The Mississippi Business Journal articles from October 2003

The Mississippi Business Journal archives from October 2003

Ag candidates weigh meaty issues: overall, two-term incumbent Lester Spell and challenger Max Phillips more alike than different.(Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce)(Biography)
October 6, 2003... It's not a sexy race, but it's an important one--critical to Mississippi's largest industry. Whoever wins the battle for commissioner of the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC)--incumbent Lester Spell Jr., D.V.M., or...

CAVS on schedule to open by year-end.(Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems)
October 6, 2003... STARKVILLE -- The Mississippi Development Authority has completed building the $9-million Center for Advanced Vehicular Systems (CAVS) in the Mississippi State University (MSU) Research Park in Starkville and the $6-million extension center...

Debatable debates.(Perspective)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Debate winners and debate losers are fun to talk about over a few cups of coffee the morning after, but the bottom line is that today's political debates have a minimal impact on election outcomes. In fact, most of the folks paying...

What does it take to survive and thrive?(As I See It)(largest private companies)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... This week the Mississippi Business Journal focuses on the state's larger private companies. What makes one company get big while most others either stay small or fall by the wayside? What's the magic of starting small and growing large?...

Making the most of an afternoon commute.(The View from Here)
October 6, 2003... On perfect October afternoons, I like to drive home to Clinton with the windows down and the sunroof open. But it's tough to savor the sights and sounds of the coming autumn at 70 miles an hour on the interstate--the wind whipping around...

'Backseat Quarterback' will score with readers, again.(One Writer's Perspective)(Book Review)
October 6, 2003... "Backseat Quarterback," the memoirs of Perian Conerly, wife of the legendary Mississippi gridiron star Charlie Conerly, can best be summed up in two words--"surprise, surprise." Expecting either a gossipy tell-all, endless name-dropping...

Bright lights of Nissan shine on even brighter future.(Musings)(Column)
October 6, 2003... I've made the trek up Interstate 55 through Memphis and back again many times in the last 20 years. It's a boring drive. Lots of trees and pavement for miles with the only mecca being Grenada, offering travelers a respite from the long drive....

Community revitalization tough but rewarding business.(From the Ground Up)(Column)
October 6, 2003... Community revitalization is a tough, but rewarding business. It is a big business if one counts all the government spending, foundation investment, and nonprofit funding that goes into it. And that's not counting the time contributed by...

Junior Achievement announces new officers.(People to Watch)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Junior Achievement (JA) of Mississippi has elected the following new officers: Rob Farr II, principal with Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons, LTD, board chair; Joe Jones, publisher of the Mississippi Business Journal, chair-elect; Bill Hunsberger,...

AmSouth.(People to Watch)(Will Loftin named city president for AmSouth in Vicksburg Loftin)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Will Loftin has been named city president for AmSouth in Vicksburg Loftin has been with AmSouth since 2000 and most recently served as manager of the bank's Pearl branch. Loftin holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from...

AGJ Systems & Networks Inc.(People to Watch)(Steven Wagner named chief information officer)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... AGJ Systems & Networks Inc. has hired Steven Wagner as the corporate chief information officer. Wagner has nearly 12 technology experience and was previously employed with Cisco Systems Inc. as a senior systems engineer at the Houston Technical...

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC).(People to Watch)(Harold W. West receives Army honors)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Harold W. West, recently retired from the U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) in Vicksburg, has been honored by the Army with two prestigious awards, the Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service and the Bronze Order of...

Coca-Cola Bottling Company.(People to Watch)(Tony Ellis named area vice president)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... The Gulf States division Coca-Cola Bottling Company announced the promotion of Tony Ellis to the position of area vice president, north gulf states. He most recently held the position of area vice president, south gulf states in New Orleans,...

Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC).(People to Watch)(Patrick Sullivan named bureau director)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Commissioner of Agriculture Lester Spell has promoted Patrick Sullivan to bureau director, market development division of MDAC. Sullivan, a native of Greenville, received a master of agribusiness management from Mississippi State University. He...

Girl Scout Council of Middle Mississippi.(People to Watch)(Tina Rose Crump named CEO)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... The board of directors of the Girl Scout Council of Middle Mississippi recently named Tina Rose Crump as CEO. Crump has an extensive non-profit background having worked with The American Heart Association and Junior Achievement of Mississippi....

Community Bank.(People to Watch)(named Ethel M. Watson a vice president)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Ethel M. Watson has joined Community Bank in Jackson as vice president. Watson previously worked for Union Planters Bank and has 34 years of banking experience. Douglas Neal has joined the bank as a loan officer in Brandon. Neal is a 2001...

Big Enough Clothes.(People to Watch)(recognized representatives Susan Williamson of Jackson and Janet Webb of Ridgeland for their sales achievements)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Big Enough Clothes, a U.S. designer of children's clothing, recently recognized local representatives Susan Williamson of Jackson and Janet Webb of Ridgeland for their sales achievements. Both were inducted into the $10,000 club.

Mississippi Arts Commission.(People to Watch)(Judi Cleary named director of grants)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Judi Cleary of Jackson has joined the Mississippi Arts Commission as director of grants and special initiatives. After earning a bachelor of arts in education from the University of Maryland, Cleary worked with military child development...

North Mississippi Medical Center (NMMC).(People to Watch)(named Tim Moore administrator at NMMC-West Point)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Tim Moore has been named administrator at NMMC-West Point. Moore comes to West Point from Greenwood Leflore Hospital, where he had served as assistant executive director and chief operations officers. He is a native of Scott County and holds a...

Mississippi State Board of Architecture.(People to Watch)(Jody Coleman appointed)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has appointed Jody Coleman of Florence to the Mississippi State Board of Architecture. Coleman is a partner and member of the board of directors of Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons/Ltd. He is a registered architect.

Delta Regional Medical Center.(People to Watch)(osteopathic surgeon Dr. Leslie Smith has been approved to receive the earned title, Fellow in the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons )(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Dr. Leslie Smith, osteopathic surgeon at Delta Regional Medical Center, has been approved to receive the earned title, Fellow in the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (FACOS). There are only 25 women in the entire country with this honor...

Ocean Springs Hospital and Singing River Hospital.(People to Watch)(seven new physicians hired)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Seven new physicians have joined the medical staffs of Ocean Springs Hospital and Singing River Hospital. Joining the Medical Staff of Ocean Springs Hospital are Dr. Edward I. Dvorak, general surgery, whose practice is with South Mississippi...

ParkPlace Entertainment Tunica.(People to Watch)(Angela Banks named regional manager of internal audit)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... ParkPlace Entertainment Tunica has named Angela Banks regional manager of internal audit. Banks will be responsible for overseeing the operational efficiency and regulatory compliance for all three properties, Grand Casino, Bally's and Sheraton...

Vertex Aerospace venture wins contract, could near $3 billion.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... MADISON -- The U.S. Army is awarding a one-year, $225-million contract to Army Fleet Support, LLC (AFS), a recently formed joint venture company formed by Vertex Aerospace, L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, Paragon Systems and U.S....

Hancock Bank opens Mobile business center.(Strictly Business)(Alabama)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... GULFPORT -- On Sept. 25, Hancock Bank officially opened its new business financial center in Mobile, Ala. The new office is located at 6312 Piccadilly Square Drive. Serving as the hub for Hancock Bank's South Alabama commercial...

Heritage buying County Line Plaza in Jackson.(Strictly Business)(Public Notice)
October 6, 2003... JACKSON -- Heritage Property Investment Trust Inc. of Boston has entered into an agreement to acquire a portfolio of eight properties for approximately $160 million from Trademark Property Company. The portfolio includes County Line Plaza in...

BTC impact studied.(Strictly Business)(Gulf Coast Business Technology Center)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... BILOXI -- Current and graduate tenants of Harrison County's small business incubator have a $35-million impact on the local economy, according to a report released by the Gulf Coast Business Technology Center (BTC). The report was compiled...

EastGroup to create business park.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... JACKSON -- EastGroup Properties (NYSE: EGP) has bought 70 acres of land in the Orlando Central Park, an industrial location in Orlando, Fla., for $5.1 million. EastGroup has unveiled plans to create a master-planned business park to be named...

Cellular South begins 'Tower Power II'.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... JACKSON -- Cellular South has initiated a $38-million network expansion of its third-generation (3G) wireless network. Dubbed "Tower Power II," the expansion will result in more than 100 new cell sites in Mississippi. This expansion will...

Lockheed system completes trials.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... PASCAGOULA -- The seventh generation of the Lockheed Martin-developed Aegis Weapon System successfully completed extensive testing during two sea trials recently onboard the Navy's newest Aegis-equipped Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Pinckney...

BYB adding eateries.(Strictly Business)(Back Yard Burgers Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Back Yard Burgers Inc. of Memphis, Tenn., has signed three development agreements for a total of 21 stores, including three in North Mississippi. Back Yard Burgers entered into an agreement with Prime Brands, LLC, for the development of 15...

Sterne Agee funds student program.(Strictly Business)(at the University of Mississippi, among others)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... BIRMINGHAM, ALA. -- Sterne, Agee & Leach Inc. has launched its 2003-2004 Student Investment Fund Program at the University of Mississippi, University of Alabama, Auburn University, University of Georgia and the University of Louisville. At...

Grant awarded for oysters.(Strictly Business)(National Fish and Wildlife Foundation approves grant for Mississippi Department of Marine Resources)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... BILOXI -- The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources (DMR) was recently approved by the board of directors of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for an award of $89,000 from the Shell Marine Habitat Program. The grant will support...

Sleep center accredited.(Strictly Business)(Sleep Disorders Center at Greenwood Leflore Hospital)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... GREENWOOD -- The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has bestowed full accreditation on the Sleep Disorders Center at Greenwood Leflore Hospital, according to Conrad Iber, M.D., president of the accrediting organization. "By...

Job fair coming Oct. 14.(Strictly Business)
October 6, 2003... HOLLY SPRINGS -- The Marshall-Benton Area Job Fair will be held Oct. 14, 2003, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., in the Holly Springs Multipurpose Building. The event is free and open to the public. "The employers who will be at our job fair are...

MDOT streaming on Web.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi Department of Transportation traffic information services)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... JACKSON -- The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) has added streaming video to its real-time traffic information on www.goMDOT.com, said Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall. In May 2001, MDOT piloted a...

Companies donating.(Strictly Business)(Carpet Clean Inc. and The Oriental Rug Cleaning Company raise funds for children's hospital )(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... PEARL -- Between now and Dec. 31, 2003, Carpet Clean Inc. and The Oriental Rug Cleaning Company are raising money for the Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children in Jackson. The two companies, owned by Mike Miller and UMC employee Judy Dunham,...

Alcorn State revises.(Strictly Business)(university approves new mission statement)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... LORMAN -- The board of trustees of the State Institutions of Higher Learning has approved a revised mission statement for Alcorn State University (ASU). On the recommendation of the board's planning committee, the revised mission meets the...

Health care scores low.(Strictly Business)(hospital quality rankings)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... The quality of care at the nation's hospitals varies substantially from state to state, and Mississippi ranks near the bottom, according to the sixth annual HealthGrades Hospital Quality in America Study. Results of the study, which rates each...

PRCC's center busy.(Strictly Business)(Pearl River Community College Workforce Development Center)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... HATTIESBURG -- Pearl River Community College's (PRCC's) Workforce Development Center served more than 9,300 citizens within its six-county district last year, according to the Poplarville-based college. From July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003, the...

New architecture facility dedicated.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi State University)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... JACKSON -- A dedication and lecture was held Sept. 26 to officially open a new Jackson home for Mississippi State University's (MSU's) fifth-year program in the College of Architecture. The Stuart C. Irby Jr. Studio, named for the late...

Class action motion filed.(Strictly Business)(against insurance companies in wake of Hurricane Georges)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... PASCAGOULA -- Mississippi homeowners who suffered property loss or damage as a result of Hurricane Georges and whose recovery under their homeowner insurance policies was reduced or eliminated have filed a motion to have a class action lawsuit...

TRAC training underway.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Mississippi teachers in North Mississippi are being introduced to Transportation and Civil Engineering (TRAC), an educational program designed by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials for use in science, math...

Labor productivity on the upswing.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Labor productivity, defined as output per hour, rose in 2001 in 55% of the 164 industries studied by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Output rose in 29% of the industries, while hours rose in 20%. The share of industries...

Cleanup bags tons of trash.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST -- Boaters and land-based volunteers flocked to Mississippi's beaches, islands and waterways in record numbers this past weekend to pick up marine debris at 56 designated cleanup sites during the 15th annual Mississippi...

New house life under study.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... STARKVILLE -- Ensuring that newly constructed homes have a chance to survive to a ripe old age is the goal of a recently established collaboration at Mississippi State University (MSU). A joint endeavor among several campus units, the...

Work-related fatalities down.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... WASHINGTON -- A total of 5,524 fatal work injuries were recorded in 2002, a decline of 6.6% from 2001, according to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The count for 2002 was the lowest ever...

Workforce forum slated.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... JACKSON -- The Metro Jackson Chamber of Commerce will present "Forum: The State of Employment and Workforce Development in Central Mississippi" Oct. 22, 2003, at the Hilton Jackson. The event is sponsored by the Metro Jackson Chamber, American...

Employee benefits declining.(Strictly Business)
October 6, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The proportion of employees covered by employer-sponsored medical care plans has fallen gradually over the last decade, according to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In March 2003, 45% of employees had elected...

Counter-cyclical payments allocated.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has begun issuing final 2002-crop counter-cyclical payments for upland cotton, rice and peanuts. The final 2002-crop counter-cyclical payment rate for upland cotton is 13.73 cents per...

Casino design to change.(Strictly Business)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... JACKSON -- Resort-style casinos represent the future of the nation's gaming communities, according to the results of a new survey of leading gaming industry operations executives. The survey results, released by Global Gaming Expo (G2E),...

State's joblessness rate fell in August.(Strictly Business)(Mississippi)(Brief Article)
October 6, 2003... Mississippi's unemployment rate dropped a percentage point in August from July and was lower than last year's August rate, according to the Mississippi Employment Security Commission (MESC). The 6.3% August 2003 rate was down from the prior...

Wooing Mississippi: will Blackmon or Tuck get out the vote?(Barbara Blackmon, Amy Tuck)
October 6, 2003... The math is easy. Black voters, who make up roughly 36% of the state's population, and many trial lawyers and lobbyists would like to see Democratic challenger Barbara Blackmon, the first African-American to seek the state's post, oust...

AG outcome likely decided by party affiliation and voter turnout: crime-fighting aside, will the new guy continue Mike Moore's activist ways?(attorney general)
October 6, 2003... Because of a lack of name recognition, the outcome of the race for attorney general, the chief law enforcement agent in the state, will possibly be determined by little more than party affiliation. "It depends on what happens with voter...

Barbour, Musgrove in dead heat in governor's race: political issues overshadowed by campaign contribution tally; nagging questions linger.(Haley Barbour, Ronnie Musgrove)
October 6, 2003... The media campaigns are full throttle. But determining who is ahead at the polls--Democrat Gov. Ronnie Musgrove or Republican contender Haley Barbour --has been the source of much debate. "I wish we had guts enough to run our own poll so...

Brown Bottling Group taking the spotlight: new facility in Meridian typical.(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... Brown Bottling Group has bolted out of the shadows. Their major product is soft drink Pepsi. Goliath-like Coca-Cola has hogged the spotlight for a long time, especially in the Deep South. It had reached the point where Pepsi was reluctant to...

Mississippi company, one of nation's largest, covering new ground.(Focus Private Companies)(Cellular South)
October 6, 2003... Jackson-based Cellular South, one of the nation's largest privately held wireless providers, is covering new ground. The company, licensed to provide wireless service in five southeastern states including Mississippi, the Alabama Gulf...

Reed Manufacturing adapts to global market trends.(Focus Private Companies)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... TUPELO -- Many of men's work clothes--shirts, jeans, khakis and uniforms--found at national retailers JCPenney, Sear's and Mervyn's and uniform rental companies, are products of Reed Manufacturing, a Tupelo-based textile company that has...

Staplcotn harvesting success for cotton farmers.(Focus Private Companies)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... GREENWOOD -- In almost reverent tones, cotton farmers everywhere refer to the 1919 train ride from Greenwood to Memphis as the turning point of the cotton industry. Oscar E. Bledsoe Jr., a farmer of several thousand acres of cotton in...

Vertex has hands full with three sizeable defense contracts: public offering still a possibility, CEO says.(Focus Private Companies)(Vertex Aerospace)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... MADISON -- The good times keep rolling for Vertex Aerospace, an international company tucked away in Madison County that has landed three multi-million-dollar contracts in almost as many months. The most recent is a $225 million contract...

The Merchants Company closes in on 100-year milestone.(Focus Private Companies)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... HATTIESBURG -- In some four months, The Merchants Company will have been in business for 100 years. Over this century, The Merchants Company has evolved to become the only Mississippi-owned and operated broad-line food distributor in the...

Shuqualak Lumber's investment in technology pays off.(Focus Private Companies)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... SHUQUALAK -- In 1948, three men--C.H. Thomas, Richard E. Prince and E.G. Flora--bought a modest, insolvent planer mill in the small community of Shuqualak in Noxubee County. The planer mill originally purchased the products of 35-40 independent...

Computer solutions, customer satisfaction fulfills Synergetics mission: training center move coming in December.(Focus Private Companies)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... STARKVILLE -- "Creating synergy between business and technology" not only serves Synergetics DCS well as a company motto, it perfectly describes the process by which they create computer solutions for their customers as well as the relationship...

Expansion, new products hallmarks of Howard industries.(Focus Private Companies)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... LAUREL -- So much attention has been focused on Howard Technology Park and Howard Industries' (HI) computer plant to be located in the park (outside Ellisville and eight miles south of Laurel) that it's easy to overlook such other Howard...

Tending those fences at the multi-faceted Jefcoat.(Focus Private Companies)(Jefcoat Fence Co.)(Company Profile)
October 6, 2003... PEARL -- Like so many Mississippi success stories, the multi-million-dollar Jefcoat Fence Co. of today bears little resemblance to its hard-scrabble start. Jere Jefcoat started the company back in 1972 with two men and a truck, working...

RPM Pizza Inc. cooks up success in the family.(Focus Private Companies)(Interview)
October 6, 2003... GULFPORT -- A family atmosphere and a long history of success in their field characterizes RPM Pizza Inc., headquartered in Gulfport and home of the largest Domino's Pizza franchise operation in the world. Founder Richard Mueller Jr. began...

Private companies.(ranked by 2002 annual sales)(Illustration)
October 6, 2003... Private Companies 2003 ('20, Company Name Top Officer Rank '01) Products/Services Year Established 1 1 1 Staplcotn Woods E. Eastland Cotton...

Business travelers bracing for higher hotel rates.(Backstage Pass)(Industry Overview)
October 6, 2003... Buoyed by a strengthening economy and a rebound in business travel, lodging prices are on the rise again, with some hoteliers posting up to 10% increases, especially in major cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas and New York. "Rack...

Mississippi manufacturers diverse, resilient: issues must be addressed if we expect plants to stay.
October 13, 2003... Even though Mississippi manufacturers are diverse and resilient, a series of issues impacting manufacturing--unregulated foreign competition, rising energy and health care costs, civil justice reform and workforce needs--must be addressed to...

'We have to reinvent ourselves every month': Venture Technologies on the job with high-tech solutions for 18 years now.
October 13, 2003... RIDGELAND -- Venture Technologies, which is celebrating its 18th anniversary as a regional systems integration company, specializes in real world solutions to the technical needs and challenges of business. An example is SEACAP Financial in...

Pay attention to Blackmon's anti-biz record.(Perspective)
October 13, 2003... Remembering that a politician will say and do just about anything to get elected is an important adage to remember these days. As Mississippians watch the final weeks of statewide campaigning unfold before the November 4th general election,...

Celebrating special places, people.(As I See It)
October 13, 2003... My wife, Debra, and I enjoyed a few vacation days in the Texas Hill County, near Fredericksburg, a couple of weeks ago. We have developed an affinity for that part of the world, and make the 12-hour drive out there several times a year. On...

Disposable communities can't be an option.(From The Ground Up)
October 13, 2003... In the Academy Award-winning foreign movie, "Cinema Paridiso," a successful Italian filmmaker returns to his hometown after a 30-year absence. His mother has remained in the same house, using the money he sent her over the years to modernize...

Race relations 101: black, white issues at Coleman Junior High.(One Writer's Perspective)
October 13, 2003... It was the buzz all over school. "Have you heard?" classmates asked, huddled together and talking in whispers, "there's going to be trouble tomorrow." We were all ears--and fears. And so the stage was set for the "Great White Walkout." It...

Mississippi Home Corp.(People to Watch)(Bradley Joyner joined company as building inspection administrator)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Bradley Joyner has joined the Mississippi Home Corp. as building inspection administrator. Joyner previously worked as a staff sergeant with the Mississippi Air National Guard in Meridian. Ursula Thompson has been promoted to housing developer....

Trustmark National Bank.(People to Watch)(Ken Lancaster named vice president)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Ken Lancaster has been hired as vice president of Trustmark in Corinth working in the area of commercial lending. Lancaster, a native of Corinth, graduated from Millsaps College with a BBA in accounting. He is also a certified public...

Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services.(People to Watch)(Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has reappointed Lynn C. Patrick)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Gov. Ronnie Musgrove has reappointed Lynn C. Patrick of Diamondhead to the Mississippi Department of Information Technology Services. Patrick is currently assistant vice president and information technology auditor for Hancock Bank in Gulfport....

M&F Bank.(People to Watch)(promoted Renee Rice to president of Madison County, Mississippi)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Renee Rice has been promoted to president of Madison County for M&F Bank. Rice brings 16 years of leadership in the banking industry as well as experience in retail branch management, private banking and commercial lending. Jeff Cousar has been...

Consumer National Bank recently broke ground for its new facility on I-55 North in Jackson.(People to Watch)(Mississippi)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Consumer National Bank recently broke ground for its new facility on I-55 North in Jackson. The new office should open by first quarter 2004. Consumer National currently has three locations in metro Jackson. The bank was formed in 1975 by the...

Rankin Medical Center.(People to Watch)(Maggie Cravey has joined staff as director of physician recruitment)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Maggie Cravey has joined Rankin Medical Center and River Oaks Health System as director of physician recruitment. She recently served as a human resources consultant and recruiter for SkyTel. Cravey earned a bachelor's degree in human resources...

Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi.(People to Watch)
October 13, 2003... Tony Jeff has been selected as the executive director of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi (MEP.ms), which is administered by the Mississippi Technology Alliance. Jeff, a native of Clinton, most recently served as the...

The Municipal Energy Agency of Mississippi and The Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi.(People to Watch)
October 13, 2003... Geoffrey Wilson of Glendora has been named executive director of the Municipal Energy Agency of Mississippi and the Municipal Gas Authority of Mississippi. Wilson has broad experience in the energy industry, most recently with Shell Trading. He...

Coilplus-Jackson.(People to Watch)(named Richard Zeski general manager)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Richard Zeski has been named general manager of Coilplus-Jackson, a flat-rolled steel processor located south of Jackson in the Greater Jackson Industrial Park. Zeski is a 26-year veteran of the carbon flat-rolled steel processing and...

Abbott, Simses & Kuchler.(People to Watch)(has opened an office in Jackson, Mississippi; Dawn L. Stough joins staff)(Brief Article)
October 13, 2003... Abbott, Simses & Kuchler has opened an office in Jackson Dawn L. Stough has joined the Jackson office as an associate. She received her J.D. from the University of Mississippi in 2000 and her B.A. from Tougaloo College in 1994. Brian D. Mayo...