Features

• Small Business Loans Bounce Back in November

  December 18, 2014

  Big bank lending to small businesses rebounded in November and resumed a positive trend that has lasted much of the year. This latest data from Biz2Credit’s Small Business Lending Index should be good news to any small business owner seeking more capital to expand or diversify their operations.

• Many Now Believe There's Only One Albany

  December 17, 2014

  There's Only One Albany – the marketing campaign launched by the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission (ADEDC) – finished its six-month run this month. The campaign was designed to positively change how people who live and work in Albany feel about their community.

• Last Minute Corporate Gift Ideas for When Time is Running Out

  December 16, 2014

  No one has to tell you that your business relationships are important. Saying thank you and showing your appreciation creates a good rapport with your colleagues, partners, and clients. One of the best ways to do this is with thoughtful and timely gifts. But often in the busy business world it’s not possible to spend a great deal of time picking the perfect gift for every person you work with.

• Tis the Season for Strategic Giving

  December 15, 2014

  With the holidays just around the corner many are focused on giving back, especially in Atlanta, the fourth most charitable large metro in the United States. Forty-three percent of wealthy donors said that they make more charitable contributions during the holiday season compared to the rest of the year, according to the recent Bank of America Study on High Net Worth Philanthropy.

• Daniel Titus: The Importance of an Honest Business Image

  December 12, 2014

  I am always telling people, "Trust your designer." Even if your designer is not me, trust your designer. However, it occurred to me recently that not all designers are honest. Not all creative people are honest about who they are or what kind of work they do or what kind of price they charge or ... whatever. It's shocking; I know. So, what is my advice to those who have a designer (or other creative professional) who is not honest? This is not something I say often because I think that one's work should speak for itself, but my advice is this.

• HeritageBank to Merge with Mississippi-Based Renasant Corporation

  December 11, 2014

  Renasant Corporation and Heritage Financial Group, Inc. jointly announced today the signing of a definitive merger agreement pursuant to which Renasant Corporation will acquire, in an all-stock merger, Heritage Financial Group, Inc., a bank holding company headquartered in Albany, Georgia, and the parent of HeritageBank of the South, aGeorgia savings bank.

• Construction Begins on New Ambulatory Surgical Center in Albany

  December 09, 2014

  Albany will soon be home to a new ambulatory surgical center located on a 2.4-acre site on Westover Blvd. Albany Surgical, P.C., a six-physician general surgery practice, broke ground Monday on a new 25,000 square foot office and surgical facility, which is expected to be complete in 11 months.

• Regions Bank Georgia President: Going Beyond the Brick and Mortar Branch

  December 08, 2014

  Now that the U.S. has traversed the recession and planted its feet on the banks of a new economic era, the banking industry is strengthening. Leaders within the banking industry are mobilizing to reinvigorate commercial enterprises that make the economy hum. Bill Linginfelter, Area President of Regions Bank for Georgia and South Carolina, says, “We try to take a lot of the financial management tasks off their plates so they can spend more time developing their business or making more products or innovating.”

• Albany Tech Named a Top School in Advanced Education's Guide to Colleges & Universities

  December 05, 2014

  Military Advanced Education (MAE) has awarded Albany Technical College the designation of a Top School in its 2015 MAE Guide to Colleges & Universities, measuring best practices in military and veteran education.

• Mediacom Business Launches Real Customer Story Series

  December 03, 2014

  We recently chatted with Kristi Salmon, Mediacom Business’ Marketing Director, to find out what the telecommunications service provider is planning for 2015, especially concerning the hot topic of Google Fiber.

• Who Do You Tip at the Holidays (and How Much)?

  December 02, 2014

  Tipping service providers during the holidays is a great way to show your appreciation for services throughout the year. Who do you tip at the holidays? And how much do you tip them? What is an appropriate gift or tip for that courier who always delivers your packages, or your hairdresser, or your landscaper?

• BCBS Georgia President Morgan Kendrick: Blue Cross Blue Shield Starts New Healthcare Discussion

  December 01, 2014

  As the Affordable Care Act (ACA) continues to unfold, insurance providers and businesses, particularly small to medium sized businesses, continue to adjust. Making decisions that best serve both the bottom line and employees requires knowledge and flexibility. Morgan Kendrick, President, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa), acknowledges that the ACA is a response to health care costs that had risen to an untenable level.

• Facebook at Work Could Rival LinkedIn, Google Drive

  November 20, 2014

  Unless you’re updating the company page, using Facebook at work is frowned upon generally. But a new report suggests that Facebook is planning to invade the workplace with the intent of getting actual work done, not frittering away your day. The purported Facebook at Work would seek to challenge competition in the social media and cloud collaboration markets.

• Faison Middleton on Parental Liability for Social Media Activity

  November 17, 2014

  Can parents be sued and held liable for their children's social media activity? A recent Georgia Court of Appeals case suggests in certain circumstances the answer is "yes." Watson Spence Partner Faison Middleton digs into the subject deeper.

• 15 Startup Mistakes You Should Avoid

  November 14, 2014

  Think back to when you started your most recent company. What were the biggest mistakes you made at the time? Or, if you’re in the process of starting a business today, what mistake are you most concerned about making? Expert Market has come up with this infographic listing 15 startup mistakes small business owners and entrepreneurs need to consider.

• Gulfstream Shines in Georgia, A Conversation with Their CEO 
Larry Flynn

  November 12, 2014

  Recently, Georgia CEO tried to catch Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation CEO, Larry Flynn, on the fly while he was busily preparing for the National Business Aviation Association Convention and Exhibit in Orlando, Florida. Mr. Flynn provides the very latest updates about the show and many other current initiatives at Gulfstream for our readers in the following interview.

• Georgia University Enrollment Up for First Time in Two Years

  November 10, 2014

  Fall 2014 enrollment in the University System of Georgia’s 31 colleges and universities totaled 312,936 students, an increase of 1.1 percent over fall 2013. This fall’s modest enrollment increase reverses a two-year trend in student enrollment in the University System of Georgia.

• How to Turn Your Hobby Into a Business

  November 07, 2014

  Imagine if you could turn your favorite leisure activity into a successful business venture. Many Americans are now turning to what they love to earn income, whether it’s enough to quit their day job or just a fun way to cover the costs. If you are passionate about a craft or other activity, your money-making opportunities are virtually endless these days. Here are some things to consider as you turn your hobby into cash.

• Zaxby’s CEO McLeroy Drums Up Decades of Growth

  November 06, 2014

  As a youngster, Zaxby’s CEO, Zach McLeroy, dreamed of playing the drums as a rock star, or playing basketball as an all-star, but never could he have imagined becoming a superstar in the chicken business. In the relatively short span of a little over two decades, McLeroy and his grade school buddy and co-founder, Tony Townley, have taken their original Zaxby’s location in Statesboro, Georgia and replicated it more than 640 times—far exceeding their original long-term objective of 10 stores.

• The Sheriff Speaks: Firearms in the Home

  November 04, 2014

  With all of the new gun laws, more people are purchasing firearms. Keeping a firearm in the house is an issue with many safety concerns. Many people choose not to keep a firearm because they do not know how to keep one safely. Dougherty County Sheriff Kevin Sproul gives some good tips and things to think about on the subject.

• Wynfield Plantation Gives Guests a Little Something Extra

  October 30, 2014

  The South Georgia plantation belt running from Albany to Thomasville is home to the long traditions of hospitality and hunting. At Wynfield Plantation in Albany quail hunting and gracious hospitality merge into the picture-perfect setting for formal corporate events and informal business strategizing. Leaders in Georgia’s and the nation’s agricultural, banking, oil and gas, medical, chemical, trucking and private equity industries, as well as others, reward their best salespeople and top clients with excellent accommodations and guided hunting experiences.

• SunTrust Pursues Homegrown Leadership in Georgia

  October 29, 2014

  Here at Georgia CEO, we’ve conducted a series of interviews with SunTrust presidents from Savannah, Columbus, Albany and Macon. One common theme between these leaders is they have strong ties to Georgia. They were either born or reared here, attended college or have family ties to the state. Jim Manley, regional president of the Macon/Columbus/Albany region, might be the most homegrown of the five.

• Hannah Solar Ensures Georgia’s Place in the Sun

  October 27, 2014

  Georgia is one of the fastest growing solar markets in the country and Hannah Solar, winner of the 2014 Champion of Change Award, is accommodating commercial-industrial and agricultural demand for solar energy. We talk to CEO of Georgia-Based Hannah Solar Pete Marte about the growth of the industry in the state.

• Chris Cohilas on New Law Changes in the Way Plaintiffs & Insurers Negotiate Claims

  October 22, 2014

  In 2013, the Georgia Legislature passed a new statute that greatly affects how attorneys who represent persons injured in automobile collisions negotiate with liability insurers. Watson Spence Attorney Chris Cohilas gives us some in depth perspective,

• GaMEP Positively Impacts Georgia’s Manufacturing Sector

  October 21, 2014

  U.S. manufacturing is experiencing a renaissance, and the Georgia Manufacturing Extension Program (GaMEP) is ensuring that Georgia’s manufacturing industry resurges with the nation’s.

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