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B2B Stories
B2B Stories

New auto business to open in crowded field

The Driven brands of automotive companies is getting ready to add its first car wash facility in the CSRA, after building six oil change shops in a short period of time. Jordan Trotter represented the landowner in a transaction that will allow Driven to build a Take Five Car Wash on a large tract of land on the Gordon Highway. “We operate the world’s largest local car wash conglomerate, washing more than 35 million cars a year through a network of more than 900 locations in 14 countries across Europe,

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Neil Gordon February 20, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Annual Performance Reviews: How to Maximize Their Effectiveness

I have been taking part in annual performance reviews for approximately forty years, beginning with Officer Performance Reports (OPRs) as a lieutenant in the United States Air Force, to earlier this week as a faculty member at Augusta University (AU). I have sat at “both sides of the table” for such reviews, having been evaluated for each of those forty years, while also being the “evaluator” for at least seventeen of those years as an administrator at Kennesaw State University (KSU) and here at AU. During one year at KSU

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Dr. Rick Franza February 20, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

$42 million to boost physician shortage challenges

The good news is that Georgia is growing. The bad news is the state has a huge shortage of doctors. Dr. David Hess, Dean of the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) made that point clear in his annual State of the College address. He said Georgia currently ranks 40th in the country in the number of primary care physicians. “All these counties, which are blue, or yellow are short, so there’s hardly any place that has enough physicians,” he said, using a slide to demonstrate the shortages. “And even worse,

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 19, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: SC’s LMI shines!

Last week, I reported data on Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) labor markets in Georgia. However, the Augusta MSA includes two counties (Aiken and Edgefield) in South Carolina, so how does Augusta compare to South Carolina MSA’s over the last year? Overall, South Carolina’s MSAs all performed better than Augusta, and South Carolina did better than Georgia. The South Carolina Labor Market Index (LMI) increased by 2.7% compared to 1.1% in Georgia. The fastest growing MSA in South Carolina was Charleston at 4.1% and the slowest was Spartanburg at 1.7%, still

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe February 19, 2024 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Breathing new life into empty buildings

In a breath of fresh air for the Augusta cityscape, buildings that have been empty are taking on new meaning for nonprofits and for-profit businesses. Mike Petchenik has the lineup in today’s Biz Bits.

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Mike Petchenik February 19, 2024 No Comments
Awards

Astronaut accepts award for dad who passed

Publishers Note: It was in the early 1990’s that I first met Dr. Joseph Still and his daughter, Susan in Augusta. I was a reporter at News 12 and I especially remember Susan being honored at Augusta’s new Amphitheater at the Riverwalk and addressing school children on the importance of dreaming. She was dressed in her astronaut suit, after having flown on the Space Shuttle. She was humble, like her Daddy. Last Thursday night, Susan delivered another keynote address, this time, honoring the life and legacy of her iconic father.

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By Neil Gordon and Photos by Rhian Swain February 18, 2024 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

A Steller run comes to an end

Running a business is tough. Running a restaurant is tougher. Running one, while facing serious personal issues makes it almost impossible to succeed. Mike Petchenik has the story of a CSRA business owner who tried to beat the odds.

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Mike Petchenik February 18, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

New eatery provides a business bite to go

Two years ago, Eric Emedoh moved to North Augusta from the Bronx, where bodegas line every street corner. If everything goes as planned, there will be many of the small restaurants across the CSRA as well. Bodega means a storehouse for wine. In New York, bodegas are like small convenience stores selling products including milk, eggs, and meats. Le Bodega at 1696 Knox Avenue in North Augusta doesn’t have wine and the ingredients they offer are cooked up in some delicious handheld sandwiches. Perfect for a busy businessperson to stop

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Mitzi Oxford February 18, 2024 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

We have a local Titan!

Props to Dr. Jermaine Whirl, President of Augusta Technical College, on his recognition as a business Titan in the state of Georgia. He is the only business leader in Augusta to receive the honor. Mike Petchenik has the “why” in today’s Biz Bits.

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Mike Petchenik February 15, 2024 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

7 Brew Coffee celebrates 7 years with special offers

The drive-thru coffee concept with two Augusta locations started their birthday celebration on Valentine’s Day, because who doesn’t love coffee? Yet another reason to celebrate, 7 Brew is quickly approaching its 200th location, doubling its presence nationwide since June 2023. “The explosive growth we’ve seen since our founding shows that cultivating kindness and offering a stellar product can bring a brand to the next level,” said CeCe LaBorde, president of 7 Brew corporate locations. “We wanted to take this birthday to celebrate our customers who have embraced 7 Brew wholeheartedly.” You can

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Staff Report February 15, 2024 No Comments
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