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INSIDE — Mullins appointed chair of MCL&F Entrepreneurship Committee — Page 4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Show fountain will be focal point of phase 2 at Renaissance

0 No. 34 • 2 0 4 . o V • , 2018 August 24

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usine www.msb

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MBJ FOCUS

TECHNOLOGY {Section begins P9}

» MIST Cluster brings marine technology business and government partners together » PROFILE: Sarah Lee leads her ﬁeld with innovative thinking

{The List P13} » Internet Service Providers

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK {P2}

» Book festival: the written word, things left unsaid and mysteries

Robocalls grow and PSC looks for a better defense Page 7

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2 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q August 24, 2018 REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

Book festival: the written word, things left unsaid and mysteries

t’s probably safe to say that the sanctuary of the Galloway Memorial United Methodist Church hadn’t seen such a crowd since a revival service back in the old days. The gathering Saturday at the 102-yearold building in downtown Jackson was overflowing on both levels. It was just one session of more than 40 with over 160 authors holding forth, not including 80 more writers in the authors tent trying to rise to the next level –- the rooms of the state Capitol and the church at the fourth annual Mississippi Book Festival, which drew a record crowd of 7,600. It’s also probably safe to say that some of the crowd at the Galloway sanctuary came expecting a fiery secular sermon. After all, the speaker had just published a book called “The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels.” But if they came expecting damnation from historian Jon Meacham with regard to the current occupant of the White House, they were disappointed. Or if they expected Meacham to give the devil his due by defending the 45th president, they were disappointed. That name – Donald Trump – wasn’t even mentioned, save for in the punchline in a closing joke. Who did they think Meacham was? A historian? Well, yes, indeed. Meacham is just that. Among his best-selling presidential biographies is the Pulitzer Prize-winning “American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House.” Karl Rove, who, the consensus view holds, was the mastermind of the George W. Bush administration, noted at the outset that “I am in charge here” a double-edged play on a statement by then-Secretary of State Alexander Haig trying to assuage fears from the White House, when Ronald Reagan had been shot and his condition was not known. Rove, a Republican strategist who has seemingly only been critical of Trump on style points, said he was the “interviewer or interrogator,” to the amusement of Meacham and the audience. Meacham more than held his own with his needler in chief in the frequently light-hearted exchanges between the two, twice invoking Whitfield, the state mental hospital, when he thought Rove was pushing the bounds of credulity. What made that even better was that Rove evidently did not know what the reference was.

Jack Weatherly

There was no question-and-answer period for the audience, but I was at the Lemuria bookseller tent and caught Meacham out of the corner of my eye and got him to sign his latest book. As he was signing it, manipulating a small cigar, I said, “You didn’t even mention Trump.” Without looking up, he said: “And that was a good thing.” Meacham has taken some shots at Trump in the print and electronic media, but not this day. Using his Southern manners? Playing to his audience is more like it. There are scant mentions of Trump in “The Soul of America,” though clearly the book was written for that reason. Rogelio V. Solis/AP The formation of the soul of what was Karl Rove (left) and Jon Meacham share a laugh during their discussion of Meacham’s book. to become the United States started in the 16th and 17th centuries, first by the settlers of the Colony of Roanoke and then, far- tragic heroine of the Roanoke tale. It is be- wine made from native grapes, muscadines. ther north, the Pilgrims of what became lieved that she may have lived only a few To publicize the wine, a poem was creMassachusetts. ated in which the girl lived on as a white years after she was christened. The colonists of Roanoke Island disapThat assumes that she and the 117 col- doe, only to be slain by two Indians who peared and to this day their fate remains a onists all died after being left while the had been rivals for her affection. mystery. Her name and likeness were even ship that brought them in 1587 returned to Andrew Lawler, whose recent book, England for supplies but whose return was stamped on the back of a U.S. half-dollar “The Secret Token: Myth, Obsession and delayed three years. Evidence suggests that minted in 1937. the Search for the Lost Colony of Roa- they may have taken in by a friendly tribe, Indeed, her name has been used as a noke,” was a member the American Histo- the Croatans. symbol of Anglo-American purity. ry panel at the festival. Note: My mother’s Christian name is But her name and likeness lived on in Lawler said that by the early 19th cen- tales and the consciousness of the South Virginia Dare as a member of the Burt tury the mystery had morphed into a view and beyond. family. My niece and goddaughter’s middle that played a role in the idea of white suIt is still used as a trademark for an ex- name is Dare. premacy, especially in the South. So this gets personal. tract company. Virginia Dare, the first English child Certain ethnic traits can be reduced to a Early in the 20th century it was adoptborn in North America, is the presumably ed as the name for a company to advertise single idea, rightly or wrongly. In another session called “Rough South” about contemporary Southern fiction, a singular trait for the region may have been captured by a panelist in a word, “stubbornness.” That was offered by Michael Farris Smith, a Mississippi novelist whose books have received considerable acclaim. And he might have added, if he had been asked, that has never been in short supply in the American South from its very beginnings to today. “Courage,” a rare and selectively used word these days, would fit my mother and others who were named for the girl and other pioneers.

Baptism of Virginia Dare

» Contact Mississippi Business Journal staff writer Jack Weatherly at jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com or (601) 364-1016.

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4 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q August 24, 2018 Word will complement the existing team of economic development strategists providing location advisory and site selection services; incentive negotiation; state, regional and local economic development strategy; organizational structure and management; marketing and communications; as well as building high performance teams and focusing on other problem-solving or collaborative initiatives. Currently, Word serves as senior vice president of Economic Development for the Greater Jackson Alliance. Prior to joining the Alliance, he was bureau manager of Business Intelligence and Support for the Mississippi Development Authority. Word served as Manager Technical/Graphic Services for North Mississippi Industrial Development Association. In these

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Greg Word joins VisionFirst Advisors team Gray Swoope, CEO and founder of the economic development consulting ﬁrm VisionFirst Advisors, LLC., has announced that Greg Word will join VisionFirst as senior consultant Sept. 4. VisionFirst, a subsidiary of Butler Snow LLP, is a customer-driven consulting ﬁrm that develops strategy seeks to solve problems and delivers results while mitigating risks and barriers. This expansion supports the company’s growth as it serves clients in 26 states.

Congratulations to

roles, his involvement on economic development teams helped produce numerous successful projects resulting in more than $2.5 billion in investment and more than 4,800 announced jobs. Word’s extensive economic development experience is both broad and specialized featuring prominently product development, research and analysis, industrial building and site evaluations, lead generation, economic research packages, GIS-based mapping, 3-D modeling and virtual reality proﬁles. He has been recognized for his work in marketing and design ranging from branding, identity and logo design to prospect-centered packaging, proposals, digital photographic renderings, print and digital advertisement design as well as interactive presentations.

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A graduate of Mississippi State University, Word currently serves on the board of directors for the Mississippi Economic Development Council as past president. Word will work out of the company’s Ridgeland offices.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Mullins appointed chair of Madison County League & Foundation Entrepreneurship Committee

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that Wendy R. Mullins, counsel in the firm’s Jackson office, has been appointed chairwoman of the Madison County Business League & Foundation Entrepreneurship Committee. “We congratulate Wendy on her appointment to this leadership role,” said Bradley Jackson Office Managing Partner Mullins Margaret Oertling Cupples. “We are proud of her commitment to service and her involvement with a number of nonprofits and other organizations in the Jackson community.” The mission of the Madison County Business League & Foundation Entrepreneurship Committee is to provide a forum for the education and support of members of the organization, seeking to capitalize on their entrepreneurial spirit. The Committee seeks to foster an environment where members can network and share entrepreneurship ideas with other like-minded members. The organization helps members further develop a core skill set for building and running innovating enterprises. The Committee strives to assist the Madison County Economic Development Authority in its effort to enhance the entrepreneurial culture of Madison County. Mullins assists businesses with a variety of matters, from entity selection and formation, to contract negotiation, plus all manner of business development and commercialization tasks, which might include helping to launch products and services into the marketplace, growth of overall market share through business acquisitions, or assisting with succession planning and development of a strategy to exit the market. Prior to Bradley, Mullins gained valuable experience applying her legal training first hand as general counsel for SkyTel Corp., a wireless communications company owned by WorldCom and later by Verizon, for over eight years. Currently she serves as a state liaison to the Corporate Laws Committee of the Business Law Section of the ABA, and most recently was an adjunct professor teaching business transaction drafting at the Mississippi College School of Law. Mullins also serves as Board Chair for the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits and on the Board of the Innovate Mississippi Seed Fund. Mullins is recognized by Chambers USA for Corporate/Commercial law and is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships). She received a J.D. from the Mississippi College School of Law and a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

— MBJ Staff & Wire Reports

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Website: www.msbusiness.com August 24, 2018 Volume 40, Number 34

It’s never too late for justice

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» INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

Smart tax policy seems unlikely for road, bridge fix

ill our reluctant legislators finally get off their duffs and do something to fix roads and bridges across Mississippi? Gov. Phil Bryant called Friday for a special session on Aug. 23 to deal with it. House Speaker Philip Gunn and Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves still have not found common ground on the issue, formerly a prerequisite Bryant had for the session. Heaven forbid that all those other legislators would do something without Gunn’s and Reeves’ permission. A recent report from the conservative Tax Foundation stated, “Currently, 28% of Mississippi roads are in poor condition, and 12 percent of bridges are deemed as structurally deficient. An estimated $400 million a year in additional revenue is needed to compensate for these inadequacies.” Bryant closed 83 unsafe bridges in April. The Tax Foundation says “smart tax policy” includes having the “lion’s share of transportation funding” come from user fees and user taxes. Mississippi fuel taxes and user fees covered 36 percent of local and state spending on roads and bridges in 2014, putting the state in the bottom quartile nationally.Gunn seems to agree with the foundation and has recommended options to increase fuel taxes. His latest

Bill Crawford

offer was to swap an increase in fuel taxes for a decrease in income taxes. Reeves, along with Bryant, wants no fuel tax increases. “While raising a gas tax is often unpopular, aligning user fees, like a gas tax, with the associated spending projects, like road construction, is a sound financing approach for states,” says the Tax Foundation. This has been the conservative approach to financing necessary government services for years. So what course, if any, will our legislators’ choose? Gunn’s proposal is a watered down version of a tax swap proposed earlier by Rep. Charles Busby of Pascagoula. Busby proposed eliminating the 4 percent tax bracket on personal and corporate income and phasing-in higher fuel taxes – three cents a gallon per year for four years on gas and five years on diesel. Gunn proposed two cents a gallon for four years for both. Both proposals would index fuel taxes to inflation. The Tax Foundation thought well of Busby’s plan, which aligns with its “smart” tax policies, saying, “The swap would allow Mississippi to transition from taxes on income to taxes on consumption and final users, reducing burdens on investment and aligning See CRAWFORD, Page 6

olks who call Mississippi home – whether by birth or by choice – have long had to contend with the perceptions of those who view us from outside our state’s borders. As is often the case, many of those perceptions are based on a past peppered with prejudice. And those perceptions are certainly not undeserved. Sadly, many of those who judge Mississippi by its past do not do us the courtesy of searching for – and finding – the positives. Yes, it’s often been two steps forward, three steps back, but there are those in this state who believe fiercely in moving Mississippi past its past – a past not to be completely forgotten, but also a past to which people should not cling. Over the past several decades, there have been attempts – and some successes – to right some of the wrongs of Mississippi’s past through legal means. In 1994, 30 years after civil rights leader Medgar Evers was shot and killed outside his Jackson home where his wife and three young children waited inside, white supremacist Byron De La Beckwith was convicted of the murder. In two trials in 1964, all-white, all-male juries refused to convict Beckwith in the first, and the second resulted in a hung jury. The case against Beckwith was dropped – until he was retried and convicted – in ‘94. The 1964 murders of three Freedom Summer workers – James Chaney, Michael Schwerner and Andrew Goodman – in Neshoba County saw 19 men, including Edgar Ray Killen a KKK leader, indicted in 1967. Of the 19, seven were convicted only of violating the dead men’s civil rights and served fewer than six years. Killen’s case ended in a hung jury. But in 2005, he was convicted of three counts of manslaughter at the age of 80. The U.S. Justice Department has now referred yet another killing to the state of Mississippi “for potential prosecution.” In 1959 on Halloween night in Corinth, 15-year-old William Roy Prather was shot in the face and died the following day. Eight white teenagers were charged with murder, but Jerry Darnell Glidewell was the only one convicted after pleading guilty to manslaughter in 1960. He served less than a year in prison. It is not yet certain whether charges will be pursued in this nearly 60-year-old case, but we believe it’s never too late for justice. Prodigious portions of Mississippi’s past are painful – especially to those for whom justice was not attained. But as long as there are humans who believe in a more compassionate future for Mississippi, justice does not have to be elusive. As Myrlie Evers-Williams has said of Mississippi, “You hear the sounds of horror, but you hear the sounds of coming together.” — Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

PERSPECTIVE

6 I Mississippi Business Journal I August 24 2018 » RICKY NOBILE

CRAWFORD

Continued from Page 5

the government services taxpayers benefit from to the taxes used for their expenses.” The Speaker may have backed off Busby’s plan because it would reduce income tax collections about $165 million while increasing fuel taxes about $302 million. Given that Mississippians pay all of the income taxes but a significant percentage of fuel taxes are paid by outof-state travelers and truckers, these amounts look about right. Gunn’s watered-down proposal makes the amounts about even. News reports say the tax swap looks DOA. That leaves a new state lottery, Internet sales taxes, state bonds, and such as possible sources of revenue. These options, according to the Tax Foundation’s perspective, would not be smart. Of course, doing the smart thing is seldom our Legislature’s way. Meanwhile, as legislators have piddled and puckered on this issue, local governments have started raising property taxes to fix closed bridges. Bill Crawford (crawfolk@gmail.com) is a syndicated columnist from Meridian.

»INSIDE MISSISSIPPI

It’s prosecutor vs. ‘Big Country’ in U.S. House race

he major-party nominees in Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District present sharp contrasts in style, even if their ideological differences are fuzzier. Republican Michael Guest and Democrat Michael Ted Evans both say they oppose abortion and support gun rights and border security. Neither sounds likely to hang out with the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi. Guest is in his third term as district attorney for the Jackson suburbs of Madison and Rankin counties, which are the biggest population hub of the district that stretches from Natchez up to Starkville. In his congressional campaign, Guest has stuck to variations of the same speech all year, delivered in complete sentences and measured tones. Evans is a second-term state House member from the Preston community in Kemper County. He’s been a firefighter and poultry farmer, nicknamed “Big Country.” He’s not a stick-to-a-script kind of candidate. The current 3rd District congressman, Republican Gregg Harper, didn’t seek re-election this year. He’s supporting Guest , who has outraised and outspent Evans by a wide margin. Differences in campaign style were on full display when Evans and Guest spoke recently at the Neshoba County Fair, where spectators shuffled their feet in sawdust and alternately cheered or heckled the politicians onstage. Audiences there are always largely conservative, and Evans talked about meeting a woman in southwestern Mississippi who asked if he was Republican or a Democrat. When he told her Democrat, Evans said she responded: “‘You know I

hate that Nancy Pelosi and Maxine Waters.’… I said, ‘I understand. I do, too.'” Evans said he told the woman that he also doesn’t like Republican leaders Paul Ryan or Mitch McConnell and she agreed that “every one of ’em needs to go back home.” Guest said control of Congress, and many other things, will be on the ballot in November. “The next speaker of the House will be on the ballot in November. Protecting our Second Amendment rights is on the ballot in November. Standing up for our men and women in the military is on the ballot in November. Honoring the promise that we’ve made our veterans is on the ballot in November,” Guest said. Also on the ballot, Guest said: “Standing with our president…. Making our tax cuts permanent and rolling back unnecessary regulations…. Building a wall and securing our southwest border…. Reducing wasteful spending…. Making sure that the unborn have a voice.” Evans said the woman who quizzed him about his party affiliation also said Democrats “are all about killing them poor, innocent babies.” “I said, ‘Me and my wife’s been accused of trying to make some babies, but we ain’t killed none that I know of,” Evans said. “I’m pro-life. I’ve been pro-life all my life.” Evans said he cares about babies “after they are born” and

Emily Pettus

wants them to have food, clothing and health care. He added: “I’m pro-life all the way through their lives.” Republican Gov. Phil Bryant, who is supporting Guest, said journalists should have criticized the way Evans talked

Neither sounds likely to hang out with the House Democratic leader, Nancy Pelosi. about immigrants. Evans said the same woman on the campaign trail complained that her college-educated sons couldn’t find jobs “‘with all these Mexicans coming over here,'” but that the sons didn’t want to work in a chicken plant. “I said, ‘Honey, I ain’t seen a Mexican cross the border yet with a college education,'” Evans said. “I’m all about putting up a wall, security. … But, folks, we’ve gotta realize that the farmers of the state of Mississippi have to have immigrants. If you want a clean motel room in the state of Mississippi, you’ve got to have an immigrant to clean ’em … if you want your produce picked, our farmers need immigrants.” Emily Wagster Pettus covers Capitol matters for the Mississippi Associated Press in Jackson.

TELEMARKETING

August 24, 2018

Mississippi Business Journal

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Robocalls grow and PSC looks for a better defense By JACK WEATHERLY jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com Hacking invades the sanctity of the computer of a person, business or government agency. And it grabs the headlines. Another kind of intrusion doesn’t draw nearly the public attention but “robocalls” can invade the privacy in a different way. And such calls are growing exponentially. The Mississippi Do Not Call List “works wonderfully” for those who obey its provisions, said Brandon Presley, chairman of the Mississippi Public Service Commission. About 140 companies and other entities have registered on the list. “The problem we have is 90 percent of these calls are originating in a foreign country or from a robocaller,” Presley said in an interview. “These are coming from people who are not registering with the state or with the Federal Trade Commission,” he said. The FTC earlier this year filed a complaint in federal court to attack the problem. “Technology and the ability to make millions of calls in a short period of time have outstripped the ability of any enforcement agency, on the state level or on the federal level.” Consumer Reports stated that in 2017 more than 30 billion robocalls were made in the country, based on an estimate from YouCall, a provider of voicemail and call-blocking services. When unwanted solicitations started gumming up email inboxes, providers came up with spam boxes, Presley observed. Phone service providers and smart phone makers offer apps for free or a couple of dollars that can block a “vast majority of unwanted calls,” Presley said. Presley is in favor of making illegal telemarketing a criminal offense. Asked about prosecuting someone who may be in a gray area, he said the offense could begin as a misdemeanor rather than a felony. He said he would endeavor to get lawmakers to introduce such a bill in the upcoming session of the Legislature in January. Fines are proving not to be “a big enough hammer,” given the elusive nature of the illegal callers, he said. He said the PSC has levied fines “well into the millions of dollars” over the past five years. But “getting them to pay is a whole different ballgame.”

“These are coming from people who are not registering with the state or with the Federal Trade Commission.”

Courtesy of OTL/MBJ

The fountain will orchestrate color-changing LED lights, water spouts and audio.

SHOW FOUNTAIN WILL BE FOCAL POINT OF RENAISSANCE PHASE 2 By MBJ STAFF

Brandon Presley Mississippi Public Service Commission. chairman

The threat of a jail term could be a deterrent, he added. Cellphones were added to Mississippi’s Do-Not-Call List on July 1, 2016, and complaints grew disproportionately compared with those from landline users. The Mississippi Telephone Solicitation Act was approved in 2003 after a protracted effort to reach an agreement was reached. There are still a number of exemptions in the state law. “Too many,” Presley said. They are as follows: • An entity that does not make a major sales presentation during a call. • An entity that does not try to complete a sale during a call. • Realtors. • Auto sellers. • Insurance agents. • Securities brokers and investment advisers. • Charities. • Newspaper ad and subscription callers. • Banks and other lenders. • Funeral homes. Another weapon in illegal solicitations is the “spoof call,” which makes it appear on the caller identiﬁcation that the caller is in the recipient’s area code, or one close to it. The PSC and Attorney General Jim Hood produced a booklet on how to combat bogus calls. The guide can be seen on the attorney general’s website at agjimhood.com.

A show fountain will be the centerpiece and gathering place for the second phase of the Renaissance at Colony Park. “This will be the ﬁrst retail show fountain of this magnitude in the state of Mississippi,” said J. Wickham Zimmerman, chief executive officer of Outside the Lines, the designer and builder. “The property co-owner and developer, The Mattiace Co., recognized the value in elevating this project to a destination status,”Zimmerman said in a release. “The . . . choreographed and engaging fountain will deliver a unique visual and concert-quality experience., Zimmeramn said. The second phase of the mall, which marked its 10th anniversary this year, will feature a six-screen boutique theater to be built by Malco Theatres. OTL is working in close coordination with general contractor, Brasﬁeld and Gorrie, as well as with the project’s design team, site architects Wier Boerner Allin Architecture and landscape architect Trent Rhodes as well as the project’s architects, Dean & Dean/Associates Architects. The fountain will honor the state of Mississippi. “It is inspired by the interwoven S’s that appear in the State of Mississippi’s logo, which themselves are inspired by water,” Zimmerman said. The fountain features 62 nozzles that will shoot water up to 35 feet into the air as well as robotic, multi-axis nozzles, illuminated by over 200 color-changing LED lights. There is also a central jet able to reach a height of 100 feet, which will be visible from Interstate 55. OTL is also designing and installing a state-of-the-art audio system.

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LAW FIRMS

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August 24, 2018 • MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS JOURNAL • www.msbusiness.com

AN MBJ FOCUS: Technology

MIST Cluster brings marine technology business and government partners together By BECKY GILLETTE mbj@msbusiness.com

usinesses and governments involved in developing and implementing applied technologies for a marine or coastal environment face some similar challenges, one being the highly corrosive nature of saltwater. The Marine Industries Science & Technology (MIST) Cluster is a regional group formed to provide opportunities for people in maritime-related industries from the Florida Panhandle to coastal Louisiana to work toGraben gether in the development and implementation of applied technologies for operating in, working around, and monitoring the marine and coastal environments. MIST Cluster Program Manager Joe Graben, who is also director of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Busi- Valenti ness and Innovation Assistance Center, said the MIST Cluster represents small and large businesses with associated partners within that clusters which include federal and state agencies and academic institutions. “We have a number of small businesses we principally serve in the program in our region,” Graben said. “They are developing sensors, coatings, software and hardware with primarily marine applications above, in or near the water. As most people are quite familiar with,

Courtesy of MIST

Control room for operating Pelagic Research Services remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV).

sea water is not a friendly substance. It causes corrosion. It is a rough environment. These companies are working on innovations that will have to survive in this type of environment.” Graben said they have companies developing innovations for federal agencies such as the Navy, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. There are also companies working on innovations for large industries such as Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, and offshore oil and gas operations.

Other participants include those involved in coastal restoration and recovery projects. The Cluster also includes partners involved in commercial and recreational ﬁshing, defense and aqua-mariculture. One company that has worked with MIST is WorldWinds. Elizabeth Valenti, president\ owner, said the MIST Cluster has been super helpful to her company. “We started out at Stennis in 2000, and they were invaluable helping us get set up, givSee MIST, Page 11

Technology

10 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q August 24, 2018 PROFILE

Sarah Lee leads her ﬁeld with innovative thinking By CALLIE DANIELS BRYANT mbj@msbusiness.com

It goes without argument that Mississippi is the stomping grounds for some of America’s most inﬂuential people, unfortunately most of them who have left the state to ﬁnd their fortune. Yet the state is beholden to a woman who has taken incredible strides to empower Mississippians in computing and technology. This woman, Dr. Sarah Lee, is the associate clinical professor, assistant department head and director of undergraduate studies for the Department of Lee Computer Science and Engineering at Mississippi State University. Since 2011 she has regularly taught numerous courses at undergraduate and graduate levels, and has consistently received favorable reviews from her students. But those titles don’t convey what all she has done beyond the university. While working as faculty, Lee has also researched ways to encourage women and African-Americans throughout Mississippi to pursue computing. She looks at factors such as pre-collegiate experiences that inspires them to enroll in computing science, what stakeholders guide them or push them away from these careers, and what programs are effective in impacting their interest and drive in computing. “We need a diverse technology workforce bringing their unique perspectives to the design of tomorrow’s technical solutions. Without that, we will miss out on a lot of innovative technology solutions that could have a positive impact on the world,” said Lee. In 2013, Lee co-founded Bulldog Bytes with an engineering student, Rian Walker. Bulldog Bytes began as an outreach educational program for Mississippi students and faculty. “Currently, we provide programs throughout the state for students (elementary to high school) and teacher professional development,” Lee said. “Our teacher program introduces teachers in any content area to computer programming and cybersecurity, and provides them with a pedagogical approach to introduce those topics into their classrooms.” In 2015 Bulldog Bytes partnered with GenCyber, a free-of-charge national summer camp that teaches K-12 students safe online behavior, increases diversity and interest in cybersecurity careers, and also helps teachers learn methods for teaching cybersecurity in computing classes. Bulldog Bytes also introduces K-12 students and their teachers to computing professionals who teach

“We need a diverse technology work force bringing their unique perspectives to the design of tomorrow’s technical solutions. Without that, we will miss out on a lot of innovative technology solutions that could have a positive impact on the world.” Dr. Sarah Lee

cybersecurity, digital forensics, and coding with robots. Lee is also the director of the new Mississippi Computing and Cybersecurity Equitable Education Space (MSuCCEEDS) which is housed at MSU. This program provides classroom space for K-12 students and their teachers as a ﬁrst-hand introduction to possible careers in computer science. Lee is also a program manager for the Mississippi Aspirations in Computing award in collaboration with

the National Center for Women and Information Technology. Each year the program rewards high school girls throughout Mississippi for their passion in technology and computing. In 2015, Dow selected Lee for a DOW Diversity Fellowship which she has mentored students MSU Bagley College of Engineering students who are members of minority groups. In 2016 with Dr. Vemitra White of Bagley College of Engineering Lee founded the Mississippi Alliance for Women in Computing which is made available with funding from the National Science Foundation. “Through this alliance, we have partnered with non-proﬁts, educational institutions, and industry to illuminate a pathway for girls and women in Mississippi who want to pursue computing education and careers,” she said. Lee has also encouraged students with disabilities in computing programs, and has hosted summer interns through the AccessComputing program at the University of Washington. She has worked with one of the interns to offer a summer computing outreach program this year for students with low vision or blindness. She currently serves on the board of Mississippi Coding Academies (MCA), which she sees as an “important part of computing education landscape.” “The academies are an alternative educational pathway for Mississippi citizens,” she said, “whether they are recent high school graduates, have attended college, or have even completed college but want to retool to be more competitive in our digital economy.” Mississippi State University has taken a leadership role with MCA, and the Golden Triangle campus will by the end of August be located at Thad Cochran Research, Technology, and Economic Development Park, adjacent to MSU campus. Lee said, “I am so impressed with the students at the Golden Triangle campus that I work closely with. I had a group of MCA students and some of our MSU students attend a hackathon recently that was hosted by the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Students. The MCA students were very competitive and worked side by side with our Bagley College of Engineering students. The winning team at the hackathon was led by an MCA student. These students are getting 11 months of active learning in an instructor-led environment, and it is tuition-free. They learn full-stack software development, which includes front-end to back-end computer programming. The curriculum is driven by our industry partners, and we are currently looking at additional content that includes artiﬁcial intelligence and cybersecurity. I am so excited about the future of Mississippi State and the Mississippi Coding Academies collaboration.”

Technology MIST Continued from, Page 9

ing us office space and what we needed to get going,” Valenti said. “Then, in 2001, they helped us identify a Small Business Innovative Research Grant. We bid on and won a project to help model hurricane storm surges. To this day, we are still in the storm surge business selling that commercially.” Valenti said that in 2010 Graben notiﬁed her of a NOAA solicitation out of Washington, D.C. which the company won to provide weather products for the television broadcast market. “We have weather stations across the world showing our weather products generated here,” said Valenti, who has offices in Slidell, La., and at Stennis. “I credit that to Joe because we wouldn’t have known of that opportunity otherwise. That is the kind of thing they do. We are very small. There are only four of us. I don’t have time to monitor the Requests for Proposals every day. But Joe does, and he is good about matching opportunities to different MIST companies. He calls and says, “I think this would be cool for you. I think you should look into it’.” Another MIST employee, Laurie Jugan, who is lead technical consultant, helped recently by connecting Valenti with another MIST company. The two companies are partnering together to bid on a NOAA project. MIST also holds events and workshops where people learn what is going on within federal agencies in terms of developing procurement opportunities, and training in how to bid on those opportunities. “We help small businesses learn how to win those kinds of grants with federal agencies and prime contractors,” Graben said. “They can learn how to do business with federal and state governments. We help identify resource providers for them. For example, a company might be developing a new innovation for the Navy, but need testing for their innovation. That testing might be done at university facilities with faculty members to help ﬁll out the expertise needed to for the company’s work project.” Graben said the purpose of the MIST Cluster is to is try to diversify the coastal economy, bringing in higher-paying tech jobs, and also improving the way existing industries on the Coast operate so they are more environmentally friendly, efficient and sustainable. The Cluster is also involved with its partners in supporting work-force development efforts. “Through our program, we can help universities understand the work-force

training needs of small businesses and industry here in the region,” he said. “And we can help those small businesses and industry understand where they can ﬁnd their workers, people who can be trained for the educational requirements that they need.” The program, which has been in existence since 2014, has a ﬁrm track record in helping small businesses secure funding for applied research and development--quite often working with new technology applications. It can take 10 to 15 years by the time a new technology gets developed until it is a accepted and used in market.

August 24, 2018

“People are familiar with their smart phones,” Graben said. “Most of that technology in that phone began ten to 15 years before it was commercialized. It took quite a while from when the technology was developed until it was used to create the phone they use today. We are planting a lot of seeds right now. We won’t know the fruits of all that for another ﬁve to 10 years.” Almost each quarter the MIST Cluster holds small-business consortium events. One will be coming up Sept. 11. It will be posted on the MIST Cluster website (https://www.mistcluster.org/) under events.

Mississippi Business Journal

Graben said the symposiums are a good opportunity for technology innovators to come together with industry end-users to understand each other’s capabilities and needs and collaborate to foster expanded business and address shared issues. The MIST Cluster is supported by a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Regional Innovation Cluster contract, the Mississippi Enterprise for Technology, Inc., and the University of Southern Mississippi.

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Technology

12 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q August 24, 2018

TEC appoints Hallquist customer account manager TEC is pleased to announce the appointment of Teresa Hallquist as Customer Account Manager at TEC of Bay Springs. Hallquist is responsible for servicing and maintaining customer business. Hallquist attended Jones County Junior College and the Hallquist University of Southern Mississippi where she studied Business Management and Marketing. She has 10 years of experience in the customer relations industry. Hallquist resides in Laurel with her sons, Jake and Ben.

Fuse.Cloud ﬁrst to move company headquarters to Landmark Center

C Spire leverages recent major acquisition to bolster business services C Spire is using its recent acquisition of Birmingham, Alabama-based TekLinks to bolster its reputation of offering businesses and enterprises the nation’s most comprehensive suite of cloud and IT managed and professional services. With the launch of a new, comprehensive cspire. com/business website, the company has finished the latest phase of efforts to incorporate the highly regarded and rapidly growing cloud and IT managed and professional services company and staff into its consolidated operations. C Spire, a Mississippi-based diversified telecommunications and technology services company, announced plans to acquire TekLinks in June in a private transaction designed to help the firm continue its aggressive growth and expansion into the lucrative sector that helps businesses manage their complex data and communications needs. The new website touts the fact that C Spire is now the nation’s first full-stack managed solutions provider, capable of offering advanced connectivity, cloud, software, hardware, communications, professional services, cybersecurity, business continuity and technology support in a single, seamless managed IT solution portfolio. The combined C Spire business unit features a work force of over 500 service professionals, over 8,600 route miles of fiber optic infrastructure with major locations in 12 cities and operations in three states – Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee - multiple data centers in several states and the ability to serve voice, IP/data, cloud and managed and professional services customers anywhere in the country. Former TekLinks President Don Monistere is leading the new consolidated C Spire Business operations as general manager. With the acquisition of TekLinks, C Spire is now ranked ninth in the world among all cloud services providers. The company was honored earlier this year by Cloud Computing Magazine with a national cloud computing industry award for expansion of its Cloud Metro Edge services across most of the Midwest and Southeastern regions of the U.S. The acquisition is the latest in a series of moves by C Spire that signal an accelerated and expanded focus on innovative voice, IP/data, IT and cloud solutions for businesses across its footprint and around the country. From fostering smartphone adoption at twice the

FILE/MBJ

Fuse.Cloud, a business technology services provider specializing in voice over internet protocol (VoIP), ﬁber internet and other cloud-based solutions, has announced its plans to move to Landmark Center in downtown Jackson. This move, effective this October, comes alongside Fuse.Cloud’s effort to accommodate the continued growth of the company. The expansion includes the addition of a Louisiana-based sales director and eight new staff members. The company will be the ﬁrst commercial tenant to name the Landmark Center its corporate headquarters. Fuse.Cloud, recently recognized by Fortune Magazine as one of the fastest-growing inner city companies in the United States, is one of the longest-standing providers of hosted VoIP solutions in the state of Mississippi. Since 2006, the company has grown to serve over 2,000 customers throughout the United States. “Not only are we rapidly outgrowing our existing space

national rate to launching in 2013 one of the nation’s first Gigabit-speed Fiber-to-the Home initiatives, C Spire is a leader in helping spur consumer and business adoption of the latest technology. The company offers businesses availability to a myriad of value-added services through its multiple data centers. C Spire’s FTTH program, the fastest in the U.S. to connect thousands of consumers to Gigabit speed internet, digital streaming TV and home phone services, is an unqualified success. The data center business serves as a springboard for the company’s aggressive expansion into complex voice, data, dedicated internet and cloud services for firms of all sizes. C Spire reinforced its commitment to innovation last fall by launching the C Spire Tech Movement initiative designed to leverage the company’s technology leadership and investments to help transform its service areas. A key element is the massive expansion of ultra-fast broadband and fixed wireless internet access with the goal of reaching thousands more consumers

in the Dickie’s building, but we are in a transitional phase as a company,” said Fuse.Cloud founder and CEO, Gary Watts. “This move comes at a great time as we are building momentum, adding staff and expanding our footprint.” “It’s ﬁtting that one of the most innovative companies in the state is choosing to call the most cutting-edge workspace in Jackson their new home,” said Bee McNamara, project manager at Weinstein Nelson management company. McNamara has worked with Fuse.Cloud to secure their new office. “I think this space will suit the needs of Fuse.Cloud perfectly now and in the future.” Sam Peters of Peters Real Estate is representing the Landmark Center locally, helping bring tenants to the building. “We’ve been a Fuse.Cloud customer for years, so we’re interested in seeing their continued success,” Peters said. “We’re glad to help secure one of the Landmark Center’s ﬁrst business tenants, and knowing it’s one with such a promising future makes it that much more exciting.”

and businesses. Other elements include leading the development of a high-tech work force in Mississippi through education initiatives and related efforts, expanding tech innovation and education in the areas of robotics, artiﬁcial intelligence and IOT and development of a state-of-the-art digital customer care platform. Bank Street Group served as the exclusive ﬁnancial advisor to C Spire in connection with the acquisition, which officially closed on July 31.

Cicayda’s Vick accepted into Forbes Technology Council Cicayda, a legal technology ﬁrm, recently announced that its Chief Strategy Officer Aaron Vick has been accepted into the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. He is the ﬁrst Mississippi native and resident to be accepted as a

member. Cicayda is a leading legal technology firm that combines powerful software and analytics with its legal expertise. Vick joins other Forbes Technology Council members, who are hand-selected, to become part of a curated network of successful peers and get access to a variety of exclusive benefits and resources, including the opportunity to submit thought leadership articles and short tips on industry-related topics for publishing on Forbes.com. Early in his career, Vick was part of the Rocket Science team based in Jackson that designed the first document research product, CaseLogistix, for the legal discovery market. After CaseLogistix’s acquisition by Thomson Reuters, he played an integral part in developing its Litigation Product Specialists team. Now, he is the point person that analyzes initiatives for Cicayda to ensure they are in line with the goals of the company and provides workflow consulting/ expert witness services.

Technology

August 24, 2018

Mississippi Business Journal

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Newsmakers

14 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q August 24, 2018

Eilders joins Haddox Reid Eubank Betts Steven Eilders recently joined the audit division of the CPA ﬁrm of Haddox Reid Eubank Betts PLLC as an audit staff member. He graduated from Mississippi State University, where he received his Bachelor of Accountancy and Masters of Professional Accountancy. He was born and raised in Ridgeland.

Eilders

Southern AgCredit welcomes staff members

Southern AgCredit, a cooperative lender that specializes in ﬁnancing rural land and agricultural operations in Mississippi and Louisiana, recently added two employees. Kirby Keith joins Southern AgCredit in the position of credit analyst in the co-op’s Ridgeland Keith administrative office. A native of Decatur, Keith now resides in Madison, with his wife, Stephanie. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in business administration from Mississippi State University and is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Banking. Keith most recently was an assistant vice president with Community Bank, where Summers he worked as a commercial and consumer loan officer. Drew Summers joins Southern AgCredit in the position of collateral evaluator in the Hattiesburg branch office. Summers earned an associate of science degree in forestry technology from Jones County Junior College and a bachelor of science degree in forestry management from Mississippi State University. He began his career at Weyerhaeuser Southern Timberland Division in Columbia, and then transitioned to Plum Creek Timberlands in Brookhaven. Most recently, Summers was a procurement forester for ﬁve-and-ahalf years for WestRock Company in Evadale, Texas. He grew up in Purvis and has been married to his wife, Jennifer, for four years.

Waggoner engineering team continues to grow Waggoner Engineering, Inc., has added Billy James, Hailey Broussard and Brian Granger to its team. James joins Waggoner as a senior discipline manager. James has more than 30 years experience managing projects for the Mississippi Department of Transportation, as well as seven years experience in consulting. At Waggoner, he works to provide quality assurance and control on projects. James earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University. Broussard works as a project manager for Waggoner, where she oversees the Union- Lincoln Regional Water Supply Initiative. Previously, Broussard was a client liaison to municipalities during the design and bidding phase for roadway and site development projects. Now she manages client relationships for

Waggoner while communicating with environment, surveying and design teams. Broussard graduated from Louisiana Tech University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. Granger is a senior discipline manager for Waggoner. He oversees the design, operation and maintenance of water and wastewater facilities. He is a board certiﬁed environmental engineer and holds the title of Professional Engineer in several states including Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama and Florida. Granger graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering.

Holladay graduates from Institute for Organization Management Casey Holladay, IOM, Events Coordinator, of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, has graduated from the Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, and has received the Holladay recognition of IOM. The IOM Graduate Recognition signifies the individual’s completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours toward the Certified Chamber Executive or Certified Association Executive certifications.

Gilliland named VP, corporate relationship officer Renasant Bank recently promoted David Gilliland to Vice President and Corporate Relationship Officer in Tupelo. Gilliland joined Renasant in 2015, having previously served as Assistant Vice President and Commercial Relationship Officer. Gilliland is a graduate of Mississippi State University with Gilliland a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Science degree. Gilliland contributes to his community through organizations such as the Community Development Foundation, the Downtown Tupelo Main Street Association Board, the Good Samaritan Free Clinic Board, and the Tupelo Kiwanis Club. David and his wife Ashley have to daughters, Marian and Hattie, and attend Trace Crossings Baptist Church in Tupelo.

Matthew C. Hann joins Memorial Physician Clinics Memorial Physician Clinics has added Matthew C. Hann, MD, in the practice of Interventional Cardiology at Memorial Physician Clinics - Coast Cardiovascular Associates, 1391 Broad Ave., Gulfport. Hann earned his medical degree from Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. He did his residency and

Hann

fellowship in the United States Air Force at Keesler Medical Center and Wilford Hall Medical Center; and Interventional Cardiology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C. Hann is board certiﬁed in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Interventional Cardiology.

Benchmark Litigation recognizes three Lee Adair Floyd and Kyle V. Miller of Butler Snow have been named to Benchmark Litigation’s 40 & Under Hot List. Also Kari L. Sutherland was recently named in Benchmark Litigation’s Top 250 Women in Litigation. Attorneys named to the list Floyd have been deemed the most promising emerging talent in their respective litigation communities in the U.S. and Canada by their peers and clients. Miller is chair of Butler Snow’s energy and environmental task force where he regularly defends clients in class action, catastrophic loss, product liability and consumer protection litigation. Miller He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Mid-South Rising Star for personal injury products defense and is a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Miller is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, American Bar Association, Institute for Energy Law, Defense Research Institute, Mississippi Sutherland Defense Lawyers Association and the Capital Area Bar Association. He received bachelor’s degree for the University of Southern Mississippi and his Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School. Floyd focuses her practice on automotive product litigation and industrial disasters. Floyd has been honored by Super Lawyers as a Virginia Rising Star for personal injury products defense. Sutherland focuses her practice on drug and device litigation. She is part of a national counsel team defending prescription medical devices and also works as international coordinating counsel. Sutherland has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a Mid-South Super Lawyer for personal injury defense: products, was recently named a 2018 Benchmark Litigation Star and is the recipient of a 2017 Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing. Sutherland is a member of the American, Mississippi, Tennessee, 5th Circuit and Lafayette County Bar Associations, Defense Research Institute, Fellowship of the Litigation Counsel of America, Federalist Society, Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association and Trial Attorneys of America. She is also a former special agent for the U.S. Secret Service. Sutherland received her undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama and her Juris Doctor from Mississippi College School of Law.Floyd is a member of the Defense Research Institute, West Virginia State Bar and Virginia State Bar. Floyd received her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and her Juris Doctor from West Virginia University College of Law, where she was editor-in-chief of the West Virginia Law Review.

Zook named Ole Miss associate vice chancellor Jim Zook, a veteran communications and marketing leader, has been named associate vice chancellor for strategic communications and marketing at the University of Mississippi. Zook has more than 25 years of expertise from a career spanning corporate communications, consulting and media. Zook, joined Ole Miss from Deloitte, a global professional services ﬁrm where he served most recently as head of communications in the U.S. for the Big Four auditor Deloitte & Touche. Previously, Zook served in a variety of leadership roles during nine years with Deloitte, including U.S. crisis communications lead. Before joining Deloitte, Zook worked for the global consulting ﬁrm Mercer, the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Education in Washington, D.C., and as a reporter for The Chronicle of Higher Education, the Houston Chronicle and The Dallas Morning News. Zook’s wife, Frances Flautt Zook, is an architect licensed in Georgia and Mississippi and a native of Greenwood. The Zooks have two sons: Jack, a junior at Ole Miss, and Will, a high school senior. The Zooks are members of the Ole Miss Family Leadership Council. A 1987 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Zook holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science. He received a master’s degree in American studies from the University of Sussex in England in 1989, as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Texas at Austin in 2001. In Atlanta, Zook was president of the Pace Academy Booster Club, vice chair and director of the UNC-Chapel Hill General Alumni Association, assistant scoutmaster with a local Boy Scout troop, and junior warden and vestry member of All Saints’ Episcopal Church.

Goodwill honors 13 for community volunteer service

Goodwill Industries of Mississippi has named its 13 honorees to be recognized for their volunteer work and community service at its annual Volunteer Salute beneﬁt. The Aug. 16 event honors individuals who are nominated for their contributions toward outreach and service in the Jackson metropolitan area. This year’s Goodwill Salute 2018 honorees are: Alicen Blanchard Angela Byers, David Caddle, Harper Stone, M.D., Joseph Voynik, Lee M. Nicols, M.D., Maggie McKinnis, Pam Allen, Primus Wheeler Jr., Regina Harlan Boyles, Renee Ebner, Tyler Lott Armstrong and Vonda C. Bush.

Jessica Deffenbaugh joins People Lease Jessica Deffenbaugh recently joined People Lease as a Payroll Specialist. A native of Senatobia, Jessica now lives in Brandon with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys reading, cooking, and taking care of her family. Deffenbaugh

Newsmakers Stewart named concierge at Reunion Terra J. Stewart has been appointed Concierge at Reunion Golf & Country Club. Stewart previously worked at Morgan & Morgan Law Firm, Geiger Specialty Advertising and C Spire.

August 24, 2018

RFCU recognized for advocacy efforts Stewart

Brunini lawyers recognized by Chambers USA Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC, recently had several lawyers recognized by Chambers USA The ﬁrm was recognized with state honors for Corporate/Commercial, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment, Litigation: General Commercial, and Real Estate. Individuals recognized with state honors were Louis Fuller - Corporate/Commercial; Walter S. Weems - Corporate Commercial; James L. Halford- Energy & Natural Resources; Watts Ueltschey - Energy & Natural Resources; Gene Wasson - Environment; John Milner – Environment; Ron Yarbrough – Litigation: Construction; Samuel Kelly – Litigation: Construction; David Kaufman – Litigation: General Commercial; and P. David Andrress – Real Estate. Recognized with state High Net Worth honors are Joseph E. Varner III, Private Wealth Law; and Lynne K. Green, Private Wealth Law.

Mississippi Business Journal

status was achieved by participating in the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA) Best Practices Study group. Galloway-Chandler-McKinney Insurance has served north Mississippi and west Alabama for 28 years, with Mississippi offices in Columbus, West Point, Starkville, Amory and Aberdeen. She has over ﬁve years of professional experience, including design and project management of healthcare facilities, restaurants, retail and commercial developments.

Community Bank promotes 3 in coast region

Corps’ Vicksburg District Deputy Commander retires The deputy commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Vicksburg District, Lt. Col. Aaron W. Wolf, is retiring from his military career. A native of Poynette, Wis., Wolf was commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in September 1994, out of the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point. He has was the deputy district commander and engineer with the Corps of Engineers’ St. Louis and Vicksburg districts. He also was the Division Engineer for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) leading engineer efforts during operations in Iraq in 2016. Wolf has deployed five times and earned seven combat overseas bars with missions in support of Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo. His military education includes the U.S. Army Engineer Officer Basic Course and Engineer Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms Service Staff School, Command and General Staff College, and the NATO Engineer Staff Officer Course. He earned a Bachelor of Science in cartography from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point and a Master of Science in engineering management from the University of Missouri at Rolla. He is a certified project management professional. Wolf’s military awards include the Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with five oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal with one oak leaf cluster. Wolf is married to the former Kari Werschem of Kaukauna, Wis., and they have three children.

Courtesy of C Spire

Rivertrust Federal Credit Union in Pearl was recently honored with an Advocacy Award, which recognizes credit unions for efforts to protect, strengthen and expand credit unions and improve the lives of members. Rivertrust FCU was recognized for their achievement at the Mississippi Credit Union Association Annual Meeting and Convention, recently held in Biloxi, Mississippi. Rivertrust President and CEO Kevin Long (left), accepts the award from Charles Elliott, Mississippi Credit Union Association President.

IP recognizes outstanding employees for May IP Casino Resort Spa recently recognized employees for their service, dedication and work ethic during May. Honorees were Kendall Davis (thirty-two), Rosa Stiglet (Housekeeping), Latrice Smith (Cage), Steven Neville (Facilities), Jessica Knight (Table Games) and Tammy Bean (Purchasing).

Canopy welcomes director of human resources Canopy Children’s Solutions, a non-profit provider of children’s behavioral health, educational and social service solutions, recently named Jynger N. Morris, SHRM-CP, as its new Director of Human Resources. Morris has more than 12 years of experience in human resource management and employee ben- Morris efits. Morris previously was the Human Resources Manager at Horne, LLP. Morris also spent time at the University of Mississippi Medical Center heading up employee benefits. Morris attended Millsaps College and earned a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Appalachian State University. She later earned master’s degrees in Human Relations and International Relations from the University of Oklahoma. Morris is a native of Rankin County. She and her husband, Isaac, live in Madison, and have four children.

LPK Architects hires Ladner Carolyn Lundemo Ladner recently joined LPK as Project Manager for its Gulf Coast Office in Gulfport. Ladner is responsible for programming, design and construction documents, as well as coordination with engineering consultants. Ladner She is a native of Pearl River, N.Y., and a graduate of the Mississippi State University College of Architecture, Art and Design.

Four Butler Snow attorneys recognized Four Butler Snow attorneys recently received recognition in the 2018 edition of Chambers High Net Worth, a publication which is specifically aimed at the private wealth market. The publication also recognized Butler Snow in its firm rankings. Ranking are based on in-depth interviews with clients and attorneys assessing legal knowledge, experience, ability, effectiveness and client service. The following Butler Snow attorneys were ranked. Ronald I. Loeb, Ridgeland, Private Wealth Law (Mississippi); J. Paul Varner, Ridgeland, Private Wealth Law (Mississippi); Kurt G. Rademacher - Singapore, Private Wealth Law (Singapore); and Brad F. Westerfield, London, Private Wealth Law (Foreign Experts) (London). Butler Snow was also ranked in the publication’s firm rankings for private wealth law in Mississippi and Singapore.

Galloway-Chandler-McKinney Insurance included in study Galloway-Chandler-McKinney Insurance of Columbus has retained its Best Practices status, a national recognition for independent insurance agencies. The

Bobbie Lynn Tillman was named Vice President, Keith A. Williams, Jr. was named Vice Presiden and Lori Lansford was named Branch Operations Officer. A native of Pass Christian, Tillman recently served as Assistant Vice President, she has Tillman been in banking for eleven years and a total of seventeen years in ﬁnance. In her new role, Tillman will continue to manage the overall performance of the branch. Tillman, attended Mississippi Gulf Coast and is a graduate of Mississippi School of Banking at Ole Miss. Active in her community, Williams Tillman is a member of the Centennial Lions Club, Gulfport Kiwanis, and West Wortham PTA. Tillman and her seven year old daughter, Brenlee, currently live in Saucier, Mississippi. A native of Gulfport, Williams recently served as Assistant Vice President and has been in banking for eight years. In his new role, Williams will be responsible Lansford for assisting new and current customers with personal and commercial ﬁnancial needs, as well as, growing the bank’s loan portfolio along the Gulf Coast. Williams, is a graduate of Mississippi School of Banking at Ole Miss and Gulf Coast Business Council’s Master’s Program. Active in his community, Williams is President of Gulfport Gridiron Club, member of Gulfport Chamber Board, Gulf Coast Carnival Association, Gulfport Yacht club, Bayou Bluff Tennis Club, and Senior PGA Rapiscan Classic Ambassador Club Vice President. Williams is married to Victoria, together they have a daughter, Riley, and son, Brody. A native of Panama City, Florida, Lansford recently served as Customer Service Representative and has been in banking for almost two years. In her new role, Lansford will oversee all operational aspects of the new Panama City office. Lansford, is a graduate of Gulf Coast State College with an Associate of Arts. Active in her community, Lansford volunteers for Junior Achievement of North Florida and is the children’s church teacher at Fellowship Baptist Church in Panama City.

Newsmakers

16 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q August 24, 2018

Duck Hill resident wins statewide recognition

The Mississippi Association for Home Care (MAHC) is proud to announce that Christie Winters, RN of Duck Hill, Mississippi has received statewide recognition as the recipient of the 2018 J.T. Gilbert Clinical Award. Winters has been a Home Health Nurse for Sta-Home for 4 years, recently becoming a Clinical Supervisor for the Clarksdale area. As noted in her nomination, Winters does not allow obstacles to stand in the way of her providing exemplary care to her patients while her cheery disposition and smiling face are continuous motivation for her co-workers. The J.T. Gilbert Clinical Award was established in 1991 to honor all professional clinical disciplines that work in the home health field. The criteria are specific that the individuals nominated must be involved in direct patient care and must demonstrate excellence in the home care field. The Mississippi Association for Home Care is a non-profit membership organization dedicated to operating for the benefit of member home health agencies, home heath related agencies and the benefit of the public in fostering and maintaining high standards of home health care.

Smith selected employee of 2nd Quarter

Promotions, new hires announced at Matthews, Cutrer & Lindsay CPAs

Courtesy of Hattielburg Clinic

Kristen Smith, a registered nurse with Hattiesburg Clinic’s Professional Services department, has been selected as Employee of the Quarter for the second quarter of 2018. Smith has been with the clinic since 2010. She is a ﬂoat nurse for different medical departments when needed. Pictured with Kristen Smith, left, are Professional Services Manager Micca Simmons, center, and Registered Nurse April Bishop.

Casey Lauer named facilities Jackson native elected to management director board of National REIT Casey Lauer, an experienced

engineer and facilities operations expert, has been named director of the Facilities Management Department at the University of Mississippi. The Kansas native has more than 11 years of leadership and experience in the fields of energy Lauer engineering, facilities operations, and property and project management. Lauer also will be responsible for assessing needs for growth, development and improvement on the campus. Lauer, who officially assumes his duties Sept. 10, will oversee the department’s budget of $31.6 million and nearly 275 employees. He replaces Ashton Pearson, who served the university for 11 years. Lauer joins Ole Miss from Kansas State University, where he was assistant vice president of facilities operations and physical plant infrastructure for the last four years. Before that role, Lauer was KSU’s first director of energy and environment program. Before joining KSU, Lauer was a project development engineer with Johnson Controls, Inc., in Topeka, Kan., and as an energy engineer with the Kansas Corporation Commission. A 2004 graduate of the University of Kansas, Lauer holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering with a bio-mechanical emphasis. He is a member of Pi Tau Sigma engineering honors society and also was a Kansas Honors Scholar and received the KU academic merit award. Lauer is a licensed professional engineer, a certified energy manager, facility operating engineer and general building contractor. Laure and his wife, Hannah, have three children: Jack, 8, Zoe, 4, and Tait, 1. Lauer, who officially assumes his duties Sept. 10, will oversee the department’s budget of $31.6 million and nearly 275 employees. He replaces Ashton Pearson, who served the university for 11 years.

Matt Warkentin, PE, has been named Associate Principal Owner. Warkentin has 14 years of experience and is Transportation Engineer in the Flowood office. Pickering specializes in Facility Design, Civil Engineering, Surveying, Transportation, and Natural / Water Resources. The ﬁrm is headquartered in Memphis with Mississippi offices in Hernando, Flowood, Jackson, Pearl, and Biloxi, and an office in Jonesboro, Ark.

Steven G. Rogers, Managing Member of Rogers and Associates, a real estate advisory ﬁrm he founded in 2011, was recently elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of RREEF (Rosenberg Real Estate Equity Funds) America REIT II (Real Estate Investment Trust). RREEF II is a private REIT headquartered in Chicago and has 100 properties, totaling $13 Billion mostly located in the 10 largest metro areas in the US. The REIT has 311 institutional investors. RREEF II is affiliated with DWS, a recent spin off from Deutsche Bank, AG, a worldwide banking system, having assets under management of over $2 trillion and over 100,000 employees in 70 countries. Rogers has been active with the Board since July 2014, serving on its Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Governance committees. Rogers is the former Chief Executive Officer of Parkway Properties.

Duffield joins Hattiesburg Clinic Immediate Care Derrick R. Duffield, MD, recently joined Hattiesburg Clinic Immediate Care, where he provides treatment for acute illness and minor urgent care needs. Duffield received his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Baton Rouge, La. He completed Duffield a family medicine internship and residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. He is board certiﬁed in family medicine by the American Board of Family Medicine and has professional affiliations with the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians. Duffield has extensive experience in urgent care and emergency medicine.

Vinson named to lead SoilTech Consultants James Vinson, PE, has joined SoilTech Consultants and will manage the firm’s overall operations. Vinson has more than 20 years of geotechnical engineering experience, the last 17 with consulting firm CDM Smith in that firm’s Knoxville, Tenn., office. Vinson Vinson will lead the geotechnical engineering and testing discipline for the 20-person firm that is based in Ridgeland and operates four other offices across Mississippi. SoilTech is a wholly owned subsidiary of Jackson-based Neel Schaffer Engineers & Planners. Vinson is a registered Professional Engineer in Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Texas, and Michigan. He received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Mississippi State University, and a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from Auburn University.

Pickering names principal, associate principal owners Pickering Firm, Inc. has named three new Principal Owners and two Associate Principal Owners. Blake Collins, PS, has been named Principal Owner. Collins has 17 years of experience and is the ﬁrm’s Survey Manager in the Flowood office. James Hale has been named Principal Owner. Hale has 28 years of experience and is Director of Finance and Administration in the Memphis office. Andy Phelan, PE, has been named Principal Owner. Phelan has 13 years of experience and is a Civil Engineer, managing the ﬁrm’s Biloxi office. Greg Brown, PE, has been named Associate Principal Owner. Brown has 18 years of experience and is Water Resources Engineer in the Flowood office.

The Ridgeland-based accounting firm of Matthews, Cutrer & Lindsay, P.A., recently announced the promotions of two staff members and the addition of a public relations and marketing department. Ford Jones and Laura Williams were promoted to Jones supervisor positions while Chantel Lott joined the firm as director of PR and marketing. Jones and Williams assume the roles of tax and audit supervisors respectively. Jones’ expertise is in the areas of taxation for partnerships and businesses, individuals, and trusts. Jones joined the firm in 2013 and holds a bachelor’s Williams degree in accounting plus a master’s degree in taxation from Mississippi State University. Williams, who joined the firm in 2012 after interning the year prior, now provides audit and attestation services with emphasis in multi-family housing projects, nonprofits, and federal grant compliance. She is pursuing Lott the CPA designation. Williams earned her bachelor’s and master’s in accountancy from Millsaps College. Lott joined the firm in June with nearly 20 years of experience in accounting, nonprofit, healthcare and tourism industries. Lott earned a bachelor’s degree in communication with emphasis in public relations from MSU. She is a long-time member and former board member of the Public Relations Association of Mississippi. She is also a long-time member of the Southern Public Relations Federation.

Roe joins Nail McKinney as staff accountant Nail McKinney recently announced that Devin Roe has joined the ﬁrm as a Staff Accountant. Roe, a native of Tupelo, graduated in May from the University of Mississippi with a Bachelor’s degree in Accountancy. Roe

Newsmakers Two ranked in Chambers High Net Worth guide

Two Mississippi shareholders from Baker Donelson have been ranked as leading practitioners in the 2018 Chambers High Net Worth (HNW) guide, the third edition of the guide which covers the private wealth market. Overall, five Baker Donelson attorneys were recognized. James K. Dossett Jr. and Leonard C. Martin, of the Jackson office were recognized in the area of Private Wealth Law. Dossett, who is ranked as a Senior Statesperson, concentrates his practice in taxation and estate planning. He is also experienced in income tax planning for corporations and individuals, estate planning, family limited partnerships and closely held corporations. Martin, ranked in Band 2, concentrates his practice in taxation, trusts and probate, planned giving and non-profit organizations. He is a Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant and a Certified Financial Planner. Also ranked were John P. Edgar (Private Wealth Law, Band 1) and Matthew Mace (Private Wealth Law, Band 1) of Maryland, and Christopher J. Coats (Private Wealth Law, Band 2) of Tennessee. Baker Donelson was also included in the publication’s Firm Rankings in the category of Private Wealth Law in three states: Maryland (Band 1), Mississippi (Band 2) and Tennessee (Band 2).

Peoples Financial Corp. appoint three to board

The board of directors of Peoples Financial Corporation, parent of The Peoples Bank, announces the appointment of Padrick D. Dennis, George J. Sliman, III, and A. Tanner Swetman to the board of The Peoples Bank. Padrick Dennis joined Specialty Contractors and Associates, Inc. in 2010 and currently serves as Vice President of Construction and Operations. George Sliman is Director and President of SunStates Holdings, Inc., a privately-held real estate investment company. Mr. Sliman’s responsibilities include ﬁnancial reporting, risk management, information technology and special projects. In addition, Mr. Sliman is a general partner and managing member of several privately-held investment entities. Tanner Swetman joined The Peoples Bank full time in 2005 and has held several diverse management positions in the bank and currently serves as Vice President for Corporate Affairs. Mr. Swetman has oversight responsibility for the Business Development, Investment, Branch Administration and Property departments. Mr. Swetman also serves as Chairman of the Asset Liability Committee and is a member of the Investment and Trust committees. Founded in 1896, with $647 million in assets as of March 31, 2018, The Peoples Bank operates 18 branches along the Mississippi Gulf Coast in Hancock, Harrison, Jackson and Stone counties. In addition to a comprehensive range of retail and commercial banking services, the bank also operates a trust and investment services department that has provided customers with ﬁnancial, estate and retirement planning services since 1936.

August 24, 2018

MMI Hotel Group executive team grows

Courtesy of MMI Hotel Group

MMI Hotel Group recently added two new executives to its family. Dave Jenner (left) has been named Chief Financial Officer at MMI, and Rich Byrd (right) has been named the Group’s Vice President of Operations. Also pictured is Micajah Sturdivant, President of MMI Hotel Group. MMI Hotel Group, formerly known as Mississippi Management, Inc. is a private, full-suite hotel management company.

Cole named director of race and sports betting at IP IP Casino Resort Spa has named George Cole to the position of Director of Race and Sports Betting. Cole will oversee sports betting operations for two Boyd Gaming-owned properties in Mississippi -- IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi and Sam’s Town Cole Hotel and Gambling Hall in Tunica Resorts. Cole started his career with Boyd Gaming at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 2010 and has experience in the race and sport area. Most recently at Boyd Gaming, Cole served as Director of Race and Sports Betting for Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa and the Cannery Casino Hotel.

MADA names new leaders Dwayne Blackmon has been elected to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Automobile Dealers Association (MADA). Blackmon is the owner of Dwayne Blackmon Chevrolet in Tupelo. As Chairman, Blackmon will serve in the highest elected position for the Association. Michael Van Veckhoven has been elected to serve as Chairman Elect. Van Veckhoven is the Dealer Principal of New South Ford and Nissan of Meridian. Bill Griffis has been elected to serve as the Secretary-Treasurer. Griffis is the owner of Griffis Motors in Philadelphia, MS. Members of the Board of Directors are Jonathan Allen, Allen Toyota, Gulfport; Leigh Bullock, Bullock Toyota, Louisville; Michael Joe Cannon, Cannon Motors of Mississippi, Oxford; Bobby Dalgo, Crown Dodge Chrysler Jeep, Pascagoula; Jeff Field, Landers Automotive Group, Southaven; Stephen Franks, Franks Chevrolet, Kosciusko and Crowson Auto World, Louisville; Paxton King, Stan King GM Superstore, Brookhaven; Todd Mixon, Courtesy Motors, Hattiesburg; Trudy

Higginbotham Moody, Mercedes-Benz of Jackson, Jackson; Jeff Smith, Crossroads Chevrolet, Corinth; Doug Wilson, Wilson Auto Group, Ridgeland. MADA represents the new car and truck dealers in Mississippi. Members of MADA create an estimated 18,646 jobs, $426 million in payroll, $151 million in state and federal income taxes, and $7.2 billion in total sales having a signiﬁcant impact on Mississippi’s economy.

Memorial Hospital changes executive leadership The Board of Trustees of Memorial Hospital at Gulfport announced the retirement of long-time President/ CEO, Gary G. Marchand, MPH, and the promotion of Kent Nicaud, COO-Operations, to President/CEO effective Aug. 1. The Board of Trustees wants to thank Mr. Marchand for his 26+ years of service and looks forward to continued successes under the capable knowledge, experience and leadership of Mr. Nicaud. “I joined an excellent organization and will leave an excellent organization,” said Marchand. Nicaud joined Memorial Hospital in 2008 and has more than 25 years of health care management experience from both the private sector and nonproﬁt arena.

MORA presents 5th annual Spero Awards Mississippi Organ Recovery Agency (MORA) recently hosted the ﬁfth annual Spero Awards. The awards ceremony recognized hospital partners, medical professionals, corporate partners and donor ambassadors who work in conjunction with MORA to promote organ, eye and tissue donation. 2018 Spero Award recipients: Most Supportive Ancillary or Healthcare Staff – Jesus Monico, PhD, University of Mississippi Medical Center Nurse Champion of the Year- Pam Burleson, St. Dominic Hospital

Mississippi Business Journal

Advanced Practice Nurse or Nurse Manager of the Year- Misty Tucker, North Mississippi Medical Center Physician Champion of the Year- Dr. Gilbert Mbeo, University of Mississippi Medical Center Hospital Leadership of the Year Award- Michelle Crawford, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Grenada Hospital Most Supportive of Tissue Donation- Forrest General Hospital, Hattiesburg Most Supportive Organ & Tissue Hospital- University of Mississippi Medical Center, Grenada Most Supportive Mortuary Services- Damien Murriel, Jackson Memorial Funeral Service Most Supportive Coroner- David Ruth, Rankin County Coroner Community Faith Leader or Chaplain of the YearChaplain Doris Whitaker, University of Mississippi Medical Center Volunteer of the Year- Larry and Ellen Duvernay, Gulfport Donation Advocate of the Year- Bill and Leslie Carruth, Meridian Corporate Partner of the Year- Hinds County Board of Supervisors, Jackson Most Supportive Surgical Staff – St. Dominic Hospital, Jackson Most Supportive Critical Care Staff- Memorial Hospital at Gulfport Storyteller Award – Patrice Clark, WLBT-TV Red Heart Award-Jackson County DPS Examiner’s Station Gift of Life Award - Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office. Mississippi Lions Eye Bank Gift of Sight Award -University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. Mississippi Lions Eye Bank Partners in Vision Award -- Garden Park Medical Center in Gulfport Hospital Excellence Awards for hospitals who have achieved national organ donation performance standards -- Forrest General Hospital; Garden Park Medical Center; Merit Health Rankin; North Mississippi Medical Center; Ocean Springs Hospital; Rush Foundation Hospital; Singing River Hospital; University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.

Powell joins Account Services Group Insurance Leslie Powell recently joined Account Services Group Insurance as a Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Agent. She has over 10 years of experience in business administration. Powell’s duties include working closely with clients to make sure their businesses are protected and Powell properly insured. Powell lives in Brandon and enjoys spending time with her daughter, cooking, and entertaining.

Baker Donelson among Best Law Firms for Women Baker Donelson was recently by Working Mother magazine to its 11th annual “Best Law Firms for Women” list, recognizing ﬁrms that utilize best practices in retaining and promoting women lawyers. Baker Donelson was among 60 ﬁrms to earn a spot on this year’s list.

Newsmakers

18 Q Mississippi Business Journal Q August 24, 2018

Goodwill names Spears to marketing position

Goodwill of Mississippi recently hired Janet Spears as Vice-President of Marketing. Spears has more than 20 years experience as a Marketing and Development Director in Mississippi. Her focus is to educate the public and promote Goodwill’s Mission assisting people with disabilities and other barriers to employment gain meaningful jobs. She is married to Freddie Spears. They make their home in Brandon and are active members of the Pointe Church.

Nissan, Habitat build another home

VT Halter Marine appoints Baczkowski

VT Halter Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of Vision Technologies Systems, Inc. (VT Systems) today announced that Ronald Baczkowski has been appointed as the President and CEO for VT Halter Marine with immediate effect. Baczkowski Baczkowski joined the United States Marine Corps in 1980 and retired with the rank of Brigadier General in 2012. He had held various command and staff appointments directing high-level strategic initiatives with impact on tens of thousands of troops. He joined VT Systems in 2016 and was mostly recently Vice President of Business Development. Before that from 2013-2015, he was Chief Operating Officer of Angarai International Inc., a professional management consulting ﬁrm; and Senior Program Manager at Engility Corporation, a provider of integrated services for US government, where he had operational oversight and P&L responsibility. Baczkowski holds a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces; Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the US Naval Academy; and a Master of Science in Systems Management/Logistics from the University of Southern California.

Economic Education board elects Mosley to chairman

The Mississippi Council on Economic Education Board of Directors recently elected Brooks Mosley as chairman of the board for the 2018-19 term. Brooks is the president of Ballew Wealth Management. As preseident of Ballew Wealth Management, he advises clients, particularly in retirement investing. Brooks’ other responsibilities include business development and compliance, as well as administrative and management functions. Brooks is a 1982 graduate of Mississippi State University. After college, he spent several years in public accounting before joining the Ballew Wealth Management team. In addition to his CPA designation, Brooks holds series 7, 24, 28 and 63 securities certiﬁcations. Brooks was involved in troop 302 of the Boy Scouts of America, and he is currently a member of the French Camp Academy board and the Mississippi Council on Economic Education board. Brooks enjoys traveling and reading of the classics. He and his wife, Sherry, have three children and attend Covenant Presbyterian Church.

Courtesy of Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area

Volunteers from Nissan Canton Assembly Plant and Habitat for Humanity Mississippi Capital Area recently partnered on their 11th home build. Over the course of two months, nearly one hundred Nissan employees made a commitment of time and effort to build a new home in Jackson for Tyran Trotter and her two children, Daisha and Tyler.

ACG promotes Wise Associated General Contractors of Mississippi (AGC) recently promoted Kay Wise to Event Coordinator for AGC Mississippi and CompTrust AGC. Wise joined AGC Mississippi as Administrative Assistant in May 2018. She has 20 years of association experience having served as Events Coordinator for Wise Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors and Continuing Education/Events Coordinator for Mississippi Nurses Association. Wise is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a degree in business education. Wise will be the point of contact and will handle all events from start to ﬁnish.

Alcorn 3rd on Value Colleges’ list Alcorn State University in Lorman has been recognized again as one of the nation’s top historically black colleges and universities. The University is ranked third on the Top 50 Value Colleges’ Historically Black Colleges & Universities 2018 list. Alcorn is the highest ranked Mississippi school on the website’s list. Value Colleges is a website that offers researched, straightforward, and practical answers to commonly asked questions about value and affordability when making college decisions.

Brown joins Peoples Bank as loan officer

Forbes recognizes Keesler Federal

Peoples Bank today announced that Jacob “Jake” Brown has joined the bank and will serve as a Loan Officer in the bank’s Collins Branch. Brown earned an Associates degree in Accounting from Jones County Junior College in 2016 and completed studies to earn Brown his Bachelor of Science degree in Banking & Finance from the University of Southern Mississippi in May, 2018. Most recently, Brown worked in a community bank in Hattiesburg, where he was responsible for a number of functions within the branch. He is the son of Mark and Karen Brown, and is a member of Dry Creek Baptist Church.

Keesler Federal Credit Union has been ranked as one of “America’s Best In-State Credit Unions” by Forbes Magazine. In its inaugural ranking of America’s best, Keesler Federal is the only credit union in Mississippi to be recognized in the Forbes list. The ranking is based on independent surveys of customers regarding overall satisfaction, willingness to recommend and trust. Forbes conducted more than 25,000 surveys across the United States in compiling the ranking. Only those credit unions with the highest scores were included in the list. “We are very pleased to be recognized as one of America’s best credit unions,” says Keesler Federal CEO Andy Swoger. “Such recognition is a testament to the high member satisfaction we work so hard to achieve.” Keesler Federal is a $2.5 billion cooperative, a not-for-proﬁt owned by its members. The credit union has experienced tremendous growth over the last few years, including a 40 percent increase in new loan demand. Established in 1947, Keesler Federal Credit Union is the largest Mississippi-based credit union and has more than 600 employees. With 29 branches, Keesler Federal serves over 216,000 members worldwide.

Holifield elected honorary life member The Southern Economic Development Council recently named Sandy Holified as an Honorary Life Member of the association. The HLM designation is the highest award SEDC bestows and it recognizes individuals that have made significant contributions to the profession in one or more of SEDC’s footprint states. Holifield, Vice President for the Jones County EDA, has been an active member of SEDC since 1993. Holifield has been an SEDC Committee Chair, an Alternate Director, and State Director for Mississippi.

August 24, 2018

Mississippi Business Journal

THE SPIN CYCLE

Media defends itself from Trump attacks

PRSA draws ﬁre for ill-fated princess campaign The Public Relations Society of America has apologized for a quiz it posted on social media asking questions including “What PR princess are you?” The group asked respondents to select answers to questions such as “What is your favorite thing about PR/comms?” and “What is the most important quality you look for in a boss?” Depending on their answers, respondents were assigned personas such as the “Curious PR Princess” or the “Assertive PR Princess.” The PRSA launched the quiz in March, but did not notice complaints about it until this week, according to the association. About 300 people have taken the quiz.

As a result of the backlash, PRSA issued an apology on Twitter and LinkedIn explaining its decision to run the survey. “It was never our intention to upset people, and clearly this was upsetting people,” said Laura Kane, chief communications officer of the group. “This was meant to entertain and engage people. It is not meant to be anything more than that.” Kane added that the tweets promoting the survey have been changed to say, “Have you ever wondered what it would be like if famous princesses were in PR? Check out this quiz we created for an event we attended at Disney to find out who your alter ego would be!” “I’m not even sure we are going to run the quiz anymore,” said Kane. The PRSA hosted the Ragan Social Media Conference in March at Walt Disney World Resort, where it asked participants to take a quiz based on the Myers-Briggs assessment of Disney princesses. The PRSA again promoted the quiz at PRSA’s InterSections Conference at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. “The only legitimate Myers-Briggs assessment for Disney characters are for the princesses,” said Kane. “That is why we chose the princesses. We originally looked for a broader base of characters, but since the data wasn’t there, we didn’t want to compromise the validity of the results.” “The quiz generated a lot of buzz and several people suggested that we share it more widely,” said Kane. “In hindsight, we should have provided more context.” A Twitter post promoting the quiz on Wednesday asking, “Are you the curious PR princess?” sparked complaints on social media among communications pros. As a longtime member of the PRSA, I have always been proud of the pioneering, enterprising and forward-thinking issues the society has advanced. This is not one of them! R-E-S-P-E-C-T Mic | Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul” The “Queen of Soul” defined “R-E-S-P-E-C-T!” From her throne atop the music world for more than five decades, Aretha Franklin – who died recently after a valiant fight with pancreatic cancer – was one of the world’s greatest singers who connected the generations across all genres. During the raucous 1960s, the soulstress brought gospel music to a pop-inclined world. And boy, did she belt out the hits! Chart toppers like “Do Right Woman — Do Right Man,” “Think,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Chain of Fools” defined the modern female persona – strong, determined and beautiful! When she added her voice to “Respect,” the Otis Redding song that became her signature – and elevated her thrown – it was much more than an outcry for humane domestic treatment. It was magic! The song made a defiant stand for equality, freedom and feminism, delivered in an angelic voice that would ring in all ears, turn all cheeks! Once on the world stage, Aretha had a solid gold career, notching more than 100 singles on the Billboard charts, including 17 Top 10 pop singles and 20 No. 1 R&B hits. She won 18 Grammys, including a lifetime achievement award in 1994, and was the first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The Spin Cycle remembers fondly when she sang at

the inauguration of Barack Obama in 2009. The queen also performed at pre-inauguration concerts for Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, at the Democratic National Convention and at Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral in 1968. Other music icons also graced the Todd Smith mighty stage that Aretha built. Legends like Natalie Cole, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys, openly emulated her. Rolling Stone magazine put her at the top of its 2010 list of the “100 Greatest Singers of All Time.” Her roots were always in gospel, the music she grew up on in the churches of her Memphis youth. She later sang in her preacher father’s New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, a city she made home for her career. She infused that gospel into jazz, the blues, rock – and later, even opera. In a word, she rocked the music world. It is only ﬁtting, perhaps, that she died on the same day 41 years later as another legend, Elvis Presley. The Queen is now dancing with The King in a sho nuff shindig just beyond the Pearly Gates! Each week, The Spin Cycle will bestow a Golden Mic Award to the person, group or company in the court of public opinion that best exempliﬁes the tenets of solid PR, marketing and advertising – and those who don’t. Stay tuned – and step-up to the mic! And remember … Amplify Your Brand!

Todd Smith is president and chief communications officer of Deane, Smith & Partners, a full-service branding, PR, marketing and advertising ﬁrm with offices in Jackson. The ﬁrm — based in Nashville, Tenn. — is also affiliated with Mad Genius. Contact him at todd@deanesmithpartners.com, and follow him @spinsurgeon.

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he media – often referred to as the 4th branch of the government to keep the other three honest and objective – has launched a huge effort across the U.S. to combat the constant attacks from President Donald Trump, which has fueled growing distaste for the media’s role in today’s society. More than 300 newspapers across America joined together to publish editorials to explain the role of journalists and amplified the positive role journalism plays today. The initiative was led by the editorial board of The Boston Globe, which asked other editors to combat frequent attacks made on the media by Trump. News outlets large and small joined the effort, and not just from blue states. They include The New York Times, The Arizona Daily Sun and The North Little Rock Times, among others. The Topeka Capital Journal, a Topeka, Kan. newspaper that supported Trump, joined the effort, too! It’s no secret Trump has targeted the media with criticism and accusations since early on in his presidential campaign, with those attacks continuing, and often escalating, throughout his stint as president. At a recent rally, Trump described the press covering the event as “fake, fake disgusting news.” He has made fun of the media by announcing a “fake news awards.” He’s also threatened to enact new libel laws and frequently attacked news outlets through his favorite megaphone, Twitter. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has even declined to contradict the prez after he called the media the “enemy of the people.” Not surprisingly, Trump fired back on the media initiative, tweeting: “THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA IS THE OPPOSITION PARTY. It is very bad for our Great Country....BUT WE ARE WINNING!” In subsequent tweets, the president pointed to the financial trouble of The Boston Globe and claimed that he supports freedom of the press but that “much of what it says is FAKE NEWS, pushing a political agenda or just plain trying to hurt people.” A Gallup/Knight Foundation survey published in June found that U.S. adults estimate that 62 percent of the news they consume is biased and that 44 percent is inaccurate. It appears to resonate with his base. A Quinnipiac University poll published last week found that 51 percent of Republicans believe the media is the enemy of the people. The same poll reported that 44 percent of American voters are concerned that Trump’s criticism of the media will lead to violence against people who work in media. A very alarming development for the Fourth Branch!

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