The momentum for the future development of Meridian was reset during Monday's annual meeting of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation.
A celebration of the work of the community and the accomplishments achieved during the past year, the luncheon also laid the groundwork for the community's continued and future success – including providing a pep talk from from best-selling author and international professional speaker Kimberly Alyn as well as a sneak preview of the 88 Degrees: A Better Longitude on Life branding campaign.
"For us to be successful in economic development, we have to operate as a team," said Manny Mitchell, outgoing EMBDC chairman, to the capacity filled audience that included representatives of local businesses as well as community leaders, educators and government officials.
"We have to communicate ... we have to build trust and we have to work together – even if we don't want to," Mitchell said. "I think we are doing a much better job of that. I've seen cooperation in areas where before there was none. I've seen a lot better communication in areas where before there was none. But unfortunately, we still sometimes operate independently. And when we do it slows things down, and it makes it look unprofessional. But we're getting better; but we still have a long way to go."
Incoming Chairman Bud Thompson echoed Mitchell's comments adding, " ... I encourage each of us to be the community leaders that a growing and expanding region expects of us."
Alyn's presentation provided insight into leadership, noting that leadership is about choices and behavior.
"Which is why more great leaders are made than born," she said.
Alyn's discussion also included the key components of leadership, which is that real leaders: show integrity; put others first; communicate clearly; develop excellence of education; handle conflict constructively; create more leaders; take responsibility and hold themselves accountable; take input and include others; have a sense of humor; have a passion and purpose for what they do and show a love for people; and give people something to believe in.
Tony Pompelia, president of Leading Edges, sneak preview of the branding campaign included three proposed ad concepts that will target Meridian's location, healthcare, history, shopping, entertainment and transportation aspects. But Pompelia said in order for the campaign to work requires input from the community.
"This campaign highlights all the great things that this area provides to us, and it also gives us an opportunity to really appreciate where we live," he said. " ... What the people of a community say to outsiders about where they live is what they (outsiders) will believe as true.
"We have such great opportunities, culture and history here. But we've got to believe that and share it first," Pompelia said. "With this campaign, we hope to be able to provide 88 reasons why you want to live in Meridian and Lauderdale County, and take that to the city and county's Web sites, to billboards, ads and other media and publications."
The annual meeting also include the announcement of the Ambassador of the Year by Joyce Neal, chairman of the Ambassadors Committee.
"Volunteers are very important to the EMBDC, and the Ambassadors are especially important because of the many ways they assist the staff throughout the community – participating in ribbon cutting ceremonies, at events such as the Main Event Business and Industry Expo, the EMBDC Golf Classic, Business Before Hours and Business After Hours and other special programs and events. They also recruit new members for the EMBDC and perform many other invaluable services for the citizens of Meridian and Lauderdale County," Neal said.
Cindy Aucoin of Brown Printing Company was recognized as Ambassador of the Year for 2008. Also honored were Derron Ratcliff of the MSU Riley Center, second place; Carla Gable of BankPlus, third place; and Stacey Williams of New South Ford, honorable mention.
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City cuts payment to Watkins
The Meridian City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to cut their monthly payment to David Watkins, project developer of Meridian's new police station, by $9,999 until work resumes on the project.
The order, made during the Meridian City Council meeting Tuesday morning, included a mutual agreement between the councilmen and Watkins to reduce the project developer's monthly consultant fee of $10,000 to $1, effective Tuesday. -
Crews work on gasoline pipeline
If you hear a loud, booming sound early today, between 4 a.m.-10 a.m., there is no cause for alarm.
Workers with Plantation Pipeline will be performing maintenance work on their 30-foot gasoline pipeline in the Meridian area to accommodate the widening of Highway 493. The location of the work activity will be at Highway 493 North and Oak Hill Baptist Church, just inside the city limits. -
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High Honor
The flowers and balloons Crestwood Elementary School Principal Kimberly Kendrick received at school Monday were not an early Valentines' Day gift.
Kendrick has been named Meridian Public School District's 2012 Administrator of the Year – an announcement that both surprised and wowed the 17-year veteran educator when made by MPSD Superintendent Dr. Alvin Taylor. -
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Digital system promises better communication
Hopefully in the near future you won't hear someone in the emergency services ask over the radio, "Can you hear me now?"
A digital communications system, one which is being pushed by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), is a few months away and, in some cases, is already in the testing phase in Lauderdale County. -
Inmate escapes custody
Mississippi Department of Corrections officials said Monday afternoon an inmate escaped from custody Friday and is still being sought.
Officials said Johnny Hall Jr. escaped from two Wilkinson County Correctional Facility officers’ custody while being escorted from his father’s wake at the Picayune Funeral Home in Picayune. Preliminary information indicates Hall left the officers and jumped into a waiting black vehicle with a white female driver. -
Citizen’s Police Academy begins today
The work law enforcement conducts on a daily basis is often misunderstood by the general public.
Officials at the Meridian Police Department developed a program to inform and educate citizens on what police do in serving and protecting the population. The program, The Citizen's Police Academy, has been gaining speed for a couple of years since it was first offered. Officials said it shows residents are interested in police work and how it is conducted. - Woman: decongestant brought meth charge in Alabama
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