Mississippi businessman selected Top 40 Under 40

Top 40 Under 40 Mark A. Smith, President of the CPI Group, Inc., has been recognized by "Mississippi Business Journal" as a leader in Mississippi business.

Columbus, MS, January 10, 2001: Columbus businessman Mark Smith is being recognized as being among "Mississippi's best and brightest" leaders. Mississippi Business Journal says, "the people selected as Top 40 winners are leaders in their fields, have won the respect of their peers and haven't forgotten the importance of giving back to their communities."

The January 1 edition of the MBJ stated, "...it may be hard to believe, but Mark A. Smith, president of the multi-million dollar temporary staffing agency Columbus Personnel, Inc., claims he, at one time, had little discipline or structure in his life." Having to hold down jobs while still in high school and especially as a non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, Smith learned the basic principles of management and self-discipline that have helped carry him to his present status.

Smith says it has been challenging to work his way into a leadership role in an established, family-owned business and forge the changes needed to bring the staffing company into its present role as a regional leader. After buying out his family's ownership in 1999, Smith made drastic changes across the board in order to maximize the company's competitiveness. "We spent a lot of money on technology, office space and new personnel programs to allow us to successfully compete with our larger rival "chain" operations. This has enabled us to react quicker and more efficiently to our clients needs."

The CPI Group is comprised of the temporary and permanent staffing company, Columbus Personnel Incorporated, SmithAvery and Associates, a regional Professional Search and Human Resources consulting firm; and Southern Charters, a commercial transportation company for special occasion and corporate transit.