B2B Stories

2 Questions for the Dean: MBA

There’s a little-known intangible reason why you or your colleagues should consider joining the MBA program at Augusta University’s Hull College of Business. Here are two questions with the Dean, Mark Thompson. ABD: What’s unique about your MBA program in terms of attracting professionals in the CSRA? HULLL: One of the things that we really highlight is recruiting. We want to recruit a cohort of students into the MBA program. You come into a class and you have all of these other working professionals from a number of different industries

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Consumer Stories

Mullins Colony mystery solved as restaurant chain competes with Augusta favorite

Two sources (including a Columbia County government official and one of the construction leaders on the project) confirm what’s been a hot restaurant rumor in our community for several months. National franchise, CAVA, is coming and will be 50 feet from the entrance to Diablo’s Southwest Grill; adjacent to Chipotle in a 1.3-acre outparcel in front of Mullins Colony Shopping Center. Chipotle’s property is subdivided with Mattress Firm, and CAVA will share its building with an undisclosed tenant as well. CAVA’s fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant theme is very similar to Chipotle,

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B2B Stories

Air taxis one step closer to reality in CSRA

An Augusta company is watching as a Japanese aeronautics company hits two recent milestones. On April 9, SkyDrive, Inc. successfully conducted a demo flight of the SkyDrive SD-05 model of its air taxi at the Expo 2025 in Osaka. Bravo Air, which provides charter jet service at Augusta Regional Airport, has been following the advances. “I think it’s very exciting, because this is going to open up new realms of aviation and our ability to transport passengers in an innovative way in the future,” Pamela Davison, CEO of Bravo Air,

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Consumer Stories

A new home for hope

Demolition has begun on an abandoned warehouse near the Augusta Fairgrounds. The Salvation Army of Augusta wants to build a new Center of Hope on the tract that city records say is 3.32 acres. Major Jonathan Raymer, Area Commander for The Salvation Army, told ABD the site was chosen for a few reasons. First, some of their partner agencies are in that general area. “It’s also right near the Sheriff’s Office, right out there, which is good. We have to get shelter clearance cards in order for people to stay

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Consumer Stories

New CSRA BBQ restaurant set to open in former one

Former financial planner Kurt Mueller, who started Ironhead Barbecue with a food truck and catering orders, is opening his first restaurant in the former Pot Smoker BBQ location at 340 Edgefield Road (Highway 25) in North Augusta. Mueller expects to open in August or September and tells ABD he has plans for his food truck as well. “The food truck will still operate a normal schedule until we open. After opening, the food truck will still run, but probably not as frequently. Ideally, I would hire someone to run the

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B2B Stories

Another local transportation group asking for public input

The organization tasked with identifying transportation issues wants to hear what people see as challenges today and for the future. The Augusta Regional Transportation Study (ARTS) focuses on Richmond and Columbia Counties in Georgia and the South Carolina counties of Aiken and Edgefield. It is updating the Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP) through 2055 with a focus on multimodal transportation projects and priorities. Kaycee Mertz, Vice President and Georgia Planning Lead at engineering company WSP, told members of the Rotary Club of Aiken that they will use data from traffic counts,

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B2B Stories

Speedy service on Ft. Eisenhower

In a significant leap towards enhancing digital connectivity for military families, eCommunity™ Fiber, in partnership with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange), has successfully completed the installation of its cutting-edge fiber-optic internet infrastructure at Fort Eisenhower. The event commenced with welcoming remarks and introductions, followed by detailed presentations from representatives of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (Exchange), Boldyn Networks, and eCommunity™ Military. Speakers emphasized the project’s pivotal role in modernizing the base’s infrastructure and its positive impact on the community, echoing sentiments highlighted in recent reports regarding the

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B2B Stories

Performance Reviews: Threading the Needle

This is an important time of the year for students and faculty members at Augusta University and other higher education institutions throughout Georgia. As the semester wraps up, the students will soon receive their grades for their performance in the Spring Semester. For the faculty, in addition to having to assign students their grades, many have recently received annual performance reviews of their own work. Therefore, performance reviews have been top of mind for me in the last few weeks. Challenges being faced both in grading students and evaluating faculty

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B2B Stories

Reunion for CSRA Women Leaders

ABD’s been doing regular spotlights on our strategic partner, The Hull College of Business. Dean Mark Thompson discussed a Women’s Leadership Academy Reunion. This was a huge success with many graduates from just before the onset of COVID-19. ABD sponsors the whole program and the reunion. sponsored by ADP. Guest speaker, Patrice Buckner Jackson, Ed.D., motivated the ladies—many of which who’ve gone on to take key leadership roles and business ownership in the CSRA. Ladies were thankful to Stacy Roberts, DBA, SHRM-CP, CDP, Mark Thompson, and Dave Brendza from ADP

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