Features

• Lawmakers To Consider State Level Healthcare Reforms

  December 09, 2013

  With the holiday season upon us, the thoughts of most will turn away from politics and on to things that actually matter. And yet, when the presents have been opened and the calendar turns to 2014, there will be less than 2 weeks before the start of Georgia’s General Assembly session. Thus, while most of us are celebrating and spending time with loved ones, some have already been preparing for what will likely be a short and speedy session of making laws.

• Doug Robinson on “Making Your List and Checking it Twice”

  December 06, 2013

  As your humble monthly contributor, I would like to suggest a great Christmas or holiday gift that would be very relevant and appreciated by your salespeople, customer service reps, or technicians/installers. For ten years, while facilitating workshops and training classes for sales and customer service reps and sales managers, I repeatedly heard many of the participants encourage me to put my thoughts on paper and publish a book. After hearing this mantra regularly for several years, I decided to go for it, and listed, “write a book” on my bucket list.

• Many Americans Leaving Unused Vacation Days on the Table

  December 04, 2013

  Expedia.com, released the results of the 2013 Vacation Deprivation study, an annual analysis of vacation habits among 8,535 employed adults across 24 countries and five continents. Americans are now treating vacations as a luxury rather than a right: Over the past year, typical Americans could have taken 14 days of vacation and took 10, leaving four days on the table, twice as many as the year prior.

• HeritageBank of the South Thrives in Challenged Banking Industry

  December 03, 2013

  Where other banks see challenges, Heritage Financial Group sees opportunities. As interest rates ticked up in 2013 and mortgage-refinancing volumes dropped, big banks such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo have cut hundreds of jobs in their mortgage units. HeritageBank of the South, a subsidiary of Heritage Financial Group, is hiring.

• Georgia-Filmed Productions Generate $3.3B in FY13

  December 02, 2013

  The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced today that Georgia-lensed feature films and television productions generated an economic impact of $3.3 billion in the state during FY13.

• AAA: 43.4M Americans to Travel for Thanksgiving, a Slight Decline from Last Year

  November 22, 2013

  AAA projects 43.4 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a decrease of 1.5 percent from the 44 million people who traveled last year. This decrease falls just shy of last Thanksgiving's four-year peak since the recession-driven declines in 2008-2009 when Thanksgiving travel fell by 25 percent. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 27 to Sunday, Dec. 1.

• Dr. Art Dunning Named Albany State University Interim President

  November 21, 2013

  University System of Georgia (USG) Chancellor Hank Huckaby has named Dr. Arthur N. Dunning as interim president at Albany State University. He will begin his new assignment on December 2, taking over from Kimberly Ballard-Washington, who served temporarily as interim president since November 1, following the departure of former president Everette J. Freeman.

• Government Shutdown Causes Small Business Loan Approval Rates to Fall in October

  November 20, 2013

  The U.S. government shutdown in October had a significant negative impact on small business lending, according to the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index. Meanwhile, alternative lenders seized the opportunity and picked up the slack in small business lending.

• Do Men and Women Have Different Small Business Outlooks?

  November 18, 2013

  How are men and women entrepreneurs feeling about their businesses’ prospects for the coming year? The 5th in a series of studies by Hiscox Small Business, the DNA of an Entrepreneur (PDF), found that while both men and women small business owners are optimistic about their futures, there are some important differences in how they run their businesses.

• Second Georgia Gives Day Yields Big Wins for State's Nonprofits

  November 15, 2013

  As the clock struck midnight, the tally stood at $1,448,233. Today, nonprofits across Georgia celebrate the virtual outpouring of support from 11,257 Georgians who came together for the second annual Georgia Gives Day to show their support for 1,720 participating organizations across the state.

• Doug Robinson Asks: “What Do You Do?”

  November 14, 2013

  As you make the daily rounds in your profession I’m sure you are used to hearing this question regularly. You really ought to think about how you should respond, knowing that you will only have a very narrow time window to highlight your business to others.

• United Way of SWGA Delivers Strong ROI For Donors

  November 13, 2013

  The United Way of Southwest Georgia is about halfway through its 2013 campaign and making good progress. According to LaKisha Bryant Bruce, chief executive officer of United Way of SWGA, interest in the campaign is high.

• Keep Your Best Employees With Better Benefits

  November 12, 2013

  To maintain the best employees for your business, it’s imperative for business owners to take necessary steps to keep current top-tier employees satisfied in today’s economy. So what can small businesses do to make sure their key players stick around instead of window shopping for new opportunities? One way to retain current personnel and attract superior applicants is by offering strong benefits packages.

• Sheriff Kevin Sproul Offers Up Some Thanksgiving Thoughts

  November 08, 2013

  Last month, the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office held our annual Unity in the Community Barbeque. Speaking of thanks and food, this month brings one of my favorite holidays – Thanksgiving.

• Scott Hunter on Navigating Today’s Economy

  November 07, 2013

  While changes in the economy occur regularly, what we have experienced recently is anything but a “normal” change. The challenges of the current economy haven’t been seen or experienced in our country in decades. Like most investors, you may wish you could figure out some way to know when economic conditions were about to change, or what adjustments you should make in your portfolio based on current conditions.

• Phoebe Putney Health System Announces Partnership Aimed at Improving Service, Lowering Healthcare Costs

  November 06, 2013

  The rapidly changing health care landscape is bringing with it profound changes in reimbursement methods, shifting significant financial risk from payers to care providers. These changes are requiring hospitals to reorganize and reengineer the way they deliver care and to adjust rapidly to new payment reform. With that in mind, Phoebe Putney Health System announced a partnership with xG Health Solutions.

• Georgia Named #1 State in U.S. for Business

  November 05, 2013

  Gov. Nathan Deal announced that Georgia’s business climate has been named No. 1 in the nation by Site Selection magazine, one of the nation’s top economic development trade publications.

• Mobile Payments are Exploding: What You Need to Know

  November 04, 2013

  Accepting payments via mobile device is becoming more and more mainstream. Right now, we are in the midst of a growth spurt that will see mobile payments in the U.S. hit $90 billion by 2017, according to a Forrester Research report released earlier this year. That’s up from $12.8 billion spent in 2012, the report states. It’s also easier than ever to join the party, and retailers have an almost overwhelming number of options.

• UGA, DOJ to Study How Much Consumers Will Pay for Internet

  November 01, 2013

  Researchers from the University of Georgia and the U.S. Department of Justice were awarded $530,000 over three years by the National Science Foundation and CableLabs to study demand for residential Internet service.

• Kimberly Ballard-Washington to Serve as Albany State University Interim President

  October 31, 2013

  University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby has named Kimberly Ballard-Washington to serve as interim president at Albany State University. Ballard-Washington is assistant vice chancellor for Legal Affairs for the USG and assistant secretary to the Board of Regents.

• Paul Davis Emergency Service & GRAP Restoration Provide "One" Solution

  October 29, 2013

  With the aim to provide a complete mitigation and rebuild solution to customers and their insurance providers, Greg Suess and Brian Bradshaw opened a Paul Davis Emergency Service of Albany and Leesburg franchise in November 2012. Paul Davis is a full-service water, fire and mold cleanup and restoration firm that operates through more than 300 franchise locations.

• Benefits of Having a Small Business Mentor

  October 28, 2013

  As a business owner or entrepreneur, you have a lot on your plate. And whether you’re busy trying to establish your business or developing a growth strategy for your existing operation, it can be valuable to get an expert opinion from a mentor.

• How Health Care Reform Changes Impact the Small Business Owner

  October 25, 2013

  As an employer, you may find yourself thinking that you have yet to address health care reform requirements for your business. Some of you may be asking: Why should I rush to meet guidelines and deadlines that seem to be constantly changing and being pushed back? Well I have an answer — you should take action for your employees.

• Big Questions Every Business Plan Should Answer

  October 24, 2013

  Every small business needs a business plan. It’s an essential document that’s not just for start-ups and expansions – because a great business plan can serve as a road map for your company and help you make the right adjustments when things go wrong. Your business plan should be a living, breathing portfolio that evolves along with your company.

• 5 Tips for Competing as a Little Guy in a Big, Busy Space

  October 22, 2013

  Chances are, if you and your company are doing something right, you’ve attracted the attention of a giant. That could mean you’ve spent years perfecting your product or service only for Google, Amazon or Microsoft to step in and launch their take on your idea. Then other companies catch onto the trend, too

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