Features
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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.
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Sheriff Kevin Sproul Shares Tips to Guard Against Financial Deception Against Seniors
August 31, 2012
Dougherty County Sheriff Kevin Sproul talks about how in the last year year, the Investigation Division has seen a rise in the number cases involving fraud or financial deception against senior adults, along with a nationwide increase. He shares some tips to protect yourself and your senior love ones against financial theft.
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Health Care Reform: Deadlines Every Georgia Employer Needs to Know
August 29, 2012
In the wake of the Health Care reform, many employers are experiencing anxiety over how the Health Care reform will impact their individual businesses, whether it is confusion over compliance requirements or uncertainty as to how the reform will affect their costs.
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The Terms of Business: How to Negotiate a Partnership Agreement
August 27, 2012
Finding a partner who wants to play ball with you seems like a difficult task, but when you take a look at the process, it’s negotiating the terms of a partnership agreement that requires true business savvy. Like Ben Hogan’s legendary golf swing, follow-through is the key, consistent element to make sure the terms of partnership are mutually beneficial.
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Ask Yourself These Questions Before Going for Funding
August 24, 2012
Need extra cash to move your business forward? Maybe you want to hire new people, buy a building, expand your inventory, or take your business to the next level, whatever that may be. Word on the street is that banks have money to lend. We look at five questions you should consider before you begin the funding process:
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Drawdy Roofing Finds Success Despite Recession
August 22, 2012
Drawdy Roofing realized some of its highest revenues during the recent recession, booking more than $20 million in roofing sales alone over the past five years. Owner and Leesburg, Ga. resident Ken Drawdy attributes the success to the company's strong reputation.
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This Is How We Do It: 7 Things You Can Learn from Sam Shugart & the Georgia Throwdown
August 20, 2012
When Sam Shugart speaks about Georgia Throwdown he sounds like an evangelist. He has a message. He believes it. He wants you to believe it too. He isn’t sure about every detail - after all this is the first time a music festival on this scale has come to Albany - but the organizer is confident about his vision.
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7 Ways to Foster Loyalty in the Consumer
August 17, 2012
Building relationships takes time but growing and maintaining them long term takes perseverance, energy and purpose. We live in seriously disposable times. People outgrow their use for things and each other, sadly rather quickly. So how do you build a long term following, loyalty, and community? How do you win in the minds of the consumer?
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SunTrust Sees Strong Deposit Growth in South Georgia
August 15, 2012
Within SunTrust Bank, the southern Georgia region is at the top of the company in new deposit growth, according to Jay Montgomery, President of SunTrust Bank, South Georgia. Deposit growth has come mostly from new clients, primarily small businesses and municipalities.
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How Google’s Recent Moves Matter to Business
August 13, 2012
We have seen a lot of coverage of the Olympics and now, some tech stories have recently received a lot of coverage as well. The Apple versus Samsung court fight, the Mars rover, and breaking info about the iPhone 5 seemed to have dominated, but one player has been making some headlines that are rather significant - That would be Google.
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The Days of Not Collecting Internet Sales Tax Could Be Ending
August 10, 2012
One of the many benefits of buying online is that often the seller does not collect sales tax on the transaction (unless the seller does business in the consumer’s state). In essence, it’s as if the cost of buying something is lower when no sales tax is collected, especially on big ticket items. This however seems to be coming to an end.
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Hardy Sets Priorities for Albany Area Chamber of Commerce
August 08, 2012
Leadership development, membership engagement and public relations have emerged as top priorities for Chris Hardy in his first three months as president and chief operating officer of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. Hardy spent much of his time since he began work on April 30 meeting with members and staff to get their feedback on the Chamber's effectiveness.
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Is Your Retirement Plan Protected?
August 06, 2012
Planning for retirement is probably a top priority for you. Do you know how much money you need to retire? Are you concerned that you may outlive your money? Are you concerned about the burden a chronic health care need could have on your family and finances? Your retirement is the dream for you and your family’s future. Proper planning and protection of that dream are crucial to help make it a reality.
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10 Things Yoga Teaches Us About Running a Business
August 03, 2012
It’s funny where you pull life lessons from, isn’t it? One never would think lessons on running a business will come from a yoga mat. You’d be surprised at the connections.
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Equinox Seeks the Best Opportunities for Growth
August 01, 2012
Mark Grimaldi, president of Equinox Chemicals LLC, advises local business leaders to "look outside of the local market for growth." The strategy has worked well for Equinox, which is on pace to double its sales for the third year in a row.
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Will Your Child Follow in Your Footsteps as an Entrepreneur?
July 30, 2012
Looking back in the last twenty to thirty years, most kids had no idea what an entrepreneur was. Fast forward to today - a recent study now shows a whopping 46% of kids who know an entrepreneur are more interested in becoming one themselves. We look at some ways to teach and encourage kids the entrepreneurial spirit.