Features
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Georgians, Some Unconventional Health Advice: Maybe You Need a Vacation
August 13, 2014
Is a vacation good for your mental health? And if so, is that a good enough reason to take one? Most people enjoy out-of-town excursions. Lots of people take them annually. But as another summer begins to fade, many workers may be wondering if a vacation is worth the trouble and expense — especially in a time of high gas prices and airfares.
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University of North Georgia Recognized as Oconee County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Quarter
August 12, 2014
The enterprise that the Oconee Chamber of Commerce named “Business of the Quarter” recently wasn’t a retailer or manufacturer, but an educational institution: The University of North Georgia. So, it made business sense to interview the Acting CEO of UNG’s Oconee Campus, Dr. Eric Skipper, to learn how a college could earn that unique recognition.
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How Has the Financial Condition of Private Companies Changed in Recent Years?
August 11, 2014
As you might have expected, the financial condition of private companies have changed substantially over the past twelve years, as the country experienced the end of a housing boom; a financial crisis that nearly took down Wall Street; the deepest economic downturn since the Great Depression; and five years of one of the country’s weakest economic recoveries. But you might be surprised to learn how those financials have shifted. The changes aren’t all as one might have predicted.
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8 Things to Ask Your Employees Before They Leave for Vacation
August 07, 2014
Summer vacations are a great time for employees to relax and recharge. However, it does leave your team in the office short staffed. Luckily, with the right systems in place your office can continue to run just as smoothly in their absence.
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Outlook for Oconee Good States Rusty Haygood, Economic Development Director for the County
August 05, 2014
As the economy shows signs of improvement, AthensCEO decided to ask Rusty Haygood, Economic Development Director for Oconee County, about how the surrounding area of Athens fared during the recession, how the business community has rebounded and what plans they’ve developed to sustain that momentum.
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Time of Change and Crisis in the Hospital World
August 04, 2014
The financial turmoil rocking Georgia’s hospitals shows no signs of fading. Just this past week, Emory-Adventist Hospital announced it would close by the end of October. By doing so, the Smyrna hospital would become the fifth Georgia hospital to close within the past two years. And unlike the previous four, it is in the affluent Atlanta suburbs, not a struggling rural area.
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Innovative New Senior Living Community is Underway in Athens
July 31, 2014
Atlanta-based Thrive Senior Living has broken ground this week at The Village at Athens, an innovate new Assisted Living and Memory Care community in Athens, GA. The 70 unit project is a joint venture with Paragon Real Estate, a Chicago-based developer, and Summit Healthcare REIT, a real estate investment trust specializing in healthcare properties.
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Should You Demand a Return on Investment From Business Travel?
July 30, 2014
How do you choose when to travel, and when not to, for your business? The smart business owner expects a return on investment from business travel. That means having a plan for your trip, and then following through on the plan after the trip.
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Piedmont Construction Group Faces the Opportunity & Challenge of Growth
July 29, 2014
Business at Piedmont Construction Group has been "wide open in the first half of 2014 and will remain busy," according to Vice President of Pre-Construction Christy Kovac. Piedmont is a multi-specialty construction firm founded in 1995 by brothers Scott and David Thompson. It has offices in Macon and Athens.
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Athens Chamber Focusing on Members & Partnerships in 2014
July 28, 2014
Christy Terrell, external affairs manager for Georgia Power, and chair of the Athens Area Chamber of Commerce board of directors, gives us her take on chamber initiatives for the rest of 2014.
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St. Mary’s Hospital Places on Quality Honor Roll
July 25, 2014
St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens has been named to the Georgia Hospital Association’s Partnership for Health and Accountability Core Measures Honor Roll. St. Mary’s is one of 26 hospitals in Georgia to be placed in the Trustee category, the second-highest on the list.
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7 Reasons Printer Ink Costs More Than Champagne
July 24, 2014
Printer ink costs a lot of money. But have you ever taken the time to figure out why?
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Common Entrepreneurial Advice That You Need to Ignore
July 23, 2014
Entrepreneurs get advice every day from their professional advisors and information they read. A lot of it needs to be ignored. Pay close attention to disregarding these platitudes and what to do instead.
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Top Banking Institutions in Athens
July 22, 2014
Most successful businesses have a strong local relationship with a bank. Recently, we highlighted some of the top law firms and accounting firms in the area. In this feature, we provide a quick snapshot of the top banks in the Athens area.
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How to Improve Your Self Control – It’s the Key to Your Success
July 21, 2014
If you’re tired of reading self help books and seemingly never getting anywhere, you may be interested in a study that found a single factor — self-control — to be one of the primary keys to success.
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Manage Your Future – Building your personal brand...
July 18, 2014
Have you ever wondered why certain people always appear to be in te right place at the right time? You know the ones I’m talking about; they always seem to get the next great opportunity; the promotion, the new job, the big order. In a world with so much noise and so many choices, how do we set ourselves apart and actually differentiate who we are? How do we become this sought-after person?
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Merrill Lynch Scorecard Shows Productivity Tied to Employees’ Financial Well-Being
July 17, 2014
Merrill Lynch recently released their 401(k) Wellness Scorecard for the second quarter, with results showing a positive increase in financial habits from plan participants. We spoke with James Wallace and Deborah Howard, Managing Directors – Wealth Management, Global Corporate & Institutional Advisory Services, to get their take on the results of the scorecard and why more companies need to become invested in the financial well-being of their employees.
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Study: Yes, There Are Benefits of Offering Free WiFi
July 16, 2014
It’s gotten much more common today to find businesses that offer complimentary WiFi for their patrons, especially in cities. Still, there are many places outside of Big-City-America where free WiFi is the exception and not the rule.
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Top Accounting Firms in Athens
July 15, 2014
Behind every successful business, there is great legal and accounting advice. Recently, we highlighted some of the top law firms in the area. In this feature, we highlight Athens’ top accounting firms.
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10 Ways to Use the BBB to Grow Your Business
July 14, 2014
If you own a business, you already know about the Better Business Bureau and the importance of its ratings. But that isn’t all the BBB has to offer. We discuss some of the lesser-known features of the BBB and how they might be able to boost your business growth.
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Should You Ever Make a Counter Offer to an Employee?
July 11, 2014
It’s no secret that competition for experienced employees is heating up. Despite the economy’s ups and downs, the news continues to be filled with reports that businesses seeking to hire can’t find qualified workers. So if you have qualified workers on board, how far should you go to retain them? When a key employee gets a job offer, should you consider making a counter offer?
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3 Classic Recipes in Case Your Brand Ever Gets Grilled
July 10, 2014
Yes, it’s true. The Paula Deen Network is launching in September. The celebrity cook, whose career was nearly burnt, is cooking up something new – and digital. Just in case your brand ever gets grilled, we look at three fast and easy tips inspired by the digital rebranding of Paula Deen.
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3 Ways to Keep Your Small Business Growing & Gaining Ground
July 09, 2014
As many business leaders spent the last year focused on cutting costs and staying competitive, small-business employers specifically took measures to hold fast – making careful choices about hiring, compensation and employee benefits options.
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The Top Law Firms in Athens
July 08, 2014
The Athens area has many well established and reputable law firms. In this feature, we highlight five of the most notable firms that have a focus on business law and regulations.
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Do Customers Buy Because of Your Core Values?
July 07, 2014
As we've discussed in previous posts, customers buy brands and they pay more for brands that they want to be associated with. But, it's not just your logo and advertising that creates your brand.