Features
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Defining Eligibility for Attracting and Assessing Talent
March 15, 2012
Peak Focus Founder and Principal Jerry Scher talks about defining eligibility for your organizations positions and assessing talent to place in those positions.
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Azalea Health Innovations Earns U.S. Chamber Blue Ribbon Award
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.
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Test Your Financial Health
March 11, 2012
How’s your financial health? Finacial Adviser Bil Sadler shares a self quiz that may give you a good indication of whether your financial health is in good shape or could be better.
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How Do You Build a Talented Sales Team?
March 08, 2012
Peak Focus Founder and Principal Jerry Scher talks about how to assess talent and build a successful sales team. He breaks down 3 basic assessments that should be addressed when considering candidates: eligibility, suitability, and the interview process.
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Shapiro Properties: Valdosta's Full-Service Commercial Real Estate Firm
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.
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Small Business Startup Remains a Challenge
March 04, 2012
Small business business startup is a huge challenge from getting that first great idea all the way through the process to creating an exciting new business with an incredible future. We spotlight some tips and some sources for you.
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Curt Fowler Talks About The Value of Values
March 01, 2012
Can the core values of a company create economic value? People often assume that sticking to your values can cost you, at least in the short term. But is that true? Curt Fowler of Fowler & Company takes a look.
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Turner Insurance Reports Increased Flexibility in Coverage Options
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.
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How One Decision Can Solve 3 Problems for Your Small Business
February 26, 2012
Small business owners and their HR staffs are all too familiar with the arduous challenges of balancing business and employee needs. Rising costs, particularly related to health care/medical insurance, are central to business concerns.
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Nexxtep Technology Services Helps Local Businesses Decipher Cloud Computing
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.
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Let Customers Serve Your Small Business
February 19, 2012
It may sound like the opposite of conventional wisdom, but as businesses strive to serve their customers better, owners should also think about how the customer is the one supporting your business. It’s an interesting perspective to consider.
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International Trade in Georgia Booms in 2011
February 16, 2012
Georgia’s international trade in 2011 continued its upward trajectory of the past several years, with both exports and imports growing in numbers and value, according to U.S. Census Bureau statistics released last week. For the first time in Georgia’s history, Asia was the top destination for the state’s exporters.
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Solving the Small Business Credit Mess
February 14, 2012
The U.S. federal government said the Great Recession was over in June 2009. Unfortunately, it’s at least year three and counting of a very difficult economic climate for many people . It’s not just the protesters at Occupy Wall Street or in your local community; it’s every small business owner. Why are they so mad?
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Pros and Cons of Buying A Franchise
February 12, 2012
As with anything in life, there are pros and cons involved and it’s important to consider every aspect of them. In this piece, we’re going to take a look at the pros and cons of buying a franchise as a way of getting into your own business.
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Need to Do More With Less? How Research Can Steer You in the Right Direction
February 09, 2012
Organizations everywhere are being asked to do more with fewer resources. So why is now the ideal time to spend resources on research? With budgets shrinking it is more important than ever to be sure that you are spending your money in the right areas in order to have the most impact.
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Unemployment Rate Drops, Conspiracy Theories Rise, Economy Improves
February 07, 2012
Last Friday’s unemployment report was met with cheers and skepticism, and all because of the annual pre-announced and well-telegraphed statistical adjustments made by the Bureau of Labor Statistics were both large and confusing. Dr. Joe Webb breaks it all down.
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Sixth Annual Leadership Symposium Scheduled at Wiregrass Georgia Technical College
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.
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Are You Ready to Make the Jump into Small Business Ownership?
February 05, 2012
There are two types of entrepreneurs: those that jump into a new business headfirst, and those that dip their toes in the water. In Making the Jump into Small Business Ownership, authors David Nilssen and Jeff Levy guide readers into the water, so to speak. They dissect what it takes to become a business owner into easy-to-digest chapters peppered with real-world examples.
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You’ve Started A Business: Is Your Brand Protected?
February 02, 2012
Nothing represents your company and brand more than your business name. It’s the cornerstone of your business and shapes everything that follows – from marketing tone to a customer’s first impressions. Have you protected this valuable asset?
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State Seeking Georgia Companies for Upcoming International Trade Missions
January 31, 2012
Do you run a small or medium-sized Georgia business interested in growing its exports? By exhibiting with the Georgia Department of Economic Development, your company can take advantage of reduced exhibit fees, co-branded marketing opportunities, market intelligence, and local business contacts.
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Why Online Reputation Matters to Small Business
January 29, 2012
You’re a small business owner. Most of your customers are the people who live within 25 miles of your storefront. Why does it even matter what the Internet has to say about your brand? That has no impact on your bottom line. Right? No. Dangerously wrong.
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The New Economy and Small Business
January 24, 2012
Things have changed. And judging the landscape that we presently operate on, and have operated on for the last 4-10 years, things will continue to change. That’s the nature of this economy. But the ability to be relevant in a changing economy can work for the savvy business owner.
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11 Tips for Building and Managing a Team
January 22, 2012
If you’ve gotten to the point where you’re hiring employees for your business, give yourself a pat on the back. This is a major milestone for any company – and one that millions of entrepreneurs never achieve. Now your challenge is finding the right employee and putting them to work in a way that will help propel your company’s continued growth.
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The Overwhelmed Small Business Owner’s Guide to Simplicity
January 19, 2012
We have more ideas and responsibilities than we have time in a day. Plus, every piece of success seems to come with new challenges. If being overwhelmed is your issue, then start with one thing at a time.
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5 Trends to Shape Your Business This Year
January 18, 2012
Trendwatching firm, JWTIntelligence, recently released its seventh annual trend forecast, JWT 10 Trends for 2012. Which of the 10 are most likely to affect small business going forward? We share our picks.