CertainTeed Bringing Jobs Back to Meridian McDonnell Awarded at

The Bottom Line
Volume 5 Issue II
CertainTeed Bringing Jobs Back to Meridian
Gov. Phil Bryant joined
ownership.
company
representatives
“The EMBDC and MDA
from
CertainTeed,
local
have maintained a strong
officials, and the EMBDC on
relationship with CertainTeed
June 3rd to announce that
throughout the last few years.
the company is restarting its
We knew that restarting
ceiling tile manufacturing
production in Meridian was
operations in Meridian. The
always a possibility and we
project represents a $24
made sure to keep in contact
million company investment
and do whatever we could to
and will create 110 new
help facilitate this endeavor,”
jobs by 2016. Production is
said EMBDC President Wade
expected to resume during
Jones.
the second quarter of 2014.
CertainTeed is North
Once operational, the facility
America’s leading brand of
will produce a range of ceiling
exterior and interior building
tiles and acoustical wall panels
products, including roofing,
Area leaders and officials aid CertainTeed in planting a tree
used in commercial construction
siding, fence, decking, railing,
been idle since that time, aside from a
applications.
trim, insulation, gypsum and
CertainTeed, one of North America’s small customer service center operation, ceilings. CertainTeed has approximately
leading building products manufacturers, employed 120 workers when the company 6,000 employees and 65 facilities
ceased production at the Meridian location discontinued operations. Ceiling tiles throughout the United States and Canada
in 2009 in the midst of the construction have been manufactured in the facility and had sales of approximately $3.3
market downturn. The facility, which has since 1941 throughout various stages of billion in 2012.
McDonnell Awarded at The Main Event
Archie McDonnell, Jr. was presented
with the Hartley D. Peavey Award for
Entrepreneurial Excellence at the 25th
Annual Main Event Business & Industry
Expo Preview Reception in April. Nearly
200 people were in attendance as Hartley
Peavey announced this year’s winner.
McDonnell is known for his
commitment to his employees. He knows
them by name, treats them with kindness
and leads by example. He assumed the
position of President and CEO of Citizens
National Bank in 1999, where he has since
grown the number of employees to 348 in
27 locations.
Like each of the 24 recipients before
him, McDonnell has shown commitment
not only to the employees, but
to the community as well. He
is a previous Board member of
the Mississippi Council of the
Navy League of the United
States, East Mississippi Business
Development
Corporation,
Key Chapter of the American
Red Cross and Aldersgate
Retirement Community.
Archie McDonnell recently
shared a quote by John Maxwell
with all of his employees. “A
leader is one who knows the
way, goes the way, and shows the
way.”
Hartley Peavey and Archie McDonnell, Jr.
2012-2013 Head of the Class Breakfast
The Head of the Class program
recognizes high school students
participating in technical and career
education from each of the city and
county schools, grades 10-12.
Students are nominated by their
teachers for the award of either
“Highest Overall Career and Technical
Student” or “Most Improved Career
and Technical Student.” The EMBDC
then selects the top two winners from
each school and presents them with
a certificate and a gift card in each of
their classrooms. Head of the Class
winners from fall and spring semesters
are invited each year to a breakfast held
at Mississippi Power Company, where
they are asked to invite someone who
has made an impact on their education
throughout their time in school
This year, each student was asked
to stand up and tell who they invited
and why. Many of the students brought
2012-2013 Head of the Class Winners
their current career and technical
teachers because they have helped them figure out what they want to do in the future. “I chose my Health Occupations instructor, as
well as HOSA advisor, Ms. Rhaly. She has helped me learn the different steps of going through the medical field and that’s what I want
to do when I get older. I thank her for that,” said Haleigh Brown of West Lauderdale.
Other students were thankful for teachers and administrators who took an interest in them excelling in their education and in life.
“I chose my principal Mr. Hubbard to come with me today. I wasn’t a very good student starting out, but he kept me on the right path
and pushed me to the limit. Now I’m on going on to better things,” said DeQuon Anderson, Meridian High School.
Young Professionals Make Care Lodge Donation
The Young Professionals of Meridian presented Care
Lodge Domestic Violence Shelter with a donation in June. These
funds were raised through the organization’s 59Twenty Music
Festival, held in April at Singing Brakeman Park. This is the
second concert that the Young Professionals have put on, with
both events benefitting Care Lodge.
Through sponsorships, ticket
purchases, concession sales, and
lots of community support, this
year’s 59Twenty Music Festival
raised enough to donate $8,500 to
Care Lodge. “Care Lodge is an asset
to our community, and we want to
continue to support their efforts.
Planning has already begun for
the 2014 59Twenty Music Festival
and the date is set for March 29th.
We are really excited about the
donation we are able to give this
year and hope that next year we
can raise even more,” said YPM
President Robby Pickett.
Josh Waters, Kim Smith, Joy Jones, Robby Pickett, Meredith Rea, Leslie Payne, Kimberly Smith,
Bryan Holladay, and Adam Carmichael
Welcome to Our
New Members
Allison Munn
Bumpers Drive In
Capturion Network, LLC
Cartoons & Balloons Florist
Comcast Business Class
Illuminations Center
for Dyslexia
Lamar Advertising
Lorri Matthews
Mary Maids, Nannys
& Caregivers
Meridian Undergound Music
Briarwood Golf & Swim Club
Southern Accents
Southern Business Supply
Southern LED Solutions, LLC
Tabereaux Consulting
Thrive Mississippi
Meridian Day at the Fair
A large crowd braved
the heat to participate in the
East Mississippi Business
Development Corporation’s
(EMBDC) Meridian Day
at the Fair. This yearly
event is held on Wednesday
of the Neshoba County
Fair in Founder’s Square.
Booths with fun giveaways
were set up by the City
of Meridian, Lauderdale
County Tourism, Meridian
Community College, MSU
Meridian, Rush, Anderson
Susie Broadhead, Ann Weddington, and Laura Carmichael
Regional Medical Center
and East Mississippi State Hospital. NAS Meridian kept with tradition as they served Navy
Bean Soup to the crowd.
The pavilion was packed with fair-goers as emcees Adrian Cross and Rob Allen, both
of Meridian Community College, ran the show. Musical entertainment was provided by
Jacky Jack White, while speakers included Mayor Percy Bland, Supervisor Josh Todd, City
Councilman Dr. George Thomas, and EMBDC Chairman CD Smith. A big hit as always,
there were 30 door prizes given out during the program. All of the door prizes were provided
by Meridian businesses. Many of those will encourage Philadelphians, and others, to come
shop in Meridian.
2012-2013 Leadership Lauderdale Graduates
World of Flowers & Gifts
Worldpay US
Dates to
Remember
August 20th
Morning Coffee Break
at Cater’s Market
September 12th
Business After Hours
at Love’s Kitchen
September 27th
EMBDC Golf Classic
Mary Atterberry – MCCSA / Lee Barnes – Regions Bank
Lagena Bradley, Ph.D. – MS Department of Rehabilitation Services / Percy Chandler – N.E.W. Corporation
Jamila Brown Coleman – Meridian Community College / Adrian Cross – Meridian Community College
April Davidson – MUNA Federal Credit Union / Gary Davidson – Rush Foundation Hospital
Ashley Duke – BankPlus / Scotty Elliott – One Life America / Melissa Estes – WGBC-TV
Casey Haarala – Anderson Regional Medical Center / Mike Hollis – Mississippi Air National Guard
Shawn House – Atmos Energy / Ceatrice Kelly, Ph.D. – NFusionX / Weems CMHC
Lora Kennedy – Commercial Bank / Danielle King – Rea, Shaw, Giffin & Stuart, LLC
Larry McKnight – East Mississippi State Hospital / Ashley Neal – Hilton Garden Inn
Jessica Nester – EMEPA / Robby Pickett – Magnolia Green / Lowry Rush, IV – Rush Health Systems
Danny Russell – Citizens National Bank / Ashley Rutledge – Citizens National Bank
Kyle Rutledge – Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors
Denise Smith – 1st Mississippi Federal Credit Union / Justin Smith – Glass, Inc. / Kimberly Smith – CUI Systems
Jason Strickland – Rush Health Systems / Kristi Tew – Regions Bank / Gene Vance – Stephens Funeral Home
Anna Grace Ward – Vital Care / Robert Wilson – Lauderdale County
Prsrt Std
US Postage
PAID
Meridian, MS
Permit No. 370
1901 Front Street, Suite A
P.O. Box 790
Meridian, MS 39302
Return Service Requested
Have you checked out the Meridian Community Calendar?
The EMBDC, City of Meridian, Lauderdale County Tourism and Meridian Main Street have teamed up to
create a cohesive calendar for our area. The calendar can be accessed through www.embdc.org, and
each entity’s website, as well as by visiting www.meridiancommunitycalendar.com.
We encourage you to add your events and keep locals and visitors informed!
EMBDC Ambassadors of the Month
February - James Gray, Meridian Community College
March - James Gray, Meridian Community College
April - Cindy Aucoin, Brown Printing
May - Cindy Aucoin, Brown Printing
June - Mary Atterberry, Multi-County Community Service Agency
The Bottom Line is a publication of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation. If you would like more
information about any of the articles, or have a submission for the newsletter, please contact:
Meredith Rea, Public Relations Coordinator, EMBDC
phone 601.693.1306
fax 601.693.5638
e-mail [email protected]