Features
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Colson Printing Adapts to a Changing Industry
February 20, 2013
New buying trends in the printing industry are driving Colson Printing to launch an extension of its website to enable 24/7 click ‘n print functionality for its clients. Expected to go live in the first half of 2013, the new website capabilities will enable Colson to broaden its market nationally and appeal to locals who prefer to order online.
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Georgia's International Trade Posts Another Record Year
February 19, 2013
The state of Georgia experienced its fourth consecutive record year in international trade during 2012, exceeding the previous year’s milestones in both imports and exports. Georgia’s exports were up 3.2 percent—a $1.1 billion increase—compared to 2011, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics released this month.
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Scott Hunter on Understanding the Fiduciary Role for Retirement Plans
February 14, 2013
Serving as a trustee of an Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)-sponsored retirement plan or as part of an investment committee that acts as a fiduciary is an important responsibility. Wells Fargo Advisor Scott Hunter answers the important questions regarding Fiduciary Role.
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CTSI Outsourcing Partners with Clients on IT Support
February 12, 2013
CTSI Outsourcing provides businesses with an IT support team that is familiar with their business, their servers and applications. In the company's IT Timeshare Service, every client is assigned a technician and a back-up technician who visit weekly and are accessible by cell phone at any time.
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USPS Rate Increases, No Saturday Delivery Could Lead to Changes for Many Small Businesses
February 11, 2013
The United States Postal Service recently enacted some higher shipping rates for both domestic and international mail. It has also offered some new rules and shipping options that might have an impact on the way many small businesses send mail and shipments, on top of the just announced no mail delivery for Saturday.
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Doug Robinson on How to Start Dreaming Again in Business
February 07, 2013
Albany CEO Contributor, sales trainer, and author Doug Robinson has another excerpt to share from his book “ Sell is NOT a Four Letter Word”. Just for grins and giggles, stop thinking with your brain and start thinking with your heart... right now. Whether you call this using your imagination or just dreaming, this is the inspiration for winning, and can show measurable results in just 30 days!
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Build a Better Albany: Aaron Blair’s Plan for Downtown Revitalization and Albany’s Future
February 05, 2013
Albany business leaders aren’t the only ones asking these questions. A quick Internet search reveals dozens of mid-size cities and small towns working to attract and retain this important group of people. Aaron Blair, Albany’s Downtown Manager, says large companies need qualified people to be successful and that need has created a business trend seen throughout the United States. Today, corporations increasingly follow the young professional.
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Delegate and Know When to Let Go of Business Operations
February 04, 2013
As a business owner, you are the parent of your company. Planning for the business, getting it off the ground, and making sure it survives and thrives is taxing, time-consuming, and can be incredibly rewarding. Once the business begins thriving on its own, you need to delegate those responsibilities to other employees so that you can focus on higher-level tasks and because, frankly, you are probably not the best person for every job.
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Commentary: South Georgia's Diminishing Political Clout
February 01, 2013
South Georgia remains an integral and important part of the state, from the largest portion of the state’s economy (agriculture) to the thriving and growing ports. Yet, politically, change has come rapidly to the region.
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P&G Celebrates 40 Years in Albany
January 29, 2013
This year Procter & Gamble is celebrating 40 years of manufacturing in southwest Georgia. The Albany mill, which manufactures Bounty towels and Charmin toilet tissue, has received hundreds of millions of dollars of investment from P&G over that period according to Vince Falcione, external relations manager for P&G in Albany.
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Reaching Out To Departed Customers For Recovery
January 25, 2013
Every business has customers who have departed. There are a variety of reasons that prompt departure. How you react to the departure will either validate that they left for a good reason or begin the process of bringing back that customer and that customer revenue. We go through five steps to identify and regain customer trust and relationships.
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Ways to Hire Smarter in 2013
January 23, 2013
Is hiring more employees one of your New Year’s resolutions? While hiring ultimately relieves your headaches in the long run by helping you and your team with workload, in the short run most entrepreneurs dread hiring because of the time and effort involved. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure you recruit more of the right candidates and waste less time with people who don’t suit your needs.
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New SWGA Airport Terminal On Track for Summer Opening
January 22, 2013
Construction of the $10.8 million terminal building at the Southwest Georgia Regional Airport is on budget and on track for completion in June. Airport operations are scheduled to move from the current building into the new terminal in July.
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Independent Workforce On The Up And Up?
January 18, 2013
If you’re looking for work in this brave new 21st century world, the place to be is in the freelance space, according to a recent global business survey by Elance. The survey, in which more than 1500 firms from around the world participated, contains quite a bit of great news for freelancers — otherwise known as nonemployer businesses.
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How to Become a Masterful Company
January 17, 2013
In his book, High Tech, High Touch Customer Service, Micah Solomon talks about using social media to provide stellar customer experience. He also outlines the profile of a “masterful company,” those that go above and beyond in the area of customer service. Using a few of his 12 characteristics of a masterful company, we show you how you can become one.
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Scott Hunter on "The Business of Selling Your Business"
January 16, 2013
If you’ve been thinking about selling your business, you should put a solid sales plan in place even if you don’t act on it right away. Albany Financial Advisor Scott Hunter with Wells Fargo Advisors talks about key steps and precautions you should take when contemplating selling.
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PT Gym Keeps Fitness Safe, Effective and Enjoyable
January 14, 2013
With a strong emphasis on the individual, the fitness programs at PT Gym offer personalized attention outside of one-on-one personal training. For example, members can participate in small group programs that are supervised by certified trainers or sign up for online nutritional programs that can help manage their diet.
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Dougherty Sheriff Kevin Sproul Looks Back on 2012
January 11, 2013
With 2012 come and gone and as we forge ahead into 2013, Sheriff Kevin Sproul sharse some of the accomplishments of the Sheriff’s Office from 2012.
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4 Green Business Trends for 2013
January 10, 2013
It used to be enough to adopt a highway, recycle in the break room and install a few energy-efficient light bulbs. But businesses now must take ambitious steps if they want to be seen as sustainability leaders and join the big leagues. Consider that about two-thirds of all Fortune 500 companies now publish corporate sustainability reports.
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A Goal without a Plan is Just a Dream
January 08, 2013
Albany CEO Contributor Doug Robinson shares another excerpt from his book "Sell is NOT a Four Letter Word." In this installment, as we enter 2013 and a new sales year unfolds, goal setting takes center stage once again for salespeople.
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Darton Economic Professor Shares How the Fiscal Cliff Deal is Insufficient in Long Run
January 07, 2013
Darton College Economic Professor Aaron Johnson talks about the legislation passed averting the fiscal cliff, and digs deeper into the many effects that the deal may have on Americans.
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Leadership Truths That Every Leader Needs To Know
December 17, 2012
Successful business leadership is about the ability to create a compelling vision that is backed up by strong values, a strong sense of purpose and that inspires other people to help you to achieve it. It sounds fairly straightforward doesn’t it? However, great leadership requires a complex set of skills which have to be continually honed and fined tuned. We touch on 5 truths that every great leader needs to know.
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Why You Should Never Assume in Sales…
December 14, 2012
Albany CEO Contributor Doug Robinson shares another excerpt from his book "Sell is NOT a Four Letter Word." In this installment, he talks about how sales related occupations should beware the danger of assuming.
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4 Ways To Improve Your Business Networking
December 12, 2012
As small business owners and consultants, we understand the importance of networking. Your ability to schmooze, to meet people, and to create relationships will very often determine your success in business and how far you’re able to take your company. However, that doesn’t mean most of us are very good at it. We have a difficult time starting conversations and even keeping the relationships that we do start. We share 4 tips to help out the process.
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Manpower Seeks Skilled Professionals in Albany
December 11, 2012
Even with unemployment in the Albany metro area at a stubbornly high 9.3 percent in October, employers are struggling to find qualified people. According to Stacie Wills, manager of the Albany office of Manpower, a national leader in the staffing industry, the biggest challenge her team faces is finding people who want to work.