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Consumer Stories

Why Medicare Consulting Should Be Built Into Employer Group Plans (Especially in the CSRA)

Several years ago, I was talking to a CFO of a local company that had around 250 employees and was receiving, on average, around 15-20% increases every year on their health insurance. After an audit, we discovered several fundamental improvements we could make to improve both the quality of the plans and contain costs.  One of those fundamental improvements was providing thorough Medicare consulting for both the employee and the company. Five years later, we were able to deliver on both of those goals, saving the company over half a

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Glenn Wilkins, VP The Pennant Group February 2, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Busy year on tap for a Chamber of Commerce in Metro Augusta

The Chamber of Commerce that works with businesses in all 13 CSRA counties in Georgia, stretching from Wilkes to Jenkins to Hancock, is preparing for a busy year. The Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce (GABCC) will tackle the year ahead with a kickoff event on Feb. 26. Ronic West, President and co-founder of GABCC, told ABD that their programs run from February through December. The kickoff event is the organization’s traditional opening each year. “We run a heavy program. Once we start running, we run at least three to

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 2, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

New restaurant aims to melt your heart

After a false start in North Augusta, the Melty’s franchise just moved into the CSRA with a focus on different cheeses on all of their sandwiches. Melty’s is now open each day at 10:30 in the Aiken Towne Park near Whiskey Road. Sandwiches start at $7 (4 cheese Grilled Cheese) to $11, and selections include Chicken, Pulled Pork, Cuban, Cheeseburger, Turkey Avocado, French Dip, BBQ Brisket, Club Sandwich, Caprese, and a patty melt. For another $5 to $8, customers receive a drink and a premium side order. S.D. Clifton Construction

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Neil Gordon January 30, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Updating a visitor’s destination on the Savannah River

The downtown Augusta hotel that overlooks the Savannah River has started an interior renovation project, and Augusta Business Daily has several photos of where some of the work will be done. This marks the first large-scale upgrade since it became the Augusta Marriott Hotel & Suites in Jan. 2006. It opened in Feb. 1992 as the Radisson Riverfront Hotel and Country Suites.  “We’re in the process of going through just an overall improvement plan within the hotel. We’re focusing on case goods, soft goods,” General Manager Brendan England explained for ABD.  Case goods

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 30, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Renovations in progress for familiar downtown Augusta hotel

A Charleston developer can take inspiration from hotels like the Rand Tower Hotel in Minneapolis, Minnesota. That hotel and a fifty-year-old property at 600 Broad Street in Augusta are now part of Marriott’s Tribute portfolio.  The Marriott website said the Tribute portfolio is “A family of independent boutique hotels bound by their indie spirit and heart for connecting people and places.” Breakwater, a Charleston-based company, is undertaking a major renovation of the Ramada hotel, first opened in 1974 as the Executive House Hotel. The I.M. Pei-designed building was renamed Ramada

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Dana Lynn McIntyre and Neil Gordon January 29, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Integrity, Courage, and Service: Business Essentials

Publisher’s Note: Do churches run like businesses? That’s a debate for another day. Today, Dr. Rick Franza shows us how principles we learn at church carry over to the business world. Earlier this month, my Augusta church held a day-long Men’s Conference, entitled “Dare to Be Different: Men of Courage, Integrity, and Service.” More than 150 other men attended the spiritually fulfilling day. We enjoyed fellowshipping and listening to three young pastors who had grown up in our church. They discussed how integrity, courage, and service are important attributes of how

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Dr. Rick Franza, AU Hull College of Business January 29, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Major speakers in town for Cyber Innovation Week

A one-of-a-kind signature event is all set for next week in the CSRA—involving an attorney general, lieutenant governor, state senator, and a Fort Gordon leader in the field of Cyber. USCA is devoting the week of Feb. 2nd to AI and Cyber Innovation Week 2026. It provides a broad list of cyber and cyber-related activities. Speakers will include South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette (R), state Senator Tom Young (R-District 24 Aiken County), South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson, and BG Mark D. Miles, Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Cyber

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Dana Lynn McIntyre January 28, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

New Golf Car Unveiled at PGA Show

E-Z-GO staff members are just heading back from last week’s PGA show in Orlando. They introduced a new vehicle that will be available pretty soon in the CSRA. Buyers for golf facilities and courses, golf tournament directors, and golf course owners were at the show to visit E-Z-GO’s booth and about 1,000 other exhibitors. They unveiled the 2027 E-Z-GO Liberty that is big on new features and technology. On board is the following: 10-inch ECOXGEAR infotainment touchscreen 28-inch ECOXGEAR soundbar with LED lighting, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android IntelliScreen™ speed,

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Neil Gordon January 27, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Simon Says: National study involves Augusta

Diversity has become a bit of a dirty word recently, but economic and management research suggests there are benefits to diversity in team settings. True diversity, which goes beyond race or gender, and includes diversity of skills, experience, abilities, and thought, may increase team performance. However, diversity may result in lower group cohesion and increased conflict. These conflicting benefits and costs of diversity mean that the overall relationship of diversity on team performance may be positive or negative. In a recently published paper, I and Dinesh Hasija from the Hull

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor January 27, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Windsor Jewelers, Doctors Hospital, and Gerald Jones Auto Group

Scouts honor a small business legend in the CSRA. Donnie Thompson will be the guest of honor next week at a special award ceremony put on by the Georgia-Carolina Council Scouting America chapter in Columbia County. Thompson will receive the distinguished citizens award at a luncheon next Tuesday, February 5th.  He’ll be introduced by a good friend and business colleague, Andy Jones from the Gerald Jones Auto Group. Each year, the two businessmen help pay for a free, patriotic fireworks show called “Thunder over Evans.”  The keynote speaker will be

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Neil Gordon January 27, 2026 No Comments
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