The Mississippi Business Journal articles from May 2008

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from May 2008

Growing demand, soaring costs hit hard at food banks in state.(Mississippi Food Network)
May 5, 2008... With gasoline costing on average 68 cents per gallon more than a year ago, and food costs up as a result, organizations like the Mississippi Food Network (MFN) in Mississippi are finding it increasingly difficult to provide food for the needy....

One more spring showdown for Childers, Davis.(Jamie L. Whitten)(In memoriam)
May 5, 2008... Thirteen years after his death, Jamie Whitten still casts a long political shadow in Northeast Mississippi. The former congressman served for 50 years in the House of Representatives, 13 of which were spent as chair of the Appropriations...

Golf courses coming back from severe storm damage.
May 5, 2008... Rick Bedells was at Deerfield golf course April 4 around noon when tornadoes hit the Jackson area. The general manager of Jackson-based Colonial Country Club, which owns Deerfield, Bedells was north of the worst weather. But when he headed...

MTA hosting inaugural Innovators Hall of Fame gala May 13.(Mississippi Technology Alliance's Inaugural Innovators Hall of Fame)
May 5, 2008... To truly understand the impact high-tech has on Mississippi's economy today and its potential impact tomorrow, it is important to study the past. That is the idea behind the Mississippi Technology Alliance's (MTA's) Inaugural Innovators Hall of...

Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A.(People to Watch)
May 5, 2008... Christopher J. Latimer has joined Mitchell, McNutt & Sams, P.A., in the Columbus office. The University of Mississippi and University of Georgia School of Law graduate is a member of the ABA, Mississippi Bar and Alabama Bar, and he currently...

Mississippi Hospital Association.(People to Watch)
May 5, 2008... Karen Hargett of Ridgeland has been promoted to project coordinator for the Mississippi Hospital Association's education department. She has been with the organization for a year. In 2005, Hargett graduated with a bachelor of business...

The Cirlot Agency.(People to Watch)
May 5, 2008... Colby Kaminer has joined The Cirlot Agency Inc. as an account executive. A native of Jackson, Kaminer joined the full-service, marketing, public relations and corporate communications firm after earning a bachelor of business administration...

Northeast Mississippi Community College.(People to Watch)(Patrick Eaton)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... Patrick Eaton, executive director of the Northeast Mississippi Community College Development Foundation in Booneville, has been elected to the national board of directors of the Council for Resource Development, which supports professionals and...

The Mustard Seed.(People to Watch)(Jacksonian Kit Davis Barksdale )(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... Lifelong Jacksonian Kit Davis Barksdale has joined The Mustard Seed as executive director. Previously, she was director of the Craftsmen's Guild of Mississippi where she oversaw fundraising for the organization's new building in Ridgeland. The...

Renasant Bank.(People to Watch)
May 5, 2008... Carter Naugher has been named Monroe County division president for Tupelo based Renasant Bank. Prior to joining Renasant, Naugher was senior vice president with BankFirst Financial Services in Ridgeland. In his new role, Carter will be...

Hawthorn Pharmaceuticals Inc.(People to Watch)
May 5, 2008... Kelly Waldrop has been promoted to staff accountant for Hawthorn Pharmaceuticals Inc. She joined the Madison-based company in March 2006. Waldrop graduated with a bachelor of science in business administration degree from Mississippi College in...

Silver Plate to McAlister's Deli executive Friedman.(People to Watch)
May 5, 2008... The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) has awarded the 2008 Silver Plate in the Chain Full Service category to Phil Friedman, president, chairman and CEO of Ridgeland-based McAlister's Deli Corporation. Each year, the...

Barlow * Eddy * Jenkins, P.A.(People to Watch)(Brian T. Cabunac)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... Brian T. Cabunac, AIA, has recently become a shareholder of Jackson-based Barlow * Eddy * Jenkins, RA. A graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor of architecture degree, he began working with the firm in 1993 and has since...

Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC.(People to Watch)
May 5, 2008... Jason E. Sharp has joined Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC, as an associate in the firm's Northeast Mississippi office. A Mississippi State University alum, he graduated with honors from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William...

Jackson Convention Complex.(People to Watch)(Linda McCarthy)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... Linda McCarthy has joined the Jackson Convention Complex as general manager. The facility is managed by SMG and is set to open in January 2009 in downtown Jackson. McCarthy is the former GM of the Mississippi TelCom Center. The Mississippi...

Guild Hardy Architects, P.A.(People to Watch)
May 5, 2008... Jennifer Gentile has joined Biloxi-based Guild Hardy Architects, P.A., as one of the firm's accountants. She will work under the firm's business manager and her duties will include forecasting, cost estimations and day-to-day accounting...

Bradley Arant Rose & White, LLP.(People to Watch)
May 5, 2008... Kathleen Richter Shields has joined Bradley Arant Rose & White, LLP, in the firm's Jackson office where she is a member of the litigation practice group. She graduated from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she was a member of...

Perspective.
May 5, 2008... CONGRATULATIONS, STUDENTS! HERE'S SOMETHING EXTRA FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Contact Hattiesburg-based cartoonist Ricky Nobile nobilericky@aol.com.

Unprecedented economic change or just another cycle?(Perspective)
May 5, 2008... Will the scarcity of cheap oil and growing pressure for natural resources from emerging world economies be the death knell of the American suburbs? It's something to think about while filling up the ol' SUV for that 32 mile or so commute from...

Facilities hit $3 billion.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi Development Authority)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- According to the Mississippi Development Authority's "Summary of New and Expanded Facilities Announced in Mississippi: January 2008 thru March 2008," there were a total of 79 new and expanded facilities unveiled, which are...

Workers vote for union.(Strictly Business)(International Brotherhood of Teamsters)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... TUPELO -- According to Teamsters general president Jim Hoffa, an "overwhelming" majority of approximately 100 workers at UPS Freight (formerly Overnite Transportation) terminals in Mississippi, Alabama, California and Oregon have signed...

Hancock launches online tool.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... GULFPORT -- As anxieties rise among homeowners trapped in the national housing crisis, Hancock Bank has introduced a new mortgage division initiative to help homebuyers avoid mortgage pitfalls, including consumers grappling with the adverse...

Sanderson re-buying shares.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... LAUREL -- Sanderson Farms Inc.'s board of directors has approved a plan under which the company may repurchase up to 225,000 shares of its common stock over the next four years. Under the stock repurchase program, shares may be purchased...

E-waste collections rise for Intechra on Earth Day.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... On April 12, Intechra collected nearly 45,000 pounds of used electronics during free recycling events at five of its facilities across the country. That was an increase of 12.5% compared to its Earth Day collections in 2007. The...

Harrah's gives back on Earth Day.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Harrah's Entertainment donated 20 picnic tables from Grand Casino's RV Park to be placed throughout Shelby Farms Park while Harrah's employees helped with recycling efforts and operation of an Earth Day celebration...

One Call enhanced.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi One Call Network)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... The Mississippi Legislature has passed a bill to expand the state's "One Call" network. Gov. Haley Barbour signed the bill last week and now, effective July 1, every private and public entity in the state that operates underground facilities...

CVBs continue campaign.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... TUNICA -- The success of the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau's (CVB's) and Tunica CVB's first cooperative advertising campaign in the fall of 2007 to Huntsville and Birmingham, Ala., has led the two destination marketing organizations to...

Airport funds awarded.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- The U.S. Department of Transportation has released nearly $4 million in funding for airports across the State of Mississippi. Funding for the grants, administered by the Federal Aviation Administration, was provided...

The First increases income.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... David E. Johnson, The First chairman and CEO, said, "This year looks to be a challenging one for the banking industry. With falling interest rates and a slowing economy, we will be dealing with margin compression and slower growth. Our staff is...

U.S. News & World Report ranks Ole Miss School of Business Administration in top 100.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... OXFORD -- U.S. News & World Report has ranked the University of Mississippi (UM) School of Business Administration as one of the nation's top 100 undergraduate business programs. The designation is part Of the publication's annual...

SGS makes festival campaign interactive.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... OXFORD -- To help promote the Beale Street Music Festival, May 2-4, the Southern Growth Studio (SGS) launched an interactive marketing campaign that included an online game that players e-mailed to friends and a strong presence on social...

Hancock sees improved numbers.(Strictly Business)(Hancock Holding Co.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... GULFPORT -- Hancock Holding Company's first quarter 2008 earnings were $20.1 million, an increase of $0.8 million, or 4.3%, from the first quarter of 2007. Diluted earnings per share for the first quarter of 2008 were $0.63, an increase of...

Parkway investing in RECESS.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... The Mississippi Council on Economic Education (MCEE) and Parkway Properties Inc. will present RECESS (Real Estate Concepts and Economics Summit), a 16-week seminar series that gives educators a window into the real estate industry and access to...

Nuclear spinoffs named.(Strictly Business)
May 5, 2008... Entergy Corporation has selected Enexus Energy Corporation as the new name of the independent, publicly-traded nuclear power company it plans to spin off later this year, and EquaGen, LLC, as the name of the new joint venture Entergy and Enexus...

MDA program promoting New Market Tax Credit options May 5.
May 5, 2008... Good things can happen in the places that need it the most with access to financing options for state and federal tax credits to community development entities (CDEs). Those options enable CDEs to attract investment from the private-sector and...

Business leaders tune in to 'flyover' of transportation projects: Mississippi Economic Council hosts Minor, Hall and Brown for MEC Connect Web Call.
May 5, 2008... Business leaders from throughout the state got a "flyover" of the multiple highway development projects across the state during a recent Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) Connect Web Call with the three Mississippi Transportation...

Strawberries offer consumers homegrown quality, taste.(Mississippi Agribusiness)
May 5, 2008... Few growers remain in the strawberry business in Mississippi, but consumers still like to buy local produce because of its fresh taste. "It tastes like a strawberry," says Allen Eubanks, who with his wife, Janice, owns Eubanks Produce in...

Technology, defense and more in focus at MEC's annual meeting.(Mississippi Economic Council)
May 5, 2008... Anyone who has attended any of the Mississippi Economic Council's annual meetings knows that the event is more than just a meeting--it is a production. And the MEC is hard at work wrapping up the final details on the 59th edition of its annual...

Department of Employment Security entangled in bickering: 'indefensible lack of action,' says Barbour.(Mississippi Department of Employment Security)
May 5, 2008... The list of items on the upcoming special legislative session agenda just grew by one. The state's funding of Medicaid had already assured itself a spot on the to-do list once Gov. Haley Barbour calls lawmakers back to Jackson to finish up...

Campus safety, crisis communication on agenda last week.
May 5, 2008... On April 16, 2007, in Blacksburg, Va., a Virginia Tech student armed to the teeth went on a campus shooting spree that killed 32 people. In February of this year, in DeKalb, Ill., a former student at Northern Illinois University unleashed...

Magnolia State family business roadtrip takes many turns.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... Family-owned businesses are the heartbeat of Mississippi's economy. Many of these affairs are small--true mom and pops, or perhaps more appropriate, mamas and daddies--and fly under most radars. Others are well known and large, with...

Financial advisors urge caution, investing for the long term.
May 5, 2008... With the economy in flux, financial advisors are urging caution and making some changes in their advice to clients. Several professionals in the Jackson area stress that it's normal for the stock market to drop 10% once a year although it...

Successfully blending family, business poses unique challenges.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... Family businesses pose unique opportunities and challenges. And now there is a Family Business Institute at Millsaps College designed to help. "As a banker, I dealt with a lot of family businesses," says Howard L. McMillan Jr., dean of the...

Guv to speak at summit.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... For the second time, Gov. Haley Barbour will be a feature participant in the 2008 National Summit on American Competitiveness in Chicago. The event will highlight the accomplishments of top state and local leaders who have successfully driven...

Trustmark's income rises in first quarter.(Financial report)
May 5, 2008... Jackson-based Trustmark Corporation reports net income was $26.2 million in the first quarter of 2008, which represented basic earnings per share of $0.46. Earnings per share in the first quarter of 2008 increased 9.5% when compared to the...

Wise counsel, informative resources keep businesses on track.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... Family businesses have a special place in Mississippi. Many skills come into starting and running them. Small business advisors suggest that skills used for small businesses can also be used to successfully operate family businesses. ...

Act quickly to undo identity theft actions.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... People who find themselves victims of identity fraud can clear their names and credit if they act quickly to stop the fraud. Bobble Shaffett, family resource management specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service,...

Relationships extra special when they're on the job and at home.
May 5, 2008... There are always challenges with a group of individuals working together. In family businesses, family relationships add a different dynamic to the mix. Business advisors recommend keeping the lines of communication open between family members....

Changing jobs? Think long and hard about your retirement plan.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... Changing jobs is common in our volatile society, but what happens to retirement plans when a change is made? Financial advisors and retirement specialists have some words of advice for anyone in that situation. "First, check to see who...

Make wise decisions on home financing.(Focus)(Brief article)
May 5, 2008... Refinancing a home mortgage can be a useful tool to free some income or speed up a payment plan, but it also can be an easy way to get into deeper financial trouble. Bobble Shaffett, family resource management specialist with the...

Faculty address economic issues in anticipation of Sept, 26 debate.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... Unless Americans spend the tax rebates they are about to receive on new purchases, the rebates are unlikely to give the slumping economy a boost, says a distinguished University of Mississippi economics professor. Experience with...

Insurance plays role in assessing current, future financial concerns.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... Adequate insurance is critical, but can it be used as an investment tool? Some Mississippi financial advisors are not big fans of using insurance as part of an investment portfolio and suggest caution if doing so. "We have not recommended...

Caution can protect seniors from fraud.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... Senior citizens are more likely than people in other age groups to report fraud, but they remain attractive targets because of life situations that scam artists can exploit. "Seniors generally are no more at risk of being defrauded than...

Step-by-step process best way to prepare a business for sale.
May 5, 2008... Significant numbers of aging business-owning Baby Boomers will be selling or handing off their companies over the next decade or so. Everyone knows you can't take the business into the grave but, even so, it's hard to get owners to even discuss...

Business events (and more).(Focus)(Calendar)
May 5, 2008... Monday, May 5 * The Mississippi Development Authority will host a Community Development Entity and New Markets Tax Credit Workshop from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Mississippi Telecommunications and Convention Center in Jackson. Gov. Haley...

Start financial lessons early in life.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... It's amazing in these times of crippling consumer debt, troubled investment markets and real estate turmoil that children don't get mandatory training in money management in school. But until that changes, Mom and Dad, it's up to you. ...

As economy falters, savings can help families weather storm.(Focus)
May 5, 2008... Few events focus the need for saving money like a sudden job loss or a personal catastrophe. Unfortunately, by then it is too late. "Most people know they need to save money for retirement or for their child's college education, but any...

Couples must tread carefully wherever wealth gaps lurk.
May 5, 2008... If it's true that opposites attract, it should come as no surprise that spouses often have vastly different attitudes and habits around money and investing. Life experiences shape who we are, including how we manage our finances. When it's...

Mississippi mortgage numbers 'not too pretty,' says banking commish.(Focus)
May 12, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The news about the nation's home mortgage crisis continues to be sobering. Nationally one in every 33 mortgages is in foreclosure. Mississippi is better than the national average with one in every 50 mortgages in...

Long-term odds still look good for Magnolia State gaming.
May 12, 2008... With the slowing national economy, gaming, once considered a recession proof industry, is showing some slowing, too. Personnel layoffs have been reported at some Coast and Tunica casinos although building and planning for new gaming facilities...

Just in time for summer break, anxiety about student loans.
May 12, 2008... The anxiety and uncertainty of the financial marketplace has extended to virtually every economic sector. The student loan market is one of them. Banks are becoming increasingly hesitant to write mortgage loans to anybody but the most...

Tech expert honored with 3-E Award.(People to Watch)(JoAnn Shoemake Cooper )(Brief article)
May 12, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Special to the Mississippi Business Journal JoAnn Shoemake Cooper of Pelahatchie, computer network support technology instructor on the Hinds Community College Rankin Campus. has been named the college's 2008 3-E...

Mississippi Public Broadcasting.(People to Watch)
May 12, 2008... Ann Marie Copland has joined Mississippi Public Broadcasting as deputy executive director for education. She will be working to establish key partnerships in Mississippi, Washington, D.C.. and across the nation to create new children's programs...

Guild Hardy Architects.(People to Watch)
May 12, 2008... Lee Palermo of Guild Hardy Architects recently passed the Architect Registration Examination (ARE) and is now a licensed architect in the State of Mississippi. With the licensure of Palermo, the firm now has 13 licensed architects on staff in...

Smith Seckman Reid Inc.(People to Watch)(John C. Modzelewski )(Brief article)
May 12, 2008... John C. Modzelewski has joined Nashville-based Smith Seckman Reid Inc. as office manager for the Hernando office. He will be responsible for the development of new clients and markets, maintaining existing client relationships, negotiating fees...

University of Mississippi.(People to Watch)
May 12, 2008... Robin Buchannon has been named assistant vice chancellor for research and sponsored programs at the University of Mississippi. Her promotion comes six years after she joined the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs as assistant director of...

Will Morgan joins Business Journal.(People to Watch)
May 12, 2008... Will Morgan of Madison has joined the Mississippi Business Journal as staff researcher-reporter. His primary role is coordinator of the MBJ's annual Book of Lists special issue, and he also oversees weekly focus list management and other...

Metropolitan Bank.(People to Watch)
May 12, 2008... New associates joining Metropolitan Bank recently include: Meghan Simpson as Internet banking administrator. She has more than six years' banking experience in bank operations and will be located in the Flowood office. Prior to joining...

'Rainy Day' bill signed.(Strictly Business)(Brief article)
May 12, 2008... JACKSON -- On April 29, Gov. Haley Barbour signed legislation that fully fills Mississippi's "Rainy Day Fund," the special state savings account designed to protect taxpayers and governmental functions in case of an economic downturn. ...

GWI buying CAGY.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... COLUMBUS -- Genesee & Wyoming Inc. (GWI) of Greenwich, Conn., has signed an agreement to acquire CAGY Industries Inc. for approximately $78.4 million in cash. The final purchase price will be adjusted for working capital at the time of closing....

Sanderson lands more credit.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... LAUREL -- Sanderson Farms Inc.'s existing revolving credit facility through a consortium of banks has been increased from $225 million to $300 million. Sanderson said the new agreement provides additional available credit, as needed, for...

Chaney: buy now.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST -- The 2008 hurricane season is approaching, and Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney is encouraging all coastal residents to protect their lives and property by making preparations now. One of the first items on their...

Clayton makes investments.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... JACKSON -- Clayton Associates, LLC, a Franklin, Tenn.-based source of equity capital for early-stage companies in the Southeast, invested in Continuum 700. LLC. Terms were not disclosed. According to Clayton, Continuum 700 is a...

Citizens adopts plan.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... PHILADELPHIA -- The board of director of Citizens Holding Company, the parent company of The Citizens Bank of Philadelphia, has authorized a share repurchase plan under which up to 250,000 shares of the company's common stock, par value $0.20...

700,000-square-foot power center in works.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal D'IBERVILLE -- CBL & Associates Properties Inc. (NYSE: CBL) and Forum Development Group, LLC, have acquired approximately 72 acres in this Gulf Coast community for the development of The...

SBA opens Jackson loan center.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... JACKSON -- The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has opened a Disaster Loan Outreach Center at the Willie Morris Library on Old Canton Road in Jackson. The location is serving those affected by the severe storms and tornadoes April 4,...

Program accredited.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... OCEAN SPRINGS -- The National Trust Main Street Center has accredited Ocean Springs Main Street as a 2008 National Main Street Program for meeting the commercial district revitalization performance standards. Ocean Springs Main Street...

Crye-Leike opens office.(Strictly Business)(Brief article)
May 12, 2008... FLOWOOD -- Crye-Leike, REALTORS has officially opened its new Jackson Mississippi Metro Headquarters office. The new corporate and sales center is located on Treetops Boulevard in Flowood. The corporate office and administrative center...

Three metro Jackson accounting firms combining.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... Special to the Mississippi Business Journal Three accounting firms in metro Jackson are combining with Springfield, Mo.-based BKD, LLP. BKD managing partner Neal D. Spencer announced the firms' combination would be effective June 1, 2008....

Denbury's earnings soar.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... DALLAS -- Denbury Resources Inc. posted quarterly earnings for the first quarter of 2008 of $73 million, or $0.30 per basic common share, 339% higher than first quarter 2007 net income of $16.6 million, or $0.07 per basic common share. The...

Defense bill passes.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... ACROSS MISSISSIPPI -- According to U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, several Mississippi defense-related projects were approved when the committee unanimously passed the National Defense...

Nursing home costs rising.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... RICHMOND, VA. -- The cost of nursing home care in Mississippi has increased 26% since 2004, according to an annual Cost of Care Survey released by Genworth Financial. This compares to a 17% increase nationwide. The study, which found that...

Commission to hold hearing.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... JACKSON -- Mississippi citizens and interest groups will have the opportunity to speak to members of the Governor's Tax Study Commission. The event will take place May 19 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mississippi Telcom Center in downtown...

NAFTA numbers still rising.(Strictly Business)
May 12, 2008... WASHINGTON -- Trade using surface transportation between the United States and its North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) partners, Canada and Mexico, was 16.3% higher in February 2008 than in February 2007, reaching $69.4 billion,...