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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Q&A with three female, millennial State Farm agency owners

There are many State Farm Insurance agencies throughout the CSRA (see photo above story), but three of these local agencies, all owned by women in their 20s, opened within the last year. ABD interviewed these agents to learn about the joys and challenges of being a small business owner in the insurance industry. State Farm agents offer a variety of products, such as car, home, health, and small business insurance policies, as well as investments. Morgan Brinson, 28, became an agent in January 2021, and her office is located at

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Josh Heath February 2, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Airport takes flight with new event

The Augusta Regional Airport is inviting members of the local community to get some exercise while also supporting a worthy cause. The airport – located at 1501 Aviation Way – will host the Run the Runway 5K (see photo above story) on Saturday, March 19 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., and all proceeds will go to ForcesUnited. Registration is $30 for teens and adults, $25 for children 8-12, and free for children 7 and under. Founded in 2007 as the CSRA Wounded Warrior Care Project, ForcesUnited connects veterans to

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Josh Heath February 2, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New restaurant to open for Valentine’s Day

Nothing says, “I love you” like Hibachi Steak & Shrimp… to go! Hibachi Express’s second CSRA location is expected to open in time for Valentine’s Day in the former Taco Bell located on Washington Road near the Bobby Jones Expressway. A construction worker was doing some work in the ample parking lot over the weekend. Restaurants like Taco Bell and Wendy’s had challenges getting its customers in and out of their parking lots in a timely manner and eventually closed. Hibachi Express on 1815 Walton Way in Augusta offers half

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Neil Gordon February 1, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Therapy program makes horse sense

A partnership between two local companies is providing equine therapy for senior citizens in the CSRA. Steven Gay – owner and President of Augusta Aviation, Inc. is providing horses for residents of Thrive at Augusta (see photo above story). Thrive, an assisted living facility located at 313 Furys Ferry Road in Martinez, began the therapy program in November. “I am proud to be able to offer this program to the residents at Thrive at Augusta,” says Gay, who needed help caring for the horses. “It’s a joy to see residents

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Josh Heath February 1, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

The Cost of Cutting Corners

  Don MacNeil is the former Marketing Director of Windsor Jewelers and long-time on-air radio professional.   Is it just me, or… The Cost of Cutting Corners Have you had groceries delivered to your home lately? If you have, have you also come to the conclusion that home delivery – especially to the house-bound – has become a dumping ground for expired, near-expired and damaged goods? When free grocery delivery suddenly swept the supermarket industry not long ago, I immediately imagined a CEO rolling his eyes when first advised that

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Don MacNeil February 1, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Mondays with Rick: Co-Founder of Mailchimp

Editor’s Note:   Recently, Rick Franza, Dean of AU’s Hull College of Business attended a meet-and-greet with Ben Chestnut, the co-founder of the marketing platform Mailchimp. External media was not allowed to the meet-and-greet or Chestnut’s “fireside chat” (Click here to watch the video) with nearly 100 AU students and faculty. ABD: I know he spent some time with AU President Brooks Keel and AU’s Scott Thorp, faculty coordinator of Innovation Project (see photo above). What were your impressions of him at the meet-and-greet? Rick: He’s proud of his roots

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Neil Gordon January 31, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local teens need businesses to support March event

For many high school girls, the prom is an exciting event, but not everyone can afford to go. A local event provides everything teen girls need to enjoy the evening in style. Cinderella Day (see photo above story) is a free event hosted by the Augusta Dream Center – a nonprofit that provides a variety of services for those in need in the CSRA. The fifth annual Cinderella Day will be held on Saturday, March 12 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the center located at 3364 Peach Orchard

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Josh Heath January 31, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

‘Divine drinking’ the way to better health, says soldier-turned-entrepreneur

Editor’s Note: Our Faith Friday columnist Monique Williams is off this week and will be back with a new story sure to inspire you next weekend. In early November, she profiled a special family utilizing God’s creation to quench the thirst of others. Geoffery Jackson wants to leave a legacy for his children’s children. It’s a seed he says was planted one day while listening to a sermon from his pastor. “That’s something we don’t do,” he thought to himself. “Leave a legacy. But, I asked God how did that

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Monique Williams January 28, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Dr. Thom and the Kit Fox Hunt

It sounds like the title of a children’s book, huh? But it’s as real as the long history of fox hunting in Aiken. It’s as real as the bronze foxes scattered among city parks and downtown business locations. It all started with Dr. Thom Akins, owner of Kitfox Pediatric Dentistry. His vision was to create a fun way to engage families and encourage locals and tourists to stay and play downtown. In case you didn’t know, a “kit” is a young fox. We learn something every day. Since Dr. Thom

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Mitzi Oxford January 27, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Meet you at The Back Porch

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings is on vacation from eating out this week! He will return with a new restaurant review next Thursday. Yours truly chose a review he did more than three months ago—a bit off of the beaten path. Enjoy! Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad and the tasty across the CSRA. He

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Wes Hennings January 27, 2022 No Comments
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