B2B Stories

Awards

Employees earn a prestigious award for Queensborough

Most companies think of themselves as great places to work, but Queensborough National Bank & Trust has actual proof of it. The bank recently earned the Great Place to Work Certification, an award based on employee feedback. “We are thrilled to receive this designation and hope it will help us recruit and retain talent in today’s competitive environment,” said Sheryl Reed, Queensborough’s Vice President of Human Resources. Great Place to Work bases its certification on employee surveys and a short questionnaire. According to its report, 89 percent of Queensborough employees

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B2B Stories

Simon says: Georgia ranked first or eighth or 22nd best for business. Who’s right?

Area Development Magazine ranked Georgia as the No. 1 state for business for the eighth consecutive year in October 2021. They polled 50 private consulting firms and Georgia received top scores for the cost of doing business, government cooperation, and labor market competitiveness. CNBC, however, said Virginia was the top state for business with Georgia coming in at eighth. CNBC uses 85 metrics across 10 categories of competitiveness, including access to capital, education, and technology and innovation. When economists study choices we prefer to see revealed preferences rather than surveys

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Music sets the tone for up-and-coming North Augusta business

Kevin Isham is an HVAC tech by day but he is a musician at heart who plays guitar, drums, the harmonica, and banjo. His main goal as a music lover is to provide a venue for listening to good music and that led to Julio’s Cantina in his backyard. He and his wife, Heather, have hosted about 15 small concerts in their backyard. They don’t have a fancy stage, but their backyard draws a crowd of 30 or 40 folks who appreciate live music. The neighbors don’t seem to mind

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B2B Stories

A checklist to improve your non-profit’s fund-raising efforts

Perry M. Smith, Jr. is a teacher, speaker, TV, and radio commentator and best-selling author, and executive producer of four videos. Hundreds of millions of television viewers worldwide came to know him during the 1991 Persian Gulf War for his more than 100 appearances as a military analyst on network television.  Smith served for 30 years in the U. S. Air Force. He commanded the F-15 fighter wing at Bitburg, Germany where he provided leadership to 4000 personnel. Later, he served as the top Air Force planner and as the commandant

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Don’t panic! Patience is the key to weathering uncertain stock market, financial advisor says

The stock market seems stuck in a downward slide in recent days, and that has made some people nervous about their investments. But Ryan Borders, a certified financial planner with Richard Young Associates in Augusta, says now is the time to wait, not panic. “It is tempting (to panic) because we’re emotional beings,” Borders said. “But you have to take a broader approach. Technically, you’re not losing any money until you sell.” Borders said there are two opposing approaches to investing – time in the market vs. timing the market.

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Local marketing experts to share effective branding techniques

When you think of popular brands, companies like Starbucks and Nike may come to mind. Branding is one of the most important things business owners do, yet few know how to build a strong brand and convey it to employees and the public, according to Kate Sanders. Sanders, Chief Operating Officer and co-owner of Alison South Marketing Group, along with President Cynthia South, will discuss that topic at the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Third Thursday Business Builder on Thursday, May 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the

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B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Customer interaction a key to a successful business

  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 one of the important aspects of running a business, the first of a two-part series. The interview has been edited for clarity and impact. ABD: You’ve talked before about how a business can be divided into two parts, the front of the store and the back of the store. How do you define that? Rick: The front of the store is anywhere there

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B2B Stories

Local accident survivor shares inspirational story with business group

Like most business professionals, Jeanna Hancock experiences her share of stress as operations leader with Hargrove Home Inspections. But she was inspired by the harrowing tale Terrence Sansbury shared as guest speaker at this month’s CSRA Home Connections meeting on Wednesday, May 11. Sansbury, who has worked for the Wilson Family YMCA for 22 years, discussed many adversities he has overcome throughout his life, most notably a 1999 motorcycle accident that severely damaged his spinal cord and left him wheelchair-bound. “This wheelchair doesn’t define me,” he said. “My motorcycle accident

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