B2B Stories

31-year-old automotive company to expand

After five years of developing Energreen America, Bob Matthews is stepping down to focus on expanding his namesake company, Matthews Enterprises. The expansion includes the launch of a new Paint and Body Operation, specifically for medium to heavy-duty trucks. The company is comprised of Matthews Motors, Matthews Truck Bodies, and Matthews Fleet Solutions, each of which has earned a reputation of integrity combined with excellent service. As part of its growth strategy, the company is pursuing aggressive initiatives in areas of acquisition and market expansion. In late 2022, Augusta Business

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B2B Stories

Local entrepreneur cleans up in the drywall business

Drywall is a dirty job, but Jason Staton ensures his clients’ homes remain as clean as he found them. Staton, owner of Statonez Drywall in Augusta, launched his business in Sept. 2022, but the Illinois native already has 29 years of experience in the industry. For 23 of those years, he has owned a similar business in Chicago. Staton handles renovation and remodeling jobs. The business name is a combination of his last name and his wife’s maiden name, Martinez. She manages most of the administrative work for him. One

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B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Small Business Development Center is a valuable local resource

  Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week he talks about the benefits of having a Small Business Development Center office in Augusta. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: The CSRA has an active Small Business Development Center, under the auspices of the University of Georgia. What is its history and purpose? Rick: They’ve been around since 1977. Dr. William Flewellan, the dean of the UGA school of business at

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B2B Stories

Evans restaurateurs to launch second location with drive-thru in Augusta

Wilkes Goolsby and his family are expanding their local restaurant by opening a second location, but for him, the most exciting part of the expansion is having a drive-thru. Goolsby, along with his mom and sister, own Goolsby’s located at 4460 Washington Road, Suite 9 across the street from the Evans Walmart. Founded in 2005, the eatery serves a variety of Southern favorites, including fried chicken, sliced ham, and barbecue ribs. The new location will be at 3122 Wrightsboro Road, across the street from Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta.

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B2B Stories

Insights from JA Discovery Center Tour

Yesterday, while touring Savannah’s JA Discovery Center, I met Travion, a married pastry chef with one child. Even though he’s only 12 and in seventh grade, Travion already earns $44,000 a year, which might not sound like much to some, but I can assure you, it’s the dream salary of many a journalist. Of course, it wasn’t real. Instead, it was a scenario assigned to him in JA Finance Park, a program offered by the center for seventh and eighth-grade students. While this may sound like a field trip, the

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Office Support

Free Access: Richardson Professional Solutions celebrates 3rd anniversary with some advice

It’s 2023 and we are celebrating our third anniversary here at Richardson Professional Solutions. We love seeing small businesses thrive, so this month, we want to bring you some tips and tricks to take into this new year as a small business owner and/or operator. Did you know that according to the Small Business Administration, 20% of startups fail within the first year, while half go under within five years? Sometimes a small business, although a highly creative idea, can eventually suffer because there is a lack of business sense.

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Closings

Food prep entrepreneur announces closing of her Martinez business

After six years, Onnie Sanford is closing her food preparation business, but her shared kitchen space isn’t going anywhere. On Wednesday, Sanford, owner of OPP Kitchen located at 359 Furys Ferry Road in Martinez, announced in a Facebook video that she has decided to close Paleo Num Yums, which offers a variety of healthy, high-protein/low-carb meals. She has accepted a job offer from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Sanford said this weekend will be customers’ last chance to pre-order meals, and Tuesday will be Paleo’s last pick-up day. She’s currently

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: The Pros and Cons of Buying a Fixer-Upper vs a Move-in Ready Home

When it comes to buying a home, there are generally two main options to consider: a fixer-upper or a move-in-ready home. Each option has its own set of pros and cons that should be carefully weighed before making a decision. A fixer-upper is a property that requires some level of renovation or remodeling before it can be considered livable. These homes are often priced lower than move-in ready homes, making them a popular choice for first-time homebuyers and those on a budget. The main advantage of buying a fixer-upper is

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Faith

Free Access: Faith Friday: CSRA Document Solutions does business by the book

It only took me a few moments at the conference table to discover CSRA Document Solutions in North Augusta was more like family than just people who share a work address. Don, Nicole, and Clay all made time to talk with me about the 30-year-old business and the impact faith has on their day-to-day operations. Don started the company by himself in 1993 but is emphatic about the impact his co-workers have had on its direction and success. “It’s only been through people that have come into the company that

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