The Mississippi Business Journal articles from June 2007

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from June 2007

GE jet engine plant lands in Batesville.(Focus)
June 4, 2007... It looks like a warped piece of plastic, or metal, or some combination of both. Its shiny, wavy black face is backed by a bracket with six holes in it. In almost any junkyard the 18-inch-long, four-pound piece of carbon fiber and epoxy...

MMA digs into manufacturers' workforce concerns.
June 4, 2007... The Mississippi Manufacturers Association (MMA) marked the third-annual Manufacturing Week in Mississippi by releasing results of a recent survey evaluating the workforce needs of Mississippi manufacturers. MMA president Jay Moon was...

Blues Trail marker unveiled in Jackson.
June 4, 2007... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal The first Mississippi Blues Trail marker in the Capital City was unveiled May 30 at the former site of the Subway Lounge, basement of the old Summers Hotel. The marker was erected on Pearl Street...

Wallowing in the headlines: Bama boy, big pig.(Perspective)
June 4, 2007... It's easy to be overwhelmed by the headlines these days. War. Global warming. Presidential politics. Big issues dominate the page ones of the world. So, I'm envious of the person who penned this witticism: No hogwash: Boy kills 1,050-pound wild...

Merchants Foodservice.(People to Watch)
June 4, 2007... Jarrod Gray has been promoted to vice president and chief financial officer of Merchants Foodservice in Hattiesburg. He joined the 100-year-old broad line foodservice distributor in May 2006 as controller. Gray earned a BPA in 1996 and an MBA...

Dean and Dean/Associates Architects, P.A.(People to Watch)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... John Dant of Dean and Dean/Associates Architects in Jackson has met the requirements of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards and the Mississippi State Board of Architecture to become a registered architect. Dant, a native...

Guaranty Bank & Trust Company.(People to Watch)
June 4, 2007... Sam Newsom of Greenville has been elected to to the board of directors of Guaranty Bank & Trust Company. A native of Glen Allan, he is the president of Newsom & Newsom Inc. and serves as the vice-president of Swiftwater Sales and Rentals Inc....

Regions Bank.(People to Watch)
June 4, 2007... Stephen de Kock has been named as an assistant vice president of business banking for Regions Bank in Jackson. His responsibilities will include managing relationships with current and prospective business customers. De Kock joined Regions in...

Venture Technologies.(People to Watch)(Steven Bray, Kerry Hudson and Duff Sudduth)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... Ridgeland-based Venture Technologies recently recognized three staff members for achieving 20 years of service. Steven Bray, Kerry Hudson and Duff Sudduth began their careers with the IT services company in 1987. Bray began his tenure with...

Nicholson & Company, PLLC.(People to Watch)(Jeffrey M. Allen appointed at Nicholson and Company P.A.)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... Jeffrey M. Allen, CPA, has been promoted to partner with the Nicholson & Company in Hattiesburg. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants and a member of...

Delta F.A.R.M.(People to Watch)(Dan Prevost appointed at Delta FARM)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... Dan Prevost has been named watershed specialist for Delta F.A.R.M. and will serve to further develop and implement comprehensive watershed restoration projects in the Delta. Delta F.A.R.M., a farmer-led agricultural conservation group based in...

Land Bank of North Mississippi.(People to Watch)
June 4, 2007... Keith Morton, a full-time row crop producer from Falkner, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Land Bank of North Mississippi to represent the stockholders served by the Corinth branch office. Morton and his wife, Beth, own and...

Toyota awards contract.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... BLUE SPRINGS -- Toyota has awarded its first general contract to two local companies for construction of its new Blue Springs vehicle plant just outside of Tupelo. Terms were not disclosed. L&T Construction Inc. and M&H Construction Inc.,...

Unemployment decreases.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- Seasonal influences added 6,500 to the ranks of the employed, dropping Mississippi's unemployment rate to 6.4% in April, according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security (MDES). The state's joblessness rate...

Ship Systems wins contract.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... PASCAGOULA --The U.S. Navy has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a contract for follow-yard services for the USS Arliegh Burke class (DDG 51) Aegis destroyer program. The $20.7-million cost-plus-award-fee contract consists of a base year and...

MEMA names manufacturers.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi Emergency Management Agency)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) has selected the top seven manufacturing companies that will build the first of the Mississippi Cottage units for the Mississippi Alternative Housing Program. The...

Sanderson sales up.(Strictly Business)(Financial report)
June 4, 2007... LAUREL -- Sanderson Farms, Inc reported net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 were $360.5 million, compared with $239.1 million for the same period a year ago. For the quarter, net income was $26.9 million, or $1.33 per fully...

XFONE opening new office.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... JACKSON -- XFONE Inc.'s wholly-owned subsidiary, XFONE USA, will open a new sales office in Baton Rouge, La. This new office joins the existing offices in Jackson and Biloxi as well as those in New Orleans and Hammond, La. "The Baton Rouge...

GoldenEye 50 gains FAA OK.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... LOWNDES COUNTY -- Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation has received an experimental airworthiness certificate (EAC) from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), allowing the GoldenEye 50 Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) to fly in the National...

USM unveils gaming program.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... HATTIESBURG -- The Department of Tourism Management at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has joined with casino industry leaders to form the "Partnering with Professionals" program, utilizing the latest technology as a way for...

Hall to run again.(elections of commissioners)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... JACKSON -- Republican Dick Hall has made public his plans to run for re-election as Central District transportation commissioner. He will face Democrat Rudolph "Rudy" Warnock Jr. of Madison. In a letter announcing his re-election bid, Hall...

MHC releases funds.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi Home Corp.)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... JACKSON -- The Mississippi Home Corporation (MHC) has opened the reservation lines for mortgage loan funds through participating lenders statewide under its Mortgage Revenue Bond (MRB) program. More than 600 Mississippi families will have the...

Employees hit safety milestone.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... GULFPORT -- The employees of Weyerhaeuser Company's iLevel Service Center have reached a safety milestone of eight years without a recordable at work accident. That means that for more than 156 weeks, including several following Hurricane...

Fire devastates structure.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... HATTIESBURG -- Plans for restoration of the former Hattiesburg High School building into a future home of the University of Southern Mississippi's (USM's) Department of Art and Design were dealt a serious blow May 29 as fire nearly destroyed...

Intechra lands more financing.(Strictly Business)(Intechra Holding Corporation)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... JACKSON -- Intechra Holding Corporation has secured $30 million in new equity funding led by Richland Ventures of Nashville, Oxford Bioscience Partners of Boston and First Avenue Partners of Nashville. Intechra is using the investment...

Chicken label scrutiny.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Congressman Chip Picketing (R-Miss.) and Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-Calif.) are calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reform its labeling regulations on "all natural" chicken. The bipartisan congressional...

Board chooses Blackboard.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... JACKSON -- The Mississippi State Board for Community and Junior Colleges has selected Blackboard Inc., a provider of educational enterprise software and services, to help improve access to high-quality education and foster economic development...

Accounting text released.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... GULFPORT -- Dr. Steven Jackson, CPA, associate professor of accounting in the College of Business at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast, has released "Managerial Accounting: a Focus on Ethical Decision Making." This release...

Millsaps adds majors.(Strictly Business)(Millsaps College)(biochemistry and public management)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... JACKSON -- Millsaps College will begin offering two new majors, biochemistry and public management, starting in the 2007-08 academic year. The new programs bring Millsaps' offerings to 30 majors within the divisions of arts and letters,...

Multifactor productivity slows.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... WASHINGTON -- The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released the change in preliminary multifactor productivity in 2006 for the private business and private non-farm business sectors. The estimated annual rate of multifactor productivity...

Venture becomes ATP.(Strictly Business)(Venture Technologies Inc.)(advanced technology provider)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... RIDGELAND -- Venture Technologies has become an advanced technology provider (ATP) for Cisco's Outdoor Wireless Mesh solutions. As an ATP for Wireless Mesh, Venture becomes part of a group of only 55 Cisco partners based in the United...

MMI wins NS award.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi Management Inc.)(Newcomen Society)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... JACKSON -- The Newcomen Society (NS) has selected Mississippi Management Inc. (MMI) as a 2007 Newcomen Award winner. Earle Jones, co-chairman of MMI Hotel Group board of directors, said, "Since its inception 50 years ago, MMI has based our...

DNA Services forms partnership.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... JACKSON -- DNA Services of America has entered into a partnership with Salugen to distribute Salugen's nutritional gene testing and DNA-customized nutritional solutions nationwide. DNA Services will offer GenoTrim, a DNA-customized...

Braves join arthritis fight.(Strictly Business)
June 4, 2007... PEARL -- The Mississippi Braves and the Mississippi Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation will launch an effort to raise funds to fight arthritis while celebrating the 2007 Trustmark Bank Southern League All-Star Game, to be hosted by the Braves...

A.M. Best ups ratings.(Strictly Business)(A.M. Best Company Inc.)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... FLOWOOD -- A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength ratings (FSR) to "B+ (Good)" from "B (Fair)" and assigned issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "bbb-" to American Federated Insurance Company (AFIC) and American Federated Life Insurance...

Baptist touts new system.(Strictly Business)(Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... TUPELO -- Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle hosted an open house to unveil the hospital's new da Vinci surgical system May 24 at The Mall at Barnes Crossing in Tupelo. Drs. Robert Santa-Cruz, urologist, and Edward Betcher,...

WLBT's Bert Case attributes success to fairness, honesty.
June 4, 2007... Bert Case is the undisputed dean of Mississippi's television news anchors. A hall of fame broadcaster who has been in front of the camera now for nearly 40 years, his face and distinctive delivery of "Beeeerrrrrt Case" have become familiar...

Lorelei Books busy in revitalized downtown.(Book Business)
June 4, 2007... Empty-nesters Laura and Troy Weeks wanted a lifestyle change and Vicksburg wanted an independent bookstore. The former residents of Norfolk, Va., and the historic Mississippi River city came together with Lorelei Books opening on Washington...

Uneven start and now soybeans struggling with dry spring.
June 4, 2007... Mississippi soybeans had one of the most uneven starts they have had in years, but one constant is the need for rain. Dan Poston, northwest district soybean specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, said Delta...

MEC turning to technology to keep members connected.(services of Mississippi Economic Council )
June 4, 2007... As the statewide chamber of commerce, the Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) must cover a lot of ground and a plethora of issues. To accomplish this, it offers a wide range of programs and services, and it is turning more and more to technology...

Regional concept reaping results for economic development.(Economic Development)
June 4, 2007... Regionalism is the buzzword du jour in the world of economic development but for a very good reason--several of them, in fact. Mississippi counties and cities are bringing in impressive companies and jobs by pooling resources and ignoring...

Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership kicking off campaign: $3M earmarked for recruitment, retention, projects.(Focus)
June 4, 2007... The Metro Jackson Chamber of Commerce has a new name--the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership (GJCP)--and is preparing to kick off an ambitious fundraising campaign, with the money earmarked for business expansion/job retention, recruiting new...

Business events.(Brief article)(Calendar)
June 4, 2007... Thursday, June 7 * The Mississippi chapter of the Financial Planning Association will hold a luncheon meeting beginning at 11:45 a.m. at Colonial Country Club in Jackson. The speaker will be Kevin L. Kliesen, economist with the Federal...

Delta moving ahead with its own kind of economic development.(analysis of economic development)
June 4, 2007... The Mississippi Delta may not be announcing new economic development projects with big names, but this special part of the state is holding its own. Professional economic developers there say the area is not without challenges, but progress is...

Koestler leveraging location as Stone County sees growth accelerate.(analysis of economic development)
June 4, 2007... The new executive director of the Stone County Economic Development Partnership said she has a checkered past. By that, Charlotte Koestler means she has a variety of experience that she brings to this growing county that's strategically...

Perceptions changing as major players come calling.(analysis of economic development)
June 4, 2007... Mississippi's efforts to improve the state's image are paying off as evidenced by big new economic development projects and, by the same token, the announcement of the projects is polishing the image even more. From the outside looking in,...

Law prof's workers' compensation book sees glowing reviews.(Economic development)
June 4, 2007... More than one million people in Mississippi work in jobs that are covered by workers' compensation--the form of insurance that may provide remuneration for employees injured in the course of employment--and at least 13,000 of those workers...

Economic development organizations.
June 4, 2007... Economic Development Organizations Name/Web site (if online) Address Alliance, The (www.corinth.ms) P.O. Box 1089, Corinth, MS 38835-1089 Amite County Economic...

Defining economic development.(analysis of economic development)
June 4, 2007... What is economic development? The term "economic development" was hardly used before World War II, although the concept has been around for centuries. Even though everyone wants it, and even though everyone seems to know what it means, the...

Organic farming movement catching fire in Mississippi.
June 4, 2007... Organic farming is catching on in Mississippi like a back draft wildfire screaming through a pine thicket. This is happening in a state that has prided itself in agricultural practices that produce the most with the least. This has been done...

Pesky problems plague summer travelers.
June 11, 2007... Just when Mississippi business travelers were getting conditioned to terrorist threats, long security lines, flight delays, lost luggage, soaring airfares and other summertime traveling frustrations, along comes a TB-infected traveler a fellow...

Tamales, gaming and music make Delta 'unforgettable'.
June 11, 2007... When USA Today unveiled its 15 Unforgettable Summer Vacations for 2007 in the Memorial Day weekend coverage, some folks were surprised to see the Mississippi Delta prominently featured in the special section. But not Craig Ray. "Not at...

Defense industry dividends on way to Clay County.
June 11, 2007... The Iraq and Afghanistan wars are paying dividends to Mississippi. A West Point branch of a national firm is the latest recipient of a multi-million dollar defense contract. A new, massive vehicle designed to fend off improvised explosive...

Climbing fuel costs driving state interest in veggies.
June 11, 2007... High fuel prices give many people a reason to complain, but they also may drive the resurgence of an industry that was big business in Mississippi 100 years ago. David Nagel, vegetable specialist with the Mississippi State University...

Businesses see benefits from growing immigrant workforce.
June 11, 2007... The country's immigration issues and changing demographics are also at play in Mississippi where there is no official count of immigrants but many communities are seeing an influx of Mexican immigrants. The U.S. Census Bureau says the nation's...

Research often critical to business success.(Perspective)
June 11, 2007... Regular readers of the Mississippi Business Journal are familiar with our typical layout of news and features, commentary, People to Watch, Strictly Business and then in-depth coverage of a specific industry, economic segment or issue. ...

Michael Baker Jr. Inc.(People to Watch)(Walter G. Lyons appointed)(Brief article)
June 11, 2007... Walter G. Lyons, P.E., P.S., has been named vice president/operations manager of Michael Baker Jr. Inc.'s Jackson office. Lyons recently joined the firm after spending more than 34 years with the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT)...

BankPlus.(People to Watch)
June 11, 2007... Marilyn Finch has been assigned to BankPlus' Picayune main office as assistant vice president and loan officer. The Pearlington native has 24 years of banking experience, and is a former employee of Whitney Bank where she served as branch...

Tunica National Golf and Tennis.(People to Watch)
June 11, 2007... Kim Pettigrew has rejoined Tunica National Golf and Tennis as the new food and beverage director. She will oversee Murphy's Grill restaurant and bar. Pettigrew's career recipe for success started after graduating from Mississippi State...

State Bank & Trust Company.(People to Watch)
June 11, 2007... Connie Stacy has been named mortgage loan banker at State Bank & Trust Company's new Siwell Road location in Byram. During her eight years in mortgage banking, she has worked as a residential loan processor and later as a loan originator. She...

M&F Bank.(People to Watch)
June 11, 2007... Donald Swafford has been promoted to assistant vice president in M&F Bank's Cleveland office. His major responsibilities will be consumer lending, small commercial lending and mortgage loans. A native of Cleveland, Swafford earned his B.B.A....

The Baddour Center.(People to Watch)(Karen Dunn appointed)(Brief article)
June 11, 2007... Karen Dunn of Enid has been named director of development and public relations for The Baddour Center, a residential community for adults with mild and moderate intellectual disabilities. Previously, she served as public relations manager and...

BancorpSouth.(People to Watch)(appointments)(Brief article)
June 11, 2007... Jonathan August has been promoted to branch manager of BancorpSouth's Courthouse Road Office in Gulfport. August earned a degree in business management from the University of Southern Mississippi. Lisa Hyde has been promoted to loan officer at...

Monsanto completes D&PL merger.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... SCOTT -- Monsanto Company has completed its acquisition of Delta and Pine Land Company (D&PL) for approximately $1.5 billion in cash. The closing comes after the U.S. Department of Justice reached an agreement with the two companies May 31. ...

Ship Systems awarded contract.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... PASCAGOULA -- The U.S. Navy HAS awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a $2.4-billion fixed-price incentive contract for the detail design and construction of the amphibious assault ship LHA 6. Work will be performed primarily at the company's...

Maris, West & Baker unveils 'wiki'.(Strictly Business)(Maris, West and Baker Inc.)(http://www.mississippiwiki.com)(Brief article)
June 11, 2007... JACKSON -- Maris, West & Baker (MWB) reports the launch of Mississippi Wild (http://www.mississippiwiki.com/), a Web site focusing on Mississippi people, places and things. A wiki (taken from the Hawaiian word for "quick," referring to the...

Allegiant begins service.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... GULFPORT -- Allegiant Air, LLC, inaugurated new, nonstop jet service from Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport to Las Vegas, Nev., and Orlando, Fla., June 1. "We are extremely pleased to extend the Allegiant brand of low-fare, nonstop jet...

Mounger named chairman.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... RIDGELAND -- The Mississippi Technology Alliance (MTA) has named William M. "Billy" Mounger II as chairman of its board of directors. "Billy Mounger's experience as an entrepreneur, technology executive and investor uniquely qualifies him...

Hancock ready for storms.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... GULFPORT -- Hancock Bank, headquartered in one of the regions hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina, reports it is ready for the 2007 hurricane season with a plan that includes multi-level back-ups for customer service infrastructures and a...

Assisted living project in Hub.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... HATTIESBURG -- Provision Living, LLC, is making a $10-million investment in the Hub City that will result in a new assisted living residence for area seniors. Located on the campus of Wesley Medical Center, the new assisted living property will...

Mixed-use project unveiled.(Strictly Business)(Coldwell Banker The Condo Store contracted six projects)(Brief article)
June 11, 2007... BILOXI -- Coldwell Banker The Condo Store, a specialty division that serves as a strategic partner to condominium developers, has contracted six new projects. The new properties are located in Atlanta, Biloxi and Jacksonville, Fla. Combined,...

ICBA ranks bank.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... PICAYUNE -- The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) and [ITAL]ICBA Independent Banker[ITAL] magazine have named the top-earning banks for 2006. The annual performance ranking examines ICBA member banks based on asset size and...

NAFTA numbers hit record.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... WASHINGTON -- Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners Canada and Mexico was 2.3% higher in March 2007 than in March 2006, reaching $69.8 billion, the highest...

JHPC presents award.(Strictly Business)(Jackson Historic Preservation Commission)(Peters Real Estate)(JBHM Architects)(Brief article)
June 11, 2007... JACKSON -- The Jackson Historic Preservation Commission (JHPC) has honored JBHM Architects, Duckworth Realty and Peters Real Estate with an Award of Merit for the commercial rehabilitation of the Electric 308 Building and Plaza Building in...

Entergy wins TIPs.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... JACKSON -- Entergy Nuclear received three Top Industry Practice Awards (TIP) presented by the Nuclear Energy Institute, including the B. Ralph Sylvia Best of the Best Award for achieving safety enhancements and cost-saving efficiencies. ...

EMCC lands aircraft.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... MAYHEW -- American Eurocopter has made a donation to East Mississippi Community College (EMCC) that will provide hands-on opportunities for students training to work in aerospace manufacturing. The helicopter manufacturer has delivered a...

ChoicePoint settlement reached.(Strictly Business)(Brief article)
June 11, 2007... JACKSON -- Attorney General Jim Hood, along with the attorneys general of 43 other states, has reached a settlement with ChoicePoint to resolve allegations that the company failed to adequately maintain the privacy and security of consumers'...

ALM recopizes firm.(Strictly Business)
June 11, 2007... JACKSON -- Watkins Ludlam Winter & Stennis has been recognized by American Lawyer Media (ALM) as a "Go-To Law Firm" in the area of litigation. The firm will be recognized as a GoTo Law Firm in a national reference guide, which is being...

Ross, Bryant share views, discuss campaigns at MABC meeting: both candidates tout conservative philosophies before overflow construction crowd at Dennery's.
June 11, 2007... An overflow crowd was on hand June 5 at Dennery's in Jackson for the Mississippi Associated Builders and Contractors' (MABC's) monthly membership meeting. The June gathering was highly attended primarily due to the featured speakers. The...

Business Interiors relocates to smart, flexible green building.
June 11, 2007... On May 17, Business Interiors held an open house for its new facility located on Marketridge Drive just off Highland Colony Parkway in Ridgeland. Like any company moving into a new location, Business Interiors is proud of its new home. But the...

The bull session: talking about 'emotional stocks' tough.(securities management)
June 11, 2007... Some of the hardest conversations I have had with clients involve "emotional stocks." Emotional stocks are difficult to deal with. They are the stocks that were given to a client by their or grandfather, or they were the first stock a client...

Shannon Woodward hired as development officer for School of Business Administration of Ole Miss.
June 11, 2007... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal Shannon Woodward, a native of Itawamba County, has joined the University of Mississippi's (UM's) School of Business Administration as development officer. She is responsible for securing...

Hunters taking ATV options to ever higher levels of customization.
June 11, 2007... When I first moved to Mississippi way back in another era, the hottest thing to hit the hunting scene was all-terrain vehicles. I had seen one or two of the old three-wheeled units, but these were nothing in comparison to what is on the market...

Market research taking guesswork out of business decisions.(Focus)
June 11, 2007... The role of solid market research continues to grow as the marketplace becomes more competitive and costly. Research takes the guesswork out of business decisions. "Research is important to the business decision making process by...