2 15 16 buzz on biz feb march alt

FEB. 18—MARCH 23, 2016 • THE CSRA’S MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Employers, job seekers meet one another 3rd Career Expo makes successful pairings

By Gary Kauffman Jonathan Dunn of Augusta was looking to expand his work experience, so he spent the afternoon of Feb. 9 at the Buzz on Biz Career Expo talking to prospective employers.

“I’m looking to broaden my horizon in the work field,” said Dunn, who has worked in retail and customer service.

“I’m looking for something more permanent, that I can be at longer.”

“That’s what our Career Expo is all about – connecting people looking for a career with people who have job openings,” said Neil Gordon, founder of Buzz on Biz. Despite a few snowflakes, more than 300 people braved the cold to attend the 3rd annual Buzz on Biz Career Expo.

That was 140 more people than the previous year and more than twice as many as the first year.

Most of the 40 businesses and colleges who set up booths at the Expo found a steady stream of qualified job applicants.

Jeff Annis, president of Advanced Services for Pest Control, said he had received resumes from seven good employee prospects.

“If you get 7-10 prospects from something like this, you’ve killed it,” he said.

Not only were people looking for jobs, a number were looking to change careers. Veeta Perry of Augusta University said they had a number of people interested in information about new careers in IT, web design and administrative clerical.

About the only thing missing were people looking for health careers, especially nurses. Several companies seeking to fill those types of positions found a dearth of applicants, perhaps an indication of how strong the health care market is in the area.

While most companies took applications and resumes to

Many qualified job seekers made the rounds at the Buzz on Biz Career Expo on Feb. 9. Photo by Gary Kauffman

make contact later, Woody’s BBQ hired seven people on the spot for positions at their new restaurant on Wrightsboro Road. In addition, they took about 40 applications.

PDQ, a fastfood restaurant building a new facility on Washington Road, found as many people interested in supervisory roles as those applying for hourly position, an indication of the skill level of most of the 280 attendees.

“One thing we’ve been known for in the past is the high quality of the people who come to the Expo looking for

careers,” Gordon said. “This year was no exception. People were well dressed and well prepared to seek new careers.”

But it wasn’t only about filling jobs for the vendors. Both PDQ and Woody’s BBQ received a number of inquiries from other businesses about catering for events. Annis said he’d also made some good contact with other businesses.

“It’s a value just to be around the other vendors,” he said.

A date hasn’t been set yet for the 2017 Career Expo, but Gordon said it will likely be at about the same time in February.

Augusta looks to become a visitor destination

By Gary Kauffman While tourism in Augusta has been defined in many minds by Masters Week, the Augusta area has a growing number of other attractions that draw people from around the country. North Augusta’s Peach Jam, the Futurity, the Ironman 70.3 and several other events all draw thousands of visitors to the area for extended stays.

At the State of Tourism Luncheon held at the Legends Club on Feb. 11, sponsored by the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Augusta Sports Council, CVB president Barry White presented Mayor Hardie Davis with an honorary check for nearly $21 million, indicating the economic impact these visitors have on the area.

And it will get bigger. Stacie Adkins, CEO of the Sports Council, announced that Augusta has been awarded the 2016 World Military Softball tournament, which is ex-

“Tourism is the ‘first date’ for economic development.” pected to bring about 5,000 new visitors to the area.

In addition to all of those events, “destination” vacations are more popular than ever. Large cities have marketed themselves this way for years but smaller cities are now catching on that becoming a destination is a good way to bring more money into a city than a one-night passing-through stay.

It is also important to a city’s long-term economic growth.

“Nobody invests in a community without first visiting it,” Bill Geist, a destination marketing specialist, told the attendees of

the luncheon. “Tourism is the ‘first date’ for economic development.”

To that end, the CVB is heading into 2016 with a new focus and a new look. White announced that after more than a decade of advocating Augusta to Baby Boomers, it will now shift its focus to Millennials.

“Our customers are changing and as our customers change, we have to change, too,” White said.

A centerpiece is a new lifestyle magazine, The New Augustan, which will replace the traditional visitors guide. Next month the CVB will launch a new website that is heavy on video content and viewable across all platforms,

including mobile phones.

In the fall, the CVB will introduce a new advertising campaign that will be geared more toward the Millennials. There is also a Twitter and Instagram hashtag, #LoveAugusta, which last year was used by more than 2,000 people.

The CVB is also rebranding the area, noting that CSRA has little meaning to anyone outside the Augusta area. Instead, it will market the area as the Augusta River Region, designated on a map as extending from Harlem to Aiken, and Clarks Hill Lake to Phinizy Swamp.

“It works better for our marketing purposes,” White said. “We think it See VISITOR DESTINATION, page 2

The Half-Marathon is one of many activities the Sports Council has promoted in 25 years.

Hines Ward to help Sports Council celebrate 25 years A former University of Georgia star and Super Bowl MVP will help the Augusta Sports Council celebrate its silver anniversary in May. Hines Ward, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and won the Dancing with the Stars competition, will be the guest speaker at the Greater Augusta Medals for Excellence in Sports (GAMES) awards dinner on May 10.

The annual GAMES dinner will also be the platform for the ASC to celebrate its 25

years of promoting sports in Augusta.

Since 1992, GAMES has honored more than 2,200 area athletes. This year’s dinner will be held at the Augusta Marriott Convention Center. Ticket information will be available soon.

After one of the best careers in UGA history, Ward played 14 seasons as a wide receiver for the Steelers. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XL. He and his dance partner, Kym Johnson, won Season 12 of Dancing with the Stars.

continued from page 1 has a lot of potential and we hope it catches on with others.”

White said the new marketing efforts will be twofold – to inspire those outside the area to make Augusta a destination to visit, and to inspire those living in the community to take pride in all there is to offer.

Geist, the destination marketing expert, believes a key factor in tourism will be the Millennial generation, those in the 18-35 age range.

“The reason they’re so important is that this is the most mobile generation in history,” he said.

But there’s a catch – once they reach their early 30s, they begin to put down roots, start families and become less mobile. That creates a key window of opportunity for cities.

“If we don’t get them to Augusta when they’re in their 20s, we won’t get them when they hit 31 or 32,” Geist said.

That means a different way of thinking about tourism than in the past. Millennials don’t recognize geopolitical lines and they don’t like a direct sales pitch.

“Be a story teller,” Geist advised. “No one can tell our story like we can. We’re not selling them something, we’re engaging them in the conversation.”

Video content will become increasingly important and in a smaller format. By next year, Geist said, 75 percent of all videos will be viewed on mobile devices.

Nightlife will also be a key to create a destination rather than a stopping-over place.

“We have to get serious about after 7 p.m.,” he said.

Statistics show that only one in five travelers go out for the evening after dinner. But he believes that percentage would increase if travelers knew where to find music events.

“If we make the music easier to find, it’ll be easier to spend another night,” he said.

“We have to be the choreographer that finds the cool, the unknown so that we have a destination that really sings.”

Geist also encouraged a wider thinking about tourists to the area than just hotel stays.

“We’re now beyond ‘heads in beds,’” he said. “We’ve got to stop saying that because it’s so limiting.”

When tourists come to a city, they are looking for more to do, which means more people in stores and more people attending events and attractions. “Heads in beds” then becomes a result of destination marketing rather than the prime mover.

Geist also encouraged “cathedral thinking,” a long-view type of vision. He noted that in the Middle Ages, when an architect was hired to design a cathedral, he did so knowing he would never worship there because the building process would take longer than his lifetime. But he took the job anyway because he understood the importance of it for the future.

For cities, that means starting things now that will benefit future generations, even if the movers behind the changes won’t live long enough to see the fruition of their work.

“This is an exciting time for Augusta,” Geist said. “There’s a clearly palpable sense of momentum. You need to take care of that, but you also need to think about what Augusta will look like in 2070 or 2080.”

VISITOR DESTINATION

2 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

Publisher’s Notes Neil Gordon

Sweet Dreams

Work smart and keeping at it helps turn dreams into reality If You Dream It.......

This issue is all about reaching for the stars and dusting yourself off when things don’t fall the right way.

Plug away. Work smart and good things usually occur.

If you dream it, it can happen.

Our 1st Annual Career Expo met Mother Nature’s ice

Features

storm. We were not deterred. Fast forward two years later to our most recent Career Expo – we doubled the attendance from that first year. Read our cover story and see how some employers and employees were in the right place at the right time this year.

The Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau has big plans beyond our little golf tournament in April. Read about some tourism initiatives in the first few pages.

Business broker and TedxAugusta contributor Kim Romaner helped launch a unique initiative in Macon to connect their community to the internet and hopes to continue her efforts into the CSRA. Her story is on page 4, and a synopsis of all TedxAugusta talks rests on page 30 – with plenty of “dreamy” plans by the speakers.

Are you an entrepreneur with big dreams? Shannon Jones is... and she will take us through some major steps she’s been making in the last year in launching her healthy pet snack line called Southern Pawz. Her first install-

Diamond Event.............. 16 North Augusta Chamber celebrates 65 years, names award winners.

Business Openings...22-23

Digital Natives................. 4

Neil Gordon is president of Buzz on Biz, LLC and produces a daily TV segment on News 12 This Morning, a daily radio show on WRDW 1630 AM, a daily website and a weekly email business newsletter in addition to Buzz on Biz, the CSRA’s only monthly business publication.

Professional Services...31-39 Business Events............ 58 Social Buzz............... 59-63

Carl Rau’s foresight into the needs of the digital age helped him build a successful company.

Future Looks Bright......... 6

Reaching Milestones..... 32 Columbia County Chamber presents

Buzz Bits....................12,13 award winners at annual meeting.

Designing Paradise........ 14 Changing the Future..... 30 Local landscaper wins awards for helping to design an island paradise.

Finally, no one encompasses the entrepreneurial spirit and stick-to-itiveness like McKenna Hydrick, an Aiken schoolteacher and performing artist. She and her husband funded her musical career in the midst of tremendous storms with their family. Her dream of becoming a Nashville based recording artist is about to become reality. Her photo and Amanda King’s profile grace the cover of our Social Buzz section on page 59.

You may notice that this issue extends a bit beyond our normal month until March 23. This is to allow us some extra time for extended coverage of a special golf section in time for the tournament.

In the meantime, keep following your dreams!

Businessperson of the Month: Carl Rau............ 32

Augusta’s future relies on internet access for all, and teaching kids at a young age to be proficient in technology.

North Augusta Forward looks for ways to boost city’s future.

ment of her Diary of an Entreprenuer column is on page 6.

Major awards were distributed at the North Augusta Chamber 65th Annual Meeting (page 16) and at the Columbia County Chamber Business showcase and dinner (page 24). New board members with new dreams are on board in our business community.

As we are distributing this publication on February 18, the Augusta Richmond County Chamber of Commerce was talking about its 2016 plans and challenging its members at its annual affair.

On page 18 our marketing expert Mark Alison and our real estate guru Justin Anderson talk about some “what ifs” and stretch goals designed to encourage you to dream it!

Our Businessperson of the Month, Carl Rau, is part of our section of successful professional entrepreneurs. Rau has been a professional salesman for more than 20 years and has built a national support staff with the amazing growth of his digital advertising agency – right here in the CSRA.

TEDxAugusta speakers issue challenges about the present and the future.

Love and Taxes............... 34 Nashville Dreams.......... 59

Local couple is active in two of area’s big tax services.

Brand New..................... 36 Augusta University’s new identity brand represents many aspects of campus.

Local woman pursues her singing dream, prepares to release her debut album.

Filling a Need................. 59

Annual Empty Bowl event raises funds to help area’s food challenged.

Columnists Shannon Jones: Diagnosing the ‘disorder’ of serial entrepreneurism....................................6 Charles Kelly: Back up your date for now and for those to come later..................................8 Christine Hall: Customers add a lifetime of value to your business..................................... 10 Jame Geathers: A personal relationship policy can save headaches later........................ 10 Dagan Sharpe: Women manage money in most homes; here’s what to know............... 14 Gary Kauffman: Society changes over time and you business should, too...................... 16 Mark Alison: Asking ‘What If’ could make a big change in your business......................... 18 Justin Anderson: Smart retail investing can keep the cash flowing.................................... 18 Kim Romaner: Not knowing the right things can impact your selling price.................... 20 Russell Head: New 1095 form can raise questions for employees....................................... 20 Steve Swanson: Your attitude plays a key role when your boss isn’t perfect................... 26 Kelsey Morrow: Answering social media posts, good and bad, builds loyalty................ 26 Eddie Kennedy: Following a simple to-do list helps get more accomplished................. 28

Mike Herrington: What you do, how you think now shapes the future you..................... 28 Daphne Jones: Hiring the right employee takes some preparation.................................... 42 Missie Usry: Community colleges offer a more personal touch............................................ 44 Barry Paschal: First-hand look at Plant Vogtle is an eye-opening experience.................. 44 Carolyn Ramp: Positive thoughts, actions can lead to a happier life................................... 48 Carol Gignoux: Understanding self-worth can lead to choosing to be happy................ 48 Terry Childers: Drug abuse causes dangerous consequences in some jobs..................... 50 Bethany Roley/Blake Crewe: Joining a group workout boosts your motivation............. 52 Susan O’Keefe: Pepper sauce is key ingredient at DiChicko’s Peri-Peri Cafe..................... 56 Ben Casella: Soda pop-tasting beers could be the wave of the near future..................... 60 Samantha Taylor: Netflix offers lots of comedies, some funnier than others................... 60 Nora Blithe: Broken art leads to painful encounter with Super Glue.................................. 62

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

3

Augusta’s future rests with ‘digital natives’ Internet access for all seen as key need to stay competitive Native: Belonging to a person by birth or to a thing by nature; inherent.

Immigrant: An organism found in a new habitat.

By Gary Kauffman Kim Romaner would like to create a community without immigrants – but it has nothing to do with people from another country. Her vision for the future is a community filled with “digital natives” rather than “digital immigrants.”

As the above definitions indicate, a digital native would be a person who inherently knows how to use digital devices and the internet, while a digital immigrant is a person in a new, unfamiliar world. Romaner, president of Transworld Business Advisors in Augusta, believes this is important because of the way the world is changing.

“Everything is moving toward the internet and being online,” she said. “We re-

High-speed broadband internet must be seen as infrastructure, every bit as important to the community as roads and sewers. ally need to create a focus of getting kids serious access to the internet at a young age. When they’re learning to speak English they should also be learning to speak tech.”

Anyone who has seen a 2-year-old playing with a smart phone may think that is already happening, but Romaner said there is a substantial portion of the community that cannot afford internet access.

“The basic things so many of us take for granted are mysteries to a great many people,” she said.

Without the internet, even the fanciest of laptops becomes little more than an electronic piece of paper.

And without internet access, it will become increasingly hard to stay competitive – or even uncompetitive. Most states now require welfare applications be made online, via the internet.

“You can’t even be an unproductive citizen without the internet,” Romaner said.

Without access to the internet, the gap between people will continue to widen as those growing up with internet access – digital natives – move ahead while those

4 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

without – digital immigrants – fall further behind.

To that end, Romaner would like to bring Connect2Compete to the Augusta area, a program she helped successfully bring to Macon. It is a public-private collaboration between the city, internet providers and other businesses to provide every child K-12 that qualifies for the National School Lunch program with a computer and internet access.

She said that it becomes a win-win situation – kids get access to the internet they wouldn’t have had, becoming more productive citizens, creating a better workforce and moving the entire community forward.

It is important to Augusta if it wants to stay competitive with other communities.

“To stay competitive with cities our size around the world we need these skill sets inhouse,” Romaner said. “We really are competing on a global stage.”

With the U.S. Army’s Cyber Command coming to Fort Gordon, it can be easy to think of the need for digital natives to function primarily in cybersecurity and computer programming. While there is that need, and it will continue to increase in Augusta, the fact is that technology touches virtually every job.

“The simplest of jobs is pretty much computer based,” Romaner said. “Just getting an office receptionist job now you have to utilize the whole office suite. Even in manufacturing you have to know how to program the robots.”

Even the soft skills – such as how to dress, attitudes at work and getting along with coworkers – that so many employers complain are missing in the workforce can be improved with internet access.

“Once you have access to the internet you have access to the world,” Romaner said.

“You can teach yourself anything. You can even learn soft skills on the internet.”

Without the proper internet access to develop into digital natives, young people will be forced to go to areas that have technology for their schooling and employment, leaving Augusta always in need of having to import talent from the outside. Romaner believes it is much more valuable to create digital natives that will not only become the workforce for the companies already here but also will attract new companies to the area.

To do that will require some changes in the way people think.

High-speed broadband internet, she believes, must be seen as infrastructure, every bit as important to the community as roads and sewers. The education system must also change from traditional subjects to the current needs and those in the future.

“We need community champions to em-

Giving access to the internet at an early age is a key to creating digital natives.

brace this as an initiative and share that vision with others,” she said. “We can infect people with a vision.”

Romaner said that a collaboration on a program like Connect2Compete has widereaching results.

“Once you’ve done one thing together

successfully and launched it, we now know we can do other things successfully,” she said. “The biggest gift we can give to the community is to make some seriously cool things happen in multiple areas.”

For more information about Connect2Compete, visit everyoneon.org/about/c2c.

THE CSRA’S ONLY MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE The Buzz on Biz mission is to act as an inspirational tool for those in the workplace and those who are entrepreneurs, and to provide useful, practical information to increase their companies’ bottom lines.

To order a 12-month subscription mailed to your home or office, please mail a check for $36 to cover postage to the address below.

Publisher Neil R. Gordon

Photography Gary Kauffman, Melissa Gordon

Editor in Chief Gary Kauffman/803-341-5830

Writers Millie Huff, Kelsey Morrow, Amanda King, Susan O’Keefe

Sales Manager Neil R. Gordon/706-589-6727 neil.gordon@buzzon.biz Sales Janine Garropy/803-480-2800 janine.garropy@buzzon.biz Tiffany Stone/803-640-0627 tiffany.stone@buzzon.biz Design Gary Kauffman

Calendar Coordinator Kelsey Morrow kelsey.morrow@buzzon.biz Distribution Janine Garropy, Kenneth Brown, Tiffany Stone Submit Information gkauffman@buzzon.biz thegordongrouppr@comcast.net

Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and their respective institutions.

Neither Buzz on Biz LLC or its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for informational purposes only.

For more information, visit us at buzzon.biz or like us on Facebook

3740 Executive Center Drive, #300, Martinez, GA 30907

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

5

N. Augusta group changes name, keeps mission

By Kelsey Morrow Margaret Mead once wrote, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” A group of North Augustans has been proving her right, at least in their little corner of the world.

Since 1999, North Augusta Forward has been dedicated to improving four main aspects of North Augusta: economic development, arts and culture, quality of life and education. (Originally called North Augusta 2000, the group changed its name last fall.)

The group formed in order to address important issues that neither the city government nor individual citizens could effectively address.

“We work with the city and citizens to develop and implement initiatives to make North Augusta the best community that it can be,” Director Mary Anne Bigger said.

North Augusta Forward is a nonprofit organization run completely by volunteers, and, judging by a list of their accomplishments, has been busy these past 17 years.

Some of the programs that North Augusta Forward has established include: Reading Readiness, a program that fosters a love of reading in young children; Real Life 101, which teaches high school juniors and seniors important life skills that aren’t covered

in normal curriculum, ranging from registering to vote to changing a tire; the annual North Augusta Golf Classic which benefits multiple community organizations; and Leadership North Augusta, which brings business professionals of various industries together to work on projects that will benefit the community.

However, the crown jewel of North Augusta Forward’s long list of programs is the upcoming Greeneway Expansion program.

More than 20,000 people utilize the North Augusta Greeneway each month, but few end up continuing to the downtown area.

A plan to expand the Greeneway into the downtown will be especially beneficial for business owners in North Augusta’s downtown area. The expansion would lead a new influx of customers right onto the doorstep of North Augusta’s business community.

“We want downtown to be a destination,” Bigger said. “A lot of people say that the downtown is the heart of a community, and we feel that downtown North Augusta can become that.”

As research for the Greeneway expansion project, North Augusta Forward toured cities that are comparable in size to North Augusta that already utilize a trail system, such as the Swamp Rabbit Trail near Greeneville, S.C. “We wanted to see what these cities are doing that we aren’t,” Bigger said. “These

The Greeneway is one of the key projects of North Augusta Forward.

cities are comparable to North Augusta, so if it works there, it can work here.”

After significant research, North Augusta Forward presented the idea to the North Augusta city government last year, and was given the go-ahead from the city to come up with more details. Alta Planning and Design

Diary of an Entrepreneur Shannon Jones

Showing Symptoms Diagnosing the ‘disorder’ of serial entrepreneurism

My name is Shannon, I’m developing a national pet food company in Davisboro, and I’m a serial entrepreneur....

I’ve spent most of my life with all the symptoms of this condition of “serial entrepreneurism” but remained undiagnosed until early last year when Susan Caldwell, Regional Director of the UGA Small Business Development Center, gave my condition a name. Immediately after our telephone conversation, I googled this term and learned that it is a condition that has affected many others for quite some time.

After extensively researching all the websites which attempted to give the term a definition, I compiled my own list of “symptoms” that I’d been experiencing. Perhaps you have also spent years asking yourself, “What is wrong with

6 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

me?” “Why am I never satisfied with being ‘normal’?” “Why can’t I just have a ‘real job’ and be content?”

Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing shameful about being grounded and focused enough to choose a career path or job and being satisfied with remaining there until retirement. In fact, I admire people that can, but serial entrepreneurs will never be able to accomplish this feat as the symptoms of their condition will always resurface, and for this condition, there is no known cure.

Are you experiencing the symptoms of serial entrepreneurism?

You might be a serial entrepreneur if you…

• Go on vacation and start 10 new businesses for your vacation spot in your head within the first hour.

• Are ADD and restless (“Squirrel!”), never satisfied with the norm and always looking for ways to expand an existing business or for ideas to start a new one.

• Are annoyingly optimistic, almost to a fault.

• Are driven by the challenge and not merely the monetary rewards.

• Never stop learning. People with this condition have an insatiable appetite for knowledge and new ideas, and they usually surround themselves with people who are smarter than they are.

• Possess an over the top work ethic.

was then brought in to develop a detailed plan of how to best utilize the city’s existing alleyway system. The plan will be brought before the city later this year.

A video demonstrating the proposed expansion is available on North Augusta Forward’s website, northaugustaforward.org.

This one is a key symptom. For instance, if you are not willing to sacrifice sleep for a couple of days to fill an order or to exceed a customer’s expectations, then you probably are not a serial entrepreneur.

Having the ability to press through sleep deprivation or those times when every muscle in your body is screaming at you to quit is essential, and this ability is the very thing that takes a new business from merely a dream to a reality.

• Hear background stories of founders of multi-million dollar companies and think, “If they can do it, so can I!” I’m addicted to TV shows such as Undercover Boss and The Profit, especially the segments that reveal how these entrepreneurs got started.

It’s fascinating to me how many people have come to this country with a few dollars in their pockets in search of the “American Dream” and have realized it through perseverance and hard work or Americans who grew up with nothing, but were not satisfied until they achieved their goals. Wow. • Never give up in spite of the “naysayers” who tell you that your dream is crazy, the “normal” people who just don’t understand you, or the “haters” who are envious of your successes but are not willing to do what you did to achieve them.

• View failures as stepping stones.

This quote by Neil Patel, co-founder of Kiss-Metrics, says it best, “You will fail

in countless ways, but for serial entrepreneurs, each failure is one more lesson on the way to getting it right.” Oh my, do I ever have this one in the bag, and throughout the coming months, I will be sharing with you the many lessons I’ve learned (and am still learning) from my failures.

I possess all these symptoms, and I do indeed suffer from chronic serial entrepreneurism, but perhaps this condition is not a condition at all.

Could it be that although I am often an outcast and do not fit into the “normal” box, I just may be discovering my purpose and higher calling on this planet through my ability to dream and my passion to help others along the way? Could it be that God just made me this way, and there’s nothing wrong with me after all? My choice is to embrace this idea and wear the label proudly.

My name is Shannon, and I’m a serial entrepreneur…

Shannon Jones of Davisboro has held positions in real estate and insurance, banking, restaurant management, non-profit development, public relations and marketing, as well as entrepreneurial endeavors in retail, insurance, concierge services and event planning. In early 2015, she founded Southern Pawz Petz LLC, a Southern pet treat and gift company that promotes locally sourced ingredients and artisans. For more info, email info@ southernpawz.com or visit southernpawz.com.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

7

Business Tech Charles Kelly

History Lesson

Back up your data for now and for those to come later

I have tried to get this point across to customers for 25 years and I have probably said it 10,000 times, but invariably the point has been missed, so I would like to illustrate the issue with a true story.

If you are familiar with me, you may know that my father, Major Charles Kelly, was commander of the 57th Medical Detachment in Vietnam. He set the standards for medical evacuation of the wounded by helicopter early in the war, which carried not only throughout the Vietnam War, but stand today.

On July 1, 1964 he attempted the rescue of a wounded American advisor in the Vin Long Province. As he approached for landing, he had been told to leave because the area was hot and enemy fire was detected. He replied as he had many times before, “I’ll leave when I have your wounded.”

A few moments later, a sniper’s bullet came through the open cargo door, striking him just below his left arm, piercing his heart, killing him instantly. The helicopter pitched to the right and crashed, but no one else was injured. If you Google Major Charles Kelly you can learn much more and, in fact, I am working on a book, but this will take some time. We also have the documentary that was commissioned by the U.S. Army Medical Service Corps History Unit available at our stores, entitled “When I Have Your Wounded, The Dustoff Legacy.”

This story leads me to the topic at hand.

My father was killed when I was not yet 4 years old, so for me to write a book means that I have relied on his fellow soldiers, which I have done, but also on his personal

thoughts, which were written in diaries and letters. I have also been able to rely on oral histories provided by Vietnam veterans that have been archived across the web. In fact, the day I wrote this article I had a discussion with Leon Smith, a Vietnam veteran who pointed me to a medevac history that I had never read before.

Over the years, as I inherited a box of artifacts, I came upon dozens of reelto-reel recordings but never had the time to do anything about them. Last year, I attempted repair of the recorder, but finally gave up and ordered one from e-bay. I had no idea what was on the tapes as they were not labeled, but I felt sure that I needed the contents. I assigned the work to a technician and a couple of weeks ago, I had the product of that tape to digital conversion on a tiny flash drive.

I listened to that audio one day while I was alone and heard a strange voice, one I did not recognize, talking to a young girl, then another. I realized that it was my father and he was talking to my sisters, Barbara and Carol Kelly. I did not know the year, but then I heard a voice say “Charlie Brown! Do you like helicopters?” I heard a small child say, “Yes. I do.”

It was my father and he was talking to me! I had heard his voice as a child but did not remember it and there it was, coming out of my computer, a recording of my father over a half century old.

I say all that to point out that if it were not for the fact that I had a physical object that seemed to want to be recovered, I may well have missed those words forever. Fifty years is a long time. Now that we live in the digital age, we record pictures, video and audio without a thought, but in 50 years, will your children be able to find those digital recordings?

It’s all data and digital data is the most fragile of all.

I can pull out an enormous box of pictures from my closet, but they are all from the ‘90s, double Kodak prints

Maj. Charles Kelly and the Dustoff medevac helicopter. Photo contributed

from Eckerd’s mostly. One hundred years from now, my grandchildren’s children can go through them if they want to, but what about the digital?

Where will they find the data from 20 smart phones? Who will sift through it all – and if it’s on the cloud, who will have the password to our digital past? Maybe Facebook will become the scrapbook of our lives...maybe, but maybe not.

Back up your data for your business because hardware failure, intentional destruction and viruses – the moth and rust of the digital age – are always at your door. Back up your pictures, your writings, your scanned images of your heritage and your home videos, because someone will want to know what your voice sounded like – someone will want to know what you looked like as a teenager and as an adult.

Someone will also want to read the soldier’s last letter home that comes with the folded flag of America. I have my father’s last letter and I preserve it and share it with my family and those who may care to know what he had to say about the Vietnam war, he who car-

ried the wounded not only as a combat medic in WWII, but in Huey helicopters known as Dustoff all over Vietnam from one end of the country to the other until his very last breath.

Back up your data, because you spend time and effort on it and that data may contain a treasure of immense value to someone who perhaps never got to know you. Back it up with the gold standard of backups, but don’t let a changing standard get in the way of the fact that any backup is better than no backup at all.

It may not be important to everyone, but will be important to someone, somewhere, sometime. Back it up for your business, for your children, for your future great-great-grandchildren and anyone else that might care to know what you were up to in your life.

Charles Kelly is President of Computer Exchange, with four locations in the CSRA: South Augusta, North Augusta, Martinez and Grovetown. Computer Exchange specializes in computer solutions for home and business. For answers to your computer questions, email him at charles@computerexchange.com.

Digital marketing boot camp coming to Augusta Figuring out how to reach customers in the digital age can be intimidating for new entrepreneurs and fledgling small businesses. The University of Georgia is helping business owners learn how to navigate social media to their advantage.

Digital Marketing Boot Camps, offered at locations throughout the state by the UGA Small Business Development Center, are daylong sessions that educate small business owners on everything from social media tools like Facebook and Instagram to search engine optimization to compiling a comprehensive digital strategy.

The Digital Marketing Boot Camp will be held in Augusta on March 9.

8 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

“(Digital) is part of marketing today,” said Debbie Finney, director of the UGA SBDC office in Albany. “It doesn’t mean that marketing has changed. What we found is everybody knows digital marketing is important but they don’t have the tools or skills to implement a complete strategy.”

SBDC employees were already doing training in this area when representatives of the Georgia Technology Authority asked them to create a daylong program.

The GTA funds the sessions, which are taught by Finney and two other area directors: Kyle Hensel from the UGA SBDC office in Savannah and Drew Tonsmeire from the UGA SBDC office at Kennesaw

State University.

It’s a timely and crucial topic for small businesses today, Finney said.

“I would gather that across the country everybody is just trying to get a handle on how they reach their customers,” Finney said. “You can’t ignore it. You have to have a digital strategy.”

The class has evolved since it began about two years ago. As new tools and services become available in the digital world, the instructors have to adapt. Someone who has already attended a session would find value in taking the course again a year later, Finney said.

A lecture on Facebook has been so

popular that the instructors have made that open to the entire class instead of as a breakout session for small groups.

Phillip Cofer, who runs Total Technology Solutions in Athens, said the course helped him identify which tools work best for his audience. He plans to invest more time and money on his website and search engine optimization.

“Digital marketing is constantly evolving and coming from an IT company, it’s a moving target,” Cofer said. “You just have to stay on top of it. That’s why I was glad to see this seminar come up.”

More information is available at georgiasbdc.org/digital-marketing-bootcamp.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

9

Business Accounting Christine Hall

Most Valuable Player

Customers add a lifetime of value to your business

Quick! What is your most valuable business asset?

If you are like most business people, your mind might quickly fly over your balance sheet. Is it your equipment?

Is it your location? Is it your accounts receivable?

For most businesses, the most valuable business asset isn’t on the balance sheet. It’s their customer list. And those businesses for which this isn’t the most valuable business asset should change their orientation to make it so.

The hardest, most expensive sale we ever make to a customer is the first one. In that first critical transaction we

earn or lose the trust of the customer.

Once we have the trust of the customer, we open the door to many more sales and to referrals, which most of us agree are the very best new customers to get.

Many businesses frantically work at bringing in new customers while they neglect developing the “acre of diamonds” at their doorstep represented by their customer list.

The lifetime value of a customer is a measure of the value of the customer to your business. It is the potential contribution of the customer to your business over a period of time. When you know the lifetime value of a customer, you have a benchmark for how much you would or should be willing to invest to acquire a customer.

When you evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing, instead of focusing on the response ratio (how many responded compared to messages delivered), you should focus on the return received (number of customers times lifetime value) for the investment made (campaign cost). Suddenly you find you can justify a much greater promotion investment when you look at your returns in this way, and this provides the engine for significant business growth.

Chances are your competitors are

The lifetime value of a customer is a measure of the value of the customer to your business. too cheap to make the necessary investment, and this can give you a competitive advantage.

How can you quantify the “lifetime value of a customer?”

Estimate the profit for the transactions you expect to have with the customer over the period you expect to do business with him or her. If this is an unknown long term, use five years. You should collect statistics of the transactions done with customers and how long you keep customers. Also, factor in the benefit for referrals from your customers.

Here’s an example: At a computer software store, customers make average purchases each year of $500. The average gross profit is 30 percent. Most customers do business with the store for five years. One out of three customers refer a new customer.

Average purchases: $500 Years: X 5 Total purchases: $2,500 Gross profit %: X 0.30

Business Resources Jame Geathers

A personal relationship policy can save headaches later

10 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

however, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Creating such policies puts employees on notice of the expectations and requirements if they choose to engage in such relationships. As with any other policy, the employee can choose to follow the policy or seek employment elsewhere.

In order to successfully implement

Hall, Murphy & Schuyler, PC is a full-service public accounting firm. They have a staff of experienced professionals that stand ready to meet all of your accounting, tax and general business needs.

For a complimentary consultation, call 706-8557733 or email at cmh@HMandScpas.com.

consensual relationships. This will ensure that all parties involved – the couple and the company – are on the same page. Additionally, you may want to include a guideline prohibiting management/subordinate relationships. Regardless of whether half of the couple is the other partner’s direct supervisor or another member of management, that can lead to the appearance of favoritism and wreak havoc on office morale.

Once your policy is in place it is extremely important that every member of your team is trained on the new policy. After all, if they are not advised of and acknowledge in writing that they understand the policy, it’s worthless.

Having it documented in every existing and new employee file will ensure that you have covered all your bases.

If you need additional assistance creating personal relationship and other policies, please contact us!

First Comes Love...

The season of love, also known as Valentine’s Day, has arrived! With romance in the air it may be difficult for some of your employees to make levelheaded decisions regarding office romance.

With the whirlwind of flower and chocolate deliveries, romance may be in the air, but hot and heavy February can lead to sexual harassment May. What starts as an office romance could end in disaster for your company if sexual harassment and personal relationship policies are not in place.

As a small business owner, it is extremely important that you and your business are protected from the poor judgment of others. It may seem that implementing personal relationship policies will encourage employee fraternization;

Total gross profit: $750 Add 1/3 gross profit for referrals: $250 Total lifetime value: $1,000 If this business invested $1,000 to get a new customer, it would “break even.”

Obviously the business wants to make a profit, but now it has a benchmark to work on based on its own situation. Also, advertising and promotion now represent an investment on which a return can be measured, instead of just an overhead expense.

Try applying this lifetime value approach in your business as a growth strategy. A small business owner can sometimes learn much more about their business when analyzing formulas like this one than they were searching for!

a personal relationship policy, you first want to consider the culture of your organization. Is it more conservative?

Do you have a moral clause in your employee contracts? What is your organizational structure? These are just a few things you will want to consider.

To get in front of any future claims of sexual harassment, you may also want to include mandatory disclosure of

Jame Geathers is a Human Resources and Operations Professional with more than 12 years of experience in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Jame has spent her career building and supporting HR infrastructures that have provided her employers and clients with the structure and policies that all start-ups need but owners may not have time to create and implement. For more information please visit the Jame Geathers Consulting website, www.jamegeathers.com or call (706) 496-9691.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

11

Applications being taken for Top 10 in 10 The Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Augusta Magazine is now accepting applications for the 2016 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch award.

This award honors 10 accomplished rising business professionals between the ages of 25 and 35 who have a clear vision of where they will be in 10 years.

The winners are selected based on their professional goals, their significant past achievements, previous awards and their volunteer/community activities.

Applications are due by April 1.

Each winner will receive: A biographical feature article in the June 2016 issue of Augusta Magazine, a submitted nomination for Georgia Trend Magazine’s 2016 Top 40 under 40 Award, and recognition and an award at the June Augusta Metro Chamber Member Economic Luncheon.

Nominations must include a resume, letters of recommendation and documents that support the information provided.

Applications are available on the Chamber’s website at AugustaMetroChamber.com.

AGS sets record for passengers A record number of passengers flew in and out of Augusta Regional Airport in 2015.

The airport announced that 552,774 passengers traveled through the airport last year, 821 more than the previous record in 2012. Overall, airport traffic increased 3.5 percent over 2014, and by 100 percent since 2006.

According to the airport, the increase in passengers has been due to the additions of main line service from Delta, low fares set by the airlines for Augusta and the reliable service they provide.

“As the CSRA continues to support their local regional airport, Augusta can expect to see more direct service opportunities in the future,” said Gary LeTellier, AGS’s Interim Executive Director. “With fares remaining extremely competitive and continuous strong reliability, AGS looks forward to continued growth for 2016.”

buzz bits

Columbia Co. Chamber passes milestone

The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce has surpassed a milestone – 1,000 members.

Signarama was the 1,000th member, joining the chamber on Dec. 31, 2015. Later that day, Riverwatch Cinemas joined, pushing the membership to 1,001.

A total of 204 new members joined the chamber in 2015, an 8 percent increase over 2014. In the past two years, 393 members joined the chamber.

Not only are new members joining, they are also staying in the chamber. The retention rate was 87 percent.

NA department name change reflects rise in tourism

Reflecting its trend toward drawing more tourists to the area, a North Augusta department has made a slight name change.

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services will now be known as the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, or NAPRT. The change reflects the growing number of visitors coming to the area, especially for the Nike Peach Jam events that have become the second-largest tourist draw in the CSRA, behind only The Masters. With the addition of baseball at the Project Jackson site and the pending development of a water park on the north side, tourism could grow even more.

The change also reflects the statewide and local trend. Tourism is the top industry in South Carolina, and Aiken has already changed to a parks, recreation and tourism department.

Augusta Tech, GMC, sign agreement

It took just a few seconds and a few strokes of a pen to finalize a local education plan that had been more than three years in the making.

The plan, called an articula-

12 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

Tennis legend speaking at local Boy Scout fundraiser Tennis legend Jimmy Connors will be in Augusta on March 3 as part of a fund raiser for the Georgia-Carolina Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

The annual Friends of Scouting event will be held at 6:15 p.m. March 3 at The Legends Club. Tickets are available at gacacouncil.org.

Premium tickets include an autograph and a personal photo with Connors.

Connors won 82 percent of his singles matches in his career, and was ranked No. tion or transfer agreement, will allow graduating students from Augusta Technical College to transfer to Georgia Military College to continue their education toward a bachelor degree. Retired General Bill Caldwell, now president of Georgia Military College, and Augusta Technical College President Terry Elam signed the agreement.

Currently, students at either GMC or Augusta Tech can receive an Associate of Applied Science, but the new agreement allows them to qualify to receive a Bachelor of Applied Science degree.

“Six students are already enrolled in the next semester,” said GMC Executive Director Shana Reid.

She said the program is being piloted at GMC Augusta campus but could be made available to some of the other 12 GMC campuses that qualify.

Those six transferring Augusta Tech students have already done their concentration of major oriented classes and will finish their bachelor degree studies at GMC Augusta by taking core classes and, in some cases, upper level management classes, based upon their major.

Interested students should contact GMC at 706-993-1123.

Georgia middle of the pack in innovation When it comes to innovation, Georgia is just about average.

According to a Bloomberg report that ranked the most

1 in the world in from 1974 to 1978. He won five championships in the U.S. Open, two at Wimbledon and one in the Australian Open. After his playing days, he coached Andy Roddick for several years and briefly coached Maria Sharapova. innovative states in the nation, Georgia came in 26th. Massachusetts was at the top of the list and Mississippi at the bottom.

Bloomberg ranked six categories. Georgia’s best category was High-tech density, where it ranked 20th. It ranked 23rd in Productivity and Patent activity; 26th in STEM concentration; 30th in Science and engineering degrees and 34th in R&D intensity.

Aiken designer wins second straight award

For the second consecutive year, Bespoke Fine Interiors of Aiken has been awarded “Best Of Houzz” for Customer Service by Houzz Inc., the world’s leading platform for home remodeling and design.

Bespoke Fine Interiors was chosen by the more than 35 million users that comprise the Houzz community. More than 500,000 top-rated international home building, remodeling and design industry professionals are members of Houzz Inc. Only 3 percent of professionals on Houzz win this award.

“I am so pleased that we were chosen for the ‘Best of Houzz’ award for two years in a row,” said Catherine Hersacher, owner and designer of Bespoke Fine Interiors. “It is an honor.

The award also reflects how hard my staff and I work to keep our clients satisfied. We are super excited for 2016 to build on the successes we’ve had in

2014 and 2015. I’m extremely happy to be a small business on the move!”

Hersacher added that Bespoke Fine Interiors has expanded its services to support the commercial and hospitality interior design markets. Hersacher and her staff have over 50 years of combined interior design experience.

In keeping with the Bespoke’s tagline, “Custom by Definition,” Hersacher believes that the goal of any successful design project is to make the project uniquely custom to fit the client. Whether it is a residential or commercial project, the interiors should enhance the individuality of the people within. Bespoke Fine Interiors offers a variety of services, from two-hour consultations to full-service, ground-up design for new construction.

Augusta employment stays the same The Georgia Department of Labor announced that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate for December was 5.7 percent, unchanged from 5.7 percent in November. The rate in December 2014 was 6.6 percent.

At 5.7 percent, Augusta’s rate is at its lowest point since May 2008 when it was 5.6 percent.

While the rate was unchanged, employers created 800 more jobs. The number of jobs increased to 232,600, or 0.4 percent, from 231,800 in November. Most of the increase came in professional and business services and retail trade.

Over the year, Augusta gained 3,200 jobs, for a growth rate of 1.4 percent, up from 229,400 in December 2014. Most of the job gains came in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, local government, and trade, transportation and warehousing.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 1,339, or 110.5 percent, to 2,551 in December. Most of the increase came in manufacturing, administrative and support services and accommodations and food services. And, over the year, claims were up by 178, or 7.5 percent, from 2,373 in December 2014.

Dan Blanton honored by Georgia House Dan Blanton, CEO of Georgia Bank & Trust and chairman of the American Bankers Association, was honored on Feb. 5 for his leadership in the banking industry.

The Georgia House of Representatives passed a resolution, HR 1073, to honor Blanton. The bill was sponsored by Representatives Barbara Sims of Augusta, Greg Morris of Vidalia, and Charles “Chuck” Williams of Watkinsville.

The resolution cites Blanton for his leadership of the American Bankers Association recognizing the vital role he has played in the leadership of the banking industry. It also underscores his deep personal commitment to the betterment of his communitya and the state.

Blanton has advocated extensively for the growth, development, and necessity of local financial institutions. He has spoken before various congressional committees on the need for regulatory relief, emphasizing the important role banks play in their communities. He previously served as Chairman of the Georgia Bankers Association and on the FDIC Advisory Committee on Community Banking, where he provided guidance on policy issues affecting community banks across the country.

TAG forms cybersecurity association

Cybersecurity is at the forefront of most companies in this area and the nation as the number of attacks increase. To help reverse this trend and make cybersecurity more effective for all, the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG) is forming a trade association called the National Technology Security Coalition.

Headquartered in Atlanta, the purpose of the National Technology Security Coalition is to form a coalition of information security stakeholders to reverse the accelerating pace of digital or physical disruption to information systems.

NTSC will be working to

buzz bits

promote policies and legislation about information security, holding networking forums and delivering professional development programs.

The concern for improved cybersecurity is real. In PwC’s 2016 Global State of Information Security Survey, it reported that “the number of detected disruptions increased by 38 percent from 2014 to 2015. In most security breaches, employees’ information was the top source of compromise.”

Given the proliferation of smartphones and emergence of cloud-based technology, hackers can increasingly access detailed user data. Unfortunately, individuals are unaware that they are leaving a trail of data, permitting hackers to steal individuals’ private and sensitive data information such as credit card numbers, banking account numbers, and Social Security numbers.

President and CEO of the Technology Association of Georgia, Tino Mantella said NTSC will not only further the national dialogue on information security, but also position Georgia to further gain national prominence in this burgeoning cybersecurity market.

Hull business college named among nation’s best The James M. Hull College of Business at Augusta University is one of the nation’s top business schools, according to The Princeton Review’s 2016 edition of The Best 295 Business Schools.

The Princeton Review selected its top business schools based on an assessment of academic programs and offerings, a review of institutional data, and a survey of 22,000 students.

“We are very pleased that The Princeton Review has again recognized our outstanding academic programs,” said Mark Thompson, Interim Dean of the Hull College of

Business. “Our faculty and staff are deeply committed to quality programming and the academic and career success of our students. This prestigious recognition affirms that commitment.”

The publication also highlights students’ opinions on each ranked school. Augusta University students report that Hull College provides “sol-

to 1501 Aviation Way, Augusta, GA 30906, Attn: Lauren Smith.

The deadline is March 4. Any audition submitted without the performance application will not be considered for evaluation.

AGS will also be participating in the Georgia Tourisms’ The Year of Georgia Music campaign. This campaign is designed to showcase and expand music tourism in the state.

mascot, on-field assistants, ushers, digital Message Board Operators, Concessions Stand Cooks and Cashiers, Servers, Bat Boys, Fun Zone attendants and ticket takers, along with several other positions. All applicants must be at least 16 years of age or older.

For more information visit GreenJacketsbaseball.com or call (706) 922-WINS (9467).

The Augusta GreenJackets will be holding their annual Job Fair at Lake Olmstead Stadium on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 9 a.m.noon.

The team is searching for individuals who are fan friendly, outgoing and hardworking to join the GreenJackets Game day staff for the 2016 baseball season.

“The Augusta GreenJackets value our fans game day experience here at Lake Olmstead Stadium,” said Tom Denlinger, GreenJackets General Manager. “From the moment fans enter the gates, our game day staff makes an immediate impact on offering our fans a memorable experience all season long.”

Part-time positions include retail cashiers, parking attendants,

charities in the area.

In November, Floyd & Green celebrated its annual Night of Giving Back. During the event, customers who make purchases are able to donate 10 percent of their purchase to the charity of their choice.

Owners Steve Floyd and Tom Williams are believers in giving back to their community. Floyd & Green Jewelers attributes much of its success to the local community in Aiken.

“About 95 percent of our business comes from the Aiken community. We are so grateful for this support, and we are always trying to give back as much as we can,” Williams said.

On Feb. 9, Floyd & Green gathered all the charities chosen by community members

Jewelers give Augusta airport GreenJackets back to the seeks muscians host annual job community for Spring Fest fair for summer On Feb. 9, Floyd & Green JewAugusta Regional Airport elers in Aiken donated money stadium help (AGS) is searching for musicians collected last fall to a number of and singers from the CSRA to perform during for AGS’s Fourth Annual Spring Music Fest during Masters Week.

The first full week of April is one of the busiest weeks at AGS, creating an opportunity for local musicians to showcase their talent in front of thousands of people.

Auditions will be evaluated by the AGS Art Committee.

All artists selected to perform during the Spring Music Fest will be notified by phone to schedule a performance date and time. All performers will be paid for their performance at a set hourly rate.

The application for Spring Fest is available online at flyags. com/airportdownloadabledocuments and should be returned

id preparation” in accounting and management and say that the school boasts strengths in economics, finance, accounting, and “certain quantitativebased courses such as market research.”

“The schools we selected for these guides all offer academically outstanding degrees: we recommend them highly,” said Robert Franek, The Princeton Review Senior Vice President and Publisher.

The Princeton Review does not rank the business schools in the book on a single hierarchical list from 1 to 295 or name one business school best overall. to receive their donations. The charities include: ACTS, Aiken Center for the Arts, Aiken Civic Ballet, Aiken County Public Schools, Aiken County Habitat for Humanity, Aiken Wounded Warriors, Brenda’s Angels, Carolina Greys Greyhound Adoption, Inc., Children’s Place, Cumbee Center to Assist Abused Persons, FOTAS, Helping Hands, Life Choices Pregnancy Center, Mead Hall School, Multiple Sclerosis, Savannah River Cancer Foundation, SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare, St. John’s Methodist Church, Stepping Stones Outreach Ministries, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, Washington State University, and Young Life of Aiken.

“We are honored, surprised and delighted that Aiken Civic Ballet was thought of,” said Diane Miller, Artistic Director at Aiken Civic Ballet. “We’re so grateful that people would want to donate. This money will help with costumes and production costs for children in the company ages 13 to 18.”

“We set aside a budget to tithe, and we also give a lot of our time to non-profit organizations,” Floyd said. “We truly believe to whom much is given much is expected. I am fortunate to have a business partner who feels the same way.”

Floyd and Green, located at 515 Silver Bluff Road, has been serving the community since 1992.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

13

Business Finances Dagan Sharpe

Feminine Finances Women manage money in most homes; here’s what to know I have a sincere passion to help families understand their finances and how it impacts their lives. Having been raised primarily by a single working mother, I remember the many sacrifices she made to care for my and my sister’s needs. I also remember how our lack of financial literacy only compounded our family’s struggles.

Conversely, I personally experienced how increasing our “financial IQ” directly improved our overall quality of life.

Various studies validate that many Americans struggle with even the most basic financial stewardship princi-

pals. For example, a recent survey in the Wall Street Journal highlighted that only 22 percent of women could answer three basic financial literacy questions. By comparison, only 40 percent of the men surveyed could answer correctly. Studies reveal, however, that women manage the finances in nearly 80 percent of American households.

Therefore, there is obviously a tremendous opportunity in helping women empower their financial IQs for the purpose of strengthening the financial welfare of many families. The first step requires awareness to both the obstacles and opportunities they face. Here are some of the unique ways women are impacted financially and how to better prepare for long-term financial success: Caretakers – Women are more likely to serve as the primary caretakers for their children and/or aging parents and relatives. As a result, they have fewer income-earning years, which makes it paramount to maximize any income they have.

Advanced Medical Costs – Women typically have higher medical costs due to pregnancy and other potential follow up expenses. Thus, more money is spent and is necessary to support these

expenditures.

Risk Tolerance and Representation Sensitivity – The financial industry is still largely dominated by men, which results in many financial relationships being customized for and by men.

While this is changing rapidly, it leaves women vulnerable. Many women either opt out of making financial decisions, are ignored in the decision making process, or experience increased anxiety and reservation when making financial decisions. Financial literacy and engagement with women in this area is critical so they can make informed decisions.

Extended Life Spans – Women have longer life expectancies than men, and are therefore more likely to run out of money when it’s needed most. To protect these “golden years,” sound financial planning and protections strategies are crucial.

Four Steps – Fortunately, even though these financial issues are numerous and broad, their solution is manageable through education and execution. Here are four simple strategies to help get you started.

First, take time to analyze your specific risks and goals. For example, when do you want to retire and what risks do

you face in accomplishing that goal?

Second, establish relationships and consultation from sources you trust.

Often these include a banker, investment advisor, CPA, attorney and/or trust officer. If you don’t know any, finding them is a great first step to take, but again, make sure you build your team with people you trust.

Third, and most importantly, take action on the strategies you develop.

Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “Most people don’t plan to fail, but fail to plan.”

Fourth, begin an emergency savings plan. Ideally, this should consist at a minimum of three to six months living expenses. Make sure you establish a will and that it includes a medical directive in case you get injured or impaired.

These basic tools can help you begin laying a foundation to establishing a more secure financial future.

Dagan Sharpe is Senior Vice President of Queensborough National Bank & Trust. He previously served as National Director for Wells Fargo’s Wealth Management division. He is the author of a stewardship book, Bank On It. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Augusta. He is a deacon at Warren Baptist Church. Contact him at dsharpe@qnbtrust.com.

Local landscaper helps design island paradise Receives two prestigious awards An Evans landscaper joined a former college classmate to create a tropical island paradise that recently won two prestigious awards.

Derek Vanover of LanDraft Landscape Studios in Evans teamed with former University of Georgia classmate Malcolm Miller of Land Form Design Group in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to work on a multi-year project in the Bahamas that won the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association’s Environmentally Sustainable Landscape Award and the Roy Rood Award for the Top Landscape Design.

The project took place on a private island in the Exumas region of the Bahamas known as Over Yonder Key. The team had its work cut out for it, arriving right after a hurricane had hit the area.

“We taxied into the marina on a 24-foot center-console fishing boat, to assess the damage from the recent hurricane just days before,” Vanover said. “There was debris atop debris and task one was to preserve any existing palms and trees. I was a little nervous. As an arborist, I have dealt with many storms handling the pruning, removing and preserving of the trees in the aftermath; but this situation, with the salt from the ocean spray and the high winds, proved a unique challenge. Needless to say, once we touched

14 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

ground, it was nonstop.”

The severe weather and lack of fresh water proved to be the key challenge in the design for long term survivability and plant selection.

The team had full responsibilities of all the landscape design, installation crews, land planning and organizing supplies.

They used natural and native plant materials from the island region and Florida in the project. In addition, all of the retaining walls were built from natural stone harvested by hand from the island surroundings.

In addition, this 72-acre island is working towards 100 percent renewable energy via wind turbines and solar panels.

It was this constant focus on maintaining an environmentally respectful landscape design that the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association recognized in 2015 when they awarded the four man team with the Award for Environmentally Sustainable Landscape.

Winning the Environmentally Sustainable Site Award put the team members in the competition for the “Florida Friendly Award” for best use of natural and native materials. After taking this second honor, they landed the prestigious Roy Rood Award for the Top Landscape Design and Installation project, beating out designs

from several other categories, including DisneyWorld and the Jacksonville Zoo. “To be considered for these awards was amazing but then to actually win was a little surreal,” Vanover said. “We were having our pictures taken for the first award when they announced the Florida Friendly Award. We didn’t realize they were talking about us. We were still excited from the initial acknowledgments from the Sustainability Award when the Chairman announced our project for the Roy Rood Award as the Overall Landscape Design/Installation project, we were floored. We were up against the

big boys of the landscape industry for this award, and we never expected to take the top honors!”

In addition to Vanover and Miller, the landscape team included two more friends, David Coleman of Swainsboro, Ga., and Darrel Mund of Homestead, Fla. “It was nice for Malcolm to invite me in on such an exciting, innovative landscape project,” Vanover said. “Though we lived our job 24 hours a day, I can think of worse sites than a tropical island to be working.

Honestly, it was a huge challenge the whole way, from ensuring supplies arrived from the mainland in a timely manner to incorporating the natural landscape into our design.”

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

15

Business Lessons Gary Kauffman

Buggy Whipped

Society changes over time and your business should, too There are stories, perhaps apocryphal, that in the early 1900s as most of the world was buying Henry Ford’s Model Ts, a few horse-and-buggy salesmen continued to push their products. They were sure that they could still make a living with their outdated mode of transportation. They refused to change with the times.

I once faced a similar dilemma in my business.

When I started my own marketing/advertising business nearly 20 years ago, I soon found a niche among the growing number of Amish businesses in northern Indiana. One of the things I sort of lucked into was creating a Directory of Amish Businesses – essentially a catalog of ads promoting the Amish businesses.

This was a boon for both of us – it created a good stream of revenue for me and got some much-needed exposure for the small Amish businesses, most of them involving fewer than five employees. I added maps of the area in the back (since most of the businesses were located at their homes in rural areas), wrote a few articles about the Amish and the Amish businesses and added photos of typical Amish scenes. The endeavor was a great success.

Until it wasn’t.

After five or six years, advertising began to dwindle and I began to hear complaints. The wholesalers complained that the directory benefited mostly the retail businesses. The retailers complained that it benefited mostly the wholesale industry. The woodworkers complained that it benefited mostly the other types of businesses. The other businesses complained that it mostly benefited the woodworkers.

Obviously, they couldn’t all be right.

Or could they?

All of the complaints caused me to suspend my ad sales for a month to take time to rethink things. What I realized is that my customers’ needs had evolved.

At first, the important thing for all the Amish businesses was to get the word out that there were businesses in the Amish community. It didn’t matter what their particular niche was – woodworking, wholesale, retail or other. People just needed to know about them.

But as the years passed, and they developed strong customer bases and had defined their audience, their needs changed. They wanted to reach specific people, not just the public in general.

I had a choice to make – I could plow full speed ahead and try to convince advertisers that my horse-and-buggy concept could continue as it was, or I could re-invent my concept.

I chose the latter. I divided the directory into four smaller directories that targeted the specific needs of my advertisers. Suddenly the flagging ad sales swelled again. I picked up new advertisers and was able to maintain the level of income I had had with just one directory – but with happier customers.

Some of my woodworking clients faced similar crossroads. The styles that had sold so well for them in 1998 were no longer fashionable in 2012. Most adapted by creating a wide range of styles to suit every taste. But a few were hardheaded, claiming they’d always done well with that style and would continue to make it, no matter what.

You may find yourself at a similar crossroads. The product or service that once was such a hot commodity for you may be growing lukewarm. Before it turns to ice, step back and consider how you can modify your product or service, or even your business, to meet your customers’ needs. Listen to what they have to say not as complaints but as advice.

If you find yourself in the middle of booming sales, with a red hot product

or service, take some time to realize that it won’t always be this hot. There will come a time, maybe in a few years or maybe a few months, when things grow colder. Thinking ahead now will help you adapt more easily when the inevitable slowdown occurs.

The point is, adapt with the times and the needs and desires of your customers. Even the Amish realize you can’t rely on horse-and-buggy concepts in the modern world.

Gary Kauffman is Editor in Chief of Buzz on Biz and manages the content for print and web publications. A native of Indiana, he has made made the CSRA home for more than two years.

Prior to moving here, he ran his own graphic design/advertising business for 17 years where he worked with many small businesses. You can reach him at gkauffman@buzzon.biz.

Quality Printing named NA Business of the Year A company that has been in business for more than half-a-century was named North Augusta’s Small Business of the Year at the annual Chamber of Commerce meeting on Feb. 12.

The meeting was special beyond the typical annual meeting. It marked the North Augusta Chamber’s 65th year in existence.

The Diamond Celebration was attended by a sold-out crowd of more than 300.

The Chamber presented three awards: Small Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year and Ambassador of the Year.

Quality Printing & Graphics, which has been in business for more than 51 years, was presented the award for 2015 Small Business of the Year.

The local printer is family owned and operated, and their workforce currently encompasses three generations of the Lunsford family. They are well-known for their exemplary customer service and attention to detail. The business is also a contributor to several non-profit organizations, as well as

16 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

an avid supporter of other local small businesses. It also supports the North Augusta Chamber, stating that what the Chamber offers for the community is immeasurable, and that their support of the Chamber’s efforts in turn supports the efforts of all local North Augusta businesses.

Linda Smiley was presented the award for 2015 Citizen of the Year. Smiley has been a part of the community for more than 40 years and utilized both personal and profes-

sional skills to improve the community. She has made invaluable contributions to the North Augusta community, both economically and culturally.

Smiley has helped raise more than $100,000 in scholarship money for students in North Augusta through her participation with the Beta Sigma Phi Tour of Homes, as well as through paying dues for members of Girls State representatives who are unable to pay.

Smiley spends countless hours volunteering at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center and participates in monthly birthday parties given for the veterans. She has assumed many leadership roles in her participation in the American Legion Auxiliary Jesse C. Lynch Memorial Unit 71 in North Augusta, as well as roles at state and national levels.

Russell Fernandes was presented the award for 2015 Ambassador of the Year.

The Ambassador of the Year award honors a Chamber Ambassador who has volunteered many hours of time, talent and energy to the success and growth of the North Augusta Chamber.

Fernandes is an example of Chamber volunteerism and commitment at its best, going above and beyond to help personalize each Chamber members’ experience.

He makes great effort to support, grow and improve the Chamber. He is currently the Call Center Manager for SRP Federal Credit Union.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

17

Business Marketing Mark Alison

If the Shoe Fits...

Asking What If could make a big change in your business I believe there are life-changing opportunities around us every day, regardless of the business you are in. Sometimes it just takes imagination to see them.

For example, Nike, the sports shoe giant, was stumped on how to invent a spikeless trainer shoe until a legendary running coach poured latex on a waffle iron. A stroke of genius or maybe something else?

Or consider Starbucks, a profitable, albeit small company at the time, that sold high-end brewing equipment and coffee by the pound, until Howard Schultz experienced his first latte in a café in Milan. How did he see that opportunity?

What if something changed in your business and there was a breakthrough that fundamentally altered your future? Where would that idea come from? What if it came from you? How could that happen?

The answer is in using Marketing Imagination.

Linear thinking responds to problems the way a plow horse, wearing blinders, sees only the farmer’s field. No distractions are permitted. He plows straight ahead, keeping the goal in sight. On the other hand, Marketing Imagi-

nation takes off the blinders and allows 360-degree thinking. The mind is free to roam. There are no straight rows and the goal is no longer critical.

There is structure in this type of thinking but no rules. When we think this way, all-important “What-If ” scenarios are where we begin.

Our client, Rubbermaid, was exploring the space-saving proposition of selling one stick with a threaded end that would accommodate various household tools like a dust mop, broom, wide area broom and wet mop.

Our focus group of 12 was composed of apartment and condominium owners. Broom closets were small and usually under a stairway.

We introduced some “What-If ” motivation to the room. About halfway through the 90 minutes one woman said, “If it’s space you are trying to save, what if you made the handle collapsible, like a telescope?”

For the next 15 minutes we explored her “What-If ” with the rest of the group. It was a giant hit with the client.

He saw the potential space-saving opportunity in the plan-o-gram for retail stores and even savings in shipping costs.

Another time, at a trade show for janitorial/sanitation vendors, a medical company asked if there was a floorburnishing pad that didn’t smell bad when the janitorial crew was buffing the floors.

The truth was all “hair pads” – the best ones for burnishing at 300+ RPM – smelled because they used hog hair woven into the polyester. It is the lanolin in the hair that lubricates and shines

Real Estate Investing Justin Anderson

Stay Positive

Smart retail investing can keep the cash flowing So often I watch beginning investors just getting started get so focused on all the wrong things. It is sensible to educate yourself before diving into an investment.

However, so many investors try to learn everything there is to know about investing in real estate before

18 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

they make their first deal. The fact of the matter is, after 17 years of investing, there is still vastly more that I don’t know about investing than what I do know. But what small focused amount I do know, I know really well.

After so many years of full time investing, I have discovered that the most important things to know about real estate investing are the very basics. So, over the next few months, I will focus this column on featuring a different basic Guiding Investment Principle that AORE follows.

AORE Guiding Investment Principle No. 1: Always Buy with Positive Cash Flow!

I know that may sound ridiculous to say when we are in such a strong rental market where vacancy is incredibly low and rental rates have increased dramatically over the past several years, allowing for an abundance of deals to provide cash flow. Right now there are positive cash flowing opportunities available everywhere. But it

the floor. Hog hair, like any other hair, smells when the friction required to make it work causes it to melt.

“Is there a non-animal protein answer,” we asked our client? His negative response explained that the hog hair pad was pretty much a commodity, meaning cheap from every vendor, so why look for a more expensive option?

What if there was, we insisted, and so the search began.

A few What-Ifs later and the fibers inside a coconut were discovered to work as well as hog hair without the odor. That coconut fiber pad became a huge seller at a premium price.

“What-If ” impacted their bottom line and created a new, much desired product.

Finally, we were asked to figure out how to get our client, Embers brand charcoal, into Publix grocery stores.

While doing focus groups in three cities to see how charcoal usage varied with different communities we played the “What-If ” game with respondents.

It led to the idea of tidying up the

won’t always be this way. As the market heats up and pricing continues to escalate, the sweet cash flow deals investors are buying today will begin to dissipate.

When I first began investing in real estate, I had absolutely no knowledge about investing. Fortunately, what I lacked in knowledge, I made up for in belief. I had read a book called Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki.

In that book, the message I heard was “Buy a house and let someone else pay it off for you.” That concept made complete sense to me. It helped me to understand that owning a rental investment property would provide Cash Flow, and Cash Flow = Freedom!

If I acquire enough investment properties, I can build enough Cash Flow that I don’t have to go to a J.O.B. anymore and work on someone else’s goals!

If I can build my Cash Flow big enough, I can spend all my time working on my dreams and my goals! But, that can only happen if I Always Buy with Positive

dirty way charcoal was used and the “Just Light the Bag” brand of charcoal was Imagined by our team. The product was a hit with Publix and our bags landed on the shelves. Never heard of it? Well, you know it today as Matchlight brand. Embers was bought out by Kingsford, the proud owner of Matchlight.

That was one powerful What-If. You don’t have to be a marketer to have marketing imagination. It begins with asking the What-If questions and not shutting down the sometimes crazy answers. Be like Nike and don’t just think “out of the box,” pour latex on it and see what happens. Your future and success may be just a What-If away.

What-If you hired someone with some experience to guide you?

Mark Alison is President of The Alison Group (started in 1982) with offices in Augusta and Charlotte. TAG is a B2B Marketing and Communication Company with a rich history of creating new business growth. Contact Mark at mark@thealisongroup.com.

Cash Flow.

For more guiding investment principles and to meet other active local real estate investors in the Augusta Area, we would invite you to the next AORE Smart Session – where a local successful investor will share their story of how they have built their real estate investment business right here in your local market.

These Smart Sessions are generally the second Saturday of each month.

Our next Smart Session will be on March 12 at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. The doors open at 8 a.m. for coffee and networking and the Smart Session follows.

Justin Anderson is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Georgia and Oklahoma, and has been a full time real estate investor for the past 18 years. He is the co-founder of AORE, a Real Estate Investment Training and Education Company with offices in Augusta, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia. For more information, visit AORE.com or email infor@aore.com.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

19

Business Leverage Kim Romaner

Selling Slipups

Not knowing the right things can impact your selling price I was recently putting together an estimate of value on a company that had been in business for many years. We’ll call it Business ABC. The seller, sadly, is not taking a salary for himself. This caused a discount in the selling price of his business. Next, the business’ cost of goods is about 50 percent. The average cost of goods for his industry is 24-30 percent. Price discount No. 2. Employee compensation is so low as to be suspect. Discount No. 3.

As a first time business owner, the seller didn’t know what he didn’t know.

Many sellers and advisors believe that a buyer will be willing to pay a current market multiple for a business no matter how the business is being run. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. What we do know is that, of businesses that are sellable and get sold, the current market multiple is generally correct. Unfortunately, not even half of listed businesses get sold. The owner of Business ABC will have a hard time.

Yesterday I was walking through the details of a listed business, Business XYZ, with a prospective buyer. The buyer asked, how many clients does she have? Not a whole heck of a bunch. Of the top 20 clients in the last year, is any one significantly responsible for revenue? Yep. The top client is responsible for one third of total revenue.

Those two things combined are called “detrimental client concentration” and pose a substantial risk to the health of the company, particularly if the business conducted with the largest customer is based on the client’s personal relationship with the owner.

Which it is, in this case.

The buyer significantly reduced his offer.

What could the sellers of these two businesses have done differently to

Business Benefits Russell Head

Form Facts

New 1095 form can raise questions for employees

What’s a 1095 form and what is it good for?

Most large employers are aware (or should be aware) of their new reporting obligations concerning the type of healthcare benefits they have (or have not) offered their full-time employees during the prior year. While the forms are not due to employees until the end of March, some of these forms have already been sent, creating a storm of questions from employees.

Whether you are on the sending or receiving end of these forms, here are some quick answers to questions you might be asking: Why am I getting this form?

20 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created new responsibilities for employers as well as individuals. These forms are designed to help establish whether those responsibilities are being met – for individuals, they report which months they and their dependents maintained qualifying health coverage; for employers, they report which months qualifying coverage was offered to full-time employees, and if not, why.

Do I need this form to file my individual taxes?

Probably not. On December 28, 2015, the IRS extended the due date for employers and health coverage provider to send out 1095-B and 1095-C forms to employees from February 1 to March 31. At that time, individuals were told that these forms would not be required to file income tax returns this year. Once received, they can be kept with other supporting tax documents as proof of coverage, or offer of coverage, for the year.

However, if you enrolled in coverage from the Health Insurance Marketplace, you should wait until you receive a 1095-A to file your 2015 income tax return.

I received two of these forms – one from my insurance company and one from my employer. Is this a mistake?

increase the value of their businesses?

They could have created, monitored and managed key performance indicators.

Key performance indicators, or KPIs, are measures of the critical success factors that drive performance in a company. Every industry is different, so the KPIs that are important in your business may not be remotely interesting or useful to the owner of another type of business, and vice versa.

KPIs can be established to measure financial, marketing, sales, service and operational performance.

To find some good examples of KPIs for your business, perform this Google search: “What are good KPIs for [your

type of business here] business?”

Whether you have an auto body shop, a hair salon, an ecommerce business or a bakery, you will find some KPIs that will work in your business.

Watch this space next month when I’ll unpack the establishment, monitoring, and corrective actions to be taken for almost any KPI. Kim Romaner is president of Transworld Business Advisors of Augusta, a business brokerage and franchise consulting firm, and a MultiMillion Dollar Member of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers (GABB). To learn more about improving the value of your business, selling it, or finding the right business to buy, call Kim at 706-383-2994, x802, or email her at kromaner@tworld.com.

The 1095 forms can come from several sources, so it is possible for an individual to receive more than one.

The 1095 series forms can come from several sources with varying reporting responsibilities, so it is very possible for an individual to receive more than one form. Large employers, health coverage providers, and the Federal Exchange all have reporting requirements which may result in multiple forms being issued to the same person. Changing jobs and/or insurance coverage can trigger multiple forms as well.

Remember that the forms are designed to report proof of healthcare coverage (from a health coverage provider or the Health Insurance Marketplace) and/or offers of healthcare coverage (from an employer), so the forms may not be reporting the same information.

I did not receive a form, but I had healthcare coverage. Is this a mistake?

Depending on the size of your employer and the type of healthcare they offer, they may not be required to send you a form. (For example, employers with less than 50 full-time equivalent employees are exempt from reporting if they are fully insured.) Also, since the

forms are not due until March 31, they may be received at a later time.

My spouse and children were covered on my employer’s plan. Will they receive a form too?

Generally, only one form will be issued to each employee. Copies may need to be made for adult dependents who are filing their taxes separately from you.

My employer or health coverage provider has suggested that I opt to receive these forms electronically rather than on paper. Are they allowed to ask me that?

Yes. Employers and health coverage providers may ask for your consent to receive the forms electronically. This is entirely acceptable and may be more convenient for you.

Russell T. Head is President with ACHS Insurance, Inc., Augusta’s largest risk management and employee benefits brokerage. He can be reached at 706-733-3459 or rthead@achsinsurance.com. Visit ACHS Insurance at achsinsurance.com.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

21

The way the cookie crumbles is a good thing Michigan transplant brings her baking talents to North Augusta A transplant from Michigan has brought her baking talents to downtown North Augusta.

Julie Stroven moved from Michigan last April and on Nov. 20 opened Julie’s Cookie Crumbs at 515 Georgia Ave., North Augusta. The bakery offers cookies, bars, brownies, scones and biscotti, plus coffee and tea.

Stroven is no stranger to running a business or baking, although this is her first attempt at combining the two. In Michigan she had a hair styling business and later a dog grooming business.

“In this last stage of life I wanted to ‘dehair’ myself,” she said.

She has been baking since she was a young girl.

“My mom said, ‘If you want cookies in your lunch box, you know how to do it,’” she recalled. “She was a good teacher.”

She came to South Carolina to join her sister, and the business was part of her fiveyear plan.

“I figured this would be a great place to open a business,” she said. “North Augusta is a nice little city.”

Julie’s Cookie Crumbs has a variety of cookies on hand, with the staples being chocolate chip and lemon crinkle. Stroven is now trying to learn to bake some Southern treats, like cheese straws.

“I’m just doing little batches of cookies because I want them to stay fresh,” she said. “I want to be able to put out a good cookie.”

But she plans to do special orders of larger batches, such as for office events. She just requires 24-hour notice for a larger order.

The storefront on Georgia Avenue, near the Pink Dipper, has plenty of kitchen space and room for two tables and chairs. Stroven hopes to place a few tables outside during warmer weather.

So far business has gone well, although Stroven has done a minimum of advertising so far. She started her Facebook page last week.

If all goes well, Stroven might be in business for quite some time.

“Baking is something I figure I can do until I’m 90 years old,” she said. “And everybody loves a cookie.”

Openings Tractor Supply Company Tractor Supply Company will be opening a new store in North Augusta in April.

The new 31,000 sq. ft. store will be located in Edgewood Square Shopping Center on Edgefield Road, which is anchored

by Bi-Lo. According to a company representative, the store will have a soft opening on April 9 and a grand opening on April 23.

Tractor Supply Company (TSC) carries farm and ranch equipment and supplies, animal care products, lawn and garden supplies and clothing. TSC believes the North Augusta market is attractive because of the part-time and hobby farmers and horse owners in the area.

The new TSC store will employ 12-17.

TSC also has stores on Bobby Jones Expressway in Augusta and Whiskey Road in Aiken.

Barberitos Construction is underway at Evans’ first Barberitos restaurant at 4272 Washington Rd. The store will open later this spring.

Owned and operated by Brett McCullough, Lanier Scruggs and Cissy Hutchinson, this is the first of three stores they plan to open in this area in 2016. They were inspired to open their own franchise through Barberitos’ commitment to quality and consistency as they have seen Barberitos grow.

Scruggs is an Augusta native and gradu-

ated from Westside High School in 1990.

Known for serving only the freshest and best tasting made-to-order burritos, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and salads, Barberitos is a fast-growing chain in the quick service restaurant industry. Indoor features include stack-stone accents and stainless steel finishes with unique interior décor reflecting the brand’s flavor.

“Barberitos delivers a great product with great value, filling a very real need for today’s busy consumer looking for healthy and affordable mealtime options,” McCullough said. “We plan to work with our local community and be very involved in Evans and Columbia County. We will partner with local groups aimed at improving the community and benefiting the people in the area.”

Committed to serving “farm fresh” food, Barberitos serves all natural vegetables delivered to stores and hand-cut daily. The menu offers vegetarian, vegan and glutenfree options along with chicken and steak chargrilled to perfection for protein lovers.

Barberitos’ salsas, guacamole, hot sauces, meat marinades, and salad dressings are made from scratch each day. Full-service catering is also available ranging from boxed lunches to taco, salad, nacho or fajita bars that can be customized to serve a few to several hundred people.

Continuing its expansion throughout the Southeast, the Evans location is the 28th in Georgia and 46th nationwide.

Julie Stroven displays some of her baked goods. Photo by Gary Kauffman

Business openings, closings and moves

22 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

Augusta Mall Three new stores will be coming to the Augusta Mall soon.

Andy Wilke, general manager of the mall, announced that Vans, Torrid and rue21 will open in the spring.

“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Vans, Torrid, and rue21 to our mix of unique and stylish retailers, and truly believe that these stores will continue to fortify Augusta Mall’s presence as the premiere shopping destination in the CSRA.” Wilke said. “The past few years have been very successful for Augusta Mall. We’ve brought first-to-market retailers to the CSRA such as H&M, Michael Kors, Apricot Lane Boutique, Teavana, Zumiez, and Earthbound Trading.”

Vans’ first location in the CSRA is already under construction on the upper level near Express. The store will be 3,000 square feet.

Vans, a division of VF Corporation, is a leading action sports lifestyle company. Vans is the original skate shoe manufacturer since 1966. Vans operates retail stores throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. They design, market, and distribute footwear, clothing and accessories.

The first-to-market Torrid store will be located on the upper level across from H&M in a 3,000 square foot space. Torrid designs and retails on-trend fashion apparel, accessories, swimwear and lingerie for young women sizes 12 to 28. Torrid has more than 300 stores across the country and online at torrid.com.

rue21 will start construction on their 7,274 square feet space on the lower level near Dillard’s and Sears later this spring. rue21, a leading teen specialty retailer, makes the latest trends affordable and available to anyone. Headquartered near Pittsburgh, Pa., it currently operates 1,188 stores in 48 states in shopping malls, outlets and strip centers, and on its website. For more information, visit rue21.com.

Augusta Mall is owned and managed by General Growth Properties, a fully integrated, self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust focused exclusively on owning, managing, leasing and redeveloping regional malls throughout the United States. GGP’s portfolio is comprised of 120 regional malls in the United States comprising approximately 124 million square feet of gross leasable area. For more information visit ggp.com.

Bojangles One of the CSRA’s favorite restaurant chains will be opening in a new location in March.

The latest Bojangles for Bojland Restaurant Group is under construction at Hugh Street and Knox Avenue in North Augusta, next to Northside Lanes bowling alley.

“Weather has pushed us back but we’re still shooting for a target date in the middle of March,” Allyson Campbell, marketing director for Bojland, said.

See NEW BUSINESS, page 23

Martinez greenhouse closing after nearly 70 years in business

A longtime fixture on Davis Road in Martinez will be closing shop soon.

Green Thumb West, which has been in Augusta for 68 years and in Martinez since 1973, is in the process of going out of business. Owner Dave Bokesch and his wife, who have owned the greenhouse/nursery for 11 years, are retiring.

“It’s sad because you put your heart and soul and sweat and everything into it,” Bokesch said. “But my wife and I are at the age where we’re starting to have some health issues.”

The business began on Central Avenue, but moved to the Davis Road location near

Washington Road in 1973.

Everything is on sale, including the fixtures. The sale, which started today, is expected to last about six weeks.

Bokesch said he tried to sell the business without success. However, he has had interest in the property.

This is Bokesch’s third retirement, having retired from SRS twice. He and his wife plan to stay in the area after retiring.

He said leaving the business was a tough decision.

“We thought long and hard about it, and prayed about it and this is was where were led,” he said.

continued from page 22 She said the new restaurant will be 3,800 sq. ft., the same size as the other North Augusta location at Exit 5 off I-20. The restaurant will be hiring 50-70 employees.

Anyone interested in applying should visit bojangles.com.

The Bojland Restaurant Group, owned

by Patrick and Sandra Landon, owns eight other Bojangles in the area. Their most recent one, at Exit 22 in Aiken, opened in November 2015. A third Aiken location is planned on Whiskey Road in front of the Fresh Market. Dirt is already being moved at that location, with a target opening date in late April.

PDQ The test is over for PDQ and they passed with flying colors.

PDQ restaurant opened a location at the corner of Washington and North Belair roads in Evans a little more than a year ago.

Due to its success there, a new location will be opening March 13 in the Washington Crossing Shopping Center, off of Washington Road near I-20.

Patrick Cozart, operating director of the new location, said that the company has owned the Washington Crossing location for about a year, but was waiting to judge the success of the Evans location before constructing a new restaurant.

“The location itself is a great location to have,” Cozart said. “It is conveniently located near Richmond County, downtown Augusta and I-20.”

The new location of PDQ (which stands for People Dedicated to Quality) will feature the same fresh hand-battered chicken tenders, made-to-order sandwiches, daily cut fries and hand-spun milkshakes as the Evans location. However, the Augusta location will be slightly smaller. A drive-thru option will also be available.

Aldi A new grocery store under construction in North Augusta will soon be offering its wares to customers.

Aldi, an international discount grocery chain, is building a new store at the corner

of LeCompte and Knox avenues in North Augusta, with plans to be open in the spring.

Thom Behtz, of the Aldi Jefferson division, said the store plans to hire about 10 people.

“Aldi takes an efficient approach to staffing,” he said in an email. “Aldi hosts hiring events on an ongoing basis whenever there is a need to fill open positions.”

Aldi cuts costs by stocking its own brands rather than national brands, displaying products in the shipping cartons rather than stocking store shelves and encouraging customers to bring their own shopping bags.

“At Aldi, we believe that great quality shouldn’t come at a high price,” Behtz said.

“Aldi is proud to say that its customers have found that switching from national brands to Aldi exclusive brands can save them up to 50 percent on most commonly purchased grocery items.”

In addition to groceries, Aldi also sells organic produce, USDA Choice beef, a glutenfree product line and the SimplyNature line of products free from artificial ingredients.

Business openings, closings and moves

Moves Perfect Health An urgent care provider has opened in a new location in Evans.

Perfect Health, which offers urgent care, primary care and weight loss management, is now open at its new location at 4244 Washington Road, Evans. The new facility is located near the McDonalds at Evans Towne Centre.

This is a move from its facility on Ponder Place off Belair Road.

Dr. Troy Coon, owner of Perfect Health, said the new 5,000 sq. ft. location offers more room to provide its services. The facility has 10 exam rooms and a mini-pharmacy, as well as lab, X-ray and CT scan rooms.

With four physicians and two physicians assistants, including a physician and a PA who are nutritionists, Perfect Health offers a wide range of services from setting broken bones to weight loss management plans. It also has a working relationship with several gyms in the area.

The new location also has expanded hours on weekdays, open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. It is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays and 3-11 p.m. Sundays.

A unique feature of Perfect Health is the membership packages that work exactly like a gym membership.

For urgent care, patients can pay $30 per month, plus $20 for each visit, as often as needed during the month. The package is $50 per month for primary care, and there are weight-loss packages available as well.

The primary care package allows members to refill prescriptions over the phone.

“It’s so much faster and convenient,” Coon said.

It allows patients to pay their own way without waiting for insurance to approve claims. However, Perfect Health does work with most insurance providers, including Medicare and Medicaid.

Perfect Health also has a location on Wrightsboro Road in Grovetown.

Expansions Cudos2u Cudos2u has opened a new store – within its existing store.

The Evans boutique recently partnered with the popular jewelry brand, Alex and Ani, to create a shop-in-shop inside their store at 400 Town Park Blvd, just off Belair Road. The Alex and Ani shop is 14x14 feet and will allow customers to browse a larger selection of Alex and Ani products.

“Our partnership with Alex and Ani has been a huge success, and sales have been tremendous,” said Sloane Carter, General Manager at Cudos2u. “We’re looking forward to a wildly successful year with new product launches this spring and summer.”

Although the project was implemented

by Alex and Ani, Cudos2u was responsible for internally remodeling the store and preparing for installation. When the time came, all Alex and Ani cabinetry and wall décor was set up in four hours.

“It is such an honor to be chosen to host a new shop-in-shop,” said Carter, “I am proud to say that we exceeded the expectations and sales requirements for this region, and I

can’t wait to see what we do next!”

Cudos2u is a locally owned and operated boutique store specializing in gifts, home décor and apparel. It has been a part of the Greater Augusta Area community for more than a decade.

Mergers and Acquisitions Gerald Jones Auto Group Gerald Jones Auto Group has added another automobile brand to its group by acquiring Bobby Jones Ford. This increases to seven the number of brands the Gerald Jones Auto Group represents.

The Ford dealership at 3480 Wrightsboro Road will be rebranded as Gerald Jones Ford Lincoln and brought under the umbrella of Gerald Jones Auto Group. Gerald Jones Ford Lincoln will be lead by Andy Jones, owner, and General Manager Brian Winters, former General Manger of Gerald Jones Honda. The dealership will pursue the auto group’s strategy of providing customers with superior service and quality automobiles at a fair price. The current Ford inventory is $10 million.

“We offer a wide range of vehicles we were not able to offer before, including large trucks, super duty trucks (up to the F-750s), large passenger vans and cargo vans, fleet and commercial vehicles,” Andy Jones said.

“Our service department can service all Ford Lincoln products and we are a certified diesel shop, able to service all Ford diesels, no matter how large. We want our customers to know that there is a new place to buy a Ford, from an old friend.”

Bobby Jones Ford began in 1991 with its landmark headquarters reminiscent of the clubhouse at Augusta National Golf Course.

The addition of Gerald Jones Ford Lincoln to the group will bring the number of employees to more than 300. The Grand Opening of the newly renovated facility is anticipated for fall 2016.

Gerald Jones opened his first automotive dealership in 1974. Andy Jones, the founder’s son, and his cousin David Jones, operate the now seven store auto group.

Visit them at GeraldJonesAutoGroup. com.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

23

Columbia Co. Chamber celebrates 2015 Businesses, volunteers cited for awards

By Tammy Shepherd, President, Columbia County Chamber of Commerce The 11th Annual Banquet and Business Showcase on Feb. 4 was a night of celebration for the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and the many milestones it reached in 2015.

One major milestone achieved was the acceptance of Signarama as the 1000th member on Dec. 31, 2015. The Chamber now has a total membership of 1,001. Chamber participation grew by 38% last year, with more than 3,500 people attending various events.

The 11th Annual Banquet, presented by Georgia Bank & Trust, was held at the Columbia County Exhibition Center and was attended by more than 600 guests.

Highlights from the evening included the Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Lifetime Achievement awards, as well as the change in leadership from Michelle Piper, 2015 Chair of the Board, to Angi Brock, the 2016 Chair of the Board.

The awards presentation portion of the evening began with Ann Jones, Trip Quest Travel Services, named as the Columbia County Chamber’s 2015 Ambassador of the Year.

The Small Business of the Year and Busi-

Mark and Matt Ivey of Ivey Residential were awarded Small Business of the Year.

ness of the Year awards were presented to highly distinguished companies who have proven to be successful, and are actively involved in our community.

Ivey Residential received the Small Business of the Year (fewer than 20 employees) award.

Mark and Matt Ivey were introduced to the homebuilding industry in 1984 when their father, the late Jake Ivey, started building homes. While the opportunity was there to work for their father after college, they each felt it was important to establish himself independently. Each had other aspirations at the time. However, the entrepreneurial bug they caught from their father never left them. In 2004, Ivey Residential was formed.

Over the past 11 years, Ivey Residential

24 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

Angi Brock, Commission Chairman Ron Cross, Lifetime Achievement Award winner Pat Blanchard and Michelle Piper.

has grown to one of the largest businesses of their industry in the area.

Georgia Power was named Business of the Year (20 or more employees). Georgia Power’s business philosophy is to offer low prices, high reliability and high customer satisfaction.

The company is equally dedicated to being good corporate stewards and giving back to the communities they serve.

Through the Georgia Power Foundation and local charitable giving, sponsorship and volunteer fund raising, they give more than $300,000 a year to the CSRA charities and local organizations.

The culmination of awards presented was the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to Pat Blanchard, Sr. His professional career began with Georgia Railroad Bank & Trust Company, and he was soon elected as Assistant Vice President of the bank. He organized two state banks, Georgia State Bank in Martinez and Georgia Bank & Trust Company of Augusta.

Blanchard managed the reorganization of First Bank of Georgia and served as one of the principal founders of its parent, Georgia-Carolina Bancshares, Inc. He was elected President and CEO of Georgia-Carolina Bancshares in 1997, and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2008. He continues to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of its subsidiary now known as State Bank & Trust Company. He has also served as Chairman of the Board for both the Augusta Metro Chamber and Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.

Additional awards given that evening were the 2015 Volunteer of the Year award presented to Jeremie Freck, Camellia Walk Assisted Living & Memory Care, and the Leadership Columbia County Alumni Award presented to Darrell Byrd, State Bank & Trust Company.

Employees of Georgia Power accepted the Business of the Year award.

2016 Chair of the Board Angi Brock, left, accepts the gavel from 2016 chair Michelle Piper.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

25

Faith at Work Steve Swanson

Big Bad Boss

Your attitude plays a key role when your boss isn’t perfect Like you, I’ve had some “interesting” bosses. One of my first while I was in high school (working in a department store) was hands-on. Unfortunately he wasn’t interested in seeing his employees as people. He would make the rounds and be sure we were engaged in our tasks, but never seemed interested in anything to do with our lives outside of work.

In stark contrast, the first female boss I ever had, Norma, was very interested in encouraging excellent work, but she also went a step further. She cared about who we

Social Media Kelsey Morrow

Thanks a Lot

Answering social media posts, good and bad, builds loyalty The other day I made a trip to the Augusta Mall, and being a big Twitter fan, I not surprisingly had to tweet about my adventures.

What was surprising, though, was that I got a personal response from the corporate page of one of the stores I had been considering visiting. They thanked me for mentioning them and hoped I had a pleasant experience in their store.

So what did I do next? Of course I now had to go visit this store and go shopping. It’s rude to turn down a personal invitation, right?

If you do a search for social media advice, a lot of the articles will explain how to create engaging content. While this content generation is important for a social media ac-

26 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

were as individuals. To her, our character was even more important that our job performance.

Norma took a personal interest in her team. I discovered that she took the time to pray for us. I have no doubt that made a big difference in the team and our goal of excellence. It was great to know that we were more than just a number. It was a big company, but I knew that I mattered.

If you’ve had more than one job it’s likely you’ve had a “bad” boss. Bernard Marr, Chief Executive Officer at Advanced Performance Institute, described it this way: “Let’s face it; we have all seen and experienced bad bosses.

There are the ones that bully, the ones that only care about themselves and their own career and the cowards that hide behind others.”

Here are a couple of Marr’s tell-tale signs of a bad boss.

The Coward – a boss who takes on no accountability and often hides behind others The Incapable – a boss who has been promoted beyond his or her capabilities, has no clue how to do the job and has lost all respect of subordinates and co-workers The Plagiarizer – a boss who takes

count, what is equally important is responding to your followers. Customer interaction on the internet is perhaps the most underrated, but most valuable form of customer service today.

It’s easy to respond to positive feedback. Everyone loves to hear that they are doing a great job, and wants the public to see these great reviews. But just because these positive comments don’t call for corrective action, don’t forget about them. Everyone loves to feel appreciated. A quick response of thanks could potentially turn a good customer into a great one.

But then there are the negative comments that business owners do not want to hear.

A normal response when you see negative comments posted about your business is to either (a) try to delete them or (b) ignore them.

However, neither of these two approaches will mend your company’s image and could actually hurt you.

If you delete comments that you don’t agree with, the posters will eventually realize and likely begin posting more frequently. In this instance, they would not only be upset about the original topic, but they will also be upset about feeling censored.

In today’s society, transparency is increasingly important to consumers.

If you give the public any indication

If you’ve had more than one job it’s likely you’ve had a “bad” boss. credit for other people’s work or ideas and passes it off as his own The Bad Communicator – a boss who is unable to communicate anything effectively, be it the corporate strategy or individual performance feedback “When you get a boss with one or maybe two of the signs then you can usually manage around them,” wrote Marr. He’s concluded that some bosses can be impossible to work with.

If you find yourself around a “bad boss” what should you do?

Pray – Your boss is a person, too.

They have needs, families and personal issues. They also have pressure both inside and outside of work. Choose to pray for them. Ask God to give them wisdom, insight and the knowledge they need to lead well.

Listen – You can always learn, grow and be more effective if you listen much more than speak. Try to hear not only what you’re told, but attempt to see the “big picture” of where the company is and where it’s headed.

Work Hard – Know what is expected

of you. Don’t just show up and put in your time. Be productive and earn your keep.

Be Positive – No company (large or small) is perfect. Far from it. Choose to bring a positive outlook and attitude with you to work. It is contagious and really will make a difference in the entire office.

Be Honest – Honesty is the best policy. If you have an issue with the boss, schedule a time to talk with them oneto-one. Address the concern directly and listen closely to their response.

Don’t gossip or grumble. Murmuring never strengthened a workplace.

Just think, some day you could be sitting in the “big chair.” Choose the Golden Rule and treat your boss now the way you’d want to be treated if you were in that position. Life’s too short to live any other way!

Steve Swanson serves as the station manager for Family Friendly 88.3 WAFJ. He’s invested 30-plus years in the world of radio and was named the Christian Music Broadcasters Program Director of the Year in 2009 and 2011. He and his wife , Susie, live in North Augusta.

If a customer posts something specific about your product, an employee interaction or shipping concerns, you should do your best to reply. to believe that you are hiding things, it will definitely hurt your company’s image.

Secondly, if you ignore the negative comments, you will come off as not caring about your potential customers. Now, when I refer to negative comments, I have implied rationality and constructiveness. Certainly no one will fault you for failing to reply to non-constructive comments, like “YOU SUCK!” or “I HATE YOUR COMPANY!” But if a customer posts something specific about your product, an employee interaction or shipping concerns, you should do your best to reply and try to offer solutions to the situation.

A somewhat extreme example of failing to respond to negative comments happened to Target last year.

Target made a big announcement about removing gendered signs from their stores, and some customers were not too happy about this. A “troll” (an Internet term for someone intent on causing chaos) took this opportunity

to create a fake account with the Target logo and respond rudely to customer’s negative comments.

While further inspection showed that this was not the actual verified Target account (Twitter, and many other social media platforms, verify pages that have been proven to belong to larger corporations and public figures with a symbol. If you aren’t sure if you have found a company’s legitimate Twitter page, search for a blue check mark on their home page. No check mark? It’s not the real account) the damage had been done and that troll incident will now be linked to Target’s image.

So remember, whether good or bad, take care of your customers’ insights, or someone else will.

Kelsey Morrow is the Media Assistant at Buzz on Biz and handles its social media accounts. She has a Masters in Public Relations from the University of Georgia. You can contact her at kelsey.morrow@buzzon.biz.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

27

Deeper Thinking Eddie Kennedy

Task Oriented

Following a simple to-do list helps get more accomplished 2016 is underway, you’ve got your goals set and you are working your plan to reach that goal. Right? Isn’t this the same way you started last year?

My question is, “How are you going to actually accomplish your goals this year? What are you going to do different that will assist you in attaining your 2016 goals?”

One of the most challenging parts of being a small business owner or an entrepreneur is how to balance the amount of time you spend on the big picture versus the time that you spend on the details of what is the most important thing to do now. You probably know what needs to be done next, but you just can’t seem to find the time to get them done.

Jon Acuff, author of Do Over and an active video blogger, recommends using the Start, Stop & Continue method for achieving your goals in 2016. He suggests making a list of the things you want to Start, the things you want to Stop and the things you want to Continue doing in 2016.

Start: the new projects you want to accomplish, things that will be beneficial to your business.

Stop: the things that are non-productive, time wasters or bad habits.

Business Advice Mike Herrington

Back to the Future

What you do, how you think now shapes the future you I know that I’m going to meet an old person one of these days. It will be down the road in 10, 20 or 30 years.

He’ll be waiting there for me; I’m catching up with him all

28 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

Continue: the things that are working, producing profits or good business practices.

Once you have your Start, Stop & Continue list complete, look it over to see what you can do first. Is there anything you can delegate to others? Is there anything that will require additional training or equipment to accomplish? Prioritize everything on your lists by importance and what is critical to accomplish first.

Now you have a list of items that will help you be more effective in reaching your goal. The next big step is to find the time to accomplish the list. Every business owner struggles with finding the time to complete their list. But there is a solution: the Ivy Lee Method.

Here’s the story behind the Ivy Lee Method. In 1918, Charles Schwab, owner of Bethlehem Steel, desired to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of his time. He scheduled a meeting with a productivity consultant named Ivy Lee. Lee gave Schwab a simple method that would help him achieve peak productivity. After working the method for 90 days, Schwab told Lee that the idea was the most profitable thing he had ever learned in his life and paid Lee $25,000 for the consultation.

If it worked for Charles Schwab in 1918 and he thought this method was worth $25,000 then, which would be more than $400,000 today, it would probably work for you.

The Ivy Lee Method 1. At the end of each work day, write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Do not write down more than six tasks.

the time.

What kind of person do you suppose I’m likely to meet? That’s a significant question, it seems to me. He may be an enthusiastic person who has grown old gracefully and is surrounded by a host of clients, associates and friends who regard him as successful because of what his life and its work have meant to them and to others. On the other hand, he may be a bitter, unsuccessful, even cynical old buzzard without a good thought about anything or anybody.

The kind of person I meet depends entirely on me. Actually, that old person will be me.

He will be the composite of everything I do, say and think today and tomorrow. His mind will be set in a mold that has been fixed by my attitudes and actions. Every thought – positive or negative – goes into his makeup. That person will be exactly what I make him – nothing more, nothing less. It’s all up

2. Prioritize those six items in order of their true importance.

3. When you arrive at work tomorrow, concentrate solely on the first task.

Work until the first task is finished before moving on to the second task.

4. Approach the rest of your list in the same fashion.

5. At the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day.

6. Repeat this process every working day.

This process is simple, yet it forces you to make tough decisions, determining the most vital things for you to do.

Because you already have the list made when you begin your day, it’s easier to get started. It also focuses your time

and energy on what you decided was the most important task to complete.

Will you be interrupted? Certainly.

But having your day laid out before you begin allows you to get right back into the flow as soon as the crisis is averted.

Try this for 90 days and see if you agree with Charles Schwab. It’s possibly the best single profitable thing you’ve ever done.

Have you had success on your list for 2016? Let me know – email me, eddie@ greatdealsaugusta.com.

Eddie Kennedy is the owner of Great Deals on Furniture in Augusta. Eddie will be sharing ideas and principles he learned in over 37 years of involvement and management in small business. Contact him at eddie@greatdealsaugusta. com

His mind will be set in a mold that has been fixed by my attitudes and actions. to me, and I’ll have no one else to credit or blame. Every day and every way, I’m becoming more and more like that old person. That’s amazing, yet true. I’m getting to look like that person, think like that person and talk like that person.

A good point for me to remember is that things don’t always tell immediately, but they do show up sooner than we think. The little things, like attitudes, beliefs, commitments, ambitions, dedication and desire, seem so unimportant now, but they all add up inside, where I can’t see them, crystallizing in my mind and heart. One day, they will be hardened into that old person, and nothing will be able to soften or change them.

It’s quite apparent to me that the time

to take care of this old person is now – today, this week, this month, this year. I need to check on him carefully. I would be smart to work that person over while he still is plastic, still in a formative position. One day soon, it will be too late to make any changes. Hardness will set in, the character will have crystallized, and that will be the last chance for him and for me.

Mike Herrington is President of Herrington Financial Services, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisor. He is a Certified Financial Planner licensee(CFP), a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a Certified Estate Planner(CEP). He has been serving clients in the CSRA since 1984. Contact him at 706-8688673 or mike@herringtonfinancialservices.com

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

29

Challenges issued at annual TEDxAugusta Local speakers challenge listeners to change thinking about present and future

By Gary Kauffman Grace Belangia, organizer of the TEDxAugusta event, has a standard challenge to those attending: “If you don’t learn something new or meet somebody new, I’ll give you your money back.”

Certainly no one attending the Jan. 29 event at the Imperial Theatre could with good conscience ask for a refund. The program was chock-full of information and thought-provoking challenges that left those attending a bit in awe and more than a little proud of the quality of the local speakers.

“You think, ‘Wow, these are really thought-provoking, world-changing ideas, but this is Augusta, so how cool is that?’”

Belangia said.

This was the third year for TEDxAugusta (the first year it was known as TEDxTelfairStreet), and Belangia said it was more popular than ever. Nearly 600 people attended the day-long event.

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) conferences have been popular worldwide for a number of years. An x following the name denotes that it is a locally organized event instead of part of the international conferences.

Using baseball terminology, Belangia equated TEDx events to being the minor leagues to the TED major league events.

The theme for this year’s TEDxAugusta was autonomy. The 11 local speakers were chosen from a list of applicants. Almost like a theater production, the speaker went through a rehearsal process with coaching from Keith Edmondson.

“All of the speakers really knocked it out of the park,” Belangia said. “People don’t realize that this is a life-changing experience for the speakers – to be equated with TEDx and have their talks videotaped and have their ideas out there for the world to see.”

Videotapes of all the talks will be available on YouTube by the end of February.

Links are available on the TEDxAugusta Facebook page.

Belangia said there is about a 2 percent chance that a video of one of the local talks will make it on the international TED site.

In addition to the talks, there were two creative breaks – a spoken recitation by N-8 from Beech Island, S.C., and a performance by the band Stink Bamboo. There was also a surprise visit from former TEDx speaker Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman, who spoke about a documentary that is being made about his creation, Happy the Robot.

Another highlight was the drawing of Augusta Chronicle editorial cartoonist Rick McKee. He created caricatures of the speak-

30 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

ers and an illustration of their topic as they spoke.

This year’s event saw a first – a standing ovation for a speaker. It was for Christopher Shelley, a founding member of G.R.O.W. Harrisburg. He was the least polished of the day’s speakers but won the crowd over with his life story and his passionate plea to become involved in mentoring programs.

About the only glitch for the 2016 TEDxAugusta was the last-minute registrations.

Nearly a quarter of the registrations – 147 – were made the day before the event, creating a bit of logistics challenge for the four food trucks set up on Broad Street to serve the day’s meals.

Augusta Locally Grown served snacks during breaks and Leadership Augusta volunteered to help with registration.

TEDxAugusta is a nonprofit organization and all money from the event is put back into the production of the next event.

A synopsis of each speaker’s talk: Jay Samit, author and serial entrepreneur, “It’s Time to Disrupt You” Samit encouraged people to quit believing lies that they can’t be successful and to move out of their comfort zones.

“Are you living life or are you just paying the bills until you die?” he asked. “The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose.”

He said immortality is making a difference with the life you have.

“The only two things you need to succeed in life are insight and drive,” he said. “Get out of your comfort zone and expand your universe.”

Elizabeth Chandler, senior at Augusta Prep, “Moving Our Consciousness Beyond Our Default Setting” Chandler said our default setting is to fixate on ourselves.

She encouraged people to change their default settings.

“When our perception changes it allows us to focus on those around us,” she said.

“Those of us who choose to think set us apart from those who use their default setting.”

She said the key to controlling the mind is to not control it, to let it go so we can be aware of the people around us.

Nathan Klose, creative director at 2nd and Charles, “Act Your Shoe Size” Klose talked about how differently kids’ minds work compared to adults. Two things are present in kidmindedness – imagination and zone of play. Imagination lets go of practicality, while zone of play invites others in to join the fun.

He said three ways people can use their kidmindedness to free their thinking: Give yourself permission to dismiss practicality;

Give yourself permission to be completely wrong; and Give yourself permission to pretend.

Mark Baggett, cybersecurity consultant, “Pay No Attention to the Hacker Behind the Curtain” Baggett explained that there are a lot more hackers than people realize, which keeps people from taking the security precautions they need to.

“Just about anybody could watch a couple of videos and be able to attack most people’s computers,” he said. “Vulnerability is never the problem, the problem is understanding the threat.”

While it may be impossible to protect against all hackers, he said people can make it not easy for the hackers by doing such things as installing the latest software and downloading the upgrades.

Edward Elser, chief broadcast engineer, “The Future is Awesome!” Elser noted that most long-term trends in the country are positive. But as positive as things are, some people are unhappy with the labor market.

“Our system doesn’t need unskilled labor anymore,” he said, noting that while manufacturing has remained stable, it is because of automation, greatly reducing the need for labor.

He advocated changing the way we think to make the transition into the future.

Kim Romaner, president, Transworld Business Advisors, “Do You Know that Your Community has a Technological Destiny?” Romaner pointed out that in two years 9 billion devices will be connected to the internet, including household appliances. High-speed broadband access is needed to run all of this and she encouraged the community to think of that as infrastructure.

“The future has already happened,” she said. “Just not everybody is aware of it or has access to it.”

She said too many children still don’t have access to the internet and advocated for a public-private collaboration called Connect2Compete to bring those children into the internet age.

Christopher Shelley, founding member of G.R.O.W. Harrisburg, “Building Hope in a Hard World” Shelley talked about his life growing up in Harrisburg with both

parents and several brothers in prison. Having mentors turned his life from that path and now, through G.R.O.W. Harrisburg he helps children learn things like growing vegetables, eating healthy meals and making good choices. He encouraged people to become mentors.

“Kids will use their talents one way or another,” he said. “They’ll use them for amazing things if people are there (to help them).

When we give of ourselves, we’re the ones who get the reward.”

Donny Weber, National Security Agency, “Learn What Terrorists Already Know and Use – Our Biases and Triggers” Weber said that everyone has unconscious biases and triggers. Learning about others helps make better decisions.

“Diversity is critical for success,” he said.

“Appreciate others and be aware and awake about your decisions.”

Ben Casella, optometrist, “Autonomy: A Visual Perspective” Casella said our brains want the world to make sense, which alters our perceptions. Using visual illustrations, he showed how what we see isn’t always reality. But perception isn’t just what people see but about how people feel about what they see based on past experiences.

Warren Karp, nutritionist and professor emeritus, “Art and Science or Art or Science?” Karp said that separating art and science goes back to Aristotle. He believes they work together.

“To people who want to separate art and science, I say, ‘Poppycock!’” he said. “I encourage and applaud the scientific artist and the artistic scientist. Let’s have a love affair with art that provides a framework for understanding science.”

Daryl Rolle, owner of Dapper & Company men’s grooming lounge, “Barber Chronicles: The Autonomous Chair” Rolle said his barber chair, which he brought on stage, is a safe place where his clients can be honest.

Clients often come for “mental grooming” as much as for physical grooming.

“They leave this chair with a better sense of themselves and others – minus the misery,” he said. “Technology and robotics are great but there are some things they just can’t replace. The world needs more barber chairs.”

Professionals come in all shapes and sizes, but all of them strive to give the best service to their customers.

Who’s Inside Augusta Disposal & Recycling...........................33 East Georgia Fence & Construction.................34 Premier Networx.................................................35 Live ADHD Free..................................................37

Chris Heath Nationwide Agency.......................38 JRSMedical.com...................................................38 Medical Center West Pharmacy........................39

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

31

Businessperson of the Month Carl Rau, CEO & Founder, CWR Digital

The Future is Now

Carl Rau’s foresight into the needs of the digital age helped build a successful company

By Gary Kauffman Carl Rau may not have a crystal ball, but he was able to see far enough into the future four years ago to use his expertise in digital media to launch a successful business.

Rau was a veteran of digital media sales when he recognized that digital – everything from Facebook to custom websites to targeted marketing – were going to be the wave of the future for all businesses. Working in sales for a publisher’s digital platform and a national digital firm at the time, he also recognized that smaller markets like Augusta and Savannah weren’t being reached by the national companies, or were only being offered digital media piecemeal.

“There were small businesses that needed Wordpress, SEO support, the smaller ticket items that the company had no interest in,” he said. “I had great relationships in all of these markets and I was learning from the best company.”

So he set out to create a digital media firm, CWR Digital, that encompassed the entire spectrum of digital platforms and was targeted to smaller businesses. Rather than working with each individual small business, Rau marketed CWR Digital to advertising agencies, who use his company to provide better services to their clients.

“We’re able to help them gain back some of the market shares they were losing revenue to,” Rau said. “We have over 25 traditional ad agencies in the Southeast who rely on us to create a comprehensive plan to support their legacy digital market.”

But there were also some pragmatic personal reasons for Rau to form his own company.

“I was working for a company where I didn’t fit into the corporate culture,” he said. “I was getting into my 40s and I knew if I didn’t try to do this, I many never have the chance.”

And then there was baseball to consider.

Rau’s son, Nick, was heading off to college to play baseball.

“I knew if I was stuck in a corporate culture I couldn’t go to his games, but I knew if I owned my own company I could watch him.”

Nick is now a senior third baseman for Augusta University’s baseball team. Rau had also played baseball for, at the time, Augusta College.

Rau’s venture into his own business has proved successful, with 100 percent growth each year. Almost every agency in Augusta now utilizes CWR Digital in some way.

Recently, through referrals, CWR Digital has also begun representing publishing companies throughout the country, some from as far west as Seattle and Phoenix.

CWR’s niche is selling a complete package of digital services, including social media development and management, search engine marketing (SEM), search engine optimization (SEO), custom websites, targeted media products and targeted email.

Rau said other companies offer pieces of digital media, but no one else offers such a complete package aimed at a

32 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

smaller market.

He has found that advertising agencies and most small businesses recognize the potential need for a digital presence but don’t know how to move forward.

“The biggest challenge is getting them to a comfort level and knowledge level of targeting some of their marketing to the unknown and geeky world,” Rau said. “I explain in laymen’s terms, not too geeky, where all this inventory comes from and why it’s their best solution.”

Numbers and data are also a big selling point.

“No matter what generation they’re from, once they see the statistics of how many people are on Facebook and how many gather their news through multiple screens, it all starts to click that they need to do at the local level what national advertisers are doing,” he said.

Rau has built up a staff of experts in the field to implement the plans he develops for clients. Because of his sales background he continues to be the main contact person to introduce the company to clients, especially since there is still a disconnect in sales experts who know digital, or digital experts who know sales.

Rau’s transition into digital sales was another one of foresight. He graduated from Augusta College with a marketing degree and went to work for Pollack and Co., where he learned the basics of sales.

“As a young adult, how to sell a $20,000 copy machine was a very good way to cut my teeth and be in front of people,” he said.

From there, his career progressed in the direction of the digital world as that began expanding.

“I knew if I took my career to where things were going, it was going to make it a lot easier for me,” he said.

Why did you decided to go into sales?

I always felt I had the personality to do it, and with a marketing degree it seemed all the opportunities centered around sales. I liked the competitive environment and the team concept of sales. It fit my athletic background. And I had a newborn child so I had to get to work. I liked the ability to have uncapped income based on my efforts.

How did playing baseball help you in your career?

You learn to pay your dues. With an overall team goal, you learn to get the job done regardless of the sacrifices you have to make along the way. It becomes second nature. Having a sports life, you have to be a competitor. In a sales position it’s always competitive. I don’t like to lose, but when you lose athletics teaches you that you have to get off your butt and do it again without losing a beat. You understand that you’ll fail, and fail again, but every time you lose you take little pieces from that failure and turn it into something better.

What are you passionate about in your work?

The most rewarding thing to me is being able to offer good, talented people a new life away from the corporate rigamarole. I’m helping more than a dozen people make more money than they ever have. We’ve developed a very good fam-

ily culture. I’m proud that four years ago I pushed myself to be ahead of the curve in the markets we deal with.

How are things different for you now than they were 20 years ago?

I was recently put on the board of the YMCA. I’ve been able to help the Augusta University athletic department, specifically the baseball team. In the past I wouldn’t have had the time or been able to offer the expertise to do that. Now I feel like I have the time and the resources – to feel like I’m giving something back.

Who has been your biggest influence?

I don’t really have a mentor. My thing was, I had a son too young and it kind of put me on an island by myself. My fight and determination has been to do the best I possibly could for my family. I have a daughter, too, and I want to help her get the education she deserves.

If your life had a theme song, what would it be?

Eye of the Tiger, from Rocky. Rocky’s not the best wordsmith but some of those lines in the last movies just stuck with me.

What does the future hold for your company?

I want to keep growing the company at the pace it has been, staying ahead and making sure we’re making the right adjustments. The growth path right now is with the publishing companies.

I speak at a gathering of publishers in Chicago every year. We’ve formed a pretty good alignment with the right people. We’ll just keep riding it.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

33

April 15 isn’t taxing on this marriage Wilders are active in two area tax services

By Millie Huff Many Augustans dread tax season, but for married couple, Ashleigh Rhodes Wilder and Andrew Wilder, tax season is like Black Friday, the Christmas rush and Masters Week, all rolled into a four-month whirlwind of business.

“It’s a busy, but fun time,” Andrew said. “We will work long hours, six days a week through April 18, an extra-long tax season because of leap year.”

Married for almost three years, both spouses were prepared for the demands of tax season in separate businesses – Andrew is partner in Rhodes-Murphy Income Tax Service and Ashleigh is a partner in TaxSlayer.com, which spun off from Rhodes-Murphy.

As their responsibilities have grown in their separate companies, business talk is common at the dinner table.

“Sure, we spend time talking about work at home, but we are both really protective of our relationship and our personal time,” said Wilder. “At this point, work is a big part of our lives because we don’t have children, but we want to keep our priorities straight. Our new puppy at home helps keep us in balance!”

Ashleigh was born into an accounting family, with both her grandfather and father being accountants and partners of Rhodes-Murphy and Company. Ashleigh began her career in the marketing department of the family business.

Andrew studied accounting in college and is currently studying to become a CPA, so he knew the accounting business revolved around the months leading up to “tax day.”

34 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

Andrew and Ashleigh Rhodes Wilder. Photo contributed

Rhodes-Murphy and Co. was originally started by Ashleigh’s grandfather, Aubrey Rhodes, Sr., in the early 1960s. As the business grew and diversified, new companies were created: Rhodes Computer Services in 1989 (now TaxSlayer.com) and Rhodes Financial Services in 1999 (now Rhodes-Murphy Insurance and Investments).

Rhodes-Murphy Income Tax Service has continued to thrive and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2015. Wilder, along with six other partners, bought the company in 2011. Six of the seven partners had long-term history with Rhodes-Murphy while Wilder was the “new kid on the

block.” He had recently graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Mercer University, where he and Ashleigh were introduced by mutual friends.

“Rhodes-Murphy set roots here in Augusta more than 50 years ago and our new group of owners is truly excited about being a part of the community for the next 50 years,” said Wilder. “We try to develop relationships with our clients that will keep them coming to us for tax help every year.”

The company’s clientele has become more diverse as it has expanded in both Georgia and South Carolina. They now have 17 locations, eight corporately owned and nine franchises. In 2015, the corporate locations filed more than 13,500 individual and business tax returns.

“We always have our eyes open for areas of potential growth in the CSRA,” said Wilder, who works out of the company’s south Aiken location. “We will evaluate the need for a new location in areas where the population is growing, like Evans and Grovetown.”

Wilder says it is a joy to work with a client over a period of years and watch their family grow. He tells of one such client who came first as a single man, then married and now his family includes children, as well.

“We help clients plan for their financial future,” said Wilder. “We educate them every step of the way on how to make good choices that will have long-term benefits.”

“I’m so proud to be a part of the Rhodes-Murphy family!” said Wilder. “Our history of trusted service to our community has created a goodwill for our company name on which we place tremendous value. My wife’s family created a legacy of integrity and great customer service in the accounting business that I look forward to building on for years to come.”

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

35

New University brand was extensive effort New logos represent many different aspects of campus It’s finally here.

After months of preparation, thousands of survey results, hundreds of meetings and different designs, Augusta University now has a visual identity.

It’s been quite an effort to get to this point, but those involved are enthusiastic about the results.

“It’s important to have a suite of marks that can represent the different facets of the different initiatives of the organization,” said Jack Evans, vice president of communications and marketing. “We have an academic health center, we have an athletics program – we have so many different things, and we wanted to bring people together and do it in a way that was both symbolic and meaningful.”

Not only was it challenging to develop, it covered a lot of ground.

“One of the things that the community doesn’t necessarily understand is that a rebrand of this size is a system and not a logo design,” said Daniel Stewart, studio director at Wier/Stewart, the Augusta firm hired to create Augusta University’s new brand

identity. “The university didn’t just get a logo, it got an entire system.”

Using a monolithic approach, that system serves as the visual identity for everything under the Augusta University umbrella, including the health system and satellite campuses. It’s a comprehensive, unifying approach that creates stronger brand awareness for everyone.

“We wanted a monolithic branding strategy so that the world would know that, whether you were interfacing with our Philosophy Department or visiting one of our clinics or attending one of our performances, you were engaging with an organization that was excellent, that was outstanding and was all part of Augusta University,” said Dr. Karla Leeper, executive vice president of strategic communication and chief marketing officer.

However, because most community

36 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

members have never considered the importance of having one voice, one look and one feel, Stewart said it’s easy to overlook the way the system integrates everything under one overall brand.

Though the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech are probably the two outside universities most readily identified by community members, neither of these schools includes a health system, so Stewart and his designers extended their survey of schools to include places like Vanderbilt and the University of Miami for context, building a chart of the schools and their different marks.

“We used this grid as we were building things to make sure our stuff was appropriate,” said Account Executive Samantha Mellinger. “If it didn’t stick out, we knew we were on the right track.”

To check their work on the university seal, for example, they went even more extreme, putting the seal on a chart with 40 other university seals. Even those who worked on it couldn’t find it.

But that’s just at first glance. On closer inspection, the seal, which appears on diplomas and other official academic documents, is a unique celebration of Augusta University’s diverse heritage, with a torch representing education, research and healing, oak leaves representing Summerville’s Arsenal Oak, and the columns and pediment of the Old Medical College representing the Health Sciences Campus, all enclosed in the marks of the Summerville sundial, which stand for the university’s history, progress and potential.

While the seal was the perfect place to combine the different aspects of the two institutions, the shield needed to be an inclusive image, since it represents the colleges, clinical assets and institutions. Given the fact that there was no one thing that was immediately recognizable as representing all campuses, coming up with an icon that represented everything was difficult.

Something that did unite the two campuses, however, was the idea of bells. Ringing bells has traditions on both campuses – historically, the Summerville bell would ring at times of significance, and on the Health Sciences Campus, bells are rung when babies are born at the medical center and when patients finish their last round of chemotherapy at the Cancer Center. The designers expanded on that idea by incorporating architectural cues from the Augusta community into an A-frame bell tower in a U-shaped shield for Augusta University.

“We thought the clarion call of the bell could bring everyone together in a way that reflected the city,” Evans said.

To further expound on this idea, a bell tower could be constructed on the Health Sciences Campus so that the bells on both

Most signage at Augusta University hasn’t been changed yet, but a scrolling marquee along Wrightsboro Road periodically displays the Victory A. Photo by Gary Kauffman

campuses can ring simultaneously at graduation and on other special occasions.

The system approach is further emphasized by the new look of the typography that, while unified at the institutional level, breaks off into other fonts for other uses. Clinical communications, for example, will utilize a sans serif font, while Athletics will use the dynamic Forza typeface for its communications.

The athletic wordmark, which highlights the one-word Augusta brand, is actually a

custom type called Roar that’s based on the angles of the victory A. “You don’t have as many parameters when you create spirit marks, other than coming up with a simplified logo design that hasn’t been done before,” Stewart said with a smile.

“But man – there are a lot of A’s out there.”

Specifically, the victory A was developed following the idea that it had to be appropriate for a college town.

“Augusta is a college town,” Evans said.

“That was sort of the design mantra. The Communications and Marketing team and our consultants all carried that with us. We wanted to make sure we reflected that and

captured that energy in the brand.”

Unlike the A, which is a strong departure from the A last used at Augusta State University, the new jaguar is very similar to the old one, an evolution rather than a revolution.

And that was intentional. Throughout the rebranding process, it became obvious the community really connected with the jaguar, so instead of drastic changes, they simply made it a little more competitivelooking by opening the mouth, baring its teeth, giving it a slightly different eye and ear and updating its color pattern.

While the university will retain its unique blue and grey color scheme, the shades have been altered to avoid some of the issues previously experienced with the other colors.

A very specific color palette, including the amount each color should be used in certain messages, is included in the brand guide, which gives detailed instructions on the proper use of all Augusta University brand items.

Though the project has been a rewarding endeavor, all involved are anxious to unveil the brand.

“I can’t wait to see the flags in front of businesses and homes,” Evans said. “That’s part of the strength of the array of visual identity that we have, in that there’s something for everybody, and we think people are going to show their pride for Augusta University.”

Reprinted from Augusta University’s website, Jagwire.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

37

38 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

39

Economist says Georgia economy to outpace nation’s While Georgia’s economy will grow faster than the nation’s next year, the pace of job growth in the Peach State will slow, according to the Georgia Economic Outlook report by the University of Georgia Terry College of Business.

Speaking at the Georgia Economic Outlook series kickoff event in Atlanta, Terry College Dean Benjamin Ayers said Georgians can look forward to a rise in personal income of 5.7 percent and a state GDP increase of 3.3 percent.

“What accounts for our optimism? First, Georgia has a large number of major projects in its development pipeline,” he said.

“Second, Georgia’s economy will get more

leverage from the housing recovery than the national economy. Third, Georgia will see much faster population growth than the nation. Finally, continued low oil and gas prices are much better for Georgia’s economy than for the U.S. economy.”

Georgia’s 2016 growth stems in part from projects already in the economic development pipeline, such as Baxter International’s new facility and GM’s IT-innovation center, as well as a continued upcycle in the housing recovery, supportive demographic forces and a rise in small business starts and expansions, Ayers said.

But while these projects will create employment opportunities, job growth will

slow in the coming year.

“One reason why Georgia’s job growth will slow is that in the wake of the Great Recession many companies were too cautious about hiring and were essentially playing catch up in 2014 and 2015,” Ayers said.

“Now, most companies are no longer significantly understaffed. So, this extra push for job growth is gone. A second reason is that businesses’ profits are coming under more stress. That’s partially because expectations about the national and global economies moving into higher gear have not been realized.”

Specifically, Georgia’s non-farm employment will rise by 2.4 percent, which is nearly

half a percent below the estimate for state employment in 2015.

“On a more positive note, the quality of the jobs created is likely to increase,” Ayers said. “For example, a larger share of the new jobs created will be full time rather than part time. Also, Georgia’s tighter labor market should cause wage growth to accelerate.”

The nation as a whole won’t fare quite as well. While the U.S. can expect modest GDP growth at 2.5 percent, it will average only a 1.4 percent rise in employment. This is still good news, but it represents a slowdown of the post-Great Recession economic momentum.

Augusta University recently completed its Campus Master Plan – a roadmap for transformational change over the next decade that will strengthen the institution’s position as a destination of choice for education, health care, discovery, creativity and innovation.

The plan encompasses the Summerville, Health Sciences and Forest Hills campuses and identifies challenges and opportunities in existing physical settings that support the academic, research, clinical and student life domains.

“The Master Plan is critical in planning for our future,” said Augusta University President Dr. Brooks Keel. “We must make

sure we have the right facilities to carry out our missions of teaching, education, service and research.”

The planning phase lasted more than a year and drew widespread institutional participation and oversight from a large cross-section of Augusta University and its affiliated health system. The process was largely data-driven as planners looked at quantity and utilization of space, facility conditions, housing, parking and transportation, and land.

The Campus Master Plan, while comprehensive in nature, is a fluid document intended to maintain flexibility in keeping with an ever-changing university.

Clinical projections are still being finalized and will be forthcoming based on program direction.

One of the driving factors planners focused on is anticipated student enrollment growth.

“When you talk about expanding the campus, it has to start with the students,” Keel said, “and with an increasing enrollment, you have to have all the amenities that students will need.”

With university enrollment expected to increase by as much as 20 percent over the next decade, each of Augusta University’s nine colleges is anticipating growth, which also will necessitate more faculty and staff.

Student housing is projected to surge, aided by the new undergraduate and graduate residence halls under construction on the Health Sciences Campus. This new housing was an early driver in the planning process; however, the Campus Master Plan envisions much more than building new facilities.

“A Campus Master Plan of this magnitude is not just about new construction,” Keel said. “It is about repurposing existing buildings and the renovation of existing space.

That’s one of the exciting aspects of this plan is that it will allow us to do both.”

More detailed information and video will be released in the coming weeks.

Augusta University unveils Campus Master Plan for future

40 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

USTA holding state mixed doubles championship in CSRA The United States Tennis Association Georgia has selected CSRA Tennis Association to host the 2016 on August 12-15 and 2017 State Mixed Doubles Championship Tournament.

This event has long been recognized as the premier State Championship in Georgia, typically including about 900 tennis players from across the state. Tournament matches will be played at Newman Tennis Center, Petersburg Racquet Club, Riverview Park and other public and private courts in Richmond and Columbia Counties.

The Direct Economic Impact to the local area, including hotels, restaurants and shopping, is estimated to be $800,000 for each event.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

41

Career & Education Daphne Jones

Wise Choices

Hiring the right employee takes some preparation As the economy has begun to improve and signs of production and job growth become more consistent, your business may decide that hiring a new employee is the next step in growing your market share.

But as research and most employers suggest, making the right hire is no easy task. The wrong hire can cause turnover and the harm it causes is something every hiring manager or business owner should be concerned with.

Costs associated with replacing an employee include recruiting, training, lost productivity and new hire expenses, which can total up to 150 percent of the employee’s total annual salary, according to author Bill Bliss.

And while there are several incentives or programs a company can offer employees to encourage employee commitment, turnover can often be traced to the hiring process. In fact, research from the Harvard Business Review shows 80 percent of turnover happens because of a mistake made during this process.

Here are a few ways you can feel confident you’ve done everything you can to make sure your next hire won’t be walking out the door in six months.

Relevant Experience There may be several qualified candidates for any one job, but take into consideration the experience each person has that is specific to your business or industry. There may not be any candidates who have the specific industry knowledge you’re looking for, but don’t discount experience in the same daily tasks that the position requires.

And if the top candidates for the job have several years of experience in your business’ industry, but lack an understanding of the specific job you’re hiring for, keep them in consideration.

In an online survey on RefreshLeadership.com, a blog for today’s business leaders, 65 percent of respondents believe qualified experience was the most important part of the employee selection process.

Culture Fit When bringing on a new employee, it’s important to make sure that person fits your company’s culture before they ever become full time. Recognize what your business’ culture is and then identify the top candidates that line up with that culture and vision. If your company holds a more professional business attitude, from meetings to dress style, address that in the hiring process through interview questions.

When businesses are open and hon-

Scam artists offering help with federal jobs, BBB warns

Perhaps you’ve seen the advertisements in the classified section of the newspapers advertising job vacancies with the U.S. Government or U.S. Postal Service. Scam artists behind these ads offer, for a fee, to help job seekers find and apply for federal jobs.

Some companies try to confuse consumers by using names that sound like government agencies, such as “U.S. Agency for Career Advancement,” or the “Postal Employment Service.” Consumers should know that information about federal job vacancies are available free from the federal government.

Federal agencies and the U.S. Postal Service never charge application fees, sell study guides for job tests or guarantee that an applicant will be hired. If positions require a competitive examination – and many do not – the federal agencies doing the hiring usually offer free sample questions to applicants who sign up for the exam.

To help you recognize federal job scams, the Better Business Bureau, along with the Federal Trade Commission, suggest you be aware of the following types of ads or techniques used by scam artists.

42 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

• Ads that offer information about “hidden” or unadvertised federal jobs.

• Ads that refer to a toll-free phone number. Often in these cases, an operator encourages you to buy a “valuable” booklet containing job listings, practice test questions, and tips for entrance exams.

• Classified ads, online ads or telephone sales pitches that imply an affiliation with the federal government, guarantee high test scores or state that “no experience is necessary.”

• Toll-free numbers that direct you to other pay-per-call numbers (like 900 numbers) for more information. Under federal law, any solicitations for pay-per-call numbers must include full disclosures about the cost of the call. The solicitation must make clear if there is an affiliation with the federal government, and give you a chance to hang up before you incur any charges.

There are many ways that scammers can take advantage of job-seekers but the BBB suggests that you save your time and money.

Contact the agency that interests you directly or visit their website to see if positions are available in your area and to obtain the necessary application forms.

est about the culture and attitude they expect of their employees, they are more likely to attract the right talent.

Train to Hire Better Being properly trained and prepared to hire the top talent your company needs is an important part of hiring right. Researching candidates, recruiting skills, an understanding of the hiring climate and knowledge of the laws associated with interviewing are all essential skills to have for someone in a hiring position.

Reckless hiring is one of the top threats to a successful company in today’s business climate. Don’t let the

high costs of turnover and the dangers that come with hiring the wrong employee affect your business.

Daphne Jones is the Senior Staffing Consultant for Express Employment Professionals. Formerly Vice President of Finance and Administration for the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, she has been a HR professional for over 22 years and now provides staffing solutions for area businesses. She is a past president of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), an alumnus of Leadership Augusta. Daphne can be reached at 706-364-4473 or daphne.jones@expresspros. com. Visit Express Employment Professionals at expresspros.com/augustaga.

Lack of experience biggest obstacle for unemployed Unemployed U.S. adults seeking work say that lack of experience is the main obstacle that prevents them from finding a job, and training would increase their chances of job offers, according to the results of an American Staffing Association Workforce Monitor survey.

Forty percent of unemployed U.S. adults (excluding retirees) are currently looking for work, according to the survey conducted online by Harris Poll. These unemployed job seekers are optimistic about their work future despite being unemployed, on average, for just over three years. Nearly three in four (72 percent) are confident that they will find a job within the next year.

The two most common reasons for their current state of joblessness are that they were permanently laid off (22 percent) or they voluntarily quit their jobs (19 percent).

Unemployed job seekers also say that training is critical to their ability to re-enter the workforce. Four in five (82 percent) agree training would increase their chances of receiving job offers, and nearly nine in

10 (88 percent) would be willing to work in a new field if training were provided.

The U.S. unemployed (excluding retirees) not seeking work have been out of the labor force, on average, for six years. The two explanations cited most often for why they are not looking for a job are that they have enough money (30 percent) or because of ongoing health issues (27 percent).

What would it take to get them off the workforce sidelines? Half of these respondents say schedule flexibility, good benefits and a livable wage would encourage them to look for a job. However, training is even more important: nearly three in four (73 percent) would be willing to work in a new field if training was provided.

“U.S. employers are grappling with workforce supply issues because of a shrinking labor pool and skills gaps,” said Richard Wahlquist, ASA president and chief executive officer. “Companies can – and should –tap into this large and growing segment of the population by investing in training to help fill the millions of job openings in the U.S.”

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

43

Career and Education Missie Usry

Think Small

Community colleges offer a more personal touch When high school students and parents are searching for the perfect school, often it is based on specific wish-list factors, such as faculty that are well educated, an environment where students can have fun and where tuition is affordable. Instead of jumping completely into a big name university, why not consider starting with a community college?

Community colleges are a great launching pad to pre-

pare students for the full college experience away from home. Many community colleges offer small class sizes so that the faculty-to-student ratio is much lower. This means the student has access to one-on-one tutoring from that faculty member when they struggle in a course. Students attending larger college campuses may find auditorium seating in a lecture hall with only a graduate school assistant to help.

Community colleges also adhere to the same standards in hiring faculty with the proper credentials as larger universities to maintain their regional accreditation, which makes their credits transferrable to a major college down the road. Often those same community colleges hire adjunct faculty with not only the proper credentials, but also years of experience in their fields. This offers students a hands-on approach where they can gain real life experiences to enhance textbook theories.

Although community colleges may not have an entire pledge week or homecoming parades that are filled with grandeur, there are still plenty

of opportunities for students to be involved on campus. In fact, the likelihood that any and every student can be involved in some club or organization is higher in a community college than in a large university where cliques may exist. There is no lack of excitement on a community college campus because many still have sports teams and a student government that promote student activities.

The cost of education continues to rise and many larger universities are seeing a drop in enrollment. However, community college enrollment has increased and there is a huge reason for it – defined by dollar signs.

Community colleges like Georgia Military College focus more on the experience of the student than on making large profits. They are conscious of spending, work hard to eliminate waste and try to keep overhead costs low. Students who choose community colleges appreciate the lower cost of tuition and the shorter list of fees associated with attendance.

Community colleges like Georgia Military College are typically half the cost of attending a four-year university

each year. Other programs in place, such as book rentals systems and free tutoring, increase the savings. Staying at home with parents eliminates the need for providing housing or meal plans.

In the long run, students graduate college with lower student loan debt, which is good news to everyone.

Students owe it to themselves to take a hard look at community colleges to find out more about requirements and transfer options. It may be the wisest choice ever made.

And boy, is it cool to see.

I have an unsatisfied streak of engineering geek in me, so seeing that massive machinery up close and personal was awe-inspiring, as was the enlightening visit to a control room. (No, it didn’t look anything like Homer Simpson’s Sector 7G.) It was interesting to learn that the cooling towers, so symbolic of nuclear power, have zero nuclear components; in fact, they’re also used at coal-fired plants. And it was both slightly unnerving, yet very reassuring, to see all the fortified bunkers available for security staff. If only our foreign

embassies were so well-protected.

More than anything else, though, it was an eye-opening experience to get a first-hand look at the construction project that, every day, brings more than 5,000 employees – operating staff, construction workers and vendors – to a very remote part of east Georgia.

Until I set foot on the site as a tourist, I had no idea.

Missie Usry is Enrollment Manager, holding an MBA in Marketing, and heads up Georgia Military College’s Augusta campus Admissions department. The Admissions department is responsible for enrollment, marketing, public relations, and recruiting activities. James Brady is a Communications professor at both Georgia Military College and Georgia Regents University. He is a graduate of Duquesne University, and is personally committed to character development in young people. For questions about how to enroll in Georgia Military College’s degree programs, call 706-993-1123, email musry@gmc.cc.ga.us, or visit gmcaugusta.com.

Career & Education Barry Paschal

Clue School First-hand look at Plant Vogtle is an eye-opening experience There’s a phenomenon often discussed among Goodwill organizations: The concept that people will learn how our organization works and afterward say, “I had no idea.”

As a result, one of the favorite parts of my job is the opportunity to lead visitors on tours of our Augusta campus of Goodwill and Helms College. Taking visitors from the donation drive-through, to the processing area and retail store and through Hire Grounds Café sets them up to see how revenue from donated goods and contract services support the employment assistance programs at the Job Connection.

Then, down the sidewalk, they learn how our traditional career development and education services have grown to include Helms College and its School of Hospitality, with a School of Health and Human Services now offering additional educational opportunities.

44 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

At the end of this tour, we usually hear at least once: “I had no idea.”

Imagine, then, my experience at being on the receiving end of the aha moment: Getting a special tour of Plant Vogtle.

Georgia Power’s External Affairs Manager Tim McGill had graciously offered the opportunity to tour the Burke County facility several times, but I always had a conflict – particularly since it’s a long day to accommodate.

While our Goodwill campus tour lasts maybe 20 minutes, it takes nearly 45 minutes just to get to the remote Plant Vogtle. And it takes nearly that long to get through the facility’s very tight security.

As I’ve now learned, however, the visit is well worth the investment of time.

For those who aren’t aware, Southern Nuclear – a division of the Southern Company, which in turn is the parent of Georgia Power – operates the two nuclear reactors at Plant Vogtle, producing enough electricity each day to light up nearly half a million homes and businesses. While that continues daily – producing renewable, environmentally friendly energy – the big activity at the 3,100-acre plant is the construction of units 3 and 4.

Once finished, those nuclear reactors will double the plant’s output – with smaller, more-efficient reactors and generators.

Barry L. Paschal is Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, parent organization of Helms College at www.helms.edu.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

45

46 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

47

Business Counseling Carolyn Ramp

Positive Charge Positive thoughts, actions can lead to a happier life We’re still talking about getting happier by making a change. Why do this?

Well, there are a number of reasons: to start feeling better, to get along better with others, to increase self-esteem and to find greater meaning and purpose in life. We’ve also discussed how it’s a DIY (Do It Yourself) project so the focus has to be on you – the only person you truly have the power to change!

Think of yourself as having a bank account inside you.

Most of us make regular negative deposits into that bank – we do things that are not good for us and we think badly about ourselves because of the negative things we do – or the positive things we don’t do. Then all we can withdraw from this inner bank is negative feelings about ourselves.

Our brains do not have the ability to not think something. Our brains can only think something. For example, if I say, “I’m not going to eat chocolate cake,” all my brain can think about is chocolate cake. I’ve given my brain something to think about in a negative way. Instead, what I need to say is something more positive, like “I’m going to eat fat-free sugar-free chocolate pudding.” Now my brain

will focus on something more positive.

So to help ourselves get in a more positive frame of mind – which will help us get happier – there are four aspects to consider.

Positive Action – To make a positive-action deposit in your bank, do something for yourself and/or for others.

For yourself: Read a good book, watch a good movie, take a class or make time for a favorite friend.

For others: smile at others, volunteer to help someone with something, do a favor for someone or encourage another person.

Each day do something positive for yourself and for someone else. This should be something only controlled by you – not dependent on someone else and how that person may act.

Make it something simple – not too complicated and make it specific so you can readily recognize when you’ve accomplished it.

Positive Rational Thinking – Deposit positive thoughts in your bank and imagine yourself attaining what it is you’ve decided is right for you. To think positively takes practice and the best way to practice is to have a few mottos you tell yourself every day. “I will succeed.” “I can do this for me.”

“It’s going to be a great day.” Then begin imagining yourself already having achieved your goal – making the income you desire, getting the promotion you’d like – and remind yourself that “Today is the first day of the rest of my life.”

Positive Physical Activity – Figure out what kind of physical activity

Business Counseling Carol Gignoux

Happy Choices Understanding self-worth can lead to choosing to be happy We human beings are a conflicted bunch. In an effort to simplify our lives, we overcomplicate them.

We argue about what to do for this, what is best for that, what the research proves, what science says, why I am

48 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

right and you are wrong. Even though there are only a handful of reasons for our unhappiness, we have built countless professions, written thousands of books, created hundreds of courses and self help guides, and spent billions of dollars on finding happiness –something we already have immediate access to.

So what does this have to do with ADHD (or those with the Innovator Type Brain, as I prefer to call it)? In an effort to explain, understand and help those with this brain type, we have done the opposite.

If you’re labeled as having a disorder with an attention deficit, at some point in your life that will likely become your go-to explanation for your problems.

And since clearly you are already damaged with the cards stacked against you, why put yourself through the embarrassment, constant failures and shame of trying to succeed? It hurts less to shut down, turn off and go underground.

your body can handle. Start slowly with something doable and make it measurable, like “I can walk for 15 minutes once a day.” When you make this deposit in your inner bank you will begin to feel even more positive. If you can’t get to the gym, just walk around the office. Tell someone you are doing this and ask them to hold you accountable.

Positive/Happier Feelings – This could be the most important deposit in your inner bank but you can’t directly deposit this one. When you work on the first three, you will automatically make a deposit of this kind. Instead of feeling angry with yourself, you will feel pleased. Instead of feeling guilty, you will feel satisfied.

There’s a saying I share with others that goes, “If I do what I’m doing, I’ll get what I’ve got.” Basically, if you keep doing what you’ve been doing,

you’ll keep getting what you’ve already got. The question is, Do you like what you’ve got?

If you change what you’re doing, improve what you’re thinking, and throw in a new physical activity; your inner bank will begin overflowing with positivity and happiness, which brings about peace of mind, fulfillment, joy, hope, a spirit of giving and so much more.

So instead of what could be your amazing life, you live full-time on the Internet, self-medicate and numb out, gamble, get addicted to pornography or take up a life of crime. This is what happens to bright intelligent people who are marginalized early in life. I know – I have been working with them for years.

Happiness is knowing without a doubt that we are worthy and on this planet to make a difference. Not some of us – all of us.

Since we are born happy, we have the option every second of the day to choose happiness over unhappiness, love over fear, and to be a contributor to something positive or a victim of something negative. No one can convince us we are insignificant or beyond hope unless we allow them to.

It’s our business and our most important job in this lifetime to develop our gifts and talents in the way that is unique to us. Your life and mine are not, and never will be, about being con-

demned to fit a self-defeating label like ADHD. Happiness is waking up every day knowing you count and your contribution is important even if only showing love to everyone you come into contact with, giving a boost to every life you touch.

Remember you have the same brain as all of the important innovators throughout time. Break through what is holding you back and find your purpose.

Carolyn A. Ramp has a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Augusta State University and a Specialist’s Degree in Counseling from Georgia Southern. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. She served as an Adjunct Professor at Augusta State University in the graduate counseling program. She is the owner of Resolution Counseling Professionals located in the Atrium on Wheeler Road. Contact her at 706-432-6866.

Carol Gignoux is a coach, trainer and motivational expert in the world of achievement and productivity with a 40-year background in educating and training people of all ages. She is well established as an expert in ADHD Coaching with more than 16 years of experience. For the past decade she has engaged in extensive research and developed powerful insights into how dynamic relationships between individual people and their organizational environments are created. Contact her at 706-955-9063 or carol@liveADHDfree.com.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

49

Business Health Terry Childers

High Stakes

Drug abuse causes dangerous consequences in some jobs According to research, approximately 8 percent of adults who consume alcohol or drugs will become addicted. The base risk for substance use disorders is the same across all professions. Although the overall rate of abuse isn’t higher in healthcare professionals, lawyers, police officers and other high stress occupations, the stakes are much higher when drug abuse does occur.

Let’s take a closer look at these specific professions: Healthcare Professionals. This group consists of physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, veterinarians and others in the medical field. The unique demands and pressures placed upon this particular group can contribute to stress, burnout, depression – and alcohol or drug abuse.

Because the professional caregiver’s primary role is often to be in control and solve problems, they can have unrealistic expectations of themselves. They are frequently so involved caring for others, they fail to adequately care for themselves. Plus, with easy access to controlled substances, they are confronted with temptations not usually faced by the general population.

Denial is extremely high for this population, and it usually takes intervention by peers or co-workers to begin the treatment process.

Bradford Health Services has treated the most healthcare professionals in the country over the past several

years at our facility in Warrior, Ala. The medical director, Dr. Michael Wilkerson, is nationally renowned for his expertise in treating healthcare professionals. The Healthcare Professional Program’s primary objective is to facilitate recovery and return to professional practice.

Legal Professionals. This group consists of attorneys, judges, paralegals and others in the legal community.

Selfless dedication, long hours, intense responsibility and constant pressures to find solutions to other people’s problems go hand in hand with a legal career.

Ultra competitiveness and adversity are the nature of the game. It is not uncommon to use drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism, which may result in dependency. With extremely high denial and the continuing demands of the job, attorneys are 3.6 times more likely to suffer from depression.

Mike Stewart is our legal liaison at our Legal Professional Program at the facility in Warrior, Ala. Mike is an attorney and can relate to the specific needs of his colleagues. This specialty program has become known throughout the country as well for its effectiveness in treating this population, and returning members of this community back to professional practice.

Military. This group consists of active duty soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, reservists and retirees/veterans.

When admitting an alcohol or drug problem, this is one case in which the military mindset can actually be the enemy. The never-surrender, neverquit attitude that generally serves people in the military so well can also make them prone to deny any sign of personal weakness – including a drug or alcohol problem.

Joe Elston, our military liaison, has

AU health awarded Circle of Excellence for patient care, safety Augusta University’s health system has earned three patient care quality and safety awards from the Partnership for Health and Accountability, an affiliate of the Georgia Hospital Association.

The health system earned awards for improving infant sleep safety through education efforts at Augusta University Medical Center and for curbing patient wait times through more efficient supply protocols in the pediatric medical/surgical unit and improving on-time start rates in pediatric surgery at Children’s Hospital of Georgia. In addition, the health system earned a spot in GHA’s prestigious Circle of Excellence for cumulative excellence in patient safety over the last five years.

“We are committed to delivering excellent health care to each and every patient

50 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

from the tiniest baby in our Children’s Hospital of Georgia to the most complex trauma patient at Augusta University Medical Center,” said Kevin Dellsperger, vice president and chief medical officer. Being recognized repeatedly for our efforts demonstrates just how dedicated we are to providing exemplary health care at Augusta University.”

To qualify for the Circle of Excellence, a hospital must earn a Patient Safety Award in the current year and have been recognized with three or more awards within the last five years. Other awards the health system at Augusta University has been commended for within recent years include reducing surgical site infection rates through education with the Asepsis Program, enhancing cardiac care by successfully managing blood and sugar levels in heart surgery patients.

remained in the army reserves, and is adept at dealing with the chain of command and military regulations. The specialty military program in Warrior, Ala., has received high accolades throughout the country for the work we do with active duty military from all branches and their families.

Law Enforcement and Emergency Responders. This group consists of police officers, fire fighters, EMTs, paramedics, ATF/DEA agents and other law enforcement officers. Law enforcement and emergency responders are trained to rise above adversity and work their way through difficult, traumatic and potentially life-threatening situations.

This highly focused way of life – combined with an attitude of indestructibility – can make it easier to ignore a drug or alcohol problem. The specialty program for this population at our facility in Warrior, Ala., offers services specifically designed to make acknowledgement and acceptance of a drug or alcohol problem easier so treatment and recovery can begin right away.

Bradford also specializes in working with other licensed professionals whose career may be in jeopardy because of substance use disorders. We also serve other safety-sensitive occupations such as pilots and others whose actions have implications for the safety of others involved.

The highest rates of suicide by profession include those that we provide these specialty programs for – doctors, dentists, police officers, lawyers, veterinarians, pharmacists and military service members. Suicides and substance abuse go hand in hand in many cases.

Terry Childers has been with Bradford Health Services for 6.5 years as the Community Representative. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1992 with a BS.Ed. in Educational Psychology and was the starting catcher for the 1990 National Championship baseball team . He also played professionally.

Childers is available to talk to any group on a variety of substance abuse topics. Contact him at tchilders@bradfordhealth.net.

Family Y launches annual fundraiser

The Family YMCA of Greater Augusta launched its annual fundraising campaign on Feb. 16.

The annual event raises funds that ensure that everyone in the CSRA has access to vital Family YMCA programs and resources that support youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

Every day, the Family Y of Greater Augusta works to support the people and neighborhoods that need it most by addressing community issues, such as obesity, childcare and programs for people with disabilities.

“At the Family Y, strengthening community is our cause, and in the CSRA, the Y of provides an anchor to our community that gives all of us – regardless of age, income or background – the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive,” said Don Winslow, the Family YMCA’s Annual

Campaign Chairman. “Your financial gift will help continue the important work the Family Y does, be it providing kids a safe place to learn and grow after school; offering families opportunities to reconnect and grow together; or providing people of all backgrounds access to education and training to help them reach their full potential.”

This year, the Family Y of Greater Augusta hopes to raise $1,051,200. Funds raised will support scholarship services, memberships and public outreach programs.

In 2015, the Family Y of Greater Augusta awarded more than $1.6 million in financial assistance to individuals and families. The charitable gifts from donors made it possible for the community’s low income families to send their children to after-school care, full-day childcare or Family Y day camp programs.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

51

Healthy Lifestyles Bethany Roley/Blake Crewe

All Together Now Joining a group workout boosts your motivation

Getting started on a fitness regime can often be a tough first step for a lot of people. Big gyms can be intimidating with all of the fancy equipment so people don’t know where to start, what exercises to do, and whether they are doing them with proper form and safely. Hiring a personal trainer is often too costly.

Joining a group fitness class is often the solution in those situations. Whether you are a seasoned gym goer or a newbie, everyone can benefit from joining a group fitness class.

Benefits of Group Fitness Classes Motivation: Walking into a class full of like-minded,

52 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

dedicated, fun people who are supporting you and cheering you on can help tremendously in keeping you focused and dedicated in working toward your health and fitness goals.

The whole concept of feeling part of a “tribe” and belonging is part of our DNA, and group fitness can fill that need for many of us. Having an instructor encourage you, inspire you and empower you to step outside of your comfort zone and push to do more than you would ever do on your own can help provide motivation to fuel your workouts even on those days when you just do not feel like showing up.

Looking around the class and seeing others pushing themselves and encouraging others can give you the boost that you need to keep pushing yourself to dig deep, step outside of your comfort zone and to accomplish things that you would never have done working out alone.

Accountability: You are more likely to show up to a group fitness class than a solo session at the gym. You begin cultivating relationships with the instructor and other participants and it is noticed when you are missing. They reach out to you, check in with you and encourage you to return to class. You create friendships with

The whole concept of feeling part of a “tribe” and belonging is part of our DNA, and group fitness can fill that need for many of us. others in the class and look forward to spending that time sweating together.

Having that accountability helps keep you motivated in coming to workouts and on track with your goals. You are less likely to skip when you know others are expecting you to show up.

Proper form and safety: The job of a group fitness instructor is to create fun, safe workouts for participants.

When you work out alone there is no one there to make sure you are doing an exercise correctly to help you avoid injury and to get the maximum benefit from the exercise. In a group fitness class you have an instructor there with you every step of the way instructing you and coaching you on proper form and mechanics of each exercise and to make sure you are doing it safely.

Variety: Group fitness classes are often different every time you come. There

are so many different styles of group fitness classes that you can change it up constantly to combat boredom and that dreaded fitness plateau. The variety of classes offered with group fitness keeps working out fresh and fun.

Whether it be the camaraderie and friendships, or the accountability and motivation, joining a group fitness class can be what you need to keep your workouts fresh and new. They keep you inspired, encouraged and on track and to work towards your health and fitness goals.

Blake Crewe and Bethany Roley are the coowners of Fierce Fitness Training, a women and youth only fitness training facility. Blake is the Lead Programmer of Fierce Fitness Youth, CF-L1, CF Kids certified, Ed. S. Bethany is a certified personal trainer, group fitness instructor, health coach, and online health and fitness coach. She is the creator of Bethany’s Bikini Fit Camp and Breaking Free, a women’s selfempowerment program. Contact Bethany at bethany.fiercefitness@hotmail.com.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

53

54 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

55

Business Lunch Review DeChicko’s Peri-Peri Cafe Susan O’Keefe

DiChicko’s Peri-Peri Café is located at 2825 Washington Road in Augusta. For questions or to book a lunch date, call 706-737-8805.

Hot Times

Pepper sauce is key ingredient at DiChicko’s Peri-Peri Cafe Even an hour after high noon, DiChicko’s Peri-Peri Café still entertained an ample crowd. As folks waited for their food, they sauntered through the aisles of New Life Natural Foods, where the café is located. The market sits in Fairway Square on Washington Road in Augusta.

Scanning the menu of popular paninis, mouth-watering melts,and traditional soups and salads, I listened as customers placed their orders. There’s a system at DiChicko’s. It involves numbers, peri-peri sauce, and begs the question if customers can take the heat!

Peri-peri is a South African pepper that is a signature ingredient in the café’s eight sauces and is used extensively in food preparation. Customers request to what extent they would prefer their peri-peri sauce heated.

As my colleagues and I made our choices, ordered and paid at the counter, we glanced in the direction of the kitchen. It’s always nice to get a glimpse of what goes on behind closed doors.

Actually, it’s a very open kitchen concept. Customers can watch the staff toss and toast plus sauté and spread.

On this day, there was a flurry of orders but no one seemed overwhelmed. Perhaps it was the softly playing meditative music piped through the speakers.

Lunch prices vary from a $5 kids meal to a near $10 combo meal. DiChicko’s website and in-house menu state their allegiance to using as many organic, natural products as possible. (Understandably, the season may dictate certain foods’ availability in the restaurant.)

The ever popular entrée, DiChicko’s Bowl, is a generous portion of black beans and rice covered with chicken, avocado, onion, tomatoes and provolone cheese. It carries a near $9 price tag.

A fish or chicken quesadilla will only cost $7, as do a sunshine veggie burger and Mediterranean hummus melt with cucumbers, black olives, tomato, onion and feta. Combo meals include a side item plus a drink with refills.

Seating is a bit eclectic at DiChicko’s, which adds to the charm of this local eatery. There are tables and booths in a couple of different sections. There are various high-top tables and counter seats. A private room is also available for small to mid-size parties. It is located a few steps away from the main dining areas.

On this particular day, my colleagues

and I chose a table near the back of the restaurant. Nearby, there were half a dozen businessmen nursing the final drops of their drinks. They also seemed to be putting final touches on business ideas. Four businesswomen occupied a booth and seemed to be immersed in a strategizing conversation.

Another couple of patrons sat beside us and chatted in a friendly tone. When their orders were delivered, I immediately inquired about their selections.

(That’s a fair thing to do in the South!)

The vibrant green broccoli sat perched beside a fresh flap stuffed with turkey, avocado, red onion, spring mix and provolone cheese. I almost succumbed to food envy but just in the nick of time, our order was delivered.

A chicken club panini on sourdough bread was welcomed with rave reviews from a colleague. My own sunshine

veggie burger topped with a mound of spring mix made my taste buds smile.

Another colleague feasted on the roasted veggie panini. With nary a crumb remaining, we wiped our mouths and sighed in satisfaction.

DiChicko’s lunch hours are Monday through Saturday from 11 to 4. For the customer who only needs a quick pickme-up or is looking for an alternative to the standard coffee meeting, DiChicko’s offers an extensive selection of juices and smoothies.

Stopping to shake hands and swap contact info was the norm at DiChicko’s.

A certain hub of conversation gravitated toward business ideas being swapped over peri-peri sauce. The relaxing atmosphere seemed to give license to an extended lunch hour and folks exited with a little more spring in their step. Maybe the secret’s in the sauce.

Diet Coke uses digital printing to create millions of unique bottles Love comes in many forms and fashions, but the affection fans feel for Diet Coke is truly unique. This month, fans will have another reason to swoon over their favorite no-calorie beverage. For the first time ever, the great taste of Diet Coke will be available in millions of unique package designs with the launch of the Diet Coke It’s Mine program. The innovative initiative, a continuation of the brand’s Get A Taste campaign, launched Feb. 1.

The It’s Mine program also marks another first for the U.S. brand’s history – the introduction of the Diet Coke 12-oz. glass contour bottle, available for a limited time.

Millions of one-of-a-kind, vibrant designs featured on the bottles mean no two are the same – just like the fans who enjoy Diet Coke.

“The launch of the It’s Mine program is a continued celebration of our fans’ unique, steadfast love for the delicious taste of Diet Coke,” said Rafael Acevedo, Group Direc-

56 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

tor, Diet Coke, Coca-ColaNorth America.

“Through a robust, integrated national program, we’re inviting fans to choose from millions of unique Diet Coke designs, selecting the one they feel is uniquely their own.”

Diet Coke partnered with HP Inc. to leverage their innovative HP Indigo digital printing technology as part of design development and bottle production. First, Diet Coke created 36 ‘base’ designs inspired by the bubbles, fizz, taste and spirit of Diet Coke. Then, through HP’s software, the base designs were used to automatically create millions of entirely new graphics.

Fans can purchase their own Diet Coke It’s Mine bottle, while supplies last, at major retailers across the country. In addition to the Diet Coke 12-oz. glass bottles, a select number of patterns will also be available on 7.5-oz. mini-cans, 8.5-oz. aluminum bottles, 12-oz. and 16-oz. cans and 500 mL and 20oz. PET bottles.

To kick off the program with fans, Diet Coke partnered with celebrity stylist, E! “Fashion Police” host and Diet Coke fan, Brad Goreski to host an It’s Mine pop-up fashion house experience in New York City at the start of fashion week. Goreski shared his must-haves for the upcoming season and gave fans that splash of color they love at micro-styling appointments. Fans will browse through the season’s wardrobe must-haves curated by Goreski before meeting with him one-on-one to complete their look with the ultimate must-have accessory – their very own It’s Mine Diet Coke bottle.

“I am excited to get the great taste of Diet

Coke, now in a unique It’s Mine design,” said Goreski. “It will be fun to see how other fans use their own It’s Mine bottle to add the perfect pop of color to their look.”

From Feb. 8 through March 31, fans nationwide can take part in the fashion house experience by entering the It’s Mine sweepstakes. Fans who share a photo of their new look for the season, paired with their It’s Mine Diet Coke, and use the hashtag #ITSMINEsweepstakes will be entered for a chance to win $10,000 worth of wardrobe must-haves hand-picked by Goreski, plus a year’s supply of Diet Coke.

From now through April, fans can interact with the It’s Mine bottle designs online through Diet Coke social content, including eye-catching cinematic pins on Pinterest and interactive, swipe-able GIFs on Twitter. The Diet Coke It’s Mine program also includes digital video and in-store, print and out-of-home advertising showcasing several bottle designs.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

57

Upcoming Business Events

Thursday, Feb. 18

Friday, Feb. 26

Ribbon Cutting: Jame Geathers Consulting , LLC. Columbia County Chamber Office, 1000 Business Boulevard, Evans, 4-5 p.m. columbiacountychamber.com

Buying and Selling a Business Presented by the Greater Aiken SCORE Chapter, Aiken Chamber of Commerce, 121 Richland Avenue, East Aiken, 9:3011:30 a.m. Kim Romaner, President of Transworld Business Advisors, will be a presenting speaker. Discussion topics in this free workshop include how to find business buying opportunities, working with a business broker, steps to successfully buy a business, and more.

For more information or to register, visit events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/ event?oeidk=a07ebz8cvub50e6ada2HY PERLINK “http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ebz8 cvub50e6ada2&llr=495wqceab”&HYPER LINK “http://events.r20.constantcontact. com/register/event?oeidk=a07ebz8cvu b50e6ada2&llr=495wqceab”llr=495wq ceab

Friday, Feb. 19 Soto Social, The Julian Smith Casino, 2200 Broad Street, Augusta, 6-9 p.m.

Free admission to the public. Soto ALG is hosting its 2nd Annual Soto Social.

There will be dinner and dancing, along with live entertainment provided by Bill Tolbert and the BTUs. Space is limited, so RSVP in advance by calling Keziah Bollinger at keziah@sotoalg.com or 706-426-4200. Columbiacountychamber.com

Tuesday, Feb. 23 Chamber Before Hours, Columbia County Chamber Office, 1000 Business Boulevard, Evans, Chairman’s Rooms A&B. 7:45-9 a.m. Breakfast and Networking: 7:45-8:15 a.m. Program: 8:15-9 a.m. Free to members, $20 for non-members. The Chamber Before Hours Breakfast brings together members from all councils and programs to network and hear short updates from the city, county and the Chamber.

In addition, there will be a keynote speaker to present on a specific issue that is relevant to Chamber businesses.

Columbiacountychamber.com

Thursday, Feb. 25 Business After Hours with Augusta Metro Chamber, Augusta Metro Offices, 1 Tenth Street, Augusta Riverfront Center, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Grand Opening and Ribbon Cut at the Chamber’s new location. See how the new space will offer expanded opportunities to fulfill their mission to support the business community of Augusta and the CSRA region. The event will be catered by Silver Palm, and a drawing will be held for door prizes. Advanced registration is strongly encouraged. For more information and to register, visit augustametrochamber.com Business After Hours with Aiken County Chamber, Aiken County Historical Museum, 433 Newberry Street, SW, Aiken, 5-7 p.m. Business After Hours provides an opportunity for a company to introduce itself to the business community. This month’s sponsors include Share Agapé and Vista Bank. For more information, visit aikenchamber.net

58 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

ing, visit georgiasbdc.org/starting-yourown-business-augusta-2015/

Friday, March 4 First Friday Means Business with the Great Aiken Chamber of Commerce, Newberry Hall, 117 Newberry Street, SW, Aiken, 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m. $18 per person. This event will feature a keynote speaker who addresses issues of interest to the business community.

First Friday Means Business includes a city, county, chamber and sponsor talk.

This monthly meeting also allows each attendee the opportunity to stand up and introduce themselves and their firm to all the other attendees. This month’s sponsor is Found Treasures of Aiken. To register, visit aikenchamber. net/index.php?src=forms&ref=events_43 77_299&rtype=299

Wednesday, March 9

Wednesday, March 2 Maximum Service sponsored by the Burke County Chamber of Commerce, Burke County Library, 241 East 6th Street, Waynesboro. Five weeks of courses will begin Wednesday, March 2 and go until Wednesday, March 30.

Participants will be familiarized with the basics of customer service in many settings, such as retail, telephone, online and community. The sessions will alert participants to the value of the customers retained and the cost of the customers lost. The courses will also teach valuable tools to help calm and placate difficult or disgruntled customers. For more information, including pricing, visit georgiasbdc.org/maximumservice-augusta-2016/ Ribbon Cutting: Stevens Creek Church, 600 Stevens Creek Road, noon1 p.m. columbiacountychamber.com

Thursday, March 3 Starting Your Own Business hosted by the Small Business Development Center, The SBDC Classroom, 1450 Greene St #3500, Augusta, 5:30-8:30 p.m. The Starting A Business course covers important tools and resources a business owner needs to establish a solid foundation during its early formative years. Topics of discussion will include personal traits of an entrepreneur, marketing analysis, legal and insurance considerations, bookkeeping and accounting basics, the basics of business plan preparation and more.

For more information, including pric-

Digital Marketing Boot Camp, The Kroc Center, 1833 Broad St., Augusta, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Digital Marketing Boot Camp is designed specifically for small business owners who want to learn to integrate technology and marketing in the digital space to increase profits and gain customers. In this full day interactive session taught by UGA SBDC digital marketing experts, you will learn how to optimize your website, make search engines work for your business, use social media to cultivate brand ambassadors, tap into the mobile marketplace, effectively utilize paid online advertising, learn about free tools to improve traffic to your website and more. For more information, including pricing, visit georgiasbdc.org/digital-marketingbootcamp-augusta-2016/

Thursday, March 10 Goodwill Job Fair, The Snelling Center, 3165 Washington Road, Augusta, 1-4 p.m. Meet with dozens of employers including Ritz Carlton, Bridgestone, Sage Valley, Augusta Warrior Project, Columbia County Board of Education, Augusta Marriott, Urban Outfitters, Macuch Steel Products, Chick-fil-A, Augusta University Health, Teleperformance, Augusta National, Allgood Pest Solutions and T-Mobile. goodwillworks. org/jobconnection

Monday, March 14 Chamber After Hours, West Lake Country Club, 3556 West Lake Dr, Augusta, 5-7 p.m. An after hours event designed for members to meet and build relationships with other business people of small to large companies within the Columbia County area. columbiacountychamber.com

Wednesday, March 16

SCORE Seminar—Small Business Opportunities in the SRS, Southern Wesleyan University Business and Technology Center, 802 East Martintown Road, Suite 101, North Augusta, 9:30-11:30 a.m. This free workshop will discuss the greatest opportunity areas at the Savannah River Site, strategies on becoming known in the SRS and the “ABCs” of the SRS Supplier Process. For more information and to register, visit greateraiken.score.org/localworkshops/ small-business-opportunities-srs

Thursday, March 24 Ribbon Cutting: Meybohm Realtors, 205 Addison Square, Evans (Take Washington Road to William Few, take right on William Few and first left on Riverwood Parkway. Addison Square is on the left.) 4-5 p.m. columbiacountychamber.com

Tuesday, March 29 Networking for Leads presented by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, Columbia County Chamber Office, 1000 Business Boulevard, Evans, 3-4 p.m. A structured program designed to promote an environment which cultivates meaningful business relationships which not only promotes one’s business, but identifies the needs of other business owners. The goal of the program is to encourage businesses to give leads, create mutually beneficial relationships and develop a net-weaving experience where leads are received. The program will consist of a round table activity which will be followed up by an optional lunch connection, based on appropriate matching, to further enhance the leads experience. For more information visit columbiacountychamber.com

Dreams of Nashville coming true Local woman takes first steps toward country music career

By Amanda King As an English teacher at Silver Bluff High School in Aiken, McKenna Hydrick encouraged her students to step out and follow their dreams. But there was always one person who wasn’t chasing her dream.

“I would always tell my students that you can do anything you want,” she said. “The more I was telling them, the more I was thinking ‘but I’m not even doing what I want to do.’ I loved teaching and I loved the kids, but what I really wanted to do was be a country music singer and a songwriter.”

And now her dream is about to come true, with the upcoming release of her debut album, “Ever After,” at The Country Club Dance Hall and Saloon in Augusta on Feb. 26.

But chasing the dream hasn’t been easy for the North Augusta native.

“I grew up listening to Christian music, but in my middle school and high school years I really attached to Faith Hill, Tim McGraw and Martina McBride,” Hydrick said. “I really fell in love with the sound and stories of country music.”

Hydrick enjoyed writing stories and articles and would later obtain undergraduate and master’s degrees in English, but was initially intimidated by writing music.

Despite the desire to write and sing country music, Hydrick chose a more traditional path, becoming an English

Photo courtesy of Krissy Leigh Creative.

teacher at Silver Bluff High School. But deep down, Hydrick knew something was missing.

So Hydrick began writing songs, then recorded an album

locally and began performing at local events, including Kicks 99’s A Day in the Country. As she began to see the fruits of her labor, she and husband, Andrew, prayerfully made the decision to pursue a country music career in 2010.

“I always told her she only gets one life and to chase her dreams until it’s over. Leave no regrets,” Andrew Hydrick said.

The couple, who had one son at the time, placed their house on the market and began “living on rice and beans,” in order to make the move to Nashville and chase her dream.

But the Hydricks’ journey was far from over.

In addition to having two more children and having a difficult time selling their home, Hydrick’s oldest son, McCall, began showing symptoms of a serious medical condition.

He was eventually diagnosed with a rare disorder called eosinophilic esophagitis, which causes inflammation in the esophagus after eating certain foods. Not long after McCall’s diagnosis, her second son, Sawyer, was diagnosed with the same disease.

Hydrick’s days of performing and recording turned to feeding her children medical formula to make sure they were consuming enough calories, attending several doctors’ appointments each week and traveling to Greenville every eight weeks for biopsies.

“That crushed me,” Andrew Hydrick said, “to see her despair of losing the dream and dealing with this terrible disease all at once.”

After a period of seeing her lost in her children’s disease, Andrew Hydrick began encouraging his wife to start her music career again. She began singing cover sets at local See DREAMS OF NASHVILLE, page 62

Annual Empty Bowl event feeds the hungry “O, God, to those who have hunger, give bread, and to those who have bread, give a hunger for justice.” – from a Latin American prayer

By Susan O’Keefe Consider the need. More than 200,000 families in the CSRA are unsure from where their next meal will come. Consider the action. Attend the 15th annual Empty Bowl luncheon the first Sunday in March.

This is the 15th year for the “Ending Hunger Together” fundraiser, which is jointly sponsored by Golden Harvest Food Bank and the Augusta Jewish Community Center. Organizers say the event provides an enjoyable all-you-can-eat buffet of soups, breads, and desserts donated by some of the CSRA’s finest restaurants, caterers and food companies.

“I think it’s a wonderful event and it involves the entire community,” said Susan Steinberg, the event’s chairwoman. “Each year many of the same people come back.

Empty Bowl

Sunday, March 6 — 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

The Legends Club, 2701 Washington Road For tickets, visit emptybowlcsra.org They leave with the compliments of ‘We can’t wait until next year!’ It’s grown every year. We outgrew the Jewish Community Center and went to The Legends in 2015.”

The Legends Club, 2701 Washington Road, will again serve as the host site for the s(o)uper event. Steinberg is grateful for growth among the CSRA. Several hundred people have attended the event for the last several years.

After a decade and a half, the Empty Bowl event has secured a full team of supporters.

“I like the fact that we are helping others,” said Steinberg. “I get excited when I get a new restaurant or donor for the silent

auction. I was in downtown Augusta and I was excited to see new businesses and they were all very supportive. This year we have about $26,000 in donations monetarily and in-kind gifts.”

Proceeds are split 50-50 between the AJCC and Golden Harvest. For each entity, it’s a win-win event. Last year’s profits were around $12,500 for each group. That’s a high return for a ticket that ranges in price from $5 to $25.

Ila Abramovitz, one of Empty Bowl’s founders, stresses the importance of continuously taking care of the hungry in the CSRA. “The money stays in the Augusta area and is used to make sure people have food to eat.”

It’s a personal mission for Ila as well.

“From my standpoint, and my religious view, in the Old Testament, it says when we harvest a field, the four corners should be

left bare so people could pick from it and not go hungry,” she said. “I truly believe that is what we are supposed to do.”

Patrons will also take home a handcrafted ceramic bowl designed by local art students. Silent auction items will be available plus t-shirts sporting local creative designs.

It’s all part of a joint effort to reduce hunger in the CSRA.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

59

Good Spirits Ben Casella

New Generation

Soda pop-tasting beers could be the wave of the near future Ah, if the Trappists of Antiquity could see what we’re brewing up today....

I honestly don’t know how to finish that sentence fragment. On the one hand, it’s difficult to view any other paradigm without a sense of chronological chauvinism, thinking that each temporal milieu of brewing is better than the last.

On the other hand, however, there exists a certain purism in believing in a notion of giant monks roaming the earth with their strong ales and mutton fat....

You’re wondering where I’m heading with such a lofty and pompous introduction. Well, I’m headed towards beer that tastes like root beer and ginger ale. Didn’t see that one coming, did ya?

Now, I know this idea sounds gimmicky and syrupy, but I think hard root beer is going to be huge in 2016 (and not just among teeny boppers and wannabe avant garde ale connoisseurs). I really see an opportunity for such a craft

Screening Room Samantha Taylor

Laughing Matters Netflix offers lots of comedies, some funnier than others I don’t know about you all, but I’ve been in a season of change in my life for some time. Along with everything else in my life, my taste in entertainment has changed over the last few years.

I used to enjoy films that left me feeling emotionally exhausted, but now, I just want to watch something that’s going to make me happy. This month, it’s all about comedy.

60 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

of beer.

So, with that said, here are two I enjoyed on Mardi Gras. At the time this was written, they could be found at the Metro Market on Broad Street, and they’re both from Wauconda, Illinois’ Small Town Brewery.

Not Your Father’s Root Beer – OK, it tastes like root beer with a kick. By this I mean to imply that if you like root beer you’ll be fine. What I found surprising was the fact that, beyond the normal taste of a glass of good root beer, there’s really not much liberty of flavor taken with this spiced ale. The flavor is simply root beer with a kick.

That’s the best way I can describe it.

The sweetness of the vanilla and caramel dominate much of the smell and taste, and the hops are barely traceable.

It’s Barq’s with a bite, and it’s really good with popcorn.

Not Your Father’s Ginger Ale – OK, it tastes like ginger ale with a kick. I will say that, while Not Your Father’s Root Beer is sweeter overall (as well it should be), there exists a sweetness in this ginger beer that is a little put-on. However, the ginger and lemon flavors hang around just long enough to dampen the sweetness with a respective spice and sour tartness that prevents each sip from leaving you thirsty.

Don’t get me wrong – 5.9% ABV and virtually no hops will not exactly quench your thirst, but I found this brew intriguing enough to buy a sixpack. I would be interested to try it over

ice, or maybe even warm with some mulling spices and an apple blossom from Boll Weevil.

These and more can be found downtown (and elsewhere) in the Garden City.

Stay tuned for some brews that lend themselves to watching golf, as that cer-

tain time approaches our sleepy little southern city.

The Ridiculous 6 Netflix has been recommending I watch this movie for a while. I read the synopsis and was not impressed. It looked silly.

I realize I sound like a hypocrite with that statement, but it’s true. I may like to laugh, but I prefer intelligent humor that requires me to think critically. The Ridiculous 6 is not that type of film.

Even though I had no actual desire to watch this movie, two completely opposite individuals recommended it.

Because I believed their senses of humor to be entirely different, I assumed the movie would cross some kind of comedy boundary. Don’t ask me why, I have no logical explanation for this belief. All you need to know is that I was wrong.

The Ridiculous 6 is the story of an old cowboy with several illegitimate children. As adults, these siblings come together to save their father. The backstory had potential to be funny, but the movie turned out simple and predictably outrageous. It was a let-down.

In case I failed to mention, I never

finished watching The Ridiculous 6. To be honest, I barely watched any of it.

It never did take hold of my attention.

This just isn’t my type of humor.

Comics Without Borders Netflix is currently streaming one season of this comedy series from 2008.

Russell Peters is the host, and each episode features two comics. As the title implies, the featured entertainers hail from all over the world, with each comedian giving a quick glimpse into the lives of people from places like India, Pakistan and Mexico, to name a few.

The first couple of episodes of this series had me laughing out loud, but before long I was rolling my eyes as some of the comics began to rely too heavily on stereotypes.

I tried to keep watching, but I wasn’t really enjoying it. Plus, I had other things to do, like laundry.

It doesn’t happen often, but I’ll probably give this show another try. Each episode is only about 28 minutes long, so it’s not a big time commitment.

Plus, every episode has new comics, so there’s always a chance someone great

will be on.

Jim Gaffigan – Mr. Universe This is by far the best comedy special I’ve watched on Netflix. It doesn’t matter how many times I’ve seen it, it gets funnier with each viewing.

Gaffigan is a 40-something comic originally from Indiana. He has four, maybe five, children and a large portion of his material is inspired by life with his kids. If you don’t have children, all you need to know is this: Anything can happen at any time. Oh yeah, and kids are like drunk roommates.

I’ll admit that some of you may not find Jim Gaffigan funny. His material is centered on life with a spouse and children, going on family vacations, and the American obsession with eating. I find all of these things hilarious, which means I find Jim Gaffigan hilarious.

Ever wondered how to pour, smell and taste beer and then articulate your findings into a written column? Just come downtown and buy Dr. Ben a beer, and he’ll drink you through his process.

Samantha Taylor “Sam the Movie Chick” is on a mission to find the best movies and TV shows for you to stream from Netflix. She loves good flicks, good food and good friends. Her eclectic tastes are sure to give readers a wide range of viewing choices.

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

61

Humor Nora Blithe

Coming Unglued Broken art leads to painful encounter with Super Glue

Valentine’s Day looms large on the calendar. At this time of year, single people may be tempted to feel bad that they don’t have a significant other. Yet, as “water cooler conversations” around the office prove, relationships aren’t for everyone.

Once, one of my coworkers delighted the office with a story about an ongoing argument she was having with her fiancé.

It began when her favorite piece of décor, a wall hanging made from branches, fell from the wall and broke. (It wasn’t her fiancé’s fault that it broke. That wasn’t the argument. The argument is much funnier than that.)

She decided that rather than part with her favorite piece of art, she would attempt a repair. She carefully laid out

the broken pieces, armed herself with Super Glue and began the reassembly.

As a precaution, she first squirted the glue onto a tissue. She didn’t want to apply too much to the broken art. A glob of glue came out all at once. She kept pressing until she was satisfied that she could control the stream of glue. Then, she proceeded with the repairs.

Finally, she was done and she surveyed the results. The branches were glued in place and the break wasn’t noticeable. She was pleased with the results.

She left her supplies out and went to the bathroom to wash Super Glue off her fingers. It was then that her fiancé, seeing a used tissue lying on the table alongside a bottle of glue and a previously broken bit of wall art, decided to blow his nose.

Instead of taking a fresh tissue from the box, he repurposed the used tissue lying on the table.

He lifted the Super Glue covered tissue to his face, blew his nose, and immediately regretted his decision not to opt for a clean tissue.

While it might be environmentally responsible, using someone else’s dirty tissue isn’t the wisest of choices as he learned to his sorrow. The tissue stuck firmly to the bridge of his nose.

He raged in fury and blamed my coworker for his predicament.

DREAMS OF NASHVILLE continued from page 59 events and traveling to Nashville on the weekends to record, all while still managing her children and their care.

“We paid for it all ourselves,” Hydrick said. “We didn’t have an investor. We didn’t do a Kickstarter. We just did it all ourselves because we believed in it.”

In October 2015, Hydrick released her first single, “Ever After.” The track reached number 45 on the iTunes country charts, an incredible feat for an unsigned, independent artist.

She co-wrote all six tracks on her debut album and her husband co-wrote two of them. Other writers include threetime Grammy winners Chris Stephens and Lance Carpenter, who recently had a No. 1 hit with country artist Kelsea Ballerini.

Details about the album release party on Feb. 26 can be

“It’s your fault! You shouldn’t have left a glue-covered tissue lying around,” he shouted.

“Who uses a dirty Kleenex?” she asked incredulously.

An hour later, her fiancé’s face was free of tissue, but there was a raw spot where they’d scrubbed the glue off his nose.

The argument over who was in the wrong persisted for weeks.

found on Hydrick’s Facebook page, facebook.com/mckennahydrickofficial.

The tracks on the album deal with real life situations from a woman’s need for a “Date Night” to the Hydricks’ journey through tough times with “Good Man Down” and “Ever After.”

“Good Man Down” is currently available on Hydrick’s Pandora station, as well as iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Spotify. More tracks will be released in the future.

“I already feel successful,” Hydrick said. “The record hasn’t even come out yet, and it’s already a dream come true.

Everything I’ve accomplished is something I thought I had given up completely. I don’t need success; I already have it.”

She will also hold an album release party in Nashville and is already lining up gigs in the country music capital of the world.

If you’re feeling glum about this Valentine’s Day, consider that at least you haven’t got a Kleenex glued to your nose.

Nora Blithe is an Augusta native, an entrepreneur and a syndicated humor columnist. She lives in Greenville, S.C., with her husband, Brian, and their pets. Read more of her humorous insights online at doorinface.com or follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/NoraBlithe.

McKenna Hydrick will release her debut album, “Ever After,” at The Country Club on Feb. 26. Her single, “Good Man Down,” is available on Pandora, iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Spotify.

Photo courtesy Addie Strozier Photography

Majority of adults now using smart phones for purchases A new survey of U.S adults indicates a majority of smartphone owners (56 percent) purchased a product using an app in 2015. The survey shows 23 percent of smartphone owners took this step for the first time last year. The sampling of mobile commerce habits commissioned by Verizon also reveals rapid growth in consumers using apps to book rides, flights and restaurants as well as make banking transactions.

By age group, 70 percent of millennials (1834) made a product purchase using an app last year, an 85 percent increase over 2014.

Purchased a product using a smartphone app in 2015 (56 percent total) • 70 percent of Millennials

62 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016

• 66 percent of Gen X • 39 percent of Baby Boomers In addition, 55 percent of smartphone

owners made a mobile banking transaction using an app. The growing adoption of banking apps last year is confirmed in the survey, with 23 percent of U.S. smartphone owners making a mobile bank transaction for the first time last year; a 70 percent increase over the previous year.

Made a bank transaction using a smartphone app in 2015 (55 percent total) • 67 percent of Millennials • 62 percent of Gen X • 43 percent of Baby Boomers The fastest growing category in the survey was ordering a taxi or car ride, which increased 124 percent from the prior year.

Overall, 22 percent of adults surveyed used

an app to book a ride during 2015, compared to 10 percent in 2014.

Ordered a taxi or car ride using a smartphone app in 2015 (total 22 percent) • 36 percent of Millennials • 23 percent of Gen X • 8 percent of Baby Boomers The survey also found that, among adult smartphone users in the U.S.: • 26 percent used an app to book a restaurant, with 11 percent of them reserving a table with an app for the first time last year (72 percent increase).

• 22 percent used an app to purchase an airline flight; with 8 percent making their maiden booking last year (54 percent increase).

Feb. 18—March 23, 2016 Buzz on Biz

63

64 Buzz on Biz Feb. 18—March 23, 2016