B2B Stories

B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Inflation creates a double whammy for nonprofits

  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 impact of inflation on nonprofit organizations. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: With inflation still at a 40-year high, many companies are facing increased costs that will probably be passed on to customers through higher prices. But what is the impact of inflation on nonprofits that rely on donations and grants? Rick: It’s a double whammy for them.

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B2B Stories

Company headed by former SRS employee hired to two contracts

A former Savannah River Site (SRS) employee has announced that his company has entered into contracts with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). Keith Willingham, who started his career at SRS 35 years ago, is now the Vice President and General Manager of Aecon-Wachs, a U.S.-based corporation providing single-source solutions for virtually every aspect of nuclear industry construction, refurbishment, maintenance, and decommissioning. Aecon-Wachs recently entered into two contracts with SRNS, valued at $100 million, to complete decommissioning-related work on the SRS Site. Aecon-Wachs will support the transition of the Building 226-F

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B2B Stories

Local advertising, marketing firm creates national commercial starring NASCAR driver

Last month, Bert Dean and his son, Allen, had the unique opportunity to create and direct a national TV commercial starring an up-and-coming NASCAR driver. Dean, CEO of Clarion Creative, an advertising and marketing firm in Augusta, said the commercial, which was for a national foundation repair company, Ram Jack, was recorded by Rob Forbes with Moving Canvas Media in Evans. The commercial, which featured Layne Riggs, 20, the son of former NASCAR driver Scott Riggs, aired on Fox Sports 1 last Friday during a truck race in which Layne

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B2B Podcasting

Free Access: Going beyond the suit and tie

Neil sits down with Augusta Business Attorney, Brian King to find out a little more about who he is behind the scenes, including a bit about the blogs he writes to help entrepreneurs and business owners.

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Awards

Local gourmet nut entrepreneurs celebrate 10 years in business

If you’re looking for corporate gifts for your clients this holiday season, Brian and Kam Kyzer probably have just the items you need. The Kyzer’s own Watanut, a gourmet nut business, located at 3309 Washington Road in Augusta and the second store in Amelia Island, Fla. Brian Kyzer said the business, which sells nut mixes, Georgia pecans, and shortbread cookies, will celebrate its 10th anniversary with an open house on Thursday, Dec. 1, 5-9 p.m., at the Augusta store. The Kyzer’s host a large open house every year, but they

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B2B Stories

Voters approve continuing SPLOST in Columbia County

Columbia County is on its way to bringing in $288 million over the next five years, one penny at a time. On Tuesday, voters approved extending the Special Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), with about 60 percent voting yes on the ballot. SPLOST adds a penny per dollar to the local sales tax. That extra cent goes toward a fund the county uses for a wide range of improvement projects, including roads, schools, public safety, and parks and recreation facilities. Tuesday’s vote authorizes SPLOST for 2023-28. During that time, the

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B2B Stories

Leadership Lessons from Vince Dooley

On Friday, Oct. 28, the world became a lesser place as Vincent Joseph Dooley, whom many respectfully just addressed as “Coach,” left this life. Since I was a senior at Notre Dame who attended the Sugar Bowl at the end of the 1980 college football season, and I am also an alumnus of Georgia Tech, you can probably figure out that I am not a Georgia Bulldogs fan. However, I am proud to say that I consider Coach Dooley to have been a role model and a friend. I am

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: General Sherman bypassing Augusta had huge economic benefits

It is well known that General William Sherman did not attack Augusta during his famous military march during the American Civil War. His march destroyed property and confiscated livestock and crops. (Interestingly, Confederate General Joseph Wheeler, the main opposition to Sherman, was also under orders to destroy property and crops). In a letter to the editor of the Augusta Chronicle, Sherman explained that he did not need to attack Augusta; he wanted to get to Savannah so the Union Navy could re-supply him. A recent paper in American Economic Journal:

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B2B Stories

Local agencies to host Augusta tourism event

In April, the Augusta National Golf Club hosted its first full Masters Tournament since 2019, which greatly helped the local tourism industry. Destination Augusta, the Augusta Sports Council, and Film Augusta will host Experience Augusta: An Annual Tourism Celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 15 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Miller Theater. Destination Augusta President and CEO, Bennish Brown and Augusta Sports Council CEO, Michelle Pippin will discuss the industry’s accomplishments for this year. It’s the first time the annual event has been held since 2019, according to Brown.

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