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B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: The disconnect between the economy and the markets

  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 economy and what’s driving the financial markets. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: We’re hearing some economic news that usually indicates strength but the financial markets are reacting as if things are bad. What is causing this disconnect? Rick: There are always some differences between the economy and the markets. Part of that is in the economy we

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Gary Kauffman September 18, 2022 No Comments
Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Getting ready to sell as money gets tighter

We all knew the buyers’ boom would be affected by government overreach in attempting to stop inflation. Raising the interest rates has affected us here in the CSRA, although luckily not drastically. I want to speak directly to sellers with this week’s real estate news. Buyers are still out there, but there are fewer of them and they are tired. Their buying power has been dramatically affected by the increase in mortgage payments. Some values are not rapidly appreciating, but you haven’t lost the equity gained over the last few

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Shawna Woodward, Re/Max Reinvented Evans September 15, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Local IT company to give away new phone system in the contest

If you’re tired of your office’s ‘90’s phone system dropping calls, a local IT company wants to help. IntelliSystems President and CEO, Kevin Wade has announced a contest, which will run from Friday, Sept. 16 to Friday, Oct. 28. To be eligible, a business must have at least 10 full-time employees. The winning business will receive an Elevate VoIP office phone system. “One entry will be chosen as the winner by a select panel of judges in early November,” Wade said. “We promise the contest will be a lot of

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Josh Heath September 15, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Investment experts discuss employer-sponsored retirement plans

Tony Mariano wants his employees to know how to fix toilets and water leaks, but he also wants them to plan for the future. “They know plumbing, but they don’t understand finance,” he said. Mariano, service manager for FlowPro Plumbing, said the company wants to start offering a retirement plan. He was one of many home services professionals who attended this month’s CSRA Home Connections meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 14. This month’s speakers were Joshua Linton and Michael Koltz, Vice Presidents and wealth planners for Queensborough Investments. They discussed the

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Josh Heath September 15, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: One local woman is making fairytales come true for all children

The phrase representation matters, the concept that people want to see and interact with others who look like them, takes on new meaning for Doriane Skales. Growing up as a little Black girl in Tucson, Ariz., she didn’t see Disney princesses with brown skin or kinky coils like hers. In fact, it wasn’t until 2009 when Disney’s The Princess and the Frog hit the big screen that the 33-year-old was able to gaze upon someone as if she was seeing herself in the mirror. After several decades, Princess Tiana suddenly

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Monique Williams September 15, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Tacocat

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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Wes Hennings September 14, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Evans restaurateur acquires closed restaurant, plans Asian fusion concept

The closing of one Asian restaurant in Evans has led to the expansion of another. In May, Sally Chan, owner of Fuji Asian restaurant in the Evans Village Shopping Center on Evans to Locks Road, announced her retirement and closed the restaurant. But Manuel Ortiz, owner of Thai Kitchen, bought the restaurant as a second location – and one that promises a true Asian fusion experience, complete with sushi. “I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to have a bigger place where my customers could be more comfortable,”

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Story and photos by Gary Kauffman September 14, 2022 No Comments
Top Story

Federal funds make Broad Street ‘Shark Tank’ possible in the near future

Augusta Technical College President, Dr. Jermaine Whirl envisions the development of a 12,000- to 15,000-square-foot small business incubator with a ‘Shark Tank’ feel in downtown Augusta and the funds are now available to make that happen. The Downtown Development Authority of Augusta has received $2.35 million in congressionally directed spending, with help from Sen. Raphael Warnock, to develop a microenterprise center, and that center will be created in partnership with Augusta Tech. The center will provide various resources to help both aspiring entrepreneurs and current business owners succeed. Whirl said

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Josh Heath September 14, 2022 No Comments
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