Business Coaching

B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Pitfalls of mixing personal and business finance

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about the pitfalls of mixing personal and business finances. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: Often, when an entrepreneur or small business owner needs capital, it’s tempting to dip into personal funds for use in the business. What is your advice on that? Rick: It’s a huge challenge for small businesses or entrepreneurs to separate the two. Often, they

Read More »
B2B Stories

New program creates jumpstart for potential business employees

It’s called “Pounce to Your Profession” and the partnership with Augusta University and Columbia County Schools will improve access to dual enrollment. The program is structured so that AU professors and instructors will travel to high schools in Columbia County to teach college-level courses to interested students. While dual enrollment isn’t new, it generally requires interested high school students to travel to the college campus for classes. An agreement signed last Wednesday by Augusta University President, Brooks Keel and Columbia County Superintendent, Steven Flynt changes that. “This is a great

Read More »
Business Coaching

Coach Darin: How to tackle skills gaps in the workplace

Finding the right candidates for your open positions is hard enough, given current labor conditions. The challenge becomes more pressing when you hire a talented individual, only to find out they lack some mission-critical skills needed for continued productivity. That’s where the notorious “skills gap” comes into play. The term is pretty much self-explanatory. When workers lack the relevant skills, businesses face some serious problems. According to the Fellow Blog, a skills gap “is often signaled by a productivity loss, a loss in morale, higher turnover rates, a lack of problem-solving abilities,

Read More »
Business Coaching

Coach Darin: How to tackle skills gaps in the workplace

Finding the right candidates for your open positions is hard enough, given current labor conditions. The challenge becomes more pressing when you hire a talented individual, only to find out they lack some mission-critical skills needed for continued productivity. That’s where the notorious “skills gap” comes into play. The term is pretty much self-explanatory. When workers lack the relevant skills, businesses face some serious problems. According to the Fellow Blog, a skills gap “is often signaled by a productivity loss, a loss in morale, higher turnover rates, a lack of problem-solving abilities,

Read More »
B2B Stories

Travels with Rick: A busman’s holiday

You do not hear the expression, “busman’s holiday” much anymore. The phrase dates back to the 1890’s to describe someone who does something during his/her vacation, that he/she does for work. In the busman’s case, it is a vacation which requires him to do a lot of driving. For someone like me, who has taught and researched in the area of operations management for the better part of thirty years, I cannot help but observe things related to my work on an almost daily basis. However, when I travel, whether

Read More »
ABD Extra

Economic Update: “Feeling Good”

We knew that you would! Join Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher, Neil Gordon to recap the week that was. They discuss a bill Governor Brian Kemp signed in Augusta that will assist in creating a reimagined James Brown Arena, providing new jobs and bringing big names to the CSRA. Be the first to get the scoop on all this and more in the latest economic update!

Read More »
ABD Extra

Economic Update: Sweet Sound of Success

Who’s causing all that racket? Sounds like Columbia County! Coach Dave Holdeman from The Alternative Board of the CSRA and Augusta Business Daily publisher Neil Gordon discuss a new deal that will allow for a public tennis court in the area. If you have a sweet tooth, you might want to check out Alumni Cookie Dough’s new location with a local coffee shop. In addition, Holdeman reviews three tips to help businesses create welcoming environments for employees. Be the first to get a big, cookie dough-sized scoop on these tips

Read More »
ABD Extra

Get to know Azalea Investments LLC

Azalea Investments 699 Broad Street www.azaleaoutdoor.com Contact: President Derek May Phone: 706.823.3302 As a former professional table tennis player, Derek May knows a thing or two about winning. May, a former national collegiate champion from Augusta College and U.S. national team member, is the current over 50 national table tennis champion. In his day job as president of Augusta’s Azalea Investments, he draws from that competitive spirit to harness success in the business world. “I like to compete,” May told Augusta Business Daily.  “In sports, you learn discipline.” May’s ascent

Read More »
ABD Extra

Mondays with Rick: CSRA Economic Development: The Holes that Need to be Filled

In my previous two columns for this newsletter, I discussed many of the positive aspects of the CSRA when it comes to economic development. Remember, when we discuss an area’s potential for economic development, we have to consider the aspects of that area that would attract existing businesses to move or expand to that area and the area’s ability to provide an environment that stimulates the creation of new businesses. In my first column on March 20, I provided a number of reasons as to why the CSRA is a

Read More »
B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Getting Along with Co-Workers

Dr. Rick Franza, Professor of Management at the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week he talks about getting along with co-workers. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: Most of us either work with other people or have in the past. But co-worker relationships can be kind of sticky. How important is it to have co-workers get along? Rick: It’s particularly important to a small business because one bad person can poison the well. There’s a

Read More »