS Front Gate Realty.......................................................... 24 AMY KEBERT ELDER Baker Donelson ............................................................ 25 TANYA D. ELLIS Forman Watkins & Krutz ............................................... 26 CHINELO BOSAH EVANS Jackson Public School Middle School Division .................27 BRANDI KENNEDY GARRETT GI Associates................................................................ 28 KELLY GRAEBER Oxford School District................................................... 29 PAMELA L. HANCOCK Hancock Law Firm ........................................................ 30 SOCORRO HARVEY NVision Solutions, Inc. .................................................. 31 ERICA GRANT HINES Neel-Schaffer................................................................32 LOROSE HUNTER Regions .........................................................................33 LINDSEY-CLAIRE HUTCHINS Lindsey Claire Dance Company & The Purple Reader Project..34 EMILY H. INGRAM E Ingram Inc - AFLAC ................................................... 34 LAUREL ISBISTER IRBY Greater Belhaven Foundation .........................................35 LAURA P. JOHNS Fuse.Cloud ....................................................................35 NATUNYA DAVIS JOHNSON Work of Art Salon/ ISH Grill and Bar ............................. 36

JEANHEE KANG Prudential - Ann Prewitt Realty..................................... 36 TABATHA FRANKLIN KENNEY Career Development Center............................................37 DR. DEJONNETTE GRANTHAM KING Advance Environmental Consultants, Inc.........................37 NATALIE LATHAM Community Bank .......................................................... 38 MARTHA L. LEWIS Tanks Dive Shop ........................................................... 38 BRITTNEY LUKE The Taylor Group Inc..................................................... 39 DEANNA MARTINO Martino Claim Services and Hurricane Creek Mobile Homes...39 JESSICA B. MCNEEL Bryan, Nelson, Schroeder, Castigliola and Banahan ........40 DIXIE NEWMAN Biloxi City Councilwoman ..............................................40 SHARON G. PLUNKETT Young Wells ..................................................................41 MELISSA PUTNAM eSoftware Solutions, Inc ................................................41 CAROLYN RAINS Automation Designs & Solutions, Inc. ........................... 42 SABRINA BOSARGE RUFFIN Jones Walker ................................................................ 42 CONNIE SIGGERS-PARKER Comcast ....................................................................... 43 STEPHANIE SIMS Jackson Eye Associates PLLCl ........................................ 43 SHAY SMITH Harrah’s Gulf Coast .......................................................44 KATIE BRYANT SNELL Butler Snow .................................................................44 BETTY H. STAINES Irby Electrical................................................................ 45 SELENA LAJEAN STANDIFER Mississippi Department of Transportation ...................... 45 TERESA F. THORNHILL Citizens National Bank .................................................. 46 SHELLEY CRESSWELL WALKER Lyric Hotel and Spa, Chawla Point LLC ........................... 46 NICOLE G. WATKINS Priority Insurance ......................................................... 47 TANYA G. WEBBER Charities Division/Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office 47 DEBBIE MILLER WESTBROOK iHeart Media ................................................................48 ALLYSON LAMBERT WINTER Trustmark National Bank...............................................48

2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 3

2016 BWOY

Thrill is never gone for Business Woman of the Year — Felicia Gavin

Felicia Gavin has been immersed in numbers her entire working life. Counting them, adjusting them, projecting them – the thrill is never gone. Today she is in her element as executive vice president and general manager of DiamondJacks Casino & Hotel in Vicksburg, one of Mississippi’s major gaming destinations. With the numbers come the added responsibility of overseeing a $50 million a year budget and leading a work force of 300 people who keep the 24/7 casino, hotel and food service operations humming along. “It became very addictive,” Gavin says of the long, stressful hours and the non-stop learning opportunities that the gaming business offered her at its birth as a Mississippi industry more than 20 years ago. Her start in 1993 as ﬁnance director for Harrah’s in Vicksburg led to a position as regional vice president of ﬁnance for Isle of Capri Casinos and later to the top job for DiamondJacks’ Vicksburg operation. “There was a lot to learn and a lot to do,” Gavin recalls. Today, she is in her eighth year as Diamondjack’s general manager, a job she says never ceases to test her nimbleness.

Go in expecting to do “A,” “B” and “C” but end up doing “D” and “E,” Gavin says. Gavin grew up in the paper mill town of Bastrop, Louisiana, and came to Mississippi to work as an accountant for Hughes Aircraft in Forest after earning a ﬁnance degree at Louisiana Tech. In the years since, she has gained recognition as one of Mississippi’s leading executives, having entered the gaming industry in its infancy and become one of its key decision makers. Her most recent recognition came last Thursday with her selection as the Mississippi Business Journal’s Business Woman of the Year. “We are truly delighted to have selected Felicia as this year’s Business Woman of the Year,” Alan Turner, MBJ publisher, said. “With her background in public service and the private sector, she is certainly one of Mississippi’s great woman success stories. “I can’t say enough about all of our Top 50 Business Women, and it is incredibly gratifying to know that we have so many highly qualiﬁed business leaders in our state.” With an elementary school teacher as a mother, Gavin grew up in a household that greatly valued education. Spiritual faith carried immense value as well, Gavin says. Both parents “instilled in me that education is fundamental to any success,” says Gavin, who carried that belief into an adulthood in which she would gain a master’s degree in business administration from Mississippi College and a doctorate in higher education from Jackson State University. Faith has been her foundation, she says. “I grew up with faith. A lot of who I am is faith driven.” With that, Gavin says, has come “a strong belief that I can do anything I want to do” in both life and business. Toward the end of the 1990s, Gavin

Previous recipients of Business Woman of the Year SISTER MARY DOROTHEA SONDGEROTH St. Dominic - 2000 ROBYN TANNEHILL GodwinGroup - 2001 GAIL PITTMAN Gail Pittman, Inc. - 2002 DR. FRANCES LUCAS Millsaps College – 2003 ELEANOR ROGERS Quality Hospice & Quality Healthcare – 2004 D’AUBY SCHIEL Community Bank Coast – 2005 LINDA C. WATTS Mississippi Power Company – 2006 JANE R. DENNIS Corporate Secretary-Treasurer – 2007 KATHRYN H. HESTER Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis – 2008 JOEY F. GARNER TEC – 2009 JANET SULLIVAN MDOT - 2010 ROSI JOHNSON Mississippi Music - 2011 DANA HARBERS UMC - 2012 MENDE ALFORD Old Capitol Inn - 2013 PAT THOMASSON Thomasson and Company - 2014 ROSEMARY SMITH R & R Rentals and Hotshot, Inc. - 2015

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4 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

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2016 BWOY Candie Simmons is one of the first to congratulate Felicia Gavin, on becoming 2016 Business Woman of Year. left the casino business briefly to join the staff of Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove as director of administration and fiscal policy. “I saw that as a-oncein-a-lifetime opportunity,” she says of the political appointment. “I was there for three years” until the governor completed his term, Gavin says. “It was probably one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I got to travel across the state of Mississippi and meet people from all walks of life.” Gavin expected her time in the public sector would be short. Fortunately for her, Harrah’s had encouraged her to experience the business outside of the accounting offices. That policy – part of an industry-wide strategy of creating homegrown executives – gave her a holistic perspective on the operations of the casino and its lodging and food-service amenities, she says. A year after she returned to the gaming business as an executive with Isle of Capri, Gulfport-based and privately held DiamondJacks bought the casino/hotel and promoted Gavin to regional vice president of finance. With the position came a mentor, Kim Tullos, the casino and hotel’s GM. “She groomed me to take her position when she left. We worked well together, side-by-side.” Gavin says she has strived to do for her employees what Tullos did for her. “Maybe the persons themselves do not realize they have the potential but you see that potential. You have an obligation to pull that out of them.” In many instances, it’s not that the employees don’t want to take on new responsibilities and challenges,

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it’s just that no one has mentored them and helped them move to the next level, she says. As the “face of the casino,” Gavin devotes a large portion of time to community projects and causes such as the United Way and American Cancer Society. “We are in the community to give back to the community,” she says. Gavin also has maintained her devotion to education, serving as an adjunct professor for Alcorn State University’s master degree program in hospitality and gaming management in Vicksburg. “I am able to apply some practical experience with textbook theory” to give students a real-world perspective, she says. As one of four casinos in the city, DiamondJacks’ market share is hardly guaranteed and gains in it come only at the expense of competitors, according to Gavin. “When we pick up market share someone else is losing. And we have gained some market share; not signiﬁcantly, but we have moved the needle.” Unlike winning at blackjack, winning market share doesn’t come by chance, especially in Mississippi’s stagnant casino industry. It comes from setting your casino apart from the others, Gavin says. “We hang our hat on guest services.” For Gavin, eight years into her general manager’s job, some questions remain every bit as 24/7 as DiamondJacks’ casino operation. “How do I move the business to the next level? How do I inspire everyone else to take that step?”

2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 5

NOMINATE SOMEONE TODAY!

Please nominate women from our state who need to be recognized... Your mother, your daughter, your co-worker, your neighbor, your friend, your sister,…or just someone whom you admire.

A Special Publication of the

NOMINATION FORM I nominate as one of Mississippi’s 50 Leading Business Women. She is currently employed with

Business address: City: Work phone:

State:

Zip: Fax:

Email*: Nominated by:

Phone:

Email: *valid email address is very important, as this is our primary method of communication. All information is conﬁdential. Once all nominations are received, a follow up packet will be sent to each nominee.

Email: events@msbusiness.com MAIL TO MBJ, 200 N. CONGRESS ST., SUITE 400, JACKSON, MS 39201 OR FAX (601) 364-1007 Rules: Nominee must be a resident or employed in Mississippi; self-nominated or by someone else; an owner, partner, president, CEO, CFO, COO, board chair, senior executive manager, or a woman with significant authority for the decision making in either a for-profit or non-profit organization. Nominees who hold political office will not be considered solely on the basis of political achievements. Age is not an issue. Nominee may not be an employee or company member of MBJ. Women who have been previous recipients of this award are not eligible. Judges recuse themselves from evaluating associates in their own companies.

LUNCHEON Eagle Ridge Conference Center in Raymond

PHOTOS BY DERYLL STEGALL| STEGALL IMAGERY

8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

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PHOTOS BY DERYLL STEGALL| STEGALL IMAGERY

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2016 Fifty Leading Business Women â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9

PHOTOS BY DERYLL STEGALL| STEGALL IMAGERY

10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

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GIRLS NIGHT OUT Governor’s Mansion & Old Capitol Inn

12 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

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2016 MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL’S 50 LEADING BUSINESS WOMEN

Congratulations, Nancy Luke Carpenter, Our CEO! Her footprint is all over Columbus and the State of Mississippi!

Advisor: Restoration of the Tennessee Tombigbee Pedestrian Bridge Project Manager: Restoration of Tennessee Williams Home Advisory Board: Mississippi Civil Rights Museum Board of Trustees: Mississippi Department of Archives & History Project Manager: Columbus Children’s Museum Advisory Board: Golden Triangle Development Link

The City of Columbus, Mississippi www.visitcolumbusms.org

Mayor Robert E. Smith, Sr. and Columbus City Council

Samantha D. Abell

City of Gulf Breeze

In 2010, Gautier faced infrastructure, budget and organization challenges as the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s newest city and also one of its largest, at 33-square miles. As City Manager, Samantha Abell made structural transformations, instituting decentralized management and performance controls. She drafted and executed a 5-year strategic plan and several master plans, including the I-10 East Lake Commerce and Technology Park, attracting a 16-acre medical and ambulatory campus. Additionally, Gautier installed a clear water plant using the newest technology at a fraction of typical costs, thanks to savings from utility modernizations citywide. Under Samanthaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leadership, Gautier received four statewide awards in four years for community development by the Mississippi Municipal League and Mississippi Economic Development Council, and a SEDC award beating 17 states. Samantha is a 2012 Top 10 South Mississippi Business Leader Under 40, listed in the Roland Weeks Leadership Hall of Fame, a Rotarian, and ICMA member.

14 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

www.msbusiness.com

Lilli Evans Bass

Brown Bass & Jeter, PLLC

Lilli Evans Bass focuses on being more than an advocate and advisor but also on helping her clients avoid litigation if possible. Lilli currently serves as Managing Partner of Brown Bass & Jeter, PLLC, and practices law in the areas of general and automobile liability, medical malpractice/professional liability, employment law, premises liability, and government and administrative law. She has signiﬁcant trial experience in both federal and state courts in Mississippi. Lilli earned her law degree from the University of Mississippi School of law in 2008. Additionally, Lilli serves as Municipal Judge for the City of Yazoo City, Mississippi, having been appointed in 2014 by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen. Lilli has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers, Top 50 Under 40 by the Mississippi Business Journal, and Top Lawyers in Mississippi. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis, reading, and spending time with her family.

www.msbusiness.com

2016 FiftyLeading Business Women – 15

Natalie Bement

EMI Staffing

Natalie Bement, a graduate of University of Alabama, serves as Director of Operations for EMI Staffing. When Natalie started at EMI Staffing in 2003, there was one small office with three people. Today, she has a staff of 22 corporate employees, 3 Branches and employs over 3,500 people in North Mississippi. Natalie has worked diligently to create a place of employment that promotes work and family balance. This may explain why EMI was voted Best Places to Work in Mississippi 2015 & 2016. An avid community volunteer, she has served as President for Grenada’s Rotary Club and Chairman of the Industrial Relations Committee. Natalie’s professional mission is to develop people into dedicated hard working individuals that maximize their full potential and who make lasting contributions to the companies they work for. When Natalie is not attending her son Kyle’s sporting events, she enjoys exercising, reading and traveling.

Congratulations to our own Natalie Latham for being selected as one of Mississippi’s 50 Leading Business Women.

• Natalie has been a member of the Community Bank family since 2005. • Serving as our Vice President of Marketing, she brings creative leadership to our banks. • She is an expression of how compassionate, committed and caring Community Bank truly is.

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Hope Blankenship

To The Rescue Bookkeeping, LLC

Hope Blankenship was born in South Carolina in April 1983. Her family moved to Anchorage, Alaska where her parents were church worship directors for ten years. While a southern belle at heart, she did enjoy camping and fishing while in Alaska. Her father has owned a piano tuning and rebuilding business for over 30 years and her mother owned a fine dining restaurant for six years which Hope managed. In 2007, Hope opened her own bookkeeping firm. Since then, the company has grown to over 9 employees in 6 different states. Her emphasis is on hiring military spouses who can take their careers with them when their spouses get stationed across the world. In 2008 Hope married Daniyel Blankenship, he’s currently stationed at Keesler Air Force base and celebrating his 16th year in the Air Force. They have 2 children Austin, 14, and Grace, 7. In 2011 they were brought to Biloxi, Mississippi, where they’ve established a great business base as well as wonderful friends. Hope has a heart for small businesses and their growth. In 2012 she won the Mississippi Small Business Association Young Entrepreneur of the year award, and her business also won the Sam’s Club Small Business Championship in 2014.

www.msbusiness.com

2016 FiftyLeading Business Women – 17

Natella G. Boulton

Merrill Lynch

Natella Boulton is a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management in Ridgeland. She works with families and institutional clients to provide ongoing advice and portfolio management. Natella holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration and Marketing from Mississippi University for Women. A native of Russia, Natella is active with the local international community, and has been instrumental in developing the first Russian-speaking community in MS. She is involved in a number of civic and philanthropic activities, and serves on the board of directors of the MS Center for Nonprofits. Natella and her husband Charles have two daughters, and enjoy traveling, supporting the arts and spending time with the family.

GOOD NEWS would like to send a huge congratulations to

Connie Siggers-Parker for being selected as one of the 2016 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi! This is a huge honor for Connie and all of the other honorees.

IS WORTH REPEATING! Digital Reprint Article or list will be reformatted with Mississippi Business Journal masthead on the top of the page and be provided in PDF format. Plaque - 9”x12” or 8”x10” - $199

Framed Article Articles are reformatted to ﬁt on either one or two pages with Mississippi Business Journal masthead on the top of the page. Article size is 8.5” x 11”. Frame size - 14” x 16.5” - $199

Framed articles take approximately one month to complete.

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Congratulations Connie! At Comcast, we are turning up the technology, transforming the customer experience, and building the future of awesome. www.xfinity.com

18 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

Call: 601-364-1044 Fax: (601) 364-1007 WAYS TO ORDER » Fax or mail: Mississippi Business Journal Attn: Marcia Kelly 200 North Congress St, Ste 400, Jackson 39201 Email: marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com or print off form at http://msbusiness.com/wp-ﬁles/forms/article-request-form-web.pdf

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Madeleine Hall Brown

Fisher Brown Bottrell

Madeleine Brown joined The Bottrell Agency in October of 2011. Madeleine is a graduate of the University of Mississippi with a degree in Finance with emphasis in Risk Management and Insurance. She has been in the insurance and employee benefit consulting business for 10 + years. She is quite experienced in Employee Benefit development, implementation, and consulting. Madeleine currently manages a large volume of employee benefits throughout the State of Mississippi and 7 other states. She has served as a board member of the Mississippi Association Health Underwriters (MAHU), Mississippi Health Underwriters PAC chair, Membership Chair of MAHU, and on the board of the Jackson Association of Health Underwriters. Madeleine serves as an instructor for the Mississippi Association of Self Insurers (MASI) Certified Self- Insured Health Professional course, specifically the Module III Plan Design class. In April 2015, Madeleine was named one of the Top 50 Under 40 Business Leaders by The Mississippi Business Journal. Married to a dentist, Brown is the mother of one child and enjoys spending time with family.

Gov. Phil Bryant and First Lady Deborah Bryant congratulate the 50 Leading Business Women Class of 2016 for their dedication to Mississippi communities and businesses www.msbusiness.com

2016 FiftyLeading Business Women – 19

Taliah R. Brown-McCoy

McCoy Bakery

Taliah Brown-McCoy has loved food and loved to prepare food her entire life. That has led her to the position she is in today as the Assistant Director for Food Nutrition Services for Merit Health Northwest Hospital in Clarksdale. She is responsible for overseeing day to day operations of the hospital cafeteria for patients and the retail area as well as ordering food and supplies, making employee schedules, overseeing internal and external catering events, providing accurate inventory tracking and count reports. Prior to working for Merit Health, Brown-McCoy worked for the Mississippi Department of Health in Cleveland for three years. Brown-McCoy is a native of Cleveland where she graduated from East Side High School before moving on and graduating from Mississippi University for Women with a BS in Culinary Arts with a Food Art minor.

20 16

CO ONG GRA ATU ULA ATIO ONS TO O

We don’t just practice in this community

WE’RE A PART OF IT

J Jones Walker W lk LLP proudly salutes our associate Sabrina B. Ruffin on being named one of the 2016 Mississippi Business Journal’s “50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi” recipients, and we congratulate Sabrina and all of the honorees for their achievements and contributions across the state.

20 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

engineers | planners | environmental scientists | landscape architects | structural designers www.neel-schaffer.com

www.msbusiness.com

Jordan H. Bryan

Ross & Yerger

Jordan Bryan, a native of Jackson, is the ﬁrst female producer to become a partner at Ross & Yerger Insurance. She joined the agency in 2010 as a Producer specialized in growing their Personal Lines Division. Since joining the agency, she has become a Shareholder, was named Vice President, and was appointed to R&Y’s Board of Directors in 2015. She’s received national recognition from Insurance Business America as a Top Young Gun in 2015 and as an Elite Woman in Insurance in 2016. Bryan is a graduate of The University of Southern Mississippi and has her MBA from Millsaps College. Prior to joining R&Y, Bryan lived in New York City where she worked at Goldman Sachs. She currently serves as president of her local Delta Gamma Alumnae Chapter, is president of the St. Andrew’s Episcopal School Alumni Board and is on the board Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center. She is actively involved with the local JDRF chapter and Junior League. Her biggest joy comes from spending time with her husband, Chase, and being a mom to her two-year old twins, Hailey and Carson.

www.msbusiness.com

2016 FiftyLeading Business Women – 21

Nancy Luke Carpenter

Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau

In 1971 Nancy began her banking career with Uniﬁrst Bank as Vice President. Mrs. Carpenter served as Grant Chairman of the Junior League of Jackson and represented Mississippi State University on the Inter-Alumni Council. In 1990 she began her Columbus, Mississippi banking career serving as Vice President of First Columbus, Deposit Guaranty and AmSouth. In 2006 Carpenter was named Practitioner of the Year by the Public Relations Association of Mississippi. She served on the executive committee for the United States Military Academy’s West Point Parents’ Club. Carpenter is CEO of Visit Columbus and a Wingman at Columbus Air Force Base. She serves on the Executive Board of the Mississippi Tourism Association. In 2011 Governor Haley Barbour appointed Nancy to the Civil Rights Museum Commission. She also serves on the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, receiving conﬁrmation from the State of Mississippi.

The family of

Tabatha Kenney proudly salutes her on being honored as one of the 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi.

22 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

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Kim Condon

Boondocks Firearm Training Academy Kim Condon figured out later in life what she wanted to be when she grew up. A successful business woman who can multitask family while operating two businesses. She, along with her husband Mark, are the founders and owners of Boondocks Firearms Training Academy™, located in Raymond Mississippi. Kim is also the founder and owner-operator of Skincare Studio in Clinton Mississippi. Kim is ultimately an educator. She educates her skincare clientele about their skincare needs. She is also an NRA/TWAW certified firearms instructor where she educates those interested in becoming a responsible gun owner how to do so safely and effectively. Kim is married to Mark. They have two children and four grandchildren. She is passionate about life, her family and her freedoms to protect them. Kim is real. Kim is relatable. Kim leads by example and she never meets a stranger. Kim is a Proud American Gun Toten’ Mimi!

PLLC

Young Wells Williams P.A. congratulates

Sharon G. Plunkett for being named to the

Attorney Lilli Evans Bass for being selected as one of Mississippi's

Mississippi Business Journal’s

50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi for 2016.

50 Leading Business Women Class of 2016 PLLC

Attorneys at Law P.O. Box 1167 | Jackson, MS 39215 | oevanslaw@gmail.com Office: (601)957-7685 | Cell: (601) 842-5105

www.msbusiness.com

141 Township Avenue, Suite 300 • Ridgeland, MS 39157 Phone: (601) 948-6100 • Fax: (601) 355-6136 www.youngwells.com

2016 FiftyLeading Business Women – 23

Stephanie Cummins

Front Gate Realty

Stephanie Cummins’ advice to others is to dream big, but she still has trouble believing a dream she and her future business partner, Shellye Beach, had in 2010 has turned into a successful business. Stephanie Cummins is Associate Broker and co-owner of Front Gate Realty in Ridgeland. The agency has grown from 4 agents in 2010 to 31 agents today. Cummins oversees the administration of our two offices and day-to-day activities, in addition to supporting our agents as they handle all aspects of their real estate transactions. Upon graduation from Mississippi State University with a major in Construction Management and Land Development, Cummins worked with Keller Williams for three years, where she learned the basics of selling real estate and developed her own processes and techniques. Then, she and Beach opened Front Gate Realty. Cummins’ recognitions include: National Association of Realtors 30 under 30 (2013), Mississippi Association of Realtors Under 40 award (2014), MSU Hall of Fame (2007), and Phi Mu Lady of the Year (2007). She is active in the Junior League of Jackson, the American Cancer Society and the Phi Mu Alumni.

Connie Siggers-Parker

We are so proud of you!!! Love, Pervis, Kaylon, and your family

24 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

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Amy Kebert Elder

Baker Donelson

Amy Kebert Elder, a shareholder at Baker Donelson, focuses her practice on regulatory and business law for the gaming industry in Mississippi and Louisiana. She advises clients on matters ranging from project development, licensing and compliance to ﬁnancing and restructuring. She regularly appears on behalf of her clients before the Mississippi Gaming Commission. Ms. Elder is currently serving her second term on the Board of Trustees of the International Association of Gaming Advisors. Prior to attending law school, she held a Series 7 license and worked in the securities industry. A graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, Ms. Elder is the proud mother of her daughter, Meridith. In her free time, she can be found trying out new recipes in her kitchen and catching up on cooking shows.

CONGRATULATIONS K ELLY GRAEBER

on being recognized as one of the

from your Boondocks™ Family

www.msbusiness.com

2016 FiftyLeading Business Women – 25

Tanya D. Ellis

Forman Watkins & Krutz

Tanya Ellis is a partner with Forman Watkins & Krutz. After graduating from Mississippi College School of Law, earning her J.D. summa cum laude, she was admitted to the Mississippi Bar in 2004. She also has been admitted to the United States Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth District. Ellis earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science at the University of Mississippi. She has been a part of the the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project, Mississippi Center for Justice, Post-Katrina Legal Assistance and Stewpot Community Services Legal Clinic. Practice areas include Asbestos, Environmental Litigation, National Coordinating Counsel, Mass Tort Fraud, Appellate, Product Liability, Premises Liability and Personal Injury. She has been a Mid-South Rising Star since 2010 in Civil Litigation Defense: Products. She was in selected on of Portico Jackson’s 2012 Portico 10. In law school, Ellis was a Herrin-Hess Scholar, a member of the Law Review and the Moot Court Board. She is a member of The Mississippi Bar, the Fifth Circuit Bar Association, the Hinds County Bar Association, Jackson Young Lawyers, Board of Directors, and Mississippi Women Lawyers Association.

Congratulates Community Bank’s

Natalie Latham

Congratulations Jordan! From your First Job

2016 Mississippi Business Journal’s 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi Beemon Drugs Lester and Ellen Hailey, Owners

STEPHANIE! So proud of you!

-Julie Harrison

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Chinelo Bosah Evans

Jackson Public School Middle School Division

Chinelo Bosah Evans is Chief Academic Officer of the Middle School Division in the Jackson Public School District. She previously was principal of Northwest Jackson IB Middle School. She received both her Bachelor’s Degree in English and Masters’ Degree in Educational Leadership from Jackson State University. She earned a Specialist’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Mississippi College and will pursue a doctoral degree at Mississippi College. Evans’ philosophy is that education is an asset that gives students a path to opportunity and success. She believes it is her duty to empower everyone to take ownership in the education process. She also believes educators must use every resource to produce self-conﬁdent, respectful, caring leaders for the future.

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2016 FiftyLeading Business Women – 27

Brandi Kennedy Garrett

GI Associates

Brandi Garrett serves as the Director of Human Resources for GI Associates & Endoscopy Center, a Gastroenterology practice with over 300 employees. A resident of Madison, Garrett grew up in the Hattiesburg area and earned her degree from Mississippi State University. She serves as the Certiﬁcation Director for Mississippi SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management) and is an active committee member of CAHRA (Capital Area Human Resource Association). A member of the 2015 Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40 class, Garrett also received the 2016 SHRM Spirit of HR award. She is active in her community with local charities, such as the March of Dimes, where she assists with fundraising. Married to Benjamin Garrett, with one son, Grayson, Garrett enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

We Proudly Congratulate CONGRATULATIONS! NANCY CARPENTER

50 LEADING

BUSINESSWOMEN Thank you for the example you set for women and the positive impact you make on our state.

Tanya Ellis Selected as a

2016 Leading Business Woman

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

28 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

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Kelly Graeber

Oxford School District

Kelly Graeber is communications coordinator with the Oxford School District, a position she’s held since 2013. She has 17 years of professional experience in media and public relations, special project coordination, strategic marketing, event planning, and volunteering. Previously, Graeber was the inaugural director of Volunteer Oxford, Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau public relations director, development coordinator at Mississippi Children’s Home Services, and special projects officer at the Mississippi State Department of Health. She has been honored by the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM) Central Chapter as Emerging Public Relations Practitioner of the Year and Outstanding Public Relations Practitioner of the Year. She serves in leadership roles on professional public relations and community outreach organizations. A Leadership Lafayette Class of 2013 graduate, Graeber serves on the Leadership Lafayette Steering Committee and on the PRAM State Board. Graeber graduated with honors in 1998 from Mississippi College with a bachelor of science degree in communications. She also graduated from Copiah Academy. She has been an aerobics instructor for 15 years, and enjoys creative writing, working out, running, painting, and volunteering.

Proudly Congratulates

Hope Blankenship on being chosen as one of Mississippi’s 50 Leading Business Women

Congratulates our Members ... Natella Boulton

LoRose Hunter

Merrill Lynch

Regions

Brandy Barrett

Natalie Latham

GI Associates

Community Bank

Pamela Hancock

Katie Snell

Hancock Law Firm

Erica Hines

Teresa Thornhill

Neel-Schaffer

Citizens Bank

Allyson Winter Trustmark

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2016 FiftyLeading Business Women – 29

Pamela L. Hancock

Hancock Law Firm

Pamela Hancock founded the Hancock Law Firm in 2001 to serve the greater Jackson area in a variety of civil and criminal legal matters, including estate planning, criminal defense, family law and other areas. She has practiced law since 1997. She has civil and criminal litigation experience as Madison Assistant City Prosecutor from 2003-2009 and Hinds County Drug Court Prosecutor in 2010 and 2011. Hancock received her J.D., cum laude, from Mississippi College School of Law, where she was a Hearin-Hess Scholar and served on the Dean’s Advisory Committee and Mississippi College Law Review. Her legal practice focuses primarily in the areas of Wills, Trusts, Probate, Estate & Business Planning, Corporate Law, Family Law and Civil Litigation. She also acts as a mediator in these and other types of cases. Hancock volunteers with the American Cancer Society, is Past President and Gala Chair of The Cancer League, and is an honorary member of the Traceland North Garden Club. She is a member of the Madison County Business League, Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, City of Ridgeland Chamber and Madison County Chamber. She was also a member of the Leadership Madison County Class of 2015, and the Capital Area Sunset Rotary Club.

GOOD NEWS IS WORTH REPEATING!

Congratulations on your many successes, Emily Ingram! We are proud to serve with you. – Madison County Republican Women

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30 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

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Socorro Harvey

NVision Solutions, Inc.

Socorro Harvey is founder, president and CEO of Nvisions Solutions, which has been part of the Gulf Coast since 2002 and is located in Diamondhead with offices at NASA’s Stennis Space Center. NVision provides a full range of information technology, software design and development, database design and engineering, and GIS and remote sensing services and solutions. Harvey developed more than a decade of leadership and training skills though her career with Oral B Laboratories in Iowa City, IA. She has also worked with NASA’s REACT Emergency Management System at Stennis. In 2010, Harvey pioneered the development of the Magnolia Business Alliance to promote entrepreneurship, facilitate the development of new companies and foster community and national awareness of issues affecting small businesses. Nvision Solutions has received numerous awards, including: a 2006 Tibbetts Award, the 2009 Edward M. Lowe Foundation Mississippi Company to Watch, the 2011 Minority Global Technology Firm of the Year for the Southeast Region, Mississippi Small Business Innovator of the Year, and the 2015 Award for Excellence in Exporting by the Mississippi Development Authority.

MBJ 50 LEADING BUSINESS WOMEN

Nancy Luke Carpenter Columbus, MS

We love you and are proud of you! Our Mom & our Sippi!

CONGRATULATIONS JORDAN! ROSS & YERGER CONGRATULATES JORDAN BRYAN FOR BEING CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE 50 LEADING BUSINESS WOMEN IN MISSISSIPPI FOR 2016

PWA

Professional Women’s Association proudly congratulates our members

Emily Ingram and Jeanhee Kang (601) 359-2659 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women in Mississippi

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2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 31

Erica Grant Hines

Neel-Schaffer

Erica Hines feels that each day is an opportunity to learn and grow in her position as Communications Coordinator for Neel-Schaffer, the largest engineering ﬁrm in Mississippi. In her role with the multi-disciplined engineering, planning and construction management ﬁrm, Erica is responsible for a wide variety of marketing services, including advertising buys, press releases, the company’s electronic newsletter, and Neel-Schaffer appearances at conferences and trade shows. With nearly a decade of experience in marketing and communications, the Belhaven University graduate also operates her own event planning/decorating business and is an independent consultant for Paparazzi Accessories. She’s always seeking ways to be a service to others and giving of her time to volunteer with various organizations across the Jackson Metro area. Although Erica stays busy from her many roles, she’s never too busy to support her two sons in their extracurricular activities. She considers being a mom her greatest accomplishment.

g C ongratulations

Natalie Latham

201

PROUDLY CONGRATULATES

Martha Lewis The Front Gate family proudly supports

Leading Business

Women W in Mississippi 0 5W e are proud of you! The Chamber of Flowood

32 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

Stephanie Cummins

Cell:769.798.6000 Oﬃce:601.991.2900

and congratulates her on being named one of the 2016 MS Business journal’s 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi

www.myfrontgaterealty.com

www.msbusiness.com

LoRose Hunter

Regions

LoRose Hunter is At Work Banking Coordinator for Regions Financial Corp. in Jackson. Since 2014, she has overseen and manage the At Work ﬁnancial education program as well the At School customer acquisition activities for over 100 Regions branches and 800 employees throughout Mississippi. Previously she was a Business Banker with Regions for nine years. She also worked for AT&T Wireless and Marriott International. In 2015, she was a Woman of Distinction by the Girls Scouts of Greater Mississippi. She also has been involved with Habitat for Humanity, Leadership Jackson, JPS Partners in Education, Women’s Foundation of Mississippi, United Way of the Capitol Area, Executive Women International, Distinguished Young Women, Museum of Natural Science in Jackson. In giving advice to women who want to make a difference, Hunter says: “There is no better gift than to give back. I would advise them to start and become involved where you have a sincere passion and you see a great need. I wholeheartedly believe the saying ‘to whom much is given, much is also required.’”

Congratulations Tanya Webber from ATTORNEY

ERROL & TRACY HARMON

INSIDE — Navy’s new combat ship will carry

October 23, 2015 • Vol. 37, No. 43 • $1 • 28 pages

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THE 2015

» State’s historic preservation office to ask for $60M in new tax credits » Saving Mississippi’s past can brighten its economic future, Stennis report says » Heritage Trust places state’s historic tax credits on 10 Most Endangered List

A BREAKDOWN OF STATE’S TOP PRIVATELY

Shoutrage: Yelling instead of fixing

P 12

INSIDE — Which

came ﬁrst?

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The Brand

or the Promot

ion – Page

http://msbusiness.com/events/mississippi-administrative-stars/

www.msbusiness .com {Section begins

December 4,

P 14}

» UMMC opens Wellness clinic Teen at Lanier » Coast pharmacy built on customer expansion those little extras care and

No. 49 • $1 •

28 pages

ENERGY

The List {P 20-21} » Hospices

More , P 2

2015 • Vol. 37,

PSC SET TO VOTE NET-METERING ON RULE

David Rich stands at the Grain Distilling bar in the 1,500-square-foot Co. in Canton tasting

room that will

be used for

Distilling from the bota craft tom up those taking

the Rich

BY JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@ms business.com But before David Rich University that, while he was is taking level as he of Mississippi, a student with bourbon.” at the prepares to handcrafted to he “became ery in Canton. open his boutique a new obsessed That's when distill- search A mechanical he began his self-assigned engineer, into the defense he put ing what he the making of the rewhiskey, signer on industry in Huntsville,in five years in process. calls the “magic radar systems Ala., and alchemy”includprojects. and unmanned as a deof the “I've read aircraft just about everything I could get my See

DISTILLERY

The Mississippi Public Commission was poised Service Thursday to vote and minate four culof study and years from major input utilities, consumers and others on a proposed net-metering rule. Two of the three-man panel Presley indicated week that this would vote they to allow residential electricity users -and commercial customers, to produce too -through solarpower els installed panon rooftops and sell Renfroe any excess back Two of the to utilities. commission current three-man chose not Nov. 3 election to run in the and will Jan. 1 and would have leave office sion to their left successors. the deciNorthern sioner BrandonDistrict CommisPresley, re-elected, said Monday who was pects a vote that exthinks is “a Thursday on what he smart policy . .. with all

Marcus McClamrock

tours through

, Page 3

See

NET-METERING , Page 7

http://msbusiness.c om/events/mississ ippi-administrative -stars/

rms •

ancer

Hospices

Leadershi

BOOK of

A product of the

A GUIDE TO LIFE AFTER HIGH SCHOOL

tourism, meetings & conventions

2015-2016 edition

in Mississippi Spring 2015

LISTS 2016

Meet Our Really Cool7 People,

pg 31

SEAL WITH AatKISS Institute It’s a treat you might find for Marine Mammal Studies HOME COOKING

Silver Sponsors

INSIDE

» Insight and information for high school students on life before and during college » Information on the public, private and junior colleges across the state

Old homes turned into restaurants provide more than a taste of history,

10-18

KŶ ďĞŝŶŐ ĐŚŽƐĞŶ ĂƐ ŽŶĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ϱϬ >ĞĂĚŝŶŐ ƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ tŽŵĞŶ ŝŶ DŝƐƐŝƐƐŝƉƉŝ

BY JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@ms business.com

Around town {P » Jackson downtown 5} promoters cheer Watkins’ move Forman to Regions Plaza South Miss. {P 9} » Legal whiskey to flow in the Kiln community

Hopeful signs restoring state’sfor historic tax credits

rts

» FEATURE: Irby breaking sales records in its » Making the list, Page 14 90th year, Page 19 » Some private companies prefer transparency, » FEATURE: Duff brothers have ridden others — not so much, Page 15 Southern Tire Mart to success, Page 18 » FEATURE: The versatile Taylor Group building » The complete Top 100 list, Pages 21-25 company on values, Page 16

MABUS COLUMN:

Health Care

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OWNED COMPANIES

Begins page 3 AUTOMOTIVE {P 5} » Mississippi in multi-state probe of VW’s bogus emissions tests AURORA COLUMN: {P 8} » Celebrating November as “Innovation Month”

MBJ FOCUS

The only statewide business newspaper. Mississippi owned. Mississippi proud.

EĂƚĂůŝĞ ZĂǇ ĞŵĞŶƚ

AN MBJ FOCUS:

HISTORIC TAX CREDITS

Our name says it all.

Jackson’s name PAGE 4

— Pages 6-9

Our selections for best golf courses in state, 20-32

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2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 33

Lindsey-Claire Hutchins

Lindsey Claire Dance Company & The Purple Reader Project Lindsey Claire Dance Co. and The Purple Reader Project Lindsey-Claire Hutchins is the owner/operator of two businesses. One is small business dance studio, Lindsey Claire Dance Company, and the other a non-proﬁt organization, The Purple Reader Project. She is responsible for all of the operating and managing of both companies. Along with managing the business side of the dance studio, she teaches dance classes 4-6 hours a day Monday through Saturday. She teaches all of her pre-school dance classes and the two competition teams. Hutchins previously worked for Hinds Community College, Kids for Christ Performing Arts, and William Wallace Salon. She earned her Associates of Arts degree from Hinds Community College in 2012, where she was selected Miss Hinds Community College. Since opening her studio in 2013, her dancers have provided entertainment or volunteered for events such as Relay For Life, retirement and nursing homes, ﬁtness and Christmas events. With the Purple Reader Project, Hutchins collected books and raised money to donate thousands of books to elementary schools across Mississippi.

Emily H. Ingram

E Ingram Inc - AFLAC Emily H. Ingram received a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations with a minor in marketing degree from The University of Southern Mississippi. Emily has worked for Aﬂac since 2005 in numerous roles including Associate, District Sales Coordinator and Regional Sales Coordinator. Currently a District Sales Coordinator with Aﬂac, Emily interviews, trains and coordinates all sales activities of new associates in the Central Mississippi area. In addition, Emily serves as Vice President for the Madison County Republican’s Committee and is a member of the Junior Auxiliary of Madison. Emily attends Vertical Church in Madison along with her two handsome sons, Noah and Witt. Emily’s husband Blayne (who passed away earlier this year)was her biggest supporter in not only their personal lives, put her business life as well.

34 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

www.msbusiness.com

Laurel Isbister Irby

Greater Belhaven Foundation

Laurel Irby is Engagement Director is engagement director for the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi, a position she took in mid-2015 after spending a year as the foundation’s Director of Organization and Planning. Irby’s role is to engage stakeholders — including board members, staff, interns and volunteers — in the ongoing work of the foundation. She also implemented the first SMART Party and cocktail party fundraising campaign in Mississippi. It raised almost $150,000 for operating support, while bridging generational and demographic gaps. She also implemented the first Women’s Foundation Planned Giving program as a part of $6 million “Game Changers” fundraising campaign. Previously, she spent seven of her 10 years at the D.L. Dykes Jr. Foundation as Vice President and CFO. Irby earned her B.A. in Music at New College of the University of South Florida in 1996, and her Masters Degree in Ethnomusicoloy at UCLA in 1999. She took MBA level course work in accounting, management, finance and marketing at Millsaps until from 2008 to 2010, and studied New Strategies at Georgetown School of Business in May.

Laura P. Johns

Fuse.Cloud Laura Johns considers promoting Mississippi’s thriving innovative economy one of her great passions in life. Over the last decade, Johns has driven marketing efforts for the utility and telecommunications industries, and she now serves as the Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Development at Fuse.Cloud in Jackson. Prior to Fuse.Cloud, Johns managed global marketing efforts at Itron, a technology provider for electric, water and gas utilities worldwide, based in Spokane, Washington. Johns serves on the Board of Directors for TeamJXN. She was also honored as one of the Top 50 Under 40 in 2015 and is a graduate of the 2010 class of Leadership Greater Jackson, where she served on the Board of Directors for four years.Johns graduated cum laude from Mississippi College and received her Master of Arts from the University of Alabama. Johns and her husband live in Laurel and are enjoying life as new parents to their son, Levi.

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2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 35

NaTunya Davis Johnson

Work of Art Salon/ ISH Grill and Bar As the District Department Chair of Business Technology with Holmes Community College, Co-Owner/Stylist of Work of Art Salon, and Co-Owner of ISH Grill and Bar, NaTunya deﬁnitely understands what is important to business leaders and which skills are essential for success on the job. Her real-world experience, education, and connections with local employers, enable her to transfer valuable knowledge and skills to her students while teaching and motivating them to become competent and successful in the business world. A native of Jackson, NaTunya earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Mississippi State University and MBA from Delta State University. She holds an Educational Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction and a Certiﬁed Training Professional designation in Workplace Learning and Performance. NaTunya attends Anderson United Methodist Church and is also active in several professional and civic organizations. She is married with one daughter.

Jeanhee Kang

Prudential - Ann Prewitt Realty Jeanhee Kang is a razor-sharp negotiator specializing in residential and commercial real estate sales with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ann Prewitt Realty. She has over 20 years experience in negotiating lease contracts with nationally known management companies. She has a BA from the University of Mississippi. She is the author of Meegook—A Memoir. Jeanhee is a motivational speaker, a community volunteer, and a mentor. She is a member of the League of Woman Voters of Jackson, Mississippi, the Greater Jackson Partnership, the Rotary District of Jackson 6820, the Alamo Theatre, the Mississippi Opera Host Committee. Jeanhee privately funds awards and scholarships for academic excellence for teem moms to encourage them to stay in high school to graduate, and offers $500.00 per semester per student toward college education through the Global Learning Center. She is an active animal advocate, loves tennis, golf and 5K races.

36 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

www.msbusiness.com

Tabatha Franklin Kenney

Career Development Center Spending her early years growing up in New Jersey and then moving to Mississippi, Tabatha Kenney sometimes felt like an outsider. “I learned early in life that I wanted to work in a profession that would allow me to combine the three things that I loved: helping people, listening to people and talking to people.” Today, Kenney works as a National Board Certiﬁed Lead Counselor for the Jackson Public Schools Career Development Center. Kenny helps students navigate through high school, work through personal issues and plan for the future. Kenney has served as an officer with the Mississippi CTE Counselors and the Capitol Area Counselors Association. Kenny is a graduate of Jackson State University and Delta State University where she earned her Education Specialist Degree in Counseling. Kenny is married with one daughter and is a member of Anderson United Methodist Church. Kenny enjoys reading and spending time with family.

Dr. DeJonnette Grantham King

Advance Environmental Consultants, Inc. Being no stranger to hard work in a male dominated field, Dr. DeJonnette Grantham-King has positioned herself to being among the elite in her industry. Dr. King currently serves as President and CEO of Advanced Environmental Consultants, Inc. (AEC). AEC is a full service environmental firm headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi. Emerging in 1996, Dr. King has catapulted her company to new heights. She was recognized in Forbes Magazine in January 2011, September 2012, and June 2015, as a National Environmental Leader. Her strong commitment as a scholar is confirmed in her educational achievements. She is committed to bridging the gap between corporate America and college graduates to provide a platform for the next generation to succeed. Currently, Dr. King serves on numerous boards, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc., and is actively involved with various charitable organizations.

www.msbusiness.com

2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 37

Natalie Latham

Community Bank A diehard Mississippi State fan, the biggest supporter of her two young boys on and off the ball ﬁeld and a vital member of the Community Bank family, Natalie Latham is Vice President and heads the Marketing department for the $2.8 billion bank that covers 4 states, 44 office and over 720 staff-owners. She began her career with Community Bank in 2005 and has seen many changes throughout the last 12 years. She took over the Marketing department in time to begin a new branding campaign that included newly redesigned website, print material, as well as television and radio ads. In addition to her role at Community Bank, the Clinton, MS native is an active Board Member, and Past President, for the Flowood Chamber of Commerce, serves on the Communications Council for the Mississippi Bankers Association, is a member of the American Bankers Association for Marketing, is a Board Member for the Flowood YMCA, is a member of the American Marketing Association, and serves as a volunteer for the American Lung Association. She and her husband, Jason, along with their two boys, Taylor and Tyler, are members of Pinelake Church.

Martha L. Lewis

Tanks Dive Shop Most people would agree that Martha Lewis isn’t your stereotypical dentist. She is an experienced dentist with a passion for her patients and a great love of scuba diving. After graduating from the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry and completing her General Practice Residency in 1991, Martha opened her dental practice in Clinton, Mississippi where she continues to practice. After scuba diving for twenty years she decided to fulfill her dream of opening a dive shop. In 2014 Martha became a certified scuba instructor with Scuba Schools International and began the journey that would lead her to open Tanks Dive Shop in Flowood Mississippi. Tanks opened in April of 2015. She has been blessed with an amazing staff that has helped make Tanks a success. When she is not at Tanks Dive Shop teaching others to dive, you will find her in the water doing what she enjoys most. In her spare time, Martha enjoys traveling and spending time with her dogs.

38 – 2016 FiftyLeading Business Women

www.msbusiness.com

Brittney Luke

The Taylor Group Inc Brittney Luke is the Accounting Manager at The Taylor Group, Inc. in Louisville, MS where she handles all of the general ledger functions for the parent company and six subsidiaries. Brittney began her tenure as a third generation Taylor employee in 2003 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with concentration in Accounting from Mississippi University for Women. She furthered her education and received a Master of Science degree in Business Administration in 2008 from Mississippi State University. She is the daughter of Greg and Tina Lee, married to Shawn Luke and has 3 children: Lauren Whitehead, Hunter and Morgan Luke. She resides in Preston, MS and is a member of Coye Assembly of God. She enjoys spending time with family and enjoying activities with them, hunting, and working with vinyl projects in her spare time.

Deanna Martino

Martino Claim Services and Hurricane Creek Mobile Homes Deanna Martino is the strong leader in Marion County. She has been a successful business woman for more than 27 years and knows the ins and outs of operating all aspects of a business. Martin is an effective communicator who treats everyone equally, with genuine respect and concern and she thrives on challenges and hi stress conditions. Martin is a Leadership Mississippi graduate and has been involved as Lt. Gov. of Kiwanis District III, Columbia Kiwanis President, Trustmark Bank Advisory Board, Young Careerist of the Year, Marion County Chamber Board, Main Street Columbia Board and Hattiesburg Home Builders Association.

www.msbusiness.com

2016 Fifty Leading Business Women â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 39

Jessica B. McNeel

Bryan, Nelson, Schroeder, Castigliola and Banahan Jessica McNeel of Bryan, Nelson, Schroeder, Castigliola and Banana in Pascagoula concentrates her practice on civil litigation, including the defense of medical and dental malpractice, personal injury, wrongful death, and insurance coverage lawsuits. Jessica also has experience defending civil RICO, anti-trust, fraud, defamation, and tortious interference claims. She has tried eighteen jury trials and six bench trials throughout Mississippi since graduating from law school in 2007. Jessica has also successfully handled appeals before the Mississippi Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals. McNeel currently serves on the board of directors for First United Methodist Church Childcare Learning Center. She is an outgoing Chair of Jackson County Civic Action Committee and is a former United Way of Jackson and George Counties board member. In addition, she is active in the Rotary Club of Pascagoula, having served as Scholarship Chair and currently serving as President-elect. Jessica was named a Mid-South Rising Star in Personal Injury Defense: Medical Malpractice in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Jessica and her husband, Taylor, have two children, Mollie and John Taylor. They attend First Presbyterian Church of Pascagoula.

Dixie Newman

Biloxi City Councilwoman Biloxi City Councilwoman Dixie Newman was elected to office in July of 2013, at the age of 27. She is currently the youngest and only female sitting on the city’s board. Dixie is the daughter of Tommy and Fredda Newman of Biloxi. She graduated from Biloxi High School in 2004, where she was involved as Co-Captain of the Indian dance team. After Katrina, Dixie lived in New York City for three years where she learned much of the business world in the fastest real estate market. After three years she decided to move back to Biloxi, where she started a career with the District Attorney’s office for ﬁve years in the Worthless Checks Division. She also decided to continue her education in business, and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast in 2014. Now, she is extending her efforts to pursuing a law degree for the future. She is also a Realtor on the Gulf Coast with Keller Williams.

40 – 2016 FiftyLeading Business Women

www.msbusiness.com

Sharon G. Plunkett

Young Wells

Sharon Plunkett manages the firm’s residential closing services practice. For the last 13 years of her legal career, Plunkett has focused primarily on real estate, with an emphasis on residential closings. She handles real estate transactions for residential purchases and refinances, agricultural and recreational land, and commercial properties. Her practice includes preparation of title certificates and title polices, drafting and negotiating purchase contracts, leases and financing documents, and resolving title problems by performing curative title work. In addition, Sharon also assists small businesses, builders and developers with business formation, preparation of contracts and general consulting. Plunkett is an active member of the Mississippi Mortgage Bankers Association, serving on the Board of Directors as the Director of Affiliates. She is also an affiliate member of the Mississippi Realtor Association and the Central Mississippi Association of Realtors (CMAR). She helped draft the Best Practices Guidelines for CMAR, and currently serves as the Chairperson for this Committee. She taught Real Estate I and II at Holmes Community College for several years.

Melissa Putnam

eSoftware Solutions, Inc Melissa Putnam is a Founding Partner of eSoftware Solutions Inc., along with her husband, Scott Putnam, CEO, and Terry Freeze, COO. Since 2007, eSoftware Solutions has been serving a national client base of ﬁnancial institutions, government agencies and businesses. Putnam began her career in sales for television stations at WGBC affiliate in Meridian, and WAPT affiliate in Jackson. Together, she and husband Scott opened loan offices in the Mississippi towns of Canton, Ridgeland, Byram and then Richland. As the number of branches grew to be 43 across two states, Melissa continued in the day-today management of store operations and employee management growing the organization to more than 100 employees. Together the three founders embarked on developing new software that would become the industry-leading product, eCash Software. Using the original stores as a testing ground, Putnam guided the initial development of the eCash product working closely with newly appointed Johnny Withers, CTO, in developing and growing the functionality.

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2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 41

Carolyn Rains

Automation Designs & Solutions, Inc. As President and CEO of Automation Designs and Solutions, Inc. (AD&S), Rains is responsible for all executive management functions including ﬁnance, software design and personnel. Her personal goal, and that of the company, is to utilize the latest technology to bringing a higher level of safety and identiﬁcation to schools, government entities, and airport security. Rains follows trends in crime prevention, law enforcement and digital biometrics to enable her to quickly adapt the business in the ever-changing world of technology. Prior to the inception of AD&S, Rains served as vice-president of Investek, Inc. and Investment Manager at Lamar Life Insurance Company. She is a member of the Madison County Business League, Women’s Business Enterprise Council, Mississippi Economic Council, National Crime Prevention and Privacy Compact Council, Rankin County Chamber of Commerce and Crossgates Baptist Church. She has also been featured in the Mississippi Business Journal. In her free time, Rains enjoys genealogy, church activities, boating, beach time and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Sabrina Bosarge Ruffin

Jones Walker Sabrina Ruffin is an associate in the Jones Walker Real Estate Practice Group. She focuses her practice on real estate transactions, project development, and contract negotiation. Ms. Ruffin has experience preparing disclosure documents for public ﬁnance transactions and works with municipalities and counties to insure that continuing disclosure requirements are met. Before joining the ﬁrm, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Justice Leslie King of the Mississippi Supreme Court. Ruffin is a 2010 graduate of Mississippi College School of Law, where she received her juris doctor degree,cum laude, and was a Hearin Hess Scholar and University of Southern Mississippi Scholar. She received her Master of Business Administration in 2005 from the University of Southern Mississippi, where she also received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism in 2003. Ruffin serves on The Mississippi Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee, as Co-Chairman of the Speakers Committee for Jackson Young Lawyers, as a Board Member of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Alumni Association, and is a member of the Capital Area Bar Association.

42 – 2016 FiftyLeading Business Women

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Connie Siggers-Parker

C Comcast

Connie Siggers-Parker is an Employee Relations and Engagement Manager for Comcast Cable in Madison, MS. Siggers-Parker is responsible for working with human resources and business partners to ensure compliance of workplace standards and that employee concerns are addressed. A graduate of Jackson State University and Belhaven University, Siggers-Parker also holds the following Human Resources certiﬁcations; Professional in Human Resources (PHR®) and SHRM Certiﬁed Professional (SHRM-CP). She is an active member of the MS Capital Area Human Resource Association (CAHRA) and currently serves as the Membership Chair. Siggers-Parker is active in her community with local charities, such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hinds and Madison Counties, Leadership Madison County, and she is a member of the Madison County (MS) Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Married to Pervis Parker, with one son, Kaylon, Siggers-Parker enjoys spending time with her family and close friends.

Stephanie Sims

Jackson Eye Associates PLLC Stephanie Sims is optical director at Jackson Eye Associates Optical in Jackson, where she has worked since 2000. She and her staff work closely with doctors of JEA to meet each individual’s needs with lenses and frames, contact lenses, and low visual aid needs. Before joining JEA, she was a certified Ophthalmic Assistant for Dr. Curtis D. Whittington Jr. for 18 years. She also is a certified contact lens examiner and a certified dispensing optician. She is a past president of the Mississippi Association of Dispensing Opticians, and has served with American Academy of Ophthalmology, American Society of Ophthalmic Administrators, Opticians Association of America, Mississippi Association of Dispensing Opticians, Management Plus. Sims is a graduate of Okaloosa Walton College in Niceville, Fla. She enjoys playing tennis, and has served as president of the Jackson Ladies Tennis Association.

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2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 43

Shay Smith

Harrah’s Gulf Coast A true Ohioan at heart, Shay Smith has happily called Biloxi home for nearly three years, after moving to the region in the spring of 2014 – and she’s been falling in love with her new home ever since. As the Marketing Supervisor for Harrah’s Gulf Coast, Smith oversees PR/Media Relations, Communications, Advertising and Social Media for the Caesars Entertainment resort. When she’s not busy promoting Harrah’s, she proudly serves on the Board of Directors and as Communications Chair for Coast Young Professionals, an organization under the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, Inc., dedicated to developing rising leaders – like herself — on the Gulf Coast. Prior to relocating to the South, Smith lived and worked in Cleveland, Ohio at Horseshoe Casino Cleveland. Smith earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Public Communications and Master of Journalism and Mass Communication from Kent State University, located in her hometown of Kent, Ohio, where she was also taught a public speaking course for incoming freshman.

Katie Bryant Snell

Butler Snow Katie Snell is an attorney for the Ridgeland law ﬁrm of Butler Snow. Her areas of practice include product liability litigation, election and campaign ﬁnance, commercial litigation, general litigation, governmental litigation and premises liability. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Defense Research Institute, Mississippi Bar Association, Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association, Capital Area Bar Association, Jackson Young Lawyers and the Area Development Partnership. Snell is a 2006 graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi in marketing and then received her juris doctorate from the University of Mississippi in 2010.

44 – 2016 FiftyLeading Business Women

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Betty H. Staines

Irby Electrical Betty Staines is the Commercial and Industrial Purchasing Manager at Irby Electrical in Jackson, where she has been since 1998. She is responsible for managing a team of 10 buyers for day-to-day inventory requirements involving 36 locations and two regional distribution centers with an average monthly inventory of $30 million and annual stock purchases of approximately $174 million. Staines is also responsible for managing a team of 4 to oversee $34M in Special Pricing Agreements (SPA’s) and Rebates. Previously, Staines worked at Deposit Guaranty National Bank for nine years. While at Irby, Staines served as a panelist at two National Association of Electrical Distributors conferences for the Special Pricing Authorizations white papers. One was in Orlando and the other in Palm Springs. Developing a standard for the industry that added efficiency to the channel for distributors, vendors and software companies was rewarding. She says if she could give others advice to other women wanting to make a difference, she would tell them to not be afraid to step out on a limb after praying as well as don’t worry what others think. In addition, Staines is a grandmother to four girls and and one boy.

Selena Lajean Standifer

Mississippi Department of Transportation Selena Standifer serves as the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Mississippi Department of Transportation. She received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Mississippi. Standifer has 14 years of experience in communications, public relations and marketing having worked in tourism, health care, non-proﬁt and state government. A couple of her key career accomplishments include marketing a new 20 million dollar Women’s Center and serving as a spokesperson on The Weather Channel for the American Red Cross. She has won awards for her work from the Southern Public Relations Federation, Public Relations Association of Mississippi and the Mississippi Hospital Association. Standifer is a member of the Southern Public Relations Federation, Public Relations Association of Mississippi, Young Professionals Alzheimer’s Advocates and United Way. In her spare time, she loves to travel, spend time with her family and friends and try daredevil activities.

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2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 45

Teresa F. Thornhill

Citizens National Bank After 25 years of living and working in Jackson, Teresa Thornhill returned to her hometown of Meridian to serve as Chief Wealth Management Officer for Citizens National Bank. In this position, Teresa oversees the administration and management of $970 million in assets and leads strategic initiatives for the Wealth Management Division. She spent 14 years at Trustmark, serving as Wealth Management Marketing and Administration Manager, President of The Performance Funds and director of Trustmark Investment Advisors, Inc. Previously she served Deposit Guaranty National Bank as Product Manager for the DG Investor Series Mutual Funds and Asset Management Compliance Officer. A graduate of Mississippi State University, Teresa has held NASD licenses 7,24,27,53 and 63. She is a former NASD arbitrator and MSRB Advisory Committee member. Currently, she serves on The Montgomery Institute Board. Teresa is married to Tom Williams, President and CEO of Meridian Airport Authority, together they have four children.

Shelley Cresswell Walker

Lyric Hotel and Spa, Chawla Point LLC Shelley Cresswell Walker is director of operations for Chawla Pointe, LLC, which is building a boutique hotel, spurred by the Grammy Museum in Cleveland. The Lyric Hotel and Spa is being built by Suresh Chawla, president of Chawla Hotels Inc. of Greenwood, and is expected to open in February. Before joining Chawla, Walker was executive director of the Greenwood Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she oversaw the tourism program’s operations. She also previously worked for Milwaukee Electric Tool in Greenwood, East Central Community College, and Georgia Paciﬁc in Louisville. Walker earned her a Bachelor’s Degree in Educational Psychology at Mississippi State University in 2000. In 2002, she earned a Master of Science degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education at MSU.

46 – 2016 FiftyLeading Business Women

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Nicole G. Watkins

Priority Insurance In her position as an insurance agent and broker at Priority One in Indianola, Nicole Watkins works with clients on different levels to help families and companies plan for the unexpected. She ﬁnds markets to cater to her client’s budgets. Her job is to ﬁnd prospective clients what they need and at the same time help them save money. She is a graduate with a BS in Public Administration from Mississippi Valley State University and has a Masters in Public Administration from Strayer University in Washington, DC. Previous to her time with Priority One, Watkins worked with Cannon Motor Company, Selecta Automotive, Indianola Pecan House and Gresham Petroleum. During her spare time, Watkins volunteers as a coach at Robert L. Merritt Middle School 3 or 4 days a week with the girls basketball team.

Tanya G. Webber

Charities Division/Mississippi Secretary of State’s Office Tanya Webber is well respected in her local community, the State of Mississippi and beyond. Colleagues in Webber’s life have consistently selected her for leadership roles throughout Mississippi. It also speaks volumes that she has maintained high level positions at the Secretary of State’s office for more than a decade under two different Secretaries of State (one Democrat and one Republican). Webber has even been recognized nationally by the North American Securities Administrators Association for her outstanding professionalism and service in the ﬁeld of securities. In her current role, Webber was appointed by Delbert Hosemann to advise and manage the Charities Division of Mississippi Secretary of State office. Webber is a graduate of Jackson State University, where she was a CPA Scholarship Recipient and she received her law degree from the University of Mississippi in 1998. She has worked at the Secretary of State’s office in several capacities since 2001. Prior to that, she worked at the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Mississippi Legislative PEER Committee as well as service as a professor both at Hinds Community College and Antonelli College.

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2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 47

Debbie Miller Westbrook

i Heart Media Debbie Westbrook is a well-known media consultant who moved to Jackson in the late 1980’s after attending LSU and graduating from LA Tech, she owned gourmet gift shop with her twin sister Patty in their hometown of Monroe. After moving to Jackson in the 80’s Debbie immediately became involved in radio sales and was recognized by the Jackson Advertising Federation’s Most Distinguish Sales and Marketing Award, Clear Channel’s President’s Award-local and Regional Pinnacle Award. She has been active with Jackson Junior League where she started with Tattler Sales and was able to keep her passion for cooking going strong with her job placement with the Junior League as a TEST cooking team member and after the launch of the cookbook COME ON IN, she was also able to launch the cookbook in the Dallas Gift Market and it was a great success. She is now a sustainer of the Junior League and is in a cooking group plus a Sustainer Happy Hour group. Debbie continues her successful career as a senior account executive at Iheart Media. Debbie’s pride and joy is her son Thomas who is a senior at Ole Miss.

Allyson Lambert Winter

Trustmark National Bank Allyson L. Winter is in-house counsel for Trustmark National Bank, a mid-sized bank with a footprint in Mississippi, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee and Florida. Winter attended Austin Peay State University and graduated from Mississippi College School of Law in 2010. Winter is licensed to practice law in Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. She worked for the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for two years before moving to Trustmark, focusing her practice on post-Hurricane Katrina recovery. Currently, Winter handles garnishments/tax levies, escheatment, retail banking, human resources and transfer of securities for Trustmark. She is involved in numerous civic and professional organizations including, the Mississippi Corporate Counsel Association, Jackson Young Lawyers, and the Women in the Profession committee of the Mississippi Bar. In addition, she serves as the Co-Chair of the ABA Young Lawyers Corporate Counsel Committee, the Co-Chair of the Jackson Young Lawyers Outreach Grant Committee and Chair of the Fundraising Committee beneﬁtting the Privette School. In her free time, Winter enjoys spending time with her husband, Jake, and two sons, Jake, 3, and Courtland, 1.

48 – 2016 FiftyLeading Business Women

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Our name says it all. INSIDE — Navy’s new combat ship will carry

INSIDE — Co-wor

Jackson’s name PAGE 4

king ‘commun ity’ concept com

ing to Fondren’s

MBJ FOCUS

Insurance & Employee Benef its

Duling Hall pg 10

ﬁrst? INSIDE — Which came

The Brand or the Prom

otion – Page 25

MBJ FOCUS Health Care

October 23, 2015 • Vol. 37, No. 43 • $1 • 28 pages

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www.msbusiness.com {Section begins P 13} » ACA ‘confusing’, but businesses and individu advised to not delay als action » Declines in reimbu rsemen ts under ACA cause concern for future of rural hospita ls in state » Employers struggle with handling benefits packages in-house or out

AN MBJ FOCUS:

HISTORIC TAX CREDITS » State’s historic preservation office to ask for $60M in new tax credits » Saving Mississippi’s past can brighten its economic future, Stennis report says » Heritage Trust places state’s historic tax credits on 10 Most Endangered List Begins page 3

THE 2015

A BREAKDOWN OF STATE’S TOP PRIVATELY

OWNED COMPANIES

The List {P 18}

» Third Party Admini

Shoutrage: Yelling instead of fixing

December 4, 2015 • Vol. 37,

ELOPMENT

» JRA’s $9 million Westin hotel bond is not bid on

— Page 2

» FEATURE: Irby breaking sales records in its » Making the list, Page 14 90th year, Page 19 » Some private companies prefer transparency, » FEATURE: Duff brothers have ridden others — not so much, Page 15 Southern Tire Mart to success, Page 18 building Group Taylor » FEATURE: The versatile » The complete Top 100 list, Pages 21-25 16 Page values, on company

P 12

Health Care {P 5} » UMMC’s ‘F’ in safety galvanizespatient effort

ENERGY

PSC SET TO VOTE ON NET-METERING RULE

{Section begins P 14}

» UMMC opens Teen Wellness clinic at Lanier » Coast pharmacy expansion built on customer care and those little extras The List {P 20-21} » Hospices Around town {P 5} » Jackson downtown promoters cheer Forman Watkins’ move to Regions Plaza South Miss. {P 9} » Legal whiskey to flow in the Kiln community

SPORTS BUSINESS Agriculture {P 4} » Official: rains have softened the drough but a wet winter t, may be in the offing

Sanderson Farms extends tourney sponsorship by 10 years

from staff reports

impact Blair Sanderson Farms, E. and the state Batson Hospital for Childre title sponso Sanderson Farms Championship r of the Farms Chief of Mississippi,” said Sander n dren’s Hospital will continue and $300,0 since 2013, Executive Officer son sissippi to son. “Now we charities. Friend 00 to other MisJoe F. Sander TOUR tourna sponsor its home state PGA are the tournament certain of the opportunities- ization benefiting Blair s, a nonprofit organJackson througment at The Country Club provide E. Batson Hospit Children at Wednesday at h 2026, officials announ of commitment to both s, and feel it shows our al for the University ced Our greates our state Medica of tension takes the host site. The 10-yea t hope is that and its children. primar l Center, became the Mississippi r ex- mitme effect once the tournament’s this 10-year y charity in 2008. ment expires nt will current agreecomfollowi With regard likewise and encourage others to respon “From the beginn ng the 2016 tournament. reinvest in our d importance to the tournament’s ing, great we’ve In econom 2014, the Sander ment in the state.” to felt our involve tournament sioned by the the state, a study commi ic - onship son Farms could signific antly $1.1 generated $1.4 million for Champi- thority and Mississippi Development smillion going to Friends of charity, with University conducted by Mississippi AuBatson Chilseveral State had a $22 million years ago determined that it impact.

No. 49 • $1 • 28 pages

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37, No. 45 • $1 • 25 pages

NO TAKERS

strators

AUTOMOTIVE {P 5} » Mississippi in multi-state probe of VW’s bogus emissions tests AURORA COLUMN: {P 8} » Celebrating November as “Innovation Month”

MABUS COLUMN:

ECONOMIC DEV

November 6, 2015 • Vol.

Hopeful signs for restoring state’s historic tax credits

Y BY JACK WEATHERL ss.com jack.weatherly@msbusine

Service The Mississippi Public to vote poised Commission was Thursday and culminate four years of study and input from major utilis consumer ties, and others on a proposed net-metering rule. Two of the Presley three-man panel this indicated week that they Marcus McClamrock l would vote to Rich the through allow residential tours will be used for those taking -foot tasting room that electricity users -the bar in the 1,500-square at al stands Rich David and commerci Grain Distilling Co. in Canton customers, too -to produce power through solar panels installed on Renfroe rooftops and sell any excess back to utilities. three-man Two of the current to run in the commission chose not will leave office Nov. 3 election and left the deciJan. 1 and would have student at the a . was he while sion to their successors CommisBut before that, i, he “became obsessed Northern District Y University of Mississipp BY JACK WEATHERL who was Presley, ss.com sioner Brandon with bourbon.” jack.weatherly@msbusine that exhis self-assigned reThat's when he began re-elected, said Monday what he includon handcrafted to a new search into the making of the whiskey, of the pects a vote Thursday . .. with all David Rich is taking distill“magic and alchemy” to open his boutique ing what he calls the thinks is “a smart policy level as he prepares I could get my in process. ery in Canton. he put in five years read just about everything ING, Page 7 “I've NET-METER See deA mechanical engineer, a as in Huntsville, Ala., the defense industry Page 3 and unmanned aircraft See DISTILLERY, systems radar on signer projects.

Distilling a craft from the bottom up

More , P 2

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trative-stars/ ents/mississippi-adminis http://msbusiness.com/ev

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BOOK of LISTS 2016

A product of the A product of the

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SEAL WITH A KISS

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10-18

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INSIDE

» Insight and information for high school students on life before and during college » Information on the public, private and junior colleges across the state

PAST WINNERS

For the list of winners dating back to 50 Women’s inagural year, please visit us online at: http://msbusiness.com/past-event-winners/

2006

2007

Betsy P. Aloway ............................................................................Furniture World Diane D. Barrentine ...........................................................Davis Pizza Enterprises Angela L. Beasley ..............................................................................HORNE LLP Deborah M. Brangenberg ...................Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association LeAnne Brewer.........................................................Lovecomm Advertising Sales Donna Marie Brown .....................................Gulf Hills Hotel & Conference Center Kathleen Bruno ................................................................. Viking Cooking School Maggie Clark ............................................................Maggie Clark Media Services Niani Colom ..............................................................Soul Fleur Communications Sherry P. Cook ........................................................................River Oaks Hospital Vickie M. Cook ................................................... Smith, Turner and Reeves, CPAs Rachel D. Crews............................................... Central Mississippi Medical Center Jane Marie R. Dennis...................................... Specialty Contractors & Assoc. Inc. Margaret K. Druetta.............................................................BellSouth Mississippi Scherry Gilliland ..........................................Mississippi Children’s Home Services Angie Diane Godwin............................................. Area Development Partnership Carolyn Ann Guice .....................................The People’s Bank Asset Management Vickie Ham.................................................................................Pro Audio Center Carol Hardwick ................................................ Mississippi Economic Dev. Council Janet Y. Harris .............................................................................. Cardinal Health Amanda K. Jones ..............................................Bradley Arant Rose & White, LLC Laura B. Jones .............................................Mississippi Department of Education Wanda M. Jones......................................Mississippi Office of Nursing Workforce Mary Margaret Judy............................................................ St. Catherine’s Village Katherine S. Kerby..................................................Gholson Hicks & Nichols, P.A. Christy Knapp.................................................. Oxford-Lafayette County EDF Inc. Mary Lee ..........................................................................Frontier Strategies, LLC Brooke O. Lewis ..................................... The Shed BBQ Inc./The Shed Franchise Rica Lewis-Payton ...............................................Department of Veterans Affairs Becky F. Lowe..........................................St. Dominic Jackson Memorial Hospital Danada F. McMurtry .............................Mississippi Department of Transportation Virginia Lee W. Mounger .......... Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission Joy L. Phillips ................................................................................. Hancock Bank Katrina N. Poe-Johnson, M.D................................. Kilmichael Hospital and Clinic Mandy M. Pope ................................................................Parkway Properties Inc. Cathy M. Robertson .......................................................................BancorpSouth Julia C. Ross ....................................................................University of Mississippi Margaret H. Scurﬁeld ........................................................................Seabee Base Lisa Slay ............................................................................Wesley Medical Center Marilyn H. Smith ................................................................Metro Christian Living Pamela P. Smith, Ph.D....................... Mississippi Council on Economic Education Vickie L. Sneed................................................................................Regions Bank Katherine P. Springer............................................. Biloxi Regional Medical Center Belinda Stewart ...................................................Belinda Stewart Architects, P.A. Owen E. Stratton................................................................................. KPMG LLP Jasmine Pugh Taylor M.D. .......................University of Mississippi Medical Center Danyelle Tedford-Carroll ...................................................... Mobility Medical Inc. Becky Thompson............................................Mississippi Development Authority Wanda C. Wilson....................................Jackson Convention and Visitors Bureau Camille Scales Young..............................Watkins, Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A.

DeAnna Adams .......................Mississippi Technology Alliance Innovation Center Kate Barron ....................................................................................A Bash Events Natasha Breakﬁeld Baughman ................................Quality Manufacturing Group Gemma Douglas Beckley ...................................................................Rust College Sheryl Bey .........................Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PLLC Jan Botts ............................................................North Mississippi State Hospital Lisa Bradley ....................................................... Gulfport Main Street Association Vicky Bratton.............................................Home Builders Association of Jackson Sharon F. Bridges ................................ Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, PLLC Donna W. Bruce ..................................................... Johnson, Bruce & Host, PLLC Angela Cain .....................................................Mississippi Association of Realtors Ruth J. Cook............................................Molpus Timberlands Management, LLC Penny Danford ...............................................................................TempStaff Inc. Ameder W. Danzy.............................................. Integrated Management Services Kim Davis ....................................................Mississippi Delta Community College Deborah F. Dent, Ph.D.....U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Cynthia Lane Dishongh...................................................... Rankin Medical Center Andrea La’Verne Edney ....................... Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, PLLC Tommye Dale Favre ...................Mississippi Department of Employment Security Beth C. Fleming...............U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Angela M. Gambino.........................................................Hancock Medical Center Vicki L. Gilliam...........................................................................The Cochran Firm Cheri D. Green ..................................... Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, PLLC Sandra H. Harpole, Ph.D. ...........................................Mississippi State University Kathryn H. Hester ...................................Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A. Olivia Brown Host .................................................. Johnson, Bruce & Host, PLLC Steffani Jenkins ............................................................. Trustmark National Bank Pat Connor Joachim ......................University of Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast Julie Johnson.................................................................The Columbian-Progress Melissa Jones ..........................................................Quality Manufacturing Group Kay Johnson Kell ......................................................................City of Pascagoula Susan Lindsay ............................................................Jackson Preparatory School Karen Livingston-Wilson............. Butler Snow O’Mara Stevens & Cannada, PLLC Robyn M. McCrory......................................................................City of Lexington Aileen S. McNeill .....................................Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A. Tay Cossar Morgan ................................................................Tay Morgan Designs Kimberly J. Nastasi ........................ Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce Barbara Russ Ousby ............................................................. C&B Enterprises Inc. Tammy Phillips.................................................... Community Bank of Mississippi Whitney Pickering ........................................................Southern Living at HOME Rhea Hudson Sheldon...................................................Abbott Simses & Kuchler Cheryl E. Sparkman ........................... Mississippi Department of Human Services Meredith M. Travelstead ........................................................ The Women’s Clinic Angelyn Scardino Treutel .........................................Treutel Insurance Agency Inc. Brigetta K. Turner ...................................................Brigetta K. Turner, DDS, PLLC Amy E. West ......................................................................... Cadence Bank, N.A. Amy D. Whitten .............................................................The Whitten Group, P.A. Laurie Rosenbaum Williams .................................... Travelers Insurance Company Annie Peters Wimbish......................................Hattiesburg Public School District LouAnn Heath Woodward .......................University of Mississippi Medical Center

Previous 50 women winners are listed by where they worked at the time of their selection.

50 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

www.msbusiness.com

2008

2009

Cindy Baird ............................................................................... Community Bank Deborah Bermond .................................................... Roy Anderson Construction Nancy Anne Branton ..................................................UBS Financial Services, Inc. Angela Bridges, PHD ........................................................Grenada School District Debra Brown ................................................................................. Phelps Dunbar Rosemary Cargin ............................................................................BancorpSouth Virginia Carter .............................................................Huffman & Company, CPA Wynelia Cherry ............................................. East Mississippi Community College Maria Cobb....................................................................... Rushing & Guice, PLLC Keri Cole.......................................................................Hinds Community College Patti Corder ........................................................................ Cutting Edge Medical Loranne Paige Curry .............................................................Magnolia State Bank Melissa Dent ............................................................................................Bomgar Cecelia Derrington ................................Pontotoc County Chamber of Commerce Shelia Dickard ...........................................................Region 6 - Life Help Mental Morgan Dunn .........................................................................Pioneer Health, Inc. Sherribeth Farmer ..................................................................................BankPlus Lynn Fitch .................................Mississippi Department of Employment Security Amanda Fontaine ..............................MS Fireﬁghters Memorial Burn Association Joey Garner ....................................................................................................TEC Kathryn Gilchrist...................................................................Adams & Reese, LLP Vicki Helfrich ........................................................Mississippi Public Utilities Staff Kelly Hogue ................................................................................Blue Sky Auction Claire Ketner................................................ Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes Christina Lakey ....................................................................... CenterPoint Energy Lynda Lesley .............................................................................The Cirlot Agency Linda Mann .............................................. Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau Jessica Merrill .................................................................................Regions Bank Sharon Meyers ..........................................................................USM Foundation Angel Misenhelter ............................................................... Southern Eye Center Development Director ........................................................................Hattiesburg Melanie Morgan ............................................................Trustmark National Bank Angela Davis Morris ................................................. Davis-Morris Law Firm, P.A. Janette Nolan ......................................................Pioneer Aerospace Corporation Mary Jean Padgett, PH.D., RN.................... Mississippi College School of Nursing Regina Ramazani ...........................................................Garden Park Community Jennifer Hammill Rebich ............................................................................ Geiger Shelia Reed ................................................................. Windsor Health Plan, Inc. Teresa Renkenberger ..............................................................Merck Team Realty Stephanie Rippee .................... Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz Andrea Saffle ............................................................................Turtle Creek Mall Angel Sanford ..................................................................McAlister’s Corporation Cindy Shackleford............................................................................. Merrill Lynch Dr. Kathy Shropshire .............................................Mississippi Wildlife Federation Suzanne Smith .............................................................................Renasant Bank Joye Steen, PH.D. ..............................................North Mississippi State Hospital Sonia Travis ........................................... Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Jaci Turner ...............................................................................City of Pascagoula Ellen Waits ........................................................North Mississippi State Hospital Tammy Wood .......................................................Eagle Ridge Conference Center Gwendolyn Woodson ..................................................Grenada County Chamber

Paula K. April ............................Mississippi Coast Coliseum & Convention Center Paula Graves Ardelean ...............Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens & Cannada, PLLC Crisler Moffat Boone ..................................................Jackson Preparatory School Teresa Boutwell ..............................................................American Healthtech Inc Sheri Pierce Bryan ..................................................................Cyre-Leike Realtors Sandra Massey Buckley .................................Mississippi Technology Alliance/CIT Lindsay Buford .................... ChamberPlus/Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Lesley L. Carter......................................................Business Communications Inc. Cindi Clark .....................................................Super Limo Inc. & LegalTEMPS Inc. Jennifer D’Aquilla ...................................Roy Anderson Construction Corporation Anne Michelle Daniel.................................................................Community Place Beth Farris.........................................Eagle Ridge Conference and Training Center Rita Dennis Floyd .......................................................... Trustmark National Bank Julie Jarrell Gresham............................ Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, PLLC C. Joyce Hall ......................................................................Watkins & Eager, PLLC Margo Hemphill ............................................Oneway Promotional Products, Inc. Tricia Herlihy .........................................Watkins, Ludlam, Winter & Stennis, P.A. Janet Herman...............................................................Mississippi Blood Services Josie Mayfield Hudson ....................................... Attorney Josie Mayfield Hudson Charmain Kanosky ..................................... Mississippi State Medical Association Judy Jones Lindsay ..............................................Beyond Therapy Pediatric Clinic Joanna Fulton Lousteau ........................................................Canton Family Clinic Manisha Sethi Malhotra Internal Med. & Pediatric Associates of Ridgeland, PLLC Dorothy Roberts McEwen................................ South Mississippi Regional Center Melissa Medley...............................................Mississippi Development Authority Becky Huston Montgomery .......................................Mississippi Power Company Carol Moore .......................U.S. Depart. of Com. - Mississippi Export Assist. Ctr. Debbie C. Norris ......................................................................Mississippi College Anna Oberhousen ....................................................WillStaff Worldwide Staffing Lisa Palazzo...........................................................................Palazzo & Co., PLLC Lauren H. Parry ...................................................................The Overby Company Gee Gee Patridge....................................................................................BankPlus Shirley Reed ..........................................U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg Jennifer Riley...............................................................................SA Technologies Kathy Scarbrough............................................................. Navigator Credit Union Tina Ross-Seamans ......................................... Biloxi Bay Chamber of Commerce Martha Segars .........................................................First American National Bank Tricia Stevens-Smith ......... Baker Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C. Deborah Steverson .............................................Magnolia Garden Assisted Living Janet Sullivan ...................Miss. Department of Transportation, Southern District Anne Sullivan .................................................................Magnolia Speech School Melanie Sylvester ...............................................................................Grayson Blu Ann Coleman Thames .......................... Mississippi Department of Mental Health Tawana Thompson ....................................................... Viking Range Corporation Amy Tuck ...................................................................Mississippi State University Lee Ann Turner.........................................................Perry, Winfield & Wolfe, P.A. Fran Weeks .............................................................................................. Turkoyz Nancy Carolyn Williams...................................................Bladder Health Network Christy Ellison Willis .................................. Coldwell Banker Graham & Associates René Woodward........................................... Jackson Municipal Airport Authority

PAST WINNERS

For the list of winners dating back to 50 Women’s inagural year, please visit us online at: http://msbusiness.com/past-event-winners/

Previous 50 women winners are listed by where they worked at the time of their selection.

www.msbusiness.com

2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 51

PAST WINNERS

For the list of winners dating back to 50 Women’s inagural year, please visit us online at: http://msbusiness.com/past-event-winners/

2010

2011

Clare Agostinelli ......................................................................Mississippi College Rosemary R. Aldridge ..............................................................Neel-Schaffer Inc. Abby Barber Brann ......................................................Hinds Community College Nancy New Boyll ................................................................. New Summit School Pamela Joy Britt .........................................Mississippi Children’s Home Services Christine A. Bunting .....................................................Mississippi Blood Services Virginia C. Carlton ................................................... Mississippi Court of Appeals Serena Rasberry Clark .............................................................. Wise Carter Child Ann R. Cleland .................................................................................HORNE LLP Deborah Walley Coleman ...........................................Mississippi National Guard Karen L. Cummins ......................................................Atmos Energy Corporation Margaret Oertling Cupples ...........................Bradley Arant Boult Cummings, LLP Jill I. Dent ......................................... Mississippi Department of Human Services Cynthia Dobbs ..........................................Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce Kaye M. Dreifuerst ...................................................Security Credit Services, LLC Justice O’Keefe Duhon .................................... Stewart, Sneed, Hewes Insurance Evelyn Edwards ..............................................................................BancorpSouth Julie Ferguson ..............................................................Women’s Specialty Center Sherri M. Flowers-Billups ........................................ Law Office of Sherri Flowers Sherry Lewis Franklin ...................................................Hinds Community College Sharon Gray Garrison ..............................................Mississippi Center for Justice Natalie J. Gideon .......................................................... NetLink Cabling Systems Bridget P. Hallett ..................................................................... The Hallett Group Shun Hatten ............................................. Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau Patricia R. Hemphill .....................................................USACE, Vicksburg District Lurlene Blakley Irvin, Ph.D. ............................................ Jackson State University Judy L. Johnson ..................................................................................Eaton Corp Rosi K. Johnson ..................................................................Mississippi Music, Inc Christi R. Kilroy ..................................Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commence Kathryn Lewis ........................................................................Telling Trees Project Konstantina Matheos ............................................................. Bridge to Recovery L. Michele McCain ................................................................... Adams and Reese Linda McCarthy ......................................................Jackson Convention Complex Annie McMillan ................................................... Area Development Partnership Edith Mitchell .............................................................................Madison Central Michele Monk ..........................................................................Health Integration Emily Montgomery .........................................................................New York Life Joyce M. Plunkett .................................................. Southern Farm Life Insurance Kendall Poole ................................................................. River Hills Country Club Mildred Ridgway, M.D. ................................................. Womens Specialty Center Elizabeth Robinson ................................Blues Candy, LLC / Professional Staffing Linda K. Simmons .................................Watkins, Ludlam Winter & Stennis, P.A. Romy Simpson ........................................................................ Negrotto’s Gallery Julie Skipper ......................................Community Foundation of Greater Jackson Natalie Moses Smith .............................................................................16 WAPT Dr. Bridgette S. Stasher-Booker ........................ University of MS Medical Center Lori Jackson Stewart .......................................................Jackson State University Cheli Strumila ...............................................................................Coast Observer Toni Walker Terrett ...........................................Law Office of Toni Walker Terrett Ginger Turner ..............................................................Hinds Community College

Heather M. Aby .........................................Biggs, Ingram, Solop & Carlson, PLLC Ivye L. Allen ....................................................The Foundation for the Mid South Jennifer Wages Anderson ...................................Flowood Chamber of Commerce Nuria Arias ............................................................ Digital Opportunity Trust USA Celia Barrett ...................................................................Celia Barrett Design, LLC Tamika R. Bradley............................................................................Jackson State Haley Necaise Broom ................................. Dukes, Dukes, Keating & Faneca, P.A. Jill Conner Browne.........................................Sweet Potato Queens Website, LLC Amy Lewis Champagne ................Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Jackson Stacy L. Cobbins..................................................... The Source of Mississippi Inc. Jan Coulter Collins ............................................Madison County Business League Gretchen W. Cook...........................................................Parents & Kids Magazine Pamela Cotton ......................................................................... Saks Fifth Avenue Renee R. Cotton ...................................................... Madison River Oaks Hospital Lane Lawson Craft.....................................................................WHOA Ministries Sherri Davis-Garner ....................................................................................AARP Cecilia Dobbs.....................................................................................City of Biloxi Ginger Mott Edwards...........................................Gingersnaps of Highland Village Jan Farve .................................................................................. Elmwood Staffing Eula Rodgers Forte ...............................................................................WAPT-TV Laura Limerick Gibbes ...........................Watkins, Ludlam, Winter & Stennis, P.A. Teresa B. Gillespie ....................................................... Batson Children’s Hospital Pamela E. Gunter ....................................................Anderson, Crawley and Burke Bethany Reed Hairston.....................................................The Dermatology Clinic Dana E. Harbers ...................................................................University Physicians Janna Hughes.........................................................................Hughes Advertising Karen Lindsey-Lloyd ...............................................................Mississippi College Marlynn K. Martin .............................................................................Power APAC Dodie McElmurray...................................University of Mississippi Medical Center Wendy R. Mullins ..................................................... Arant Boult Cummings, LLP Gail W. Muse .............................................................Holmes Community College Kim Griffing Porter ........................................................... Griffing and Associates Katja Russell................................................................................... Youth Villages Amy Griffin Schrock ...............................................................................Latitudes Kathleen Shaughnessy ................................................................................AT&T Paula Shelton ................................................. Genesis Training and Development Sheramie Shore......................................................New York Southern Style, LLC Elaine Stevens ...............................................................IP Casino Resort and Spa Mary McDaniel Swoope.............................................................. Watkins & Eager Helen Rose Taylor ........................................................................Brickﬁre Project Becky Traweek ...................................................Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi Liza Vaughn........................................................................ Delta State University Lisa Wade .................................................... Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson Linda Wagner ...............................................................Mississippi Blood Services Christina Nelson Walls .................................................Hinds Community College Kathryn Walsh..........................................................Wells Fargo Home Mortgage Patti Ware ................................................................. Intentional Friends Ministry Rhea Williams-Bishop ........................................Center for Education Innovation Sharen Willis ..........................................................Department of Transportation Janet Zito ............................................................................. Maris, West & Baker

Previous 50 women winners are listed by where they worked at the time of their selection.

52 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

www.msbusiness.com

2012

2013

Amy Ainsworth .............................................................Terracon Consultants Inc. Mende Malouf Alford ...........................................Old Capitol Inn Boutique Hotel Penny Bowen .................................... Bella Interiors & Penny Bowen Designs Inc. Scotta Brady...................................................................................Butterﬂy Yoga Cindy Brinson .................................................................................Hilton Jackson Gwendolyn Caples .......................................................... Jackson State University Tammra Cascio................................................... Gulf Guaranty Life Insurance Co. Sherry Chance .............................................. Tulane University-Madison Campus Wilma Clopton ...................The Negro in Mississippi Historical Society Unlimited Bethany Cooper.................................... University of Mississippi Business School Deirdre Danahar ......................................In Motion Consulting and Coaching LLC Monica Daniels .....................................................United Way of the Capital Area Danielle Davis.................................Mangia Bene Restaurant Management Group Carolyn DuPre’ ................................................................. Alcorn State University Lise Foy .............................. Canton Chamber of Commerce & Main Street Assoc. Wendi Garrison ............................................................................ A Fluent Vision Cheri Gatlin ...........................................................................Burr & Forman, LLP Susan Graves...................................................................................GodwinGroup Tonyatta Hairston.....................................................................EnVision Eye Care Janet Young Harris .......................................University of Mississippi Health Care Gina Haug .......................................................Mississippi Association of Realtors Kourtney Hollingsworth ...................................... Governor’s Broadband Initiative Debbie Hudson ..........................Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce Nicole Kemp.............................................................................Levi Strauss & Co. Janice Knight ...............................................St. Dominic Hospital Health Services Angela Ladner ........................................................Changing History Promotions Mary Ellen Landry ..................................................................Ethos Staffing, LLC Samantha Lofton ................................................................. Barnett’s Body Shop Stephanie Mayﬁeld ...................................................................Jones Companies Melinda McGrath..................................Mississippi Department of Transportation LaToya Merritt ....................................................................... Phelps Dunbar, LLP Sharon Moulder ..................................................Lighthouse / Sanders CPA Firm Yuki Northington.......................................... Social Chair and Yuki Art & Interiors Bonnie Nowell ............................................................................B&B Distributors Jocelyn Pritchett ................................................Pritchett Engineering & Planning Carolyn Redd..........................................................................................16 WAPT Martha Saunders ............................................University of Southern Mississippi Bonnie Smith ........................................................Bridgers Smith Law Firm PLLC Cathy Smith .................................................University of Mississippi Health Care Meredith Stringfellow ................................................................The Blue Rooster Cindy Tauchar.............................................................................................. Ricoh Cynthia Thompson ........................................................ Trustmark National Bank Penny Walker ............................................................................UnitedHealthcare Wendy Walker ..................................................................Stuart C. Irby Company Christi Webb ............................. Family Resource Center of Northeast Mississippi Lydia Weisser ...................................................Mississippi Department of Health Cathy Wesson ..................................................................Metlife Financial Group Donna Williams.......................................................................Haynes Electric Co. Karma Williams......................................................................................BankPlus Bonnie Wilson.............................................. Jackson Municipal Airport Authority

Chief Phyliss Anderson.................................Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Debbie Bailey ................................................................. Jimmy Portable Building Sabrena Bartley ............................................................................City of Natchez Deidra Bell.................................................................St. Dominic Health Services Lisa Bell..........................................................................BancorpSouth Mortgage Mary Allen Bennett ...............................................................................Table 100 Tasha Bibb ............................................................................Innovate Mississippi Barbara Bluntson........................................................................... City of Jackson Krista Bower........................................................ Yazoo City School of Dance LLC Stephanie J. Boyette..........................Mississippi State Board of Physical Therapy Talamieka Brice ..................................................................................Brice Media Liz Brister ..............................................................................Entergy Corporation Cynthia Buchanan......................................Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership Chrissy Cullinane ...............................................BancorpSouth Insurance Services C. Rochelle Culp .................................The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi / Ro-on-the-Go Health & Wellness Consultants Tracy Die Mississippi World Trade Center & MDA Michele Escudé ............................................................Circa Urban Artisan Living Portia Ballard Espy ..........................................................Children’s Defense Fund Katie Feibelman...................................................................May & Company, LLP Keri Haralson..................................................................... Keri T. Haralson, PLLC Julia Ann Harrison ..........................................................................Homestar LLC Sandy Havard .....................................Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum Rosalyn Smith Howard ..........................................Mississippi Nurses Foundation Paige Hunt ............................................Greenwood Convention & Visitor Bureau Mary M. Jackson...........................................................Comcast Cable - Madison Nicole Johns .............................................................. A Community Bank - Coast Willie Jones .............................................Dependable Source Corp. of Mississippi Mary Kelly ............................................................................Mint The Restaurant Kiffany Lee ...................................................................Mississippi Blood Services Mary Morgan........................................................Bradley Arant Boult Cummings Kamesha Mumford.........................................................................USAssets, LLC Katrina Myricks ........................................................ Holmes Community College Kimberly Walker Nailor................................Law Office of Kimberly Walker Nailor Mindi Phillips ....................................................Corporate Apparel & Promotions Lauren Rutland....................Hardy Wilson Hospital / Mississippi Dance Company Candie L. Simmons ..................................................................................Regions Allison Carter Simpson...................................Copeland Cook Taylor & Bush, P.A. Becky Smith ...............................................................Mississippi State University Lisa Stutzman ..........................................................................Comcast Spotlight Selena Swartzfager ............................ Mississippi Council on Economic Education Pat Thomasson .................................................................. Thomasson Company Alexe van Beuren.................................................The BTC Old Fashioned Grocery Edie Varnado........................................................Cap Topisaw & Rose Gate Farm Amy Lampton Walker ................................................Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Suzanne Walters ....................................................................Performance Rehab Jane Sanders Waugh ..........................................Professional Staffing Group, LLC Virginia Todd Weaver..........Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC Becky White ..........................................................Eubank Betts Hirn Wood PLLC Mary Wolverton.............................................................................................. DIG Jenny Woodruff..........................................Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership

PAST WINNERS

For the list of winners dating back to 50 Women’s inagural year, please visit us online at: http://msbusiness.com/past-event-winners/

Previous 50 women winners are listed by where they worked at the time of their selection.

www.msbusiness.com

2016 Fifty Leading Business Women – 53

PAST WINNERS

For the list of winners dating back to 50 Women’s inagural year, please visit us online at: http://msbusiness.com/past-event-winners/

2014

2015

Kristie Aylett .............................................................................The KARD Group Rachel Beech.............................................................................................WDAM Julie Polk Breazeale ......................................................Polk’s Meat Products, Inc. Hilary Burroughs ................................................................Sanderson Farms, Inc. Linda Bynum ..................................The City of Ridgeland Chamber of Commerce Emily Chance..........................................................................................BankPlus Karen Jones de Kock.........................................................................Protea Dekor Shane E. Dubois ........................................................................Community Bank Charlotte W. Dupré.......................................... Central Mississippi Medical Center Jennie A. Eichelberger .............................................Southern Poverty Law Center Karen Galyon Flowers .......................................Mississippi College School of Law Trina N. George ..................U.S. Department of Agriculture - Rural Development Monica Gilmore-Love..............................................................................Terracon Mary S. Graham ..................................Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Pam Files Gregory .............................................. Fisher Brown Bottrell Insurance. Lori Harper.............................................................................Ingalls Shipbuilding Donna Harvey ..................................................................................CF Industries Mary Martha Henson ........................Mississippi Economic Development Council Shelia C. Jackson .............................................................................Regions Bank Beth Kellogg...............................................................................Creative Partners Susan Floyd King......................................................................Jones Walker, LLP Lenita Knight.........................Madison County Economic Development Authority Kelly Kyzar................................................................................Comcast Spotlight Keri Herrington Ladner......................Covenant Health & Rehab of Picayune, LLC Cheryl J. Lee ..................................................................................... Haddox Reid Renee Simon Lee ..........................................................................Reeds Jewelers Lanet McCrary .......................................................Magnolia Federal Credit Union Stephanie S. McCrary .............................Southern Bone and Joint Specialist, P.A. Bethany Boone McNease ............................................................ M.G. Dyess, Inc. Tonya Nations ............................................................................. Millsaps College Dr. Ruth R. Nichols........................................................... Alcorn State University Cathy L. Northington...............................................Mississippi Economic Council Sally Williams O’Callaghan ......................University of Mississippi Medical Center Stephanie Patton...................................................................The Leland Progress Melissa Peters .................................................................. Community Trust Bank Elizabeth J. Randall .....................................................Randall Commercial Group Cindy Rich ...............................................................................Neel-Schaffer, Inc. Pat Robertson ....................................................................... PERS of Mississippi Debbie Rubisoff ............................................................ Legislative Budget Office Kassi Rushing....................................................................................HORNE LLP Emily Sanders ....................................................................................Fairview Inn Kelly Scrivner................................................Office of First Lady Deborah Bryant. Rosemary Smith...................................................R&R Rentals and Hotshot, Inc. Amy Tate....................................................................Tennessee Valley Authority Shirley R. Tucker......................................Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce Anne Ligman Turner...........Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC Chan Brewer Vessell ...................... First American Home Buyers Protection Corp. Evelyn Ricks Walker....................................Office of Health Disparity Elimination Office of Preventive Health Mississippi State Department of Health Marlana Walters ................................................................The Everyday Gourmet Rebecca Lee Wiggs..................................................................Watkins and Eager

Lolly Barnes.................................................................. Mississippi Heritage Trust Jocelyn Chisholm Carter ..........United Healthcare Community Plan of Mississippi Karen Chain...................................................................... Community Trust Bank Lisa Cochran........................................................................................The Studio Pamela Confer............................................................ Nissan North America, Inc. Amanda Rasberry Crawford............................... Veterans Outreach of Mississippi Vanda N. Crowe..............................................................................BancorpSouth Marisa S. Davidson.....................................................Mississippi Health Partners Liz Hogue Densmore ................................................................ LEC, Incorporated Tahya Dobbs...................................................................... Hometown Magazines Lindsay Thomas Dowdle ..................................................................Jones Walker Patty Dunn ......................................................................Alzheimer’s Association Macey Lynd Edmondson ...................The University of Mississippi School of Law Stephanie Edwards........................................................Edison Chouest Offshore Kathy W. Freeman .............................................................................Butler Snow Donna M. Gardner................................................................. Camellia Healthcare Felicia D. Gavin ................................................................... DiamondJacks Casino Alison Ketner Goodman ................................................. Goodman Law Firm,LLC Jennifer G. Hall ...................Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC Kristi Henderson .....................................University of Mississippi Medical Center Jamie Higdon ....................................................................................... Tempstaff Leigh G. Jaunsen .............................................................Dale Partners Architects Kimberla M. Little ...........................................................................Regions Bank Bridget M. Lowery ..................................................................................BankPlus Macie Malone................................................................................ Mostly Macie’s Lori hill Marshall....................................................................... Premier Pain Care Amelia McGowan ......................... The Law Offices of Amelia S. McGowan, PLLC Gaylene m. McHale ................................................................. Huntington Ingalls Kelly McQuaig .............................................................The Yates Companies, Inc. Jan Miller.......................................................Mississippi Main Street Association Melanie S. North .......................................Associated General Contractors (AGC) Kathleen shields O’Beirne .............................Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Misti Munroe Preziosi......................... Office of the State Treasurer of Mississippi Weatherly Rose .............................................................................. Newk’s Eatery Ryanne Duffie Saucier ..........................................Mississippi Public Broadcasting Charlotte harness Seals .................Madison County Schools/President Jr. League Amy W. Smith ................................................................... Ross & Yerger Ins. Inc. Camille Allen Snyder ...........................................................Allen Financial Group Mandi Stanley ............................................................ Mandi Stanley Consultants Susan K. Steadman ....................... The Law Offices of Susan K. Steadman, PLLC T. McCall Stern ....................................................................... McCall Stern, PLLC Addie L. Johnson-Stover.....................................................Stover Developments Amanda D. Villeret ......................................................Mississippi National Guard Stephanie Sago Vivians ...........................................................Neel-Schaffer, Inc. Christie D. Walters...................................................... Covington County Hospital Pamela P. Ware ....................................................................... Metropolitan Bank Carol Warren .........................................................Magnolia Federal Credit Union La’Keylah White ......................................................................City of Hattiesburg Sarah Beth Wilson......................................................Copeland Cook Taylor Bush Jaklyn Wrigley ................................................................... Fisher & Phillips L.L.P.

Previous 50 women winners are listed by where they worked at the time of their selection.

54 – 2016 Fifty Leading Business Women

www.msbusiness.com

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LoRose Hunter

Congratulations to LoRose Hunter. Regions Bank is pleased to congratulate LoRose Hunter for being selected as one of the 50 Leading Business Women in Mississippi for 2016. In her role as the Regions At Work® Coordinator for Regions Bank, LoRose coordinates workplace and school programs that provide advice, guidance and ﬁnancial education to employees of business customers as well as students in communities across the state of Mississippi. A graduate of Mississippi State University, she began her career in banking over 12 years ago, a path that allowed her to cultivate her talent for developing and building lasting relationships with people. Her greatest fulﬁllment is helping Regions customers “get where they want to go.” A passionate community volunteer, the Holmes County native serves as an advisor to several organizations, including the Women’s Foundation of Mississippi, United Way of the Capital Area, the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Executive Women International, Distinguished Young Women of Madison County and Jackson Public Schools Partners in Education. She also was named among the 2015 Women of Distinction by the Girl Scouts of Greater Mississippi for her community service. LoRose is an avid college basketball fan – especially during “March Madness” – and is an active member of the Unity Fellowship Baptist Church. She also enjoys traveling, event planning and time with her daughter, Courtney.

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