September 2012 Features

  • Where Do Franchisors Make Their Money?

    September 28, 2012

    I have a challenge for you, if you’re up to it. Ignore every pre-conceived notion you have about franchising for a few minutes. Pretend that it’s your first time learning about the franchise model. Be at one with the newness of it. Here we explore the world of franchising and how to profit from it.

  • Albany Tech Provides the New Gold Standard

    September 26, 2012

    This story is one in a series of stories on the state of education in and around Albany. In this story, Dr. Anthony Parker, President of Albany Technical College (ATC), shares his views on the future of college-level education programs.

  • Georgia TV & Movie Productions Generate $3.1B in FY2012

    September 25, 2012

    The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced that Georgia-lensed productions generated an economic impact of $3.1 billion in the state during FY12, a 29% increase from FY11.

  • The Ripple Effect: MillerCoors Pioneers Energy Savings & Water Conservation

    September 24, 2012

    MillerCoors values innovation. The corporation encourages employees to think critically, to turn problems into opportunities and to look past the status quo. Dave Dixon, environmental engineer at the Albany brewery, explains how the corporate emphasis shapes local culture here in Albany.

  • A Lower Unemployment Rate Not Always a Good Thing

    September 21, 2012

    Darton College Economic Professor Aaron Johnson digs deeper into unemployment numbers, and how when unemployment declines, due due to a misunderstanding of what the unemployment rate measures, the numbers aren't as good as they seem.

  • SunTrust Global Trade Forum: Cordele Inland Port Provides Another Boost for Area

    September 20, 2012

    In the second part of this two-part series, you’ll hear from Bruce C. Drennan, Executive Director, Cordele Crips Industrial Development Council. Mr. Brennan is responsible for much of the vision behind Cordele’s inland port and their amazing movement into global trade.

  • SunTrust Global Trade Forum: How Global Trade & Strategic Ports Bring Economic Gain to Georgia

    September 19, 2012

    In part one of a two part series, regional business leaders gather for the SunTrust Bank Global Trade Forum. Local experts discuss the importance of global trade and answer the question, “How will state ports bring economic gain to Georgia?

  • How To Train Your Team And Make It Connect

    September 17, 2012

    Staff training is an on going part of business. You can’t just toss people in and expect them to swim. That works for a hand full of all-stars, but if you want to increase the success rate and the consistency in how the team does what it does, then effective training is important.

  • Project Management For Profit

    September 14, 2012

    The book "Project Management For Profit: A Failsafe Guide to Keeping Projects On Track and On Budget" is making a timely appearance in business culture today. Moreover, authors Joe Knight, Roger Thomas, and Brad Angus know it, as they note that the future has arrived and why projects are the result.

  • Rising Labor Costs Not the Sole Factor Influencing Potential U.S. Manufacturing Resurgence

    September 13, 2012

    Consensus views on a U.S. manufacturing resurgence have largely centered on rising labor costs in markets such as China as the key driver of re-shoring back to the U.S. However, a new report reveals that while rising labor costs are part of the story, a range of factors—could drive a sustained manufacturing renaissance in the U.S. beyond any cyclical recovery, potentially improving investment, employment, production output and research & development (R&D).

  • J. Durham Reports Strong Interest in Farmland Sales

    September 12, 2012

    Sales activity is up at at J. Durham & Associates, a full-service auction company specializing in farmland and equipment, industrial property and equipment, commercial property and other real estate, driven mostly by farmland sales. Sales of commercial property, timberland and hunting property remain depressed.

  • Budgeting From The Ground Up: This Budget Actually Means Something

    September 10, 2012

    Most small businesses seem to have a strong dislike for budgeting. The feeling is that budgets are just a time wasting distraction from the things that really need to get done. You probably have similar feelings toward budgeting. And you’re right. Budgeting is a waste of time if you do it the way most small business owners do it.

  • Business Owners and Their Succession Plans

    September 07, 2012

    Many business owners find their wealth is mostly tied up in their businesses, which provides well for them and their families. When it comes to protecting their business, however, business owners often have not quantified how they would replace their income when the time comes for them to exit or sell their business and retire. Albany Wells Fargo Advisor Scott Hunter shares some tips for business owners to plan for succession.

  • Give Your Small Business A Post-Summer Morale Boost

    September 06, 2012

    Summer is over, and for most small business owners, that means the slow season is coming to a close and it’s time to get back to work with renewed enthusiasm. With Labor Day (a holiday created to honor working people) just past, it’s also a good time to sit down and take a look at the state of your small business’s work force.

  • Azalea Health Innovations Brings Cloud-Based Technologies to South Georgia

    September 05, 2012

    Digital patient records hold the promise of improved quality of care and lower health care costs. Rules published by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Healthcare IT require that hospitals, clinics and private physician offices be able to share patient information electronically with other unaffiliated facilities by 2016 or be faced with lower Medicare reimbursement money and face penalties.

  • LinkedIn: The Professional Playground For Professional Connections

    September 04, 2012

    There are so many tangible examples of how online networking, especially LinkedIn can, has and does open doors and connections, not only for me but many others I know who are using it with very good results. Very good results come from not only understanding how it works technically, but why it works. LinkedIn is a professional platform — not a social platform. That’s important to know so you use it right and get the best results.