By Staff
Fisher honored
for small
business
contributions
special to The Star
STARKVILLE Sonny Fisher, director of Mississippi State University's Small Business Development Center, is receiving national recognition as the state organization's Star Award winner.
Headquartered in Oxford, the Mississippi SBDC system consists of 10 regional sites, each providing a variety of free services to small businesses with fewer than 500 employees. Established in 1981 as a unit of the College of Business and Industry, MSU's center serves Choctaw, Clay, Kemper, Lauderdale, Lowndes, Montgomery, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Webster, and Winston countries.
Fisher is one of only 57 persons selected for the honor from among thousands of directors and business counselors nationwide. He and the other 2003 winners will be recognized formally in September at the Association of Small Business Development Centers' national convention in San Diego.
A Meridian native, Fisher has served as director of the SBDC at MSU since 1993. He is a 1964 MSU business graduate and former quarterback for the MSU Bulldog football team.
According to Mississippi SBDC director Doug Gurley, Fishers' selection for the Star Award is based on exemplary performance, consistent and significant contributions to the MSBDC and a continued strong commitment to Mississippi small businesses.
Sinclair named Riley Hospital's new CFO
Brad Sinclair has joined Riley Hospital's administrative team as its new chief financial officer.
Sinclair recently served as assistant chief, financial officer at River Oaks Health System in Flowood. Both Riley Hospital and River Oaks Health System, which includes River Oaks Hospital and Woman's Hospital, are owned and operated by Health Management Associates Inc., which is headquartered in Naples, Fla.
A native of Louisville, Sinclair holds a master's degree in accounting from Mississippi State University. He is a licensed certified public accountant, a member of the Healthcare Financial Managers Association and a Rotarian.
He and his wife, Jennifer, have a 17-month-old daughter, Ainsley. Sinclair replaces former CFO Vance Reynolds, who left in May to become chief operating officer of a hospital in Louisiana.
Ridinger named
Citizens National
Bank vice president
Barney A. Ridinger has been promoted to the position of vice president of loan portfolio management for Citizens National Bank's 23 statewide locations.
In this new position, Ridinger will be responsible for the management of loan processing.
Since joining Citizens National in 1985, Ridinger has held a variety of positions, including assistant vice president, to which he was promoted in 1996. He has specialized in both the deposit and loan operations areas.
He currently serves on the finance committee for the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity and also assists with Habitat's homeowner loan program.