Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Will assumable loans make a comeback?

At the beginning of 2022, we saw an unprecedented housing market. Demand was high, interest rates were close to an all-time low, and prices had skyrocketed. Now, at the end of October, we see that interest rates have doubled but the prices remain high. This has removed many buyers from the housing market. Now that the interest rates are up to 7%, an assumable loan with a lower interest rate looks enticing and could benefit buyers and sellers alike. However, I don’t know if they will make that great of

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Cyber Security

Cybersecurity expert discusses ways to prevent data breaches

In 2016, Uber experienced a major data breach, when hackers accessed sensitive information on millions of the company’s customers and drivers. But regardless of size, every business is vulnerable to these attacks, according to Patrick Reynolds. Reynolds, President, and CEO of Cross Link Consulting, a local IT and cybersecurity services firm, spoke to a large group of local business leaders at ABD’s Business Recharge event yesterday at the Kroc Center. He said no amount of money or knowledge can protect a company’s data. “Budget size doesn’t equal breach avoidance,” Reynolds

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Mosh Pit Eats

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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Consumer Stories

National collision repair company gives all its employees $200

Breania Dorsey put an extra $200 in her pocket yesterday morning. Dorsey, a customer service representative with Classic Collision, a collision repair shop in Augusta, along with all the company’s employees nationwide, received two $100 bills to celebrate the opening of its 200th location, which is in Houston. She has worked for Classic Collision since the summer of 2018 when the Augusta location opened. In Aug. 2021, the company gave every employee a $100 bill to celebrate its 100th location. “I didn’t know they were going to do it again;

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Darin Myers

Free Access: Maintain an active LinkedIn presence in just minutes per day

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 has started a family business in Augusta focused on home health care, providing him the knowledge and experience surrounding small- to medium-sized business operators.

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B2B Stories

North Augusta Chamber to host Mega Mixer event

It’s not every day you get to network with business professionals from all over Augusta’s River Region. But the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce wants to give you that opportunity. On Thursday, Nov. 3, the Chamber will host a Mega Mixer event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Palmetto Terrace Ballroom at the North Augusta Municipal Building located at 100 Georgia Ave. Members from nine local Chambers, including the Augusta Metro, Columbia County, Aiken, and Midland Valley Area, as well as the Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce,

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B2B Stories

Business leaders to wow an audience of 200-plus professionals

“Keynote” Kate Sanders is leading off Thursday’s, Augusta Business Daily Business Expo at 10 AM. As Chief Strategist of the Alison South Marketing Company, Sanders does a lot of research on behalf of clients, so once her marketing works—the client not only gets to onboard new customers but gets to keep them and the recurring revenue. “When people have that trigger moment and need a product or service, what does that look like when they go online? How do you show up during that active evaluation phase? How do you

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Consumer Stories

Vendors needed for upcoming expo aimed at parents

Brandy Mitchell has found a fun, creative way for local businesses to interact with children and their parents. And your business can still sign up to participate. Mitchell, founder, and editor of CSRA Kids, a guide for parents that lists a variety of children’s activities, created Kid Jam in 2018. The all-day event features more than 100 vendors, including food trucks, a petting zoo, face painting, and inflatables. Sponsors include the Family YMCA of Greater Augusta and Murphy Auto Group. “Kid Jam is our annual kid expo,” she said. “We

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Consumer Stories

Entrepreneurs brew their way from a coffee cart to a permanent location in the CSRA

It’s hard not to love a success story, especially when it focuses on one of the favorite beverages for business folk and just about every adult in America, coffee. It’s what gets us running for the day. Mallory and Jake Adkison started NOLA coffee as a popup cart in May. Their cold-brewed blend was rare in these parts but a throwback to their New Orleans heritage. They rolled their cart to events across the CSRA, and their special brew caught on. When ABD interviewed them for a story in May,

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