Is fraud running rampant in Georgia with Covid money, Uber Eats, and DoorDash? Mike Petchenik has the latest in the Georgia Business Minute.
Students from three area high schools are about to begin an opportunity that could change their life. USC Aiken will launch Pacer LIFE this fall. It’s the first postsecondary program in the region for people with intellectual disabilities. Pacer LIFE offers not just coursework but also job training, on-the-job training, and independent living skills like banking, cooking, and laundry. Pacer LIFE students are also full-on Pacers, enjoying student life and living on campus in USC Aiken dorms. Nationally, only 18% of adults with intellectual disabilities are employed, and of these,
Liberty Insurance is famous for its “emu” spokesperson. ABD Publisher, Neil Gordon sits down with the local face of Liberty— and she shares how Liberty is now part of a larger company that allows her to take care of most every insurance need.
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
Dr. Rick Franza, Dean of the Hull College of Business, discusses a different, timely business topic each Monday in this column. This week, he talks about the importance of digital marketing. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: We hear a lot about digital marketing, but I think for many companies that is still a somewhat vague and confusing term. What is digital marketing and how does it differ from traditional marketing? Rick: Marketing is any way of providing your message and can be done through
Business leaders broke ground yesterday on a new facility with a simple goal: increase healthy food options at the Augusta Golden Harvest Food Bank. Called the Produce Rescue Center, it will substantially increase the amount of perishable food, particularly produce, the food bank can store. The $5.5 million facility will take about a year to complete. It will increase access to more meat, produce, and dairy products to families across the food bank’s coverage area. Golden Harvest President and CEO, Amy Breitmann said $3.7 million came from a COVID-19 relief
Whether you are an entrepreneur or you’ve been in business for decades, one of the biggest challenges is how to effectively reach and engage with your target audience. A great product or service won’t matter if you aren’t reaching the customer who needs or wants what you’re offering. As ABD recently reported there’s a large disparity in the number of minority-owned businesses in the CSRA. Less than 10% of all businesses are owned by minorities and most are sole proprietorships. In a partnership with Google, business coaches like Angelina Darrisaw
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
Last week, I reported occupancy rates and revenue per available room for the hotel industry in Richmond County. Averages, however, do not provide information on the complete distribution. Upper-tier hotels had a better year than the average. Occupancy rates were up 0.7% (the average was a decrease of 8.8%), and revenue per available room was also up 0.7% (the average was down 4.5%). Total revenue for upper-tier hotels was 7.7% higher compared to a 4% decline on average. Upper-tier hotels represent 23 percent of all hotels in Richmond County, and
In business, body language and self-confidence can often be the difference between success and failure. Dancers are trained to be masters of both. As you dance, you increase self-awareness by monitoring how your body is moving. Many professionals, including athletes and actors, take dance classes for that very reason. Several Augusta businesses are supporting an upcoming event on February 26, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at Sol Food Kitchen, 471 Highland Avenue, in Augusta. Immerse, which features dancing, self-care exercise, massages, a cocktail hour, and giveaways. Immerse is the brainchild of
