3 Lafayette County Businessmen Named Top 50 Under 40

(From left to right) Businessmen Ryan Upshaw, Peter Ross, Jason Bailey and David Blackburn at the 26th Annual Top 50 Under 40 ceremony. Jason Bailey was selected as last year’s Mississippi Business Person of the year. Photo courtesy of Peter Ross. 

Three local businessmen were recently recognized as recipients of Mississippi’s 26th Annual Top 50 Under 40 honor. The Mississippi Business Journal announced its selections last month.

David Blackburn, Ryan Upshaw and Peter Ross were selected by the Mississippi Business Journal staff and other respected community leaders.
Ryan Upshaw serves as the assistant dean of students for Student Services at Ole Miss. He recently worked as coordinator of recruitment and admissions for the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
Upshaw said he still doesn’t know who nominated him for the honor.
“When I learned that I was selected, I couldn’t believe it because I know that there are so many young professionals who are achieving great things in our state,” he said. “I’m thankful to the Mississippi Business Journal for the honor. In many cases younger professionals are not given much recognition so I am glad that this type of program exists to show the great things that young Mississippians are doing.”
Peter Ross is a clinical assistant professor of pharmacy at Ole Miss. He is the owner of Ross Pharmacy Consulting, which provides advising pharmacist services to nursing homes, surgery centers, and independent pharmacies in Mississippi. He is a deacon at North Oxford Baptist Church, an Ole Miss Alumni Association Board Member and two-time Residency Preceptor of the Year for Baptist Memorial Hospital’s Residency Program. 
“I am humbled and honored to be recognized as one of Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40 recipients,” he said. “The hard work and dedication I have been able to put towards my different roles in the field of pharmacy would not have been possible without the support of wonderful co-workers, caring friends, and a loving family.”
Blackburn is CEO of The Blackburn Group, a commercial and residential real estate company in Oxford. He currently serves on the Board of Governors for the Ole Miss Athletic Foundation, the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors for the Ole Miss Alumni Association, and the Board of Directors for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in North Mississippi.

By hottytoddy.com intern Cameron Riser.
Contributing author, Anna Grace Usery, is the editor-in-chief of hottytoddy.com. She can be reached at anna.grace.usery@hottytoddy.com.