Features

• Daniel Titus on When to Upgrade Your Website

  April 22, 2013

  You upgrade your cellphone every two years, your workout routine every three months, and you wish you could upgrade your kids almost daily. How do you know when its time to upgrade your website? Daniel Titus of DanielTitus.com shares instances when you need an upgrade.

• Scott Hunter on How Changing Interest Rates May Affect Your Investments

  April 18, 2013

  Even if you didn’t take Economics 101 in college, just navigating through the past several years has given you hands-on experience with one of the course’s most valuable lessons: The rise and fall of interest rates is one of the biggest factors influencing global economies, financial markets, and our daily lives. Wells Fargo Financial Advisor Scott Hunter shares why it is important to have a basic understanding of how interest rate changes could affect not only your wallet but also your investment portfolio.

• Georgia Credit Unions Continue to Add Members

  April 17, 2013

  Credit union membership and deposits in Georgia grew in 2012, continuing a national trend that began with Bank Transfer Day in the fall of 2011. In a exclusive interview with Albany CEO, President/CEO of the Georgia Credit Union Affiliates Mike Mercer speaks as to why credit unions across the state have encountered such growth.

• Commentary: Will Health Care Reform Hit A Snag?

  April 15, 2013

  Reports are that a key target of the Affordable Care Act signed by President Obama in 2010 appears ambivalent about buying health insurance. Specifically, the young and healthy have so far not been interested in buying health insurance. However, it is still early and none of the insurance exchanges have been set up. Plus, it is possible that they are waiting until the last minute before having to pay a fee for not being insured.

• MillerCoors, P&G, Mars Chocolate Win Albany EDC Industry Awards

  April 11, 2013

  The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission announced today the winners of its 2013 Industry Awards, an annual event highlighting the community’s roster of industries and their successes. Honorees for economic impact, excellence in innovation, and community citizenship were all recognized.

• MSA Offers New Approach to Pain Management

  April 09, 2013

  Business is growing at Musculoskeletal Associates (MSA), a primary-care orthopedic practice with an emphasis on spine and interventional pain management procedures and diagnostics. It offers physical therapy, imaging services such as MRIs and CTs, neurodiagostics; and it has an ambulatory surgery center. With a full spectrum of services, MSA can in many cases enable patients to receive the treatment they need without going to a hospital.

• Do You Trust Your Employees to Work Remotely?

  April 08, 2013

  Yahoo’s Marissa Mayer unleashed a firestorm of commentary throughout the business world with her recent announcement that remote working was off the table for the tech company’s staffers, who will now be expected to show up in the office every day. If you’ve still got a nagging feeling that letting employees work at home means paying them to watch Cartoon Network in their jammies all day, how can you get over it?

• Commentary: Immigration Enhances Local Economies

  April 04, 2013

  Immigration is a divisive topic. Whenever a new segment of workers enter the market, it causes apprehension and distrust. While Arizona, Georgia, and Alabama are passing laws to restrict immigration, cities like St. Louis are openly courting immigrants in order to stem a steady loss of population.

• Prince Automotive Group Closes Purchase of Albany's Tri-State Peterbilt

  April 03, 2013

  On March 28, Prince Automotive Group completed its purchase of Tri-State Peterbilt in Albany. Tri-State Peterbilt, which has been in business for about 38 years, sells heavy-duty Class 8 trucks, which are any trucks with a gross vehicle weight over 33,000 lbs. and all tractor-trailers.

• Former Albany Chamber Executive Deborah Bowie Joining Gainesville Chamber as VP of Chamber Development

  April 01, 2013

  In an exclusive interview with Albany CEO, former Senior Director of Public Policy & Communications for the Albany Chamber Deborah Bowie announces her move to join the Gainesville Chamber in Gainesville, Florida.

• Film & Music Day at the Capitol Spotlights Industry's Impact on Georgia

  March 28, 2013

  The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today celebrated the 40th anniversary of film and television productions in Georgia during Film & Music Day at the Capitol. Gov. Nathan Deal, Speaker David Ralston and Rep. Ron Stephens headlined the celebration, an annual recognition of the film and music industry’s importance to Georgia’s economy.

• 5 Tips for Buying a Franchise

  March 27, 2013

  For those entrepreneurs itching to start their own business, purchasing a franchise can be a good alternative. Franchising can be less risky than starting a business from scratch. The franchisor has done a lot of the work for you. The business plan is ready made; there’s already strong brand name recognition, and the franchisor is often responsible for the marketing and advertising. However, any new business is risky, even a franchise. You may get an established name and business plan, but your success is ultimately up to you.

• 10 Rules of Mobile Etiquette for Small Businesses

  March 25, 2013

  As small business owners, the mobile phone is one of our most important tools. So important, that we may forget that “anywhere and everywhere” is not our office. And as your business grows, it’s not just your own behavior with a cell phone you have to think about. You also have to make sure your employees exhibit professionalism, stay safe and present a positive public image of your business while using mobile devices.

• Why a Good February Jobs Report Might Be Deceiving

  March 22, 2013

  The February jobs report exceeded expectations with the unemployment rate falling to 7.7% and 236,000 jobs added. Darton State Economic Professor Aaron Johnson says while that suggests optimism, self-inflicted wounds from congressional gridlock may eventually lead to unnecessary damage to economic growth and unemployment.

• The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia Fights Cancer Here at Home

  March 21, 2013

  Cancer is at home in South Georgia. In many counties in the region, the incidence rate of cancer is higher than both the state average and the U.S. average. The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia is the only local collaborative cancer organization focused on preventing cancer and increasing survival among the people of South Georgia.

• International Dignitaries to Tour Southwest Georgia Today

  March 20, 2013

  More than two dozen consular and trade officials from 23 countries will visit business and tourism centers in southwestern Georgia March 20-22 during Georgia’s 28th annual International VIP Tour. The tour, conducted by the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), will showcase tourism destinations, businesses and economic development partnerships in the region, and provide Georgia’s diplomatic corps opportunities to meet local Georgians in Albany, Americus, Plains, Adel, Lakeland, Thomasville and Tifton.

• Scott Hunter on Why You Shouldn't Overload Your Portfolio with Company Stock

  March 14, 2013

  Many companies offer their employees a stock purchase plan, enabling them to purchase company stock at a discounted price and invest in the company they work for. While this can frequently be a great way to invest in the stock market, as an investor you need to question whether it’s good to load up too much on your company’s stock — or any company’s stock, for that matter. Wells Fargo Financial Advisor Scott Hunter shares more.

• Katz Floorcovering Finds Opportunities with National Partners

  March 13, 2013

  In 2012, Katz Floorcovering became a franchisee of Abbey Carpet & Floor, a national flooring distributor comprised of 800 locally owned and operated showrooms across the United States and Canada. In addition, the Katz Leesburg showroom underwent a full remodel with all new displays and fresh paint. Market response has been very encouraging.

• Maybe The Fed Is The Problem with Weak Recovery

  March 12, 2013

  Aaron Johnson, Economics Professor at Darton State College, digs deeper into reasons behind the weak economic recovery, and what role the Federal Reserve might be playing in it.

• Sherriff Kevin Sproul on Proposed Legislation Cuts for Law Enforcement

  March 11, 2013

  Dougherty County Sheriff Kevin Sproul shares his thoughts on House Bill 1, also called the Georgia Uniform Civil Forfeiture Procedure Act, and why he opposes the legislation.

• Finding the Right Sustainability Initiatives for Your Business

  March 08, 2013

  It’s easy to feel intimidated with sustainability. Once you address the basics—installing energy-efficient light bulbs and stationing recycle bins around the office—you may not know how to proceed. How do you determine which sustainability measures will ultimately pay for themselves and be the best investment for your business?

• Having Trouble Coaching “Sherlock the Sales Rep”?

  March 07, 2013

  This month local sales trainer and author Doug Robinson offers some comments to help you better manage Sherlock, your omnipresent sales guy. Certainly you are thankful for this senior, albeit anal, member on your sales team. You know who I’m talking about.

• Albany Tech, Southern Polytech Partner on Operations Management Program

  March 07, 2013

• With Perfection Landscape Management Delivers Curb Appeal

  March 06, 2013

  Most business owners and managers realize that an attractive storefront or office entrance sends an important message to current and prospective customers. According to David Blackwell, owner of With Perfection Landscape Management, that message actually starts at ground level.

• Raising The Minimum Wage Will Hurt Job Creation, Research Shows

  March 04, 2013

  President Obama's State of the Union Address proposal to raise minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9, with annual increases for inflation, has fired up both sides of the issue with proponents arguing that all workers should earn a good living and opponents saying the increase will cost jobs. Research at Texas A&M University shows that raising the minimum wage will reduce job creation, but not affect employee turnover or layoffs.

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