Features
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VSU Student Creates Textbook Trading Platform for Students
September 06, 2012
Valdosta State University international business student Jebidiah Light has created a trading platform for students to buy and sell their used textbooks online. Established in 2011, Jebbles.com is accessible to students who attend colleges and universities throughout the nation. Through the site, a student can identify the institution he or she attends and find used textbooks that are for sale by other students.
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Azalea Health Innovations Brings Cloud-Based Technologies to South Georgia
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.
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LinkedIn: The Professional Playground For Professional Connections
September 04, 2012
There are so many tangible examples of how online networking, especially LinkedIn can, has and does open doors and connections, not only for me but many others I know who are using it with very good results. Very good results come from not only understanding how it works technically, but why it works. LinkedIn is a professional platform — not a social platform. That’s important to know so you use it right and get the best results.
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Increased Approvals of Small Business Loans by Big Banks Are a Good Sign for Entrepreneurs
August 31, 2012
Lending at big banks (classified as banks with $10B+ in assets) are rising, thanks to increased activity by mid-sized institutions within this category. This is welcome, positive news for small business owners.
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Health Care Reform: Deadlines Every Georgia Employer Needs to Know
August 29, 2012
In the wake of the Health Care reform, many employers are experiencing anxiety over how the Health Care reform will impact their individual businesses, whether it is confusion over compliance requirements or uncertainty as to how the reform will affect their costs. Valdosta Attorney with Coleman Talley Emily Macheski-Preston shares some deadlines every employer needs to know.
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The Terms of Business: How to Negotiate a Partnership Agreement
August 27, 2012
Finding a partner who wants to play ball with you seems like a difficult task, but when you take a look at the process, it’s negotiating the terms of a partnership agreement that requires true business savvy. Like Ben Hogan’s legendary golf swing, follow-through is the key, consistent element to make sure the terms of partnership are mutually beneficial.
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Ask Yourself These Questions Before Going for Funding
August 24, 2012
Need extra cash to move your business forward? Maybe you want to hire new people, buy a building, expand your inventory, or take your business to the next level, whatever that may be. Word on the street is that banks have money to lend. We look at five questions you should consider before you begin the funding process:
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Advanced Manufacturing Training Now Available Through Wiregrass Georgia Tech
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.
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The Value In Sales Reports
August 20, 2012
When you are a sales rep who works for a large company, you have a sales manager. That sales manager most likely has you filling out reports on your activity. And if you are like most sales reps, you probably dislike this process and think it is busy work.
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7 Ways to Foster Loyalty in the Consumer
August 17, 2012
Building relationships takes time but growing and maintaining them long term takes perseverance, energy and purpose. We live in seriously disposable times. People outgrow their use for things and each other, sadly rather quickly. So how do you build a long term following, loyalty, and community? How do you win in the minds of the consumer?
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SunTrust Sees Strong Deposit Growth in South Georgia
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.
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How Google’s Recent Moves Matter to Business
August 13, 2012
We have seen a lot of coverage of the Olympics and now, some tech stories have recently received a lot of coverage as well. The Apple versus Samsung court fight, the Mars rover, and breaking info about the iPhone 5 seemed to have dominated, but one player has been making some headlines that are rather significant - That would be Google.
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The Days of Not Collecting Internet Sales Tax Could Be Ending
August 10, 2012
One of the many benefits of buying online is that often the seller does not collect sales tax on the transaction (unless the seller does business in the consumer’s state). In essence, it’s as if the cost of buying something is lower when no sales tax is collected, especially on big ticket items. This however seems to be coming to an end.
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Comfort Keepers Specializes in Interactive Care
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.
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Is Your Retirement Plan Protected?
August 06, 2012
Planning for retirement is probably a top priority for you. Do you know how much money you need to retire? Are you concerned that you may outlive your money? Are you concerned about the burden a chronic health care need could have on your family and finances? Your retirement is the dream for you and your family’s future. Proper planning and protection of that dream are crucial to help make it a reality.
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10 Things Yoga Teaches Us About Running a Business
August 03, 2012
It’s funny where you pull life lessons from, isn’t it? One never would think lessons on running a business will come from a yoga mat. You’d be surprised at the connections.
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Prince Automotive Group Takes a Small-Town Approach
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.
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Will Your Child Follow in Your Footsteps as an Entrepreneur?
July 30, 2012
Looking back in the last twenty to thirty years, most kids had no idea what an entrepreneur was. Fast forward to today - a recent study now shows a whopping 46% of kids who know an entrepreneur are more interested in becoming one themselves. We look at some ways to teach and encourage kids the entrepreneurial spirit.
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The Rules of Employee Engagement
July 27, 2012
Employees are singing a familiar song in the latest Global Workforce Study by Towers Watson. The study found almost two-thirds of U.S. workers are not fully engaged in their work, with just 37 percent of U.S. workers are highly engaged
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Renovation Planned at Valdosta La Quinta
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.
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Ways to Succeed When Starting Up in a New Region
July 23, 2012
Entrepreneurs usually sprout ideas from what they know best—current occupations, lifetime hobbies, subjects they’ve unknowingly studied for so long before starting up. Most of the time, they know who their target audience is. Which is why they feel so comfortable when taking such a big risk in order to serve them with something new.
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Undeveloped Potential: Listen To Who’s On Your Team
July 20, 2012
Whether it’s 10% of your brain or 10% of your potential or no known percentage at all, most of us live without tapping into everything that we have. And for the independent minded small business owner that usually means there’s a team that could help us pursue a new project or develop a new portion of the business — if we knew how to tap into them.
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Business is Taking Off at Valdosta Regional Airport
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.
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Taking the Risk Out of Your Retirement Distributions
July 16, 2012
Retiring at last. You have earned it by every measure. But now, you face an important transition in your personal financial plan. You have finished accumulating retirement assets and are now beginning to distribute them as income to support your retirement lifestyle. The choices you make now can certainly impact your long-term financial situation. Valdosta New York Life Agent Lee McArthur shares some ways to help you transition.
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Keep Your Employees Motivated This Summer
July 13, 2012
Summer’s here in full force and, no matter where your business is located, chances are your employees have caught summer fever. How can you keep employees motivated, engaged and present when beautiful summer days are calling them away?