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.
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.
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
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
Stephanie Stuckey stuck out her neck four years ago and put in her life savings of $500,000 to buy back her family business. “Before, there was Racetrac or Love’s or TA’s or Buc-ees, there was Stuckey’s, “she told a packed ballroom of 100 attendees at the Hyatt House on Broad Street. Stephanie’s father sold the company and stores for $12 Million in the 1980’s, but different owners caused it to fail and she inherited dilapidated stores and environmental issues. Her former career as an environmental attorney helped her. “I have
April has been a busy month for economic development with multi-million dollar projects announced in Richmond and Columbia counties. The latest is the April 30 announcement by StandardAero of a $33 million expansion of its operations at Augusta Regional Airport. The company provides aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul services. The project will add more than 80,000 square feet of hangar space, and an engine shop, to the company’s existing buildings. That is a 60% increase in space and will allow the company to work on larger aircraft said Chris Bodine,
Publisher’s Note: We are 1/3rd of the way through 2024. Let’s see how predictions are going so far for AU Hull College of Business professor, Dr. Rick Franza. Here is his report from four months ago! Last week, Augusta University’s Hull College of Business held its annual Economic Forecast Breakfast, and my inimitable colleague, Dr. Simon Medcalfe, gave his uniquely informative and amusing take on what the local economy may have in store for us in the coming year. Dr. Medcalfe has inspired me to break out my crystal ball
Three new businesses have located on a side strip of the Walmart on Steiner Way in Grovetown. At the time, there was only one vacancy alongside AT&T and Navy Federal Credit Union. Through negotiations, Meybohm realtor, Mark Pritchett, was able to relocate AT&T and brought in Smoothie Tropical Café, Sophia Nails, and another location for Evans Rehab Physical Therapy (ERW). The result was 100% occupancy. As ABD previously reported, Smoothie Tropical Café owners, Reginald Foster and his wife, Zenna, currently own five stores in Georgia and North Carolina, including Augusta,
Fast on the heels of the 2024 Masters Tournament, Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and the Drive, Chip and Putt Competition, Augusta Regional Airport is preparing for another large-scale event. The second annual Augusta Air Show is set for May 25 and 26. The U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demo Team is this year’s headliner. According to the team’s media guide, the team is stationed at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and “performs precision aerial maneuvers to demonstrate the unique capabilities of the fifth-generation fighter aircraft. The team also teams
The Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) fell 0.1 percent in February from January. It remains 0.2 percent higher than February 2023. The components that contributed positively to growth were initial claims for unemployment insurance, the Dow Jones Industrial Average, and job openings. Residential housing permits and higher inflation negatively impacted the index. Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell 69 percent in February from January. While claims normally fall in February, this percentage decline is the largest post-Covid. This bodes well for continuing low unemployment in the area. The Dow Jones
