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Consumer Stories

In Challengers, tennis is a relationship

The spring’s hottest new release is the sports drama Challengers, directed by Luca Guadanino and starring Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, and Zendaya in a role that defines the current trajectory of her career. It is a film that drips with sweat, tears, and angst, and finds the poetry in the sport of tennis. The story whips back and forth between 2006 and 2019. At the beginning of this 13-year span of time, junior tournament players, Art Donaldson (Faist) and Patrick Zweig (O’Connor) are spirited pals with shared eyes for Tashi

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Dylan James May 8, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

BBQ restaurant dispute causes temporary closure

Barbecue can be a bit messy—but not usually for those running the restaurant. Bobby Boggs, owner and founder of the Pot Smoker, took an unusual step recently to distance himself from the former franchisee of his concept. He temporarily closed his flagship restaurant on Highway 25 in North Augusta. Boggs tells ABD it may be three or four months before he finds the right person to run the day-to-day operations. Boggs took to Facebook and got about 300 engagements from his followers. He said the Aiken restaurant remains open and

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Neil Gordon May 8, 2024 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Buying the family biz

Stephanie Stuckey, the granddaughter of the founder of Stuckey’s Corporation, the home of the original pecan log roll and maker of delicious pecan snacks and treats, has set a path for rebuilding the iconic roadside family business. It all started with buying back the brand. Catch the story from ABD’s recent Inspire 2024 conference.

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Stephanie Stuckey May 7, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Succession planning: A key to lasting performance

Editor’s note: As Dr. Franza enjoys a couple of weeks out of the classroom, it seemed like a good time to repeat his column from mid-January following the announcement from Alabama Coach Nick Saban of his retirement. It’s timely because Saban’s own succession planning has landed him in the broadcast booth for ESPN’s popular College Gameday show. A week ago today, there was a major shakeup in the world of college football as Nick Saban announced his retirement after 17 years as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Saban

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Dr. Rick Franza May 7, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

CSRA school districts receive more than $300,000

SRP Federal Credit Union was recently part of local Board of Education meetings to present checks for the monies donated to each district as part of the High School Affinity School Debit Card Program last year. The Aiken County Public School district in Aiken, SC was awarded a check totaling $256,658.70, with nine schools participating in the program. The Columbia County School System in Evans, GA was also presented a check in the amount of $47,797.80, with five participating schools. The Affinity School Debit Card Program began in 2018 to

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Staff Report May 7, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Another major international company coming to Augusta

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced GF Casting Solutions AG, a division of Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen will build a $148 million plant. The Augusta Corporate Park off Mike Padgett Highway will be the home to the manufacturing company. “Having met the great team at GF Casting Solutions during our recent mission to Switzerland, we could not be more excited to welcome them to the Peach State. Congratulations to Augusta and Richmond County for securing these jobs of the future for Georgians,” Kemp was quoted in the Friday news release

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 7, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Georgia’s Lottery impact on workforce development

Since its launch in 1992, the Georgia Lottery has pumped $28 billion into the state’s education system. In fiscal year 2023, lottery proceeds for education surpassed. $1.5 billion. There have been 2.1 million HOPE scholarships and grants and two million Pre-K students. Gretchen Corbin, President and CEO of the lottery, broke down the numbers for the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s member economic luncheon on May 1. She said then-Gov. Zell Miller championed the idea of a state lottery, with funds going to benefit education programs, when he realized the

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 6, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Employment levels break near 5-year mark

We have done it! The Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) employment has finally surpassed pre-covid levels. Employment now stands at 247,600, surpassing the pre-covid peak of 246,400. By contrast, the U.S. passed the pre-covid employment level in June 2022 and Georgia did in October 2021. March was a strong month for jobs growth with the U.S. economy adding over 300,000 jobs and the Augusta MSA adding 2,100, the highest monthly increase since August 2020. Pretty much, all the job gains were in professional and business services employment, which increased by

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe May 6, 2024 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Successful Lawyer Legislator goes into candy biz!

Four years ago, Stephanie Stuckey was humming along in Atlanta in the middle of a successful career. Then, she got a call that changed her life. She told the ABD audience last week at “Inspire 24” that your past experiences will help you in future endeavors.

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Stephanie Stuckey May 6, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New restaurant coming to a familiar CSRA location

The site of a former restaurant in The Plaza at Evans Town Center has been empty for more than a year. Stay. Social Tap + Table operated a unique pour-your-own beer and wine business from a row of taps along the wall and tapas-style food. It won’t be vacant much longer. As ABD previously reported, there was a three-month-long debate over whether Stay received more than 50 percent of sales from food. In December of 2022, following unsuccessful mediation, the doors of Stay were closed and in the following months,

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Mitzi Oxford and Neil Gordon May 6, 2024 No Comments
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