B2B Stories

Chamber presents its annual Best in Business awards

Next year, Nick Dickinson’s company will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Yesterday, the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce celebrated Dickinson’s professional accomplishments by honoring him as its 2022 Augusta’s Entrepreneur. Dickinson, CEO of Dickinson Architects, won one of three Best in Business awards at the Chamber’s Member Economic Luncheon. His father, Nick Dickinson Sr., founded the company in 1983. Over the last four decades, Dickinson Architects has designed several well-known buildings throughout the CSRA, including Augusta Sportswear, Savannah Rapids Pavilion, Frog & The Hen and Farmhaus’s Martinez location, as well as

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Support Local

Brinkley’s begins 7 nights a week dining outside SRP Park

Our November visit to Brinkley’s Chop House in North Augusta reminded my wife and I of our trip to New York City in 2006. Back then, we ate “family-style” at the iconic Carmine’s Restaurant with a Broadway backdrop, minutes from the theater district. At Brinkley’s, anyone can be part of the action. Starting Monday, Brinkley’s is open every late afternoon and evening for dinner and will also serve tapas-like, small plate options at the bar and front patio, seven days a week. “I love the ballpark in the background,” said

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Faith

Faith Friday: New Lessons from an Old City

Everyone in business has challenges. Some we can see coming from a distance, others appear quite unexpectantly. Our Faith Friday guest is the owner of an art studio in a unique location: The Old City of Jerusalem. Udi (Ooo-dee) Merioz (Merry Oz-is) has led a dynamic life (bio below), and through his experiences has developed many insights about his business and personal priorities, lessons we also can learn from and apply to our lives and businesses. First, some background. After Israel’s Six-Day War in 1967, Udi’s family was the first

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B2B Stories

Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce to honor top local business owner, corporation

Augusta is home to many small business owners and corporations, and each year, the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce has the daunting task of selecting the best. Every fall, the Chamber accepts applications for its Best in Business awards: Augusta’s Entrepreneur and Corporation of the Year. Winners of these awards are honored at the December Member Economic Luncheon. This year’s luncheon will be held on today, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza North Augusta. The Chamber selects winners of Augusta’s Entrepreneur, which is presented by SouthState

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Darin Myers

Free Access: Customer service hacks that will keep them coming back

Darin Myers is the local facilitator of  The Alternative Board (TAB), a peer-to-peer advisory board designed to help company leaders maximize their opportunities and work through challenges. Darin recently retired after a 30-year career in the nuclear industry as the leader of Plant Vogtle I and II. He has proven success regarding strategic planning and alignment, employee development, organizational performance improvement, accountability, and coaching. Recently, he started a family business in Augusta focused on home health care, providing him the knowledge and experience surrounding small- to medium-sized business operators. Great

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B2B Stories

U-Haul to open Augusta moving and storage facility in 2024

For nearly 80 years, movers have rented trucks from U-Haul, which has announced its plans to open a new moving and storage facility in Augusta, according to Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate. The new facility will be located on a 10.76-acre property at 1070 Claussen Road between Washington Road and River Watch Parkway. An article from the company’s website said U-Haul anticipates construction will be completed by June 2024. It will offer many products and services, including not only truck rentals, but also moving supplies, more than 700 self-storage units,

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B2B Stories

CSRA financial advisors move practice to 128-year-old asset management firm

Local financial advisors, Jason Crane and Gerry Owen, owners and operators of Crane & Owen Financial Solutions in Aiken, have relocated their practice from Edward Jones to Ameriprise Financial. Together, they manage nearly $150 million in combined client assets. Crane and Owen began exploring options for moving their business two years ago and selected Ameriprise for several reasons, including its brand recognition, reputation, and technological resources. “Ameriprise is first and foremost an advisor-friendly firm, meaning we have the company’s full support behind us as we go above and beyond for

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Surchero’s Fresh Mex

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 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”. Food

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B2B Stories

Thoughts from the General: The thirteen “Cs” which help define extraordinary leadership

I believe there are 13 “C” that make a great leader: Compassion, Creativity, Confidence, Consistency, Consideration, Courage, Charity, Competence, Communication, Courtesy, Comedy, Curiosity, and Collaboration. Compassion. Medal of Honor and Carnegie Medal recipients can be our guides. In many cases, these people acted heroically because of the compassion they felt for those in grave danger. Throughout the CSRA, thousands of folks are deeply compassionate as they provide care for others. Creativity. There are four aspects of creativity: Being creative yourself; recognizing creativity in others; operationalizing novel ideas; and protecting creative people from their bad

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Consumer Stories

Restaurateur reacts to closing of neighbor’s business

Tracy Frey had high hopes in the early spring of 2022 when her “Roll On In” sushi roll/bowl and “Buzzed Bull Creamery” ice cream/alcohol franchise concept launched. She waded through the pandemic and waited a year to open. On Thanksgiving Eve, she closed permanently. The one restaurateur, who can truly feel her pain is her next-door neighbor—Renee Hajek of Stay. Social Tap + Table, who’s one phone call away from possibly closing herself. “We are devastated to hear that they are closing. It was a risk that we’ve all taken,

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