Shawna Woodward

Real Talk Real Estate: What’s your cup of tee this week?

It’s Masters week here in Augusta, Georgia! This is the week where a third of the town has left for spring break, a third has stayed to staff one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world, and the last third are wondering what the heck is going on! Essentially, living here in Augusta, you have heard about renting your house out for Masters Week. Renting can be super exciting and very profitable if you are suited for this task. Knowing that there are loads of questions that surround this

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Consumer Stories

Local business owners hit hole-in-one with tournament-themed gifts

In March, Randall and Julie Williams had their most profitable month ever, thanks to their collection of tournament-themed products. The couple owns Augusta Gift Baskets, which sells custom gift baskets and boxes for various occasions, including births, birthdays, and real estate closings. “We feature locally produced items in every one of our baskets and boxes,” Randall said. “That’s something people really like.” These items are supplied by many CSRA businesses, including Watanut, Ubora Coffee Roasters, and La Bonbonniere. The Augusta Gift Baskets tournament collection offers customizable baskets and boxes that

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Darin Myers

Coach Darin: Create a culture of health and wellness in your business

Today’s employees have elevated expectations of their workplace environments. Long gone are the days of mindlessly clocking in and out from an unsatisfying, sterile, and disengaging job. Employees want more. They want to feel valued. They want to be rewarded for a job well done. But perhaps most of all, they want to work for a business that supports their overall health and wellness. Business owners are quickly stepping up to the plate to accommodate the evolving preferences of the modern employee, and not just for altruistic reasons. Companies that

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Lessons Learned

Mastering success through failure

Rory McIlroy has won four major championships and captured 23 victories on the PGA Tour. He has been ranked No. 1 in the world nine times during his career, most recently just two months ago. This weekend he is once again among the favorites to win the Masters and add an elusive green jacket to his wardrobe. At 33 years old, his career earnings stand at $68 million. It would be impossible to categorize him as a failure. Yet the cap, or jacket if you will, involves winning the Masters

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Consumer Stories

Local foundation to host golf tournament for worthy cause

In 2017, Drew Passmore was a senior at Augusta Christian Schools when he died from injuries sustained in a car accident. Since 2018, with help from local businesses, a foundation Drew’s family established in his name provides financial assistance to CSRA high school seniors. His father, Andy Passmore said the Drew Passmore Battlewon Foundation has provided about 25 awards that have been used for various purposes, including college scholarships, youth trips, and sports camps. “A lot of people just don’t know about us,” said Passmore, vice president of mortgage lending

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Restaurants/Food

Business Lunch Review: Rae’s Coastal Café

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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B2B Podcasting

Opening doors to new opportunities

Stronger support network, increased visibility, and improved business growth are just some of the benefits of networking. Neil Gordon and Amy Richardson discuss the potential of turning networking into revenue.

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Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned: Master the Customer Experience at Augusta National

I had the pleasure of attending the Drive, Chip, & Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC) this past Sunday. It was my first time back at the National since witnessing the Sunday round of Tiger’s win in 2019, except for a Tuesday practice round visit last year that was shortened by weather. During the almost six years that I have been writing columns in multiple publications in the CSRA, I have written a few about the ANGC and the Masters. However, what struck me most on Sunday,

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B2B Stories

Hawaiian restaurant owners launch second CSRA location

Thomas and Tammi Kamae grew up in Hawaii and have served the flavors of the islands to CSRA diners for nearly 10 years. But they just expanded their restaurant by opening a second location less than a mile from the Augusta National Golf Club. In Sept. 2013, the Kamaes launched Hawaiian Style BBQ located at 1719 Gordon Highway, near the former Regency Mall. They opened their second location at 2801 Washington Road, Suite 105, near Kroger in the Washington Walk Shopping Center on Monday, March 27. “The Gordon Highway location

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Consumer Stories

Augusta takes center stage as thousands of fans arrive for the 87th Masters

The official start of the Masters is still a day away, but you wouldn’t know it by the bumper-to-bumper traffic, the packed parking lots, and the long lines for golf shop souvenirs. Tuesday marked the second day of practice rounds at the Augusta National Golf Club on Washington Road. Melissa Heiberger, an Augusta native who now lives in Atlanta, was ready to enjoy her sixth visit to the tournament like no other, but this time with fresh eyes. “I used to go and not be a golfer, but now I’m

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