Chamber News

B2B Stories

CTA launches local business news programming

Atlanta-based Conservative Television of America, which has been streaming programming nationwide on Roku, Apple TV, and Firestick for more than two years, officially launched its first local TV affiliate with a Columbia County Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony. Columbia County Chamber of Commerce President, Russell Lahodny, who led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, is excited to bring local business news to the forefront on their one-hour show, which airs Tuesdays at 6:30 P.M and 11:30 P.M. and Wednesdays at 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. on digital channel 49.4. Conservative Television of America

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B2B Stories

Business Institute covers the basics for success

Want to reach more customers, get the latest scoop on social media strategies, or how to brand your business? The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is offering the “Business Institute,” a series of workshops to provide members and the business community with resources to help them be successful. “It’s an opportunity for us to bring in someone to speak to our Chamber members, mostly for smaller businesses, for them to learn new skills, learn about hot topics for the year, or maybe touch on problem areas that small businesses might

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B2B Stories

Local Chamber to offer educational classes for business owners

Business owners often wear many hats: customer service representative, human resources professional, and marketing manager, just to name a few. But the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce wants to equip local business owners with the skills they need to handle many of those roles effectively. Next week, the Chamber will begin offering its Business Institute, a four-part series of sessions that will cover a variety of topics, at the Columbia County Performing Arts Center in Evans. The program is being sponsored by SRP Federal Credit Union and Savannah River Nuclear

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B2B Stories

And the 2023 Businesswoman of the Year is…

This year’s Columbia County Chamber honoree has roots that run deep in the CSRA. Kate Sanders is a graduate of Lakeside High School and the University of Georgia. She is the Chief Marketing Strategist for Alison South Marketing Group. Sanders is also active with non-profit groups and currently the Board Chairman of the American Red Cross in Augusta. And, just nine days before being honored, she gave birth to her third child. “I couldn’t have done any of this without a whole lot of help, and a whole lot of

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B2B Stories

Local jeweler finds marketing green through annual giveaway

Augusta is synonymous with green jackets and to some extent with green boxes. One takes place in April, the other is a Christmas tradition akin to searching for Willie Wonka’s Golden Ticket, but for adults. The Green Box Giveaway from Windsor Jewelers celebrated its sixth year in 2022, but each year it has been more than just a search for a prize. It’s a part of Augusta’s rich history. The giveaway was the brainchild of Shane Thompson, head of marketing for Windsor Jewelers, and the third generation of Thompsons to

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B2B Stories

Legacy entrepreneurs reveal their success stories to Chamber audience

Perseverance, hard work, and customer service were the common theme of three CSRA business leaders honored as Trailblazers at the 114th annual Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce meeting on Feb. 23. The Chamber hosted a panel discussion of three entrepreneurs who started iconic CSRA businesses: Larry Jones, founder of Universal Plumbing; Vera Stewart, founder of the Very Vera cooking empire; and Ray Carnes, founder of recteq grills. WJBF News Channel 6 anchor, Brad Means moderated the discussion about what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Jones went from growing

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B2B Stories

Augusta Chamber program focuses on imposter syndrome in the workplace

You may not know exactly what imposter syndrome is, but you’re probably familiar with its symptoms, which include feelings of unworthiness that plague you, despite the praise you receive from others. That was the topic of this month’s Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Women in Business Program, which took place yesterday. The guest speaker was Triyoko Boatwright, senior talent management and diversity, inclusion, and belonging specialist with Textron Specialized Vehicles, who discussed “Imposter Syndrome in the Workplace.” Boatwright defines imposter syndrome as “chronic feelings of fraudulence, self-doubt, and inadequacy.” She

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B2B Stories

Business CheckUp: Important steps business owners should take

As an entrepreneur, Alex Myers understands the value of preparation in running a business. Myers co-owns two local IHOP franchise locations: one on Peach Orchard Road in south Augusta, and the other on Washington Road in Evans. “You can never be too prepared for the inevitable things that happen in business,” he said. Yesterday, Myers was one of several CSRA business leaders who attended this month’s Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Third Thursday Business Builder event. The speaker was Ed Enoch, an attorney with the Enoch Tarver Law Firm in

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Chamber News

Kick-off tonight for entrepreneur program

There are 480 Black businesses in the Augusta metro area, accounting for 6% of employer businesses. According to the Brooking Institute, if Black businesses accounted for 38% of employer firms (equivalent to the Black population), there would be 4,544 more Black businesses. The Greater Augusta Black Chamber of Commerce (GABCC) is working to address the disparity through an Entrepreneurship Training Program. The program features courses covering administration, strategy and planning, and marketing during a four-week timeframe. The program was developed by GABCC President, Ronic West who worked with ADP for 15 years in

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B2B Stories

Business leaders honored at Columbia County Chamber annual banquet

Alison Couch’s Harlem accounting firm just won a major award, but she doesn’t take all the credit. Couch, a new Columbia County commissioner, owns Ignite Accounting & Business Advisors (formerly Couch Consulting, LLC). Her firm was named the 2022 Small Business of the Year by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce at its annual banquet, Thursday evening. “Winning the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award is one of the greatest honors of my life,” she said. “I hope it highlights the hard work of my team members; their dedication

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