Avoid wireless mesh networks in your business. Patrick Reynolds of Crosslink Consulting advises on how to keep your home and business networks safe.
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 Georgia’s strong economy. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: Economic news lately often seems bleak, but things are a bit different for the state of Georgia. Even after filling the Rainy Day Fund (which allows the state government to keep running during an economic downturn) to its legal limit, we had a surplus of $6.58 billion. What’s the story
After decades in business, serial entrepreneur, Jeff Annis discovered that profit sharing is one of the keys to employee retention. On Wednesday, Annis, founder of Advanced Services Pest Control, spoke to a group of real estate agents, loan officers, and home services professionals at this month’s CSRA Home Connections meeting. He said some of his long-term employees have told him they had considered leaving the company, but changed their minds when he began offering the lucrative profit-sharing incentive, which for most employees, meant they earned between 14 and 18 percent
Business at a downtown pet boutique has increased significantly, thanks to the reopening of the Fifth Street Bridge, according to Phillip Russum. Russum, a trainer at Fetch 501 located at 501 Broad St., which opened in June, said that’s especially true on weekends. “We’re obviously uniquely poised to take advantage of it because it’s right there,” he said. After being closed for more than two years, the pedestrian bridge, which cost nearly $11 million to complete, opened Saturday, Sept. 24, just in time for the Ironman 70.3 Augusta. The bridge
After retiring from the U.S. Army, Lt. Col. Mark Douglass developed his own line of barbecue sauces, and he plans to give away more than $10,000 worth of it this weekend. Douglass is the founder and owner of Warrior’s Choice, a company that creates and sells sauces in a variety of military-themed flavors, including Defender, Spartan Heat, and Patriot’s Pride. He will give free bottles to the first 1,080 people who attend Papa Joe’s Banjo-B-Que Music Festival, which will be held tomorrow and Saturday at the Columbia County Fairgrounds in
For those of you who read my previous columns in the Augusta Chronicle, you know that I like to write about leadership. Although I have been in a number of leadership positions across my two careers in the military and higher education that does not necessarily make me a great leader. One thing I do know that I have in common with great leaders is that I am always looking to improve my leadership ability. Therefore, I read about leadership, and listen to others speak about leadership, but most importantly,
It’s official – Fort Gordon will be renamed and become Fort Eisenhower. Last week, Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin approved a proposal to rename nine Army bases that had been named after Confederate Army soldiers. As reported in ABD in August, that includes Fort Gordon, which had been named for Confederate Army officer, John Brown Gordon. The new name, which is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, honors World War II hero and 34th President of the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower’s name is already on the
Last week, the Institute for Supply Management reported that U.S. manufacturing activity grew at its slowest pace since May 2020. Manufacturing is still expanding (the index stands at 50.9 with anything over 50 indicating expansion); however, the employment part of the index fell from 54.2 to 48.7 indicating contraction. Locally, manufacturing employment has fallen slightly from a recent high of 24,100 in June to 23,850 in August. Nationally, manufacturing makes up 11.9 percent of the U.S. economy and 11.6 percent (2020) in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area. Manufacturing accounts for
Wawa, a convenience store/gas station chain popular in Florida is coming to Georgia and an electric vehicle manufacturer is denied a huge tax break. Enjoy the new video format of the Augusta Business Daily Business Update by Mike Petchenik.
A local plumbing legend’s story is being told in an episode of a YouTube plumbing series. Larry Jones, who started Universal Plumbing in Augusta in 1985, is featured in the Dead-End Road episode of Season 3 of American Plumbing Stories, produced by Pfister Faucets and hosted by country music artist, Craig Morgan. “We are honored to be recognized by American Plumber Stories and are excited to share Larry’s story with the world,” Administration Manager, Shalanda Morris said in a press release. “Plumbing has provided a life that has been beyond
