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About Barbara Kieker

Authored 84 articles.

Articles

• Locate South Georgia Takes Economic Development to a New Regional Level

  Features, March 09, 2015

  Leaders of Locate South Georgia, a newly formed regional economic development group representing 21 counties, were in Atlanta last week to promote the group to state economic development officials. Launched at the beginning of 2015, Locate South Georgia combines the efforts of two previous groups – an older version of Locate South Georgia and the Southwest Georgia Chamber Council.

• Albany Marathon & Street Festival Set for the First Weekend in March

  News, February 23, 2015

• Invision Technologies Acquires Alarm Detection Technology to Further Growth

  Features, February 16, 2015

  On January 1st, Invision Technologies LLC acquired Alarm Detection Technology, Inc., the ADT Security Services provider for South Georgia. Both firms are located in Albany. The new combined company, which will use the Invision Technologies name, will continue to provide ADT security and automation services along with IT services and support.

• Family-Owned Art and Soul Lands in Downtown Valdosta

  Features, January 13, 2015

  Moving downtown in July marked a turning point for family-owned Art and Soul, a furniture, art and design store that offers original, local and often repurposed artwork. The business opened in September 2013 in warehouse space but then 10 months later, moved into a 114-year-old building on Central Avenue purchased by the owners.

• SGMC Named Best Hospital for Patient Experience

  Features, December 16, 2014

  South Georgia Medical Center earned recognition from the Women's Choice Award as one of America's Best Hospitals for Outstanding Patient Experience. The award identifies the best hospitals based on data from patient satisfaction surveys that is weighted by what a group of 200,000 women surveyed by Women's Choice Award say they want from a hospital.

• Make Time for Time Basics at a Book-Signing Reception this Saturday

  Features, December 02, 2014

  In his new book Time Basics, Dr. Jim Muncy, Professor of Marketing in the Harley Langdale College of Business at Valdosta State University, offers 24 principles to help people get the most out of each 24-hour day. Muncy has taught a time management class based on these principles for several years to business students. Many of them encouraged him to write this book.

• Proven Management and Leadership Training Program Comes to South Georgia

  Features, November 10, 2014

  Denise Pope is bringing the Bullet Proof Manager training program from Crestcom to South Georgia. The program offers business management and leadership training over the course of a year in monthly sessions on communications, critical thinking, negotiations and customer service, among other topics.

• Valdosta Insurance Takes the "Commodity" Out of Insurance

  Features, September 10, 2014

  Insurance ads from Geico and Progressive may have you chuckling and expecting to save $300 on "commodity" insurance. Valdosta Insurance Services takes a different approach – delivering value by educating clients and meeting their specific needs.

• Retired Neurosurgeon and Author Dr. Ben Carson to Speak at VSU

  Features, September 03, 2014

  Dr. Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon and author of six bestselling books, will speak on Sept. 11 in Whitehead Auditorium at Valdosta State University (VSU). His remarks will be based on his book titled "America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made this Nation Great."

• South Georgia State College Provides Alternative Path with VSU Entry Program

  Features, August 26, 2014

  Students who think college is not an option should think again. The South Georgia State College entry programs offer another option to high school students who are unable to meet the academic requirements of a regional university or unable to afford it.

• Tackling the Top Five Business Challenges at the VSU SBDC

  Features, August 19, 2014

  In 2014, the University of Georgia Small Business Development Center in Valdosta is focused on helping small businesses continue to navigate and thrive in a sluggish economy. Here are the top five challenges SBDC clients are facing this year, according to Valdosta SBDC consultant Lynn Bennett.

• Turning Life Experience Into Credit Hours at Wiregrass

  Features, August 12, 2014

  Recognizing that college-level learning often takes place outside of a classroom, Wiregrass Georgia Technical College offers a path for students to apply for college credit based on their portfolio of life experiences.

• AirLife Valdosta Bolsters South Georgia's Growing Health Care Sector

  Features, August 05, 2014

  Operating one A-Star single-engine helicopter out of the Valdosta Regional Airport, AirLife Valdosta provides critical care to patients requiring emergency medical attention. Since it began operations in May 2013, AirLife has been successful in transporting patients in their time of need to tertiary care facilities for critical healthcare access.

• Coleman Talley Achieves Milestone in the 2014 Georgia Legal Food Frenzy

  Features, June 05, 2014

  Coleman Talley LLP delivered the goods in the 2014 Georgia Legal Food Frenzy, providing 87,640 pounds of food – double its poundage in 2013 – and winning the medium firm size category for the third straight year. Attorney General Sam Olens announced the results last week of the third annual food drive in which lawyers and staff compete outside the courtroom for two weeks to raise food and funds for Georgia's seven regional food banks.

• VSU FCA Looks to Expand its Outreach

  Features, May 22, 2014

  The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Valdosta State University (VSU) ministers daily to more than 400 people, according to VSU FCA Director Shane Goodwin. Athletes, coaches and their families, and other athletic staff members are among those served, but everyone in the VSU community is welcome.

• Southeastern Federal Credit Union Experiencing Strong Deposit Growth

  Features, May 16, 2014

  According to President and CEO Mike Gudely, deposits at Southeastern Federal Credit Union are growing across the board in 2014 – in checking, savings and money market accounts as well as in higher interest-paying accounts. While not as strong, loan growth is also picking up.

• Turner Center for the Arts to Focus on the Art of Business

  Features, March 20, 2014

  Cheryl Oliver, executive director of the Annette Howell Turner Center for the Arts is working with the local Chamber of Commerce in development of an "Art of Business" event, which just received approval from the center's board of directors.

• Chancy Drugs Promotes Patient Adherence

  Features, March 12, 2014

  According to a recent article in Forbes magazine, the next killer app in reducing health care costs is getting patients to take their meds. The article cites evidence that getting patients to take their meds as prescribed can lower health care spending and improve patient outcomes.

• Guardian Bank Puts Strategic Back in Marketing

  Features, March 06, 2014

  Over a three-month period about five years ago, Guardian Bank recorded everything that it and other banks were saying to customers. They clipped print ads, printed online ads, took photos of billboards and posted everything on the wall of a conference room. The bottom line?

• Henderson & Godbee, LLP: Planning Year-End Tax Moves in an Uncertain World

  Features, December 17, 2013

  Tax planning has never been tougher. In order to make moves at the end of the year to minimize your tax exposure, you need some idea of what the tax rules will be in the year ahead. But with an improving yet fragile economy, growing budget concerns and political gridlock in Washington, it's difficult to know what to expect in terms of tax-rule changes.

• HeritageBank of the South Thrives in Challenged Banking Industry

  Features, December 03, 2013

  Where other banks see challenges, Heritage Financial Group sees opportunities. As interest rates ticked up in 2013 and mortgage-refinancing volumes dropped, big banks such as Bank of America and Wells Fargo have cut hundreds of jobs in their mortgage units. HeritageBank of the South, a subsidiary of Heritage Financial Group, is hiring.

• Behind The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber's 5-Star Accreditation

  Features, November 19, 2013

  Based on a comprehensive evaluation of its performance, the Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber received a 5-star accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Accreditation Program. Only 79 of the 7,077 chambers of commerce nationwide – or about 1 percent – have received five-star accreditation, the highest ranking awarded.

• Expand Your Network at Today's 2013 Business & Wellness Expo

  News, October 17, 2013

• Expand Your Network at the 2013 Business and Wellness Expo

  Features, October 15, 2013

  On Thursday, October 17, local business leaders will be able to connect at the 19th annual Business and Wellness Expo presented by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce and its sponsors – Azalea Health, 1st America Health Group, Air Methods and ValdostaCEO. The expo will be held at the Rainwater Conference Center from 5 to 7 p.m.

• Selection of Leadership Lowndes Class of 2014 Underway

  Features, October 09, 2013

  The selection process is under way for the Class of 2014 of Leadership Lowndes, an educational program designed to develop leaders and build networks to address the issues and needs of the local community. Established in 1998, the program admits 30 high-potential members each year and has more than 700 graduates.

• Proposed SPLOST Referendum to Fund Wastewater Treatment Solutions

  Features, September 25, 2013

  On November 5th, voters will be asked to approve a one-penny sales tax in the SPLOST VII referendum, which in the city of Valdosta will help fund the relocation of the Withlacoochee Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). Over the past five years, the plant has struggled to stay in compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit limits during heavy rain events.

• Artesian Contracting Supports Georgia's Military Bases

  Features, September 04, 2013

  For the past 25 years, Artesian Contracting has renovated, remediated and improved base facilities at military installations across Georgia. The firm is based in Albany near the Marine Corps Logistics Base and also has satellite offices at Moody AFB and Robins AFB. Approximately 80 percent of the firm's work is in Georgia and government projects represent about 75 percent of its completed projects.

• Community Business & Industry Partnership Tackles Local Workforce Issues

  Features, August 21, 2013

  Finding job-ready new hires; helping proven employees advance, developing middle managers. These were some of the top workforce issues discussed by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Community Business & Industry Partnership in its fall-quarter event with local business and education leaders.

• Dr. Tina Anderson Takes the Reins at Wiregrass

  Features, August 13, 2013

  On July 1st, Dr. Tina Anderson became president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, after serving as president of Moultrie Technical College for 10 years. In her first month on the job, Anderson has visited the school's four campuses, meeting with faculty and staff. She has also been learning the details of the school's budget and getting ready for the start of the fall semester on August 20.

• Riddle Completes First Year as Valdosta Tourism Authority General Manager

  Features, July 10, 2013

  On July 9, Tim Riddle completed his first year as general manager of the Valdosta-Lowndes County Conference Center & Tourism Authority. Upbeat is the word he uses in reporting the progress the Tourism Authority has made in the past year.

• Mediacom/Raycom Negotiations Part of High-Stakes Industry Dynamic

  Features, July 03, 2013

  On June 21st, Mediacom Communications Corporation and Raycom Media, Inc., owner of WALB TV, reached agreement on a contract that had been the subject of several messages broadcast to WALB viewers. For weeks, WALB warned Mediacom cable customers they could lose access to the station if an agreement wasn't reached by June 30th, the expiration date of the existing contract.

• A New Look for the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority

  Features, June 26, 2013

  With the 2012 opening of three industrial parks with 485 shovel-ready acres, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Industrial Authority began a marketing campaign featuring a new look and feel for the organization. The campaign and property signage includes a new logo for the Industrial Authority and a new slogan – "Building a Ground-Breaking Community."

• CJB Industries' Manufacturing Expertise Boosts Local Economy

  Features, June 12, 2013

  With three locations in Valdosta, CJB Industries, Inc. brings valuable manufacturing expertise to the area that helps build a strong, balanced local economy. Founded in 1997, the company provides chemical manufacturing services including formulating, processing, filling and packaging liquids and solid products for customers in the agricultural, automotive, industrial and other industries.

• CooperCraft Communication Continues Growth With Select-Tel Merger

  Features, May 28, 2013

  On May 23rd, CooperCraft Communications, which specializes in the installation and upgrades of security systems, telecommunication systems and cabling infrastructure, completed a merger with network specialists, Select-Tel Systems. The combined company, called CooperCraft Communications, has approximately 45 employees and offices in Albany and Tifton.

• FiveStar Customer Service Strategies Focuses on Front Line to Grow the Bottom Line

  Features, May 01, 2013

  Every company needs customers to stay in business. Rita Suiter built FiveStar Customer Service Strategies from scratch over the last 12 years by focusing on that one commonality for all businesses. Suiter provides customized training to a diverse client base with an approach that helps employees upgrade interpersonal skills, improve attitudes and develop positive "customer service" habits.

• Georgia Credit Unions Continue to Add Members

  Features, April 17, 2013

  Credit union membership and deposits in Georgia grew in 2012, continuing a national trend that began with Bank Transfer Day in the fall of 2011. In a exclusive interview with Valdosta CEO, President/CEO of the Georgia Credit Union Affiliates Mike Mercer speaks as to why credit unions across the state have encountered such growth.

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

  Features, 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.

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

  Features, 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.

• JL Concepts Gets Creative With Promotional Products

  Features, 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.

• With Perfection Landscape Management Delivers Curb Appeal

  Features, 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.

• CTSI Outsourcing Partners with Clients on IT Support

  Features, February 26, 2013

  CTSI Outsourcing provides businesses with an IT support team that is familiar with their business, their servers and applications. In the company's IT Timeshare Service, every client is assigned a technician and a back-up technician who visit weekly and are accessible by cell phone at any time.

• Colson Printing Adapts to a Changing Industry

  Features, February 20, 2013

  New buying trends in the printing industry are driving Colson Printing to launch an extension of its website to enable 24/7 click ‘n print functionality for its clients. Expected to go live in the first half of 2013, the new website capabilities will enable Colson to broaden its market nationally and appeal to locals who prefer to order online.

• Valdosta Continues Its Business Friendly Development

  Features, February 12, 2013

  Public safety improved in Valdosta last year with the local police department outperforming state and national averages in terms of solving the most serious crimes, according to City Manager Larry Hanson.

• Nexxtep Technology Services Opens First Local Data Center Accessible to Public

  Features, February 05, 2013

  Businesses in southern Georgia now have access to a local data center owned and operated by Nexxtep Technology Services, Inc., which can provide back-up and disaster recovery solutions, host desktop applications as well as host a company's IT equipment through colocation solutions. Nexxtep opened the center in November 2012 and has received a very positive response from its clients to the new offerings.

• Bush Wealth Management Offers Three Steps for Consistent Investing

  Features, January 29, 2013

  Procrastination is the biggest mistake most people make in managing their money, according to Stacy Bush, head of Bush Wealth Management. Not taking action can mean a missed opportunity to grow wealth.

• South Georgia Medical Center CEO Randy Sauls Reviews State of Health Care in 2013

  Features, January 22, 2013

  For large health care providers like the South Georgia Medical Center, demographic trends in the region have a major impact on the state of health care. According to SGMC CEO Randy Sauls, the number of uninsured adults in the region has increased as has demand for health services due to population growth.

• Valdosta Shared Office Space and its Wisenbaker Building For Sale

  News, January 22, 2013

• The Big Picture: Developing Your Marketing Plan in Five Steps

  Features, January 11, 2013

  Valerie Touchstone, owner of The Big Picture, a full-service marketing and public relations agency, shares how to develop your marketing plan.

• i2o Technologies Wins 2012 Guardian Bank Business Plan Competition

  Features, December 19, 2012

  Donnee Upson of i2o Technologies in Valdosta is the winner of the 2012 Guardian Bank Business Plan Competition. He plans to start the first commercial data center in Valdosta to offer IT services to companies in a wide range of industries including finance, health care and education.

• Jason Shaw Reviews First Term Highlights, Second Term Priorities

  Features, December 11, 2012

  In the November election, Jason Shaw ran unopposed for a second term as the Georgia House Representative from District 176, which includes the Valdosta area. He was elected in 2010 to the seat that his father held for 18 years. Shaw has a diverse background that includes experience in small businesses, economic development and agriculture. Shaw believes being well-rounded helped him be effective in his first term.

• Coleman Talley LLP Celebrates 75 Years in Valdosta

  Features, December 04, 2012

  Coleman Talley LLP traces its roots to 1937 when B. Lamar Tillman began practicing law in downtown Valdosta. Since then, the firm has grown to 28 attorneys, an additional office in Atlanta and a client base that extends across the Southeastern United States.

• South Georgia Eye Partners Offers Leading-Edge Care

  Features, November 27, 2012

  Patient visits to South Georgia Eye Partners are up 15 to 20 percent in 2012 over prior year across three locations in Tifton, Valdosta and Douglas. Owner and ophthalmologist Dr. Scott Petermann attributes the growth to great patient care and the breadth of services the practice offers.

• WBL Program at VHS Helps Address Skill Deficit

  Features, November 07, 2012

  Ask any small-town business owner what their number one challenge is and they are likely to talk about the difficulty of finding skilled employees with a strong work ethic. The Work Based Learning (WBL) program at Valdosta High School (VHS) and other area schools is helping local employers address that challenge.

• Pent-Up Demand Turns to Sales at Turner's Fine Furniture

  Features, October 17, 2012

  Austin Turner, co-owner with his brother Fortson of Turner's Fine Furniture, believes "things are getting ready to turn in the housing market." Business at the furniture retailer was up in August compared to the same period in 2011.

• Williams Investment Company Rides I-75 to Prosperity

  Features, October 10, 2012

  In the early 1960s, John L. Williams had the foresight to realize that the construction of Interstate 75 would change the way people traveled between the northern and southern United States. He set about building a business based in southern Georgia to take advantage of that travel.

• Valdosta State University Strives to be an Agent of Change

  Features, October 03, 2012

  This story is one in a series of stories on the state of education in and around Valdosta. In this story, Dr. William McKinney, president of Valdosta State University shares his views on the future of public colleges and universities, and the initiatives under way at VSU.

• Technical Colleges to Expand Science and Technology Focus

  Features, September 26, 2012

  This story is one in a series of stories on the state of education in and around Valdosta. In this story, Dr. Ray Perren, president of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) shares his views on the future of technical colleges and the initiatives under way at WGTC.

• Valdosta Shared Office Space Nurtures Area Start-Ups

  Features, September 12, 2012

  Economizing on operating expenses and maximizing flexibility are critical for new business start-ups. Choosing to lease from a shared office space provider can mean more flexible lease terms that include many amenities. Gino Fina, owner of Valdosta Shared Office Space, shares his story.

• Azalea Health Innovations Brings Cloud-Based Technologies to South Georgia

  Features, September 05, 2012

  Digital patient records hold the promise of improved quality of care and lower health care costs. Rules published by the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Healthcare IT require that hospitals, clinics and private physician offices be able to share patient information electronically with other unaffiliated facilities by 2016 or be faced with lower Medicare reimbursement money and face penalties.

• Advanced Manufacturing Training Now Available Through Wiregrass Georgia Tech

  Features, August 22, 2012

  Wiregrass Georgia Technical College has been named an exclusive regional provider for Allen Bradley Programmable Logic Controller training. The next closest training sites are in Tampa, Fla. and Charlotte, N.C. WGTC can also help businesses realize state-tax savings through retraining tax credits. The state program offers tax credits for businesses implementing new technologies or equipment that require worker training.

• SunTrust Sees Strong Deposit Growth in South Georgia

  Features, August 15, 2012

  Within SunTrust Bank, the southern Georgia region is at the top of the company in new deposit growth, according to Jay Montgomery, President of SunTrust Bank, South Georgia. Deposit growth has come mostly from new clients, primarily small businesses and municipalities.

• Comfort Keepers Specializes in Interactive Care

  Features, August 08, 2012

  Comfort Keepers offers a service that many people may not realize is available: in-home non-medical care that can enable elderly or other individuals to stay in their homes and out of a nursing home or other institutional care setting. Licensed by the state of Georgia in April 2009, the company serves a nine-county area surrounding Valdosta, owned by Scott and Lisa Register.

• Prince Automotive Group Takes a Small-Town Approach

  Features, August 01, 2012

  Honesty and integrity may not be the first words people generally associate with car dealers, but those are the principles on which John Prince III built Prince Automotive Group. For nearly 50 years, the company has served Tifton and more recently Valdosta, Douglas and Albany through seven dealerships representing numerous automakers including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda and Mazda.

• Vote For T-SPLOST Referendum July 31st

  News, July 30, 2012

• Renovation Planned at Valdosta La Quinta

  Features, July 25, 2012

  In August, the La Quinta Inn & Suites on Club House Drive will begin a $1.3 million renovation of the property, which opened in 1988 and was last remodeled six years ago. The project includes an update of décor in guest rooms as well as a remodel of the front lobby, breakfast area and other common areas.

• Business is Taking Off at Valdosta Regional Airport

  Features, July 18, 2012

  Activity at Valdosta Regional Airport – defined as takeoffs and landings – is up considerably in 2012 over 2011, but remains below peak levels set in 2009 and 2010. Private planes carrying business executives into the area comprise the majority of the air traffic.

• Voters to Decide T-SPLOST Referendum

  Features, July 11, 2012

  On July 31, Georgia voters will decide if investments in the transportation infrastructure within their region of the state justify a new one-cent sales tax. The Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, known as T-SPLOST, would be used to fund a defined list of projects in each of 12 regions and provide discretionary funds to local governments for transportation purposes including maintenance, operations or other capital projects.

• Experiencing Valdosta Thru the Valdosta Tourism Authority

  Features, June 27, 2012

  Residents may think they know all there is to do in and around Valdosta but Tyra Howard, director of tourism at the Valdosta Tourism Authority., says there is much more.

• Love Works at Wild Adventures Theme Park

  Features, June 18, 2012

  Wild Adventures Theme Park in Valdosta will host a special guest on Wednesday, June 20 – Joel Manby, president and chief executive officer of Herschend Family Entertainment, the owner and operator of the theme park. Manby is promoting his newly published book titled "Love Works: Seven Timeless Principles for Effective Leaders," which details the HFE framework for leadership.

• Southwest Georgia Bank Leverages Full-Service Advantage

  Features, June 13, 2012

  High unemployment and low economic growth is nothing new in rural southern Georgia, according to President and CEO of Southwest Georgia Bank DeWitt Drew. Yet the bank continues to grow, reaching $320 million in assets and 127 employees in 2012.

• Mediacom Delivers Positive First Quarter

  Features, May 23, 2012

  Mediacom, one of the leading cable operators focused on serving smaller cities and towns in the United States, posted its best first-quarter results in Georgia in four years, according to Mediacom Senior Marketing Manager for Georgia, Melanie Hannasch. Mediacom serves all of southwestern Georgia, passing about 300,000 homes.

• Celebrating National Small Business Week in Valdosta

  Features, May 16, 2012

  The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce is celebrating National Small Business Week from May 20 to 26 with a full slate of networking, educational and fun activities for area small business leaders.

• Citizens Community Bank Offers Local Decision-Making, Personal Service

  Features, May 08, 2012

  Community banks, defined by regulators as banks with less than $1 billion in assets under management, compete on relationships and customer service. For Citizens Community Bank CEO Glenn Copeland and President Tim Jones, that and having local decisions made right here in Valdosta makes the difference.

• Lee McArthur Encourages Investors to Start Saving Today

  Features, April 17, 2012

  With the political parties advocating very different directions for the federal government and a presidential election in November, many investors – individuals and small businesses alike – are sitting on the sidelines to see what happens. According to Lee McArthur, a registered representative of New York Life, that is a mistake.

• U.S. Press Grows with a Can-Do Attitude

  Features, April 10, 2012

  Founded 30 years ago, U.S. Press, LLC is a $5 million company providing color printing and related services that is growing at a nice clip despite the slow economy. Founder and owner Kent Buescher chalks it up to a can-do attitude.

• VSU Alumnus & TV Star Tiffany Young to Speak at Langdale Lecture April 10th

  Features, April 03, 2012

  Tiffany Young, Valdosta State University alumnus, owner of the Pink Pastry Parlor, and star of the reality tv show "Party at Tiffany's" will speak on April 10th as part of the Harley Langdale Jr. Lecture Series at Valdosta State University.

• Easter Seals Southern Georgia Adapts to New Ways of Giving

  Features, March 27, 2012

  Executive Director of Easter Seals Southern Georgia Beth English talks about the change in fundraising strategy at Easter Seals, and how through that they are now able to help more people than ever.

• Dr. Kamil Hanna Brings Rare Cardiovascular Discipline to Southern Georgia

  Features, March 20, 2012

  Dr. Kamil Hanna, a board-certified electrophysiologist, has been practicing at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital for about five years. He shares about the growing problem of Arrhythmia, and the investment in technology and expertise that Phoebe has invested in to combat it.

• Azalea Health Innovations Earns U.S. Chamber Blue Ribbon Award

  Features, March 13, 2012

  Azalea Health Innovations Inc. of Valdosta was named a 2012 Blue Ribbon Award winner by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on March 1st. CEO of Azales Health Innovations Baha Zeidan talks about the honor, shares the companies tradition of winning, and the strong ties the company has in Valdosta.

• Shapiro Properties: Valdosta's Full-Service Commercial Real Estate Firm

  Features, March 06, 2012

  Micah Shapiro of Shapiro Properties talks about the company he established in 2003, the recent success of the North Ashley Professional Center, and trends he sees in the real estate market in 2012.

• Turner Insurance Reports Increased Flexibility in Coverage Options

  Features, February 28, 2012

  Insurance carriers are being increasingly flexible and creative in their product offerings this year following implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) in 2010 and 2011, according to Justin Turner and Mandi Turner Biery of Turner Insurance Services, LLC. In particular, small carriers are trying to be more flexible to stay competitive and keep their products in circulation.

• Nexxtep Technology Services Helps Local Businesses Decipher Cloud Computing

  Features, February 21, 2012

  Ryan Williams, Vice President for Nexxtep Technology in Valdosta, talks about the company and its recent growth, and how having an online presence for your business is essential in todays world.

• Sixth Annual Leadership Symposium Scheduled at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College

  Features, February 05, 2012

  On March 1st, the sixth annual Gathering of Eagles will be held at Brooks Hall Conference Center on the Valdosta campus of Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. This year the Gathering of Eagles is expanding with a special half-day symposium specifically for agricultural leaders scheduled for February 29th.

• ShredEX Fights Identity Theft in Valdosta

  Features, November 27, 2011

  Britt Garwood, general manager of ShredEX in Valdosta, shares how ShredEX helps customers fight identity theft, how the recession has been good for their business, and how ShredEX helps lower the environmental impact in the area.