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B2B Stories
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Latest unemployment numbers up, wages down

Last week, I reported record-high employment numbers in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area for the leisure and hospitality industry. Total employment is also nearing a record high, standing currently (May) at 246,100. The record high is 246, 500 in January 2020. Unfortunately, some other measures of the strength of the labor market are not as robust. After spending the whole of 2022 at 3.5%, the unemployment rate started to rise in 2023. It currently stands at 3.8%, still low by historical standards. Part of the reason for the increase may

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe July 24, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Our economy stretches far beyond the CSRA

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 taking part in the global economy. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: We often hear about the need to take part in the global economy. How do you define the term “global economy?” Rick: The term global economy is redundant. All business is international now, all economy is global. You can’t isolate your economy. There are raw materials

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Gary Kauffman July 23, 2023 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

“Quit” rates still high in the CSRA

Dr. Simon Medcalfe weighs in on recruiting and employee retention following The Great Resignation, aka the Big Quit and the Great Reshuffle. This panel discussion was part of the ABD Business EXPO held in May.

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe July 23, 2023 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Darin Myers: How is inflation impacting the hiring process?

Being informed is a large part of it. We’re looking back at May’s Employment Recruitment & Retention Panel discussion from ABD’s Conference and Expo where Coach Darin Myers, co-owner of The Alternative Board of the CSRA, explains that it’s crucial to make the right decisions, especially when times are bad.

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Darin Myers July 20, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Locally owned pediatric urgent care celebrates first anniversary

Carlee Leopard, MSN, APRN, CPNP opened NiteOwl Pediatric Urgent Care one year ago, and it’s one of the first urgent care clinics specialized for children in South Carolina. According to a press release, NiteOwl’s vision for the clinic is to complement the pediatrician. Staffed by board-certified pediatric nurse practitioners, Nite Owl Pediatric Urgent Care treats children from newborns through age 21. They accept Georgia and South Carolina Medicaid plans, as well as most major private insurances. Leopard is also one of the first nurse practitioners in the state to open

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Rakiyah Lenon July 19, 2023 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Darin Myers: Can anyone who wants a job right now get one?

There’s plenty that goes into the job search for both employers and employees. We’re looking back at the Employment Recruitment & Retention Panel discussion from ABD’s Conference and Expo in May, where Coach Darin Myers, co-owner of The Alternative Board of the CSRA, says that it’s important to ensure employers think of ways to reward the individuals who work for them.

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Darin Myers July 19, 2023 No Comments
Business Coaching

Coach Darin: What can predictive analytics do for your business?

Every business (yours included) generates a lot of data. Every customer interaction, sale, and follow-up report produces information of great potential use to the organization. The key is harnessing all that data and using it to your company’s advantage. This process is often referred to as predictive analysis. According to the Harvard Business Review, predictive analytics is “the use of data to predict future trends and events,” and leveraging “historical data to forecast potential scenarios that can help drive strategic decisions.” In other words, the information your company generates today (and the proper

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Darin Myers July 19, 2023 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Is recruiting for your business a top priority?

As an experienced business owner and founder of TAB CSRA, Darin Myers, recently addressed the topic of recruiting for the ABD EXPO. Who are you hiring and how much time are you devoting to a process that could change your business?

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Darin Myers July 18, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Chamber unveils Leadership Class of 2024

Thirty-five community leaders will embark on a nine-month program designed to help them shape Columbia County’s future. The leadership program sponsored by the TaxSlayer leadership program is managed by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce. The goal of the program is to expose businesses and area leaders to the opportunities and challenges facing our community, promote and foster the development of leadership, and educate and prepare community leaders who are committed to moving the county forward. Each month, the participants experience topics concerning our community, including county operations, economic development,

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Staff Report July 18, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

The clock is ticking on the impact of a UPS strike on CSRA businesses

As ABD recently reported, a potential strike against the UPS delivery service by more than 300,000 workers could lead to slower delivery times, supply chain disruptions, and higher shipping costs if the company and the Teamsters union don’t come to an agreement by August 1. Should CSRA businesses be concerned? UPS delivers millions of packages every day. Recent reports indicate that its competitors like FedEx, USPS, DHL, and others have admitted they will not be able to absorb that amount of business deliveries if UPS workers walk off the job.

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Mitzi Oxford July 18, 2023 No Comments
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