MPA/MPS Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact:
Laura Beth Lyons
Marketing & Special Events
Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau
P.O. Box 110
Vicksburg, MS 39181
601-636-9421

Miss Mississippi 2009 Anna Tadlock

Pageant Brings Thousands to Vicksburg

VICKSBURG, MS (June 28, 2010)- The Miss Mississippi Pageant brings thousands of fans to the city of Vicksburg to cheer on their favorite contestant to win the Miss Mississippi crown. 45 contestants will compete to represent the state at the Miss America Pageant in January.
David Blackledge, Miss Mississippi Pageant director said that the Vicksburg Convention Center will have about 2100 people on Saturday night of the pageant, 2000 on Friday night and between 1800-1900 on Wednesday and Thursday.
“Pageant week is a tremendous economic boom for the city,” Blackledge said. “People come in for 8 days from around the state to stay in our hotels, use our florists, and to shop around town especially downtown and at the Outlets.”
This year’s host hotel, La Quinta Inn & Suites, is going above and beyond to make the pageant girls feel at home. Julie Ford, sales and marketing director for MY Hospitality Services L.L.C., said that they are very excited to host the girls and feel like they are helping in the effort to promote Vicksburg in the process. Special deliveries can be made to the contestants Monday through Friday at the La Quinta Inn & Suites from 2-4 p.m.
“We have some exciting things planned for the girls that have never been done before,” said Ford. “The hotel is completely decorated for the pageant. We have each contestant’s picture on a star on her door. Once the pageant starts, each day the winners will have their stars on display in the front of the hotel.”
Ford said that the host hotel has assisted with the parents and directors including putting together tour itineraries for things to do in Vicksburg and a list of Top Ten restaurants to dine at.
“Special requests were broadcasted on facebook and we received 30 phone calls from parents and families on wanting suggestions on what to do in Vicksburg,” said Ford. “We really take advantage of what all our city has to offer to get the parents and friends out and about in the community. One family has 25 people from around the United States and we have planned their whole itinerary on things to do in Vicksburg.
“Two of our hotel properties are sold out for that week and they typically don’t sell out during this week especially with all the new hotels in our area,” said Ford. MY Hospitality Services properties in Vicksburg include the Wingate by Wyndham, Motel 6, Fairfield Inn, La Quinta, and Days Inn. “The pageant is going to be bigger than every this year.”
This year’s Miss Mississippi Pageant is held at the Vicksburg Convention Center at 8 p.m. on Saturday July 10. Preliminary pageants will be Wednesday through Friday July 7-9 also at 8 p.m. Pageant activities begin on July 3 at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center Auditorium with the Prince and Princess Crowning Dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
The Miss Mississippi Pageant Parade and autograph parties also contribute to Vicksburg’s “economic boom” during pageant week. The parade will be downtown along Washington Street on Monday July 5 at 7 p.m. An autograph party at participating downtown stores will follow and stores will stay open until 9 p.m.
“The Miss Mississippi Pageant week has a huge impact on downtown,” said Kim Hopkins, executive director of Vicksburg Main Street. “The parade attracts contestant’s family and friends along with people in our community. Relatives come from all over to support their girls in the pageant. The downtown stores order special items just for this time. Parents are able to send contestants gifts and gift baskets from different stores. Overall it is tremendous for our whole community.”
“Sales go up between gifts and people shopping in general,” said Karen Ruggles, owner of Cinnamon Tree, one of downtown’s boutique gift shops. “It gives people a reason to get out and about during the summertime. The pageant is such an asset for our city.”
The Outlets at Vicksburg will also host an autograph party from 10-11:30 a.m. on Thursday July 8 in the meeting room next to Billy’s Italian Restaurant. Select stores will open early at 9:30 a.m. so shoppers can take advantage of sales.
“It’s our busiest week of the summer,” said Paige Caldwell, Marketing & Special Events for the Outlets at Vicksburg. “We are happy to help promote the pageant and host one of the events.”
Miss Mississippi 2009 Anna Tadlock will make her last public performance outside the pageant at Vicksburg’s Fourth of July “Sparks on the River.” She will kick off Independence Day festivities at the Vicksburg Waterfront with the National Anthem at 7 p.m.. Music entertainment by Super T and fireworks on the Mississippi River will follow.
For ticket information for the Miss Mississippi Pageant call 601-638-6746 or visit www.missmississippipageant.com. For more information about Vicksburg and Vicksburg events call the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau at 601-636-9421 or toll free at 800-221-3536 or visit online at www.visitvicksburg.com.

Contact:
Mara Hartmann
601-969-2520 (office)
601-594-9042 (cell)
mhartma@entergy.com

Entergy Mississippi, Low-Income Advocates Tackle Poverty at Annual Summit
Goal is to improve the lives of low-income residents

Jackson, Miss. – More than 200 social workers and other low income advocates from across the state gather in Jackson this week to tackle challenges facing Mississippi’s poorest residents.
These low-income advocates are at the 2010 Annual Partnership Conference sponsored by Mississippi Association of Community Action Agencies and Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
Under the theme of “Making an Impact, Making a Difference,” the conference runs June 29-July 1 at the Jackson Marriott. A session on global climate change, numerous workshops, a national legislative update and a forum on poverty are on the agenda.
“Census figures show about 25 percent of Entergy Mississippi’s 435,000 customers live in poverty,” said Liz Brister, manager of external affairs for Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “That’s one out of every four people! This is unacceptable to us.”
The best tool for dismantling poverty is education, and Brister says this year’s forum will focus on that.
“The panelists represent some of the state’s top leaders in the goal to improve school readiness for Mississippi’s underprivileged children,” she said. “They represent organizations like the Children’s Defense Fund, Delta Health Alliance and Mississippi Building Blocks.”
The summit will also feature a national speaker from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Jenny Denney Lawson will address the relationship between greenhouse gas emissions, a changing climate and how proposed federal legislation might affect the state’s low-income population..
“Whether it’s destruction from Mother Nature, an economic downturn or an oil spill crisis, every day brings another example of why communities must work together to address the difficult issues so many of our fellow Mississippians face,” said Willie Martin, executive director of the Mississippi Association of Community Action Agencies. “We’ve made progress over this past decade, but there’s still a lot of work to do.
“Every time we succeed it not only helps our low-income residents, it helps build a more promising and productive future for all of us.”
The low income summit was started 11 years ago when Entergy Corporation committed to increase resources and work toward improving the lives of low-income customers.
“Since that time, Entergy Mississippi has invested more than $2 million in grants and direct program expenses and countless hours of its human capital to address poverty in our state,” said Brister. “We’ve also raised more than $3 million for the Power to Care fund to help low income elderly and disabled customers pay their utility bills.”
Entergy is recognized nationally for its efforts to improve the lives of its low-income customers. In 2009, Entergy Corporation received Chartwell Inc.’s Best Practices Award for Serving Low-Income Customers for the company’s “exceptional commitment and innovative approach to helping poverty-stricken customers move toward self-sufficiency.”
A low-income progress report will be given during the conference. The 2009 low-income progress report can be accessed at http://www.entergy.com/our_community/low_income_reports.aspx.
Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to more than 433,000 customers in 45 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation. Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
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Entergy Mississippi’s online address is entergy-mississippi.com.

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2010

Contact:
Louie Miller, 601-624-3503
Robert Wiygul 228-990-1228

Sierra Club Appeals Commissioners’ Flip Flop on Kemper

Harrison County, MS – Sierra Club filed a lawsuit today in chancery court challenging the decision by two members of the Mississippi Public Service Commission to revoke their previous decision, and allow Mississippi Power Company to stick the ratepayer with an additional half a billion dollars in costs for its proposed Kemper County coal fired power plant. Commissioners Leonard Bentz and Lynn Posey also voted to overturn their previous decision of less than a month, and let Mississippi Power charge ratepayers for the costs of the plant before it is even built! The Sierra Club is also appealing Mississippi Power’s decision – which Bentz and Posey approved - to keep the actual rate impacts of the plant SECRET from the public.

Though ratepayers will be saddled with these exorbitant costs, the Commission refused to order Mississippi Power to disclose how much customers will pay in rates for the new plant. “Agreeing to unknown increased electric rates for Kemper is like buying a car when the salesman won’t tell you what it costs,” said Louie Miller, state representative for the Sierra Club. “This is an outrage and betrayal of the public trust”.

On April 29, 2010, after hearing over a year of expert testimony on whether Kemper would be the lowest cost electricity option for ratepayers, the Commission found that the Kemper project was in the public interest only if it costs were capped at $2.4 billion, and that customers could NOT be charged for the costs of the plant up front.. The original order found that the experimental coal plant’s “many uncertainties and risks, concerning technology, cost and performance, given Mississippi Power Company’s insistence that these uncertainties and risks fall largely on ratepayers, are too high compared with the project’s asserted benefits.”

Mississippi Power responded to the April 29th order by announcing that it could not construct the plant under those conditions, and though it provided no new information or arguments, the company formally asked the Commission to reconsider its ruling.

In an unprecedented flip flop, on May 26th, two members of the Mississippi Public Service Commission overturned their decision from just one month earlier, shifting the financial risk of the Kemper coal plant from Fortune 500 company investors on to the backs of Ms. Power customers.. Commissioners Leonard Bentz and Lynn Posey adopted language proposed by Mississippi Power that allows up to $480 million in cost overruns to be passed through to ratepayers, and forces customers to begin paying for the plant immediately, EVEN if it never produces electricity.
“Its not coincidental that the “flip flop” occurred less than 72 hours after Governor Hailey Barbour sent a strongly worded letter to the Commissioners insisting the plant get built” said Louie Miller. “It is also not lost on us that Barbour’s Washington lobby firm; BGR; represents Southern Company, parent company of Ms. Power, who touted on their website they were responsible for lobbying the Department of Energy to land federal money for Kemper”.

The Sierra Club intends to show that the Commissioners’ reversal is arbitrary and is unsupported by the record, which is the legal standard governing the appeal. AsNorthern District Commissioner Brandon Presley explains in his dissenting opinion: “It seems that the only reason the majority changed its mind in this case is because the company insisted. That is not a valid reason for decision-making and certainly is a terrible way to regulate….[The public interest] does not get moved around in response to the other party’s needs…The public interest is not here today and gone tomorrow, nor is it built in shifting sand.”

Robert Wiygul, Sierra Club’s attorney who filed the appeal and has represented the Sierra Club throughout the year long proceeding, noted that the two commissioners seemed to have thrown out the factual basis for their original decision just because Mississippi Power complained. “It is astonishing to see a year’s worth of hearings and investigation thrown out because the power company got upset,” Wiygul said. “Where’s the concern for the ratepayer?”

If Kemper goes forward, it will stand in stark contrast to current trends in the electric sector. No new coal plants have started construction in the last 18 months because of opposition to high costs, declining energy needs, and concerns about pollution. “Kemper still remains a Dirty Expensive and Unnecessary proposition” stated Louie Miller.

Contact:
Mara Hartmann
601-969-2520 (office)
601-594-9042 (cell)
mhartma@entergy.com

Mississippi Groups Receive Grants from Entergy Charitable Foundation
Expansion of Teach For America initiative included in first cycle of grants for 2010

Jackson, Miss. – Education efforts in many of Mississippi’s poorest counties are getting a boost, thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Entergy Charitable Foundation.
The money will be used to help establish a Teach for America Training institute at Delta State University in Cleveland. In turn, the institute will increase the number of qualified teachers in the Delta region.
The grant is the first installment of a $200,000 total commitment to Teach for America.
Grants benefiting Hinds Community College and the Public Education Forum of Mississippi were also included in the first cycle of grant announcements this year from the Entergy Charitable Foundation. The awards total $56,660 in Mississippi.
“These grants emphasize Entergy’s continued focus on improving education as a strategy to strengthen communities and help build a better future for Mississippi,” said Haley Fisackerly, president and chief executive officer of Entergy Mississippi, Inc. “We make a point to support organizations that work to help Mississippi’s children reach their fullest potential and channel educational resources where they’re needed most.”
The Teach For America Delta Training Institute will open its doors this summer at Delta State to provide training to TFA teachers, who will then be sent into more than 40 high-needs districts in the Arkansas and Mississippi Delta. The goal is to triple the number of teachers in the field from 160 to more than 600 in a two-year period.
Hosting the institute in Mississippi will produce short- and long-term economic, social and educational benefits for the state, noted Liz Brister, manager of external affairs for Entergy Mississippi, Inc.
Entergy Mississippi, Inc. provides electricity to more than 435,000 customers in 45 counties. It is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
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Entergy Mississippi’s online address is entergy-mississippi.com.
Twitter: @EntergyMediaMS

Attn: Editors

Attached is a press release from the Sons of Confederate Veterans. As a reminder, press release distribution is a paid service offered by Mississippi Press Services and is intended only as a medium of delivery to newspaper editors statewide. Neither MPS nor the Mississippi Press Association endorses the content of the releases.

Although the Resolution speaks for itself, you may contact the following for further information:
Commander William ‘Bill’ Atkinson cell 318 267-4403 or
Carl Ford 601-319-7027, Judge Advocate

A copy is being sent to :
Chancellor Dan Jones
The office of Susan Glisson whose One Mississippi organization is solely responsible for the “petition” that lead to the Associated Student Body Senate offering a ballot that wasn’t offered to the entire Ole Miss Family and did not include simply keeping the Colonel and returning him to the field.
The Director of the Alumni Association, whose office, by its silence, so far, is complicit in the effort to bury the Colonel and eventually the name ‘Ole Miss’ and ‘Rebels’.
The Ramey Agency, whose bills are being covered by an unknown person or group.
The so-called student led Mascot Committee, whose student members were recruited for the purpose of feigning a student led effort, none of which have attended any Mascot meetings statewide.

Greg Stewart

RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, has, over the years, watched in disbelief as Ole Miss has gradually, systematically, and without the approval of either the student body or the alumni dismantled most of the Confederate symbols of a university which had to close its door when most of its student body enlisted in the Confederate Army — those stolen symbols including Dixie Week, Johnny Reb, Battle flags at sporting events, “Dixie” as a fight song, and now, perhaps, even Colonel Reb (a mascot clearly based on famed Black Ole Miss fan “Blind” Jim Ivy); and
WHEREAS, Ole Miss intentionally allowed the One Mississippi organization to design a so-called university mascot “vote” by the Associated Student Body which specifically excluded legendary and current symbol Col. Reb from among the choices; and
WHEREAS, Ole Miss has refused to publicly divulge the source of the private money currently being used to gradually excise all Confederate symbols and Southern traditions from the university, even in light of the public’s and the Ole Miss community’s right to know who is funding this outlandish desecration of our heritage and slander of our noble Confederate ancestors; and
WHEREAS, Ole Miss, has, by virtue of its anti-Confederate and anti-Southern “ethnic cleansing” program, proven that it is not worthy of the use of symbols associated with either giants among men like Robert E. Lee, “Stonewall” Jackson, and Jefferson Davis — men of honor, integrity, bravery, devotion to principle, and love of state, region, family, friends, and God — or with the ordinary, typical young Southerners who went out to defend their new and legitimate nation when it was illegally invaded by the United States — young Southerners like Ole Miss’ very own, storied University Greys;
NOW, THEREFORE , BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MISSISSIPPI DIVISION, SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS, IN CONVENTION ASSEMBLED AT GRENADA, MISSISSIPPI: That, should the University of Mississippi eliminate Col. Reb, we call upon said institution to concomitantly, immediately, and publicly eliminate all other Confederate symbols, statues, names (including ‘Ole Miss’ and ‘Rebels’), and references from the university and its campus, having, by such shameful action, proven itself unworthy to continue to use and/or exhibit same; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this token of outrage and disgust be spread across the minutes of this 2010 Reunion Meeting held in Grenada, Mississippi, by the Mississippi Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and that the Recording Secretary present enrolled copies of this resolution to the Chancellor of the University of Mississippi at Oxford, Mississippi.
Done this 5th day of June, 2010, at Grenada, Mississippi.

JUNE 7, 2009
For Immediate Release Contact: Ed Sivak
Office: 601-944-4174
Cell: 601-672-273
E-mail: esivak@ecd.org
Extension of Key State Fiscal Relief Measure Vital to Moving Mississippi Towards
Economic Recovery
Over $95 million for the Education of Mississippi’s Children and Workforce Hangs in the Balance
JACKSON – When Congress resumes today, the United States Senate will pick up work on a bill recently
passed by the U.S. House of Representatives that includes a number of items to stimulate job growth and
to support families experiencing job loss. Noticeably absent from the House Bill is a six month extension
of the temporary increase in federal matching funds for state Medicaid (enhanced FMAP) costs made
available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The extension of enhanced FMAP is critical for moving Mississippi towards economic recovery:
Recovery Act Funding has preserved nearly 7,000 jobs in Mississippi and prevented much deeper
budget and service cuts for K-12 education and health care;
Mississippi’s revenue collections continue to lag as May revenue came in $51 million below
projections - suggesting that a recovery of state finances is not yet underway;
A federal extension of the enhanced FMAP would bring in a projected $187 million;
Of the $187 million, $110 million has been appropriated contingent upon the extension of the
enhanced FMAP – with over $95 million for the education of Mississippi’s children and
workforce.
Opposition to the extension largely stems from misguided fears about the federal deficit:
The six month extension of enhanced FMAP is temporary and does not significantly add to the
long term deficits – which pose the biggest threats to the economy – due mainly to federal tax
cuts in the early part of the decade and rising health care costs;
Along with unemployment insurance benefits, aid to state governments is one of the most
effective way to use federal dollars to create demand and preserve jobs;
While the economy grew by 3% in the first quarter of 2010, the effects of budget cuts at the state
and local level stunted its growth.
“With over $95 million hanging in the balance for the education of Mississippi’s children and workforce,
Congress needs to include temporary provisions to extend the increased federal match for Medicaid costs,
said Ed Sivak, Director of the Mississippi Economic Policy Center. “Misguided opposition revolving
around federal deficits threatens jobs in Mississippi and the quality of education that children will receive
when school resumes this fall.”
About MEPC
The Mississippi Economic Policy Center is an independent, nonpartisan initiative that undertakes rigorous
and timely analysis on issues that affect the economic and social well being of working families and lowwealth
Mississippians. MEPC is managed by the Enterprise Corporation of the Delta (ECD), a regional
financial institution and community development intermediary dedicated to strengthening communities,
building assets and improving lives in economically distressed areas across the Mid South.
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www.meridian-power.com
Press release London, 1 June, 2010
Meridian Power appoints Glenn L. McCullough Jr. as its Chairman Meridian Power today announced that Glenn L. McCullough Jr. has agreed to act as Chairman of its biomass businesses in the United States. Meridian Power’s CEO, Marco Dell’Aquila, commented: “Glenn is a highly regarded professional with a distinguished career in the power sector and Meridian Power is delighted that he has joined us to build a significant biomass business in the US. Biomass power generation is an important but often overlooked source of clean and locally “grown” power. It helps to stimulate the creation and maintenance of long term jobs. Biomass power generation is green, economically viable and produces power 24/7.” Glenn L. McCullough Jr. said: “I am delighted to join Meridian Power in order to accelerate its efforts to build a large-scale biomass business in the Southeastern United States. Biomass power generation provides long term security to local timber businesses, and creates new jobs while generating clean energy.” Meridian Power plans to develop several 100-150MW large-scale biomass fired power plants in the Southeastern United States, each with a total consumption of over one million tons a year. The company has chosen the State of Mississippi for its first power plant, due to the abundance of biomass in the State. About Meridian Power Meridian Power was established to confront the twin challenge of climate change and energy security. With a core team of seasoned international energy professionals, the company is developing renewable and clean conventional power projects.

Based in London, the company is rapidly increasing its presence in the US market with the development of a series of large-scale biomass fired power plants located in close proximity to the fuel supply. About Glenn L. McCullough Jr President George W. Bush named Glenn L. McCullough, Jr., Chairman of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) Board of Directors on July 19, 2001. He served as Chairman of the TVA until 2005. Under his leadership, TVA, the nation’s largest public power utility, achieved record performance. Revenue in 2005 exceeded $7.5 Billion on sales of 166 billion KWh’s with TVA’s electric power rates ranking among the lowest in the nation. During 1999-2005, Glenn served as a member of the National Advisory Board of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and as a member of the Executive Committee of the Board of the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI). He served on the Executive Committee of the Board of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and as a director of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO). Currently, Glenn is Chairman of Advance Mississippi, serves on the Advisory Council of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Palo Alto, California, is a member of the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Technology Alliance, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Community Bank of Northeast, Mississippi. Glenn has 14 years in private business as vice president of McCullough Steel Products, Inc., five years on the staff of former Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice, and two years as Mayor of the City of Tupelo, Mississippi. Glenn is married to the former Laura Annette White. Glenn and Laura have two sons. Ends. For more information, please contact: Laura Hartmann E: l.hartmann@meridian-power.com T: +44 20 7795 6585

March 29, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For further information, contact:

Publicity: Benny Gay (334) 428-2342, Ext. 23
Registration: Carolyn Davis (334) 222-5830

ANDALUSIA, AL – The 35th annual World Championship Domino Tournament is set for July 9 - 10 in Andalusia. Hundreds of players are expected to compete for the title of world champion. The tournament, sponsored by the Andalusia Rotary Club, is held at the Kiwanis Fair Complex and promotes the game of dominoes among people of all ages.

“People from throughout the country and abroad are attracted to our tournament not only because of the competition and prize money, but because they know this is a charity event,” said Andalusia Rotary President Riley Taylor. “Over the years this event has enabled Andalusia Rotarians to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars to local, state and worldwide causes,” Taylor said.

The World Championship Domino Tournament began in 1976 as a Bicentennial project, but has grown to be one of the premiere domino tournaments in the United States. Last year over 300 participants competed for trophies and cash totaling more than $20,000.

This year’s events begin on Friday, July 9 with the singles tournament starting at 8:00 AM followed by a singles round robin at 1:00 PM. The $15,000 Fantastic Domino Sweepstakes drawing will also begin at 7:00 PM. On Saturday, July 10, the doubles tournament starts at 8:00 AM followed by doubles round robin at 1:00 PM. Finals in adult singles and doubles begin at 7:00 PM with event awards presented at 9:00 PM.

Registration by June 30 is $30 for adults, $15 for teens, and $10 for children. On or after July 1, adult registration will be $40, teens $20, and children $15. For further information and entry forms, contact the Andalusia Rotary Club at P.O. Box 276, Andalusia, Alabama 36420 or call Carolyn Davis at (334) 222-5830. Visit our website www.worlddomino.com.

For more information contact, Brad Ewing, 866-792-5879
Michael J. McGrevey, Former Mississippi State University Finance VP, is
Named President, Chief Operating Officer of JBHM Education Group
JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI – JBHM Education Group, a Jackson-based school-improvement company serving
public schools from New Mexico to South Carolina, has named Michael J. McGrevey as president, chief operating
officer, effective June 1, 2010.
Mike Walters, Ed.D., founder and former president, becomes chairman and chief executive officer of JBHM
Education Group. Walters said that rapid growth of the 10-year-old company led to the selection of McGrevey, who
resigned as vice president of finance and administration at Mississippi State University to accept the position. “Mike
McGrevey is a highly accomplished leader in developing and managing the organizational systems and procedures
that ensure exceptional service and efficiency,” Walters said. “We sought him because of the knowledge, skills, and
experience he can bring to JBHM Education Group as we scale our operations for additional school-improvement
opportunities throughout the nation.”
Walters will focus on strategies for JBHM Education Group’s continued growth, including the development
of new partnerships and service applications that benefit more students. He projects that the company will expand its
team of 250 school-improvement specialists by up to 60 percent in the 2010-2011 school year, representing a
growth rate of 122 percent over the past three years.
At Mississippi State, McGrevey managed or oversaw financial operations, institutional and campus
planning, investments, procurement, human resources, facilities, and business services. Prior to joining the
university in 2006, he was president of The Montgomery Institute, a regional strategic think tank in Meridian, and
was a former executive director of the Kemper County Economic Development Authority. The Ocean Springs native
returned to Mississippi in 2000 following retirement from the U.S. Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. As a financial
officer for the military, he developed and implemented policies, systems, and controls for budgets up to $24 billion.
Walters noted that JBHM Education Group was impressed by McGrevey’s “heart for service.” “When he
came home to Mississippi, he immediately went to work in economic development and followed the natural
migration to education. We all know that education is the answer for our communities and our nation. Mike
McGrevey shares our values and belief that all children should have the opportunity to attend a great school,”
Walters said.
McGrevey acknowledged the decision to leave MSU was a difficult one but said he was drawn to JBHM
Education Group because of the caliber of its work in public schools. “I can think of no area of service more
important to our country than improving our schools to provide every student an education second to none. JBHM
Education Group is a top-notch company with instructional and school-improvement specialists who are passionate
about helping teachers, principals, and students succeed. I am excited about using my expertise to complement their
work and continuing the company’s growth.” He and his wife, Ada, will reside on their farm in Decatur,
Mississippi.
5.21.09 JBHM Education Group supports school districts with Smart Camp
JBHM Education Group, based in Jackson, Mississippi, provides on-site, jobembedded
improvement consulting in schools from South Carolina to New Mexico
and supports state education departments and local districts in increasing the
effectiveness of school leadership and classroom instruction. Teacher coaching,
principal mentoring, and consulting to advance services for struggling learners and
special education students are also offered.
JBHM Education Group
Contact: Brad Ewing
866.792.5879
2525 Lakeward Drive, Suite 200
Jackson, MS 39216
jbhm-edgroup.com
# # #

Media Inquiries:
Allison Pittman
Media Relations
(601) 942-3389
allison@ucmlink.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

UCMLink.com Launches First Web-Based Network for Used Car Managers

Ridgeland, MS – June 2, 2010 – UCMLink is launching the first and only website – UCMLink.com – that allows Used Car Managers and dealers to find, list, trade, request, and communicate about inventory, all in one place.

“UCMLink.com combines aspects of Facebook, Craigslist, and Autotrader in a unique dealer-to-dealer wholesale environment.” says Robert Benoit, founder of UCMLink, “Managers are able to broadcast their needs, requests, and inventory, instantly through a comprehensive network”.

The goal of UCMLink is to enhance the everyday activities of Used Car Managers by using the network to vastly increase audience size. “With a few clicks of a mouse, UCMLink.com can almost instantly give managers the exposure that would otherwise take weeks to establish by phone”, says Benoit.

How UCMLink.com Works

When a member registers with UCMLink.com, they first set “preferences” for what they want to be informed about (i.e. make & distance), then, how they want to be informed (email, text, or both). After that, members can broadcast vehicles that they already have in inventory and want to sell, request vehicles they need, request bids on vehicles they are trying to trade for, and view vehicles being offered by other dealers. A host of tools are also provided to keep track of bids, appraisals, and contacts.

UCMLink.com Site Features

UCMLink.com is not a retail site. Access is only available to automobile dealers and wholesalers throughout the United States. Dealers have to register in order to view or post vehicles. An added feature, however, is a retail “view” that dealers can switch to if they have a customer in front of them and want to show the vehicle, but not details like wholesale pricing, location, or competitor contact information.

UCMLink.com is not a third party, or bidding site. Members are simply sent an email and/or text message with the vehicle description and contact information. That vehicle is then posted to the website for review. When a manager or dealer joins, they are given the privilege of using the database for themselves.

UCMLink.com Security

Trust is also taken into account during the development of the network, so, features like an advanced VIN decoder and integration with a dealer’s external accounts such as Carfax, Autocheck, and OVE provide peace of mind when doing business with other members.

UCMLink.com subscriptions

As part of the rollout process and to promote maximum membership, UCM Link is being offered free of charge for a limited time. Managers and Dealers can simply click on the register button, provide some simple information and they are ready to go. “Several of our members have sold cars on their very first day.” Says Jeff Richardson, Operations Manager for UCMLink.com.

About UCMLink.com

UCMLink.com is the ultimate networking site exclusively built for Used Car Managers. All the tools you need to communicate, list, locate, and search for inventory critical to your dealership can be found within the UCMLink.com community. To learn more, please visit www.UCMLink.com.