Features

• Sheriff Kevin Sproul on “Building Unity In The Community” BBQ

  September 27, 2013

  As Autumn sets in, the weather cools, and we begin looking forward to the holiday season, the Dougherty County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank you for your support by hosting our 4th annual “Building Unity in the Community” cookout. The cookout will be held on Saturday, October 26th, at C.W. Heath Park from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.

• If You Want Entrepreneurial Success, Learn to Embrace Failure

  September 24, 2013

  First off, let me tell you this: I fail – a lot… and I’m ready for more failures. Before you say, “Are you out of your mind,” let me explain a bit. I hate the feeling of failure. Nobody likes to fail. But I learned during my entrepreneurial career that if you want to achieve entrepreneurial success, you need failures. You need to fail and the more you fail, the closer you are to your goal.

• Couples in Business: You and Your Partner, Inc.

  September 23, 2013

  After firing my husband, Joe, at least three times from our family-owned communications and production company because we absolutely could not work together, I was anxious to read a new, self-published book by therapists, Miriam Hawley and Jeffrey McIntyre. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based couple interviewed about 45 couples in business together to collect anecdotes and strategies for You & Your Partner, Inc.: Entrepreneurial Couples Succeeding in Business, Life and Love.

• 70% of Small Business B2B Websites Lack A Call to Action

  September 20, 2013

  Does your home page on your website have a call to action? In other words, does your website home page attempt to get the visitor to do something — besides simply read and leave?

• Scott Hunter: Plan Carefully When It’s Time to Make a Career Move

  September 19, 2013

  The days when an employee would spend his or her entire career with the same company appear to be all but gone. Nowadays, beyond simply changing jobs over the course of a career, many workers even take on an entirely new career before they finally reach retirement. When you make a job change, one of the biggest challenges you may face could be deciding what to do with the assets you’ve built up in your former employer’s retirement plan.

• Are Americans Becoming Interested in Entrepreneurship Again?

  September 17, 2013

  The recently released Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), a nationally representative survey of American adults, reveals that the fraction of Americans who intend to start a business rose to 12.5 percent in 2012 — a substantial increase from the 8.3 percent recorded in 2008.

• State of Georgia Ports: GPA Adds Cargo, Customers in FY2013

  September 16, 2013

  In his State of the Port address, Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz reported record cargo volumes, an influx of new business, and more than 1 million square feet of distribution center space leased or developed.

• GDECD Commissioner Chris Cummiskey Leaving Post to Join Southern Power

  September 13, 2013

  Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that he has nominated U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson’s chief of staff, Chris Carr, to succeed Chris Cummiskey as the commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development. Cummiskey will join Southern Co. as chief commercial officer of Southern Power.

• Doug Robinson: Great Salespeople Aren’t Born…They’re Good Storytellers

  September 11, 2013

  When your employees sell your products and services, do they jump into a presentation of nuts and bolts to explain how it works, or do they tell success stories?

• Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany Provides Fiscally Responsive Support

  September 10, 2013

  One of the largest employers in the Albany area, the Marine Corps Logistics Base (MCLB) faces a number of issues related to cuts in defense spending from the sequester and the end of U.S. engagement in Afghanistan.

• Why, When, What and How to Outsource Tasks

  September 09, 2013

  Is it a good idea for a small business to outsource some tasks? Contrary to what many small business entrepreneurs think, it is often a great idea to outsource certain tasks to others. But, before you make any decisions to outsource, here are a few things you need to think about.

• Commentary: Georgia's Senate Race: Who'll Win?

  September 06, 2013

  Who’s going to win? It doesn’t matter the race really. The question is almost the political equivalent of commenting on the weather. It is an entry into picking the brains of other politicos to compare notes and strategies for an upcoming campaign season. And yet, for this election cycle in Georgia, it is the wrong question at this time.

• Sheriff Kevin Sproul Talks About The Castle Doctrine

  September 05, 2013

  In my last article, I spoke about Georgia’s “Stand Your Ground” law which allows the victim of an unlawful use of force to fight back rather than retreat. In that article, I stated that deadly force may not be used to protect property. The Castle Doctrine is an exception to that.

• Artesian Contracting Builds Albany

  September 04, 2013

  Artesian Contracting could be described as a federal, commercial and industrial construction company based in Albany with 80 percent of its business in Georgia, 25 percent in Albany. Co-owner Glenn Singfield Sr. would prefer people think of the firm as a committed community partner.

• Learn How To Acquire New Businesses: Review of Successful Acquisitions

  September 03, 2013

  Business acquisitions are announced in the Wall Street Journal almost everyday and are glamourized in movies such as Oliver Stone’s “Wall Street.” But most small business are not public. So most owners only have imagined what an acquisition process entails — or they just have cliched Gordon Gekko quotes to go on.

• Big Business Tactics Your Businesses Can Use

  August 30, 2013

  Don’t buy into the idea that as a small business, you’re limited to your personal capabilities. Software is getting more affordable. And DIY is “in” right now in a major way. The lines blur between “big” and “small” business when it comes to tools and techniques like these.

• 49% of Workers Do Not Negotiate Job Offers

  August 29, 2013

  A failure to negotiate a job offer means many workers are leaving money on the table. A new CareerBuilder survey finds that even though 45 percent of employers are willing – and expect – to negotiate salaries for initial job offers, almost half (49 percent) of workers accept the first offer given to them.

• Synovus Exits TARP; SB&T Sharpens Focus on Hometown Businesses

  August 28, 2013

  On July 26th, Synovus announced its exit from the Troubled Asset Relief Program or TARP, the 2008 federal government program designed to curb the financial crisis. The Columbus, Ga.-based financial services company redeemed $968 million of preferred stock held by the U.S. Treasury. According to Synovus Regional CEO and SB&T CEO Mark Lane, the TARP exit is good news for the company's shareholders and represents a journey to return Synovus to a position of strength.

• Chris Hardy Shares About Upcoming Chamber Membership Campaign

  August 26, 2013

  The Albany Area Chamber of Commerce (AACoC) sets goals to make our business community a viable and growing entity in southwest Georgia. We include these goals in strategic plans, committee and division reports, board of directors meetings and any other opportunity that presents itself. Often times we are asked, “What does the Chamber do?” My answer to that is “we do the things that most people think just happens.”

• Phoebe Putney Health System Announces Settlement with FTC

  August 23, 2013

  Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc. announced it and the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County have reached a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to address issues stemming from the acquisition of Palmyra Park Hospital. Under the terms of the settlement, the Hospital Authority of Albany-Dougherty County will retain ownership of, and Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital will continue to operate, the Phoebe north campus.

• Scott Hunter on Income Strategies for Retirement

  August 22, 2013

  Will I have enough money in retirement? It’s a question more and more Americans are asking. Baby boomers in particular wonder if they’ll be able to live comfortably and securely when they leave the workaday world. The good news is that you may be able to retire with confidence and enough assets — if you get organized.

• Raymond James Aims to Stand Out at its New Pointe North Location

  August 21, 2013

  On July 29, the local Raymond James & Associates branch moved into a new office building at 624 Pointe North Blvd. As a single-occupant building, the new location gives Raymond James a higher profile in the community than its previous location on Old Dawson Road.

• What You Need to Know About Business Licenses and Permits

  August 20, 2013

  If you’re launching a business, you’ve probably already looked into the option of incorporating or forming an LLC for your new company. This act registers your business with the state, and you should be all set to legally operate your business, right? Not so fast. Incorporating or forming an LLC creates a legal entity for your business, but there are most likely other permits and licenses that you’ll need to obtain.

• Georgia Currently 23rd in the Nation for Solar Power

  August 16, 2013

  Today, Environment Georgia Research & Policy Center released Lighting the Way, a new report highlighting a solar energy boom across the country. The report outlines the twelve states that have made a considerable contribution to the nation’s rise in solar power. Georgia, however, missed the cut and ranks 23rd in the nation for per capita solar installations. But, Georgia should not be written off yet, in the past year the Georgia Public Service Commission has voted to expand Georgia’s solar market by over 700 MW.

• “Jobs” Movie Chronicles the Life of a Creative Entrepreneur

  August 15, 2013

  Jobs, the indie biopic about Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, is set to release tomorrow. The movie chronicles Jobs’s journey from college dropout to successful creative entrepreneur, taking place roughly from 1971 to 1991. Though the movie is specifically about the beginnings of Apple and, more specifically, Jobs’ rise as an innovator, entrepreneurs may find things that will inspire them in their own journey.

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