PERSONNEL FILE

CAREER MOVES

Travis B. Moore has been named a vice president and community banker for Wachovia in the Biloxi-Gulfport market. Moore has 20 years of experience in the commercial banking industry and most recently served as a commercial lender for Regions Bank in Gulfport. PCA International, LLC announces that Ellenetta Marshall, the manager of the PCA Portrait Studio at Wal-Mart in Gulfport, has been named a PCA partner.

Harrah's Entertainment announces the addition to the Grand Biloxi Team of Barbara J. Donald, director of cashiering, and Fran Gates, regulatory affairs manager.

Donald began her career at Grand Casino Gulfport in 1993 as a general ledger accountant. She received her Certified Public Accountants license in 1996.

Gates began her career with Grand Casino Biloxi in 1993 in the security department. In 2000, she joined the regulatory affairs staff at Grand Casino Gulfport.

HONORS & ACHIEVEMENTS

Eddie Mullins of Biloxi has been elected president of the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy. This is Mullins' fifth year on the board, which regulates the practice of pharmacy in the state. Mullins is employed by Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and is a contract pharmacist with the 81st Medical Group at Keesler Medical Center. He also is a clinical instructor for the University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy and is a preceptor for pharmacy students training at Keesler. Beauvoir, the Jefferson Davis Home and Presidential Library, has announced that Quentin Kersten, facilities foreman, Jay Peterson, security chief, and Richard Flowers, curator, have received the first Director's Certificates of Excellence. The three employees were recognized for their commitment to Beauvoir after Hurricane Katrina and their dedication to recovering and preserving historical artifacts.

Bridget A. Ferrucci, a broker/sales associate with Coldwell Banker Alfonso Realty, has been named to the Coldwell Banker International President's Elite. Only the top 3 percent of the more than 126,000 sales associates worldwide qualified for the award. As a member, Ferrucci will attend the Elite Retreat, a three-day conference in Chicago. Additionally, Ferrucci received the Top Producer Award for Ocean Springs.

The following firefighters completed six weeks of intense instruction designed to meet or exceed the standards of the National Fire Protection Association for Firefighter Professional Qualifications: Gulfport Fire Department, Nicholas W. Decoronado and Timothy J. Ishee; Moss Point Fire Department, Donald P. Dees Jr., David L. Eaker Jr. and Archie L. Fitch Jr.; Escatawpa Volunteer Fire Department, Wesley K. Pry; and Ocean Springs Fire Department, Anthony P. Ducote, Wayne A. Emile Jr., and Jason D. Hudson.

The University of Southern Mississippi Marketing and Public Relations staff at the Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast campuses recently won 12 awards at the College Public Relations Association of Mississippi Conference. Entries were judged by professionals at Louisiana State University. Of the 12 awards, Southern Miss staff at the Gulf Coast campus received six awards in the following categories:

Newsletter: First place, Valerie Winn, La Don Swann, Diana Reid and Mary Mullins, "Sea Briefs"; Digital Art: Second place, Judy Isbell, "Southern Miss Gulf Coast Web Site"; PowerPoint Presentation: Judges' Choice, Project Managers, Dr. William Hawkins, Diana Reid, and Linda Skupien, "Katrina: Before and After"; Web Page, First place and Grand Award, Judy Isbell "University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Web Site"; Public Relations Campaign: First place, Shelia White and Judy Isbell, "Crisis Communication After Hurricane Katrina"; Public Relations Innovation: Second place, Shelia White and Judy Isbell, "Hydrographic Science Recognition Ceremony."

Nadean Wallace, executive secretary for the Southern Mississippi-Gulf Coast Department of Enrollment and Marketing, has completed the Advanced III requirements for the National Association of Education Office Professionals Option I certificate. The certificate, part of the Professional Standards Program, classifies Wallace as a Certified Educational Office Employee.

ANNUAL AWARDS

Jody Gillis, supervisor for the Domino's Pizza franchise in Gulfport, was awarded the title of Franchise Supervisor of the Year. Gillis has been with RPM Pizza for five years. Recipients of this award must have held a supervisor position for a minimum of 26 weeks or have been a manager/supervisor for a total of 18 months, average high marks on the company's internal store performance assessment and have a sales increase over the prior year. He demonstrated leadership through his work with store managers to incorporate a new in-store employee training system. Keesler Federal Credit Union recognized employees for outstanding service at its 2006 employee meeting. Bonnie Mayo, assistant bookkeeper, received the President's Award for the Administrative Office Division. Winner of the President's Award for the Branch Operations Division was Gina Esque, a financial services representative at the Picayune branch.

Shelia Cheek received the Executive Award for Branch Operations in recognition of her leadership and management qualities as branch manager for the Ocean Springs office. Donna Disalvo was honored with the Executive Award for the Administrative Office Division.

The 2005 Employee Meeting was canceled so 2004 honors for New Employee of the Year were given at the 2006 employee meeting. Mike Graham, Webmaster in the marketing department, was honored as the 2004 New Employee of the New Year. Stefanie Taylor, a teller at the homeport branch, was named as the 2005 New Employee of the Year.

MONTHLY HONORS

Jeanette Williams of Hurley and Fran Bates of Franklin Creek were honored by Jackson County officials as Co-Employees of the Month on June 19 for their work inside the Old Courthouse. Both are full-time employees in the County's maintenance department and have been vital to the Courthouse's recovery since Hurricane Katrina flooded the landmark.

NOTEWORTHY

Chris' Beauty College staff and students participated in hands-on and motivation training from Josh Farrington from the Oscar Blandi Salon in New York City on June 12 at the Chris' campus in Gulfport.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.