The Mississippi Business Journal articles from March 2008

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from March 2008

Tougher times for Tupelo Furniture Market.
March 3, 2008... Tim Militello peered into the windows of the darkened Crown Mark furniture showroom early Saturday afternoon. The permanent exhibitor in the Mississippi Building of the Tupelo Furniture Market had closed with a day-and-a-half of the four-day...

Water park shutting down; condo project on the way.
March 3, 2008... When the dog days of a Magnolia State summer arrive this year, people in the metro Jackson area are going to have to drive a few more miles if they want to enjoy a splash in a water park. After nearly a quarter of a century in business, Rapids...

MEDC conference goes global.(Mississippi Economic Development Council)(Conference news)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Last month's Mississippi Economic Development Council's (MEDC's) winter conference, "Local to Global: Linking Mississippi to the World," had a decidedly international flavor to it. And MEDC executive director and chief operating officer...

Special to the Mississippi Business Journal.(Magnolia Speech School and AT&T Inc.)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Magnolia Speech School recently held a benefit to help offset the $100,000 worth of damage copper thieves caused at the school in December. AT&T has firsthand knowledge of how much damage one copper thief can do....

JBHM Architects, P.A.(People to Watch)
March 3, 2008... Matt Broome of Clinton has joined JBHM Architects, P.A.'s, Jackson office as a graphic designer. He earned a bachelor of science with an emphasis in graphic design from Mississippi College. Prior to joining JBHM, Broome worked for the...

Mississippi Blood Services.(People to Watch)
March 3, 2008... Janet Herman of Flowood has been named chief operations officer at Mississippi Blood Services. She is responsible for all operational aspects including collection, recruiting, laboratory and distribution. Herman is a native of Magee and Herman...

Wesley Medical Center.(People to Watch)
March 3, 2008... Travis Sisson has joined Wesley Medical Center in Hattiesburg as chief operating officer. Sisson graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in commerce and business administration from the University of Alabama. He earned an MBA at the...

Harrah's Entertainment Inc.(People to Watch)
March 3, 2008... Dennis Sixbery has been named regional director of customer satisfaction assurance for Horseshoe, Sheraton and Grand casinos in Tunica. He transitions from director of customer service for Paris and Bally's Las Vegas. In his new role, Sixbery...

Delphi Packard Electrical/ Electronic Architecture.(People to Watch)
March 3, 2008... Terrence E. Mosley, a quality manager at Delphi Packard Electrical/Electronic Architecture in Brookhaven, received a special recognition award for his support of education at the high school, collegiate and graduate school levels during the...

Phi Theta Kappa.(People to Watch)(Rod Risley won the award from American Association of Community Colleges)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Rod Risley, executive director of Phi Theta Kappa international honor society and longtime advocate for community colleges, has been selected to receive the 2008 National Leadership Award from the American Association of Community Colleges...

Office of the State Auditor.(People to Watch)(appointment of John O. Gilbert)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... John O. Gilbert, CPA, has been named deputy state auditor by State Auditor Stacey Pickering. Gilbert was formerly the Secretary of the Senate under Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck. In addition to his service as Secretary of the Senate, he has more than 25...

DREAM elects community leaders to board.(People to Watch)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DREAM, the statewide drug education and abuse prevention organization, recently elected six metro-area community leaders to its board of directors. Seated from left are Beth Howell Hansen of the Mississippi...

You know it's a close race when.....(Perspective)(Cartoon)
March 3, 2008... THE THRILL IS GONE FROM HILLARY'S CAMPAIGN! REMEMBER? I WAS YOUR NEIGHBOR IN ARKANSAS. WHDEEE., PIG SOOEEE! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Contact Hattiesburg-based cartoonist Ricky Nobile at nobilerick@aol.com.

In vicious, vitriolic times, give thanks for First Amendment.(Perspective)
March 3, 2008... When I have occasion to teach American government to an auditorium populated mostly by freshmen and sophomores, it is my personal goal that, if nothing else sinks in during the entire semester, these students will carry forward with them a deep...

Leaders want public hearings on Salt Dome.(Strictly Business)
March 3, 2008... OCEAN SPRINGS -- Mayor Connie Moran and the Ocean Springs Board of Aldermen have unanimously approved a resolution requesting public hearings be held in Jackson, George and Greene counties on the proposed Richton Salt Dome project and its...

Call center coming.(Strictly Business)
March 3, 2008... JACKSON -- The largest commercial property casualty insurer in Mississippi, The Travelers Companies Inc., will locate a new Claim Customer Service Center in the Capital City, creating 75 new jobs. The Travelers Claim Customer Service Center...

Deen chooses Pittman.(Strictly Business)
March 3, 2008... RIDGELAND -- Gail Pittman Inc. has signed an agreement to design the Paula Deen at Home Collection of table top products, which includes dinnerware, drinkware, various accessories and linens. Terms were not disclosed. The Paula Deen at...

Controversy grows, final vote looms for civil rights museum.
March 3, 2008... A proposed $75-million civil rights museum would have a greater economic impact if it were in downtown Jackson and not at Tougaloo College. That was the general feeling at a joint press conference held by the Jackson City Council and the...

Raytech units bought.(Strictly Business)
March 3, 2008... GREENWOOD -- Sun Capital Partners Inc., a Boca Raton, Fla.-based private investment firm, reports that one of its affiliates has acquired the wet friction and aftermarket businesses of Raytech Corporation (Raytech), which produce...

Southern Miss site breached.(Strictly Business)(University of Southern Mississippi is investigating its web site for security breach )(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... HATTIESBURG -- The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) reports that the university's iTech security team discovered a security breach February 22 on the Southern Miss Web site during routine monitoring of the network. Chief...

NFIB petitions lawmakers.(Strictly Business)
March 3, 2008... JACKSON -- Members of the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), Mississippi's largest small-business advocacy group, strongly believe that the state should get involved and help businesses determine whether immigrants who apply...

'The Trust' launches.(Strictly Business)(Columbus-Lowndes Development LINK )(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... COLUMBUS -- The Columbus-Lowndes Development LINK has kicked off a major five-year economic development plan. Titled "The Trust," it is a four-track strategy with a totaled projected goal of $2.025 million created in conjunction with its...

Railroads run safe.(Strictly Business)
March 3, 2008... COLUMBUS -- CAGY Industries Inc. reports it again met or exceeded its 2007 safety performance goals for the CAGY railroad family, which includes the Columbus & Greenville Railway (CAGY), the Luxapalila Valley Railroad (LXVR) and the Chattooga &...

Bank makes payments.(Strictly Business)
March 3, 2008... SENATOBIA -- The board of directors and management of the Land Bank of North Mississippi declared and paid a cash distribution of approximately $1.61 million to its borrowers in January 2008. Cash distribution payments to borrowers are a...

Sanderson's sales rise.(Strictly Business)(Financial report)
March 3, 2008... LAUREL -- Sanderson Farms Inc. reports net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 were $362.6 million, compared with $292.7 million for the same period a year ago. For the quarter, the poultry company earned $6.2 million, or $0.30 per...

Entergy backing bills.(Strictly Business)
March 3, 2008... JACKSON -- Entergy Mississippi Inc. is supporting current state legislation that it says enables electric utilities to address a predicted power shortfall. "Demand for electricity is growing every year, and we are already experiencing a...

Baker Donelson sets seminars in China.(Strictly Business)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... JACKSON -- The law firm of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, will conduct a series of seminars in China this year designed to present to Chinese businesses the practicalities of investing and doing business in the U.S. market....

Denbury sets records.(Strictly Business)
March 3, 2008... DALLAS -- Denbury Resources Inc. posted record annual earnings for the full year 2007 of $253,1 million, or $1.05 per basic common share, 25% higher than 2006 net income of $202.5 million, or $0.87 per basic common share. Fourth quarter...

Regional approach maximizing impact of marketing campaigns.(Focus: Gaming Getaways)
March 3, 2008... Working together as a region has been a major trend in economic development circles, and now the same concept is being used to market Mississippi gaming resort destinations. For example, the Tunica Convention and Visitor's Bureau (CVB) has...

Smaller markets see uptick in activity, new casinos opening.(Focus: Gaming Getaways)
March 3, 2008... Compared to Tunica and the Coast, the state regulated gaming jurisdictions located along the Mississippi River are small and have experienced slower growth. However, things are happening in Natchez, Vicksburg and Greenville. A new casino opened...

Grand Casino Resort Tunica upgrading course.(Focus: Gaming Getaways)
March 3, 2008... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal TUNICA -- Grand Casino Resort Tunica, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, has undertaken several upgrades designed to add more challenge and optimized course conditions at Links at...

Mild winters, natural beauty make gaming and golf perfect set.(Focus: Gaming Getaways)
March 3, 2008... With Mississippi's brief, mild winters, golf is a year-round attraction. The state's casino resorts make the most of the climate and available space to offer golf courses for guests and to the public. Some build their own golf courses,...

All of those little extras are adding up in the amenities game.(Focus: Gaming Getaways)
March 3, 2008... All those extras--amenities--seem to be growing as the state's casino resorts try to offer more reasons for guests to visit. As the options move beyond restaurants and golf courses, amenities can be a way for a resort to set itself apart from...

Margaritaville largest casino investment since Katrina.(Focus: Gaming Getaways)
March 3, 2008... When Beau Rivage Casino Resort first opened in Biloxi in 1999, it was such a huge project that many predicted it would be the largest investment ever made in a hotel-casino resort on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Fast forward to aftermath of...

Guests make the most of their visits with resort packages.(Focus: Gaming Getaways)
March 3, 2008... Casino resorts say that getaway packages are the best way for guests to get the most out of their visits. These packages are growing in popularity at some of the state's resorts because they offer convenience by rolling room reservations and...

Casinos.
March 3, 2008... Casino Operating Name/ General Manager Telephone/Fax Casino Company Name/ Web site Ameristar Casino Vicksburg/ 1-800-700-7770/(601) 630-3757 Adrian Caldwell Ameristar Casino Inc./...

Casino golf courses.
March 3, 2008... Casino Golf Courses Casino Phone Address Web Site The Bridges Golf Club (228) 463-4047 711 Casino Magic Dr., Bay St. Louis,...

Slower gaming growth on Coast reflection of overall economy.(Focus: Gaming Getaways)
March 3, 2008... The Mississippi Gulf Coast gaming market has recovered from Hurricane Katrina and is expected to have slow growth, some industry observers say. "Gaming analysts say the ability to attract capital is more difficult than in the past," said...

Catfish industry continues battle against costly off flavors.(Mississippi Agribusiness)
March 3, 2008... Catfish sales soared years ago when producers began to consistently deliver delicious fillets to consumers, but they continue to fight the off-flavor problem. With today's tight markets and strong international competition, it is...

Federal report details outdoor recreation's economic impact.(Outdoor Impact)
March 3, 2008... After a busy deer season, sportsmen and women in the Magnolia State are now talking fishing, turkey hunting, boating and summer wildlife viewing. This activity should keep the cash registers ringing as it is a proven fact that outdoor...

Becoming the CEO of yourself.(Outdoor Impact)
March 3, 2008... Well-managed businesses plan, and then make decisions that are consistent with their plan. People, no less than businesses, also need to plan and make decisions that are in keeping with their hopes for the future. But, how many folks do it? A...

Fresh Market plans March 19 opening.(Outdoor Impact)(Brief article)
March 3, 2008... Special to the Business Journal RIDGELAND -- The Fresh Market is preparing to open its first store in Mississippi. On March 19, it will open for business in Ridgeland's Renaissance at Colony Park on Highland Colony Parkway, and will employ...

Rising business stars take life lessons to heart.(Top 40 Under 40)(Michael Lindsey of BancorpSouth)(Viewpoint essay)
March 3, 2008... At the start of Michael Lindsey's career, he was admittedly cocky and believed he was right most of the time. "I believed that everyone that didn't see things my way was just wrong," said Lindsey, senior vice president of BancorpSouth. "As...

Class of 2008.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 2008 class of Top 40 Under 40 was honored January 16 during the 25th-annual Mississippi Business and Technology EXPO presented by Comcast Business Class and the Mississippi Business Journal. Chosen by an...

Role models derived primarily from family life.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... Family members overcoming adversity and lending unending support have greatly impacted Mississippi's young rising business stars. Jackson bank executive Lee Seago's role model is his little brother, Andrew, who was paralyzed from the neck...

Independent judges the Foundation of Top 40.(Top 40 Under 40)(Awards list)
March 3, 2008... It is no easy task for judges to sort through hundreds of detailed applications to pick the winners of the Mississippi Business Journal's annual Top 40 Under 40. In addition to being willing to commit the time needed to judge the award's...

Michael P. Adcock: Assistant Executive Director, University of Mississippi Hospital and Health System.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- Growing up, Michael Adcock's family was touched by illness and death on so many levels that he felt compelled to pursue a career in healthcare. His older brother, Donnie, passed away from cancer before...

Lee P. Beck: General Manager, MetroCast.(Top 40 Under 40)(Occupation overview)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STARKVILLE -- At age 29, Lee Beck is one of the youngest members of the Top 40 Under 40 Class of 2008. Five years ago, he joined Northland Cable Networks, where be moved briskly from marketing coordinator to business...

Eric C. Brown: President and CEO, First Bank and Trust of Mississippi.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BILOXI -- He earned a doctorate in business. He speaks Russian. He almost went to work with the CIA doing analytical work on the old Soviet-bloc countries. Instead, Eric Brown, 40, settled on the Mississippi Gulf...

Cliff Brumfield: Executive Vice President, Brookhaven Lincoln Chamber of Commerce and Lincoln County Industrial Development Foundation.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BROOKHAVEN -- Cliff Brumfield had sold his home in Greenwood and was waiting on the new owners to pick up the keys when a phone call changed his life. The call was about a job opportunity in southwestern...

Paul A. Callens: Director, North Mississippi State Hospital.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TUPELO -- When Paul Callens was ill the first grade, he cheated on an eye exam in an attempt to avoid wearing glasses. "Some company had brought portable eye exam equipment to our school and was testing all...

Bradley S. Clanton: Shareholder, Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- Folks might be surprised to know that Bradley Clanton was once a long-haired, tie-dyed wearing, left-wing hippie wannabe. "I know a number of people go through this type of phase in college, but I was...

Deborah Walley Coleman: Deputy Counterdrug Coordinator, Mississippi National Guard Counterdrug Program.(Top 40 Under 40)(Viewpoint essay)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BRANDON -- Lt. Col. Deborah Coleman thought her toughest challenge was deciding whether to stay deployed overseas after her husband, Col. Robert Stacy Coleman, who was caring for their two preschool sons, was alerted...

Matt Cox: Owner, C2 Construction LLC.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STARKVILLE -- Matt Cox has an odd entry on his resume. Between working for International Paper Company in Chicago, Georgetown and Memphis and establishing a real estate company in Starkville, Cox lists "international...

Roger Davis: Partner, Woodridge Capital.(Top 40 Under 40)(Roger Davis of Woodridge Capital LLC)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- Five years ago, Roger Davis learned there was no such thing as being totally self-sufficient. His wife, Joy, was pregnant with their second child when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. With a...

Michelle Dean Easterling: Partner, Edwards, Storey, Marshall, Helveston & Easterling, LLP.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WEST POINT -- Growing up, Michelle Easterling used to spend time after school hanging around the Hancock County Courthouse in downtown Bay St. Louis, next door to where her mother, Sue Altman, worked. "I'd hang...

John Stewart Fair III: Vice President, The Fair Companies.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STARKVILLE -- Johnny Fair was heading to medical school, following the footsteps of his uncle and grandfather, when he received an irresistible offer--to stay home and join the family business. Fair, 31, who grew...

John M. Flynt: Partner, Brunini Grantham Grower & Hewes, PLLC.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- John Flynt was a champion before he even finished high school. After competing in tennis tournaments since he was nine years old, Flynt was a Prince Tennis High School All-American and the captain of...

Andrea M. Freeze: City Administrator, City of Horn Lake.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HORN LAKE -- Most people have warm memories of their childhood, but few folks recall theirs as "truly magnificent." Andrea Freeze does. "I grew up having two sets of parents who adored me and gave me the best...

Robin William Haire: President, Haire Wealth Management.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TUPELO -- When Robin Haire was a young boy, he spent hours scouring his granddad's collection of Wall Street Journals. "I just knew that he must've had a lot of investments according to the stacks of papers,"...

Anne Dye Haire, D.O.: Physician, West Tupelo Family Medical Clinic.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TUPELO -- It has been an interesting journey for Anne Dye Haire, D.O. Not many doctor's resumes show a bachelor's degree in theater, both a master's degree and doctorate in educational psychology and a doctor of...

Annette Herrin: Shareholder, The Koerber Company, P.A.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HATTIESBURG -- Seven years ago, Annette Herrin was named one of Mississippi's 50 Leading Business Women. Her bio read like a woman ripe with experience: finished an MBA in one year: named shareholder at the age of...

Shane Homan: Senior Vice President of Economic Development and Planning, Community Development Foundation.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TUPELO -- Homan's father made such an impression on him with his devotion to the community that when he grew up, he wanted to make a difference, too. "My father is the owner of the local hardware store, and for...

Leslie Adair Hutchins: Regional Sales Manager, Key Staff Source.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COLUMBUS -- Not long after Hurricane Katrina hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Leslie Hutchins was helping a customer, Sqwincher, a locally-owned electrolyte replacement drink company, find temporary workers for a...

Lori Jackson-Stewart: Coordinator of Student Organizations/Advisor to the Student Government Association, Jackson State University.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- Enthralled by the pageantry surrounding football homecoming games, Lori Jackson-Stewart began dreaming of being crowned Miss Jackson State University when she was five years old. So, when she became a...

Melissa Jones: Vice President, Quality Manufacturing Group.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COLUMBIA -- Melissa Jones is full of surprises. Not only has she taken flying lessons, she's soloed a Cessna 172 twice. Three times a week, she religiously works out at the local gym doing cardio and lifting...

Paul H. Jones Jr.: General Manager, Trillium International.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PELAHATCHIE -- When Trillium International relocated from Madison to a renovated facility in Pelahatchie, Paul Jones knew he was in for a challenge. "The Pelahatchie facility had to first be renovated, and then...

Shawn Zehnder Lea: Vice President for Strategic Communications, Mississippi Hospital Association.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- When Shawn Lea was in the third grade, she was kicked out of ballet class. Nicknamed Grace at the time ("said in a very facetious manner," noted Lea), it was her first challenging experience. "My...

Michael Lindsey: Senior Vice President, BancorpSouth.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TUPELO -- A decade ago, Michael Lindsey was getting restless and bored at BancorpSouth. It didn't take long for bank executive Harry Baxter to change his point of view. Baxter encouraged him to keep learning and...

Matthew P. McLaughlin: Associate Attorney, Balch & Bingham, LLP.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- In the fifth grade, Matthew McLaughlin dissected a fetal pig during a science class led by Mr. Davis, who allowed the young boy to be the only student in the lab group to use a scalpel. "Mr. Davis...

Whitney Pickering: Senior Director, Southern Living at Home.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] LAUREL -- She leads a national sales force numbering in the thousands, cares for four young children at home, skeet shoots, plays the cello and just helped her husband win the state auditor's post. Whitney...

Robert D. Pierce II: Executive Director, Southern Miss Alumni Association.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HATTIESBURG -- Bob Pierce began working at a local retail store in his hometown of Petal when he was 15, and has not stopped working since. "I believe in a strong work ethic, and have always gained satisfaction...

Katrina Poe-Johnson: Family Medicine Physician, Kilmichael Clinic and Kilmichael Hospital.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KILMICHAEL -- Seven years ago, Dr. Katrina Poe-Johnson returned to her hometown of Kilmichael, population 900, after completing her medical training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC). Her return...

John Rounsaville: Former State Director, USDA Rural Development.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MADISON -- John Rounsaville's career path happened by accident. While finishing graduate school at Mississippi State University with a job already in hand, his name was submitted to U.S. Rep. Chip Pickering as a...

Lee B. Seago: Chief Credit Officer/Executive Vice President, State Bank and Trust Company.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- Growing up in the Seago household of four boys, Lee Seago was never as good as his brothers at staying out of trouble, but he did eventually learn what it took to survive. "Several things you had to do...

Scott Shoemaker: President, Shoemaker Homes.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RIDGELAND -- In early 2007, when homebuilder Scott Shoemaker accepted the task of building a home for the Jones family in Brandon within 105 hours for the television show "Extreme Makeover Home Edition," he knew he...

Lisa Slay: Director of Marketing, Wesley Medical Center.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HATTIESBURG -- Lisa Slay has been competitive since she was playfully tossed into a swimming pool at a very young age. "I'll bet if you added up the hours I was in the swimming pool, it would rival the time I've...

Owen Edmondson Stratton: Partner, KPMG.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- Owen Stratton and her family received alarming news in June 2006 that her 31-year old sister, Avery, had been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. "She went through chemotherapy, surgeries and...

Ben Teague: Vice President of Economic Development, Area Development Partnership.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HATTIESBURG -- A defining moment for Ben Teague happened during his first semester of college. "I completely bombed academically," he admitted. "The only way I was able to attend private college was through a...

Denny Terrell: Executive Vice President, Ivey Mechanical Company, LLC.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] KOSCIUSKO -- By tagging along with his father, Larry, to work at Ivey Mechanical Company as a youngster, Denny Terrell became fascinated with the multi-faceted construction industry. By the time he began working with...

Tonya Hairston Ware: CEO, Princess Production Company.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RIDGELAND -- During middle school, Tonya Ware was diagnosed with dyslexia, something she viewed not as an excuse, but as a wake up call to work harder until every task placed before her was completed on time and in...

R. Todd Warren: Practice Administrator, Jackson Pulmonary Associates.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JACKSON -- For the past decade, Todd Warren has been a fixture on the sidelines at Jackson Futbol Club as a coach for girls' soccer teams. It's a volunteer role he accepted almost reluctantly when his then-boss...

Jennifer Ingram Wilkinson: Partner, Ingram/Wilkinson, PLLC.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HATTIESBURG -- Jennifer Wilkinson grew up hobnobbing with elected officials statewide. The daughter of Carroll Ingram was on the campaign trail for her dad with her schoolteacher mom, Annelle, and older brother,...

Chris Wilson: City Administrator/City Administrative Officer, City of Southaven.(Top 40 Under 40)
March 3, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOUTHAVEN -- At 34, Chris Wilson has been distinguishing himself for quite a while. Wilson was one of only 10 Mississippians recognized by the International Public Management Association (IPMA) as a certified...