Chief financial officer of Reed’s Metals, Ed Crawford of Wesson, has been named a “Leader in Finance” through the Mississippi Business Journal.

The Journal looks for professionals whose fiscal work has set the pace for their company and the region. Recent honorees that were selected based on industry and community involvement and achievement through their energy and innovative ideas. Their work should provide a model of professionalism to their peers and go above and beyond the call of duty.

The selection committee does not decide based on show of support but rather on quality of applicants and their nomination materials.

Honorees are recognized each year in the following categories:

• Banking: Honors individuals such as mortgage lenders, bank executives, credit officers and loan officers.

• Investment: Honors individuals such as stockbrokers, financial advisers, financial planners and investment executives.

• Professional: Honors individuals such as public accountants, auditors, financial educators and financial analysts.

Crawford, was nominated and awarded as a “Leader in Finance” at the Hilton on County Line Road in Jackson on Sept. 26 during a special awards luncheon.

Crawford has served as Reed’s Metals’ CFO for five years and manages all financial aspects of its five, full manufacturing facilities and three new service centers across the Southeast United States, along with overseeing the finances for several other investment/companies. Crawford is a Certified Public Accountant and Volunteer Income Tax Assistant with the IRS.

Maybe what stood out to the panel of judges was the fact that Crawford was a Missile Control Launch Officer for the U.S. Air Force, or maybe it was that Crawford often files taxes for people in the community for no extra charge — just the actual cost it takes to file. He loses money but it’s a ministry to him.

“My advice would be to get your education to further and deeply develop your skills and abilities to make yourself more versatile in the job market. Develop processes and procedures and ensure that people follow those. Hire highly skilled and trained work force to be successful. Make sure you give back to the community happily and freely as your contribution back to society,” said Crawford when asked how to inspire others to be successful.
Reed’s Metals was recently honored as one of the “Best Places to Work in Mississippi.”

Crawford is married with four kids and three grandkids and loves to fish and hunt when he can find the time in between family and managing the finances for a multi-million dollar metal manufacturing corporation.