Features
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Ways to Hire Smarter in 2013
January 23, 2013
Is hiring more employees one of your New Year’s resolutions? While hiring ultimately relieves your headaches in the long run by helping you and your team with workload, in the short run most entrepreneurs dread hiring because of the time and effort involved. Fortunately, there are ways to ensure you recruit more of the right candidates and waste less time with people who don’t suit your needs.
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South Georgia Medical Center CEO Randy Sauls Reviews State of Health Care in 2013
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.
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Independent Workforce On The Up And Up?
January 18, 2013
If you’re looking for work in this brave new 21st century world, the place to be is in the freelance space, according to a recent global business survey by Elance. The survey, in which more than 1500 firms from around the world participated, contains quite a bit of great news for freelancers — otherwise known as nonemployer businesses.
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How to Become a Masterful Company
January 17, 2013
In his book, High Tech, High Touch Customer Service, Micah Solomon talks about using social media to provide stellar customer experience. He also outlines the profile of a “masterful company,” those that go above and beyond in the area of customer service. Using a few of his 12 characteristics of a masterful company, we show you how you can become one.
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Federal Reserve Bank Representative to Speak at Chamber Breakfast
January 16, 2013
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta representative Dr. Thomas Cunningham, UGA economist Dr. Jeffery Humphreys and VSU economist Dr. Cynthia Tori will present the 2013 outlook for business from national, state and local perspectives on February 5th.
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VSU Uses Innovative Technology to Improve Student Success and Retention
January 15, 2013
Valdosta State University saw improvements in academic performance during the fall 2012 semester following the launch of a multi-phase project that introduced a reporting portal with on-demand access to student class loads and grades. Since the implementation of the project, there has been a 10 to 15 percent improvement in midterm and final grades.
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Valdosta Chamber Members Voice Legislative Concerns for State Agenda
January 14, 2013
Several Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce members addressed the Government Affairs Council at the Members to be Heard meeting last week regarding the interests of their businesses, organizations and the community.
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The Big Picture: Developing Your Marketing Plan in Five Steps
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.
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4 Green Business Trends for 2013
January 10, 2013
It used to be enough to adopt a highway, recycle in the break room and install a few energy-efficient light bulbs. But businesses now must take ambitious steps if they want to be seen as sustainability leaders and join the big leagues. Consider that about two-thirds of all Fortune 500 companies now publish corporate sustainability reports.
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A Goal without a Plan is Just a Dream
January 08, 2013
Valdosta CEO Contributor Doug Robinson shares another excerpt from his book "Sell is NOT a Four Letter Word." In this installment, as we enter 2013 and a new sales year unfolds, goal setting takes center stage once again for salespeople.
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Fiscal Cliff Deal Offers Minimal Benefit To Microbusinesses
January 07, 2013
There was a certain amount of unusually undignified jumping up and down and yelling about looming fiscal cliffs during the last month of last year, and with good reason. The deal that the President and Congress put together to force each other to deal with expiring tax cuts at the beginning of this year seemed like a strategy that was doomed to failure.
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i2o Technologies Wins 2012 Guardian Bank Business Plan Competition
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.
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Leadership Truths That Every Leader Needs To Know
December 17, 2012
Successful business leadership is about the ability to create a compelling vision that is backed up by strong values, a strong sense of purpose and that inspires other people to help you to achieve it. It sounds fairly straightforward doesn’t it? However, great leadership requires a complex set of skills which have to be continually honed and fined tuned. We touch on 5 truths that every great leader needs to know.
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Why You Should Never Assume in Sales…
December 14, 2012
Valdosta CEO Contributor Doug Robinson shares another excerpt from his book "Sell is NOT a Four Letter Word." In this installment, he talks about how sales related occupations should beware the danger of assuming.
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4 Ways To Improve Your Business Networking
December 12, 2012
As small business owners and consultants, we understand the importance of networking. Your ability to schmooze, to meet people, and to create relationships will very often determine your success in business and how far you’re able to take your company. However, that doesn’t mean most of us are very good at it. We have a difficult time starting conversations and even keeping the relationships that we do start. We share 4 tips to help out the process.
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Jason Shaw Reviews First Term Highlights, Second Term Priorities
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.
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QR Codes: Right for Your Business?
December 10, 2012
Daniel Titus of DanielTitus.com recalls the hype of QR codes a while back. How they were going to be the next big thing. Now, a bit of the hype has died down, and some of the interest has too. This leaves one to wonder if QR codes ever had the potential to be good for one’s business. He discusses some things to consider before using them in your business.
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Want to Franchise a Business? 5 Sacred Rules to Become the Next Great Franchise
December 07, 2012
Two experiences have helped deepen my understanding of the five Sacred Rules that distinguish great franchise opportunities. I offer them here, in case you are considering converting your business into a franchise company.
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Coleman Talley LLP Celebrates 75 Years in Valdosta
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.
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Senator Saxby Chambliss Talks Truth About Taxes
December 03, 2012
Senator Saxby Chambliss shares his views on the growing debt that our country is continuing to build, and how simply raising taxes are not the answer.
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If at First You Don’t Succeed, You’re About Average
November 30, 2012
Having witnessed our Buster Posey and the Giants sweep the 2012 World Series last month, Valdosta CEO contributor Doug Robinson shares the following excerpt from his recently-released book, “Sell is NOT a Four Letter Word."
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South Georgia Eye Partners Offers Leading-Edge Care
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.
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Daniel Titus Shares How to Get the Most Out of Your Website Design
November 26, 2012
Daniel Titus of DanielTitus.com shares a few tricks of the trade to help you get the most out of your website design.
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Thanksgiving Travel to Increase for 4th Consecutive Year, Bringing Economic Boost
November 16, 2012
AAA projects 43.6 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, an increase of 0.7 percent over the 43.3 million people who traveled last year. This increase marks the fourth consecutive year of growing holiday travelers since 2008 when Thanksgiving travel fell by 25 percent. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 21 to Sunday, Nov. 25.
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Chamber Celebrates Winners in the Workforce
November 15, 2012
Smiles and applause filled the air as those typically working behind the scenes of a business were standing tall before 300 Chamber members and guests at the annual World Class Employee Recognition breakfast on Tuesday. Twenty-four area employees and supervisors were recognized for their outstanding efforts in the workplace at this event hosted by the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber and presented by First State Bank and Trust Company, Fresh Beginnings and ELEAD1ONE.