B2B Stories

B2B Stories

Simon Says: Employment levels break near 5-year mark

We have done it! The Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) employment has finally surpassed pre-covid levels. Employment now stands at 247,600, surpassing the pre-covid peak of 246,400. By contrast, the U.S. passed the pre-covid employment level in June 2022 and Georgia did in October 2021. March was a strong month for jobs growth with the U.S. economy adding over 300,000 jobs and the Augusta MSA adding 2,100, the highest monthly increase since August 2020. Pretty much, all the job gains were in professional and business services employment, which increased by

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B2B Podcasting

Successful Lawyer Legislator goes into candy biz!

Four years ago, Stephanie Stuckey was humming along in Atlanta in the middle of a successful career. Then, she got a call that changed her life. She told the ABD audience last week at “Inspire 24” that your past experiences will help you in future endeavors.

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B2B Stories

Guest Column: Local Leader on the Stronger Workforce for America Act

We live in a time when things are objectively better for all people than almost any time in history, and also happens to be filled with divisiveness and mistrust of our institutions. The recent passage in the House of Representatives of the Stronger Workforce for America Act gives me tremendous optimism that we’re turning a corner in America; that civic engagement and bipartisanship can indeed make a difference. It is true, the confluence of the digital and gig economies, globalization, climate change, and the pandemic created a perfect storm of

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B2B Podcasting

When Stuckey’s Got Stuck

ABD continues its series on the rise of Stuckey’s in the CSRA and across the U.S. Stephanie Stuckey shared lessons learned with our “Inspire 24” audience on what went wrong after her family business got sold in the 1960’s.https://youtu.be/57qRbQ7UyZI?si=rlyG2xFVxUIhdQyr

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B2B Stories

Economic development on key part of Augusta

Demolition of the Augusta-Richmond County Joint Law Enforcement Center (LEC) at 401 Walton Way has left city officials with a question. What is next for a site that can be a gateway to the city? Looking for direction, the city partnered with the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) to bring the Technical Assistance Panel of the Urban Land Institute-Atlanta (ULI) to meet with commissioners, stakeholders, and community members with an interest in the property. Daphne Bond-Godfrey, Executive Director of ULI-Atlanta, said the organization is a non-profit made up of real

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B2B Podcasting

Rebuilding an iconic business

Way before Buc-ee’s, there was Stuckey’s. Who remembers the delicious pecan log rolls, the 99-cent breakfasts, the souvenirs? It was magic when your family was on a road trip. Stephanie Stuckey shared her rebuilding of the brand at last week’s ABD Inspire 2024 Conference.

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B2B Stories

Direct cyber path to Augusta University for GA technical colleges

Leaders from Augusta University and the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) signed an agreement creating a direct pipeline for cybersecurity students. It’s patterned after the Augusta Advantage initiative launched in January 2023. Although Augusta Advantage is open to students in multiple areas of study, including business administration, communications, and social work, the statewide agreement is specifically for students studying cybersecurity. The agreement creates a seamless path for students at all 22 of Georgia’s technical colleges pursuing an Associate Degree in Cybersecurity to continue to a bachelor’s degree at AU.

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B2B Stories

Networking and sharing lessons to “Inspire”

The Ballroom at the top of the Hyatt House Hotel in Augusta was filled with people Tuesday morning, from vendors providing information about their companies to guests attending to hear lessons learned by the business owners. The event was Augusta Business Daily’s Inspire 2024 Conference, an annual event to open dialogues and build relationships among CSRA businesses. One of the guest speakers was Stephanie Stuckey, granddaughter of the man who started the iconic chain of convenience stores catering to travelers at a time when few others existed. The company had

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B2B Stories

Inspiration doesn’t stop here

Knowing how to inspire others often means cultivating and sharing a positive mental attitude. Being enthusiastic about work, life, and relationships means sharing joy, passion, and enthusiasm with those around you. ABD contributors, Darin Myers and Dr. Rick Franza, have discussed the importance of inspiration frequently in their columns for Augusta Business Daily, especially as it pertains to running a business. Without inspiration, building a successful business would be close to impossible. “The name for our spring conference, Inspire 2024, actually came to me after Stephanie Stuckey and Kate Sanders confirmed

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