Features
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Want Great Marketing: Follow Apple’s Example
October 12, 2012
On August 20, 2012, Apple surpassed Microsoft to become the largest public company in history. It’s a fact that makes it easy to forget that, not that long ago, Apple didn’t even exist. What’s contributed greatly to Apple’s success is great marketing. As most people know, Steve Jobs was a big believer in great, smart, creative marketing. It’s something he believed in from the very beginning of Apple.
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Darton College Targets Specific Market Segments
October 10, 2012
This is the final story on the state of education in and around Albany. Here we check in with Darton College on trends and developments affecting the school and its stakeholders.
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Which Retirement Plan Is Right for Your Business?
October 09, 2012
If you own a small business, there are many retirement plan alternatives available to help you and your eligible employees with retirement planning. To make an informed decision on which plan is right for your business, Albany Wells Fargo Advisor Scott Hunter takes a look and reviews the differences in your options.
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Colony Bank Partners With Local Businesses to Help Them Plan for the Future
October 08, 2012
Phil Franklin, Colony Bank's Albany Market President, explains how a focus on relationships has been important to the bank’s strong performance.
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Here’s What Your Employees Want: Are You Listening?
October 05, 2012
When it comes to what your employees want, too many small business owners are in denial. At least, that’s the finding of a new study by MetLife, which polled small business owners and employees and found that while employee loyalty has dropped steadily since 2008, employers mistakenly believe it’s on the rise.
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Albany State Aims to Create Jobs
October 04, 2012
This story is one in a series of stories on the state of education in and around Albany. In this story, Dr. Everette Freeman, president of Albany State University shares his views on the future of higher education and the initiatives under way at ASU.
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Albany Herald to Be Printed in Tallahassee, Resulting in 26 Job Losses
October 03, 2012
The Albany Herald has entered into a new printing agreement with Gannett Co. that will result in a reduction in the newspaper's press and mailroom departments.
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Georgia Creates Record Jobs and Investment in 2012
October 02, 2012
Gov. Nathan Deal announced today that jobs and investment generated by the Global Commerce division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development jumped by almost a third during the state’s most recent fiscal year. The department reported that the 403 company expansions or locations with which it assisted created 28,776 jobs.
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Sheriff Kevin Sproul Talks About The Upcoming “Building Unity In The Community” BBQ
October 01, 2012
The old adage that “time flies the older you get” seems to be true more and more. Autumn is already upon us and 2012 is quickly coming to a close. But before this year is completely over, the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank you for your support by hosting our 3rd annual “Building Unity in the Community” cookout. The cookout will be held on Saturday, October 27th.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.