3 24 16 buzz on biz march april 64 pages

MARCH 24—APRIL 20, 2016 • THE CSRA’S MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Fire destroyed 141 businesses 100 years ago Devastation led to new growth on Broad Street

By Gary Kauffman One hundred years ago, on March 22, 1916, a fire swept through part of Augusta’s business district, resulting in the loss of 141 businesses – about a fourth of the city’s businesses at that time. About 600 families, a total of about 3,000 people, were left homeless and 1,000 jobs were lost. Fortunately, no lives were lost in the blaze.

Yet devastating as the fire was, there was a bit of serendipity in it. In the aftermath Augusta flourished and shaped today’s downtown and the Summerville district.

“If you can say anything fortunate came out of a fire like that, it’s that the architectural taste of the period was very good,” said Erick Montgomery, executive director of Historic Augusta, who has lectured on the fire. “There was a building boom after that.”

Montgomery said that the 1915 city directory listed six architectural firms. Just two years later, after the fire, the 1917 directory showed 11 architectural firms. Although he doesn’t have a firm count, he said the number of construction companies and related businesses like plumbers, elec-

Buildings on Augusta’s Broad Street in full blaze on March 22, 1916. Photo courtesy Historic Augusta, Inc.

tricians and masons, also grew.

Included in that new construction were buildings now considered jewels of the city, like the Imperial Theatre.

Montgomery said the Summerville area between 15th

Street and Heard Avenue was already growing, but boomed after the fire as people who lost homes in the blaze decided See GREAT FIRE OF 1916, page 4

Mount Vintage course sings again After tough years, 27-hole course makes a comeback

By Susan O’Keefe There’s no Amen Corner but there could easily be a Hallelujah chorus bouncing off a quiet golf course set in the rolling hills of South Carolina just a few miles from Augusta. Halfway between Edgefield and North Augusta sits Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Course and the facility is back in the swing this spring after a few years of trying times.

The resounding song of celebration comes as the course is under new management and eager to tout its beautiful 27 holes.

Since November 2015, Orlando-based Integrity Golf Company has been managing the facility. Garland Smith, Director of Tournaments at Mount Vintage, is eager to see the course rise to its full potential. When

The fifth green looking toward the sixth hole on the Chester Course of Mount Vintage Plantation Golf Course near North Augusta. Photo by Gary Kauffman

Mount Vintage first opened more than a decade ago, it hosted an LPGA Tour event. In 2008 it debuted another nine holes, making it a marketable place for tournaments as

well as individuals.

“That’s the nice thing about having 27 holes,” Smith said. “We can accommodate our members but still host outside groups,

so it’s a great place to have an outing,” Bouncing back from adversity But things weren’t always rosy for Mount Vintage. In February 2014 it closed because of financial reasons, but opened again a few months later. In February 2015 KemperSports began managing the course before Integrity took over in November.

Things are already looking up with a number of tournaments scheduled.

“We have a few church group outings,” Smith said. “We’re also hosting a CSRA high school tournament, and we’re working on several corporate outings.”

Mount Vintage’s three nine-hole courses – Chester, Vintage and Independent – offer plenty of challenges for golfers with sharp doglegs, rolling hills and water. And while it isn’t named the Amen Corner, the fifth and sixth holes on the Chester course bring to mind the course across the river with its layout and stone bridge. The par 3 sixth features a shot across the water with bunkers in front and back that is reminiscent of Augusta National’s 12th hole.

Some Mount Vintage golfers point to See MOUNT VINTAGE, page 2

Greeneway Connector gets funds for study North Augusta Forward recently received a $25,000 donation from Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), the managing and operating contractor at the Savannah River Site, for the Downtown Greeneway Connector Study.

The Connector will provide a bicycle and pedestrian connection between downtown North Augusta and the Greeneway that will foster economic development, pride and iconic identity. By constructing and promoting the DGC, the community has a unique opportunity for “trail oriented” development.

“We are so grateful for this donation from SRNS,” North Augusta Forward Executive Director Charles Martin said. “SRNS employees make up a large number of our friends and neighbors, so their investment in our local community is meaningful and appreciated. We are all committed to supporting the mission of North Augusta Forward, which is to create a world-class downtown that serves as the front porch to South Carolina.”

North Augusta Forward contracted with Alta Planning and Design to conduct the

Connector study. The study, authorized by the North Augusta City Council, focused on the feasibility, routing and design of the proposed Connector. Stakeholder input along with documented best practices in bicycle, pedestrian, and trail planning and design were used as the basis of the study’s guiding goals.

“SRNS is proud to support North Augusta Forward in their study,” said SRNS Executive Vice President and COO Dave Eyler.

“We are committed to supporting initiatives that enhance and improve opportunities for our surrounding communities, and we believe that the Connector is an opportunity that will have long-lasting positive impacts for North Augusta.”

The completed study includes the vision and goals of the Connector, a summary of stakeholder outreach, corridor recommendations and an implementation plan.

“We want to offer North Augusta residents all the advantages of our riverfront town,” said Martin. “We hope that the DGC offers a chance to attract new business and residents, as well as a new resource for our 22,000 residents.”

MOUNT VINTAGE continued from page 1 number eight on the Independent Course as a signature sight. The par 3, dubbed the Million Dollar Hole due to its hefty designer price tag, features a waterfall that runs down to a pond.

The final hole on the Independent Course is a challenging par 5 with a stream cutting across the fairway and an elevated twotiered green.

As Masters Week approaches, this semiprivate club is bustling from tee to green to ensure guests a top notch golf experience.

“We’re one of only a few courses in the area with bent grass greens, which is the same as the National,” said Chris Dees, Golf Operations Manager. “One of the kids who won in his age division last year at the National’s drive, chip, and putt competition, actually practiced here the day before he won.”

With a rich history at its feet, Mount Vintage is targeting a strong future as well. The golf course is built on land that was used as a vineyard years ago. The clubhouse is an 1800s plantation house that was moved from its original location a few miles away to its current location. The old house adds a unique charm to the area, a reminder of days gone by.

Investing in youth Dees touts one of the course’s top accomplishments as investing in the lives of young golfers. Mount Vintage is the home course for Edgefield’s Fox Creek Academy and has continued to welcome a January classic for nearly a decade.

2 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

“We’ve hosted the Carolinas-Georgia Junior Invitational Championship for the eight years it’s been in existence. It brings together top golfers from the Carolinas and Georgia. Fans can watch some of those kids now playing on the weekends as they’ve gone on to play in major tournaments.”

One of those players is Aiken’s Kevin Kisner, ranked second in the FedEx Cup standings in mid-March and who will play in his first Masters Tournament this year.

Masters Week specials For golf gurus desiring to play Masters Week but finding themselves short of a Masters invitation, Mount Vintage offers several green jacket packages. Expect to drop anywhere from one to three Ben Franklins for a tee time the first week of April. The rest of the season, including Mondays, the course offers lower rates around the $50 mark.

“We have availability Masters Week and run a couple of shotgun tournaments every day of Masters Week,” Dees said. “There’s an 8 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. tee time. If you play in the morning, breakfast and lunch are included plus green fees, carts, and range balls. The afternoon fees include lunch.

It’s a great way to round out your Masters Week.”

Mount Vintage bills itself as a quaint golf community close to everything in the CSRA. The 25-minute drive from Augusta through the countryside gives golfers a chance to prepare and reflect on the game that draws hundreds of thousands to Augusta every spring. It’s enough to make anyone shout, “Hallelujah!”

Publisher’s Notes Neil Gordon

Season of Fun

Golf, spring break and camps create good times in the area If you are attending a “little” golf tourney in town the first week of April – welcome!

Our publication’s mission is to be the No. 1 source of business news in our Georgialina market area. You’ll notice we do that with compelling features like our front page story on the great fire of 100 years ago, interesting tidbits from companies that are opening, closing, moving

and growing, and columns from the area’s brightest business experts.

Besides our standard fare this issue, we celebrate the joy of the season – after all, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Spring Break and yes, The Masters golf tournament, all fall within our publication schedule.

With that in mind, I want to direct you to some unique golf-related coverage starting with our special 12-page insert. It is sponsored by Savannah Lakes Village, a jewel of a residential and golf development on the 71,000acre Lake Thurmond. It is worth the scenic 30-40 mile drive from where you are to visit and play one of the two award-winning 18-hole courses. The setting is breathtaking.

In the special section, you’ll learn about Savannah Lakes and also read the do’s and don’ts of attending the Masters, plus enjoy a daily calendar of fun activities while you’re in town.

Please support the advertisers who allowed extra pages to be printed.

Speaking of printing, thanks to our strategic partner, Morris Communica-

tions. Their team in Savannah prints all of our publications and this year will be inserting 60,000 of the 12-page special section into their Sunday and Monday editions of the Augusta Chronicle in early April. You’ll have a second chance to grab our guide.

In our main publication, there are also some neat columns and features, like on pages 10 and 18 where Jame Geathers and our Editor Gary Kauffman take a whack at relieving stress this time of year. On page 20, 86-year-old Businessperson of the Month L.D. Waters reveals how he built Bonaventure Discount Golf into one of the United States’ leading golf stores and that he is still working hard at it – without vacations!

On page 24, we profile an Augusta business that’s a leader in its field, American Audio Visual, which has ties to events for Tiger Woods, U.S. Presidents and many Masters functions.

On page 38, columnists from the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce and from Goodwill discuss ways to

show off your workforce to the world this one week of the year.

On pages 60-62 you’ll find a list of past Masters winners and some interesting tidbits about the tournament.

The season of fun for our local businesspeople is not limited to the office or the fairways, but also as an extension for our kids. On pages 43-47 we begin the first of three monthly Camp Guides.

This issue focuses on information to send kids to camp during Masters Week. There are also many camps advertising their services for camps starting in late May and continuing through the summer. I encourage you to turn to that section to learn more about the camps and our kids.

Enjoy this season of fun!

Neil Gordon is president of Buzz on Biz, LLC and produces a daily TV segment on News 12 This Morning, a daily radio show on WRDW 1630 AM, a daily website and a weekly email business newsletter in addition to Buzz on Biz, the CSRA’s only monthly business publication.

Features Masters............. 60-62 2016 Camp Guide........43-47 APast listing of all the past Masters winners, Rice Speaks.................... 47 plus some fun facts about them.

Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will speak to the Boys & Girls Club.

Business Events............ 52 Project Jackson................ 6 Trees come down, but Project Jackson reamains on hold until a Master Development Agreement is approved.

Scuttle’s Island................. 6 After unexpected delays, water park is ready to proceed in North Augusta.

Buzz Bits....................12,13 Digital Marketing.......... 16 Digital marketing is crucial to business success, but it can’t just be handed off to youth.

Businessperson of the Month: L.D. Waters....... 20

Social Buzz............... 55-59

L.D. Waters had a rough start to life, but common sense made him successful.

Business Openings...22-23 American A/V................. 24

Growing A/V company has plenty of experience and an impressive client list.

Masters Week Spotlight.. 38 GreenJackets Preview... 55 Special Section......... Insert The North Augusta Chamber advises businesses how to make the most of the Masters Week spotlight.

The Augusta GreenJackets prepare for a new season that features plenty of fun for everyone.

Savannah Lakes Village in South Carolina offers many amenities plus two top-ofthe-line golf courses.

Columnists Charles Kelly: Digital ‘kidnappers’ holding computer data for ransom..................................8 Jame Geathers: Giving employees a stress break can improve productivity................... 10 Kim Romaner: Tracking KPIs can help run – and sell – your business................................. 10 Eddie Kennedy: Businesses can get back on track after facing a setback......................... 14 Gary Kauffman: Taking time off frees brain to be more productive later.......................... 18 Shannon Jones: Trusted advisors can help break spell of seductive sales........................ 18 Dagan Sharpe: Good communicators make catching key points easy.............................. 26 Mark Alison: Art form matters when using outdoor advertising boards........................... 28 Justin Anderson: Don’t overdo it when starting real estate investing................................ 28 Mike Herrington: Plan now to avoid a rainy forecast for retirement................................... 30 Christine Hall: Rules change, so you may be eligible for a tax return.................................. 32 Russell Head: Some former employees may qualify for COBRA benefits.......................... 32

Kelsey Morrow: Hashtags are valuable to a business when used right.............................. 34 Steve Swanson: Information abounds but can be too much of a good thing................. 34 Barry Paschal: A lot goes on to make Masters Week look effortless.................................... 38 Terry Childers: Deaths from prescription drug abuse increasing dramatically................ 40 Carolyn Ramp: Writing down and reviewing goals are a key to success............................ 42 Kevin Wade: Planning ahead can ease burden of HIPPA desk audits.................................. 42 Daphne Jones: A vacation creates positive benefits for bosses, employees.................... 48 Missie Usry: It’s not too late to plan for future years in college............................................. 48 Susan O’Keefe: Under new owners, The Snug offers new food, familiar setting............. 54 Ben Casella: Two brews bridge the gap between cool and hot weather........................... 56 Samantha Taylor: Netflix movies tout working hard to reach one’s goal........................... 56 Nora Blithe: Coffee shop banter makes silence at home seem golden.............................. 58

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

3

GREAT FIRE OF 1916 continued from page 1 to rebuild in that area.

In March 1916, Augusta was a thriving city, the commercial center for a large region of Georgia and South Carolina. Cotton still played a big role in the economy, and Reynolds Street along the river between 7th and 9th streets was packed with cotton warehouses. Automobiles were becoming more common, with several dealerships located on Broad Street.

The downtown buildings were an eclectic mix of buildings erected in the early 1800s to brand-new fire-proof monoliths like the Chronicle Building (now known as the Marion Building located on the east side of the Imperial Theatre) and the Empire Building (now known as the Lamar Building, located on the west side of the Imperial).

Cause of fire unknown The fire originated in the Dyer Building on the northwest corner of Broad and 8th streets (where the Sun Trust Bank building is now) but Montgomery is not as sure as he used to be about what actually started the fire.

In 1916, the five-story Dyer Building (named for D.B. Dyer, a real estate developer) was home to several businesses and offices. The first floor was occupied by several mercantile stores and the basement includ-

The fire report on the incident cited a number of reasons for the fire burning so long, chief among them shoddy building codes. ed a barbershop and restaurant. The second through fifth floors contained offices.

At 6:20 p.m. on March 22, 1916, the fire alarm sounded for a fire in the M.E. Kelly Dry Goods store on the first floor of the Dyer Building.

“It is often said that an electric iron was left on, and I’ve said that, but I cannot find a reference to an iron,” Montgomery said.

“The fire report says the cause was unknown. I couldn’t find where it was officially blamed on any one thing.”

Wind spreads fire to the east Initially the fire seemed localized in that building. Two light shafts that ran from top to bottom of the building created an updraft that drew the fire upward.

“That was blamed for fueling the fire,” Montgomery said. “It got out of control.

There were still people in the upper stories that had to be rescued with ladders.”

The situation quickly grew worse. A wind blowing toward the east carried embers across 8th Street to the Union Bank Building (now SRP Bank) and soon it was blazing. The fire continued moving along the north side of Broad Street, burning up the

4 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

The burned out shells of the Chronicle Building, left, now the Marion Building, and the Empire Building, now the Lamar Building. This photo was taken from Reynolds Street looking toward Broad Street. Photo courtesy of Historic Augusta, Inc.

700 block – including the fire-proof Empire and Chronicle buildings.

The blaze also spread north to Reynolds Street, setting the cotton warehouses on fire, which exacerbated the situation as burning bits of cotton floated on the wind to set more buildings on fire. Eventually the fire spread east along the north side of Broad to about 4th Street. Between 5th and 4th it jumped south across Broad Street and burned homes down to Greene Street.

Businesses south of Broad spared Montgomery said the broadness of Broad Street acted as a natural fire break, sparing the businesses on the south side of the street.

Although the fire kept spreading it didn’t do so at a deadly pace.

“It was kind of a slow-motion thing,” Montgomery said. “The whole thing took 10-1/2 hours to run its course.”

That gave people not only ample time to flee for their lives, but also to save their possessions. For example, one attorney with an office in the Chronicle Building had time to walk across the street to J.B. White’s department store, buy two satchels, return to his office, then load the satchels with important paperwork and carry them to his home before the blaze reached the building.

Although touted as fireproof, both the Empire and Chronicle buildings were gutted, leaving just the steel framework. Montgomery believes that may have been the result of open windows (several decades before the advent of air conditioning), which allowed embers to infiltrate the interior of the buildings.

Many reasons for fire’s spread Montgomery said the fire report on the incident cited a number of reasons for the fire burning so long, chief among them shoddy building codes. There were few if any fire walls between buildings and many structures, especially homes, had woodshingled roofs.

Another major problem was the water system. Augusta had one of the southeast’s

first water systems, built in the 1820s. But little maintenance had been done on it and it was rife with leaks. Residents were billed not by the amount of water they used but by the number of faucets in their home. Since it didn’t matter how much water they used, there was little incentive to spend the money fixing leaks.

All those leaks, though, meant dimin-

ished water pressure.

“So when the firemen hooked up their hoses all at the same time, they didn’t get a lot of spray,” Montgomery said.

They put out a call for help and fire departments responded from Macon, Atlanta, Greenville, Charleston and Savannah, all driving through the night – a trek that in 1916 was presumably not an easy one. But when they arrived, they found that most of their hose couplings wouldn’t work on the Augusta hydrants – and those that did got a dribble of water instead of a spray because of the water pressure.

Firemen along Reynolds Street were further hindered from getting to buildings by piles of blazing cotton in the streets.

One of the buildings considered the most tragic to lose was the historic St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, which had been built in 1750.

Not only did the church burn, but 85 families who attended the church lost their homes.

“Some people lost their home, their office and their church,” Montgomery said.

Rebuilding after the fire But people didn’t mourn their losses long.

Rebuilding started almost right away. The Imperial Theatre was opened within two years and St. Paul’s Church was rebuilt by 1919.

The Summerville district also grew. An efficient street car line and the growing use of automobiles allowed people to build homes on the hill and still be able to work downtown.

THE CSRA’S ONLY MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE The Buzz on Biz mission is to act as an inspirational tool for those in the workplace and those who are entrepreneurs, and to provide useful, practical information to increase their companies’ bottom lines.

To order a 12-month subscription mailed to your home or office, please mail a check for $36 to cover postage to the address below.

Publisher Neil R. Gordon

Photography Gary Kauffman, Melissa Gordon

Editor in Chief Gary Kauffman/803-341-5830

Writers Kelsey Morrow, Amanda King, Susan O’Keefe

Sales Manager Neil R. Gordon/706-589-6727 neil.gordon@buzzon.biz Sales Janine Garropy/803-480-2800 janine.garropy@buzzon.biz Tiffany Stone/803-640-0627 tiffany.stone@buzzon.biz Design Gary Kauffman

Calendar Coordinator Kelsey Morrow kelsey.morrow@buzzon.biz Distribution Janine Garropy, Kenneth Brown, Tiffany Stone Submit Information gkauffman@buzzon.biz thegordongrouppr@comcast.net

Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and their respective institutions.

Neither Buzz on Biz LLC or its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for informational purposes only.

For more information, visit us at buzzon.biz or like us on Facebook

3740 Executive Center Drive, #300, Martinez, GA 30907

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

5

A bulldozer clears some of the last trees from the site where Project Jackson will be built. Project Jackson includes a new stadium for the GreenJackets. Photo by Gary Kauffman

Trees come down, but Project Jackson waits

By Gary Kauffman Trees are coming down and land is being cleared at the future site of Project Jackson along the Savannah River in North Augusta, but it’s not quite the start of the long-awaited project.

Todd Glover, city administrator for North Augusta, said the land is still privately owned, and the owner is having the timber cleared prior to selling it to the master developer.

There was also a pressing reason to clear the land of the trees. Most of them are hackberry trees, and a disease in them is spreading throughout the riverfront, including along the Greeneway.

Glover has been told that 90 percent of the trees along the riverfront will be dead or dying in the next 12-18 months. Representatives of the U.S. Forestry Department have

been studying the disease.

“We tried to save any trees we considered to be ‘speciman’ trees,” Glover said.

That includes a large sycamore that has captured the attention of the developers.

Meanwhile, the city is still negotiating the Master Development Agreement, which still needs two readings by the city council before Project Jackson can officially begin.

“The Master Development Agreement is the key to the entire deal,” Glover said.

“We’re getting to the finalization of the negotiations.”

How soon that will move to second and third readings is dependent on the negotiation process. The council meets twice a month.

During the negotiations North Augusta’s projected cost has dropped by millions of dollars.

“We’ve adjusted some things so they don’t cost as much and shifted some of the responsibility from the city to private developers,” Glover said. “I hope people will see that we’ve been diligently working to make it a good project and be cognizant of the costs.”

The centerpiece of the project is the new stadium for the Augusta GreenJackets.

Original plans had been for the team to play in the new stadium in 2017.

“I think the window of opportunity is still there for that but it may involve them moving in after the season has begun,” Glover said.

He added that businesses are holding off on final commitments for the hotel and office space until the Master Development Agreement has been finalized.

“Once the MDA has had its second and third readings, you’ll start to see a lot of an-

nouncements (about future businesses),” Glover said.

But as Project Jackson nears reality, there is renewed interest in the downtown.

“People are bullish on it,” Glover said.

“This is an exciting time for the downtown.

It’s a big deal when you have a project of over $200 million in it.”

In addition to Project Jackson downtown, work on Scuttle’s Island Water Park on the north side of the city is also beginning to move forward. There has also been movement on creating a connector from the popular Greeneway walking trail to downtown North Augusta to create more foot traffic in the area.

“It’s an exciting time to be here,” Glover said. “We need to make sure we keep our eye on the ball and grow smartly. There will be plenty of opportunity to grow in the future.”

By Gary Kauffman A personnel issue that had dammed up progress on a water park in North Augusta has been resolved, meaning work can begin on construction.

At a press conference on March 3, Andrew Thompson of Cedar Rock Holdings said that while the original opening date of Memorial Day is no longer an option, Scuttle’s Island Water Park should be open this summer, possibly in June.

Scuttle’s Island will be built on 40 acres near the Walmart Super Center on Edge-

field Road, just off Exit 5 of I-20. Although work had at one time been scheduled to start in January, so far no construction has taken place.

“Unfortunately, there was an internal personnel issue we became aware of last November-December,” Thompson said.

“We felt it was prudent to resolve that issue before moving forward.”

Although he did not elaborate on the issue, he did acknowledge that it involved Benjamin Bell, developer of the popular Lights of the South in Grovetown who had

the initial idea to build the water park. Bell is no longer involved with the project.

Cedar Rock Holdings, a 10-member private group of local investors, owns the park.

Despite the delays, Thompson said a lot of behind-the-scenes work, such as coordinating with food vendors and landscape design, has continued. The slides also have already been built and are in storage.

“We’ve eclipsed the $7.5 million mark in expenditures on Scuttle’s Isand,” Thompson said. “We’re too far down the road to not make it to our destination.”

Original cost estimates for Scuttle’s Island were $21 million.

Scuttle’s Island will have 24 attractions, including the tallest water slides in the Southeast, the second-largest wave pool in the Southeast and a 15,000-square-foot interactive Kids Zone. It will also feature two fullservice and four quick-service restaurants.

It will be open between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and is expected to draw 200,000300,000 visitors annually. Plans are to employ

Scuttle’s Island aims at summer opening

6 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

See SCUTTLE’S ISLAND, page 8

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

7

Business Tech Charles Kelly

Taken Hostage

Digital ‘kidnappers’ holding computer data for ransom

Believe it or not, there has actually been a protection racket affecting some businesses and individuals in our area. Dozens of people and at least four businesses that I know of have been directly threatened with destruction of valuable property if they didn’t pay up.

I’m not making this up or exaggerating at all. Here is how it works: An employee or owner – or anyone using a computer – gets an official looking email from a prominent financial institution that requires action. That action, which might be as simple as one click, triggers installation of the worst virus you could ever get. This software infiltrates your computer, your network, your flash drives and your external backup drives, establishing a beachhead in each device, identifying and tagging all of your data and in the final checkmate, encrypts this data and then demands a ransom. Pay the ransom and they will give you the decryption key and they even offer proof of life of your data by letting you choose a couple of hostage files and letting them live with a limited decryption key.

We have been seeing this since early 2014 and at first we could recover the data, but beginning in 2015 the ransomware variants like Cryptowall and Cryptoblocker have become unbreakable without paying the ransom. In several recent cases, it was caught early by sheer luck and total encryption of data was avoided, but in other cases, mostly involving home users, the data was encrypted and everything was lost. I would point out that no customer of ours that is on our highest level of service, meaning monthly managed services, has had this problem.

Since Computer Exchange does not require service contracts and we have four retail locations, which take in nearly 800 computers a month for service, we see the effects of a cavalier attitude to IT security almost every day.

We preach backups as I did in my last article and we always recommend regular management of data and a disaster recovery plan. But many customers ignore these suggestions and warnings as they have not suffered any ill effects to date. I hope that these attitudes change before you lose valuable personal data, business records or even the ability to do business.

In Los Angeles, the Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center was essentially shut down and doing business with paper and pen last month until they agreed to pay a ransom of $17,000 paid in Bitcoins. (That’s roughly 40 bitcoins at current valuations). After paying the ransom, they were able to resume normal operations.

It is my guess that an employee clicked on a personal email that looked official, the hospital did not have an aggressive or properly funded IT department and had no real backup protocol.

In the end, it was easier and cheaper to pay the $17,000.

You could call the law, but several law enforcement offices across the country have paid similar ransoms, and those average payments are probably more in the $500 range. In many cases the FBI cybercrime investigators suggest paying the ransom. Most victims, though, simply never report the crime and it is estimated that up to 44 percent of those victims pay the ransom.

Do I have your attention yet or are you ready to protect you and your company from this modern day “protection racket?”

A successful attack like this has the same effect on your data as fire, flood, tornado or theft that destroys your data, only now the odds of a cata-

strophic data loss are much higher.

You must have a scheduled, industry standard, segregated backup of your data in place and you must have a disaster recovery plan in place. That has always been the recommendation, but now the odds that you will need to use such a plan have gone up.

You should certainly have firewalls, antivirus, managed email and all of the layered security that will prevent that catastrophic software from entering your network, but that only gives you better odds. Although there are some expensive products that are close to 100 percent effective, it could still happen, so you have to have good security up front and a disaster recovery plan for the worst case scenario.

You could still have a fire or a tornado destroy your network or a thief could break in and steal your server and the

SCUTTLE’S ISLAND continued from page 6 12 full-time and 90 seasonal workers.

Thompson said the scope of the original project hasn’t changed, although there were a few tweaks to the layout.

“We’ve made some positive changes to the layout,” he said. “We’ve found cool ways to improve the park.”

Residents surrounding the park’s site had been concerned about noise and water drainage. Thompson believes most of those concerns have been addressed to the residents’ satisfaction. He noted that Scuttle’s Island will be a zero impact park, meaning all water will be contained on site.

Marc Glissman, who worked for Disney and has opened and managed other water parks, took over as general manager of Scut-

8 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

tle’s Island on Jan. 4. He continued working in a number of areas while the delay took place.

The next step is to finish paperwork and conduct necessary meetings to move forward. Some construction should be visible

physical backups, but a much more likely scenario is that someone clicks on something they shouldn’t and you end up with the digital equivalent of a Tony Soprano living in your network, demanding payment, and he is not joking – pay up or you won’t see your data again.

If you don’t have proper backups and security in place, do something about it and do it quickly. This problem is only going to get worse. Call your IT company, call us, call me, but call someone before you find yourself contemplating converting dollars to Bitcoins.

Charles Kelly is President of Computer Exchange, with four locations in the CSRA: South Augusta, North Augusta, Martinez and Grovetown. Computer Exchange specializes in computer solutions for home and business. For answers to your computer questions, email him at charles@computerexchange.com.

in the near future, although no firm dates have been established.

“The most important point is that the entire team is committed to opening the park as quickly as possible,” Glissman said.

Glissman said decisions about subcontracting for the park will be left to the general contractor, but he expects the general contractor to use local businesses for some of the work.

The park was originally planned for Columbia County, adjacent to Lights of the South, but the Columbia County Planning Commission raised concerns about studies, permits and approvals that put the project on hold. Eventually, it was decided to relocate to North Augusta.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

9

Business Resources Jame Geathers

Relaxed Attitude

Giving employees a stress break can improve productivity If you ever needed a reason to take a personal day and head to the golf course, just in time for Masters Week, April is national Stress Awareness month.

According to a 2005 study by the American Institute of Stress, stress-related illnesses cost American employers about $300 billion per year. With long hours, deadlines, office conflict, family responsibilities and other pressures, you and your employees may need to get out and play. As an employer, you may be aware of employee challenges at work but you may not be aware how their stress levels can affect your business. From excessive sick days to increased health insurance premiums, employee stress can take a big bite out of your bottom line.

Now, understand I am not implying that as an employer you should be a therapist for your team. That is a line that you cannot and should not cross. Not to worry, though; you can lower the stress level of your team by making small changes to your office culture and policies. No couch necessary.

For starters, you may want to start by evaluating your current time off policy.

Does your company offer paid time off (PTO) or only sick leave? If you’re wondering, the difference between the two is that one is for illness only and the other can be used for any reason.

Another thing to consider: How difficult is it for an employee to take time off. Do you require weeks or even months of advance notice? Does your company require documentation for an employee to use time off? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you may want to consider modifying your policy.

Understandably, you may be concerned that a more relaxed policy will result in employees running amuck, missed deadlines and rampant absenteeism, but nothing can be further from the truth. Most employees appreciate employers who value their wellbeing and ultimately are more committed to exceeding expectations in exchange for flexibility. Of course, there will be exceptions to that rule, but you should chalk that up to those employees not being a good fit for your organization.

Another option you may want to consider is adding an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to your benefits package. That is an excellent tool that can help employees reach out confidentially when they need help or if they are struggling. Whether their stress is personal or professional, having an EAP will empower your team to take control of their stress and their lives,

Business Leverage Kim Romaner

Measuring Up

Tracking KPIs can help run – and sell – your business In last month’s article, I showed some examples of businesses that had not established and were not monitoring Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and how that became detrimental to the business sale process and the selling price of those businesses. Here’s how you can avoid a similar fate.

10 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

First, know that you can’t improve what you don’t measure. “Get more customers,” for example, is obvious, but not measurable. How many more customers? What kind of customers? KPIs need to be very specific in order to determine your progress toward achieving them.

Second, KPIs need to drive value. It might be great to “increase foot traffic in the store,” but if the owners of those extra feet don’t buy anything, you’ve accomplished nothing but accelerated wear on your carpeting.

Third, KPIs must be regularly monitored. If you establish KPIs and then don’t check in on them frequently, you will find yourself at the end of the year with no tangible results. And here’s a secret: the more frequently you measure, the more likely you are to achieve your goals. Why? Because continually creating focus on the measures will cause you and your team to think about them more often and become more aware of opportunities to achieve them.

Which KPIs will drive value for your company? If you’re not sure, a good ap-

in most cases without you having to get personally involved.

Additionally, a few small changes that you could make to your office culture would be encouraging employees to use available time off by using it yourself. It may seem unthinkable to take off on a Tuesday afternoon to hit the golf course or a week off to take a much needed vacation but it’s worth it. Your employees need to see that you have some sort of work-life balance (or at least appear to) and as a business owner you need a break.

Finally, consider implementing summer hours on Fridays. That typically runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day and allows employees to take full advantage of great summer weather with-

proach is to focus on the top goals of the company.

Start with Strategy. What is your organization trying to accomplish? Why are you in business? Define your company’s reason for existence. A strategic statement might look like this: “ABC Company is the premier provider of high quality, affordable uniforms to medical, dental and other uniformed professionals to make them feel goodlooking and to simplify their lives with easy care and extraordinary customer service.”

Then start asking how you will meet this strategic definition. How will you make sure you’re the “premier” provider? First, you must define what “premier” means. Five-star online reviews?

Best brand recognition in the region by outside survey? Highest revenue? Percent repeat customers? Exceeding particular benchmarks in your industry?

How can you make sure that you buy uniforms that are both high quality and affordable? Customer survey? Percentage of Cost of Goods to Gross Revenue?

Percent decrease in returns?

out having to use PTO. Regardless of your approach, reducing employee stress is a winning strategy for your company and your employees. If you need any additional information or assistance with dealing with employee stress please contact us.

Jame Geathers is a Human Resources and Operations Professional with more than 12 years of experience in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Jame has spent her career building and supporting HR infrastructures that have provided her employers and clients with the structure and policies that all start-ups need but owners may not have time to create and implement. For more information please visit the Jame Geathers Consulting website, www.jamegeathers.com or call (706) 496-9691.

How will you interact with your customers so that your service is extraordinary? Percent of phone calls answered on first ring, Percent of new customers by referral, Percent of customers that purchase from us a second time, Conversion of website visits to web sales are a few ways.

Each of these Key Performance Indicators will require a system and process be put in place and used without fail to measure progress adequately.

When you can show historical documentation of your KPIs and your regular measurement of them to a prospective buyer of your business, it will have a positive impact on both your selling process and the price a buyer will be willing to pay.

Kim Romaner is president of Transworld Business Advisors of Augusta, a business brokerage and franchise consulting firm, and a MultiMillion Dollar Member of the Georgia Association of Business Brokers (GABB). To learn more about improving the value of your business, selling it, or finding the right business to buy, call Kim at 706-383-2994, x802, or email her at kromaner@tworld.com.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

11

Local massage therapist named state president A local massage therapist has been named president of a state association.

Laurie Pratt, owner of Serenity Massage + Wellness in Augusta, was named president of the Georgia Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) at its annual membership meeting in early February.

Her two-year term started on March 1. Pratt had previously served as chapter president and delegate.

Pratt, started her massage career in 2003 while she worked full time as a sales and marketing executive assistant. Before graduating from her studies, and becoming an actual licensed massage therapist, Pratt had the opportunity to purchase a small existing massage business from an acquaintance.

The business has seen tremendous growth in the past two years, expanding from 800 square feet initially to now have two stores, one a 1,500-square-foot space in Evans Town Park plaza off North Belair Road and the other a 2,300-square-foot store on Middleton Drive, off Pleasant Home Road. Serenity has nine employees and recently expanded its services with an aesthetician who offers facial and waxing services.

Pratt has been active with the Georgia chapter of the AMTA for more than 10 years now. In her delegate position she will represent 1,180 licensed massage therapists in Georgia when the House of Delegates meets at their National Convention in September 2016 in Milwaukee, Wisc. In her new role as president, she will oversee all positions and committee chairs.

EDTS named to Elite 150 list CRN, a brand of The Channel Company, has named EDTS to its 2016 Managed Service Provider (MSP) 500 list in the Elite 150 category. This annual list recognizes North American solution

buzz bits providers with cutting-edge approaches to delivering managed services. Their top-notch offerings help companies navigate the complex and ever-changing landscape of IT, improve operational efficiencies, and maximize their return on IT investments.

EDTS meets every requirement to receive the title of an Elite 150 company. Their system of documented plans, open communication and detailed written procedures ensures consistency and quality every time. From hiring the most qualified team members to delivering “Excuse-free IT,” EDTS is an industry leader in both technology and service.

“We are honored to be recognized alongside such innovative and customer-oriented companies,” said Charles Johnson, CEO of EDTS. “Our team is relentless in delivering top technology solutions and unmatched customer service. We are excited to have our efforts acknowledged and will continue to surpass our clients’ expectations, in both service and support.”

Energy co-op honored for green power

A CSRA-area energy cooperative was honored recently in the Georgia House of Representatives for their work in green energy.

Jefferson Energy Cooperative of Wrens, along with other electric co-ops, was honored with House Resolution 1308 for their partnership with Green Power EMC to develop a solar farm in southwest Georgia.

The 20 megawatt solar project is being built and operated by Silicon Ranch Corporation and is located in Jeff Davis County near Hazelhurst, Ga. “We’re proud to have been recognized along with our fellow EMCs in Georgia as part of Green Power EMC and this great project,” said Steve Chalker, Director of Public Relations at Jefferson Energy. “The facility is great and we look forward to offering our members clean and renewable energy in the future.”

Jefferson Energy serves 11 counties in the CSRA.

12 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

Brown Birthday Bash returns The birthday of one of Augusta’s legends will be celebrated once more.

The James Brown Birthday Bash will be celebrated on May 3, highlighted by the reunion of his original band. This will be the first Birthday Bash since Brown’s death on Dec. 25, 2006. Brown was born on May 3, 1933.

The Birthday Bash is being organized by Friends with Benefits. It will be held at Augusta Common.

In addition to the original band, others slated to appear are Sharon Jones, George Porter Jr., Ivan Neville, Ty Taylor, Chris Rob, Jennifer Hartwick, Gavin Hamilton and Greg Hester.

Proceeds will benefit the James Brown Academy of Musik

Columbia Chamber taking apps for Leadership classes The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is now accepting applications for its Leadership Columbia County Class of 2017 and its Youth Leadership Columbia County Class of 2017.

Leadership Columbia County is designed to expose business and area leaders to the opportunities and challenges facing our community, as well as to promote and foster the development of leadership. The program educates and prepares community leaders who are committed to shaping Columbia County’s future.

Class members will experience a high level of community awareness as they engage in the 10-month program. Day-long class sessions will cover various topics such as law enforcement, healthcare, education and workforce, economic development and history of the county.

Youth Leadership Columbia County is designed to educate through experience and motivate young leaders and enable

nology issue of Hub. SecureGive serves churches, healthcare institutions and non-profit organizations via their kiosks, online giving and mobile giving software solutions.

The company was highlighted in the Georgia Upstarts section of the magazine, which features new startups and innovators from around the state.

Augusta law firms compete in annual Food Frenzy Pupils (JAMP), run by Brown’s daughter, Deanna Brown Thomas and his lead guitarist, Keith Jenkins. them to take an active role in their community. This will result in strong leaders who have hope for the future and the tools to influence a positive and progressive community.

Participants must be sophomores or juniors in Columbia County high schools or residents of Columbia County. They are selected after consideration of their recognized and potential leadership and the merit of their application.

The Selection Committee strives to achieve a geographical, racial and socio-economic balance in their selections.

Youth Leadership applications are due by March 31 and Leadership Columbia County applications are due by April 21.

For more information and applications, visit Columbiacountychamber.com.

SecureGive recognized in tech magazine A local technology company was recently recognized in Hub Magazine, the publication of the Technology Association of Georgia (TAG).

SecureGive, founded in 2003

by Dr. Marty Baker, founder of Stevens Creek Church, was showcased in the Financial Tech-

Augusta law firms are gearing up to compete against each other to raise food and funds to benefit Golden Harvest Food Bank in the 5th annual Georgia Legal Food Frenzy. The statewide food drive competition among lawyers takes place April 18-29.

The Georgia Legal Food Frenzy is a partnership between the Georgia Attorney General, the Young Lawyers Division and the Georgia Food Bank Association. Lawyers statewide are challenged to compete outside the courtroom to raise food and funds for Georgia’s eight regional food banks, which serve 156,500 unique clients in Georgia on a weekly basis. All of the food and funds collected are donated to the regional food bank that serves each competitor’s community.

In its first four years of competition, the Legal Food Frenzy raised the equivalent of more than 3.7 million pounds of food for Georgians in need. In Augusta, participating law firms have raised the equivalent of more than 264,000 pounds of food.

All attorneys in the CSRA, from law firms, to solo-practitioners, to public sector offices are encouraged to participate. Donations of both food and funds are accepted.

Golden Harvest will host a kickoff party for the Augusta branch of the competition on Thursday, April 14 at the Partridge Inn “PI in the Sky” Penthouse. For more information about Georgia Legal Food Frenzy and registration instructions, visit galegalfoodfrenzy.org.

Augusta CVB’s new publication wins award It didn’t take long for the Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau’s new publication to be lauded.

The New Augustan, an annual lifestyle magazine produced by the CVB, received an award from the Georgia Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus in the Best Ideas Competition in the category of Collateral Materials.

“We are so very honored to have won this award for The New Augustan magazine,” said Barry White, ACVB President and CEO. “We know Augusta has some great stories to tell and we’re so delighted that our colleagues love the first edition as much as we do.”

The New Augustan features articles and interviews from local experts on topics like food, history, nature and culture. The publication also features stories of Augusta’s River Region – a rebranding of the traditional CSRA – encompassing Augusta, Aiken, Columbia County, Edgefield and North Augusta. It is the authority on the distinctive style of Southern life, offering an on-going narrative of her charm and energy, and giving readers a novel look into the area’s history and culture.

The magazine is dedicated to the memory of CVB employee Peggy Seigler, an integral part of the Augusta CVB team who died after a long battle with cancer in 2015.

buzz bits

force development solutions to address the skills gap and help create a South Carolina workforce of the future. MTU is part of Rolls-Royce Power Systems.

The award was presented during the 2016 Workforce Development Symposium, an event hosted by the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce.

Jeremy Diebel, apprenticeship coordinator and Arjonetta Gaillard, human resources manager, accepted the award on MTU America’s behalf.

“It is humbling to receive this honor from the very community that we strive to enrich with our apprenticeship program,” said Diebel. “Our partnership with Aiken County’s high schools and its career and technology center is key to the success of our program. We’re motivated by the young faces that walk through our doors. The ability to positively impact the future career paths of these promising students reinforces the importance of public/private partnerships for the betterment of the community where we live and work.”

MTU America’s apprenticeship program gives high school juniors and seniors a structured training system to obtain work skills immediately sought by employers for careers in manufacturing. Upon passing the program’s final exam, MTU’s apprentices receive a certification as an Industrial Mechanic (Basic), an international credential that qualifies them to work in any manufacturing facility in South Carolina or Germany. MTU launched the program in 2012 and is currently recruiting for its fifth class of apprentices.

MTU America’s apprentice Airport increase program hiring of DBEs The Augusta Regional Airport awarded was successful in providing MTU America was recently honored with the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Workforce Innovator Award for a medium-sized business, in recognition of its innovative youth apprenticeship program.

Award winners were recognized for using their own resources and ingenuity to implement private sector work-

greater opportunities for disadvantaged businesses, or DBE companies, in 2014 and 2015.

The airport has a DBE Participation goal of 15.1 percent which was approved by the FAA. This past year AGS surpassed that goal and awarded 23.6 percent of their federally funded projects to DBE businesses.

Nancy Lopez to be honored at Mayor’s Reception The annual Mayor’s Masters Reception is back on after previously having been canceled.

The 2016 honoree will be someone who has never played at Augusta National – LPGA Hall of Famer Nancy Lopez. Lopez is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and won 48 LPGA Tour events in her career, including three major championships.

The Mayor’s Masters Reception, scheduled for 5 p.m.

Monday, April 4, is open to the public. It will be held at the Augusta Common and admission is $5 at the gate. At One challenge the airport faces in awarding DBE contracts is that many of the DBE businesses have not applied for or received certification from the State of Georgia. The state certification is a requirement for inclusion in the FAA DBE program.

“The airport regularly hosts workshops, provides educational information, and provides assistance to DBE firms in acquiring their certification from the state,” said Gary LeTellier, AGS Interim Executive Director. “As the airport continues to grow it remains our personal goal to continue our support by awarding more project contracts to small local businesses.”

Area leaders tout Augusta at State Capitol Area business leaders represented Augusta in the Georgia State Capitol on March 1 as part of Greater Augusta Day. Members from the Augusta Metro, Columbia County and Burke County chambers, along with business leaders, made the annual trip to the Georgia General Assembly to gain knowledge of legislative issues and to advocate for issues that affect the local area.

Legislative priorities for the day were transportation, taxation, economic development, education and water resources.

The area leaders were given an

least 20 restaurants have already signed up to provide food samples.

Sponsors announced so far are AT&T, Jordan Trotter Real opportunity to discuss the topics pertinent to the community.

The day’s activities included briefings from Senate President Pro Tempore David Shafer, Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Russell McMurry and Speaker of the House David Ralston. The Augusta delegates were also able to meet with representatives Wayne Howard, Barbara Sims, Jodi Lott, Gloria Frazier, Ernest Smith, Brian Prince and Barry Fleming, and senators Jesse Stone, Bill Jackson and Howard Jones.

Master wins top Cadillac award Master Chevrolet Cadillac of Aiken was recently awarded the distinguished 2015 Mark Of Excellence Award from Cadillac. This award is given only to dealerships having met or exceeded objectives in the areas of Customer Service, Essential Brand Elements, Cadillac Ad Standards and Cadillac Facility Image Compliance.

“We are extremely proud of this award and the improvements we’ve been able to make to the dealership over the last few years,” Master Chevrolet Cadillac President Will Schafer said. “It is important to us to be a good corporate citizen of the Aiken area. Cadillac acknowledged that each of these accomplishments is an impressive feat unto itself, but achieving all four shows Master Chevrolet

Estate and P.F. Chang’s.

Former Mayor Bob Young started the annual Mayor’s Masters Reception in 2004, and previous honorees have been Masters winners. Last year, Ben Crenshaw’s longtime caddie, Carl Jackson, was honored.

Initially, organizers had canceled the event when they couldn’t find an honoree.

More information will be available soon on the Mayor’s Masters Reception website, augustamastersreception. com.

Cadillac invested a great deal of commitment, expertise and effort into making their dealership exceptional during 2015.”

Salvation Army celebrates 125 years in Augusta

Benjamin Harrison was the President when the Salvation Army first opened its doors in Augusta. That was 125 years ago, and to celebrate their big anniversary, the Salvation Army’s international leader, Andre Cox, will be in Augusta on March 31.

He’ll speak at the third annual Doing the Most Good Dinner at the Kroc Center.

Seating is limited to event sponsors and table hosts. For more information, or to learn about corporate sponsorship, contact John Sebby at 706-434-3177.

The Salvation Army was established in London in 1865 and started in Augusta on April 12, 1891.

Nearly 30 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through the broad array of social services that range from providing food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless and opportunities for underprivileged children. The Salvation Army uses 82 cents of every dollar given to it to support those services.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

13

Deeper Thinking Eddie Kennedy

Uphill Battle

Businesses can get back on track after facing a setback Having a successful business is about a great concept, solid plans and the execution of them. But equally important is tenacity: persistence, perseverance and steadfastness. It is the ability to overcome challenges and setbacks, and to stick with it, even when unforeseen circumstances try to take your business out.

Some challenges are big, some are small, but how you deal with them will determine how they will affect you and if you will make it through.

In our sixth year of business, I had the opportunity to move our furniture store from our existing space to a much larger building in the same shopping center. For months, I was involved in negotiating the lease, planning the store layout, changing the company logo and overseeing the renovations in the new space.

We had a great grand opening and our business grew at the rate we had budgeted and expected. We were excited.

Everything looked like it was working according to our plans.

Then, after 10 months in the new store, our property company called to tell me that I had not properly switched our electrical service with Georgia Power. The property

company had been paying our electric bills for the new space, while I had been paying the bills for the old space. They let me know that I owed them $65,000 and that they wanted their money now.

Needless to say, I was floored. In the transition, I had missed a small detail: the service address on the electric bill.

If your business is facing a challenge or a setback, here are a few things that you can do to stay on track and make it through.

Stop the bleeding. Identify the issue and do your best to stop it before it costs you more.

Circle the wagons. Gather your team together to involve them in solving the problem. Allocate some time daily to address it, but don’t let it consume all your time or your energy. You need to keep the business going. If necessary, delegate some of your tasks to others while you tackle the bigger issues.

Check your attitude. Watch what you spend your time thinking or talking about. Don’t get involved in useless complaining or blaming. Doing that can ruin your attitude and cause even greater harm to your business and team.

Check your processes and systems.

Do a review to see how the problem started. Make the necessary changes to your processes so it will not happen again.

Phone a friend. Get advice from friends in the business or paid consultants and advisors. Sometimes your attorney, CPA or business consultant can help you with tips and solutions. Many times, your best advice comes from friends in your trade associations.

Keep yourself charged up. As the

leader, it is important to take care of yourself. Get the proper rest and nutrition. This is not the time to start a new diet or to quit smoking. To be the most productive, you must be running on all cylinders.

Get back on track. Once you have your plan in place, start working it. Every day do something that moves you forward. Keep looking ahead.

Walk it out, step by step. Look at the problem systematically. Tackle each part of the solution individually. As the leader, you cannot lose sight of the big picture. You must maintain focus on the future, but you also have to solve the issue at hand or there may not be a future.

Be patient. It won’t be fixed overnight. Be steady. Stay with it. If you don’t quit or give up, you will make it through.

It took me about six months to work

Georgia State economist predicts reasonable growth for U.S. economy Despite a massive correction in much of the globe’s stock exchanges, U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) could continue to grow at a reasonable 2.0 percent, according to Rajeev Dhawan of the Economic Forecasting Center at Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business.

“The key factor is that companies, despite the jittery stock market and poor results in earnings last year, will keep hiring,” Dhawan wrote in his quarterly “Forecast of the Nation,” released last month. “If they pause, income gains will slow and fretful households will save even more, causing a slowdown.”

For the second time in six months, China’s attempt to manage the devaluation of its currency sent shockwaves through global equity markets. Dhawan believes some nervousness surrounding the markets is warranted, but he called the current situation an overreaction.

“The markets are reacting like a petulant child to the promised fix of a monetary stimulus overseas that is failing to materialize soon enough,” Dhawan said.

The dip in the stock market will have a negative effect on

14 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

consumer wealth, but nothing like the bursting of the housing bubble in 2008. In fact, falling oil prices will offset most of this negative effect, leading consumers Rajeev Dhawan to much better cash flow to start 2016 than at the same point in 2015.

In 2015, consumers used savings from low gas prices for big-ticket items such as vehicles, which sold 17.3 million units last year. As a result, retailers are feeling the pinch of the now frugal American consumer.

“The United States accounts for 25 percent of the world’s consumption, Europe another 25 percent. Combined, this big engine is not firing on all cylinders for Chinese-made goods,” Dhawan said. “Thus, the Chinese slowdown occurred as a result of our own rational action to consume fewer items they produce.”

through our challenge. It was hard and there were tough days, but we made it through.

This mistake could have been a fatal error for my business. Thankfully, my faith, family and friends encouraged me as I followed these steps to face the challenge and come out on the other side. One day you may also face a setback that may challenge your business.

I believe that you can make it through if you follow these steps and don’t quit or give up.

If you faced a challenging situation and made it through, share your story with me. I would love to hear what you did and how you came through.

Eddie Kennedy is the owner of Great Deals on Furniture in Augusta. Eddie will be sharing ideas and principles he learned in over 37 years of involvement and management in small business. Contact him at eddie@greatdealsaugusta. com

Tax organizing documents available Preparing for the dreaded Tax Day – April 18 this year – got a little easier, thanks to three free documents being offered by Graydon Thompson CPAs. Graydon Thompson CPAs, which has offices in Aiken and Greenville, is providing three of its most-requested resources free to interested South Carolina residents who wish to download them from the firm’s website.

The publications being offered are: 2015 Tax Return Organizer, which helps properly organize and collect essential information needed to prepare state and Federal income taxes, including checklists for forms required and worksheets for income sources and eligible deductions.

Records Retention Pamphlet, which provides direction on how long to retain insurance policies, purchase orders, bank statements, corporate records, correspondence and accounting information.

Guide to Selecting A Small Business Legal Structure, which briefly covers different business structure types, liability issues with each, operation and control considerations, and the pros and cons of each type Download the publications at graydonthompson.com.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

15

Digital marketing is crucial for businesses

By Kelsey Morrow Digital Marketing is not just for kids anymore.

At a recent Digital Marketing Bootcamp in Augusta put on by the UGA Small Business Development Center (SBDC), speaker Kyle Hensel, Area Director of the UGA SBDC in Savannah, asked the crowd, “How many of your companies are guilty of putting the intern, the youngest employee, or even your children in charge of your company’s social media accounts?”

The large number of hands that went up in the crowd raised an important point about the priority placed on digital marketing.

Although social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram began as social outlets for individuals, in recent years a social media presence has become increasingly more crucial for companies as well.

“Marketers have to understand what our customers are doing so our tactics are more meaningful,” Debbie Finney, Area Director of the UGA SBDC in Albany, said.

With more than 890 million users per day on Facebook alone, social media is an ideal outlet for reaching these potential customers.

When people think of social media, they tend to think of the younger generations as being more media-saavy and the best suited for leading a company’s digital media efforts. While this can work for some companies, Hensel advises against making youth the primary factor in this assignment.

“If you are good at Facebook in your personal life, you are probably not good at Facebook for a business,” he said.

That is because when it comes to personal social media accounts, Hensel explained, the primary focus is on “Me!” Users are more concerned about expressing their feelings than appealing to their “friends” or “followers.”

However, when it comes to social media for a business, consideration should be given to what will appeal to the target audience and the time of day that they will typically be online, but that is just the beginning.

Similar to the Google algorithm that affects how high a company is listed on a Google search results page, Facebook also has an algorithm that determines the likelihood that any given user will see a compa-

ny’s post in their newsfeed. This algorithm changes frequently, but includes various topics such as user affinity (how often a user has “liked” a business’ past content), the weight (how valuable Facebook considers a business’ content), and the time decay (how much time has passed between a company’s post and the time that the potential customers check their newsfeeds).

Due to all of these factors, the SBDC urges that businesses put significant planning into their company’s posts instead of just publishing something and hoping for the best.

“Don’t just post and pray,” Finney said.

So how can you effectively plan your social media posts?

The SBDC recommends a four-step approach called “P.O.S.T” P is for people. Before you post anything on social media, you need to decide who you want to reach. Not all generations use the same social media platforms. Also, even if your potential target audiences do share a platform, they may not be online at the same time of day. Since time decay is a primary factor in the Facebook algorithm, you really need to decide not just who you are targeting, but when this target audience can best be reached.

O is for objective. Once you have identi-

fied your target audience, you must decide what you want them to do. Do you want them to make a purchase? Do you want them to subscribe to a newsletter? Do you want them to come to an event? In order to determine if your digital marketing campaign is a success, you need to have some way to measure a response.

S is for strategy. Once you have determined the audience that you are targeting and the objective that you want to achieve, you must determine how you are going to achieve your goal. This is the time when you start drafting posts.

According to Facebook user data, the average person sees more than 300 social media posts a day. How can you make your message stand out from the rest?

At the SBDC conference, the presenters suggested two important metaphors: • The Purple Cow: Imagine that you are driving down a rural road surrounded by farms. Cows are a dime a dozen, and chances are you will not pay them any special attention. However, imagine if you saw a purple cow? It would stand out to you, and you would likely take notice.

The purple cow is a metaphor for a creative Facebook post. How can you get your company’s message to stand out, so that when users are scrolling through their

newsfeed they will see your post and take notice?

• Think like a burrito: During his presentation about Instagram, Hensel referred to an article that he had recently read, entitled, “In order to succeed on Instagram, you must think like a burrito.” Imagine that you are eating a burrito, he explained. Every time that you take a bite, the contents inside the burrito will shift and look different.

However, it is still the same burrito.

On Instagram, Hensel explained, sometimes companies can get in the habit of posting the same type of photo over and over again. After a while, this gets boring for your followers, and will lose their attention.

However, if you can take the same topic and find a new angle (like the ever changing burrito contents), you can still promote your business while holding your followers’ attention.

T is for Technology. Once you have determined your audience, what you want your audience to do, and your post content, the final step is to decide where to post your content. Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and blog sites are all options.

However, just because all of these options exist, it does not mean that you need to post on them all. If you’ve noticed that your target audience mainly uses two social media sites, then focus on those two.

“Different networks have different customer bases and they are there for different reasons,” Hensel said. “For example, Instagram is sometimes referred to as the snobby social media site. If you are going to post something on Instagram and on Facebook, make sure that the Instagram post comes first and at least a few days before the same content ends up on Facebook” Also, different social media sites vary in the format in which you can post your content. For example, Twitter’s smaller character limit means that you will have to be more creative with your word choices or change it slightly from your Facebook post in order for a tweet to be as effective.

As digital marketing continues to evolve, more and more best practices will come about. However, one thing is for certain.

“Has marketing at its core changed?”

Hensel asked the audience. “No. The tactics have changed completely, but marketing itself, the strategy, has not changed one bit.”

Stallings Island Middle School teachers visited ADP. The program began with a tour of the facility. Kim Grant, a volunteer attendee with the Columbia County Chamber, was pleased with the program and said “ADP did a great job with our teachers.”

According to Jordan Pierce, with State Bank & Trust Company, Doctors Hospital of Augusta had “quite a presentation lined up for us, and I think our contingent of

teachers had an illuminating experience.”

Doctors Hospital hosted teachers from Riverside Middle School.

Out of the eight business involved in the program, Rural Sourcing Inc. seemed most eager to continue the program’s effectiveness. By the end of the day, Doug Haines with RSI was even open to bringing a group of his employees and colleagues to Evans Middle School to help the kids work through some of their own

programming projects.

Haines said that some of his brightest analysts and developers come from Aiken Technical College. They traded information for both Augusta Tech and Aiken Tech Computer Science teachers with hopes of advancing their own skills taught in the middle school.

Teachers in Business is a part of the Columbia County Chamber Foundation’s Workforce and Education initiative.

Drew Tonsmeire, Kennesaw, conducts a break-out session on analytics for digital marketing at the Digital Marketing Bootcamp. Photo courtesy of SBDC.

Teachers visit businesses to learn about workforce needs Last month, as a part of the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce’s Teachers in Business program, 40 Columbia County middle school teachers visited local businesses to gain insight into future career opportunities available to their students. The program not only benefits the teachers involved but, in turn, allows the businesses to educate teachers on what is needed most from students entering the future workforce.

16 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

17

Business Lessons Gary Kauffman

Avoiding Bogeys

Taking time off frees brain to be more productive later A few weeks ago I spent a Wednesday afternoon on the golf course and shot the best nine-hole round I’ve ever had.

Not that it was particularly good – a 49 – but it was good for me. I’ve had a 49 before but what made this one special was that I didn’t shoot anything over double bogey, hit almost every fairway and putted well. I pulled off the luckiest shot I’ve ever made.

Golfing is a fairly new hobby for me. I had briefly toyed with it the summer before my kids were born but, as any of you with families know, once you have kids, money and time are in short supply. I would go out occasionally with my brothers or join a charity scramble but prior to last year, I’d golfed probably 25 times in 25 years.

My wife, though, is an avid golfer, so last year I took lessons for the first time and hit the links a lot, probably 30 times on a variety of courses. I got better, got worse for a while, then got better again. And I can say that I enjoy golf quite a bit (except for a few holes every round, when I’m ready to put the clubs in a garage sale).

I write all this not to bore you with the details of my golf game (although anytime you want to listen, I’ll be glad to share all the details) but to encourage getting away from the daily grind of the job.

If you’re the owner of a small business, I know what you’re thinking – you have too many responsibilities to even think about taking a coffee break, let alone an afternoon of golf. Believe me, as the owner of a small business that had a staff of me, myself and I, I understand that point.

But one thing I learned over the years of running my own business is that sometimes taking time off saved me time.

Frequently I found myself spending hours trying to tackle a specific problem or getting tied up in the minutia of running the business. My brain felt clogged. Every solution or decision seemed wrong.

Eventually I learned that if I took a

Diary of an Entrepreneur Shannon Jones

Siren Song

Trusted advisors can help break spell of seductive sales As entrepreneurs, most of us have been there – launching a business with very little capital and relying on cash flow to stay alive another day, or borrowing a scary amount of money with a payment looming in the near future, praying for all the numerous hours of toil and exhaustive marketing efforts to culminate into the first account that takes the business from desperation to jubilation.

And then she appears. The beautiful temptress, disguised as the answer to all your problems, lures you in with her seemingly flawless appearance and promise of instant gratification for either your immediate need of merely paying the bills for the week or your ultimate fantasy of catapulting your business into the bliss of fame and fortune.

18 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

Throughout my career in sales and entrepreneurial ventures, I have experienced this “seduction of the sale” and the euphoria that she brings at her onset. Last fall, my newly launched company was given the opportunity to wholesale our products with a big box store. I could barely breathe from the excitement of actually being considered by this large company and immediately set out to make my little company appear as attractive as possible by making all the adjustments necessary to meet their requirements.

Yes, I was blinded by the beautiful exterior of the temptress, and since I had fallen in love at first sight with the illusion of her grandeur, I began to spiral into a pit of potential destruction through a series of compromises which could have ultimately ended in the demise of Southern Pawz.

Fortunately, with the help of some really good friends and advisors, the deceptive spell to which I had fallen prey was soon broken, and I began to view this temptation with clarity and objectivity.

Through this process, I realized that this decision should be weighed with a magnitude similar to entering into long-term relationship with a potential soul mate. In an effort to help you see past the wiles of the seductress the

break for an afternoon, or sometimes even an hour, a solution almost magically appeared.

Of course, it wasn’t magic. By focusing on something other than my business and the problem at hand, the creative part of my brain was free to begin thinking in the background about new solutions. I wasn’t playing golf then, but I would go to the gym, or read, or work a crossword puzzle, sometimes even do the laundry (the blessing and/or curse of having a home office).

Sometimes when I took an afternoon off to do something completely different, I found myself so refreshed the next morning that I accomplished much more than if I’d slogged through the previous afternoon and started the

next time she visits you, you may want to consider the questions that I now ask myself when evaluating an enticing opportunity or any decision that affects my business: • Does it line up with my company’s vision/mission? Author Simon Sinek describes vision as the “why behind the what.” Southern Pawz produces allnatural pet treats using locally sourced ingredients (the what). The opportunity with the big box store met that criteria until I added the why – we strive to utilize and support local producers, artisans and small business entrepreneurs in our production and marketing efforts for the purpose of strengthening the local economy while providing the highest quality products to the beloved pets of our customers. I will share more about vision and mission statements in a future article.

• Will I be able to deliver the goods?

This question can best be answered by knowing the how of your business, which is simply your process or work flow. If you are not certain that your company will be able to produce the order in a timely manner, then it is much better to back away from the sale than to make promises that you cannot keep.

• Have I eliminated my “blind spots?”

From the beginning, I have formed a group of advisors who can objectively

work day tired.

Even if you can’t just hang a closed sign on the door and take time off, try to do something after work that will refocus your mind instead of stewing over the day’s issues. You’ll be amazed at how refreshed you feel.

You may even find time to play nine holes sometime. If so, be sure to say hi.

I’ll be the one yelling, “Fore!”

Gary Kauffman is Editor in Chief of Buzz on Biz and manages the content for print and web publications. A native of Indiana, he has made made the CSRA home for more than two years.

Prior to moving here, he ran his own graphic design/advertising business for 17 years where he worked with many small businesses. You can reach him at gkauffman@buzzon.biz.

analyze each of my ideas and opportunities. Since I am by nature not a detailoriented person, these advisors play “devil’s advocate” by helping me identify any potential obstacles that I have not considered. As I mentioned in last month’s article, serial entrepreneurs usually surround themselves with people who are smarter than they are.

• What does my “gut” say? As a person of faith, I pray for wisdom when making any decision. Even if the answer to the first three questions is “yes,” I have learned (sometimes the hard way) to follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, or, in layman’s terms, my gut feeling.

If you can’t affirmatively answer each of these questions, then I can promise you that the initial heartache of walking away from the temptress will be far less devastating than the consequences of giving in to the seduction.

Shannon Jones of Davisboro has held positions in real estate and insurance, banking, restaurant management, non-profit development, public relations and marketing, as well as entrepreneurial endeavors in retail, insurance, concierge services and event planning. In early 2015, she founded Southern Pawz Petz LLC, a Southern pet treat and gift company that promotes locally sourced ingredients and artisans. For more info, email info@ southernpawz.com or visit southernpawz.com.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Businessperson of the Month L.D. Waters, Bonaventure Discount Golf

From the Rough

L.D. Waters had a rough start to life, but common sense made him successful

By Gary Kauffman The Great Depression of the 1930s shaped not only the youth of L.D. Waters, but continues to influence him eight decades later.

Waters, now 86, is the owner of Bonaventure Discount Golf, a presence in Augusta since the 1960s. Although the store is run by a younger generation of his family, Waters is a daily presence in the store, often sitting in one of the chairs behind a rack of shoes, observing and thinking.

Waters was born just days before the great stock market crash of 1929 that sent the United States hurtling into the Great Depression. He lived on the family farm in Newington, Ga., about 45 miles from Savannah, with seven brothers and sisters.

Those were starving times in the United States, even for farmers. Businesses and banks closed, leaving people without money and without jobs to earn more.

“We held on as long as Daddy and Mother could,” Waters said.

Then in 1936 a miracle happened – at a time when no one was starting or expanding their businesses, Union Bag of Pennsylvania decided to open a factory in Savannah.

There was a caveat to the deal to move Union Bag’s operations to Savannah – they would do so only if Savannah built a nine-hole golf course for the executives.

Waters’ father and sister took jobs there and the family moved into factory-owned housing, right next to the new golf course.

“That was the first time I ever saw a golf ball,” Waters said.

That move changed the futures of Waters and two older brothers, Haynes and Lefty. Haynes and Lefty took jobs as caddies on the course.

“I was too little to caddy – the bag was as big as I was – but I shagged balls or whatever else I could do,” Waters recalled. “That’s how we got started in golf.”

At that time, being the club pro meant being the head caddy. Haynes took that post until he joined the Navy in 1941. That moved Lefty into the clubhouse as the pro.

Then, when he joined the Air Force in 1943, Waters moved into the top spot until he joined the Marines in 1945 at the tender age of 16.

After the war, Haynes tried his hand at professional golf and even qualified for the U.S. Open in Chicago one year, but didn’t make the cut. Later he built golf courses around the area in small towns that couldn’t afford a marquee name to build a course.

Waters was called to a second tour of duty during the Korean War – spent as an instructor at Camp Lejeune – and after his discharge in 1953, he went to work for a finance company in Savannah. A year later, the company transferred him to Augusta, and he has been a fixture here ever since.

“I’ve been in about every kind of business you could be in,” Waters said.

That includes pawn shops, loan companies, printing and real estate. As a printer he helped launch Augusta Magazine and what is now the Columbia News-Times. In

20 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

real estate, he helped develop the riverfront in Augusta.

But golf was always there, too. His older brother, Haynes, opened a driving range in 1955. Not long after, Waters and his other brother, Lefty, opened a driving range and par 3 course in Savannah, although Waters left the daily operations to his brother.

That course was built on Bonaventure Drive, next to the famous Bonaventure Cemetery. They named the course Bonaventure as well, a name that stuck when they opened golf stores.

“Everyone thinks some great thinking went into coming up with the name, but it was just because it was next to the cemetery,” Waters said.

Waters and his brother began opening small golf shops in the surrounding area – Augusta, Macon, Columbia, St. Simons Island and two on Hilton Head.

They continued that for 10 or 15 years, remaining profitable as long as sons and other family members could run them.

But in about 1980 they began to close some operations, pulling back to Savannah, St. Simons and Augusta. Today, everything is consolidated into the Augusta store, located on Frontage Road, just off Bobby Jones Expressway and I-20.

About 20 years ago Waters took a page from his buddies in the car business. He began to accept trade-ins of golf clubs, and started selling used clubs.

Today about 80 percent of his business is through trade-ins and resales.

“I make more money in here in used

clubs than new clubs, because I can sell the same club 10 times,” he said.

His business savvy and personal touch has kept him far ahead of the competitors – so far that few, if any, exist in the area.

“They came to Augusta in the last 30 years to run me out of business,” Waters said. “But I’ve got most of their fixtures in here from when they went bankrupt.”

With a business acumen developed from the lean times of the Depression, Waters offers a wide selection at all price points.

“You’ll see 700 drivers at every kind of price,” he said. “I’ll match prices if I can’t beat it, but 99 percent of the time I’m cheaper – not just in Augusta, but anywhere. I can match a price anywhere in the world.”

That reputation has made Bonaventure Discount Golf a mecca for golfers far and wide, so much so that Titleist has told him that he sells more of their top-of-the-line Pro V balls than any other store in the world.

What are you passionate about in business?

I’ve got a hobby – that’s to make money. I found out during the Depression that there ain’t nothing in the world worse than being hungry. It’s not that I’m smarter than anyone else, but I come up with common sense things.

And I don’t spend any money.

How do you come up with your business ideas?

My mind is just as alert as it was

when I was 30 years old. The reason is because I use it, every day and half the night. Many of ideas that I’ve made money at I came up with at 3 in the morning.

How do you unwind?

I don’t. I took a vacation in 1975 and swore I’d never do that again. I don’t have stress. I’ve made some bad investments but you can work your way out of a bad investment. I almost thrive on the stress. It’s a challenge to me.

What have you learned about yourself in your years in business?

It’s amazing how much sense you’ve got at 86 that you didn’t have at 45.

How did the Great Depression influence you?

I don’t think anyone who didn’t go through the Depression can relate to that. Every now and then I think about how fortunate I am. I haven’t made a car payment in 50 years, a house payment in 50 or 60 years. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I had a big house payment. But the Depression was also a downfall because it made me a poor parent. I didn’t want my children to go through that.

What does the future hold for you?

My only regret is that time’s running out on me. I’m almost tempted to buy another piece of property to develop although I know I don’t have any business doing that. I don’t want to set down or lay down. I’m the kind who would rather have a heart attack walking across the parking lot and be gone.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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New center will specialize in Alzheimer’s patients

By Gary Kauffman A new assisted living facility in Evans will specialize in the care of those suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Marshall Pines Alzheimer’s Special Care Center is planning to open its doors to residents in April at their new facility on North Belair Road, across from Evans Fitness Center.

Kathie Crumbley, Administrator of Marshall Pines, said there is a huge need in the CSRA for an Alzheimer’s-specific assisted living center.

“Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States,” Crumbley said.

“As our area ages, we’ll see it more.”

Marshall Pines has room for 66 residents in three styles of rooms: Private, semi-private with a shared bathroom and shared with a roommate. The facility has two dining areas, two living rooms, a full-service beauty salon and even a putting green.

One of the hardest adjustments for someone with Alzheimer’s to make is to a new environment. To make the transition easier for its residents, Marshall Pines spends time learning about the person’s previous life “We want to know what their life was

like before the disease and customize our environment to them,” Crumbley said. “In that way, they’re more comfortable because they’re familiar with the routines and activities.”

It also helps with some of the memoryloss issues associated with Alzheimer’s.

“We tap into the long-term memory that is still there,” Crumbley said. “We also expose them to new things to unlock some of those memories.”

It can take some time and effort to accomplish that.

“A lot of it is trial and error, but we never give up,” Crumbley said.

A resident’s independence is also highly valued at Marshall Pines.

“We promote independence as much as possible,” Crumbley said. “It’s the old cliché, ‘If you don’t use it, you’ll lose it.’ Independence fosters a sense of self-esteem.”

Independence includes a variety of activities that encompass spiritual, physical and emotional, as well as mental.

Marshall Pines also works closely with family members. Crumbley said caring for someone with a disease like Alzheimer’s can take a toll on the caregiver that can

spill into their own health and into their work life.

In addition to helping family members make the adjustment of having a loved one in the facility, Marshall Pines also offers support groups and shares community resources that could help the family.

Since Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease,

Marshall Pines does continuous assessments and makes adjustments to the living conditions as needed.

With construction wrapping up this month, Crumbley hopes to have the doors open in April. So do others.

“We have a lot of families just waiting for us to open the doors,” she said.

Openings Lilly Pulitzer Fashionistas can rejoice! A popular Southern clothing line is returning to the Augusta area.

Palm Village-Augusta, a Lilly Pulitzer signature store, is expected to open a location in the Surrey Center, just in time to provide Masters Week fashions.

“We think that Southern girls really understand our brand, and Georgia needs more Lilly Pulitzer,” said Eleanor Nelson, director of stores. “The Surrey Center presented us with the right clientele and an excellent location right in the heart of Augusta” Lilly Pulitzer started her clothing line in the late 1950s in Palm Beach, Fla. The brand is characterized by its bright colors, bold prints and its iconic shift dresses that first gained popularity after becoming the dress of choice by then First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy in the early 1960s.

As the brand’s popularity increased, many signature stores, such as Palm Village-Augusta, have been created all across the country.

“As a Lilly Pulitzer signature store, we are fully licensed to sell Lilly Pulitzer,” Melissa Chambers, Store Manager, said. “We are 100 percent pure Lilly, but not a corporate store.”

Augusta previously had a Lilly Pulitzer signature store location at the Surrey center owned by Susan Thielke. However, since Thielke’s location closed, the only way for CSRA residents to get their Lilly fix was to make the drive to Columbia or Atlanta, or order straight from LillyPulitzer.com.

Salvation Army The Grand Opening of the new Salvation Army Family Store at 1751 Knox Ave in North Augusta took place in early March.

Moving down the street from its former location at 1803 Knox Ave, the new Family Store will be an improvement for The Salvation Army in the CSRA, with a drivethrough donation drop-off and more than 12,000 sq. ft. of retail, sorting and warehouse space.

“We are excited about this new Family Store, it’s a great location with more retail floor space and a Drive-Thru donation center offers people a quick and easy way to donate gently used clothing and household items” said Major Tony Perez, Area Commander for The Salvation Army in Augusta.

The Salvation Army accepts donations of clothing, furniture, household goods, sporting equipment, books, electronics, appliances and much more at any of our area Family Stores.

Serving Augusta since 1891, The Salvation Army puts 82 cents out of every dollar into programs and services for Augusta.

Evans city center Evans will have a city center in the near future, thanks to a partnership between the Meybohm Group of Companies and the Development Authority of Columbia County announced on Feb. 23.

The Plaza at Evans Towne Center will be located on Evans Town Center Boulevard directly across from the Lady Antebellum Stage and Evans Towne Center Park, in the field that has often been used for overflow parking. The Plaza will serve as the new city center for Evans and will include a mixture

of retail and office space, residential living, and community amenities.

The city center will be anchored by the planned cultural arts center which will be a highlight for the area.

It has been the long time vision of the local Board of Commissioners to have a destination city center that included office residential and retail space.

“Dreams do come true!” said Ron Cross, Chairman of the Columbia County Board of Commissioners. “It has been a dream for years of the Board of Commissioners, the Development Authority and most of the citizens to have a true Towne Center for Columbia County. After almost five years of dreaming and planning, it is happening.

Evans Towne Center Park was the beginning and now through a wonderful publicprivate partnership we are ready to add The Plaza to Evans Towne Center.”

Phase I of The Plaza will be 96,000 square feet, including 56,000 square feet of office space and nearly 40,000 square feet of retail space. This development will be phased in over the next several years and is expected to be a $65 million investment and nearly 300,000 square feet.

“This is an exciting opportunity for Columbia County,” said Development Authority Chairman, Hugh Hollar. “The development of The Plaza will transform the Evans landscape and provide many unique opportunities to the citizens on a level we have never seen before in our area.”

Over the past year, the Development Authority worked with county officials to identify a development strategy to bring The Plaza to fruition. The Development Au-

thority has identified Meybohm Group as its development partner for Phase I. Beginning with Phase I, Meybohm Realtors will construct their brand-new Columbia County headquarters which will include more than 100 agents and administrative staff in approximately 20,000 square feet.

Nonna’s Italian Kitchen The owner of a popular Aiken restaurant is expanding into an entirely new genre in a new location.

Randy Stamm, owner of Prime Steakhouse in downtown Aiken, is in the process of opening an Italian family-style restaurant in Edgefield. The new restaurant, called Nonna’s Italian Kitchen, will be located at 206 Main St. and is expected to open in the summer.

“With what the turkey federation is doing up here, we need to do something,” Stamm said, noting that the federation’s new shooting range expects to draw 100,000 visitors per year.

Unlike his high-end Prime Steakhouse, Nonna’s Italian Kitchen will be have midrange prices of $14-$18 per entrée. The fare will be standard Italian food with a true northern Italian red sauce. They will serve family-style salads and homemade pasta at every table with entrees.

Nonna’s will have a similar interior feel to Prime Steakhouse. Stamm said he has already exposed the natural brick of the walls of the building and it has 14-foot-high ceilings. The new facility will seat 65 and Stamm expects to add 10-15 employees. It will be open for dinner seven nights a week

Business openings, closings and moves

22 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

Continued on page 23

Massage therapist finds new use for golf balls

By Gary Kauffman Usually they’re driven down long swaths of grass, putted into holes and sometimes wind up in watery graves. But a Martinez massage therapist is using golf balls in a new way.

Krystina Carrino, owner of Therapeutic Massage by KC, has been using the Spaball Kaddy for about three years to create a deeper massage. The Kaddy cradles the golf ball, allowing it to move freely, and fits into the palm of the massage therapist’s hand.

“It’s small enough to hit all the trigger points, but it doesn’t hurt the therapist’s hand,” Carrino said. “From a therapist’s point of view, it’s the perfect tool.”

Her clients also feel it is perfect.

“They love it,” Carrino said. “They say it feels awesome. I’m getting into areas I don’t

normally get into.”

But the therapy doesn’t end when Carrino is finished with the massage. The client gets to keep the Kaddy and is given a fullcolor guide on the best techniques to use it.

Carrino discovered the Spaball Kaddy by accident three years ago after telling clients to use a tennis ball to self-massage. But she wanted something a little firmer, and research on the internet led her to the Spaball Kaddy, developed by Heather Karr. Carrino is the only authorized and licensed dealer of the Spaball Kaddy in the Augusta area.

Carrino is usually kept busy during Masters Week with massages at host houses. The golf ball massage therapy has been of special interest during the week.

But she also has a full-service massage spa, and is currently going to school to be-

continued from page 22 and for lunch Thursday through Sunday.

His son, Eric, will help him manage both businesses.

Stamm noted that Edgefield allows customers to get away from the usual restaurants in a reasonable amount of time. It is located about 20 minutes from North Augusta and Aiken and about 25 minutes from downtown Augusta.

Aldi An opening date of April 14 has been set for the new Aldi grocery store in North Augusta.

The new store is at the intersection of Knox and Lecompte avenues.

In February Thom Behtz, of the Aldi Jefferson division, told Buzz on Biz that the store plans to hire about 10 people.

“Aldi takes an efficient approach to staffing,” he said in an email. “Aldi hosts hiring events on an ongoing basis whenever there is a need to fill open positions.”

Aldi cuts costs by stocking its own brands rather than national brands, displaying products in the shipping cartons rather than stocking store shelves and encouraging customers to bring their own shopping bags.

“At Aldi, we believe that great quality shouldn’t come at a high price,” Behtz said.

“Aldi is proud to say that its customers have found that switching from national brands to Aldi exclusive brands can save them up to 50 percent on most commonly purchased grocery items.”

In addition to groceries, Aldi also sells organic produce, USDA Choice beef, a glutenfree product line and the SimplyNature line of products free from artificial ingredients.

goal of closing the store by late May. In March 2015, the North Augusta planning commission had approved a developer’s plan for the plaza that would tear down the Kmart store to make room for five additional stores. At the time, Kmart denied that it was closing.

According to statements from Kmart’s corporate communications, closing the North Augusta location, which opened in 1993, is part of a series of closings to reduce expenses and to transform its business model.

The store has 61 employees, who will be eligible for consideration for employment at other Kmart and Sears locations. The only other Kmart in the area is on Gordon Highway.

In the plans approved by the planning commission a year ago, the Kmart space would be occupied by Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, Petsmart and Rack Room Shoes, although it was not confirmed if those stores would actually locate there or if those were the types of stores that were being pursued to fill the space.

Ryan’s restaurant A sign on the door is the only notice employees and customers were given on March 6 that the Ryan’s restaurant on Peach Orchard Road had closed.

The parent company, Buffets, LLC, of San Antonio, Texas, announced on Monday that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to restructure.

Internet reports show that the Augusta restaurant wasn’t the only Ryan’s location to shut down without notice that same day.

Locations in Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas also reported similar shutdowns.

The Ryan’s on Knox Avenue in North Augusta is still operating. One report said that equipment from the Peach Orchard location will be taken to the North Augusta location.

According to one report, Ryan’s has shut down about 70 locations around the country in the past month.

come an esthetician so she can add skin care to her services.

In addition to her work in the Augusta

area, Carrino is also frequently on call for venues in Atlanta to offer her services to celebrities passing through.

Buffets, LLC, which also owns the Fire Mountain, Country Buffet, Old Country Buffet, Tahoe Joe’s Famous Steakhouse and Hometown Buffet brands, noted unusual declining sales as a reason for closing the restaurant. The company also has accounts that are in arrears and is facing a lawsuit that stems from previous ownership.

look, from the ground up.

Jefferson Murray, franchise owner of the Krystal restaurant in front of the Walmart on Bobby Jones Expressway, plans to tear down the current structure – which has been in place since 1993 – and build a new, bigger building on the same site. The new building is expected to open by June 1.

The new structure will feature 1,800 square feet of space with indoor seating for 40. The current building is 800 square feet and is a drive-thru only.

“Business is good but the building is tired and worn out,” Murray said. “We need a new facility to keep up with the times.”

Murray anticipates that the new, bigger building will generate 50 percent more business, and that he’ll increase the number of employees by 25 percent.

The menu will stay the same but Murray expects his loyal customers to enjoy the new look.

“We have a lot of good customers and I want to give them a better restaurant,” he said. “It’ll be a better restaurant for our customers and our employees.”

Summerville Dentistry An expanding customer base and the potential for more has led an Augusta dentist to expand westward.

Dr. Scott Wingard of Summerville Dentistry at the corner of Wrightsboro and Anthony roads is in the process of building a second facility in the Riverwood area of Evans.

Melissa Wingard, practice manager, said not only does the office already have a client base in Evans, the continued growth of the area and potential for future growth made them consider the expansion.

“It’s a great opportunity,” she said.

The building is up, but when exactly it will be ready is still undecided. Wingard said they hope to start seeing patients there this summer.

Extra staff will be hired for the new facility but exactly how time will be divided between the two practices hasn’t been decided.

Business openings, closings and moves

Closings North Augusta Kmart Nearly a year after denying that it was closing, Kmart in North Augusta has announced that it will indeed be closing the store in the North Augusta Plaza on Martintown Road.

According to reports, the store began liquidating its inventory on March 10, with a

Expansions Textron Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. (TSV), a Textron Inc. company, announced earlier in March that it plans to acquire a manufacturing facility set on more than 235 acres of land currently owned by Procter & Gamble.

The property is located at the intersection of Mike Padgett Highway and Marvin Griffin Road in south Augusta. TSV, which manufactures E-Z-Go, will utilize the new facility, which includes more than 600,000 square feet of manufacturing and administrative space, to expand its operations in Augusta. The new plant will augment the company’s existing headquarters and manufacturing facility, located about one mile away at 1451 Marvin Griffin Road.

The purchase will be facilitated through the issuance of $20 million in revenue bonds, issued by the Augusta Economic Development Authority and backed by payments to be made by TSV. The funds raised will cover the purchase price of the facility as well as capital improvements to prepare the facility for vehicle manufacturing.

TSV has called the Augusta area home since the founding of its E-Z-GO business in 1954. Today, the company designs and manufactures more than 90 consumer and commercial vehicle models, ranging from golf cars to side-by-sides to ground support equipment for the aviation industry, under the E-Z-Go, Cushman, Bad Boy, TUG and Douglas brands. Most of those products are manufactured in Augusta.

Krystal A longtime landmark on Bobby Jones Expressway will be getting a totally new

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Ex-musician puts on a different kind of show Growing A/V company has impressive client list

By Amanda King John Collins walked through his 7,200 square foot office and warehouse, admiring the increasing inventory of audio visual gadgets in the family business that he began building more than 20 years ago in the basement of his home.

The Augusta native learned the tricks of the audio visual trade while touring as a musician in the southeast during the ‘70s and ‘80s. When he decided to quit his pursuit of a music career, Collins furthered his knowledge by working at audio visual companies in Tampa, Atlanta and Columbia before moving back to Augusta and starting American Audio Visual Services, Inc. in 1994.

“It was a spin off from music,” Collins said. “I was dabbling around and searching for something to do to get out of the music business.”

Collins quickly landed an in-house sub-contractor job with the Sheraton Hotel, now the Doubletree Hotel on Frontage Road, as well as at the Savannah River Site, contract under Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. The business began providing audio visual and production services to local clients, building a staff of skilled technicians, state of the art equipment and a scenic department to visually enhance corporate and private events throughout the CSRA. “You can bring your ideas or vision to us, and we can take

John Collins

American Audio Visual’s new building is already filling up with a wide array of equipment. Photos by Amanda King.

that to design, stage it and produce your event with the experience and latest technology that is being offered in our industry,” Collins said.

American Audio Visual has produced events for numerous sports figures over the years including Tiger Woods, Dan Marino and Chipper Jones, as well as former Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush. While most of the company’s clients are local, Collins and his team also do out-of-town work, including the North Georgia United Methodist Church Annual Conference which is held in Athens each year.

At press time, Collins was producing a shareholders meeting in Illinois and then heading to Kansas for another event.

Not all of Collins’ customers are celebrities or large corporations. American Audio Visual is available for smaller events, including Masters Week backyard corporate parties or church events, such as the Miracle Making Ministries event held at the James Brown Arena on March 15.

The company also rents its equipment to customers who wish to run their own production.

With this amount of growth, it’s no surprise that Collins had to move from his basement office just six months after starting the business. He relocated to an office at Wheeler

Industrial Park, followed by another relocation near the Martinez post office. After 14 years at that location, the company once again began running out of room for its equipment and built its current location on Old Petersburg Road one year ago.

The new location has 5,200 square feet of warehouse space to store the company’s equipment. With an everchanging industry that produces new technology regularly, Collins reports that the company is already starting to run out of room again.

“That’s the exciting part for us, though,” Collins said.

“There are so many products that are new to our industry each year and we want to be able to provide this technology for our clients. The expectations are set high in this industry, with the visual world we all now live in.”

The business is also a family affair. Collins’ wife, Doris, has served as the company’s co-owner and bookkeeper since its inception, while their son Alex, who has grown up around his parents’ business, manages the company’s lighting and scenic department.

“Our growth and reputation has been built on a foundation of loyal and talented people, most of who have been with the company for 10-plus years,” Collins said. “We wouldn’t be where we are without great associates.”

Local builders constructing house to sell for charity For most builders, being successful means buying more land, building more houses and generating more profits. But for one local homebuilder, success is measured in an entirely different way.

“The Augusta market has been good to us over the last several years, and we wanted to give something meaningful back to the community,” said Ivey Homes’ president Matt Ivey.

That “something meaningful” is a brand new five-bedroom and 3.5 bath home whose sale proceeds will be donated to charity.

“We have selected three charities to be the primary beneficiaries of the proceeds,” Ivey said. “The Augusta Chapter of the American

24 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

Red Cross, Children’s Hospital of Georgia at Augusta University and Augusta Warrior Project.”

All three primary charities are local, meaning the donated funds will stay in the community and help local residents.

As a unique and fun add-on to the project, Ivey Homes will be building the charity house with selections that their Facebook followers make through a campaign they’re calling “The House That Facebook Built.”

Over the course of the home’s construction, people will be encouraged to vote on everything from exterior colors to kitchen finishes, flooring options to plumbing fixtures.

The choices that receive the most “likes” will be used in the house.

“We plan to use ‘The House That Facebook Built’ as an opportunity to increase awareness of these charities and the good work that they do,” Ivey said. “And while we’re at it, we can also spotlight our wonderful trade partners and their contribu-

tions to the charity house.”

In order to maximize the proceeds that can be donated to the chosen charities, many vendors and trade partners are discounting or donating services and materials, and assisting with the promotion of the charity house and the charities. Donations to the respective charities from the general public will be accepted as well.

Ivey Homes held a small groundbreaking ceremony on Feb. 23 on the site of “The House That Facebook Built” in Crawford Creek, 7223 Hoffman Drive, Evans.

Construction began in February, with an expected sale date of late spring/early summer 2016.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Business Finances Dagan Sharpe

Easy Catch Good communicators make catching key points easy During a conference I once attended, a retired professional quarterback began throwing footballs to various attendees in the audience. Incredibly, everyone thrown a ball caught it.

Why? It wasn’t because everyone was skilled at catching footballs. Rather, it was because the person throwing the ball was highly skilled at throwing it in such a way that it landed gently into their arms – and this is exactly what effective communicators do! They know how to deliver a message in such a way that those listening can easily “catch” the key points being made.

Why is this important for us? Because ineffective communication has been identified as one of the primary

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causes of breakdown in any business and/or wealth development process.

Therefore, it’s vital for most professionals to enhance their communication processes in order to promote the success of their overall business practices. Three easy principals can help us accomplish this goal and get us communicating like an ACE: Audience – It’s essential you know your audience. We dilute our communication when we use “inside jargon” and address issues that only concern us. Therefore, put yourself in your audience’s shoes, whether it’s one person or several.

For example, what are their interests? What do they care about, and why should they care about what you’re communicating? How does it affect them?

By keeping these points in mind, it will help structure your message in a way that piques interest, because the person knows what they stand to gain, or lose.

Clarity – How often have you received communications that left you feeling lost and confused?

This can occur when communicators wander, ramble, or jump around with their topics. They may also be disorganized and/or disengaged with their content. Therefore, it’s crucial to remember your goal in communicating – clarity. We want our message

delivered in way that can be easily understood and “caught.” Some simple, yet impactful tools to help an audience follow and retain your message are: acrostics, framing, illustrations, and/ or alliterations. For example, acrostics construct words, like our use of ACE. Framing expresses points in numerical or alphabetical order. Illustrations employ the use of stories and/or visual aids; and alliterations express points by sharing consonants such as, Faith, Family and Finance.

Engagement – Communication that is engaging gets others involved and ultimately results in action(s) taken.

Therefore, make room for questions and collaboration throughout your communication, and take time to listen. Remember, simply delivering your

message isn’t the goal. Rather, what will be the result of it? Have others been engaged by it, and do they know their next steps?

Following the steps outlined will help make any communication more impactful. However, don’t forget to use the most powerful tool unique to every individual – heart. For as we know, there’s nothing more catching than a message delivered with passion and authenticity.

Dagan Sharpe is Senior Vice President of Queensborough National Bank & Trust. He previously served as National Director for Wells Fargo’s Wealth Management division. He is the author of a stewardship book, Bank On It. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Augusta. He is a deacon at Warren Baptist Church. Contact him at dsharpe@qnbtrust.com.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Business Marketing Mark Alison

Sign Language

Art form matters when using outdoor advertising boards Driving through Charlotte, who can miss the ChickFil-A outdoor billboards featuring 3-D cows and a message scrawled across the board reading, Eat Mor Chikin?

It is perhaps one of the best uses of the outdoor medium.

On the other hand, who can make sense of the board on I-20 and Wheeler Road showing what appears to be a biker and some words that don’t seem to relate to the visual that are too small to read a thousand feet off the interstate and 100 feet in the air?

Outdoor is not only an advertising medium, it is also an art form unto itself – and that is the way it has to be used.

Being the largest advertising canvas available in most cities (not counting sides of buildings), it makes sense to use outdoor in many advertising campaigns when you follow certain rules.

Placement – A 100 showing doesn’t mean you have 100 boards. It means you have placed boards to cover 100 percent of the major arteries leading in and out of a market. Grand openings often use 100 showings for 30 days to make an impact.

To really get the best out of placement we always take the time to “ride the boards.” This means riding by the pro-

spective board to evaluate its impact on the mobile viewer. Keep in mind that the message is intricately tied to the placement. If the message can convey one thought in an instant, putting it on a board that is 1000 yards off the Interstate and 100 feet in the air can work.

An easy trick is to print the board out onto an 8-1/2 X 11 sheet, hold it at arms-length and move it toward your face and past your head in three seconds. If you can’t figure it out, neither can the driver. Of course if your space is at a stop light, this doesn’t apply.

Message – My first rule is to keep the message to seven words or less. Remember, nobody wants to read a billboard but they will give you their attention momentarily if the message is simple and relevant. That’s why “directional” boards are so good. There is a message and an arrow pointing to the desired outcome. STAY HERE, EAT HERE, TURN HERE or even BANK AHEAD. Ask yourself why a phone number needs to be on the board. Unless it spells something out in seven letters, no one can remember it. Who will want to? A relevant and memorable URL can be better if it’s short.

Don’t clutter the board with too many logos. There should be a message and a logo and they should be balanced in color, weight and size. Multiple logos are confusing and can steal the attention from the prime message.

Direction – Are you trying to reach people driving away from you or toward you, or does it matter? If you’re serving breakfast at your restaurant, reaching them on their way in to work is the best idea.

Here’s a professional secret – Every-

Real Estate Investing Justin Anderson

One at a Time

Don’t overdo it when starting real estate investing When I first began investing in real estate, I had absolutely no money. Fortunately, I had a mentor who told me, “Justin, when a man with money meets a man with

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knowledge, the man with the knowledge usually leaves with the money.”

Although those words mean something completely different to me today, back then I interpreted those words to mean I needed to increase my knowledge. So, I set about getting education anywhere I could. I read voraciously. I read everything I could get my hands on related to real estate and investing. I went to free classes. I drove to Atlanta to go to free seminars. I was a sponge for information.

At that time, the single biggest puzzle piece I felt I was missing was how to buy real estate. So I focused intensely on learning the 10 zillion ways to buy real estate (particularly with no money down since I didn’t have any). I studied until I became what I felt was an expert on buying real estate.

Once I broke through the initial fear of buying my first deal and realized it was true that I really didn’t need money

one likes to buy boards on the right hand side of the road but I have found, by riding the boards, that my rear view mirror often covers the board until I am close enough to see it and then it is only in my peripheral vision. Your customer won’t work that hard to see your board.

Make sure it is easy to see.

Cost –This is largely based on the amount of audience delivered, like most media. However, in the case of outdoor, the vehicle itself also comes into play. Bulletins, 14x48 in size, can be both digital and vinyl. Vinyl is permanent. Digital boards usually rotate six or more different messages over the course of one minute total. Units that are 12x24 units are called posters or 30 sheeters. Junior posters are 6x12 (8 sheeters). And then, of course, there are bus shelters. Your message may very well influence which type you buy and where you place them. DECs, or Daily Effective Circulation, is the average number of persons in cars and other vehicles passing and potentially exposed

to an advertising display. It is the combination of board size, DEC and placement that creates value to the user.

I didn’t like digital when it first appeared because, one, you can’t embellish it with additional structural elements and, two, you only get one out of six images. Today, I realize one out of six is all you need if it’s designed properly.

Here’s a tip – It costs virtually nothing to change out the digital board.

Don’t wait until it has been up a month.

Change it regularly so it doesn’t become roadside wall paper.

Outdoor is a very effective medium when the subject meets the mobile customer’s needs. Use it well and the ROI can be just like the medium itself… huge.

to buy real estate, I bought dozens of properties! I bought everything I could find. Single-family houses, town homes, apartments, land, commercial properties…I literally bought everything. The trouble was, I hadn’t learned what to do with any of it once I bought it.

This leads me to the next AORE Guiding Investment Principle: One Deal at a Time!

After coaching hundreds of investors over the past 10 years, I can guarantee you this: You will learn more about real estate investing from your first deal than in everything you read and heard before that. When you get to your second deal, you are going to double the already immense amount of information you learned during your first deal.

That trend will continue throughout your career.

The one thing I can assure you of is, the most expensive way to learn how to invest in real estate is to learn the les-

sons from your second deal before you have finished learning the lessons from your first.

Buy one deal at a time.

For more guiding investment principles and to meet other active local real estate investors in the Augusta Area, attend the next AORE Smart Session where a local successful investor will share their story of how they have built their real estate investment business right here in Augusta. Our next Smart Session will be on April 16 at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion. The doors open at 8 a.m. for coffee and networking.

Mark Alison is President of The Alison Group (started in 1982) with offices in Augusta and Charlotte. TAG is a B2B Marketing and Communication Company with a rich history of creating new business growth. Contact Mark at mark@thealisongroup.com.

Justin Anderson is a licensed Real Estate Broker in Georgia and Oklahoma, and has been a full time real estate investor for the past 18 years. He is the co-founder of AORE, a Real Estate Investment Training and Education Company with offices in Augusta, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia. For more information, visit AORE.com or email info@aore.com.

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Business Advice Mike Herrington

Build an Ark

Plan now to avoid a rainy forecast for retirement years It would be nice to believe that health care cost increases were a temporary phenomenon. Unfortunately, that’s not the case…the cost of medical care has outpaced inflation for the past 20 years and predictions are that medical and long-term care costs will continue to escalate into the future.

The decisions we make as to how and where we live in retirement are unique to each individual or couple. The options open to us, however, are frequently determined by our financial resources…our ability to pay. This review of the various ways to pay for health and long-term care costs during retirement is offered in the hope that it will be of assistance to you as you make decisions regarding

30 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

your retirement plans.

Retiree Health Insurance Plans: If your company provides retiree health care benefits, make sure you know how much of the premium you will be required to pay, as well as deductible and co-payment requirements.

Retiree health insurance plans are generally designed to coordinate with Medicare benefits. Caution: Even if your employer currently provides retiree health care benefits, there is no guarantee those benefits will be available when you retire.

Medicare and “Medigap” Insurance: Most people qualify for Medicare insurance when they reach age 65. Medicare helps to protect you from the costs of medical care during retirement. One fact, however , is evident…there is no “free lunch.” You will have costs related to medical care and the likelihood is that those costs will continue to increase each year.

Medicaid: Medicaid is a joint Federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with low incomes and limited assets.

Medicaid is essentially a safety net for those who didn’t adequately plan for their financial needs in retirement, or who encountered unexpectedly large expenses that depleted their financial resources.

Long-Term Care Insurance: Longterm care insurance can put you in control, preserving your assets and dignity, while allowing you to select the type of facility and setting in which you want to receive long-term care services, if needed.

Personal Savings: Review your retirement plan to make sure that it adequately takes into account the potential costs of medical care and long-term care in retirement. If you find a shortfall, you may want to increase your personal savings now in order to have sufficient funds available after you retire.

Home Equity: Many retired people have built up substantial equity in their homes. There are a variety of ways to tap that equity if needed to pay for

health care costs in retirement.

Going Back to Work: When it comes to planning for health care needs as we age, it’s time for a reality check. How many 70+-year-old people with health problems really want to be out looking for a job?

Don’t wait until it starts raining to build your ark… plan ahead while the choices are still yours to make!

Mike Herrington is President of Herrington Financial Services, Inc, a Registered Investment Advisor. He is a Certified Financial Planner licensee(CFP), a Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and a Certified Estate Planner(CEP). He has been serving clients in the CSRA since 1984. Contact him at 706-8688673 or mike@herringtonfinancialservices.com

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Business Accounting Christine Hall

Happy Returns

Rules change, so you may be eligible for a tax return Most people file a tax return because they have to, but even if you don’t, there are times when you should because you might be eligible for a tax refund and not know it.

This year, there are a few new rules for taxpayers who must file. The six tax tips below should help you determine whether you’re one of them.

1. General Filing Rules. Whether you need to file a

tax return this year depends on a few factors. In most cases, the amount of your income, your filing status and your age determine if you must file a tax return. For example, if you’re single and 28 years old you must file if your income was at least $10,300.

Other rules may apply if you’re selfemployed or if you’re a dependent of another person.

2. Premium Tax Credit. If you bought health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace in 2015, you might be eligible for the Premium Tax Credit; however, you will need to file a return to claim the credit.

If you purchased coverage from the Marketplace in 2015 and chose to have advance payments of the premium tax credit sent directly to your insurer during the year, you must file a federal tax return. You will reconcile any advance payments with the allowable premium tax credit.

You should have received Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, in February. The new form has information that helps you file your tax return and reconcile any advance payments with the allowable Premium

Business Benefits Russell Head

COBRA Strike

Some former employees may qualify for COBRA benefits

Don’t forget COBRA when determining who gets benefits.

The recent focus on completing ACA reporting forms has some employers thinking about which employees are or are not eligible for their group benefits. However, employers must also consider the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), which may allow certain former employees and their covered dependents to continue their group health plan coverage in certain situations.

When does COBRA apply?

Most private and government employers with 20 or more employees must comply with COBRA’s continuation coverage requirements. (Many states, including Georgia, have laws similar to COBRA that apply to fully insured group health plans, including plans maintained

32 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

by churches and employers with fewer than 20 employees.)

Once an employer determines that it is subject to COBRA, it must look at its plans. An employer-sponsored welfare benefit plan is subject to COBRA if it provides medical care. “Medical care” broadly includes medical, dental, vision and drug coverage.

Who is entitled to COBRA coverage?

A group health plan is required to offer COBRA continuation coverage only to qualified beneficiaries and only after a qualifying event has occurred.

Qualified Beneficiaries A qualified beneficiary is an individual who was covered by a group health plan on the day before a qualifying event occurred and who is an employee, an employee’s spouse or former spouse, or an employee’s dependent child.

Qualifying Events An employer must offer COBRA coverage only when group health plan coverage ends (or would end) due to a qualifying event. Not all losses of health coverage are caused by qualifying events. For example, a cancellation of health plan coverage – whether at the employee’s request or because of the employee’s failure to pay premiums – is not, by itself, a qualifying event that triggers the requirement to offer COBRA coverage.

How long does COBRA coverage last?

COBRA requires that continuation coverage extends from the date of the

This year, there are a few new rules for taxpayers who must file.

Tax Credit.

3. Tax Withheld or Paid. Did your employer withhold federal income tax from your pay? Did you make estimated tax payments? Did you overpay last year and have it applied to this year’s tax? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you could be due a refund. But you have to file a tax return to get it.

4. Earned Income Tax Credit. Did you work and earn less than $53,267 last year? You could receive EITC as a tax refund if you qualify with or without a qualifying child. You may be eligible for up to $6,242. If you qualify, file a tax return to claim it.

5. Additional Child Tax Credit. Do you have at least one child that qualifies for the Child Tax Credit? If you don’t get the full credit amount, you may qualify for the Additional Child Tax Credit.

6. American Opportunity Credit.

The AOTC (up to $2,500 per eligible

student) is available for four years of post-secondary education. You or your dependent must have been a student enrolled at least half-time for at least one academic period. Even if you don’t owe any taxes, you still may qualify; however, you must complete Form 8863, Education Credits, and file a return to claim the credit.

If you are still unsure as to whether or not you need to file a return this year contact your regular tax preparer. They can assist you with making that determination. You may meet the requirements one year but not the next so be sure to check the rules each year!

Hall, Murphy & Schuyler, PC is a full-service public accounting firm. They have a staff of experienced professionals that stand ready to meet all of your accounting, tax and general business needs.

For a complimentary consultation, call 706-8557733 or email at cmh@HMandScpas.com.

Most employers with 20 or more employees must comply with COBRA’s continuation coverage requirements. qualifying event for a limited period of time of 18 or 36 months. COBRA coverage could end earlier than the end of the maximum period due to non-payment of premiums, gaining coverage under another group plan or Medicare, or the termination of the group plan.

What Benefits Must be offered?

Qualified beneficiaries must be offered coverage that is identical to that available to similarly situated beneficiaries who are not receiving COBRA coverage under the plan. Generally, this will be the same coverage that the qualified beneficiary had immediately before qualifying for continuation coverage. A change in the benefits under the plan for the active employees will also apply to qualified beneficiaries. Qualified beneficiaries must be allowed to make the same choices given to non-COBRA beneficiaries under the plan, such as during periods of open enrollment by the plan.

Who pays for COBRA coverage?

Group health plans can require qualified beneficiaries to pay for COBRA continuation coverage, although plan sponsors can choose to provide continuation coverage at reduced or no cost. The maximum amount charged to

qualified beneficiaries cannot exceed 102 percent of the cost to the plan for similarly situated individuals covered under the plan who have not incurred a qualifying event.

What notices must be provided?

Group health plans must give plan participants a notice describing COBRA rights under the plan within the first 90 days of coverage. Following notice of a qualifying event, the plan must provide the qualified beneficiaries with an Election Notice, which describes their rights to continuation coverage and how to make an election.

The DOL has developed Model General Notice and Model Election Notice, neither of which employers are not required to use. However, use of the Model Notices, appropriately completed, will be considered by the DOL to be good faith compliance with COBRA’s content and notice requirements.

Russell T. Head is President with ACHS Insurance, Inc., Augusta’s largest risk management and employee benefits brokerage. He can be reached at 706-733-3459 or rthead@achsinsurance.com. Visit ACHS Insurance at achsinsurance.com.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Social Media Kelsey Morrow

Hashtag Hangups Hashtags are valuable to a business when used right

Last summer I had the opportunity to attend a Rolling Stones concert in Atlanta. Before the concert started, the stadium screens gave concert goers a list of songs and asked them to tweet their requests with “#StonesAtlanta.”

Suddenly a middle-aged woman in the row behind me loudly exclaimed, “But why is there a pound sign!?”

Not to pick on the Baby Boomers, but this particular woman’s reaction made me think that perhaps a little Hashtag 101 might be needed.

Although it’s had many names in the course of its life span (the number sign, the pound sign, that little tic-tactoe board), the # sign in our digital world is now most commonly referred to as the hashtag. Hashtags have spread across various social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and Tumblr, but are most commonly

Faith at Work Steve Swanson

Volume Control

Information abounds but can be too much of a good thing We live in a world that has vast resources available at its fingertips. We can find information in just seconds (usually depending on the speed of our internet connection and our level of typing skill).

I am old enough to remember the World Book Encyclopedia. It came out annually, and even had color photos. It was great to have the sales guy come to the house so we could look at their latest edition. Unfortunately, our family couldn’t afford a set. It was definitely outside of our budget.

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associated with Twitter.

The primary importance of hashtags is to collect similar content. When you click on or search a particular hashtag, you can see every tweet that includes that hashtag.

An excellent recent example of this type of hashtag usage was the TEDxAugusta event. Attendees to the conference were encouraged to tweet their responses about speakers and speaking topics, and tag their tweets with #TEDxAugusta. This allowed The TEDxAugusta account to get real-time feedback from participants and engage with attendees’ tweets.

Hashtags allow trends to be monitored as well. On the home screen of your Twitter account, you can see a list of “Top Trends” based on a region that you choose. The top trends are essentially hashtags that have been tweeted frequently over a period of time in your location.

Hashtags can also be used for emphasis. For example, are you a restaurant tweeting about your Friday evening specials? Why not add #TGIF on to your tweet. These certainly aren’t required but add a more playful tone to your message that makes your company appear more personable to readers.

So when are hashtags not a good idea?

First, when you use too many of them. Hashtags are best used sparing-

ly. Just because you can hashtag every word, doesn’t mean that you should. “#Come #to #our #annual #sale #this #Thursday” might seem laughable, but I have seen tweets like this and I personally have a hard time taking those businesses seriously.

Secondly, make sure to keep your hashtags as short as possible. Hashtags don’t allow for spaces or apostrophes (if you put an apostrophe, only the letters before the apostrophe will be included in the tag, so keep this in mind), so hashtagging a whole sentence becomes difficult to read.

Consider this: #ifyourehappyandyouknowitclapyourhands. It takes a while

to decipher, doesn’t it? If you absolutely must hashtag a longer phrase, a mix of capitals and lowercase letters will make it slightly easier to read (#IfYoureHappyAndYouKnowItClapYourHands), but it’s still better to limit hashtags to just a few key words.

With these hashtag rules in mind, you’re ready to take the internet by storm. #HappyTweeting

So much has changed – the internet has provided us with seemingly endless access to information. It’s literally always “on.”

We’re often big on information, but short on relationship building. Again this week, I’ve heard a number of folks talking about “digital detox.” It’s the idea of intentionally taking time to separate ourselves from our technology. I believe it’s wise to give the “always connected” concept a break.

I am intrigued by the resources we have available, and the few we actually take the time to use on a regular basis.

Think about the number of apps on your phone or tablet right now. I probably have four dozen, and use perhaps six of them on a regular basis.

Because of the sheer volume of information coming at us, we naturally filter its flow. The whole “drinking from a firehose” analogy certainly rings true. There are times we just have to say “Stop!”

As I think about CSRA resources that involve face to face growth opportunities, Faith at Work comes to mind.

It’s a monthly gathering that is open to all area business people. It happens on the third Tuesday of each month (with a break during the summer). The meet-

ings take place in the Fellowship Hall at First Baptist Church in Augusta.

Your $7 investment includes an amazing lunch, an update on news of the day and some great music. A brief but practical inspirational message wraps up the hour. The best part of the time is a chance to meet folks from the community face to face. Real networking happens! You can get out of your daily routine, and can be refreshed and encouraged. If you’d like to be added to their mailing list to be reminded of when the group meets, just e-mail DedeMaddox@fbcaugusta.org. I know she’ll be happy to take care of you!

I’d love to hear about other gatherings or resources in the CSRA you find helpful as you walk out your faith at work. Please feel free to e-mail me at steve@wafj.com It’s very easy to do the same thing day after day and wonder why the results are always the same! Perhaps it’s time for you to look beyond the resources you’re familiar with, and see what else might be available to you.

I definitely want to recommend one of my favorite apps. The “YouVersion” Bible app. It provides a number of Bible translations, daily reading plans, devo-

tions, and many ways to personalize your experience.

When Apple announced plans to open an App Store for third-party developers, YouVersion got their app ready for the store’s opening on June 10, 2008. The first day it was downloaded 83,000 times! Last I heard, YouVersion supports more than 500 versions of the Bible across 300 languages. It was created by a church in Oklahoma and has been downloaded some 180 million times. Their ambitious hope is that it will be downloaded 1 billion times!

I hope you will download the app and use it regularly.

My reminder for you today: We are often “over resourced” but still often undernourished when it comes to our faith and work. I’m praying that you’ll be able to navigate your way through the many available resources to discover what is truly helpful in your life and business. It’s worth the effort!

Kelsey Morrow is the Media Assistant at Buzz on Biz and handles its social media accounts. She has a Masters in Public Relations from the University of Georgia. You can contact her at kelsey.morrow@buzzon.biz.

Steve Swanson serves as the station manager for Family Friendly 88.3 WAFJ. He’s invested 30-plus years in the world of radio and was named the Christian Music Broadcasters Program Director of the Year in 2009 and 2011. He and his wife , Susie, live in North Augusta.

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Making the most of Masters Week Spotlight your business to a global audience

By Jessica Hanson, Director of Member Services, North Augusta Chamber The Masters – it truly is a “tradition like no other,” and in the CSRA we’re so fortunate to not only host the prestigious tournament itself, but to also play host to its patrons, the visitors from around the world.

Last year The Masters tournament had an impact of $115 million in our local economy – that’s big. This is the time when CSRA businesses can shine, highlight what they do best and grab a piece of that very large monetary impact.

The Masters and its tourists bring great opportunities to get your products or services in front of your community and prospective customers – all it takes is some creative marketing. If you’ve never capitalized on Masters Week, make this your year. Sure, it takes some time and planning, but the payoff can be big if you do it right.

To help you get into the Masters Week spirit, here are a few marketing ideas for business owners to get the most out of the biggest tourist week in the CSRA. Meet New Customers Masters Week means the opportunity to meet customers who may have never heard of your business; after all, people come from all corners of the globe during the tournament. This is your chance to market yourself

and your products in a fun way, and hopefully encourage a few customers to return to your store again.

What’s the best way to go about this? Free stuff! One of the most well-received marketing ideas among consumers are “swag bags.” Put together bags for the first 100 people who stop by your business during Masters Week and promote this on social and/or local media. Include a business card and a few smaller, inexpensive items.

Another great idea is to team up with a local restaurant that will give away coupons for free items to include in your bags, which highlights their business as well.

(Did you know … Manuel Verney-Carron, chef and owner of Manuel’s Bread Cafe in North Augusta, was recently given the Culinary Genius Award through the US Foods’ first Food Fanatics Awards program? Stop by and check out their delicious menu!)

Show Your Masters Spirit Show that you’re actively involved in Masters Week and you’ll leave a lasting positive impression surrounding your business.

In the weeks leading up to the tournament, send out an email to your customer database with Masters Week deals and details and make sure your employees are mentioning it to everyone who walks into your store.

Also, launch a full-out social media campaign! Get on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter and join in the conversation by following the official Masters accounts, as well as other businesses actively offering events and promotions during Masters Week. Of course, promote Masters Week itself, and encourage your followers to attend tournament related events.

Show Off This is your chance to test out new products or packages with customers. Don’t hold back – take advantage of this global stage that The Masters provides! Get creative with your store displays, or combine some items into a gift set.

Shoppers love pre-packaged gift ideas because it makes their life easier, and who doesn’t love that?

Hold a daily giveaway during tournament week that you promote via social media.

This is a great way to promote traffic and encourage return customers. Just have customers fill out a card and throw it in a box, fishbowl, etc. This is also a great way to collect information for your customer database (just be sure to include a permissions box, so that they may opt to receive promotional emails).

Get Connected Masters Week provides a great opportunity to meet people – global tourists, community leaders, local and fellow business owners, and sometimes even an occasional celebrity! So, don’t miss out on meeting some really great people (and possible customers) – engage with everyone that comes in! A friendly demeanor is more likely to

bring customers back, and establish trust in your business.

Masters Week is also a great opportunity to meet the business owners in your community. Go visit or introduce yourself to nearby business owners. Networking is critical in business and Masters Week provides many opportunities to get out and meet people.

Put Yourself Out There It can be scary to put your business out there, especially if you’ve never highlighted your business during an event as large as The Masters, and to such a diverse crowd.

But, pushing yourself to take part in Masters Week this season will give you and your products or services great exposure.

How do you get involved in the first place? Start by joining your local Chamber (if you haven’t already). Chambers are a great resource and can definitely assist you with any questions you may have about Masters Week. Also, get to know your business neighbors.

If you’re ready for advanced level involvement, why not try putting something together yourself? All you need is a few businesses to say “yes,” and suddenly you have an established and looked-forward-to event during the most prestigious event in sports – and most importantly, a piece of that big monetary impact.

HAPPY MASTERS 2016!

If you’d like to provide the Official Guide to North Augusta for any Masters patrons or guests, please call the North Augusta Chamber at 803-279-2323. We’ll be happy to provide copies for you!

Career & Education Barry Paschal

Beneath the Surface A lot goes on to make Masters Week events look effortless You’ve seen the image: A duck glides placidly on a lake, while underwater his little webbed feet paddle furiously to propel him forward. It’s a great illustration that appearances often can be deceiving. There is usually more than meets the eye.

When our guests arrive here in Augusta for Masters Week, everyone in the hospitality business probably hopes

38 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

it looks effortless – or, at least, not like a series of screaming hair-fires.

Those untold thousands of guests, spending millions of dollars, pack our streets, hotels, restaurants and bars for miles around the Augusta National during the first full week of April.

For that week, Augusta is temporarily a city that feels at least double in size.

How does it happen? To the Masters patrons, outward appearances – not the unflattering ones obligatorily written about by visiting writers – are that we’re just suited up and ready when they get here to dine and play. What they don’t see are the weeks and months of preparation, and the additional fellow visitors who aren’t here as tourists, but as temporary workers. In other words, the little webbed feet paddling furiously.

There simply aren’t enough people here year-round to fill all the service industry jobs that come available before and during Masters Week. We at Goodwill were reminded of that after the recent fire that destroyed Macaroni Grill.

Our Job Connection staff stepped up to help those displaced workers find jobs,

and it immediately sparked a feeding frenzy by other restaurants and hotels in the community hoping to take part in the opportunity to snap up those local service workers for Masters Week.

For one week of the year, then, there’s not much excuse for unemployment.

Visiting workers help fill the need for hospitality positions, and complement the locals who work as temporary employees inside and outside the Augusta National. The school systems coordinate their spring breaks to match Masters Week not only because of so many homes being rented out to visitors, but also so school employees can pick up extra income as everything from serv-

ers to van drivers.

Everyone works together, and somehow, every year, we all just make it work.

When I was a kid, if I ever brought an unexpected guest to eat at my grandmother’s house, she would always joke that she’d just add more water to the soup. Augusta’s can-do attitude is similar: No matter how big the crowd during Masters Week, we’ll keep on paddling.

And we really hope to make it look effortless.

Barry L. Paschal is Senior Director of Marketing and Communications for Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA, parent organization of Helms College at www.helms.edu.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Business Health Terry Childers

Dangerous Doses

Deaths from prescription drug abuse increasing dramatically America loves its prescription drugs.

The misuse and abuse of prescription drugs is the fastest-growing drug problem in the United States. The United States composes 5 percent of the world’s population, but consumes 75 percent of the world’s prescription drugs. Americans account for 99 percent of the world’s hydrocodone (Vicodin) consumption; 80 percent of the world’s oxycodone (Percocet and Oxycontin) consumption and 65 percent of the world’s hydromorphone (Dilaudud) consumption.

Prescription drug overdoses now account for more deaths than car accidents in this country, which is driven by the increased use of opiod analgesics (narcotic pain relievers). Deaths from prescription drug overdoses have quadrupled since 1999, and every day 125 Americans die from prescription painkiller overdoses. (Heroin overdoses have also tripled since 2010; double the rate of cocaine overdose deaths.)

Prescription painkillers also account for more than 475,000 emergency room visits annually and, unfortunately, those numbers continue to increase. Over 52 million people over the age of 12 have used prescription drugs for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and in 2010, enough prescription painkillers were prescribed to medicate every American adult every four hours for a month.

For every unintentional overdose related to opiod analgesics, nine persons are admitted for substance abuse treatment, 35 visit emergency rooms, 161 report drug abuse or dependence and 461 report non-medical uses of opiod analgesics.

Obviously, these are alarming statistics. The Centers for Disease Control has classified prescription drug abuse as an epidemic and the World Health Organization reports that prescription drug abuse is threatening the achievements of modern medicine.

There are a number of ways people justify use of prescription drugs that make their misuse prevalent: • They are all legal drugs • They are safer than illicit street drugs • There are fewer side effects than with street drugs • There is less shame and stigma with using prescription drugs vs. street drugs • If doctors prescribe them, they must be safe Opiod analgesics attach to the same receptors in the brain as heroin. In many southern states, Oxycontin is known as “hillbilly” heroin. Fentanyl, which comes often in pain release patches, is 100 times more powerful than morphine.

Many who use prescription drugs that are not prescribed to them also use them in non-standard ways – by either crushing and snorting the pills, or injecting them intravenously.

These methods make the drug that much more addictive because the drug is absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

Prescription drugs have such a high street value that heroin is making a big comeback because it is less expensive and more available. More and more people who at first used painkillers for legitimate medical reasons such as acute pain, post surgery, dental procedures or serious injuries end up on heroin after their addiction has taken hold.

Here are the most common ways prescription drugs are obtained: 55 percent – from a friend or relative (or from their medicine cabinets without their knowledge) 18 percent – from one doctor

17 percent – bought from a friend or relative 5 percent – from a drug dealer 2 percent – from more than one doctor 2 percent – other 1 percent – the internet The three main categories of prescription drugs of abuse are: 1. Opiod Analgesics – Percocet, Lortab, Vicodin, Oxycontin, Roxycontin and all other narcotic pain relievers 2. Tranquilizers – Xanax, Klonopin, Ativan, Valium, Benzodiazepine Family 3. Stimulants – Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta prescribed for ADD or ADHD The over-prescribing of these drugs is evident and many preventive measures are being implemented by federal and state agencies. It is a felony to be in the possession of a prescription drug that is not prescribed to you.

Many are prescribed these powerful and addictive drugs for legitimate purposes. However, if someone has a family history of alcoholism or addiction, it

is important to let the physician know so he can educate the patient on the dangers for addiction potential.

It is said that if you locked 100 people in a room for a month and gave them all the whiskey they wanted, at the end of the month eight or nine people would be dependent or addicted. In the same scenario, if you substituted oxycontin for whiskey, you would have 95 persons either dependent or addicted.

Addiction has a genetic predisposition. For example, you have two people who are prescribed a narcotic pain reliever after dental surgery. One of them takes the medication, falls asleep and starts drooling on himself. Once the pain subsides, he discontinues taking the medication. The other person takes the medication and ends up cleaning the house, cutting the grass and quickly realizes that not only is her pain lessened, but she feels euphoric and energetic. As addiction progresses however, those feelings subside and the drug use must be maintained to avoid very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. Such is the cycle of addiction.

Thankfully, there are other emerging ways to fight prescription drug addiction through traditional methods as well as with newer medications that are being utilized in conjunction with education, counseling and treatment.

If you or someone you love is struggling with prescription medications, please call us for a free and confidential consultation to start the recovery process.

Terry Childers has been with Bradford Health Services for 6.5 years as the Community Representative. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1992 with a BS.Ed. in Educational Psychology and was the starting catcher for the 1990 National Championship baseball team . He also played professionally.

Childers is available to talk to any group on a variety of substance abuse topics. Contact him at tchilders@bradfordhealth.net.

AU’s Master Plan would move Science and Math college The Campus Master Plan’s proposed relocation of Augusta University’s College of Science and Mathematics from the Summerville Campus to the Health Sciences Campus is a critical component of the growth plan for that college and for the university as a whole.

Each of Augusta University’s nine colleges anticipate growth with student enrollment projected to increase by 20 percent over the next decade, and with associated faculty and staff growth. The Summerville Campus alone is home to four of the nine colleges, but there is limited physical capacity to accommodate projected growth due to the historic and archeological significance of the campus.

40 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

Moving the College of Science and Mathematics to the Health Sciences Campus will allow it to grow on a campus rich in learning environments geared toward its students’ career goals, said Executive Vice President and Provost Gretchen Caughman.

“The move will make a tremendous impact on the quality of education we can provide to our undergraduate students,” said Dean of College of Science and Mathematics Rickey Hicks. “It’s also a bridge between the liberal arts education and professional degrees at the Summerville Campus and the health sciences and medical education at the Health Sciences Campus.”

The College of Science and Mathematics occupies space on the Summerville Cam-

pus, primarily in Allgood and Science Halls.

By moving the college, enough space would be vacated to accommodate space needs for Pamplin College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the James M. Hull College of Business and the College of Education.

“The move will also necessitate the build out and retrofitting of the existing facilities on the Summerville Campus,” Caughman said. “So, all of the buildings would be programmed for varying degrees of technology infusion, classroom upgrades and the kinds of things specifically designed to meet the future needs of the remaining colleges.”

The proposed location of the College of Science and Mathematics on the Health Sciences Campus is adjacent to student

housing and existing academic/research facilities. The new building would define the boundary, along with the J. Harold Harrison, M.D. Education Commons and the Dental College of Georgia, of a new academic district on the south side of the campus. The district, mirrored by a second academic district on the north side of campus, would be centered on an open space with grassy areas and tree-lined sidewalks.

“This plan understands that for any of these things to come to fruition, we must have a parking solution,” Caughman said.

“It will necessitate thinking about the land and square footage a bit differently, and that will enhance the quality of everyone’s experience, every day.”

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Business Counseling Carolyn Ramp

Goal Posts Writing down and reviewing goals are keys to success For the past few months we’ve been looking at making ourselves happier by making some change in our lives.

We’ve agreed it’s a DIY project. It’s a DIY project that we can never give up on! Remember, Walt Disney was once fired from a newspaper for not having good ideas. Edison tried 10,000 experiments on the light bulb before becoming successful. Lincoln failed in business, was defeated in legislature, congress and the senate before becoming president. We can never give up on ourselves!

Ok, now that you’ve accepted where you are and you’ve been thinking about where you want to be, let’s talk about Wants and Goals.

It’s important to define clearly what you want. Put aside what anyone else says you should want and spend a few minutes thinking clearly about what you want. When you are doing this be specific. Just follow the steps below:

1. Categorize what you want. Put your goals into meaningful categories such as a. personal – lose weight to a specific number. b. Social – form a specific number of new friendships. c. Financial – Save X number of dollars each month. d. Physical – get 30 minutes of exercise each day. e. Intellectual – Read for 30 minutes a day. f. Spiritual/Humanistic – do one good deed each day for someone else.

2. Write down your goals. It’s not enough to keep these goals in your head.

We become more serious when we commit them to writing. Post the goals where you will see them each day. If you can, find pictures to post with the goals.

Read your goals at least twice a day.

3. Decide to focus your thinking and energy on your goals. As you mull over your wants and goals, don’t worry about how you will reach them. This will occur naturally as you move along.

You will discover new ways. Make this decision several times a day.

4. Be accepting of yourself when you fail. There will be times when you fail to work toward your goal. You went off your diet, you didn’t exercise…The urge will be to give up, to wallow in guilt, or feel “what’s the point?” Tell yourself, “Tomorrow is a new day.” Review your goals and recommit yourself to the next step.

Business Systems Kevin Wade

Audit Anxiety Planning ahead can ease burden of HIPPA desk audits The protection of patient privacy and the security, integrity and availability of electronic protected health information is a major concern for any medical practitioner.

For doctors in a small to medium-sized practice, patient care takes first priority, but the compliance challenges are making it harder for practices to thrive.

The federal government’s Office of Civil Rights, which enforces Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance, has developed a new strategy

42 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

for evaluating compliance with an ever larger number of medical practices – primarily smaller practices, called “desk audits.”

The audit mandate, an extension of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act, means that any provider subject to HIPAA standards is also subject to a potential audit of their privacy, security and breach notification status.

The new desk audit strategy is, simply put, a demand for a practice’s HIPAA policies and procedures, with a narrow response window of typically 24 hours. Through special tools like Intellisystem’s HIPAA Help Center, it’s possible to develop and maintain a real-time risk assessment and policies and procedures that can be printed with the press of a button.

This can give medical practitioners the peace of mind that they are meeting their compliance goals, and thus allow them to focus on what matters most – caring for their patients.

In addition, a lesser known fact is that these audits will affect both practices and business associates that work with them such as their IT companies,

5. Picture your want as fulfilled. Picture yourself having already achieved your goal. You are programming yourself to reach the goal.

6. Share your goals only with those who will encourage you. Find those people in your life who will encourage you, work towards the goal with you and be positive about your accomplishment towards the goal.

7. Make lists. What do I need to know? How might I sabotage myself?

What do I need to do first?

8. Eliminate. Get rid of criticism, stop complaining about yourself, avoid conflict with others.

9. Develop mottos related to your goals. Find a quick saying or cliché you

can repeat to yourself to motivate yourself. Say it each morning.

10. Do the above over and over again. If you don’t plan to achieve, you are planning to fail.

Plan to start today!

Carolyn A. Ramp has a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Augusta State University and a Specialist’s Degree in Counseling from Georgia Southern. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor and an Approved Clinical Supervisor. She served as an Adjunct Professor at Augusta State University in the graduate counseling program. She is the owner of Resolution Counseling Professionals located in the Atrium on Wheeler Road. Contact her at 706-432-6866.

The new desk audit strategy is, simply put, a demand for a practice’s HIPAA policies and procedures shredding and copier companies, and anyone who could potentially come in contact with Protected Health Information (PHI).

Using a tool like HIPAA Help Center gives a medical practice the means to maintain policies and procedures, administer compliance training, assign compliance responsibilities, manage hardware inventory including mobile devices, develop backup and contingency plans, manage incident response, and create a real-time risk assessment – a product that gives practice managers a policy roadmap that references each specific code of law, so that as laws change, policies and procedures can easily be updated. A product like this is always current and helps keep practices on track for compliance.

Managing HIPAA compliance and maintaining the levels of security mandated by the federal government is a job

in and of itself. One wrong step could cost your practice tremendously in the form of punitive fines, increased insurance premiums, and time away from patients. Changes in the law are made frequently and privacy laws will only become more complex as time goes forward.

Kevin Wade is President and CEO of IntelliSystems, a local IT management and telecommunication company with offices in Augusta, Aiken, and Columbia. In addition to meeting the technology needs of small and mediumsized companies, including sourcing computer and networking hardware and software, providing day-to-day IT support, installing cabling and wireless network systems, and design and installation of telephone systems, IntelliSystems works to help medical practices reach and maintain HIPAA compliance. He can be reached at 706-722-2024 or by emailing him at kevinw@ intellisystems.com.

Camp Guide 2016 2016 Summer Camps will be listed in our April 21 and May 19 issues. To advertise your Summer Camp, call 706.589.6727, 803.480.2800, or 803.640.0627.

Monkey Joe’s offers weeklong Spring Break fun For those families who have a limited travel budget and are opting to stay at home during Spring Break, Augusta’s Monkey Joe’s is offering a Staycation package.

The promotion runs April 4-8. With the purchase of a weekly pass, customers can enjoy unlimited visits throughout the week. For a small additional fee, children can add unlimited play through Sunday, April 10.

Children will also receive a Monkey Joe’s water bottle which can be refilled throughout the week for only a buck.

Monkey Joe’s is a children’s entertainment center filled with indoor jumps, slides and obstacle courses. A

destination that caters to both children and parents, Monkey Joe’s provides wall-to-wall inflatables, including a main play center and separate Mini Monkey Zone for toddlers. The company is known for its birthday and group parties, but also accepts walkins for those looking to experience fun for one day.

Monkey Joe’s is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 12-6 p.m. on Sunday.

It is located at 368 Fury’s Ferry Road, Suite 2, in Martinez.

For more information, visit monkeyjoes.com/locations/augusta or call 706922-5867.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Masters Week Camps April 4-8 Aiken Center for the Arts, 122 Laurens Street NW, Aiken. April 4-8. 9 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m., or 9 a.m.-4 p.m., $45-per half day/$75-per full day Week of half days $140/full days $265. Spend the Spring break showing your creative

side at our spring break art camp! This year our projects have been inspired by the 20th century POP ART movement.

Open to 4K and up, campers may come for full or half days. Come as many days as you like! Supplies are provided, bring your own lunch and snacks. For more

44 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

information, visit aikencenterforthearts. org/youth-visual-arts.html Artsy Me, 4275-b Washington Road, Evans. Camp Dates: Monday, April 4; Wednesday, April 6; Thursday, April 7. 10a.m.-noon. $30 per day. Each day campers will work on a different craft. Monday: glass-fused sun catchers; Wednesday: Ceramic dinnerware; Thursday: Canvas painting with acrylics.

Project and snacks (goldfish crackers, fruit, and juice). For more information or to register your child, visit artsymestudio.com/hom/booking Blythe Masters Camp, Blythe Area Recreation Center, 3129 Hwy 88, Blythe.

Session I – 6:30 a.m.-noon & Session II – noon-6 p.m. Session I – $22.00/Week & Session II – $23.00/Week. The Augusta Recreation & Parks Department is offering “Masters Camp” at the Blythe Area Recreation Center for children ages 4-12 years old. Two half-day sessions continued on page 45

continued from page 44 are available, or register for both sessions for an all day camp. For more information, call 706-592-4988 or visit augustaga.gov/calendar.aspx Family Y Masters Week Camps, April 4-8 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. with early drop-off at 7 a.m. and late pickup until 6 p.m. Camp activities for ages 5-12 years at the following locations: Family Y of Augusta South, Wilson Family Y, Marshall Family Y, Family Y of Aiken, and Family Y of North Augusta. Register at any Family Y location or online at Thefamilyy.org

Gymnastics Gold, 124 Cedar Lane, Martinez. April 4-8, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. (early drop-off 7:30 a.m. and late pickup 5:30 p.m.) Ages 4-13. Fun-filled theme days include: Games, gymnastics, arts and crafts, and outdoor activities. Call

706-650-2111 or visit gymnasticsgold. com Haydens Gymnastics and Cheer Academy, 4107 Colben Boulevard, Evans. April 4-8, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Girls and boys, ages 5 and up. Crafts, games, gym time and more. For more information, including pricing, visit haydensgym.com Jamestown Community Center, 3647 Karleen Road, Hephzibah. Early Risers: 6-9 a.m.; Day Camp: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; Adventures in Learning: 3-6 p.m. $55 per child, and $45 for each additional child. Ages 5-14. This program provides participants a safe and secure environment with CPR-qualified counselors, quiet time, educational activities, arts and crafts and much more.

Call 706-790-1805 or visit augustaga. gov/calendar.aspx continued on page 46

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continued from page 45 Monkey Joe’s Staycation, 368 Fury’s Ferry Road, Suite 2, Martinez. April 4-8. Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Plan a family staycation with the purchase of a weekly pass. Customers can enjoy unlimited visits throughout the week.

The location provides two options for passes: $20 per child for unlimited play Monday-Friday, and $25 per child for unlimited play Monday-Sunday. Children will receive a Monkey Joe’s water bottle which can be refilled throughout the week for $1. Monkey Joe’s is a children’s entertainment center filled

46 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

with indoor jumps, slides and obstacle courses and provides wall-to-wall inflatables. For more information, visit monkeyjoes.com/locations/augusta or call 706-922-5867.

Salvation Army Kroc Center Day Camp, 1833 Broad Street, Augusta.

April 4-8. From 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Children ages 5-12 can play games, swim, create arts and crafts and make memories. Early drop-off and late pick-up options are available and lunch and a snack are provided with registration fee. Registration required. Call 706364-KROC (5762) or visit salvationarmyaugusta.org

Former Secretary of State to speak to Boys & Girls Club The Boys & Girls Club of the CSRA will celebrate its 65th anniversary with former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice on March 31.

Rice will spend an evening with Club supporters in an intimate fireside chat discussing America’s graduation crisis, workforce development needs and the roles communities and Boys & Girls Clubs play in building a competitive workforce proficient in the skills needed to support 21st century technologies and industry. With decades of distinguished service in education, national security, foreign policy and industry, Rice will discuss insights from her dedication to higher education,

world affairs and youth development.

Tables for the event may be purchased at the Boys & Girls Club website at bgccsra.org or by calling 706-504-4071.

Rice is currently the Denning Professor in Global Business and the Economy at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

From January 2005 to 2009, Rice served as the 66th Secretary of State of the United States, the second woman and first African American woman to hold the post. Rice also served as President George W. Bush’s Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs (National Security Advisor) from January 2001 to 2005, the first woman to hold the position.

NA Robotics team will hold Robotics Expo The North Augusta High School Robotics Team will be hosting a Robotics Expo from 1-2 p.m. on April 16. The location has not been announced.

The Expo will give people a chance to meet the teams of operators and engineers, as well as the opportunity to see the robots in action. There will also

be time for questions and answers.

The North Augusta High School Robotics Team was founded in 2014

by Jane Monroe. In its first competitive competition in 2015, the Robotics Challenge, the team placed first.

During the first year, 25 students and three teams entered the state competition. All three teams made

it to elimination rounds, and two teams made it to the finals, Won and Done#9640 and Chabotic#8946.

During the finals, Chabotic#8946 was eliminated but Won and Done#9640 finished first.

The mission of the North Augusta High School Robotics Team is to facilitate student interest in the areas

of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in order to increase the number of individuals who pursue and maintain successful careers in these fields. The emphasis of the program is training students for careers in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science and business administration.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Career & Education Daphne Jones

Vacation Vaccine

A vacation creates positive benefits for bosses, employees The summer months can be a tricky time for employers, especially small-business owners, as they try to balance the needs of their customers with their employees’ requests for vacation time. With an eye on maintaining and growing a business, leaders may find themselves dreading vacation requests and the possibility of being short-handed.

However, according to the CNBC All-America Economic Surve, 47 percent of survey respondents indicated they would not be taking a summer vacation this year. At first glance, this finding could draw sighs of relief from business leaders across the country, but the lack of vacationing could actually be hurting them in the long run.

Understand the Benefits The amount of research supporting the importance of vacation is staggering. The famous Framingham Heart Study found that men had a 30 percent greater chance of having a heart attack if they regularly skipped vacations compared to men who took at least a week off each year.

The study concluded that an increased risk of heart dis-

ease is associated with skipping vacation for even just one year.

In 2013, Psychology Today reported that having unused vacation days “can unfortunately decrease your overall productivity, increase stress and other health risks, and increase the likelihood you’ll burnout at work.”

And all of those consequences are bad news for business leaders. As a Forbes article pointed out, “Employers who discourage vacations end up with stressed, unhappy employees.”

On the flip side, employers who encourage vacations can benefit from productive, happy, healthy employees, which are ultimately the key to a successful business.

Remove the Barriers Although most people know that taking time off work is beneficial, many employees are not planning on taking a break this summer, even if their employers aren’t opposed to vacations. As Rusty Rueff, a career and workplace expert at employment site Glassdoor told CBS, “Fear is still motivating people to not be away from the workplace. There’s a lot of motivation that says, ‘I’m afraid of being away for too long.’”

If employers want their workers to take a vacation, and in turn be able to enjoy the benefits of rested, rejuvenated employees, leaders must be vocal about their support of vacations in order to overcome the fear that’s keeping people from taking time off.

Another reason that could be causing employees to reject summer vacations is the fact that, even when they’re

Career and Education Missie Usry

Think Ahead

It’s not too late to plan for future years in college Often, rising college students are unsure of what the future holds or which career field is best. In such a whirlwind, high school seniors are enjoying senior week, off to prom, taking that senior trip, and marching down the

48 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

aisle to Pomp and Circumstance.

It’s a proud moment with family watching as they cross the stage. But where did the time go?

If you find yourself asking ‘what now’, there is no need to panic or sit out when your peers are heading off for their freshman year of college. Here are a few steps to plan for the future, even when time has flown by and you may not have given it a second thought.

Choose the right major. Choosing a major is a difficult decision for college students, but it can also be exciting. Most importantly, choose something that really interests you. Do not choose a field like nursing just because it is what your parents want you to do or because it is popular. Do not choose computer technology or pre-med just because of the high salary potential.

Chances are if you are not genuinely interested in your major, you will not be successful in your classes. Choosing a field that hits your passion will reflect in your classwork and your grades.

on vacation they’re still finding themselves working. An article from CBS stated that “of the employees who take any of their vacation or paid time off, 61 percent report doing some work while on vacation.”

In a survey that asked employees why they work while on vacation, Glassdoor found that the top three answers were “no one else at my company can do the work,” “fear of getting behind” and “complete dedication to company.” The survey also found that almost a quarter of vacationing employees were contacted about work by co-workers, and one out of five was contacted by their boss.

The good news is that this issue is all within the leaders’ control. All that’s required is some simple pre-planning to ensure tasks and responsibilities are adequately covered, team members are communicating before and after a vacation, and that everyone understands and respects the importance of taking a break from work.

Lead By Example As with many things, the best way to encourage employees to embrace the significance of taking a vacation is for leadership to set the example. And employers could be in for a pleasant surprise. According to an article from FastCompany, an Intuit study found that 82 percent of small business owners who took a vacation experienced an increase in job performance upon their return to work. That renewed energy and positivity is contagious and can help the entire team be more productive.

John Roa, a Chicago-based serial entrepreneur and founder of AKTA,

More importantly, your enthusiasm will carry over into your career after graduation and help you be successful in the professional world.

If you are not sure about what interests you, do not worry. As a college freshman, you still have some time to take general education courses in areas where you’ve never been exposed.

You might also conduct job shadowing or use assessments found on the Georgia Department of Labor website.

The college career center is also a good resource to determine the best fit for a student’s skillset.

Get involved! Joining clubs, becoming a student ambassador, working on campus as a federal work study student, serving on your college’s Student Government Association, volunteering with a student group or writing for your school’s newspaper are all great activities that can give you experience and serve as resume builders.

Being in a club, like a debate club, shows you know how to work on a team

a digital engagement consultancy, echoed the same sentiment.

“There’s a tremendous opportunity when traveling to allow yourself to think in ways that you normally don’t,” Roa said. “These fresh perspectives can inspire new ideas or cause solutions to issues you’ve been struggling with to appear almost out of nowhere.”

This realization seems to be spreading because, according to Newsday, “a recent American Express OPEN survey found that 60 percent of smallbusiness owners are planning to take one full week of summer vacation this year, up from a record low last year of 49 percent.”

One of the critical qualities of a great leader is the ability to see the big picture. It’s easy to label certain things like time off work and summer vacations as small and unimportant. But a successful leader understands how the small things fit into the big picture – how something as simple as a summer vacation can produce reenergized employees, who, in turn, can drive a successful business.

Daphne Jones is the Senior Staffing Consultant for Express Employment Professionals. Formerly Vice President of Finance and Administration for the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, she has been a HR professional for over 22 years and now provides staffing solutions for area businesses. She is a past president of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), an alumnus of Leadership Augusta. Daphne can be reached at 706-364-4473 or daphne.jones@expresspros. com. Visit Express Employment Professionals at expresspros.com/augustaga.

and manage your time well. Volunteering with a student group to clean up the river or serve homeless in your community indicates that you think about others and would be considerate of others in the workplace. Participating in student government develops leadership skills and great people skills. Working as a student ambassador or federal work-study student while maintaining a high GPA is an effective way to show you have strong organizational skills. Writing in the school newspaper demonstrates a student’s ability to write in a variety of styles and develops creativity that can carry over into a work environment.

These activities can also help lock down a career path, so look for ways to get involved and highlight your talents.

Missie Usry is Enrollment Manager, holding an MBA in Marketing, and heads up Georgia Military College’s Augusta campus Admissions department. The Admissions department is responsible for enrollment, marketing, public relations, and recruiting activities.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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50 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Upcoming Business Events

Thursday, March 24

Friday, April 1

Ribbon Cutting: Meybohm Realtors, 205 Addison Square, in Evans (Take Washington Road to William Few, take right on William Few and first left on Riverwood Parkway. Addison Square is on the left.) 4-5 p.m. columbiacountychamber.com

First Friday Means Business presented by the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce, Newberry Hall (117 Newberry Street, SW, Aiken) 7:30-9 a.m. $18 per person. An informative monthly breakfast meeting featuring a keynote speaker who addresses issues of interest to the business community.

For more information and to register, visit aikenchamber.net Tax Return Help, Aiken County Library (314 Chesterfield St, Aiken). 10 a.m.

Free income tax preparation for lowand middle-income taxpayers, prepared by volunteer counselors who are trained by the IRS. For appointments, call 803-642-2020 and press 3, or dial extension 1131.

Monday, March 28 Tax Return Help, Aiken County Library (314 Chesterfield St, Aiken).

10 a.m. Free income tax preparation for low- and middle-income taxpayers, prepared by volunteer counselors who are trained by the IRS. Available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday through April 12; for appointments, call 803-642-2020 and press 3, or dial extension 1131.

Ribbon Cutting: Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits, 100 W Hugh Street, North Augusta. 2-3 p.m. Northaugustachamber.org

Tuesday, March 29 Networking for Leads presented by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, Columbia County Chamber Office (1000 Business Boulevard, Evans) 3-4 p.m. A structured program designed to promote an environment which cultivates meaningful business relationships which not only promotes one’s business, but identifies the needs of other business owners. The goal of the program is to encourage businesses to give leads, create mutually beneficial relationships, and develop a net-weaving experience where leads are received. The program will consist of a round table activity which will be followed up by an optional lunch connection, based on appropriate matching, to further enhance the leads experience. For more information visit columbiacountychamber.com Ribbon Cutting: Brian Sexton, Independent AFLAC Associate, North Augusta Chamber (406 West Avenue, North Augusta). 11 a.m.-noon. Northaugustachamber.org

Wednesday, March 30 Tax Return Help, Aiken County Library (314 Chesterfield St, Aiken). 10 a.m.

Free income tax preparation for lowand middle-income taxpayers, prepared by volunteer counselors who are trained by the IRS. For appointments, call 803-642-2020 and press 3, or dial extension 1131.

52 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

Monday, April 4 Tax Return Help, Aiken County Library (314 Chesterfield St, Aiken). 10 a.m.

Free income tax preparation for lowand middle-income taxpayers, prepared by volunteer counselors who are trained by the IRS. For appointments, call 803-642-2020 and press 3, or dial extension 1131.

Wednesday, April 6 Tax Return Help, Aiken County Library (314 Chesterfield St, Aiken). 10 a.m.

Free income tax preparation for lowand middle-income taxpayers, prepared by volunteer counselors who are trained by the IRS. For appointments, call 803-642-2020 and press 3, or dial extension 1131.

Friday, April 8 Tax Return Help, Aiken County Library (314 Chesterfield St, Aiken). 10 a.m.

Free income tax preparation for lowand middle-income taxpayers, prepared by volunteer counselors who are trained by the IRS. For appointments, call 803-642-2020 and press 3, or dial extension 1131.

Monday, April 11 Tax Return Help, Aiken County Library (314 Chesterfield St, Aiken). 10 a.m.

Free income tax preparation for lowand middle-income taxpayers, prepared by volunteer counselors who are trained by the IRS. For appointments, call 803-642-2020 and press 3, or dial extension 1131.

Wednesday, April 13

Membership 101 presented by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, Columbia County Chamber Office (1000 Business Boulevard, Evans).

1:30-2:30 p.m. If you are a new Chamber member or just want a refresher course, plan to attend the Membership 101 Class. Each month a one hour class is offered on the Chamber website.

Columbiacountychamber.com Women in Business—Moments of Truth: A Fork in the Road, Woodside Plantation Country Club (1000 Woodside Plantation Drive, Aiken) 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. $35 per person. How do you decide what path to take when you reach a fork in the road? Female executives from AECOM, Aiken Active Seniors, Manpower, and State Farm Insurance, along with the 2015 Woman of the Year will address thoughtprovoking questions. The event will include networking followed by lunch and speakers. To register for the spring Women in Business luncheon, visit aikenchamber.net

Thursday, April 14 Augusta Metro Chamber New Member Orientation, Tin Lizzy’s Cantina (2821 Washington Road, Augusta).

4:30-5:30 p.m.; Networking 5:30-6:30 p.m. Connect with business peers to build your network and share ideas in an engaging atmosphere with like-minded professionals. No cost to attend, but advance registration is required. Registration limited to first 35 reservations. For more information visit augustametrochamber.com

Tuesday, April 19 Chamber Before Hours presented by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce, Columbia County Chamber Office (1000 Business Boulevard, Evans) in Chairman’s Room A & B. 7:45-9 a.m. Free for members; $20 for non-members. Come together with members from all the councils and programs to network and hear short updates from the city, county and the Chamber. In addition to hearing from the local community, a keynote speaker will present a specific issue that is relevant to the Chamber businesses. For more information, visit columbiacountychamber.com Women in Business Luncheon hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce, The Legends Club (National Hills Shopping Center: 2701 Washing-

ton Road, Augusta). 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Augusta Metro Chamber Members: $30; Non-Members: $40. Women in Business is a network that brings together and supports professional women to encourage and empower the business community. This month Margaret Woodard of the Augusta Downtown Development Authority, will provide an update on what’s next for downtown as it experiences renovation, rehabilitation and public and private investment at record pace. Attendees must register

by April 15. For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com Ribbon cutting: Computer One Augusta, 3124 Washington Road, Suite A (Located across from Appleby’s, on Washington Road, under MetroSpirit.)

4-5 p.m. columbiacountychamber.com Power Lunch presented by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Palmetto Terrace (100 Georgia Avenue, North Augusta) 11:30 a.m.- 1 p.m. Preregistration is required. Members: $25 per individual or $200 per table of eight.

Non-members: $35 per individual or $280 per table of eight. For more information, visit northaugustachamber.org

Wednesday, April 20 Business Academy: How to Develop a Business Plan hosted by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, Southern Wesleyan University and the local SCORE chapter, Southern Wesleyan University’s Business Technology Center (802 East Martintown Road, Suite 101, North Augusta) in Classroom #10. 9:30-11:30 a.m.

This free workshop will teach business owners more about developing their own business plan. Topics discussed will include: the elements of a business plan, customer insights and knowledge, competition and pricing, marketing, finance and cash flow, and an exercise on how to build a brief business plan. For more information and to register, visit https:// greateraiken.score.org/localworkshops/ how-develop-business-plan-5 or northaugustachamber.org

Thursday, April 21 Third Thursday presented by the Great Aiken Chamber of Commerce, Aiken County Historical Museum (433 Newberry St SW, Aiken) 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Free for members and first time guests.

An opportunity for individuals ages 22 to 39 to meet other young professionals in a relaxed atmosphere for networking. Registration is requested. For more information, visit aikenchamber.net

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Business Lunch Review The Snug Steak and Grill Susan O’Keefe

The Snug is located at 240 Davis Road in Augusta. Find them at thesnug.net or call them at 706-363-1118.

Cozy Diner

Under new owners, The Snug offers new food, familiar setting On a bustling section of Davis Road sits a mainstay in the Augusta restaurant scene. The Snug Steak and Grill first opened its doors more than two decades ago. Since September, the eatery has been under new management but there’s still a familiar feel to the place which lends itself to a warm welcome for patrons.

“It has a very attractive, classy décor,” commented my colleague on a recent Friday when we dined at The Snug.

It’s only been a few months since the restaurant added the 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. window to its hours of operation.

When we arrived, there were only a few cars in the parking lot and only a few patrons inside. Once seated, our waitress served us promptly and continued to exercise attention to detail as she made her service to us a top priority.

The Snug would be an easy choice for a business meeting, accommodating a small party of six or a much larger party of 14. The dark wood and classic country club style

Former Masters champ speaking at FCA breakfast Former Masters champion Larry Mize will be the featured speaker at the Greater Augusta Fellowship of Christian Athletes annual breakfast on Tuesday, April 5 at 7 a.m. at Warren Baptist Church on Washington Road.

Mize, an Augusta native, won the 1987 Masters by holing out an incredible chip shot on the second hole of a playoff with Greg Norman. This will be his third time speaking at the FCA breakfast, having also spoken in 1997 and 2003.

Golf instructor Jim Hardy, a World Golf Teachers Hall of Fame member, will also speak at the event.

About 1,000 people attend the annual FCA Masters Week breakfast. The event is free and unlike previous years, no ticket is required to attend. For more information, visit greateraugustafca.org.

men’s grill décor gives the place an environment supportive of business gab, deals and discussions.

The menu is chock full of traditional American cuisine. Diners may chose from crab dip, fried green tomatoes or bruschetta as appetizers. Many folks might find the appetizer portions satisfying as a lunch entrée.

After debating between the housemade pimento cheese and portabella, I chose the marinated and grilled portabella mushroom sandwich. It was topped with arugula, goat cheese and balsamic reduction with a brioche bun.

I was not disappointed!

My colleague opted for the Angus steak burger with all the toppings. Again, no disappointment. The French fries were traditionally cut and fried. The side salad was crisp, colorful and creative.

With all the food groups satisfactorily represented, we dug into our meals.

Our server was prompt and gracious to refill our tart lemonade and South-

ern sweet tea. The Snug also offers a full bar with wine and alcoholic beverages.

Within a few minutes, a few other patrons arrived. It seemed to be a slow lunch day but for the present patrons, they were enjoying themselves. Seated at a couple of booths were business folks. One booth held a family obviously celebrating a birthday. Another couple ate in the bar area while enjoying a spirit or two.

Overall, the atmosphere was businesslike and pleasant. Perhaps as word travels that the establishment is back in the lunch business, there will be more business lunches taking place. Adorning the walls were photos of Augusta

National and metropolitan nightlife as well as black and white shots from days long ago.

The few big screen TVs mounted on the walls were turned off. That really allowed patrons to focus on conversation. A selection of softly played music added to the comfortable atmosphere.

In addition to lunch Monday through Friday, The Snug serves up hot dinner foods beginning at 5 p.m.

The Snug is open Monday through Saturday. With Masters Week fast approaching, there is no doubt this Augusta landmark will cater to hundreds of guests who return to their favorite steakhouse year after year.

Art exhibit will honor Blind Willie McTell The Thomson-McDuffie County Convention & Visitors Bureau announced that it has been awarded $5,000 by the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Tourism division to fund a public art project titled McTell’s 12-String Strut.

The project is meant to recognize and honor the legacy of Blind Willie McTell, his music and the fact that such an influential musician was born and lived in McDuffie County. Local artists will create unique designs for a dozen 7-foot-tall polyurethane replicas of 12-string Stella guitars. The Stella Guitar was chosen as the iconic symbol of this project because it was Blind Willie McTell’s instrument of choice.

The project was initiated by the Thomson-McDuffie County CVB after the Georgia Department of Economic Development presented a Tourism Product Development

Report to officials and citizens of ThomsonMcDuffie County. Included in the recommendations of this report were a public art component, interpretation and everyday exposure of Blind Willie McTell’s legacy. This

project combines all three of those components into one project that will be a combination of art and history.

The project will educate visitors and locals about the life of McTell through visuals and audio. It also supports the annual music festival held in his honor, the Blind Willie McTell Blues Festival, which is in its 23rd year. It also coincides with the Year of Georgia Music, which will use Georgia’s musical heritage, music superstars and iconic music venues to promote tourism in the Peach State during 2016.

“Receiving this grant will have a wonderful positive impact on our abilities to promote this exhibit,” Elizabeth Vance, director of the CVB said. “And it will help cover the costs of the exhibit, as well as an audio box that will tell Blind Willie’s story more effectively.”

Jimmy Drew of Augusta was recently inducted into the Outdoor Amusement’s Hall of Fame in Tampa during the Outdoor Amusement Business Association’s 51st Annual Meeting. Drew, a second-generation showman is the founder and head of Drew

Expositions, the fair provider for the Columbia County Fair.

His wife, Evangeline, his son, Jim, and his granddaughter, Karly attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, along with his many fair friends.

Drew Exposition operates at major fairs in Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Drew has been a twotime president of the Showmen’s League of America.

Local show promoter inducted into Hall of Fame

54 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

GreenJackets prepare for fun season

By Gary Kauffman One of the main questions people have for the Augusta GreenJackets doesn’t revolve around baseball players or plays. Instead, they’re asking, “Will this be the last season at Lake Olmsted Stadium?”

The GreenJackets are slated to get a new stadium across the Savannah River in North Augusta as part of Project Jackson, a multimillion dollar complex that includes hotels and office buildings. The project hasn’t started yet, which means everything will have to move like clockwork once it starts in order for the GreenJackets, the San Francisco Giants’ Single A affiliate, to start the 2017 season in their new digs.

But GreenJackets General Manager Tom Denlinger is content to focus on the 2016 season.

For the first time, the team has a promotional event for every one of its 70 home games. That includes 13 giveaway nights and eight fireworks shows.

In addition, the GreenJackets will continue their nightly promotions: Monday Feed Your Face, Tuesday Brewsday, Wednesday Baseball Bingo, Thirsty Thursday, Friday Ladies Night, Saturday American Insurance Family Night and Sunday Junior Jackets.

The Junior Jackets, for fans 12 and under, had 2,700 members last year.

One new addition to Friday nights Ladies Nights is wine.

“That was one of the things people said

Auggie will be on hand to entertain the crowd again.

Augusta fans will see a few of the San Francisco Giants’ top prospects in the 2016 season. Photos courtesy Augusta GreenJackets

they wanted,” Denlinger said.

There will also be a special event that doesn’t have an exact timetable – the 2 millionth fan since 2005.

“That should happen in late May, if Mother Nature doesn’t wreak havoc,” Denlinger said.

After increasing attendance in 2015 to 174,382, the GreenJackets are aiming at getting 180,000 fans through the turnstiles this year.

The promotions will help – there’s a beach towel giveaway; a Roberto Kelly bobblehead night (the former manager will be inducted into the GreenJackets Hall of Fame); Myron Noodleman, the Clown Prince of Minor League baseball; and a return visit from John Rocker, the controversial former pitcher for the Atlanta Braves.

In August, the team will feature community nights for several of the CSRA’s communities.

“We do represent the entire CSRA,” Denlinger said. “We try to touch all walks of life.”

The home opener on April 14 will be against the Charleston Riverdogs (Yankees) and Denlinger is working on Operation Pack the Lake, an effort to fill the stadium to capacity. That night will feature live music from Brent Lundy and the team arriving on the South Star Trolley, a tip of the cap to their affiliation with San Francisco.

And, of course, the main reason for fans to come to the game is baseball. Although the GreenJackets won’t know definitely who will be on the roster until the Giants’ Spring Training ends, Denlinger said there is reason for optimism.

“It sounds like the Giants are going to give us a pretty good squad,” he said.

Among those who will probably start the season in Augusta are shortstop Lucius Fox, the Giants’ No. 4 prospect, and shortstop Jalen Miller, a Georgia native, the No. 13 prospect.

Denlinger expects that one of the duo will start at another position, probably second base.

Nestor Rojas returns for his second year as manager. Also returning are pitching coach Jerry Cram and assistant coach Hector Borg. Doug Clark will be the hitting coach and Clay Rapada will come in as assistant pitching coach.

Denlinger pointed out that this is an even-numbered year, a good sign for Giants fans of late. They won the World Series in 2010, 2012 and 2014, with the help of several former GreenJackets, most notably Madison Bumgardner and Pablo Sandoval.

Regardless if the Giants win it all again or not, Denlinger said a GreenJackets game is a good way to relax.

“Come out and let your hair down,” he said, “and have a good time for three hours.”

2016 Home Games

April 14,15,16,17......................... Charleston 18, 19, 20............................. Rome 26, 27, 28............................. Kannapolis 29, 30.................................... Greensboro May 1, 2......................................... Greensboro 12, 13, 14, 15...................... Greenville 16, 17, 18............................. Asheville 26, 27, 28, 29...................... Charleston June 2, 3, 4.................................... West Virginia 6, 7, 8.................................... Columbia 16, 17, 18, 19...................... Lexington 27, 28, 29............................. Asheville July 4, 5, 6.................................... Hickory 7, 8, 9, 10............................. Columbia 15, 16, 17, 18...................... Delmarva 28, 29, 30, 31...................... Lakewood August 1, 2, 3.................................... Columbia 11, 12, 13, 14...................... Lexington 16, 17, 18............................. Charleston 23, 24, 25............................. Greenville September 2, 3, 4, 5................................ Rome March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Good Spirits Ben Casella

Rite of Spring

Two brews bridge the gap between cool and hot weather As I write this column, roughly one third of the azaleas in my back yard are in full bloom. I find it difficult to explain to any of my friends who aren’t from here why this makes me worrisome (in the middle of March). I just want them to hold out for the first full week in April.

Punxsutawney Phil aside, we Augustans have a keen sixth sense for when the flowers are going to peak, and I’m a bit nervous this year. However, the Augusta National and the Masters Tournament are two of the only aspects of the human experience of which I am aware that truly live up to (and often times surpass) the hype.

So, now that we’ve decided that for the rite of Spring,

Screening Room Samantha Taylor

Goal Oriented Netflix movies tout working hard to reach one’s goals Can it really be? Is it almost spring? For those of you who don’t know, spring is my second favorite time of year.

Spring means spring break and, as a teacher, that’s a pretty big deal to me. The month leading up to that break, however, never fails to be one of the most difficult, longest months of the year. With that in mind, this month’s reviews are all about working hard to reach a goal.

Dope – R This may be a bold statement, but Dope is one of the best films I’ve ever seen. It centers on three high school friends growing up in Inglewood, Calif. Although they are surrounded by drugs, crime and gang violence, Malcolm, Jib and Diggy strive for a better life. They spend their time studying, playing in an alternative rock band

56 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

let’s turn our attention to two brews that may also bridge the gap between seasonably cool and seasonably hot.

Shock Top Twisted Pretzel Wheat - Ok, don’t hate me because this is a mass-produced brew from arguably the most recognizable name in corporate beer (Anheuser-Busch). I am acutely aware of those facts. However, I have to say that Twisted Pretzel pretty much just is what it is.

You get a hint of the description on the nose, and the tongue yields wheat, wheat, and more wheat with just enough malt to let you know it’s domestic. Tahen, you get to the end of the sip when you swallow and exhale.

That’s when the soft pretzel comes into play. There’s more pretzel proper than salt on the notes, and that’s a good thing for this time of year (we’ll get to the gose craft when it gets a bit warmer). All in all, I’d say Twisted Pretzel lives up to its name, and I’d pair it with anything served on white bread (I’m thinking maybe pimento cheese...)

Westbrook IPA - Just down the road in Mount Pleasant, S. C., there exists a brewery from which I have not yet had a beer I haven’t enjoyed. I even tolerated their gose (and you know my thoughts on salty sour brews). This is a

great IPA, with the evergreen and floral notes on the nose (as one would expect) along with the grassy hints on the tongue with that characteristic hoppy bite (and after bite) that tend to give me something to think about.

The clincher for me with this particular IPA, however, is the surprising drinkability. It’s not watery at all, but I don’t get so tired of the hops like I may with some other IPAs. Try one with a food you might find oddly malty in its

savor (I’m thinking a chicken sandwich).

These and more can be found in Downtown Augusta. Enjoy all that we have to offer, and have a great and safe Masters Week!

and, most importantly, studying ‘90s culture. They’re nerds, geeks and losers by the standards of their neighborhood, but they don’t care. They’re getting out of that place.

Although Malcolm, Jib and Diggy do all they can to stay away from the negative influences that surround them, the power of teenage hormones is strong and one bad decision leads to a series of events they could never have imagined.

They find themselves unexpectedly in possession of a large amount of drugs and must not only flee from someone trying to kill them, but also find a way to get rid of all the contraband. Did I mention that Malcolm is also preparing for an interview to get into Harvard? Kind of a tough week.

Although it deals with some pretty serious issues, Dope remains an immensely enjoyable film. It doesn’t glorify drug culture, it simply shows the effects drugs have on every level of society. From the streets of Inglewood to boarding school parties, Dope reminds us that it isn’t just one segment of society that keeps the drug culture in business. The best message of all, no matter where you start, there’s always a way to the top, even if you do make a few bad choices along the way.

The Road Within – R If you’ve never experienced the effects of mental illness, be glad. To say

it’s difficult is an understatement like no other, particularly in a day and age when everyone claims to have OCD or ADD. Mental illness is serious and I have rarely seen an accurate portrayal on film. After reading the description for The Road Within, I decided to see if the filmmakers could get it right. I have to admit, they did a pretty good job.

The Road Within centers on Vincent, a man with Tourette’s syndrome, whose estranged father sends him to a mental health facility after the death of his caretaker mother. While he’s there Vincent meets Alex, a Brit with an extreme case of OCD, and Marie, a pot smoking anorexic. Shortly thereafter, the three characters find themselves on an unapproved road trip to spread the ashes of Vincent’s mother.

While the plotline is ridiculously predictable, the actors’ portrayal of their illnesses was better than expected.

The actors spent time with individuals suffering from the illnesses, as well as conducted research on their own. Their performances are realistic and show respect to the individuals that fight these battles daily. The Road Within reminds us that no matter what obstacles we face, we can live a full life.

From the Rough – PG In case you missed it, there’s a little golf tournament around here and I had

to throw in at least one golf movie!

Netflix has three to choose from right now, so I figured I’d give this one a try.

Positive message and based on a true story? How can you go wrong? I’ll tell you how.

Where to begin? Terrible storyline, awful acting and no regard for the time period in which the story actually took place. From the Rough is the story of Catana Starks and her role as the first African American woman to coach a men’s golf team. Unfortunately, the director must have forgotten that this story took place in the late 1980s, because there certainly are numerous references to Tiger Woods, cell phone usage, and Under Armour athletic apparel. And have I mentioned the terrible acting?

The story behind From the Rough is great. Work hard, don’t believe the naysayers, you know the spiel. Unfortunately, the actual film is one of the worst I’ve ever seen. And I’ve seen a lot of bad films. But hey, if you need some golf-related background noise, this is the film for you.

Ever wondered how to pour, smell and taste beer and then articulate your findings into a written column? Just come downtown and buy Dr. Ben a beer, and he’ll drink you through his process.

Samantha Taylor “Sam the Movie Chick” is on a mission to find the best movies and TV shows for you to stream from Netflix. She loves good flicks, good food and good friends. Her eclectic tastes are sure to give readers a wide range of viewing choices.

March 24—April 20, 2016 Buzz on Biz

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Humor Nora Blithe

Sound of Silence

Coffee shop banter makes silence at home seem golden The worst part about working from home is that it’s so quiet!

Take the other morning for example. My house was screaming it was so silent. My husband, Brian, was at work, the pets were asleep and I was on my own with nothing but the clicking of the keys on my laptop to disturb the quiet.

I surrendered and drove to a nearby coffee shop. The background noise and atmosphere take me to a mental place where productivity flows; and if productivity is uncharacteristically stymied, I can always eavesdrop.

Softball tourney coming to Augusta A major military sports event is coming to Augusta this summer.

The 2016 USSSA Military World Softball Tournament will be held in Augusta on August 11-14 at Diamond Lakes Regional Park, hosted by the Augusta Sports Council.

About 1,500 athletes are expected to participate in the event, with thousands of family and fans expected to attend. The Sports Council estimates this will bring $2.7 million in direct visitor spending to the area.

“This tournament embodies competitiveness, families and the support of local businesses,” Dustin Roberts, USSSA National Military Program Director, said.

“Over the years this tournament has become even more competitive with a family reunion feel. I’m completely humbled to be in the position of National Director for the Military USSSA program and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”

Last year’s tournament was in Columbus, Ga., and included 114 teams in Varsity A, B, Intramural, Women’s, Coed and Men’s categories. Twenty three states and Germany made up the competition at last year’s tournament.

“We are excited and honored that Diamond Lakes Regional Park has been selected to be the host venue for this tournament,” said Stacie Adkins, CEO of the Sports Council.

58 Buzz on Biz March 24—April 20, 2016

I ordered a cup of coffee, seated myself by the fireplace and typed happily away.

I was clicking keys and sipping coffee when an obese man huffed and puffed his way to the table immediately beside me. His health was so poor that carrying his Kindle and a cup of coffee across the café caused him to flop onto a chair and gasp for breath.

This was more than background noise. It was a breathy intrusion.

“Good morning,” he bid me.

Now comes the sticky part. I want to be in a café to work so there’s background noise. I don’t want to have actual conversations.

I also don’t want to be a jerk, so I wished him a good morning without making eye contact – a Southerner’s code for yes-I-see-you-and-thinkyou’re-probably-lovely-but-I’m-verybusy-with-something-very-importantgood-day.

“It’s bad weather out there,” he continued.

Apparently, no one ever explained the code to him.

“Yep,” I said noncommittally and stared hard at my screen.

He then went on to explain – at great and unnecessary length – about how he

wished that the impeding winter weather would hit before he had to get out of bed, that he had just driven his collegeaged son to the local tech school and that he thought he’d sit in the café and read until he could pick his son up from class three hours later.

I wasn’t getting out of this one anytime soon.

Deadline? What’s a deadline? I’m sure my editors will understand that I couldn’t meet mine because I had to chat with a lonely stranger in a café.

I considered moving to another table, but didn’t want to be rude. Instead, I asked him what he was reading.

He sailed into a monologue about the book, the series it’s part of, the author,

the author’s other series, other series in the genre, the genre, books in general and the author’s dog.

When he got up to order a bowl of soup, I made a break for it.

The irony of the situation was not lost on me. I wanted some noise so I could work, but found that there was too much noise on this occasion.

Perhaps there’s something to be said for the sound of silence after all.

Nora Blithe is an Augusta native, an entrepreneur and a syndicated humor columnist. She lives in Greenville, S.C., with her husband, Brian, and their pets. Read more of her humorous insights online at doorinface.com or follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/NoraBlithe.

Craft Beer Festival will aid Sports Council The Augusta GreenJackets, in conjunction with Augusta Sports Leagues, have teamed up to bring the inaugural Augusta Craft Beer Festival presented by World of Beer.

The Augusta Craft Beer Festival will be hosted at Lake Olmstead Stadium Saturday, April 23, from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature more than 30 hand-selected local, regional and national craft breweries.

Proceeds will benefit the Augusta Sports Council, an organization that is responsible for bringing national sporting events to Augusta.

In addition, the Augusta Craft Beer Festival will feature live performances by local bands and food menu customized by the GreenJackets Food and Beverage department to compliment the beers at the festival. The goal of the Augusta Craft Beer Festival is to educate the consumer and support the local craft beer community.

Keith Edmondson, Organizer of the Augusta Craft Beer Festival, said he is “looking forward to offering two or three beers from each brewery to choose from.

“We believe this will be the largest out-

door craft beer festival that Augusta has seen,” Edmondson said. There are three ticket options for the Augusta Craft Beer Festival: General Admission, The Hive Growler Bar Admission and the World of Beer VIP Food Pairing.

Among the list of breweries who will have beers represented is Augusta’s own Riverwatch Brewery Company, making their beer festival debut.

The deadline for early bird tickets is April 1. For more information or to buy tickets, visit augustacraftbeerfest.com or facebook. com/augustacraftbeerfestival.

Local organizer writes book on removing clutter If you’ve got too much stuff clogging your life, a local author’s new book could offer a solution.

Personal organizing coach Marin Rose of Libra Organizing recently published Breaking Up With Your Stuff: Emotional Homework to End Your Toxic Relationship With the Clutter Culture. It is described as a manifesto on organized living. It presents the author’s philosophy about people’s relationships with their belongings, and provides practical guidance to creating a healthier attitude toward the things people own.

Rose brought Libra Organizing from Washington, D.C., to Augusta in 2012. In that time, she has assisted hundreds of individuals and families across the CSRA in creating peace and harmony, and reducing clutter and conflict in their homes. She’s

helped incoming residents of Brandon Wilde and several other local retirement communities to downsize. Her satisfied business clients include Buzz on Biz Founder Neil Gordon and Advanced Services Pest Control Owner/Business Coach Jeff Annis.

“I consider Marin a very valuable member of my personal improvement team,” said Annis. “If Marin writes it, I read it. If Marin speaks, I listen.”

Rose said she’s thrilled to present the culmination of her experience working with

people on a deeply personal level.

“I get to know my clients really well, really quickly. And they get to know me, too,” she said.

Rose’s book is dedicated to her client and friend, native Augustan Susan Bell Bohler, who died unexpectedly in December. Local artist Katherine Barnett McCall provided the cover art.

Rose encourages people to allow into their homes and lives only things that bring them pleasure and support their current needs.

“So remember,” she warned, “when you’re finished reading the book, pass it on!”

Breaking Up With Your Stuff is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle formats. Or access the audiobook, read by Rose herself, at libraorganizing.com.

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The Masters Winners

Forty-eight men have won the Masters Tournament in its 77-year history, starting with Horton Smith in the inaugural tournament in 1934.

Sixteen have won it more than once, first by Smith who won it again in 1936. Three times golfers won back-to-back tournaments – Jack Nicklaus in 1965-66, Nick Faldo in 1989-90 and Tiger Woods in 2001-02.

Year Golfer Country To Par 1934 Horton Smith United States -4 1935 Gene Sarazen United States -6 1936 Horton Smith (2) United States -3 1937 Byron Nelson United States -5 1938 Henry Picard United States -3 1939 Ralph Guldahl United States -9 1940 Jimmy Demaret United States -8

Fred Couples, 1992 winner

1941 Craig Wood 1942 Byron Nelson (2) 1943-45 World War II 1946 Herman Keiser 1947 Jimmy Demaret (2) 1948 Claude Harmon 1949 Sam Snead 1950 Jimmy Demaret (3) 1951 Ben Hogan 1952 Sam Snead (2) 1953 Ben Hogan (2) 1954 Sam Snead (3) 1955 Cary Middlecoff 1956 Jack Burke Jr. 1957 Doug Ford 1958 Arnold Palmer 1959 Art Wall Jr. 1960 Arnold Palmer (2) 1961 Gary Player 1962 Arnold Palmer (3)

United States United States

-8 -8

United States -6 United States -7 United States -9 United States -6 United States -5 United States -8 United States -2 United States -14 United States +1 United States -9 United States +1 United States -5 United States -4 United States -4 United States -6 South Africa -8 United States -8

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1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996

Nick Faldo, three-time winner

1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980

Jack Nicklaus Arnold Palmer (4) Jack Nicklaus (2) Jack Nicklaus (3) Gay Brewer Bob Goalby George Archer Billy Casper Charles Coody Jack Nicklaus (4) Tommy Aaron Gary Player (2) Jack Nicklaus (5) Raymond Floyd Tom Watson Gary Player (3) Fuzzy Zoeller Seve Ballesteros

Ian Woosnam, 1991 winner

United States United States United States United States United States United States United States United States United States United States United States South Africa United States United States United States South Africa United States Spain

-2 -12 -17 E -8 -11 -7 -9 -9 -2 -5 -10 -12 -17 -12 -11 -8 -13

Tom Watson (2) Craig Stadler Seve Ballesteros (2) Ben Crenshaw Bernhard Langer Jack Nicklaus (6) Larry Mize Sandy Lyle Nick Faldo Nick Faldo (2) Ian Woosnam Fred Couples Bernhard Langer (2) Jose Maria Olazabal Ben Crenshaw (2) Nick Faldo (3)

United States United States Spain United States Germany United States United States Scotland England England Wales United States Germany Spain United States England

-8 -4 -8 -11 -6 -9 -3 -7 -5 -10 -11 -13 -11 -9 -14 -12

Vijay Singh, 2000 winner

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Tiger Woods United States Mark O’Meara United States Jose Maria Olazabal (2) Spain Vijay Singh Fiji Tiger Woods (2) United States Tiger Woods (3) United States Mark Weir Canada Phil Mickelson United States Tiger Woods (4) United States Phil Mickelson (2) United States Zach Johnson United States Trevor Immelman South Africa Angel Cabrera Argentina Phil Mickelson (3) United States Charl Schwartzel South Africa Bubba Watson United States Adam Scott Australia Bubba Watson (2) United States Jordan Spieth United States

-18 -9 -8 -10 -16 -12 -7 -9 -12 -7 +1 -8 -12 -16 -14 -10 -9 -8 -18

17 players have conquered Masters more than once Seventeen players have won The Masters more than once, led by Jack Nicklaus’ six wins, and most recently by Bubba Watson’s wins in 2012 and 2014.

Nicklaus holds the record for longest time between first and last win, 23 years, from 1963-86. Gary Player has the longest time between wins, 13 years, 1961-74. Only three players have won in consecutive years – Nicklaus in 1965 and ’66; Tiger Woods, 2001 and ’02; and Nick Faldo, 1989 and ’90.

Arnold Palmer won every other year between 1958 and 1964.

Golfer Years Jack Nicklaus 1963, 1965, 1966,

1972, 1975, 1986

Arnold Palmer 1958, 1960, 1962, 1964 Tiger Woods 1997, 2001, 2002, 2005 Jimmy Demaret 1940, 1947, 1950 Sam Snead 1949, 1952, 1954 Gary Player 1961, 1974, 1978 Nick Faldo 1989, 1990, 1996 Phil Mickelson 2004, 2006, 2010 Horton Smith 1934, 1936 Byron Nelson 1937, 1942 Ben Hogan 1951, 1953 Tom Watson 1977, 1981 Seve Ballesteros 1980, 1983 Bernhard Langer 1985, 1993 Ben Crenshaw 1984, 1995 Jose Maria Olazabal 1994, 1999 Bubba Watson 2012, 2014

U.S. leads in tournament wins The Masters has been dominated by players from the United States, taking 59 of the 79 titles. The first 24 tournaments were won

by Americans until South Africa’s Gary Player won in 1961.

Player was the only non-American to win (he won three times) until 1980 when Seve Ballesteros of Spain won his first green jacket. Starting in 1980, though, non-Americans have won nearly half of the tournaments, 17 of 36. Americans have won four of the last six.

Country Wins Winners United States 59 36 South Africa 5 3 Spain 4 2 England 3 1 Germany 2 1 Scotland 1 1 Wales 1 1 Fiji 1 1 Canada 1 1 Argentina 1 1 Australia 1 1

Ben Crenshaw is one of 17 players to win the Masters Tournament more than once.

8 under is most common winning score When trying to predict how many under par the champion will be at The Masters, there’s a good chance it will be -8. That’s the average under par for the champion of the 77 Masters Tournaments. It’s also the most frequently recorded score – 13 winners have recorded that number. Ten others have come in at -9, and five more at -7.

In 2015, Jordan Spieth tied the lowest score ever recorded, -18, which tied the -18

by Tiger Woods in 1997. Jack Nicklaus shot a -17 in 1965, which was tied by Raymond Floyd in 1976.

The highest score recorded by a winner was +1, done three times: Sam Snead in 1954, Jack Burke Jr. in 1956 and Zach Johnson in 2007. Nicklaus’ finish at even par in 1966 is the only other time a winner didn’t finish below par.

Oddly, no winner has ever finished at -1.

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Green jackets are steeped in tradition Each year, one of the special moments of the Masters Tournament is watching the previous year’s winner “crown” the new champion by helping him slip on the green jacket.

The tradition started in 1949 when Sam Snead was given a green jacket symbolizing his win. But the green jackets were part of the tournament for more than a decade before that.

In 1937 club officials ordered green jackets for all club members. The idea was to make them more visible so spectators could seek them out with questions.

After Snead was given a green jacket in 1949, the previous 10 winners of the tournament were given jackets retroactively.

The distinctive green jackets are worn exclusively by club members and champions – but only the reigning champion may wear

his away from Augusta National.

According to club rules, in the year following his win, the champion may wear the green jacket to golf events and other functions (Phil Mickelson once wore his to Krispy Kreme), but then must return it to the clubhouse. His name is stitched into the jacket and he receives it to wear each time he attends club functions or wins again.

Green jacket facts: • Made by Hamilton Tailoring Co. of Cincinnati since 1967 • Jackets are made from material supplied

by Forstmann Co. in Dublin, Ga. • Cost per jacket is approximately $250 (unconfirmed but widely reported) • Officials watch the leaderboards on the final day and keep several appropriate sizes on hand to fit whoever wins.

Southpaws rule in recent tournaments For the first 66 years of The Masters, it was a right-hander’s world. But that changed in 2003, when lefty-swinging Mike Weir won the green jacket. The following year, Phil “Lefty” Mickelson, won.

This was hardly a fluke. In the past 13 years, almost half the champions – six – have swung from the port side. In addition to Weir’s win in 2003, Mickelson won three times and Bubba Watson twice.

Jason Day of Australia is one of the young golfers vying to win his first green jacket.

The Masters has a way of humbling the greatest golfers. Just ask Greg Norman.

The pressure of the national spotlight and the aura of tradition can play on the psyche. The spring weather in Augusta can be idyllic or pouring rain. And you never know when Rae’s Creek will jump up and swallow a golf ball. Again, ask Greg Norman.

So handicapping the favorites at Augusta National is always tricky.

While winning a Masters is history making in itself, there are some added historical storylines in the making. Should Tiger Woods win, he joins Jack Nicklaus as the only players to win the event more

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