Mississippi Business Journal August 2021 Issue

• Architects and Engineers MSBUSINESS.COM | AUGUST 27, 2021 ISSUE

VOLUME 49 • NO. 18 | 40 PAGES

Architecture professors see fewer starter homes available Page 8

• Health Care

Cancer experts emphasize the importance of continuing screenings during pandemic Page 12

• Banking and Finance

Banking executive: industry constantly changing Page 16

• Technology

State has extended broadband service, thanks to COVID grants Page 20

Pages 11, 14, 19, 22

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With chicken prices soaring, Sanderson Farms sold for $4.5B

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anderson Farms, one of nation’s third largest poultry producer, is being acquired for $4.53 billion as the price of chicken soars.

Cargill and privately held Continental Grain formed a joint venture to acquire Sanderson and will pay $203 per share in cash for a company that last year processed more than 4.8 billion pounds of meat.

The companies plan to combine Sanderson Farms with Wayne Farms, a Continental Grain subsidiary, to form a new, privately held poultry business. Operations will include poultry processing plants and prepared foods

plants across Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas.

Wayne Farms has more than 9,000 employees. It makes products under brand names including Wayne Farms fresh and prepared chicken; Platinum Harvest premium fresh chicken; Chef’s Craft gourmet chicken; Naked Truth premium chicken and

Ladybirdy premium chicken.After falling last year, chicken prices have begun to surge.

Major restaurant chains, seizing on demand, have begun to offer their own variations of fried chicken sandwiches, further heightening demand.

Sales at Sanderson Farms soared more than 34% during the second quarter compared with the same three-month period last year.

Expanding our poultry offerings to the U.S. is a key enabler of our ability to meet customer and consumer demands,” Cargill Chairman and CEO David MacLennan said in a prepared statement Monday.Wayne Farms CEO Clint Rivers will lead the combined company.Sanderson Farms, based in Laurel, Mississippi, will become a private company and its shares will no longer be traded on Nasdaq. Shares jumped about 8% before the opening bell.

The deal is expected to close by the end of this year or early next year. It still needs approval from Sanderson Farms stockholders.

New steakhouse opens in Starkville with baseball connection

BY LISA MONTI

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he team behind the new highend steakhouse 44 Prime, which opens Aug. 20 in Starkville, believes paying attention to every detail – food on the menu to the furniture and flatware – will help set the restaurant apart from the old mahogany-and-leather stereotypes.

What they’ve put together through experience and research, they say, amounts to a comfortable atmosphere where customers can sit back and enjoy their meal without feeling rushed.

Executive chef Jeff Thornsberry said the owners and staff spent a lot of time to “understanding what it takes to be at this level.”

To hone the menu, he said, “We worked with several different farms and meat companies to get quality and consistency and we’re proud of all the seafood that will be flown in daily.”

44 Prime was built in the former King’s Butcher space at 211 South Jackson Street.

The 4,000-square-foot venue will seat 60 and employ about 50.

Thornsberry also oversees the kitchen at Taste, a sister property which opened in Starkville in June.

The steakhouse is owned by investors including Hall of Fame pitcher Roy Oswalt, a Weir native and Starkville resident who wore 44 in his Major League Baseball career. The public relations spokesman said Oswalt is the only public investor.

Oswalt’s said his previous experience in the restaurant business was in the early 2000s when he opened a place in his home while he was still playing baseball. The

A plate of carpaccio at 44 Prime in Starkville.

44 Prime dining room in Starkville building was eventually moved to Starkville and is now home to The Breakfast Club.

The pandemic is a challenging time to open a new business but Oswalt believes 44 Prime will be a welcomed change from staying home. “People are ready to get out, and Starkville is doing really well,” especially since the Mississippi State Bulldogs brought home the national baseball championship, he said.

The menu is classic steakhouse, with filets, New York strip, porterhouse and ribeyes priced from $41 to $149. A pork chop and rack of lamb are also available. Seafood stars in the appetizer list, with tuna tartar, shrimp cocktail, lump crab cake, crab claws and calamari and an over the top seafood tower with lobster tail, king crab, blue crab and shrimp for $159.

Steak being cooked at 44 Prime in Starkville.

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August 2021 Issue

Mockingbird Cafe tweaks menu, expands outdoor area at popular Bay destination

BY LISA MONTI

The Electric Sheep, played at the opening celebration in June 2021. egulars to the Mockingbird Cafe The new area is made with salvaged lumber just off Main Street on Second in keeping with the historic cafe’s look, which Street in Bay St. Louis have come opened not long after Hurricane Katrina to expect the menu-tweaking that brought devastating flooding to the area. takes place every summer. It’s part of what The newly opened Mockingbird served as owner Alicein W. Schwabacher believes keeps a welcome outpost during the cleanup and the welcoming cafe fresh and interesting, like restoration for the remaining residents and the revolving art pieces by local artists that line outside volunteers who rotated in and out of the interior walls. the coastal region for months.

This summer, the Mockingbird’s exterior The historic building, originally a home got an update as well with the addition of a constructed in 1868, boasts a welcoming wrapnew structure aptly named the “Birdgarden,” around wood-framed porch where customers where customers can find additional shaded can enjoy a quiet morning coffee, a meal or outdoor seating to enjoy a meal, a beverage and craft cocktails in the shade. The cafe holds live entertainment. The addition was designed on to its reputation as being the community’s by unabridged Architecture, a local firm owned living room.

by Allison and John Anderson. Allison AnderMockingbird’s menu is anchored by signason called Birdgarden a locally-apt renaming ture dishes with names tied to the Southern convention which draws from the German classic “To Kill a Mockingbird.” In the sandBiergarden concept. wich category, the Scout stars oven-roasted “The Birdgarden was designed to capture turkey topped with avocado and ancho chili the spirit of place, reinforce the connection to aioli on 9-grain wheat bread. The turkey in the outdoors, and shelter diners from the hot, the Atticus has cranberry orange mustard humid Mississippi climate,” Allison Anderson along other fixings.New to the Eat Like a said. The extensions on each side are carefully Bird section of the menu are two entrees crafted wood-framed porches, set back from on the lighter side. The Sunshine Quinoa the facade of the historic house to maintain Bowl nestles fresh spinach with avocado, goat its character, with built in seating made from cheese, pickled onion and a boiled egg, served salvaged 24’ long 8x8 members. refreshing cold. The Wonderland Salad “In an era of increasing concern about (named with a nod to the owner’s middle climate change and disease transmission, it name) pairs spinach, apples, walnuts, goat is important to create wonderful outdoor cheese, cranberries and white balsamic vinspaces to gather, socialize, and share food and aigrette. Both new items can accommodate entertainment – spaces that don’t require air protein additions including grilled chicken.A conditioning to reduce energy use, maintain few years ago, Mockingbird added liquor natural ventilation and airflow, and expand to its coffee, wine and craft beer beverage economic development for local businesses,” options. The Librations on the menu include John Anderson said. the Tequila Mockingbird, a mix of blood The unabridged firm donated a portion of orange juice, rosemary honey simple syrup its professional services to the project in recand rosemary infused tequila. Other drinks ognition of the importance of this community incorporate coffee in a salute to the cafe’s landmark. Architect John Anderson’s band, coffeehouse vibe.{p class=”p1”}Schwabacher,

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The historic building, originally a home constructed in 1868, boasts a welcoming wraparound woodframed porch where Mockingbird Cafe customers can enjoy a quiet morning coffee, a meal or craft cocktails in the shade.

Live entertainment is part of the Mockingbird Cafe’s appeal. A new addition provides customers with a shaded area to enjoy the show and new menu.

The new addition at Mockingbird Cafe was designed by unabridged Architecture, a local firm. who founded the Mockingbird in 2006 with her former husband, Martin Chambers, has always held to the cafe’s simple and straightforward goal of serving as “gracious hosts” to the community, whether it’s early morning coffee drinkers or a Second Saturday Art Walk early evening celebrants.

And she never fails to give credit to her employees and long-serving team leaders Laura Hurt, the cafe’s general manager, and Whitney

LaFrance, operations manager.

Schwabacher recently announced a cutback in the cafe’s hours of operations, with closing time at 2 p.m. daily except on Second Saturdays. But the reason she gave was not just because of the staffing shortages in the hospitality industry. “Our goal is to serve our community the freshest food with the kindest service,” she said. “That’s why we chose to cut back our times, so that we can continue to do so.”

Mississippi Toyota plant to halt production but employees won’t lose pay

BY LISA MONTI

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oyota’s Blue Springs plant in Mississippi will cut back production for several days because of COVID-19 and supply chain shortages, but employees will not lose pay or benefits on those non-production days.

“Toyota is committed to long term employment security,” said Kathryn Ragsdale, Corporate Communications manager of the Mississippi

plant. Production will halt on Aug. 20, Aug. 23 and for two weeks in September.

The Mississippi plant has approximately 2,000 employees not

including vendors and suppliers.

Ragsdale said employees will have three options while the plant stops production: They can take paid-time off, take

time off without pay without impacting attendance records, or report to the plant for training or to work on community projects such as filling school backpacks for local students.

Toyota announced on Thursday that due to COVID and unexpected events with its supply chain, the company is experiencing additional shortages that will affect production at most of its North American plants.

“While the situation remains fluid

and complex, our manufacturing and supply chain teams have worked diligently to develop countermeasures to minimize the impact on production. In North America, we are projecting a reduction of approximately 60,000 to 90,000 vehicles in August. As for September, we are projecting a reduction of 80,000 vehicles, but the situation remains very fluid. We do not anticipate any impact to employment at this time,” the company said in a statement.

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SPIN CYCLE – New Facebook data dashboard shows how businesses adapted during the pandemic Facebook has released new data through its Data for Good project – in partnership with humanitarian relief organization Direct Relief – that reinforces how organizations and businesses adapted to use the social media platform as the economy spiraled during the global coronavirus pandemic.

A new interactive dashboard shows data by date, down to the county level across the United States. From retail’s peak during the fall and holidays, to the slow return for restaurants, local events and travel-related pages, the data for Mississippi tell a story about how different sectors adapted.

Here are key trends for Mississippi as it compares to the rest of America: Local events took a hit in 2020 while the community practiced social distancing and postponed public gatherings. The usage of social media for these local events hit its low on Aug. 18, 2020, at 41.23%. Since then, it has consistently trended upwards toward the baseline with events on July 4, 2021 and is now almost level with the pre-pandemic baseline.

In the Jackson area, professional services have trended upwards in usage since the Spring of 2020, most likely due to businesses relying on social media to communicate with customers. This trend reversed on Dec. 4, 2020, when it dropped from 245.96% to 36.17% on Dec. 18, 2020, and has continued that downtrend ever since. This could be due to almost all businesses being reopened and in-person or face-to-face communication resuming.

In many sectors, Mississippi mirrors national trends, with peaks early in the pandemic as businesses posted updates for their customers, followed by less activity and fewer posts while people stayed close to home. The optimism of the spring is reflected in an increase in posts for retails, local events, and restaurants, although most have not returned to pre-pandemic patterns for posts.

“We started this work in 2019 to try to better understand whether or not we could forecast things like flu and measles. Little did we know that a global pandemic was heading our way,” said Laura McGorman, a Facebook spokesperson. “We have been incredible busy with tools for COVID-19 response. Facebook, because of our global reach, can really attack this from a scale perspective. When the pandemic hit, we began using this as a daily data set to see how the rate of online activity of small businesses can be an indicator of their economic recovery.”

This dashboard comes following a study which showed that Facebook posting activity can reflect whether businesses are operating and how their digital behavior is

influenced by outside events. the new agreements, Twitter’s Curation Perhaps no other sector has been impact- team will be able to leverage the expertise ed by the pandemic like corporate events of the partnered organizations to add more – which was forced to innovate with virtual context to the news and trends that circuevents during the crisis. Hatlate across Twitter, as well as aid tiesburg-based Emerge Events with the company’s use of public owner Jennifer Clark has seen service announcements during the transition firsthand, and how high-visibility events, misinforthe industry has transformed to mation labels and more. compete in today’s world.

Currently, the Curation team While in-person events shut works to add additional infordown in 2020, they are on the mation to content that includes rebound in 2021, a trend that Top Trends and other news on will continue as we emerge Twitter’s Explore tab. The team TODD SMITH from the pandemic, Clark said. is also involved with how certain Innovation in a coronavirus era will most search results are ranked, to ensure that certainly build on video technologies and content from high-quality searches appear virtual gatherings that has brought us closer at the top of search results when certain together. keywords or hashtags are searched for on “Many of our businesses have done Twitter. a good job of going virtual. During the The team may also be involved with the pandemic, I completely pivoted to virtual prompts that appear in the Explore tab conferences, and it’s the reason I survived,” on the Home Timeline related to major Clark said. “I attracted business to do events, like public health emergencies (such events all over the world. As we continue to as the pandemic) or other events, like elecemerge out of the pandemic and move back tions. And they may help with the misinto in-person events, virtual is here to stay. formation labels that appear on tweets that It allows people to attend, even when they are allowed to remain visible on Twitter can’t travel – and it leverages all of the great but are labeled with informative context technologies at our fingertips, like social from authoritative sources. These include media advertising, and Facebook tools like tweets that violate Twitter’s rules around Messenger and Live to communicate with manipulated media, election integrity, or key audiences.”

COVID-19.

Twitter Partners w/AP, Reuters to AdHowever, the team operates separatedress Misinformation ly from Twitter’s Trust and Safety team, Twitter announced today it’s partnering which determines when tweets violate with news organizations The Associated Twitter’s guidelines and punitive action, Press (AP) and Reuters to expand its eflike removal or bans, must be taken, forts focused on highlighting reliable news Twitter confirmed that neither the AP nor and information on its platform. Through Reuters will be involved in those sorts of

enforcement decisions.

By working more directly with AP and Reuters, who also partner with Facebook on fact checks, Twitter says it will be able to increase the speed and scale to which it’s able to add this additional information to tweets and elsewhere on its platform. That means in times where news is breaking and when facts are in dispute as a story emerges, Twitter’s own team will be able to quickly turn to these more trusted sources to improve how contextual information is added to the conversations taking place on Twitter.

This could also be useful in stopping misinformation from going viral, instead of waiting until after the fact to correct misleading tweets.

Twitter’s new crowdsourced fact-checking system Birdwatch will also leverage feedback from AP and Reuters to help determine the quality of information shared

by Birdwatch participants.

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 co-founder, president and chief executive officer of Deane | Smith, 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@deanesmith.agency, follow him @spinsurgeon on Twitter and like the ageny on Facebook at https://www.facebook. com/deanesmithpartners, and join us on LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/deane-smith&-partners.

MBJ

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132 Riverview Dr., Suite E • Flowood, MS 39232 Main: (601) 364-1000 • Fax: (601) 364-1007 E-mails: mbj@msbusiness.com, ads@msbusiness.com, photos@msbusiness.com, research@msbusiness.com, events@msbusiness.com Website: www.msbusiness.com

August 2021 Issue | Volume 49 , Number 18

TAMI JONES Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1011 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 MARCIA THOMPSON Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1044 FRANK BROWN List Researcher frank.brown@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1022 LYNN LOFTON Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 TED CARTER Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 BECKY GILLETTE Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 NASH NUNNERY Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 LISA MONTI Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018

Unconscionable not to protect our children

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year ago, we weeks into August, more than were pro4,000 students across the state tecting the have tested positive for COVID,” vulnerable the Clarion-Ledger reported last immunocompromised and elderweek. Lamar County schools had ly. Yet with this (Delta) strain, 442 students test positive in the the children in my arms are part first 10 days of school. of the vulnerable I am trying to Yet, Mississippi has implementprotect.” So laments a Mississippi ed no overall strategy to protect BILL CRAWFORD children from the virus. Decisions mom in her blog.

Protecting vulnerable children are left up to school districts and from the surging Delta variant is a priority local officials in what has become a highly for governors in some states. Not yet in politicized controversy.

Mississippi. Though this sudden surge has State and federal guidelines are clear. alarmed health care officials.

Testing, social distancing, sanitation, and, “The risks to children are real,” state yes, masking are the best means to protect health office Dr. Thomas Dobbs told unvaccinated children. reporters. “We are seeing numbers more “I want to make sure everybody unthan we ever have before of healthy children derstands,” said Dobbs. “You can’t fill a that are getting hospitalized,” said Dr. Alan classroom with non-immune kids without a Jones, UMMC associate vice chancellor mask on with the most contagious coronafor clinical affairs and COVID-19 clinical virus we’ve ever seen circulating, and expect response leader.” Just in Jackson, UMMC’s for it not to spread. It’s just biology.”

Children’s Hospital has no more beds availThe American Academy of Pediatrics, able for children with serious COVID cases. based on scientific studies, recommends This accompanies the overall upswing masks in schools for everyone over age two. in COVID cases in Mississippi. Last week One such study published in the Proceedstate cases surged past its previous one-day ings of the National Academy of Sciences record. Doctors say the Delta strain is as found that “airborne transmission is highly contagious as the chicken pox. virulent and represents the dominant route Schools, just barely opened for the fall to spread the disease” and face coverings semester, saw the impact. “Less than two “alone significantly reduced the number

of infections.” (https://www.pnas.org/content/117/26/14857) Of course, the best protection for children, as for adults, is vaccination. So far, only children age 12 and older can be vaccinated. Again, in some states governors are aggressively pushing such vaccinations.

In Mississippi it gets mentioned.

While incidents are still rare, there is growing concern about the long-term impact of COVID on children.

“It is becoming increasingly apparent that a large number of children with symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 are experiencing long-term effects, many months after the initial infection,” found a National Center for Biotechnology Information study.

“Symptoms of long COVID were first thought to include fatigue, muscle and joint pain, headache, insomnia, respiratory problems and heart palpitations. Now, support groups and researchers say there may be up to 100 other symptoms, including gastrointestinal problems, nausea, dizziness, seizures, hallucinations and testicular pain.”

“Children are a heritage from the Lord,” says Psalm 127:3. It is unconscionable not to do all we can to protect them.

BILL CRAWFORD is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

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Analysis: Mississippi reveals it has lethal injection drugs

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une 2012, and no executions are currently scheduled. But a new court filing shows that the state Department of Corrections in recent months has acquired drugs to carry out lethal injections.

Attorneys for the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center sued the Mississippi prison system in April 2015 on behalf of two death row inmates, saying the state’s lethal injection protocol is inhumane. The lawsuit is still going on, and it specifically tries to block Mississippi from using compounded pentobarbital as the first of three drugs in executions. A compounded drug is one made in a pharmacy. Mississippi and several other states have had trouble finding drugs for lethal injections in recent years since pharmaceutical companies in the United States and Europe began blocking the use of their drugs for executions. The Mississippi inmates’ lawsuit describes pentobarbital as “a short-acting or intermediate-acting barbiturate ... intended to sufficiently anesthetize the prisoner so that he is

both unconscious and insensate when the executioner injects the second and third drugs.” In papers filed July 29 in federal court in Jackson, the inmates’ attorneys said they had demanded information from the Mississippi Department of Corrections about efforts to acquire lethal injection drugs. They said the department – MDOC, for short – had been evasive or vague. But the filing also quoted one answer that the department gave in June: “MDOC recently contacted potential suppliers to determine whether they could provide any of the execution drugs listed in MDOC’s Lethal Injection Protocol. As a result of these efforts, MDOC acquired midazolam, vecuronium bromide, and potassium chloride.” A Department of Corrections spokesman on Friday did not immediately respond to several questions from The Associated Press, including how much of each of the three drugs the department acquired, the total cost of the drugs and when the drugs will expire.

Mississippi has 37 men and one woman on death row. As the first drug in a three-

drug protocol, Mississippi in the past has had a form of pentobarbital manufactured in factories inspected by the Food and Drug Administration, not compounded in a pharmacy. Midazolam would be a different first drug. It is a sedative used before medical procedures. Seven states have also used it as part of a three-drug series to execute inmates, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

The center is critical of how capital punishment is carried out. It said midazolam was used in a “botched” execution in 2014 in Oklahoma, where witnesses saw the prisoner writhe on a gurney before dying of a heart attack, and in problematic executions in 2016 in Alabama and 2017 in Alabama.

When the federal government executed prisoners in 2020, it used pentobarbital as the only drug. A few other states have used the same single-drug lethal injection protocol. Mississippi’s executions are done in the State Penitentiary at Parchman.

The inmates’ lawsuit said the Department of Corrections in May 2012 first ordered

compounded drugs for possible use in executions, but it also said Parchman lacks a pharmacy suitable for compounding sterile drugs. The lawsuit said the Department of Corrections intended to execute the inmates with “compounded drugs that may be counterfeit, expired, contaminated and/or sub-potent” and that using compounded drugs “substantially risks that Plaintiffs may be conscious throughout their executions and will experience a torturous death by suffocation and cardiac arrest.” Mississippi lawmakers in 2017 added electrocution and firing squad as execution methods. The change was pushed by Republican Andy Gipson, who is now the state agriculture commissioner but was then chairman of the House Judiciary B Committee. He said it was a direct response to lawsuits filed by “liberal, left-wing radicals” to challenge the use of certain execution drugs. » EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter. com/EWagsterPettus.

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Architecture professors see fewer starter homes available

BY LYNN LOFTON

As the residential real estate market continues to boom across the country, the low inventory of small homes is causing concern.

Millennials looking to purchase starter homes are finding it difficult.

The new director of the School of Architecture at Mississippi State University, Karen Cordes Spence, says the current shortage of homes for Millennials has been more acute with the pandemic as building stalled but housing demand did not. “The housing market has experienced dramatic swings and it has made it difficult for many would-be home buyers.”

Dr. George Ford, director of MSU’s Building Construction Science program said, “Seventy percent of Millennials cannot afford homes according to the literature, and there is a shortage of single family homes and rising prices. Many smaller, starter type homes are being converted nationwide to rentals.”

While this shortage of small homes is not specifically addressed at the university, architectural education incorporates all types and sizes of design. “A wide range of residential work is included, from a house for a small

family to multi-family housing projects,” Spen- space. One major trend is towards more susce said. “In addition to understanding how to tainable building, which demands a thorough respond to client needs and wants, architecture understanding of the site.” students are taught about materials, light, and Spence notes that one current trend in

residential design is addressing sustainability.

“People are thinking about how to be indepenTURN TO ARCHITECTURE, 9F

ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS

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dent of utilities. Another trend seems to be small and efficient, while the tiny home is popular with some, small but flexible spaces are popular with many,” she said.

Ford adds, “I think instructors in accredited programs teach traditionally structured courses/ programs as required by the accrediting agency, but there are instructors who cover changing trends they may have studied in their PhD programs.

“Every educational program

will claim something unique about their programs such as emerging trends in residential building, but most of the materials covered in U.S. higher educational institutions today is traditional.”

Although rich millennials are buying bigger homes, Ford says, most millennials are not in the market for a home due to the increased demand for single family homes, reduced current supply and resulting high prices. “The trend is toward smaller, more economically designed homes. I have friends in the mountains of North Carolina who are building smaller homes, but profiting

August 2021 Issue more than by building bigger homes.”

Ford also has a friend who is building very large, almost commercially sized buildings, for single family occupation for those who’re doing well.

“Geographic Looking at residential trends, Ford said, “Innovations in bathrooms and kitchens are always popular new designs. Lower water using fixtures, energy efficient lighting and cooling are popular.

The move to sustainability is in vogue now. Smaller, connected, electronic homes come up in the literature.”

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Mississippi State names new director of architecture school

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professional architect who has worked in higher education for nearly two decades is the new director of Mississippi State University’s School of

Maryland and Missouri and has served since 2015 as associate dean of the Hammons School of Architecture at KAREN SPENCE Drury University, where she has taught since 2002.

While at Drury, she directed the general education curriculum and played a key role in developing a miARCHITECTS ENGINEERS PLANNING SURVEYING MANAGEMENT nor in environment and sustainability. She SERVING CLIENTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES SINCE 1977 recently finished serving a term as president of the American Institute of Architects chapter in Springfield, Missouri. Spence said her long-term goals include elevating national rankings and preparing for the upcoming reaccreditation and growing the program. Sustainability and equity are critical to me as an architect, as these values are essential to designing a better Greenwood, MS david.leard@jmcfirm.com Ph. 662-455-4943 world. I know that the school has a strong foundation in these, but I would like to extend and expand them,” she said.

Spence earned her Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Arkansas, where she first learned about the Mississippi State School of Architecture through her involvement with AIA Students. Spence also holds a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University, both in architecture. MSU’s School of Architecture offers the state’s only professional architecture degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board.

The Johnson-McAdams Firm, P.A.

Architecture.

Karen Spence began her role at the university on July 1. She is a registered architect in

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ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS

August 2021 Issue

BCI acquired by Johnathan Hollingshead

BY NASH NUNNERY

One of Mississippi’s oldest and most respected tech companies is under new ownership.

Business Communications, Inc. was acquired by Jonathan Hollingshead from Cathy Bailey following the death of her husband Tony in early July. BCI founder Tony Bailey was acting CEO until Cathy Bailey became first majority, then sole owner in 2019.

Cathy Bailey didn’t have to look long or far for a buyer.

Hollingshead was down the hall at the company’s Ridgeland headquarters.

BCI hired Hollingshead in 2011 for the express purpose of helping build a multi-million-dollar, stateof-the-art data center. In turn, the Laurel native created a new line of business around cloud, carrier and managed services for the company.

Negotiations to purchase the company began in 2018 after Hollingshead was appointed BCI president.

“The Baileys knew they wanted to eventually sell the company, and they have had many opportunities to do so over the years,” he

said. “However, they were looking for the perfect fit. Someone who would run it like they did – treat the employees and customers as family.

“We quickly realized that we were the perfect fit for each other.”

Hollingshead, noting that IT is an industry that changes in the blink of an eye, insists that BCI’s corporate culture will not change.

“Change is a business requirement in the technology field,” he said. “However, Cathy and Tom Bailey built a culture that is rare.

Our employees have a strong work ethic and support each other with the utmost in honesty and teamwork. They strive to provide the best customer service in the industry.”

The late Tom Bailey originally founded BCI in 1993 as a structured cabling firm. However, he eventually evolved the company to suit more of the IT industry’s needs, partnering with industry heavyweights such as HP, IBM, Cisco and Microsoft. By the late 1990s, Bailey built the company’s headquarters in Ridgeland and expanded the building even larger a few years later.

Today, BCI is one of the largest managed service providers in the nation, thanks to the multi-million-dollar, game-changing data center Hollingshead was hired to design and build a decade ago.

“The data center was one of the most exciting and challenging tasks in my career,” he said. “The timing is important because it was the first significant wave of interest in the cloud. For the first time, technology had progressed enough to allow companies of all sizes to take advantage of off-site computing.”

BCI employs nearly 85 in Mississippi and another 5-10 people in the company’s Little Rock, Arkansas office. The firm also maintains offices in Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Texas.

“For many years, BCI was considered a Value Added Reseller (VAR), as we partnered with the biggest and best tech companies in the world to resell their hardware/ software”, said Hollingshead, who earned the Mississippi Business Journal’s 2018 “Top in Tech” award.

“We still do that but for most of our customers, but we are also a Managed Services Provider (MSP),” The company still designs, sells

and implements hardware and software, but manages it day-to-day for a fixed monthly fee. Simply put, BCI acts as the IT department for small and medium businesses.

“If you are in the IT field in Mississippi, you most likely know who we are,” added Hollingshead.

No stranger to awards, BCI received first place on the MBJ’s 2021 “Best Places in Work in Mississippi” list in the medium category.

Hollingshead said it’s no secret why the company is at or near the top when it comes to company culture.

“We are all emotionally invested in our company and co-workers, and treat it like a big family,” he said. “I believe it takes both the company and the employees working together to create a strong culture and make a great workplace.

During the interview process, we discuss culture and core values multiple times and talk about it at length during our new employee orientation.

“We work and support each other – here and at home.”

Examples of the BCI culture include a management-cooked breakfast on Fridays and catered birthday lunches for employees. Quarterly,

the company hosts crawfish boils, grill outs, food truck appearances and a happy hour. Hollingshead also produces a monthly ‘broadcast’ to highlight stellar employee performances and the overall state of the company.

“The transparency is greatly appreciated by our employees,” Hollingshead said. “The number one reason why they think this is the best place to work is (themselves).”

Growing up in the south Mississippi Pine Belt region, the younger Hollingshead developed an interest in technology. He credits a family friend who worked at the Stennis Space Center for sparking his infatuation with computers.

“I’ve always been curious about how things work, why things are done in a certain way, and why people are good at some things,” said Hollingshead. “My personal success most likely comes from three things – work ethic, desire to help others, and curiosity.

“Work ethic is a choice, and I choose to outwork everyone every day.”

ARCHITECTS AND ENGINEERS

August 2021 Issue

n

Mississippi Business Journal

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11

Largest Architectural Firms

Largest Architectural Firms Rank

Name & Address

Phone Website

1

Eley Guild Hardy Architects, P.A. 1091 Tommy Munro Dr., Biloxi, MS 39532

228-594-2323 egh.ms

1953 James H. Eley, W. Taylor Guild, David J. Hardy

2

jH&H Architects/Planners/Interiors, PA 1047 N. Flowood Dr., Flowood, MS 39232

601-948-4601 jhharchitects.com

1964 Joseph Carl Franco, A. Bruce Wood, Paul Bagley, Randall Lewis

3

Dale | Bailey, An Association 188 E. Capitol St, Ste 250, Jackson, MS 39201

601-352-5411 dalepartners.com/about-dba

2008 2018 Ross Barkley, Doug Dale, Jeff Barnes, Leigh Jaunsen, Russ Blount, Jason Agostinelli, Robert B Eley

Eley Barkley Dale, An Association 1200 Jefferson Ave, Ste 200 D, Oxford, MS 38655

5

8

11

14

16

Founded Top officers

Notable Projects MSU Engineering & Science Complex, Museum of Mississippi History & Mississippi Civil Rights Museum, Mississippi Aquarium, Port of Gulfport USM Research Building, UMMC, MGCCC Bryant & Student centers MSU Fresh Food Dining Complex; CMPDD Office HQ; Germantown and NW Rankin high schools; 1st Baptist Madison, GHM Academic Complex @ Ole Miss, MSU Partnership School, Rankin Co. Courthouse, Madison Methodist

Grammy Museum Mississippi, Cleveland; MSU Indoor Tennis Facility, Starkville; Mississippi Center for Medically Fragile Children, Jackson; Nicholas Air Corp. headquarters, Starkville; Cotton House, Cleveland Dudy-Noble Field at MSU; MS Trademart; Brandon Amphitheater; MS Children's Museum Meridian; softball, tennis at MSU; The Blake assisted living; Millsaps athletic & academic facilities; UMMC facilities; K12 and higher education school facilities.

The Refuge Hotel, Grammy Museum Mississippi; Biloxi Shuckers Stadium; The Mill@MSU; Mississippi; Wind Creek Montgomery (Ala.) BB King Blues Club

601-321-9107 wbaarchitecture.com

Dale Partners Architects, P.A. 188 E. Capitol St., Ste. 250, Jackson, MS 39201

601-352-5411 dalepartners.com

Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons Architects & Engineers, P.A. 3221 Old Canton Road, Suite 200, Jackson, MS 39216

601-366-3110 cdfl.com

Dean & Dean/Associates Architects, P.A. 4400 Old Canton Rd., Suite 200, Jackson, MS 39211

601-939-7717 deandean.com

1949 Timothy G Geddie

JBHM Architecture 308 E. Pearl St, Ste. 300, Jackson, MS 39201

601-352-2699 jbhm.com

1970 Richard H. McNeel, Ryan C. Florreich, Joseph S. Henderson

PryorMorrow PC 5227 S. Frontage Rd., Columbus, MS 39701

662-327-8990 pryormorrow.com

1985 Roger Pryor, Chris Morrow, William Dexter, Rud Robison, Corey Ravenhorst, Michael Taylor, Jose Arellano

Duvall Decker Architects, P.A. 2915 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216

601-713-1128 duvalldecker.com

1997 Anne Marie Decker, Roy Decker

LPK Architects, P.A. 821 22nd Ave., Meridian, MS 39301

601-693-9990 lpkarchitects.com

1987 Robert E. Luke, John K. "Johnny" Olsen

Belinda Stewart Architects, PA 61 N. Dunn St./PO Box 867, Eupora, MS 39744

662-258-6405 belindastewartarchitects.com

1990 Belinda J. Stewart

McCarty Architects 533 W. Main St., Tupelo, MS 38804

662-844-4400 mccartycompany.com

1983 Kurt Shettles

Canizaro Cawthon Davis Architecture Planning Interior Design 129 S. President St., Jackson, MS 39201

601-948-7337 ccdarchitects.com

1938 Danny Cawthon, Steve Davis, Jared Pierce

Horne Building, Log Still Distillery, Ridgeland City Hall, Marshall Co. Justice Center, Tippah County Hospital, Boldt Southaven MOB, Baptist Health System & Blue Health Primary Care, MRA Middle School and Dining Commons, Jackson Academy Master Plan Pascagoula High Performing Arts Center, Ole Miss South Campus Recreation Facility & Transportation Hub, Toyota Mississippi Visitors Center, Entergy Mississippi Distribution and Operations Center East Mississippi Community College, Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence 2.0 Mississippi Valley State University, Harrison Recreation Complex Renovation Winston Medical Center, Hospital GSA Greenville Federal Courthouse, 400-room conference beach hotel, Panama City, Fla, MS National Guard projects and MS Air National Guard projects.

Lauderdale County Government Center; ECCC Band Hall; Gulfport School District - Bayou View Elementary Addition, KAFB Jones Hall Repair Old Main Academic Center, MSU; Bolivar County Courthouse Restoration; Johnson Commons East Renovation, Ole Miss; Delta Blues Museum Muddy Waters Addition, Clarksdale; MSU YMCA Community Development Foundation; North Mississippi Medical Center; Delta Regional Medical Center; Methodist Senior Services Mississippi Sports Medicine; Pinelake Student Center; Duff Capital Investors Corporate Offices; Beavers Pediatric Dental Clinic; The First, ANBA, Madison; Capital Orthopedics Center

Landry Lewis Germany Architects, P.A. 5211 Old Hwy. 11, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

601-271-7711 llgarch.com

1910 Christian J Landry, Jason K Landry, Shane Germany, Kevin P Lewis

Temple Baptist Church, USM Residence Hall, William Carey University

1995 Doug Dale, Jeffrey Barnes, Leigh Jaunsen, Russ Blount, Jason Agostinelli, Neil Polen 1961 Gene Crager, Jesse R. Browning, David Burnet, Matthew Buchanan, Chris Myers, Newell Watkins, Ben Fulton

UMMC Children's Hospital Expansion; University of Mississippi Stadium; Two Mississippi Museums, Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mississippi College Alumni Hall Renovation

William Carey Health Sciences Building, Columbia Readiness Center, Mississippi Armed Forces Museum expansion, Thad Cochran Theater, PRCC Seal Hall, St. Fabian's church, District at Midtown Hattiesburg, 1990 Christ Presbyterian Church, Ole Miss Innovation Hub; State Howorth & Associates Architects 662-234-7444 Thomas S. Howorth, Deweese Larry, Jonathan Veterans Memorial Cemeteries, Newton & Kilmichael; L.Q.C. howortharch.com P.O. Box 1569, Oxford, MS 38655 Mattox Lamar House Restoration; Saint Leo Simpson County Center, Copiah-Lincoln CC; Cafeteria, Delta Burris/Wagnon Architects, P.A. 601-969-7543 1997 State; Fant Library, MUW; Northwest Middle School, Jackson, 19 burriswagnon.com Stan Wagnon, Bill Burris 500L E. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Jackson, MS 39216 Main Offices, MS Dept of Rehab. Services, Madison FBC Tupelo Master Plan and renovations; Greenwood Beard + Riser Architects PLLC 662-455-2581 2007 Readiness Center repairs; Greenwood Police Dept.; Milwaukee beardriser.com John Beard, Dale Riser Tool renovations; Rail Spike Park Pavilion; Mississippi Delta 1739 University Ave. #305, Oxford, MS 38655 student center Translational Medicine Center The University of Mississippi Foil-Wyatt Architects & Planners PLLC 601-352-3071 1977 Medical Center; Lauren Rogers Museum of Art; Riverwalk 21 foilwyatt.com Edward Bowden Wyatt, Michael R Foil 1510 N. State St., Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39202 Casino & Hotel; The Alluvian Hotel; Howard Industries; JCJC Northeast Mississippi Community College Student Services ArchitectureSouth, P.A. 662-844-5843 1978 Building; Southwest Mississippi Community College Men's architecturesouth.com Linda E. Smith 330 W. Jefferson St., Tupelo, MS 38804 Residence Hall; Access Family Health Smithville Medical Clinic Priestley Chapel Church Multi-Purpose Facility, Canton; Brumfield Ward & Associates Architects,PA 601-982-0341 1957 Additions to WAPT 16, Jackson; The Met Apartments, brumfieldward.com Hal C. Brumfield, W. Randall Ward 1050-C Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Hattiesburg; Big 10 Tire, Gluckstadt Dean Aircraft Service Hangar Addition, Threefoot Brewing Davis Purdy Architects, PLLC 601-282-1655 2018 Company, Davis Purdy Architects Office, Shipley's Donuts, and davispurdyarchitects.com Mark Davis, John Purdy 2306 6th Street, Meridian, MS 39301 numerous residential projects.

Biloxi VA Nursing Home, Hattiesburg High reno, USM Asbury Allred Stolarski Architects, PA 228-762-1975 1961 & Scianna halls, MSU School of Music, MGCCC STEM Bldg, allredstolarski.com Hoppy Allred, John Stolarski 711 Church St, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Bay High Admin Bldg, Ocean Springs High Information provided by company representatives and MBJ research and is ranked by number of Mississippi-licensed architects. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

Albert & Robinson Architects, PLLC 514 Main St., Hattiesburg, MS 39401

601-544-1970 ar-architects.com

1986 Larry A. Albert, Chris L. Robinson

19

13

12

Wier Boerner Allin Architecture, PLLC 2727 Old Canton Road, Suite 200, Jackson, MS 39216

2009 Jamie Wier, Michael Boerner, Jack Allin, Eric Whitfield, Wade Thompson, Ryan Hansen

Licensed MS Architects

12

11

11

11

8

8

8

6 6

6

5 5 4

4

4 3

3

2 2 2 2 2

HEALTH CARE 12 n

Mississippi Business Journal

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August 2021 Issue

Cancer experts emphasize the importance of continuing screenings during pandemic

BY BECKY GILLETTE

Cancer didn’t stop for COVID and healthcare facilities in Mississippi didn’t stop treating it.

“This isn’t a disease for which you can delay treatment,” said Dr. Richard Summers, University of Mississippi Medical Center associate vice chancellor for research and UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute interim director. “We observed heightened safety measures to protect our staff and patients, but never stopped providing treatment.”

Summers said they’ve always encouraged patients in cancer treatment to isolate themselves because they often have a lowered immune system. All cancer patients are advised to take appropriate actions such as sanitizing their hands, staying away from those who are ill, and wearing a mask. Patients receiving care in the hospital are subject to hospital COVID guidelines which limit visitors and require face masking and hand sanitizing.

UMMC has implemented stricter provisions in its outpatient clinics that include only allowing the patient and one caregiver, if needed, to enter. Summers said they know some patients in treatment may be overwhelmed with the information provided at each appointment, so it’s beneficial if someone can accompany them.

At check in, each patient and caregiver answer a checklist of questions concerning COVID symptoms and exposure. If responses indicate they may have COVID, they follow a standard procedure to separate them from the waiting room and test for COVID. However, Summers said some symptoms of COVID, such as fever and fatigue, also may be the result of cancer treatment.

Large numbers of people avoided routine cancer screenings because of fear of COVID. UMMC and Dr. William Robinson, who heads UMMC’s clinical trials unit, are working with the American Cancer Society now to get people to return to screening. An ACS review showed screening dropped for breast, cervical, lung and colorectal (colonoscopies) cancer during the months COVID was most prevalent.

“We urge people to get these screenings because we know that catching cancer earlier translates to better treatment options and outcomes,” Summers said. “In the case of colonoscopies, doctors can remove polyps, eliminating a cancer threat.”

The hospital did postpone some elective

surgeries at times when the Mississippi State stage. We really want patients to know they shouldn’t stop cancer screenings or care Department of Health restricted elective because of the pandemic. Active cancer needs surgeries. Many cancer surgeries are not considered elective, but are part of time-sen- treatment that shouldn’t be interrupted because of the pandemic.” sitive treatment protocols. They are done The American Cancer Society to save lives or provide a higher has a slogan: “Cancer doesn’t quality of life for patients, Sumwait and neither should you.” mers said.

Wilson said that is the guiding Dr. Paschal Wilson, a hemaprinciple sticking with treattology/oncology Specialist at the North Mississippi Medical ments.

Center (NMMC) Cancer Care “We certainly have patients in Tupelo, agrees that cancer who, because of their own persurgeries should not be delayed. sonal concerns, have chosen to “To my knowledge, we have alter or delay treatment,” Wilson DR. RICHARD not had to delay surgeries losaid. “But as a clinic and system, SUMMERS we have been able to continue to cally,” Wilson said. “Potentially, provide cancer care throughout.” there could be a problem with Wilson said they haven’t had to change having enough beds if the system becomes the layout for chemotherapy administration overburdened with COVID. But that has even though it is arranged so one nurse can not been an issue so far in the pandemic. “ monitor multiple patients. Each patient is The National Comprehensive Cancer protected by an individual wall that separates Network is expecting an additional 10,000 him or her from the next patient. cancer deaths in the U.S. from people who “Our policy has always been one visitor in have delayed screenings because of COVID. the infusion center,” he said. “With Covid, if Wilson thinks that number is conservative. you leave, you can’t come back in. Some want “That is just a guess based on how many multiple family members to be in on the screenings were missed in the first ten follow-up discussion. We can’t have multiple months of the pandemic,” Wilson said. visitors, but they can be teleconferenced in.”

“The longer this goes on, the more missed Cancer is never a welcome diagnosis, but screenings and potential diagnosis will be seen. So, that number will likely go up. There it can be particularly hard coming during the is less chance of a cure if cancer is at a higher stress of the pandemic.

“I would love it if you could kind of schedule it at an opportune time,” said Domingo Valpuesta, vice president of oncology, diagnostic radiology and pharmacy, NMMC Cancer Care. “Unfortunately, that is not how cancer works. Cancer doesn’t come on anybody’s timeline. It is absolutely hard on patients dealing with the emotional side of dealing with cancer, as well as the pandemic.”

Valpuesta said they are trying to let people in the community know how important it is to get screenings including for breast, colon and lung cancers.

“We really have tried to do a lot with letting our community know how important it is to keep those appointments,” Valpuesta said. “It is safe for them to come back. We want to make sure they feel comfortable to come back and get those.”

Connie Renfroe, clinical practice manager at NMMC Cancer Care, said patients have direct access to an onsite social worker.

“We have seen an increase in demand for counseling services, not necessarily for connecting to social services and financial support,” Renfroe said. “We are seeing a lot of need for emotional support. Many patients are being referred to behavior health or for mental health evaluations. We screen patients when they are coming in to find out the level of distress so we can send the patients to get help even if they are not asking for support.”

HEALTH CARE

August 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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13

Travel nurses filling huge void to help patients during pandemic surge

BY BECKY GILLETTE

At the same time that experienced registered nurses (RNs) are in greater demand than ever due to the surge in COVID hospitalizations linked to low vaccination rates combined with the highly contagious delta variant of COVID-19, nurses continue to leave the profession. The National State Boards of Nursing and Mississippi Board of Nursing data showed a decrease of 2,000 actively licensed RNs in Mississippi in the first seven months of 2021.

In addition, 80 percent of nursing leaders nationwide have reported an increase in nurse turnover due to the pandemic, said Mississippi Hospital Association CEO Kim Hoover, PhD, RN. “A contributing factor to

the turnover is the rate of serve patients. stress and burnout facing the “For some of our rural healthcare workforce during hospitals already operating on the pandemic,” Hoover said. thin margins pre-COVID, the “But even before ability to attract the pandemic, and retain nurses nurse staffing is becoming more was a challenge. difficult as costs Currently, our increase,” Hoover demand for nurses said. outpaces our state Enid M. supply with only Bedford, RN, 41 percent of has taken several actively licensed travel nursing KIM HOOVER RNs reporting jobs in Missisemployment in a hospital.” sippi.

Hoover said hospitals “I became a travel nurse are using every tool in their because I wanted to broaden toolbox to meet staffing my experiences and knowlneeds, including hiring travel edge as a registered nurse,” nurses. She said Mississippi Bedford said. “I wanted to hospitals have benefited challenge myself to learn from travel nurses, but have more, to gain appreciation also lost some nurses who for and explore different perhave traveled to other parts spectives professionally. I also of the state or the country to wanted to see different parts

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Schedule an appointment or refer a patient:

(601) 442-1285

of the country, experience the choose your assigned work culture of other areas that locations, I can travel far were different from what I away from home or I can stay was used to seeing every day local and work. The opportuin my hometown. nities are available I always loved to for pretty much travel and expewhatever your riencing diverse family dynamics communities require.” and people. My Many nurses husband and I have found workare empty-nesters ing during the and becoming a Covid pandemic travel nurse was a ENID extremely stressperfect opportuful. Not only are M. BEDFORD nity to combine they seeing far all of my goals and to make more patients die than norgreat money while doing so.” mal, but they have to wear Travel nurses can make uncomfortable personal upwards of $100,000 per protection equipment for year in some areas. Bedford long shifts, and risk taking said in addition to better pay the virus home to vulnerable than traditional or stationary loved ones. Even with people nursing jobs, you can cater who are fully vaccinated, the scheduling of the asthe CDC reports there are signments around your own breakthrough infections, personal life. particularly in people with “You develop a broader underlying health condiprofessional and personal tions. Some nurses have left network of people you know the profession as a result of which also expands your the unprecedent challenges. opportunities for growth Hoover feels the work she professionally and personal- is doing is critically important. ly,” Bedford said. “You get to “Our entire way of life has experience the food, culture, been impacted significantly lifestyles, nightlife and peo- by this global pandemic,” ple in a whole new way.”

Hoover said. “CommuniFor her, the only downside ties are being hit hard with is that it is hard sometimes shortages of nurses and othto leave behind the coler health professionals who leagues that she has worked are not able or not willing with for so many months. to stay at this bedside. The “You are away from your way in which healthcare is comforts of home during having to be administered your assignments but, over now requires dedicated, time, you develop a unique compassionate and strong way of taking home with you individuals who have a desire and enjoying the experiences to make a difference. you are having,” Bedford “I experience people at said. “People think it is one of the worst times in difficult if you have a family their life, when they or their and, yes, you are away from family members are dealing your family if they are not with a critical illness. I try able to travel with you. My to ensure that each patient children are grown and my I touch is impacted posihusband works independent- tively by my work and my ly. Therefore, we are able to presence. Especially now, I travel together. I have met am often the only hand my husband-and-wife nursing patient has to hold and I do couples who take assignments that proudly with each one, together and take the whole ensuring their families that family with them across the their loved one is not alone.” country. Because you get to Bedford takes into consid-

eration several factors before taking an assignment: • Does she need to be close to home or is she ready to go farther away from home-base?

• How long is the assignment?

• Will the assignment be near extended family and friends?

• Is the assignment in an area she is interested in knowing more about?

• Is the hospital or place of work doing innovative or groundbreaking work in areas of her career that interest her?

• What are the opportunities that she may garner from working at a particular institution?

“There are many questions that I ask myself before I choose a particular assignment,” she said. “I do know that there are endless opportunities currently in travel nursing and that allows me to cater my professional experience to whatever I need in my personal life, as well.

I also think you must have a mindset that whatever the opportunity ends up being, you are there to provide compassionate care and the focus is to successfully complete the assignment.”

If she had any regrets about travel nursing, it would be that she did not start earlier in her career. Right now, the flexibility, the opportunities and the great financial benefits are what make travel nursing the right fit for her and so many other nurses.

“And, if my needs change in the future, I have so much to take forward,” Bedford said. “I will always have a great resume of experience and an enhanced network of people I have met from my travel nursing career.”

Bedford works through AYA Healthcare, a travel nursing agency, to get assignments.

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Mississippi Business Journal

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HEALTH CARE

August 2021 Issue

Cancer Care Centers

Cancer Care Centers Rank

Name & address

Director & hospital affiliation

Telephone

North Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Care Domingo Valpuesta 662-377-3000 North Mississippi Medical Center 830 S. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS 38801 Memorial Cancer Center Matthew R. Walker 2 228-575-1234 Memorial Hospital at Gulfport 1340 Broad Ave., Gulfport, MS 39501 St. Dominic's Cancer Center Mechale B. Mayfield 3 601-200-3070 St. Dominic-Jackson Memorial Hospital 2969 N. Curran Drive, Jackson, MS 39216 Anderson Regional Cancer Center Robert Guasco 4 601-485-5081 Anderson Regional Medical Center 1704 23rd Ave., Meridian, MS 39301 Baptist Cancer Center (Starkville & Columbus) Sherrie Jones 5 662-244-4673 Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle 2520 5th Street N., Columbus, MS 39705 Children's of Mississippi Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders Anderson Collier 601-984-2700 Batson Children's Hospital 2500 N. State Street, Jackson, MS 39216 Baptist Cancer Center-Oxford Daniel Lenard 7 662-636-4444 Baptist Memorial Hospital-North Mississippi 504 Azalea Drive, Oxford, MS 38655 Singing River Cancer Center Chip Ginn 228-809-5251 Singing River Health System 3 locations: Gulfport, Ocean Springs and Pascagoula, N/A, MS 39581 Baptist Cancer Center (Southaven & DeSoto) 9 Baptist Memorial Hospital-DeSoto 901-722-3627 3 locations: Southcrest Parkway & Airways Blvd, Southaven, MS 38671 Baptist Cancer Center 10 Mississippi Baptist Medical Center 601-968-1049 1225 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39202 Forrest General Cancer Center Joe Marcello 11 601-288-1700 Forrest General Hospital 301 South 28th Ave, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 The Mississippi Cancer Institute Chastity Burnette 12 601-249-5510 Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center 1501 Aston Ave, McComb, MS 39648 UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute Richard Summers 13 601-815-6802 University Hospitals, Children's Hospital 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216 South Central Cancer Center Sandeep Singh 14 601-518-7054 South Central Regional Medical Center 1203 Jefferson St., Laurel, MS 39440 Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center 15 Divyang Mehta 601-442-1285 133 Jefferson Davis Blvd., Natchez, MS 39120 Alliance Cancer Center Greenville 16 Gregg A Dickerson 662-332-6150 1514 E. Union St, Greenville, MS 38703 Cancer Center at Greenwood Leflore Hospital Roderick C Givens 17 662-459-7133 Greenwood Leflore Hospital 1401 River Road, Greenwood, MS 38930 Merit Health Cancer Center Tara Howington 601-376-2072 Merit Health Central 1850 Chadwick Dr., Jackson, MS 39204 Merit Health River Region Oncology 19 601-638-3005 2368 Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39183 Alliance Cancer Center Clarksdale Gregg A Dickerson 20 662-624-8731 None 581 Medical Drive, Clarksdale, MS 38614 Information was provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

1

Mississippi gets nearly $13 million for rural Covid fight

M

ississippi hospitals in rural areas will receive nearly $13 million in federal funding to help fight the coronavirus, according to a news release.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is giving $12,918,800 through its Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program to 50 small rural hospitals in the state, according to the release from the White House. Hospitals can use the money to expand access to testing in rural areas as well as for other coronavirus mitigation efforts needed in their communities.

“The Biden Administration recognizes the important role that small rural hospitals have in closing the equity gap and ensuring that rural Ameri-

nmhs.net

Staff 350

gulfportmemorial.com

96

stdom.com/services/cancer/

64

andersonregional.org

56

goldentriangle.baptistonline.org

50

ummchealth.com/childrenscancer

50

baptistonline.org/northmiss

45

singingriverhealthsystem.com

45

baptistonline.org/desoto

43

Baptistcancercenter.com

35

forrestgeneral.com

31

smrmc.com

30

umc.edu

27

scrmc.com

25

marybird.org/natchez

11

alliance-greenville.com

9

glh.org

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merithealthcentral.com/medical-services/ cancer-care-center

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alliance-clarksdale.com

3

Rahman joins Hattiesburg Clinic hypertension center

M canscanprotectthemselvesandtheircommunities from COVID-19,” said Secretary Xavier Becerra in the news release. The state’s Department of Health Monday announced 796 new coronavirus cases over a three-day period from July 9 through July 11 and two new deaths during that same time period. A little over one million people have been fully vaccinated against the virus.

Website

anal Abinternal medicine by the dur RahAmerican Board of Inman, MD, ternal Medicine and is a recently member of the American joined Hattiesburg College of Physicians.

Clinic Hypertension At Hypertension Center.

Center, Rahman provides Rahman received her care for patients with medical degree from the hypertension and helps Saba University School of RAHMAN patients manage chronic Medicine in Saba, Dutch kidney disease.

Caribbean. She completed an “I aim to provide care for painternship and residency in internal tients with uncontrolled hypermedicine at Bridgeport Hospitension in the hopes of preventing tal – Yale New Haven Health in progression of chronic kidney Bridgeport, Conn. disease and effects on other vital Rahman is board certified in organs,” she said.

August 2021 Issue

n

Mississippi Business Journal

______________ YOUR WORLD MAY HAVE

CHANGED ______________

OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR HEALTH IS

STEADFAST

In a changing and complex world, your healthcare should be simple, responsive and geared to your needs. The right doctors and hospitals to guide you through your hardest medical decisions.

A dedication that remains constant in an often uncertain landscape.

Mississippi Health Partners is a network of 700 physicians and 13 hospitals, including Baptist Medical Center and St. Dominic Hospital, looking out for 100,000 lives. We’ve been providing businesses and their employees with the services and value they’ve come to expect for nearly 30 years.

Mississippi owned and managed, we’re here when you need us most.

We are Mississippi Health Partners. www.mhpartners.com

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BANKING AND FINANCE 16 n

Mississippi Business Journal

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August 2021 Issue

Banking executive: industry constantly changing

BY LISA MONTI

G

ordon Fellows is president and CEO of the Mississippi Bankers Association and oversees all aspects of the association, including policy advocacy and government relations initiatives. In addition to leading MBA’s lobbying efforts at the Mississippi State Capitol he works with the state’s Congressional delegation and national banking trade groups to support industry federal lobbying efforts.

Fellows serves on the American Bankers Association BankPac Committee and is a Federal Delegate Board Member for the Independent Community Bankers of America. He also serves on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Business and Political Education Committee.

Fellows leads the association’s various industry education and professional development programs and is secretary of the MBA Education Foundation.

Additionally, he serves as a trustee for the Graduate School of Banking at LSU.

He joined the association there were 107 banks headquarin 2012 after working in the tered in Mississippi at the end of furniture industry for six years.

2001. Today, 20 years later, there A native of Tupelo, he are 69 banks headearned a Bachelor’s quartered here. Over degree in international the same period, he studies at the Croft Insaid, the total assets stitute at the University held by Mississipof Mississippi in 2006. pi-chartered banks He was elected Associhas almost quadruated Student President pled. and was selected to the A more recent University of Mississip- GORDON trend involves how pi Hall of Fame. banks integrate techFELLOWS Fellows said banking nology into their ophas been a constanterations he said. “Like ly-changing industry for some many other industries, banks time, and he anticipates that will are constantly updating their continue for some time. Current- strategies for how to use technolly, he said, three trends stand out ogy to improve the efficiency of to him: industry consolidation, their operations, and to provide the impact of technology, and new services and products to federal regulatory changes. their customers,” he said. “The “Bank consolidation is driven ever-evolving nature of technoloin part by the need for more scale gy creates both opportunities and to absorb constantly increasing threats that banks must consider compliance cost combined with and adapt to, and no doubt this the current low interest rate will continue to be a trend that environment.That has created impacts bank decisions in the significant pressure for bank near and long term.” consolidation,” he said.

Fellows said MBA is monitorHe said FDIC data shows ing deals with potential changes

to the bank regulatory environment. “During the Obama years, there were thousands of pages of new banking rules written. Many of these rules were particularly challenging for small, rural banks like the institutions we have in Mississippi,” he said. “ The pace of new regulations slowed a great deal during the Trump administration. Now, as the Biden administration settles in, we are monitoring what regulatory changes might be coming down the pike over the next few years.”

Regarding the pandemic’s impact on the banking industry’s operations and staffing, Fellows said, “While the pandemic has created many challenges for banks, it has been really inspiring to me to watch and support the efforts of Mississippi bankers as they’ve strived to serve their communities throughout the crisis.”

Fellows considered bankers as “the economic first responders” during the pandemic, and now in the forgiveness phase of the federal Paycheck Protection Program, he said, “Bankers continue

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to work to help small businesses through the back end of the process.”

Fellows said as the Delta variant continues to spread, many banks are again implementing distancing, masking and other safety policies. Some are again beginning to face staffing challenges as employees quarantine numbers are increasing, he said.

“Many banks are encouraging staff to consider vaccination through staff education efforts and in some cases incentive programs.” At the association level, the officers have decided to reinstitute a return to a virtual-only policy for events through at least the end of the year.

Regarding MBA’s lobbying efforts, Fellows said the association is monitoring discussions about reforming the state tax code and medical marijuana.

“Federal anti-money laundering laws conflict with state laws that legalize marijuana in any forms. This conflict of law issue has created challenges for the banking system all over the country, so legalizing marijuana in Mississippi will create issues here as well. We’re trying to learn about what’s helped with some of these issues in other states, and we’ve shared thoughts and concerns about this conflict of state and federal law with key legislative leaders,” he said.

At the federal level, he said MBA is monitoring the Biden administration’s proposal to increase the information banks report about certain account holders to the IRS and the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s implementation of Section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Act. “Once finalized, these new rules will have significant impact on small business credit and could potentially cause a lot of small businesses challenges in Mississippi,” he said. “We’ve been advocating for a simple approach to implementation of this new rule for years, and we expect we’ll be seeing a specific proposal from the CFPB this fall.”

August 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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Mississippi Business Journal

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BANKING AND FINANCE

August 2021 Issue

Renasant names Smith as Desoto County Market President

R

enasant Bank has also attended the Missisannounced ansippi School of Banking nounce that David and the ABA FoundationSMITH has been al Commercial Lending promoted to Desoto County School. Smith looks forward Market President. He will be to bringing his C&I busibased at the Goodman Road ness development experilocation. ence to the Desoto County “We are excited and proud community to help build to announce David’s promo- DAVID SMITH and strengthen complex tion to Market President for business relationships.

Desoto County. We look forward to Smith and his wife will be moving in watching David grow in his new leadorder to assume his new position, and ership role,” said Shane McLarty, Pres- eagerly look forward to living closer ident of Renasant’s North Mississippi to children and grandchildren who Region. “Desoto County continues to reside in Desoto County. After years be one of the fastest growing markets of membership and acting as past Preswithin the state and is integral to the ident for the Rotary Club of Panola continued growth of the North MisCounty, Smith looks forward to joining sissippi region. David will do a great a local Desoto County chapter. He is job of continuing that growth with this also looking forward to working with well-deserved promotion.” the Desoto County Renasant family to Smith received his bachelor’s degree become more involved in local commufrom The University of Mississippi. He nity initiatives and events.

Renasant opens its Memphis headquarters

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ill open its new Memphis-market headquarters on Poplar Avenue on Monday with its Grand Opening to follow in late September.

Grinder, Taber & Grinder Inc. is the contractor on the project, and LKR is the architect who managed construction on the three-story, 45,000-square-foot facility. Renasant plans to occupy 30,000 square feet of the building and will lease out the extra space. ”Our new Memphis-based headquarters is a testament to providing exceptional service to our current and future customers,” said Daniel Reid, West Tennessee President of Renasant Bank.

“We embrace meeting the needs of the communities we serve with both digital technology and a convenient location.”

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The new headquarters will house executive and administrative offices, community and commercial banking, mortgage, private client, and treasury management services along with a “state-of-the-art” banking center. This banking center includes an Interactive Teller Machine that allows customers to conduct transactions via video conferencing at the drive-thru.

Initially housing 62 employees, the new office provides plenty of room for future growth.

BANKING AND FINANCE

Credit Unions Credit Unions Credit Unions Rank Credit union / Address Credit Unions

Rank 1

Keesler union Federal/ Credit Union Credit Address

August 2021 Issue

Phone

Website

Founded

Top Officer

Employees

n

Mississippi Business Journal

Members

Phone Website Founded Top Officer Employees Members 228-385-5500 kfcu.org 1947 Andrew Swoger 729 273,898 Box 7001, Biloxi, MS 39534 Treasury Employees Federal Credit Union Hope Federal Credit Union 43 601-355-5411 1948 Daniel Quinn 485 2 601-944-1100 hopecu.org 1995 Bill Bynum 1391 34,708 100 Capitol St.,Suite No. 603, Jackson,MS MS39202 39269 4 OldW.River Place, A, Jackson, Mississippi DHS Federal Navigator Credit Union Credit Union 44 601-354-6544 msdhsfcu.com 1952 Carlton Adcock 1,978 3 228-475-7300 navigatorcu.org 1939 Sonya Jarvis 1184 44,757 P.O.NBox 1647, Pascagoula, 767 President St, Jackson,MS MS39568 39202 Sunbelt FederalFederal Credit Union Christopher Biloxi Teachers Credit Union 4 601-649-7181 sunbeltfcu.org 1953 1011 38,875 45 228-436-5126 biloxischools.net 1965 Sherry Deshamp 1,526 Hammond 6885 Box US 49, MS 39402 P.O. 168,Hattiesburg, Biloxi, MS 39533 Mutual Credit Union Michael Memorial Federal Credit Union 5 601-636-7523 mutualcu.org 1931 673 23,649 46 228-865-3142 memorialfcu.org 1962 Karen Lizana 1,643 Mathews 1604 Box Cherry Street, Vicksburg, MS 39180 P.O. 1810, Gulfport, MS 39502 Singing River Federal Credit Union First Unity Federal Credit Union 6 228-475-9531 srfcu.org 1953 James Smith 665 20,218 47 601-680-4419 2014 Samuel Hall Jr. 3,075 60065th Highway Point,MS MS39648 39563 122 Ave Ste63, B,Moss McComb, Rivertrust Federal Credit Union Healthplus Federal Credit Union 7 601-664-2085 rivertrustfcu.com 1935 Kevin Long 153 8,207 48 601-354-6633 healthplusfcu.com 1948 Matthew Baker 2,255 409 Riverwind Drive, Pearl, 39208 MS 39216 500H E.Woodrow Wilson Av,MS Jackson, Statewide Federal Credit Union Northeast Mississippi Federal Credit Union 8 601-420-5535 statewidefcu.org 1949 Casey Bacon 453 19,410 49 662-256-9697 1964 Sandra Vaughn 953 P.O.3rd BoxAve 320483, Flowood, MS 39232 101 S, Amory, MS 38821 Magnolia Federal Credit Union Delta Federal Credit Union Barbara 9 601-977-8300 magfedcu.org 1935 Michael Waylett 453 19,242 50 662-332-7184 deltacu.virtual.cu.net 1992 1,217 240 Briarwood Dr, Jackson, 39206 Rodgers P.O. Box 755, Greenville, MSMS 38702 Mississippi Federal Credit Union Community Partners FCU 10 601-351-9200 msfcu.us 1958 Mike Lightsey 464 23,177 51 601-683-3322 communitypartnersfcu.com 1971 Deloris Little 2,138 Box 55889, MS 39345 39296 P.O. Box 5, Jackson, Newton, MS Members Exchange Credit Union Water's Edge Federal Credit Union 11 601-922-3350 mecuanywhere.com 1954 Mitzi Olier Tate 412 15,301 228-896-0038 wefcu.com 1953 Amy 745 52 P.O. Box 31049, MS 39286 1976 Popps FerryJackson, Road, Biloxi, MS 39532 Gulf Coast Community FCU Tombigbee Federal Credit Union 12 228-539-7029 gulfcoastcommunityfcu.org 1935 Lisa Graham N/A 12,041 662-256-2791 tombigb.virtualcu.net 1966 Carolyn Logan 0 1,073 53 12364 Highway 49, Gulfport, MS 39503 P.O. Drawer 539, Amory, MS 38821 Triangle Federal Credit Union 662-434-6052 trianglefcu.com 1959 John Gibbons 32 12,301 13 Meridian Postal Federal MS Credit Union P.O. Box 8300, Columbus, 39705 54 601-693-7413 1932 Linda Payne 0 409 P.O. Box 654, Meridian, MS 39302 Jackson Area Federal Credit Union 601-922-7055 jacksonareafcu.com 1953 Gary Fairley 27 13,870 14 Shelby/Bolivar Credit Union 5675 Hwy 18 W, County Jackson,Federal MS 39209 55 662-843-0060 shelbybolivarfcu.org 1955 Barbara Black 2 2,140 630 Gaines Hwy, Boyle, MS 38730 Ferguson Federal Credit Union Vernon 15 601-587-4037 fergusonfcu.org 1968 48 9,613 MUW Employees FederalMS Credit Clevenger 5162 Plaza Dr, Tylertown, 39667Union 56 662-327-2500 homecu.net/fi/muwfcu 1965 Tova Hamm 3 644 1100 College St., No. 41, Columbus, MS 39701 1st Mississippi Federal Credit Union 16 601-693-6873 1stms.com 1972 Rebecca Cooper 25 9,944 Mississippi Central Federal Credit Union 600 19th Ave, Meridian, MS 39301 57 601-732-8887 1986 Susan Pinter 4 2,454 5134 Highway 80, Morton, MS 39117 Eagle Express Federal Credit Union 17 601-355-6363 eagleexpressfcu.com 1935 Katie Nelson 11 4,092 Choctaw Federal Union 567 S. State Street,Credit Jackson, MS 39205 58 601-656-0055 choctawfcu.org 1976 Sandy Balderas 4 2,031 P.O. Box 6284, Choctaw, MS 39350 CenturyFirst Federal Credit Union 18 601-450-4114 centuryfirstfcu.com 1956 John Harmond 30 7,709 Armstrong Federal CreditMS Union 3318 Hardy St, Hattiesburg, 39401 59 601-960-5240 1956 Linda Alford 2 364 1085 Highway 80 W, Jackson, MS 39204 Meridian Mutual Federal Credit Union 19 601-693-1900 meridianmutualfcu.com 1953 Debbie Smith 15 6,424 Mississippi Employees P.O. Box 310,College Meridian, MS 39302FCU 60 601-925-3895 1958 Angela Poole 0 190 Box 4033, Clinton, MS 39058 MUNA Federal Credit Union Biffle "Bo" 20 601-693-8563 munafederal.com 1962 15 5,826 Ellisville State School Employees FCU PittmanPerkins Jr. P.O. Box 3338, Meridian, MS 39303 61 601-477-5635 1973 Debra 1 482 1101 Highway 11 S, Ellisville, MS 39437 Securtrust Federal Credit Union 21 662-890-8760 securtrust.org 1949 Martha Rushing 9 3,116 Mid Federal Credit UnionMS 38672 3870Delta Goodman Road, Southaven, 62 662-887-4347 1965 Faye Vance 2 1,058 P.O. Box 670,Public Indianola, MS 38751 Mississippi Employees Credit Union 22 601-948-8191 mspecu.org 1966 Debbie Cox 11 6,179 613 S Municpal West St, Jackson, 39201 Pearl FederalMS Credit Union 63 601-939-3126 pearlcu.com 1981 Karen Williams 0 602 2420 Old Brandon Road, Pearl, MS 39208 Gulf Trust Federal Credit Union Betty 23 228-762-0659 gulftrustcu.org 1973 10 3,427 Hutchinson 2533 Denny Ave, Pascagoula, MS 39567 Natchez Educators Federal Credit Union 64 601-445-2851 1961 Teresa Ford 0 420 P.O. Box 774,National Natchez,Guard MS 39121 Mississippi FCU 24 601-932-5194 msngfcu.com 1962 Vickie Bourne 5 2,528 142 Military Dr, Jackson, MS 39232 Issaquena County Federal Credit Union 65 662-873-4393 1969 Ruth Evans 0 451 P.O. Box 87, Federal Mayersville, MS Union 39113 Brightview Credit 25 601-977-9468 brightviewcu.com 1950 Dawn Parks 9 3,133 713 S Pear Orchard, #101,Credit Ridgeland, MS 39157 Citizens Choice Federal Union 66 601-442-5888 citizenschoicefederal.com 1966 Patricia Smith 0 417 P.O. Box 17879,Federal Natchez, MS 39122 Camp Shelby Credit Union 26 601-544-5421 campshelbycreditunion.us 1967 Denise Collier 7 2,730 Warehouse Ave,Credit Bldg 82, Hattiesburg, MS 39407 JPFCE Federal Union Sharecia 67 601-559-6100 1952 1 190 Atkinson 600 McDowell Rd, Jackson, ECMEFederal Credit Union MS 39204 27 601-605-8600 ecmfcu.com 1967 Jennifer Lovett 2 2,065 P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158 United Methodist of Mississippi FCU 68 662-617-0088 1961 Marilyn Rowland 1 287 PO Box 245, Booneville,ANG MS FCU 38829 Meridian Mississippi Darlene 28 601-483-7307 meridianangfcu.org 1963 3 1,414 Wilkerson P.O. Box 4232 WSS, Meridian, MS 39304 Forrest County Teachers Federal Credit Union 69 601-475-0435 1961 Debra Palmer 0 271 P.O. 1271, Hattiesburg, MS 39403 FirstBox Neshoba Federal Credit Union 601-656-1183 fnfcu.org 1964 Jackie Long 9 3,149 29 685,the Philadelphia, MS 39350 InformationBox from Mississippi Credit Union Association is ranked by total assets as of March 31, 2021. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

Old South Federal Credit Union 601-442-4382 oldsouthfcu.com 1953 Stacy McCann 8 2,723 30 148 N. Shields Lane, Natchez, MS 39120 Elevator Federal Credit Union 662-895-2964 1967 Pamela Collier 2 1,802 31 P.O. Box 368, Olive Branch, MS 38654 CommFirst Federal Credit Union 601-938-1213 commfirstfcu.com 1954 Sheila Bridges 5 2,374 32 1151 N. State St., Suite 104, Jackson, MS 39202 N. Mississippi Health Services Employees FCU 662-377-3235 nmhs.net/creditunion 1982 Daphne Burson 3 2,885 33 830 S. Gloster St., Tupelo, MS 38801 CM Members Federal Credit Union 662-327-3030 cmcreditunion.com 1986 Casey Halbert 4 1,811 34 P.O. Box 1444, Columbus, MS 39703 AMPOT Federal Credit Union 662-343-8793 ampotfcu.org 1969 Michelle Hyland 3 1,573 35 P.O. Box 352, Hamilton, MS 39746 The New Horizons Federal Credit Union 36 662-494-7700 newhorizonsfcu.com 1960 Vickie Bagwell 6 3,072 7290 Hwy 45 Alt., West Point, MS 39773 Pine Belt Federal Credit Union 37 601-583-3242 pinebeltfcu.org 1942 Brian Green 6 2,013 P.O. Box 1441, Hattiesburg, MS 39403 Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol FCU 38 601-987-1290 mhspfcu.com 1964 Tracy Burleigh 2 1,380 P.O. Box 958, Jackson, MS 39205 Vickswood Federal Credit Union 39 601-636-4434 vickswoodcu.com 1967 Jerry Hicks 4 1,431 P.O. Box 820240, Vicksburg, MS 39182 Southern Coastal Federal Credit Union 40 228-432-0284 socofcu.org 1973 Alison Lynd 4 1,504 P.O. Box 503, Biloxi, MS 39533 Vicksburg Railroad Federal Credit Union 41 601-638-3134 vrcums.com 1934 David Bell 3 1,087 P.O. Box 802, Vicksburg, MS 39181 McComb Federal Credit Union 42 601-684-7764 mccombfcu.com 1940 Laura Burris 5 1,802 P.O. Box 456, McComb, MS 39648 Information from the Mississippi Credit Union Association is ranked by total assets as of March 31, 2021. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

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19

Offices

Assets

Offices 39

Assets $3,935,268,921

230

$10,656,068 $472,145,796

141

$10,320,115 $434,076,292

100

$297,266,137 $10,253,972

17

$289,197,809 $9,395,221

16

$255,330,357 $9,071,889

11

$177,983,085 $7,894,018

14

$167,150,519 $6,377,497

13

$161,722,947 $6,356,075

06

$160,607,813 $6,111,801

13

$139,361,904 $6,097,985

14

$125,892,378 $6,035,180

4 0

$108,450,901 $5,285,709

2 1

$101,927,320 $4,655,488

7 2

$94,700,954 $4,583,818

2 1

$73,534,705 $3,646,508

1 1

$65,539,705 $3,448,113

6 0

$58,159,746 $2,991,562

1 1

$53,901,589 $2,432,963

1 1 1 0 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1

$46,265,422 $2,350,432

1

$19,600,918

1

$17,420,576

1

$16,065,749

1

$15,661,867

1

$14,352,281

1

$13,873,006

2

$13,481,730

2

$12,716,357

2

$12,278,441

1

$12,154,869

2

$11,655,267

1

$11,622,297

1

$10,858,566

$33,363,792 $2,312,199 $30,819,260 $1,877,886 $28,444,281 $1,422,828 $27,338,280 $1,245,825 $25,520,854 $1,115,815 $25,029,901 $1,030,985 $24,489,117 $705,164 $23,996,386 $244,927 $21,557,821

TECHNOLOGY 20 n

Mississippi Business Journal

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August 2021 Issue

State has extended broadband service, thanks to COVID grants

BY LYNN LOFTON

High speed internet service continues to grow in usage and importance. Establishing more broadband service in rural areas of the state is a priority with the Public Utilities staff of the Public Service Commission. Executive Director Sally Boty says there’s still a great need for broadband service in Mississippi but things are looking up. The 2020 State Legislature determined that $75 million of federal CARES act funds should go to broadband expansion.

“We’re taking steps to get to expanded service across the state,” Boty said. “It’s very cost intensive. Having the $75 million, which required a match, was leveraged into $150 million.”

Those funds were spent for an additional 5,000 miles of fiber with 20,000 new state households having access to broadband. Boty says more and more are being turned on every day. “We have to get trees trimmed and poles up, and the last step is getting boxes in houses.”

The COVID grant program is over but Boty and staff are looking at other federal grants and partnering with other agencies for more grants.

Nineteen grants were awarded in the state from the COVID program. “We worked with electric power cooperatives and some small water authorities that put up small satellites which work well in rural areas,” Boty said. “In each case we have to

look at the topography of an area to see what works best.”

The majority of entities establishing extended broadband are electric cooperatives with North Mississippi having the most, and the counties of Alcorn, Tippah, Tishemingo and Prentiss leading the way.

“There was not as much participation in the Delta and Southwest Mississippi as we would have liked,” Boty said, “but there will be more funding in the future.”

It was not only homes that received the expanded service but also country stores, schools and medical clinics. There were areas that had no internet service or limited service with high costs. Such services as faster working cash registers and more ability to look at

medical records and use telehealth are now being utilized.

Boty and other staff members visited some of these places. “We did speed tests in some areas and heard stories,” she says.

“We visited a remote school where there has been a lot of frustration but now they’re happy that they can do more internet modules each day.”

Looking ahead, Boty says the agency desperately needs a good mapping system of the state’s broadband system and needs. “Increased broadband is a great economic development driver and opens up so much and is so beneficial to our state.”

TECHNOLOGY 21 n

Mississippi Business Journal

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August 2021 Issue

Innovate Mississippi continues giving startup companies helping hand

BY LYNN LOFTON

Since its inception in 1999, Innovate Mississippi has had many successes. Overall, more than 1,500 companies were helped to raise more than $181 million in private investment. In the past three years alone 43 of its companies raised more than $17.7 million in investor funding “We judge our success by the ability to get Mississippi startups funded and on a path for rapid growth,” said Innovate’s CEO and President Tony Jeff. “Each startup has a great story and it’s impossible to pick just one, but companies such as Lobaki, a virtual reality/augmented reality company in Jackson; Wispr Systems, a drone company in Winona; and Buzzbassado and Glo of Starkville are all companies that are growing and setting up for future funding and development.”

The beginning was during the dot.com era when some prominent Mississippi technology entrepreneurs pushed the state to benchmark how other states were growing technology-based businesses. “This led to working with the legislature and economic developers to produce the Science and Technology Action Plan. The Mississippi Legislature endorsed that plan and some of the same business leaders and academics, including Ambassador John Palmer, Malcolm Porter, Robert Khayat and others, formed the organization as a public/private partnership 501c3 following that model,” Jeff said.

The company was formed as the Mississippi Technology Alliance and changed its name to Innovate Mississippi in 2012.

“Since that time, Innovate Mississippi has developed a lot of new tools and morphed somewhat, but we still have a private sector-led board with representatives from the four research universities, and we still concentrate on helping grow technology and innovation-based startups in Mississippi,” he added.

Asked about challenges and the impact of the pandemic, Jeff explained, “ We’re always struggling to connect resources across the entire state and the lack of a large city just means more work in connecting companies, mentors, prototype shops, accountants, attorneys, etc. that are needed for startups.”

The pandemic caused a brief shutdown of all activity, but after a few months the startup community continued and grew during this time. “The first reason is pretty simple and very much related to the challenge of

having a ‘spread-out’ state; the Mississippi companies involved comfort everyone now has with with helping startups with donaremote connections makes it tions of time or other resources easier to connect across the state,” instead of money.

Jeff said. “The second reason is One method of funding is more complicated, but many Misthe Angel Fund. The South sissippians have a startup as their Mississippi Angel Fund I was side hustle and with the pandemic recently announced to join North many people have had to rethink TONY JEFF Mississippi Angel Fund I and the their priorities in light of changCentral Mississippi Angel Fund I, es at their primary jobs. Those both of which are now indepenchanges have caused some folks to jump full dent member-managed funds supporting time into their passion projects leading to entrepreneurs inside and outside their parts more startups and more highly-qualified of the state. people willing to try a startup.”

The South Mississippi Angel Fund I is Director of Business Development and now gathering investors to invest in earMarketing Janet Parker says there is no ly-stage companies and grow the entreprecharge for Mississippi entrepreneurs to neurial ecosystem, targeting it to be a $1 work with Innovate and securities laws million fund. Individual member investors make it nearly impossible for the entity to can also put additional capital into startups take a percentage of funding. “So we rely on that the Fund supports. That additional grant funding like most economic develop- investment will often double or triple the ment agencies. A lot of our work is connect- investment impact of these member-maning investors to startups and that money aged funds. flows directly between those two; we are The Securities and Exchange Commisjust the matchmaker. When the entrepresion requires that only accredited investors neurs succeed, everyone wins.” participate in angel funds such as the South Innovate Mississippi is currently funded Mississippi Angel Fund. So, Innovate Mis25 percent by state appropriations, 50 sissippi is working through the leadership percent by private donations and 25 percent group and the Mississippi Angel Investor through federal grants which fluctuate year- Network to find other accredited investors to-year. There’s an ongoing effort to get in the region. The Fund will likely begin

inviting entrepreneur pitches early in 2022.

“This is a great opportunity for Hattiesburg and the Gulf Coast, where we see a lot of technology and high-growth startups forming,” said Dave Dennis, a founding member of the Fund and president of Specialty Contractors & Associates in Gulfport.

“From polymers in Hattiesburg to blue tech on the Coast and space travel around Stennis Space Center, we’ve got a lot of great ideas we can help get off the ground in South Mississippi.”

The Entrepreneur in Residence Program is another success story for Innovate Mississippi. “We’ve always had a large mentor program with individuals who give of their time to provide coaching and other support to our companies in specialized areas,” Jeff said. “The Entrepreneur-in-Residence Program was envisioned to add even more value to the Mentor program by inviting a cashed-out startup entrepreneur to set up an office at Innovate and meet with companies on a regular basis, providing real-life experience from someone who has ‘been there’ and can understand the struggles a startup goes through.”

The first person in this role was Rich Sun of Mississippi Codeworks. The current Entrepreneur-in-Residence is Bruce Deer, former President and CEO of SkyTel.

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August 2021 Issue

Internet Service Providers Internet Service Providers Internet Service Providers Internet Service Providers Rank Rank

Company Company

Address Address

Phone Phone

Website Website

1 1

AT&T Mississippi AT&T Mississippi

209 E. Capitol, Jackson, MS 39201 209 E. Capitol, Jackson, MS 39201

601-592-6580 601-592-6580

att.com/local/mississippi att.com/local/mississippi

Services Offered Services Offered

Mississippi Employees Mississippi Employees

Entertainment, video, broadband internet, and voice 2,000 services – mobile and broadband fixed.

Entertainment, video, internet, and voice 2,000 services – mobile and fixed.

High speed interenet; cable tv; Internet phone service; inComcast Mississippi 2 5915 I-55 N., Jackson, MS 39213 601-982-0922 comcast.com 1,000 homespeed wifi; business High interenet;services cable tv; Internet phone service; inComcast Mississippi 2 5915 I-55 N., Jackson, MS 39213 601-982-0922 comcast.com 1,000 home wifi; business services MaxxSouth Broadband 3 105 Allison Cove, Oxford, MS 38655 662-720-4410 maxxsouth.com Cable TV; high-speed Internet; digital phone 250 MaxxSouth Broadband 3 105 Allison Cove, Oxford, MS 38655 662-720-4410 maxxsouth.com Cable TV; high-speed Internet; digital phone 250 1018 Highland Colony Pkwy., Ste. 500, Commercial and residential broadband internet access, live C Spire Home Services 4 855-438-1009 cspire.com/home 200 Ridgeland, MS Colony 39157 Pkwy., Ste. 500, streaming TV, digital home phone and smart WiFi services.

1018 Highland Commercial and residential broadband internet access, live C Spire Home Services 4 855-438-1009 cspire.com/home 200 Ridgeland, MS 39157 streaming TV, digital home phone and smartwith WiFiGig services.

Residential & Business high-speed internet speeds, advanced WiFi high-speed solutions, cable andwith phone Residential & Business internet Gigservice.

786 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Biloxi, Sparklight 5 877-692-2253 sparklight.com MS offices: Batesville, Biloxi, Clarksdale, Cleveland, 198 speeds, advanced WiFi solutions, cable and phone service.

MS 39530 786 Dr Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Biloxi, Columbus, Long Beach, McComb, Sparklight 5 877-692-2253 sparklight.com MS offices: Grenada, Batesville,Gulfport, Biloxi, Clarksdale, Cleveland, 198 MS 39530 Natchez, Pascagoula.

Columbus, Grenada, Gulfport, Long Beach, McComb, Natchez, Pascagoula.

Serving business customers with IP Voice Services, Fast TEC 6 700 S. West St., Jackson, MS 39201 601-353-9118 tec.com Fiber Internet, network management alongServices, with 135 Serving business customers with IP Voice Fast personalized service.

TEC 6 700 S. West St., Jackson, MS 39201 601-353-9118 tec.com Fiber Internet,customer network management along with 135 personalizedInternet, customer service.IT, Cloud, and Network Telephone, Managed Netlink Voice 7 400 Liberty Park Ct., Flowood, MS 39232 601-707-9000 netlinkvoice.com 50 EngineeringInternet, Managed IT, Cloud, and Network Telephone, Netlink Voice 7 400 Liberty Park Ct., Flowood, MS 39232 601-707-9000 netlinkvoice.com 50 Engineering 1510 N. State St, Suite 400, Jackson, MS Fuse.Cloud 8 601-926-6000 fuse.cloud VoIP, Fiber Internet and Managed IT Services 26 39201 1510 N. State St, Suite 400, Jackson, MS Fuse.Cloud 8 601-926-6000 fuse.cloud VoIP, Fiber Internet and Managed IT Services 26 39201 Business Internet Solutions, VoIP Hosted Voice Services & 601 N. Deer Creek Dr. E., Leland, MS Network Security.

Products include Fiber, Voice Fixed Wireless, Business Internet Solutions, VoIP Hosted Services & TecInfo Communications, LLC 9 800-863-5415 tecinfo.net 20 38756 Broadband, Voice Products Lines, Hosted PBX, Managed Cyber601 N. Deer Creek Dr. E., Leland, MS Network Security. include Fiber, Fixed Wireless, TecInfo Communications, LLC 9 800-863-5415 tecinfo.net 20 Security and Co-Location 38756 Broadband, Voice Lines, Hosted PBX, Managed CyberSecurity and Co-Location 1900 Dunbarton Dr. Suite E, Jackson, Internet Access, Email Hosting, Network Security, Metro Network Solutions, Inc. 10 601-366-6630 metronetworksolutions.com 10 MS 39216 Telephone Service, Data Network.

1900 Dunbarton Dr. Suite E, Jackson, Internet Access, Email Hosting, Network Security, Metro Network Solutions, Inc. 10 601-366-6630 metronetworksolutions.com 10 MS 39216 Telephone Service, Data Network.

Fixed Wireless Internet, DSL broadband Internet; T-1; web hosting; dial-up Internet, Internet; DSL computer repair;Internet; businessT-1; web Fixed Wireless broadband Dixie Net Communications, Inc. 11 P.O. Box 28, Ripley, MS 38663 662-993 2000 dixie-net.com 8 services;dial-up telephone services; VoIP repair; phone business services; hosting; Internet; computer Dixie Net Communications, Inc. 11 P.O. Box 28, Ripley, MS 38663 662-993 2000 dixie-net.com 8 telephonetelephone systems services; VoIP phone services; services; telephone systems Complete Computers 12 119 Public Square, Batesville, MS 38606 662-563-0806 completecomputers.cc Fixed Wireless Broadband, VOIP, Networking 7 Complete Computers 12 119 Public Square, Batesville, MS 38606 662-563-0806 completecomputers.cc Fixed Wireless Broadband, VOIP, Networking 7 Internet Doorway, Inc. Business Internet, Colocation, Virtualization and IT service 13 812 N. State St, Jackson, MS 39202 601-969-1434 netdoor.com 5 (Netdoor) Consulting.

Internet Doorway, Inc. Business Internet, Colocation, Virtualization and IT service 13 812 N. State St, Jackson, MS 39202 601-969-1434 netdoor.com 5 (Netdoor) List is ranked

by Mississippi employees. Information was provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Direct Consulting. questions to Frank Brown at frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

List is ranked by Mississippi employees. Information was provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Direct questions to Frank Brown at frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

C Spire, Bark partner to make internet a safer place for families, children C Spire Wireless is partnering with Atlanta-based online safety company Bark to roll out free parental controls to protect the children and families of its nearly 1 million mobile communications consumers in Mississippi from mounting online threats.

The wireless services division of the Mississippi-based diversified telecommunications and technology services firm is working with Bark Technologies to provide their award-winning service to help families manage and protect their children’s digital lives. Customers can also take advantage of a paid premium service that monitors 30+ of the most popular apps for signs of issues like cyberbullying, suicidal ideation, online predators, threats of violence and more.

Since launching in 2015, Bark has used its innovative and industry-leading software service to protect more than 5.6 million children across the country. To date, Bark has

detected 262,000 severe self-harm situations and flagged more than 2.1 million severe bullying instances by monitoring social media platforms, apps, text messages, and emails. In addition, the company’s screen time management and web filtering tools help parents set healthy limits around how and when children use their mobile devices. Bark also works with local and national law enforcement to escalate cases of online predation and alert authorities of credible school shooting threats.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent switch to virtual and remote learning heightened awareness of the perils of online dangers for children. “Parents and families are clamoring for a comprehensive solution to pornography, online predators, cyberbullying,” said C Spire President and CEO Hu Meena.

“While there are many options for parental controls, C Spire chose Bark because it offers

meaningful, real-time protection,” Meena said. “When it comes to protecting our children from online threats, it’s imperative that their use of social media platforms is monitored and managed, and Bark is an essential tool for parenting in the digital age.”

Bark Jr, the free tool being offered, requires enrollment and is an entry-level product for postpaid and prepaid wireless consumers designed for families and younger children. Bark Jr helps families manage screen time, filter websites and get location check-ins. Meena said C Spire also is offering the premium service to postpaid customers at a discounted $10 per month.

Last year, Bark published a case study that analyzed over 2.1 billion texts, emails, and 30+ apps and social media platforms. In it, Bark found high percentages of tweens (children ages 8-12) and teenagers exposed to violence, mental health threats, online bul-

lying, drugs and alcohol, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and sexual content.

The report found that 88.5 percent of pre-teens and and 94.1 percent of teenagers expressed or experienced violent subject matter online; 45.5 percent of pre-teens and 66.3 percent of teens engaged in conversations about depression; 76.7 percent of pre-teens and 82 percent of teens experienced online bullying either as a bully, victim or witness; 78 percent of pre-teens and 91.1 percent of teens engaged in conversations about drugs and alcohol and 70.9 percent of pre-teens and 87.9 percent of teens encountered nudity and sexual content online.

“We’re excited to work with C Spire to give families tools they need to help keep their children safe while balancing that with children’s need for privacy,” said Bark CEO Brian Bason.

August 2021 Issue

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JUSTIN CHANCELLOR

RJ Young

J

ustin Chancellor is a regional Vice President for RJ Young in Jackson.

As the regional vice president of the West region at RJ Young, he is responsible for overseeing a total of 90 team members.

In this role, he is responsible for all operational and financial operations of a twostate territory of Mississippi and Louisiana, as well as managing five branches and eight managers directly reporting to me.

Chancellor has been with RJ Young ever since he graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2008. He started as a sales rep

in 2008 and was promoted to territory rep and then major account rep. Following that, he was promoted to sales manager of the Hattiesburg location in 2015 and then to the branch manager of the Jackson location. He was promoted to regional business manager in 2019 before being promoted to the current role of regional vice president of the company’s west region.

Outside of work, the thing Chancellor enjoys spending time with his wife and kids.

DAVID DALTON

Hunter Engineering

D

avid Dalton is in Operations Management at Hunter Engineering Company.

Dalton is an accomplished operations leader with experience managing manufacturing operations and P&L oversight. He has had success growing and improving performance with startup and established units.

Dalton has a strong background with lean manufacturing implementation, manufacturing production scheduling, inventory and materials management, project management, plant consolidation, budgeting, and capital improvement.

He is a graduate of Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.

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August 2021 Issue

BRIAN DAVIS

Magnolia Regional Health Center

B

rian Davis is a transformational Chief Information Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. He is highly motivated with more than 19 years of information technology experience, 12 years focusing solely on healthcare.

Davis is skilled in the technical and project management aspects of information technology, which has led to a demonstrated history of developing disruptive and innovative solutions to address complex issues within the healthcare environment.

A proven leader, Davis is responsible for the overall leadership in every IT and cybersecurity initiative, blending experience of optimizing processes and systems, with management expertise in mentoring and coaching staff, to develop a culture of collaboration, team-building and trust.

Davis holds a Master of Science Information Technology Management focused in Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management from Western Governors University.

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BILL FORD

Assured Revenue Corp

D

uring his 30 year career, Bill Ford has developed, grown, and sold multiple companies within the tech, and specifically software development, sectors. He is a life-long Mississippian. Currently, he works with software development teams to design and prioritize software needs, and maintain relationships with channel and integration partners.

Ford manages companies that create software management solutions for

business. They build scalable software that aggregates data, and provides billing solutions and system integration services between separate systems.

Assured Revenue is the providers of the DoorSwap billing and property management system. DoorSwap is a fully hosted SAAS web-based property management solution for self storage, residential, and commercial property management companies.

MARLA GAMZE

Kaltija

M

arla Gamze serves as the lead on the project and oversees the design, production, writing, direction, and editing of the film, as well as coordinate through Indigenous contacts the academic and activist aspects. She specializes in marketing communications, providing a variety of imaging platforms for nonprofit, arts, corporate, institutional and business organizations and creating photographic, marketing and video presentations.

Gamze has worked for organizations such AS Global Arthroscopy Foundation, teaching orthopedic surgeons from non-U.S. nations about cutting-edge

arthroscopic surgical strategies; Royal Institute for Deaf and Blind Children, Sydney, Australia, providing education options and approaches to children and their families; Sigma Chi International Fraternity; Turning Point, a domestic violence agency; Lakeside Legacy Arts Park; Ricky Byrdsong Foundation, dedicated to arresting the growing epidemic of hate and violence in our society by and against youth; and Pioneer Center for Human Resources.

Gamze is the CEO and Managing partner of Kaltija

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August 2021 Issue

GAVIN GUYNES

Madison County Schools

D

uring these unprecedented times, technology is being used more than ever, especially in education.

Gavin Guynes serves as the Technology Director for Madison County Schools, and his leadership has made education easier for everyone. Madison County Schools has successfully provided technology to every child in the district to

take-home, including providing hotspots to students in need.

His team consists of 18 members serving 23 schools and 20,000 students and staff. This is astonishing. He is constantly evaluating and reevaluating his department to make sure the district is prepared for any situation.

KEN IVEY

TechSource Solutions

K

en Ivey president of TechSource Solution and is responsible for the business administration, sales, and application development divisions for TechSource.

Ivey was a founding partner of RightWay Technology prior to Techsource’s inception. He previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Knobias, Inc. beginning in June 2007 and served as the company’s Chief Information Officer from

1999 to June 2007.

Ivey was responsible for the design and implementation of all IT technical aspects of Knobias’ operations and product lines.

Prior to Knobias, Ivey served as Manager of Network Support at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for six years.

He graduated with a Masters of Engineering Science in Computer Science degree and a B.A. degree from the University of Mississippi.

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JOEL LAWHEAD

NVision Solutions, Inc.

J

oel Lawhead is a PMI-certified Project Management Professional, Geographic Information System Professional, and the Chief Information Officer for NVision Solutions Inc., an award-winning Geospatial Engineering firm specializing in geospatial technology integration and sensor engineering. He is one of the original founding members of NVision and was critical in building NVision from a concept to a very successful reality.

He is the author of “Learning Geospatial Analysis with Python” and the “QGIS Python Programming Cook-

book”. He is also the developer of the open-source Python Shapefile Library and maintains the geospatial technical blog GeospatialPython.com and Twitter feed @SpatialPython discussing the use of the Python programming language within the geospatial industry.

He is certified at the Professional Development Series level in the US Dept. of Homeland Security Incident Command System and consult Emergency Operations Centers nationwide in best practices and geospatial standards for emergency management and continuity of operations.

CHRIS MAGGIO

Mississippi College

D

r. Chris Maggio has led the development of Mississippi College’s new electrical engineering department and successfully navigated full, international program accreditation this past academic year.

This high-demand field will serve as the cornerstone of MC’s growing engineering programming. Electrical engineering is essential to a wide variety of high tech industries such as national security, energy, electronic devices (including smartphones), and electric vehicles.

Maggio earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering at the University of Mississippi in 200, followed by a MS in electrical engineering from Mississippi State in 2001 and an MS in Physics at Ole Miss in 2005. He earned is Ph.D in Physics from Ole Miss in 2007.

When asked, what advice he would give other individuals who want to make a difference, Maggio responded with,Always seek wise counsel, and deal with problems one at a time. As one of my students often says, “deal with the gator closest to the boat”.

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August 2021 Issue

DANNY MERCHANT

Camgian Microsystems

D

anny Merchant joined Camgian in 2009.

Beginning the first day he has been a key element in making our company a success. He helped in the negotiation of the hiring of 15 employees from another company that was closing their doors. This saved jobs in the Starkville area as well as brought a

level of technical experience that was not prevalent in the company.

Merchant’s years of leadership in the company both in a Vice President role and now the Chief Technical Officer has pushed the Camgian engineers to new levels of learning and the company to higher levels of accomplishments.

WILLIAM MILLER

Daniel Coker Horton and Bell

W

illiam Miller is the Director of Information Technology for Daniel Coker Horton and Bell.

He oversees the IT operations for Daniel Coker in all of the Mississippi offices, which includes Jackson, Oxford and Gulfport.

Miller is a resident of Brandon and is a Mississippi native. He is the blessed father of two young girls, Gabrielle and Lauren, and husband to Shelia. Miller is a Graduate of Jackson State University with a degree in Computer Science and he also attended two Air Force Community Colleges, with certifications in

Interior/Exterior Electrical Systems and Computer Systems.

He is a formal Member of the Air National Guard, 172nd Airlift Wing and Air Force Achievement Medal recipient.

William has worked in the field of Network Technology for over two decades in various capacities.

Miller is a member of International Lega Technology Association, Infragard, and Association Of Information Technology Professionals, but he says his proudest membership is to Christian Fellowship M.B Church where he serves as Deacon, Trustee and Youth Leader.

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BRYAN O’NEILL

Babel Street

A

s Vice President of Technical Operations, Bryan O’Neill is responsible for carrying out the technical vision for Babel Street and overseeing technological development in Agile practices, software delivery, and program management.

He has previously worked at American Health Tech, International Paper, Lowes Companies Inc., GMAC, Anheuser-Busch Inc., CB Business Systems and Cortex Computer Systems.

O’Neill is a 1991 graduate of the University of Glasgow in Scotland in computer Sci-

ence and then earned is MBA at Mississippi State University in 2011.

In describing his most significant accomplishment, O’Neill says he is most proud of leading a team of developers in a multi-million dollar development and implementation of a solution that was used to ship 60 percent of the beer consumed in the United States. This project presented numerous challenges with new bleeding edge technologies, distributed teams and the critical nature of the solution.

BOBBY RAPPAI

– Camgian Microsystems

B

obby Rappai leads the software development team for Camgian that develops innovative products for the Defense and Financial industries.

The products use cutting-edge open source technologies in software design, development, testing, and deployment.

Camgian leverages Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Deep Learning concepts and advanced sensor technologies to collect and process data at the Edge and Cloud layers.

Previously, Rappai worked in various roles at Verizon leading a large cross

platform and global IT group dealing with development and deployment of software applications in the field of call collection, mediation, reporting, proactive notification, securing of customer sensitive data, billing of digital content, and big data analytics.

Rappai earned his Bachelor’s in Engineering, Electronics and Communication from Birla Institute of Technology in Ranchi, India, followed an MBA and Masters in Computer Science from Mississippi College.

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August 2021 Issue

MATT ROSE

VM Squared

M

att Rose entered the information technology business in 2002, when he was heavily involved in satellite communications. Before founding VM Squared, he provided technical consulting support to government agencies in MS and to Fortune 500 companies such as 3M and Best Buy. Rose currently sits on the advisory board of the Information Technology Services program at Mississippi State University.

VM Squared is an IT company specializing in Advanced Cyber Security and Business Continuity for Manufacturing,

Financial, Transportation, and Government entities. The company assists with analysis and development of strategies to maintain proper cyber security controls wit in the ever-changing threat landscape to ensure continuity of business and build resilience to cyber threats. VM Squared has a network of IT Partners that we support with advanced cyber resilience from our Cyber Resilience Center to vulnerability testing, penetration testing, Cyber Security Awareness Training, Advanced IT Staff Training, Cyber Forensics, Research and remediation services. The company has locations in West Point and Iuka.

KATE ROSSON

662 Marketing

K

ate Rosson is the CEO of 662 Marketing in Oxford.

She is a highly skilled communications and marketing professional, richly experienced in all types of marketing projects, specifically executive brand strategy and implementation. Rosson brings high level of strategy, combined with the practical, cost-protective approach of an entrepreneur.

She has impeccable interpersonal skills matched with a practical, innovative, efficient, analytical and deadline-conscious

approach to work. Her varied success demonstrates tremendous adaptability and successful planning, analysis.

Rosson, a 2003 graduate of the University of Mississippi with a BA in Journalism and a 2005 Master’s in Leadership and Counselor Education at Ole Miss, has been the CEO of 662 marketing since 2017. She also run several other companies as online resources connecting Parents of Ole Miss, Mississippi State and University of Georgia students with local resources and information on the next 4, 5 or 6 years of their lives.

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GRACE STURDIVANT

OtoPro Technologies

G

race Sturdivant is the owner of OtoPro Technologies in Ridgeland.

At OtoPro, Sturdivant works with ongoing research and communication with manufacturers about new hearing protection technology.

She helps with developing marketing materials, lectures, and presentations on hearing loss and protection options.

Sturdivant works with marketing to at-risk individuals, shooting ranges, clubs, organizations and businesses.

She manages a growing client portfolio with on-call services. She also manages patient referrals to audiology clinics for full diagnostic testing and treatment of hearing loss. Sturdivant negotiates and deals with ordering, shipping and receiving of products.

She is 2006 graduate of the University of Mississippi in Communicative Sciences and then earned a Doctorate in Audiology from Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2011.

NASHLIE SEPHUS

The Bean Path

The Bean Path is a 501©(3) non-profit organization based in Jackson and was founded by Dr. Nashlie Sephus. Their mission is to sow technical expertise in order to grow networks and fertilize communities.

They provide technical advice and guidance to individuals and small businesses in the community.

Dr. Sephus is a native of Jackson and a 2003 graduate of Murrah High School/ Power Academic and Performing Arts Complex (APAC). She received her PhD from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of

Technology in 2014.

In addition to running Bean Path in Jackson, she works as the Applied Science manager for Amazon’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) initiative, focusing on fairness and identifying biases in the technologies.

She formerly led the Amazon Visual Search team in Atlanta, which launched visual search for replacement parts on the Amazon Shopping app in June 2018. This technology was a result of former startup Partpic (Atlanta) being acquired by Amazon, for which she was the Chief Technology Officer (CTO).

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August 2021 Issue

JIMMY THOMAS

AGJ Systems & Networks

J

immy Thomas is the lead lead Network and VoIP Technician and senior system engineer for AGJ Systems and Networks in Gulfport. Thomas has been at AGJ since 2005.

AGJ Systems & Networks, Inc., small business and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the business.

AGJ, a Veteran-owned business, started out 20 years ago in a 100-square-foot office at founder Brian Alford’s house

before occupying a 400-square-foot office space at the Gulf Coast Business Technology Center.

AGJ currently has more than 2,400 active clients that are both managed and unmanaged.

AGJ has received numerous awards and recognition at the local, state and national levels and has quickly grown to be one of the largest information technology companies on the Mississippi Coast.

Thomas is a graduate of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

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TRENT TOWNSEND

Next Step Innovation

SENTER TRANSIT MIX DIVISION OF CONCRETE INDUSTRIES, INC. 401 Elizabeth St., • Tupelo, MS

662-842-7305

T

rent Townsend is the CEO for Next Step Innovation Next Step specializes in technology acquisition, information assurance, virtualization, networks and VoIP services for small businesses, K-12, higher education, state/local government and the federal government/Department of Defense.

Townsend leads his team well as Next Step has grown to almost 50 employees.

He started the company from the ground

up in 2009 and has grown the business in so many ways. His leadership is a priceless attribute to everyone in the company.

NSI has implemented a diverse engineering and sales team to expand our territories to reach diverse customers.

Townsend has welcomed all employee feedback and made changes to support our NSI team to grow with the high demand of technology changes and security implementation.

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August 2021 Issue

ANNA WAN

University of Southern Mississippi

A

nna Wan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Southern Mississippi. She teaches mathematics courses for future teachers and directs Eagle Maker Hub – a university Makerspace.

Eagle Maker Hub grew out of her passion for research in integration of Making in content area classrooms – specifically mathematics. Currently, Eagle Maker Hub serves students at the University of South-

ern Mississippi and the community as well.

At makerspace, USM’s education students have unique opportunities to experience technology integration in the classroom and participate in authentic research. She encourages community engagement through open classes and individual or group prototyping consultations.

Wan earned a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Channel Islands and then her PhD from Auburn University.

The oldest and largest foundation in Mississippi.

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LISA WIGINGTON

TEC

L

isa Wigington is Vice President of Strategic Operations for TEC. Wigington holds a Bachelor and a Master of Professional Accountancy from Mississippi State University and worked in public accounting for the regional firm Whitaker, Lipp and Healea for four years before moving to the telecommunications industry. Wigington is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Certification as a Project Management Professional.

She has been employed with TEC for 27 years, first in the financial department and currently in operations, creating

models for new products and product lines, construction budgets and grant applications and managing the initiation, planning and execution of those construction projects.

From 2018 thru present Wigington has written fifteen federal and state broadband grants and has been awarded over $15 million dollars in funding.

In 2020, Wigington participated on behalf of TEC in the FCC RDOF auction and secured over $42 million in funding to build an approximately $96 million fiber expansion and has been tasked with managing all strategic expansion for TEC.

Internet + VoIP for any business

TEC.c TEC.com @TECconnects @TEC

Congratulations to

Lisa Wigington

on being selected as a 2021 Top In Tech honoree!

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August 2021 Issue

STEPHEN WRIGHTON

Software Consulting Service

S

tephen Wrighton is the Chief Information Officer for SCS, LLC. As CIO, Wrighton is responsible for managing and directing development efforts and concerns both internally for SCS as well as externally for our clients. Stephen oversees all development related project engagements as well as the software support team. He also directs the organization in regards to the tools, patterns, practices and maintains soft-

ware projects.

After graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Information Systems, Wrighton built and designed custom software solutions for government, military, industry and business concerns such as the Space and Naval Warfare Center and Saks, Incorporated.

He joined SCS in 2008 and continues the practice of designing and building custom software solutions for numerous industries and clients.

Bank of America is proud to support Next Step Innovation. Congratulations to Trent Townsend on your well-deserved recognition.

Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. ©2021 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved. GBAM-380-AD 3600735

August 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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