Top Story

The “hottest” jobs in the CSRA!

We aren’t talking about the hot jobs in the market right now, the ones where you make six figures and sit behind a palatial desk. This is about the folks who work outdoors in the sweltering heat. In some cases, they may be the ones doing the work which supports your business. I’m sure by now you’ve noticed that a historic heat wave has moved east into Georgia and South Carolina. The National Weather Service says it could last into August. It’s one thing to step out of the A/C

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B2B Stories

Locally owned pediatric urgent care celebrates first anniversary

Carlee Leopard, MSN, APRN, CPNP opened NiteOwl Pediatric Urgent Care one year ago, and it’s one of the first urgent care clinics specialized for children in South Carolina. According to a press release, NiteOwl’s vision for the clinic is to complement the pediatrician. Staffed by board-certified pediatric nurse practitioners, Nite Owl Pediatric Urgent Care treats children from newborns through age 21. They accept Georgia and South Carolina Medicaid plans, as well as most major private insurances. Leopard is also one of the first nurse practitioners in the state to open

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B2B Podcasting

Darin Myers: Can anyone who wants a job right now get one?

There’s plenty that goes into the job search for both employers and employees. We’re looking back at the Employment Recruitment & Retention Panel discussion from ABD’s Conference and Expo in May, where Coach Darin Myers, co-owner of The Alternative Board of the CSRA, says that it’s important to ensure employers think of ways to reward the individuals who work for them.

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Consumer Stories

Best of Business Lunch Review: The Purple Hull

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday, he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”.

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Business Coaching

Coach Darin: What can predictive analytics do for your business?

Every business (yours included) generates a lot of data. Every customer interaction, sale, and follow-up report produces information of great potential use to the organization. The key is harnessing all that data and using it to your company’s advantage. This process is often referred to as predictive analysis. According to the Harvard Business Review, predictive analytics is “the use of data to predict future trends and events,” and leveraging “historical data to forecast potential scenarios that can help drive strategic decisions.” In other words, the information your company generates today (and the proper

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B2B Podcasting

Is recruiting for your business a top priority?

As an experienced business owner and founder of TAB CSRA, Darin Myers, recently addressed the topic of recruiting for the ABD EXPO. Who are you hiring and how much time are you devoting to a process that could change your business?

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B2B Stories

Chamber unveils Leadership Class of 2024

Thirty-five community leaders will embark on a nine-month program designed to help them shape Columbia County’s future. The leadership program sponsored by the TaxSlayer leadership program is managed by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. The goal of the program is to expose businesses and area leaders to the opportunities and challenges facing our community, promote and foster the development of leadership, and educate and prepare community leaders who are committed to moving the county forward. Each month, the participants experience topics concerning our community, including county operations, economic development,

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Consumer Stories

Local politician launches upscale event space

Over the years, Steven Kendrick has heard from many people who wanted a nice, affordable space to hold upscale events in the CSRA, which prompted the former Richmond County Tax Commissioner and mayoral candidate to open his own event space. In Nov. 2022, Kendrick launched Central Station located at 1857 Central Ave., next door to Midtown Tavern in Augusta. The more than 3,000-square-foot space hosts a variety of events, including weddings, meetings, and retirement parties. He said the building, which was previously occupied by various businesses, including Totally Platinum Hair

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B2B Stories

The clock is ticking on the impact of a UPS strike on CSRA businesses

As ABD recently reported, a potential strike against the UPS delivery service by more than 300,000 workers could lead to slower delivery times, supply chain disruptions, and higher shipping costs if the company and the Teamsters union don’t come to an agreement by August 1. Should CSRA businesses be concerned? UPS delivers millions of packages every day. Recent reports indicate that its competitors like FedEx, USPS, DHL, and others have admitted they will not be able to absorb that amount of business deliveries if UPS workers walk off the job.

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B2B Stories

Georgia vs. California: The case for doing business

Last week, CNBC released the 2023 edition of its annual “America’s Top States for Business.” As Georgians, we should be proud that our state ranked fourth, behind only North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee (South Carolinians, you are a respectable #27). CNBC’s methodology utilizes a variety of quantitative measures to evaluate each state in the following areas:  Workforce; Infrastructure; Economy; Life, Health, & Inclusion; Cost of Doing Business; Technology and Innovation; Business Friendliness; Education; Access to Capital; and Cost of Living. Georgia particularly distinguishes itself in Infrastructure (#1 in the country

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