Wendi Garrison Marketing Consultant, A Fluent Vision in Ridgeland
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By BECKY GILLETTE
fter six years as director of marketing and partner relations with Business Communications Inc. (BCI), Wendi Garrison recently started work with a national marketing consulting company specializing in technology called A Fluent Vision. “Grounded by 13 years of experience and a love for all things technological, she guides clients through the ever-changing marketing world with insight, confidence and wisdom,” said Tiffany Whitmore, TME, LLC. “She successfully grows clients’ businesses by extending their sales efforts, making them more visible and communicating their message. Like the technology industry she works in, Wendi lives at a fast pace. She is the quintessential modern businesswoman. She effortlessly balances running a company, raising two boys, volunteering her skills and time to causes that benefit Mississippi, and manages to squeeze in mountain biking.” Michele Chiantera, director of marketing for Americas Partner Marketing, said Garrison is a bright and proven businesswoman who thinks outside of the box and is always focused on the end goal. “Wendi is a true leader, both motivating and inspirational to men and women in the technology industry,”
Cheri Turnage Gatlin Managing Partner, Burr & Forman, LLP in Jackson
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By LYNN LOFTON
raduating first in her class from the Mississippi College School of Law, Cheri Gatlin was sure to become an outstanding lawyer. Not only is she managing partner of her firm’s Jackson office, she is an AAA construction arbitrator and serves as senior lead counsel for ThyssenKrupp Stainless USA, one of the world’s largest steel producers. In this capacity she is managing all legal matters for the construction of the multi-billiondollar stainless steel facility in Alabama. “I count my work over the past five years with the ThyssenKrupp plant as my most significant professional accomplishment,” she said. “Including both steel and stainless entities, the complex rang in at $6 billion, and at one point was the largest construction project underway in the world.” Gatlin represents national and international corporations in the resolution of significant disputes, including complex commercial contract, fraud and breach of contract cases. In her construction practice, she represents contractors, owners and sureties in the work out and resolution of construction defaults, and has defended contractors, owners and engineers in construction-related mass tort cases,
2012 Fifty Leading Business Women in Mississippi
Chiantera said. “One of her greatest strengths is her exceptionally high EQ (emotional intelligence), which has allowed her to establish solid relationships that generate tangible benefits in all her business endeavors.” Garrison considers her most significant professional accomplishment building a marketing and inside sales team at BCI. When she started in the role of BCI marketing manager in 2006, there was no marketing department. She grew the department to a team of five and created and executed strategic go-to-market strategies to further the profitability of BCI. Garrison has been recognized for creating unique and profitable marketing campaigns that offer total technology solutions and that include ecosystem manufacturer partners. She has consistently exceeded campaign goals in attendance numbers for online and offline campaigns. Her advice to others for success is to find something you feel passionate about and learn everything about it. “Learn the advantages and challenges, then begin evangelizing,” she said. “Knowledge and passion affect change.” From 1999 to 2005, Garrison worked for Lanier Worldwide, where she created a conversion team that successfully transitioned administrative and support staff positions as a result of mergers and acquisitions. She also created an “onboarding” manual for all administrative personnel hired as a result of a merger or acquisition. From 1997 to 1999, Garrison worked for SkyTel Paging as a major accounts billing representative and then supervisor. This volunteer for Habitat for Humanity considers her most significant personal accomplishments being a parent to two sons, Alan, 5, and Jake, 2. She is a homeroom mother for the St. Richard’s Catholic School. She is a member of the Tri-County Mountain Biking Association.
including claims for exposure to asbestos, silica, lead, mold, arsenic and other contaminants. “I thoroughly enjoy working in the Mississippi construction industry,” she said. “I believe finding a solution for complicated issues has helped my clients and Mississippi businesses that count on construction for a livelihood.” In 2009, she argued and won a complex, multi-party commercial insurance case before the Mississippi Supreme Court. The outcome resulted in insurance coverage for thousands of insured businesses for years to come. Chambers USA named Gatlin a Leading Practitioner in her Field for the area of litigation construction. The publication noted that she is “praised by clients as a businessminded litigator who comes up with good strategies.” Portico recognized her as a top ten up-and-coming lawyer in the area. She was also included in the Mississippi Business Journal’s inaugural class of Leadership in Law. She is a member of numerous state and national professional organizations. “I look for others who are passionate about their professional goals,” she said. Great leaders are people who are serious about their occupation as well as their responsibilities. I enjoy working with people who are passionate about the law and can use the legal system to positively help clients.” She believes professional and personal life should be fulfilling. Her personal life is filled with the joy of raising four sons, Jack, Louis, Asa and JoJo, with the help of her husband, Joel Gatlin. There are lots of little league sports to attend and activities with the St. Andrews Episcopal School Parent Association. She also manages to find time to garden, read and volunteer with Stewpot Community Services and Woodland Hills Garden Club and serve as the Susan G. Komen Annual Kids for the Cure Program Race Coordinator.
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