The Mississippi Business Journal articles from May 2006

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from May 2006

MMA's Moon sees opportunities in China.(Mississippi Manufacturers Association)
May 1, 2006... PEARL -- Concerns in the U.S. over the potential threats posed by China's growing economy are increasing, particularly among domestic manufacturers, and a look at the numbers tell why. A nation of 1.3 billion people, China's economy was nearly...

Mississippi Market celebrates 10th anniversary.
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- In 1996, the Mississippi Economic and Community Development, now the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), launched a networking event aimed at connecting Mississippi manufacturers and craftsmen with buyers and retailers. Then...

Leadership, sound development go hand in hand: CDF introduces first female board chair--Mary Werner.
May 1, 2006... TUPELO -- If one message echoed through the Community Development Foundation's (CDF's) annual meeting in late April, it was this: leadership and community/economic development go hand in hand. In reviewing the past year's accomplishments...

Education, lifelong learning have made a difference.(As I See It)
May 1, 2006... I was very fortunate that my parents recognized the importance of education and drilled it into my head throughout my childhood years. That emphasis on education, plus insistence that every job was important and deserved my best efforts, formed...

Big oil company profits absurd, but ...(Great Expectations)
May 1, 2006... Every day, I hear more comments critical of the big oil companies. Americans are angry as gasoline prices rapidly approach $3 a gallon--and beyond. I have been critical, too. For example, Exxon Mobil set a national record for corporate...

Mississippi's Business Journal online poll results.(Brief article)
May 1, 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 Advertising ...

Beau Rivage Resort & Casino.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Bruce Nourse has been promoted to vice president of public affairs at the Beau Rivage. Nourse has over 31 years experience in the gaming industry, including working as vice president of operations and senior vice president of government affairs...

KPMG, LLP.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Claire Neal has joined KPMG, LLP, as a senior associate in audit. She received a B.S. degree in accounting from Florida State University and a master's of accounting from University of Georgia. Ricky Manning has joined the firm as an audit...

Wachovia Mortgage.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Brenda Palmer of Saucier has joined Wachovia Mortgage as a mortgage consultant covering Harrison, Hancock, Pearl River and Stone counties. She previously worked for Heritage Title Company, Mississippi State Department of Human Resources and...

Community Foundation of Greater Jackson.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Judith M. Wiener has joined the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson as development coordinator. A native of Louisville, Wiener was previously a managing partner with Wiener Law Firm, PLLC, of Jackson and has worked with Phelps Dunbar, PLLC,...

Wesley Medical Center.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Jo Ann Todd, RN, was recently recertified through the Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology. Todd is one of 27 Certified in Infection Control (CIC) professionals in Mississippi. Todd received her bachelor's degree in nursing...

JBHM Architects.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Richard McNeel, AIA, partner of JBHM Architects, has joined the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), a Chicago-based non-profit organization that was founded in 1993 that works with architects, developers, planners and others involved in the...

Memorial Hospital at Gulfport.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... James R. Doty, M.D., chairman of the neurosurgery section and the director of the Center for Neurosciences and Rehabilitation Medicine at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport, has been listed in "Best Doctors in America for 2005-2006." Doty is...

Johnson, Bruce & Host, PLLC.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Peder R. Johnson, CPA, has been named managing member of the new accounting firm Johnson, Bruce & Host. Johnson, formerly with KPMG, has 27 years of experience in tax planning and consultation to businesses. He holds a BBA degree in accounting...

Baptist Health Systems.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Bobbie Ware has been promoted to vice president of Baptist Health Systems for Cancer and Support Services. She previously served as the administrative director for Oncology Services, Breast Health Services, Diabetes, Endoscopy Lab, Continence...

TimeWarner Cable recently gave Mississippi Children's Home Services a $15,000 gift to help the agency fortify its Intensive In-Home Program and Therapeutic Foster Care programs for hurricane victims who are experiencing depression, stress and other effects from traumatic losses.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... TimeWarner Cable recently gave Mississippi Children's Home Services a $15,000 gift to help the agency fortify its Intensive In-Home Program and Therapeutic Foster Care programs for hurricane victims who are experiencing depression, stress and...

Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Don DePriest of Columbus was among six new TVA board members who recently took the oath of office. His term expires May 18, 2009. He is chairman of a venture capital firm headquartered in Alexandria, Va.

Synergetics.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Marcus Anderson, a Synergetics' technology facilitator, has acquired his Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and CompTia Security + Certifications. Anderson has been a technology facilitator with Synergetics for two years.

Mississippi Public Service Commission.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Gov. Haley Barbour named Rep. Leonard Bentz of Biloxi to fill the vacant position from the Southern District on the three-member Mississippi Public Service Commission. Bentz, 34, a member of the Mississippi House of Representatives since...

Mississippi Bar Foundation.(Appointments)(Mississippi Bar Foundation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Fifteen lawyers were recently inducted as Fellows of the Mississippi Bar Foundation. Being named a Fellow of the Mississippi Bar Foundation is the highest honor given by the Foundation. Those inducted as Fellows include Mississippi Supreme...

Brunini, Grantham, Grower and Hewes, PLLC.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... David Kaufman and Chris Shapley, attorneys at Brunini, Grantham, Grower and Hewes, PLLC, have been selected for inclusion in "Who's Who Legal: USA--Commercial Litigation 2006." Recipients of this honor are selected by their peers, clients and...

Klumb Forest Products.(People to Watch)
May 1, 2006... Steve Wood has been appointed manager of Klumb Forest Products' Gulfport Center. Wood started his career at Klumb as a laborer, then moved to inside sales and outside sales. He has been the warehouse manager and lead salesman for the Gulfport...

Foglesong takes helm at Mississippi State University.(Focus Education)(Biography)
May 1, 2006... STARKVILLE -- When longtime Mississippi Congressman Sonny Montgomery approached "Doc" Foglesong four years ago and suggested that he apply for the job of Mississippi State University president, Foglesong was in a dilemma. He and his wife,...

Leadership development program offering assistance statewide.(Focus Education)
May 1, 2006... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal OXFORD -- As more states enact tough accountability standards for schools, administrators are being called on to provide leadership in resolving new, complex issues that many are not prepared to...

Firm, schools, students succeed with tech facilitation.(Focus Education)
May 1, 2006... Working to integrate technology into the classroom with the goal of helping Mississippi students improve their overall achievement standards and achieve technological literacy by grade eight is a laudable goal, especially since the federal No...

MSU-Meridian a higher ed opportunity for region.(Mississippi State University)
May 1, 2006... MERIDIAN -- Meeting educational needs for everyone is what it's all about at Mississippi State University's (MSU's) campus here. It was begun in 1972 and offers students of all ages the opportunity to earn a degree or specialist certificate at...

Private colleges.(Directory)(Table)
May 1, 2006... Private Colleges Institution, Year Founded Address Phone Financial Aid Fax Number Belhaven College, 1894 (601) 960-5940 1500 Peachtree St., (601) 968-8946 Jackson, MS...

Public universities.(Directory)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Public Universities Institution, Year Founded Address Phone Financial Aid Fax Number Alcorn State University, (601) 877-6100 1871 (601) 877-6347 1000 ASU...

Glazier's, Tonore combining.
May 1, 2006... GULFPORT -- Scott Rawlings, president of Glazer's of Louisiana and Mississippi, and Robert Tonore, president of Tonore Spirits & Wines Inc. and Tonore Brokerage Inc., have made public plans to integrate their brokerage companies in Mississippi,...

MPSA unites private schools for academics, athletics: about 98% of Jackson Academy grads go on to college, says Jernberg.(Focus Education)
May 1, 2006... When you talk about the role of the Mississippi Private School Association (MPSA) in the year 2006, it is important realize that a lot has changed since the days when many private schools were formed in order to avoid integration. ...

Students, biz can benefit from internships, co-op programs.(Focus Education)
May 1, 2006... What is most important when an employer is interviewing applications for a job? High grades in college or internships that show the graduate has had real life experience in the field? While good grades are a consideration, of course, most...

For many students, ESF making college possible.(Focus Education)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- The mission for Education Services Foundation (ESF) is simple. It's to help Mississippi students go to college. ESF is a non-profit organization that was founded in 1995 with the purpose of fulfilling that mission by providing free...

Federal BLS releases foreign-born worker numbers.(Strictly Business)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON -- In 2005, foreign-born workers made up approximately 15% of the U.S. civilian labor force age 16 and over, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The unemployment rate for the foreign born fell to 4.6% in 2005, down from 5.5%...

Nissan cutting production schedule.(Strictly Business)
May 1, 2006... CANTON -- Nissan North America Inc. (NNA) will take six days of vehicle production out of the 2006 fiscal year first-quarter schedule in an effort to balance inventory levels of its 2006 models. The inventory balance is being made in...

Entergy returning to New Orleans.(Strictly Business)
May 1, 2006... CLINTON -- Nearly eight months after Hurricane Katrina struck and demolished New Orleans, Entergy Corporation is returning to its corporate headquarters in the Crescent City. The company that has been headquartered in New Orleans since 1922 and...

AmSouth has order lifted.(Strictly Business)
May 1, 2006... BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- According to AmSouth Bancorporation, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta and the State of Alabama Banking Department have terminated the cease and desist order entered into with AmSouth Bancorporation and AmSouth Bank in...

Trustmark buying Republic.(Texas Inc signed a definitive agreement in which Republic will merge into Trustmark)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- Trustmark Corporation and Republic Bancshares of Texas Inc. have signed a definitive agreement in which Republic will merge into Trustmark. This transaction provides an opportunity for Trustmark to expand and enhance its...

Tenet selling hospital to HMA.(Strictly Business)
May 1, 2006... BILOXI -- A subsidiary of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare Corporation has signed a definitive agreement to sell the 189-bed Gulf Coast Medical Center in Biloxi to Health Management Associates Inc. (HMA) of Naples, Fla. Net after-tax proceeds,...

Harrah's acquiring Casino Magic.(Strictly Business)
May 1, 2006... BILOXI -- Enhancing its ability to pursue long-term growth opportunities on the Gulf Coast, a subsidiary of Harrah's Entertainment Inc. has signed a letter of intent to acquire the remaining assets of Casino Magic Biloxi from Pinnacle...

Adams and Reese entering Memphis.(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- Fifteen attorneys formerly with Armstrong Allen, PLLC, are joining the firm Adams and Reese, adding a new Memphis office to its South Central U.S. footprint. Charles R Adams Jr., managing partner of Adams and Reese, and James B....

CRI merges with Bearden & Smith.(Bearden & Smith merges with Carr, Riggs & Ingrain LLC)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... RIDGELAND -- The Atlanta-based public accounting firm Bearden & Smith, PC, has merged with Carr, Riggs & Ingrain, LLC. (CRI). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. CRI chairman and managing partner William H. Carr said, "The...

President to speak at MGCCC graduation.(Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BILOXI -- President George W. Bush will be the commencement speaker at graduation ceremonies for Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC). The event will be held May 11 at the Mississippi Cost Coliseum at Biloxi. "It is a...

Regions sees record earnings.(sales and earnings of Regions Financial Corp)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- During the first quarter ended March 31, 2006, Regions Financial Corporation saw record earnings and record-breaking Morgan Keegan profits. Regions president and CEO Jackson W. Moore said, "First quarter's earnings...

FCR achieves milestone.(Securities of Foundation Capital Resources Inc)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- Foundation Capital Resources Inc. (FCR), a real estate investment trust focused on providing mortgage financing to churches and other faith-based organizations, has completed the securitization of a loan portfolio, issuing...

DuPont improving storm protection.(Strictly Business)
May 1, 2006... DELISLE -- By mid-August, a flood wall at the DuPont DeLisle plant on the Mississippi Gulf Coast will rise to a height of 30 feet to protect the plant from future storms. The company will spend $15 to $20 million to top the existing 20-foot...

Earnings up at BancorpSouth.(sales and earnings of BancorpSouth Inc)(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... TUPELO -- BancorpSouth Inc., for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006, saw growth of 17.5% in earnings per diluted share to $0.47 for the first quarter of 2006 from $0.40 for the first quarter of 2005. BancorpSouth's net income increased...

Hancock's numbers up.(sales and earnings of Hancock Holding Company )(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... GULFPORT -- Hancock Holding Company saw earnings for the first quarter ended March 31, 2006, of $22.01 million, an increase of $6.57 million, or 43%, from the first quarter of 2005. Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2006 were...

Workdays are busy for Nissan's newest HR director.(Focus HR & Training)
May 1, 2006... CANTON -- Every weekday at 5 a.m., Jeffrey Webster wakes up and prepares for another 12-hour day at Nissan North America's automotive assembly plant in Canton. On most mornings by 6:15 a.m., he's in his office reviewing the local...

Holmes CC offering workforce training at four locations.(Focus HR & Training)
May 1, 2006... The teaching of workplace Spanish and a shift to individual training are some of the trends in workforce training and Holmes Community College (HCC) is on the cutting edge with their programs at four locations. In addition to the main campus in...

Mississippi community colleges.
May 1, 2006... Mississippi Community Colleges Institution, Year Founded Address Phone Financial Aid Fax Number Coahoma Community (662) 627-2571 College, 1949 (662) 624-9516...

HR pros in tune with pre-employment background checks: don't rely on instinct to make a good hire.(Focus HR & Training)
May 1, 2006... In many cases, whether or not you are hired for a job may depend on information revealed in a background check. More and more, background searches are used to screen applicants. Human resources professionals say these screenings are now a way...

Required or not, professionals take time for continuing ed.(analysis of accounting software)
May 1, 2006... When computer technicians show up at a client's office to fix a vexing computer problem, they have to be prepared to do just that--fix the problem. Clients usually pay on a per-hour basis, and "nobody wants you training on-site," said Eric...

Pay attention to smart ways to refinance, FPA says.
May 1, 2006... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal As the candy and flowers keep trickling in' for our new Fed chief, it's possible he might not return the favor. In his first congressional testimony last February, Federal Reserve chairman Ben...

Change is inevitable, but is it good? That depends.
May 1, 2006... Generic, all-to-frequent advertising conversation: CLIENT: "I want to change my advertising." AGENCY: "Are your sales down?" CLIENT: "No." AGENCY: "Are you losing market share? Are inquires waning?" CLIENT: "No." ...

Entrepreneurial spirit burns deep in Magnolia State.
May 1, 2006... How many times would most people have to experience less than stellar success at a small business venture before the endeavors burned them out to the point where they just flat gave up trying? For a select minority group of special individuals...

Mississippi events business.(calendar)(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... Tuesday, May 2 * The USDA Rural Development Conference titled "Is Your Community Missing Out on the Information Economy?" will be held in Oxford and continue through May 3. To register or obtain more information, call (601) 266-4186, or...

Doing the right thing.
May 1, 2006... Welcome to the Mississippi Business Journal's Business Integrity Awards special publication. This issue marks the fourth year of Mississippi's premier recognition of ethical businesses. It also marks the 42nd anniversary of the Better Business...

Overcoming trials and tribulations.(award for Gulfport)
May 1, 2006... On March 30 at the Mississippi Telecommunications Center in downtown Jackson, four companies walked away with prestigious and sought-after awards recognizing them for adhering to highly ethical practices and maintaining integrity in all...

Law firm committed to golden rule's principles.(Anderson Crawley & Burke)
May 1, 2006... RIDGELAND -- Anderson Crawley & Burke (ACB), PLLC, represents the newest business on the short list of finalists for the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi Integrity Awards. Officially formed only three years ago, the firm's lead...

Seeking solutions to provide better customer service.(awards for telecommunications industry)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- Ed Cupstid often goes outside his normal accountabilities to enhance business operations for Cellular South. As Cellular South's billing manager, Cupstid recently took the initiative to develop an advanced rate plan analysis tool...

Early tough choices worth it as firm sees success.(The Cirlot Agency)
May 1, 2006... FLOWOOD -- Liza Cirlot Looser turned a $78 tax refund check into a full-service marketing, public relations and corporate communications firm with more than $25 million in capitalized billings. Known nationally as one of the top advertising...

Responding to changing healthcare needs of patients.(Central Mississippi Medical Center)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- Even though Naples, Fla.-based Health Management Associates (HMA) Inc., has been a part of Mississippi since 1990, operating 10 facilities throughout the state, including its flagship hospital Central Mississippi Medical Center...

Exceeding customers' expectations taken seriously.(Graham Homes Inc.)
May 1, 2006... MADISON -- After Paul Graham finished building the Madison home of Charles and Ava Warren in 2002, they were so pleased, the couple felt compelled to let others know about their happy experience. "He was always honest, dependable and very...

Still beating that best deal--regardless!(Ford Motor Company customer surveys)
May 1, 2006... BRANDON -- When Doug and Jeri Hudgel were driving through Mississippi en route to their home in Pell City, Ala., they found themselves stranded on an interstate exit ramp. Their disabled vehicle was taken to Gray-Daniels Ford, where the...

2006 BBB Integrity Awards and Circle of Honor.(awards for publishers)
May 1, 2006... 2006 Integrity Awards Winners in four corporate-size categories are (from left) Joe D. Jones, CPA (retired), publisher of the Mississippi Business Journal; Bill Moak, president of the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi; Liza Looser, CEO of...

Second to none reputation within industry, community.(Cowboy Maloney's Electric City)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- Cowboy Maloney's has landed several major industry coups. In 1995, the Maloneys sold the first RCA digital satellite system in the world. The company recently introduced other firsts: DIRECTV's new school programming and mobile radio...

Day's full of adventure and satisfaction.(customer satisfaction)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- With Hurricane Katrina barreling down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Dierdre McGowan made a 120-mile dash from her home in Bay St. Louis to her office in New Orleans to ensure that vital paper records of her clients were successfully...

Caring staff, quality products, good value add up.(company profile)(Company overview)
May 1, 2006... KOSCIUSKO -- Few merchants these days receive kudos for merchandise quality and value and customer satisfaction. But Leonard's in downtown Kosciusko is clearly an exception. "As far as Leonard's is concerned, I always feel so good when I...

Building a corporate culture 'Southern Style'.(Mississippi Power Company)
May 1, 2006... GULFPORT -- Doing business "Southern Style" is the model for corporate and professional leadership principles employed by the 1,200 people who serve 195,000 customers in 23 southeastern Mississippi counties for the investor-owned Mississippi...

Employees keep dealership driving up the road.(Pat Peck Honda)
May 1, 2006... GULFPORT -- During the last weekend of August 2005, an extensive $850,000 multi-phase expansion and renovation project that had taken nearly six months to complete at Pat Peck Honda lacked only a few weeks of final finish work when Hurricane...

Firm's ultimate goal? Taking care of clients.(Pinnacle Trust)
May 1, 2006... RIDGELAND -- A few months ago, a prospective client who had been recently diagnosed with cancer visited Stacey Wall. "He brought his wife with him to meet me, and sitting in my office with one tear coming down his cheek, he said to me:...

Everyday confidence much more than a clever phrase.(management of Regions Financial Corporation)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- When Danny James returned home to his deep roots in Mississippi to take over as group president for the Greater Mississippi division of Regions Bank, he remained a vital part of the 135-year-old financial institution known for its...

J. Con Maloney Jr. honored as 2006 CEO of Integrity.(Biography)
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- Con Maloney, who recently received the Better Business Bureau 2006 CEO of Integrity Award, has been omnipresent oil the Jackson business scene since his family moved to the metro area in 1945. Maloney has already enjoyed several...

Howard L. McMillan Jr. honored with Inaugural Torchbearer Award.
May 1, 2006... JACKSON -- In 1998, Howard McMillan retired as president and COO from Deposit Guaranty National Bank, then the state's largest lender, after almost 40 years of service. He was looking forward to a life of leisure, mixed with charitable service....

Weekly papers adjusting to changing marketplace.
May 8, 2006... When Gene Coleman learned that Beau Rivage had been hit hard during Hurricane Katrina, he was certain that his newspaper building had been destroyed. Located three blocks from the casino resort, with Mary Mahoney's restaurant in between...

MEC prepares for a packed house at its annual meeting.
May 8, 2006... Business success depends on creating and maintaining a great culture. That's the message Mississippi native Clarence Otis Jr. will deliver at the 57th-annual Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) meeting May 10 at the Marriott in downtown...

Entergy leaving, but old WorldCom building not empty.
May 8, 2006... The Entergy Corporation has called the former WorldCom building in Clinton home since Hurricane Katrina displaced it from its New Orleans headquarters last August. Now those employees--about one third of all corporate employees--are heading...

Owners: prepare before storm to land recovery work.
May 8, 2006... BILOXI -- Participants in a roundtable discussion with U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) regional administrator Nuby J. Fowler in early April had advice for small businesses who want to share in government disaster contracting: Be ready...

Goal of economic development? Making the pie bigger.(AS I See It)
May 8, 2006... What is the role of state government, or any government, for that matter? Carrying the mail and defending the beaches has traditionally been the role of the federal government. Protecting property rights and maintaining law and order has been...

Crunching the numbers.(analysing economic development)
May 8, 2006... I moved my office to Highland Colony Parkway about six months ago. I wasn't among the mass exodus from Jackson: Instead, I moved from Clinton. It was simply a matter of being more convenient for my clients--just a good business move. In...

Opening the door for all of our readers.(Across the Desk)
May 8, 2006... Attentive readers of the Mississippi Business Journal know that we focus on a specific subject area in every issue. This week, we magnify that focus with two sections: the first covers advertising and media on pages 8-15; the second delves into...

Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC.(appointments)(Jackson, Mississippi office of Baker)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Twelve attorneys with extensive experience in government law and public finance this week joined the Jackson, Mississippi office of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC. The attorneys previously practiced with McGlinchey Stafford,...

State Board for Community and Junior Colleges.(State Board for Community and Junior Colleges)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... George Walker of Clarksdale was recently re-elected chair of the State Board for Community and Junior Colleges (SBCJC) for the 10th consecutive year. Walker, who is currently serving a third consecutive six-year term, is the founder of Delta...

Foundation for Public Broadcasting in Mississippi.(People to Watch)
May 8, 2006... Linda Jacobs joined the Foundation for Public Broadcasting in Mississippi (FPB) as corporate relations and events manager. Prior to FPB, Jacobs worked as program director for WDBD WB 40, WXMS UPN and WUFX Fox 35; special events director at the...