The Mississippi Business Journal articles from June 2006

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from June 2006

USA IBC takes center stage.(USA International Ballet Competition)
June 5, 2006... JACKSON -- From June 17 to July 2, the dance world's eyes will focus on Mississippi, when the eighth USA International Ballet Competition (IBC) takes center stage in Thalia Mara Hall. Held every four years in Jackson, the USA IBC is the...

Showdown heats up for Second District primary.
June 5, 2006... Depending on where one is in the Second Congressional District depends on what issue or issues heads a list of concerns by potential voters for the June 6 primary. But some issues are clear. The district has lost thousands of...

Bailey, Mattiace partner for high-end Renaissance.
June 5, 2006... RIDGELAND -- The push north continues with a new retail/office development on the Highland Colony Parkway that developers say fits today's lifestyle. Renaissance at Colony Park is a 650,000-square-foot, open-air "lifestyle center" with a...

Tunica County enters the mega-site competition.
June 5, 2006... After making its mark as the nation's third-largest gaming destination, Tunica County is heading in a new direction. Tunica County leaders recently unveiled a certified 2,221-acre Metro Mega Site in Northwest Mississippi, 30 minutes south...

Healthcare coverage choices: pay now or pay later.(As I See It)
June 5, 2006... I write a lot about healthcare costs and get a lot of reader feedback on those columns. So, in my continuing pursuit of relevance, I'll do it again. Several instances of dealing, or failing to deal, with the reality of healthcare cost have...

Cheap entertainment.(Musings)
June 5, 2006... We have found a new form of cheap entertainment. We spend our weekends perusing the real estate section of the paper and checking the MLS site. On Sunday afternoons, with Mapquest directions in hand, we drive around looking for possible...

Mayor Melton, you cannot be serious.(Across the Desk)
June 5, 2006... "... go to hell." That's a colorful quote from Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, isn't it? The tough-on-crime crowd is excited because the Capital City's my-way-or-the-highway CEO has taken such a high-profile approach to his job--shotguns, gold...

Renasant Bank.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... Bettie Byrd was elected assistant cashier and bank operations officer at Renasant Bank. Byrd has 29 years of banking operations experience, including operations supervision, personal banking, proof operation and bookkeeping supervision. David...

Delta State University.(appointment of Ann Giger in Delta State University Foundation)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Ann Giger, administrative secretary in the Delta State University Foundation, has been named Employee of the Month for April. Giger and her husband Dennis moved to Cleveland in 1987 to complete their college educations. She joined the Delta...

Mississippi Children's Museum.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... John W. Jordan, Ed.D., of Madison was chosen as the first executive director of the Mississippi Children's Museum, a project of the Junior League of Jackson. Jordan served as superintendent of schools in Oxford for eight years prior to assuming...

Church, DeVoe & Associates, PLLC, Certified Public Accountants, Consultants, and Advisors.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... Robert D. Church Jr. of Church, DeVoe & Associates, PLLC, Certified Public Accountants, Consultants, and Advisors has been appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour to a four-year term with Mississippi's State Advisory Group for Juvenile Justice. Church...

Area Development Partnership (ADP).(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... The ADP has hired Ron Tharp research manager and Curnis Upkins comes to the ADP as the assistant vice president of economic development. Tharp completed his master's of science in economic development from the University of Southern Mississippi...

Horseshoe Casino and Hotel Tunica.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... This fall, Dillon Bryan will begin college courses at the University of Mississippi thanks in part to a scholarship from the Phil and Jennifer Satre Harrah's Employee Scholarship Fund. Each recipient has a parent who has worked for a Harrah's...

GodwinGroup.(new appointments)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Lauren Mozingo was promoted to senior account executive at GodwinGroup. Mozingo joined GodwinGroup in 1998. She earned a bachelor's degree from Millsaps College and a master's in communication from the University of Alabama. Meredith Cleland...

Stennis Space Center.(awards for Mary Jones and Carol Nichols )(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Mary Jones and Carol Nichols recently received the Armed Forces Civilian Service Award in a ceremony held at Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command at Stennis Space Center. After Hurricane Katrina, they were appointed as Command Marshalls...

Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS).(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... The MDHS Office for Children and Youth (OCY) recently recognized Ommie R. Ashford as the 2006 Child Care Provider of the Year. Ashford, director/owner of the I Can Child Care Learning Center in Weir, was nominated by Golden Triangle Planning...

Hudson Capital Partners, LLC.(new appointment)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Susan Currie Roberts has been named director of administration for Hudson Capital Partners, LLC, an asset management firm in Ridgeland. Roberts has over 20 years experience in retail She worked in the camera industry for over 17 years winning...

Stirling Properties.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... Marty Mayer, president and CEO of Stirling Properties will serve as the Louisiana State Director for the International Conference of Shopping Centers (ICSC) for 2006-2007.

Regions Bank.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... Michele Kimball Jack of Jackson has been promoted to vice president and associate relations consultant supporting Mississippi and the Memphis banks. A native of Greenwood, Jack began her career with Regions Bank in 1993 as regional human...

Weyerhaeuser Company.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... Ell Townsend has been named site manager for Weyerhaeuser Company's Jackson containerboard packaging operation. Townsend comes to the Jackson operation from Weyerhaeuser's packaging operation in Tampa, Fla. Previously, he worked with...

Cadence Bank.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... The following Cadence Bank employees recently received promotions. Kirk Hardy of Columbus was promoted to senior vice president. He currently serves as a trust officer and employee benefit manager for the Cadence trust and financial management...

Mississippi Auctioneers Association.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... The Mississippi Auctioneers Association welcomes William Leonard Head to the 2006 newly elected board as president. Head will take over the position, previously held by Jim Durham, whom he worked closely with as vice president. Head recently...

MetroJackson Chamber.(new appointments)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... Nicole M. McNamee has been promoted to executive assistant of Metro Jackson Economic Development Alliance for the Metro Jackson Chamber. McNamee has been with the chamber for five years and was previously the administrative assistant for the...

United Way of Southeast Mississippi.(People to Watch)
June 5, 2006... Those selected to serve on the board for United Way of Southeast Mississippi are: Gail Atkinson; Lamar Evans, Greater Hattiesburg Home Builders Association; Rucker Howell, Grand Bank; Stephanie Hoze, Hattiesburg Public Schools; Pare Peterman,...

Mega-merger creates top 10 bank holding company.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- Regions Financial Corp. and AmSouth Bancorporation have agreed to merge, forming one of the top 10 bank holding companies in the United States. The new company will have almost $140 billion in assets, hold nearly $100...

Viking building new plant.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... GREENWOOD -- Viking Range Corporation has broken ground on a new dishwasher manufacturing facility adjacent to its Distribution Center on U.S. 82 West. The new facility is projected to increase the number of Viking employees by as many as 200...

Isle proposing new casino.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... BILOXI -- Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. has made public plans to pursue the development of a casino resort in West Harrison County. The details and cost of the project were not disclosed. Isle has begun the preliminary approval process and has...

D&PL buys Syngenta assets.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... SCOTT -- Delta and Pine Land Company (D&PL) has acquired Syngenta's global cottonseed business comprised of operations and assets in India, Brazil, Europe and certain cotton germplasm in the United States. Terms were not disclosed. The...

AG publishes anti-violence guide.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... JACKSON -- Attorney General Jim Hood has unveiled the launch of a new initiative to prevent workplace violence. He is joined in the effort by Blake Wilson, president of the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC), and Jay Moon, president of the...

Punches, Patty elevated on board.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... NATCHEZ -- The board of directors of Britton & Koontz Capital Corporation (B&K Capital) has elected Robert R. Punches as chairman. Punches, 56, a board member since 1984, has served as vice chairman and has chaired the executive committee of...

SupportDesk 9 released.(NetworkStreaming's next-generation software, SupportDesk 9 product information)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... RIDGELAND -- NetworkStreaming's next-generation software, SupportDesk 9, is now generally available. Unveiled at the 2006 DEMO Conference in February, the latest version of SupportDesk includes new and enhanced features to enable...

M&F completes conversion.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... KOSCIUSKO -- First M&F Corporation and M&F Bank have completed the conversion of newly acquired Bells Banking Company's core operating system to M&F Bank's core system. M&F previously announced the completion of the mergers with Bells...

Design-build underway.(Mississippi Department of Transportation)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... MADISON and JACKSON -- The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has awarded Key, LLC, and Williford, Gearhart and Knight Inc. Engineers and Surveyors (WGK) a design-build project for the replacement of two bridges in Scott County...

Myriad selling shares.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... TUNICA -- Myriad Entertainment & Resorts Inc., a Delaware corporation, has entered into an investment agreement with Dutchess Private Equities Fund, LP, a Delaware limited partnership whereby Dutchess is obligated to purchase up to $20 million...

Wyatt expands.(eapansion of law firms)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... JACKSON -- The Louisville, Ky.-based law firm of Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs, LLP, has unveiled plans for a significant expansion, both geographically and in enhanced practice areas. The expansion includes offices in Jackson, Memphis and Ft....

Court: IOLTA mandatory.(Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... JACKSON -- The Mississippi Supreme Court recently took another step intended to help fund access to justice for the poor when it ordered most private practice attorneys to place certain client and third-party funds into interest-bearing...

Homeowner assistance.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has made available funds to assist qualified homeowners who are behind on payments because of last year's hurricanes. Homeowners who have financed their homes through USDA Rural...

Habitat reaches milestones.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... JACKSON and WAVELAND -- Habitat for Humanity affiliates are celebrating a significant milestone with the building of the 1,000th and 1,001st Habitat homes in Mississippi. "The Habitat affiliates throughout the state have accomplished so...

Irby wins most awards.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... JACKSON -- Stuart C. Irby Co., a division of Sonepar USA, has earned two awards for Best Distributor with sales in excess of $200 million in the Literature/Selling Tools category for its "Building profitable partnerships since 1926" brochure...

Realtor cracks top 25.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... MCCOMB -- According to United Country Real Estate president Lou Francis, United Country-Gibson Realty of McComb holds the number 25 nationwide ranking among all 545 offices coast-to-coast through the first quarter of 2006. The office has...

Banks merging.(Strictly Business)
June 5, 2006... HATTIESBURG and WIGGINS -- The First Bancshares Inc. and First National Bank of Wiggins have signed a definitive agreement under which First National Bank of Wiggins would merge into The First, A National Banking Association, a subsidiary of...

Women driving changes in economic development: field, as a whole, becoming better educated, more professional.
June 5, 2006... The world of economic development is changing as the field becomes better educated and more professional. It's also evolving gender-wise with more women assuming leadership positions in what has traditionally been a man's world. There are...

County records online.(usage of online information services)(Brief article)
June 5, 2006... According to Madison County Chancery Clerk Arthur Johnston, substantial improvements to the county's Web site at www.madison-co.com have been made. Users now have the ability to search, view and print land record filings from the mid-1990s to...

Mississippi events business.(Calendar)
June 5, 2006... Wednesday, June 7 * The Mississippi Society of CPAs and American Institute of CPAs will offer the Spring CPE Cluster at the Hilton Hotel in Jackson. The event will run through June 9, and will offer 14 four-hour CPE programs. The program...

Potential yields, prices boost interest in wheat.(Mississippi Crop Report)
June 5, 2006... STARKVILLE -- The potential for record yields and the opportunity for excellent 2007 crop prices should reverse Mississippi's recent trend of reduced wheat acreage. Steve Martin, agricultural economist with Mississippi State University's...

Business success often built on market research: process shines light in the dark for clients, helps eliminate emotion from decision-making.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)
June 5, 2006... Improving the bottom line for businesses is what market research is all about. The firms that provide this service use a variety of methods to accomplish that goal. Southern Research Group (SRG) of Jackson has been providing research for...

Cost of living a factor, but perhaps not a major one.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007 )
June 5, 2006... The cost of living is a factor in attracting new industry. Certainly all other things being equal, a community with a lower cost of living might have an edge over competitors. But it is likely that a number of other factors rank higher when it...

Manufacturing anticipating new openings, expansions.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)
June 5, 2006... Despite challenges on a global scale, manufacturing remains strong in Mississippi. The governor, Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) and the Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) agree on the positive outlook and expect this year to...

MSAs put cities, counties on larger radar screens.(Metropolitan statistical areas)
June 5, 2006... Metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs--what are they? Where are they? And why do they matter? Using Census Bureau population figures, the federal Office of Management and Budget pulls metropolitan areas together based on a large...

Retail growth in suburban market major trend: that's 'where the action is,' developer says.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)(Interview)
June 5, 2006... Retail growth in suburban markets is the biggest trend in commercial real estate, as evidenced by the recent announcement of a sprawling high-end retail shopping center being built at the corner of Old Agency Road and Highland Colony Parkway in...

Mississippi experiencing robust residential sales: only the rural markets lag behind.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)
June 5, 2006... Residential real estate is selling well in North and Central Mississippi metropolitan markets, while a flurry of new home construction is stirring up dust in South Mississippi, particularly in Hattiesburg and the Gulf Coast. "Obviously,...

Katrina-related spending complicates assessments: structural changes needed if state wants to compete successfully in global economy.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)
June 5, 2006... Long-range planning has never been one of the state's strengths. Mississippians have been slow to sense and respond to the forces of globalization. And now efforts to respond to the changing world economy have been put on the back burner while...

Traffic volumes continue to grow in metro area: commercial, residential development means more vehicles on roads.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)
June 5, 2006... JACKSON -- The metro area remains the state's busiest place, traffic wise. Interstate 55 is again the busiest highway throughout the state with large concentrations in the metro area. The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) tracks...

Ag production looked good in 2005 ... until Katrina, Rita.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)
June 5, 2006... Mississippi's agriculture community perhaps had never been more optimistic than it was at the beginning of 2005. After all, in 2004 in-state ag commodities set an all-time high as prices remained relatively strong across the board. They...

'Hottest jobs' something of a mixed bag in Mississippi.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)
June 5, 2006... Looking at the occupations in the most demand over the next decade in Mississippi, it is readily apparent that the outlook is somewhat of a mixed bag, says a report from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security's Labor Market...

Population centers, largest sales tax producers.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)
June 5, 2006... Jackson continues to dominate with the largest population and largest amount of sales taxes collected in the state. Even though there may be some fluctuations in population for some state cities, the official 2000 Census figures will remain the...

Great public schools incentives for economic development.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)
June 5, 2006... Great public schools are often touted by communities for the positive impact they have on local business activity, as well as attracting new companies. In fact, having a level five--the top ranking--for a school district in Mississippi can be a...

MDA reports new, expanded facilities off pace in 2006.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007)(Mississippi Development Authority)
June 5, 2006... So far, 2006 is not shaping up to be the year 2005 was in terms of new and expanded facilities. In fact, according to numbers from the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), new and bigger facilities are significantly off pace in 2006 when...

Demographic information vital for business recovery.(Focus Market Facts 2006-2007xys)(Brian Richard director of research, Economic Development Resource Center)
June 5, 2006... Trying to get a clear picture on the post-Katrina population on the Mississippi Gulf Coast is a difficult proposition. After the storm, there were only about 2,000 residents left in Waveland, which was home to 7,100 people before the storm. But...

Denbury completes Free State Pipeline.(Enviro/Energy/Gas/Utilities)
June 12, 2006... On May 30, state and local officials as well as executives with Denbury Resources Inc. gathered in Rankin County and later that day in Jones County to celebrate the completion of Denbury's new pipeline. Dubbed the Free State Pipeline, the...

With three-part plan, state set to reap benefits of film industry.
June 12, 2006... Mississippi has a three-phase plan to attract the film industry and the multitude of dollars it brings to the economy. Recognizing this industry as a viable arm of economic development, the state is busy putting this plan into action. ...

Catfish processor launches liquid organic fish fertilizer.
June 12, 2006... ISOLA -- Decision-makers at Consolidated Catfish knew that Native American Indians placed a fish in each hole when planting seeds to feed the plant throughout its life. They also realized that fish was one of the first fertilizers recorded for...

Illegal immigration will persist as long as jobs available.(As I See It)
June 12, 2006... "Secure our borders! Get those illegals out of here!" That sounds pretty simple, doesn't it? Maybe, but maybe not. If you gauge importance by media coverage, then illegal immigration is currently the most important issue facing our...

Second District redux.(Perspective)(Mississippi's Second Congressional District elections)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... Whatever the future holds for Mississippi's Second Congressional District, Bennie Thompson is going to be some part of it for the foreseeable future. The incumbent crushed his main challenger--a connected, well funded state legislator--in...

Frank the Foreclosure Man on way back.(From the Ground Up)
June 12, 2006... Are you several payments behind on your mortgage and not been able to get any more relief from your lender? The next person you see at your door just might be Frank the Foreclosure Man. Do not be surprised to discover that Frank is not from...

Mississippi Business Journal online poll results.(Strategic planning )(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... Mississippi's Essential Source for Business News (601) 364-1000 1-800-283-4625 * Business Journal Menu Home E-Bulletin Archives Subscribe/Renew Book of Lists Internet Directory Staff ...

People Lease.(People to Watch)
June 12, 2006... Paul Bowers of Madison has joined the staff at People Lease Inc. as an account executive. Most recently, he worked with an insurance agency in the Jackson area and has over 20 years of sales experience in the Jackson and Birmingham, Ala.

PriorityOne Bank.(People to Watch)
June 12, 2006... PriorityOne Bank has promoted several officers. Shirley Maddox was promoted to executive vice president and cashier. She most recently served as senior vice president/cashier. Maddox joined the bank in 1975 and served in various branch and...

Regions Bank.(People to Watch)
June 12, 2006... Freddie M. Rowell has been promoted to mortgage production manager. Rowell joined the bank as a mortgage originator in 1998 and has consistently been a top performing loan officer in the Mid-South Region and the corporation. He will continue to...

Gulf Coast Investment Developers Inc.(People to Watch)
June 12, 2006... Harry J. "Tripp" Butler III has joined Biloxi-based Gulf Coast Investment Developers (GCID) and GCID Realty as executive vice president. Butler comes to GCID from Charleston, S.C., where he was a partner and owner in the multi-million-dollar...

Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC).(appointments)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... MHC announced the promotion of JeFreda Brown as a part-time staff accountant in addition to her normal duties as tax credit analyst. Brown joined MHC in 2003 as a tax credit processing specialist. She earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics...

WillStaff Worldwide.(WillStaff Worldwide's new appointment)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... Erica White was recently named WillStaffer of the Year. She was selected from 48 branches in 11 states. White has worked at the V.A. Medical Center in Jackson since 2004 as an accountant. During Katrina, she stayed overnight many nights,...

GodwinGroup.(employees promotions)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... GodwinGroup recently promoted several employees in its Jackson office. Andy Tuccio was promoted to account executive. Tuccio was hired as GodwinGroup's traffic manager in 2003 before being promoted to project account manager. He received a...

Renasant Bank.(People to Watch)
June 12, 2006... The following employees received promotions at Renasant Bank. Patsy Holt Brandon of Saltillo was elected vice president and employee benefits specialist. Brandon has been with Renasant for 31 years. She currently serves as the administrator of...

Delta State University.(works of Norbert Putnam )(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... The Tennessee General Assembly recently honored the career contributions of musician, arranger, producer, engineer, and businessman Norbert Putnam with Senate Joint Resolution 966. Putnam was instrumental in the d2esign and operation of the...

Cadence Bank.(People to Watch)
June 12, 2006... The following employees have been promoted at Cadence Bank. Kim Turner of Eupora was promoted to assistant vice president, assistant controller. Turner joined Cadence in 2001 and manages the accounts payable area for Cadence's accounting...

University of Southern Mississippi.(People to Watch)
June 12, 2006... Dr. Diane J. Fisher recently received the Mississippi Business Education Association Senior College/University Business Educator of the Year Award. Fisher is an assistant professor in the University of Southern Mississippi's Department of...

Mississippi Engineering Society.(People to Watch)
June 12, 2006... Philip C. Gee, P.E., of Vicksburg recently received the Engineer of the Year Award from the Mississippi Engineering Society for his sustaining contributions to the public welfare, advancement of the profession and service to mankind. Gee is...

Mississippi's oil industry pumping money into state.(Focus Enviro/Energy/Gas/Utilities)
June 12, 2006... Mississippi remains the nation's 13th ranked producer of crude oil, with nearly 1,500 producing oil wells and 10 rotary rigs in operation. Four refineries in the state include the Chevron refinery at Pascagoula; Colonial Pipeline and Dixie...

South Mississippi utilities tuned in to the weather: preparations for 2006 hurricane season extensive.(Focus Enviro/Energy/Gas/Utilities)
June 12, 2006... Ever since Hurricane Katrina ravaged South Mississippi, area utility providers have been preparing for the 2006 storm season while recovering from the devastating one in 2005. "Right now, we still have approximately 20,000 customers from...

Electric power associations.(directory)(Directory)
June 12, 2006... Electric Power Associations Association Contact Address Phone/FAX Coast EPA Robert J. Occhi P.O. Box 2430, Bay...

Choctaw County powering up with energy industry.(Focus Enviro/Energy/Gas/Utilities)
June 12, 2006... T. Alan Bates calls it one of Mississippi's best kept secrets. What is it, you ask? Choctaw County's significant energy-related assets and the positive economic impact they have on the county. "I'm not exactly sure what Reliant's investment...

Environmental consultants.(directory)(Directory)
June 12, 2006... Environmental Consultants Name Top Officer/Position Address Phone /Fax Number E-mail Web site Severn Trent...

Dining guide published.(MyLocalHotSpots.com's contracts)(Brief article)
June 12, 2006... JACKSON -- A partnership between the Jackson Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) and Jackson-based MyLocalHotSpots.com has released the "Jackson Restaurant Grade, a free, consumer-oriented booklet that includes information on more than 300...