Features
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Georgia Ports Authority Has Banner Year in 2013, Looks to Top It in 2014
January 22, 2014
When success is part of your DNA, it can become tempting to rest on your laurels and keep doing more of the same. Or, your company can keep your foot on the gas and strive for more. Georgia Ports Authority certainly falls into the latter category, partly because the whole state—heck, the whole country—is watching.
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Wiregrass to Host Gathering of Eagles, a Leadership Symposium
January 21, 2014
The Wiregrass Gathering of Eagles Business and Leadership Symposium is back for the eight year. This year’s theme is Connecting the Dots and will feature Bill Boggs, author of “Got What it Takes”.
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Should You Consider an Accountability Partner?
January 17, 2014
When people, especially salespeople, are left to their own devices, they lack consistency and succumb to their own emotional performance roller coaster, operating more by default than by design. Hence, consider bringing in an accountability partner.
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No Sign of Real Recovery in Small Business Numbers
January 15, 2014
Small-business optimism ended the year slightly up from November at 93.9, but below the previous 3 mid-year readings of over 94 and 6 points below the pre-recession average, according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ (NFIB’s) latest index. On the positive front, reports of capital spending rose significantly in December, increasing by 9 points from November and job creation among NFIB firms was the best since February 2006.
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The Era of Declining Self-Employment
January 13, 2014
The number of employed Americans rose from 144,144,000 in October 2013 to 144,775,000 in November 2013, an increase of 631,000, according to Federal government data. That’s good news. More people going back to work is something that everyone – left, right and center – agrees is good for the country.
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Is Your Business a Talent Attractor?
January 10, 2014
Only an elite group of businesses earn the title “talent attractor.” What is a talent attractor you may ask? A talent attractor is a company that is best in class when it comes to benefits packaging and delivery. The human resources departments at these companies are more likely to believe that overall employee health is important to workforce productivity.
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Stacy Bush: Helping You See the Big Picture on FInancial Planning
January 09, 2014
Do you picture yourself owning a new home, starting a business, or retiring comfortably? These are a few of the financial goals that may be important to you, and each comes with a price tag attached.
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35 of Georgia’s Brightest Come Together as Young Gamechangers
January 08, 2014
GeorgiaForward kicks off its second annual Young Gamechangers program on Thursday, January 9th convening 35 of the state’s most promising young leaders in Dublin, with the goal of revisioning the area as a vibrant 21st century community.
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Starting a Business in 2014? Here Is Your Startup Checklist
January 07, 2014
Each year, the number of new businesses spikes in January as the start of a new year seems like the most natural time to begin a new venture. Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned entrepreneur, run through this startup checklist to better understand the steps needed to make your business legit.
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2013 Georgia Job Creation Hits Record High
January 06, 2014
Gov. Nathan Deal today announced that the Global Commerce Division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development produced a 10 percent increase in job creation during the state’s most recent fiscal year. Statistics from the department show its 389 company expansion or location announcements generated 31,656 jobs and $6.07 billion in investment. These statistics indicate a continued trend of growth since the state’s 2009 fiscal year.
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Valdosta Chamber Announces Southwest Georgia Bank’s Sponsorship of Annual Business Plan Competition
December 18, 2013
The Valdosta-Lowndes Chamber of Commerce and Southwest Georgia Bank (SGB) have just announced SGB’s commitment to sponsoring the Chamber’s annual business plan competition for the next three years, from 2014 through 2016. SGB will be providing a total of $30,000 in start-up capital over the course of the sponsorship for the competition winners to come, an investment aimed at quickly stimulating economic growth in the community.
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Henderson & Godbee, LLP: Planning Year-End Tax Moves in an Uncertain World
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.
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Stacy Bush on Charitable Giving as Part of Estate Planning
December 16, 2013
Charitable giving can play an important role in many estate plans. Philanthropy cannot only give you great personal satisfaction, it can also give you a current income tax deduction, let you avoid capital gains tax, and reduce the amount of taxes your estate may owe when you die.
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Poll: Georgians Concerned About Effects of Obamacare
December 13, 2013
Healthcare Georgia Foundation today released the results of a statewide public opinion poll to gauge how Georgians perceive the cost and quality of their healthcare. According to the poll, Georgians rate the quality of healthcare in the state a modest 7.26/10, with ten being excellent and one being poor. Georgians were also surveyed about their perceptions about what the government is doing about healthcare today.
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Economic Forecast: Georgia’s Economy Will Rise More than the National Average Next Year
December 12, 2013
Buoyed by rising home prices, smart economic policies and new jobs, Georgia's economy will rise more than the national average next year. That was the message delivered by Charles B. Knapp, interim dean of the Terry College of Business and president emeritus of the University of Georgia, at the Georgia Economic Outlook luncheon held Dec. 11 in Atlanta.
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SGMC Foundation & Kohl’s Announce 2014 Program for Kids
December 11, 2013
Kohl's Department Stores, through the Kohl's Cares® cause merchandise program, has donated $33,204 to the SGMC Foundation. The donations were collected from Kohl’s stores located in the Valdosta area. Kohl’s has gifted more than $208,000 to SGMC’s Foundation since 2007.
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Don’t Let That Business Plan Collect Dust on a Shelf
December 10, 2013
Small business owners rank creating a business plan right up there with writing the dreaded high school term paper, college thesis, and bar exam rolled into one, says Tim Berry.
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Lawmakers To Consider State Level Healthcare Reforms
December 09, 2013
With the holiday season upon us, the thoughts of most will turn away from politics and on to things that actually matter. And yet, when the presents have been opened and the calendar turns to 2014, there will be less than 2 weeks before the start of Georgia’s General Assembly session. Thus, while most of us are celebrating and spending time with loved ones, some have already been preparing for what will likely be a short and speedy session of making laws.
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Doug Robinson on “Making Your List and Checking it Twice”
December 06, 2013
As your humble monthly contributor, I would like to suggest a great Christmas or holiday gift that would be very relevant and appreciated by your salespeople, customer service reps, or technicians/installers. For ten years, while facilitating workshops and training classes for sales and customer service reps and sales managers, I repeatedly heard many of the participants encourage me to put my thoughts on paper and publish a book. After hearing this mantra regularly for several years, I decided to go for it, and listed, “write a book” on my bucket list.
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Many Americans Leaving Unused Vacation Days on the Table
December 04, 2013
Expedia.com, released the results of the 2013 Vacation Deprivation study, an annual analysis of vacation habits among 8,535 employed adults across 24 countries and five continents. Americans are now treating vacations as a luxury rather than a right: Over the past year, typical Americans could have taken 14 days of vacation and took 10, leaving four days on the table, twice as many as the year prior.
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HeritageBank of the South Thrives in Challenged Banking Industry
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.
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Georgia-Filmed Productions Generate $3.3B in FY13
December 02, 2013
The Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office, a division of the Georgia Department of Economic Development (GDEcD), announced today that Georgia-lensed feature films and television productions generated an economic impact of $3.3 billion in the state during FY13.
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AAA: 43.4M Americans to Travel for Thanksgiving, a Slight Decline from Last Year
November 22, 2013
AAA projects 43.4 million Americans will journey 50 miles or more from home during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, a decrease of 1.5 percent from the 44 million people who traveled last year. This decrease falls just shy of last Thanksgiving's four-year peak since the recession-driven declines in 2008-2009 when Thanksgiving travel fell by 25 percent. The Thanksgiving holiday travel period is defined as Wednesday, Nov. 27 to Sunday, Dec. 1.
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VSU Welcomes Niki Turley as New Associate Dean of Students
November 21, 2013
The Division of Student Affairs welcomes Niki W. Turley as the new associate dean of students at Valdosta State University. As associate dean of students, Turley will oversee the departments of Testing, Orientation, Leadership, and the Access Office. In addition, she will manage the parents program, campus ministries, and social media for the Division of Student Affairs.
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Government Shutdown Causes Small Business Loan Approval Rates to Fall in October
November 20, 2013
The U.S. government shutdown in October had a significant negative impact on small business lending, according to the Biz2Credit Small Business Lending Index. Meanwhile, alternative lenders seized the opportunity and picked up the slack in small business lending.