UM business alumni take family business to next level
Family companies are changing at a pace never experienced before, from the impact of Gen Y’s unique outlook on social media to today’s economic turmoil.
University of Mississippi business graduates Bill Brown and Eddie Maloney said changes—sometimes turbulent should be expected. The key to a business’s survival, they said, is for it to have a strong foundation.
Maloney didn’t intend to go back into the family business after graduating from Ole Miss in 1972 with a degree in business administration. But, after being successful in other endeavors, he decided to use his degree and work experience to continue the legacy his parents, Jimmy “Cowboy” Maloney and Dolly Maloney, started in 1952.
“My parents greatly influenced my decision to go for my dream,” said Maloney, owner of Cowboy Maloney’s Electric City with brothers Con and Johnny (BBA 78).
“I tried many businesses but decided to come back because I truly believe our company is not just a business but a family legacy,” he said.
Cowboy Maloney’s Electric City, headquartered in Ridgeland, Miss., initially sold built-in appliances for new homes but quickly evolved into a full-line appliance and television dealership. Today, under the guidance of the Maloney brothers, the business is a major national retailer with 12 locations around Mississippi and is credited as the first company in the United States to sell a DirecTV satellite and Sirius satellite radio system.
“No matter what you do in life and in business, you need a good foundation. My parents certainly provided that for me and my siblings, but I proudly say that Ole Miss added to it,” Maloney said.
“My professors were my friends and confidants. It was actually one of my professors, Gene Peery, who encouraged me to go into the family business because he believed I could help it grow,” Maloney said.
While Maloney considers Cowboy Maloney’s Electric City to be his parent’s legacy, he said he wants to be remembered for being fair with his customers and associates.
“Fair play isn’t just for children. Everyone likes to be treated with respect and honesty. This is a lesson I learned early on from my parents, and it’s a lesson my professors hammered into me throughout my tenure at Ole Miss,” Maloney said.
Maloney isn’t just all about business. He loves Ole Miss football, which he shares with Rhoda, his wife of 38 years, and their three daughters: Lindsey, Leigh Anne and Kelly. Maloney is also an avid baseball fan and is one of the owners of two minor league baseball teams in Texas—Round Rock Express and Corpus Christi Hooks.
Like Maloney, Bill Brown (BBA 80), CEO and president of Brown Bottling Group, Inc., did not plan to go into the family business. “Originally I wanted to be an accountant or stockbroker. That was my training,” Brown said. “The numbers part of the business is my strongest suit, but once I got in the business and started learning the people part, it got in my blood, and it’s been fun.”
Brown Bottling Group, Inc. has owned the distribution rights for the Pepsi-Cola and Dr Pepper beverage portfolios since 1971.
Headquartered in Jackson, Miss., the group has offices in Hattiesburg, McComb, Meridian, Natchez and Vicksburg and employs 450 people. In 2001, the company added a full-line vending subsidiary, Brown Vending Co.
Brown assumed responsibility of the company from his father, Kenneth A. Brown, in 1988 and later purchased the company from his parents. He said his father instilled strong business ethics in him.
“Dad encouraged me but never forced me to join the family business,” Brown said. “He wanted me to be in a business that would be rewarding and supportive.”
“While I admit there have been ups and downs in the business, especially with the economy, I wouldn’t change my decision,” he said. “It’s been more than rewarding to see this business grow and, more importantly, to see people grow and be able to successfully support their families. It’s come full circle.”
In addition to the discipline his dad taught him, Brown said several Ole Miss professors influenced his career path. “I had many teachers who made the subject matter very interesting. This is hard to do when you’re talking to 19- and 20-year-old students,” he said. “They disciplined me in my study habits and let me make my mistakes.”
Brown is proud to share everything he learned from his dad and at Ole Miss with his children, Shelley, who is in public relations at Brown Bottling Group, Inc., and Allyn Brown, who is managing process improvement at Brown Vending.
“I was young and hotheaded when I started out in business. I was allowed to make mistakes and learn from them,” Brown said. “My dad didn’t try to fix my problems for me. He wanted me to learn discipline. These are values I’ve passed on to Shelley and Allyn.” Brown and his wife, Alison Myers Brown, met while attending Ole Miss in the 80s and come back to campus frequently to see the university’s progress and to visit their daughter Katie, who is enrolled in the Business School.
“I enjoyed my years at Ole Miss and enjoy coming back as often as possible,” he said. “The university has seen tremendous growth. I’m proud of the way Dr. Khayat and now Dr. Jones have handled running Ole Miss. It’s just amazing.”
