February 2016 Features

  • The Right and Wrong Reasons to Incorporate or Form an LLC

    February 26, 2016

    Picking a business structure is usually the first big decision for any new business owner. My own companies have helped tens of thousands small businesses get started with an LLC or corporation — and as such, I’ve heard countless reasons why business owners think they should (or shouldn’t) incorporate. There are some common misconceptions associated with incorporation, often related to trying to avoid state taxes or any liability.

  • St. Mary's Named One of America's 100 Best Hospitals by Healthgrades

    February 24, 2016

    Healthgrades announced that St. Mary's Health Care System has received the Healthgrades 2016 America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award.

  • Student-run Philanthropy Surpasses $1M Raised for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

    February 22, 2016

    More than 2,100 University of Georgia students caught up on some much needed sleep Sunday after 24 hours of dancing and games culminated in the announcement of a record-setting $1,068,358.16 raised for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

  • Former Columbus Chamber President Mike Gaymon Pens Book "A View from the Backhoe"

    February 22, 2016

    It has been more than a year since Mike Gaymon retired from the Greater Columbus, GA Chamber of Commerce where he was known as a bold and effective leader that helped transform the Columbus community. Gaymon traded in the boardrooms and business meetings for a backhoe and a quieter life in the country where he has spent time reflecting on his decades-long career as a Chamber executive. It was this new view from atop a backhoe that inspired his book, aptly tilted, A View from the Backhoe.

  • UGA Student Gains Valuable Business Skills Through Painting Houses

    February 19, 2016

    Jacob Sinderman is learning the ropes of operating a small business while continuing his college education at the University of Georgia. Sinderman, a senior finance and Spanish major, is part of the growing number of college students who are gaining valuable business and leadership skills through Young Entrepreneurs Across America (YEAA).

  • Jeff English Named President of St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital

    February 18, 2016

    Jeff English, interim president of St. Mary's Sacred Heart Hospital, has been promoted to the office of president. "Jeff led a successful integration of St. Mary's Health Care System into the newly acquired hospital," said Don McKenna, President and CEO of St. Mary's in announcing the appointment.

  • Startup Stories Event Celebrates Athens Entrepreneurial Spirit

    February 17, 2016

    Four Athens will host another Startup Stories event on Monday, February 29th, bringing local entrepreneurs to the stage at Hotel Indigo’s Rialto Club to share their founding stories with the Athens community.

  • 3 Proven Strategies for Reducing Employee Turnover

    February 12, 2016

    Worried about reducing employee turnover? You should be. Consider these facts: the average raise an employee can expect is three percent, which ends up being closer to 1 percent with inflation — hardly a noticeable difference in a bi-weekly paycheck. If that same employee was to land a job at a rival company, however, they could expect a salary bump between 10 and 20 percent.

  • Southwest Georgia Shines During 28th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt

    February 11, 2016

    Albany and Southwest Georgia welcomed a record number of guests this week to the 28th Annual Georgia Quail Hunt. Nearly 30 site location consultants as well as recruitment and expansion prospects arrived in Southwest Georgia this week to learn about doing business in Georgia while enjoying the traditional quail hunting experience.

  • Creature Comforts Announces New Executive Hires

    February 10, 2016

    Creature Comforts Brewing Company recently appointed three pivotal team additions to join its ranks as one of the Southeast’s fastest growing craft breweries. The Athens, GA-based brewery attracted veteran talent including Seth Herman, Dan Herron and Jeremy Lum – each to play an essential role in developing the brand’s rising momentum and bring a wealth of industry experience to the company. In less than two years, Creature Comforts has grown from five full-time employees to 20.

  • ViaCyte Acquires Rights to BetaLogics Assets, Expanding and Extending Industry-Leading Portfolio

    February 05, 2016

    ViaCyte, Inc., a leading, privately-held regenerative medicine company with the first pluripotent stem cell-derived islet replacement therapy for the treatment of type 1 diabetes in clinical-stage development, today announced that ViaCyte and Janssen Biotech, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson, have agreed to consolidate the assets of the Janssen BetaLogics group into ViaCyte.

  • Nakanishi is Undergoing a $4.5 Million Expansion

    February 03, 2016

    In the mid 80's, the Nakanishi Company, a company out of Osaka, Japan that makes automotive related products, secured new business with American bearing manufacturers. There was one stipulation though, they would have to build a plant in the US. And just recently, NKC announced a 16,000 square foot expansion in their 180,000 square foot facility in Athens. This expansion will allow for an installation of two new 400 ton fully automated stamping presses. They will use these presses to supply a new product to Toyota.