March 2013 Features

• Top Honors Presented at Annual Chamber Choice Awards Ceremony

  March 29, 2013

  Approximately 400 business professionals and community members gathered Thursday evening at the Rainwater Conference Center for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber’s 4th annual Chamber Choice Awards, presented by Citizens Community Bank, to recognize outstanding businesses and professionals from 2012.

• Film & Music Day at the Capitol Spotlights Industry's Impact on Georgia

  March 28, 2013

  The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD) today celebrated the 40th anniversary of film and television productions in Georgia during Film & Music Day at the Capitol. Gov. Nathan Deal, Speaker David Ralston and Rep. Ron Stephens headlined the celebration, an annual recognition of the film and music industry’s importance to Georgia’s economy.

• Founders of Fresh Beginnings/eLEAD1ONE Win BIG Thinker Award, Plan For Expansion

  March 27, 2013

  On March 21, Judy and Hugh Hathcock of Fresh Beginnings, Inc./eLEAD1ONE were awarded the BIG Thinker Award by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber presents the award each year to a self-made, visionary and successful entrepreneur who cares and gives back to his or her community.

• Mayor and Council Address Recent Wastewater Issues

  March 25, 2013

  The Valdosta Mayor and City Council are committed to providing quality municipal services that meet the expectations of the citizens of Valdosta. Recently, citizens have been inundated with information about the current state of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and sewer collection system, as well as the decisions made during the recent flood event.

• The Smallest Businesses Face the Biggest Cyber Risks

  March 22, 2013

  While many of us long for the days when people had real-life conversations rather than truncated text chats, the reality is that the Internet is here to stay. And in the Internet Age, data is king. As a small business owner, you collect customer data every day. And if you’re using the Internet, that data – along with all of your company’s sensitive information – is vulnerable to attacks.

• The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia Fights Cancer Here at Home

  March 21, 2013

  Cancer is at home in South Georgia. In many counties in the region, the incidence rate of cancer is higher than both the state average and the U.S. average. The Cancer Coalition of South Georgia is the only local collaborative cancer organization focused on preventing cancer and increasing survival among the people of South Georgia.

• Stacy Bush on Teaching Your Children Basic Financial Education

  March 14, 2013

  Even before your children can count, they already know something about money: it's what you have to give the ice cream man to get a cone, or put in the slot to ride the rocket ship at the grocery store. So, as soon as your children begin to handle money, start teaching them how to handle it wisely.

• JL Concepts Gets Creative With Promotional Products

  March 13, 2013

  "Having a good product or service won't get you anywhere if customers don't know your name." According to Joyce Aigen, MAS, owner of JL Concepts, successful business owners and managers know the power of having their name out there.

• VSU Students Make Valuable Investments at Financial Trading Center

  March 12, 2013

  Valdosta State University's Financial Trading Center, located in Thaxton Hall on North Campus, is the only one on a university campus in the state that allows students to use real money for trading. It is also one of a few trading centers located in the southern region of the United States. There, students learn the language of investing money smarter.

• 4 Lessons The Shifting Legal Sector Can Teach Small Business Owners

  March 11, 2013

  There was a recent report highlighting the fact that the legal sector will never return to its pre-recession heyday. The report was jointly produced by the Center for the Study of the Legal Profession at Georgetown University Law Center and Thomson Reuters Peer Monitor.

• Finding the Right Sustainability Initiatives for Your Business

  March 08, 2013

  It’s easy to feel intimidated with sustainability. Once you address the basics—installing energy-efficient light bulbs and stationing recycle bins around the office—you may not know how to proceed. How do you determine which sustainability measures will ultimately pay for themselves and be the best investment for your business?

• Having Trouble Coaching “Sherlock the Sales Rep”?

  March 07, 2013

  This month local sales trainer and author Doug Robinson offers some comments to help you better manage Sherlock, your omnipresent sales guy. Certainly you are thankful for this senior, albeit anal, member on your sales team. You know who I’m talking about.

• With Perfection Landscape Management Delivers Curb Appeal

  March 06, 2013

  Most business owners and managers realize that an attractive storefront or office entrance sends an important message to current and prospective customers. According to David Blackwell, owner of With Perfection Landscape Management, that message actually starts at ground level.

• Chamber Presents State Legislative Agenda in Atlanta

  March 05, 2013

  The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber Government Affairs Council (GAC) met with state elected officials Wednesday at the Georgia Capitol to discuss current legislation that could potentially impact the business community in Valdosta-Lowndes County.

• Raising The Minimum Wage Will Hurt Job Creation, Research Shows

  March 04, 2013

  President Obama's State of the Union Address proposal to raise minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9, with annual increases for inflation, has fired up both sides of the issue with proponents arguing that all workers should earn a good living and opponents saying the increase will cost jobs. Research at Texas A&M University shows that raising the minimum wage will reduce job creation, but not affect employee turnover or layoffs.