Consumer Stories

Local children learn golf and life lessons from the country’s top female golfers

Thanks to sponsors like Bank of America, First Tee-Augusta can train the next generation of business leaders. The bank sponsored the inaugural Play it Forward Golf Clinic on April 3 at First Tee located at 3165 Damascus Road in Augusta. Players from the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament and other female professional golfers shared golf tips and life lessons with 35 kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta. One of the professional golfers who participated in the clinic was Suzy Whaley, the first female president of the

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B2B Stories

Pediatric therapy clinic to expand with second Grovetown location

Business is booming at a local family-owned pediatric therapy business, which has prompted its owner to expand the company. Founded in 2018, Therapy Trails which has offices in Grovetown and Evans, offers a variety of services including speech, physical and occupational therapies. Business owner, Elizabeth Peavy plans to open a third location in a new development called Brighton Landing at the corner of Whiskey Road and John Huffman Way in Grovetown. “Building a new facility for Therapy Trails is definitely our goal,” Peavy said. “We’re still in the financing/planning/predicting phase.”

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B2B Stories

Headquartered CSRA company moves to downtown Augusta

A developer and property manager of Augusta and Southeastern apartment complexes used to move others in— is moving into a new home for its growing company. On March 21st, ABD told you that tenants of the co-working space at 901 Greene Street were asked to vacate the premises on April 17th to make way for a new owner. ATC Development and its 30 employees will be moving into the 15,200 square foot building in May. The property was listed for $2.7 Million in early 2022. The building has more than

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B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Behind the scenes of the Red Carpet Tour

  Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he reminisces about his time as a host for the Red Carpet Tour and what it means for the Augusta community. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: It’s Masters Week and a part of that is the annual Red Carpet Tour sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce and the Georgia Department of Economic Development. You had an opportunity to take part

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B2B Stories

Local entrepreneur starting over again with the same business

The adage is that you can’t go home again, but sometimes you can go back to a former business. Laura Boshell is proof of that. Boshell started her cleaning business in 2011 but eventually put it aside to focus on other priorities, such as raising her children. She recently relaunched the business and changed its primary service. Boshell originally launched Gleam Clean Services of Augusta, LLC as a side business to clean rental homes after tenants moved out and prepare homes to go on the market, but she said it

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B2B Stories

Branding expert begins 5th year in CSRA business

Good business owners find creative solutions to customers’ problems, according to Laura Morris. If Morris, owner and Creative Director of Design Aesthetic, LLC in Augusta, can’t find those solutions on her own, she connects her clients to people who can. Her company provides a variety of services to small businesses, including branding, marketing strategy, graphic design, and even interior design. “We focus on all the creative aspects of a business,” Morris said. She uses a variety of media to help businesses connect with potential customers. For example, she designs and

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B2B Stories

Destination Augusta CEO shares strategies for engaging Masters’ guests

When it comes to engaging Masters’ guests, sometimes the little things local businesses do can create memorable experiences for those guests, according to Bennish Brown. Brown, President, and CEO of Destination Augusta presented creative strategies businesses can use to attract out-of-town customers for tournament week at the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce. Simple, cost-effective strategies businesses can implement include changing their signs to welcome guests to Augusta or providing unique Masters Week sales offers. “Take the golf theme to the next level, and have some fun,” he said. “Tap into

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Housing market update and absorption rates

I am a firm believer in pricing homes based on the absorption rate. Essentially, the absorption rate tells how many months of available home supply we have. So why does the absorption rate matter on this market update? Everything is selling fast, and the absorption rate is what drives the market. Through the years, I have told sellers that we have to have the best price and value to close in 60 days. I have rarely met a seller who wanted or needed to sell a home and didn’t want

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B2B Stories

Local CVB leader to discuss tourism and destination marketing

Columbia County tourism has a major economic impact not only on the CSRA, but also on the state of Georgia, according to Shelly Blackburn. Blackburn, Executive Director of the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau, will serve as a guest speaker at the next CSRA Home Connections Networking Breakfast on Wednesday, April 13 at 8:30 a.m. at the Snelling Conference Center, next to Edgar’s Grille at the corner of Washington and Furys Ferry roads. “Columbia County is growing and prospering, and Visit Columbia County plays a key role in that

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B2B Stories

Faith Friday: Developing through the negatives: Pandemic pivot produces profitable photography business

In her 40’s, Crystal Smith Miller found herself in the same position as many others amid a global crisis that crippled a nation for the past two years. The question she asked herself repeatedly before deciding to pivot from a previous career was, “What’s going to happen now?” Her answer: Pick up a camera and help others make unforgettable moments. “I started in May 2020 because I was afraid that I would be furloughed due to the pandemic,” she recalls. “I have never thought about doing photography in my entire

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