Consumer Stories

CSRA Companies offer lucrative incentives to attract and retain employees

Many companies have begun offering sign-on bonuses for new employees, but at one company, a lucky employee will drive off in a brand-new car. Spherion – a national recruitment and staffing agency – with an office in the CSRA—has found a creative way to combat the labor shortage by offering hiring and retention incentives for its employees. Starting July 12, employees in good standing were entered into weekly drawings for prizes, such as Apple AirPods, MacBook Air laptops, and flat screen TVs. The grand prize – a 2021 Ford Mustang

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B2B Stories

Passing the baton to a professional CEO

A few weeks ago, I suggested a few succession planning options that senior business owners could consider as they are approaching their retirement age. One of those options was having a professional manager or CEO run your business. Giving your throne and position to a professional CEO could be challenging, especially for business owners who have founded their firm since its inception and have a deep emotional attachment with their business. My own research suggests that businesses run by founder CEOs tend to perform better than professional CEOs. These findings

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B2B Stories

Construction underway on former Augusta restaurant location

A construction crew is working to clear out the former Atlanta Bread Company building located at 255 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway next to Panda Express. The restaurant, which serves sandwiches, salads, and soups, opened in the Augusta Exchange Shopping Center in 1998 and closed in May 2019. The closest Atlanta Bread is in Greenville, as the other CSRA location on Whiskey Road in Aiken closed in November, 2017. ABD visited the location and spoke with members of the construction crew, but they didn’t know if another business will move

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Consumer Stories

CSRA businessman returns from Air Force One project in Seattle

If you have ever seen Air Force One, sitting on the tarmac or flashing by overhead, you’ve felt the awe and pride evoked by this elegant symbol of American pride and power. Aiken businessman and master detailer Chris Williams (pictured above with pride) says it happens to him every time he is privileged to “climb” aboard – being overwhelmed with a feeling of reverence for what the plane symbolizes and the beauty in flight that flashes around the world. Aeronautical veterans say they climb aboard whenever they walk up the

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Closings

Long-time Augusta Cadillac dealership to close this week

ABD has learned Johnson Motor Company of Georgia – located at 1122 Walton Way in downtown Augusta – will close its doors this week after nearly 86 years in the automotive sales and service business. (Pictured above) ABD spotted just one new car and a handful of pre-owned vehicles on the lot that was full of inventory in its heyday. This publication was the first media outlet to report on the closing in a story on July 15. Owners of the dealership, which opened in 1936 on Telfair Street, chose

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Darin Myers

COACH’S CORNER: Employee Recognition

All businesses claim to value their employees and to be committed to a culture that recognizes and rewards employee achievements. But success in this effort may be elusive, particularly if employers only half-heartedly embrace an “employee-centric” culture. By contrast, businesses that actively pursue this goal often find that they retain valued workers longer and that their recruiting efforts for new hires benefit from a culture of employee recognition. Here are ways you can build your own culture of recognition and demonstrate how much you appreciate the efforts of your team

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Consumer Stories

COFFEE COMPETITION: ABD compares local coffeehouse to national coffee giant

Editor’s Note: On the Nextdoor App in many Evans subdivisions and on social media, there are passionate discussions and grassroots efforts going on about “buying local” as coffee giant Starbucks legally purchased an outparcel 50 yards from the existing Rooted Coffeehouse—which is locally owned. Can they both survive? We sent Josh Heath on a random morning to grab a cup of Joe or two and some food at both while seeing how business is going for both. This is just a one morning sample, but some good patterns developed. ********************************************************

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B2B Stories

Medical staffing company buys $830,000 office building in CSRA

A former Meybohm commercial agent struck a deal with a current Meybohm commercial agent and a California-based medical staffing company will be moving to Evans as a result. The approximate 6,000 square foot building sold for $830,000 near the entrance to the Riverwood Plantation neighborhood in Evans at 205 Addison Square. The real estate holding company for 365 Healthcare Staffing Services purchased the building. The company is based in San Diego and has many medical personnel placements in the CSRA—and wanted to be closer to clients—and expand over time in

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B2B Stories

COACH’S CORNER: Employee Recognition

All businesses claim to value their employees and to be committed to a culture that recognizes and rewards employee achievements. But success in this effort may be elusive, particularly if employers only half-heartedly embrace an “employee-centric” culture. By contrast, businesses that actively pursue this goal often find that they retain valued workers longer and that their recruiting efforts for new hires benefit from a culture of employee recognition. Here are ways you can build your own culture of recognition and demonstrate how much you appreciate the efforts of your team

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B2B Stories

COOK OUT restaurant to retrofit closed restaurant in the CSRA

Cook Out is the owner of the 2.2 acre former Ryan’s Buffet property on 1275 Knox Avenue. It will be the first store in North Augusta and second in Aiken County. Cook Out owns five restaurants in the CSRA on Walton Way, Washington Road, Peach Orchard Road, Jimmy Dyess Parkway and Whiskey Road in Aiken. The restaurant features Cook Out Trays for around $5 to include a choice of Char-Grilled Burgers, 2 Hot Dogs, Barbeque, 2 Quesadillas or Chicken, plus two sides, and a large drink. There are more than

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