B2B Stories

Film business booming in Augusta as partnership is formed

Because Augusta’s film industry has experienced explosive growth in recent years, Augusta Technical College wants to prepare people to work in that industry. The college has partnered with the Georgia Film Academy and a local company called Indiegrip.com LLC (see photo above story) to begin offering an 18-hour non-credit film production certification program in January 2022. Classes will meet on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the cost will be $750. Rick Kelly – Indiegrip.com’s owner/operator, is excited to be involved in the program. “Our mission has always

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Consumer Stories

Local tourism marketing agency celebrates milestone

Destination Augusta, which helps the local tourism and hospitality industries by attracting visitors and promoting the CSRA, celebrated its 25th anniversary in December. Each year, these industries generate more than $1 billion in revenue and support over 20,000 jobs in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area. Much of that revenue comes from visitor spending. “We have achieved this milestone through creativity, perseverance, and the hard work and determination of so many professional staff members, the many leaders on our Board of Directors, and committed partners and stakeholders,” says Bennish Brown, Destination

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Consumer Stories

Credit union feeds local hospital workers

For the past 18 months, many local hospital employees have faced unimaginable stress dealing with the pandemic. SRP Federal Credit Union has helped by providing meals to more than 1,000 of these employees through its Random Acts of Kindness program. From Friday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Dec. 19, the credit union provided either meals or gift cards to workers at some CSRA hospitals, including University Hospital and Aiken Regional Medical Centers. At University Hospital in Augusta, SRP provided 1,000 meal tickets for employees, while at Aiken Regional, 160 night and

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B2B Stories

The Heart of Mentoring

  Don MacNeil is the former Marketing Director of Windsor Jewelers and long-time on-air radio professional.   Is it just me, or… The Heart of Mentoring This time I’d like to crystallize a thought you’ve probably had too, but perhaps never fully realized. It’s the thing that lies at the heart of mentoring…the priceless gift of permission. Permission? Permission…to cross over into the extraordinary in whatever you do. If you come away from this chat with my point taken to heart, it can do wonderful things for your marketing. So

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B2B Stories

Augusta business owner to help promote local businesses

A local printing and graphic design company has found a way to give back to the community and help CSRA businesses. The Graphix Resource, Inc. has developed three holiday promotions. The company will provide 250 free business cards for businesses that have their own card design. Businesses without a design can buy 250 cards for $14, says Brad Kirkland, Graphix Resource’s Chief Executive Officer. Kirkland is also currently looking for local business owners interested in giving away $100 gift cards as a way to promote their businesses. In previous years,

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Darin Myers

Workplace Diversity

Many CSRA companies like Hull Barrett law firm and SRS contractors have “gotten younger” by hiring differently. In this vodcast, TAB CSRA CEO Darin Myers looks at how to best manage through employees to optimize teamwork.

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Top Story

Local restaurants find creative ways to give back

Manoj Parameswaran has found a unique way to promote his Evans restaurant. Parameswaran – owner of Namaste Indian Street Food located at 4272 Washington Road, created a promotion called 10 Days before Christmas, which began on Tuesday, Dec. 14 and ends on Friday, Dec. 24. The restaurant is closed on Mondays. “We want to reach more people,” he says. “We want to give something back to the community.” Each day features a different special; including ½ off the price of wine, buy one, get one free kids’ meals, or 20%

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Consumer Stories

Mondays with Rick: How to recover from bad service

Editor’s Note: With staff shortages abounding in all areas of hospitality, there are more and more “service leaks” that are affecting businesses in the CSRA and elsewhere. Recently, Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of AU’s Hull College of Business, grabbed a meal at a Washington Road restaurant with his family en route to Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. He had poor experiences at the start of each customer engagement, and only one of the hospitality companies recovered enough to his satisfaction. This conversation was edited for brevity and clarity. CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

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Consumer Stories

Augusta BizBitz

Are they “winging it”? Wing Stop (or should I say “Thigh Stop”) will continue our apparent insatiable need for some form of fried chicken. A local franchisee is preparing to open another restaurant in the CSRA, this time at the busy Kroger Shopping Center in Evans. What’s amazing to me, is how Wing Stop is growing in the face of exorbitant pricing increases. Have you seen the cost of chicken wings these days? One of my favorite pizza places, charges $1 a piece. Some restaurants are about $17 a dozen!

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B2B Podcasting

Workplace Diversity

Many CSRA companies like Hull Barrett law firm and SRS contractors have “gotten younger” by hiring differently. In this vodcast, TAB CSRA CEO Darin Myers looks at how to best manage through employees to optimize teamwork.

Read More »