The CPI Group Leadership

Our Leadership Team's backgrounds are as diverse as the clients we serve. The CPI Group leverages this diverse expertise, ranging from entrepreneurial business to the Fortune 500 organizations, to design business solutions to fit each of our client's unique business needs.

Mark Smith, President

Mark Smith became President of The CPI Group, Inc. in 1997 and in 1999 became the company's sole shareholder. Mark provides daily oversight of all operations for the company and a vision for strategic business development. Since his appointment to President, the company has grown by over 2500% and has received numerous awards. Most recently, The CPI Group has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in America. The Inc. Magazine's Inc. 500 List is the premier and most widely recognized official ranking of fastest growing, privately held businesses in the country. In 2008, CPI was ranked third in growth of the privately held companies in the state of Mississippi by The Mississippi Business Journal in its Fast 40 Award Program. Other recognitions include the 2004 Mississippi Business Journal (MBJ) Small Business of the Year award, for which the company was recognized as a finalist in 2005 as well. Also in 2004, CPI received the Inaugural Governor's Cup recognizing CPI as the top small business in the state of Mississippi. It has also been named an MBJ Top 100 Privately Held Company three times since 2002.

Personally, Mark received the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce, was a Mississippi Business Journal Top 40 Under 40 recipient and was named a Golden Triangle Region Who's Who by the Commercial Dispatch. He was recognized in January of 2005 as the Small Business CEO of the Year among a handful of CEO's in the state of Mississippi at the 2005 Mississippi Business and Technology Expo. He was also a member of 2005 Mississippi Economic Council's Leadership Mississippi class in which he remains actively involved as a member of the Selection Committee for each year's class nominees. Additionally, he is a licensed real estate agent in Mississippi and is a partner in Glenwood Associates, LLC, a real estate development firm which is involved with various multi-family development ventures in Mississippi. In addition, Mark is the owner of Teufel Hunden Properties, LLC, a real estate development firm specializing in historical urban restorations and development. Mark is also the President of Vertex Construction Solutions, Inc. based in Columbus.

Mark attended the University of Maryland, and is a decorated U.S. Marine who served distinctively both stateside as well as in Southeast Asia. Injured in service, he is a disabled veteran and a member of the Disabled American Veterans. Mark currently serves as Honorary Squadron Commander for the 49th Fighter Training Squadron at the Columbus Air Force Base and is a member of the Columbus Air Force Base's Base Community Council. He is a current member of the Mississippi Economic Council's (MEC) Board of Governors and also, serves on the MEC's Leadership Mississippi Planning Committee and is the past Advisory Board Chairman and current board member for the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation-Ability Works. He is a past Chairman of the Board for Habitat for Humanity, a two-time Chairman for the American Heart Association's Heart Walk, was Secretary and then Vice Chair of the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors for the Columbus-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce, was a board member for the Columbus-Lowndes Economic Development Authority, as well as a board member for the Humane Society. Mark is currently a board member for the Columbus Lowndes Development Link's economic growth initiative, The Trust. He is also a Co-Chair for the northeast Mississippi Chapter of The Mississippi Center for Public Policy. In addition, Mark is involved with and supports a wide variety of Christian ministries including the Koinonia Emmaus Community of North Mississippi and Hope Family Ministries based in Tupelo, Mississippi. He also is a volunteer for Camp Rising Sun, a camp for children living in the tri-state area with cancer.

Mark enjoys boating, fishing and hunting, SCCA amateur road racing and attending collegiate sporting events.

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John McCall, Client Projects Manager

John, a native of Columbus, attended both Mississippi State University and the MUW before beginning his professional career. In 1990, he joined ServiceMaster Building Maintenance as an Area Manager. During his fifteen year career with ServiceMaster, he steadily rose through the ranks to become co-owner and Vice President of Operations. While with ServiceMaster, John specialized in recruiting and building outstanding management teams and developing marketing and customer retention programs. In 2005 John left ServiceMaster to pursue other interests. In the spring of 2007 he joined CPI as their Client Services Coordinator, bringing his marketing and recruiting experience to the CPI team. He is a national member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and serves as the Chair for Legislative Affairs for the Golden Triangle Human Resources Association. John's interests outside of work include scuba diving and a passion for Harley Davidson motorcycles. He is a member of Annunciation Catholic Church and enjoys being a member of other civic programs.

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Laurie Hayden, Staffing & HR Consultant

Laurie Hayden joined the CPI Group team in April 2008 after 18 years of leadership in the airline industry. Laurie's experience includes directing the customer service and human resources strategies for 4500 employees; Laurie's diverse background is instrumental in the successful recruitment and placement of qualified candidates. Laurie also represents CPI in the local community at job fairs, conferences and promotional events. Laurie's passion for customer and client support serve CPI and the local community.

Laurie's leadership training includes working with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) regarding accident/incident investigation, Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with regulatory compliance, Weather Disruption Team, Emergency Deployment and Critical Incident Stress Management as well as Negotiations, Mediations and Customer Relations.

Laurie is an active supporter of the American Heart Association, Breast Cancer Awareness, Ronald McDonald House Charities and Challenge Air "Wings of Love." Laurie's the mother of three successful grown sons; she was brought to the local community through her husband Tom's employment with a local aerospace firm following his retirement from the United States Air Force and they reside in Columbus.

 

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Kristi Stubbs, Project Manager

Kristi Stubbs joined The CPI Group team in January 2006 with an array of work related experience. Kristi serves as the Project Manager, which includes Payroll, Workman's Compensation Claims Management, Unemployment Claims Management, Special Events Coordination, and assisting the company President in various capacities.

Kristi serves as a liaison for The Columbus LINK and The Starkville Greater Development Partnership. In her duties for these, she attends all the meetings and executes the planning and set-up for The CPI Group.

She is a proud supporter of St. Jude's Children Hospital among other charitable foundations. Kristi's interests outside of work involve hiking & fishing at the Noxubee Wildlife Refuge.