May 18, 2008

Top leadership award goes to Bob McGehee

Bob McGeheeLate Vicksburg native Bob McGehee has been honored with the William S. Lee Award for Leadership, the nuclear industry’s top leadership award.

McGehee, who died in October 2007, is the first to receive the award from the Nuclear Energy Institute posthumously. He was, from 2004 until his death, chairman and chief executive officer of Progress Energy, a Fortune 250 energy company headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. Under McGehee’s leadership, Progress Energy received in 2006 the Edison Award, one of the electric industry’s highest honors.

McGehee was a 1961 graduate of H.V. Cooper High School.

Farrell assistant VP at Trustmark bank

Matt FarrellMatt Farrell has been named assistant vice president at Trustmark National Bank. He works in commercial lending at the main Vicksburg branch at Clay and Washington streets.

Farrell has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in business administration from the University of Mississippi. He and his wife, Alley, have one child and are members of St. Michael Catholic Church.

Greer patients’ choice in nursing at RRMC

Elizabeth GreerElizabeth Greer has received River Region Medical Center’s Patient Choice Nursing Award. The honor is the first of its kind at the hospital.

To receive the award, a nurse must provide exceptional care, comfort and compassion. The honor was given based on patient nominations.

Greer is a registered nurse who works on the pediatric wing at River Region. She has been employed at the hospital for nine years.

BBB representative to speak at Chamber

Dick Brodbeck of the Better Business Bureau of Mississippi will be the featured speaker at this month’s Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

The event will be at noon Wednesday at the Vicksburg Convention Center. Admission is $12 at the door.

For information, contact Veronica Wallace at vwallace@vicksburgchamber.org or 601-636-1012.

Four managers hired at Riverwalk Casino

Mary Lynn ThomasLouise McDonaldBryan AndersonRoy LoweryRiverwalk Casino and Hotel, being built off Warrenton Road, has hired four more managers.

So far, at least three management appointments have been announced at the casino, slated for completion in November. Vicksburg has four other casinos, and dockside gaming first came to the city in 1993.

Mary Lynn Thomas of Vicksburg has been named public relations/advertising manager. Thomas has about 20 years of experience. She co-founded the Vicksburg Association of Marketing Professionals and was membership chairman and vice president of the organization. Thomas is a certified associate business manager and a member of the Association of Professionals in Business Management. Most recently, she worked as an independent consultant for small- and midsized business clients.

Louise McDonald has been named vice president of finance. A Vicksburg native, McDonald has about 25 years of experience. She was the financial controller for Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans and held senior financial positions at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, Ind., and Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg. McDonald has a bachelor’s degree in business management from Tusculum College. She is a member of the Institute of Management Accountants.

Bryan Anderson has been named director of food and beverage and hotel. He has about 30 years of senior management experience in the hospitality industry. He was operation manager for Amelia Belle Casino in Amelia, La. He was vice president of hotel and food and beverage operations for Fitzgeralds Casino and Hotel in Tunica. He has worked in the hospitality industry in Florida, Oklahoma and Texas. Anderson has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Houston.

Roy Lowery has been named director of surveillance. He began his gaming career in security in 1993 with Vicksburg’s Isle of Capri Casino, now called DiamondJacks. He joined Vicksburg’s Ameristar Casino in 1994 and advanced to surveillance shift manager. He also assisted in the opening of Harlow’s Casino in Greenville.