Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: Spring market update for Augusta, Georgia and the CSRA

Welcome to spring in Augusta, Georgia! As the weather finally begins to warm up, it’s the perfect time to explore the current trends shaping the local real estate landscape. Whether you’re considering buying or selling a home, understanding the market dynamics can help you make informed decisions and achieve your real estate goals. Here’s a closer look at what I’ve uncovered this week in our area. In the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA), there are currently 1,729 homes listed for sale, with 1,278 homes pending sale or under contract. The

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Edgar’s Grille

Food Quality: 5 Service: 5 Business Meeting: 4 Value: 4 Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 People often refer to breakfast as the most important meal of the day, so it always amazes me that so many skip it and wait until lunchtime to eat. But I do understand running late in the morning and having no time to eat breakfast. On those days, when I can’t sit down and have a proper meal, I often grab a granola bar for the road, but it’s never very filling or satisfying.

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B2B Podcasting

Rebuilding an iconic business

Way before Buc-ee’s, there was Stuckey’s. Who remembers the delicious pecan log rolls, the 99-cent breakfasts, the souvenirs? It was magic when your family was on a road trip. Stephanie Stuckey shared her rebuilding of the brand at last week’s ABD Inspire 2024 Conference.

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B2B Stories

Direct cyber path to Augusta University for GA technical colleges

Leaders from Augusta University and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) signed an agreement creating a direct pipeline for cybersecurity students. It’s patterned after the Augusta Advantage initiative launched in January 2023. Although Augusta Advantage is open to students in multiple areas of study, including business administration, communications, and social work, the statewide agreement is specifically for students studying cybersecurity. The agreement creates a seamless path for students at all 22 of Georgia’s technical colleges pursuing an Associate Degree in Cybersecurity to continue to a bachelor’s degree at AU.

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B2B Stories

Networking and sharing lessons to “Inspire”

The Ballroom at the top of the Hyatt House Hotel in Augusta was filled with people Tuesday morning, from vendors providing information about their companies to guests attending to hear lessons learned by the business owners. The event was Augusta Business Daily’s Inspire 2024 Conference, an annual event to open dialogues and build relationships among CSRA businesses. One of the guest speakers was Stephanie Stuckey, granddaughter of the man who started the iconic chain of convenience stores catering to travelers at a time when few others existed. The company had

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Consumer Stories

Horsin’ around in the CSRA on Derby weekend is big business

It’s a big week for horses in Kentucky and Aiken, SC. Not unusual for either location. There is a connection between the two. Thoroughbreds helped build Aiken into a destination for horse lovers and visitors from the north who fell in love with the city and moved here. The breed is also for racing in the bluegrass state of Kentucky and for steeplechase and other horse shows in Aiken. Yesterday was the beginning of two weeks of events for the Aiken Charity Horse Show at Bruce’s Field. When Bruce Duchossois

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Consumer Stories

And we’re off to the racing movies!

“If you ain’t been throwed, you ain’t rode,” John Steinbeck told the young playwright, Terrence McNally, the latter downtrodden after an unsuccessful staging of his first play. The language of horse-riding and racing seems embedded in the verbiage of American daily life; “get off your high horse,” “across the board,” “jockeying for position,” and “Dark Horse.” This Saturday, the poetry of racing will echo throughout South Louisville and into Churchill Downs for the 150th time: The Kentucky Derby will begin. In between reading the odds and betting guides, looking ahead

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B2B Stories

Inspiration doesn’t stop here

Knowing how to inspire others often means cultivating and sharing a positive mental attitude. Being enthusiastic about work, life, and relationships means sharing joy, passion, and enthusiasm with those around you. ABD contributors, Darin Myers and Dr. Rick Franza, have discussed the importance of inspiration frequently in their columns for Augusta Business Daily, especially as it pertains to running a business. Without inspiration, building a successful business would be close to impossible. “The name for our spring conference, Inspire 2024, actually came to me after Stephanie Stuckey and Kate Sanders confirmed

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B2B Stories

Speakers shine at ABD’s Inspire 24

Stephanie Stuckey stuck out her neck four years ago and put in her life savings of $500,000 to buy back her family business. “Before, there was Racetrac or Love’s or TA’s or Buc-ees, there was Stuckey’s, “she told a packed ballroom of 100 attendees at the Hyatt House on Broad Street. Stephanie’s father sold the company and stores for $12 Million in the 1980’s, but different owners caused it to fail and she inherited dilapidated stores and environmental issues. Her former career as an environmental attorney helped her. “I have

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B2B Stories

April goes out with an economic development boom

April has been a busy month for economic development with multi-million dollar projects announced in Richmond and Columbia counties. The latest is the April 30 announcement by StandardAero of a $33 million expansion of its operations at Augusta Regional Airport. The company provides aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. The project will add more than 80,000 square feet of hangar space, and an engine shop, to the company’s existing buildings. That is a 60% increase in space and will allow the company to work on larger aircraft said Chris Bodine,

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