Buzz Issue November 2018

NOVEMBER 2018 • THE CSRA’S MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

New semi-pro team ready to hold court. Pages 28-29

LIVE, WORK, PLAY DOWNTOWN

After years of sitting idle, the old train depot on Reynolds Street is slated to become a key piece of what developers hope will be a major asset for Augusta. Photo by Gary Kauffman

MASSIVE DEVELOPMENT PLANNED AROUND OLD TRAIN DEPOT

BY WITT WELLS

After more than three years of planning and negotiations on a project that just months ago looked like it might be in jeopardy, the city of Augusta, a private developer and the Downtown Development Authority have unveiled the blueprint for one of the biggest developments ever to hit Augusta.

During a presentation at Augusta Museum of History on Oct. 5, Mike Carpenter, principal of Birmingham, Ala.-based BLOC Global Development Group, unveiled an ambitious plan for the $93.6 million mixed-use development that will include 10,000 square feet of Class A of-

fice space, 16,000 square feet of retail at the old train depot, a 140-unit apartment complex, green space and roughly 850 parking spots in garages below the apartments and offices on Reynolds Street between Fifth and Sixth streets.

The project is the largest private investment in downtown Augusta in decades.

“We’ve been dating you for 3½ years,” Margaret Woodard, executive director of the DDA, joked to Carpenter and Retail Specialists executive Rodney Barstein.

“Today, we got engaged. Hopefully in 270 days, we’ll be at the altar.”

Plans for retail won’t be solidified for a while, but Barstein and Carpenter

stressed the importance of the site being designed to attract people of all ages with entertainment, food and culture that would make what has been dubbed “Riverfront at the Depot” a major destination.

The goal is that a project of such magnitude would not only incentivize locals to live and seek entertainment downtown, but would also bring tourists from all over the country who are making a stop in Augusta.

There are a lot of elements of the depot development plan, much of which (especially retail) is bound to change in the coming months and years (the whole development might not be finished for an-

THE

other five years). But the announcement symbolized a major step in the process and signified genuine commitment on the part of the developer and the city to make it happen.

Here’s what we know about each element of Riverfront at the Depot so far.

Residential

According to renderings, BLOC Global has plans for a 140-unit, four-story apartment complex that will lie on the east side of the development, between the renovated depot and the Savannah River.

See DEPOT on Page 2

Ultimate TOBACCONIST

2834 Washington Rd, Augusta 5121 Washington Rd, Evans

(706)-737-0477 (706)-250-3618

marcellascigars.com

DEPOT

Continued from Page 1

In addition to an unobstructed view of the river, tenants will have direct access to Riverwalk Augusta.

A public walkway will connect the complex to the neighboring green space, offices and the river.

“What we find with new corporations coming into a city — like Unisys and with cyber — there are a lot of people who are coming from urban areas that would like to have urban living opportunities,” Carpenter said.

Beneath the apartment complex will be a 490-space parking deck for tenants, as well as retail parking and parking support for Unisys.

This will be Phase 1 of the Riverfront on the Depot development. Woodard said the goal for the groundbreaking is 270 days from Oct. 5 ( July 2, 2019).

DDA Vice Chairman Rick Keuroglian said a recent surge in property acquisition around the depot suggests that the complex won’t be the only residential development going up in that area in the coming years.

“What that tells us is more is coming, and the property values will go up,” Keuroglian said. “And people are now saying, ‘I want to buy this, because I can’t get it any cheaper than it is now.’

“There will be more apartments built over here. There will be more businesses being developed, so it’s coming this way now.”

Retail and entertainment

Again, as Barstein mentioned, plans for the retail portion of the development will evolve as the project unfolds. But he did say that the developer’s vision for the 16,000-square-foot depot is somewhat inspired by Atlanta’s Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market.

Keuroglian said the development of the retail portion of the site will get underway soon after the Phase 1 apartment development.

Other possibilities for retail include a brewery, beer garden and a variety of restaurants (renderings depict a restaurant at the corner of Sixth and Reynolds streets) and shops. An amphitheater is included in the current design.

Renderings of Riverfront at the Depot also depict a significant amount of green space throughout the development, some of which will be dedicated to entertainment.

In addition to the train depot, an additional 5,000 square feet of retail space will be available in the area next to the connecting walkway between the apartments and office space.

A video presentation showed a large

2 Buzz on Biz November 2018

movie screen in the green space in front of the depot designed for family-oriented entertainment.

Barstein said one of the goals of Retail Specialists is to create a space that will be dynamic for a wide variety of events almost every weekend.

“I’ve heard some of the commissioners talk about cities like Savannah,” Barstein said. “People want to go to Savannah for vacation. Nobody really wants to go to Augusta for the weekend for vacation.

And we want try to make this an opportunity for people who want come to Augusta, have events here that they want to come in for — whether it’s art shows or anything going on in the community — and then just stay downtown, shop downtown, eat downtown.”

W E A LT H M A N A G E M E N T P L A N S F O R E D U C AT I O N

Office space

The final phase of the Riverfront at the Depot development will be 100,000 square feet of Class A office space that will include an approximately 300-space parking garage below it.

“For those who may be working in the cyber area or Unisys, people that want to live downtown can walk to work,” Carpenter said.

High-quality office space is an integral piece of the city’s continued commitment to developing downtown as a cohesive “live, work, play” environment, and the depot project will have all three of those elements.

“We also recognize that with the activity that is taking place with the cyber innovation and training facility on the other end of the riverwalk, that this could also add a bookend, as Mayor (Hardie) Davis said, to complement everything around the riverwalk in downtown Augusta,” Carpenter said.

Davis called it a “transformative project that will cause Augusta to never be the same again.”

Carpenter knows from his own experience that it’s the kind of project that will get Masters Tournament tourists to head downtown in the spring instead of camping out on Washington Road.

“I’ve been coming to Augusta since 1994 for the Masters event,” Carpenter said. “I never went further down Washington Road than the gates to the Augusta National. And it was Ms. Woodard who convinced Retail Specialists and our firm to come to downtown Augusta and take a look at downtown and see the opportunities that could exist. And she introduced us to this depot project that I think Mayor Davis indicated has been sitting idle for 50 years.

“It’s just a wonderful opportunity. And rarely do we see sites like that (that) have been idle for so long.”

L e t ’ s B e g i n . . . T o d ay !

Wealth Management is not just for retirement.

It’s preparation for all phases of life including the expensive ones - like education. Having an advisor like Queensborough’s Wealth Management to help you prepare and show you some shortcuts along the way is a great plan.

If you are ready to BEGIN, call us TODAY. 762-383-6244 www.QNBTRUST.bank/wealth QUEE-18012CR

CLOSE SHAVE

SOMETIMES DRASTIC CHANGES ARE NEEDED FOR SUCCESS

BY GARY KAUFFMAN

A few weeks ago, I did something drastic: I shaved my head.

Not that being bald is especially new to me. My hair started thinning in college, and I was bald on top by age 30. But I’d always kept my hair at the sides and in back, sometimes letting it grow a bit longer than I should have.

At the urging of my wife, and my own increasing dissatisfaction with longer hair, I visited my trusted barber and had her shave me down to the skin.

The result has been one of all-around satisfaction — my wife loves it, I like it and people say it makes me look younger (and when you’re pushing 60, that’s a good thing to hear).

But it does take some getting used to.

Now, instead of shampooing my hair in the shower, I reach for a razor and shaving cream. The best techniques and angles still require some thought, especially in the back where I can’t see.

Still, it was a good decision and one that I wish I’d made sooner.

I’m not writing this because I think anyone will be interested in my grooming habits, but because it is comparable to a situation that sometimes presents itself in the business world: Sometimes people need to take some drastic action to start up a business or to simply revitalize an

When you make a big change in your business — if you did your due diligence — chances are that you’ll feel invigorated and have renewed confidence as well.

After some research and a lot of serious thinking, I decided to shave my head. The change has been a positive one.

existing one.

But “drastic” doesn’t mean making a rash decision. In fact, the more drastic the decision, the more time you should take in researching it.

When I seriously began considering the decision to shave my head, I did plenty of research. I read articles on the internet, watched YouTube videos and, most importantly, consulted with others who shave their heads on a regular basis.

I learned that a full beard often presents a good counterpoint to a shaven head, so I have let my whiskers grow. I learned what products are helpful to creating a good shaving experience.

Likewise, when considering the drastic step of leaving the 9-to-5 world to start a business, or to make a big change in an existing business, take the time to do the research. The internet has a wealth of information about all kinds of business decisions.

Locally, we have many business people and entrepreneurs who are willing to share their stories and offer advice that gives you the best chance of success (many of them are found within these pages).

Making a big change also means a new way of thinking about things. I am now much more conscious of wearing a hat or sunscreen when I go out in the sun. But I never worry about shampoo or combs or the wind messing up my hair.

Features Thinking Big.................................................4 South Carolina governor tells North Augusta the city is in the center of Cyber USA.

Businessperson of the Month.................. 22 Chris Boerner seeks to create connections and memories through Winterland.

Buzz Bits................................................... 6-7

Networking and Learning........................ 25 B2B Expo provides exposure and education for local businesses.

Upscale Living..............................................8 New Ironwood Apartments at Riverside Village exceed vision.

Openings, Closings............................. 12, 13 Upcoming Events................................ 14, 15

Hoop Dreams............................................ 28 Semi-pro basketball team is taking the court in Augusta.

Columnists Mark Alison: Starting out the right way leads to success........... 9 Tim Dalton: Your birth certificate and your business exit plan.............................................................................................................10 Christine Hall: Taxes on household workers..................................16 Russell Head: IRS issues letter to ACA-noncompliant employers.................................................................................................16 Dagan Sharpe: The process provides work satisfaction...........18 Tony Creighton: Power washing can spruce up all home areas............................................................................................................20

Ed Enoch: Common ‘wisdom’ may not be real business law...............................................................................................................20 Stephanie Pendarvis: NA Chamber’s lightning talks explain issues..........................................................................................................24 Millie Huff: Dandelion Café offers traditional and unique foods...........................................................................................................26 Samantha Barksdale: Flicks to help forget the chaos of life....30 Ben Casella: A dark brew complements the cooling weather.....................................................................................................30

Event will be held at

SAVANNAH RAPIDS PAVILION October 2 | 10am - 4pm

THIS YEAR’S PREMIER NETWORKING EVENT FOR BUSINESSES! Speakers will be presenting throughout the day on several topics to include networking, business planning, marketing, cyber security and more! A variety of exibitors will also be available to meet face to face.

The same goes for any big business changes you make. The old ways of doing things will no longer work, so you’ll have to get used to new routines and best practices. If you were used to a weekly paycheck as an employee, as an entrepreneur you might have to develop a new way of budgeting. If you’re making a big change in business, you’ll have to rethink your marketing strategies.

I like my new look, and I’m glad I did it. It has given me a renewed sense of confidence. When you make a big change in your business — if you did your due diligence — chances are that you’ll feel invigorated and have renewed confidence as well. And, if you’re lucky, it’ll make you look younger, too.

In addition to serving as editor of Buzz on Biz, Gary Kauffman is a Christian life coach working from an office in Martinez. Contact him at 803.341.5830 or kauffmancoaching@gmail.com or visit kauffmancoaching.com.

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 $49 (includes sales tax) to cover postage to the address below.

Publisher Ashlee Duren, ashlee.duren@augustamagazine.com Editor in Chief Gary Kauffman Assistant Editor & Layout Amanda Holahan Multimedia Journalist Witt Wells, witt.wells@buzzon.biz Photography Witt Wells, Gary Kauffman Sales Manager Lisa Dorn, lisa.dorn@augustamagazine.com Sales and PR Leslie Whitney, leslie.whitney@augustamagazine.com, 706-823-3719 Ad Building Michael Rushbrook Distribution Ken Brown Opinions expressed by the writers are their own and their respective institutions. Neither Morris Media Network nor its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for informational purposes only.

For the latest news, visit us at buzzon.biz Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/buzz-on-biz Follow us on Twitter @BuzzonBiz 643 Broad Street, Augusta GA 30901

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

3

THINKING BIG IN SOUTH CAROLINA

GOVERNOR SAYS NORTH AUGUSTA IS IN THE CENTER OF CYBER

BY GARY KAUFFMAN

The state of South Carolina has a magnet that attracts companies from all over the world, according to South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster — its citizens.

“When I ask companies the main reason they come here, they say, ‘The people, the people, the people,’ ” McMaster told a small gathering of local business leaders and elected officials in North Augusta on Oct. 10.

McMaster spoke in the WOW Suite at SRP Park for the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s Governor’s Round Table.

According to McMaster, South Carolina is at the leading edge of the new world of business, including North Augusta.

“This city — this whole area — is right in the middle of Cyber USA,” he said.

Earlier, North Augusta City Administrator Todd Glover had highlighted that area of the city’s development.

“Cyber is very much on our minds in North Augusta,” he said. “North Augusta wants to be the leader in South Carolina for cyber.”

That is just one of the areas where South Carolina is a leader in the country, McMaster said, pointing to the Data Transformation Lab that had opened at the University of South Carolina the previous week.

It is a real-world internet of things research center with both industrial and consumer applications.

The lab is a collaboration of

As the state’s involvement in the rapidly expanding cyber industry grows, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster told a gathering of North Augusta’s business leaders and elected officials to dream big. “This city — this whole area — is right in the middle of Cyber USA,” he said. Photo by Gary Kauffman

several manufacturers, academics and robotics companies. It’s the kind of collaboration that McMaster said draws people to the state.

“We work together well,” he said.

That includes three research universities that collaborate rather than compete with each

other. McMaster also touted South Carolina’s technical college system as the best in the world.

Another attraction for businesses is South Carolina’s new internship and apprenticeship program that gives businesses a tax break for each apprenticeship.

South Carolina is also the only state with two inland ports, which saves transportation companies hundreds of miles of trucking.

The state will also soon have the deepest port in the nation, allowing even the largest ships access at low tide.

McMaster pointed out that

the world of manufacturing is very different now than it was 30 years ago.

“In all the plants we have, you don’t see people in overalls and grease, but you do have to take your computer, because that’s how they do it now,” he said.

He said that all of the things that make South Carolina a strong business state for large companies also makes it desirable for small businesses and entrepreneurs.

“The same environment also exists for small businesses,” he said. “The innovation from (big businesses) creates opportunities for other businesses. It cascades down the state.”

The area around SRP Park has been designated an Opportunity Zone, which McMaster said will also benefit smaller businesses.

Opportunity Zones are a federal community development program that provides tax incentives for investing in designated low-income areas.

All of the employment opportunities have a wide-ranging positive effect.

“When people are happy and going to work, drug use goes down, crime goes down, marriage goes up and divorce goes down,” McMaster said.

But he warned against complacency.

“We’re on top of the world, but we have to use our heads and not mess it up,” he said. “Our job is to think big — there is no power in a small idea. Let your imagination go.

“Tell your children to dream big.”

SOUTH CAROLINA LOSES FIGHT FOR MOX FACILITY During his visit to North Augusta on Oct. 10, South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster said he is pushing for refunding of the MOX (Mixed Oxide) Fuel Fabrication Facility at Savannah River Site.

“We don’t want weapons-grade plutonium in South Carolina,” he said. “That is unacceptable.”

However, on that same day, the National Nuclear Security Administration issued a termination notice

4 Buzz on Biz November 2018

for the MOX facility, and layoffs of workers are expected to start in November.

The MOX facility was to take plutonium waste and turn it into fuel for nuclear power plants. McMaster said one disposal possibility is shipping the fuel waste to a disposal area in New Mexico, but that plan has also met with roadblocks.

“The only thing that makes sense to me is the

MOX facility,” he said. “It can take the weaponsgrade plutonium and turn it into something that won’t hurt anybody.”

McMaster and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are expected to continue to push for a disposal solution rather than leaving the material at SRS. – Gary Kauffman

buzz bits METRO CHAMBER ENCOURAGES SHOPPING SMALL During the month of November and culminating on Nov. 24 — designated nationally as Small Business Saturday — the Augusta Metro Chamber is encouraging residents of the Augusta region to get up, get out and shop small by participating in a Shop Small Social Media Campaign called “Auggie on the Shelf.”

The campaign is in partnership with the Augusta GreenJackets and local small business retailers. Auggie is the GreenJackets’ mascot.

Participants can post a picture of themselves in a store with Auggie, post it to social media and tag it #AuggieShopSmall.

Two lucky shoppers will receive the Augusta Loves Small Business Grand Prize, which has a combined value of more than $1,500. Shoppers who mention “Shop Small” in participating stores will receive a special discount.

Participants are Buona Caffe Artisan Roasted Coffee, Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio, Fireside Outdoor Kitchens & Grills, Blue Ribbon Awards, The Southern Salad, The Swank Company, Posh Tots Children’s Boutique, Decorator’s Outlet & Interiors, Mastermind Escape Games, Hildebrandt’s, Greubel’s Mixed Martial Arts, Phone Wizz, Peaceful Warrior Apothecary, The Pie Hole, Sweet Moments Café and Davis Appliance & Furniture.

For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com/shopsmall2018.

2019 YOUTH LEADERSHIP CLASS IS ANNOUNCED The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce has announced the Youth Leadership Columbia County Class of 2019.

The class is comprised of 30 students representing four Columbia County public schools and two private schools.

The juniors and sophomores are some of the best and brightest among their peers, excelling in leadership, academics, athletics, music and the arts.

Youth Leadership Columbia Coun-

6 Buzz on Biz November 2018

ty is a program designed to educate through experience, motivate young leaders and enable them to take an active role in their community.

Students interact with community leaders and decision-makers and are exposed to community needs, issues and resources. Throughout the ninemonth program, students focus on community aspects, including law enforcement, government, business and industry, technology, media, marketing and health care.

For more information about the Youth Leadership program, visit columbiacountychamber.com.

The Youth Leadership Columbia County Class of 2019 includes: • Augusta Christian Schools: Zach Fleming and Noah Smith

• Augusta Preparatory Day School: Brian Chen and Neha Murthy • Evans High School: Jack Baughn, Aniyah Bussey, Adaire Hill, Sydney Loflin and Corrie Polhill • Greenbrier High School: Kinnley Coffman, Carson Crow, Sachin Ganeshbabu, Cali Macisak, Andres Martinez, Grace O’Neal, Hadden Peel, Davis Rogers, Madison Smith and Dongyu Zhang • Harlem High School: Ava Tisdale • Lakeside High School: Vinny Balan, Emory Burch, Patty Callaway, Abby Colvin, Ansley Colvin, Ryan Holleran, Nancy Kye, Sanam Patel, Zach Thomas and Kyler Worthington

NEW HOTEL HIRES CHEF WITH LOCAL EXPERIENCE Chef Dominic Simpson, who has served as the executive chef of The Partridge Inn for the past five years, has been named the executive chef for the new Crowne Plaza North Augusta hotel in North Augusta.

He will be responsible for overseeing the culinary program at the upscale hotel, including Salt & Marrow Kitchen, the specialty wood-fired grill restaurant on the first floor of the hotel; Salt &

Marrow Parlor Bar, the hotel’s lobby bar; Tod’s Bluff, an upscale rooftop bar; catering; banquets; and in-room dining.

The boutique hotel is scheduled to open by the end of 2018 and will be part of the $200 million Riverside Village at Hammond’s Ferry development next to SRP Park.

Salt & Marrow Kitchen will be home to the first Grillworks in the Augusta area. Praised by James Beard and noted chefs throughout the country, the American artisanal wood-fired grill with signature cast aluminum crankwheels will allow the culinary team to adjust the height of the cooking surface.

Salt & Marrow Kitchen will be open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.

Special events, such as culinary dinners with guest chefs, will be offered throughout the year.

RIVERSIDE VILLAGE REVENUE LAGS Revenue from Riverside Village in North Augusta has been lower than projected so far, but the city still has the money needed to pay the next installment of the bond to purchase the public portions.

buzz bits of America with an associate’s degree, from Florida International University with a Bachelor of Hospitality Management, and from American Intercontinental University with a Master of Education.

Portions of Riverside Village in North Augusta are still under construction.

Mayor Bob Pettit told the North Augusta City Council that the projected revenues from the development were about $190,000 lower than projected, because three revenue sources — the Crowne Plaza hotel, parking at Riverside Village and admissions taxes — were not available yet.

The next bond payment of $1.2 million is due in November, but the city has $1.6 million on hand to cover it.

Southbound Smokehouse and Sweetwater Brewing Company, part of SRP Park, are expected to be open in November, and the Crowne Plaza hotel is set to open in December.

CHEF EARNS EDUCATION AWARD Peter Vossenberg, executive chef for Edgar’s Grille and Culinary Instructor for Helms College, received the 2018 Southeastern Chef Educator of the Year award, presented by the American Culinary Federation (ACF).

The award pays tribute to an active culinary educator whose knowledge, skills and expertise have enhanced the image of the professional chef, and who, by example, has given leadership, guidance and direction to students seeking a career in the culinary profession. This individual demonstrates the ability to help students define and develop their careers by using their skills and abilities to provide a strong foundation for their future success.

“We are extremely proud of Peter for receiving this distinguished award,” said James Stiff, president of Helms College. “He has proven he is dedicated to helping the next generation carry on the great food traditions set by the masters of the industry. We are fortunate to have someone with his skills, experience and passion for the culinary arts as a faculty member at Helms College.”

Vossenberg, who is a veteran of the U.S. Navy, served as Mess Management Petty Officer 2nd Class. He later graduated from The Culinary Institute

Up to 1,500 new jobs could come to Plant Vogtle as construction continues.

NEW WORK AT VOGTLE WILL MEAN JOBS Construction will continue on two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle, and that could mean jobs for hundreds more people.

There had been discussion about whether the work would continue on nuclear Units 3 and 4, a multibilliondollar project located south of Augusta.

That raised concerns in light of the decision earlier this year to discontinue South Carolina’s V.C. Summer Plant.

But after negotiations, co-owners Georgia Power, Oglethorpe Power, MEAG Power and Dalton Utilities decided to continue.

That could mean a need for as many as 1,500 more workers, according to Southern Nuclear communications coordinator Michael McCracken. Information given to him indicates that those jobs will be for craft workers, such as electricians and pipefitters.

WOMEN CAN SIGN UP FOR WOW 2019 The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce is accepting applications for the WOW (Women On the Way) Class of 2019.

WOW is a 10-month program geared toward mentoring young professional women. As many as five top executive women will mentor up to 20 young professional women (23 to 30 years old) during monthly luncheons focused on key topics that aim to spur personal and professional development.

Participants are selected through an

application process, and only one representative per company is selected for each class.

Applications for the 2019 WOW program are available online at columbiacountychamber.com. For more information, contact Sabrina Griffin, Events & Programs Manager, at 706651-0018 or sabrina@columbiacounty chamber.com.

AGS ADDS NEW NONSTOP FLIGHT People needing to get to Texas in a hurry will have a new option at Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) starting in March 2019.

American Airlines has added a nonstop flight from AGS to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, with the first flight scheduled for March 3. Tickets are currently available for March flights.

The flight to a major American Airlines hub will also give flyers connections to more than 225 domestic and international destinations. AGS Executive Director Herbert Judon said this is part of the airport’s strategic goal of providing more and diverse air service. He said the more demand that is shown in the CSRA, the better the chance of expanding services.

SEEDS FOR LIFE GRANTS AWARDED Four local businesses have new seeds for growth, thanks to grants from Augusta’s Housing and Community Development Department.

The Seeds for Life Business Development Grants provide $10,000 for activities that will help a business grow.

They can be used for such things as inventory, equipment, training and marketing.

The first four grants were awarded to Universal Child Care, Sista Sista Soul Food, Fielding Brothers Barbeque and Salon 419.

Augusta-Richmond County Housing and Community Development has a mission to create positive change by promoting self-sufficiency through partnership in economic development, quality housing and neighborhood reinvestment.

Programs include Community Development Block Grants, Emergency Solutions Grants, the HOME Investment Partnership Program, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS, the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, Emergency Rehabilitation Program and other rehabilitation programs.

For more information about Seeds for Life or other programs, visit augusta ga.gov/68/Housing-Development.

SMALL BIZ OPTIMISM REMAINS HIGH Small businesses continue to be highly optimistic about the future, according to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Small Business Optimism Index. The index had a reading of 107.9 in September, the third-highest figure in the survey’s 45-year history.

That is down just slightly from the 108.8 recorded in August, the all-time high. The Index is on a 23-month positive trend.

So far, 2018 has produced 45-year record-high measures of job openings, hiring plans, actual job creation, compensation increases, profit growth and inventory investment.

The September survey showed that actual capital spending has increased significantly in the past few months, employment has been stable and owners have bulked up their inventories.

Best of all for employees, compensation increases have set a new record.

“This is the longest streak of small business optimism in history, evidence that tax cuts and regulatory rollbacks are paying off for the economy as a whole,” NFIB President and CEO Juanita Duggan said on NFIB’s website. “Our members say that business is booming and prospects continue to look bright.”

One issue that still faces many small businesses is not having enough skilled workers to fill positions. In the survey, 61 percent of small businesses are trying to hire more employees, but 87 percent of those reported that they are finding few, if any, qualified workers.

Follow business and economic news across the CSRA at buzzon.biz.

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

7

APARTMENTS AT RIVERSIDE VILLAGE EXCEED VISION

UPSCALE LIVING Ironwood Apartments at Riverside Village in North Augusta includes a pool, fitness center and office space. It is expected to have about 500 residents at full occupancy.

Business Manager Amber Hobbs said the complex is already 52 percent leased.

Photo by Witt Wells

BY WITT WELLS

SRP Park has been considered the crown jewel of Riverside Village in North Augusta ever since it came online in the spring. But the opening of a new apartment complex in the development has set a high bar for what North Augustans can expect for the residential element of Riverside Village.

During a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 24, Patrick Jackson, chief financial officer of Liv Development, introduced the new Ironwood Apartments, a high-end, 280-unit apartment complex next to what will soon be the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Other retailers and restaurants, including Southbound Smokehouse and women’s clothing store Swank, will open in the area as well.

The complex has one-, two- and threebedroom units, a fitness center, pool, office space and resources, bike rentals and a soon-to-be-completed bocce ball courtyard overlooking the Savannah River.

“Riverside Village is no longer just home to the GreenJackets,” Jackson said.

“The entire vision of the site is becoming a reality, as it is now a riverfront community bustling with people day and night, weekends and weekdays.”

Ironwood will have approximately 500 residents when it reaches capacity. Business Manager Amber Hobbs said it is currently 30 percent occupied and 52 percent leased. One-bedroom units start at $855, two-bedroom units in the $1300s and three-bedroom units at around $1700.

“With the hotel that’s going up, with the restaurant that’s going in there, and then the rooftop bar that’s going in there, and the GreenJackets, you’ve got a good mix of all lifestyles,” Hobbs said.

Todd Glover, North Augusta’s city administrator, said that he first met with the developers 4½ years ago to discuss the possibility of the project.

“And you know, even then I didn’t have an idea of what they would deliver,” Glover said. “I mean, we knew it was a higher-end apartment. But this has exceeded my expectations. I mean, this has got to be the nicest product in our area.”

Glover said that from an economic development standpoint, the complex also gives North Augusta something to attract people moving into the area who want to

8 Buzz on Biz November 2018

“When you look at our vision for the development, you kind of gravitate to the stadium. But if you think about it, this has more of an impact because the people live here.”

– North Augusta City Administrator Todd Glover rent before they look for a place to settle down permanently. Previously, a lack of high-quality options in North Augusta forced people to look across the river, Glover said.

“When you look at our vision for the development, you kind of gravitate to the stadium,” Glover said. “But if you think about it, this has more of an impact because the people live here. And so I’m kind of blown away just by the quality of this. Almost makes you want to sell your house and just move in here.”

OPENING MOVES

STARTING OUT THE RIGHT WAY LEADS TO BUSINESS SUCCESS

BY MARK ALISON

This is part one of a multipart series for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Whether you are just starting or have been in business for a few years, these insights and personal lessons might save you a load of money and regret.

I call it Blood and Guts because that’s what it takes to be a business owner. You deserve a medal.What most people think is liberation from a 40-hour workweek often becomes an 80-hour or more workweek, and the reward is not always financial.

Having started multiple small businesses of my own and marketed/consulted with many others over the past 40-plus years, I have seen or personally experienced a lifetime of good and bad decisions. I hope these insights will be valuable to anyone who chooses to take the risk.

1

Hire a very good CPA at the very beginning.

When I say the beginning, I mean at the very point that you have tested the idea and feel it has a chance to work.

There are so many laws that work in your favor and laws that don’t, and it is comforting to know someone has your back.

When I started my first business, I used a friend who prepared taxes to help me with the formalities of setting up. I was good at what I did but not familiar with the laws of the state.

I assumed (and you know what that means) that he had set up my company properly with the state. I made payments to Georgia as required by law, but I found out after a year that he never registered my company. Even though I had paid re-

What most people think is liberation from a 40-hour workweek often becomes an 80hour or more workweek, and the reward is not always financial. ligiously, I was fined for not registering properly. That was a hard blow to a struggling young company.

Hire a CPA and a lawyer and find a great banker. These are the three anchors who will help steady the new business.

2

Join a peer group.

Very few new ideas happen in a vacuum. The good news is there are groups for everything.

I am not just talking about a civic group or a weekly roundtable. Find a national group that specializes in what you do and get involved. Chances are a member or two has faced every trial you will come up against at least once.

I was fortunate enough to join a small national group of marketers around my second year in business. The advice I received doubled my profit margin in less than six months. Some years later I was able to give back to new companies who joined.

In addition to great advice, there can be perks including national insurance rates, discounts for supplies and even group rates from suppliers. If there is a trade show, go. Even if you are small, the cost of the airfare and hotel will be repaid with one great connection.

3

Don’t advance cash or loan money to anyone!

When you own a business, friends, family, employees, you name it, will hit you up for cash. After all, they say, you can “write it off.”

Wrong! It is such a fallacy that business owners are making all the bucks and can write off personal costs. I made the mistake once. It was an employee who was going through … well, you know the story. Despite the paper I had him sign, I never saw the money again. That was 20 years ago.

The next time it was a relative. I had decided I would never lend or advance money again, but this was too close to home. So, I gave him the money. It wasn’t a loan, and I never expected to be paid back. You must say out loud to the relative, “I want to give you this money. I never want to be paid back, so don’t offer.” Accept their gratitude and feel good about your decision.

Bottom line — if you can’t give them the money, say no.

4

Be careful with partnering.

If you are even thinking about partnering, refer to point No. 1 and speak with your CPA and attorney first.

But I can tell you the decision goes beyond the financial and legal aspects.

There’s always a way to do it from those perspectives, but it boils down to whether you want to be “married” to this person.

If it’s true that half of all marriages in the United States fail, it is equally true that half or more of all business partnerships hit the ropes, too.

When it goes wrong, it will drag you through personal hell. I learned that lesson when I partnered with a guy on an allied business. My details would be like many others, so the whole story is not worth rehashing, but the bottom line is it cost me many sleepless nights and a lot of money to get out of that deal.

I let the lure of high expectation smother my reliable gut feeling. My blood pressure still goes up when I think about it.

When I became more successful there were multiple offers to partner, but, having learned that hard lesson once, I never accepted any offers again. If it is a friend who is making the offer, consider how valuable that friendship is and whether you are willing to give it up for a few dollars. Good friends need to stay good friends. Do not make them partners.

Got any good stories yourself ? Shoot me an e-mail at mrkalison@yahoo.com.

Mark Alison, the Business Accelerator, is an independent marketing counselor. He can be reached at mark9226@me.com.

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

9

IT’S AN AGE THING

WHAT YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE SAYS ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS EXIT PLAN

BY TIM DALTON

In my experience, your age has a big effect on your attitude toward your business and how you feel about one day selling and getting out.

Here’s what I have found:

Business owners between 25 and 46 years old

Twenty- and thirty-something business owners grew up in an age when job security did not exist. They watched as their parents got downsized or packaged off into early retirement, and that caused a somewhat jaded attitude toward the role of a business in society.

Their thoughts on employment are typically that the employer pays just enough so the employee doesn’t quit, and sometimes the employee works just hard enough so he or she doesn’t get fired, and there is no strong loyalty.

Business owners in their 20s and 30s generally see their companies as means to an end, and most expect to sell in the next five to 10 years.

Similar to their employed classmates who have a new job every three to five years, business owners in this age group often expect to start a few companies in their lifetime.

Business owners between 47 and 65 years old

Baby boomers came of age in a time when the social contract between com-

pany and employee was sacrosanct.

An employee agreed to be loyal to the company and, in return, the company agreed to provide a decent living and a pension or retirement plan for a few golden years.

Many of the business owners we speak with in this generation think of their company as more than a profit center.

They see their business as part of a community and, by extension, themselves as a community leader.

For many boomers, the idea of selling their company feels like turning their backs on their employees, their community and possibly their identity, which is why so many CEOs in their 50s and 60s are torn.

They know they need to sell to fund their retirement, but they agonize over the impression that will leave with their loyal employees.

Many owners in this age group need to protect against “retiring in” their business.

That is to say, they start to take a sloweddown position in the business, maybe not working the business as hard or investing the capital for growth and improvements.

Unfortunately, the business and value can suffer if an owner hangs on too long without the same zeal for running the business.

time when hobbies were impractical or discouraged. Life was all about how hard you worked.

You went to work while your wife tended to the kids (compare that to today, when more than half of businesses are started by women), you ate dinner, you watched the news and you went to bed.

With few hobbies and nothing other than work to define them, business owners in their late 60s, 70s and 80s feel incomplete without their business, which is why so many of them refuse to sell — or why they experience a lost feeling after they do sell.

My own father fell into this category, as he worked until he was 75 — not for financial reasons, but because the work defined who he was and he didn’t know what he would do with himself when he did retire.

Of course, there will always be exceptions to general rules of thumb, but we have found that more than your industry, nationality, marital status or educational background, your birth certificate defines your exit plan.

If you are interested in learning more about various exit strategies from your business, we would enjoy the opportunity to speak with you.

Tim Dalton is president of Integra Business Brokers and has more than 19 years of experience in the Augusta area assisting business buyers and sellers. He is also a Certified Business Value Builder. Additional services include targeted business acquisitions, business valuations and financing assistance. Dalton is a licensed real estate broker in Georgia and South Carolina and can be reached at 706.650.1100 or tdalton@ integrabrokers.com. Visit Integra’s website at www. integrabrokers.com.

Business owners who are 65 and older

Older business owners grew up in a

A business owner’s age can be a major indicator for how he or she views the business and how — or whether — the owner envisions someday leaving it.

OFFERING SERVICES FOR BUSINESSES FOR SALE IN GA & SC • SELLING A BUSINESS • BUYING A BUSINESS • BUSINESS CONSULTING

• VALUATION CONSULTING • MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS • BUSINESS ACQUISITION RESEARCH

Mordecai Evans Michael Reagan Tim Dalton mreagan@integrabrokers.com tdalton@integrabrokers.com mevans@integrabrokers.com

4468 COLUMBIA RD, SUITE B MARTINEZ, GA 30907 | 706-650-1100 10 Buzz on Biz November 2018

You Just Blew $10,000!

Better Hire PJ Campanaro

W E A LT H M A NAG E M E N T The total direct costs of just one DUI charge can easily run you over $10,000.

▪ Towing ($100 – $1,200) ▪ Impound fees ($200-$1000) ▪ Bail ($150 – $2,500) ▪ Legal fees ($2,000 – $25,000) ▪ Fines ($300 – $1,200) ▪ Expert witnesses ($2000-$25,000)

▪ High-risk insurance ($4,500) ▪ Alcohol evaluation ($150-$200) ▪ Alcohol treatment ($250 – $2,000) ▪ License reinstatement fee ($60 – $250) ▪ Ignition interlocks ($60 a month for two years) ▪ Loss of Employment

But PJ Can Help!

Expert DUI Defense: Qualiications: ▪ Review of Officer’s Report ▪ Review of Video of Incident ▪ Payment Plans Available

▪Licensed in Georgia & South Carolina ▪Member of Augusta Bar Since ‘04 ▪Former Prosecutor

Call PJ today!

Attorney PJ Campanaro

706.821.2222 601 N. Belair Square, Suite 16, Evans, Ga www.csralawyer.com

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

11

Openings, Closings and Moves

OPENINGS

Assisted living community The Claiborne at West Lake is not yet open but is already 85 percent reserved, said its director of sales and marketing.

Huan Ngyuen, who grew up in the Augusta area, is the owner of the new Cold Stone Creamery location Evans.

Cold Stone Creamery Huan Nguyen has worked for banks in New York City and Boston, and he’s worked for one of the world’s premiere fashion brands in Vietnam. He’s not the guy you would expect to open a Cold Stone Creamery.

But that’s exactly what he wanted to do when he came back home to Evans after 16 years, most of which he spent living in much larger cities and traveling the world.

“As long as I can do something where I can interact with people, I think I’m okay,” Nguyen said. “Ice cream is a fun thing.”

Nguyen was always a big fan of the global ice cream franchise, from the years he grew up in Evans to a night in Tokyo when he found himself in a Cold Stone in one of the busiest intersections in the world. He remembers being inspired by the experience, one that gave him a sense of nostalgia about eating Cold Stone ice cream growing up in Augusta.

Nguyen still sees that as a motivator as he opens up his first business at Mullins Colony in Evans in the next few weeks.

His friends are still a bit confused, particularly an old friend from Evans High School who now lives in San Francisco.

“The one from San Francisco was like, ‘Why go back to Augusta?’”

Nguyen said. “‘Remember when we got so bored? There’s no place for us in Augusta. We would just hang out at Walmart!’”

“I said, ‘Yeah, but it’s different now,’” Nguyen said.

After stints at Citi Bank, Bank of New York Mellon, Gucci and others, Nguyen wanted to be with his family again. He cherished years of travel in the fashion industry and years in Southeast Asia, prompted by his desire to explore his Vietnamese heritage,

12 Buzz on Biz November 2018

Trio Bar and Kitchen had been at part of The Alley in Aiken for five years.

RESTAURANT’S OWNERS ‘CALL IT A DAY’ A fixture of The Alley in Aiken has closed its doors, according to one of the owners.

Trio Bar and Kitchen, which had been open for the last five years and was a popular local restaurant, closed at the end of September after the owners of the business were unable to negotiate a new lease with the property owner.

Janice Rodriguez, co-owner of Trio, said the cost of renewing the lease was “nothing reasonable,” nor was the asking price for the building.

“We’d been going back and forth since January, and we just couldn’t come to an agreement,” Rodriguez said. “We actually tried until Sunday, the last day in September, to continually try to make this happen, to get a new lease. We were hoping until the last minute that we were going to be able to come to a deal. but the simple things have also become more attractive. Now, Nguyen is willing to trade the freedom that came with an adventurous life for the surprise of his little cousins, who live a few doors down, coming to knock on his door at any given time.

“Yes money is important, salary is important,” Nguyen said. “But there are other things that are more a priority.”

As for his ice cream shop, Nguyen plans to have a grand opening in November. As of press time, he’s still looking to fill out a staff from which he ex-

They just wanted more money. They just wanted too much money.”

Trio Bar and Kitchen was owned by Rodriguez, Jeffrey Jordan and Philip Jordan. Bryan Mitchell was also a partner for a time.

The restaurant was originally named Up Your Alley Chophouse when it opened in 2013.

Rodriguez said business was booming and that Trio was “the place to be.”

“It’s sad for everybody,” Rodriguez said. “It’s sad for all of our employees. It’s sad for the people of Aiken. It’s a shame.

We’re definitely disappointed.”

Neither Rodriguez nor the other owners have plans to reopen the restaurant elsewhere, Rodriguez said.

“We worked hard for five years, we were successful for five years, and we’re just gonna call it a day,” she said. pects the same level of service he saw in Tokyo.

“I hope that the Cold Stone in Evans can have that local vibe, that local feel, even if it’s a global brand,” Nguyen said.

The Claiborne at West Lake A new assisted living/memory care facility is awaiting state licensure to open its doors to the public, but people are already flocking to it.

The new facility, The Clairborne at West Lake, 557 Furys Ferry Road, has 100 apartments, 70 for assisted living

and 30 in a secure memory-care wing.

Jeremie Freck, director of sales and marketing, said that even though The Clairborne isn’t officially open, it is about 85 percent reserved. She said the reservations have come from a wide age range, from 56 to 99, and includes 11 couples in the facility’s two-bedroom apartments.

“A good portion of our residents are mostly independent — 15 or 20 are still driving,” Freck said.

This is the seventh Claiborne facility but the first in Georgia. It began in Hattiesburg, Miss., when two brothers searched for a suitable facility for their grandmother. When they couldn’t find one, they built their own.

Freck said The Claiborne is an upscale facility that feels more like an apartment complex. Apartments include such amenities as granite countertops, full-size appliances and walkin closets. Hardwood floors, farmhouse doors and an emphasis on natural light add to the aesthetics.

The Clairborne will have 24/7 nursing care available. The director of nursing is a registered nurse.

When fully operational, Freck said, The Claiborne at West Lake will employ 75-100 people. The directors have all been part of the CSRA for years working in local facilities.

Freck said that being on Furys Ferry Road is an ideal location, especially with the current and planned medical facilities surrounding it. It is also next to the West Lake community.

“Probably 30 percent of our residents either lived in West Lake or have children who live in West Lake, so it’s convenient,” she said.

The Claiborne at West Lake plans a public grand opening from 4-7 p.m.

Nov. 8. RSVPs are requested at 706955-4549.

First Community Bank First Community Bank plans to open a new banking office in Evans, at

Openings, Closings and Moves South Carolina legislators had worked to keep the site open.

MOX Services is expected to begin laying off the first round of employees in November. It has 60 days to complete the layoffs. the corner of North Belair Road and Town Park Lane. The office will be the bank’s 21st location and the fourth in the CSRA. “An office in the heart of one of the fastest-growing areas in Georgia offers an incredible opportunity for us as well as the residents and business owners who call Evans home,” said Regional Market President Jeff Spears.

“As a community-minded bank with a unique emphasis on long-lasting relationships, we offer customers exceptional products and services that extend past a transaction.”

The 3,100-square-foot office is part of a 7,100-square-foot multi-tenant development that the bank will anchor.

With plans to include a restaurant and retail store, the development will welcome a variety of customers throughout the day.

Set to open in mid-2019, the new office will offer customers the same commitment to service they have come to know at the Aiken, downtown Augusta and Walton Way locations and will provide expanded access to commercial and retail banking, mortgage banking, and financial planning and investment advisory services.

First Community Bank was founded in 1995 and is based in Lexington, S.C.

Lominick’s Pharmacy and Aiken Drug Two downtown Aiken drug stores have closed, according to a report from The Aiken Standard.

Lominick’s Pharmacy, at 839 Richland Ave. W., and Aiken Drug Co., at 101 Laurens St. SW, both closed at the end of September.

Lominick’s will reportedly reopen this winter.

Medicine Mart, at 1020 Richland Ave. W., is currently handling prescriptions of the two stores.

EXPANSION

Metro Diner Just over a year after Metro Diner opened in Augusta on Washington Road, a new location will open in Aiken in December. It will be the Floridabased chain’s first restaurant in South Carolina.

“We’ve had a lot of guests that we’ve talked to in our Augusta Diner who have made the drive from Aiken, so it was apparent to us that we needed to open a location there,” said Crafton Bryant, director of marketing for Metro Diner.

Florida-based chain Metro Diner is planning to open a location on Whiskey Road in Aiken in December.

The Aiken diner will be at 1944 Whiskey Road, in the former home of Atlanta Bread Company, which closed last November.

The restaurant will be approximately 4,200 square feet (around the same size as the Augusta location) and will seat around 120 people.

Bryant said there are 62 locations of Metro Diner, and Aiken’s will be the 70th once it is completed.

NAME CHANGE

Eye Care by Design An Augusta optical service has changed its name to Eye Care by Design to better reflect its services.

Office Coordinator Danielle Melson said the former name, 1 Hour Optical, stressed speed of service and didn’t

1 Hour Optical in Martinez is now called Eye Care By Design, to emphazise its focus on eye health.

reflect the new emphasis toward eye health.

“We wanted to be more family-oriented and focus more on eye health,” she said.

With the name change came a new look to the office, which patients have enjoyed.

Eye Care by Design is staffed by Dr. Andrea Capps and Dr. Keisha Wiliford. It is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

Get more on business and economic news across the CSRA at buzzon.biz.

Bath & Body Works Bath & Body Works closed its Aiken Mall location earlier this year, but it is scheduled to reopen again in another Aiken location. The new store, which expects to be open in early November, is in Hitchcock Plaza on Fabian Drive in Aiken.

CLOSINGS

MOX Services The National Nuclear Security Administration has issued a notice to close the Mixed Oxide (MOX) Fuel Fabrication Facility at Savannah River Site.

MOX Services, which operated the site, turned weapons-grade plutonium waste into nuclear fuel, but opponents — including U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry — had long felt that there were better ways to dispose of the plutonium.

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

13

UPCOMING BUSINESS EVENTS

Nov. 1-24

Shop Small in November.

This campaign urges people to do their Christmas shopping with local small businesses.

For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com.

Friday, Nov. 7

Women in Business, 11:30 a.m., Woodside Plantation Country Club, 1000 Woodside Plantation Drive, Aiken. “Hindsight 20/20: What would you tell your younger self?” presented by four female executives. Registration required.

For more information, visit aikenchamber.net.

Thursday, Nov. 8

Pre-Legislative Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Savannah Rapids Pavilion, 3300 Evans to Locks Road, Martinez.

A look at upcoming legislative issues. For more information, visit columbiacountychamber.com.

SCORE Seminar: Understanding Basic Business Financials, 10 a.m., North Augusta Chamber of Commerce, 406 West Ave., North Augusta. This workshop takes a step-by-step approach to understanding the financial side of business. For more information, visit northaugustachamber.org.

Wednesday, Nov. 14

Pre-Legislative Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center, 2 10th St., Augusta. Georgia Speaker of the House David Ralston will speak about issues facing the state Legislature in 2019.

Registration required by Nov. 9. For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com.

14 Buzz on Biz November 2018

Ribbon cuttings set Nov. 5: Paleo Num Yums, 359 Furys Ferry Road, Martinez, 11 a.m.

Nov. 5: Perfect Health Urgent Care, 3324 Peach Orchard Road, Augusta, 3 p.m.

Nov. 5: Augusta Candle Company, 1124 Broad St., Augusta, 4 p.m.

Nov. 8: The Claiborne at West Lake, 557 Furys Ferry Road, Martinez, 4 p.m.

Nov. 9: Madison’s Closet, 5117 Washington Road, Evans, 11:30 a.m.

Nov. 9: Forces United, 701 Greene St., Augusta, noon

Thursday, Nov. 15

Third Thursday Business Builder, 11:30, Augusta Metro Chamber office, 1 10th St., Augusta.

“Do’s and Don’ts of Year-End Tax Planning,” presented by Daniel Metzel, CPA with Cherry Bekaert.

Registration required by Nov. 12. For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com.

Friday, Nov. 16

Good Morning, North Augusta, 7:30 a.m., Palmetto Terrace Ballroom, North Augusta Municipal Building, 100 Georgia Ave., North Augusta. Topic to be announced. Registration required.

For more information, visit northaugustachamber.org.

Tuesday, Nov. 20

Women in Business, 11:30 a.m., Legends Club, 2701 Washington Road, Augusta. Samantha Tojino, urology and pelvic health specialist at Doctor’s Hospital, will speak on the topic “Clearing the Mind: Managing causes and results of stress.” Registration required by Nov. 16. For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com.

Wednesday, Nov. 28

Columbia County Chamber Executive Luncheon Series, 11:30 a.m., Savannah Rapids Pavilion, Evans. Speaker to be announced.

For more information, visit columbiacountychamber.com.

Monday, Dec. 3

Member Town Hall: Holiday Open House, 4 p.m., Augusta Metro Chamber office, 1 10th St., Suite 120, Augusta. Registration required. For more information, visit augustametrochamber.com.

Catch the Buzz! Get more on events and follow business and economic news across the CSRA at buzzon.biz.

AUGUSTA’S INNOVATION NEWS

AT THECLUBHOU.SE

THE

• Augusta Locally Grown has its downtown pickup at theClubhou.se’s Telfair Street location every Tuesday, 5-7 p.m.

• Entrepreneur members of theClubhou.se meet every Wednesday morning for Founders Circle, 9-10 a.m.

Nov. 7: 1 Million Cups offers a couple of entrepreneurs from the area a chance to share their story with the community.

This month we have Michele Heyward of PositiveHire and Jennifer Rainier of GeekySexyLove. 8-9 a.m.

Nov. 8: Members of The Augusta Developer are presenting their Hacktoberfest projects! Come check out their open source creations! 6-8 p.m.

Nov. 14: In partnership with ATDC, theClubhou.se presents Lunch & Learn – Seeing Beyond Services: Creating Innovative Cybersecurity Products in Georgia with Laura Wysong. Noon to 1 p.m.

Nov. 14: Beer & Bytes is our time to bring together our entire community of entrepreneurs, makers, techies and creatives for a bit of new-fashioned networking. This month we will have Monty Hamilton, CEO of Rural Sourcing, share about his experience. 5:30-7 p.m.

Nov. 15: PyAugusta is a monthly meetup of Pythonistas focusing on Python programming and its myriad applications.

6-8 p.m.

Nov. 16: Join Kim Hines of Augusta Locally Grown for Growler Gardening and get together with the horticulturally minded for some garden maintenance and good beer! 5-7 p.m.

Nov. 19-23: theClubhou.se will have limited hours this week and will be closed Thursday and Friday for Thanksgiving. Eat something good!

Nov. 26: For this final Robotics Meetup before the holidays, John Fogarty will present an Introduction to Robotics with a special segment focused on FIRST Robotics Competition. 6-8 p.m.

Nov. 27: Our Gathering of We Who Make Stuff brings together tinkerers for collective endeavors. 6-8 p.m.

ACCELERATOR

ENTREPRENEURSHIP Peacing Life Together, LLC Shirlonda Evans McCain OWNER

What is the business?

Peacing Life Together is a life coaching practice that specializes in personal growth and loss & grief recovery. The clients we serve are often faced with challenges like self-confidence or are going through major changes in their life such as death of a loved one, divorce, career change, and other life-altering factors.

When and where did you found it?

tice a pattern that they primarily needed assistance in personal growth and loss & grief. They found themselves not being able to understand and process how to get through uncontrollable situations that happened to them in their childhood or as an adult.

How did you fund the business?

I have built Peacing Life Together through private funding, working as a licensed Real Estate agent, selling my book, Mindset Change 101, and client retention.

How did you market your business?

I founded Peacing Life Together in January of 2017 in Augusta, Georgia.

I market Peacing Life Together though radio, print, and social media, and by word of mouth.

Any significant experiences/skills that influenced your business?

How do you choose who to hire?

My upbringing is what influenced me.

While growing up, no-one talked to me about leadership, money management, or other life skills needed to succeed in this ever changing world. Now I want to be able to give back to my community and be the person I needed as a kid.

Any previous entrepreneurial experience? Lessons learned?

Definitely! I operated a daycare for four years, clothing store for two years, and a non-profit for seven years. The biggest lessons I learned were to continue my business education, and develop a selfcare plan by involving a team of experts so I would not become overwhelmed.

What appealed to you about entrepreneurship?

I really enjoy having control over my life and the ability to employ others.

How did you get the idea?

After writing my book, Mindset Change 101, I realized I have the ability to help others individually, and in a group setting, to set goals for their lives.

How has your idea progressed over time?

After having a few clients, I began to no-

I choose to hire an applicant based on their education, skill sets, personality, and interest in helping people.

Who are your main competitors?

My main competitors are those in the mental health profession, and other life coaches who specialize in personal growth and loss & grief.

What have you learned from your competitors?

I have learned to be myself, market my business, network with other professionals, and provide great customer service.

What does a typical day involve for you? How does that compare to your team? How has this changed over time?

I don’t have “typical days”. I’ve learned to go with the flow of things. However, I do have planned activities to keep Peacing Life Together moving forward. My team and I have learned to be flexible with the needs of our clients. I started off with a routine, but over time I learned that each day is unique.

What is next for your business?

I have been working towards partner

SHIRLONDA EVANS MCCAIN ing with churches, funeral homes, and hospice care to provide training for their staff and/or workshops for their clients and customers.

How has working out of theClubhou.se benefitted your company?

Working with theClubhou.se has connected me with great resources such as having a set location for Peacing Life Together. They also provided me with ongoing entrepreneur training, networking events, and a mentor to help guide me. theClubhou.se and their members have been a key to the success of my business.

I felt welcomed and learned from other members dealing with similar successes and failures.

WANT TO BECOME A MEMBER? VISIT www.theclubhou.se Would you like to schedule a tour?

STOP BY 100 Grace Hopper Lane Suite 3700 Augusta, Ga EMAIL heythere@theclubhou.se

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

15

HOUSE MONEY

YOU MIGHT BE LIABLE FOR TAXES ON SOME HOUSEHOLD WORKERS

BY CHRISTINE HALL

If you employ someone to work for you around your house, it is important to consider the tax implications of the arrangement.

While many people disregard the need to pay taxes on household employees, they do so at the risk of paying stiff tax penalties down the road.

If a worker is your employee, it does not matter whether the work is full-time or part-time or that you hired the worker through an agency or from a list provided by an agency or association. It also does not matter whether you pay the worker on an hourly, daily or weekly basis, or by the job.

If the worker controls how the work is done, the worker is not your employee but is self-employed. A self-employed worker usually provides his or her own tools and offers services to the general public in an independent business.

If an agency provides the

There are tax implications to consider if you have hired someone to work at your home, such as a housekeeper.

worker and controls what work is done and how it is done, the worker is also not your employee. Let’s look at a couple examples of typical situations: • You pay Jane to babysit your child and do light housework four days a week in your home.

Jane follows your specific instructions about household and childcare duties. You provide the household equipment and supplies that Jane needs to do her work. Jane is your household

employee.

• You pay Roger to care for your lawn. Roger also offers lawn care services to other homeowners in your neighborhood. He provides his own tools and supplies, and he hires and pays any helpers he needs. Neither Roger nor his helpers are your household employees.

When you hire a household employee to work for you on a regular basis, he or she must complete U.S. Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS) Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification.

It is your responsibility to verify that the employee is either a U.S. citizen or an alien who can legally work, and then complete the employer part of the form. It is unlawful for you to knowingly hire or continue to employ a person who cannot legally work in the United States. Keep the completed form for your records.

If you have a household employee, you might need to withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes, you might need to pay federal unemployment tax, or you might need to pay both. If you pay cash wages of $2,100 or more in 2018 to any one household employee, then you will need to withhold and pay Social Security and Medicare taxes.

Also, if you pay total cash wages of $1,000 or more in any calendar quarter of 2017 or 2018 to household employees, you are also required to pay federal un-

employment tax.

You are responsible for payment of your employee’s share of the taxes as well as your own.

You can either withhold your employee’s share from his or her wages or pay it from your own funds.

As you can see, tax rules for hiring household employees are complex; therefore, professional tax guidance is highly recommended. This is definitely an area where it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Christine Hall is a partner in Hall, Murphy & Schuyler PC, a full-service accounting firm. For a complimentary accounting, tax or business consultation, call 706.855.7733 or email cmh@hmandscpas. com.

MAKING THINGS RIGHT

IRS ISSUES LETTER TO ACA-NONCOMPLIANT EMPLOYERS

BY RUSSELL HEAD

As many large and self-insured employers gear up to submit their 2018 Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting forms due in January, the Internal Revenue Service has been sending Letter 5699 to employers that have not complied with their ACA reporting requirements for the 2015 calendar year.

Section 6056 requires applicable large employers, or ALEs, to report certain information to the IRS about the health coverage they offered to full-time employees, using Forms 1094-C and 1095C. These reporting requirements were first effective for the 2015 calendar year, with the first forms due to the IRS in early 2016.

The IRS identifies potentially noncompliant employers based on their Form W-2 total employee count reported for the 2015 calendar year.

For those groups who appear to have neglected their reporting obligation under IRS Section 6056, Letter 5699, Request for Employer Reporting of Offers

16 Buzz on Biz November 2018

of Health Insurance Coverage (Forms 1094-C and 1095-C), requests missing information under threat of potential penalties.

Letter 5699

The IRS uses Letter 5699 to notify an employer that it may have been an ALE for the 2015 calendar year; and that it may not be in compliance with the Section 6056 reporting requirements for the 2015 calendar year because the IRS has not received Forms 1094-C and 1095-C from it for that year.

The letter requires one of the following responses from the employer: • I was an ALE for calendar year 2015 and already filed Form 1094-C and Forms 1095-C with the IRS using the following name _______________ and employer identification number (EIN) _______________ on date _______________.

• I was an ALE for calendar year 2015 and my Form 1094-C and Forms 1095C are included with this letter. (An ALE

should not select this option if it is required to file electronically.)

• I was an ALE for calendar year 2015 and will file my Form 1094-C and Forms 1095-C with the IRS using the following name _______________ and EIN _______________ by date _______________. (If more than 90 days from the date of the letter, the ALE must provide an explanation.)

• I was not an ALE for calendar year 2015.

• Other (The ALE must include a statement explaining why it has not filed the required returns and any actions that it plans to take.)

The employer generally has 30 days to respond to the letter before it is assessed with penalties.

Action steps for employers

Employers who receive Letter 5699 should respond to the IRS within the appropriate timeframe. When responding to Letter 5699, employers should provide all appropriate information requested

by the IRS, including any Forms 1094C and 1095-C that are due. Employers should be sure that any information or representations provided to the IRS are true and accurate.

The IRS will use information provided in response to Letter 5699 to identify noncompliant ALEs and assess any penalties that might be owed. Although penalties may still apply for employers that appropriately respond to Letter 5699, a response might reduce the penalty amount owed from $520 per violation for intentional disregard of the filing requirement to the general penalty amount of $260 per violation.

Russell T. Head is CEO of Head Capital Advisors, an Acrisure agency partner and Augusta’s largest employee benefits brokerage. He can be reached at 706.733.3459 or rthead@headca.com.

#AchievingMoreTogether

Thursday, November 15

Do’s and Don’ts of Year-End Tax Planning 11:30 am, Augusta Metro Chamber office Register at augustametrochamber.com Presented by:

Daniel Metzel, CPA, Partner at Cherry Bekaert

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

17

ENJOY THE RIDE

THE PROCESS, NOT JUST THE GOAL, PROVIDES WORK SATISFACTION

BY DAGAN SHARPE

For some of us, completing our to-do lists provides great satisfaction. We enjoy getting things done.

However, this can keep us focused on the completion of a task, or goal, which can often result in missing out on the joy found in the process.

In the hustle to get things done, we unknowingly cheat ourselves out of the interactions, experiences and opportunities the actual work toward a completion creates.

We miss opportunities. Much like driving to a destination, our navigation seeks to get us there quickly, and as a result, we pass by interesting sites and backroad experiences along the way.

That’s the rub. Is it best to hurry to get to where we’re going or to invest the time to enjoy the journey? Is there a balance that can be created in today’s hustle-andbustle world?

I once shared with a boss, who I truly respect and enjoy, how long we still had to go in completing a specific task. As I spoke, I guess my frustration was obvious, for his reply was, “And what if you get things working perfectly — what then?”

In his wisdom, he was explaining that the process was the work and the progress was part of our goal; we might never reach perfection.

My lesson learned was to always be striving for improvement but to expect the frustrations and irritations to come as part of the work. I don’t know if he meant all that with his statement, but it is how I received and processed it, and it was helpful insight to my personality.

I like to see positive results quickly and, even though I hate to admit this, it’s due to pride.

Pride and fear can often drive us to deliver faster and better than anyone else.

This, in some ways, helps us believe we

are showing others and ourselves how good we are.

These drivers work so well that many coaches and companies work to breed and foster them in their teams and organizations to achieve results. However, any successes these fear tactics may achieve often prove to be short-lived.

This might be fine for people seeking quick bursts in order to drive their own careers, but it often leaves devastation in the wake for others to clean up. We see this all the time in business and seem to accept it as business as usual, but this doesn’t have to be the case. The trend is beginning to shift.

For those seeking consistency and long-term quality in their organizations and teams, better strategies than fear, insecurity and pride exist. For example, formulating and rewarding things like teamwork, collaboration, quality and integrity are just a few.

Ultimately, genuine humility and confidence empower us with the freedom to enjoy the process of a task and to complete it well.

I once heard it said that “The interruptions in our work are our work.”

So, we best get used to it, accept it and learn to enjoy the ride. Life is short, and if we keep rushing through it, we might just miss it.

Dagan Sharpe is senior vice president of Queensborough National Bank & Trust and the author of Highways End and Full Disclosure. Email him at dagan. sharpe@qnbtrust.com.

Humility and confidence empower us with the freedom to enjoy the process of a task and to complete it well, whether that’s in business or in our personal lives.

18 Buzz on Biz November 2018

Keep your pet happy and healthy with vaccinations!

Vaccinations Behavioral Consultations

Therapeutic Laser Ultrasound

Pregnancy Care Spay and Neuter

Geriatric Care Dental

House Calls

Office hours Mon-Tue, Thur-Fri 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. • Now open on Wed 8 a.m.-4p.m.

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

19

FALL AESTHETICS POWER WASHING CAN SPRUCE UP ALL HOME AREAS

BY TONY CREIGHTON

Fall is a beautiful time of year across the country, particularly in areas such as Georgia with rich, vibrant fall foliage. It is also a great time of the year to showcase your own home by adding visual appeal.

Over the course of hot and humid spring and summer conditions, your home’s surfaces, including its roof, siding or brick, and concrete walkway and driveway have been accumulating dirt, grime, algae and other organic growth and materials.

Now is the time to have a professional pressure washing company help revive your home for the fall and winter seasons so it will impress family and neighbors.

Concrete cleaning: Your home’s driveway and walkway surfaces are one of the first aspects of your home noticed by neighbors, visitors and passersby, particularly if you are entertaining for the holidays or for college football games or decorating for the holiday season.

No matter how much effort you put into adding visual appeal to your home, dingy, dirty concrete surfaces will instantly detract from your hard work.

A concrete driveway cleaning by a professional pressure-washing company such as AllClean Pressure Washing will treat and remove dirt, debris, other organic growth and materials that have been absorbed and could cause your concrete to crack, split or chip.

Exterior home soft wash: One of the easiest ways to increase your home’s visual appeal is to hire a professional company that is knowledgeable in the softwashing technique. The fall season provides an opportunity to remove the grit and grime that has adhered to your home’s siding or brick throughout the spring and summer — dulling your home’s color and, in some cases, even causing your home to appear dirty — while protecting it against

20 Buzz on Biz November 2018

harsh winter weather conditions to come. At AllClean, we provide a clean that not only allows your home’s true beauty to shine, but we do so in the safest, most effective manner that will cause no damage to the surfaces.

Roof cleaning: If you’ve been outside recently and noticed dark streaks on your roof, don’t be fooled. These streaks aren’t caused by the cool, wet weather that comes with fall. These streaks are caused by a blue-green algae known as Gloeocapsa magma, which not only diminishes the clean appearance of your home, but also can cause damage over time. A licensed and experienced pressure-washing company that has spent countless hours in training can utilize the most up-to-date methods for treating and removing this and other organic growth from your roof safely and effectively.

Gutter cleaning: As beautiful as the fall foliage in Georgia can be, once it falls, it can cause a major headache for homeowners with gutters. Leaves can accumulate in gutters, mixing with other organic growth and materials, creating an opportunity for overflowing, leaky gutters. Instead of spending days cleaning and scraping gutters out yourself, let a pressure-washing company clean them for you.

When you are ready to add visual appeal to your home this fall, begin with a professional service like AllClean Pressure Washing to get every surface nice and clean.

Tony Creighton is the owner/operator of ALLCLEAN™ Pressure Washing LLC and its subsidiary, Augusta PROCLEAN™ — committed to providing high-quality cleanings for the CSRA’s commercial properties and homes. Call 706.651.8089 or email allcleanaugusta@gmail.com.

In business, it pays to know what the law really says, not just what others think it says.

FACT OR FICTION? COMMON ‘WISDOM’ MAY NOT BE REAL BUSINESS LAW

BY ED ENOCH

We grow up with lots of stories we assume are true and never really question. For instance, did the pilgrims and the Indians really sit down for a Thanksgiving dinner? Did they eat turkey and gravy?

The law is the same way. Possession is not really nine-tenths of the law.

But on a more serious note, there are lots of stories people believe about the law that are not true and can get them in trouble. This is especially true for a small business, which might not have the resources to have professional staff for issues such as employment law.

I call these legends “grocery store law” because they are the laws you learn while standing in line at the grocery store.

Employees are frequent proponents of grocery store law. Your employee is standing in line at the grocery store, complaining to his spouse about how his boss never schedules breaks right and he worked the whole eight-hour shift with no break. The busybody behind them jumps into the conversation and adamantly says, “They can’t do that! The law says you have to give breaks every four hours.”

No, it does not! There is no law, federal or in Georgia, that mandates any frequency of break times. A consistent break policy is good management practice, but it is not law.

On the other hand, many small business owners believe they can avoid payroll taxes and the hassle of withholding by making every employee an “independent contractor.” No, you cannot! The distinction between employee and independent contractor is legal and has almost

There are lots of stories people believe about the law that are not true and can get them in trouble.

This is especially true for a small business. nothing to do with the label you give people.

It is critical that business owners separate fact from fiction surrounding the laws related to their business, whether they cover employee relations, safety, permitting and licensing, or any other business aspect. Continuing education courses, government websites and trade associations are all good sources of accurate information.

And, of course, there is always your friendly neighborhood lawyer!

J. Edward “Ed” Enoch has practiced law in Augusta for more than 20 years, mostly focusing on helping business owners and companies to include formation, transition, business planning, contract writing, employment law and other areas of the law.

Email jenoch@enochlaw.com.

Heat n’ Serve HOLIDAY FAMILY MEAL TO-GO | 10999 From your oven to table in 2 hours or less • Serves up to 10 Our Thanksgiving meal kit comes chilled and ready to heat.

Order this traditional Thanksgiving dinner with our new app or at CRACKERBARRELTOGO.COM Available for pickup 11/17-11/25. 24-hour notice recommended for orders. Use within 72 hours after pickup.

BUSINESSPERSON OF THE MONTH

BOERNER SEEKS TO CREATE CONNECTIONS, MEMORIES THROUGH WINTERLAND

BY GARY KAUFFMAN

Success often comes out of random connections — for those who recognize the potential of those connections.

That’s the case for Chris Boerner, who, with her husband, Mike, founded the highly successful Augusta on Ice experience in downtown Augusta last year.

This year, they are moving their venue to collaborate with Lights of the South to create a new holiday experience called Winterland.

“It’s very random that we own a holiday ice rink,” Boerner said.

Chris Boerner, the creator of Augusta on Ice, said she is excited to see what the future holds. “You never know ... where you’re going meet that person who’s going to matter or lead to an opportunity.” Photo by Gary Kauffman

Chris Boerner, Augusta on Ice Until a little over two years ago, she’d lived her entire life in Seattle. Much of her career had been working for Seattle icon Starbucks in marketing and developing strategy.

“It was awesome to work for Starbucks,” she said. “But I felt I was eight PowerPoint presentations from an actual customer.”

Desiring a closer connection to people, and not wanting the end up as a corporate mom who never attended her kids’ events or shared family meals, Boerner decided to leave Starbucks at the end of 2012.

“I left with no idea of what I was doing next,” she admitted. “My first objective was I wanted to make time to be around family. Objective two was to figure out how to help people connect in a meaningful way.”

In her own version of building a better mousetrap, Boerner created Cielo Pill Holders, high-end designer pill holders, a vision that emerged out of her own experience dealing with illness.

“I wanted to make an experience that for an individual usually sucks — being sick — and create a product that creates a positive experience,” she said.

Amazon liked her story so much that it did a documentary about her.

Then, about 2 1/2 years ago, the Boerners visited Mike’s parents, who had retired at Savannah Lakes. They liked the Augusta area’s climate, slower pace and lower cost of living. Since both had flexible jobs that could be done from anywhere in the country, they decided to move to Augusta three months later.

22 Buzz on Biz November 2018

Then the Boerners began looking for a way to put down roots in the area to feel more a part of the community. That’s when a random conversation with friends about a holiday ice skating rink in Savannah sparked an idea.

“Mike for years had been telling me about his customer in Northern California who ran holiday ice rinks as a second business,” Boerner said. “He was fascinated by it. I thought he was crazy.”

But that random conversation launched the idea of Augusta on Ice, which they set up on Augusta Common last year. It met a need, as 30,000 people attended.

“It did exactly what we’d hoped for; it brought people together in the community and connected them,” Boerner said.

“I don’t know if I ever saw anyone texting.

If they had a cellphone it was to take pictures.”

But with the success came the realization they had overextended themselves by trying to incorporate too many things too soon, including a performance stage.

They knew they wanted to do it again in 2018 but needed to simplify. They were still thinking through what to do when the next random conversation occurred.

The Boerners attended Rock for Dough at Lady A Pavilion during Masters Week and wound up sitting next to a couple they’d never met before. During the course of the evening, they had a good time getting to know each other. Later in the evening, they discovered the husband was Mark Jackson, co-owner and manager of Lights of the South, a longstanding holiday experience in Columbia County.

Lights of the South already had many of the extras that the Boerners had tried in the first year of Augusta on Ice. But it didn’t have an ice rink. A few weeks later, the Boerners and Jackson decided to collaborate — Augusta on Ice, still run separately, would move to the sprawling acreage of Lights of the South in Grovetown, and the two events would be marketed as Winterland.

“We can both do what we do better and market it together — and grow together,” Boerner said. “We want to make this a place people recognize as a place where they can come together to make memories.”

The Augusta on Ice rink is a real ice rink that uses the same technology hockey rinks use. There is even a scaled-down

version of a Zamboni machine to refresh the ice.

Winterland opens on Nov. 16 and will be open every day though Jan. 6, including Christmas Day.

In her own words

What are you passionate about in business?

“It’s about giving people a place to come together. That’s what Starbucks is.

Winterland is a place to come together to build traditions and memories. Everybody is so busy and rushing around, it gives them a chance to pause and build stronger connections. Connections help people care more about the people in the community. It’s a virtuous cycle. It benefits everyone to have more meaningful connections.”

How has it helped with your own family connection?

“My kids love it. Jordan is 4, and last year she had her own pink skates. By the end of the season, she didn’t need to use the walker. Casey (almost 3) will be out there this year. They’re so excited about it.

In fact, Jordan is the one that when I call it Augusta on Ice corrects me and says, ‘It’s Winterland!’”

How was the first-year experience?

“It was the best time and the worst time we’ve ever had. The best was that it did exactly what we hoped for. People tell me this is the best thing they’ve ever seen happen in Augusta. I think it will be a tremendous positive for the region.

“The worst time was that we bit off more than we could handle. We weren’t trying to take on a risk, but it cost more than we’d anticipated. We’ve tried to stay objective. I know if we’d have had all the information at the beginning, we’d have never done it. But I’m glad we did.”

How do you feel about the random events that have led you to this point?

“You never know where it’s going to go, or where you’re going meet that person who’s going to matter or lead to an opportunity I’ve never had before. I don’t know what else I’m going to do in this community, but I’m excited about it. Sometimes I feel I can’t even sleep at night because I’m so excited about what’s happening next.”

What does the future hold for Augusta on Ice and Winterland?

“The intent is for it to be a tradition for years and for generations to build on — that people will tell their friends and they’ll keep coming back year after year.”

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

23

GROWING CONFIDENCE

NA CHAMBER’S LIGHTNING TALKS EXPLAIN CYBER, OTHER ISSUES

BY STEPHANIE PENDARVIS

The term “cyber” can be enough to scare an average person away. It’s hard to talk about something we tend to feel is out of our control.

Admittedly, until about two years ago, I could count my login passwords on one hand. Now, I know too much not to use tools like two-factor authentication and alphanumeric password generators — but what about physicians, businesses and other organizations that have personal information?

Attending the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s Lightning Talks, sponsored by EDTS Cyber, reminded me of a few things: • We all have a role to play in protecting our information and the information that we are entrusted with.

• We as a community are not alone and should turn to local, state or federal partners when we suspect an incident might have occurred.

• Cyber knows no boundaries. While there are challenges ahead, there are way more opportunities.

Seizing on the opportunities for our region’s future workforce, Aiken Works highlighted Aiken Public School District’s partnerships with Fort Gordon, the National Security Agency, the State Department and other public/private entities to update computer science curriculum and get students thinking about careers in technical fields early in their education.

I mean, if I had known in middle school that gamified artificial intelligence and machine learning would become the new textbook, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here writing this with my liberal arts education … .

Organizations like the Cyber SC Foundation partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the education and private sectors to increase awareness and funding for our state’s cyber needs. Dr. Sandra Jordan, chancellor of University of South Carolina Aiken, a COPLAC institution, touted the school’s applied computer science program and cooperation with industry to fill skill gaps. A homegrown workforce equals more economic opportunities in our area.

Whew. Now for those of us who won’t be hitting the cyber range anytime soon … .

From a professional perspective, it was great to hear from Sean Fay, cyber liaison officer for the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division’s up-and-coming S.C. Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Program about the agency’s services

24 Buzz on Biz November 2018

to small and midsized businesses and their partnership with the S.C. National Guard to establish a cyber brigade (one of two in the country!).

Being in constituent services, I receive calls from business owners and citizens alike who believe they may have fallen victim to scams or have had their personal information stolen but do not necessarily feel comfortable reaching out to federal authorities.

I was shocked to learn that 60 percent of small and midsized businesses close their doors within six months after a cyberattack. As the wife of a small business owner, it is reassuring to know that SLED is committed to assisting small businesses and consumers when incidents occur.

While we heard from a wide range of presenters, one point was common: We, as a community, have to have uncomfortable conversations in order to better protect ourselves and answer new questions that come our way.

I’m glad I attended Lightning Talks, and I appreciate the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce and everyone who participated for facilitating an uncomfortable, but necessary, conversation.

Stephanie Pendarvis is a North Augusta Chamber of Commerce MVP. The North Augusta Chamber MVP (My ViewPoint) platform provides an opportunity for members and volunteers to share their perspective on the programs and events presented by the North Augusta Chamber.

The North Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s Lightning Talks helped attendees understand that it takes sometimes uncomfortable conversations to move forward, especially on issues such as cybersecurity, which is constantly developing.

WATER EMERGENCY? CALL THE PROFESSIONALS AT

BACK TO DRY™

During a water emergency, time is your biggest enemy. Our team of professionals are avalible 24 hours.

We remove freestanding water from your carpet, tile, hardwood, and other flooring.

We check for water in areas that aren’t visible such as in your walls or ceilings.

We document the entire process and supply you with paperwork that your insurance provider may require.

FOR A CLEANER & HEALTHIER HOME™

1-800-STEEMER

®

stanleysteemer.com 706-860-3774

NETWORKING AND LEARNING

B2B EXPO PROVIDES EXPOSURE, EDUCATION FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES

BY GARY KAUFFMAN

Danielle Melson described her first experience at the Buzz on Biz B2B Expo on Oct. 2 as “wonderful.”

“It was a good time for us to come, because we’re rebranding our name,” said Melson, the office coordinator for Eye Care by Design on Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez.

It was third annual B2B Expo hosted

by Buzz on Biz, and it provided a valuable networking and learning experience for many businesses.

“It was fantastic for networking,” said Tim Steflik, director of business development for SigCox Air Conditioning and Heating. He said he picked up several leads for future business. “It was first class,” he added.

Bradley Lewis of Embroider This also picked up several leads at the Expo.

“For me, the vendors are as much prospects as the people attending,” he said. “I got some valuable leads from being here.”

Vendors and attendees also had the opportunity to listen to experts in various business areas speak, part of the Expo’s mission to provide both a showcase for businesses and an educational resource.

“I loved the guest speakers,” Melson said, adding that the talk given by Jeff Annis particularly resonated with her.

Below are thumbnails of the talks given by the five speakers.

Mike and Wendy Perry, Catalyst Executive Advising: The couple said that people function on four levels: biological (body functions), cognitive (mind functions), environmental (surroundings) and social (interactions with others). Through interactive text voting, the Perrys asked business leaders to choose which of the four they could influence with employees.

Although most of the votes went to environmental, the Perrys said leaders actually have an influence on all four areas.

In the biological, Mike Perry, a psychologist, spoke about neuroplasticity — the brain’s ability to learn new patterns of thinking.

“We all have the ability to change how we think about things by rewiring the brain,” he said. “If you’re micromanaging, you’re not allowing your employee’s brain to learn a new behavior.”

Managers also have an influence on social aspects because employees spend most of their time at work, interacting with co-workers. The most effective leaders account for social needs. A top contributor in job satisfaction is respectful treatment in the workplace.

Environmentally, the Perrys said that

The third annual B2B Expo, above, brought together area entrepreneurs, business leaders and vendors to network and learn. Speakers including Jeff Annis, at left, discussed various business issues and concepts. Photos by Gary Kauffman

“curb appeal” matters at work — temperature, lighting and décor all play a role in increasing employee happiness, which leads to better productivity.

The cognitive is where all of these things converge. This is where learning takes place and where meaning is given to what was learned. This results in trust, which has been rated as the No. 2 contributor to job satisfaction.

Jeff Annis, Work Life Advisors: Annis said we are currently in an employment bubble unlike anything he’s seen in 44 years as a business owner.

“It’s never been more difficult to get and keep great people to our teams,” he said. “Supply and demand affects everything, including hiring and firing.”

Annis said to win at business, a business owner has to care more about his or her team than about the financial numbers. This includes feeling deeply and personally responsible for the lives of your

team members.

“If your employee’s mama has got cancer in Virginia, then you’ve got cancer in Virginia, everyone on your team has cancer in Virginia,” he said.

He also advised leaders to be prepared to be a “sugar cookie” — a SEAL team punishment in which the person is made to roll in the sand until he or she is covered, an uncomfortable way to spend the rest of the day. “Every day, if you have enough people, somebody’s going to make you a sugar cookie,” he said.

Making a big deal of even the smallest wins and downplaying disasters, especially for new employees, is important to team morale. And, Annis added, pay an uncomfortable amount of bonus money to a team member who recruits a successful new team member.

“It’ll be the sweetest money you ever paid,” he said.

Annis added that some of the biggest

mistakes business owners make in hiring is lowering their standards, hiring too fast and firing too slow, not doing enough reference checks and not sharing what success means to the business.

Dennis O’Keefe, TaxSlayer: When entrepreneurs start their own business, it’s a big jump from working for someone else, O’Keefe said. But as the business grows, the entrepreneur soon finds himself doing more than he set out to do.

“He’s doing a lot of things he didn’t set out to do but is trying to do them on the same level of commitment,” O’Keefe said.

“One of the most difficult things is realizing when we need to let go of the reins and get more people involved.”

That is one of four hurdles business owners face. The others are building a strong company culture, putting too little effort into onboarding new hires and spending too much time in business rather than on business.

Building a strong culture starts with the owner sharing the core reason he’s waking up every morning to go to work.

Sharing those values across the organization helps employees stay happy and engaged, making them more productive.

In onboarding new hires, O’Keefe advised automating systems as much as See EXPO on Page 27 November 2018 Buzz on Biz

25

NORTH MEETS SOUTH

DANDELION CAFÉ OFFERS TRADITIONAL AND UNIQUE FOODS

BY MILLIE HUFF A recent lunchtime visit to Dandelion the new Dandelion Café in North Augusta was filled with Café surprises.

Located on Georgia Avenue a few doors up from the Municipal Building and next to the Shell station, the restaurant presents a fun, cozy vibe as soon as you walk in. The floor is painted in a colorful psychedelic pattern, and the walls are hung with interesting textile art.

The dining room holds fewer than a dozen tables, and guests seat themselves as space becomes available. Additional seating is available at a counter.

The restaurant had a good lunch crowd the day we visited, but we found an open table pretty quickly.

The guests were a variety of business people, ladies lunching and even a table of North Augusta police officers enjoying their lunch break. Several customers were greeted by name by the staff, so it seems that the restaurant has built a strong customer base since it opened last February.

With a name that features a leafy green, I anticipated a healthy salad for lunch, but I was tempted by the varied and interesting menu to try a dish more out-of-the-ordinary. Each of my two colleagues selected a traditional sandwich, which gave me a perfect excuse to make a selection that I’m pretty sure is unique to Dandelion Café’s menu in this area: poutine. More on my meal later.

The menu offers an impressive selection of salads, daily soups, hot and cold sandwiches (even one with steak and dandelion greens), standard and custommade pizzas, and other casual fare like chicken wings and chicken fingers.

But that is where the expected ends and the surprises kick in.

Dandelion Café also offers five varieties of macaroni and cheese and six types of poutines.

Both the mac and cheese and poutine dishes are generous portions served in a small iron skillet, placed piping hot on

26 Buzz on Biz November 2018

Rating is based on a scale of 1 (worst) to 5 (best).

Food Price Location Networking Noise Level Dandelion Café is at 220 Georgia Ave., North Augusta. The restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday. It also offers catering. Reach it at (803) 599-7565 or learn more at www.dandelioncafeand catering.com.

Poutine is a Canadian dish in which cheese and gravy are served atop French fries. The veggie poutine at Dandelion Café was tasty, and I look forward to trying the other varieties. Photo by Millie Huff

the table on a unique wooden trivet.

Back to my meal: Canadians describe poutine as the “perfect and adored junk food.” What’s not to love when you add all types of toppings and melted cheese over French fries?

Our waitress explained that poutine originated in Quebec, Canada, and has expanded its popularity throughout Canada and into the northeastern United States.

Given that the restaurant is owned by a woman with roots in upstate New York, it makes sense that she would want to introduce the concept to Southerners.

After all, what Southerner doesn’t like anything with melted cheese and gravy on it?

Traditionally, poutine consists of French fries covered with cheese curds and brown gravy.

Dandelion Café offers the traditional preparation but also takes

it up a notch to offer veggie, taco, Philly, buffalo and Southwestern varieties. Poutine might now be my favorite guilty pleasure!

While my veggie poutine was satisfying and tasty, I think one of the varieties with meat included might be more flavorful.

The veggie poutine had salsa included on the menu, but it was inadvertently left off my dish, and I didn’t think to ask until I’d already consumed most of my portion. I’d also like to try the traditional version on my next visit.

A guest seated near us was eating the Philly macaroni and cheese and said it was delicious.

His was mac and cheese loaded with chicken, onions, bell peppers and mushrooms, all held together with melted cheese.

My less-adventurous colleagues chose their typical lunchtime favorites: a Rueben and a chicken salad sandwich.

Both were served with chips

and a pickle.

My colleague who ordered the Rueben and considers himself a Rueben connoisseur declared the corned beef excellent, tender and easy to bite. According to him, when eating a Rueben, if all the meat comes out in one bite, it’s not a good sandwich. He rated Dandelion Café’s presentation very high, even if it was light on Thousand Island dressing for his taste.

My other colleague chose the chicken salad on toasted wheat bread. She described it as a basic chicken salad without all the bells-and-whistles of so many chicken salads these days.

Once we finished our meal, we took our check to the counter for checkout. The bill was extremely reasonable, with each of us spending less than $10 per meal.

We were all also tempted by delicious treats to take some with us for an afternoon snack: two peanut butter and jelly bars

and a magic bar.

The first was just as the name suggests: gooey goodness of the two ingredients blended into a cookie bar. The magic bar had coconut, nuts, dried cranberries and butterscotch chips with a graham cracker crust.

Next time, I’ll save room for the delicious-looking carrot cake that was offered, too. We all loved our desserts.

The small size and acoustics of the dining room make it a challenge for a meaningful business conversation, but for a casual, unique, affordable weekday lunch, give Dandelion Café a shot.

Parking can be a bit of a challenge, but overflow parking is available in the vacant lot next door. It is worth the effort.

Millie Huff is a freelance writer, parttime teacher and new executive director of Sacred Heart Cultural Center. She has eaten lunches in the Augusta area since 1996 and loves any excuse to dine with friends and colleagues. Her restaurant reviews are written with a businessperson in mind.

EXPO

Continued from Page 25 possible. That also helps combat the fourth hurdle, when owners spend more time putting out fires in business than on building the business.

Grace Belangia, theClubhou.se: Since its start in 2012, theClubhou.se has served as a catalyst for budding entrepreneurs in the area. The organization provides space, connections and education for people starting businesses, especially those involving technology. To that end, theClubhou.se recently moved from its

Telfair Street location to the new Georgia Cyber Center on Reynolds Street.

“I think every business could benefit from being involved in the cyber community,” Belangia said.

One of theClubhou.se’s premier events is Startup Life, an immersive campaign that helps an entrepreneur launch a business. TheClubhou.se was one of 14 winners of a grant from the Ewing Kauffman Foundation, which provides for education, living quarters and transportation for the startup.

TheClubhou.se also runs Code Boot Camp and multiple connection events throughout the year.

“If you’re not an IT company but have

technology, you may want to work with one of our graduates,” Belangia said.

Mark Alison, marketing consultant: “There are people who lay awake at night trying to separate you from your money,” Alison warned.

He gave businesses tips based on his own years in business and in working with other businesses. For example, he advised businesses to do a test search at uspto. gov, the U.S. Patent Office, for anything a business wants to trademark to make sure someone else hasn’t already done so.

Alison also advised that the smaller a business is, the quicker it must react to potential problems. Social media comments, good and bad, should be respond-

ed to quickly by someone in the company.

Creative thinking in product or service development is also important.

“It’s better to be first than to be better,” he said. “If you’re not first, then find something that changes the category and be first in that.”

When it comes to marketing, Alison said that what your message is will determine how and where you’ll advertise.

“The message determines the creative, and the creative determines what medium you use,” he said.

He also advocated storytelling. “Instead of saying what you do, tell a story about what you did and make the customer the champion,” he said.

TWO HEAVENLY CHOICES

NEW

ORIGINAL GHOST PEPPER

ORDER ONLINE TODAY! FREE SHIPPING* *F OR A LIMITE D TI M E O N LY

HELPMEJESUSHOTSAUCE.COM

CALL TODAY FOR A DISCOUNT ON YOUR NEW FIRE PLACE!

HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY - FRIDAY: 7 AM - 5:30 PM

PROUDLY SERVING THE

AIKEN, SC & AUGUSTA, GA AREAS

706.736.8478

AUGUSTA OVERHEAD DOOR

1529 CRESCENT DRIVE AUGUSTA, GA 30909 November 2018 Buzz on Biz

27

SEMI-PRO BASKETBALL COMES TO AUGUSTA

NEW TEAM PLANS TO CREATE EXCITEMENT WITH HOMEGROWN TALENT

BY WITT WELLS

When Augusta’s new semi-pro basketball team needed a name, it went straight to the people for suggestions. More than a thousand locals chimed in with ideas for the new franchise, with suggestions including RedHawks, Rapids and Drive.

The team settled on the Augusta 706ers, a play on NBA franchise Philadelphia 76ers and Augusta’s area code, a statement that the franchise belongs to everyone in the city of Augusta.

The term “homegrown” is indeed appropriate: The idea for a franchise began a year ago with local military contractor and basketball fan Scott Killebrew and has now grown into a 14-man roster comprised of almost all local players who grew up playing in the Augusta area or at a local university.

For most of the players, it’s a chance to prove themselves as athletes who can compete with others whose skills and environment landed them spots in NBA development programs.

But the players aren’t the only ones with something to prove. Will Augustans show up to support a semi-pro basketball team?

Franchises have come and gone over the years. Killebrew and President of Basketball Operations Will Avery have a hungry team. They’ve sold their vision to James Brown Arena, which will be the 706ers’ home court.

Now they have to sell it to fans and make more along the way.

Killebrew is confident that there are fans in Augusta who are thirsty for a local team. Only time will tell. I talked to him about how the team came to fruition and what fans can expect come November.

What spurred you on to start a basketball franchise in Augusta?

“Well, to be honest with you, it was my two children, both girls. One’s in the third grade, the other’s in pre-K. And come the wintertime, there’s really nothing to do as a family. You’ve got Lights of the South, and now you’ve got Augusta on Ice, that type of thing. But there’s nothing to do indoors, sporting-wise. You know, summertime you’ve got the GreenJackets and that’s a fantastic time, it’s a beautiful new facility out there. But again, there’s nothing to do in the wintertime.

28 Buzz on Biz November 2018

Open and closed tryouts were held to fill the roster for the new American Basketball Association team in Augusta, the 706ers. Most of the players on the team have local ties, and franchise founder Scott Killebrew says that everyone associated with the team is hungry to succeed. The team will play home games at James Brown Arena. Photo contributed

“So, a few associates of mine and I got together. We all work on base, we’re all veterans and we’re defense contractors. You’re in a room with no windows for eight to 10 hours a day, and you start to come up with ideas on how to make life better. It was just one of those random ideas that I came up with one day. I pitched it to a friend of mine, and he was like, ‘Hey, I think this could work,’ and we started doing some research, and one thing led to another.

“Here we are almost a year later to the day from when we bought the rights and formed the company. It’s been a roller coaster.”

How did the team come together?

“It is considered a semi-professional basketball team, and that’s based solely on the salary cap. Because I can’t pay these guys enough money to quit their day jobs,

Learn more about the Augusta 706ers at www.augusta706ers.com. it’s considered semi-pro.

“But the talent of the league is on par with the NBA developmental program.

So, a lot of the guys that we were looking at were Division II, Division III NCAA standouts that just didn’t get a fair shake in life. There’s a lot of talent that gets left behind that has to give up on their dream, or play in Europe or play in China, Africa or Australia.

“The statistics are even worse for Division II or Division III schools. I’d say over the last five to 10 years, it’s been around zero percent (who have gone on to play in the NBA). I think the last real big Divi-

sion II college standout that made it to the NBA was Ben Wallace.

“And what are you gonna do when you’ve put 18, 19, 20 years of your life into something that you really love and you have a passion for, and then you’re told no, just because you went to Augusta University, or just because you went to Georgia Southern, or just because you went to USC Aiken?

“So, what we did is we designed this program from the start to give those guys an opportunity to excel, to grow and to move on and to progress, if that’s what they so desire.”

How did you make a head coaching selection?

“We went out and we found Will Avery, the Westside High grad. He went to Duke University, played for Coach K and then played for Minnesota for three years.

He had about a 10-year career overall as a pro outside the NBA. “Will and I instantly clicked. We shared with him our vision, he expressed interest and we brought him on board. We bought the rights to the team in September last year. By December, we had him lined up, and then we got him under contract to be president of basketball operations, which is kind of the general manager. “ W h a t makes Will great is he’s been there before. He’s played professional basketball at every level you could possibly imagine.

He’s played basketball down at May Park, getting sponsored by James Brown to do travel ball. It’s a great story, Will playing from travel ball to high school ball to college ball to the NBA — the pinnacle of the profession — and then taking his talents on the road in Europe and in Israel.

He knows the ins and outs of the sport.

His basketball IQ is immense.

“But I think the thing that tops all of that is his love for the city. When we first mentioned this to him, he was like, ‘This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. This is exactly what the city has been looking for.’”

What do you expect the public response to be?

“There have been several attempts at a semi-pro team. If you do a little digging into the sports market here, you’ll realize very quickly that a lot of things have been tried.

“We’ve had two hockey teams. We’ve had two indoor arena football teams, and we’ve had several attempts at starting basketball at various levels; most recently was a team called the Georgia Soul. They were a women’s team in the Women’s Blue Chip Basketball League, and they ended up winning their national title two years ago. The owner has since moved on, she’s active-duty military, she had to move to Savannah. And the team had to fold.

“There have been several attempts at men’s teams, but nothing to the level that we’re trying to pull off. I’m not talking bad about anybody that’s ever tried to do anything, because we all know they laid the groundwork for where we’re at now.

Had they not come before us and tried and failed, we wouldn’t be where we’re at.

We wouldn’t have just signed a deal with the arena.

“Overall, the reaction we’re getting is very positive, very encouraging, and

very enthusiastic. Augusta has needed something like this for a long time. In our opinion, the city can’t take another fail. Really, if you look at the history and the way the media coverage is, all of that negative press for every time a team has failed has fallen on the arena. Chris Bird, the facilities director down there, and I have had several long conversations, and we very methodical in our process, because we wanted to make sure that the mistakes of the past were never repeated.

That way we wouldn’t fail, and that way the

lege; T.C. Fields from Augusta University recently finished his NCAA eligibility, set to graduate in December; and even our coaching staff, like coach Oliver Ottley, who’s one of the all-time leading scorers for Augusta University.

“So, from the top down, we’ve built this program that is just so ingrained the community. And it’s designed that way to get over those hurdles we talked about with the sour sports markets.”

Do all these guys have ambitions to move up?

“For all of them, this is a dream come true. To be able to play basketball at a professional level, to do what you love and to get paid to do what you love, that’s the

tention to us, or maybe some of Will’s friends who are still involved in the game. But yeah, it’s not uncommon for scouts to come out to this level and pull talent.”

What league is the team playing in?

“We play in the American Basketball Association. Now that name might sound familiar. In the ’60s, that league was formed, and in the ’70s, it merged with the NBA. The two leagues are now separate, and we as a league got a couple things. We got a tricolored ball, so the red, white and blue ball is back. And the records still stand. So, we have 50-plus years of history that is included.

“When Joe Newman tried to create a new ABA, he went for big markets right in NBA’s back yard. He went to L.A., Chicago, Detroit, I think Houston, and the NBA just crushed them because of market share.

“So, a couple years in, he took a year off to regroup and restructure, and he took a small-market approach, cities like Topeka, Kansas, and Augusta, Macon and Savannah. These smaller markets that don’t get national media attention now can be brought to the forefront and have an opportunity to shine.”

Do you think that there are fans in Augusta who want to watch basketball?

“You just look at statistics, right? You look at statistics and the numbers don’t lie. I’m not going to sit here and bore you with all the numbers, but there’s enough fans statistically in the CSRA to fill the arena over and over. Now, whether they all come out to a game, that’s different, because everyone’s a fan of the sport at various levels.

“Our job is to get them into the arena.

How we’re going to do that is create the most fan-friendly, affordable, entertaining experience possible. There’s not going to be anything like this in the CSRA. We’re going to try to capture everything that is magical and exciting about going to an NBA game and putting it in the James Brown Arena with local guys, local talent, local fans. And we’re going to capture a little of the magic that happens at an NCAA level. It’s going to be a nice mixture. It’s going to be so much fun. I can’t wait.”

“There’s enough fans statistically in the CSRA to fill the arena over and over. ... Our job is to get them into the arena. How we’re going to do that is create the most fan-friendly, affordable, entertaining experience possible. There’s not going to be anything like this in the CSRA.” – Scott Killebrew, founder of the 706ers

negative publicity wouldn’t fall on the only thing that still exists, which is the building.”

Do you know why some of those teams failed?

“It’s a problem that we’ve noticed that’s kind of common in Augusta: marketing.

Communication is critical, and if you don’t communicate times and locations and things like that, nobody knows that events are happening. That’s kind of commonplace throughout the whole city. It’s not just the entertainment industry. It’s tourism and travel. If it’s not the Masters, I can’t tell you what it is.

“We realize marketing has to be at the forefront of everything we do, which is why we took the grassroots approach and took our time to really tried to cultivate this.”

How do you find players?

“We had two open tryouts, and I can’t even tell you how many closed tryouts we’ve had. Just guys coming in, getting worked out. We really tried to focus on creating a local, organic kind of feel. And all of our guys, with the exception of two players who are from New York, are local, within the CSRA. “We’ve got guys like Xavier Collier, who grew up here, went to Benedict Col-

dream of everybody, right? Nobody wants to go to a boring 9-to-5, they want to get paid to do what they love. That’s the opportunity that we’ve given these athletes.

“But to sit here and say that every one of our athletes is complacent and happy where they’re at, that would be a lie. They all have dreams of making the big money and playing in the big cities, playing under the big lights and continuing to do what they love.

“The plan is to get these guys national-level media exposure through playing basketball that will grant them opportunities to play for NBA developmental programs or to play in Europe, to make the money that they are obviously worth and to move up.

“There’s no reason why any of our guys should not be in the NBA developmental program right now.

“So now, it’s almost a farm system within itself. The way we look at it, if you play for us for more than five years, then there’s something wrong unless you really love playing for us. Then, by all means, we’d love to keep a talented athlete and keep winning games and keep having that positive fan experience.

“I fully expect the Atlanta Hawks developmental program to pay close at-

November 2018 Buzz on Biz

29

WINTER WEAR

A DARK BREW COMPLEMENTS THE COOLING WEATHER

BY BEN CASELLA

TIME TO CHILLAX

FLICKS TO HELP FORGET THE CHAOS OF LIFE

BY SAMANTHA BARKSDALE

This is one of those times in my life when I feel a little overwhelmed. Eleven-hour workdays, football games and traveling every weekend mean I have very little time for myself. If I’m being honest, I’m desperate for some Sam time.

Luckily, Netflix is always there when needed. This month, I’m devoting my reviews to shows you can get lost in. Sit back, relax and prepare to forget about the chaos in your life.

‘The Good Cop’

By now, you should all know that I’m a sucker for a crime show. After a super long day, there’s really nothing better than sitting back and trying to figure out who committed the crime and why.

Truth be told, the show doesn’t even need to be great; it just needs to take my mind off the day. The Good Cop does just that.

There’s nothing truly special about this show. It follows the same pattern that most crime dramas do; show opens with a murder, detectives get stumped, we learn a little background information about the characters and the murder is solved. Yup, every episode of The Good Cop is just like that.

At this point, you’re probably wondering why I wasted so many words on this show. No, it’s not spectacular. According to my husband, it’s “corny.”

But it’s easy and light-hearted, and sometimes that’s all I’m looking for.

‘Burn After Reading’

I remember being intrigued by the trailers for this movie back in 2008. Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and George Clooney were all in their heyday, and this Coen brothers’ film was a must-see. I’m not sure why, but I never got around to seeing it.

It’s a good thing, though; it probably would have

30 Buzz on Biz November 2018

gone right over my head.

Burn After Reading begins by introducing us to Osborne Cox, played by Malkovitch, who has just been fired from his position at the CIA. He is angry and confused by the situation but believes writing his memoir will get him through this difficult time.

Unfortunately, his wife doesn’t agree.

Played by Tilda Swinton, Cox’s wife is the consummate nag. She is unsupportive and negative and, to make matters worse, is cheating on him. Before he knows it, she has copied all the files from his computer to give to her divorce attorney. And this is where things start to get weird.

I’ll admit I was a little worried this film wouldn’t hold my attention. I was thinking about all the things on my to-do list for the next day when I started it.

Within 10 minutes, however, I’d forgotten all about that list and was completely engrossed in the film. The characters were dynamic, the dialogue was sharp and I was caught off guard by plot twists on more than one occasion. It was exciting.

Even though Burn After Reading is a little older, it’s a solid film that will most certainly keep you entertained. Not only that, it will also make you realize just how meaningless your problems are to the people around you.

It might not be uplifting, but Burn After Reading can sure put things in perspective.

Samantha Barksdale, “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.

Well, they’re here. The holiday decorations are going up on Broad Street as I write this month’s column — and it’s October.

I get it. The holidays will be here before we know it and yadda, yadda, yadda. The weather did finally start to turn — at least before 10 a.m.

So, I suppose it’s time to start thinking about what to imbibe on The chocolatey Dogfish Head Chicory those short, Stout Ale is perfect for fall weather. chilly days of the season formerly known as winter.

As for me, I think my tweed coat goes well with a darker brew — in a mug, preferably with a handle — next to a fireplace with an adjacent bookshelf stacked with old hard covers with the dust jackets removed.

You get the picture.

To fill this mug, I am choosing Dogfish Head Chicory Stout Ale. That’s right. I’m channeling our friends in Milton, Del., for this pre-seasonal review.

Chicory Stout is a beer worthy of my proposed scenario (and hopeful eventuality). It pours a deep and dark brown to almost black with a foamy cappuccino head. The aromas convey chocolate, toffee, chocolate, malt, chocolate, dark coffee and chocolate.

The tongue is similar, but with a bitterness that exists as background until you swallow and breathe out.

Then it becomes manifest that almost dampens any sweet aspects of the chocolate before they become readily apparent.

All in all, Chicory Stout does well to keep you from getting too cold.

Speaking of which, I wouldn’t prefer it neat, but I wouldn’t prefer it too cold, either. You don’t want to weaken any subtle aspects of this well-crafted creation from Dogfish Head.

Ben Casella has started his Christmas shopping. He has purchased two gifts and expects that he will take his usual and customary sabbatical from the entire holiday enterprise beginning forthwith and lasting until about a week before Christmas, when his shopping will resume.

DISCOVER

NEW CATERING

FAVORITES NEW! BAKED FALAFEL

NEW! SORRENTINA BAKED RAVIOLI

NEW! MOROCCAN CITRUS ROASTED CHICKEN WITH TURMERIC RICE

VISIT THE NEWORDER ZOESKITCHEN.COM & DOWNLOAD OUR NEW MOBILE APP! ONLINE at ZOESKITCHEN.COM

CAVE SURPRISS? AJOIN THE NEW OR contact SadieTERING RankinONLINE 803.514.3343 LOR YOUR