Consumer Stories

Raising the bar on cancer research funding

An organization that has generated millions of dollars for local cancer research projects is coming back stronger after Hurricane Helene. PACELINE is a nonprofit organization working with the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Foundation to support the Georgia Cancer Center (GCC) at MCG. It had to cancel its signature event, PaceDay 2024, in the wake of the hurricane. Leaders used the opportunity to survey their supporters on how to make the October 2025 event a comeback year. The decision was to make 2025 more inclusive by adding walking and running

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B2B Stories

Avengers Return to Augusta

A two-day event has brought 400 people to Augusta for what sounds like a meeting for fans of Marvel Universe movies. AvengerCon IX is underway at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center. It started in 2016 as a small event at Fort Meade, Md. As it grew it moved off post, ultimately coming to Augusta in 2024. At its core, it is a training event to help understand the hacker culture and learn techniques of the so-called hacker “black hats,” individuals who break into computer systems with malicious intent.

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Awards/Celebrations

Spherion Staffing and Recruiting Owner Receives National Award

“Life is an echo. What you send out comes back. What you sow, you reap. What you give, you get.” – Zig Ziglar This quote could have been written about Angela Swarts, franchise business owner of Spherion Augusta. She was recently named a 2024 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA). Swarts received this prestigious award at the 65th IFA Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, for her exceptional contributions to the franchising industry, community impact, and business leadership. The Franchisee of the Year Award is given to leading franchise

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B2B Stories

Education’s importance to Georgia’s economic future

Education was at the heart of a recent summit in Atlanta and Augusta had a prominent role. The theme of the 2025 Future of Talent Summit was “Reimagining Education and Talent Development.” It was sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The summit was broken into four education segments, ranging from kindergarten through college level education: Reimagining Early Learning & Childcare, Reimagining K-12 Education, Innovations in Technical Education, and Innovations in Georgia’s Colleges and Universities. Leading the discussion regarding colleges and universities were Sonny Perdue, Chancellor of the University System

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Awards/Celebrations

Local Fast-Casual Franchise Celebrates 4 Years with Giveaways

If you have a heart for I Heart Mac & Cheese, today may be your lucky day. The eatery at The Village at Riverwatch Center, 826 Cabela Drive is celebrating its fourth anniversary today starting at 11:00 am. If you are one of the first 25 paying customers, you’ll win a Free Grilled Cheese Sandwich once a week for a year! The Augusta location of I Heart Mac & Cheese is owned and operated by local businesswoman, Brandie Taylor, who oversees daily operations. The restaurant specializes in customizable, made-to-order macaroni and cheese bowls

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B2B Stories

Customer Feedback: The Key to Continuous Improvement

Last week, we passed the one-third mark of the Spring Semester for my courses at Augusta University’s Hull College of Business. As I typically do at this point in the semester, I asked my students to provide me with anonymous, written feedback on how their class is going so far this term by responding to three questions: 1) What do you like about the class so far? 2) What do you not like about the class so far? 3) What changes would you make to the class for the remainder

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B2B Stories

Franchised Coffee stand about to open 3rd location in CSRA

A drive-thru coffee stand that was supposed to replace an iconic gas station in March 2024, is set to open sometime in May, according to local managers. The land is cleared for the newest 7 Brew Coffee stand at the corner of Walton Way Extension and Wheeler Road in West Augusta. Smith’s Chevron occupied the near one-acre lot for 37 years, before the owner retired and left travelers by the busy intersection to wonder, “What’s next?” 7 Brew will only need approximately 500 square feet for the building to allow

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B2B Stories

Networking tips from 4 of the best connectors in the CSRA

One of the most challenging things business owners and individuals face is how to grow a vibrant network of contacts. The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Third Thursday brought together a panel of experts from different backgrounds to give advice on what they have found to be successful. The panel included Tiffany Heitzman of Homebuilders Association Greater Augusta Region, Patrick Wells, President of Piedmont Landscape Management, James Clayton with New York Life Insurance, and Jeannine Steinkuhl, Director of Sales at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in North Augusta. “All four of

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Who’s Hiring in the CSRA?

For the last two weeks, I reported the 2024 growth in total employment numbers for the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This week, I will examine which sectors contributed the most to the overall growth in 2024. Education and health services saw the largest change in employment and the largest percentage change. Employment increased by over 2,300 in this sector, or 6.0%. (SEE CHARTS BELOW) The growth in this sector represents somewhat of a double-edged sword for the economy. Some of the growth no doubt comes from changing demographics, such

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Consumer Stories

Retail Store Closes & Makes Way for New One!

A small business shipping store is about to make downtown Augusta a more colorful destination. Pretty Package Store will be opening what is believed to be their first retail location on 12th Street near Broad. A husband-and-wife team with design and business experience created the brand after having challenges finding pretty supplies and packaging to ship out their orders for another business of theirs. Their durable poly mailers come in different sizes and designs. Their variety pack of approximately 35 (6 x 9, 10 x 12, and 14.5 x 19)

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