Features
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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7 Reasons You Should Switch to Google Apps
February 28, 2013
Late last year, Google Apps for Businesseliminated its free version. The reason? Many business users tended to outgrow the basic version too quickly and personal users were left waiting on updated features that had to become business ready before launching. But even with the new price tag, Google remains a viable option for small business.
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CTSI Outsourcing Partners with Clients on IT Support
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.
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Commentary: About These Rumors of Pending Senate Campaign Announcements…
February 25, 2013
Charlie Harper of Peach Pundit dives into the upcoming Georgia Senate race - the rumors, the motivations, and why there hasn't been any official word about who is running for Senator Chambliss' seat in 2014.
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Take a Business Trip Without Missing a Beat on Productivity
February 21, 2013
Ever return from a business trip feeling like you’re five steps behind on everything? (Come on, be honest, I won’t tell). Instead of ending up with a pile of work waiting for you when you get back, check out these productivity tips from my own travels and some my favorite road warriors on how to keep everything from your workouts to your inbox in check.
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Colson Printing Adapts to a Changing Industry
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.
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Georgia's International Trade Posts Another Record Year
February 19, 2013
The state of Georgia experienced its fourth consecutive record year in international trade during 2012, exceeding the previous year’s milestones in both imports and exports. Georgia’s exports were up 3.2 percent—a $1.1 billion increase—compared to 2011, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics released this month.
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Wiregrass Gathering of Eagles Leadership Symposium Approaching Feb. 21st
February 15, 2013
The annual Wiregrass Gathering of Eagles Business and Leadership Symposium is back. This year’s theme is “Make Your Business Stand Out.” Once again the college is teaming up with premier sponsor Valdosta State University to bring you an outstanding day of learning. The event’s committee members recruited well known national speaker Joel Manby, President and Chief Executive Officer of Herschend Family Entertainment Corporation.
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Stacy Bush on The Fiscal Cliff Deal, and What It Could Mean For You
February 14, 2013
Stacy Bush with Bush Wealth Management gives us some insight on the Fiscal Cliff Deal, and how it could affect you and your business.
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Valdosta Continues Its Business Friendly Development
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.
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USPS Rate Increases, No Saturday Delivery Could Lead to Changes for Many Small Businesses
February 11, 2013
The United States Postal Service recently enacted some higher shipping rates for both domestic and international mail. It has also offered some new rules and shipping options that might have an impact on the way many small businesses send mail and shipments, on top of the just announced no mail delivery for Saturday.
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Doug Robinson on How to Start Dreaming Again in Business
February 07, 2013
Valdosta CEO Contributor, sales trainer, and author Doug Robinson has another excerpt to share from his book “ Sell is NOT a Four Letter Word”. Just for grins and giggles, stop thinking with your brain and start thinking with your heart... right now. Whether you call this using your imagination or just dreaming, this is the inspiration for winning, and can show measurable results in just 30 days!
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Local & State Experts Give Expectations for 2013’s Economy
February 06, 2013
Over 140 Chamber members met Tuesday morning over a hot breakfast to hear from three of the area’s top economic specialists on their predicted outlooks for our economy at a local, state and national level. While the speakers seemed hopeful and showed the progress made in the last year, our economy is still working toward recovering from the 2008 recession and has obstacles to watch out for.
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Nexxtep Technology Services Opens First Local Data Center Accessible to Public
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.
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Valdosta State and Wiregrass Partner to Produce More College Graduates
February 04, 2013
Earning a college degree just became more accessible with the new Pathways Program developed by Valdosta State University and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College. The program allows students with an Associate of Applied Science degree from Wiregrass to transfer to Valdosta State and work toward a bachelor’s degree.
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Commentary: South Georgia's Diminishing Political Clout
February 01, 2013
South Georgia remains an integral and important part of the state, from the largest portion of the state’s economy (agriculture) to the thriving and growing ports. Yet, politically, change has come rapidly to the region.
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101st Annual Membership Meeting: Chamber Members Celebrate 2012 & Look Forward to 2013
January 31, 2013
Nearly 350 Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber members enjoyed lunch on Tuesday at the 101st Annual Membership Meeting presented this year by Georgia Power Company and Prince Automotive Group. This year's meeting focused on the IMPACT 2012 campaign and the celebration of the Chamber's Centennial last year.
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Bush Wealth Management Offers Three Steps for Consistent Investing
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.
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Reaching Out To Departed Customers For Recovery
January 25, 2013
Every business has customers who have departed. There are a variety of reasons that prompt departure. How you react to the departure will either validate that they left for a good reason or begin the process of bringing back that customer and that customer revenue. We go through five steps to identify and regain customer trust and relationships.