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Awards

500 + Chamber members get Presidential treatment at annual meeting

The incoming Columbia County Chamber President got to present the Lifetime Achievement Award to a retired Chamber President credited with being one of the key leaders behind Columbia County’s growth more than a decade ago. The new President and CEO, Heath Taylor (left), addressed the membership for the first time since starting on February 2nd.  He presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Tammy Gibbs Shepherd, who was President from 2010 to 2020. She helped strengthen local businesses, expand workforce programs, and was one of the leaders behind the push to

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Neil Gordon February 17, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Health Insurance Is Not Health Care — What Augusta/Aiken Employers Should Be Thinking as Renewal Season Never Ends

As CSRA health insurance consultants, our historically heaviest renewal period has always been January 1. While that date is still the most common, we are increasingly seeing renewals spread more evenly throughout the year. Today, the most popular renewal dates are January 1, April 1, July 1, and October 1 — what many in the industry now refer to as the “quarter system.” So, how can these opportunities make a difference? We’ve just come out of a busy renewal cycle and are already heading toward the next one. That reality

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Tom Mastny, CEO, The Pennant Group, Augusta February 13, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

CSRA retailer expands on Georgia Avenue

There are not many things that go better with ice cream than children with their favorite toys! The Orange Otter Toy Store just expanded on Georgia Avenue and moved its store just a few blocks away, and close to a North Augusta family tradition.  They were in the same center as South State Bank and adjacent to Gary’s Hamburgers on Georgia Avenue. Orange Otter is now next to the Pink Dipper ice cream shop at 507 Georgia Avenue. Aubrey Hickson, store owner, says the new location is 1600 square feet

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Neil Gordon February 13, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Local business to help teach nonprofit clients online safety

An organization known for helping patients with neurological challenges has added classes to develop more than its clients’ physical needs. Day One Fitness, located in Beech Island, provides personalized physical development programs for individuals with challenges ranging from Parkinson’s Disease to stroke recovery. Thanks to a suggestion from a volunteer, it also offers classes on other topics.  “She came to me, and she said, ‘Hey, the people that have been coming are just so hungry for information, and there’s just so much that we don’t know,’” Executive Director Danielle Williams

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 13, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Super Bowl Ads: Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?

Publisher’s Note: Did you watch the “game within the game” on Sunday—no, not Bad Bunny’s halftime performance—rather the performance of the commercials. I checked locally and: 30-second commercials cost about $8,500 each on our NBC affiliate, WAGT. Our resident “supply chain” expert, Dr. Rick Franza, looked at the supply, demand, and multi-million dollar cost/benefit. First, allow him a little “Broadway Joe” runway! RICK: I have always been a big fan of the Super Bowl. As a young boy growing up on Long Island, my fondest Super Bowl memory is Joe

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Dr. Rick Franza, AU Hull College Professor February 12, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

2 Business Schools suggest a positive economic outlook in 2026

Dr. Santanu Chatterjee, interim dean at UGA’s Terry College of Business (at podium), and Dr. Simon Medcalfe, economist at AU’s Hull College of Business and an ABD contributor, both can see growth in Augusta’s economy in 2026. They see different sectors helping to drive revenue and jobs. Dr. Chatterjee led the 43rd annual statewide economic outlook event that travels from city to city. He said the Metro Augusta region is important to the overall outlook for Georgia, with healthcare leading the way. “The only sector in which we’ll see some

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Dana Lynn McIntyre and Neil Gordon February 12, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Meet the new Chamber President tomorrow night

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is stepping into its next decade with its annual banquet. The chamber celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025. Preceding the evening banquet will be a special afternoon reception tomorrow, introducing Heath Taylor, the new Chamber President and CEO.  “To celebrate the chamber and what we’ve done and really highlight Heath and welcoming him on board and letting people have an opportunity to come shake his hand and welcome him back to the community,” incoming Chamber Board President Helen Caldwell told ABD. Heath Taylor stepped

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 11, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

65 jobs and $17 million in CSRA Economic Deal

A county on the southern fringe of the CSRA is welcoming a new company. Preciball USA designs and manufactures precision and industrial balls for industrial use. The company’s products are used in applications such as bearings, pumps, valves, swivel joints, and more. Preciball USA’s primary offices, which will remain open, are located in Pooler. “Our new high-precision manufacturing facility will complement our existing distribution operations and offer fully integrated, end-to-end domestic production to serve customers across an array of industries,” said Don Peak, Executive Vice President of Preciball USA. “We are

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Staff Report February 10, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Military Monday: Making a pact to help veterans

Recently, I had the opportunity to listen to and engage in discussion with the Honorable Senator Mark Kelly, alongside Senator Jon Ossoff, as the PACT Act and other critical Veteran issues were addressed. So, what is the PACT Act? In short, the PACT Act expands access to VA health care and benefits for Veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during military service. If a Veteran experienced toxic exposure during deployment, the PACT Act ensures eligibility for VA health care and establishes presumptive service connections for certain conditions related to those

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Africa R. Thomas, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CME, CCM February 9, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Top Federal Reserve official leads economic report in Aiken

Tom Barkin, President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, was the featured speaker at an economic symposium in Aiken. The Wednesday event, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Aiken, attracted 400 people, including South Carolina Lt. Gov. Pamela Evett (R) and Attorney General Alan Wilson (R), to the USCA Convocation Center. Barkin led his presentation with a topic on everyone’s mind: inflation. He said inflation is unfair, creates uncertainty, and the effort to negotiate with suppliers or shop around for better prices is exhausting. He coupled that

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 6, 2026 No Comments
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