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B2B Stories

The Shelf Life of Leadership – Part 1

Publisher’s Note: If you follow college football, you’ve probably heard that Penn State fired its football coach, James Franklin. Pay close attention to Dr. Rick Franza’s column this week as it relates to your boss(es). Franza explains that the shelf life of coaches may mirror the length of service of those charged with managing companies in the CSRA. In the more than eight years that I have been writing columns for multiple print and online publications in Augusta, this time of the year always provides fertile ground for applying business

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Dr. Rick Franza, AU Hull College of Business October 16, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Pet-focused business adds new service to fill need

Paws in Paradise finished a major expansion in 2023 to reach about 200 boarding rooms at its complex on Evans to Locks Road. Now, the boarding facility is reimagining its space to add a wellness center to provide most veterinary services. “We are not a pet hospital, but a boarding facility able to provide services similar to a veterinary office (vaccines, bloodwork, urinalysis, laser therapy, x-rays, ultrasounds, minor surgeries such as dental cleanings, end-of-life care), as well as intermediary services between regular veterinary office and pet hospital (such as triage

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Neil Gordon October 15, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Accelerating downtown Augusta growth

A business development center whose opening was delayed when Hurricane Helene smashed Metro Augusta, recently opened its doors and is part of a rebirth in one section of downtown Augusta. Accelerate Augusta is up and running in the former Greater Augusta Chamber of Commerce building. The I.M. Pei-designed building is located at 600 Broad Street. The microenterprise center was created to support entrepreneurs, start-ups, and help local small businesses develop and grow. However, it is also a welcome neighbor on that section of Broad Street. “Got a new hotel coming

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 15, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

First-of-its-kind business competition

This Friday, AU’s Hull College of Business is challenging future business leaders with a first-of-its-kind competition. The Dean of the School explains how it works. “So, this year, we are piloting a high school competition slash conference event, and we are piloting it with Columbia County high schools. We wanted to start small, and they’ve been talking with us about how we can create these competitive-type events around business cases. One of the things that we wanted to do is, with it being limited to just the Columbia County High

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Dr. Mark Thompson October 14, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Hull Video: Business Competition

If you’d like to partner with the AU’s Hull College of Business—reach out before next Friday to get involved with a first-of-its-kind competition. Dr. Mark Thompson has more in this short video.

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HCoB Dean Mark Thompson October 10, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Helping small businesses bid on Augusta contracts

Contracts to work on government construction projects can be lucrative for businesses of all sizes. However, many small businesses do not understand the complexity of the bid process. An October 16 workshop will help small businesses navigate the process. A bid and contract readiness workshop will be held at the Diamond Lakes Library in Hephzibah. It is a collaboration between the City of Augusta Compliance Office and Spellman Consulting Group, LLC. “What we’re trying to do is to educate small businesses on the bid process, how to identify bids, and

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 10, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Rental market booming for entrepreneurs and small businesses in the CSRA

Several more commercial leasing units are on the market for businesspeople, who especially have a need for both office and industrial space. A construction company, manufacturer, and distribution company are all in final negotiations to lease a flexible amount of space in the Trade Center Court in Augusta, according to developer/leasing agent Southeastern. The four buildings are ready for lease in 1500 square feet blocks all the way up to a 7500 square foot space for a total of 25,500 square feet. It’s located ¼ mile west of the I-20

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Neil Gordon October 9, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Accountability: The Essential Ingredient for Growth and Success

Editor’s Note: Sometimes, sports mirror business. Destination Augusta reports when the Augusta Sports Council brings in a sporting event to town, it can mean millions of dollars in economic impact. Sports and business are about competition. Teams of either have to be held accountable. Dr. Rick Franza traveled from his classroom on Walton Way to South Bend, Indiana, to show how the “Fighting Irish” can help you win at your CSRA Company. When Your Team at Work Gets Off To A Bad Start This past weekend, I returned to my

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Dr. Rick Franza October 9, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

$2 million hotel transformation in Augusta

The former Baymont Inn and Suites on Frontage Road NW is now Garner Hotel Augusta West—part of the IHG brand with 13 hotels in the CSRA. There’s also a powerful connection to Fort Gordon. This Garner hotel is one of two in the CSRA (Aiken) and part of only 20 Garner hotels in the U.S. Garner Augusta is located off Bobby Jones Expressway and I-20, just a few miles from the Fort Gordon exit on the BJE. “From check-in to checkout, every detail’s been rethought with Garner’s warmth and wit,”

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Neil Gordon October 8, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Augusta business owner picked to test technology program

There is a program worth thousands of dollars available to help local businesses find flaws in the technology that compromises their cybersecurity, yet few know about it. The program is offered through Georgia AIM (Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing) and the team at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center (GCITC). There is no charge for the site assistance visits. “It’s valued at over $50,000, and it’s first-come, first-served,” John McLain, Georgia AIM’s project lead at GCITC, explained for ABD. “We have a limited number, but for manufacturers and their supply

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 8, 2025 No Comments
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