People & Places

Chamber Celebrates Leadership Madison County Graduates

The Leadership Madison County Board of Trustees and the Madison County Chamber of Commerce celebrated the graduation of 23 community and business leaders from the Leadership Madison County (LMC) Program on Tuesday, May 22nd. Graduation ceremonies were held at Butler Snow, with alumni, employers, families and friends.

LMC Class of 2012 who join the more than 400 program alumni are:

Barbara Bluntson, City of Jackson; Barry Prather, Community Bank; Bradley Kelly, Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush; Brandon Wilkins, Brown Bottling Group; Brant Ryan, Adams & Reese Law Firm; Brian Hendley, Baptist Physical Therapy; Deirdre Danahar, In Motion Consulting and Coaching; Glenn Partrick, Atmos Energy; Karen Robison, MadCAAP; Kathy McMurtry, Barks Fek Consultants; Kevin Lightheart, Lightheart, Sanders & Associates, CPA; Linda Brown, Job Corps, The GEO Group; Lise Foy, Canton Main Street Chamber of Commerce; Mary Allen Bennett, Table 100; Mary Jackson, Comcast Advanced Solutions; Melissa Peters, Community Trust Bank; Nicole Kemp, Levi Strauss & Co.; Sheila Taylor, Madison County Justice Court; Stephanie Edgar, Jones Walker; Susan Sgrignoli, Northpark Mall; Tashmia Prowell, Miss. State University Extension Service; Tom Henderson, Neel-Schaffer and Virgilio Guardado, Solve Design Studio

For eight months, class members participated in community awareness sessions, addressing a variety of topics including education, healthcare, diversity, economic development, government, criminal and judicial systems and quality of life. Class participants also designed and implemented group projects that addressed a need or opportunity in Madison County.

The LMC Trustees managing this year’s program included co-chairs Natalie Gideon of Netlink Cabling Systems and Lenita Knight of Madison County Economic Development Authority.

“My favorite part in acting as co-chair was most definitely the class members ⎯ getting to know their stories and their accomplishments. The 2012 graduates are very impressive, and I am inspired by their achievements, both within the program and in their roles in the business and community sectors,” said Gideon.

The graduation ceremony included live jazz by Raphael Semmes and a keynote address by class member Glenn Partrick of Atmos Energy. Partrick stated, “Leadership Madison County has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me both professionally and personally. I learned new things about myself, my community and how I can be a better leader.”

The Madison County Chamber of Commerce produces the LMC Program. The mission of the program is to provide leaders with a deeper understanding of the critical issues affecting Madison County in an environment that furthers their leadership skills and encourages graduates to take their knowledge and their experience into the community for the betterment of Madison County.

Applications for the 2013 class of Leadership Madison County will be available in early July. Please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 601-605-2554 or email info@madisoncountychamber.com for more information.

The Learning Curve Helps Mississippi Kids Excel in School

“Mississippi’s children do not need a miracle, they need support!” says Latrina Gray, director of The Learning Curve.

The Learning Curve has been helping students from all over Mississippi with their effective after-school programs since 2002, and with greater community involvement, The Learning Curve can scale-up its services and continue to help a larger number of students complete their studies and continue on to college.

On Thursday, September 6, 5:00-7:00 p.m., The Learning Curve, located at 710 West Capitol Street, will hold a Back to School Open House to bring public awareness to their goals and to what they have accomplished. The public is invited to the festive event, which will feature refreshments and door prizes. There will be games and crafts for the children while adults have a chance to tour the grounds and facilities.

“It is amazing what Mississippi students can achieve with the right tools and encouragement. They want to succeed, and The Learning Curve wants to continue to help them succeed,” says Juan Gray, executive director of The Learning Curve. Mr. Gray knows full well that without guidance and support, promising students can be left behind.

The Learning Curve coordinates the efforts of parents, teachers and students to improve class work and performance on state testing. They assist struggling students with homework assignments and give them the study tools that they need to perform well in school, both now and later in college. The Learning Curve’s services help all interested students improve their grades.

The goal of the fundraiser is to build a scholarship pool, The Gray Foundation, for students who cannot afford advanced education, yet who qualify for the scholarship through their circumstances and efforts.

The Learning Curve’s parent company, Gray & Associates, Inc., was established in 1988 to help promote economic and community development for rural communities in Southwest Mississippi and was granted 501 (c)(3) nonprofit status in 1993. Nine years later, The Learning Curve, a division of Gray & Associates, Inc., was created. Since 2002, this supplemental educational service agency has provided academic tutoring to schools and private individuals through after-school programs, summer camps, private tutoring sessions, ACT workshops and more. In the past decade, they have served more than 15,000 Mississippi students.

“Our children are Mississippi’s greatest natural resource,” Mr. Gray observes. “They deserve the best that we can give to them.”

For more information about how The Learning Curve helps students visit www.grayassociatesinc.com, or call 601-352-5512.

Croom Named Chief Operating Officer at CMMC

Central Mississippi Medical Center (CMMC) Chief Executive Officer Charlotte W. Dupré is pleased to announce the addition of Jon-Paul Croom as Chief Operating Officer effective July 1, 2012.

The Vicksburg native comes to CMMC with over eight years of executive experience in the healthcare industry. Prior to moving into management positions, Croom worked in several areas of hospital operations, including contract compliance, leasing negotiations and patient satisfaction measurement.

Most recently, he served as chief operating officer for Clearview Regional Medical Center, a Health Management Associates (HMA) facility in Monroe, Ga. Prior to joining HMA, he held management positions at healthcare organizations located in Pennsylvania and Alabama.

Dupré said Croom’s combination of healthcare experience and advanced education make him the ideal manager to join the hospital’s administrative team.

“Jon-Paul gained valuable management experience after learning firsthand the inner workings of several vital hospital departments,” Dupré said. “We anticipate being the beneficiary of his knowledge as he brings new ideas and proven methods to benefit our existing operations.”

Croom will offer assistance to Dupré in several key areas, including oversight of ancillary and support services, construction projects in addition to assisting with strategic initiatives.

Central Mississippi Medical Center Announces Director of Imaging Services

Wanda Mangum Biokua has joined Central Mississippi Medical Center (CMMC) as director of imaging services. Biokua has more than 20 years of healthcare experience, most specifically in the area of strategic planning, business development and implementing new programs in Imaging Services.

Prior to joining CMMC, she was employed in a similar position at Nyack Hospital in Nyack, NY. Her experience also includes positions in New Jersey and in Mississippi at Tri-Lakes Medical Center in Batesville.

Biokua earned a bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration from Radford University and an associate’s degree in radiology technology from Mississippi Delta Community College.

Charlotte Dupré, CEO of CMMC, said Biokua’s experience will enhance the hospital’s current imaging services department.

“Central Mississippi Medical Center has long been committed to offering the latest and most advanced diagnostic imaging services for our patients,” Dupré said. “I feel confident Wanda will enhance our position of providing the latest techniques and services in this vital area while affording our patients privacy and sensitivity to their individual needs.”

Biokua recently completed the Cornell University executive leadership program, which focuses on utilizing leadership capabilities to lead healthcare teams and projects with maximum success. She is the daughter of the late Mary Patricia Worrell of Drew, Miss. and the late Rev. George Mangum Sr. of Lake City, Fla.

Baby Items Help Build Sustainable Community in Haiti

The Women’s Missionary Union of First Baptist Church Jackson will be the host of the first semi-annual children’s consignment sale on Friday and Saturday, August 17-18. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the sale will benefit But God . . . Ministries – a ministry that “shares the love of Jesus by building sustainable communities in Haiti.” For more information about the ministry, please visit www.butgodministries.com

The public is invited to consign and sell. Items accepted include toys, games, clothes, shoes, strollers, car seats, books, DVDs, bedding, baby-feeding items, other miscellaneous children’s accessories and maternity clothes. Volunteers are needed and are allowed to shop at the pre-sale before the public shops. Please visit our website at www.littlefeetconsignment.org to learn more about the sale, the entering and tagging of items, and signing up to volunteer.

Kasey Perry of the Madison County Chamber Completes Another Year at Institute for Organization Management

The Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that Kasey Perry, executive director of the Madison County Chamber has recently completed her second year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership-training program at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

“Institute participants are recognized across the country as leaders in their communities,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, the U.S. Chamber’s vice president of Institute for Organization Management. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”

Since its inception in 1921, the IOM program has been educating tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates. IOM’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions at five different university locations throughout the country. Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance and membership, IOM’s participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.

The IOM is a 501(c) (3) affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the premier nonprofit professional development program for nonprofit professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation, representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

Kevin Kosek, M.D., has joined the Eye Group of Mississippi

Kevin Kosek, M.D., has joined The Eye Group of Mississippi. Dr. Kosek joins William C. Ashford, M.D., Eye Group of Mississippi founder, and Elizabeth Wyatt Mitchell, M.D. in the practice of ophthalmology and eye surgery.

A 2002 graduate of Birmingham-Southern College with a Bachelor of Science in biology, Dr. Kosek received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in 2006. He completed his internship in internal medicine in 2007 and his ophthalmology residency in 2010, at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Before joining The Eye Group of Mississippi, Dr. Kosek was assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. Prior to that, he was chief resident at the University of Mississippi department of ophthalmology and the Veterans Affairs Hospital, both in Jackson.

At The Eye Group of Mississippi, Dr. Kosek will offer the following clinical procedures: routine and comprehensive medical management, ocular trauma, clinical optics, blepharoplasty and glaucoma management as well as the following surgeries: glaucoma laser, cataract, Z-LASIK and Toric Lens Implants.

Dr. Kosek and his wife, the former Kim Zarzour, have three children. The family attends Saint Paul’s Catholic Church. He enjoys spending time with his family, running, playing guitar, cooking, working in his yard, learning piano and is an avid soccer player.

For more information about the services offered by The Eye Group of Mississippi, visit www.eyegroupms.com or call 601-985-9120.

DRAKE MILLS, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF COMMUNITY TRUST BANK, NAMED ERNST & YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR® 2012 FINALIST

Drake Mills, president and chief executive officer of Community Trust Bank, was named a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year® 2012 program in the Gulf Coast area. The award recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Mills was selected from more than 70 nominees by a panel of independent judges. Awards will be presented at a special gala on June 21, 2012, at the Houston Hilton Americas.

“I am honored to be nominated for this award and am fortunate to be surrounded by such quality people within our organization,” Mills said. “Community Trust Bank remains focused on the customers and communities we serve. I share this nomination with our employees and our shareholders who are committed to making a difference in peoples’ lives on a daily basis.”

Now in its 26th year, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 140 cities in more than 50 countries throughout the world. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Ernst & Young National Entrepreneur of the Year Overall Award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, Calif. on November 17, 2012. The awards are the culminating event of the Ernst & Young Strategic Growth Forum, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

Community Trust Bank, a century year old, Louisiana-chartered bank, provides a wide range of traditional banking services with 31 banking centers throughout north Louisiana, north Texas, and north and central Mississippi. Community Trust Bank is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Community Trust Financial Corporation, a financial holding company with assets over $2.5 billion. Community Trust Financial Corporation’s common stock is not listed on any exchange and is traded through individually negotiated transactions. To learn more, visit Community Trust’s website at ctbonline.com.

Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Their 152,000 worldwide employees are united by shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality.

The Madison Avenue Upper Elementary School (MAUE) Annual Golf Tournament

The Madison Avenue Upper Elementary School (MAUE) Annual Golf Tournament will be held August 16, 2012 at Deerfield Country Club.

Principal of MAUE, Rick Ross, and the MAUE Parent Teacher Organization have played host to the annual golf tournament since 2001. The tournament has served as a fundraising effort to set up a college scholarship account for local students who attended MAUE and spent the entire 12 years of schooling in the Madison County School district. Thanks to past contributions to this effort, the first scholarship was presented to a deserving Madison Central senior this past May. 



The tournament is a four-player scramble and features various prizes. If you love golf and want to support local students while you play, then please be a part of this tournament.

The key to the financial success of the golf tournament continues to be the incredible generosity and participation of our sponsors and players. Please help make this effort a success.

For more information, please contact the event chair, Beth Parker, at 601-624-3457.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting Receives Two 2012 Telly Awards

Mississippi Public Broadcasting (MPB) received two bronze 2012 Telly Awards for the series of Freedom Riders public service announcements and Job Hunter, a television show. The Telly Award is a national award, honoring the best of local productions.

Remembering the Freedom Rides public service announcements (PSAs) document the Freedom Rides of 1961, which began in Washington, D.C. and ended in Jackson, Miss. The series of 40 PSAs illustrate that although the violence and turmoil in Alabama are often emphasized, the experience in Mississippi eventually brought the efforts of the Freedom Riders to a head, yet remains largely unknown.

“The Freedom Riders’ experience in Mississippi led to lasting change in America, however, this aspect of their story had not often been told,” said Edie Greene, MPB producer of the Remembering the Freedom Rides PSAs. “Being honored with a Telly is always great, but the real honor is telling Mississippians about this aspect of our history.”

Job Hunter explores careers in the local manufacturing business and features Mississippi companies in the automotive, aerospace, heavy metal and polymer industries. The television series shows viewers where to acquire skills they need to be competitive in the advanced manufacturing job market.

“My goal is to make each Job Hunter episode as fun and exciting as possible, while maintaining high production value,” said Katie Savage, MPB producer. “A combination of great editing, camera work, a clever script, important information and a talented and professional host is what played a major role in receiving the Telly Award.”