B2B Stories

B2B Stories

Benchmarking: More Travels on the Road of Continuous Improvement

In last week’s column, I discussed how companies, particularly those in service industries, require customer feedback to continuously improve their ability to compete in their markets. Such feedback allows us to determine what we are doing well, what we could be doing better, and what our customers really want. So, we have identified one critical element of continuous improvement coming specifically from the perspective of the customer. However, reflecting on a trip I am about to take allowed me to consider the additional perspective necessary to further travel down the

Read More »
B2B Stories

SRP Breaks Ground on New Location

SRP Federal Credit Union is opening a new location in Allendale, SC. The new location, expected to be completed by winter 2025, will expand SRP’s presence in Allendale County for providing financial services. “Today, we are not just breaking ground on a new building,” said Eric Jenkins, CEO of SRP Federal Credit Union, during the ceremony. “We’re laying the foundation for stronger financial futures and enhanced opportunities for all members of this community.” Designed by Heavener & Associates Construction Company, the Allendale branch will feature four teller stations and four

Read More »
Awards/Celebrations

Looking for the best and brightest

Applications are being accepted for an annual program that shines a light on the best the Augusta region has to offer for future leaders. Top 10 in 10 was started by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce in 2009. It is for young professionals, aged 25-35, who are leaders in their respective fields. Angie Cox, President and CEO of the Chamber, said the goal is twofold. First, to show the depth of talent, from artists to medicine to business to education in Metro Augusta. Second, the winners are submitted to

Read More »
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Poor economic news to close out 2024 in Augusta

All the variables in the Augusta Leading Economic Index (LEI) were adversely affected according to December data. This is the first time all five components have been negatively affected since April 2022. Residential building permits fell 23 percent from November and initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 40 percent. Job openings fell 2.3 percent, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished December 0.04 percent lower than the end of November. Inflation in the south increased by 0.1 percentage points to 2.8 percent. Overall, the Augusta LEI fell 1.2 percent

Read More »
B2B Stories

“Shark Tank Feel” part of March competition

The Sixth Annual Innovate Pitch Competition is set for March 27 at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center (GCITC). The competition is in partnership with Augusta University. Teams are given five minutes to pitch their solution for a real-world problem to a panel of judges. “For the first year, I’m really excited to announce that this Pitch Competition has grown and now we have a track that is open to the public,” Lynsey Steinberg, Director of Innovation at the GCITC, told ABD. “Students and entrepreneurs look to solve problems

Read More »
B2B Stories

Goodwill Takes Global Center Stage for Workforce Development Conference

Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA will host the 2025 Annual Meeting of Conference of Executives (AMCOE), bringing together Goodwill leaders from around the globe to exchange best practices in workforce development, innovation, and sustainability. The conference will take place March 2 to 5, 2025, at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. Recognized by Forbes as one of the most inspiring companies, Goodwill continues to create opportunities for people facing employment and career advancement barriers. AMCOE is the premier gathering for Goodwill leaders to share strategies that improve job

Read More »
B2B Stories

SRMC Donation to Educate Workforce

Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), the liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS) has donated $5,000 to the scholarship fund for the Augusta Technical College (ATC) Adult Education Program. The donation will be used in the Adult Education Program to provide financial assistance to students who have to take the General Education Diploma (GED) test. GED testing is a computer-based high school equivalency exam. ATC offers in-person and online testing formats for people interested in attaining a GED diploma. SRMC President and Program Manager, Dave Olson stated that

Read More »
B2B Stories

Avengers Return to Augusta

A two-day event has brought 400 people to Augusta for what sounds like a meeting for fans of Marvel Universe movies. AvengerCon IX is underway at the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center. It started in 2016 as a small event at Fort Meade, Md. As it grew it moved off post, ultimately coming to Augusta in 2024. At its core, it is a training event to help understand the hacker culture and learn techniques of the so-called hacker “black hats,” individuals who break into computer systems with malicious intent.

Read More »
B2B Stories

Education’s importance to Georgia’s economic future

Education was at the heart of a recent summit in Atlanta and Augusta had a prominent role. The theme of the 2025 Future of Talent Summit was “Reimagining Education and Talent Development.” It was sponsored by the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. The summit was broken into four education segments, ranging from kindergarten through college level education: Reimagining Early Learning & Childcare, Reimagining K-12 Education, Innovations in Technical Education, and Innovations in Georgia’s Colleges and Universities. Leading the discussion regarding colleges and universities were Sonny Perdue, Chancellor of the University System

Read More »
B2B Stories

Customer Feedback: The Key to Continuous Improvement

Last week, we passed the one-third mark of the Spring Semester for my courses at Augusta University’s Hull College of Business. As I typically do at this point in the semester, I asked my students to provide me with anonymous, written feedback on how their class is going so far this term by responding to three questions: 1) What do you like about the class so far? 2) What do you not like about the class so far? 3) What changes would you make to the class for the remainder

Read More »