B2B Stories

B2B Stories

Nothing Bundt Cakes Coming Soon to Aiken

When the inventors of Nothing Bundt Cakes, Dena Tripp and Debbie Shwetz of Las Vegas, tasted their first homemade Bundt cake, made in one of their kitchens as a party gift for the other, they knew they had something special and different. They didn’t know if they had a business, but they say they knew that if they stuck to their family recipes and treated customers with the fun and welcoming spirit that their home gatherings were known for, surely, they would get a following. Now, 25 years after their

Read More »
B2B Stories

Mondays with Rick: Business and the Braves!

Editor’s Note: Rick Franza’s’ daughter Audie is an account executive for the Braves in the membership services department. She hit a home run by working with a World Series champion, and some would say she works for a world class organization. The Braves allow employees to invite family members to some games and Dr. Franza attended one playoff game vs. Milwaukee, Los Angeles and one World Series contest vs. Houston. Rick is the Dean of the Hull College of Business at AU and believes there are lessons, business leaders can

Read More »
B2B Stories

GA Jobs, Southern Company and UGA company honors

    A twenty-year unemployment record is shattered. Plant Vogtle is running into big money overruns and ABD celebrates the “Bulldog 100”. Reporter Mike Petchenik has more from the capitol in Atlanta.

Read More »
B2B Stories

Faith Friday – Video Preview

ABD’s Faith Friday journalist Monique Williams has a video preview of today’s story of faith and perseverance by one man in business with a long track record of success.

Read More »
B2B Stories

Young professionals join mentoring programs

Caroline Ashe (far right) enjoys helping young women better themselves both personally and professionally. Ashe – Sales and Marketing Director for Ivey Homes – serves as one of five mentors for Young Women on the Way – a program created by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce for professionals between the ages of 23 and 30. “For us business leaders, it’s great to have a connection with that generation,” she says. “It’s very worthy to give back.” Founded in 2015, the program is currently accepting applications for the Class of

Read More »
B2B Stories

Chamber welcomes Retired Lt. Colonel to group

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Mark Douglass knows how to light up a room with “war stories” and a lifetime of lessons learned in just a short time taking his barbecue sauce to market. He thought he’d start with the original barbecue sauce. “There are four different flavors and the hot and spicy won’t overwhelm you. There is hickory, mesquite and the original.” He joked, “the people who make it love this. They are very happy we went from one to four. They make more money!” Columbia County Chamber President Russell Lahodney

Read More »
B2B Stories

Amazon regional director speaks about investing in employees

For Robert Packett, much of Amazon’s success is due to the hard work of its more than 1 million employees worldwide. While the company utilizes state-of-the-art technology, that doesn’t reduce the need for workers to fulfill customer orders and ship billions of packages each year. Packett – Amazon’s Southeastern Regional Director of Operations – was the keynote speaker at the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Luncheon Series on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at Savannah Rapids Pavilion. In this role, he oversees a team of more than 36,000 employees. “As we

Read More »
B2B Stories

Two businessmen purchase the Boy Scouts a $1.7 Million headquarters

After a unique sealed bidding process with a deadline that came and went several months ago— a creative, near $1.7 Million deal was struck by Sherman and Hemstreet Real Estate, the Augusta Jewish Community Center—the property owner and Georgia-Carolina Nature and Adventure Center, LLC—the private group that bought the 26 acre facility and blessed the Boy Scouts with a long-term charitable lease. It will be called the GCC Adventure Center. The two businessmen grew up in the scouting program and asked to remain anonymous. “We will lease it for $1

Read More »
B2B Stories

Military veteran launches line of bottled sauces and favorite recipes

Retired Lieutenant Colonel Mark Douglass has been serving his entire life. From 24 years in the U.S Army, to 16 years as a CSRA Real Estate agent and now founder of his home grown blend of four barbecue sauces. “During my travels around the world and throughout the U.S., I learned many secrets on barbecue sauces and recipes which I have kept with me for nearly 40 years,” writes Douglass on his www.warriorschoice.us website. He says he’s always toyed with bringing it to market and the pandemic gave Douglass time

Read More »
B2B Stories

Leftover commercial space available for lease in Augusta

Early next year, Chad Harpley will move his company to a new 14,000-square-foot facility in Augusta, and 2,500 square feet of that space is currently available for lease. Harpley – President and Chief Executive Officer of Premier Networx – is relocating his information technology and cybersecurity firm from its current address at 4332 Wheeler Road #105 to 116 Cooper Drive off Riverwatch Parkway next door to Elegant Bridals. He says the building, which is currently under construction, is scheduled to open Jan. 3. “It’s a state-of-the-art cybersecurity center,” Harpley states.

Read More »