From the Mnanging Editor:
Managing the Delta Business Journal will be a rewarding experience
It is with great pleasure that I take on the role of managing editor of the Delta Business Journal. From the moment I stepped into the historic Smith building here in downtown Cleveland on the courthouse square, I knew good things were awaiting me. I have worked as an actor and production manager on many films, commercials, and I have even worked for a few magazines. I have had the opportunity of also walking through the thresholds of productions from Warner Brothers in Los Angeles to two-person shows literally in Timbuktu. My work has taken me to a lot of distant lands and now it has brought me to where I've longed to be - back home in Cleveland. As I'm writing this now, I am enjoying my first full month on board with the many talented individuals who work here at the DBJ. This outstanding group of professionals has made me feel so pleased to be at home again. I can honestly say that the crew of the DBJ and from the friendly, professional sales staff to the graphic artists, are some of the best creative minds I've ever worked with. This company has had the vision to "wake up" the Delta with a paper that has won numerous awards and remains the only one of its kind for our region. The company's new Delta Magazine has touched many people and even encouraged a few to consider moving to our beautiful Delta land. The company's advertising firm, Coopwood Communications, is expanding to cover all corners of the state and beyond. The future truly looks bright for this exceptional team of creative individuals. As I step aboard and look back at what great things have been happening here, I also look forward and see an even better publication, with greater depth, more powerful photography and stories about my home, the Delta, in all its intricacies. I see our communities growing in so many good ways, and, if my work on the Delta Business Journal brings even one person to consider opening a business in the region, then I will feel that I have done a good day's work. Writing about our communities, getting to see and work with long-time friends from Memphis to Vicksburg , and working with a truly world-class group of producers, makes me feel proud and elated to be back home.
In closing, I'd like to call your attention to the “Faurecia comes to Cleveland ” article on our front page this issue. While the Mississippi Delta is often thought of by many across the country as a backwards region with little to offer in the way of business opportunities, in just six weeks our area has seen the announcements that two Fortune 500 companies will open manufacturing facilities here - Textron Fastening Systems (over 500 jobs) in Greenville, and now, the huge French conglomerate, Faurecia (250 jobs) in Cleveland. And, what convinced these concerns to come to the Mississippi Delta? Teamwork, partnerships, fantastic incentives, a strategic location in the Southeast, a governor who is an exceptional salesman, and also an entity that we all know about, but perhaps they don't blow their horn as much as I believe they should: Entergy of Mississippi. Often behind the scenes and not in the open, Entergy plays a gigantic role in economic development efforts here in the Delta. Entergy president and ceo, Carolyn Shanks, and her extremely talented team of economic developers played the key role in helping Textron and Faurecia locate in the Delta. In the next issue of the DBJ, we'll feature an indepth article on the many things that Entergy does for the state of Mississippi and especially for the Delta.
Governor Barbour ran on the theme, “ Mississippi 's Moment”. Indeed it is here in the Delta.
I look forward to working with all you and this great team here at the DBJ. Thanks for reading! DBJ
Joe Meek
Managing Editor
