MBJ_CEO—MAR29-2019

2019

www.msbusiness.com • March 29, 2019

PARTIALLY SPONSORED BY

SPECIAL MAGAZINE EDITION » DOUBLE FOCUS: Women & Minorities in Business and Tourism

The Mississippi Business Journal will recognize leaders around the state of Mississippi who demonstrate excellence among the top executives in their field. The CEOs whom have helped their companies achieve strong growth and success, and have made a profound impact on their company and community. Honorees will be selected in categories of Nonprofit CEOs, Rising Stars, Large Companies, Medium Companies and Small Companies

NOMINATION FORM Your name: ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Nominee Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Title: ____________________________________________________________________________ Age: _______________________________ Company Name: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Company Category: _________ A. Nonprofit _________ B. Rising Stars _________ C. Large Company (200 or more employees) _________ D. Medium Company (50-199 employees) _________ E. Small Company (15 minimum to 49 employees) Phone Number: __________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Email Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Individual awards and achievements: ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Company awards and achievements: ________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

events@msbusiness.com / (601) 364-1000 / Fax (601) 364-1007 Download form at: www.msbusiness.com Click on Events and scroll down to CEO Awards of Mississippi

FROM THE EDITOR A member of the Mississippi Press Association www.mspress.org

MBJ’s TOP CEOs of MISSISSIPPI

132 Riverview Drive, Suite E Flowood, MS 39232 Main: (601) 364-1000 Faxes: Advertising (601) 364-1007 E-mails: mbj@msbusiness.com, ads@msbusiness.com, photos@msbusiness.com, research@msbusiness.com, events@msbusiness.com

CEOs are the straw that stirs the business drink in Mississippi

Website: www.msbusiness.com MARCH 29, 2019 Volume 41, Number 13

ALAN TURNER Publisher alan.turner@msbusiness.com • 364-1021 www.msbusiness.com

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term “high achiever”.

Having said all of that, the MBJ’s CEO Awards is not all you will be seeing in this edition.

We also have a regular Focus of the MBJ, which this week is a double focus of Women & Minoriities in Business and Tourism.

And then there is the list. One of the things the MBJ is known for is its lists. We print a business list associated with almost every Focus we print in each edition. This week, that list is manufacturers and producers.

There is also lots going on in the typical business world and we aren’t letting that slip through the cracks.

You are still getting the best business news from the only fulltime, state-wide business publication in Mississippi, This includes, stories, profiles, newsmakers, lists, ribbon cuttings, columns and more.

2019

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his issue of the Mississippi Business Journal is dedicated to the top chief executive officers of the businesses and corporations of Mississippi.

Our mission for this event is simple: to recognize and honor highly deserving CEO’s from large, mid-size, and small companies.

Each of those categories is very well represented.

During the past Ross Reily year, we received nominations, letters of support, and calls from many sources, including business professionals, peers, government leaders, and employees from lots of companies who told us they had the best boss in the world. We’ve been gratified by the great response, and we’re delighted to be able to recognize and honor a group of true winners.

These are the folks who drive business, create jobs, earn profits for shareholders, build new facilities, and make major contributions to our state, its communities, and its people. Business is indeed the driving force for our state and nation, and these people are the driving force for business. These CEOs are those who give meaning to the

• March 29, 2019

SPONSORED BY

SPECIAL MAGAZIN

E EDITION » DOUBLE FOCUS : Women & Minori ties in Business and Tourism

» Contact Mississippi Business Journal editor Ross Reily at ross. reily@msbusiness.com or (601) 364-1018.

TAMI JONES Associate Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • 364-1011 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • 364-1018 FRANK BROWN List Researcher frank.brown@msbusiness.com • 364-1022 JACK WEATHERLY Staff Writer jack.weatherly@msbusiness.com • 364-1016 TACY RAYBURN Production Manager tacy.rayburn@msbusiness.com • 364-1019 CHARINA RHODES Circulation Manager charina.rhodes@msbusiness.com • 364-1045 MARCIA THOMPSON Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • 364-1044 Subscription Services (601) 364-1000 subscriptions@msbusiness.com Mississippi Business Journal (USPS 000-222) is published weekly with one annual issue by MSBJ 132 Riverview Drive, Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232. Periodicals postage paid at Jackson, MS. Subscription rates: 1 year $109; 2 years $168; and 3 years $214.

To place orders, temporarily stop service, change your address or inquire about billing: Phone: (601) 364-1000, Fax: (601) 364-1035, Email: charina.rhodes@msbusiness.com, Mail: MS Business Journal Subscription Services, 132 Riverview Drive, Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Mississippi Business Journal, Circulation Manager, 132 Riverview Drive, Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232.

To submit subscription payments: Mail: Mississippi Business Journal Subscriptions Services, 132 Riverview Drive, Suite E, Flowood, MS 39232.

No material in this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent. Editorial and advertising material contained in this publication is derived from sources considered to be reliable, but the publication cannot guarantee their accuracy. Nothing contained herein should be construed as a solicitation for the sale or purchase of any securities.

It is the policy of this newspaper to employ people on the basis of their qualifications and with assurance of equal opportunity and treatment regardless of race, color, creed, sex, age, sexual orientation, religion, national origin or handicap.

The Mississippi Business Journal, is an affiliate of Journal Publishing Company (JPC), Inc. Entire contents copyrighted © 2019 by Journal Inc. All rights reserved.

Mississippi Business Journal – 3

Barry Moss Chief Executive Officer Merit Health Central

Congratulations, Barry, on being named one of this year’s Mississippi’s Top CEO’s by the Mississippi

Business Journal.

Mississippi Business Journal March 2 9, 2019 Volume 41, Number 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PARTIALLY SPONSORED BY

2019 CLASS M. L. Ballew, III, Ballew Wealth Management ................................... 7 Michael L. Belenchia, Needle Specialty Products .............................. 7 Natalie Bement, EMI Staffing ..........................................................9 Adam Breerwood, Pearl River Community College ............................9 Kevin Brown, Viking Range, .......................................................... 10 William B. Bynum, Jr., Ph.D., Jackson State University .................... 11 William Cork, Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission ........... 11 Tina Seymour Demoran, Seymour Law Firm, PLLC ..........................12 Jonathan Duhon, Yak Access ..........................................................13 Susan E. Garrard, Mississippi Children’s Museum ............................13 David E. Gates, Atmos Energy ....................................................... 14 Joe H. Hayman, Southern AgCredit ................................................15 Beverly Wade Hogan, Tougaloo ......................................................15 Joy Hogge, Mississippi Family as Allies .......................................... 16 Teresa Hubbard, Cite Armored........................................................17 Harold B. Ingram, PerforMax Medical .............................................17 Lee M. Jones, Irby Construction Co. ............................................... 18 David J. Machado, Machado patano ............................................... 19 Barry R. Moss, Merit Health .......................................................... 19 Brian Robinson, Robinson Electric .................................................20 Milton Segarra, CDME, Visit Gulf Coast ..........................................21 John M. Turner, Regions.................................................................21 Richmond Vincent, Jr., Goodwill of South Mississippi ..................... 22 Joe Waggoner, Waggoner Engineering ........................................... 23 Danny Walker, Heartland Catfish ................................................... 23 Scott Waller, MEC ......................................................................... 24 C. Mitchell Waycaster, Renasant Bank ............................................ 25 Josh West, Blue Delta Jean Co. ......................................................26 La’Keylah White, grantsUNLIMITED, LLC ....................................... 27 Anthony Wilson, Mississippi Power Company ................................28

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FOCUS ON Women & Minorities in Business Carol Harris helps minority and women- owned business owners across the state .......................................................................31 LISTS Women in Busness ............................................................36-37 Minorities in Business ............................................................. 35

FOCUS ON Tourism

Coast sees rising visits as it rebrands region as a ‘secret’ to discover ..................................................... 38-39

BancorpSouth congratulates

RICHMOND VINCENT,

CEO of Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi and BancorpSouth CRA Councilmember, on being chosen as one of the top CEO’s of 2019 by the Mississippi Business Journal.

Mississippi Business Journal – 5

Congratulations KEVIN BROWN President

for being chosen as one of the 2019 TOP CEOs

by The Mississippi Business Journal

VIKINGRANGE.COM

NOMINEES

M. L. Ballew, III Ballew Wealth Management

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n 1988, Matt Ballew formed Ballew Wealth Management with just himself and eight employees. Under his leadership, the firm has grown to become one of the region’s most respected investment firms, now with clients in 15 states.

Ballew served as President of Ballew Wealth Management from 1988 through 2001. Today he chairs a board of seven financial advisors, lending his guidance on key issues that impact Ballew Wealth Management and its clients. In addition to his role as Chairman of the Board, Ballew remains highly active in client service and business development.

Prior to founding Ballew Wealth Management, he worked in the banking industry and as a certified public accountant. He also practiced law for seven years, focusing primarily on tax law.

Ballew earned a BBA in accounting from the University of Oklahoma, a Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma College of Law and a Masters in Taxation from the University of New York.

Although he is a native of Joplin, Missouri, he has called Mississippi home since 1968.

Michael L. Belenchia Needle Specialty Products

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ichael Belenchia began his career in the Hospital Supply and Medical Device Industry with Baxter Healthcare Corporation in 1982. His career lasted more than 10 years with Baxter as he held different positions of responsibility exclusively in the Quality Management organization. His many positions varied from a Quality Staff Assistant, Solution Filling and Packing Quality Supervisor, Plant Quality Assessment Manager, Quality Superintendent and Quality Section Manager.

He left Baxter in 1993 to become the Quality Manager at Needle Specialty Products. Needle Specialty was a small, family owned company established in 1987 and was still very small with only a handful of employees in 1993. Michael established a functioning and compliant quality system to meet the requirements of ISO and the FDA. In June of 2011, Michael became Principal Owner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Needle Specialty Products as the result of a buyout from the Myers family.

www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 7

NOMINEES

Natalie Bement EMI Staffing

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atalie Bement, a graduate of University of Alabama, serves as Director of Operations for EMI Staffing. When Natalie started at EMI Staffing in 2003, there was one small office with three people. Today, she has a staff of 22 corporate employees, 3 Branches and employs over 3,500 people in North Mississippi.

Bement has worked diligently to create a place of employment that promotes work and family balance. This may explain why EMI was voted Best Places to Work in Mississippi on multiple occasions. An avid community volunteer, she has served as President for Grenada’s Rotary Club and Chairman of the Industrial Relations Committee. Bement’s professional mission is to develop people into dedicated hard working individuals that maximize their full potential and who make lasting contributions to the companies they work for. When she is not attending her son Kyle’s sporting events, she enjoys exercising, reading and traveling.

Adam Breerwood Pearl River Community College

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r. Adam Breerwood is the President of Pearl River Community College, succeeding William Lewisin 2015.

Breerwood previously served as Vice President for the Poplarville Campus and Hancock Center. He has been affiliated with PRCC as an employee since 1997 when he was hired as assistant baseball coach and previously played baseball at there in 1994 and 1995.

He earned BS and Masters from William Carey University in 1998 and ‘99, respectively and then a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2003.

In his time at PRCC he has guided the school through a budget cut in excess of $1.5 million, which resulted in an organizational overhaul and consolidation plan. In the end PRCC came out on the other with increased revenue and an enrollment increase.

He enjoys running, working out, and spending time with family and friends.

www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 9

NOMINEES

Kevin Brown Viking Range

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evin Brown is President of Viking Range, LLC and serves as a Corporate Officer leading the company’s short-term and longterm strategy and oversees Viking operations including manufacturing, engineering, industrial design, and quality control. He works directly with Selim Bassoul, CEO of the Middleby Corporation, and the Viking team to bring quality and performance to customers.

Brown holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering from The University of Mississippi. He began his career at Whirlpool in 1990 as a Production Line Manufacturer, Inventory Controller, and Electrical Engineering Assistant.

At Whirlpool and Maytag, he held numerous roles across 17 years that prepared him for his roles here at Viking.

In February of 2007, Brown joined Viking Range as Chief Engineer. In 2011, he was promoted to Vice President of Engineering, and in 2016, he was promoted to Vice President of Operations, later that year he was named President. During this period, Viking has seen tremendous change and growth.

Kevin Brown is also a husband to wife Patsy and father of two, Garrett and Mary Helen.

MISSISSIPPI POWER CONGRATULATES THE WINNERS OF THE

2019 MISSISSIPPI TOP CEOS We, as Mississippians, salute you for your leadership in advancing economic development, promoting education and making a positive impact in our communities. Together, your commitment helps create a brighter future for our state.

10 – 2019 CEO Awards

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NOMINEES

William B. Bynum, Jr., Ph.D. Jackson State University

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r. William B. Bynum Jr., a higher education professional with more than 27 years of experience, was unanimously selected to be the 11th President of Jackson State University in 2017. Before joining the Jackson State University family, Bynum served four years as President of Mississippi Valley State University.

A native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Bynum earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Davidson College. Bynum went on to earn his master’s and Ph.D. from Duke University while serving as a Duke Endowment Fellow.

Prior to his appointment at MVSU, Bynum served as the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services at Morehouse College.

Before joining the administrative leadership team at Morehouse, Bynum served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.

Bynum’s other professional experience includes research and teaching positions at Georgia Tech, Duke and Durham and Edgecombe Community Colleges. He is married to Deborah Elaine Bynum, a manager and 38-year employee with AT&T. They are the proud parents of six children – Tyrone, Tyler, Chelsea, Zack, Jordan and Jazz.

William Cork Hancock County Port and Harbor Commission

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n his current role, Cork oversees Stennis International Airport, Port Bienville Industrial Park maritime port and the Port Bienville Railroad, with an annual budget of more than $47.7 million. He is also the lead economic-development official for the region, which is home to NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center.

Since Cork arrived in 2016, he has become one of the leading public voices in defense, aerospace, and chemicals development in the state.

Cork has collaborated with Hancock County leadership to establish two ad hoc planning committees — the Council of Governments and the Military Affairs Committee — creating alignment on public policy matters and regional political strategy.

Prior to his arrival in Mississippi, Cork owned Cork Consulting Group, a real estate, urban planning and public finance consulting firm. He also was CEO of TexAmericas Center, where he led the transformation of a former U.S. Army Ammunition Plant and Depot into a 13,000-acre mixed- use development.

Cork is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. His wife of 35 years, Nina, is a commercial artist and educator. They have four children and two grandchildren.

www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 11

NOMINEES

Tina Seymour Demoran Seymour Law Firm, PLLC

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ina Seymour Demoran, JD, RRT is the founder and managing attorney of Seymour Law Firm, PLLC, a boutique law firm in Biloxi specializing in estate planning, family law, criminal law, regulatory compliance, probate, real estate and business law. Demoran is also the founder of Professional Expert Consulting, LLC, a full-service business consultation, expert witness, and training agency for legal and medical professionals in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Prior to opening her own firm, Demoran was the Director of Corporate Compliance for a critical access hospital, nursing homes, pharmacy, durable medical equipment company and an aviation repair company; the statewide Director of Corporate Compliance with a behavioral health company; a Cardiopulmonary Specialist; a Director at MC Law, and a member of a criminal defense team in The Hague, Holland.

Demoran is a published author, guest radio host and guest lecturer in Texas and Mississippi and was named a 2016 Mississippi Leading Attorney, the 2009 Young Lawyer of the Year for MC Law, a 2011 Top 40 Under 40, a 2015 Healthcare Hero and a Lighthouse Business Woman of the Year for 2015.

Demoran has also been honored for her pro bono work in September of 2017 by the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers’ Project of Mississippi.

CONGRATULATIONS

MATT BALLEW on being chosen as a

TOP CEO OF MISSISSIPPI

4800 I-55 North, Suite 21| Jackson, MS | (601) 368-3500 12 – 2019 CEO Awards

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NOMINEES

Jonathan Duhon Yak Access

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onathan Duhon is the CEO of YAK ACCESS, the largest temporary and permanent access company serving diverse construction segments. YAK ACCESS is made up of three companies, YAK MAT, New South Access and Environmental, and BluRoc. Prior to his role at YAK ACCESS, Jonathan served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of Jones Companies. Jones Companies is a group of 9 privately owned entities that operate in 42 states across the country, serving in a variety of industries from recycling to pipeline services.

Duhon is a graduate of The University of Mississippi where he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting as well as a master’s degree in taxation.

Immediately following graduation, Jonathan joined the KPMG team as an Audit Associate for the greater Memphis area. During his tenure at KPMG, he became a CPA and later relocated to the Hattiesburg area and joined Jones Companies, Inc. as the CFO. Duhon was honored as a Top 40 Under 40 leader by the Mississippi Business Journal in 2011 and is a member of the American Pipeline Contractors Association, and the International Pipe Line & Offshore Contractors Association, among others

Susan E. Garrard Mississippi Children’s Museum

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usan Garrard has been President and CEO of the Mississippi Children’s Museum since 2008 and was responsible for successfully completing and administering a $26.6 million capital campaign that realized the dream of a 40,000 square foot children’s museum in Jackson, Mississippi. Susan has served on numerous committees within the children’s museum field, including the Association of Children’s Museum Board. Garrard has been named one of the 50 Leading Business Women of the Year by the Mississippi Business Journal.

Before serving as President of MCM, Garrard served as chairman of the Board of Directors as well as the first president of the museum’s auxiliary volunteer group. She has been involved in the Jackson community since 1984 – serving on the boards of the Belhaven Neighborhood Foundation, Jackson Prep and the Junior League of Jackson. Susan was awarded the Goodwill Community Volunteer of the Year in 2009, received the Tribute of Excellence in 2013 from Youth Villages and the Junior League of Jackson Sustainer of the Year in 2018, among others. Garrard, a native of Sebastopol is a graduate of Mississippi State University and the Fashion Institute of Technology, State University of New York. She is married to John Walter Garrard II and the mother of two sons, Jack and William.

www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 13

NOMINEES

David E. Gates Atmos Energy

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avid Gates serves as President of the Mississippi division of Atmos Energy. Gates has over 33 years of experience in the energy business and has been with Atmos Energy since 1991. In 1993, he was named Vice President of Technical Services for the West Texas division, and in 2003, he moved to Kentucky to become Vice President of Operations for the Kentucky/Mid-States division. He was named President of the Mississippi division in 2007. In addition to his primary role at Atmos Energy, Gates serves as an AtmoSpirit facilitator where he leads culture shaping, team building and leadership development sessions for employees throughout the company.

He grew up in a military family and has lived in numerous locations from Alaska to Texas and California to Virginia. He has an engineering degree from Texas Tech University.

He served as chairman of the board of directors for the Mississippi Economic Council in 2015-2016. Also, gates is a graduate and past chairman of Leadership Mississippi.

Gates is married to Jill. They have two grown sons and a daughter-inlaw, who live and work in Austin, Texas.

Brian’s number one with us too!

The mangement and staff of Robinson Electric proudly salutes our President and CEO, Brian Robinson, on his selection as as one of the 2019 Top CEOs by the Mississippi Business Journal.

Under Brian’s leadership, Robinson Electric has grown from a small electrical business to our current status as one of Mississippi’s largest electrical contractors.

Call us at 662-843-3978 or visit us on the web at www.robinsonelectric.biz

14 – 2019 CEO Awards

www.msbusiness.com

NOMINEES

Joe H. Hayman Southern AgCredit

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oe Hayman is in his 11th year as CEO of the agricultural lending cooperative Southern AgCredit which provides financing for rural real estate, timber, livestock, agribusiness, country homes, and equipment.

Under his leadership the institution has grown from $507 million in total assets to $1.1 billion. He has led an acceleration initiative that has placed Southern AgCredit among the most efficient financial institutions in the region.

He also led the merger of Louisiana AgCredit which increased the physical footprint to North Louisiana. He was appointed to serve on the Farm Credit System’s President’s Planning Committee in a leadership role.

Hayman serves as a Board member of the Mississippi 4H Foundation, the Dixie National Sale of Champions Committee, and the Thad Cochran Agricultural Leadership Council Advisory Board. Hayman launched the “Fit for Ag” half marathon that is held each December and in the last 5 years, over $100,000 of race proceeds have been donated to the Blair Batson Children’s Hospital in Jackson.

Beverly Wade Hogan Tougaloo

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everly Wade Hogan has served as President at Tougaloo College since May 2002. She is the first woman and the 13th president to lead this historic institution.

Prior to becoming President, Hogan served as the College’s Interim President, Vice President for Institutional Advancement and founding Director of the Owens Health and Wellness Center. She has been an adjunct instructor in leadership and public policy at Jackson State University and she has been involved with employment and educational training programs in Denmark, Sweden and West Germany in affiliation with the German Marshall Fund. She has been a scholar with the Kettering Foundation where her research focus was Higher Education and Civic Responsibility, a participant and presenter in the Oxford Roundtable at Oxford University in Oxford, England and a participant in leadership seminars at Harvard University.

Hogan earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from Tougaloo College and masters in public policy and administration from Jackson State University.

Hogan was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the President’s Board of Advisors on HBCUs. She and her husband Marvin have two adult sons and six grandchildren.

www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 15

NOMINEES

Joy Hogge Mississippi Family as Allies

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oy Hogge is the Executive Director for Mississippi Family as Allies, the only family-run statewide organization for parents and caregivers of children with mental health challenges in Mississippi.

MFA provides a wide array of parent-to-parent support throughout the state and advocates for and works toward improving the systems that serve children.

Hogge is a licensed psychologist with more than 30 years experience working with children, families and adults. She has a passion for system change and has spent a large part of her career working on policy, public outreach and ensuring people receiving services were the ones directing reform efforts. She received her Masters and Doctorate from Texas A & M University.

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16 – 2019 CEO Awards

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NOMINEES

Teresa Hubbard Cite Armored

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eresa Hubbard is the President & CEO of CITE Armored and was named Mississippi’s Business Woman of the Year for 2018.

Hubbard has a broad range of experience that continues to enhance the success of the company she opened in 2002 to manufacture cash-in-transit equipment and vehicles in Holly Springs. She is experienced at operating a small business and has the expertise need to run the organization. She previously was controller at Griffin, Inc., in Byhalia, and was a public and tax accountant in Memphis.

Hubbard received her B.B.A in Accounting and B.B.A in Computer Information Systems from Delta State University.

Hubbard is a member of Independent Armored Car Operators Association, Marshall County Chamber of Commerce, the Secure Cash and Transport Association, the ATM Industry Association, Kappa Delta Alumni Association, LOU Humane Society, Delta State Alumni Association, U of M Athletic Foundation, and contributes to Compassion Ministries.

She lives in Oxford with her two children, Ben and Elizabeth. She enjoys reading, travel, cooking, watching sports and work.

Harold B. Ingram PerforMax Medical

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arold Ingram, President and CEO of PerforMax Medical Management is a lifetime resident of Mississippi, raising three children in the Jackson area. He received his masters degree in business from Mississippi State University in 1977. In 1989, he began a new career providing consulting services to physicians’ offices by establishing Harold Ingram Associates, which later became PerforMax, Inc. Through the many years of local, home town service he provided to clients he has written numerous articles for local and regional publications.

He is currently the Legislative Liaison for the Medical Group Management Association of Mississippi. In volunteer service with MGMA of MS he has also served as Secretary, Treasurer, President-Elect, President and representative to the Mississippi State Medical Association’s CAP Committee.

He has also served as a member of the Beacon Committee with the Delta Health Alliance assisting in improved health care delivery in the Mississippi Delta.

www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 17

NOMINEES

Lee M. Jones Irby Construction Co.

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ee Jones is President of Irby Construction Company headquartered in Richland. A Mississippi native, Lee grew up in Iuka, later moving to Hattiesburg where he attended college. Lee earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Master of Science in Engineering Technology from the University of Southern Mississippi. He obtained his Project Management Certification through the Project Management Institute and holds multiple industry certifications.

Jones started with his career with Irby Construction, a subsidiary of Quanta Services, in 2002. Prior to his current role, he served as Director of Project Management at Quanta Services.

Over the past two years, Jones has focused more attention on social responsibility and community growth initiatives. He has also focused on increasing Irby Construction’s engagement in local and state agencies including the Mississippi Economic Council, Mississippi Economic Development Council, and the Mississippi Development Authority among other organizations.

Jones and his wife, Debbie, have four kids — Thatcher, Noah, Anabella, and Emily.

18 – 2019 CEO Awards

www.msbusiness.com

NOMINEES

David J. Machado Machado Patano

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hen establishing MP Engineers, David Machado was excited to take on the challenge of managing and growing a multi-discipline and multi-profession design firm. With the mission of proving the naysayers wrong, Machado and his partner learned to dream big and created a very successful full service/turn-key design firm comprising engineers, architects, and surveyors.

Since the inception of MP, the industry and the firm have weathered many trends and challenges. His philosophy is that this industry is in a renaissance period. After the recession, it became evident that a firm can either adapt to the “new economy” or end up shutting its doors. As MP was established in the midst of these economic obstacles, it had the innate advantage of flexible processes and procedures and a evolved way of doing business.

Machado looks forward to a new and exciting challenge every day and enjoys helping a client through what seems to be an impossible situation by finding an innovative solution. He has led his staff to embody the characteristics that make MP the first choice for many clients.

Barry R. Moss Merit Health

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arry Moss joined Merit Health Central from Merit Health Rankin where he served as CEO since 2015. Before coming to the Jackson area, he served as COO of Merit Health Wesley, a 211-bed sister hospital in Hattiesburg. Prior to Wesley, Barry worked for nearly 10 years in administration at 235-bed Flowers Hospital in Dothan, Alabama.

Moss holds master’s degrees in business administration and health administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Birmingham Southern College.

Moss was recognized as one of VIP Dothan Magazine’s Top 40 Under 40 and was named by Business Alabama as a 2013 Young Mover and Shaker.

www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 19

NOMINEES

Brian Robinson Robinson Electric

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rian Robinson started from the ground up working for the family firm, Robinson Electric Inc. in Cleveland. He started out as a laborer in 1997 working with crews doing simple electrical wiring.

Since being named President of the company in 2003 at the age of only 23, he has overseen the company growing from 25 to nearly 100 employees.

In addition to creating jobs for the Delta, Robinson has been instrumental in increasing the sales of Robinson Electric Company Inc. from an average of $3.5 million per year to approximately $10 million per year at present.

Under his leadership, Robinson Electric successfully performed electrical construction for a wide range of projects, including The Grammy Museum in Cleveland, the B.B. King Museum in Indianola, a new plant for Milwaukee Electric Tools in Greenwood, Harlow’s Casino in Greenville, Bank of Commerce in Oxford, Planter’s Bank corporate headquarters in Indianola, the Greenwood Bank of Commerce and Bryant Hall at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, among many others.

CO N G R AT U L AT I O N S LEE JONES On being named one of Mississippi’s TOP CEO’s in 2019.

Irby Cons t ruc tion builds infras t ruc t ure for t he power indus t r y.

Transmis sion // Dis t ribu t ion // Subs t at ions Renewables // E mergenc y Res torat ion // Foundat ions Ou t door Light ing // Telecommunic at ions

w w w. i r b y c o n s t r u c t i o n .c o m

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NOMINEES

Milton Segarra, CDME Visit Gulf Coast

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ississippi’s beaches have long attracted tourists to the area, but with a new face at the helm of the Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast, the tourism office is looking to grow its reach.

New CEO of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast Milton Segarra says, “The Mississippi Gulf Coast offers an incredibly vast array of things to see and do.

The region’s temperate climate, along with its astounding natural beauty, makes for the perfect year-round destination, and there is always something exciting and new to experience.”

Segarra brings with him more than 30 years of experience in hospitality and destination marketing and management, with hotel and casino experience at Hyatt Hotels, Sands Hotels & Casinos and Hilton Hotels and Resorts. His experience in governmental organizations include the position of executive director of The Puerto Rico Tourism Company, as well as secretary of commerce and economic development. He spent over four years as CEO of Meet Puerto Rico, the destination marketing organization responsible for promoting unique group and convention experiences in Puerto Rico, before moving to the Mississippi Gulf Coast in 2018.

Segarra said his team is making sure to maximize and provide continuity to several ongoing initiatives.

John M. Turner Regions

J

ohn Turner, CEO of Regions Financial Corp., joined Regions in 2011 as the regional president of the South Region and led banking operations in Alabama, Mississippi, South Louisiana, and the Florida Panhandle. He was named head of Regions’ Corporate Bank in 2014 and President in 2017.

Before joining Regions, Turner was named president of Whitney National Bank and Whitney Holding Corporation in 2008 and was elected to that bank and holding company boards of directors. Previously he was responsible for all geographic line banking functions across the bank, and was the company’s Eastern Region President. Turner joined Whitney in 1994 as its Alabama regional president after nine years at AmSouth Bank, where he held senior consumer, commercial and business positions.

Turner holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Georgia. He serves on the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama, Business Council of Alabama, A Plus Education Foundation, and Infirmary Health System boards. He is a former chairman of the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce.

www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 21

NOMINEES

Richmond Vincent, Jr. Goodwill of South Mississippi

R

ichmond Vincent is President and CEO at Goodwill Industries of South Mississippi, Inc. and Goodworks, Inc. He says that even though he has held a number of executive positions in the past, this was an opportunity to not only lead an entire organization, but to facilitate the transformation to a culture of excellence by providing the environment for people whether internal or external to achieve their fullest potential.

With a Vision to “Eliminate Poverty in Mississippi,” Goodwill’s contribution to business community is quite impressive. It serves as an economic driver with 16 retail locations and federal contracts generating over $12 million in revenue that stays in Mississippi and creates more than 350 jobs that would not exist without their presence.

Congratulations

Joe Waggoner, PE, PLS on being named a Top CEO by the Mississippi Bussiness Journal

22 – 2019 CEO Awards

www.msbusiness.com

NOMINEES

Joe Waggoner Waggoner Engineering

J

oe Waggoner serves as Chairman of the Board and CEO of Waggoner Engineering, Inc., having founded the company in 1976. Throughout a professional career spanning more than 40 years, Waggoner has intently assessed client needs and developed unique strategies to implement large-scale public works and community development projects across the Mid-South. He is recognized as an expert in simplifying complex engineering initiatives and facilitating infrastructure implementation through progressive policy organizations, regional planners, and Congressional actions.

Since Waggoner Engineering’s inception, he has performed the roles of project manager, designer, surveyor, and technician, and has gained a broad base of leadership experience through numerous public works, utility infrastructure, and construction projects on both a local and regional basis. He is an active participant in the charitable programs supported by Waggoner, including Habitat for Humanity, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Blair E. Batson Children’s Hospital, and many others.

Danny Walker Heartland Catfish

D

anny Walker is the Chief Executive Officer at Heartland Catfish Company. He has been at the helm of Heartland Catfish since its inception more than 25 years ago, helping to build the company into the industry leader it is today. As the single largest producer of farmraised catfish in the United States, Heartland Catfish sells fresh and frozen catfish products to retailers, restaurants and distributors throughout the country.

Under Walker’s leadership, Heartland Catfish has expanded its original processing facility in Itta Bena, from 34,000 square-feet of processing and warehouse space with a capacity of 12 million pounds of live catfish to a state-of-the-art facility of more than 135,000 square feet today. In addition, through the acquisition of an industry competitor, Heartland Catfish now operates a secondary processing facility in Greensboro, Alabama, bringing the company’s total processing capacity to more than 115 million pounds of live catfish per year.

A fifth generation Mississippian, Danny is a graduate of Mississippi State University. In his free time, Danny enjoys spending time with his wife, children and two grandchildren, being active in the Episcopal Church in Greenwood.

www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 23

NOMINEES

Scott Waller MEC

S

cott Waller is President and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council – the State Chamber of Commerce.

He previously served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at MEC, where he refined and deployed a comprehensive advocacy plan by building strong relationships with members of the Mississippi legislature and bolstering involvement among MEC’s membership.

Prior to joining MEC, he spent more than 20 years as a newspaper journalist, including four years as Business Editor of The Clarion-Ledger. He is also the former owner and editor of the Madison County Journal and was a co-owner of Siwel Homes, a residential construction company.

He is a graduate of Mississippi State University and has completed the respected Institute for Organization Management program, an intensive four-year nonprofit leadership training program conducted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and held at the University of Georgia in Athens, Ga. Waller has continued his dedication to scouting since his days as an Eagle Scout and serves on the executive board of the Andrew Jackson Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

He and his wife Kim live in Madison and are active at St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church. Their son, Shane, and daughter-in-law, Whitney, are both graduates of Mississippi State University and live in Washington, D.C.

Congratulations In Association with

To Danny Walker, CEO Heartland Catfish Company, Inc., on being chosen as one of the 2019 Top CEOs by the Mississippi Business Journal.

750 Woodlands Parkway Suite 200 Ridgeland, MS 39157 www.ajg.com © 2019 Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. 35125A

24 – 2019 CEO Awards

www.msbusiness.com

NOMINEES

C. Mitchell Waycaster Renasant Bank

M

itch Waycaster was elected Chief Executive Officer of both the Company and Renasant Bank in 2018, and was elected President and Chief Operating Officer of both the Company and Renasant Bank in 2016.

Waycaster has served as Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of the Company since 2007. Prior to being Chief Administrative Officer, Waycaster, who joined the bank in 1979, held various leadership positions within the Company and Renasant Bank, including President of Renasant Bank’s Mississippi Division, Executive Vice President of Retail Banking, and Senior Vice President and Chief Credit Officer.

Waycaster received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Mississippi. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware Stonier Graduate School of Banking and the National Compliance School at the University of Oklahoma and the University of Colorado. He is also a graduate of the Mid-South School of Banking at the University of Memphis and the Tennessee Commercial Lending School at Vanderbilt University.

Waycaster and his wife, Christy, have raised three children and two grandchildren. The Waycasters reside in Tupelo.

Adam Breerwood on being chosen as a

Top CEO of Mississippi Poplarville Campus 101 Highway 11 North Poplarville, MS 39470 www.msbusiness.com

Hancock Center 454 Hwy. 90, Suite D Waveland, MS 39576 601.403.1000

Forrest County Center 5448 Highway 49 South Hattiesburg, MS 39401 2019 CEO Awards – 25

NOMINEES

Josh West Blue Delta Jean Co.

J

osh West is a native of Mississippi and serves as the CEO and Co-Founder of Blue Delta, a premium bespoke jean brand.

Prior to starting Blue Delta, Josh held posts in both the public and private sector, managing commercial real estate and economic development projects across the southeastern United States.

Josh holds a Bachelor of Arts from Delta State University and a Master of Public Policy from Mississippi State University. While at Delta State, he was elected as President of the Student Government and was inducted into the Delta State Hall of Fame. That same year, Josh was awarded the HEADWAE award by the Mississippi Economic Council for his scholastic achievements.

In 2010, the Mississippi Economic Development Council awarded Josh the Heidel Award for his work in the field of Economic Development. Josh is a 2012 graduate of Leadership Mississippi and was selected as a “Top 40 Under 40” by the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Community Development Foundation of Lee County.

Josh and his wife Jill have three children and live in Tupelo.

David Machado on being chosen as a

TOP CEO of Mississippi

918 Howard Ave. | Suite F. | Biloxi, MS 39530 | 228-388-1950 26 – 2019 CEO Awards

www.msbusiness.com

NOMINEES

La’Keylah White grantsUNLIMITED, LLC

L

a’Keylah White has been a grant writer for many years and turned that ability into her own business, now as the owner of Grants Unlimited.

As a grant writer White has written grants for the cities of Canton, Grenada, Charleston, Prentiss, Magnolia, Waynesboro and Shubuta. Of these grant applications Canton, Grenada, Charleston and Shubuta have received grant funding. She has also written grants nonprofits organization as well as assisted private individual.

Given the opportunity to serve her hometown, White has made the most of it. Appointed by Hattiesburg mayor Johnny Dupree, White served as director of federal and state programs. Before returning to the Hub City in 2014, she served as grant administrator for the North Central Planning and Development District in Winona and as housing coordinator with the City of Hattiesburg. White’s work has been recognized with several awards, including the Mississippi Municipal League’s 2013 Excellence Award for Planning & Economic Development.

TO OUR OWN

TERESA HUBBARD FOR BEING CHOSEN AS A

TOP CEO OF MISSISSIPPI

www.citearmored.com www.msbusiness.com

2019 CEO Awards – 27

NOMINEES

Anthony Wilson Mississippi Power Company

A

nthony L. Wilson serves as Chairman, President and CEO of Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company — one of the nation’s largest electric and gas utilities.

Wilson has worked his entire professional career for Mississippi Power and the Southern Company system, starting in 1984 as an engineering cooperative education student in Biloxi. He moved to Georgia Power in 2002 and held several executive leadership positions before returning to Mississippi Power in 2015.

An advocate of economic development, education and wellness, Wilson serves as the Chair of the Gulf Coast Business Council board of directors, the Mississippi Aquarium Foundation and the 2019 American Heart Association Heart Walk for Harrison and Hancock counties.

He is Vice Chair for the Mississippi Economic Council and the Mississippi State University Foundation. Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Mississippi State University and an MBA from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is also a graduate of the Oxford University Advanced Management Program.

A native of D’Iberville, Wilson and his wife, Tonya, have three daughters — Meghan, Katie and Natalie.

Congratulations to MEC Leaders Honored in the CEO Awards of Mississippi!

Scott Waller

President & CEO of MEC

David Gates

Mississippi Division President, Atmos Energy MEC Past Chair

Anthony L. Wilson

Chairman, President and CEO, Mississippi Power 2020-2021 MEC Chair

Mitch Waycaster

President and CEO, Renasant Bank MEC Board Member

4 #%

mec.ms

28 – 2019 CEO Awards

www.msbusiness.com

PHOTOS

30 – 2019 CEO Awards

www.msbusiness.com

WOMEN & MINORITIES IN BUSINESS

Carol Harris helps minority and womenowned business owners across the state

By BECKY GILLETTE

C

arol S. Harris was employed as a loan officer with Trustmark National Bank before going to work as a Housing Development Officer with the Mississippi Home Corporation, the housing finance agency for Mississippi, where she assisted Community Housing Development Organizations to fund and build more than HARRIS 1,200 homes annually for low- to moderate-income residents. It was while doing this work that she came to realize how many families were in need of the basic necessities of life.

“I realized that there are a lot of people hurting in our state and there are multiple ways we can do something to help,” said Harris, who is director of the Minority and Small Business Development Division and MS Procurement Technical Assistance Program at the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA). “Helping those families realize their dream of home ownership inspired me to continue my role as a public servant. My work at the MDA only expands my role of ensuring a better quality of life for all Mississippians. The programs offered through the MDA promote the expansion of business spending power, as well as

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allow for employment opportunities that promote economic growth and development for all communities in the state.”

Harris said working in economic development, whether it is for a small town or a large metropolis, you seek to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community by creating and/or retaining jobs and supporting or growing incomes and the tax base of the local and state economy.

You become a leader in articulating the possibilities of that potential business, industry or community.

“I enjoy the work that we do very much,” Harris said. “We touch the lives of so many different people from all walks of life on a daily basis. Some are at different paths or turns in their life and trying to determine which road to take. We often act as a navigator in providing different roadmaps to their future. Therefore, you must be very sensitive to the fact that what you say or do may determine the direction that an individual will take or not, yet still work to ensure that they have the necessary tools they need to make the right decisions and succeed.”

Building capacity and providing access to business opportunities are the main objectives of the programs she oversees.

“The division serves as a catalyst for small, minority and women-owned businesses seeking the opportunity to do business with both government

and private entities,” Harris said. “Our goal is to increase the rate of change and, therefore, the success of the client through the participation in events and services that advocate, administrate and provide access for small, minority and women-owned businesses in Mississippi.”

Their Outreach and Educational Programs are designed to help foster a positive working relationship between state, local and federal agencies and minority and women-owned businesses. That is accomplished with periodic workshops, forums and summits in strategic locations around the state, along with frequent communications through various websites and social media platforms. They also partner with other small, minority and women-owned business agencies, organizations and alliance groups around the state whose mission is also to assist with the growth and development of small businesses in the state.

The division holds a biennial conference intended to build relationships between Mississippi businesses and federal, state and local government, as well as corporate buying offices. The conference also promotes partnerships and strategic alliances to aid Mississippi businesses in competing in the global marketplace. This year’s 2019 Government Procurement Opportunities Conference will be held at the Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson May 14-15.

The event will kick off with a barbeque, blues and heritage welcoming reception at the 2 Mississippi Museum featuring entertainment by local blues legend Jesse Robinson. The second day will feature guest speakers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S Army Corps of Engineers, along with sessions to educate small businesses on contracting opportunities with large defense contractors.

Harris said the focus of the work of her office is on identifying new and emerging minority and women entrepreneurs while developing them into viable qualified business enterprises See HARRIS, Page 32

Mississippi Business Journal – 31

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WOMEN & MINORITIES IN BUSINESS

HARRIS Continued from, Page 31

prepared and positioned to take advantage of public and private opportunities that contribute to the economic base of Mississippi. An on-going comprehensive plan encourages the use of qualified small, minority and women-owned business enterprises in the participation of public contracts, as well as other statewide projects.

“Such programs ensure that disadvantaged businesses have the necessary tools needed to compete more successfully on public projects, as well as in the global marketplace,” Harris said. “This provides the opportunity for a competitive bidding process, and ensures that there is a broad base of capable suppliers available to support our state and local government. The programs continue to expand the business spending power among minority and women-owned businesses and community while allowing for greater employment opportunities, an increase

in the tax base, innovation and community investment and, most importantly, economic power that impacts communities throughout the state.”

The division’s Model Contractor Development Program is a nine-week workshop series that teaches practices to increase operations and bonding capacity. To date, the program has offered more than 30 Model Contractor Development Programs in 16 different cities in Mississippi. More than 900 participants have graduated from the program, and many of them have participated in the second phase of the program, which includes technical assistance and hands-on instruction.

“Upon completion of the program, businesses are privy to bonding and insurance relationships, banking relationships, as well as accounting relationships that they can utilize to ensure they are ready for bonding opportunities and better position their business to compete for contracting opportunities,” she said.

Harris grew up in rural Rankin

More than a policy.

A promise.

County in a tight-knit family with eight siblings.

“We are very close and supportive of each other,” Harris said. “My father passed away in January 2013, but left a legacy of service, family and community with all of us. My greatest enjoyment is spending time with my kids. I have a 12-year-old son who is active in both basketball and football, so I spend a lot of time cheering on the Northwest Rankin Cougars. I come from a family of four girls and four boys and you can frequently catch anywhere from two to six of us, if not all of us, at my mother’s house sitting outside on the swing after dinner laughing and talking.”

Harris received a B.S degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Masters of Public Policy and Administration (MPPA) degree with a concentration in Public Administration from Jackson State University. She lives in Brandon, and is a Sunday school teacher and choir and praise team member.

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Partnering with people in business.

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800-226-3224

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www.msbusiness.com

Call Us Now: 601-355-3889 dependablesourcecorp.com Mississippi Business Journal – 33

Smarter energy for a brighter tomorrow.

At Entergy Mississippi, we’re taking action today to build a smarter energy future for tomorrow.

That means more reliability, fewer outages and more customer control.

COMMUNITY SOLAR Entergy customers can soon join our push for solar power. Participating in community solar has many benefits, which may include monthly bill credits. More important, it’s an opportunity to help cultivate a smarter energy future for generations to come.

ADVANCED METERING Over the next three years, Entergy Mississippi will be installing new technologies to better serve our customers and crews. More detailed energy usage information will help customers potentially lower their bills while improving outage response time.

SMART SERVICES We’re always searching for ways to provide our customers with more options to manage energy costs. So we’re developing new services like fixed billing, green pricing and smart thermostats. We may also provide eligible customers with backup generators to ensure power stays on, no matter what.

Part of building a bright future includes keeping our rates among the lowest in the nation to attract new business and lift our communities. Because together, we power life.

Learn more about Mississippi’s bright energy future at entergybrightfuture.com.

A message from Entergy Mississippi, LLC ©2019 Entergy Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

WOMEN & MINORITIES IN BUSINESS LARGEST MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES

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Mississippi Business Journal â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 37

TOURISM

Coast sees rising visits as it rebrands region as a ‘secret’ to discover

By TED CARTER

H

ey, look down here. We’re the Mississippi coast.

Coastal Mississippi’s visitor and convention bureau officials have revamped their promotion efforts to recognize a shortcoming they say has become far too clear: Too few potential visitors know about the Magnolia State’s 62 miles of white sand shoreline.

Coastal competitors don’t seem to share the same obscurity, says Coastal Mississippi: The Secret Coast, the tourism promotion agency for the three coastal counties of Hancock, Harrison and Jackson. But sometimes a challenge can be made an asset, at least that’s the thinking of the Mississippi Coast region’s visitor marketing officials looking to boost the region’s visitation and annual visitor revenues of nearly $2.5

38 – Mississippi Business Journal

billion.

To that end, they decided to tell the world their region is indeed a “secret,” but one deserving of discovery. They put “Secret Coast” in their agency’s name with a March 11 rebranding, switching to Coastal Mississippi: The Secret Coast from the previous Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Just how “secret” the coast was came into focus with a visitor research finding that 67 percent of travelers in the region’s target markets do not recall seeing a Gulf Coast tourism ad.

How do you take advantage of such a finding?

You sell its very obscurity, say officials of Coastal Mississippi: The Secret Coast.

The coast is a “breezy freedom” of white sands and live oaks waiting to be explored, they say.

“With 55 percent of frequent travelers

saying they primarily travel to discover new experiences, cultures, lifestyles, food, and places, Coastal Mississippi is perfectly poised to surprise and delight,” the agency said in announcing last year’s name change.

“We can’t afford to not be visible in the market,” said Karen Connor, the visitor agency’s marketing director, in an interview.

The strategy for attracting visitors won’t change much in 2019, though the agency launched a winter campaign in January encouraging people to make discovering the coast part of vacation plans for warmer months, Connor said.

January, she said, is a peak time for visitors to research and plan their trips.

That’s one reason Jan. 31 is national “Plan Your Vacation Day,” she noted.

See COASTAL, Page 39

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TOURISM

COASTAL Continued from, Page 38

Milton Segarra, CEO of Coastal Mississippi: The Secret Coast, said extensive work with stakeholders, including people in the leisure and hospitality business as well as community and civic leaders, went into reaching the plan’s conclusions and shaping the strategies to achieve success.

“Visitors feel like they want a firsttime experience. And we can provide that,” Segarra said, citing the region’s natural assets, its resorts, casinos and culture.

“That brand position provided us a phenomenally solid base for starting to build our message,” he said in an interview.

Looking ahead, Coastal Mississippi: The Secret Coast intends to showcase the region as a unique and undiscovered destination, “offering the relaxation, adventure, and variety that today’s travelers are looking for,” the visitor agency says.

If past trends hold, each $1 spent on advertising the secret nature and virtues of the state’s coast should generate $43 in visitor spending within its boundaries, according to the agency. Coastal Mississippi: The Secret Coast had a budget of slightly less than $4.5 million in 2018, an amount funded largely from hotel bed tax collections.

Regional marketing, Connor said, takes in a 6.5-hour drive market that primary draws from Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida Panhandle, Alabama and Georgia. To go farther out, the agency launched a new partnership with online travel search engine Expedia, Connor said. “This extended our reach’ but was strategic at the same time, she added.

The Expedia effort, according to Se-

garra, has brought an 11 percent jump in bookings in the first 90 days of the year.

New television spots in drive-markets and billboards are part of the mix as well, as are standbys in Internet Search Engine Optimization and display advertising, according to Connor.

The region has hardly been in a visitor slump. It ended 2018 with its best year in the previous four and accounted for a third of all dollars visitors spent in the state. The hospitality sector on the coast also added about 400 workers from 2017, creating a total leisure-and-hospitality-job workforce of about 32,000.

Hotel occupancy rates rose to 60.8 percent, an increase of 4.6 percent from 2017. Average daily hotel room rates also rose, going up 12 percent to $90.12.

For the new fiscal year that began Oct. 1, demand for room nights is up 4.4 percent to 3,319 million, the agency said.

Investors, meanwhile, seem bullish on the coast and its future as a visitor destination. “Development and developments on the coast will continue to flourish,” CEO Segarra said, and estimated the value of resort and casino projects in progress on the coast at $650 million.

Thirty projects are under way. In addition to lodging, they include attractions and restaurants, the agency said in its annual report.

Of these, eight are scheduled to open in 2019.

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PAYROLL

If past trends hold, each $1 spent on advertising the secret nature and virtues of the state’s coast should generate $43 in visitor spending within its boundaries, according to the agency.

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Go to www.westinjackson.com or call us at 601.968.8200

Mississippi Business Journal – 39

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